Written by John Face

October 11, 2023

An hour after City Watch news posted this opinion online article at 11:35 A.M. (CLICK HERE TO READ OPINION STORY), Interim Economic Development Corporation (EDC) Chair Jerome Harvey emailed leaders in Albion along with Council members and EDC. In this letter, he stated he was appointing fired Virgie Ammerman as acting EDC President based on the authority Harvey claimed he had from a resolution passed back in March of this year by the EDC Board.

The letter clearly states Harvey MAY have that authority, but ONLY if the EDC Board authorizes it, which, according to EDC board members, they still need to approve. He reads it differently and says she can now do everything the EDC President legally can do because he said so. Unfortunately, the city attorney and EDC attorney are unwilling to disagree with Harvey’s version of the rule. This makes it impossible for the City Manager to intervene because her city attorney lacks the courage to stand up to this blatant corruption.

So Ammerman forced the landlord of the building to open it for her so she could seize the office and begin “working.” Board members Vicky Clark and Harvey told Albion police, whom Ammerman called we have been told, that Ammerman was authorized to be in the building and office, which is untrue. The EDC board still needs to meet to allow Harvey to take this action. Harvey opens the door to do this, leaving Ammerman with records that she may be emboldened to do more damage than she already has.

Ammerman is under investigation by the Michigan State Police for trying to delete emails and remove confidential files after her firing on August 10 this year. Harvey wrote the letter in question on October 9, 2023, and it was not sent to the above leaders until today, an hour after City Watch posted our Opinion story linked above. At no time in the last few months since Ammerman was fired has Harvey attempted this take-over of the EDC using this resolution of the EDC, which makes one wonder why now.

City Watch News asked and received this statement from Albion Mayor Vicky Snyder:

As the Mayor of Albion, I am deeply concerned about the blatant disregard for the rule of the law and ethical board governance demonstrated by Jerome Harvey’s unilateral decision to reinstate the Director of the EDC today. The EDC executive committee voted to terminate her employment; and later a vote to reinstate her failed.

Although Mr. Harvey is fully aware that Ms. Ammerman is under criminal investigation for alleged malfeasance, he decided to act in a vacuum and reappoint her this afternoon without any input from other EDC board members. That decision flies in the face of ethical board governance and it is bad business for both the EDC and our community. Enough is Enough. I am consulting with legal counsel to determine next steps to undo this unethical and undemocratic action.

Mayor Victoria Garcia Snyder

Here is the best copy we can get of the Harvey email:

ALBION 

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT 

October 9, 2023 

Mayor Victoria Snyder 

Albion City Council Commissioners Albion Economic Development Corporation 

Board of Directors 

Delivered via email 

Press Release 

Colleagues, 

As the Albion Economic Development Corporation Board of Directors continues to accomplish an Interim President / CEO employment agreement with Virgie Ammerman, it was necessary to appoint a Contracted Interim President / CEO to manage the day-to-day operations of the organization as it is, indeed, a full-time position requiring strategic and operational commitment at a level no one board member can perform. 

The attached Board Resolution allows for this contract to be executed and these day-to-day operations include, but are not limited to: 

Partnering with and supporting MAEDA’s efforts to continue to attract major investments and industry, such as the Ford BlueOval EV Battery Plant. 

Partnering with and supporting Tier II supply chain needs incentivization. 

Land accumulation and development necessary to attract resources from the State of Michigan so that industry can be incentivized to locate in the greater Albion area, thus creating both construction and long-term jobs. 

Partnering with and supporting WODA Corporation with their MSHDA tax credit application for 50 units of workforce and/or senior housing located on North Eaton Street. This application is due in November and requires extensive support from the EDC and the City of Albion. You will recall Mr. Craig Patterson appeared before the EDC Board during the September 28, 2023, board meeting to detail their needs and confidence in Virgie’s capacity and ability to link them with the City of Albion. Partnering with and supporting a confidential housing developer committed to developing housing on the outskirts of Albion City. This MSHDA application is due this winter and needs significant support from the EDC and the City of Albion. Partnering with and supporting a confidential developer preparing a MSHDA tax credit application due this next spring and significant early development work is critical to the success of this application in the spring. 

