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3 days ago
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The Monroe News celebrates 200 years
MONROE — The Monroe News turns 200-years-old on June 3, 2025. The first issue of what would become today's Monroe News was published Friday, June 3, 1825, according to the Library of Congress. Back then, the paper was called The Michigan Sentinel, and it came out weekly. The four-page paper cost 5 cents a copy. The Michigan Sentinel reported on a time when Toledo wasn't yet a city and mail arrived twice a week by pony carrier, according to Monroe News archives. Monroe's namesake, President James Monroe, was the U.S. president in 1825. The Monroe County Museum will soon open a Monroe News bicentennial exhibit at its museum, 126 S. Monroe St. in Monroe, and at this summer's 2025 Monroe County Fair, said the museum's Lynn Reaume. In 200 years, the local newspaper went from a weekly to a daily publication and it had several name changes. It all began with Editor Edward D. Ellis, who also is the namesake of the Monroe County Library System's Ellis Library & Reference Center. Ellis advocated for the use of penal fines to create and maintain public libraries. Ellis came to Monroe from Buffalo, New York and brought his printing presses with him. He served as the Monroe paper's editor, reporter, printer and pressman. He was a delegate to the Michigan Constitutional Convention and helped write the state's constitution, according to Monroe News archives. After Ellis left the area, the Morton family took over ownership of the paper, then called The Monroe Times. Morton family member J. Sterling Morton of Monroe established the first Arbor Day. Previous Coverage: April 25 is Arbor Day. Did you know it was started by a former Monroe man? Some of the former names of the paper included: The Monroe Advocate, The Monroe Commercial, The Monroe Democrat, The Monroe Record and The Monroe Record-Commercial. The News' former longtime office on West First Street in downtown Monroe was built in 1910 for The Monroe Democrat. The Monroe Evening News name began in 1918. Like the publication's name, technology also changed through the years. Ellis used a hot-metal letterpress. Later came typewriters, type-setting machines and linotype machines. News from around the world once came to the local office through Associated Press teletype machines. By 1975, The Monroe Evening News was already starting to use computers. 'We wish that Edward Ellis were here to view the Monroe County, the Michigan and the U.S. of today, the growth, the change and mechanical evolution that a century and a half have wrought," said a story in The News' 1975's, 150th anniversary special section. "In the 10 years from 1965-75, a printing revolution has taken place. From a time when virtually every newspaper printed used technology virtually unchanged since the invention of the linotype machine, the time has arrived when virtually every newspaper has either already converted its production process to photocomposition or is in the process of doing it." More milestones for the newspaper followed. After years of publishing six days a week, the first Sunday paper was published April 9, 1989. The News' website, debuted in 1996. A major change occurred in 1998, when the 1924 and '32 printing presses were retired. The large rolling presses were a longtime common sight around lunchtime at The Monroe News' former downtown Monroe building. At full speed, the presses could print 24,000 papers an hour. Replacing the old presses were new, full-color presses. They were installed in a facility on Monroe's Huber Drive. The first full-color issue of The Monroe Evening News was published Sept. 14, 1998. The Monroe News became the paper's official name on Sept. 1, 2013. 'Evening' was dropped because the paper had started morning delivery. But, the name change also signified a new direction in news reporting. 'We have dropped the word 'evening,' completing the move that has been a long time coming. When accompanied by our website, social media and digital offerings, the news we provide simply isn't tied to a specific time of day — or night — anymore,' said then editor Deborah Saul. Previous Coverage: 14K historic local newspaper pages now online Previous Coverage: Preserving Monroe County's record In 2000, The Monroe News' 175 anniversary was celebrated with a community open house, attended by 800 people. In 2000, staff photographers were still shooting 300 rolls of film a week. Today, all photography is digital. Monroe News' other print products through recent years have included: CoverStory, Prime Times, User's Guide, Saving Sense, Homes Plus, Bedford Now and several pictorial books on local history. Support local news: Subscribe for all the latest local developments, breaking news and high school sports content. Today, The Monroe News' office is at 23 E. Front St., Suite 103 in downtown Monroe. Printed papers are produced six days a week; the Saturday paper is an electronic only edition. News is updated daily online at and The Monroe News Facebook page. — Contact reporter Suzanne Nolan Wisler at swisler@ This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: Happy 200th anniversary, Monroe News
Yahoo
14-04-2025
- Business
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Monroe County meetings: New township clerk
