Written by John Face

August 20, 2023

On Thursday, August 10, the Economic Development Corporation Board (EDC) met in the City of Albion Council chambers for their meeting. The main focus of their meeting was the status of their President and CEO, Virgie Ammerman. After a three-hour meeting, the EDC Board voted for removal based on the opinion expressed in a letter by Marc Newman, acting chair of the EDC in a letter to Albion Mayor Victoria Snyder, who herself is an EDC Board member, that individuals from government, civic organizations, and community had negative interactions with Ammerman. Common issues were a lack of communication skills, organizational overreach, inadequate supervisory skills, and a general inability to work respectfully with others. According to Newman, all of these were observed by Board members as well.

I met with Virgie on Thursday, August 17. We sat for over an hour discussing many things that happened in the previous week and months. Ammerman told me they hadn’t told her why she was fired other than what was stated in the meeting. But she failed to say to me and others in the public that she did know, for a very long time, that there were serious concerns about her ability to do this job. She went so far as to claim they offered no help.

EDC Board Members Knew Ammerman Was Having Problems Early On

Her Board approached her about problems shortly after she started to work at the EDC in September of 2022. All the board members know this, even though some appear to lie to the public and claim the opposite. The Board offered help; the proof is setting up professional coaching, from which Ammerman told me she benefited. This coaching has been monthly, sometimes twice a month, since at least October 2022.

So far, the Board has spent close to $2000 for coaching, hoping that she could improve on all the issues brought to them and her. Yet, the complaints about her kept coming in. This is not a “Board that doesn’t want to help,” in this writer’s opinion. It appears the Board knew she might be over her head from the start and tried to help her.

When we spoke, she reminded me of the show of support during the EDC meeting when she was fired. A large turn-out of people came; some yelled, some were making good points of support, while others made accusations that the “fix is in” about her being fired. The sad thing is EDC Board members who attended that supported her didn’t tell the public the whole truth about issues with Virgie. Virgie was being championed for her causes and what she spent money on in the community. No doubt causes that required money, but the EDC money is not to be spent this way despite what she and others are now claiming. I have always told people to form non-profits and get money from donations and from the Albion Community Foundation. But that is another story.

Concerns Over Spending Money Without Board Approval

As a public entity, you can’t spend EDC money on personal food even when working. There are complex laws that, unfortunately, Ammerman and her advisors, who obviously are not lawyers, don’t understand. I read the law, and simply put, Ammerman needed policies in place by the EDC for her to spend hundreds of dollars on meals for herself and others. Since there are no policies in place, the EDC falls under the City of Albion rules which, simply put, want to eat at Schuler’s? Spend your own money.

The week before being fired, Ammerman had to repay over $600 that she was improperly reimbursed for. She had submitted requests, in this writer’s opinion, that had very poor record keeping in so much you had no way of knowing what the meal was for and why. She claimed that her online calendar could verify these meetings. Unfortunately, that is poor record keeping and can be altered after the fact. Who’s to say in the days up to August 10, she or someone else didn’t fix her calendar?

I also pointed out that what she did may have been illegal, and she is lucky the police didn’t get involved. She told me it wasn’t, and besides, she paid it all back, so it was fine. I gave her the example that if I came into her house and stole her money and a month later paid it back, I still committed a crime. She again told me she didn’t do anything wrong.

She is a Certified Public Accountant, and she knows that receipts are required for everything you are trying to get paid for with proper documentation. Two days before her firing, she emailed Albion City Manager Haley Snyder asking, “If there are any other dollars you believe I owe to the City, please let me know as I’d like to wrap this up in the next 24 hours”. That was sent on August 8 at 2:48 P.M.

Ammerman had protested in one email, stating she would not repay the City. I asked if she felt that was true, then why repay? Her reply was she just wanted to get it out of the way. I have spoken with four current and past EDC directors, some of whose organizations are bigger than Albion. All state her expenditures appear to be inappropriate and excessive. One went so far as to ask, “Doesn’t she have an office?” They all say that you “pick up a tab on a rare occasion.”

