Battle Creek city crews have closed a portion of Michigan Avenue West between McCamly Street and Washington Avenue due to a gas main break The Battle Creek Fire Department is on the scene as crews work to address the situation will be closed to thru traffic for the remainder of the day — No one was injured after a garage fire Sunday morning caused around $50,000 in damages Battle Creek Fire Department responded to a detached garage fully engulfed in flames on Maple Terrace near Bryant Street the cause of which is still under investigation After extinguishing the fire BCFD officials estimated the property damage to be about $40,000 and contents damage about $10,000 News Channel 3 has reached out for updates to the investigation flags are half staff today in Michigan to honor a U.S Army staff sergeant from Battle Creek who was killed during a training accident in Lithuania Troy) Knutson-Collins represented the best of Michigan as he served our nation in uniform,” Gov he leaves behind a legacy we should all strive to live up to Knutson-Collins, Jose Duenez Jr. all were posthumously promoted to the rank of staff sergeant Three soldiers and the vehicle were found in a peat bog by U.S. Polish and Lithuanian armed forces on March 31 The Army said the fourth soldier was recovered later What was Knutson-Collins' military background?Knutson-Collins joined the Army in 2018, the release said Knutson-Collins was an artillery mechanic with more than seven years in the Army in February 2018 and was assigned to 1st Battalion Knutson-Collins graduated from the Army Basic Leader Course, the Advanced Leaders Course, the Tracked Vehicle Recovery Operations course, and the Combat Lifesaver course, according to the Army. He deployed to Korea in 2020 Knutson-Collins' awards and decorations include the Army Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster A full obituary is available online Michigan residents, businesses, schools, local governments, and other organizations also are encouraged to display the flag at half-staff, the governor said in a news release Flags should be returned to full staff on Saturday flags should be hoisted first to the peak for an instant and then lowered to the half-staff position The process is reversed before the flag is lowered for the day Flagpoles on the ground or buildings are called staffs. Flags lowered on shore are called half-staff, according to Americanflags.com.  Half-mast refers to flags lowered on a ship Certain holidays and events when flags are flown at half-staff in the United States, according to the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs website are: when the flag should be displayed at half-staff until noon only then raised to the top of the staff.Peace Officers Memorial Day unless that day is also Armed Forces Day.Patriot Day.National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day.National Firefighters Memorial Day.Detroit Free Press Jalen Williams is a trending reporter at the Detroit Free Press BATTLE CREEK - Meet the Battle Creek Enquirer Athletes of the Week Each week during the high school sports season we will ask our readers to vote for the top performance of the week in all high school sports taking a look at events from Monday-Saturday Make sure to vote early and often for your pick as the winner will be featured in an Athlete of the Week spotlight story in the Sunday edition of the Enquirer Fans can vote for their favorite athlete until Wednesday at 5 p.m Lakeview's Lilamae Frank is a star on the soccer field and in the high school musical Marshall's Jack Bidwell is 'best runner in the state', heading to University of Michigan Pennfield's Alex Lutgring took first in both the shot put and the discus at the 12-team Oriole Classic at Quincy Lutgring threw 45-6 to win the shot put and tossed 149-0 in the discus Ryan Pejakovich of the Climax-Scotts boys golf team had a hole in one during a match at Cedar Creek Golf Club on Wednesday Lakeview's Spencer Shotwell helped the Spartans earn a sweep over rival Harper Creek in non-conference action with two hits two runs and two RBI in a 9-6 win in Game and added two hits and two RBI in a 9-4 win in Game 2 Harper Creek made history by defeating Marshall for the first time in school history winning 4-1 in Interstate 8 Conference play Alyssa Smith had two goals for the Beavers in the win Bill Broderick can be reached at bbroderi@battlecreekenquirer.com Michigan State Police are investigating a shooting incident Saturday morning in Newton Township Marshall Post troopers responded to a domestic assault complaint in the 10000 block of Six Mile Road about 9:30 a.m. "Officers learned the male suspect was in a parked vehicle nearby exited the vehicle with a firearm to his head and fired one round Officers and EMS performed life-saving measures but he was later pronounced dead at Kalamazoo Bronson Methodist Hospital," MSP posted The assault victim was treated at Battle Creek Bronson Hospital for non-life-threatening injuries Troopers were assisted by Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office Help is available for those struggling or in crisis. Call or text 988 or visit the Lifeline Chat to connect with a trained crisis counselor (This story has been updated to add new information.) Here is a list of the top performers in high school sports from the Battle Creek Enquirer-area for the week of April 28-May 3 Our weekly top performers list and athlete of the week nominees are compiled courtesy of information provided to The Battle Creek Enquirer by coaches athletic directors or team statisticians through emails or mentioning @bcesports in game results and highlights posted to Facebook If a top performer’s name doesn’t appear on the list encourage their coach to email submissions to bbroderi@battlecreekenquirer.com MORE: Vote for Battle Creek Enquirer Athlete of the Week BaseballLakeview's Spencer Shotwell helped the Spartans earn a sweep over rival Harper Creek in non-conference action with two hits Harper Creek's Jimmy Leamy had a home run in both games Brandon Baker helped Marshall earn a sweep over Pennfield in Interstate 8 Conference play as he pitched a complete game allowing no runs and striking out five in a 5-3 win over the Panthers in the second game of a twinbill Aidan Miller had two RBI in the opening 6-2 win and added two hits and a run score in the second game Carter Dzwik threw a no-hitter to help the Climax-Scotts/St Philip co-op baseball team sweep Colon in league action on Friday Philip beat Colon 15-1 in Game 1 with Gavin Eyre going 3-for-3 with three RBI SoftballKennedy Halverson helped Harper Creek go 4-2 for the week Halverson hit .524 for the week with 11 hits a grand slam against Marshall and 13 RBI overall Holly Talbert had a big week for the Climax-Scotts/St Philip co-op softball team with 12 RBI over four games Addi Dzwik added seven RBI off of four doubles Alyssa Smith had two goals for the Beavers in the win with Addison Mitchell adding a goal and an assist Ricky Johnson swept the throwing events in the boys meet for the Beavers as the hosted the Spirt of the Wild Co-Ed Relays at Harper Creek on Friday 4-inches to win the shot put and threw 139-10 to win the discus Izzie Miller swept the throwing events for the girls meet for Harper Creek winning the shot put at 33-10 and the discus at 116-5 Battle Creek Central's Erykah Alexander was a force in the sprint events in the girls meet at the JT Long Invitational at Kalamazoo Central Alexander won the 200 at the 16-team invitational with a time of 25.66 and finished fourth in the 100 at 12.99 Lakeview's Raegan Magnus won the high jump at 5-2 The Marshall boys won the 12-team Stockbridge Invitational Redhawks junior Akin Olapade won the discus with a throw of 128-5 and showed his versatility by taking fourth in the 100 at 11.55 Marshall's Brison Brewer won the high jump at 5-11 — Community members gathered to honor a fallen West Michigan hero Friday morning A procession was held to honor Staff Sergeant Troy Smith Knutson-Collins a Battle Creek native who was killed in Lithuania Hundreds met at Bailey Park in Battle Creek for the procession and drove to Fort Custer National Cemetery in Augusta for military honors He is in basic training currently," Jaclyn Hohnberger said you just never know what's going to happen when things go awry and when it's your time and just wanting to show the family that they have support We all support them and those soldiers that have fallen." Knutson-Collins was found dead after a massive weeks long search for himself and three other service members whose armored vehicle was pulled from a swampy training area part of the 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team were on a tactical training exercise when they and their vehicle were reported missing — Governor Gretchen Whitmer has ordered U.S and Michigan flags to be lowered across the state to half-staff to honor Staff Sergeant Troy Smith Knutson-Collins on May 2 died during a