Community Matters Calhoun County

Once per year, county municipalities in Michigan are required to assemble an equalization report. The report serves as a determination that "...real and personal property in the respective Townships and Cities has been equally and uniformly assessed" in Calhoun County. Calhoun County Vice-Chair Steve Frisbie discusses the equalization report and some overall real estate perspective in th...

Calhoun County's dementia awareness organization Miles for Memories has set its annual research update event for April 30, 2024. The free event seeks to provide an update from Michigan State University researchers on the latest dementia drugs and treatments, as well as provide a forum for attendees to ask questions. The event is set for April 30, 5:30 PM at the Kool Family Community Center in...

The owner of Battle Creek's Ford and Lincoln dealership tells Community Matters EV sales might not be what was initially predicted, but the market is there. Vince Pavone, whose Lakeview Ford store sponsors Community Matters, also discusses his view on how this might affect the planned EV battery output at the Marshall, Michigan BlueOval plant Ford is currently building. He also discusses the...

The Humane Society of South Central Michigan in Battle Creek renews calls for pets to be spayed and neutered, using the springtime "kitten season" to bolster the point. HSSCM Executive Director Jessica Gilbert returns to Community Matters for another Wiggly Tail update - highlighting a poster pet for adoption. Along with that, she issues an appeal for folks to do what they can to, as the...

Many millions are said to be affected by an online data breach at AT&T in 2019 - which was announced in 2024. Community Matters asked southwest Michigan online security expert Larry Deniston of CMIT Solutions to talk about a few things consumers and businesses could do to shore up the forcefields around their data. Click to hear his advice. Episode Resources CMIT Solutions website Bitwarden Pa...

Fifteen-year veteran city attorney Jill Steele will retire from Battle Creek City Hall in the summer of 2024. City officials are beginning to cement a process to find her replacement. Battle Creek Mayor Mark Behnke and Vice-Mayor Sherry Sofia discuss the impact of the office on city operations - as well as the process Battle Creek City Commissioners expect to follow in the search. Episode Resource...

A new website featuring a Calhoun County, Michigan-focused podcasts plans to be a hub for local discussions. BattleCreekPodcast.com features locally produced discussions with Calhoun County community voices - or those from elsewhere with relevant infomation to the region. Livemic Communications, producer of several podcasts including Community Matters , brings together several more in a single web...

Question, Persuade, Refer. That's what QPR stands for and it's "an emergency response to someone in crisis," says the QPR Institute . In a training as short as a lunch-and-learn, community members can become "gatekeepers" able to respond to a person in crisis who may be exhibiting signs of suicide. Like CPR, QPR can save a life. In Calhoun County, QPR gatekeeper train...

With almost a full school year behind them since the announcement of the Bearcat Advantage scholarship program, Battle Creek Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Kim Carter returns to Community Matters. Carter comments on a newly announced alliance to try and cover more higher education expenses for Battle Creek graduates taking advantage of the opportunity. She also gives input on the observations t...

Battle Creek-area realtor Al Morehart with Coldwell Banker Morehart Realty joins Community Matters, offering some perspective on real estate news, including: A recent National Association of Realtors legal settlement proposal to change the way a buyer's agent commission is paid. The current market in Calhoun County, which remains a "seller's market". How much value Calhoun Coun...

After a rare wintertime tornado in February 2024, Calhoun County Emergency Management officials are reminding residents how to be alerted to severe weather. They are also reminding folks that 911 is for emergencies, not information. Michael Armitage, director of the Calhoun County Consolidated Dispatch Authority, returns to Community Matters with information critical to staying safe during severe...

Calhoun County Commissioner Vice-Chair Steve Frisbie updates Community Matters listeners with news of revenue sharing from FireKeepers Casino. The $6M+ amount is the second-largest revenue sharing amount received by Calhoun County from FireKeepers Casino. Frisbie also discusses an update to accounts payable policy and pothole patching and other roadwork. Episode Resources Calhoun County Board of C...

Battle Creek's Binder Park Zoo is readying for its 2024 season with several job fairs set for March and April, 2024. Spokesperson Allie Stoddard joins Community Matters in this episode to talk about the seasonal positions they would like to fill. Episode Resources Binder Park Zoo Employment website Binder Park Zoo website ABOUT COMMUNITY MATTERS Former WBCK Morning Show host Richard Piet (201...

Renovations to some public areas at Battle Creek City Hall are bringing modern upgrades to the facility, built in 1914. Facilities Manager Katie Norton tells Community Matters the process also includes moving the main entrance to the building back to its original location. As well, she discusses the historic nature of the building and how that affected the process. Episode Resources City Hall Reno...

Marshall, Michigan attorney Richard Lindsey, a member of the legal team representing the Marshall Area Economic Development Alliance and Ford Motor Company, expects a lawsuit against them navigating the system now will be decided by the Michigan Supreme Court. The suit, brought by the Committee for Marshall - Not the Megasite is ultimately aiming for a referendum on the BlueOval Battery Park Michi...

With springlike conditions prevailing in Michigan in the 2023-2024 winter season, how does that affect the Michigan Department of Transportation's typical roadwork schedule? Community Matters caught up with MDOT spokesperson Nick Schirripa to talk about the answer to that question - especially as it relates to Battle Creek and Calhoun County. Episode Resources Mi-Drive construction interactiv...

You may have heard of the Calhoun Intermediate School District - or CISD. You may have also heard of the Calhoun Area Career Center, which it operates. But, are you familiar with the resources provided there - and how CISD supports local school districts? Community Matters decided to ask Jerry Johnson, CISD Assistant Superintendent - Legislation and Education Policy to explain. Episode Resources C...

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...