Making Contracts without Board Approval

Ammerman was allowed to sign contracts that involved normal operations of the EDC, such as with a company to clean the building, computer tech support, window washing, etc. Giving Dick Lindsey, an attorney who lives in Marshall, MI, and practices out of an office in Jackson, paying out and hiring him as a consultant on real estate issues for $7500 is not a normal operating contract. She claimed the EDC Lawyer agreed that it would be easier if she went in that direction and hired other legal for real estate. That being said does not allow her to spend thousands on an attorney whose questioned ethics of real estate dealings in Calhoun County, especially in Albion and Marshall, was legal for her to sign. That size of contract needs to be reviewed and approved. It certainly, at minimum, required prior board approval. There are other contracts she has signed, and the one thing that keeps coming up is she is being advised that it is ok. I point blank asked who was giving her legal advice. I couldn’t get an answer.

She Claimed She Will Have Her Job Back

Tomorrow morning August 21, 2023, the EDC Board, minus four of the members who fired Ammerman, will meet, and they will reinstate her even though all the above information is in their hands. Albion’s City Council removed those EDC Board members at a meeting last week, so now almost all those left are “Virgie cheerleaders.” As you can see, the actions of our Council are once again being questioned.

Four of those on the Council are voting against sound legal advice because they have a personal agenda of spending money on projects that EDC money shouldn’t be spent on. The EDC Board needs to step back and not move forward without more legal advice. Their attorney told the City Council what they were doing was wrong; here is that letter:

re: Albion Economic Development Corporation August 15, 2023

Council Members:

This Firm represents the Albion Economic Development Corporation (EDC). Our client has asked that I send this letter to the Council concerning the topic of a special meeting the Council is having this evening. Apparently, a reason for the meeting is to consider adopting a resolution removing from the EDC Board four of the five members of that Board that voted in favor of terminating the employment of Virgie Ammerman as President/CEO of the EDC. That action was taken at a duly called and held EDC Board meeting on Thursday, August 10, 2023.

On behalf of the EDC, I urge the City Council to not take the above action. I believe it is beyond the Council authority, and, regardless, leaving the EDC without a 9 (or more) member Board may mean it cannot take action to initiate and implement the projects it has underway, cannot seek to have its bills paid including to its current landlord and other service providers and vendors in Albion, and cannot continue to provide services to the community.

The City Council has the authority under the Economic Development Corporation Act (MCL 125.1601), including at MCL 125.1604 (6), to remove a board member for cause. That authority is affirmed in section 4(a)(4) of the EDC Articles of Incorporation the City Council authorized. However, the Home Rule City Act prohibits the City from removing a board member without cause. The EDC Bylaws, ratified by the City Council, only allow such removal to be for cause, as defined n those Bylaws. The list of for cause reasons in the Bylaws does not begin to include removing an EDC board member (much less four of them) because of a vote by the Board to terminate an employee. The EDC Board terminating an employee is not on the list of “for cause” reasons in the Bylaws, and does not compare to the items that are on the list. There is nothing in “the law” that allows or justifies the Council removing an EDC Board member because of the Board terminating an employee. As an employer, the EDC has the right and authority to have, and to terminate, employees as a pa1t of the usual course of business. The Council does not have the authority to interfere with that usual course of business.

The City Council created the EDC nearly 50 years ago, and if it carries out the above actions, it will likely end the entity as an effective organization, and at least delay it taking actions of the type referred to above. The reputational damage to the City and to the EDC will be devastating.

From

Vandervoort, Christ & Fisher, P.C.

Nelson Karre

More to Come

The EDC Board did far more than most employers would and tried to help her. During this critical time in Albion’s history, we need an EDC President working nonstop on bringing in new business, watching how our money is spent, and being nice to people. That President also needs to know their job. The EDC Board did nothing wrong other than fire an employee who appeared to be unable to do her job. They can and did legally fire her. That decision does not set well with many who will decry, “Oh, here we go again, Albion,” as they criticize this decision. Ammerman will be back on the job for a short time, I believe, but more damage can be done as now she and her supporters can work unchecked by anyone.

I will have a follow-up story later this week.

Written by John Face
August 10, 2023

Ray Layne said it best when a City of Albion worker asked, do you want to be here when we dig her up? The employee spoke of his wife, Ketrina, who was buried in the wrong grave at Riverside Cemetary in Albion, MI. He told me his reply was simple, “I didn’t want to be there the first time; I don’t want to be there a second.”

