The Calhoun County Consolidated Dispatch Authority (CCCDA) and Emergency Management Division of the Sheriff’s Office are collaborating to share information this week for Severe Weather Awareness Week. In a series of posts on both agencies’ Facebook pages, information will be shared about emergency alert methods in Calhoun County, preparedness techniques, the difference between watch and warning, and more.
This information is particularly relevant after a tornado touched down in Calhoun County in late February. Questions have arisen about how emergency notifications in Calhoun County work, and this week gives 911 and the Sheriff’s Office an opportunity to help residents understand the methods utilized to share critical information.
Alerts are sent regularly from CCCDA, as well as the Calhoun County Road Department, via Rave Alerts. For emergency texts, residents can text CALHOUN to 67283 to sign up. Or residents can sign up online at calhouncountymi.gov/rave and then choose their method (call, email, or text) to receive updates ranging from weather alerts, traffic disruptions, road closures, and more. Critical messages that are sent from emergency agencies through the Integrated Public Alert & Warning System (IPAWS) are also sent via Rave Alerts, which is what makes the program exceptionally useful.
In the instance of the February tornado, a message was sent from the National Weather Service via IPAWS in a way that also pushed Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) to phones that were within a specific geographic area that was determined at the most risk for tornado. This is in addition to Rave Alerts, and so some individuals who had already opted in to the County’s Rave Alerts received multiple messages about the tornado warning. Some individuals who were outside of that geographic area still received the message about the tornado warning because they had previously opted in to receive Calhoun County Rave Alerts, although they did not also receive the WEA.
This redundancy is intentional. 911 and the Sheriff’s Office Emergency Management division want to ensure that critical information is delivered to residents in a timely and efficient manner. We encourage residents to sign up for Rave alerts so that they can be aware of what’s happening in the community. By signing up online, individuals can choose which alerts they’d like to receive and can choose to receive only Emergency Alerts.
This week, these agencies hope to inform residents of their options and of ideas for preparedness so that if and when an emergency strikes, whether weather or otherwise, residents can receive effective communication about what is going on. Everyone is encouraged to follow the Calhoun County 911 and Sheriff’s Office Facebook pages for more information throughout the week. Media is encouraged to do stories about this awareness week so that we can help spread this message to more people.
By planning ahead, we can reduce our risk when crises take place.
On August 10, 2023, Virgie Ammerman was fired as the Albion Economic Development Corporation (EDC) president. Since that firing, a long-drawn-out series of events has alleged illegal actions of the EDC Board, Albion City Council, and Ammerman. In short, Ammerman was reinstated even though she was under investigation by the Michigan State Police (MSP).
City Watch NEWS wrote several stories about Ammerman and what happened. (CLICK HERE FOR LINK TO OUR STORIES REGARDING AMMERMAN) We reported an MSP investigation and missing emails from her email account. Ammerman eventually claimed that no charges were filed and that investigators told her that the entire issue brought to them was political and that she did nothing wrong.
City Watch then started executing a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) against the MSP to have them supply copies of their investigation about Ammerman. City Watch sent our initial requests on November 3, 2023, and has received multiple responses from the MSP that caused delays in sending the information we needed. On March 6, 2024, we received our FOIA information.
All the information in this story came from the reports I received through my FOIA or computer technical experts I contacted since this is a problematic case far beyond my knowledge.
The Investigation of Virgie Ammerman
It may be nitpicking, but when I picked up the report and, at the top of page one, I saw the original date of this case as reported by the officer, August 4, 2023, I went, hmmmmmmm. Why is this significant? Ammerman was fired on August 10; there was no issue before that.
It would be a month after discovering Ammermans’ actions before City officials requested an investigation. Albion Department of Public Safety Deputy Chief Jason Kern would be the officer who contacted MSP Detective Sgt Suarez (DSS). It’s hard to pinpoint the exact day this occurred as there is no clarifying date of this contact in the report from DSS except for the above-mentioned incorrect date of August 4.
