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BY ANA JONES

CCN Staff Writer

CLAYTON TWP. (CCN) — The Clayton Township Board of Trustees honored retiring Police Chief Charlotte Brown Thursday night (Feb. 25, 2026).

She has been police chief since 2018 when becoming the municipality's first black chief.

Police Chief Brown worked on Clayton Township's force 16 years after spending 12 years at the Genesee County Sheriff's Department.

She is retiring next month on March 8  which is her 62nd birthday. 

She spoke to residents after accepting gifts from Clayton Township board officials at the public meeting.

PHOTO CAPTION: Pictured above this story is retiring Clayton Township Police Chief Charlotte Brown (center) accepting gifts after a ceremony at a township board meeting, saluting her many years of service to the community.

BY ANA JONES

CCN Staff Writer

MUNDY TWP. (CCN) — A staunch opponent and long-time critic of a proposed advanced manufacturing plant "put it on record" by speaking against a proposed road paving and improvement project in Mundy Township.

Bryan Bender's remarks came before five of seven members of the Grand Blanc Township Board of Trustees voted Monday (Jan. 12, 2026) to sign a letter supporting a funding request of up to $25 million from the federal government to fund various improvements on Maple Road and other nearby roads.

A request for a federal grant is being made by the Genesee County Board of Commissioners, according to a statement by Mundy Township Manager Chad Young.

Most of the roads targeted for repairs are around the Mega Site which is on about 1,388 acres bordered by Maple, Linden, Elms and Jennings roads.

Bender said he simply wanted to "put it on the record" about his opposition and called it a "trojan horse" to assist the Flint & Genesee County Economic Alliance in its quest to attract an advanced manufacturing plant for the Mega Site.

Bender is now looked upon by many in Mundy Township to carry on a campaign to oppose such a project after Don Ludwig recently announced he was selling his house after previously vowing to never do it. Ludwig said he met with pressure from his wife and family members after spending all of 2025 fighting against the idea.

Ludwig even took his fight to Lansing, testifying in front of the State House Oversight Sub-Committee on Corporate Subsidies and State Investments when the bi-partisan group began investigating why $259 million in state funding was given to the Flint & Genesee County Economic Alliance..

Bender questioned why the project calls for Maple Road to be expanded from two lanes to three lanes when most of the houses in that area have been torn down by the Flint & Genesee Economic Alliance which has so far acquired nearly 1,200 acres of property on the Mega Site.

The organization, an arm of a Flint-based non-profit known as the Flint & Genesee Group, was given $29 million in state funding for the project early last year.

 Feb 9, 2012 — Bryan Bender, a 17-year resident of Grand Blanc, was appointed 

 Fidelity Brokerage Services and Fidelity Personal and Workplace Advisors.  

PHOTO CAPTION: Pictured above this story is Metro Police Authority Chief Matt Bade (at left) and Prosecutor David Leyton during a March press conference to announce felony charges against Robert Nowoty.  

BY ERIC THOMPSON

CCN Sports Writer

(CCN) — Flushing's football fortunes for 2025 Metro League Stripes Division supremacy took a severe blow at Fenton Friday night (Sept. 12, 2025) while Clio and Owosso won again to set up a showdown of unbeatens this week in the Metro League's Stars Division.

Flushing lost two straight heartbreakers in non-league play to get ready for its opener in the Metro League at  Fenton but the host Tigers breezed to a 41-12 romp. Flushing's defense could not stop returning all-Metro quarterback Noah Sheil. His three second quarter touchdown passes helped Fenton take control of the game.

Owosso squeaked past Lake Fenton 38-35 to go to 3-0 overall 

Clio won 48-22 at Corunna in its Metro League opener to also run its overall mark to a perfect 3-0. It's the first 3-0 start for Clio's program since 1986, so Owosso will run into a packed house of fans supporting the hometown Mustangs on Friday.

Kick-off is set for 7 pm and Clio High School Principal Eric Doyle issued a Facebook post about expecting a big crowd. "Pride Stadium will be rocking," said Doyle, an Athletic Director there before becoming Principal this year.

The showdown will be the Game of the Week on Metro Flint News/Talk Radio with Larry Coleman doing the play-by-play.

The pre-game show will start at 6:35 pm.

BY MIKE KILLLBREATH

CCN Executive Editor

CLAYTON TWP. (CCN) — Ted Henry was voted off the Genesee County Board of Commissioners in 2022, returned to win the Clayton Township Supervisor race in 2024 but is in political trouble again in his new role.

Donning a sweatshirt that read "It Is The Duty Of The Patriot To Protect His Country From Its Government" — Rod Shumaker packed the Clayton Township Hall with supporters Thursday night (Nov. 13, 2025)  after two weeks of reaching out to Clayton Township residents about Henry inflating his salary and allegedly steering what he calls "no bid" contracts to friends and his own son's company.

"Taxpayers are outraged when they find this out," says Shumaker about revelations revealed on social media  and on Metro Flint News/Talk Radio's Morning Gazette Radio Show that Clayton Township's new Supervisor is making $117,000 in salary, according to township documents.

Treasurer Shelly Thompson is the board member who first pointed out Henry's salary in the tiny Genesee County township with only about 7,300 residents. 

Henry reacted at the time by saying she was a "lone board member with no support" and that the issue of his pay had been voted on by the entire board.

Henry said he's doing extra duties usually paid with much higher salaries around the county for building inspector and code enforcement duties in addition to his elected position.

"I bet Ted Henry was surprised we packed this township hall to hear about their budget," Shumaker said. "They are accustomed to nobody showing up which is how they pushed these things over on the people."

Shumaker told CCN that he is considering a recall after he met with a group of community leaders from around the county three days before a recall could happen to pitch his thoughts about staging it to remove Henry from office. Recalls are not allowed in Michigan during the first year of four-year terms. Henry was elected in November 2024.

Henry's reaction to a packed township hall and word that Shumaker may indeed file a recall to remove him from office resulted in shrugging it all off, saying, "I'm 77 years old. I don't care. I'm working hard for my township." 

Shumaker admitted he has also talked with many residents of Clayton Township and other individuals that include a township attorney, a police chief and prosecutors. "They can't believe this and they think it's something that should go to the Genesee County Prosecutor's Office," he said.

Citizens also voiced yells of "recall" several times from the audience at a board meeting on Thursday when the board opted not to consider passing the proposed budget. Thompson reported that the new budget calls for giving an additional $5,000 in compensation to Henry.

The first-term Treasurer asked, "The  votes have been 4-to-3 and I wonder if it's legal that he can vote for all this extra money for himself?"

Shumaker said he has asked local lawyers and prosecutors for verification if this is true, and he said, "They told me they needed to check but that they believed it was not allowed under state law to vote on anything that effects yourself."

Thompson revealed a few weeks ago with her social media post as follows: "People in Swartz Creek and Mundy township have been asking for transparency, well how about Clayton Township. 

Perhaps Clayton Township is hiding the fact that their elected supervisor who collects a full-time position salary of $42,000 also collects a full-time position salary as building inspector and head of the building department for Clayton Township $55,000. He also collects payment for zoning inspector $10,000  and $10,000 code enforcement.  He is also the building inspector for the surrounding village of Lennon. How can one man have and be paid for two full time positions and three part-time positions? $117,000 a year is ridiculous for a township with 7,500 residents. 

And oh yes one month after being elected Supervisor and refusing to give up his building inspector position, we needed to create a deputy supervisor position with a $20,000 annual salary while the other deputy positions receive $6,200 per year. This year’s budget also includes a raise for the building inspector of $5,000 and a raise for the deputy of $5,200."

Henry and three fellow board members voted to hire former Treasurer Rick Caruso as the Deputy Supervisor.

"Clayton Township is a grave yard where defeated  politicians go to get paid big money," said Shumaker, noting that Henry was voted off the county board in 2022 and Caruso lost his local election in Clayton Township last year.

PHOTO CAPTION: Pictured above this story is Rod Shumaker who urged residents to attend Thursday's Clayton Township Board of Trustees meeting.

BY MIKE KILLLBREATH

CCN Executive Editor

MUNDY TWP. (CCN) — The man who has been leading the charge against the proposed advanced manufacturing plant in Mundy Township has given up his fight, and he's selling his property.

Don Ludwig made the announcement via a social media post just after 11 am today (Dec. 30, 2025).

Ludwig didn't reveal the sale price to the Flint & Genesee Economic Alliance Group but his asking price had been steadily escalated since he listed the property for sale with realtor Layne Lucia.

Ludwig started a page on Facebook for opponents of the plan to build an advanced manufacturing plant near his home. It's now a lightning rod for controversy with political backers of the plan and his neighbors now numbering more than 4,000 members on the page.

Ludwig spoke against the project earlier this year in Lansing when appearing before the State House Oversight Sub-Committee on State Subsidies and Corporate Investments. The committee has been investigating why $259 million in state funding went into the project.

No jobs have yet been created despite early promises of creating thousands of jobs. No buyer has yet been attracted for what Flint & Genesee Economic Alliance Executive Director Tyler  Rossenmahler has called the "best site in North America" for an advanced manufacturing plant because of its location near Bishop Airport and major expressways.

Here was the statement posted by Ludwig on his Facebook page: "Today is the day I have been dreading!! On Christmas Eve my wife was in negotiationshI I was not involved the mega site negotiating team dealt strictly with my wife. With that being said this Mega site has put a severe burden on our marriage almost to the point of a divorce. Myself and my wife and my adult children all had a discussion and what to do and the votes five to one for me to stop fighting the mega site and to give in on my property so I can become a father and a husband again! So we did agree to sell and NO it wasn't a million dollars anybody with any computer knowledge will be able to look it up it's within the price range everybody else has received there was no special treatment for us and like I said they wouldn't even talk to me and negotiate with me. There's no side Bag of Money lining our pockets. I'm telling everybody this today because my Christmas was ruined and I did not want to ruin anybody else's Christmas  over the holiday. Just before any negative comments there's nobody tougher on myself than me right now I've been in bed for 4 days because of this letting my community down. I put up the best fight I could for 3 years with attorneys thousands of dollars invested equity line of credit and now with the latest attorney would have been over $100,000 with a 33% chance of winning which did take place over several Zoom meetings with myself and 2 other local residents. It's a shame for me to find an attorney  It had to been out of state because NO attorney in Michigan wanted to put up the battle. I will continue to do what I do what is right is right and what is wrong is wrong the law is the law and Corruption is corruption. Again this is not about money this is about keeping my family together and my health peace of mind. I truly appreciate everybody that has helped especially the few that I'm in contact with every day talking about the mega site I deal with this constant to try to stay five steps ahead of the development. Again please don't be too hard on me like I said nobody's beating me up more than myself right now this is not how I want to finish I wanted to win! With the progress that's going on and situations that have occurred with my home during their process it's the only right choice my family has decided on. AGAIN IM VERY SORRY DON." 

Mundy Township Supervisor Jennifer Arrand Stainton was elected in November 2024 in a landslide victory over incumbent Tonya Ketzler, becoming the first Republican Supervisor in the community since 1919 with a "No Mega Site" campaign pledge to voters.