training accident in Lithuania at the age of 28 The flag lowering will coincide with the day of his funeral “Sergeant Knutson-Collins represented the best of Michigan as he served our nation in uniform,” said Governor Whitmer Knutson-Collins and two other soldiers who died during the accident were posthumously promoted to staff sergeant Flags should be returned to full staff on Saturday — Community members are coming together to honor a fallen hero from West Michigan A procession to honor Staff Sergeant Troy Smith Knutson-Collins a Battle Creek native who was killed in Lithuania has been announced for May 2 The procession's meetup spot is at Bailey Park 1350 Capital Ave Northeast in Battle Creek at 9 a.m The middle of the route is at the Battle Creek Police Department at 34 Division Street The procession ends at Fort Custer National Cemetery in Augusta where military honors are scheduled for 10 a.m A lunch is scheduled at the American Legion Post 298 located at 228 North 20th Street in Battle Creek Community members are invited to line the family escort procession route to pay respects A group that pays respects to military members is also asking for volunteers to honor the fallen servicemember The Flagman’s Mission Continues is seeking help from community members to create a memorial of flags to honor Staff Sergeant Troy Smith Knutson-Collins The group is setting up flags on May 1 at 4 p.m They're seeking up to 600 3x5 foot flags on 10 foot poles to show respect to Knutson-Collins More information about the procession can be found here — The Battle Creek Fire Department has had its fair share of harrowing rescues Station 1 of the Battle Creek Fire Department (BCFD) responded to a service call at the intersection of Capital Avenue Southwest and Jackson Street Reports were made of a mother duck whose ducklings fell into a storm drain the crew from Truck 1 rescued 11 ducklings by Donny Ede and Mackenize Dekker | News Channel 3 — A portion of Riverside Drive will be closed until further notice due to a sinkhole that collapsed a section of the road Friday morning in Battle Creek as city crews were wrapping up sewer repair work Engineering Administrator for the City of Battle Creek said crews were notified of a blocked pipe around 10 p.m we don't have a 24 inch [pipe] get clogged because they're so large I knew something unusual had happened." Crews believe it was already hollowed out from the pipe collapsing and the weight of the car caused it to crumble “I drive that route daily two or three times daily," Kelly Cariuty "Never in a million years would think that you would just find a big The collapsed section measured about 25 by 20 feet wide and nearly 15 feet deep -- nearly double the depth of a standard swimming pool “I don't know how you would gauge something like that," Cariuty said That's the funny thing because you could just be sitting there in the ground could just collapse.” Crews have been on-site and working on repairs most of the day Friday but said they aren't sure how long repairs will take until they know the full extent of the damage Riverside Drive will remain closed between Columbia Avenue and Territorial Road East until further notice Local traffic and emergency vehicles are advised to use Territorial Road East to access homes in the area The Best Of Battle Creek series in the Enquirer is being expanded this year to include the top players on baseball and softball fields throughout the area "Who is the Best Of Battle Creek?" as we look at each position in baseball and softball among the city/area high school teams Nominations for each position have come from the city/area coaches with a little information on each player It will be a tougher list to make this year as we expand the field to city and area teams then it will be up to the Enquirer readers to decide who is the B.O.B Vote: Who is the best pitcher in high school softball in Battle Creek area? Each week we will give readers choices and open our online poll for voting with a winner decided by the following Tuesday with polls closing at noon Next up are the pitchers for the city/area baseball teams: Why he is the best pitcher in the city/area: Jeremiah Adams is stepping into a bigger role this season as a junior for a young Lakeview team 'Adams is a competitor in all senses of the word he goes after them to give his team a chance to win.' Why he is the best pitcher in the city/area: A four-year varsity player who has been all-city all-conference and all-district throughout different parts of his career Brayden Bess has opened this season in dominant fashion at 4-0 from the mound with 21 strikeouts in 16 innings and a 1.28 ERA He will play baseball at Lawrence Tech University Why he is the best pitcher in the city/area: The junior left-hander has taken big strides as a pitcher in the last few years and has become a key member of the Climax-Scotts/St his offseason work has put him in a position to have a standout junior year Why he is the best pitcher in the city/area: A three-year varsity starter Jaden Fawcett is having a big senior season with a 5-1 record with 33 strikeouts with a 3.34 ERA The all-conference player has signed to play at Spring Arbor University Why he is the best pitcher in the city/area: As the No Max Gillum is 4-0 so far with a 1.23 ERA with 31 strikeouts in 28 innings His work during the offseason has made him a key leader for the Redhawks baseball program Why he is the best pitcher in the city/area: Kayden LeClair is a multiple-sport athlete in the spring LeClair leads Colon is innings pitched and has not given up a run in four games Why he is the best pitcher in the city/area: In his third year on varsity Calvin Paesens has started to hit his stride this year as a junior 5-inch hurler has a 0.43 ERA and 25 strikeouts with just three walks in the early going this season taking a big step after going 1-5 last year with a 2.65 ERA Why he is the best pitcher in the city/area: Jacob Palmatier has been the ace of the Gull Lake staff this year in his third year of pitching for the Blue Devils He has started his junior season with key wins over league rivals Mattawan Why he is the best pitcher in the city/area: The ace of the Union City staff Eli Payne has been 3-3 with 36 strikeouts and just six walks to start his senior season with a 2.33 ERA The team captain was all-conference and all-district last year Voters in the Battle Creek Public Schools district will be asked to consider approving a $27.5 million bond initiative Tuesday The funding would address the district's long-term facilities needs ensuring that both current and future Bearcat students have safe modern and inspiring learning environments "It is important to note that this bond is not expected to increase the debt millage rates the bond would directly support long-awaited improvements that enhance student success and strengthen the overall learning experience – making a lasting impact on the BCPS community for years to come," the district said in a statement More news: This local college named one of West Michigan’s Best and Brightest Companies to Work For Superintendent Kimberly Carter and the district's leadership team held a listening tour Thursday to connect with the community regarding the proposal we believe every student deserves access to a supportive and empowering learning environment that helps them grow and unlock their full potential “We also believe deeply in the power of community and we need our community now more than ever to show up and make their voices heard Our vision for success depends on all of us working together Investing in BCPS is an investment in our students’ futures — and in the future of Battle Creek.” the communications manager for Battle Creek Public Schools said the bond would help fund safety and security projects including high-end security systems for schools such as new camera systems and secure vestibules for buildings currently without them "We are also looking at strengthening building exteriors (the average age of our buildings is 75 years old) Other projects include updated playgrounds for our community and elementary schools," he said in an email "These updates would make the playgrounds ADA compliant involve the replacement of benches and trash receptacles and include the regrading of playground sites We are also looking to upgrade CW Stadium; that project includes upgraded security systems remodeling existing bleachers to be ADA compliant Voting in Calhoun County? Go to Calhoun County's Register of Deeds website for more Go to Michiganvoting.org for more election information Stephanie Forth and Autumn Pitchure | News Channel 3 KALAMAZOO, Mich. — Two suspects have been charged in the April 12 shooting that killed 27-year-old Montine Wiley Friday, the Kalamazoo County Prosecuting Attorney's Office authorized criminal charges against two men for their role in the shooting that happened outside of Green Door Distilling in Kalamazoo who was working security at a