THE LATEST TOP HEADLINES

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(CCN) — Two Republican Grand Blanc Township incumbents have a  long way to go to get re-elected, if the primary results are any indication.

Supervisor Scott Bennett's bid for a third four-year term faces opposition from lone challenger Monica Shapiro who is a Democrat. He was unopposed in the Republican primary.

Shapiro was also unopposed in the Democrat primary but 3,801 votes were cast for her, in comparison to only 2,285 for Bennett. That means he needs to make up more than 500 votes by November when the general election rolls around.

Jet Kilmer, a former long-time Executive Director of the Grand Blanc Chamber of Commerce, was unopposed in the Democrat primary for Clerk and she had a similar cushion over Republican incumbent Clerk Dave Robertson (3,729 to 2,216).

Kilmer's husband, Mark Kilmer, isn't running for re-election for Treasurer. Mike Yancho Sr.  was unopposed on the Democrat side for Treasurer with 3,7661 votes to 2,118 for Bob Brundle on the Democrat side.

Incumbent Democrats Sara Hugo, Paul White and Jude Raridan were big winners in the Democrat primary for one of the four Trustee positions on the Grand Blanc Board of Trustees. Hugo had 3,500 votes, White 3,126 and Raridan 3,038. Fourth was Kevin Harmes with 3,001.

Incumbent Republican Joel Feick was the top vote getter in the Republican primary with 2,027 votes which was far behind Harmes.

Cecilia Adkins, Lonnie Adkins and Parker Wheatley were unopposed with Feick in the Republican primary for Trustee. They checked in with 1,613, 1,622 and 1,673, respectively. Lonnie Atkins is trying to make a return to the board after being voted out of office four years ago.

PHOTO CAPTION: Pictured above this photo is Grand Blanc Township Supervisor Scott Bennett who got more than 1,500 fewer votes than Democrat challenger Monica Shapiro in the primary where both were unopposed.

(CCN) —  No intersections across the Metro Flint regional area made an annual list of the top 20 most dangerous ones in Michigan, but two in the Grand Blanc area cracked Genesee County's top 10 list.

(See Story in State News of My Am Advantage)

(See Another Related Story in Today's Metro Section of The Daily Gazette)

 Michigan Auto Law of Farmington Hills compiled a top 10 list of the most dangerous intersections in Genesee County based on crash data reported to the Michigan State Police, and found that Corunna Road and I-75 in Flint Township to be No. 1. State Police data showed 55 crashes there in 2023 that resulted in 16 injuries.

No. 2 on the list of most dangerous intersections in Genesee County was the intersection at Hill Road and Fenton Road which is on the border of Grand Blanc Township and Mundy Township. State Police data showed 38 crashes there with 16 injuries reported.

No. 9 on the county's most dangerous list was at Dort Highway and Maple Road on the border of Grand Blanc Township and the City of Burton where 22 crashes resulted in 14 injuries.

(CCN) — Primary election day was meaningless in Mundy Township for its local board positions since every candidate on the ballot is moving on to the general election.

Democrats had the edge in votes, however, in what will be the contested races in the November general election.

Incumbent Township Supervisor Tonya Ketzler had 1,623 votes to 1,112 for her Republican challenger — Jennifer Arrand Stainton.

Incumbent Trustees Kimberly Jimenez, Debra Ridley and Mark Gorton were 1-2-3 in the Democrat primary with 1,324 votes, 1,320 and 1,281 to 1,267 for challenger Don Morey.

Incumbent Kyle Ward led the Republican primary with 936 votes to 855 for challenger Leah Davis and 853 for Zack Sack.

Township Clerk Cory Jo Bostwick was unopposed in the primary and will be unopposed in November.

Current Mundy Township Planning Commission Chair Danielle Baxter was unopposed in the primary for Treasurer to replace Dennis Owens who chose not to seek re-election. Baxter is also unopposed in the November general election.

 Grand Blanc Senior Little League Softball All-Star update!!! If anyone wants to follow your local girls back home, here is the bracket. Second link is our game changer if you'd like to follow live! First game loss vs Illinois. 2 wins Vs Missouri and Kentucky (host). Battling it back!! These girls are playing some great softball and representing your community proudly! Next game is at 6 PM tonight VS Iowa.  

 Grand Blanc Senior Little League Softball All-Star update!!! If anyone wants to follow your local girls back home, here is the bracket. Second link is our game changer if you'd like to follow live! First game loss vs Illinois. 2 wins Vs Missouri and Kentucky (host). Battling it back!! These girls are playing some great softball and representing your community proudly! Next game is at 6 PM tonight VS Iowa.  

(CCN) — The Grand Blanc woman struck by a car last week while trying to cross Grand Blanc Road near Davis Street has passed away, according to a report by WJRT ABC TV 12.

 She was hit by a car on July 15. ABC TV 12 said a Grand Blanc City Police Department official identified her as 64-year-old Pamela Moorman. 

