The following is from Albion College Facebook page.
Over the weekend, Albion College received two independent sightings of a possible alligator in the Kalamazoo River at the Whitehouse Nature Center.
The College is working directly with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and other local agencies to resolve the situation as safely and quickly as possible.
While there has been no confirmation of an alligator after multiple searches, Albion College is taking every precaution to ensure the safety of the campus and the surrounding community.
As a result, the Whitehouse Nature Center will remain closed until further notice.
Out of an abundance of caution, the Whitehouse Nature Center will be closed Sunday, July 10, 2022.
Today, there were two independent signtings of what is thought to be a four- to five-foot alligator at around the same time in the same vicinity earlier today in the Kalamazoo River where it runs through the Nature Center. The College is in communication with local and state experts and is working toward a resolution as quickly as possible.
For your safety, we ask that you stay away from the areas near the Nature Center and remain vigilant around bodies of water.
Update 1: A hiker allegedly saw the alligator swimming in the Kalamazoo River claiming it was around 5 feet long then contacted authorities initially.
Press release
Albion College Facebook post:
Earlier today, July 9, 2022, a person reported seeing what they thought was an alligator while hiking in the Whitehouse Nature Center. College staff investigated but did not locate an alligator. The College is working with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources to determine the next steps.
In the meantime, we urge everyone to stay away from the area while the College works with authorities to locate and remove the alligator.
More than one hundred locals met this morning to officially dedicate the T-Ball Park along with a statue and plaque. The ceremony was to recognize the late Jerry Sacharski a long time Albion teacher, coach and inventor of the game of t-ball. This event was attended by Sacharski’s three sons who all spoke during the event. Mike, Will and Dave were touched at the outpouring of respect given to their late father.
Attendees wait for the start of the ceremony.
Speakers shared stories of their time playing T- Ball or Pee Wee baseball as it is known in Albion. The plaque which is pictured in the photo below tells the story best.
Plaque honoring Pee Wee baseball and Jerry Sacharski
The Sacharski brothers Left to right: Mike, Will and Dave
Pee Wee ball player Mitch Lutzke acted as moderator
Event organizer Linda Kolmodin, stressed to this writer to make mention of Janet Domingo’s work as co chair. “It is because of Janets hard work that this all came together. Without her we may not be here”‘ she said.
Janet Domingo speaks
Pee Wee ball player John Sims shares his stories
Waverly Short Pee Wee baseball player talks
Left, Linda Kolmodin with Janet Domingo right
Short and Sims unveil plaque
The statues unveiling was well received by the crowd and the Sacharskis.
The furure of Pee Wee, or T-Ball in Albion had their chance to pose with the statue.
Current T-Ball players in Albion. Some day they will appreciate what was started here in Albion 67 years ago today.
Albion Department of Public Safety (ADPS) Chief Scott Kipp has released the name of the suspect in last night’s officer involved shooting here in Albion. Jason Elliotte Dodds, 42, of Albion is alleged to have raised his hand with a gun in it and an officer shot him. This information comes from the press release Chief Kipp sent out last night that is shown below. Dodds was transported to the hospital and succumbed to his injuries a short time later. The location of the shooting is the 700 block of North Eaton Street.
All this writer asks from the public now is calm as we go on this fact-finding process. There are several people this morning that are hurting, from the suspects family and one of our own ADPS police officers who must deal with this shooting. Let us not make assumptions by using second hand and often false information from the public, some of which is well intentioned while others are trying to sow discord and create trouble in town.
City Watch can confirm from ADPS that body cam video of the situation does exist and is being reviewed by the Michigan State Police investigators.
As always City Watch will do its best to keep you updated.
PRESS RELEASE:
Earlier today, ADPS received information from family members that a relative was having psychological issues and was taking psychological medication and drinking, which caused him to be irrational. The family was concerned because this subject had told them he wanted to kill another relative with whom he had been in a fight a few weeks earlier. At 5:20 PM, ADPS put out information to all its officers, the Marshall Police Department, and the Calhoun County Sheriff’s Department, hoping we could locate the individual and get him help. Unfortunately, we only had information that he may be in the Marshall area.
At approximately 6:30 PM, 3 ADPS officers, two of whom are Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) certified officers, responded to a report of an unwanted subject on the porch of the relative who had been threatened in the 700 block of N Eaton St., attempting to break in. The relative the individual was looking for, fled out the residence’s back door as the subject broke into the front door. Upon arrival, officers entered the porch to find the entrance to the house open. The officers confronted the individual, who quickly turned toward the officers and started to raise the gun. The officers ordered the subject to drop the gun multiple times as he raised it toward them. An officer fired, striking the individual, who then fell to the floor. ADPS Officers immediately began first aid and CPR until ambulance crews arrived and transported the individual to the hospital. The individual’s gun was recovered and turned over to the Michigan State Police. ADPS has requested the Michigan State Police investigate the shooting. The officer has been placed on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation.