She told CCN that she sent a personal thank you to Ludwig and gave permission for The Daily Gazette to share it publicly here 

The message from Stainton to Ludwig was as follows; "No one is more appreciative of you than me. You are no Megasite and even though you sold I will still continue to keep our community whole and moving forward. But I'm still opposed to the idea of industry in that area. So my fight will continue. Please do not lose touch."

Realtor Lucia said: "I have been with Don the whole way and there was nobody fighting harder for the rights of the citizens than him. Tough decision, but understandable." 

Rossenmahler has not yet responded to our request for a comment.

PHOTO CAPTION: Pictured above this story is Don Ludwig.

BY MIKE KILLLBREATH

CCN Executive Editor

MUNDY TWP. (CCN) — A man who led Metro Police Authority officers on a wild chase through Burton and into Davison Township last winter before exchanging gunfire with authorities was convicted by a Genesee County jury).

Robert Nowotny, 40, faces up to life in prison when returning to court for sentencing on Feb. 2 before Genesee Circiut Court Judge Mark Latchana.

Nowotny was described by Genesee County Prosecutor David Leyton as a Swartz Creek man in a press release although he earlier when arrested had been listed as living in the Detroit area.

Court records show Nowotny was found guilty on four felonies related to the Feb. 27 incident in which he led police on an 14-mile chase from Mundy Township to Davison and fired shots at police. The charges were Assault With Intent to Murder, Fleeing and Eluding Police Third Degree, Felony Firearm and Carrying a Concealed Weapon.

Leyton said Investigative reports and testimony at trial revealed that officers from the Metro Police Authority responded to citizen reports of a suspicious van driving in a neighborhood with a very loud exhaust in the vicinity of Linden Road and Hill Road.

Police spotted the vehicle and initiated a traffic stop in the parking lot of the Meijer store on Hill Road. The driver, later identified as Nowotny, lowered his driver’s side window about an inch and refused to comply with an officer’s instruction to provide identification. As officers were talking to Nowotny, he put his van in gear and began driving away. Metro Flint Police Authority Chief Matt Bade said at a March press conference with Prosecutor Leyton that Nowotny had a warrant out for his arrest.

Officers got back into their cruisers and began chasing Nowotny north on Torrey Road and east on Bristol Road. As officers were chasing Nowotny at speeds which never exceeded 40 miles per hour, Nowotny ran numerous red lights and crossed into the lanes of approaching traffic. At one point early in the chase, the rear driver’s side wheel on his van came off and it caused a continuous streak of sparks from the rear area of the van as it dragged on the pavement the entire rest of the chase.

The rear of the van eventually became engulfed in flames and Nowotny stopped near M-15 and Bristol Road in Davison Township. With police vehicles slowly approaching the scene of the engulfed van with nearby departments joining the chase and setting up road blocks, Nowotny exited his vehicle and immediately turned toward police and pointed a pistol at them and emptied ten rounds of ammunition which penetrated an officer’s windshield and car seat, barely missing the officer.

The officer exited his cruiser and returned fire, striking Nowotny who fell to the pavement. Nowotny was immediately apprehended and handcuffed.

“This incident shows the life-threatening danger police officers may face at any time, even during a routine traffic stop,” said Prosecutor Leyton after the verdict was announced. He added: “Fortunately and miraculously, no officers or citizens were killed or injured.”

Prosecutor Leyton credited Assistant Prosecutor Sam Fleet and his team of support staff for successfully taking the case to trial and the brave work of the men and women from the Metro Police Authority and assisting agencies.

PHOTO CAPTION: Pictured above this story is Metro Police Authority Chief Matt Bade (at left) and Prosecutor David Leyton during a March press conference to announce felony charges against Robert Nowoty.  

BY GARY ANDERSON

CCN Staff Writer

SWARTZ CREEK (CCN) — Alyssa Bouchard has resigned as a member of the Swartz Creek Board of Education.

Metro Flint News/Talk Radio's Morning Gazette Radio Show first broke the news with an unconfirmed report on Monday's (Sept 15, 2025) program. Multiple sources told the show it was true but the story could not be officially confirmed by any administrators or school board members.

Jim Kitchen, interim Superintendent, did confirm on Tuesday that the report was indeed true.

WNEM TV 5 also aired a post on its Facebook page about it Monday after The Morning Gazette Radio Show report.

Bouchard has not yet issued a statement.

She served as Treasurer on the board.

Bouchard becomes the second board member to recently resign as contentious meetings have   surrounded the controversial idea of selling the district's Morrish Elementary building to the Flint & Genesee Economic Alliance which wants it for the Mega Site in Mundy Township where an advanced manufacturing plant is proposed.

A $40 million offer to buy Morrish Elementary was the subject of a Town Hall meeting in July that attracted a packed house of residents who opposed the idea. "So where did they get a survey that said most of Swartz Creek favored the idea," said Chuck Melki, Vice President of the Swartz Creek Board of Education who was not allowed to speak at the event by Kitchen, Melki claimed.

"HE said it was a problem with violating the Open Meetings Act," Melki added.

Melki said he has been pushing for answers "because we've been fed a lot of lies" over the idea of selling Morrish Elementary. He pointed out that the contract did not match what was presented by Flint & Genesee Economic Alliance Executive Director Tyler Rossmassler at the Town Hall or at a school board presentation.

A resident, Josh Davis,  presented copies of e-mails this past weekend on his Facebook page and a page for more than 4,000 opponents of the Flint & Genesee Economic Alliance's Mega Site development using public funds ($259 million granted by the state legislature after a request by the Governor Gretchen Whitmer-appointed Michigan Economic Development Corporation).

Davis, boyfriend of Autumn Henry who serves on the school board, exposed one e-mail this past weekend from Bouchard that had her suggesting PR ideas  to interim Superintendent Kitchen to help better sell the project to the public. One suggestion from Bouchard was to change the name from "Mega Site" to "Industrial Site."

A video was also released on social media that showed district officials on a Skype call discussing    

strategy with Rossmassler and developer Dave Lurvy who told the board in a June presentation that he would build a new building for under $40 million price tag for the purchase to replace the Morrish Elementary building. 

"Jim Kitchen told us he had not been involved, yet here are all these e-mails obtained by FOIA that show he flat out lied when I asked him about it at a school board meeting," Melki said.

He also alleged at a school board meeting that administrators "hid" a letter from the law firm saying it was all a bad idea. 

Bouchard was first appointed to the Swartz Creek Board of Education three years ago in September of 2022. She was tabbed to fill a brief vacancy after Trustee Alicia Gardner resigned to become a school nurse in the district. 

Bouchard served four months to fill out the vacancy until the end of 2022. 

She ran for the seat in 2024 after one of the requirements for being appointed was not to run in the 2022 race.

Bouchard is a 2013 graduate of Saginaw Valley State University who has also served the school district on the PTO boards of the Syring and Dieck elementary schools. She has also been on the board for the Swartz Creek Little League Girls' Softball organization since October 2024. She has been the President for the past year.

The Flint & Genesee Chamber of Commerce named her to its "40 Under 40" honoree list in 2024

Bouchard has had a new job for the past six months with Barton Marlow as communications manager, according to her Linked-in page.  She left a job with the Michigan Bankers Association where she had worked for more than 6 1/2 years and had become  Vice President of communications. Prior to that job, she was  a long-time professional in media relations, press releases, graphic design and social media.

PHOTO CAPTION: Pictured above this photo is Alyssa Bouchard who has resigned her position on Swartz Creek Board of Education.

BY ANA JONES

CCN Staff Writer

FLUSHING (CCN) — CCN reported last week that long-time Halo Burger chain operator Terry Thomas of Flushing had passed away. We learned today (Sept. 17, 2025) that the new owners are celebrating him to mark the restaurant chain's 102nd anniversary.

Terry Thomas took over with his mom Frances and sister Carolyn when his father Bill passed away in 1973. They ran the chain until selling it in 2010 to Grand Blanc- based Dortch Enterprises. It has had two other owners since then but has dwindled from 17 locations at its peak in 2017, to just five locations now in Flint Township, Grand Blanc, Burton, Fenton and Birch Run.

A sixth location recently opened in Macomb County's Clinton Township and the new ownership group announced that Halo Burger is honoring its past while celebrating growth for the future on the iconic chain's 102nd anniversary.  

A statement was released by Domenique Lopez, marketing director for Halo Burger's new owners who merged earlier in the year with the Cops & Doughnuts chain based in Clare. Lopez reflected on the 85-year-old's long-time leadership and commitment to community events, including as a prominent sponsor of sports teams by saying, "Halo Burger has always been about more than food. It is about Michigan pride, community, and giving back to the people who have supported us for over a century."

The family wrote in an obituary for Terry Thomas, "Terry loved Flint, so In lieu of flowers, he would love for the people who loved him to treat themselves to a Kewpee (Halo) Deluxe with olives and a Boston Cooler. That’ll make Terry smile."

 No funeral services are set at this time because most family members live in other states. They are planning a memorial later when everyone can attend.

PHOTO CAPTION: Pictured above this photo is Terry Thomas who was the long-time operator of Halo Burger restaurants in the Metro Flint regional area.

Or e-mail us at news@TheDailyGazette.net

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West Valley Voice began as a print publication by Tri-County Publishing in 1994 that was available free every other week at high traffic locations across the area. Print editions ceased publishing in 2014. This online edition is owned by Tri-County Publishing LLC and is operated by Crusader Communications Network Inc. ("CCN")

BY MIKE KILLBREATH

CCN News Executive Editor

SWARTZ CREEK (CCN) — Reactions to news that semiconductor giant Western Digital won't consider building in Mundy Township have been divided among party party lines.

But residents who attended a special Town Hall meeting Thursday (July 17, 2025) at the Swartz Creek school district's Center for Performing Arts were unanimous in their opposition to their school district officials selling Morrish Elementary for $40 million to Flint-based non-profit organization's Flint & Genesee Group's Flint & Genesee Economic Alliance.

Some questioned how interim Superintendent Jim Kitchen conducted  a poll of residents to get 65 percent of them to say they are in support of the idea.

No residents near the proposed Mega Site have voiced anything except opposition to using tax dollars to build an advanced manufacturing plant on the Mega Site bordered by Linden, Jennings, Elms and Maple roads in Mundy Township.

Morrish Elementary is located in a corner of the 1,388 acre site.

BY MIKE KILLBREATH

CCN News Executive Editor

MUNDY TWP. (CCN) — Western Digital is not coming to Mundy Township.

That was the unofficial word this morning when Metro Flint News/Talk Radio reported in a 10 am special bulletin interrupting regular programming that Crain's Business Detroit reported a story that Western Digital had informed Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer and stakeholders in the project that the company would not be coming to the Mega Site bordered by Linden Road, Elms Road, Jennings Road and Maple Road.

Governor Whitmer has not yet issued any comment but it became official when CCN received this e-mail response at about 1:30 pm to our inquiry from Amy Bailey of the Byrum & Fisk law firm who said, "The following information can be attributed to Tyler Rossmaessler, executive director of the Flint & Genesee Economic Alliance: While we are disappointed by this announcement, we remain 100% committed to attracting an

advanced manufacturer to Genesee County and our top-notch team will continue our work to

bring a project to Michigan. The Advanced Manufacturing District of Genesee County is the

best site in North America for an advanced manufacturer to locate, and we will continue our

important work together to attract a job-creating project that will benefit our region and the

entire state for generations to come. We remain convinced that attracting an advanced

manufacturer will create thousands of jobs, help boost and launch small businesses, create

opportunities for young people and help us enhance national security by bringing our supply

chain and jobs back to the U.S."