She was struck by a car to cross driven by a 72-year-old man. 

He gave aid at the scene and police say alcohol and drugs were not a factor in the crash.  

The woman’s dog died at the scene and she was transported to a local hospital where she later died.

(CCN) — Chicken Shack has announced a new location coming to Downtown Grand Blanc. It’s the first location outside the Metro Detroit area for the iconic chain and joins the Clarkston location on Sashabaw Road as the only ones in The Daily Gazette coverage area. 

A social media post by the Detroit-based corporation today (June 25, 2024) revealed: “Exciting news! We're thrilled to announce the opening of our 24th location next month in Grand Blanc at 11355 S. Saginaw Street! Stay tuned for the exact opening date.”

 The post added: “If you or anyone you know is interested in joining the newest Shack crew, send us a message!”  The e-mail address is: ChickenShackofGrandBlanc@gmail.com 

 You can contact the Grand Blanc location by calling (810) 603-7468.  You can visit Chicken Shack’s Web Site by clicking Here.  

The company web site says Chicken Shack is delivered fresh daily because “fresh food is better than fast food” and proclaims that their cooking process and proprietary recipes have been passed down through the generations.  Chicken Shack made its debut in the late 1950’s..   

The first store was born shortly after John Sobeck first experienced a totally new process of preparing and cooking chicken. The second he tasted it, he knew he could make something with this new technology. On June 6, 1956, after only 41 days of construction, he and wife Iola opened their first Chicken Shack in Royal Oak.   

Their customers craved the food so much that the Sobecks couldn’t keep up with demand and had to purchase more equipment just to handle their expanding business!  

Over 60 years later, and four generations strong, the Sobeck family is still working hard to serve to its fans the best tasting food in America and continue John and Iola’s legacy of bringing people together one plate at a time.

Besides two Royal Oak locations at 11 Mile Road and Woodward Avenue, other Chicken Shacks are on Mack Avenue in Detroit Schoenherr Road in Warren, 11 Mile Road in Warren, 23 Mike Road in New Baltimore, Mack Avenue in Grosse Pointe, Harper Road in St. Clair Shores, Dixie Hwy. in Lincoln Park, VanDyke in Sterling Heights, Warren Road in Westland, Romeo Plank Road in Macomb Township, University Drive in Rochester, 14 Mile Road in Clawson, Northwestern Hwy in Southfield, Seven Mile Road in Livonia, Fort St Riverview Road in Riverview, Garfield Road in Clinton Township, VanDyke Road in Shelby Township, Gilbraltor Road in Brownstown, Woodward Avenue in Bloomfield Township and Ellsworth Road in Ypsilanti. 

ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA (CCN) — Larry Rosenthal, formerly of Grand Blanc, passed away in Virginia at age 62.

U.S. Congressman Dan Kildee of Flint Township saluted the public service commitment of Rosenthal who was a long-time Congressional aide to Kildee's uncle — the late Dale Kildee of Flint who served in congress from 1977 until 2013.

"This is a terrible loss, Larry was one of my oldest and closest friends," Dan Kildee said.

Former Flint Mayor Dayne Walling, who worked in Dale Kildee's office during his early 20's, posted in an online tribute to Rosenthal: "We're very saddened to hear of Larry's passing and we offer our most sincere condolences to his family and close friends. I treasure the many conversations I had with Larry as I started to find my way into politics and public service. He will always be a shining light and an inspiration!"

 Throughout his career, Rosenthal served as a mentor to countless young people looking to succeed in D.C., according to the late Dale Kildee who once told the Grand Blanc Press: "Larry is a dedicated public servant who helps our constituents but also lends a helping hand to young people who want to succeed in Washington D.C. or build a career in politics."

Outside of his career, Rosenthal was a dedicated foodie and a rabid sports fan of his cherished Michigan State Spartans and all of Detroit’s professional sports teams he grew up rooting for during his childhood.

He is survived by and will be greatly missed by his wife Bonnie Rosenthal, his sons Jack and Ethan, and his many extended family members and friends. 

Rosenthal attended James Madison College at Michigan State University to study public policy after high school.  Following MSU, Larry moved to Washington, D.C., to begin his 40-plus year political career. He first worked for his hometown Congressman Dale Kildee, finding his passion advocating for Native Americans. He was later appointed by President Bill Clinton to serve in a senior role in his administration. 

After his career in public service, Rosenthal built one of Washington’s most successful consulting firms to improve the lives of Native Americans. 

Rosenthal, who passed away peacefully according to an obituary posted in Virginia, was born on Dec. 6, 1962 in Flint to loving parents Peppy and the late Morris Rosenthal. As a kid growing up in Genesee County, he loved playing hockey.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in Rosenthal’s memory may be made to the American Diabetes Association or National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition.. 

You can view and sign a family guestbook online by clicking here. 

PHOTO CAPTION: Larry Rosenthal, formerly of Grand Blanc, has passed away in Virginia. 