Layne was upset when I spoke with him, justifiably, as he recounted her being placed in the wrong grave by the Albion Sexton, who is responsible for burying people at the cemetery. Layne had purchased three graves for his wife, child, and himself in the graveyard. He said it was around a month and a half after her funeral that a city employee contacted him and said the above.

Layne was not the first, and it was because of other mis-burials that the city started an investigation to see how many other people were not where they belonged.

During our investigation, I confirmed that two people were mis-buried. One was Ketrina Layne; the second was far less traumatic than what Ray Layne went through but no less problematic. This second individual, whom I am still trying to find family, was placed in the wrong grave. The city resolved it by changing the Deed because where the individual was mis-buried was unowned. The location was only one spot away from the proper burial spot. I can’t confirm if the family knows this, so I am not naming the individual even though I know who it is.

I know that the Deed for this second person has been changed with a handwritten change to the Deed. They were buried one spot off from where they should have been. City Watch has since learned during our investigation that potentially six or more bodies were incorrectly buried at Riverside.

City Watch received a response to our Freedom of Information Act request today showing the above examples. These mis-burials allegedly began under the new Sexton’s tenure, which started in early April 2021. We have been told that he has been reassigned inside the city and a temporary Sexton appointed. This temporary Sexton, who apparently is well versed in the cemetery operations, and others have been charged with verifying that all burials are correct.

The main concern with all these mis-burials is that if they go undetected, a grave that is supposed to be empty years later may be sold. Imagine that Sexton digging into a grave and finding someone’s beloved family member. Imagine you visiting your beloved when in fact, they are in a different part of the cemetery.

I spoke with one individual who wondered aloud why families didn’t know of the mis-burial when the funeral happened. I spoke with Sextons in the area, who reminded me that the grave area is always covered during the funeral, including the stone. “Considering most families are in deep mourning, they assume that the grave is correct.”, said one Sexton. He said, “As a Sexton, we have a sacred duty to ensure we care for your family and get it right the first time.”

City Watch is still working on this story. If you have a loved one buried at the cemetery between December 5, 2020, and now, feel free to contact City Watch if you find that a loved one has been mis-buried.

Our Email is citywatchnews1@gmail.com

Written by John Face
Photo by John Face
July 26, 2023

Thirty-two years and Karen Yankie has been there since the start. That is how long the annual yard sale has happened here in Albion on Irwin Ave. On August 11, 1990, Karen along with Willie Culp started what has become one of the premiere neighborhood events in Albion. The ladies, who were long-time friends, decided to do the event, not thinking it would last as long as it has. Karen continues to lead the group today, and a cast of neighbors supports her. I sat with her, Glenda Culp, and Patti Hiatt as they shared information about the event with me as we sipped on our drinks at the Foundry Bakehouse in downtown Albion.

They explained how they work with each other and their block captains. These individuals are responsible for their block, and they recruit neighbors to participate and spread the word. Karen said they are a good group. Kevin Markovich is one of the current captains and has been there since day one. Kevin is joined by Betty Chapman, Margaret Generi, Glenda, Patti, and Karen.

They spoke of old sales, especially when they first started when the streets were so full of cars the police had to come and help with the traffic. They last saw turn-outs such as that several years ago, but if the weather is good, they do expect excellent turn-outs.

Speaking of traffic reminded Karen to ask me to get the word out. Please don’t park on the south side of the street. The street is marked with no parking signs, and when people park on both sides, it does cause traffic snarls. As always, Karen told me she notified the city police and administration that they would hold the sale again to give them a heads-up.

They ask residents who want to participate in the event to contact Karen at 517-629-5913. There isn’t a charge, but they do ask for donations. Karen shared that all the advertising for this event takes money. Beyond the advertising, she said they ask sellers to list the top 5 items they are trying to sell. Karen said Albion E-NEWS will post this list before the sale. I also told her I would if she shared those items with City Watch.

I asked the ladies if they wanted to share other information or stories. Glenda said that when she started doing this, her attitude was, “UGH.” Now, she finds herself getting ready for the sale long before. All three stated that they were excited about this year. Though, as they all agreed, “yard sailing” is nowhere near as popular as it was 32 years ago.

Our numbers are down as many neighbors say they don’t have stuff to sell. Karen said she encourages these people to share their yards and have friends and family sell instead and getting them registered. She said they now have event signs that are placed in the yards of those who are part of the sale. Glenda is going to create an event on Facebook as another way to spread the word.

