Community Matters Calhoun County

First Aired August 26, 2023 Community Matters visits with Emmett Township Supervisor Deb Belles about early road maintenance, aging infrastructure and the prospect of a Ford battery plant right next door. Episode Resources Emmett Township, Michigan website Emmett Township Local Road Project Info ABOUT COMMUNITY MATTERS Former WBCK Morning Show host Richard Piet (2014-2017) returns to host Communit...

First Aired August 26, 2023 Rep. Jim Haadsma (D-Battle Creek) of Michigan's 44th District including Battle Creek, speaks with Community Matters just ahead of the autumn session in Lansing. In doing so, Haadsma discusses legislative priorities, the so-called independent contractor bill and his perception that political conflict between Democrats and Republicans will be more significant. Episod...

First Aired August 26, 2023 Unmanned aircraft systems - or UAS - will have lots of uses and that is why Battle Creek is seizing an opportunity to attract such business to the local airport. That's the word from Battle Creek Unlimited CEO Joe Sobieralski. Sobieralski tells Community Matters what some of those uses are and how preparing the Battle Creek Executive Airport for UAS business is a f...

First Aired August 19, 2023 Community Matters continues its coverage of the Marshall, Michigan-planned Ford BlueOval Battery Park Michigan plant. This time, Richard Piet is joined by attorney Robby Dube, a member of the legal team for the Committee for Marshall-Not the Megasite. Dube offers an update on a course of events that seemed headed for a delay in the progress of the lawsuit in August 2023...

First Aired August 19, 2023 Just ahead of a big welcome-back event for Harper Creek Community Schools staff on August 16, 2023, Superintendent Rob Ridgeway joined Richard Piet on Community Matters . Superintendent Ridgeway talked about priorities for the new school year, growth in the district and what a potential BlueOval plant in Marshall could mean for its Harper Creek neighbors. Episode Resour...

First Aired August 19, 2023 Jessica Gilbert with the Humane Society of South Central Michigan returns to Community Matters with another Wiggly Tail update! This time, we meet Chicky the yellow Lab mix, whose personality may be cuddly and playful perfect. And, hear more about the Canine Carnival set for August 26, 2023. Episode Resources HSSCM website Richard reads to the kittens at HSSCM More Wigg...

First Aired August 12, 2023 Ford Motor Company's intent to build a new battery plant in Marshall, Michigan presents an interesting opportunity: The chance to build a new manufacturing facility from the ground up. On this episode of Community Matters , we ask manufacturing consultant Mike Craig of the west-Michigan-based GKW Business Solutions to help us understand what innovations Ford might...

First Aired August 12, 2023 The first-ever effort to provide tuition for every graduate of a school district happened in 2005 right next door to Battle Creek - with the Kalamazoo Promise. With Battle Creek Public School's first set of Bearcat Advantage scholars headed off to college, Community Matters asked one former Kalamazoo Public Schools insider to relate his observations and insights fr...

First Aired August 5, 2023 Opponents of the Ford BlueOval Battery Park Michigan planned for Marshall, Michigan are again facing a delay in the progress of their lawsuit. Marshall attorney Richard Lindsey - one of the members of the Ford/MAEDA legal team - explains what caused the latest delay and when both sides will face a judge again. Episode Resources Attorney Richard Lindsey’s website BlueOval...

First Aired August 5, 2023 In an update on the Ford BlueOval Battery Park Michiga n project, Jim Durian, CEO of the Marshall Area Economic Development Alliance (MAEDA) tells Community Matters the unbuilt plant is already attracting allied industies. Durian said a concrete mixing company, Shafer Redi-Mix, intends to buy a space at The Brooks industrial and research park - a move that would bring mo...

First Aired August 5, 2023 Calhoun County Clerk Kimberly Hinkley encourages residents to go to the polls on Election Day Tuesday, August 5, 2023. In this episode of Community Matters, Hinkley discusses the smattering of ballot questions voters will decide on. Hinkley also looks ahead to the implementation of 9-day early voting in the state, which has her office and those of local clerks planning t...

First Aired July 29, 2023 Calhoun County Board of Commissioners Vice-Chair Steve Frisbie returns, this time with Administrator/Controller Kelli Scott. The pair discusses the outcome of the county's annual audit, as well as the Board's extension of Scott's contract. Episode Resources Calhoun County website Calhoun County Board of Commissioners website Calhoun County Administration we...