(Related Story in West Valley Voice )

PHOTO CAPTION: Pictured above this story is Tyler Rossmaessler who is Executive Director of the Flint & Genesee Economic Alliance.

BY MIKE KILLBREATH

CCN News Executive Editor

GENESEE COUNTY  (CCN) — The Michigan Immigration Rights Center (MIRC) is urging residents in Mundy Township and the City of Swartz Creek to contact elected officials to protest an agreement allegedly reached by the Metro Police Authority with federal ICE agents.

Mundy Township Supervisor Jennifer Arrand Stainton told CCN that she is not aware of any such agreement and that she learned by text that Swartz Creek Mayor Nate Henry was also unaware of it. Henry has not yet responded to our request for a comment.

Stainton and Henry are listed on the MIRC flyer with their phone numbers and e-mail addresses. So, too, are Mundy Township Clerk Cory Bostwick and Swartz Creek City Clerk Renee Kraft.

Bostwick and Kraft have also not yet responded to our request for a comment.

Metro Police Authority Chief Matt Bade has not responded to any requests for comments from CCN since last summer.

He was sent a letter about this matter and has not yet responded.

The MIRC's Facebook page alerted illegal immigrants that the Metro Police Authority has entered into a "287(g) agreement with ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations" to participate in the task force model being pushed across the nation by President Donald Trump on his crackdown on illegal immigrants.

MIRC statistics show that ICE agents had detained 57,861 illegal immigrants under Trump's second administration as of June 29. MIRC contends that 71% have no previous criminal convictions 

PHOTO CAPTION: Pictured above is a post making the rounds on social media about an alleged deal between federal ICE agents and the Metro Police Authority.

FLUSHING (CCN) — Flushing Mayor appeared on WNEM CBS TV 5 on Thursday (April 3, 2025) and shared on social media what he declared "one last" statement on his city's saga of problems at Signature Chop House on Pierson Road.

The restaurant / bar closed earlier this week.

(See Related Stories Below and on Today's Front Page of The Daily Gazette)

Here was the statement shared by Flushing Mayor Edward Sullivan: "This is my final statement on the issue of Signature Chop House:  As I stated in my interview with WNEM. I had hoped that this new iteration of Signature Chop House would figure out a way to make things in Flushing work. Unfortunately, the delinquencies and issues with clientele appear to be insurmountable. I am sorry. The owners had a great opportunity and unfortunately the patrons could not adjust their behavior to allow them to succeed."

sullivan is a former city councilman who was elected in November to become Flushing's new Mayor after Joe Karlicheck gave up his seat to run for a seat on the Genesee County Board of Commissioner. Karlicheck lost in the August Democrat primary, then ran as a write-in for Flushing City Council in November and was elected to return to the Flushing local political scene. .  

 PHOTO CAPTION: Pictured above this story is Flushing Mayor Edward Sullivan.

BY MIKE KILLBREATH

CCN News Executive Editor

DAVISON TWP. (CCN) — Genesee County Prosecutor David Leyton held a press conference Tuesday (April 1, 2025) at his Flint office to announce he has cleared a Metro Police Authority member in a Davison Towship shooting.

The officer-involved shooting incident happened on Feb. 27 when Prosecutor David Leyton said a sergeant at the Metro PD, Blake Hiben, opened fire on a suspect who fled on foot after crashing his car on Henderson Road in Davison Township. 

Prosecutor Leyton said the 39 year old victim from Garden City, Robert Nowotny, sped away after officers tried to arrest him on an outstanding warrant at the corner of Hill Road and Torrey Road. Leyton said that when the suspect crashed and exited his vehicle, he fired first at officers from neighboring departments who were assisting.

"Cruiser camera video supports the belief that Sergeant Hiben rightfully feared for his life and safety, and for that of his fellow officers," said Prosecutor Leyton. He said video shows Hiben getting out of his vehicle, pointing a gun at Hiben on the driver's side of his cruiser and opening fire.

He said Hiben fired 10 shots and Hiben returned fire with four shots.

Metro PD Chief Matt Bade said Hiben used his training to react to the situation when returning fire.

Chief Bade said, "You can see by the video that this was a calculated attempt to murder one of my officers."

Hiben has been with Metro PD since it was formed in 2017. Nowotny has been charged on felony counts for attempted murder as well as fleeing and eluding a police officer. He faces up to life in prison.

Body cam video captured how two Metro PD officers approached Nowotny's vehicle after it was pulled over for a loud exhaust and after Chief Bade said there was a 911 call about a suspicious van driving slowly with its lights off through the neighborhood at the corner of Linden Road and Hill Road. Here is audio of the initial exchange before Nowotny sped away.

Nowotny initially gave a fake name and when discovering there was a warrant for Nowotny's arrest, he was asked to get out of his vehicle and that's when he sped away.

The chase went from the corner of Hill and Torrey, to Bristol Road through the City of Burton into Davison Township with sparks flying after Nowotny blew a tire but continued on despite the flat before his Chrysler Town & Country van caught fire and crashed. Leyton said a significant amount of ammunition in the back seat exploded when the vehicle caught fire.

No local media reported the shooting previously except View Newspapers which published a short story a week after initial reports by The Daily Gazette and Metro Flint News/Talk Radio.

CCN had its initial report the next morning after the Feb. 27 incident. Davison Township Police Chief Jay Rendon said his department assisted with setting up road blocks but referred all quetions to Metro PD for comments and Burton Police Chief Brian Ross confirmed his officers assisted in the wild chase but also said details needed to come from Metro PD. 

Chief Bade did not respond then to our request for comment at the time or to confirm multiple social media reports about gunfire.

PHOTO CAPTION: Pictured above this story are Genesee County Prosecutor David Leyton (at right) and Metro Police Authority Chief Matt Bade at a Tuesday press conference in Flint.

BY MIKE KILLBREATH

CCN News Executive Editor

FLUSHING (CCN) — Gus Tyler has called on blacks to boycott Flushing businesses after his Signature Chop House closed down in what he now calls a "racist" community.

A post on social media by Tyler today (April 3, 2025) said: "There is (a lot) more to the story. All the way to where we were forced to (sell) back our property. I am being quiet no longer. We have to learn to spend our black dollar where it is appreciated."

He declined an opportunity, however, to record a segment for Metro Flint News/Talk Radio as a guest on its Morning Gazette Radio Show.

Tyler said he would only appear live, saying, "Only live (and) only after you sign an agreement with my lawyer."

Metro Flint News/Talk Radio refused the request.

Tyler responded, "I cannot allow my words to come out of anyone else mouth but my own. So I will respectfully decline. Thanks for reaching out."

Community residents have flooded social media with comments critical of Tyler's operation in Flushing and both The Daily Gazette and Metro Flint News/Talk Radio have received dozens of notes, letters, texts and calls to push the Flushing City Council to close down the establishment.

The location has been plagued for months by complaints of neighbors for excessive noise, rowdy behavior by patrons and traffic woes.

Calls for residents to show up at the April14 Flushing City Council meeting began on social media after a late night St. Patrick's Day incident resulted in numerous police officers responding as back-up for Flushing's city police.

The Daily Gazette, Metro Flint News/Talk Radio's newscasts and The Morning Gazette Radio Show reported the next day (March 18, 2025) that social media comments about four people being killed there were not true.

Flushing City Councilman Joe Karlichek issued a press release later on March 18 with a statement by Flushing Police Chief Steven Colosky that there were no guns confiscated after the incident, no shooting and no arrests.

Councilman Karlichek, Flushing's former Mayor before losing last August to Dale Weighill in the Democrat primary for the Genesee County Board of Commissioners, did not comment on why there was such a massive police presence at Signature Chop House which changed hands about two years ago.

Tyler issued a subsequent statement that he was working with city officials to resolve problems at the location on Pierson Road. (See Related Story in Today's Metro Section)

Flushing Mayor Edward Sullivan then announced on Tuesday (April 1, 2025) that Signature Chop House had closed. He shared an "official statement on Signature Chop House" that was aired on Wednesday's Morning Gazette Radio Show and Metro Flint News/Talk Radio's newscasts.

The statement was as follows: "Multiple departments of the City as well as City Council and the Administration have been diligently working to resolve the issues for a very long time. All of them deserve thanks in this matter.  Effective 4/1/2025, ownership of the Signature Chop House Building has reverted back to the former owner, Flushing Investments.  LL Restaurant Inc. will have 30 days to collect their belongings at a mutually agreed upon time, but all future scheduled events have been cancelled."

Thursday's Morning Gazette Radio Show revealed that a court notice was tacked on the front door of the building and reported that court records show that more than $15,000 was owed to a landlord.

Tyler's boycott was announced at about 10 am Thursday (April 3, 2025) on his own Facebook page and on the page for Signature Chop House.

His unedited post read as follows: "AS OF TODAY I AM ORGANIZING A BOYCOTT OF ALL FLUSHING BUSINESS FOR THE FLINT COMMUNITY IN PARTICULAR THE BLACK COMMUNITY. THREW THERE COMMENT S AND ALL THERE RACIAL SLURS OF THE PUBLIC OF FLUSHING MI NOT ONE BUSINESS OWNER ,POLITICIAN , or Community leader stepped up to denounce the racism I faced as a business owner in the community. Your made if very clear YALL don’t want our back business with that comes not having our black dollar. Some man went as fast as to ask for a wall to be built up to keep us out. So IM trying to create that wall in our minds. I am calling for a boycott of all products flushing. Bars , restaurants, doctors office, car dealer ext. ALL MY BLACK FLUSHING RESIDENTS. IM SURE YALL DIDNT WANT TO SPEAK UP BECAUSE THESE RACIST PEOPLE ARE YOUR NEIGHBORS. BUT STAND WITH ME. IN A CITY WHERE THE JUDGE CAN HERE A LANDLORD SAY THEY REJECTED PAYMENT OF RENT AND TURN AROUND AND USE THAT AS A BASIS TO EVICTION. LETS ME KNOW THAT THERE ARE CERTAIN AREAS THAT DONT WANT CHANGE. I SHOULD HAVE TOOK NOTE WHEN THEY ALLOWED KKK RALLYS IN THERE COMMUNITY. I WILL NOT STOP UNTIL NO BLACK DOLLAR IS SPENT IN THE CITY OF FLUSHING. IM SURE THEY ARE LAUGHING THINKING IT WONT EFFECT THEM. WELL TARGET LAUGHED AT FIRST TOO."

He added a post a few hours later, writing: "I needed to be blunt in that post because I knew the Flushing people couldn't help but comment (their) true feelings about us."

Tyler urged his Facebook friends to visit the Signature Chop House page to review comments on reactions by Flushing residents, saying, "So maybe it would sting just as much as it stung me... look at (their) response. They don't want us there. LOL. Just sad... By the way, I needed to (put) out a disclaimer... My views and my position is not the position of Ray Tyler or Prime Eight-Ten."