UPDATE PER ADPS The victim in the shooting has died per the Michigan State Police and Albion Public Safety Pictures included below.
Albion Department of Public Safety released the following on the shooting that occured earlier this evening:
PRESS RELEASE:
Earlier today, ADPS received information from family members that a relative was having psychological issues and was taking psychological medication and drinking, which caused him to be irrational. The family was concerned because this subject had told them he wanted to kill another relative with whom he had been in a fight a few weeks earlier. At 5:20 PM, ADPS put out information to all its officers, the Marshall Police Department, and the Calhoun County Sheriff’s Department, hoping we could locate the individual and get him help. Unfortunately, we only had information that he may be in the Marshall area.
At approximately 6:30 PM, 3 ADPS officers, two of whom are Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) certified officers, responded to a report of an unwanted subject on the porch of the relative who had been threatened in the 700 block of N Eaton St., attempting to break in. The relative the individual was looking for, fled out the residence’s back door as the subject broke into the front door. Upon arrival, officers entered the porch to find the entrance to the house open. The officers confronted the individual, who quickly turned toward the officers and started to raise the gun. The officers ordered the subject to drop the gun multiple times as he raised it toward them. An officer fired, striking the individual, who then fell to the floor. ADPS Officers immediately began first aid and CPR until ambulance crews arrived and transported the individual to the hospital. The individual’s gun was recovered and turned over to the Michigan State Police. ADPS has requested the Michigan State Police investigate the shooting. The officer has been placed on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation.
Come one come all to the T-Ball Garden dedication This Saturday June 25th at 11:00 A.M., this event will dedicate the park to forever honor the birthplace of T-Ball. The garden location is across the street from the Gardner House Museum on South Superior near the Library and there will be plenty of parking on the streets available. Take a few minutes and attend this historic event. As you will see in the press release there will be a regular T-Ball game later in the day along with an old-timer’s game.
Please read the following press release from the committee:
TEE-BALL GARDEN DEDICATION TO FEATURE FORMER PLAYERS
Former members of the original tee-ball team coached by Jerry Sacharski will be featured speakers at the June 25 dedication of the South Superior Street Tee-Ball Garden. These former youth players will be joined by the three Sacharski sons who are returning to Albion to celebrate the day which honors their dad.
The Tee-Ball Garden dedication will begin at 11 AM. Ceremonies to dedicate the new tee-ball player statue and historic plaque will be held at the garden plot on the west side of South Superior Street across the street from the Albion District Library and Gardner House Museum. Everyone is invited to attend this community celebration. Those who played for Coach Sacharski are especially encouraged to attend and honor the legendary coach.
Janet Domingo places a sign inviting the community to the Tee-Ball Garden dedication at 11 am June 25 at the South Superior Street location across from the library and the Gardner House Museum. Domingo and Linda Kolmodin are volunteer co-chairs of the Restore Our Coke Sign Patronicity grant campaign that raised money for the garden and two other downtown art installations.
Under the leadership of Janet Domingo and Linda Kolmodin, volunteer co-chairs of the Restore Our Coke Sign: Bring Art and History Downtown campaign, this Tee-Ball Garden represents the long history of youth sports in Albion.
To honor the late Coach Sacharski and the game’s roots, this garden is cooperative venture with the Calhoun County Land Bank and the Albion Community Foundation. Money was raised for these art installations and additional landscape improvements through a matching Patronicity campaign through the Michigan Economic Development Corporation. Donated funds were held by an Albion Community Foundation. Other completed projects included the iconic Coca-Cola sign restoration and the new Malleable Mural celebrating Albion’s long foundry history.
Following the 11 am dedication ceremony at the Tee-Ball Garden, current tee-ball team members will play a short game in Victory Park on the ball field close to Hannah Street. The current players are coached by Play Right Sports Academy under the leadership of President Milton Barnes. Jim Stuart of Sterling Books and Brew is assisting in organizing this game and the Old-Timers game that follows. Those games should start around noon.
Dennis Reid will have his hot dog truck at Victory Park for the tee-ball games. His menu features hotdogs, chips and drinks to add to the old-fashioned ballpark fun. John Shedd, a member of the Old-Timers emphasized that the game will only be for few innings and the major rule is “no running.” Everyone is invited to participate in the game. Just bring a glove and a sense of humor, Shedd said.