(CCN) — The Grand Blanc Township Police Department issued a social media post about the police officer killed this past weekend in Melvindale.

The Facebook post from the department said: "Our thoughts and prayers go out to our brothers and sisters of the Melvindale Police Department as we mourn the loss of Officer Said who was shot and killed in the line of duty today.  This is the third Michigan officer killed in the line of duty during the month of July! 

He's also the fourth police officer in Michigan to die this year in the line of duty.

(CCN) — The Elks Golf Course in Grand Blanc Township put on the most spectacular 4th of July fireworks show in the Metro Flint regional area for the third straight year.

The display was for its members and guests on Saturday night (July 6, 2024).

The spectacular show was organized for the third straight year by Davison Fireworks.

PHOTO CAPTION: Hundreds gathered to watch the 2024 fireworks show at the Elks. 

ROYAL OAK (CCN) — Grand Blanc's David Lally has been impressive during his half season of work in college wooden bat baseball at Royal Oak. In fact, his 97 mph fastball has caught the attention of the notable "D1 Baseball" radar.

A post after his stellar performance with the Royal Oak Leprechauns predicted a "breakout year" for the new recruit at the University of Michigan.

Lally entered the transfer portal after two seasons at Notre Dame and was signed by UM.

(See Related Story in Today's Sports Section of The Daily Gazette)

Lally started 4 games and the ex-All-American prep star from Grand Blanc made 6 total appearances. He has 32 strikeouts in 29 innings of work with a 3.10 earned run average.

Lally led the 2022 Grand Blanc Bobcats to the Division 1 state championship with a 9-1 record and 0.48 earned run average.

PHOTO CAPTION: Grand blanc's David Lally pitching for the Royal Oak Leprechauns in the Northwoods League.

BY MIKE KILLBREATH

CCN Executive Editor

MUNDY TWP. (CCN)  — Trustee Kyle Ward has became the first member of the Mundy Township Board of Trustees to express opposition for the proposed mega site located on a 1,200-acre location bordered by Linden Road, Jennings Road, Elms Road and Maple Road.

"I've seen signs all over the township opposing the Mega Site,," Trustee Ward said at Monday night's (June 24, 2024) township board meeting. "I'm elected to serve the people and I have not seen one sign supporting the Mega Site. For that reason, I'm against it."

Trustee Ward's comments came after more speakers Monday night from the podium at the public comment portion of a township board meeting. Mega Site opponents have also flooded previous meetings — demanding answers from their elected leaders about what's going on and why everything is being kept secret.

A Facebook group has more than 2,100 members who oppose the Mega Site. Allegations have been leveled there about non disclosure documents being signed by elected officials and a potential battery plant or a semiconductor plant to build chips for electric vehicles being built by a foreign company. Most of the EV industry is currently fueled by plants in South Korea, Taiwain or Communist China.

The issue has been a hot topic in Mundy Township for about a year. Residents have also marched to the podium for public comments at previous township board meetings and organized other meetings of citizens concerned about the project.  Neighboring residents who live near the Mega Site in  Flint Township and the City of Swartz Creek have also expressed concerns.

"We can't take a position or we can get sued," Mundy Township Supervisor Tonya Ketzler told Mega Site opponents Monday night.

She invited residents to attend an 11 am meeting at Mundy Township Hall on Tuesday (June 25, 2024) after one speaker asked questions about state plans to possibly  pump another $250 million of tax dollars into the Mega Site.

Many went to Monday's board meeting because they were mad about police activity at a controversial picket sign protest four days earlier outside a political fundraiser for Mundy Township Clerk Tonya Ketzler at Redwood Lodge.

The Flint Genesee Group, a Flint non-profit organization headed by CEO Tim Herman, has received more than $10 million in two grants from Governor Gretchen Whitmer's push to build plants to supply the electric vehicle industry.  The grants were from the Michigan Economic Development group and approved by the state legislature before being signed by Governor Whitmer to go toward the proposed development in Mundy Township. An additional $250 million was approved two weeks ago by the Michigan Strategic Fund and the funding request was sent to the floor of the State House of Representatives in a 17-9 vote a few hours before Thursday's protest with picket signs last week. Two committee members passed instead of voting.

Herman's group gets another $250 million if the State House approves it and he also gets approval from the State Senate. All indications are that Governor Whitmer will then sign the funding request.

She has been featured during the past two weeks on mid-Michigan TV stations on a 30-second commercial paid for by a climate change PAC in California. Gov. Whitmer praises President Joe Biden's push for electric vehicles and calls her state a leader in supplying batteries for EV's and contributing thousands of new, good-paying jobs. Not a single battery factory has yet been built in Michigan though although one was revealed last week for Delta Township, near Lansing, and the Detroit News confirmed two weeks ago that $687 million in state tax dollars was dumped into a proposed battery factory in Big Rapids to be owned by a company from Communist China.