Partnering with and supporting several restaurateurs interested in expanding or locating in the City of Albion. 

Strategically creating the calendar year EDC Budget to support the vision and goals of the EDC in support of the vision and goals of the City of Albion and surrounding townships. 

Albion Economic Development Corporation, P.O. Box 725, Albion, MI 49224 517.629.3926 http://www.albionedc.org 

Partnering with Mark Gettel, Business Solutions Manager, with Michigan Manufacturing Technology Center, on the Going Pro Talent Fund fall round. 

Partnering with Dale Carnegie and the Michigan Manufacturer’s Association on the Industrial Led Collaborative fall round to continue to bring leadership training to our region. 

Oversee and manage both employed and contracted staff. 

Managing grant awards and programs allowing the EDC to maintain compliance and ability to attract future funding while currently serving Albion residents. 

Strengthening relationships with the Calhoun County Land Bank opening opportunities for City of Albion residents to procure and develop available properties. 

Virgie Ammerman has been contracted beginning Monday, October 9, 2023, through such time as the President / CEO role is filled permanently. She is uniquely qualified to fill this role both efficiently and effectively as she has been performing these duties and is responsible for the early development steps in these projects. In addition, as we will be holding Virgie accountable for the successful execution of this role moving forward, it makes the most sense to have her in this contracted role. 

We are most grateful to Virgie for agreeing to this intermediate volunteer step and trust she will dedicate herself to the best interests of the City of Albion and the Economic Development of Albion and surrounding areas. 

Thank you for your support and continued work toward alignment of our vision and goals on behalf of the City of Albion, Sheridan and Albion Township, our region, and our state. 

In partnership and appreciation,                                                                                                                           Jerome Harvey 

Chairperson of the Board 

Albion Economic Development Corporation 

cc: Nelson Karre, EDC Board Counsel 

cc: Cullen Harkness, City of Albion Counsel 

Cc: Kevin Brozovich, HR Consultant 

cc: Virgie Ammerman 

Attachment: Resolution from March 2023 EDC Board Meeting 

Resolution:

ALBION ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, ALBION TAX INCREMENT FINANCING AUTHORITY, AND ALBION BROWNFIELD REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY Michigan municipal corporation and Authorities 

Resolution- Authorization for Board Officers and the President to Execute Business 

Contracts and Leases 

March 2, 2023 The undersigned certifies: the undersigned is the duly elected and qualified Secretary of Albion Economic Development Corporation (EDC), a Michigan municipal corporation, the Board of which serves as the Board of Directors for the Albion Tax Increment Financing Authority (TIFA) and for the Albion Brownfield Redevelopment Authority (BRA); the following resolution was duly adopted by the Board of Directors of the Corporation at a duly called meeting of the Board at which a quorum was present held on March 2, 2023: 

BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Corporation bylaws allow for the Board to authorize board officers and agents to enter into contracts and to execute and deliver instruments in the name of and on behalf of the Corporation. The Bylaws further state such authority may be general or limited. Any contract or other instrument executed in the name of the Corporation shall be signed by such officers or agents of the Corporation as the board specifies, and in the manner the board authorizes by resolution. 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the Board of Directors grants general authority to any of the Board Chair, the Board Secretary, and the President for business contracts and leases that are needed in the normal course of business. 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the Board authorizes any of the EDC/TIFA /BRA Board Chair and the EDC/TIFA/BRA Board Secretary, and the EDC/TIFA/BRA President to execute on general business contracts and leases needed in the normal course of business. 

The undersigned further certifies that the above Resolution remains in full force and binding upon the Corporation, that the Board of Directors has the power and authority to authorize the acts set forth in the Resolution, and that the Resolution has not been amended or revoked as of the date of this Certificate. 

DATED: March 2, 2023 

Annette Marria 

Annette Norris, Secretary

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October 11, 2023

Press Release

The Calhoun County Clerk and Register of Deeds, Kimberly A. Hinkley, with the support of 19 City and Township Clerks, seeks individuals interested in working at the Calhoun County Early In-Person Voting Site in 2024.