 Prime Eight-Ten is located five miles away on Pierson Road in Mt. Morris Township.

Gus Tyler did not respond to our questions via the Messenger app on whether or not he is related to Ray Tyler and who all the owners are for Signature Chop House and Prime Eight-Ten.

Fewer than a dozen reactions were posted on the Signature Facebook page within the first two hours after the boycott was announced.

Bobby Faber said, "Same thing happened at prime 810, shut down because of violence ..all the other restaurants around flushing, Johnny's, Kathy’s Peurto Vallarta, Choo Choos, Liberty, Gina’s, and never have issues like prime 810 and (Signature) Chop House... (You) can blame race or whatever else (you) wanna blame it on but the facts are in your face."

Larry Anderson reacted on Facebook: "Blame it all on racism! It's always the race card. How about you run a business right and control your customers. The only people here to blame are you and your workers for not running a safe work place. Hopefully they do close you up take your bs somewhere else. Hopefuly a respectable business takes your place."

Another post using only a first name read: "I think the video (of St. Patrick's Day fights) spoke for itself. If that’s the clientele (you're) bringing to our community, I doubt anyone is interested in going to bat for that business."

Angelique Mikkola made a post on Facebook's "Flushing Uncensored" page and it attracted nearly 100 comments within the same two-hour time frame. Her post said, "Love they are threating our community and (are) going to get away with it. Posting people's pages and trying to figure our where they work/live. Scary times we are living in."

Most of the comments were negative about Signature Chop House.

RELATED STORY ABOVE:

Flushing Mayor Edward Sullivan issues another public statement on Signature Chop House saga

PHOTO CAPTION: Pictured above is a pubic photo of a sign tacked on the door at Signature Chop House in Flushing after the closing was announced by Flushing Mayor Edward Sullivan. 

BY MIKE KILLBREATH

CCN News Executive Editor

MUNDY TWP. (CCN) — The Mundy Township Board of Trustees took action Monday night (March 25, 2025) to direct Supervisor Jennifer Arrand Stainton to ask a local state legislator to stop spreading untrue information about their community.

State Rep. Jasper Martus of Flushing allegedly told residents at a coffee earlier in the day at the Swartz Creek senior center that Western Digital Technologies has submitted an application to build at the controversial Mega Site in Mundy Township.

Martus denied saying an advanced manufacturing plant is a done deal there.

But multiple sources assured The Daily Gazette that Martus indeed made the statement in Swartz Creek, and during previous events around the area. They produced several witnesses who confirmed this about Martus.

Supervisor Stainton said she confirmed it was said and added: "My board has asked (me) as Mundy Township Supervisor to reach out and communicate with Mr. Martus as to where he is getting this information and to stop speaking out without having true facts."

Stainton and fellow Republican Danelle Barker spoke out publicly at the board meeting and so, too, did Democrat Cory Bostwick. They suggested that residents don't trust them when hearing such untrue statements from a state legislator.

Martus, a Democrat, voted to supply more than $269 million of state tax funding to a Flint-based non-profit organization trying to build a plant at the Mega Site bordered by Linden Road, Maple Road, Elms Road and Jennings Road.

Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer has championed the idea of her state developing battery factories and making semiconductor chips to support the electric vehicle industry. She has so far handed out more than $1 billion in grants, yet not a single plant is under construction.

State Rep. Martus blamed President Donald Trump, saying, "I hope the deal happens and have often spoken of the need to create jobs but it's ultimately in Trump's hands."

He dined saying it's a done deal to get anything built in Mundy Township. "The exact opposite: It's all in Trump's hands."

President Trump said earlier this month at his State of the Union that predecessor Joe Biden's chips act is "dead" and millions won't be doled out to support EV vehicles.

It has been reported by other publications that Western Digital Technologies was depending on funding from Biden's federal chips act to build anything in Mundy Township.

Supervisor Stainton said her township has not received any application from Western Digital, or any other entity.

Mundy Township citizen Sue Dishaw went on social media with a post on Facebook that alarmed community members about Martus talking about an application being filed, and immediately contacted Supervisor Stainton to find out why board members are hiding this information from residents.

Stainton said she immediately reached out to Township Manager Chad Young who confirmed that their office has received no application to build any plant.

"Jasper Martus needs to stop creating fear in our township and spreading unfounded rumors," Stainton said.

A representative of the local non-profit group known as the Flint & Genesee Group was present at Monday night's Mundy Township board meeting. Tyler Rossmassler, Executive Director of its Flint & Genesee Economic Alliance, confirmed for board members that his organization still has "no buyer" for the property where they now control more than 1,100 acres on the 1,300-acre site.

Stainton ran on a platform to stop an advanced manufacturing plant at the Mega Site. She won by more than 500 votes over an incumbent in November, along with three fellow Republican Trustees she endorsed. Stainton became the first Republican Supervisor elected there since the township was formed in 1837.

Martus said he has held 26 previous coffee events with local residents in his district, and admitted the Mega Site talk has come up often as it did Monday in Swartz Creek.

"Same questions, same answers as my other 26 coffee hours where this has come up," he said.

Governor Whitmer met with President Trump to lobby for help making a plant happen in Mundy Township and said she plans to continue trying to create thousands of jobs.

Opponents counter, however, to point out that battery factories and chip-making factories across the USA average only about 100 employees.

General Motors recently sold one such plant in Lansing and it was recently announced that two others in the Detroit area will close next month despite getting millions of tax dollars in grants from her administration.

Social media heat on Jasper began with dishaw's post as follows: "Please, for those that were at Jasper's coffee hour, let me clarify. I spoke with Chad (Young) and Jennifer (Stainton). There IS NO application from WDT or any other company. He is giving false claims. My question to him, is he purposely trying to create discord in Mundy Township? Please, be careful who you believe."

Margaret Horton added under Dishaw's post, "He presented himself as completely uninformed on many issues he talked about. He has a lot to learn."

A citizen asked if Martus even represented Mundy Township in the State House and Mundy Township Trustee Leah Davis said, "No, he does not represent Mundy (Township) but I think he does (represent the Flint Township) area plus north of us. Begole represents (the) Mundy (Township) area plus west of us."

Terry May replied, "They are all liars , and in my opinion if they support the mega turd they are also criminals. And if he likes it so much why don't he shove it in his ummm district?"

Etter Smith Deal said, "ever met Rep Jasper Martus until today and not impressed. He first lectures the group that the full hour would not be spent on the Megasite and summarizes previous discussions about the topic at other coffee meets explaining away all the arguments as though to diminish this group’s concerns. Martus came across as arrogant, cocky, uninformed and has excessive pronoun use. Trump was referred to as 'he' and Republicans as 'they.' Very interesting that for decades democrats have placed a high priority on environmental concerns, but Martus, made remarks that gave the impression he was not the least bit concerned ."

Several calls to The Morning Gazette Radio Show Hot Line number at (810) 771-8421 said Martus told seniors at a meeting last year during the last campaign that the Mega Site development would "bring thousands of jobs" and told one older lady that the plant would "be around long after your are dead."

 PHOTO CAPTION: Pictured above this story is State Rep. Jasper Martus of Flushing who came under fire Monday in Mundy Township. 

BY MIKE KILLBREATH

CCN News Executive Editor

FLUSHING (CCN) — A massive police response at a Flushing bar / restaurant to a St. Patrick's Day incident triggered lots of social media concerns about the new owners there.

They had an incident where Flushing police called for back-up from numerous area police agencies.

Gus Tylor of Signature Showcase released a statement last night (March 23,2025) on social media with a statement on the Facebook page of Signature Chop House.

 The statement read: "Dear Valued Customers and Community Members, we would like to address the recent incident that occurred outside our restaurant. First and foremost, we want to assure you that this kind of behavior is not reflective of our establishment or our commitment to providing a safe and welcoming environment for our guests.  The altercation stemmed from the closing of an event booked by an outside party, which was arranged prior to our ownership. We are currently working closely with the Flushing Police Department to ensure that all necessary measures are taken to prevent such incidents in the future.  In response to this situation, we will be implementing an age limit for all comedy shows and concerts moving forward. Our priority is to foster a positive community atmosphere where everyone feels safe and respected.  Thank you all for your continued support as we strive to create a great environment for our community."

Photos and videos showed police cruisers from multiple agencies lined up around Signature Chop House with many comments alleging that four people had been shot and killed there.

The Morning Gazette Radio Show on Metro Flint News/Talk Radio confirmed the next morning that nobody had been killed and there were no guns used in the incident, according to authorities.

Flushing City Councilman Joe Karlichek, who served as Mayor for the past four years before not seeking re-election but instead losing last August in the primary to Democrat Genesee County Commissioner Dale Weighill, issued a statement from Flushing  City Police Chief Steve Colosky that said: "The City of Flushing is aware of an incident at Signature Chop House on the evening of March 17, 2025.  The situation occurred when a fight broke out in the City of Flint and continued into the City of Flushing.  City of Flushing officers were given a very short window of advanced warning of this situation and were able to call in back-up from several different agencies before the fight escalated into a more serious event.   There were no injuries, no guns or gun shots fired, and to date no complaints from those involved filed, therefore, no arrests have been made." 

Numerous comments on social media have since called on Flushing city leaders to shut down the new restaurant because of loud noise, too much traffic  and other concerns.

Many of them urged residents who want to see the restaurant closed to attend the next Flushing City Council meeting on Monday, April 14 at 6:30 pm.

One woman said she went so far as to speak with Flushing's City Manager about the situation, posting: "I visited the City of Flushing offices ... and spoke to our City Manager Michelle King  concerning (the) disturbance at Signature Chop House. She assured me that the council and our police are working on a resolution to this problem.  There have been no shootings at this location as of yet. They understand the (community's) concern and are concerned also for the welfare and safety of our senior community living near this location. City Council meetings are held on the second Monday of each month at 6:30 p.m.  So next meeting will be Monday, April 14, 2025. I hope that residents of not only the City of Flushing but also the townships, Clayton and Mt. Morris townships, and relatives to any of the residents of the senior residences will attend this meeting and make your concerns known. Complaining on Facebook is not going to solve this problem, it's a place to turn with frustration but your presence at a council meeting will speak louder."

(CCN) —A wild car chase ended in the Davison area last night (Feb. 27, 2025) involving the Metro Police Authority, according to Burton Police Chief Brian Ross.

The chase went through the City of Burton after beginning with Metro PD which covers the City of Swartz Creek and Mundy Township, according to Chief Ross who referred all questions to the neighboring department. 

Metro PD Police Chief Matt Bade has not yet responded to our request for a comment.

Social media posts and calls, texts and tips via Messenger to The Daily Gazette said the chase involved multiple police cars at high speeds.

Numerous posts indicated that the vehicle crashed on Henderson Road in Davison Township.

BY MIKE KILLBREATH

CCN Executive Editor

MUNDY TWP. (CCN) — The life span of city and township attorneys, managers and police chiefs often ends when incumbents they support are beaten at a local election.

New Mundy Township Supervisor Jennifer Arrand Stainton became the first Republican ever elected in her mostly rural southwest Genesee County community formed in 1837, and three others she supported in the November 2024 general election won seats on the board as Trustees.