I do want to share the swimsuit story Karen told me. Karen spoke of when she and her husband Terry was on vacation in Acapulco years ago. She came across this little shop and ended up having them make her a swimsuit. Glenda chimed in that it was a bikini. Karen didn’t like it, so she started selling it at the yardsale, and every year, year after year, it went unsold. She said it became a family joke on how I couldn’t sell it. The ladies joked about getting a manikin to put the bikini on to try and sell it. After a hearty laugh from the ladies, Karen said she wasn’t sure if she would be trying to sell it this year, but——–

If you are interested in selling, contact Karen so they can get you registered by Friday.

32nd Irwin Avenue Yard Sales
Saturday, August 12, 2023
9:00 A.M. – 3:00 P.M.
Always the second Saturday of August.

Make sure you venture on Irwin from Superior all the way to the catholic church; you don’t want to miss out on neat deals.

Written by John Face
Photos by John Face
July 21, 2023

The discussion started innocently and ended with Bill Dobbins agreeing to be interviewed about money spent on the Band Shell Theatre (Shell) upgrades in Victory Park, Albion, MI. He had one rule that he was allowed total transparency, that transparency would include money spent, by whom, and contractors who did the work. Of course, I agreed.

My reason for wanting to have this discussion was simple. As the first phase of upgrades was completed at the Shell, some in the community began complaining about the restrooms not being updated as well. As I and others explained, all these upgrades cost money, a lot, and all these upgrades take time. But I couldn’t tell the whole story until now. I met Bill at Caster Corporations board room for our interview. He started to share how it all started.

The Dobbins Connection

“Swingin’ at the Shell started around 19 years ago,” he said. “One day Karen (his wife) and I were driving through the park looking at the Shell. Remembering all the concerts they saw over the years.” They talked about it being a great band shell, “so let’s try to figure out how to use it more often,” he said. That’s how Swingin’ at the Shell started.

He felt that since they were going to start the show series, they would go ahead and adopt the care of the Shell as well. In the beginning, the repairs were minor such as painting and cleaning; early on, we had Albion Electric do some upgrades because they thought there would be groups unable to use it due to the lack of proper power. They spent around $10,000 of their money to do this.

Over the years, the show series has continued. He said, “The groups got better, the crowds got bigger, and the minor upkeep just wasn’t enough.” He said the condition of the Shell continued to deteriorate, and as that happened, they had a vision of what the Shell, as an entertainment venue, might look like.

The Shell is in Bad Shape

Bill talked about significant damage to the masonry structure of the facility, especially on the back eaves, due to water damage. They also noted masonry damage in the upper arch. He stated, “In my experience, once damage starts, it speeds up quickly.”

A couple of years ago, the family started discussing how to improve the Shell. We decided to start this rehab program which “ended up dovetailing with Tony & Christie de Nicola Gift to the Albion Community Foundation being used along with funds from the William and Karen Dobbins Family Foundation. Allow me to note, all this money is their own. Not raised from the public or city.

In the Beginning

So this spring, they hired an architect who could identify issues or problems. The architect initially set the repairs into phases. Bill said, “Me being somewhat impatient, I felt we need to figure out a way to do all this work in a shorter period of time than the 2-3 year time frame the architect suggested.”

So in the spring, they had a project meeting with Brad Powers, John Carr, John Klingamon and determined what needed to get done and how to get it done. At that point, Caroline Hurteau, his daughter, was appointed the Project Manager to coordinate activities. He said that they did get a late start, and some will notice that the grass is not completely grown, “but upgrades have come a long way in the last 4-5 weeks,” he said.

Money Spent

Caroline supplied me with a breakdown of how money has been spent so far on the Shell: Architectural Planning by Driven Design for $5,000. Work has seen further upgrades in no specific order: to the electrical by Albion Electric at a cost of $8,250. Schweitzer out of Battle Creek, who did Masonry Repair and Painting at a cost of $39,650. Concrete Pathways by Brad Powers Concrete for $40,635. CS Roofing for full roof replacement costs $27,145.58. Powerwashing for $2,000 to prep for painting. Grass Seeding by Brothers Outdoor World for $4,200. Excavation by Carr Brothers & Sons for $42,460. This came to a grand total of $169,340.58 in what we can call phase 1.

