Latest news with #DonReid
Yahoo
03-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
School improvement bond on Tuesday's ballot for Bronson School District voters
BRONSON—Voters will decide Tuesday on a $32.33 million capital bond issue for Bronson Community Schools to renovate and expand Anderson Elementary while closing Ryan Elementary. Both buildings need extensive repairs and improvements. There is no early voting except by absentee ballot. Those casting votes need to contact their clerk for an absentee ballot or go to the polls on Tuesday from 7 a.m. until 8 p.m. The Bronson Community School District includes the city of Bronson, Bronson, Noble, and Gilead townships and portions of Bethel, Matteson, Ovid, and Batavia townships in Branch County. The few voters in Ovid Township will vote in Bethel Township. The district includes a small portion of Burr Oak Township in St. Joseph County. The school board decided on the 25-year bond with the ballot language asking for 4.98 mills, but the board said it would reduce the current sinking fund millage for maintenance so that the district would collect only four new mills. Currently, no capital bond millage has been assessed in the district. Information about the bond issues is available at The district began studying the need to improve the buildings before COVID-19. Last year, a 40-member steering committee worked with architects Tower-Pinkster to reduce the project to the minimum necessary to ensure students have safe, adequate learning facilities. Superintendent Kate Wall said the group "Got rid of the nice-to-haves and really looked at what the needs were." Prior story Bronson school superintendent: Proposed $32.33M bond issue is the minimum necessary The architects said renovating Ryan, a 1950s building, was not practical or cost-effective. The board would sell the small, crowded building and surrounding property or possibly reuse it with the city. The plan calls for the current serious school security concerns to be upgraded for student protection. Moving the 227 Ryan students would house all kindergarten through fifth grade at Anderson. At Anderson, renovations would replace outdated mechanical equipment, upgrade building temperature controls, and modernize electrical infrastructure. Construction would replace exterior windows and doors to enhance energy efficiency and reduce operating costs. The project would transform Anderson into the sole elementary location, requiring a new wing of classrooms, a new gymnasium, and an expanded cafeteria to serve the larger student population. If voters approve the proposal on Tuesday, the new Anderson Elementary building would not be ready for occupancy until the fall of 2028. The bond would also replace the outdated six-lane track with a new eight-lane metric track required by the state to qualify to hold competitive meets. Subscribe Follow this story. Subscribe to the Coldwater Reporter Track expansion requires moving stadium lights, which would be upgraded to modern LED fixtures mounted on concrete poles. Contact Don Reid: dReid@ This article originally appeared on Coldwater Daily Reporter: Bronson School District bond proposal on May 6 election ballot
Yahoo
16-03-2025
- Yahoo
Union City woman dies in Sunday crash
SHERWOOD TWP. — A 39-year-old Union City woman died in a crash on Athens Road just after midnight Sunday. Michigan State Police reported a Chevrolet Silverado was southbound on Athens Road at the Dunks, Milligan roads intersection when it left the roadway and rolled multiple times. The truck struck vehicles at a home on Milligan Road, a 911 caller reported. MSP said emergency responders pronounced the driver deceased at the scene. She was not wearing a seatbelt. "Alcohol is suspected to be a contributing factor. The investigation is ongoing," police said in a statement. Union City Police, Sherwood Fire Department, and LifeCare also assisted. Contact Don Reid: dReid@ This article originally appeared on Coldwater Daily Reporter: Union City woman dies in crash Sunday in Sherwood Township
Yahoo
15-03-2025
- Yahoo
Here's what police said was seized during Wednesday's hash oil investigation in Branch County
OVID TWP. — The Southwest Enforcement Team of the Michigan State Police, along with its Marijuana and Tobacco Investigations Section, released more details Friday night about search warrants executed Wednesday in Ovid and Girard townships in Branch County. Detectives executed three search warrants following a joint investigation into an alleged black market butane hash oil production facility in a pole barn in the 600 block of Warren Road. Agents executed another warrant in the 800 block of Marshall Road. Agents recovered more than 2,000 pounds of marijuana intended for conversion into hash oil, along with 312 marijuana plants, 32 pounds of butane hash oil, psilocybin mushrooms, Dimethyltryptamine suspected MDMA, and three firearms. Production of hash oil is legal in Michigan but only under license and strict control of the Cannabis Regulatory Agency. Butane hash oil production laws prohibit operations in residential areas due to volatility. MSP said the lab on Warren Road was 60 feet from a trailer home with young children. A hazmat contractor removed the lab containing butane, hexane, pentane, and other regulated chemicals, police said. Agents on scene Wednesday said the closed loop production lab was the largest found in Michigan. According to the SWET release, multiple individuals will face charges. Individuals can be charged with drug violations and with violating Michigan recreational marijuana tax law. Subscribe Follow this story. Subscribe to the Coldwater Reporter The Lakeland Fire Department, the Michigan State Police Aviation Unit, and troopers from the Marshall Regional Law Enforcement Complex assisted during Wednesday's operation. Contact Don Reid: dReid@ This article originally appeared on Coldwater Daily Reporter: MSP SWET has oil investigation details Branch County