First Aired July 29, 2023 With the expected Ford BlueOval Battery Park Michigan plant in Marshall, some may be wondering: When can I apply for one of the 2500 jobs expected? What type of jobs will they be? What skills would I need? At press time, Ford had not offered insights yet into many of those details. But as we learn in this Community Matters episode, Kellogg Community College has already be...

First Aired July 22, 2023 In his first interview with Community Matters since a judge ruled against a proposed preliminary injunction meant to stop work at the Marshall (Michigan) Megasite, Glenn Kowalske talks about next steps. A member of the Committee for Marshall - Not the Megasite , Kowalske offers a peek into the committee's thinking while work continues at the site - preparing for cons...

First Aired July 22, 2023 A member of the legal team representing the Marshall Area Economic Development Alliance (MAEDA) tells Community Matters he does not believe the Committee for Marshall - Not the Megasite will win its lawsuit. Attorney Richard Lindsey believes a written opinion in the case released July 17, 2023 by Judge William Marietti - which shot down an attempt at a preliminary injunct...

First Aired July 22, 2023 The Humane Society of South Central Michigan presents Laney, a pretty cat with a mild-mannered disposition, as a candidate for adoption in this Wiggly Tail episode of Community Matters. Episode Resources HSSCM website Richard reads to the kittens at HSSCM ABOUT COMMUNITY MATTERS Former WBCK Morning Show host Richard Piet (2014-2017) returns to host Community Matters, an i...

First Aired July 15, 2023 After the Calhoun County Board of Commissioners removed creation of a county transit authority from its agenda in spring 2023 citing a lack of support from municipalities, the Battle Creek City Commission is trying to get the county to take it up again. As we hear from Battle Creek Mayor Mark Behnke, he hopes a recent unanimous show of support for a county transit authori...

First Aired July 15, 2023 The Charitable Union in Battle Creek is ramping up its annual effort to get new or gently used school clothes to local children in need. Teresa Allen returns to Community Matters to discuss how you can help. Episode Resources Charitable Union website Community Matters: More Charitable Union episodes Back To School Clothing Drive Drop-Off Locations Battle Creek Public Scho...

First Aired July 15, 2023 Rep. Sarah Lightner (R-Springport) of Michigan's 45th House District joins Community Matters to discuss a number of current events. First, Lightner offers her perspective after having voted "no" on the incentive package for the proposed Ford BlueOval Battery Park Michigan at the Marshall Megasite. Lightner also discusses the recent state budget process, as...

First Aired July 8, 2023 Marshall Mayor Jim Schwartz returns to Community Matters to discuss the planned Ford BlueOval Battery Park Michigan eyed for the Megasite property, saying a "majority is very, very strong in support of this taking place." Amid some resistance - including a lawsuit filed by the " Committee for Marshall - Not the Megasite " to stop the appropriate zoning...

First Aired July 8, 2023 More than a dozen bridges along I-94 in Calhoun County are slated for repair or replacement in the summer of 2023. The work began in late winter and continues. Michigan Department of Transportation spokesperson Nick Schirripa updates Community Matters on the status of the work, including a key component: Replacing the Capital Avenue bridge over I-94 in Battle Creek. Episod...

First Aired July 8, 2023 Michigan State Police Lt. DuWayne Robinson talks with Community Matters about a new law in the state, now in effect, which makes it illegal to hold a device such as a smart phone while operating a vehicle. Robinson also discusses what could be a double-whammy for some violators: A combination fine and community service requirement. Episode Resources MSP Distracted Driving...

First Aired July 1, 2023 Battle Creek Fire Chief Bill Beaty visits Community Matters to urge Battle Creek-area residents to use caution when using fireworks to celebrate Independence Day. He says so for personal safety, but as well, because of the excessively dry ground. A burn ban in effect this summer was lifted in Battle Creek just before the Independence Day holiday weekend, but Beaty indicate...

First Aired July 1, 2023 A longstanding Independence Day weekend tradition in Battle Creek, the Field of Flight Airshow and Balloon Festival was back in full force on July 1, 2023. Just head of the show's debut, lead organizer Barb Haluskzka tells Community Matters with her signature enthusiasm all about the weekend's plans - and pertinent information about buying tickets and parking. Ep...

First Aired July 1, 2023 Glenn Kowalske returns to Community Matters to discuss developments the group "Committee for Marshall - Not the Megasite" has against the Ford BlueOval Battery Park Michigan. An attempt to halt rezoning of some of the property at the Marshall Megasite where the plant is to be built and circulating petitions to force a referendum for residents faced a setback when...