All three were also Republicans, and one other Republican (Danelle Barker) won the Treasurer job. That produced an all-time high of five Republicans on the seven-member board.

Many political observers would guess that should have led to immediate departures by Township Attorney Jack Belzer, Township Manager Chad Young and Metro Police Authority Chief Matt Bade. They served a Democrat-led board.

Yet after more than two months since Stainton was sworn in, the Belzer-Young-Bade trio is still serving in their roles.

That could change on Monday (March 10, 2025) because Stainton revealed that she intends to ask about billings by Belzer who she says her township's long-time counsel "has some serious explaining to do."

When asked if she felt she had the votes to make a change, she said, "We shall see" and did not offer any other comments.

She can't replace Belzer without three more votes.

Belzer has been an attorney in private practice for more than 50 years but has come under fire by Stainton and Trustee Leah Davis on several recent matters.

One of them was Davis accusing Belzer of allowing a 5-2 vote by the board to start an investigation into her treatment of Young despite not following what she called "township policies" before allowing such an investigation to happen. Belzer defended his actions at the last board meeting when confronted by Trustee Davis about it, suggesting the language she cited did not apply.

She and Stainton have also said it was a "clear conflict" to allow Nancy Chinonis of the Flint law firm of Cline, Cline & Griffin to be hired by the Mundy Township board to do the investigation after Young asked the board for it in late January during a spirited tirade of more than 15 minutes into how "his bosses" on the board (namely Stainton and Trustee Leah Davis) have harassed him and caused "mental problems" while also accusing Trustee Davis of sending a man to his home with a gun, saying he feared for his safety as well as the safety of his wife and children. Young also said he also has fears because of threats on social media, mainly on a Facebook page that has more than 2,500 opponents of a proposed advanced manufacturing plant on a 1,300-acre Mega Site that's bordered by Linden Road, Jennings Road, Maple Road and Elms Road.

Don Ludwig admitted to being the man who appeared at Young's home, saying he was there to serve a subpoena for Trustee Davis who went to court to demand non disclosure agreement (NDA) documents under a Freedom of Information Act request (FOIA). Ludwig is also one of the administrators for the Facebook page of Mega Site opponents.

The NDA's were between township officials and the Flint & Genesee Group non-profit organization, according to Davis and Stainton.

Chinonis works at the same law firm that represents Tim Herman — President & CEO of the Flint & Genesee Group.

In fact, attorney Tim Knecht of the Flint law firm of Cline, Cline & Griffin was the Registered Agent for a private LLC formed by Herman to buy more than 1,100 acres of properties within the Mega Site.

At the next board meeting after attempting to perfect service of Davis' subpoena on Young, Ludwig alleges that Chief Bade met him at the door and told him he wasn't welcome inside the board meeting because he was "hostile" and further instructed him to stay away from township officials when presenting him with a "trespass" ticket to stay away from Young's home.

Ludwig says he will file a lawsuit over it.

MCL 750.552 is the general state statute for trespass which prevents anyone from trespassing upon the premises of another after having been forbidden to do so. Violation of the statute is a criminal misdemeanor offence, punishable by a fine of up to $50 and 30 days in jail or both. However, The Daily Gazette has confirmed with multiple lawyers that MCL.552(2) clearly does not apply to a process server who is on the land or premises of another while in the process of attempting, by the most direct route, to serve process upon any of the following: (a00) An owner or occupant of the land or premises; (b) An agent of the owner or occupant of the land or premises; or (c) A lessee of the land or premises.

Ludwig said Young lived at the house where he attempted to perfect service. He also said an off duty police officer witnessed that he made no threats or "even raised his voice" to Young's wife when she answered the door, let alone hide a gun behind his back as alleged.

Ludwig has also told The Daily Gazette that he went to the FBI to complain about Young's father-in-law making subsequent threats against him on social media, after his initial attempts to complain were rejected by State Police in Flint Township and the Metro Police Authority. He now says Metro PD eventually took his complaint and forwarded it to the Genesee County Prosecutor's office where a decision will be made on a warrant request.

Young did not comment on the matter at the last public board meeting.

Supervisor Stainton also had a run-in with Young and Chief Bade in June during her campaign.

She demanded an internal investigation after most of the Metro PD cruisers were dispatched to a protest she organized in front of a fundraiser for her opponent (former Supervisor Tonya Ketzler) at a steak house in the Gateway Center complex off Hill Road. She said the officers would not allow her supporters to park at any Gateway Center businesses near the restaurant where Ketzler's event took place.

The Daily Gazette captured audio at the time of officers who explained how they were sent by their boss.

Young and Chief Bade said the police response was due to social media talk about Flint citizens joining the protest.

Chief Bade and Township Attorney Belzer never responded to questions by The Daily Gazette about police patrols on private roads being illegal under state law. The Gateway Center complex has private roads where police are not permitted to patrol but to enter only under state law if responding to a crime or investigating a crime.

Belzer also came under fire by residents and The Daily Gazette by allowing NDA's to hide activity involving the Mega Site. A State Supreme Court ruling in the 2020 Bizzio vs. Clarkston case featured a similar situation where village officials in the Oakland County community refused to turn over documents related to a developer.

A 37-page opinion upheld the Michigan Open Meetings Act of 1976, essentially holding that copies under a FOIA request by a citizen must be turned over of anything that's written with a government-owned pen on a government-owned napkin inside a government building.

While attorney Belzer has survived multiple administrations in Mundy Township as its chief counsel, Bade and Young have less than 10 years on the job there.

The average tenure of a Police Chief in Michigan is 7.3 years. Bade has served since February 2018, first in an interim role until given the job on a permanent basis in May 2018.

Young, who makes more than $100,000 plus benefits, has been the Township Manager since 2016.

(Related Story)

Read Today's Editor's Notebook: 

Jack Belzer has some splainin' to do as Ricky Ricardo used to tell Lucy in old sitcom comedy

PHOTO CAPTION: Pictured above this story is attorney Jack Belzer who will be on the hot seat Monday night's (March 10, 2025) meeting of the Mundy Township Board of Trustees.

BY MIKE KILLBREATH

CCN Executive Editor

MUNDY TWP. (CCN) — The Morning Gazette Radio Show reported today (Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025) on Metro Flint News/Talk Radio that Mundy Township is facing a complaint to the Michigan Department of Labor over not paying new Deputy Supervisor Dave Huffman.

Mundy Township Supervisor Jennifer Arrand Stainton confirmed to The Morning Gazette Radio Show that she made the complaint.

Huffman was introduced to Mundy Township officials at their Jan 27 board meeting and they subsequently set a special meeting for Feb. 5, then cancelled it and discussed compensation for Huffman at their Feb. 10 regular board meeting.

Huffman and Stainton said they never asked to set a special meeting during a conversation with Township Manager Chad Young although Clerk Cory Bostwick told The Daily Gazette that it was "her understanding" that Stainton asked for it.

Huffman told  The Morning Gazette Radio Show in a Feb. 3 interview that he had "not yet asked to be paid" when learning that a special meeting had been set to discuss compensation.

Trustee Zack Sack interrupted Stainton's plan to reveal duties for Huffman at the Feb. 10 regular board meeting by making a motion to pay him nothing for his role under Stainton.

Trustees Mark Gorton and Kyle Ward voted with Trustee Sack as did Clerk  Bostwick. Treasurer 

  Danelle Barker was absent from the meeting while Stainton and Trustee Leah Davis opposed Trustee Sack's motion.

Trustee Davis then brought up the matter again at the Feb. 24 regular board meeting, saying she believed it was wrong not to pay Huffman.

Young and board members did not respond, and neither did Township Attorney Jack Belzer.

 At township board meetings in our state, the primary duty of the township attorney to a municipal board is to provide legal advice, guidance and representation on all matters coming before them, ensuring that all decisions made are legally compliant while also reviewing proposed ordinances, contracts and other legal documents for accuracy and potential issues before they are voted on by the board.  

Michigan law allows Township Supervisors to appoint a Deputy Supervisor without board input but requires compensation to be established by the board, according to advice Stainton said she received from the Michigan Townships Association prior to naming Huffman as her Deputy Supervisor. 

It's required by state law for her to notify only her Township Clerk of the decision.

She said she placed it on the agenda of the Jan. 27 meeting to introduce Huffman to other board members and to the public, saying, "Some of them (other board members) were a bit upset I didn't let them know about it. I think most of them found about it anyway before the meeting, yet they acted like they were upset how I picked Dave without their input. The law says it's my decision. I put it on the agenda to introduce him so they could hear from him."

MCL 408.472 requires that employees paid weekly or biweekly must be paid within 14 days of the end of the pay period while employees paid monthly must be paid by the first day of the month for the previous month's wages. Minimum wage in Michigan is currently $12.48 per hour.

"I told Chad (Young) that slavery is illegal and he had better figure out what to do because there isn't another board meeting to approve pay for Dave (Huffman) and he's due a paycheck," Stainton said.

 In Michigan, employers who don't pay their employees can face criminal and civil penalties.

Huffman had no comment when reached Wednesday night about the matter except to confirm that he received a phone call from an employee at the Department of Labor and joked, "Maybe I can at least get a gas card out of this to pay for my gas to get to the Mundy Township Hall."

Huffman lives in Flint Township, near Flushing.

He previously had said during his Feb. 3 radio interview that he was happy with his initial reception by board members, saying, "Several on the board said they are looking forward to working with me. I think that's encouraging."

Huffman spoke publicly to the board after their decision not to pay him and said he was "disappointed" and subsequently told The Daily Gazette that he "isn't going away" and is "there to help Jennifer and the residents get better government out there."

Stainton has told The Daily Gazette previously that  she has "been bullied" by "people who obviously don't want me there."  

 Stainton admitted she has had problems at Mundy Township Hall since taking office. She won in November, ousting incumbent Democrat Tonya Ketzler by more than 500 votes when running a campaign to stop the proposed advanced manufacturing plant on the 1,300 acre Mega Site bordered by Linden Road, Elms Road, Jennings Road and Maple Road. Governor Gretchen Whitmer allowed the Flint & Genesee Group's Flint & Genesee Economic Alliance to get approval for $269 million in state taxpayer funding without a business plan or a buyer to build a plant there to support her push for electric vehicles.

 Stainton became the first ever Republican to be elected Township Supervisor since Mundy Township was formed in 1837. 

Two others she endorsed for Trustee also won at the ballot box — incumbent board member Ward and newcomers Davis and Sack.  All three are Republicans as is new Treasurer Danelle Barker who served as Chair of the Mundy Township Planning Commission.  

PHOTO CAPTION: Pictured above this story is Dave Huffman who is the new Deputy Supervisor in Mundy Township.

BY MIKE KILLBREATH

CCN Executive Editor

OWOSSO (CCN) — A Metro League Athletic Director has resigned after an incident at a volleyball game where he escorted students out of the building for what he called inappropriate behavior.

Owosso High School AD Steve Irelan resigned on Jan. 10 after negotiations between his lawyer and district officials, according to a report by WNEM CBS TV 5 on its Friday (Jan. 24, 2025) 11 o'clock newscast.

After two weeks of rumors about Irelan's absence on Owosso's campus, Superintendent Steve Brooks issued a statement to the public on the district's Facebook page after the school day on Friday. The incident at the volleyball game happened in October.