So as you see in the above list of contractors, much has been done. Now come Sunday, if you have a chance, get there early and take a close look at what has happened.

Many of the defects are gone, and our beloved Shell looks great. I ran into Bill earlier in the week

as he was there to help Caroline move water hoses and sprinklers to help the grass grow. (I was there to take pictures for this story)

Now before you get upset, Caroline wanted to let me know that city employees were doing the watering, but they (the Dobbins family) volunteered to do it so that city employees wouldn’t be tied down. As I overheard her as she left her dad and said that her mom was coming later to make the next move on the sprinkler. Yeah, this family has adopted this facility.

What’s Next? says a Complaining Public

Now we got to the bathrooms and why they were not done yet. As you have seen, a ton of money has been spent so far, and Bill offered his take. “The fact is,” he said, “that Swingin’ at the Shell accounts for a small amount of usage of bathrooms. I have been very open on social media. I think it’s a waste of time and money, which could be up to $100,000, until we address the real problem of the bathrooms we have, vandalism.” He didn’t feel that his organization should be held completely accountable for upgrades to them.

What still needs to be done along with the bathrooms is the interior dressing rooms so that when they are bringing in these bigger acts, they have a place to change, their own bathroom. Figure out a way they can secure the facility grounds in case someone wants to do ticketed events and concerts in the park. He felt these were all issues that could be addressed in the future, but for now, his excitement is for the upcoming show season.

Show me the Money

Now when wondering if more money could be found, I reached out to Shane Williamson and asked if he could offer an opinion. He sent me this email statement:

“While bathrooms didn’t make it through phase 1 of this project, the Albion Community Foundation and Swingin’ at the Shell have jointly applied for capital support through the Michigan Arts & Culture Council, which will be decided in September 2023. Further, the Albion Community Foundation and the City of Albion have partnered to secure grant funding through the DNR and Council of Michigan Foundations special initiative. The Albion Community Foundation recognizes and is actively seeking funding to renovate the bathrooms at the Shell.”

Dobbins Family Connection

Bill Dobbins and his family have adopted the Shell for two decades; they and their Sponsors are proud of what the concert series means to Albion. Top entertainment, family fun time, a beautiful venue, and good people. That is really what the venue and park is really about.

There is a big buzz in the Albion area about the upcoming summer concert series. This year’s lineup is included in this flyer below, and trust me, everyone in the area is talking. OH, they have brought in porta johns in for the show season.

Time for the City to be Held Accountable

Now it’s time to acknowledge that the City of Albion has a responsibility to start maintaining the Shell, our parks, and facilities across the city and protecting them from vandals. The Dobbins family maintains the Shell as a labor of love, but really it shouldn’t have come to this. We have a new water park; Holland Park is beautiful. Our playground set in Victory Park is in serious disrepair.

It’s not the Bill Dobbins of Albion responsibilities to maintain these; it’s us, the taxpayers, for not holding our City Council responsible and demanding their employees do the basic work every year to maintain our parks.

Get out this summer and have fun Albion.

Written by John Face

July 5, 2023

As I sat and spoke with Rae Baker, a Senior this fall at Albion College, and her Biology Professor, Dr. Sheila Lyons-Sobaski, one thing was clear, they are concerned. We ran into each other a few weeks ago at the Foundry Bakehouse. After a short discussion, I discovered Baker was working on a project to identify and help eradicate an invasive plant.

Aggressive Invasive Plant

Persicaria perfoliata, also known as Mile-a-Minute, is an invasive species from India, Eastern Asia, and the islands from Japan to the Philippines. “It has been in the United States since being discovered in the late 1930s in York County, Pennsylvania, and work has been underway to control its spread,” said Baker. It has been primarily seen in Virginia, New York, Ohio, and Oregon and not in Michigan, that is, until 2020.

Dr. White Discovers Species in Michigan

Dr. Doug White, a retired Biology Professor at Albion College, was at Albion College Whitehouse Nature Center in 2020 when he came across the weed, making Albion ground zero in Michigan for being the first in the state it was confirmed to exist. Since then, College staff and students have been studying and working on eliminating the Mile-a-Minute from the area. Lyons-Sobaski said, “More locations have been found locally of Mile-a Minute by other groups.”

