Community Matters Calhoun County

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...

Battle Creek Police Chief Shannon Bagley began his tenure in early 2023 as an interim chief, following the retirement of his predecessor. By mid-year, the "interim" was dropped and he assumed the chief's role on a permanent basis. In this episode, Bagley returns to look back on his inaugural year as chief, how his plans to expand community policing are going, how behavioral health c...

Calhoun County Board of Commissioners Vice-Chair Steve Frisbie tells Community Matters figuring out the road funding formula to keep repairing county roads will still be a priority in 2024. Frisbie also talks about budget adjustments in December 2023, as well as an appeal for safety on New Year's Eve. Episode Resources Calhoun County website Calhoun County Board of Commissioners website Calho...

Lakeview Ford President Vince Pavone joins Richard on Community Matters to look back on 2023 and some of the interviews and focuses on the program. The stage is set for a new year of episodes in 2024! Episode Resources All Community Matters episodes More podcasts produced by Livemic Communications ABOUT COMMUNITY MATTERS Former WBCK Morning Show host Richard Piet (2014-2017) returns to host Commun...

In this episode of Community Matters , The Center for Economic Accountability President John Mozena elaborates on bestowing Ford's BlueOval Battery Park Michigan as 2023's "Worst Economic Development Deal of the Year". Mozena discusses the basis for the distinction - comparing it to other similar projects -  as well as his overall belief that big subsidies are not the deal-clin...

Momo the cat, who has been a resident of the Humane Society of South Central Michigan for several years, might have a bit of a sourpuss when she's fitted with her Christmas hat. But, executive director Jessica Gilbert tells Community Matters she leads the charge when it comes to feline holiday festivities. Momo has the responsibility of receiving holiday cards from nearby - and even hundreds...

The $1.7 billion in state and local incentives Ford Motor Company was initially promised for the Marshall, Michigan BlueOval EV battery production facility has left many folks uncertain, at least, about the subsidies. Some say it's the cost of being competitive and keeping high-paying manufacturing jobs in Michigan. Others worry about how the subsidies will be paid for in the longrun - and wh...

"It never slowed down." That's the word from Battle Creek Unlimited President Joe Sobieralski during what may seem like an acceleration in the pace of new projects being announced in Battle Creek. Sobieralski offers perspective to Community Matters about the announcement of a new renaissance zone designation for WK Kellogg Co's Battle Creek manufacturing facility, as well as an...

Imagine the scenario: Family and friends gather for traditional holiday celebrations. Except, this year, you join relatives you haven't seen in months - and a loved one in attendance seems different. Could they be displaying symptoms of dementia? Miles for Memories founder Sherii Sherban comes back to Community Matters , saying such a situation isn't uncommon. Holiday gatherings where fo...