January 17, 2015 • Vol. 136 No. 3 514 S. Kalamazoo Ave. in Marshall, MI • Phone 269-781-5444 and FAX 269-781-7766 • www.advisor-chronicle.com
In The News: ‘Chamber is not going away’: Board may dissolve, but functions will stay On Jan. 13, a draft document was released outlining the plan to dissolve the Marshall Area Chamber of Commerce and its board and to merge the Chamber to run under the Marshall Area Economic Development Alliance umbrella. The document states the Chamber will “cease operations and dissolve” and all Chamber assets will be transferred to MAEDA. “The Chamber is not going away; it will be better when it’s all said and done,” said Chamber Board President Vic Potter. “The bottom line is nothing is changing but the governance.” See story on page 48
Richard Lindsey is new MPS Board President A bit of musical chairs took place at the start of the Jan. 12 Marshall Public Schools Board of Education work session and annual organizational meeting as longtime Board President Vic Potter moved several seats over to the left to allow Vice President Richard Lindsey to assume the president position and receive the gavel from Superintendent Randy Davis. The new vice president is Bill DeSmet, Annette Campau remains as secretary and Potter will now serve as treasurer. See story on page 46
Prehistoric Mastodon bones discovered on local farm Digging a pond was the primary goal for landowner Eric Witzke of Bellevue Twp. and excavator Daniel LaPoint as the two carved into the earth on Babcock Rd. about 10 to 12 feet below the surface. But when they raised the excavator bucket full of mud and dirt, several bones extending over three feet in length protruded, and both men realized they had made a unique discovery 42 Mastodon bones. See story on page 22
Mar Lee School dedicates track to Bill ‘Wacky’ Morse It may have been bitterly cold outside on Jan. 13 but hearts were warmed at Mar Lee School during an assembly honoring the late Bill “Wacky” Morse, who was instrumental in getting the new running track built at the school. “Today isn’t really a celebration of just the completion of the track, it’s a celebration of the people who put it together for you,” said Mar Lee Principal and Superintendent Chad Holt to students in the gym as family and friends of Morse looked on. “Bill Morse was a special part of the project.” Twenty-two donors for the track project raised $45,000 to make the track constructed by Asphalt Solutions a reality. See story on page 42
Calhoun County partners with City of Albion for operation of Albion Recycling Center Calhoun County government officials have announced a new partnership with the city of Albion for the operation of the city’s recycling center. Albion Recycling Center will open Feb. 11 at 216 North Eaton St. in Albion. See story on page 34
2015 Homer Herb Workshop planned Three speakers and a taste-tempting gourmet menu highlight the 23rd Annual Homer Historical Society Herb Workshop. The 2015 event is slated for Feb. 7 at the Homer Methodist Church. See story on page 32
T
he month-long “Heart for Recovery” awareness campaign, a fundraising effort for the Men’s and Women’s Recovery Programs at The Haven of Rest, will wrap up at the end of the month with the 23rd Annual Bill Russell Annual Blues Jam & Chili Cook-Off on Jan. 31. Haven Fund Development Coordinator Daniel Jones, left, and Blues Jam Event Coordinator Dee Russell are looking forward to seeing more than 500 faces walk through the Marshall United Methodist Church doors to try chilies, hear local blues musicians and donate to The Haven of Rest. See story on page 2