“Today’s ruling confirms a basic principle of responsible government: once funding is passed and signed into law, politicians don’t get to play games with it. House Republicans disregarded that principle by attempting to claw back funding that communities across Michigan were already relying on.
In District 44, that kind of instability has real consequences. Local governments, first responders, health care providers, and community organizations depend on predictable funding to do their jobs. When Republicans cut that funding, it created uncertainty for the people who rely on those services every day.
Michiganders deserve serious leadership that respects the law, values stability, and focuses on getting results for communities — and that’s the type of leadership I’ll bring to Lansing.”
On Tuesday, January 6, 2026, the Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) was dispatched to the 24000 block of L Drive North in Clarence Township for a reported domestic assault.
During the initial investigation, deputies learned the suspect had fled the scene and was considered outstanding. Information further indicated the suspect may be in possession of a firearm, and that illegal drugs, stolen property, and other evidence of criminal activity could be located at the residence. The victim was safely transported to a secure location for their protection.
A search warrant was subsequently authorized for the residence. Given the potential danger posed by the outstanding suspect, the Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office Special Response Team (SRT) was activated to execute the warrant. Upon arrival, multiple individuals at the home were detained without incident.
Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office detectives, Michigan State Police detectives, the Calhoun Area Multi-Jurisdictional Evidence Technicians (CAMJET), Calhoun Aerial Support Team (CAST), and CCSO K-9 units responded to assist in evidence collection and investigative operations. Additional supporting agencies included the Marshall Police Department, Albion Department of Public Safety, Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi Police Department, Michigan State Police SWET and SCAR teams, LifeCare Emergency Medical Services, and the Calhoun County Consolidated Dispatch Authority.
As a result of the search, two stolen vehicles and one stolen trailer were located on the property and recovered. Detectives also seized a firearm and suspected methamphetamine. The stolen vehicles and trailer were processed and returned to their lawful owners. The firearm and suspected narcotics have been submitted for laboratory testing and further analysis.
The suspect and individual wanted for additional questioning has been identified as Michael Gale of Clarence Township. Detectives are actively working to locate Gale. This case remains under investigation.
Anyone with information regarding Michael Gale’s location or activity is asked to contact the Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office Detective Bureau at 269-781-0880, or provide an anonymous tip through Silent Observer at 269-964-3888.
“Today’s ruling confirmed what Michiganders already knew: House Republicans abused their power and put real people’s lives at risk by blocking funding our communities were already promised — including here in District 84.
These weren’t abstract budget lines. This funding directly impacts our community and their ability to continue to address the needs of vulnerable seniors, community health services, support for first responders protecting our neighborhoods, and local communities ability to address critical systems. Republicans chose political antics over the stability communities and families depend on.
Michigan deserves leaders who put people first and protect the services our communities rely on — not leaving families with the consequences of their political stunts.”
The Calhoun County Consolidated Dispatch Authority (CCDA) is announcing a new partnership with Michigan Storm Chasers to strengthen severe weather monitoring, emergency response, and public safety through the installation of two live-feed cameras in Calhoun County.
The CCDA has funded the purchase of the cameras, which will be owned by the Authority. Michigan Storm Chasers contributed additional funding to upgrade the equipment to higher-quality cameras and will provide ongoing monitoring and live-feed broadcasting.
One camera is located on the B Drive North radio tower in Leroy Township. The second camera is installed on a CCDA tower in Albion and includes a view of Interstate 94. Together, the cameras offer expanded visibility across key areas of the county.
“This technology provides dispatchers, emergency management, and our public safety partners with real-time visual information during severe weather and other emergency situations,” said Michael Armitage, Executive Director of the Calhoun County Consolidated Dispatch Authority. “Having visual confirmation helps us right-size responses, improve responder safety, and share timely, accurate information with the community.”
The live camera feeds will support multiple uses, including:
Real-time weather monitoring for dispatch and emergency management
Improved situational awareness during severe storms and emergencies
Assistance validating traffic conditions on I-94 and surrounding areas
Enhanced public access to live weather conditions
Michigan Storm Chasers will have access to the camera feeds and will broadcast them on their YouTube channel, @MichiganWeatherNetwork, allowing residents and weather watchers to view live conditions as events unfold. The cameras will also be available for use during non-weather-related incidents where visual confirmation supports emergency operations.
“This partnership allows us to expand Calhoun County’s monitoring capabilities while leveraging the expertise and established network of Michigan Storm Chasers,” Armitage added. “It’s a practical example of collaboration that directly benefits public safety.”