private event was shot when he got into an altercation with a patron who was trying to enter the venue according to Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety (KDPS) felony firearm and carrying a concealed weapon documents provided to News Channel 3 detailed Cole turned himself in Thursday after "feeling the mounting pressure from the investigation and continued attention on social media surrounding Mr Wiley’s death," public safety officers said Cole came here and brought violence into our community,” Captain Danielle Guilds head of the KDPS Criminal Investigations Division “I’m incredibly proud of the tireless work by our detectives and the overwhelming support from the community we were able to identify those responsible and make arrests within a week of the incident." was also charged Friday with tampering with evidence in a criminal case and a count of felony firearm Jenkins-Gooden was arrested in connection to the shooting on Thursday a large crowd began forming outside of the distillery and had gotten out of control the owner of Green Door Distilling told News Channel 3 in a statement Capacity limitations for the distillery were discussed before the event with the host the DJ allegedly shared a flier on social media promoting the event as a party staff members at Green Door Distilling called KDPS to help with crowd management but officers did not hear or see the shooting Wiley was taken to an area hospital for treatment Public safety officers were able to identify Cole in the crowd through surveillance video He was seen wearing a red sweatshirt and gravity visions beanie Cole's bond was denied during his arraignment Friday while Jenkins-Gooden's bond was set at $10,000 cash/surety Both are expected to return to court for a probable cause hearing on April 30 followed by a preliminary examination on May 7 MARYVILLE, Mo. — Chasing a dream to make an NFL roster, former Battle Creek Central standout Austin McKinney will take another step in that journey as he has been invited to the Cleveland Browns rookie minicamp Coming in as an undrafted free agent out of Northwest Missouri State University McKinney will attend the Browns rookie camp on May 8-11 in Cleveland he will get a chance to prove he is deserving of an NFL roster spot that's all McKinney was looking for - just a chance MORE: Marshall's Jack Bidwell is 'best runner in the state', heading to University of Michigan "This is another step in the journey," McKinney said "I feel extremely blessed to get this chance My journey has all been about proving myself at every stop and this is another opportunity to do so." McKinney's play during his final year at Northwest Missouri State University last fall opened some eyes among NFL scouts and provided him this chance to chase his professional football goals McKinney started all 11 games at cornerback in 2024 for Northwest Missouri State He was second on the team with nine passes defensed He attended two showcase all-star bowl games in the postseason getting invited to the Trillion Tropical Bowl and the FCS Bowl "The last two years I did everything right Went from being a safety to a corner and I took the challenge to get better and it paid off," McKinney said I did about 17 interviews with NFL teams who were interested in me but thought I would get picked up because I had a lot of people talking to me." graduating from Battle Creek Central in 2017 after being a three-sport standout for the Bearcats He first signed with Saginaw Valley State University out of high school He transferred to Saddleback College in California in 2022 and then arrived at Northwest Missouri State for the 2023 season Along with getting an invite to an NFL camp he will participate in graduation ceremonies to get his degree from Northwest Missouri State University this weekend "I am heading to Cleveland's camp with a chance to make the team they are bringing me in to check me out," McKinney said "They like me because I have good size for a defensive back and I can play press coverage I feel like the Browns are a team I can make I am pretty confident I can help that team "It would mean the world to me if I come out of this mini-camp and get signed multiple cats died in a house fire Tuesday afternoon in Battle Creek according to the Battle Creek Fire Department (BCFD) Firefighters were called to a home on North Mason Avenue near Taylor Avenue around 4 p.m the fire started from the basement of the single-story home firefighters said they found and removed several cats --unfortunately Battling high winds and severe fire damage firefighters were able to put out the blaze in about 30 minutes Even though the house was occupied at the time of the fire BCFD estimates that there is $64,700 in property damages The cause of the fire is not known at this time This incident remains under investigation by BCFD is taking a "wait and see" approach in response to President Trump's recent announcement on auto tariffs Pavone mentioned that dealerships like his might hesitate to order new inventory particularly when it comes to imported vehicles or those made with parts from outside of the United States I'm taking a 'wait and see' approach to see what the response is going to be from the manufacturer and the impacts of the tariff is going to be before I bring on additional inventory," Pavone said He acknowledged potential confusion at ports regarding tariff charges due to recent and anticipated changes "I never saw that the sky was falling I recognized Trump's behavior from his first term and what he said in his campaign I knew this was going to be a negotiation," Pavone said "I believe that the administration has shown its ability to pivot and react and be flexible and prevent any long-term damage to the industry." Pavone noted that most dealerships still have pre-tariff inventory but he anticipates that tariffs could start affecting manufacturers and dealerships closer to July — A 35-year-old Battle Creek man was arrested Thursday after a large fight where shots were fired Officers from the Battle Creek Police Department (BCPD) responded to the 300 block of West Michigan Avenue at around 3:30 p.m for reports of a large fight involving an estimated 60 people officers were notified that shots had been reportedly fired at the scene who said the 35-year-old man who fired the shots had fled the scene Responding officers located the suspect's vehicle and conducted a traffic stop where the suspect was detained and a firearm was located in the vehicle The suspect has been lodged at the Calhoun County Jail on several weapon offenses — The City of Battle Creek has identified a drinking water standard violation in Battle Creek City leaders believe the problem stems from an ongoing project at the Verona Well Field a superfund site with issues dating back to the 1980s Customers affected can anticipate to receive a letter from the city's water division later this week or early next week with more information Tests from February showed that total trihalomethanes (TTHM) levels in the water system exceeded the standard of 80 parts per billion The average was calculated over the last 12 months director of public works for the City of Battle Creek first noticed levels begin to spike around the start of construction for well work at the Verona Well Field the team is in the process of replacing 21 wells in that area due to deterioration Following recommendations from the Michigan Department of Environment and Energy (EGLE) in order to keep water safe from bacteria during construction which Skalski believes led to elevated levels of TTHM tends to activate a lot of what's going on there," Skalski said “We probably saw a spike with it because of the work that's going on but it was more than likely going to happen This rise in TTHM is not an immediate health emergency Customers do not need to boil water or take corrective actions Prolonged exposure to high levels of TTHM over many years can affect the liver If you or a member of your household have a compromised immune system city officials say to consult your healthcare provider The higher levels are likely due to drilling and aquifer testing new wells at the Verona Well Field the city is working with the State of Michigan to monitor the situation and is taking immediate action to reduce TTHM levels Th is process is expected to take 12 to 18 months to complete “We strive to provide the highest quality water for all of the customers of Battle Creek’s Water system," Skalski said "We want to make sure their drinking water is safe.” Anyone with questions regarding TTHM in the Battle Creek Water System can use the following resources: — Sunday's storms left widespread damage across West Michigan it was just really huge and loud and it scared the heck out of our cats," Maureen Balke A large tree was knocked over in Balke's front yard off Irwin Avenue otherwise it might have squished our bedroom and living room," Balke said Balke told News Channel 3 the storm happened so