Marsha Chartrand

Drive-by free tractor show set for Saturday, May 16

“I was just feeling down in the dumps as a bunch of tractor shows I was planning to attend this spring and summer were cancelled,” explains John Schiel of how he got the idea of starting a “drive-by” show to entertain his neighbors and other interested community members. On a snowy April day, John parked […]

 Marsha Chartrand

“Live from Riverfolk” series continues each Thursday, will replace summer Gazebo concerts

There is something about the feel of a live concert. Whether on a stage in a huge auditorium, an outdoor venue, or in a more intimate environment, it provides a connection between the artist and the audience that is hard to ignore. How about watching a concert in the comfort of your living room? In […]

 Marsha Chartrand

Cemetery flags to be placed

Although there will not be an official Memorial Day observance in Manchester this May 25, there will be memorial flags placed at all 17 cemeteries in the four-township area (Bridgewater, Freedom, Sharon, and Manchester) surrounding Manchester, including Oak Grove Cemetery just outside the village limits. Thanks to the Charles Schiel family for their dedication to […]

 Marsha Chartrand

Stories of Wil: The Gift

Submitted by Christie Taylor Wil is a 13-year-old boy with Down syndrome. He is the little brother, by 20 months, to twin sisters, Katherine and Elizabeth. Wil’s mom, Christie, knew very little about Down syndrome when Wil was diagnosed shortly after his birth. It didn’t take long for Christie to realize how enriching life with […]

 Marsha Chartrand

Obituary: Mary Anne Fielder

Mary Anne Fielder, 88, passed away May 4, 2020. She was born on May 3, 1932, in Chelsea, Michigan to Webster and Martha (Tirb) Schill. Mary Anne married the love of her life, Donald Fielder, on May 1, 1954. She will be remembered as a woman that spoke her mind and liked the company of […]

 Marsha Chartrand

Letter to the Editor: The (very long) tale of a letter

May 11, 2020 Re: The ‘Thank You’ Letter which will have Traveled 14,580 miles from Paul Whelan in Moscow, Russia to Sandy in Manchester, Michigan, USA We are hoping to find the kind lady, named Sandy from Manchester who, last June 2019, sent a July 4th card to our son Paul Whelan in Lefortovo Prison, […]

 Marsha Chartrand

Whitmer reopens Michigan from coronavirus in phases: What that means to you

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on Thursday announced details of a six-phase economic restart plan and announced that Michigan is already in the third phase because coronavirus case counts are “flattening.” That means manufacturing firms, which represent approximately 19 percent of the state’s economy, will be permitted to reopen Monday with new workplace safety rules. With Detroit’s Big Three automakers […]

 Marsha Chartrand

GOP-led Legislature sues Michigan Gov. Whitmer over emergency powers

by Jonathan Oosting (Bridge) LANSING — Republican legislators filed suit against Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on Wednesday alleging her attempt to unilaterally extend emergency declarations amid the COVID-19 crisis is illegal, “absurd,” unconstitutional and “nonsensical.” GOP leaders are asking the Michigan Court of Claims for an immediate ruling declaring that Whitmer’s emergency orders, including her stay-at-home and business closure […]

 Marsha Chartrand

Tribal casinos may be headed for clash with Whitmer, Nessel over reopening

by Meghanlata Gupta, Ron French (Bridge) Some Michigan tribal casinos are making plans to open as early as May 16, setting up a possible showdown with Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Attorney General Dana Nessel, who fear crowds at slot machines could spread the coronavirus. How the state will respond to the planned openings isn’t known yet; […]

 Marsha Chartrand

Q&A with Brian Calley: 1 in 7 Michigan small businesses worry about survival

by Paula Gardner (Bridge) One in seven small businesses in Michigan may not survive the COVID-19 pandemic and related closure orders, their owners warn in a survey released this week. “Michigan small businesses are truly struggling to survive,” said Brian Calley, president of the Small Business Association of Michigan. The survey, conducted in late April of […]