Community Matters Calhoun County

Just after midnight on February 28, 2024, what as later determined to be an EF1 tornado barreled through an area in Calhoun County, Michigan. The tornado was 300 yards wide and traveled 5.5 miles. Miraculously, injuries were minimal and there were no fatalities. Sheriff Steve Hinkley joins Community Matters to talk about the response to the rare nighttime event, the inherent challenges - along wit...

Amidst the last weeks of her tenure as president and CEO of the Battle Creek Community Foundation, Brenda Hunt joins Community Matters to reflect. Having joined BCCF in 1993, she discusses the surprise opportunity to become its leader just a few years later. She draws parallels between the growth of the organization and its reputation and, at the same time, that of her own career. That growth even...

Humane Society of South Central Michigan's latest Wiggly Tail update features Mona, a domestic shorthair cat ready to find her new home. Could it be yours? HSSCM Executive Director Jessica Gilbert also discusses the unseasonably warm weather - and the resulting early tick season. Episode Resources HSSCM website Mona's Petfinder listing ABOUT COMMUNITY MATTERS Former WBCK Morning Show hos...

In spring of 2020, Matt Saxton stepped down as Calhoun County Sheriff and assumed the role of chief executive at the Michigan Sheriffs' Association. About four years later, Saxton sits down with Community Matters to talk about the MSA and its role - including how citizens can be involved. Also, in the aftermath of a downtown Battle Creek officer-involved shooting, Saxton also reflects on the...

Calhoun County Board Vice-Chair Steve Frisbie returns to Community Matters for a periodic update from commissioners. This time, the focus is, first, on how the Calhoun County Clerk/Register's office implemented early voting in the county (nine days of early voting ends February 25, 2024, with the Michigan Primary Election moved up to February 27, 2024). Frisbie also updates listeners on count...

Calhoun County Sheriff's Deputy Andy Erard leads the Sheriff's Office Dive Team. His coordination with Ford Motor Company Chicago Assembly and Vicksburg's Summit Polymers has proven integral to the local dive team - as well as the Southeast Michigan Dive Team. As Calhoun County Sheriff Steve Hinkley explains in this episode, the SMDT is growing - now including the Calhoun County con...

Marshall Michigan's director of electric utilities, Kevin Maynard, thought the city would be inking a deal to buy energy from a planned solar energy provider in northern Michigan. But, the deal fell apart when the provider came back with a rate higher than expected. Now, Maynard tells Community Matters Marshall is considering using a patch of city-owned property to construct its own solar fie...

Outspoken opponent of development at the Marshall Megasite, Glenn Kowalske, returns to Community Matters for a wide-ranging discussion about the Committee for Marshall-Not the Megasite's legal fight and potential future plans. The group moved forward earlier in February 2024 with an appeal to a judge's decision against the Committee in its effort to target an aspect of the Marshall Megas...

Demand for food from the South Michigan Food Bank has doubled - and more - in recent years, as we first learned about a year ago from SMFB CEO Peter Vogel. Now, Vogel returns to Community Matters one year later to talk about having dipped into reserves to better meet demand - and a fundraising event meant to help shore up coffers. Episode Resources South Michigan Food Bank website ABOUT COMMUNITY...

They say location is important sometimes. In Emmett Township, smack between Battle Creek and the expected Ford BlueOval Battery Park Michigan in Marshall, the location is the perfect spot for a new water line project. Why? Well, Battle Creek will supply water to the Ford plant - and Emmett Township will be the pass-through for that water. Emmett Township Supervisor Deb Belles tells Community Matte...

Calhoun County is second only to Wayne County in Michigan when it comes to opioid overdose deaths. Dawn Smith, executive director of the Substance Abuse Council in Battle Creek, joins Community Matters to talk about participation with other partners in the Calhoun County Opioid Coalition - a group of on-the-ground folks trying to save lives. Episode Resources Calhoun County Health Department Opioi...

Marshall Community Credit Union awards mini-grants to educators four times per year. So that means at most times during the year, MCCU staff are working on some part of the process to put up to $750 in the hands of educators. The funds are meant to help educators in the MCCU territory (Calhoun, Jackson, Branch, St. Joseph Kalamazoo, Barry and Eaton Counties) purchase educational items their typica...