The plant is aggressive in its growth, and as a vine spreads quickly and engulfs plant vegetation, “it out-competes them,” said Baker, “starving them from the sun and resources needed for life.” She continued, “If those plants get killed by Mile-a-Minute, it affects other species and animals who may rely on them.”

Free Elimination by Experts

As best they know, the plant is safe for humans to touch. Except for the nasty barbs on it, as seen in photos, it will hurt if you grab it without gloves. When asked how to kill or control it, Baker said, “Herbicides are what is being used.” Lyons-Sobaski said that careful application of herbicides by experts is being used in the county to control the spread of this species.

Baker said, “Experts use a 2%, or full strength, herbicide solution. I tried using, as an experiment, half solution of herbicide or 1%, it hasn’t been effective, so they will continue going full strength.” Though both Lyons-Sibaski and Baker would prefer not to see herbicides used, it is what works.

The plant starts flowering now into August, producing berry-like fruits. The goal is to get rid of the plant before they see the berries, as those berries readily fall to the ground and seed new plants. Baker told me they think animals spread the berries as they eat them and spread them through their feces. 

How We Can Help

I asked what we, the public, could do if we came across the plant. Can we pull the vine out as a way to control it I asked? Lyons-Sobaski and Baker said yes, as long as it is before the berries are on the vine. They showed me a vine they had pulled the day before, and its leaves are very distinct, as the photos show.  

“You should also report when you come across the Mile-a-Minute vine.” Lyons-Sobaski said, “Given the recent postcard sent by BCK-CISMA (see front and back below), I would encourage people to call April Savickas, Mile-a-Minute Weed Coordinator via phone (269-908-4136) or email (bckcismamamw@gmail.com). Free treatment is available.”

Should you find the vine during your walks in the Nature Center, let staff know as you may have found a new area.”

Have a tip or an idea for City Watch NEWS? Email us at citywatchnews1@gmail.com

Written/Photos by John Face

June 7, 2023

Many of you know that the Band Shell Theatre in Victory Park is seeing significant renovations this year. I suggest you stop and see what is happening. Upgrades include repairing, priming, and painting the band shell. Also, extensive concrete work and walkways will extend to the street and across the sitting areas. Grading the area around the band shell also is being done to help with drainage.

Unfortunately, at this time, the public bathrooms at the Shell will not be repaired. Current funding is for the above-stated work. Organizers are working with the City Administration to determine how the restrooms can be done and protected from the number one problem, which seems to be vandalism. For the coming Swingin’ at the Shell concert series, provisions have been made to bring in Porta Potties.

The DeNicola family fund from the Community Foundation and the William and Karen Dobbins Foundation is funding the current project.

Take a moment and look at these photos taken the morning of Wednesday, June 7, 2023.

Written by John Face

June 1, 2023

Photo by John Face

City Watch News reports that Albion Colleges Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Gary Black, is no longer employed by the college, effective June 1, 2023. Black came to Albion College as a new hire of former Albion College President Mat Johnson in February of 2021. Currently, there has been no official notification of Blacks leaving the college. Black came from Finlandia University that closed its doors permanently at the end of this current school year.

City Watch sources state that Black has not been in his office since Saturday, May 13, 2023. The Albion Department of Public Safety received a report from an Albion College employee of a jeep in the “yard area” behind W.G. Construction located at 101 S. Monroe, the old lumber yard.

That call came in at 8:32 A.M., and police responded. They found Black and another unidentified man in the rear area working inside one of the storage areas in the southeast corner of the property. Black advised the officer that, as CFO, he was allowed to be there.

According to the police incident report, which City Watch received via a Freedom of Information Act request, police called the employee who placed the call and advised who was on the property. According to police, the caller told them someone had been “infiltrating the cameras at the business and deleting footage.” The police left the scene.

Calhoun County dispatch received another call from the original caller at 9:21 A.M., stating that there was a red Ford Escape in the yard and that he did not know who it was. Police again responded and found the same two individuals in the property’s southeast corner. According to officers, “they appeared (Black and unidentified man) to be cutting up something but unknown what.”

City Watch was contacted about the incident, and this writer went to W.G. Construction later in the morning and found the gate to the yard unlocked and open. I drove around the front of the business on Monroe Street.