Early In-Person Voting Sites will be a new voting option for state and federal elections in 2024 and beyond, ensuring that registered voters have nine consecutive days before an election to vote in person. These Early In-Person Voting Sites will be open nine days, beginning the second Saturday before and ending the Sunday prior to an election.

To ensure this is a safe, secure, and smooth process, Election Inspectors are needed. With shorter shifts available, approximately 15 people are needed per day to help operate the early in-person voting sites. The Calhoun County Early In-Person Voting Site is at the Marshall County Building, located at 315 W Green St.

The Calhoun County Early In-Person Voting Site is available to voters in any Calhoun County city or township EXCEPT those in the City of Battle Creek, City of Springfield, Bedford and Pennfield Charter Townships. Registered voters who reside in those four jurisdictions will go to the Battle Creek Early In-Person Voting Site, located at the Kool Family Center. Applications submitted through the form below are for the Calhoun County Site in Marshall.

We want YOU to work at an Early In-Person Voting Site in 2024. 

Who can do it: Anyone age 16+ can work at an Early In-Person voting Site

When: Early In-Person Voting Sites operate nine consecutive days before an election, beginning the second Saturday before and ending the Sunday prior to an election.

Location: Calhoun County Building, 315 W Green St. in Marshall, 49068

Time: Polls at the Calhoun County Early In-Person Voting Site are open 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; Election Inspectors will help with opening and closing the polls before and after that timeframe

Pay: $15/hour

Apply at https://bit.ly/CCElectionInspector

Reasons to work as an Election Inspector:

• Help ensure we have safe, secure, recountable elections
• Opportunity to serve in your community
• Participate in democracy, especially as the state begins offering early voting

Press Release

October 11, 2023

Albion, MI. – In the past, Caster Concepts’ self-imposed inventory requirements to keep parts in stock was creating more challenges than it was solving. Reliability and quality were always there. What was missing was the shorter lead times. By adding the right equipment and a quick response manufacturing mindset, today’s Caster Concepts is equipped for success.

As Andrew Dobbins, Vice President of Manufacturing notes, “We’ve got our AMADA lasers and press brakes. And we’re the only North American caster manufacturer with an in-house polyurethane operation. We can make orders from scratch faster than our competitors can pull them off the shelf.” In a just-in-time, custom-design world, manufacturers have to adjust their processes to accommodate customer expectations, something that Caster Concepts has embraced.

To illustrate this point, Amada recently highlighted Caster Concepts in their Total Solutions magazine, showing how a flexible, quick response mentality is the key to building the capacity for sustained growth.

Associated Media: AMADA Total Solutions magazine

Opinion

Written by John Face

October 11, 2023

Author Ramblings

While Vicky Clark and Jerome Harvey have tried countless times since August 10 to reinstate ousted Economic Development Corporation (EDC) President Virgie Ammerman, questions need to be answered by them. Why? Why have you two been hell-bent on bringing back a President you have admitted in meetings doesn’t know how to do her job? What John? Did they admit Virgie Ammerman was incapable of being the EDC President?

Of course, they did. When these two EDC Board members voted to spend thousands of dollars of EDC tax money on coaching for her, they proved she was over her head. They voted to allow Ammerman help, proving that hiring someone with zero experience is one of the dumbest decisions the EDC board has ever made. Now, it took the entire Board to hire Ammerman, and it took almost that whole Board to fire her once they realized her personality could not be marketable for Albion.

Doesn’t Work and Play Well With Others

Ammerman was not only in trouble with her Board because of what appeared to be incompetence but also because the businesses in Albion, which she was supposed to be helping, couldn’t work with her. “Talking to her about what could be done to make Albion better was difficult for her to answer; at one point, it felt like she didn’t know how to answer that question,” said one business leader. Another said, “She didn’t seem to grasp that retaining business and helping them grow creates jobs.” One business leader was shocked, “I couldn’t believe she felt comfortable speaking badly of other leaders in Albion in front of me. I asked myself is this the type of person I want to work with?”