Superintendent Brooks said, "We felt it was important to set the record straight, given some of the inaccurate information being spread on social media and on other platforms."

Irelan's job as AD and assistant principal at Owosso was posted by district officials on Jan. 21.

The letter with a statement by Brooks read in part: "We received a report that Mr. Ireland had removed a group of students from a high school (girls') volleyball game at Owosso High School, and eventually from the campus entirely. The students had reportedly been obnoxiously yelling from the student section, causing a disruption. A parent of one of the students involved accused Mr. Ireland of bullying and targeting one of the students, an allegation we take seriously. Mr. Ireland declined multiple requests to meet with specific parents to discuss the incident ... Mr. Ireland’s actions concerning one of the parents of the students involved in the incident created the appearance of retaliation, and the district then sought legal counsel to adhere to our school policies and procedures. We then placed Mr. Ireland on administrative leave on October 31, 2024, while an investigation was conducted by the district legal counsel, inclusive of video footage review and detailed interviews of several students, coaches, spectators administrators including Mr. Ireland and school staff who witnessed the incident in the gym."

Irelan did not respond to our request for a comment. WNEM CBS TV 5 also reported that Irelan did not respond to its request for a comment.

Irelan has been with the Owosso district since 2015, according to his Linked-in page.

Superintendent Brooks also wrote in his letter to district residents: "The investigation found no evidence that Mr. Irelan bullied or targeted a student. However, his actions pertaining to one of the parents of the students involved in the incident created the appearance of retaliation. The appearance of retaliation toward the parent is a violation of our board policy and it was recommended Mr. Irelan receive an appropriate discipline to avoid recurrence of these actions. And no time were any criminal investigations brought forth. Mr. Irelan disagreed with the recommended discipline and appealed the proposed disciplinary action. During the appeal, Mr. Irelan‘s attorney and the district attorney negotiated the resignation agreement acceptable to Mr. Irelan and the district."

No school board members in the Owosso district have yet responded to our request for comments.

PHOTO CAPTION: Steve Irelan has resigned his position as Athletic Director at Owosso High.

BY MIKE KILLBREATH

CCN Executive Editor

(CCN) — Two schools in the West Valley Voice coverage area will go back to work on Monday to prepare for another football game after making the state playoffs while New Lothrop's 23-year run in post-season play ends.

The Flushing Raiders and Corunna Cavaliers will play on Friday night.

Flushing will be on the road at Midland while Corunna will host Flint Hamady. Both games have 7 pm kick-offs.

The pairings were announced on Sunday (Oct. 27, 2024) by the Michigan High School Athletic Association officials and revealed by FanDuel Sports TV on its Sunday Selection Show.

New Lothrop, which won it all in 2018 and made it to the state semifinals in Division 7 last fall, was hoping to be one of the rare 3-6 teams to get it but it didn't happen. The Hornets suffered their first losing season since 1998 when going 4-5. The last time they were 3-6 was 29 years ago in 1995.

New Lothrop's streak of making the state playoffs 23 years in a row was the longest among any team in the Metro Flint regional area.

Corunna qualified for the fifth time in a row while Flushing had missed the playoffs three seasons in a row. It's the 14th time in school history for each team to be in the state playoffs.

 Flushing had 54.444 computer points in the MHSAA tabulations to qualify in Division 2 while Midland produced 71.111 points. Corunna had 59.222 points to qualify in Division 5.

Corunna raced all the way to the state finals a year ago behind all-state duo Tarick and Wyatt Bower. The twin brothers earned scholarships to Ferris State University after leading Corunna to a perfect 9-0 regular season for the first time since 2002.

Corunna is 7-2 this season and coming off one of its two losses — 42-7 to Armada which finished off an 8-1 campaign to also qualify for the state playoffs in Division 5 for the fifth year in a row.

Corunna's other loss was 42-7 to Goodrich which won the Metro League's Stars Division before beating Fenton in the cross-over game for the Metro League championship. Corunna won the Stars Division and took the cross-over game last fall. en route to its school record 13-1 campaign.

Corunna beat Linden two weeks ago in the cross-over game between the Metro League's second-place finishers. The Cavaliers won 17-14 over the Eagles who also qualified for the 2024 post-season action in Division 3.

Linden nipped Flushing 14-13 to ruin homecoming for the Raiders who rebounded to finish 7-2 this season under new Coach Austin Cook. They could have created a three-way tie for the Stripes Division title in the Metro League by beating Fenton at home two weeks ago but lost 42-21.

Flushing had two opponents from the Saginaw Valley League on its schedule this fall, and won big both times to elevate its hopes for Friday night at Midland High. The Raiders beat Flint Carman-AInsworth 42-6 on Friday (Oct. 25, 2024) and trounced Bay City Central 55-0 on opening night. Flint C-A finished last, however, in the Valley's Red Division while Bay City Central was last in the Valley's Blue Division. Both schools were 0-6 against Valley rivals.

Midland High will definitely be Flushing's most difficult opponent. The Chemic are 8-1 overall and won the Saginaw Valley League's Blue Division with a perfect 6-0 record.

As far as comparative scores, Midland won 49-0 over Bay City Central compared to the similar margin of 55-0.

The winner at Midland High will advance to the District 1 finals in Region 2 of Division 2. The opponent will be a Saginaw Valley school since the other opener sees Midland Dow (5-4) at Saginaw Heritage.

Corunna takes its 7-2 record into a home date Friday against a 5-3 Hamady club that played this season for the first time as an independent. They're in District 1 of Region 3. The winner plays the winner of Pontiac Notre Dame Prep and Wlliamston. They play in Pontiac.

Metro Flint News/Talk Radio plans to broadcast one of the two games if they are not scheduled to be on MHSAA TV or another free streaming video service.

PHOTO CAPTION: Pictured above this story is Flushing Raiders Coach Austin Cook. He led the Raiders back to the state playoffs this fall. 

BY MIKE KILLBREATH

CCN Executive Editor

MUNDY TWP. (CCN) — The Morning Gazette Radio Show reported today (Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025) on Metro Flint News/Talk Radio that a special meeting has been called off in Mundy Township.

The only agenda item for the special meeting had been listed as addressing compensation for newly-named Deputy Supervisor Dave Huffman.

Huffman appeared a day earlier on The Morning Gazette Radio Show to express "surprise" by he and Supervisor Stainton when learning that the special meeting had been called — saying they never asked for it.

"I haven't asked for any pay yet," Huffman said.

His interview included expressing his views on a number of controversial issues in Mundy Township where an advanced manufacturing plant has been proposed for a 1,300-acre Mega Site bordered by Linden Road, Jennings Rod, Elms Road and Maple Road.

Huffman said he toured the site on Tuesday with Supervisor Stainton, Township Manager Chad Houng and Joel Feick from the Flint & Genesee Group. The Flint-based non-profit organization's Flint & Genesee Economic Alliance has landed nearly $269 million in state funding from the State of Michigan to build something there.

"They have announced no buyer yet and there has been no business plan submitted, so I can't comment on anything about what's happening with this Mega Site,'" Huffman said.

Huffman said Feick had also reached out to him last week before The Daily Gazette reported last Friday (Jan. 24, 2025) at 4:15 pm that he had been sworn in earlier that day as the new Deputy Supervisor.

The agenda for the Feb. 3 board meeting listed only "Introduce Dave Huffman" under Stainton's report and did not indicate that he would become Deputy Supervisor.

"I thought maybe news travels fast but Jennifer tells me she didn't tell anyone about it at Mundy Township Hall," Huffman said. "I met with her at her office earlier in the week, so maybe the walls are thin around there. I'm still trying to figure out how a special meeting was called."

The signature of Mundy Township Clerk Cory Bostwick appeared on the document calling the special meeting. She said , however, that "it was her understanding" Supervisor Stainton called it.

State law allows township special meetings to be called by the Supervisor or two board members.

Bostwick said it was also her understanding that Stainton canceled the special meeting and that the item about addressing Huffman's pay would be re-scheduled as part of the agenda for the Feb. 10 regular board meeting.

PHOTO CAPTION: Pictured above this story is Dave Huffman who is the new Deputy Supervisor in Mundy Township.

BY MELISSA MARTIN

CCN Staff Writer

MUNDY TWP. (CCN) — The Daily Gazette has learned that Mundy Township officials have set a special meeting for Wednesday (Feb. 5, 2025) to discuss the compensation for a newly-named Deputy Supervisor.

The Morning Gazette Radio Show on Metro Flint News/Talk Radio first reported on Friday (Jan. 24, 2025) that Huffman would be sworn in as a new appointee of newly-elected Mundy Township Supervisor Jennifer Arrand Stainton.

The Daily Gazette reported later on the same day that he was indeed sworn in at about 1 pm.

Stainton is allowed under state law to solely decide who she wants as a Deputy Supervisor.

It's required by state law for her to notify only her township Clerk of the decision.

She said she placed it on the agenda of last week's meeting to introduce Huffman to other board members and to the public.

 "Some of them (other board members) were a bit upset I didn't let them know about it," she said. "I think most of them found about it anyway before the meeting, yet they acted like they were upset how I picked Dave without their input. The law says it's my decision. I put it on the agenda to introduce him so they could hear from him."

 Huffman said he was happy with his reception.

  "Several on the board said they are looking forward to working with me," he said. "I think that's encouraging." 

Huffman said he sat down for a private meeting with Stainton and Township Manager Chad Young last week. "I was surprised he called for a special meeting to talk about compensation because Jennifer and I never asked him to do that. I guess he doesn't understand that he doesn't make the agenda, Jennifer does under the law."

 Stainton admitted she has had problems at Mundy Township Hall since taking office.  She won in November, ousting incumbent Democrat Tonya Ketzler by more than 500 votes when running a campaign to stop the proposed advanced manufacturing plant on the 1,300 Mega Site bordered by Linden Road, Elms Road, Jennings Road and Maple Road. Governor Gretchen Whitmer allowed the Flint & Genesee Group's Flint & Genesee Economic Alliance to get approval for $269 million in state taxpayer funding without a business plan or a buyer to build a plant there to support her push for electric vehicles.

 Stainton became the first ever Republican to be elected Township Supervisor since Mundy Township was formed in 1837. 

Two others she endorsed for Trustee also won at the ballot box — incumbent board member Kyle Ward and newcomers Leah Davis and Zack Sack.  All three are Republicans as is new Treasurer Danelle Barker who served as Chair of the Mundy Township Planning Commission.  

Stainton has told The Daily Gazette previously that  she has "been bullied" by "people who obviously don't want me there."

Huffman said, "It's unreal how she has been treated. First, they wouldn't let her see documents or go in the office unless she signed a NDA agreement. She didn't sign it and it proved to be an illegal thing to have in the fist place. Chad Young, the Township Manager, took the old Township Supervisor's office and hung a new sign that said 'Township Manger Chad Young's office' and the old Supervisor's secretary is now his secretary. The Clerk has a Deputy Clerk and the Treasurer has a Deputy Treasurer, Chad has a secretary and Jennifer has no help. I think residents need to be aware of this crap."