We do know that interviews began on September 13, 2023, the first with a redacted name EDC employee. This employee explained how, after Ammerman was fired, they needed to access Ammerman’s emails to search for required information. They would contact the IT service that Ammerman had hired to gain permission to do so.
Missing Emails
The EDC IT tech advised the employee that after they, IT, were inside Ammermans’ email account, they found that around 38,000 emails had been deleted from her EDC email box. IT restored all the deleted emails; this would be on August 10, 2023, after Ammerman was fired. The EDC employee was then allowed access to the EDC Ammerman email account to access other emails moving forward.
The following Monday, August 14, the EDC employee again entered the former employee Ammerman’s email, and all emails had been deleted since their restoration on the 10th. The employee contacted IT for the EDC, and once again, they went into Ammerman’s account and were able to recover and restore all the deleted emails.
This time, the EDC board instructed the employee to have IT lockout Ammerman’s access to the account. It’s significant to note that according to an email sent by the IT tech, which was part of my FOIA and is where all my information regarding the emails and other items discussed later comes from, all deleted emails stay in the system for only 14 days.
Ammerman Interviewed by Michigan State Police
DSS would interview Ammerman on September 13, 2023, at the Marshall Regional Law Enforcement Center. The interview was audio and video recorded. Ammerman told DSS that she wanted to speak to him.
He allowed her to speak, and she admitted that she was terminated on August 10, 2023. However, after admitting to being terminated, later in the interview she claimed there was no indication when her employment was terminated. This writer would like to clarify her statement where she said, “no indication of when her employment was terminated.” Ammerman knew she was terminated when she left the Board meeting on August 10, as she never returned to work after it plus her admission in the interview that she was terminated. I spoke to her moments after that meeting about her being terminated. Everyone present at the EDC Board meeting knew she was terminated. This statement is the first of a few potential falsehoods Ammerman made to DSS.
Ammerman would discuss how the EDC works and its relationship to the City of Albion. She took special care in telling DSS that the email account in question belonged to the EDC, not the City of Albion.
She explained that on August 10, after being fired, she entered her email account using her phone. She created a .pst file, which she claims transferred and archived the emails in her EDC email. She told DSS that when that happens, the emails are automatically deleted and go to the deleted file in her email. She claimed she did this to make the transition easier for whoever would replace her at the EDC. She then stated that she rechecked her email on Sunday, August 13, and noticed the emails were back in her account. She said she again created a .pst and followed the same steps where she claims emails are automatically deleted.
Regarding forwarding emails to her private email account, she said she was trying to create a link to personal emails she claims were in her EDC email account but sent the entire inbox instead. Though she admitted to forwarding EDC emails to her personal email account, she claims not to have them. She stated that she again tried to access her account on August 14 and, at that time, could not get into her email account. Understand that all these actions were done after she was fired. She stated that she did NOT delete emails from her EDC account, but that was an automatic function of what she was doing.
Calhoun County Prosecutor’s Decision
Prosecutor David Gilbert’s Office
11/7/2023 (DGILBERT) Detective Suarez Decision: DENIED Defendent Ammerman, Virgie The Calhoun County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office declined to authorize criminal charges against this suspect for the following reason(s): Insufficient facts presented to prove case beyond a reasonable doubt. Cannot show a criminal intent; it was her email, she had access to it, and her explanation does not show a criminal intent in deleting her emails, which were recovered twice. There is no indication the deletion was to hide a crime or evidence of a crime, there is no evidence her access to the emails were restricted on her termination, and she was reinstated to her position.
City Watch & Our IT Professionals Discover Holes in Ammermans Interview – Prosecutor Quick Rush to Judgement.
City Watch reached out to individuals with experience in IT work. Our first is responsible for several corporations’ IT and employee training. These meetings were in person as this was a very technical case that required expert analysis. I showed them the FOIA, allowing them to read all aspects of this case and the EDC IT Tech email about what they did.