Herman's representative,  Tyler Rossmaessler who is Director of Economic Development for the Flint & Genesee Economic Alliance, has told media and state officials that his group will "let everyone know what's coming to the Mega Site after they get the money."

Rossmaessler has promised "thousands" of jobs are coming to the Mega Site. The average battery factory, however, employs only 92 people, according to the Battery Factory Manufacturers Association of the United States. National Labor Bureau statistics  reveal an average of only about 50 jobs for the average chip plant since an industry association currently lists only 350 plants and 24,340 jobs for the entire USA.

One member of the Facebook group opposing the proposed Mega Site  (John Smith although he told The Daily Gazette that's not his real name) posted a conversation last week with one of Herman's employees —  Joel Feick. He explained that the post was taken down at Feick's request after his comment triggered an avalanche of responses. Feick was quoted as saying, "We don't know what's coming because we don't have a buyer yet for the property."

Jennifer Arrand Stainton, who organized the picket protest outside Supervisor Ketzler's political fundraiser last week, was adamant that state officials voting for Herman's funding are "wasting more than $260 million in tax dollars  when they don't even know what the plan is."

Stainton was also critical of Metro Police Authority Chief Matt Bade for dispatching so many police officers to "stop the picketers from protesting" and demanded to know who ordered the massive police presence. Bade said he would address any issue at a Wednesday (June 26, 2024) meeting at the police station.

The Daily Gazette also put forth questions at the public comment portion of the meeting. One asked Chief Bade and Township Attorney Attorney Jack Beltzer to explain how patrols were allowed since officers told picketers that roads within the Gateway Center off Hill Road are private property, and state law prohibits patrols on private property and only allows responses to 911 calls or an investigation into a case. Another question was posed about how Beltzer allowed a Freedom of Information request to hide the contents of so-called non disclosure items and documents with developers after the Michigan Press Association successfully won a Supreme Court decision in Bisio vs. Clarkston — a case re-affirming law enacted by the Michigan Open Meetings Act in 1976. Clarkston officials attempted to shield documents with a developer from a FOIA request, too. The Supreme Court voted 6-1 it was illegal in a 37-page decision.

Beltzer and Chief Bade did not react to The Daily Gazette's questions to the dismay of audience members at the board meeting.

Stainton, who is running as a Republican against incumbent Democrat Ketzler for Supervisor in November 2024, vowed to make complaints to  the Genesee County Sheriff's Department, Michigan State Police and the Michigan Attorney General's office about police trying to keep picketers away last week from Ketzler's political fundraiser event. See Related Story

Stainton said she rented a hotel room at Gateway Center to park closer to Hill Road where the picket demonstration was forced to set up and also to field questions from media all day from around the area and around the state. A story about her protest was aired by WJRT ABC 12, WNEM CBS 5 and Mid-Michigan Now on TV 25 and TV  66.

ABC TV 12 reported that Rossmaessler issued a written statement about the State House Appropriation Committee sending the funding request forward to the State House. His statement said: "We truly appreciate the incredible support for our efforts to bring thousands of jobs to Genesee County by members of the state House Appropriations Committee." 

State Rep. Jasper Martus, a Democrat from Flushing, put forth the motion to give Herman's group $250 million more — telling TV 12 it would be "the largest economic investments in Genesee County in generations." He added, "This initiative will offer jobs and economic security to thousands of our friends and neighbors. At its height, GM employed 85,000 jobs in our community. That number has dwindled to less than 10,000. Today, we begin to reverse decades of underinvestment,” he said in a statement to ABC12.

No press releases are posted on the Flint Genesee Group's web site, but Rossmaessler also told ABC TV 12 in his statement: “We have seen a lot of interest in this site. It’s one of the best in the country because of its close proximity to a railroad, Bishop airport and I-69 and I-75, and the nearby talent pool of skilled trades workers and three great local colleges.”

Rossmaessler told The Detroit News: "Genesee County is known as a leader in building the products that impact the daily lives of those all over the world. Bringing an advanced manufacturer to our area will again position the county as a leader in cutting-edge technology. As a result, we’ll spark investment and revenue growth that supports our schools, roads and public safety agencies. It will also boost our local economy and attract new businesses and investment in our community." 

State Rep. Sarah Lightner, a Republican from Springport, voted against the motion and issued a press release, saying: “The lack of information surrounding most of these projects is deeply troubling and unacceptable. Michigan taxpayers have the right to know exactly how their money is being used, and they expect real, measurable outcomes from these investments. The Mundy Township project, in particular, is a huge risk. We've been provided with next to no information to show that it even qualifies for SOAR funding. There’s no evidence that Genesee County or Mundy Township has any substantial stake or involvement in this project, and officials have admitted that equipping the area with the necessary water and sewer services for a large industrial site will be extremely expensive."

Stainton and others opposed to the idea say the environmental damages done by the plants to support EV's far out-weighs the possible impact of any jobs but wasn't alone in questioning if thousands of good-paying jobs can be created.

One citizen said Mundy Township residents want to preserve the community's rural lifestyle, too.

