Sunday, September 8, 2024

Historic building sold; candidate pulls out of superintendent job: Jackson headlines June 8-13

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JACKSON COUNTY, MI – After 32 years of preventative education, Jackson’s “drug lady” has retired from Jackson’s Breakout Program.

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Jackson’s ‘drug lady’ retires after 32 years of preventative education

It’s not uncommon for one of the many students Shelly Milligan has taught over the past three decades to recognize her face but not her name when they see her in public – many referring to her simply as the “drug lady.”

“I cannot tell you how many times I’ve had kids yell that across a Meijer aisle, or I’m walking out of the mall and somebody shouts ‘Hey drug lady!’” Milligan said. “That says something. The name’s not important – it’s what they remember from the program.”

Trail of leaking sewage leads police to stolen camper trailer

A camper trailer reported stolen Friday was recovered by police who were able to locate the missing home away from home by following a trail of sewage and water leaking from it.

Police were called Friday, June 7, to a residence in the 9000 block of N. Parma Road in Tompkins Township for a reported larceny of a camper trailer in progress, according to the Springport Township Police Department.

The sky is the limit when you explore 755 acres of outdoor fun in Michigan’s Irish Hills

A 374-foot bridge lifting visitors high into the treetops is just part of the outdoor activities available at a 755-acre botanical garden in southern Michigan’s Irish Hills.

Hidden Lake Gardens, managed by Michigan State University and located near Tipton in Lenawee County, combines the Sky Walk bridge, a world-class conservatory and an arboretum featuring rolling hills and picture-like vistas.

Owning motorcycle was life-long dream of 20-year-old who died in crash

Each year for Mother’s Day, Ginger Russell’s son would get her flowers to plant. So when he sheepishly presented her with a bouquet of pink roses this year, she decided to keep one to press.

“Something must have told me,” she said.

Joseph Poynter, 20, died while riding his motorcycle in Leoni Township around 4 p.m. Thursday, June 6, according to a statement from the Blackman-Leoni Department of Public Safety.

Conviction for woman charged in aiding homicide is a “cointoss,” judge says

After taking a month to deliberate, a Jackson County judge decided Monday to send the case of a woman charged with aiding in a homicide to trial.

District Judge Robert Gaecke took several weeks to re-read the transcript from a preliminary examination, a probable cause hearing, in the case of Klaira Diann Mishaw, 28. “It’s a pretty nuanced factual scenario, and I wanted some time to actually see, on the record, the actual testimony,” Gaecke said June 10.

Commercial Exchange Building has new owner. See what’s planned for the historic building

Jackson’s historic Commercial Exchange Building has been sold to a new owner who hopes to turn it into a space for apartments, entertainment and offices.

The Commercial Exchange Building, 2301 E. Michigan Ave., was previously owned by Laurice LaZebnik after her husband Robert purchased it from Sparton Corp. in 1961. Robert died in July 2023, and LaZebnik continued running the property, until she decided it was time to sell the historic three-floor building.

Jackson passes ordinance to curb downtown loitering, aggressive panhandling

A new ordinance aims to crack down on disruptive behavior in downtown Jackson, though not everyone agrees that the punishment fits the crime.

A second reading of an ordinance to regulate loitering and aggressive panhandling was unanimously approved by the Jackson City Council during its Tuesday, June 11 meeting.

Meet the Teacher: He engages Jackson students with his humor, passion for science

Like his childhood idol Bill Nye the Science Guy, Ray Savicke uses humor to draw students in before teaching them about the wonders of the natural world.

Savicke, 41, has taught science for 18 years, all of them in Jackson Public Schools.

After graduating from Eastern Michigan University in 2006, Savicke started teaching at the now-closed Tomlinson School. He moved to the also since-vacated T.A. Wilson Academy after Tomlinson closed in 2008 before landing his current role of science teacher at Jackson High School.

‘My heart was in Michigan Center’: Superintendent pulls out of Grass Lake interviews

Despite a strong showing in the first round of interviews, one candidate in the running to be Grass Lake Community Schools’ next superintendent has decided stay where he’s at.

Brady Cook, Michigan Center School District superintendent, has formally withdrawn from a second interview in Grass Lake, saying his heart is still with his current district.

Boy riding on bike handlebars critically injured in crash with truck

Two boys riding a bicycle were injured, one critically, after a collision with a Dodge Ram in Monday night in Jackson.

The victims, two 14-year olds, were riding with one sitting on the handlebars of the bicycle, according to Jackson Director of Police and Fire Services Elmer Hitt. They were travelling south in the northbound lane of travel, Hitt said.

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