I questioned what a .pst file was. They explained it as I stated above, noting that creating the file was unnecessary. All she should have done was archive the emails in her email account; that way, anyone who used the account could easily access those emails. I asked about deleting the emails. My IT expert said these emails are not deleted while creating a .pst, which is the function she claims to have done. This is important to note. To prove this, our IT performed the same function that Ammerman claimed she did and that the emails remained in the email account. This point is critical; the emails were not deleted automatically; they were deleted intentionally, by Ammerman, twice, according to my expert. The fact that the EDC IT had to perform a “Recover Deleted Items” function twice meant that in four days, someone intentionally deleted the emails from the Ammerman EDC email, they said, and my IT agreed with that.
This was an intent to delete the emails, the “intent” that the prosecutor blew off and disregarded. The prosecutor also stated that the email account belonged to Ammerman. That statement is nothing short of a lie. Ammerman was legally fired and had no right to access anything, confidential or not, that belonged to the EDC. He claims that this doesn’t show criminal intent. It doesn’t? She deleted these emails twice in what appears to be an attempt to hide something.
Prosecutor Gilbert then points out that Ammerman was reinstated to her job, implying that it’s OK for her to break into EDC’s confidential information after being fired. Gilbert says this despite passing along an email to DSS on October 19, 2023, from a local citizen who filed a complaint with his office on August 15, 2023. The email details how the City of Albion Council appears to have conspired and broken several laws. This leads us to our next section about Ammerman creating secret links to access EDC records.
SharePoint Microsoft 365 – the Missed Crime?
During this investigation, DSS received an email from EDC IT explaining their actions after Ammerman was fired. In this, they discussed how they recovered her deleted emails twice, and that deleted emails are retained for 14 days. According to IT, it’s obvious these emails were deleted recently.
According to EDC IT, they stated, “During the recovery of the emails the second time, I also observed emails in her sent Mail Folder which were hyperlinks to Albion EDC’s SharePoint documents hosted in Microsoft 365. These emailed hyperlinks were sent from her AEDC emails address to her personal email address. It appears that at the time she sent those links, she would still have had access to the Microsoft 365 platform.” Understand this is significant as the EDC IT tech felt compelled to share this in their email.
Now, Ammerman will claim she was emailing links to her personal emails but sent her entire EDC email file. Here is the problem: Sharepoint is a storage area. Someone can upload anything. EDC files, emails, calendars, and anything on the web, and then access these files at any time, anywhere. Ammerman sent her personal email hyperlinks to this storage area. A hyperlink is needed to gain entry to this storage; a hyperlink is a key for all intents and purposes to open this storage area. What that means is, according to our IT professional, even with no access to her EDC email, Ammerman could access whatever documents she had uploaded to this storage. For all we know, she had this access for a while.
Unfortunately, EDC IT was unable to determine what documents had been uploaded to the storage area Ammerman had access to. But it is safe to say there were items in those files uploaded, and our investigation is far from over.
Albion resident Mekhi Wingfield competed at the Nike National Meet held at the Armory in New York City on March 8th. Wingfield, competing in high jump, scored 1.95 meters, or 6 feet 5 inches jump, and would finish 2nd place in the nation.
His jump matched that of winner Brycen Means of South Carolina. Means won on the basis that he had fewer misses during the competition than Wingfield had. Coach Mike Jurasek, understandably, was extremely proud of his accomplishment.
In the spirit of giving the Albion Area Philanthropic Women will meet at 11:30 am March12 at Galazio’s Restaurant at 301 N Clinton St. A $12 lunch buffet is available to be paid at the meeting by check to Galazio’s or exact cash.
Members must RSVP by March 7 to Kelly Rice by email albionphilwomen@gmail.com or in person at the Albion Insurance Agency office at 609 S. Superior St. Unless a member opts out it is assumed they will be paying for the buffet meal. Members may also RSVP to Marcia Starkey at mstarkey74@gmail.com or Gwen Tabb at tabbgwendolyn113@gmail.com.
If not able to attend drop off or mail your $100 quarterly donation check to the Albion Insurance Agency office which is open 9 am to 5 pm, Monday thru Friday. New members are always welcome. The only requirement is that women have a heart forgiving and a desire to make the Albion area a better place for all. Members need not live in the area. Many current AAPW supporters live out of town but regularly send quarterly checks to support the philanthropic group’s efforts to support local nonprofits.