Stainton urged voters to support candidates who oppose the Mega Site. "We need to stop this," she said. "That's why I support you elect Leah Davis and Zack Sack." She told The Daily Gazette that one other current board member in addition to Trustee Ward has privately told her of intentions to soon come out with public opposition against the proposed project. Stainton said Ward's announcement caught her by surprise Monday.

"He wants to listen to the residents who elected him that and I'm elated he made that clear to the other members of the board," she said.

Davis and Sack are running for one of the four township trustee positions along with Dan Morey, Trustee Ward and the other three incumbents .—  Kimberly Jimenez, Debra Ridley and Mark Gorton. Jimenez, Ridley, Gorton and Morey are Democrats. Davis, Sack and Ward are Republicans.

Incumbent Democrat Cory Jo Bostwick is unopposed for re-election and newcomer   Danelle Barker is also unopposed for Treasurer. Barker is a Republican.

Clerk Bostwick told The Daily Gazette that she "didn't want to talk about anything" unless there were questions about being a registered voter. She also engaged in screaming matches with citizens that were captured on tape by witnesses.

"Her attitude is simply shameful," said one witness who provided the recordings to the Daily Gazette. "You need to make her famous. Nobody will believe an elected official can talk to her constituents like that."

PHOTO CAPTION: Pictured above this story is Mundy Township Trustee Kyle Ward. He was first elected in 2020 as a Republican.

Friday, June 21, 2024 Column

Heads need to roll at the Metro Police Authority of Genesee County. If not, I'm ready to lead a campaign to close down the recently formed force  to patrol the City of Swartz Creek and Mundy Township. I guess we just can't use picket signs to do it.

Protesters against a proposed mega site for a 1,200-acre location in Mundy Township showed up with picket signs last night. They tried to set up outside Redwood Lodge where Mundy Township Supervisor Tonya Ketzler was hoping for $1,250 contributions to support her bid for re-election during a political fundraiser.

As promised in this space yesterday, I showed up to check out the protest show.

By the time I arrived, nobody was holding picket signs around the entrance to Redwood Lodge. I'm told officers from the Metro Police Authority were dispatched to chase away anybody who wanted to picket. Witnesses say nine cop cars were waiting for them. I only counted seven but either number is ridiculous. 

Jennifer Arrand Stainton, organizer of the event and candidate to end Tonya Ketzler's political career, was so angry that she rented a hotel room to field interviews from media around the state when police tried to chase her away.

"They told us picketing isn't allowed," she said. "I guess Mundy Township and a few other places in Michigan are not part of America anymore now that our Governor (Gretchen Whitmer) is giving them over a billion dollars of our taxes to build plants for companies in Communist China, Taiwan and South Korea. They told us it was private property and we couldn't be on the streets or park at any of the businesses because they had complained."

Hmmm.

I'd like to hear audio of a single 911 caller that generated this mass police presence.

If you need someone arrested for a clear crime the Metro Police Authority didn't have time to help you with, give me a call at (810) 771-8421. If you can prove to me he or she is guilty, I'm willing to take you with me to the Mundy Township meeting Monday night and demand they go get your alleged criminal before the meeting is over and slap handcuffs on him.

All the protesters were chased up to the Hill Road area entrance to Gateway Center. Seven cop cars were buzzing around to hassle anybody who looked like a potential picketer. They were ordered not to park at businesses.

Again, just one 911 call please to prove someone complained. I talked to several who said, "Hey, we're closed by then. Sure. No problem."

In fact, I rode around with Flint community activist Arthur Woodson who stopped his shiny black truck to chat with a few. He talked to cops, too.

It seems Tonya ordered all this, according to my interviews and his quick poll. If you want to try to illegally stop a picket protest, you probably shouldn't share who is behind it with cops who are typically pretty truthful characters. 

"I'd call it weaponizing the police," said Jerry Roberts who is a frequent critic of Flint Township government. He says he has been involved in the mega site issue because it's near his property. Read Related Column

Stainton says she complained to the Genesee County Sheriff's Department about the tactics, but says "she got no help."

She says she now plans to talk with State Police on Monday and is considering a class action lawsuit. A Facebook page by protesters has 2,100 members. Community activists from Flint were also planning to join the picket demonstration until reading comments about "expecting a police presence."

"It was clear they didn't want black people out there, so I stayed home, and no, you can't use my name," said one Flint resident who said he's outraged over Governor Whitmer giving more than $260 million Flint Genesee Group President Tim Herman when Flint water crisis victims got no justice with anyone going to jail for poisoning their city 10 years ago. 

"We have 1,900 homes that still don't have their pipes fixed 10 years later," he added. "How would you like to live without water to drink or take a shower with? Yet Grethen can give away a billion dollars to people promising to build some plants with big promises to create jobs, but to possibly create another Flint water crisis on steroids!"