Back to my Original Rant

Back to the original issue, why are two EDC members trying so hard to get her back? Well, only Ammerman and they know. The public can make much speculation and has. Is she hiding something? Why would she access her EDC email after being fired, delete emails, steal private and public files, and download them to her personal server? Just a reminder to Clark and Harvey: there is an active Michigan State Police investigation regarding her stealing public files. So you are good with hiring someone and giving them a contract that makes it impossible to fire them?

Let’s Trash Talk Others

Having Vicky Clark sit in an open meeting and publicly decry that Peggy Sindt, a former EDC President, is why Albion is in a bad place is about the most asinine comment a public official has ever made in the City of Albion. Trust me that is saying a lot, considering I covered the Garrett Brown administration as he hired an eventual thief as City Manager who was also in a job over their head. Maybe Clark is trying to throw shade at Sindt to distract people from her poor (Clark) decisions on the EDC Board and when she was on Albion City Council.

Solution is Simple For the Next EDC Meeting

I suggest the four former EDC Board members illegally fired by the council attend the next meeting. I recommend they all take their places on the Board they held when the removal occurred and, if questioned, remind everyone that the City and EDC attorneys said they were illegally removed from their Board seats. Have in your hands the opinions of those lawyers and start doing the business of the EDC. I also suggest you vote not to offer Ammerman any severance. Her actions after being fired, stealing documents, and deleting emails go beyond cause for doing this. I suggest this Board then contact the Attorney General’s office requesting an investigation about the possibility of misuse of public funds that Ammerman used on questionable programs.

Time to Go

It is time for Vicky Clark and Jerome Harvey to resign from the EDC Board. They are trying to rehire Ammerman with a raise, knowing she can’t do the job. Their willingness to try and pay someone more money and look beyond what appears to be criminal acts is outright negligence. Resign, Albion can do better than you. 

I remind everyone Clark took questionable favors from former Albion College President Mathew Johnson while she was on the Albion City Council facing votes that would benefit Johnson—specifically, being offered a no-bid contract to hire her small cleaning company to clean a couple of buildings at the college. Since that has happened, Johnson lackeys employed by the college have intentionally filed false complaints about the leading company already cleaning the college and pushing for more work for Clark. These are the type of people who are making decisions in Albion.

Have information on this or other stories? Email us at citywatchnews1@gmail.com

Written by John Face
Editorial
October 10, 2023

Former Albion College President Mathew Johnson was a week away from making half a million dollars as President of Albion College, a 1300-student college for the calendar year of 2021. Everyone in Albion, from staff to students to community residents, knew Albion College had fallen on tough financial times. So when the Board of Trustees Chair Mike Harrington, now a former Board member, flew out east to meet Johnson when some on his search committee had reservations about hiring him, at some point, the Board decided not only to hire him with serious questions in his background, but to pay the candidate who had absolutely no real experience leading a college an almost grotesque amount of money.

When the Board released Johnson in late December of 2021, he took a once proud institution and nearly bankrupted it in 18 months. I had several parents reach out to me about their students on whether Albion College was going to close. Johnson failed to raise money of any importance, spending millions on his pet projects while he was supposed to be dealing with budget deficits. He dealt with them in the Johnson way, spending money and creating jobs that had no real purpose at a school other than to surround himself with lackeys who would tell the king how pretty he and his robes were.

For example, proof of this was the money he paid to his chief of staff, Kelly Finn. Finn was making $108,000+ acting as, what many employees said, his hatchet. Finn made more than almost all professors at the school. Again, it is a college with around 1300 students. College insiders said she and a small group appear to have been well paid as the college struggled. One needs help to grasp paying Leroy Wright, the Vice President for Student Development, just over $217,000, when current President Wayne Webster openly admits the college has a shortfall of at least 14 million dollars.

When Wright was hired by then Albion College President Mauri Ditzler in 2019, there were already financial strains on the college. Looking at some of the current senior staff wages, this reporter can easily spot a few million that could be cut from the budget. “Schools” and “Departments” created by Johnson and a couple by Ditzler should all be eliminated, along with the people they hired.