AAPW was founded in 2007 by Cathy Campbell and the late Maggie Konkle. To date AAPW members have given nearly $680,000 to the Albion area nonprofit organizations. For more information contact AAPW volunteer leaders Nancy Roush at nancyroush@gmail.com; Gwen Tabb at tabbgwendolyn113@gmail.com or Marcia Starkey at mstarkey74@gmail.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: At 12:02 a.m., the National Weather Service issued a Tornado Warning for portions of Calhoun County. At approximately 12:35 a.m., visual reports of a tornado were received from a spotter and a law enforcement officer. Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) Deputies, Michigan State Police Troopers and Marengo Township Firefighters arrived in the area of L Drive North and 19 Mile Rd in Lee Township and found significant damage that included trees, powerlines, homes, and barns. The Calhoun County Road Department arrived and cleared roads to allow rescue personnel access to the area and search for injured residents. No injuries have been reported at this time.
It appears the tornado moved northeast from 17 1/2 Mile Rd toward 24 Mile Rd in Marengo Township. This is a preliminary understanding of the tornado, and it might increase as investigation continues.
Although roads are starting to open, there continues to be powerlines down along the road or on private yards. Calhoun County Sheriff Steve Hinkley urges individuals to avoid the area to give Consumers Energy time to repair the damage. CCSO is unable to deploy drones at this time due to upper windspeed to assist with the assessment process. Assessment is ongoing with multiple local agencies.
The Sheriff’s Office Emergency Management Division shares this link for self-reporting property damage. This assessment tool will help determine the overall impact the storm had on our community. The link is, https://arcg.is/10ab1j.
BATTLE CREEK, Mich., Feb. 23, 2024 — State Rep. Jim Haadsma (D-Battle Creek) is pleased to announce that the Calhoun County Land Bank has been awarded $3 million in blight elimination grants from the Michigan State Land Bank Authority. These funds can be used for the demolition, rehabilitation and stabilization of blighted properties.
“This $3 million investment from the state shows our commitment to Calhoun County,” Haadsma said. “Eliminating blighted properties makes communities safer, improves public health, raises property values and paves the way for new homes in the area. I’m grateful for this news. It’s a great way to improve neighborhoods across the county.”
The Land Bank’s successful application includes five rehabilitation projects, primarily in single family homes or duplexes, as well as three stabilization projects for mixed-use properties, in Battle Creek and Albion. Remaining funds will be used for necessary demolitions in Albion, Battle Creek and the village of Tekonsha. These demolitions are in partnership with other organizations, such as the Albion Malleable Brewing Company who owns additional property in Albion, as well as the village of Tekonsha and the County Treasurer’s Office.
“We want to thank the State Land Bank Authority for approving our application and seeing the value in our projects,” said Krista Trout-Edwards, executive director of the Calhoun County Land Bank Authority. “Our team worked diligently with public and private partners to create a successful application that would sustainably repurpose sites, and our thoughtful partnerships allow these funds to be stretched further for greater impact. The mix of rehabilitation, stabilizations and demolitions being tackled with these funds are a great example of what happens when the state and county land banks pool their resources to uplift communities.”
Written by John Face Photos by John Face February 21, 2024
At some point in the coming year, Scott Evans, Homestead Savings Bank President and CEO, who has served as head of Homestead Savings Bank (HSB) since 2015, will retire. I sat down with Scott days after the announcement that he, Teri Face, and Chris Burdette would retire from Homestead this year.
A Long Distinguished Career
We met in his office, and I asked about his career in banking that would eventually lead him to Albion, Michigan. “I am a graduate of the Robert M. Perry School of Banking at Central Michigan University and the Graduate School of Banking at the University of Wisconsin.” He said, “I started my banking career in June 1980.”
He worked at the Bank of Lenawee for 27 years. He was able to work in every department of every office at the bank. “One of my mentors, Pat Gill, gave me many opportunities,” he said. In 2007, he would work at County National Bank. He worked there for eight years. There, too, he had another great mentor in Craig Connor.