fast and she and her husband didn't have time to take cover "We are happy and very lucky to be okay," Balke said "I am so shocked that a tree as old as it is was knocked over." strong wind gusts threw the steeple off of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints I think the steeple represents so much to everyone it's just a recognizable symbol," Susan Taylor Taylor said rain started pouring into the church when the steeple came off There is some water damage inside the church but despite necessary repairs that will have to be made "In the evening we didn't have any church we had the Kalamazoo State Single Adult Activity here," Taylor said "We're just very grateful that no one was here during that time and that no one was hurt." Initial filings for unemployment benefits in Michigan dropped last week compared with the week prior unemployment claims rose to 241,000 last week up 18,000 claims from 223,000 the week prior on a seasonally adjusted basis Puerto Rico saw the largest percentage increase in weekly claims saw the largest percentage drop in new claims The USA TODAY Network is publishing localized versions of this story on its news sites across the country, generated with data from the U.S. Department of Labor's weekly unemployment insurance claims report. Our News Automation and AI team would like to hear from you. Take this survey and share your thoughts with us BATTLE CREEK - The spring track season is here we will take a look at the city and area boys track squads for 2025 Fans of high school boys track will want to mark their calendar with key dates coming up including the All-City Track Meet on April 25 and regionals starting May 15 The MHSAA state meet is set for May 31 at various locations VOTE: Who is the Battle Creek Enquirer Preseason Boys Track & Field Athlete of the Year? 2025 Enquirer Girls Track & Field Season Preview 2025 Enquirer Baseball Season Preview 2025 Enquirer Softball Season Preview 2025 Enquirer Girls Soccer Season Preview Here’s a closer look at the key city and area boys track teams for 2025: Outlook: Battle Creek Central features a small team with only four seniors But there is good talent coming up the ranks with a sophomore and junior class that has the coaching staff excited who finished third at regionals in the 110 hurdles Seniors who bring needed experience include Kadarro Davis and Ebbyon Wilson in the sprint events as well as Donovan Stephens Harper CreekCoach: Larry Quick (32nd season) Outlook: Harper Creek's boys track team gave the school its first state team title of any kind last year as the Beavers finished as state champs at the Michigan Interscholastic Track Coaches Association state meet There are 17 seniors back from that team looking to build on that momentum including distance standout Dominic Lowrie and throwers Zach Kitchen and Ricky Johnson Harper Creek also has a deep pool of sprinters and jumpers in TreQuon Cotton Outlook: Lakeview won another Southwestern Michigan Athletic Conference East Division crown the Spartans have suffered heavy graduation losses from that team Lakeview does have a lot to work with this year with over 90 athletes on the boys team Leading the returners is senior Jonah Bills who was a state qualifier as a distance runner last year Junior Austin Kowalski was a state qualifier in the sprints Other seniors the Spartans will lean on for experience include Malik Glass Outlook: Pennfield returns its top 10 track athletes from last year's team Senior Alex Lutgring was the lone state qualifier on the boys team Lutgring is also chasing the school record in the discus Juniors Dre'Shaun Bailey and Deondre Manalac as well as senior Hunter Jenny give the Panthers hope that they can be more competitive in the Interstate 8 Conference this season Philip/Calhoun Christian co-op boys track team is short on numbers Currently there are only three returning seniors on the roster under first-year head coach Brett Weiss Seniors Colt Myers and Sawyer Weiss will be counted on in the throwing events and the sprint relays Senior Owen Nofs will be a contributor in the middle distance events Outlook: The Marshall track program is strong with over 120 athletes competing on the boys and girls team combined Marshall had 13 members qualify for the state meet Returning from that group on the boys team is one of the top distance runners in the state in Jack Bidwell who has set multiple school records in track and cross country and was a state qualifier last spring Senior Reese Davis and sophomore Abe McHugh also qualified for the state meet and were part a record-breaking 3,200 relay team Liam Scott returns after qualifying for the state meet in the discus a year ago Outlook: The Athens boys team will have new leadership this year with first-year head coach Sebastian Hamilton Hamilton is not new to the program himself as an Athens alum and son of longtime Athens girls head coach Melissa Hamilton however there are some highlights to talk about including state-qualifying sprinter Dru Slater and one of the top distance runners in the area in junior Ethan O'Connor Contact Bill Broderick at bbroderi@battlecreekenquirer.com BATTLE CREEK ― Some returning stars and some new faces in the starting lineups at most schools mean this is the place to be to find out about high school girls soccer as we head into the 2025 season Key dates for fans of girls soccer in the area include the All-City tournament on May 10 and the start of the district tournament on May 21 The MHSAA state finals are set for June 13-14 at Michigan State University VOTE: Who is the Enquirer Preseason Player of the Year in Girls Soccer? 2025 Enquirer Boys Golf Season Preview 2025 Enquirer Lacrosse Season Preview Here’s a closer look at the city and area girls soccer teams for 2025: Outlook: Battle Creek Central is continuing a rebuilding project under second-year head coach Ofelia Rangel The Bearcats have a core group of returning players Junior Blanca Sanchez also returns after being a starter last year our team is in the midst of a rebuilding process focusing on growth and development this season While we may face many challenges along the way our main goal is to establish a strong foundation for future success Our experienced players will play a key role in guiding the younger athletes helping them adapt to the competitive environment and setting a standard for hard work and discipline," Rangel said Harper CreekCoach: Thomas McNeil (4th season) Outlook: Harper Creek features a standout group of seniors who have been part of a resurgence for the Harper Creek girls soccer program that included the school's first conference title two seasons ago Fourth-year head coach Thomas McNeil will lean on a back line that brings back all three starters in Jillian Meikle among the all-time leading goal scorers in the history of the school "We have a lot of seniors this year to guide our larger class of freshmen Wins and losses will be determined by how we gel as a team Outlook: Jason Little took over a squad last year that suffered heavy graduation losses as the team finished under .500 much of that group has now returned and is ready to take the next step and compete for top-half honors in the Southwestern Michigan Athletic Conference the Spartans will be led by a strong junior class that includes Leah Olivarri Lakeview does have good leadership in goal with senior Carson Howard "Lakeview has a very strong group of returning players I am looking forward to a competitive year in a very formidable SMAC conference This team has a lot of talent and I’m very excited to see what they can do on the field be competitive and fulfill team goals," Little said Outlook: After a sub-.500 season two years ago Pennfield was the surprise of 2024 with a sparkling 13-6-1 record The Panthers are looking to build off of that with a strong core and an experienced squad Senior captain Kendall Rahn returns to run the attack from her midfield position and was All-Enquirer last season as well as all-conference leading the team in goals the last three years Senior captain Gabbi Hill offers good leadership with a junior group of Peyton Rhoades Ella Hock and Lauren Lessig bringing back a winning culture "We had a surprisingly strong season last year with a great short handed showing in the district final We will be looking for fast starts from multiple freshmen to really have a good season," Rahn said Co-Coaches: Timothy Bandeen/Shannon Hughes Top returners: Ally Rae Bandeen,sr.; Elise Wylie Outlook: In the third season under co-coaches Timothy Bandeen and Shannon Hughes Philip/Calhoun Christian co-op is thriving The team won the first district title in program history last year There is good returning strength from that group including senior captains and All-Enquirer selections Ally Rae Bandeen and Elise Wylie Wylie was second on the team in goals last year Sophomore Mylee Grimm also returns after leading the team in goals including a hat trick in the district finals "Coach