Huffman told The Daily Gazette last week that he's surprised by all the opposition he says Supervisor Stainton has so far faced from inside Mundy Township Hall.  He said: "With five Republicans on the new board, maybe it's time the county party needs to step up and explain to these elected officials how they need to support their Republican administration of the newly-elected Supervisor that the voters put into office."

  Huffman said to his knowledge, the county party did nothing to support Republican county commissioners, several mayors of cities and Township Supervisors around the area who were elected in November. 

"It's the most Republicans I've ever seen elected in this county at the local level, yet the party gave them no money and put all their money up for candidates running for higher offices in the state legislature and Congress — and most of them lost," said Huffman who ran last year in Flint Township as a Democrat.

"I got zero help from the county party, yet I worked for candidates we had running for higher offices," Stainton said.

Treasurer Barker said at last Monday's meeting that she liked the idea that Supervisor Stainton "is a Republican yet chose a Deputy Supervisor who is a Democrat."  She said that shows a willingness to work together to get things done.

Township Clerk Cory Bostwick joined critics of Stainton in making negative posts on social media about her needing a Deputy Supervisor "only eight weeks into the job" when previous Supervisors have never needed an assistant."

Stainton noted how previous Supervisors have had secretaries, including Ketzler.

 The comments especially irked Huffman.

 "I think that's part of why I'm here," he said. "The residents need to know what's going on. I have not even asked for a salary yet. But I have now compiled a list of salaries around the township hall. I think the residents will be shocked to find out how much these people are making. The Township Manager is making $107,000 per year plus benefits. The attorney, (Jack) Belzer is pulling in over $100,000. The Clark has a Deputy Clerk and the Treasurer has a Deputy Treasurer both making around $40,000 a year. How many other townships are paying like that? I think the residents will side with Jennifer that she needs to straighten out the finances of this township for taxpayers. I think that's why they elected her."

Stainton will need three other votes from the board to establish a compensation package for Huffman.

If Stainton is unable to pay Huffman what she wants to set his salary at to be her top aide, she can pay him out of her salary or engage him as a volunteer.

"If I need to volunteer, that's what I'm gonna do to help her fix this township," Huffman said. "Big changes need to be made. When residents realize what a mess the old boards have created with wasting their tax dollars, I don't think anybody is gonna worry what they pay me. The way I see it, they can't afford not to have me helping protect their tax dollars."

In our exclusive headline story last week about Supervisor Stainton flexing her political muscle to add Huffman to her team, it was noted how she has made it clear she's unhappy with Township  Township Manager Young and Township Attorney Jack Belzer.

She has stopped short of saying they will be fired but Huffman isn't so shy about his feelings on the subject. "The voters elected Jennifer by a big margin and if anybody left over from the old administration doesn't realize it, the people have spoken," he said.

Huffman also told The Daily Gazette "there has been a meeting with Paul Scott."

Scott is a prominent local attorney who admitted to The Daily Gazette last month that he may be interested in taking the Township Attorney job, if it's offered.  Scott was one of the youngest in Genesee County history to be elected to the state legislature after completing his law degree at the University of Michigan. He had earlier obtained a bachelor's from Harvard, and mounted an impressive campaign while while working toward finishing his law degree.

Scott mounted a strong fundraising drive and gained notice as a close ally of then Governor Rick Snyder in making many drastic changes to state government after eight years of control by Democrat Jennifer Granholm. Snyder and Scott are Republicans.

Stainton contacted Scott when a special meeting was called after Stainton spoke at a Flint City Council meeting and Young accused her of "representing Mundy Township there with no board authority to do so."

Stainton also claimed Township Attorney Belzer told her she couldn't do it, according to Stainton. Belzer reacted to his call from Scott at the board meeting to admit the first amendment of the U.S. Constitution allows anyone free speech.

"I think Paul Scott set him straight and I think we need a strong, smart lawyer like that to stop laws from being broken out here," Huffman said. 

 (Related story in Genesee Valley Press)

(Related story in Today's Viewpoints Section)

PHOTO CAPTION: Pictured above this story is Dave Huffman who is the new Deputy Supervisor in Mundy Township.

BY MIKE KILLBREATH

CCN Executive Editor

MUNDY TWP. (CCN) — Newly-elected Mundy Township Supervisor Jennifer Arrand Stainton flexed her political muscle today (Jan. 27, 2025) by adding some power to her team.

She has made it clear she's unhappy with Township Attorney Jack Belzer and Township Manager Chad Young but she has stopped short of saying they will be fired.

Dave Huffman isn't so shy about his feelings on the subject. The Morning Gazette Radio Show reported today on Metro Flint News/Talk Radio that Huffman would be sworn in soon as Stainton's new Deputy Supervisor and he said: "They elected Jennifer by a big margin and if anybody left over from the old administration doesn't realize it, the people have spoken." 

The Daily Gazette has learned that Huffman took his official oath at about 1 pm.

The agenda for a 7 pm meeting tonight of the Mundy Township Board of Trustees has "Introduction of Dave Huffman" listed under comments by Supervisor Stainton.

She could not be reached for comment.

State law permits Township Supervisors to appoint a Deputy Supervisor.

Township Clerks must be notified of this and Mundy Township Clerk Cory Bostwick has not yet responded to a request for a comment.

State law says a Deputy Supervisor can be paid from the Supervisor's salary or be an unpaid volunteer if Supervisor Stainton is unable to get four votes to set a salary for Huffman.

Supervisor Stainton won by more than 500 votes in November on an agenda to stop the proposed advanced manufacturing site from going in on the so-called Mega Site that consists of more than 1,300 acres bordered by Linden Road, Elms Road, Maple Road and Jennings Road. Governor Gretchen Whitmer allowed the Flint & Genesee Group's Flint & Genesee Economic Alliance to get $269 million in state taxpayer funding without a business plan or a buyer to build a plant there to support her push for electric vehicles. 

Two others she endorsed for Trustee also won at the ballot box — incumbent board member Kyle Ward and newcomers Leah Davis and Zack Sack. All three are Republicans and Stainton is believed to be the first Republican Supervisor elected since the township was organized in 1837.

New Treasurer Danelle Barker, a former Chair of the Mundy Township Planning Commission, is also a Republican.

"With five Republicans on the new board, maybe it's time the county party needs to step up and explain to these elected officials how they need to support their Republican administration of the newly-elected Supervisor voters put in," Huffman said about opposition he says Supervisor Stainton is facing from inside Mundy Township Hall. 

She told The Morning Gazette Radio Show last month that Township Manager Young took the office of old Supervisor Tonya Ketzler and erected a new sign above the door while also taking the Supervisor's Secretary for himself and appointing himself to boards around the county to represent the county. A special meeting was also called after Stainton spoke at a Flint City Council meeting and Young accused of her "representing Mundy Township there with no board authority to do so."

Stainton also claimed Township Attorney Belzer told her she couldn't do it.

She contacted attorney Paul Scott and Belzer reacted to his call with Scott at the next board meeting to admit the first amendment of the U.S. Constitution allows anyone free speech.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Mundy Township Clerk Cory Bostwick responded after the story above was published. She said she swore in no Deputy Supervisor but said the Supervisor has the authority to appoint a Deputy Supervisor.

PHOTO CAPTION: Pictured above this story is Dave Huffman being sworn in as Deputy Supervisor in Mundy Township.

BY MELISSA MARTIN

 CCCN Staff Writer

FLUSHING TWP. (CCN) — Amana Odette was named as the new Township Attorney Tuesday night (Jan.14, 2025) by the Flushing Township Board of Trustees.

Odette replaces Matt McKone who was elected in November as the new 66th District Court Judge in Shiawassee County.

McKone took over when long-time Flushing Township Attorney Steve Moulton retired in 2022. He had been chief counsel in the township for 40 years. McKone was City Attorney in Flushing at the time.

Supervisor Frederick Thorsby said: “We’d never had the same attorney as the city has, but we thought we’d try it.”

Attorney John Ryan has been filling in for McKone but Thorsby said he felt it was time to make a decision on a permanent replacement.

The board voted Tuesday to approve a one-year contract with Odette.

Ryan was also at Tuesday's meeting, vying for the position against Odette. Both proposals called for a $125 hourly rate and $200 to attend each township board meeting. 

Treasurer Terry Peck made the motion to hire Odette and it was supported by Trustee Wendy Meinberg.

But not before questions by Trustee Meinberg about additional names in the packet submitted by Odette. She said resumes were added for associates who may cover for her from time to time since she represents other cities and townships.

Odette is Burton's long-time city attorney and she dedicated her firm to municipal work in 2017. She now also represents the City of Mt. Morris, City of Montrose, Genesee Township and Montrose Township as chief counsel in each of those communities. She has also done work as the assistant attorney for Fenton Township and Monitor Township in the past. 

Odette heard a vocal protest from one board member about one of the associates named in her packet — Jack Belzer of Mundy Township who serves as the chief counsel in that community.

She agreed not to use Belzer if hired after Trustee Bill Bain said, “I’ve attended meetings in Mundy Township and the way he conducted himself toward the residents was unsatisfactory He was belligerent. That’s my issue.”

Odette told board members after they approved her contract: “I am excited to get to work with the staff here at the township and thankful for this opportunity. I look forward to meeting the residents and community members and helping to keep Flushing Township a safe and vibrant community.”

Odette said her husband, Mike Odette, got his start in law enforcement as an officer in Flushing Township, and often tells her how much he liked the area. He was a long-time officer afterward in Burton before becoming police chief there. He left in 2019 when a new mayoral administration took over and he moved to Mott Community College as Police Chief and Director of Public Safety there. He became Under-Sheriff for the Lapeer County Sheriff's Department in early 2023.

PHOTO CAPTION: Pictured above this story is Amanda Odette who has been named as Flushing Township Attorney.

BY MELISSA MARTIN

 CCCN Staff Writer

MUNDY TWP. (CCN) — A man's controversial death reported exclusively by CCN on its Metro Flint News/Talk Radio and at theDailyGazette.net last month has led to at least one public official taking notice.

In fact, Mundy Township Trustee Kyle Ward made a  motion Monday night (Jan. 13, 2025) to end his township's contract with Medstar.

Trustee Leah Davis supported the motion but the board voted it down 5-to-2.

Supervisor Jennifer Arrand Stainton made an alternative motion approved 7-0 to re-visit the issue in February.

Medstar serves multiple communities across the Metro Flint regional area that have exclusive contracts with the company for ambulance service.

Medstar's web site describes the ambulance serve as "southeast Michigan’s largest and most integrated EMS and mobile health provider .. serving more than 190,000 patients annually throughout Bay, Clinton, Eaton, Genesee, Ingham, Lapeer, Macomb, Oakland and Wayne counties."

A request for comment from Medstar has not yet been responded to by any company officials.

Mundy Township has been using Medstar since May 2022 when CEO Kolby Miller gave board members a "guarantee" that they would respond within nine minutes at least 90 percent of the time.

“When you staff on a demand model, you place your vehicles where the highest probability of a call is going to be for a safe response and during the peak times, we staff for peak volume," CEO MIller had told Mundy Township board members prior to winning the contract. 