Fear of staff is that starting in January, cuts will come, and instead of the top staff, it will be the people who teach students and do the real work on campus. Current President Webster has said he plans on eliminating the deficit by way of retirement attrition and not filling empty positions. His plans also include trying to increase enrollment. Though Webster says he doesn’t want to lay off people, he has made little guarantees after the new year.

Albion College suffers from severe cash shortages, but hope is still possible. President Webster brings a background in raising money and has already excited his staff, pushing themselves to find ways to bring in the capital. Students, administrative staff, and professors widely like him. He comes from The College of Wooster, where one former colleague said, “Wayne can raise money and leads by example. He is the perfect fit for Albion; Wooster lost, Albion won this battle”. City Watch feels it’s fair to give Webster the benefit of the doubt. Let’s all step up and help him. Hell if anyone deserves a half million bucks to run the college it would be him. I mean he actually has done this kind of work before. But hey, I am not on the Board of Trustees.

Oh, I want to tell you what my answer was to those parents was then, and still today. Albion College will survive. Albion College is a top Liberal Arts school and will continue to attract the best students and athletes from around the country. Money is tight but your student will not feel the pain.

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STATE REPRESENTATIVE

Jim Haadsma

JimHaadsma@house.mi.gov
RepHaadsma.com

BATTLE CREEK, Mich., Oct. 5, 2023 — The Michigan Strategic Fund recently announced approval of a $350,000 performance-based grant to SJS Electric VDC to support its business expansion plans. The $902,000 project is expected to create 60 high-skilled jobs and contribute to the growth of the local economy. SJS Electric VDC, headquartered in Battle Creek, specializes in providing virtual design solutions for electrical systems in buildings.

“The approval of this project is excellent news for Battle Creek. It recognizes the potential and talent of our community that we’ve always had. It shows the state’s dedication to supporting local businesses and creating jobs that will benefit our residents and boost our economy,” Haadsma said.

Written by John Face

Photos by John Face

October 5, 2023

As we enter October, the Superior Street Mercantile at 217 South Superior across from the Hotel kicked the Fall season off with a bang. They hosted the first of four total, called “Oktoberfest Albion,” which features beer and wine tastings, live music, and Mr. Reid selling his famous hotdogs. Their event will occur each Wednesday in October from 4:30 P.M. to 6:30 P.M. I attended this event and enjoyed all the offerings.

October is full of events this year, as you can see by following our link to our Upcoming Events page on City Watch. CLICK HERE TO GO TO CALENDAR. We have Witches and Wizards, trick or treating, and live music all month. Heck, we even have trivia offered every Friday night. So go to the calendar and come to downtown Albion for fun.

Press Release

Albion-Homer United Way (AHUW) made it a little easier for families to enjoy hands-on play at Kids ‘N Stuff Children’s Museum (KNS). A grant from AHUW helps KNS participate in the Museums for All program, which makes it more affordable for families to pay for admission. Museums for All is a national access program that encourages individuals of all backgrounds to regularly visit museums and build lifelong museum habits, according to KNS Executive Director Katie Gigliotti.

For 20 years, KNS has served families in Albion, Calhoun County, and beyond. Gigliotti said, “We see families from all walks of life, and we strongly believe that all children and families deserve to experience the power of learning through play that can only happen at a place like a children’s museum.” KNS has participated in the Museums for All programs for the past seven years. According to the grant application, families who participate in some of the state assistance programs are eligible for this program.

Since June 2022, KNS has welcomed over 15,000 visitors, and nearly 3,000 of them have utilized the program. The AHUW grant will help families eligible for SNAP benefits sign up for the discounted membership program, which is good for one calendar year. In addition to museum admission, this program gives families discounted admission to special programs, access to members-only programs, discounts on birthday parties, and ongoing, monthly reciprocal perks with other museum locations throughout the region.