Shannon and I are again excited to be back Our schedule once again is going to be a bit stronger this year than last year but we are looking forward to seeing other athletes rise to the occasion in this season," Bandeen said Area Teams To WatchMarshallCoach: Hans Morgan (11th season) Outlook: Marshall finished undefeated in the league and were champs in the Interstate 8 Conference and returns a wealth of talent from a 10-4-4 team including returning senior and new goalkeeper Megan Rehfeldt as well as senior defender and All-Enquirer selection Tessa Miller The Redhawks will receive good leadership from senior forward Anaya Burghdorf as well as senior midfielders Zadie Zuehlke and Nicole Ladd John and Lillian Moore were each All-Enquirer picks last year the girls are working hard and getting better each day We definitely have some areas where we will improve over the course of the season I think we have a chance to be a very strong team by the end of the year but we are not a finished product at the moment," Morgan said Gull LakeCoach: Jeff Corstange (11th season) Outlook: Under longtime coach Jeff Corstange who returned to the girls program last year Gull Lake is coming off a district championship season The Blue Devils have 10 starters back from that group but overall is a young roster with only one senior in Madie Smith Bella Carr returns as an All-Enquirer selection at keeper Junior midfielder Charlye Reiner also returns after earning all-area honors Outlook: In his second season as head coach at Coldwater Dominic Falzarano will look to get the Cardinals back over .500 after going 7-10-2 last year Coldwater will have a young team with seven players coming back with varsity experience who had five goals and two assists last year Outlook: Olivet put up 15 wins last season and was a district finalist however the Eagles bring back a young squad for 2025 Olivet will depend on senior returner Lily Weaver and junior Victoria Murphy who were both all-league and All-Enquirer in 2024 — A family member of the 70-year-old woman trapped in her house after a van slammed into her home is thankful her loved one wasn't hurt her sister lived in a home on Upton Avenue when a van barreled into the house early Friday morning she did answer and she's still a little hysterical," Campbell said according to the Battle Creek Police Department (BCPD) Campbell told News Channel 3 that someone crashed into the home once before "This is not the first time," Campbell said that's why this rock is in the front yard Investigators received a call about a van blowing through stop signs and stop lights Friday morning "That tip did get us into the area quicker so that we were able to respond to the residents and get the subject in custody before he could think to possibly try to remove the vehicle," Battle Creek Lt The man crashed into the home moments later somebody that seems to be driving improperly We want to stop these things before they become a dangerous situation." she's thankful that her sister wasn't hurt and that this puts everything into perspective "Thank God she's okay," Campbell said but now she's got to look for another home BATTLE CREEK – An additional $12 million is being invested into the WACO Aircraft Corporation campus DIMOR Group announced it will be building a new JUNKERS Aircraft factory at the Battle Creek site reinforcing the group’s commitment to the region’s economic development and the U.S open-cockpit airplanes and the nearly $30 million it previously invested in the campus Prep work at the Battle Creek Executive Airport site is underway with the 45,000-square-foot addition expected to be completed in August The factory plans include state-of-the-art machinery and all-new tooling to allow for increased metal forming and machining capabilities The site is already home to WACO Aircraft Corporation a full-service operator offering fuel sales JUNKERS Aircraft models are assembled by hand using parts and assemblies currently manufactured by the company’s sister facility in Oberndorf The new Battle Creek facility will allow JUNKERS Aircraft to manufacture its own parts and sub-assemblies further integrating the production processes and supporting the local economy with the creation of about 40 production and assembly jobs over the next five years “With this substantial investment from our founder Dieter Morszeck JUNKERS Aircraft in the United States is extremely excited to expand our footprint in Southwest Michigan We’re in the business of building and selling aircraft the mission really is to spread the passion for aviating in its purest form,” said Sergio Barreto “The vintage aesthetic of the JUNKERS A50 Junior and other models combines modern By investing in the latest technology and tooling at our soon-to-be 150,000 square-foot facility we’ll continue to combine innovation with the handcrafted workmanship WACO Aircraft is already known for worldwide.” More area news: Here's what the DNR report on the wolf killed in Calhoun County says Battle Creek Unlimited supported JUNKERS Aircraft in identifying Owen-Ames-Kimball Co as its construction partner and navigating municipal project approvals DIMOR Group plans to work with the Regional Manufacturing Technology Center at Kellogg Community College to meet labor demands allowing JUNKERS Aircraft to reinvest in its current workforce with additional skills training and hiring initiatives Along with the acquisition of WACO Aircraft Corporation in 2018 DIMOR Group was formed as a strategic holding company to enable both WACO and JUNKERS Aircraft to preserve and promote historically significant aircraft brands from the golden age of aviation offering aviators the opportunity to pilot reimagined classics built to the latest engineering and safety standards An official website of the United States government The .gov means it’s official.Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil make sure you're on a federal government site The https:// ensures that you're connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and sent securely Doug Dusenberry joined the Battle Creek VA Medical Center’s Executive Leadership Team as the Associate Director on October 27 He has also served in the same capacity at the Chalmers P Wylie VA Ambulatory Care Center in Columbus His prior VA assignments included serving as an Administrative Officer he served in the United States Air Force for 21 years retiring from active duty in 2008. Mr Dusenberry holds a Bachelor of Science in Occupational Education from Wayland Baptists University and a Master’s Degree in Organizational Development from Webster University he is a Certified Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt from Villanova University Dusenberry is a graduate of the 2018 VA Healthcare Leadership Development Program and is an Excellence in Government Senior Fellow with the Partnership for Public Service Dusenberry is a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE) Dusenberry is married to his wife Angie and has a passion for continuing to serve his country and his fellow Veterans through his service to the Veterans Health Administration.  It has been a brutal week at the Battle Creek Enquirer We lost two of our own in a matter of days Kevin Hare, a former photo editor, and Will Kowalski came as a shock to the Enquirer extended family These were two longtime Battle Creek Enquirer staffers who left enormous imprints on the newspaper itself journalists and photographers who worked with them and people they touched on a daily basis doing their jobs I have been at the Enquirer for almost three decades but both were already here when I arrived and were part of my introduction to the newspaper Each were bigger than life when I walked into the newsroom for the first time had a gruff exterior that young reporters had to navigate because he held the power in the photographer’s room it didn’t take long to find out that being a curmudgeon was just a façade because whatever was seen from the outside was just a small part of the total package What Kevin was truly about was doing his work making the photo staff at the Enquirer special During an era when the Enquirer was spreading its wings helping make special sections like WOW dazzle and jumping in on the sports page helping to make it big and bold and owning a special place in this state for a paper of our size More sports: Here's the Battle Creek Enquirer 2025 All-Area Boys Basketball Team. Who made the squad? More news: Michael J. Hume Big Red Open slated for June 14 at Binder Park was a sportswriter who touched all parts of the section and was already a longstanding owner of one of the sports cubicles in the newsroom when I showed up it seemed as if he had been at the Enquirer forever His career wasn't only at the Enquirer; he covered sports in Battle Creek and around Michigan for more than four decades beginning with his time as a part-timer at the Lansing State Journal spending time at USA Today as well as the Enquirer