Community Matters Calhoun County

The images are stunning and heartbreaking. Entire neighborhoods eviscerated in the Los Angeles area by wildfires in January 2025. Community Matters turned to southwest Michigan fire safety expert and educator Michael McLeieer at ESCAPE to talk about the approach to fighting wildfires. He also discusses how firefighters are trained for such fast-moving infernos - and how they can happen almost anyw...

The Calhoun County Land Bank Authority is looking for contractors of all kinds to bid on various building and property maintenance jobs in the county in 2025. A informational event is planned for February 19, 2025 at which contractors can learn more about the bidding process, how to become licensed and more. The Land Bank also holds monthly networking sessions for contractors. Click to hear more i...

Very often in our Wiggly Tail segments on Community Matters, the Humane Society of South Central Michigan focuses on adult or senior animals awaiting adoption. This time, though, we're going for the full-on kitten experience! HSSCM Executive Director Jessica Gilbert tells us about the adorable and energetic 6-month-old Bosco (and his siblings!) who is searching for a permanent and loving plac...

Michigan's impending Earned Sick Time Act and changes to the tipped wage minimum have been the sticking point in Lansing between Democrats and Republicans. It even made for a less-than-productive lame duck legislative session at the end of 2024. Since the new legislature was sworn in early in 2025, Republicans in the Michigan House of Representatives have been working to tweak what they say a...

Would you expect to see a smoothie or other healthy choices on the menu at a high school concession stand? Probably not. But the Marshall High School basketball team snacks are including them. It's all part of a healthier eating initiative inspired by an Oaklawn Hospital doctor, a local chiropractor and a team of others. Dr. Abby Sirovica of Grassroots Family Chiropractic and Grassroots Cafe...

Chronicler of local history Michael Delaware - whose local spotlights are found in his books, his podcast and through his involvement with the Battle Creek Regional History Museum - joins Community Matters in this update. Hear more about the museum, Battle Creek connections to the famous, Michael's podcast and more. Episode Resources Battle Creek Regional History Museum Michael Delaware'...

Snow flurries and cold temperatures may be the norm when you are reading this, but the Calhoun County Veterans Affairs Office is ready to get vets thinking about summer. Director Aaron Edlefson tells Community Matters about the partnership between his office and the Battle Creek Battle Jacks baseball team - and how early in the year is the best time for veterans to choose dates for a free outing t...

A survey seeking input from Battle Creek city residents will be open until January 30, 2025. A December, 2024 deadline was extended by city officials in order to give more time for residents to comment about neighborhoods, housing and other focuses. In this episode, Helen Guzzo and Darcy Schmitt with the City of Battle Creek explain how the survey information will help shape the future in the city...

As Thanksgiving 2024 approached, the City of Battle Creek bade farewell to its longest-serving city manager, Rebecca Fleury, who served 10 years in the position. While preparing this year-end look back at the final Community Matters visit with Fleury from August 2024, a published report from Williamson County, Tennessee reveals she was a finalist for city manager of Brentwood - a town slightly sma...

In his first long form interview after his defeat in the November 2024 election, Michigan House 44th District Rep. Jim Haadsma (D-Battle Creek) speaks with Community Matters about the post-election process to confirm the vote. A recount and canvass determined Haadsma received just 79 fewer votes than challenger, Republican Steve Frisbie. Haadsma asserts that Calhoun County Clerk Kim Hinkley, also...

In her first interview since beginning as the human resources director at the BlueOval Battery Park Michigan in Marshall, Amy Helner joins Community Matters to talk about the status of hiring employees at the plant. The battery production facility is expected to begin output in 2026. With salaried hiring started in later 2024, Helner discusses the next steps expected in the hiring process, includi...

The Kellogg Community College entrepreneurship program, of course, is seeking participants who want to realize a dream to own their own business. Now, the Entrepreneurship Bootcamp is offering a chance for some who meet income guidelines to get started at no cost. The Bootcamp is part of KCC's Innovative Accelerated Credentialed Training (iACT) initiative, with support from the W.K. Kellogg F...