Why did he want to stay anonymous? His explanation was simple: "Because I don't want nine cop cars showing up at my place in the hood to haul me to jail like they did with Art Woodson in Flint the other night for filming a city council meeting with a tripod after he spoke out against Tim Herman on this mega site project."

Woodson said: "Tim Herman is a racist. You can quote me on that. So are whoever these political people are behind stopping this protest out here (in Mundy Township)."

Flint community activist Rich Jones said he didnt know about the event soon enough to deliver a massive turnout by Flint residents. He said, "Plus people were scared when they started reading comments on Facebook about the police waiting for us out there. They can't fix Flint but they can give all that money to Tim Herman to build something for the Chinese out in Mundy Township? Give Flint that money and watch how many good-paying jobs we could create over at the abandoned Buick City site or the old AC Spark Plug site. We need to take bus loads of people to protest this in Lansing."

Yours truly expressed excitement from this space and on my radio show when the Mundy Township Police Department and City of Swartz Creek Police Department were dissolved a few years ago to form the new Metro Police Authority.

Our community would miss long-time Swartz Creek Chief Rick Clolinger anyway because he was ready to retire, so the timing was right. New leadership was also needed in my opinion for Mundy Township's police department for many more reasons than the "political" arrest of Mateen Cleaves who was eventually cleared of phony rape charges. It was also refreshing to see long-time Burton cop Matt Bade win the sweepstakes to get the top job. He's one of the finest police officers to patrol the streets in our Metro Flint regional area.

I once helped Burton police officers get a millage passed to pay them better and hire them some friends to fight crime. So I'm not an anti cop kind of guy. And when I say Matt Bade is a good man, I have lots who will support that fact.

But if he ordered what happened over at the Gateway Center last night, he needs to go back to enjoying retirement. If he took orders from Mundy Township Supervisor Tonya Ketzler or bowed to pressures by anyone else, Matt Bade needs to go away. He isn't police chief material.

Count on Chief Bade being invited to appear on my radio show to explain how this was allowed to happen in America.

Call our office line at (810) 771-8421 if you want to leave me a question to ask the Chief.

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Mike Killbreath appears on Metro Flint News/Talk Radio via The Morning Gazette Radio Show weekday mornings from 8 am until 9:30 am. He's an award-winning newspaper columnist and investigative reporter who is the former long-time owner of the local Metro Flint area chain of 14 newspapers. This fall will be his 50th year as a journalist. He also hosts a new weekly national TV show known as The American Crusaders on cable TV and various OTT TV live streaming platforms.

Thursday, June 20, 2024 Column

I'm not even back on the air yet and one local politician already fired off a nasty e-mail response to my request to talk to her about what's going on in her community. "I won't go on your show," she declared twice among several texts via Messenger.

Tonya Ketzler has a big fundraiser tonight at Redwood Lodge off Hill Road, near U.S. 23. She wants to be re-elected as Mundy Township Supervisor. She is completing her first term after previously serving as the township clerk.

Her first term as township leader ends in November and my grade for her performance so far would be an absolute "F" grade.

I first me Tonya when she operated flower stores known as Ketzler Florist. She once had locations on Hill Road in Mundy Township, Grand Blanc and Swartz Creek. All the stores are now closed up.

She was once an occasional guest at a "Mafia Club" dinner group of community leaders. I think her last visit was when she voiced opposition one night outside on the patio at Flint Golf Club about comments I made on the radio blasting her police department for arresting Mateen Cleaves on a phony charge that had big time political overtones. Let's just say the only folks who needed to be charged and thrown in prison as far as I'm concerned were some local chiefs, a few cops and several from the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office.

I predicted to her that the case would be dismissed. She was outraged, especially so when everyone at the table agreed with my assessment of things.

Frank Manley, one of America's very best defense lawyers, indeed won a dismissal at the preliminary exam stage  —  something of a rare event in court rooms. It essentially means he proved to a judge that the prosecutors and police had no evidence to charge Mateen Cleaves.

Genesee County Prosecutor David Leyton recused his office, yet our local taxpayers got stuck with the bill as Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy staged an all-out war to put Mateen in prison. Don't let any facts get in the way of some positive big time PR. She was coming off a national scandal in the media over thousands of untested rape kits her office was sitting on. She wanted to look "tough on rape" by going after Mateen. The problem was that Flint's once national champion basketball player at MSU wasn't guilty.

My investigation proved that before Frank Manley ever staged an all-star performance to get all the charges dropped at the preliminary exam. Worthy appealed and former Genesee County Circuit Court Judge Archie Hayman overturned the district court decision by former Judge Cathy Dowd. She was eventually justified in her decision when a jury awarded a not guilty verdict.

Where does Mateen go to get his reputation back? He lost his job as an analyst on TV with the Detroit Pistons. CBS dumped him from the March Madness panel on pre-game, halftime and post-game shows. A charity he used to help hundreds of children was damaged. Who wants to hire a guy accused of rape?