Then, in 2015, he sought and received the opportunity to join Homestead Savings Bank as President/CEO. “The board of directors allowed me to fulfill my career goal,” he said. “Forever, I will be grateful to all of these organizations. It has been a quick 44 years in the banking industry,” he said as he looked toward retirement.
Evans will not abandon Albion as he will continue to serve the bank and Albion on the Homestead Board of Directors. That will allow him the opportunity to assist the new President if needed.
Is Homestead Going Away?
With his retirement and that of other senior staff, I asked Evans if there are discussions to have Homestead merge or be bought by another bank. He was emphatic that the retirements, especially his, had long been planned. He said, “I have been asked since our press release, is HSB going to merge or be sold. Please let me be clear: the board of directors is committed to being an independent community bank. That is why I plan to stay on the board after my retirement.”
Scott Evans in Front of the Albion HSB
Evans explained that Homestead Savings Bank was established in June 1889. It is the oldest mutual savings bank in Michigan and the 14th oldest bank in Michigan. It is rare that a financial institution will celebrate 135 years in 2024 with the same name and in the same community.
Family Time
I asked Scott about his family, and a smile crept on his face. “My wife Connie and I have five children, eight grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren,” he said. Most of his family is in Michigan, but he does have some in Florida and England. “I must thank Connie and my family,” he said, “for giving up so much for my career. I missed so many events, and maybe now I can start to repay them.”
When he and Connie moved to Albion, they decided they must be involved in the community. “I think for the first few years, we went to every event possible. Through that process, we have met so many people and enjoyed all of the community events that we have done. Some of my favorites include Swingin’ at the Shell (we loved handing out cookies at the last concert), Men Who Cook, Run Albion, and Bids N Stuff”, he said.
Fondest Memories
“My coworkers and board of directors, they mean everything to me. We would never have accomplished the things we have done the last eight years”, he said. More specifically, his executive management team. “We all have different styles (which was by design), but the respect and professionalism, even when we did not agree, is amazing.” He thanked Jenny Wilber, Chris Burdette, and Ashley Vinton for all their work and effort. “The bank is in a great position for the future with the current and new leadership,” he said
We are Proud of Our Staff and The Communities They Help
I asked what he was most proud of, and his list was long:
“When I started in 2015, and you stood at the corner of Superior and Ash and looked down (north) Superior St., there were very few businesses,” he said. “Now, if you take the same look, you will find a brewery, bakery, stores, another theatre, hotel, chocolate shop, flower store and many more businesses. With all that, there is more to come, and HSB helped in some of that,” he said.
Individually, he said he has not accomplished that much. He is proud of what our board of directors, management, and staff have been able to do during my tenure. “When I arrived, HSB was experiencing some challenges. Our board members have changed, executive management has been established, and we have a great staff.”
They have a good relationship with federal regulators, and most importantly he said, “in 2023, we had the best financial performance since I have been at HSB.”
In October 2023, we organized our 1st Community Service Day. In Albion, staff painted curbs, cleaned and painted the Riverside Cemetery sign, and cleaned the landscaping at Harrington Schools. In Leslie, they stained the Veterans gazebo, and in Springport, they partnered with the Village staff to landscape the park between the village office and the bank. Leslie and Springport, Michigan, are where the other two HSB Branches are located.
He said his staff had a blast doing Toast to the Bohm in 2018. They turned the bank into a restaurant and drove (thanks to Hometown Chrysler) people to the theatre for a show with The War & Treaty in a formal event that supported the Bohm.
Saying So Long Scott
Evans plans on being the President until his replacement is found. He is hoping that is sooner than later. When that happens the community will have the opportunity to thank him, but hey, why not now. When you see Scott thank him for his tireless work to make Albion a better place.
There was one thing for sure when I walked through the doors, it looked like I was going to have some fun. I had just stepped inside of Viking Warrior Axe Throwing Company. They are located at 100 East Erie Street in Albion, MI, on the southeast corner of Superior and Erie, the old Ice Cream Parlor across from the street from Foundry Bakery.