and most recently at the Battle Creek Shopper or getting a chance to be around his first love of hockey Will was passionate about everything he did during his years at the Enquirer His epic golf pages and bowling pages are from an era that doesn’t exist in newspapers any longer He gave a voice to groups of people in Battle Creek who aren’t always heard both also taught me one of the more important things I learned as a young reporter as each were determined to put the community first in everything they did and were excited to be members of the Battle Creek community at the same time What also made both of them a special part of the fabric of the Enquirer over the years was the time they spent away from the deadlines of the newsroom I can still see Kevin sitting back in the photographer’s room, chopping it up with the other photographers and, usually, young reporters, looking to get some time away from the editors. I was often in on those discussions talking baseball and the daily exploits of his favorite team, the St. Louis Cardinals Those chats turned into some of the memorable Enquirer kayak trips that created a family atmosphere at the newspaper and often worked to bring new employees into the fold I don’t think I shared more time dealing with all of those things with anyone more than I did with Will Football Friday nights at a newspaper are something you can only understand if you have experienced it and Will was on the front lines on all the Fridays of his 27-year Enquirer career But the true Will was the one all of us hung out with on the golf course Both Will and Kevin were part of the Enquirer at its height Kevin led a staff of four or five photographers most of his career before he left in 2012 after 25 years in Battle Creek Will was part of a sports department that had five or six members during his time those times are no longer and are part of the reason they left the paper when they did as this newspaper downsized over the years Will and Kevin were true originals at the Enquirer Part of the blocks of concrete that made up the 'Great White Lady' the three-story building that stood proudly on Van Buren Avenue before changes forced us like it has done to most newspapers across the country both helped make that Battle Creek Enquirer better for them being a part of it To use all available functions on this website JavaScript must be enabled in your browser The actual beginning of DENSO Manufacturing Michigan Inc.’s (DMMI) “early days” has been debated back and forth for years retired DENSO Senior Vice President for Corporate Affairs While it’s a fact that DENSO’s thermal manufacturing facility in Battle Creek was the first Nippondenso full-scale manufacturing startup in North America the “actual start” of its culture took several forms Tooley said that some team members consider a 1983 “incubator project” to be a precursor of the beginning when 60 temporary Nippondenso Sales workers assembled car heaters for Honda in the Battle Creek Unlimited warehouse He said other early associates contend that “the beginning” was in April 1985 when DMMI’s first President presiding over the Battle Creek groundbreaking And Tooley said DMMI’s October 1986 Open House at the finished plant certainly was a red-letter day when Ohiwa officially introduced the company to the U.S Groundbreaking for DENSO Manufacturing in Battle Creek the plant was expected to employ more than 100 associates and reach 500 by the end of the decade.  The facility now employs more than 2,200 people More than 1,000 guests were on hand at that October Open House politicians and then-Michigan Governor James Blanchard Also in the crowd were those 60 temporary workers who had become full-time employees when DMMI opened several months earlier Tooley said Ohiwa had personally spent hundreds of hours planning the Open House which the president used to denote “a kind of beginning for the new company a first spark of the new culture that would become DMMI.” Ohiwa’s philosophy was to build a hybrid management structure using the best of Japanese and American workforce practices The merging of that culture was evident from the beginning especially as Ohiwa uttered his famous words - “Excellent people make excellent companies.” In 1986 DMMI invested in its people when it sent 12 team leaders to Japan to learn their areas understand its assembly line procedure and review Japanese management practices we held a debrief to determine ‘what practices’ might work here and from morning group exercise to the open office concept,” he said Tooley had a “front-row seat” to the company’s evolution having been hired in November 1985 “when the plant still had a dirt floor “There were four Japanese guys and me a desk with a blank pad of paper and a file cabinet in the front office of a warehouse,” he explained The Battle Creek area had recently gone through an economic downturn so Tooley said many sought out opportunities with DENSO over 8,000 applicants applied for the 400 available positions “DMMI went through a multi-million-dollar expansion increasing square footage in the cafeteria enlarging the recreation complex and building a medical center.” Industry Week Magazine’s ’America’s Best’ awards named DMMI as one of the Top 10 Manufacturing Facilities in the country,” Tooley said we won other customer quality and delivery awards such as the Engineering Society of Detroit Outstanding Achievement Award and customers’ Quality Circle Awards He said Ohiwa put a strong emphasis on community involvement a connectedness that continues to this day DMMI contributed to a variety of nonprofits and initiatives including Boy Scouts and a Kellogg Co.co-sponsored local high school math and science program complete with educational kits to all local schools Tooley said DMMI also “was proud of its Regional Manufacturing Training Center a separate building supporting most companies in Battle Creek The Battle Creek plant was extremely active with United Way which amounted to an impressive $30,000 match program in 1986 Ohiwa told associates that “as responsible citizens it is up to us to muster the volunteer energy and financial support United Way needs to carry on its work.” Tooley said credit needs to be given to several other Japanese presidents that followed Ohiwa “including Kazuhiro ‘Ben’ Ohta (who became Vice Chairman of DENSO Japan and started the City Light Festival in Battle Creek which is still going strong); Mineo ‘Sam’ Kawai on the Board of Directors later the President of DENSO Japan.” Ohiwa’s impact on those early years was indelible “even though he was very self-conscious of his poor English he would take time every day to go into the plant and speak to every associate He improved his English and met people.” “That was the way Henry was,” he concluded DMMI associates gathered to share their commitments to technology culture and monozukuri with global CEO Shinnosuke Hayashi (center) when he visited Battle Creek The city of Battle Creek has issued a boil water advisory for some residents as it has shut down a portion of the water system for improvements or repairs requiring crews to reduce the water pressure there is potential for bacteria to enter the system Residents in the following areas have been issued the advisory Wednesday: "The city has issues this advisory as a precaution Such a precaution is recommended when we must reduce water pressure in the system," according to a city news release The city of Battle Creek advises residents to boil their tap water before consuming it Residents should use boiled or bottled water for drinking Boiling kills bacteria and other organisms in the water "The City of Battle Creek is working to restore water pressure as soon as possible after the improvement/repair work is completed and collecting bacteriological samples from around the affected area," according to the news release "The city will test these samples to determine that the water quality meets the state drinking water standards The City of Battle Creek will inform the local news media and post updates on the City’s website “Alert Center” when tests show no bacteria and you no longer need to boil your water." Sign up for alerts at battlecreekmi.gov/notifyme The sampling process and testing process takes a minimum of 24 hours This boil water advisory will remain in effect until sample results verify the water is safe to drink please contact the city of Battle Creek at 269-966-3493 General guidelines on ways to lessen the risk of infection by microbes are available from the Environmental Protection Agency Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 800-426-4791 BATTLE CREEK - Meet the 2025 Battle Creek Enquirer All-City Girls Basketball Team The team is made up of members of the six city girls basketball programs and voted on by the city coaches and the Enquirer sports staff MORE: 2025 Battle Creek Enquirer All-City Girls Basketball Coach of the Year MORE: 2025 Battle Creek Enquirer All-City Boys Basketball Team A