Prominent lawyers reached out to me about getting their hands on Mateen's case. All of them predicted a multi million dollar case against Tonya's police department and Kym Worthy's office. I passed on the information to Frank Manley but Mateen walked away. It probably had something to do with not putting his family through more media attention. The only thing Mateen was guilty of was cheating on his wife, yet she sat in the front row at almost every day of the trial . He spoke to the media with his beautiful wife at his side.

He eventually thanked God for clearing his name and not sending him to prison for 10 years. I think he needed to thank Frank Manley and his brother Mike Manley most of all, and he did pass out rave reviews to them for their hard work on his behalf.

Tonya dodged a bullet on the Mateen case. It could have bankrupted the township, in my opinion, depending on how their insurance policy is set up. The bad publicity alone of her police costing the township thousands of dollars would have doomed her political career.

She's now apparently in hot water with residents who don't like a proposed mega site bordered by Linden Road, Jennings Road, and Elms Road and Maple Road. Tim Herman, President of the Flint Genesee Group, has been given grants by Governor Gretchen Whitmer of $1.2 million, $9.2 million and $250 million to build something there. They will let us know what it is after they get the rest of the money. 

Governor Gretchen, according to media reports, has now given out more than a billion dollars to build factories to support the push for electric vehicles. She's currently featured in a TV commercial flooding the local air waves about how Michigan is leading the charge with battery plants across Michigan bringing thousands of jobs to our state because of her efforts. She doesn't mention that not a single job has been created yet because not a single plant is operating yet.

So all these plants around Michigan  —  funded by our tax dollars  — can be owned by companies from South Korea, Taiwan or Communist China? I say let them pollute their own part of the world. Ask Atlanta how they like battery factories and semiconductor chip making factories. The city notified factory owners some time ago that they've almost drained the water supply there.

It takes 22,000 gallons of water to cool down a single chip and rinse away all the toxins. So where do the toxins go? The climate change folks pushing to do away with gas engines are worried about the climate  —  just not draining out water supply and ruining the groundwater with poison toxins for homes around the mega site. A battery factory is also a huge offender of polluting the soil of their neighbors with their runoff of toxins.

I might mention that claims of creating thousands of jobs to support the EV industry is hogwash. The average battery factory in the U.S. employs 92 people. That's a fact from the Battery Manufacturers Association of the United States. Jobs in battery factories have declined by 2.1% over the last five years and the estimate is that they will employ between 10% and 15% fewer people over the next five years.

Dealers say they can't sell electric cars. The average American can't afford them yet. If a battery goes bad, it's almost as much as a new car to replace it.

Plus, answer this for me. The federal government was handing out warnings earlier this week because of the extreme heat. We were told to conserve using air conditioning because the overload on power grids may short-circuit us into darkness. That's with EVs making up less than 1% of registered vehicles in most US states, and accounting for less than 1% of all vehicles sold in the country in all of 2023.  So what would happen if the climate change PAC funding Gretchen's local TV commercials gets their way and we do away with gas-powered engines for our vehicles?

We pollute our soil around the plant for a man-made disaster that will make the Flint water crisis look like a little league event. We drain the water supply over the next five years, so then what?

So if the average battery plant employs only 92 people and only 24,340 are currently employed by 500 chip factories around the USA, how are we to believe these claims that thousands of jobs will be created in Mundy Township? My math computes to about 48 jobs for a chip factory and 92 for a battery factor. The trade-off is ruining our earth with these plants to save the earth from being ruined by gas engines?

With $260 million of our tax dollars going to Tim Herman's non-profit group?

Yeah, Tonya expect me to see you tonight at your fundraiser. I won't be paying $1,250 for a dinner to chip in for your campaign. Anybody who does should have their business boycotted by our residents of the Metro Flint regional area.

I will be out front talking to the good people with picket signs.

So you don't want to go on my radio show to defend your part in all this? Well, I have list of former politicians who can tell you how that went for them. Talk to your residents by answering media questions — especially from The Morning Gazette Radio Show — or go back to being a flower store lady.

I hear you hired one of ex Burton Mayor Paula Zelenko's folks to work in your office. Ask her how her old boss liked the public pressure when we turned the attention of our microphones on her goofy leadership ways.  My investigation led to State Police asking Genesee County Prosecutor David Leyton for a warrant on felony charges of changing a union document to reward her campaign manager with a big raise for a union position as Chief of Staff. State Police alleged that she changed the document from "is a union position" to "is not a union position." 

The State Police investigation confirmed our declaration that the document didn't match old contracts of other former union members after she presented it to her Burton City Council. They voted 7-0, by the way, to demand a State Police investigation into my radio show claims. The six-year statute on that crime has almost run out, yet Prosecutor Leyton still has the document sitting on his desk. That's the comment on about a half dozen times I've asked Chief Deputy Prosecutor John Potbury about it .