AHUW board members are Virgie Ammerman, Carolyn Amos, Donisha Brewer, Chris Burdette, Art Kale, Michael Leskowich, Isabell Nazar, Eddie Williams and Shane Williamson. Albion-Homer United Way’s commitment is to help fund non-profit programs through grants. On-going donations throughout the year are needed to support these efforts. According to AHUW Executive Director Marcia Starkey, there are several good reasons to donate to the local United Way. Those donations fund Albion and Homer-specific programs, and funding decisions are made by a local board. Donor lists are never shared with
other agencies, and payroll deductions make donating easier. Donations can be mailed to AHUW P.O. Box 55, Albion, MI 49224, online at http://www.albionhomeruw.org or by contacting Starkey at 517-499-2563.

Written by John Face
October 3, 2023

My Story in Honor of my Beloved Mother, Joyce

I was just 15 years old in late 1975, a sophomore in high school, and I had no idea what breast cancer was. I recall Mom and Dad sitting my brother and I down, telling us precisely what she had. Cancer in her breast and that they were going to do surgery and have to remove it. I do remember asking her if she would be OK. She just sat there and smiled briefly, telling us all would be good afterward.

I didn’t believe her. Hell, all I knew about cancer was everyone died when they had it. Now my Mom has it, and I was scared. I remember crying in bed that night, and somehow, Mom knew and came in and held my hand. Whispering as she stroked my hair, “We are going to be OK, Johnny.”

The Day of the operation was long, and the most memorable moment was when Doctor Spencer came out and said it went well and Mom was doing fine. It would be an hour or so longer before we finally saw her. She had a tube in her chest and was obviously in pain, yet she still smiled and kissed us.

A Troubled Childhood, Learning to Cope

For those who never figured it out, I suffered from Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Thankfully for me, Dr. Miriam diagnosed me early enough, and I received the treatment needed to function and become a stellar student in high school. But still, I had moments where my brain was scrambled, and I would also have anxiety. This period with my Mom was one of the most stressful in my young life, and my ADHD drugs finally failed me.

I will Help You Kick His Ass

The Day after her surgery, my brother Russ and I returned to school; in hindsight, I should not have been sent back. I was still upset and shared what had happened with a friend in the gym locker room. He put his hand on my shoulder and said it would be alright, and we headed to the basketball court for gym class.

Unknown to me, one of the other students in the class had overheard our conversation and, while playing 5 on 5 basketball, walked past me, asked how my one-titty Mom was doing, and then laughed. I hit him twice and put him on the floor. My friend Lolo stopped me from doing more damage and dragged me to the locker room, hoping nothing would come of it.

We sat there as Lolo told me if that coach came over, deny it happened. He agreed what was said to me was wrong, and hell, he said he would help me kick his ass after school for saying it. But my brain, rage, fear, everything pulsed through my veins. I wanted revenge, and I wanted it now. That wouldn’t happen as coach Shill came around the corner and asked, “Face, is this over?” I looked up and said, “No, I will be waiting for him in the hallway after class; I’m going to kick his ass.” Lolo groaned.

I was on my way to see Mr. Nichols. Walt looked at me, so disappointed. I had done well since the 8th grade with no suspensions or fights. He said he would forget this if not for the school’s zero tolerance of no fighting. He said, “You gave coach Shilling and Britner no choice.”

He called Dad, who came from Harrington School, and I figured I was in trouble. Walt apologized to Dad, I’m so sorry for doing this, Russ. Dad told him not to worry about it. We walked to the car in front of the school, and Dad said nothing. Once in the front seat, he looked forward momentarily and asked, “How about we go see how Momma is doing?”

Mom was saddened to see me but not upset. Dad left and went back to work, and I spent the rest of the Day at the Albion Hospital with her. That helped. Doctor Spencer came in and explained about the radiation treatment she would get in Battle Creek. He tried explaining the machine to me, which seemed a little scary.

I spent the next few days home, and Mom finally came home. Her struggle was difficult; hell, it was called a radical mastectomy for good reason; they took everything around her breast. She started her radiation several times a week, and I was curious and worried about what they were doing to her. She had rehab that made her look like Wonder Woman because she was strong and never gave up.

The Big Machine, a Woman Ahead of Her Time

One Day, she came home and told me she would take my brother and I to her treatment to see her inside the big machine. The appointment was early in the morning. As we drove, we snacked on a donut from the bakery downtown.