MONROE COUNTY — The Monroe News is providing a weekly round-up of which meetings are happening throughout the county and the biggest topics being discussed. Municipalities are not required by the Michigan Open Meetings Act to provide an agenda in advance of a meeting, but they are required to provide notice. Please visit your local municipality website for the most up to date information. Here are the biggest topics for meetings scheduled Monday-Friday, April 14-18. Ash Township Planning Commission: 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 15, 1677 Ready Road, Carleton Full agenda: Township Board: 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 16, 1677 Ready Road, Carleton Appointment of clerk effective June 1, 2025 Full agenda: More: Ten Monroe County bridges to be renovated; two new pedestrian bridges coming. Here's where Bedford Township Park Commission: 7 p.m. Monday, April 14, 8100 Jackman Road, Temperance Township Board: 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 15, 8100 Jackman Road, Temperance Full agenda: Housing Commission: 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 16, Ivor Lindsay Senior Housing Center Berlin Township Township Board: 6 p.m. Monday, April 14, 8000 Swanview Drive, Newport Brownstown Township Planning Commission: 6 p.m. Monday, April 14 Beautification and Historical Commission: 6 p.m. Thursday, April 17 Downtown Development Authority: 12 p.m. Thursday, April 17 Zoning Board of Appeals: 6 p.m. Thursday, April 17 More: C & K Bin Cleaners in Newport will clean and sanitize your trash bins Dundee Township Planning Commission: 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 16, 179 West Main Street, Dundee Village of Dundee Village Council: 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 15, 350 West Monroe Street, Dundee Downtown development authority: 6 p.m. Monday, April 14, 350 West Monroe Street, Dundee Exeter Township Township Board: 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 15, 6158 Scofield Road, Maybee Frenchtown Township Township Board: 3 p.m. Tuesday, April 15, 2744 Vivian Road, Monroe Planning Commission: 7 p.m. Thursday, April 17, 2744 Vivian Road, Monroe London Township Township Board: 7:30 p.m. Monday, April 14, 13613 Tuttle Hill Road, Milan Milan City Council: 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 15, 147 Wabash Street, Milan Monroe City Citizen Planning Commission: 7 p.m. Monday, April 14, 120 East First Street, Monroe Downtown Development Authority: 8:30 a.m. Wednesday, April 16, 120 East First Street, Monroe More: Flat Rock-Huroc dam removal faces community opposition at town hall meeting Monroe County Board of Commissioners: 6 p.m. Tuesday, April 15, 106 East First Street, Monroe Monroe Township Township Board: 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 15, 4925 East Dunbar Road, Monroe Raisinville Township Planning Commission: 7 p.m. Monday, April 14, 96 Ida Maybee Road, Monroe Whiteford Township Township Board: 7:30pm Tuesday, April 15, 8000 Yankee Road, Ottawa Lake — Contact reporter Connor Veenstra at CVeenstra@ This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: Monroe County meetings roundup: April 14-18
Yahoo
10-04-2025
- General
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Earth Day Expo 2025: Celebrating all things healthy and green
MONROE COUNTY — Monroe County Earth Day Expo is slated from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, April 12 at Monroe County Community College's Gerald Welch Health Education Building, 1555 S. Raisinville Road in Monroe. 'Getting the opportunity for our community to unite, learn, connect and find pathways for meaningful action on issues vital to our shared future,' Dan Rock, recycling and green community program coordinator for Monroe County, said in an email. "We encourage everyone to join us. Let's remember the proverb: 'We do not inherit the Earth from our ancestors; we borrow it from our children.' Let's work together to be good stewards for those future generations. Before the event, Rock agreed to talk with the Monroe News about Earth Day Expo 2025, what's being planned and some of the major environmental challenges facing our planet. Q: When is Earth Day Expo 2025?A: Saturday, April 12, 2025 Q: What's being planned for the event?A: This free, family-friendly event has something for everyone with live music, food trucks, and engaging exhibitors promoting sustainability, personal health and living green. Explore educational exhibits that showcase how you can make a positive impact on the environment, including youth environmental education through the Michigan Green Schools Program and learning the facts about environmental science through the Climate Literacy Project. Q: Why is it important to host Earth Day events?A: Earth Day is a crucial annual reminder of our shared responsibility to protect the planet, especially at a time when environmental safeguards face significant threats. Hosting local events like our expo provides an opportunity for our community to come together, learn about environmental issues that directly affect them and discover practical solutions everyone can implement. It's about fostering collective action and empowering individuals to become environmental stewards. Q: What are some of the major environmental challenges facing our planet?A: The increasing concentration of greenhouse gases in our atmosphere primarily from burning fossil