Better yet. Read the recent story in the Detroit News about Prosecutor Leyton ignoring warrants from State Police troopers he called "liars" who were "too unreliable to put on the witness stand." The episode was touched off by our push to have former Flint Township Clerk Kathy Funk arrested for tampering with ballots. She pleaded guilty, yet got probation and was ordered to write an apology. Yet five elections were impacted by her illegal actions?

By the way, why is Prosecutor Leyton allowed to have the biggest campaign sign possible on Linden Road a few months before signs are allowed? I guess he won't want to charge himself for violating the state law that sets forth that it must be 45 days before election day. Campaign finance laws also require a posting on who paid for the sign. That's the law.

I guess the law doesn't matter around here. Ask Mateen Cleaves. Ask Burton residents who wanted Mayor Zelenko locked up. Ask all the hundreds who called my show and wrote letters demanding that Kathy Funk be locked up.

Yeah, I can't wait to get back on the radio.

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Mike Killbreath appears on Metro Flint News/Talk Radio via The Morning Gazette Radio Show weekday mornings from 8 am until 9:30 am. He's an award-winning newspaper columnist and investigative reporter who is the former long-time owner of the local Metro Flint area chain of 14 newspapers. This fall will be his 50th year as a journalist. He also hosts a new weekly national TV show known as The American Crusaders on cable TV and various OTT TV live streaming platforms.

LANSING (CCN)  —  Both chambers of Michigan's State Legislature have now approved a proposal by the Michigan Strategic Fund to fund a $250 million project by the Flint Genesee Group — a Flint-based non-profit organization headed by CEO Tim Herman.

The Flint Genesee's Group's Flint Genesee Economic Alliance wants to attract developers for manufacturing plants at a Mega Site in Mundy Township on a 1,200-acre location bordering Linden Road, Jennings Road, Elms Road and Maple Road.

The House Appropriations Committee sent the funding bill to the floor of the State House of Representatives last week and the State Senate's Appropriations Committee did the same thing on Wednesday night. Both full chambers eventually approved the plan by Herman's organization. He had already been given more than$10 million in two earlier moves by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) and all that remains for another $250 million is approval of Governor Gretchen Whitmer's proposed state budget.

The state budget needs to be approved by July 1.

The process is for both chambers of the State Legislature to approve the budget before it then goes to the governor for her signature.

Thursday, June 27, 2024 Column

My recent Editor's Notebook columns are getting some national attention.

The New York Times has called. So, too, have Detroit media outlets. Local TV stations have reported the story although only WJRT ABC 12 TV featured comments by the organizer of the picket demonstration (Jennifer Arrand Stainton) last week outside a political fundraiser for Mundy Township Supervisor Tonya Ketzler 

Nothing but crickets out of MLive and The Flint Journal though. We will see how later today how View Newspapers reports on the controversial picket demonstration last week by protesters angry about the proposed development at the Mega Site location in Mundy Township on a 1,200-acre location bordering Linden Road, Jennings Road, Elms Road and Maple Road.

Michigan News Source quoted by column in a story today about a proposed $250 million gift of our state tax dollars to the Flint Genesee Group to build something on the Mega Site. No details. They need the money first before they tell us what the plan is out there.

It's nice to see some statewide attention focused on Governor Gretchen Whitmer's budget. I don't like my tax dollars going to support building plants to support the electric vehicle industry. Gretchen's current TV commercials make me sick.

They're paid for by a climate change PAC out of California. They admitted to me there was a major donor out of our area to make the TV commercials happen on our local TV air waves.

Any guess on who the donor may have been?

By the way, Gretchen proclaims that Michigan is leading the charge with battery plants across out state employing thousands. Um, no battery plants have been built yet.

Gretchen should also check with the Battery Plant Manufacturers Association of the United States. The average battery plant in our country employs an average of 92 people.

If it's a chip building factory headed to Mundy Township, the numbers are worse for jobs. They average 48 employees. Comments from CEO Tim Herman's representative on all this garbage have led us to believe thousands of jobs are coming.

Why not locate them at vacant old GM plants in Flint? Or is all the pollution that comes with them too much for a city where its water was poisoned 10 years ago? Time to poison people around the Mega Site location out in Mundy Township?

A battery plant or chip building plant would produce thousands of gallons worth of toxins. Do they just drain them into the groundwater to ruin the properties of neighbors?

There are environmental experts warning that extensive use of ultra pure water would lead to draining Lake Huron and eventually end its use as a water supply for so many Michigan communities. Ask Atlanta how the impact from similar plants has destroyed their water supply.

 and contaminated nearby properties.

Are we ready for another Flint water crisis? Are we ready for another Berlin & Farro catastrophe?

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Mike Killbreath appears on Metro Flint News/Talk Radio via The Morning Gazette Radio Show weekday mornings from 8 am until 9:30 am. He's an award-winning newspaper columnist and investigative reporter who is the former long-time owner of the local Metro Flint area chain of 14 newspapers. This fall will be his 50th year as a journalist. He also hosts a new weekly national TV show known as The American Crusaders on cable TV and various OTT TV live streaming platforms.

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