These two cameras will join more than 90 live cameras currently operating as part of the Michigan Storm Chasers network across the state.
“Michigan Storm Chasers would like to extend our sincere thanks to Calhoun County Dispatch for sponsoring and providing two pan-tilt-zoom cameras within Calhoun County.” Stated Michigan Storm Chasers Founder, Ryan Harriott. “These cameras offer a valuable bird’s eye view of incoming severe weather, winter storms, and other atmospheric conditions, while also capturing scenic sunsets and daily sky conditions. This partnership enhances situational awareness for the public and strengthens our mission to deliver timely, accurate, and visually informative weather coverage to the community.”
Last night at the City of Albion, Michigan Council Meeting a proclamation was read by our Mayor and group member Victoria Garcia- Snyder acknowledging and celebrating our achievement of donating $750,000 to organizations throughout Albion since our inception. This is an incredible milestone and we are honored to all who have actively participated in Albion Area Philanthropic Women to make this possible. Click here for original story about this honor.
This is true example of the collective power we have to positively impact our community.
L – R Juanita Solis Mayor Snyder Vivian Davis Peg Turner Nancy Rousch
Albion, Mich. – Albion just got a whole lot tastier with a new DQ® restaurant coming to town.
American Dairy Queen Corporation (ADQ), an iconic leader in treats and food, today announced a new DQ restaurant with its grand opening on January 5. Conveniently located off I-94 at 1508 N. Eaton St., the new restaurant will serve guests from Albion and surrounding communities and be owned by Todd Haidous and his brothers, Mike and Derrick Haidous, multi-unit Dairy Queen franchisees.
“Dairy Queen has been at the center of our family’s business for years, and opening a restaurant in Albion allows us to continue serving communities close to home,” said Todd. “With nearby locations in Jackson and Marshall, we see this as an opportunity to create a welcoming place for locals to gather, enjoy great food, and feel part of something familiar.”
The Albion restaurant will be operated by a seasoned, family-run franchise group with more than a decade of experience in franchising and a history with the Dairy Queen brand dating back to 2016. The group currently owns 12 DQ restaurants across Michigan and Indiana, with existing restaurants in nearby Jackson and Marshall, making Albion a natural extension of its footprint in the region. Ownership is shared among family members, including brothers and cousins, with hands-on, day-to-day involvement in operations.
“Dairy Queen Cups” by Mike Mozart, via Flickr. Licensed under CC BY 2.0.
Community involvement will be a hallmark of the new restaurant. In addition to Dairy Queen’s national partnership with Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals®, the Albion DQ team plans to support local schools, community events, and neighborhood initiatives, offer senior and student discounts, and hire locally. The franchise group is also recognized for its commitment to guest service, earning a Customer Excellence Award from its local chamber of commerce each year.
The restaurant will serve hot food and treats, including Signature Stackburgers™, Chicken Strip Baskets and world-famous DQ soft serve in cones, sundaes, shakes, and the signature Blizzard® Treat, among many more craveable menu items.
A welcoming environment for all, the new DQ restaurant features a modern design with large comfortable booths, community tables and chairs, a designated mobile order pick-up counter, drive-thru lanes, an outdoor patio, and an iconic 14-foot DQ red spoon.
Additional Dairy Queen locations are already in development as the franchise group continues its investment across Michigan and Indiana. The Albion location marks the team’s 13th DQ restaurant.
The restaurant will be open, starting January 5, from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m., Sunday through Saturday.
About International Dairy Queen
International Dairy Queen, Inc. (IDQ), headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota, is the parent company of American Dairy Queen Corporation and Dairy Queen Canada, Inc. Through its subsidiaries, IDQ develops, licenses and services a system of more than 7,700 DQ restaurants in more than 20 countries. IDQ is a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway, Inc. (Berkshire), which is led by Warren Buffett, the legendary investor and CEO of Berkshire.
The nickname has nothing to do with the University of Michigan. It came first.
Long before it was a sports symbol, “Wolverine” emerged from conflict. One widely cited origin traces back to the 1830s during the Toledo War, a fierce border dispute between Michigan and Ohio.
Accounts suggest that Ohioans began calling the people of Michigan “wolverines,” not as a compliment but as an insult. They were describing what they saw as a gluttonous, aggressive, and stubborn group of people who refused to back down from the fight.