We walked into the X-ray department, and they took us back. I heard the Tech whispering to Mom, asking, “Are you sure, Joyce?” Mom was in the dressing room briefly and came out wearing a gown. I was in the control room as the Tech placed Mom on the table of this machine; that was impressive. Mom laid down, and the Tech joined me.

She started to explain what was happening as this machine swallowed up Mom. She said all the noise was normal, as we were aiming radiation at where the cancer was. The Tech was so kind. She could tell I was scared and made sure she explained everything to a 15-year-old who was terrified for his Mom.

To my surprise, the treatment took just a few minutes. The Tech went in to help Mom sit up when I noticed they talked for a while. The Tech came back to the control room and said Mom wanted me to come to her. We went in and around to the front of my Mom. She looked at me, and a sheet around her shoulder covered her.

She said, “Honey, I know you have been scared these last few weeks, and there is nothing I can tell you that can make you better. So I decided I want you to see this. I thought if you see it, you will be less scared.” It was then the sheet slid to the floor.

I saw the scars, the missing breast, and her missing the upper part of her arm. It didn’t scare me at all. I asked the Tech what was all the ink marks for. She said they marked where the radiation would go. Mom said, “It doesn’t hurt anymore, Johnny; I am going to be OK”. The Tech told me as Mom dressed, the family rarely comes back for radiation treatments, let alone young men. She told me she was glad my Mom allowed her to participate. My Mom was ahead of her time.

Bravest Woman, I Have Ever Known

As you figured out by now, this wasn’t the typical survivor story. Cancer is an evil that families deal with in their ways. I was lucky that I had loving parents and siblings so we could lean on each other. I realized my Mom was superhuman during her fight with cancer. Hell, she lived for decades as a survivor and was proud of that.

I grew up and would eventually understand what she did was amazing and brave. I love my dear mother; Every Day, I think of her. Every Day, I miss her. Every Day, I remember how she taught me how to face the world’s evils.

Joyce Face
Wonder Woman

Love you Mom

Written by John Face

Opinion

September 29, 2023

As Jerome Harvey tried to call the meeting to order on September 28, he lacked a quorum to do business. Vicky Clark was the only other board member of the Albion Economic Development Corporation Board (EDC) in attendance. This same scenario has occurred multiple times since EDC President Virgie Ammerman was fired. After that firing by the EDC Board, the Albion City Council removed four members of the EDC board who voted to fire Ammerman.

Harvey has yet to gain experience running a meeting, even one that is not official. After he called his nonmeeting to order, he called on a local pastor and had him pray. Yes, Jerome Harvey had a Christian pastor pray before the meeting. Typically, public Boards have a moment of silence. Harvey acknowledged that but still went full bore with prayer, never mind to other religions or those who don’t attend church or practice a religion. Harvey just flipped off Muslims, atheists, different religions, and those of the Jewish faith because his religion is more important.

Harvey would eventually tell the audience what they wanted to do, which was to re-hire Ammerman, effectively giving her a position she can’t be fired from and paying her around $40,000 more per year than she should make. As City Watch has reported (CLICK THIS LINK TO GO READ THE ENTIRE SERIES), she cannot do the job even after the EDC board spent thousands to coach her. So why are Jerome Harvey and Vicky Clark hell-bent on hiring someone who appears incompetent? Follow the money.

If they can get Ammerman hired, they can spend the EDC money in any way they see fit, even if it is against the law to spend money that way. Why? Well, the Albion City Council would be the ones to police the EDC, and with the majority of the council showing they are fine breaking the law, Albion is in a bad place.

During this non-meeting, Harvey and Clark openly violated the Open Meetings Act by leaving the chambers and meeting in the hallway in private, which is forbidden by law.

Ultimately, Harvey would return and tell those in attendance that they had difficulty finding a third board member to attend the meeting. They would hold off closing the meeting, hoping to get a quorum later in the day.

As far as this writer knows, the meeting did not continue later in the day.

Have information about this or other stories? Contact us at http://www.citywatchnews1@gmail.com