I walked up to a locked gate near the street, observed a parked car, and heard what sounded like sawing or drilling. I was using my phone to take pictures when a man appeared from the storage area. One of those pictures shows a man, later identified as Gary Black, and his vehicle, walking carrying a drill.

Notice the car in the picture is not a Jeep. That means that he used three different vehicles that morning. City Watch shared the photo with some individuals who identified Gary Black in the picture.

City Watch has learned that Black has not been in his office since the day of this picture.

Black, along with Jeff Ott, have been the primary people who worked with the Michigan Attorney General during the investigation of the college.

City Watch will update this story when needed.

Want to give us a tip? Email us at citywatchnews1@gmail.com

Albion-Homer United Way’s recent grant to the Albion Health Care Alliance Health and Safety Expo shows AHUW’s commitment to healthy communities. The annual Expo will be held June 24 from noon to 2 pm at Stoffer Plaza in Albion at the Farmer’s Market area.

The AHCA partners with local organizations to provide helpful health information and supplies to area families, emphasizing children’s health. Booths, displays, and free health information along with vaccine clinics and other health testing that particularly benefits families in and around Albion and Homer. In addition to the Albion-Homer United Way, Oaklawn Hospital and other local agencies are sponsoring this Saturday afternoon event.

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. Donor lists will not be 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.

AHUW board members are Carolyn Amos, Donisha Brewer, Chris Burdette, Art Kale, Michael Leskowich, Isabell Nazar, Eddie Williams, and Shane Williamson.

Written by John Face
May 2, 2023

City Watch has learned through sources that a senior member of the Albion College administration has been terminated. According to sources, Catherine Cole, Vice-President of Marketing and Communication, was released from her responsibilities at the school yesterday by Interim President Joe Calvaruso.

City Watch has learned that possibly three Board of Trustees (BOT) members are no longer serving after last week’s annual meeting. Those members, according to sources, are Tom Ludington, Sam Shaheen, Jeffery Weedman. City Watch has yet to determine if this is a normal term-limited situation.  City Watch has been unable to confirm this with the college.

City Watch News has also been told that other top Johnson staffers are “under the gun” according to one source.

Do you want to speak confidentially with City Watch News? Please send us an email at citywatchnews1@gmail.com

Written by John Face

Photos by John Face

April 29, 2023

As Albion College gets ready to send another group of students out into the world, it’s time we take a moment to think about them. Graduation day is a moment these students will hold close to their hearts as they move on from our little slice of the world in Albion. Graduation day is also unique to those of us who live in Albion.

Over the years, many of us in Albion, myself included, have engaged with students and, in many cases, made lifelong friends. In my younger years, it was customary to be on campus hanging out with students having fun, enjoying life, and creating memories we treasure forever.

I’ve fractured a few college rules on campus with students I befriended. So when I see another group getting ready to take a walk toward graduation, I think of Karen, Deb, and Dave. At this moment, I have a big smile remembering those times.

I hope our students who graduate today know that we, your Albion Family, are proud of each of you and what your walk today means. I no longer have close relationships with students, though I know a couple graduating today. I ask graduates to remember a few things.

First, remember the friends that you made here on campus. You all shared something that no other group can claim because you are the class of 2023; no other alum can say that. Your shared bond and experiences belong to you.

Second, remember the men and women who gave their hearts and souls to teach you all. I know many of them; whether you are aware or not, they genuinely love and care for you. I have

spoken to many in the last few weeks, and they are excited for you. Take their knowledge with you; you can’t go wrong with that.

Third, remember us here in Albion. Remember your friendships with us, the smiles we brought you, and the kindness you received. It’s funny how so many alums who return to Albion have fond memories of the school, this little town, and its people. Albion has been lucky that many of these same alumni have given back to their school and the little town that was so important in their lives while they were here. Remember, you may live in far-off distant places; you will always be an Albionite.

So, as you grab that diploma today, go out there and conquer the world. Take your education to the next level and excel like we all know you can. Start that career by remembering to do right and succeed. The world is yours, be the best whatever you want to be. Like your speaker today, Josh Cassada, shoot for the stars if you wish.

So we won’t say goodbye but see you later. Remember, you are welcome back home in Albion when you need some sanity.

Congratulations, Class of 2023.