June 06, 2024

Press Release

MARSHALL, Mich. – The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) will be resurfacing more than 9 miles of westbound I-94 from 29 Mile Road in Sheridan Township to 21 1/2 Mile Road in Marengo Township, Calhoun County. The $4.3 million investment includes resurfacing the ramps at 22 1/2 Mile Road Exit 115, M-199 (26 Mile Road) Exit 119, and I-94 Business Route (28 Mile Road/Easton Street) Exit 121.

County:
Calhoun

Highway:
I-94

Closest city:
Albion

Start date:
Sunday, June 9, 2024

Estimated end date:
Friday, Aug. 2, 2024

Traffic restrictions:
There will be nighttime lane and ramp closures from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m.

Jobs numbers:
Based on economic modeling, this investment is expected to directly and indirectly support 52 jobs.

Safety benefit:
This work will result in a smoother ride and improved safety for motorists.

Written by John Face

June 4, 2024

Albion Department of Public Safety (ADPS) released the following statement via social media:

At 1:30 PM today ADPS units responded to a possible body in the river at the waterfall near Haven Rd. Upon arrival officer located what appeared to be a body.

The Marshall Fire Department, Sheridan Township Fire Department, Calhoun County Dive Team, Albion Township Fire Department, Calhoun County Sheriff’s Department and the Michigan State Police all respond to assist in removing the body from the water. At this point we have no further information and have not been able to identify the individual. The body was turned over to the Calhoun County Medical Examiner. Anyone with information is asked to call D/Lt Nicole Wygant at 517-629-7824 or Silent Observer at 517-629-2700.

Picture of scene as ADPS and coroner office processed the victim and scene. Crime scene photo property of City Watch.

Photos by John Face

Press Release

May 28, 2024

Local area artists will gather June 28 and 29 for a special “Art Under the Water Tower”
in Crowell Park. The event is sponsored by the Albion Arts Commission and Salem United
Church of Christ. Support comes from an Albion Community Foundation grant.

The free art event will feature over 20 area artists and crafters. In addition food trucks
will be on site to provide something for everyone. The Albion Sister City will combine its annual
French Market with this art event. Free parking will be available at Christ Apostolic Church next door to the event.

Crowell Park is located on North Superior Street under the city water tower.
According to Albion Arts Commission Chair Mary Slater the event features the “perfect
venue” for the participants. “The park is a little used jewel just north of downtown. It is a lovely
setting for talented area artists and craft persons to sell their works, “she said.

Included in the available art will be paintings, etchings, pottery, crochet, photography and
jewelry. Also participating will be local authors with their books. In addition Dennis Reid will be
sketching caricatures. Greeting cards and fabric art will be available.

Friday there will be a children’s craft table sponsored by Kids ‘N’ Stuff Childrens
Museum and the Albion District Library. On Saturday Albion resident and former art teacher
Terri Nelson will provide hands-on children’s crafts.

The Albion Sister City Committee will hold a bake sale and sell photography as
fundraisers. In addition the group will have two baskets daily to raffle off at the art event. The
committee works to exchange residents from the sister cities of Albion and Noisy-le-Roi.
For more information about the event contact Slater at mary_slater@hotmail.com.

Who: State Rep. Jim Haadsma (D-Battle Creek)  
What: State Rep. Haadsma will be holding coffee hours in Springfield and Albion to meet with constituents. 
When & Where: Saturday, June 1, 9-11 a.m. at Mr. Don’s Restaurant, 341 N. 20th St., Springfield
Saturday, June 1, 1-2:30 p.m. at Stirling Books and Brew, 119 N. Superior St., Albion 
Background: State Rep. Jim Haadsma hosts coffee hours on the first Saturday of the month to give residents the opportunity to discuss the most important issues happening at the state Capitol and around the community. 

Photos by John Face

Written by John Face

May 18, 2024

Lawsuit Thrown Out

The lawsuit by Sonya Brown against the City of Albion and multiple citizens and council members has ended. Brown v City of Albion et al. has been ended by Judge Jarbou, and this judgment includes all individuals she sued. Her original lawsuit was pages and pages of Garret Brown-inspired accusations. Some of those accusations were word for word by Garrett Brown in his public writings in years past.

City Watch received a copy of a letter sent to one of the many defendants, here is partial look at that letter:

“Attached for your file and review is Judge Jarbou’s Opinion and Order denying plaintiff’s motion for reconsideration of our original motion to dismiss, granting our motion for summary judgment, and the final Judgment dismissing plaintiff’s case.

The Court denied plaintiff’s motion for reconsideration because there was nothing pled in the complaint from which it could be inferred that any city policy was motivated by an intent to retaliate against the plaintiff. The Court noted that none of the council members were involved in plaintiff’s arrest, and that probable cause existed to obtain the arrest warrant. Judge Jarbou ruled that plaintiff’s argument that other city council members were not arrested or prosecuted for charter violations was misplaced, finding that the other city council members were not involved in similar conduct.

The Court granted our motion for summary judgment on the two remaining claims against the City, finding that the absence of a constitutional violation was fatal to the claims. She also ruled the charter provisions were not unconstitutionally vague or overbroad.”

Sonya Brown, who filed the lawsuit, has 30 days to appeal the judgment. City Watch will update you as we get more information.

Press Release

May 15, 2024

Do you wish to see ACT II Comedy play that begins Thursday night and runs through Sunday? We hope you attend, but here is an offer for you to get a ticket for free. “I’m Tired” is offering the first 40 people who stop in at their location a ticket to attend any of the four shows: Thursday through Saturday night at 7 p.m. or Sunday afternoon at 2 p.m. show at the Bohm theatre.

“I’m Tired” is conveniently located at 220 Austin Avenue in Albion, right on the corner of Austin and Eaton Street. Please note, only one ticket per person is available, and this ticket is your one time entry to any of the four shows. Don’t miss out, as there are only 40 tickets up for grabs.

Here is a brief description of the play:

ACT II Community Theatre show and ticket information:

“Dear Camp”

By Lisa MacDonald

Buy Tickets: https://bohmtheatre.easy-ware-ticketing.com/events/

Tickets available at the door

Hildy, a recently widowed woman, arrives at her late husband’s beloved hunting camp to prepare the cabin and property for sale. She finds his camp journal and is later joined by three friends, who are supposed to be there to help with the clean-up for sale.

Between hilarious and poignant moments, secrets, old wounds that are opened, and new suspicions, you have a recipe for hilarity, calamity, and cupcakes?

Place four women in a hunting camp with a full liquor cabinet, shotgun, and a blizzard. Shake well. What could possibly go wrong?

This is not your typical deer camp story.

Our show stars an ensemble cast with four dynamic actresses: Lynn Schofield-Dahl, Carson Scioletti, Jen Finney, and April Clawson. Mark Messer and Greg Reitsma fill out the remainder of the cast, making this Tom McClure-directed play a hell of a show.

Performances:

Thursday May 16 7:00 P.M.

Friday May 17 7:00 P.M.

Saturday, May 18, 7:00 P.M.

Sunday May 19 2:00 P.M.

ACT II Community Theatre, your hometown theatre group, is producing the comedy play Dear Camp. This Lisa MacDonald play has only been performed once before, and we here in this area get to see it live on stage starting Thursday Night at the Bohm Theatre. Thursday through Saturday night 7:00 P.M. curtain and Sunday 2:00 P.M. curtain.

Come enjoy some theatre in the ALB, 629, 42-84.