fuels is a significant concern because this leads to rising global temperatures, more extreme weather events, and changes impacting natural systems. We are also grappling with pollution of our air, water, and soil from various sources, including industrial activities and different types of waste. The loss of biodiversity and habitat destruction threaten the beauty and variety of life and, ultimately, the stability of ecosystems, including those here in Michigan. Additionally, the depletion of natural resources, such as freshwater and forests, puts pressure on our planet's ability to support us. Q: What is the greenhouse effect and how does it relate to climate change?A: The greenhouse effect is a natural process where atmospheric gases trap heat, keeping Earth livable. However, burning fossil fuels has loaded the atmosphere with extra gases like carbon dioxide and methane. This traps too much heat, intensifying the natural effect and causing the global warming trend known as climate change. Top scientific bodies like the IPCC, and over 99% of climate scientists, agree that human activity is the primary cause, backed by clear evidence like rising temperatures and melting ice. Q: What are some ways we can reduce our carbon footprint?A: Individuals can lower their carbon footprint by conserving home energy (efficiency, thermostats), choosing greener transport (transit, bike, walk), eating more plants and wasting less food, and supporting sustainable local businesses. While these steps matter, driving fundamental change requires political will. Therefore, actively participating in our democracy to support climate-aware leaders and strong environmental policies — like those promoting clean energy, regulating pollution, and ensuring accountability — is one of the most critical actions we can take. Q: What are some examples of renewable energy sources?A: Renewable energy sources naturally replenish themselves, offering cleaner alternatives to fossil fuels critical for our future. Examples include solar energy (from sunlight), wind energy (using turbines), hydropower (from water flow), geothermal energy (from Earth's heat), and biomass energy (from organic matter). Transitioning rapidly to these sources is essential to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and combating climate change. Q: What are some ways to reduce plastic waste?A: Start with reusable bags, water bottles, and coffee cups to avoid single-use plastics whenever possible. Actively avoid products with excessive plastic packaging, choose alternatives, and properly recycle the limited plastics that can actually be processed locally. Supporting businesses actively reducing their plastic footprint also sends a powerful message. Q: What is the importance of recycling?A: Recycling materials like aluminum, cardboard, and paper is genuinely important for conserving resources. However, the situation with plastic recycling is fundamentally different and often presented misleadingly. Globally, less than 10% of plastic waste has ever been recycled due to high costs, contamination and technical hurdles. Focusing heavily on recycling the small fraction of plastics that might be processed (like some #1 and #2 bottles) can unfortunately distract from the real issue – the sheer volume of plastic produced. The truly impactful solutions are: 1. Drastically reduce our reliance on single-use plastics and prioritize reusable alternatives. 2. Implement Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) policies, making producers responsible for the entire lifecycle of their plastic products. Q: What are some actions we can take to celebrate Earth Day?A: Celebrate Earth Day with meaningful action! Participate in local cleanups, plant native species, start a garden, or join us at the Monroe County Earth Day Expo to connect and get involved. Educate yourself and others about environmental issues and solutions – knowledge fuels action. Make sustainable swaps in your daily life. Crucially, engage with your elected officials at all levels. Let them know that environmental protection is a priority for their constituents and encourage support for strong environmental policies and safeguards. Q: What is the role of individuals in protecting the environment?A: Individuals are fundamental drivers of environmental protection. While large-scale policy change is essential, it rarely happens without a shift in public awareness and demand. That's where individual actions come in. Our daily choices – what we buy, how we travel, what we eat – collectively shape markets and norms. When we adopt sustainable habits, we not only reduce our personal impact but also contribute to a necessary cultural shift. Q: What are some ways we can educate others about environmental issues?A: Education sparks action, and it starts with connection. Talk to people you know – friends, family, neighbors – not just about the problems, but why these environmental issues matter personally and locally. Share stories, not just statistics. Get involved with environmental groups; support their outreach or volunteer your time. Advocate for better environmental education in our schools, ensuring students get comprehensive, science-based information. — Contact reporter Lisa Vidaurri-Bowling at lvidaurribowling@ This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: Earth Day Expo 2025 is April 12. Find out what's planned.