Miller said at the time that she was aware that concerns had been raised in Genesee County about potential lawsuits, liability issues, or longer response times in the case that an ambulance from another company might be closer to the 911 call. “I think that when you design vehicles so that you’re preventing 35 and 40- and 50-minute response times that some of the periphery in the county is seeing, and managing all of the response times, you ultimately improve the response time for the system. Rather than just focusing on a 45 second or 50 second difference between one or two of the individual calls and using that as some sort of scare tactic.”

Trustee Ward stressed that if another ambulance is closer to a 911 call, it should be sent out to save lives.

The case reported by CCN involved a Grand Blanc man who needed an ambulance but one wasn't available because of fears of not getting paid in Flint where his vehicle accident occurred. The man was transported to the hospital via a private vehicle and died.

PHOTO CAPTION: Pictured above this story is a photo of Mundy Township Trustee Kyle Ward.

 (CCN) — Two write-in candidate have surfaced in the Flushing City Council race where voters have few choices due to mostly unopposed candidates.

The lone exception is in the at large position for a four-year term on council. Kraig Kuehnemund and  Michael Aversa are competing for the seat.

 Nicholas Reitano is unopposed in Flushing's other at large council race and Danielle Smith is unopposed for the District 3 seat.

Kuehnemund and Reitano currently serve on the City Planning Commission. Smith serve on the City Parks and Recreation Committee.

Edward Sullivan, currently serving as Mayor Pro Tem on the council, is unopposed for Mayor to replace Joe Karlichek who chose to run for county commissioner. He lost in the Democrat primary to Dale Weighhill of Flint Township.

Sullivan supported Karlichek who unseated Kevin Keane as Mayor in 2019. Sullivan ousted long-time City Councilman John Gault from office in 2019. 

Mayor Karlichek is running as a write-in to continue serving the city in a new capacity as a city councilman.

Nobody filed for the District 1 seat on the city council, and Britney Arnold announced on social media that she wants to be elected to fill the slot. She said: "I am a single mother who has been a resident of this amazing community for 20 years. I work at Hurley Medical Center in the operating room, I work part time at the American Legion, and I volunteer in the community as often as I can. I love our town and all its values that it brings to the state of Michigan. I have decided to run as a write-in for District 1 Flushing City Council and would love the opportunity to serve this wonderful community in a new way. If you feel compelled to do so I would be ever so grateful for your vote."

 (CCN) — Flushing Fire Chief James Michael is inviting residents to an open house on Tuesday (Oct. 29, 2024) to celebrate the deployment of the non-transport Emergency Medical Services.

 It was one year ago that the EMS was launched in the city.

The open house from 11 am until noon will allow the EMS staff to showcase the equipment and enhancements made to Flushing's services in just one year, and allow us to thank the community for their support. 

"Many residents have already benefitted from the city’s EMS services, and we look forward to continuing to save lives and offer life support and life sustaining medical care into the foreseeable future," said Chief Michael.

Flushing Mayor Joe Karlichek noted: "On behalf of our city council, our investment has saved at least seven of our citizens' lives since operations began and demonstrates our commitment to improving outcomes and the health and wellbeing of our community."

PHOTO CAPTION: Pictured above this story is Flushing Fire Chief James Michael (at right) accepting the city's employee-of-the-year honor at a Flushing Area Chamber of Commerce event in February from Flushing Mayor Joe Karlichek.

BY MIKE KILLBREATH

CCN Executive Editor

(CCN) — Residents opposed to a proposed advanced manufacturing plant in Mundy Township are organizing a series of boycotts against businesses who wrote letters of support to state officials for the Flint & Genesee Group to get funding from our tax dollars.

CEO Tim Herman's group collected more than $10 million in grants from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation before another $250 million package was approved last month by the Michigan Strategic Fund. Both chambers of the Michigan legislature approved it last week and it became part of Governor Gretchen Whitmer's budget on Monday (July 1, 2024).

Jennifer Arrand Stainton, who led a picket protest outside a political fundraiser for Mundy Township Supervisor Tonya Ketzler on June 20 outside Redwood Lodge, told The Daily Gazette that a "boycott may be the best way to get the attention of businesses" who gave the Flint & Genesee Group letters of support for their project. Herman's non-profit organization used the letters to get state funds for a proposed development on a 1,200-acre site bordered by Linden Road, Jennings Road, Elms Road and Maple Road.

Flint's Mott Community College Board of Trustees withdrew the institution's support on Monday night (July 1, 2024) after hearing from residents opposed to the project in Mundy Township, as well as from Flint community activist Art Woodson.

 See RElated Story on Today's Front Page of The Daily Gazette 

Woodson and others questioned why officials are trying to put the project in area where citizens are opposed to it. Woodson has also gone on record blasting Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer for sending $260 million to Mundy Township for support of her electric vehicle push while ignoring  Flint residents still suffering from the impact of the Flint water crisis 10 years ago. More than 1,900 still do not have their pipes replaced. 

Don Ludwig, one of the administrators for a Facebook page with 2,100 opponents of the proposed development at Mundy Township's Mega Site, quickly posted a message for Herman's representative (Tyler  Rossmaessler who is Executive Director of the Flint & Genesee Group's Flint & Genesee Economic Alliance) who lobbied for support from Mott's trustees.

Ludwig posted: "Hey tyler! Next!! Mott Community College has (withdrawn) their letter of support for the advanced manufacturing district of Mundy Township (otherwise) known as the Mega Site. As soon as Tyler gave his speech he headed out the door! Sue Joanne, Marjorie Steele and Arthur Woodson gave a great presentations and the board voted unanimously to reject their letter of support. MY HOME MY CHOICE!!!!"

Ludwig also praised a resident who reported that he cancelled a new car order from Randy Wise which was listed as a supporter by Herman's non-profit organization.

"Wise choice," Ludwig reacted after a post by Frank Millay revealed: "The truck I currently have was bought at Randy Wise. They sent me an e-mail saying they had the same truck and wanted to know if I was interested in trading in for it. I responded the truth, that I was ready to upgrade. I then said that due to them endorsing the Mega Site that they just lost my business. They weren't happy with me. "

Lloyd Derby responded by writing: "Too bad for them. Maybe the next time they will think twice about being a part of something that is so controversial."

Kim Raubinger Matus posted: "If a person is going to hold out on a business because they have different views than yours…that’s very unfortunate. That's like throwing your friends and family away because they have differing political beliefs. This attitude is exactly why the United States is so divided. God please help us."

Rossmessler presented a slide show to Mott's trustees — showing logos of 23 supporters for his organization's proposed development. Randy Wise's dealerships was not included on the slide show but remains listed on a Web Site for the Flint & Genesee Economic Alliance as a supporter who signed a letter of support for the proposed project. 

The University of Michigan-Flint and Kettering University were listed with Mott.

Others listed as supporters were non-profit groups that included the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, Community Foundation of Greater Flint, the Hurley Foundation and Hamilton Community Health Network of Flint Consumers Energy was also listed as a supporter along with UA Local 370, the state's Michigan Works organization.

Local businesses listed as supporters on the slide show presented by Rossmessler included Koegels, Cooper Commercial, Rolls Mechanical, North Gate, Dee Cramer, Lurvey Construction. Sorenson Gross Construction, E & L Construction, Lewis & Knoph CPA's, Genesee Packaging, McLaren Regional Medical Center, Hurley Medical Center and Goyette Mechanical.

Not listed on the slide show but still appearing on a web site for the Flint & Genesee Economic Alliance are the Flint Cultural Center, Flint's Bishop Airport and the Flint & Genesee Group.

Management Diversified, Inc.

Mass Transportation Authority

(CCN) —  No intersections across the Metro Flint regional area made an annual list of the top 20 most dangerous ones in Michigan, and none in the West Valley Voice coverage area cracked Genesee County's top 10.

(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.

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?

See Related Stories in our

Mega Site Special Section

READ THIS WEEK'S FEATURED EDITOR'S NOTEBOOK

READ TODAY'S EDITOR'S NOTEBOOK

READ OLD EDITOR'S NOTEBOOK COLUMNS

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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 community 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.

BY MIKE KILLBREATH

CCN Executive Editor

(CCN) — Flushing's Trinity Baptist Church is getting a new pastor in early August.

Pastor James Brabson  takes over for Pastor Ron Scott who has been working as interim pastor at Trinity which is located at 4222 Elms Road in Flushing Township.

 Trinity Baptist is an independent Baptist church where you will find practical Bible teaching and preaching, exciting youth and children's ministries, adult programs that are a blessing, and an emphasis on discipleship and evangelism, according to the church's web site,

Pastor Brabson took to Facebook today (June 27, 2024) to inform his congregation at North County Baptist Church in xxxxx of the decision. "This post will undoubtedly catch some people by surprise (which is not our intention, and no this isn’t a “joke”) however, this morning at North Country, we notified the church family that we will be finishing out our ministry at North Country this coming July and moving to Flushing, MI this coming August. Words cannot express our heart of gratitude to the church there at NCBC."

 The Brabson family moved to Millersburg in 2004. He and wife Bonnie have four sons —  Josiah, Ben, Jonas and Clayton. The family will move into the Flushing community and the boys will go to Genesee Christian school in Burton.

Pastor Brabson began his ministry as an Assistant/Youth Pastor in Northern Michigan. The church voted in 2011 to make Pastor Brabson the lead pastor at North Country.  

He added in today's Facebook post: "I’ve tried in so many ways how to express our thoughts and feelings, and all I can say at this point is 'Thank You.'   God has been so good in giving us 20 years here, and we leave the church here with no disagreement and no dissension. We are deeply indebted to so many of you in the church who have loved on our family and your lives are the living testimony of our ministry here. Seeing so many of our church family 'grow up' spiritually before our eyes has been one of the greatest blessings that I have experienced in my life. Thank you for allowing us to be a part of your spiritual growth and really being a family away from our family.   It also means we are leaving the Millersburg/Onaway/Rogers City community. We are thankful for the 'fun' place this has been to raise a family and how so many of you have been friends to our family as well. I’m sure the streets of Millersburg, will be quieter. Even though NCBC will be looking for a pastor, the pulpit will be filled by a variety of good men ... "

 Outside the ministry at NCBC, Pastor Brabson has served on the advisory board for Camp CanaanLand and he has been a guest speaker, for a wide variety of ministry opportunities such as family and youth camps, father/son retreats, pastors' conferences and wild game dinners. He has also stayed busy coaching both in the community and in a school for baseball and basketball. 

 His Facebook post to his long-time church family at NCBC concluded by saying: "What’s next for us? We are excited to be moving into the Flushing, MI area to become the Lead Pastor for Trinity Baptist Church of Flushing at the start of August. Many of you know of Trinity through their ministry of Harvest Fest, and we are excited for this next chapter of ministry for our lives. Working with their deacons/pulpit committee along with their staff members has been a joy and blessing over these last (three) months. Along with coming on board at Trinity, the boys are excited to join the school family of Genesee Christian School this fall. The church people have been so welcoming to our family, and we look forward to getting to know so many of them and see God grow all of us together in the coming years.   In the end, we are simply trusting Him to direct our steps, knowing He is always good and that He works all things for good."

PHOTO CAPTION: Pictured above this story is Pastor James Brabson who will join Flushing's Trinity Baptist Church as its new leader of its ministry.