But Michiganders did what they do best. They leaned into it. They took an animal known for being small but fearless, a creature famous for standing its ground and driving much larger animals away from a kill, and made it their identity.
By the time George Armstrong Custer led the Michigan Brigade into the Civil War with the cry, “Come on, you Wolverines,” the name was no longer an insult. It was a badge of grit and resilience.
Whether or not wolverines ever roamed Michigan in large numbers matters less than what the name came to mean. It became shorthand for a people known for being stubborn, resilient, and famously hard to defeat.
Names like this stick because they fit. And this one did.
Image credit: 19th-century natural history illustration of a wolverine (Gulo gulo). Public domain.
On Tuesday, the public will have the opportunity to see the latest apartments available in Albion. The apartments are complete and available on Tuesday, December 30th, from 4-6 PM, for you to walk through and see what is offered.
The Hayes Block Apartments at 106 East Erie are ready for their next 100 years. Every apartment is unique, and you’ll get the rare opportunity to see them before all the tenants move in. We’re excited to show the community how each apartment blends modern downtown living with a nod to the history of an 1800’s building.
Note: The tour will require walking up and down 1-2 flights of stairs. The contractor is hard at work installing the elevator. The following pictures show all the available apartments. Really, you need to see them in person to appreciate how nice they are.
The Albion Area Philanthropic Women’s giving circle is one of the most impactful community-led initiatives in the Albion area. Since its inception in 2007, around 100 Albion women and supporters have gathered every quarter to each write a $100 check to support a local non-profit. Their final 2025 meeting on December 9 pushed the organization past $750,000 in donations to Albion non-profits!
During their meetings, the women hear from various presenting non-profits, who explain how they would use the approximate $10,000. Each presenter has three to four minutes to explain their needs, followed by a short period for questions. After, the women vote on the winner of that quarter’s round. Previous recipients range from the Albion District Library, which established the Dolly Parton Imagination Library, to the Forks Senior Center for technology upgrades, encompassing multiple facets of the community.
Beyond the generosity of giving, the quarterly meetings are a time for the women to gather and discuss their love for Albion. They have lunch or dinner and announcements on the countless events going on within the community. It is a time for sharing and caring. The women end the meeting by “passing the hat”, where an additional organization of choice gets a few cash donations.
Homestead Savings Bank generously sponsored lunch, so the collected lunch money will be donated to the Community Table of Albion. Your lunch money donation will have an even greater impact because the Albion Community Foundation will match your donations to CTA up to $500. Help Philanthropic Women reach their ¾ million-dollar mark by joining – for more information, contact albionphilwomen@gmail.com.
Albion Mayor Victoria Garcia-Snyder (Left) & Chief of Staff Christina Hildreth Anderson, for Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, read proclamations honoring the local Albion group.
A two-week, targeted investigation into child exploitation led by the Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office has resulted in the arrest of Jeremy Clark, 35, of Battle Creek, who attempted to engage in sexual activity with a minor.
Jeremy Clark
This proactive, multi-agency operation was conducted with support from the Albion Department of Public Safety; Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi Tribal Police; Michigan State Police – Southwest Enforcement Team; Marshall Police Department; Battle Creek Police Department; Homeland Security Investigations; Michigan Department of Corrections; and the Calhoun County Consolidated Dispatch Authority.
Throughout the investigation, the individual made repeated attempts to solicit a 14-year-old female, including requests to purchase underwear and view intimate parts of the child. At the conclusion of the enforcement period, detectives took the suspect into custody. He has been formally charged with the following felony offenses:
Accosting a Child for Immoral Purposes
Using a Computer or the Internet to Communicate with Another Person to Commit a Crime
“The Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office remains steadfast in our mission to protect the most vulnerable among us,” said Sheriff Steve Hinkley. “I think this is a good opportunity for some self-reflection. If you’re chatting and intending to solicit our children for sex, you need to know this – you’re next! This is an ongoing reminder to parents: social media can be a dangerous place. Monitor and discuss online risks; trust but verify; and keep lines of communication open. Awareness and education are key to protecting our youth from those who wish to do them harm.”
The investigation remains ongoing. Anyone with information related to this case is encouraged to contact Detective Pignataro at the Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office at 269-781-0880, or submit an anonymous tip through Silent Observer.
The Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office is committed to maintaining a safe community for the citizens, especially the children, of Calhoun County, and will continue its efforts to identify, investigate, and hold accountable individuals who seek to exploit minors.
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