Over the last few weeks this writer has been approached by several people about what happens in Albion during active shooter calls such as occurred in Texas. I reached out to Chief Scott Kipp, the Director of Albion Department of Public Safety (ADPS) in Albion. This morning we sat down to have a frank discussion about exactly where things in Albion stand.
ADPS Chief Scott Kipp
When asked what exactly the training for his officers is for active shooters, Chief Kipp said that all officers receive such training in the police academy. The department has regular training for all officers as well. Chief Kipp admitted they need to do more training locally and regionally. They do inhouse training all the time he said but “hands on in the field training is so important”.
The department policy is much the same as nationally, at all costs get to the shooter and control the situation, shooting them if necessary, waiting for no one else. Chief Kipp was very frank with me. He said, “just because there is a policy that says to do something, the hard reality is no officer knows how they will react in this situation until they are in it”. Though he is certain his officers will engage the shooter he did say, “we are human too, people forget that sometimes”.
He said that Albion does have a strong relationship with all the area police departments. Though the initial attack will be his officers it will not take long for more help to arrive. He said that situation has happened in Albion in the past needing help and his officers have responded all over the area for requests of emergency help to other officers as well.
He said that they do have officers from the department who are part of the Calhoun County Emergency Response Team, or ERT. This unit is trained for all situations from active shooter, hostage rescue to warrant serving for drug busts. He currently has 3 officers’ part of this team plus several others who have been in the ERT or been trained in the past.
ADPS patrol car
We discussed what tools are available to officers on his department. He said all officers carry their revolver, have shotguns in their cars. Some he said participated in a program that allowed them to purchase AR style weapons for themselves that they are allowed to use while on duty. This was done mostly because the department can’t afford to purchase these weapons for officers. He stated that they have “level 4” type armor which gives protection from rifle fire.
He also explained that they do have some breaching equipment. City Watch will not share the specific tools, but they carry them in the cars. He did remind this writer that sometimes that is not enough. “Remember”, he said, “those doors at the high school are thick and are attached to steel frames and are difficult to breach”.
We talked about specific targets in Albion and yes, the public schools and college are certainly on his and officers’ minds. “These are targets that are obvious, and we all take them seriously” he said. We need to stress that these targets need to be “hardened”, which means taking steps to make it more difficult for a shooter. Again, he stressed the need for more training in the field.
I asked Chief Kipp what people can do to help his officers out. His advice was fairly simple, stating “if you see something, someone that doesn’t fit the situation call 911 and ask for an officer to check it out’. You the public, “knows your neighborhood better than anyone else. Call us”. My officers are trained to engage people to see if there are any issues.
I asked what the public should do if they are suddenly in a situation that involves an active shooter. He said the options are run, hide or fight. If you can run, get out of their as fast as possible. If running is not a safe option, then hide is next. Hide in another room, behind things. The last one is what he said is the toughest, it is fight. He said if you have no choice and attacking the shooter is your option you better be “committed to fighting and hurting the shooter”. He said find a weapon of any type. Fire extinguishers are very good tools. Spraying the chemical at the shooter blinds them and is a hard tool to strike them with. He said believe it or not getting online to see what you can do is an option. Be prepared before anything happens. Have your plan.
I asked the chief if he supports any type of gun controls. He said he understood the 2nd amendment people but the reality is there are people who should not have weapons of any kind. “A few years ago,” he said, “we had a situation where someone who has serious mental health issues and was in crisis was in possession of weapons. Not only that but licensed to carry. We desperately tried to have this person seperated from these weapons but there is no law giving us that authority”.
He vigorously supports “Red Flag Laws”. These are laws that allow law enforcement the ability to remove weapons from an individual that may be a danger to themselves or others. When weapons are removed the issue goes to the courts and mental health professionals to determine if there is a threat. “They are using this Law in Florida” he said, “and are removing weapons daily saving lives”.
My suggestion to the reader is whether we want to accept it or not, we may be a target and need to think about that before we go out. Don’t forget run, hide or fight.
We are releasing this video to give you an idea of the extent of the water issue. The video shows the front lobby about 40 minutes AFTER water was shut off to the building on Sunday morning. The water flow in the video is a fraction of what was first discovered but can give you an idea what staff was dealing with, as the lobby area looked like a shower.
The leak which was caused by a malfunctioning urinal in the upstairs bathroom and caused water to soak floors all the way to the basement. As you can see the lobby ceiling is the most prominent issue, but other areas were damaged.
There is no significant news out of the Bohm theatre today other than the drying out of the building continues. It’s still too early to determine how deep the water damage is until the building is completely dry. A short visit today looks the same as yesterday for the most part.
City Watch News Blog 
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