Michigan wants drivers to learn to love roundabouts. It’s been a slow go.
by Joel Kurth (Bridge) WEST BLOOMFIELD TOWNSHIP—For a good hour, West Bloomfield police officer Robert Houchins recited the stats: Roundabouts are safer. They improve traffic flow and reduce serious crashes. They’re not dangerous at all, Houchins stressed. You should love them. Really. And for a good hour, his audience of senior citizens was dubious. What […]
How to safely navigate roundabouts in Michigan
by Joel Kurth (Bridge) Confused about roundabouts? You’re not alone. Designed to reduce speeds and serious crashes, roundabouts also have a tendency to increase confusion among some drivers. As Michigan slowly joins other states in adding roundabouts, here are some facts and tips: Traditional intersections are dangerous About 37,000 people per year die in car […]
How much brook trout is enough? Michigan keeps changing catch limits.
by Ted Roelofs (Bridge) Celebrated by author Ernest Hemingway, enshrined decades ago as Michigan’s state fish, the brook trout has been through some choppy political waters of late. In 2017 — after persistent lobbying by Upper Peninsula anglers and sports groups — a state commission doubled the daily catch limit for brook trout in 33 […]
Michigan cherry industry still trying to absorb tariff loss to Turkey
by Bob Campbell (Bridge) Among the hundreds of Michigan fruit growers, processors, researchers, vendors and promoters assembled last week at Grand Traverse Resort in Acme just outside Traverse City, were the economically-challenged tart cherry businesses of northwest Michigan. Their hopes, for once, were riding high on expectations of good news from a federal agency — […]
Senator accuses Lucido of harassment as #MeToo reckoning hits Michigan Capitol
by Jonathan Oosting (Bridge) LANSING — Women in and around the Michigan Legislature are taking on what they call an “old boys’ club” culture at the state Capitol that has allowed sexually inappropriate behavior to persist despite a national #MeToo movement. And state Sen. Peter Lucido, a Shelby Township Republican who chairs two powerful committees […]
Michigan still owes GM over $2 billion in tax credits from Great Recession
by Jonathan Oosting (Bridge) LANSING — An old tax credit program designed to stem massive job losses during the Great Recession continues to gouge the Michigan budget. But a new deal with General Motors Co. will provide some certainty in future years. The Detroit-based automaker agreed to cap the total value of its refundable Michigan […]
Liberal group launches ballot effort to change Michigan lobbying laws
by Riley Beggin (Bridge) LANSING – A liberal advocacy group on Thursday launched a constitutional amendment ballot initiative effort to change Michigan laws to ban lobbyists from giving gifts to public officials and require a “cooling off” period before former officials could become lobbyists. “For years there’s been talk about the need for more transparency […]
Manchester needs a Community Center. Meanwhile, the Ackerson Building sits empty.
The Manchester Community Schools board of education began debating the closing of the Nellie Ackerson building, located at 410 City Road, in the spring of 2016. At the time, it held the district’s administrative services and preschool program, and it rented space to the Co-op Preschool and Manchester Community Resource Center. Over the summer of […]
A Man for All Seasons
submitted by Bill Kwolek, St. Mary Parish A familiar figure to many around town, Bob Scharpenberg has occupied a special place in the life of St. Mary's Catholic Church on Main Street. And it is with heartfelt gratitude that Fr. Bosco and the people of St. Mary parish are bidding farewell to Bob, who is […]
Jerry Bristle awarded 2020 "Heritage Award" from MAFE
Several board members, associate members, and spouses of the Manchester Community Fair Board traveled to The Michigan Association of Fairs and Exhibitions (MAFE), 135th Annual Convention, January 9-11, 2020 at the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel in Grand Rapids Michigan. Attendees of the convention were able to participate in workshops and roundtables, view showcase acts, and visit […]
