January 12, 2024

Observing Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day is this upcoming Monday and with County and Court Offices closed, it affords extra time to engage with community in the spirit of this holiday.

Community Celebration and Resource Fair

In Albion, a Community Celebration and Resource Fair will take place at Marshall Opportunity High School starting at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 15. Visit the Facebook event for more information.

MLK Jr. Convocation and Community Celebration

Albion College is also hosting a MLK Jr. Convocation and Community Celebration at 7 p.m., Monday, Jan. 22 at the Bohm Theater; the event will be led by Linda Johnson Rice, Chairman and CEO of Johnson Publishing Company and she will speak on “Shifting the Cultural Climate Through the Study and Practice of Kingian Nonviolence.” Learn more.

Stand UP – Speak UP

In Battle Creek, the local chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, with the Battle Creek NAACP and Second Missionary Baptist Church are hosting Stand UP – Speak UP at 1 p.m. at the church which is located at 485 N Washington Ave. Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson and our own Commissioner Dr. Monique French, as well as other leaders from Battle Creek Public Schools and Marshall Public Schools will talk about civic engagement and voting. Visit the Facebook event for more information.

MLK Jr. Equal Opportunity Dinner

Also, an MLK Jr. Equal Opportunity Dinner will take place on Monday, Jan. 15 at Kellogg Arena between 4-10 p.m. to honor the legacy of Dr. MLK Jr. This event is hosted by the Southwestern Michigan Urban League. Learn more here.

Volunteer Opportunities

And if active work is a way you like to give back, Gryphon Place has a webpage with a list of volunteer opportunities in our community on Jan. 15. These organized volunteer opportunities even offer t-shirts and lunch vouchers. Visit the Gryphon Place website for more information.

Construction has begun on the Calhoun County Youth Center. This $13M renovation will expand the building footprint to 29,941 sq ft and increase capacity from 42 to 52 beds. The photos from construction show that we're starting to expand the footprint already. View the Facebook post to see more. 

New Road Department Leadership

After the recent retirement of the John Midgley who led the Road Department, Kristine Parsons has agreed to serve as the interim Managing Director and Kori Albrecht will be Interim Deputy Director. County Administration appreciates their willingness to step into these roles while the County continues to work toward a long-term plan for Road Department leadership.

Update from the Broadband Task Force

The Broadband Task Force continues to work to ensure residents have reliable, affordable, and high-speed internet access. In the latest Broadband Informational Update, find out about the state's map challenge in preparation of federal funding, as well as how the Digital Equity Subcommittee has begun working on aspects of broadband adoption countywide.

Two New Inside Calhoun County Podcasts Available

Don't miss an episode. Subscribe to "Inside Calhoun County" on most major podcast platforms.

Insights from Longtime Prosecutor David Gilbert

Check out the episode of the Inside Calhoun County Podcast with longtime Calhoun County Prosecuting Attorney David Gilbert about the job of the prosecuting attorney, what role the office has with police departments and specialty courts, and what his thoughts are on crime in Calhoun. 

Treasurer's Office Curbs Foreclosures by Aiming at the Root Cause

Treasurer Brian Wensauer shares information about how the County Treasurer's Office makes local municipalities whole and then works with folks to find solutions for paying unpaid property taxes, including through their ARPA-funded relief program. Learn about this and more in the podcast episode.