New Michigan House Republican Leader Matt Hall: Democrats need our help
by Lauren Gibbons (Bridge Michigan) Rep. Matt Hall had hoped to succeed outgoing Republican Rep. Jason Wentworth as the next Michigan House speaker in 2023. Instead, he’ll lead a slightly slimmed-down caucus after Democrats won the legislative majority in November. But the Comstock Township Republican isn’t letting the changing of the guard get him down […]
New Michigan Senate Leader Winnie Brinks: Let’s end ‘toxic time in politics’
by Jonathan Oosting (Bridge Michigan) LANSING — It’s been quite a decade for Winnie Brinks, who entered politics 10 years ago as a reluctant write-in candidate and is now poised to become the first female Senate majority leader in Michigan history. Brinks, chosen by her colleagues to lead the Senate next year as Democrats take […]
COVID-19 in 2022: Deaths fall, but Michigan had 5th most in US
by Mike Wilkinson (Bridge Michigan) COVID-19 battered Michigan again in 2022, but vaccines and new treatments softened the blow of the pandemic in its third year. More than 8,900 died from the virus in Michigan this year, down from 15,000 in 2021 and 13,000 in 2020. Still, Michigan’s mortality rate from COVID-19 is the nation’s […]
Historic craft classes at the Blacksmith Shop for winter 2023
submitted by Annette Siffin, MAHS The Manchester Area Historical Society is excited to announce a series of classes beginning on Mondays, held from 6–9pm, in January. Classes are a simple introduction. They are geared toward sharing knowledge and technique of historic crafts to spur interest and motivate involvement in the Blacksmith Shop’s Historic Craft demonstrations […]
2022 was a banner year for varsity football
by Marsha Chartrand It has been a great year for the Manchester High School Flying Dutch football teams. To begin 2022, in January two Manchester community members — Larry McGee and Jack Smith — received the Honorary Membership Award to the Michigan High School Football Coaches Association for their 50 years of service to Manchester […]
The story of a sign in a building
submitted by Ray Berg, Manchester Area Historical Society Recent visitors to downtown Manchester have noticed ongoing reconstruction at 118 E Main St, traditionally known as “the bakery shop.” Developer Jason Cooper purchased this building, and also the adjacent 122 E Main St building, and is converting them into a combination of office storefront, a planned […]
Title 3 holds family information night at library
submitted by Melissa Yekulis, Klager Elementary School Manchester Community School’s Title 3 Team teamed up with the Manchester District Library to host the second annual Title 3 Family Information Night. During the evening families were treated to a fun scavenger hunt around the library. They traveled to different stations learning more about the Title 3 […]
Washtenaw County completes partial recount of Proposal 22-3 race
submitted by Washtenaw County Clerk/Register of Deeds Office The state-wide partial recount of Proposal 22-3 is now complete in Washtenaw County. On Monday, December 12, more than 50 assistants, coordinated by the Washtenaw County Clerk’s office Elections Division, gathered to perform a hand recount of the “Reproductive Freedom” proposal that appeared on the November 8, […]
Whitmer’s school parent council: Public service, public relations, or both?
by Isabel Lohman (Bridge Michigan) To understand Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s Parents Council on schools, you have to go back to July, in the heat of an election campaign. Tudor Dixon had emerged as the establishment choice in the Republican primary race for governor, having the support of Michigan’s powerful DeVos family, while also gaining favor from former […]
As flu slams Michigan, COVID-19 hospitalizations rise as well
by Mike Wilkinson (Bridge Michigan) Michigan hospitals are getting slammed with flu patients for the first time in years, just as COVID-19 cases are rising again. Hospitalizations for COVID-19 hit 1,300 on Wednesday statewide, the most since late February and marking the third straight week of increases. At the same time, the number of emergency […]
