More Michigan third-graders could be held back under read-or-flunk law
by Tracie Mauriello (Bridge Michigan) Parents of nearly 5,700 Michigan students are getting unwelcome news: Their third-graders could be held back from moving to the fourth grade because of low reading scores. The number of struggling young readers is up 60 percent from total last year as being eligible to be retained, though that increase […]
Consumers Energy announces site work at M-52 station
by Marsha Chartrand Consumers Energy will be doing work on its Reg Station at 10951 M-52 starting May 23 and going through the week of July 22. During this time, there will be construction vehicles and workers on-site. In addition, on May 27, the company will be venting odorized gas from the station. “During this […]
Legion Auxiliary seeks support
by Marsha Chartrand Once a year, the American Legion Auxiliary seeks donations from its friends for poppies, the memorial flower of the American Legion and Auxiliary. In years past, the Legion and Auxiliary members stood at various locations throughout the village and asked for donations. For the past two years, due to Covid concerns, they […]
Parks Commission updates Carr Park sign
by Marsha Chartrand; photos courtesy Pat Vailliencourt The beautiful sign at Carr Park was faded and weathered after seeing many years of the Michigan elements, and citizen Dwayne Vailliencourt decided to do something about it. Last fall, the sign was removed from its posts, and Vailliencourt spent the winter repainting and refurbishing the sign that […]
Memorial Service announced for Kain Popkey
With a heavy heart we announce the passing of our Daddy, Son, Brother and Grandson, Kain William-Robert Popkey. Born June 28, 1983, Kain departed on Wednesday, March 30, 2022 to join his maternal grandpa, Pledger Chapman and his paternal grandpa, Robert Popkey. Kain leaves behind his four young children, Kaylin, Mya, Carter, Brayden, their mother, […]
Michigan farmers pinched by rising fertilizer prices. Consumers may be next.
by Kelly House (Bridge Michigan) Between last fall’s harvest and this spring’s planting season, Matt Schwab’s corn crop got a whole lot more expensive to grow. Prices for the commercial fertilizers Schwab and other Michigan farmers apply to their crops have doubled in the past year as a result of the Russia-Ukraine war, shifting trade […]
Michigan home prices are still skyrocketing. That may soon change.
by Paula Gardner (Bridge Michigan) Adam Paarlberg knows that when one of his fellow 400 agents at Greenridge Realty in west Michigan lists a home for under $400,000 it may get 30 offers. Some reach 50 offers. That’s just the way real estate operates in Michigan since prices took double-digit leaps starting in 2020 and a few […]
Michigan Republicans OK $2.7B tax cut. Whitmer wants a $500 rebate.
by Jonathan Oosting (Bridge Michigan) LANSING — Tensions flared in the Michigan Capitol Thursday as Republicans and Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer pushed competing tax cut plans to give back some of the state’s growing budget surplus. All sides stressed the need to help Michiganders whose spending power has been curbed by inflation, but their negotiating […]
Intentional damage at site of future disc golf course
On Tuesday morning, May 9, Village officials discovered there had been damage to the work being done to prepare for the disc golf course in Chi-Bro Park. Despite the enthusiasm for the project among the Village staff, Council, and Parks Commission, it’s evident there are some people who are less than thrilled with the planned […]
Remember Walk to School? Do it again, this Wednesday!
Once upon a time, not too long ago, Manchester had a Walk to School program that was the envy of the 5 Healthy Towns! It was supported by the schools, the teachers, a dozen or so regular volunteers, crossing guards, the Village government, and the community at large. (Not to mention, by 5 Healthy Towns […]