The City of Marshall will undertake its master plan process in 2024 - part of which involves input from city residents. Eric Zuzga, Marshall director of community services, tells Community Matters about the intent of the master plan, how they will approach gaining new input, along with the process thereafter. Zuzga also discusses the remaining fundraising for the planned for the new Marshall Athle...

The Battle Creek Chamber of Commerce annual quest to spotlight locals' favorite restaurants, flooring stores, pickleball courts and other places in Calhoun County is underway once again. Battle Creek Chamber President Kara Beer joins Community Matters to talk about the kickoff - nominating your favorites - followed by the voting process of the event. In 2023, the campaign brought 500 nominati...

This Wiggly Tail update on Community Matters focuses on Skipper, a hound mix, who is available for adoption at the Humane Society of South Central Michigan in Battle Creek. Skipper's sister - Sailor - is also available for adoption. HSSCM'S Jessica Gilbert also discusses how pet owners can help their pets during the extreme cold of winter. Episode Resources HSSCM website Richard reads to...

Michigan State Police Lt. Duwayne Robinson rejoins Community Matters after the 2023 holiday season when troopers generally deal with impaired holiday celebrators. The lieutenant discusses the challenge of legalized weed and its effects on impaired driving. He also follows up on the handheld devices ban while driving in Michigan, first announced in summer 2023. Episode Resources MSP Distracted Driv...

Calhoun County Board of Commissioners Vice-Chair Steve Frisbie updates Community Matters on business in the first meeting of 2024. Among the items, Frisbie discusses a savings recognized from snow removal funds after a lack of snow in December 2023. Those funds have been shifted to Calhoun County road projects in 2024. Episode Resources Calhoun County website Calhoun County Board of Commissioners...

Continuing its legal effort to zero-in on actions that have, so far, prevented a referendum on construction at the Marshall (Michigan) Megasite, the Committee for Marshall- Not the Megasite is vowing an appeal. Committee attorney, Minneapolis-based Robby Dube of Eckland and Blando, thinks there is a good chance to have the case heard by an appellate court sooner than later given the election law n...

In a follow-up to a story discussed a few episodes ago on Community Matters , Calhoun County (Michigan) prosecuting attorney David Gilbert discusses the legal and psychological ramifications of sexting and sextortion. Gilbert is particularly focused on reaching adults of minor children and students old enough to become vulnerable to predators to whom they may send nude photos of themselves. In som...

Right after the annual Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday is the National Day of Racial Healing, observed on January 16, 2024. Battle Creek's WK Kellogg Foundation calls upon locals and those across the country to reflect and "imagine 100 years without racism" - and attend a local event or watch online discussions and profiles. The foundation has partnered with NBC News and Telemundo t...

Michigan 45th District Representative Sarah Lightner (R-Springport) returns to Community Matters as she comes back to Lansing following the holiday break. Lightner talks about citizens' concerns voiced during an virtual town hall meeting, including about recent gun legislation and energy-related measures passed in 2023. She also discusses the 54-54 party dynamic in the House after two Democra...

Community Matters continues bringing various voices in the Committee for Marshall-Not the Megasite's attempts to thwart the Ford Motor Company BlueOval Battery Park Michigan development at the Megasite in Marshall, Michigan. On Wednesday, January 10, 2024, a circuit judge dismissed an amended complaint brought by the Committee, furthering dismissals he brought in September 2023. The Committee...

For adults, it could mean revenge porn or sextortion. For minors, it can mean very adult trouble. On January 4, 2024, Calhoun County (Michigan) Prosecuting Attorney David Gilbert issued an alert to all residents warning about the potential pitfalls of a very modern practice: Sexting. The message is especially aimed at parents and students, given the law's very serious interpretation of Child...

When voters passed Proposal 2 in 2022, that cleared the way for 9 days of early voting ahead of many elections going forward. The idea behind it: Provide additional chances for voters to cast a ballot in addition to Election Day and via absentee. Shortly after, Michigan's presidential primary was moved to February 27 from March. Now, voters will experience the confluence of those two things....

In her first long-form interview of 2024, Battle Creek City Manager Rebecca Fleury talks to Community Matters, sharing her view of how 2023 ended - and priorities for 2024. Fleury offers insight on housing development, the planned opening of the downtown Battle Creek hotel, the newly-formed transportation authority, renewed retail interest in the Beckley Road corridor, ripple effects from the Ford...