Owners Tommy Fagan, Steve Sinden, and Steves’s wife, Breann, greeted me. After pleasantries, we get busy talking. My first question was, is this their first Axe throwing location? They both answered yes, and they are looking forward to opening. Tommy said after I asked why Albion, “Choosing Albion was easy. They have the college here, the city, and people in the town are trying to fix things up. There isn’t much to do. You have the Bohm, the bowling alley, the gaming place across the street; this would give people something new to do”.
L-R Tommy Fagan & Breann and Steve Sinden
I told them I knew little about Axe throwing except that these venues were opening all over. Tommy said there is one in Jackson, but beyond that, there is nothing close to where they live. Tommy lives outside of Albion, and Steve and Breann live in Concord. Tommy had the idea of doing this and talked to the Sindens, and as he said, “They were crazy enough to say yes.” Steve said finding a location was made easier with the great help of Joe Verbeke of Ace Investment. (Click on picture for Link to their website) They wanted to be downtown Albion and this was the perfect location for them.
Sport for All Ages
There are a few sanctioning bodies for this type of sport, but they plan on hosting in-house leagues and offering open throwing for now, which includes a college night. Customers will be able to go online and reserve a lane.
League play is simple; there are ten frames per game, six people per lane max, and games can last up to 2 hours. They have a wide variety of games to choose from. Reservations can be made for groups, etc. Click on the logo below for a link to their website, which gives detailed pricing information and their hours.
They showed me how they maintain the wooden surface into which the axes go. The “targets” are displayed on the wood via the camera and your scoreboard. They took time to explain the different games, and then Tommy asked if I wanted to try.
Well It Wasn’t Pretty at First
My first few attempts at Axe throwing were missed, with the Axe clanging to the floor. That happened because I didn’t listen carefully to the instructions I received from Tommy. But before I knew it my Axes were going where I was aiming, and I was hooked.
An unflattering picture of me, John Face, after I toss my Axe
A Family Thing
On this night, Tommy invited Albion Department of Public Safety members and their families. Some showed up with spouses and children in tow. Before you knew it, lively games were played with cheers, laughter, and gentle ribbing at misses. I can tell the readers this was a blast and should be on your must-do list.
Opening Thursday
Again, click on the Logo link above and check this out. Stop by and play a game or two. Walk-ins are welcome on a first-come basis, but online reservations guarantee a spot. They allow outside food and offer some refreshments for sale and free popcorn.
House Democrats mark new era by strengthening workers’ rights
Photo: Members of the public listen to testimony of the House Labor Committee on March 8, 2023, in the House Office Building in Lansing.
Press Release
February 4, 2024
LANSING, Mich., Feb. 4, 2024 — For the first time in 40 years, Democrats gained control of the Legislature and the governor’s office last year — with majority, they led a remarkably productive year, passing and signing into law a historic number of bills. A significant number of those laws go into effect on Feb. 13. In order to celebrate with and inform Michiganders, Dems are rolling out the Countdown to a Better Michigan project — each day leading up to Feb. 13, they will share about a different set of legislation soon becoming law. Included are laws to bolster workers — Democrats know that hard working Michiganders are the backbone of the state, which is why they took tangible action to support workers and protect their rights.
Michigan Democrats made putting workers first a central priority last year by repealing laws that weaken unions and restoring the state’s prevailing wage law. Dems plan to build on that foundation this year, making hard-working Michiganders a top focus by lowering costs and more.
“I’m pleased that we restored workers’ rights by repealing anti-worker laws,” said state Rep. Jim Haadsma (D-Battle Creek), chair of the House Committee on Labor. “Families across Michigan are struggling at the gas pump, cash register and pharmacy counter, and they shouldn’t have to break the bank to put food on their tables. History has shown that we can strike a balance between the interests of workers and businesses — employers and employees both need a seat at the table.”
An essential element of putting workers first for Michigan Dems is ensuring educators are valued and have a strong seat at the bargaining table. Among the bills soon taking effect are laws to bolster negotiation power and collective bargaining rights for school employees.