four-year all-city selection and returning all-league pick in the Interstate 8 Conference Ella Chantrenne was a team captain and important leader on a young Harper Creek squad that went 8-16 on the season Chantrenne was a standout outside shooter from her forward position and a key two-way player as a solid defender The senior averaged 12.1 points per game with 6.5 rebounds and 2.1 steals Addi Dzwik is already in her third year on the varsity and has earned her third all-city selection while surpassing the 1,000-point career points threshold The Tiger guard averaged 18.2 points per game with 8.7 rebounds As well as being the team's primary scorer Dzwik is also a standout defender as she is a returning selection on the all-league team in the Southern Central Athletic Association as the Tigers were 10-14 overall Ky'liera Guest is in her third year as a varsity starter for Battle Creek Central as the junior point guard helped control the floor for the Bearcats in the halfcourt Guest led BCC to a share of the Southwestern Michigan Athletic Conference East Division title as the Bearcats were also a district finalists A three-year varsity member in her second year as a starter Madelyn Hensel directed the Pennfield offense as the point guard becoming a scoring threat and a defensive stopper during her junior season Hensel averaged 7.1 points per game with 4.1 rebounds and 4.0 assists for a 9-14 Panther team earning honorable mention all-league honors in the Interstate 8 Conference A four-year varsity starter and three-year all-city selection Natalie Hensel finished up a standout career at Pennfield as the team's leading score (15.6 pg) and rebounder (8.1 pg) on a 9-14 club Hensel finished as a 1,000-point career scorer and set the school record in career blocks with 247 as the 5-foot 11-inch forward was a standout two-way player on offense and defense earning all-league honors in the Interstate 8 Conference A'Mya Hodges has been a starter for four years for Battle Creek Central and a returning all-league and all-city member becoming an 1,000-point career scorer during her senior year The Bearcat shooting guard is also a standout defensive player After scoring 21.3 points per game last year she averaged 13.2 points per game this season Hodges helped BCC to a share of the Southwestern Michigan Athletic Conference East Division title as the Bearcats were also a district finalists Myliyah Mosley continued to dominate during her junior season as she averaged 15.1 points per game she had a season-high of 30 points in a game Mosley was a key defender in the paint from her forward position for the Bearcats Mosley helped BCC to a share of the Southwestern Michigan Athletic Conference East Division title as the Bearcats were also a district finalists Camille Oxley took her game to the next level as a senior as a double-digit scorer averaging 12.8 points per game to go along with 5.2 rebounds helped lead Lakeview to a 14-9 record and to a Southwestern Michigan Athletic Conference East Division title Cassidy Pratley showed her skills at the forward spot for Harper Creek as she averaged 6.5 points per game and 8.0 rebounds A key senior leader for a young Harper Creek team that went 8-16 overall 1-inch frame to help her dominate on defense Pratley has signed to play volleyball at Western Michigan University Anya Rankin missed all of last season due to injury The senior forward returned this year to lead Lakeview to a 14-9 record overall and to a Southwestern Michigan Athletic Conference East Division title with 12.9 points per game has signed to play at Division II Northwood University Da'nayah Williams had a standout junior season showcasing ball handling skills at the point guard position doing a good job of getting the Spartans in their offensive sets Williams finished the year averaging 7.5 points per game with 3.9 assists and 2.4 steals Williams helped lead Lakeview to a Southwestern Michigan Athletic Conference East Division title as the Spartans went 14-9 overall Jayna Schwartz was a key senior leader and team captain from her point guard position for a young Calhoun Christian team that went 7-14 overall Schwartz showcased an ability to run the team in the halfcourt as well as being one of the top outside shooters in the area with 73 3-pointers on the season hitting a school-record seven in a game twice and making five in a quarter once Schwartz finished with 16.5 points per game Zakarionna Caldwell (Battle Creek Central) — Two Battle Creek residents facing multiple counts of child abuse have been bound over to circuit court waived their right to a preliminary examination on Wednesday 29 with two counts of third-degree child abuse and one count of fourth-degree child abuse in the case didn't appear for her scheduled arraignment on Feb The court then issued a bench warrant for Hewitt's arrest but the 27-year-old eventually turned herself in 28 with two counts of third-degree child abuse and one count of fourth-degree child abuse in the case five of Hewitt's children were removed by child protective services from a home that she and Yorks were staying at on Inn Road Hewitt's five-year-old son answered the door with a knife The cadet asked the five-year-old to get an adult “It was clearly accessible by a five-year-old so it was not stored properly," BCPD Detective Trevor Hoard said Road patrol officers called to the scene witnessed what was described as "poor living conditions." human feces and old moldy food were discovered on the ground scissors and other sharp objects on the floor it was very unsafe for any kid let alone an adult to be there," Hoard said BCPD cited the home for several code violations The home has since been condemned by the City of Battle Creek “I would say it's at the top of our priority list as an agency is making sure the kids of our community are safe," Hoard said Calhoun County Prosecutor David Gilbert is urging the community to practice safe gun storage “This is the second case we have had since the safe storage act took place last year hasn’t even been a year yet," he said very important to have your gun stored safely.” Yorks and Hewitt will have to start the process over and will appear for the following unless they enter a guilty plea: It is unclear when both are expected to return in court Yorks and Hewitt both bonded out on $1,000 cash/surety bond according to Calhoun County Prosecutor David Gilbert by Donny Ede and Autumn Pitchure | News Channel 3 — Police in Battle Creek said they are searching for a semi truck driver involved in a hit-and-run crash The crash happened at the intersection of Michigan and Hamblin Avenue on March 17 had to go to the hospital and was treated for a minor knee injury Dash camera video from Johnson's car shows the semi truck driver cross over into the left turn lane where Johnson was stopped The semi truck driver then crashes into Johnson's car without ever stopping before fleeing the scene “It felt like being on a roller coaster when you just hit a really hard angle," Johnson said Johnson told News Channel 3 Wednesday that his car was totaled “I am at square one with trying to find another vehicle," Johnson said "I have to start that process over on a car that was almost paid off.” Johnson is still shocked the semi truck driver never stopped to check up on him "It would have never crossed my mind for the truck to keep going," Johnson said "I do believe there is such a thing as empathy if they had stopped and at least apologized it would have been a different story.” Michigan and Hamblin Avenue is a busy intersection with heavy truck traffic Johnson has seen numerous semi trucks have to readjust or cars have to back up so they don't get hit "It happens way too frequently," Johnson said "I feel like there needs to be some re-routing of traffic." Lieutenant Jim Martens with the Battle Creek Police Department told News Channel 3 police were able to collect surveillance video from a stoplight where the crash happened and say the truck company is headquartered out of state "We're going to reach out to an agency that is probably a state agency to attempt to make contact with the company," Martens said “Hopefully we can locate the individual because that disregard I really feel like someone like that shouldn’t be driving a semi truck because they could have killed someone." The high school wrestling season has come to an end in the Battle Creek area Vote here for the 2024-25 Battle Creek Enquirer 'Readers Choice' High School Wrestler of the Year MORE: 2024-25 Battle Creek Enquirer All-Area Wrestling Team Here's our list of the Enquirer High School Wrestler of the year poll (in alphabetical order): The Rotary Club of Battle Creek has donated $2,000 to the Burma Center to support humanitarian relief efforts after a devastating earthquake recently hit Myanmar The funds will assist with the provision of essential aid and medical supplies for impacted communities "The donation reflects the Rotary Club’s ongoing commitment to