Yahoo
21-03-2025
- Health
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Monroe in Pictures: A look back at 2020, the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic
MONROE COUNTY — Although the COVID-19 virus and resulting pandemic can be traced back to 2019, the virus really began to affect everyone's life on Friday, March 13, 2020, the day local schools and many churches and businesses shut-down. Initially announced as just a temporary situation to curb the spread of the virus, the closures and the pandemic of course lasted for months, resulting in virtual meetings, toilet paper shortages, drive-up COVID testing and the wearing of face masks. All the while, the number of COVID-19 cases and deaths in Monroe County and across the world continued to increase. Monroe News photographer Tom Hawley was out almost every day during the pandemic, shooting images of local people coping with the situation and still trying to work and do business. Hawley shot hundreds of images that first year, including several of the ones shown here. Here's a timeline of the first year of the pandemic in Monroe County. Most of the dates listed are the dates the stories appeared in The Monroe News and other publications. Late February: Monroe County Health Department staff came up with a COVID-19 response plan. It included notifying residents about cases. At that time, there were no local COVID cases. By March 11: Local school districts put together COVID plans. Plans were to remain in school, but to have strict protocols for hand-washing and social distancing. March 13: Area schools announced they'd close for three weeks to curtail the spread of COVID. That next Monday, March 16, many began offering classes online. Monroe City Hall closed early March 13 and began remote work. Monroe County Library System shut down all its branches on March 13. March 14: Monroe County's first case of COVID-19 was reported. The adult female had a history of domestic travel. March 20: Local schools began using their buses to deliver meals to families. March 24: Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer ordered a stay-home order. Some exceptions to the order were trips to the grocery store and to get medications. April: First federal economic impact payments were sent to U.S. households. April 3: Schools in Michigan would be closed for the remainder of the school year, Whitmer announced. April 8: Truckers warned about supply chain shortages because of the pandemic. April 9: First COVID death in Monroe County. The elderly male had underlying health conditions. By June 20, a total of 20 Monroe County residents had died from the virus. In Michigan by that time, 5,823 had died. Michigan's COVID-19 case count was at 60,829. April 10: Whitmer extended the stay-home order through the end of April. People began to embrace baking and other 'old household skills' while spending so much time at home. April 15: Ford Motor Co.'s Flat Rock plant began making respirators. By May 8, it had sent its first one out, to Seattle. April 16: Some Michigan residents converged on the Capitol in Lansing to protest stay-home order. April 25: Michigan's stay-home order was extended to May 15. April 29: AAA reports Michigan gas was the cheapest it had been since 2002. Meat selections were limited in stores. Early May: Local high schools made plans for virtual or drive-thru graduation ceremonies. May 20: Church services resumed at Monroe's Catholic churches. May 21: Food prices soared to all-time highs nationwide. May 23: Michigan's stay-home order were extended to June 12. May 25: Monroe County businesses began to reopen. Support local news: Subscribe for all the latest local developments, breaking news and high school sports content. May 30: U.S. neared 100,000 dead from the virus. June 2: Stay-home order was lifted in Michigan, but masks were still mandated. June 11: Monroe restaurants and hair businesses reopened. Aug. 30: Some local parents joined others in Lansing to rally for resuming high school football. Sept. 28: 1 million in the U.S. had died from COVID-19. Dec. 19: First COVID vaccines were given in Monroe County. — Contact reporter Suzanne Nolan Wisler at swisler@ This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: Masks, illness, shortages, virtual meetings marked 2020 in Monroe
Yahoo
02-03-2025
- General
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Monroe County meeting roundup: county by-laws and indigent defense commission
MONROE COUNTY — The Monroe News is providing a weekly round-up of which meetings are happening throughout the county and the biggest topics being discussed. Municipalities are not required by the Michigan Open Meetings Act to provide an agenda in advance of a meeting, but they are required to provide notice. Please visit your local municipality website for the most up to date information. Here are the biggest topics for meetings scheduled Monday-Friday, March 3-7. Bedford Township Zoning Board of Appeals: 7 p.m. Monday, March 3, 8100 Jackman Road, Temperance Township Board: 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 4, 8100 Jackman Road, Temperance Approval to hire Steven Hicks as firefighter/medic Full agenda: Brownstown Township Township Board: 6 p.m. Monday, March 3, 21313 Telegraph Road, Brownstown Recreation Commission: 6 p.m. Thursday, March 6, Dundee Village Council: 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 4, 350 West Monroe Street Exeter Township Historical Society: 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 5, 6158 Scofield Road, Maybee London Township Planning Commission: 7:30 p.m. Monday, March 3 Milan City Council: Tuesday, March 4, 147 Wabash Street Approve the purchase agreement with WTA to purchase 20 new laptops at a price, but not to exceed $25,000 Full agenda: City of Monroe City Council: 7:30 p.m. Monday, March 3, 120 East Front Street Nothing of note on agenda Full agenda: Monroe County Board of Commissioners: 6 p.m. Tuesday, March 4, 106 East Front Street Revisions and updates to the Monroe County Board of Commissioners By-Laws and Rules of Procedure Michigan Indigent Defense Commission/Department update Full agenda: Raisinville Township Township Board: 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 4, 96 Ida Maybee Road, Monroe This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: Monroe County meetings roundup: March 3-7
