January 24, 2015 • Vol. 136 No. 4 514 S. Kalamazoo Ave. in Marshall, MI • Phone 269-781-5444 and FAX 269-781-7766 • www.advisor-chronicle.com
In The News:
‘We have fully recovered from the recession’ economist tells county leaders With Calhoun County jobless rates back to 2002 levels, the county’s current unemployment of 6.2 percent is a big improvement from the peak 12 percent recession level, according to senior economist George Erickcek of the W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research. “You’re seeing that the county lost about 3,800 jobs during the recession but has gained about 4,300 jobs so we fully have recovered from recession,” he announced Jan. 15 at the annual Economic Update for Calhoun County. “Very few metropolitan areas can say that in the manufacturing sector they have basically recovered from the great recession.” See story on page 34
‘It’s been a remarkable experience’: Starr Commonwealth’s Martin Mitchell looks back on 45 years Starr Commonwealth President and CEO Martin Mitchell gave something of a surprise 64th birthday announcement on Jan. 5, that he would retire on his 65th birthday. Mitchell says he is proud of Starr and the organization’s accomplishments. “The next generation, there is so much potential, so many ways we can reach out to children,” he said. “Reaching more kids, but earlier. That part is very exciting, but there is that recognition at some point that I won’t be directly involved in the process. But, everyone knows that I’ll be a lifelong supporter of Starr and be involved in ways that I can to be as helpful as I can.” See story on page 14
U.S. Congressman John Conyers shares importance of holiday of MLK holiday To celebrate the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr., local officials, clergy and residents gathered last weekend at several “Advancing the Dream” events including the annual Martin Luther King Jr. Prayer Breakfast on Jan. 17. The keynote speaker for the event was U.S. Rep. John Conyers Jr., who was instrumental in establishing the Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Act of 1983. “The MLK holiday is not just a day off, but a day of reflection,” Conyers said. “I keep thinking about where we would be without Martin Luther King Jr. coming forward with what he said and did and lead...The reason I think he was the greatest person of the 20th century is because he was not just an intellectual, he was a leader as well.” See story on page 32
Marshall native appears on TV drama Chicago Fire Marshall native Christa South Hamranova, a 2000 Marshall High School graduate, was recently featured on the NBC prime time drama Chicago Fire, which follows the lives of the firefighters and paramedics working at Chicago Fire House 51. “Being on the show was a great experience,” Hamranova said. “...It was a little surreal, and I really feel lucky for the opportunity.” See story on page 24
SPECIAL SECTION INSIDE
F
rom its youngest students at the Shamrock Center, to those in the senior class at Marshall High School, Marshall Public Schools prides itself in offering quality, innovative learning opportunities for youth. In order to make the school experience a positive one from the beginning, the district offers a Readiness Kindergarten Program to help younger students develop the skills necessary to succeed in kindergarten and throughout their entire school career. Enjoying some play-and-learn time are Hughes Elementary School students, from left, Haidyn McCreary, Nickolas Hoffman and Evan Hinton. To read more about what is going on in the local district, see the MPS newsletter starting on page 27.