Come February 21, 2025, all Michigan businesses will be required to convert to a sick time accrual system for their employees. An associated bill in Lansing would also change the pay scale for tipped-wage employees. Both have the Small Business Association of Michigan (SBAM) concerned, particularly about what it sees as parts of the sick time proposal which do not require an employee to give notic...

**Note: An previous version of this information noted an earlier deadline for the survey. The deadline has been extended to January 30, 2025. An online survey for Battle Creek residents is active until January 30, 2025, seeking input about future community development and housing. In this episode, Battle Creek Community Development Director Helen Guzzo and Planning Supervisor Darcy Schmitt discuss...

Battle Creek's Cereal City Concert Band is full-speed-ahead with its Christmas concert and fundraising activities with six months to go until its big European trip. The band has been invited to perform at the 2025 Mid-Europe Wind Band Music Festival in Schladming, Austria in July 2025. The musicians will also perform in Prague during the trip. In this episode, band member and musician Barb Hi...

Even though the hazards of lead have resulted in years of education and remediation, cities with homes built before 1978 were commonly painted with lead paint. Leaded gas in the 1970s also had an effect that is still causing illness, particularly in young children. With a significant amount of homes in the city of Battle Creek built before 1978, the lead remediation effort has been ongoing - and p...

Battle Creek's Small Business Development Office is not something you see in many towns: A local investment to help potential small business owners navigate the sometimes-complicated process of starting a business. That's what we hear in this episode of Community Matters from the overseer of the SBDO John Hart. He also discusses the Small Business Saturday (and all month!) promotions to...

The gathering of two families in a Calhoun County courtroom just before Thanksgiving 2024 brought an official end to the process of adoption for four children and their parents. It doesn't take long - just a few minutes of ceremonial speeches before Judge John Hallacy signed the papers making it official. Then the celebrating can begin. Judge Hallacy shared his thoughts about the Adoption Day...

Joe Timmer and his wife are not unfamiliar with parenthood. With three biological children, they felt a calling toward foster care and adoption. Just before Thanksgiving 2024, the Timmer's were back in a Calhoun County courtroom to officially welcome two more children - a brother and sister - into their family. It was all part of an annual event called Adoption Day (the first one since the CO...

The return of Wiggly Tail - a periodic episode featuring an adoptable pet from the Humane Society of South Central Michigan - brings us Uno. Uno is a gray and white tabby cat with big paws and a big personality. He's the cat who dispels the myth that cats are aloof and unfriendly. HSSCM's Jessica Gilbert fills us in on Uno - and some thoughts about helping your pet get through holiday an...

After a two-year hiatus, Lakeview Ford Lincoln in Battle Creek will resume its on-the-lot Christmas tree sale to benefit the Battle Creek Optimist Club. Lakeview's Vince Pavone talks about the process of finding a tree supply, the impact to the community and the pricing for trees - which might surprise you. Also covered: How will a second Trump presidency potentially affect the electric vehic...

Certainly, many folks have heard businesses publicizing the discounts they offer to members of the military and veterans. But how does a person find a comprehensive list of them? The Marshall, Michigan-based Military Discount Society - a non-profit founded by two veterans - is seeking to fill that void. In this episode, Michael Buffington and Veronica Barba talk about the online resource they hope...

Plans for the building once known as the Kendall Center in Battle Creek will, once again, include a focus on education. The building was once the site of Western Michigan University's Battle Creek presence. Grand Valley State University's plans for the building as a food innovation hub is a partnership with W.K. Kellogg Foundation, Battle Creek Unlimited and the Battle Creek Public Schoo...

Community Matters caught up with 44th District Representative-Elect Steve Frisbie less than a week after Election Day. At that point, results showed Frisbie having unseated Rep. Jim Haadsma by 58 votes. But, reports indicated an absentee ballot counting error was discovered during the typical post-Election Day auditing process. In this discussion, Frisbie recounts the events that led up to his lea...

For more than 40 years, the Harper Creek Optimist Club has supported the Battle Creek Christmas Parade. Except for the COVID-19 pandemic, that's been a consistent annual tradition many look forward to. Parade organizer Stephanie Cornish returns to Community Matters to talk about the 2024 event set for November 23 - along with a bit of history about the tradition. Episode Resources Battle Cree...