“Job security in the 21st century includes protecting workers’ rights when they speak up in solidarity for better wages and better working conditions,” state Rep. Regina Weiss (D-Oak Park), chair of the Labor Caucus and the House Appropriations Subcommittee on School Aid and Education. “Organized labor built the middle class, and working Michiganders are stronger today because of it. We’ve worked hard to put people first and to put more money than ever back into the pockets of working Michiganders. We’re continuing the longstanding Democratic tradition of standing up for workers.”
With House Bill 4044 (Public Act 113), House Dems staunchly advocated to repeal a provision of the Public Employment Relations Act (PERA) — this successfully eliminates wage freeze during contract negotiations. Once again, this Dem advocacy put workers and union members first by bringing justice to the workplace and dismantling restrictive laws.
“Collective bargaining is the linchpin of workplace justice, empowering employees to negotiate fair wages and benefits,” said state Rep. Joey Andrews (D-St. Joseph). “Our elimination of the constraining wage freeze during contract negotiations is a crucial step toward just and equitable compensation. And we’ll continue advocating for workers, whether on the House floor or on the picket line. Let’s make Michigan a place where labor is honored, and workers and businesses alike can thrive.”
House and Senate Democrats are working hard to transform Michigan into the best possible place to work, live and retire. In tandem with Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Michigan Dems are galvanized to help working people and families achieve their dreams in Michigan.
“Michigan is a workers’ rights state thanks to the working families and union members across the state that secured a Democratic trifecta last year. From being the first state to repeal anti-worker ‘right-to-work’ laws in nearly 60 years to enshrining collective bargaining rights for our teachers and school staff, Michigan Democrats are doing the work to level the playing field for working people. Last year was historic, but we’re not done yet — I look forward to seeing more policies that put people over corporations,” Michigan AFL-CIO President Ron Bieber said.
As these new laws take effect, Michigan Democrats underscore their commitment to the well-being of hardworking Michiganders and the preservation of workers’ rights. The focus remains on striking a balance between the interests of workers and businesses. Whether through the repeal of anti-worker laws, advocacy for job security or the emphasis on collective bargaining, Democrats strive to fortify the foundation of the state — its workers. The importance of empowering local communities and fostering an environment where workers are not merely valued but truly esteemed is at the heart of these legislative endeavors. For detailed information on these transformative policies, please go to HouseDems.com/countdown.
Homestead Savings Bank is pleased to announce the upcoming retirements of three of its long-serving and dedicated employees in 2024.
Teri Face, Accounting Officer, has been a vital member of the Homestead Team for 38 years with 46 years total in the banking industry. She will be greatly missed by her colleagues and customers. Homestead Savings Bank will be celebrating Teri’s retirement with an Open House on Friday April 26, 2024 from 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. Teri stated: “This will be a day that I am excited for but sad at the same time, as I will miss helping the community in Albion and the Family that I have here at Homestead.”
Chris Burdette, SVP/Chief Retail Officer, has brought his extensive experience and leadership to Homestead Savings Bank since 2015. He has 44 years in the financial services industry. His last day will be May 10, 2024. In a statement “The past eight years have been a great experience and am thankful to end my career with a local, community bank like Homestead Savings.”
Scott E. Evans, President/CEO, has announced plans to retire in 2024 after a successful and distinguished career. He has 44 years in the financial service industry, having served in his position at Homestead since 2015. “Homestead has engaged Angott Search Group to assist the Board of Directors in finding a suitable successor. We are pleased Mr. Evans will remain on the board of directors after retirement” Chairman Herman McCall
About Homestead Savings Bank:
Homestead Savings Bank is a full-service financial institution with locations in Albion, Leslie, and Springport. Since 1889 our mission has been to provide outstanding service to our customers. Decisions are made locally by people who know our customers and our communities. The bank is guided by a Board of Directors composed of local community leaders. The Board has installed an experienced, professional, and caring management team who oversee day to day operations. Homestead Savings Bank is organized as a mutual savings bank. That means it is owned by customers. When customers are owners, our service takes on a new meaning.
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