global service and its mission to create lasting change both locally and internationally," the club said in a statement More: Deaths in Myanmar earthquake pass 3,000 as heat and rain fuel disease risk The Battle Creek-based Burma Center has longstanding ties to the Burmese community and is uniquely positioned to direct support where it is needed most The organization continues to work closely with partners on the ground to ensure that relief reaches those affected by the earthquake The contribution is part of the Rotary Club’s broader mission to promote peace and provide disaster response wherever it is needed For more information about the Rotary Club of Battle Creek and its initiatives, visit battlecreekrotary.org or contact info@battlecreekrotary.org Don't miss out: Guarantee quick access to local news with the Enquirer app The Best Of Battle Creek series in the Enquirer is being expanded this year to include the top players on basketball courts throughout the area "Who is the Best Of Battle Creek?" as we look at each position in basketball among the city/area high school teams Best Point Guards in Girls Basketball Best Shooting Guards in Girls Basketball Next up are the forwards for the city/area girls basketball teams: Why she is the best forward in the city/area: After missing time early in the season due to injury Ali Bates has made a big impact for Gull Lake upon her return as she is averaging 8.5 points per game and 5.2 rebounds Why she is the best forward in the city/area: The top scorer for Athens Maria Bronsink is averaging 11.2 points per game to go along with 2.3 steals a game Why she is the best forward in the city/area: In her third year on the varsity Zakarionna Caldwell has been a key player for Battle Creek Central on its way to a Southwestern Michigan Athletic Conference East Division title Caldwell is averaging 10.1 points and 8.1 rebounds per game Why she is the best forward in the city/area: The go-to player for Marshall Emily Dingee is a do-it-all kind of player for the Redhawks as a returning all-league player Dingee is averaging 17.7 points per game with 6.1 rebounds and 2.7 steals Why she is the best forward in the city/area: A sophomore who has been a starter on the varsity since she was in 8th grade Addi Dzwik has scored nearly 400 points just this season and has already surpassed 1,000 for her career if you count her varsity games that she played while in middle school Why she is the best forward in the city/area: A three-year starter as a senior Alivia Endsley is averaging a double-double for the Broncos putting up 11.1 points per game to go along with 10.4 rebounds Why she is the best forward in the city/area: A team captain and returning all-league and all-area player Jaidyn Klimp is one of the top scorers in the area with 19.4 points per game and 9.8 rebounds She also has 116 steals on the season while only turning the ball over 19 times Why she is the best forward in the city/area: An all-around athlete the 6-foot Cassidy Pratley brings a contagious competitive drive to her team the returning senior starter has a well-rounded game with 7.5 rebounds She has signed to play Division 1 volleyball at Western Michigan University Why she is the best forward in the city/area: An all-around player Magan Priesman is a forward that can score and see the floor well enough to lead Olivet in assists Priesman can score on the drive and is averaging 10.4 points per game with 2.2 assists and 3.5 steals Why she is the best forward in the city/area: An all-city player as a sophomore The senior forward has returned to lead Lakeview to a Southwestern Michigan Athletic Conference East Division title with 11.9 points per game Rankin has signed to play at Division II Northwood University Why she is the best forward in the city/area: Given a bigger role as a starter in her junior season Peyton Rhoades has become a key part of the Pennfield offense with her ability to attack the basket and shoot the 3-pointer Rhoades is averaging 7.1 rebounds per game to go along with 5.1 points per game Why she is the best forward in the city/area: A returning all-area and all-league selection Holly Talbert has taken her game to another level as a junior while leading Climax-Scotts to a conference title Talbert is averaging 16.6 points per game with 5.1 rebounds and 5.1 steals Why she is the best forward in the city/area: Averaging a double-double Raegan Thaxton has made an impact on the Colon team as a junior after playing a supportive role the last two seasons She leads the team in scoring and rebounding at 10.1 points per game and 10.2 rebounds Why she is the best forward in the city/area: The leading scorer for Homer and a three-year varsity player Alivia Warner is having a breakout junior season with 16.1 points per game She tied a school record with 17 rebounds in a game and broke a school record with 15 made free throws in a game Why she is the best forward in the city/area: A captain for Union City Ellie Williams led her team last year in points and rebounds and was voted Best Offensive Player Williams is averaging 10.7 points per game this season with a team-high 9.5 rebounds BATTLE CREEK - When teams play for a third time When that third win comes with a district championship along with it That was the scenario on Friday night between league foes Marshall and Harper Creek With Marshall and Bellevue earning the all-important deciding tie-breaking win between the rivals MORE: Lakeview wins back-to-back district titles Marshall defeated Harper Creek 58-49 in this Division 2 district title game in boys basketball action at Three Rivers High School on Friday Marshall and Harper Creek had split a pair of games during the regular season with each sharing the Interstate 8 Conference title Marshall doesn't have to share anything else as the Redhawks take the district crown Marshall (18-6) will play Edwardsburg (18-7) in a Division 2 regional semifinal at Harper Creek on Tuesday We turned a corner after losing to Harper earlier this year we have played some inspired basketball," Marshall coach Anthony Miller said "We wanted another shot at them because we knew we could play better than we did that last time but a big third quarter by Marshall made the difference Austin Miller had 21 points and seven rebounds to lead Marshall with Clark Erwin adding 15 points and Austin Burns getting 12 points Harper Creek was led by TreQuon Cotton with 16 points as the Beavers end the season at 18-6 But it would have been disappointing no matter when that happened," Harper Creek coach Matt Bowling said I am really proud of what we accomplished this year I am a proud coach of a great group of players." Philip 68-55 in this Division 4 district championship game at St Philip split its two league games with the Tigers hanging on to win the Southern Central Athletic Association West Division title Bellevue finished second in the league race but the Broncos won on Friday to earn a district title for the first time in two seasons but we struggled the last two years and have lost in the districts the last two years," Bellevue coach Joe Costello said Philip 21-9 in the third quarter on its way to the district crown Carson Dahlem and Seth Keson each had 22 points to lead Bellevue (16-4) Philip (19-5) with Carter Dzwik getting 14 points and Lincoln Dzwik and Jackson Dzwik each chipping in 11 points Bellevue will play in a Division 4 regional semifinal against host Wyoming Tri-unity Christian on Tuesday Kalamazoo Christian held off Galesburg-Augusta 69-64 to win a Division 3 district title G-A had won 14 straight games heading into the final and finishes the season at 19-5 Jeremiah Mann led G-A with 16 points with Giovonni Evans adding 14 Division 4 at Burr OakColon defeated host Burr Oak 52-34 in this Division 4 district final Colon improves to 18-6 and will face Concord (16-9) in a regional semifinal at Mendon on Tuesday — No one got hurt after a fire broke out at a home in Battle Creek on Monday according to the Battle Creek Fire Department Firefighters were called to a home on Rittenhouse Avenue between Caroline Street and Capital Avenue SW firefighters saw smoke coming from the back of the home and found the fire burning on the second floor the fire is believed to have caused $12,000 worth of property damage the cause of the fire remains under investigation — An investigation has been launched after shots were fired outside of a Battle Creek home Friday afternoon A neighbor told News Channel 3 she called 911 at about 1:30 p.m after hearing three gunshots and screams at a home across the street on West Spaulding Avenue between Miller Avenue and Bedford Road North When officers from the Battle Creek Police Department (BCPD) arrived they said they found that one man had been shot in the driveway area outside of the home He was then taken to Bronson Hospital in Kalamazoo where police said he was initially in critical condition but is now in stable condition there were two other people inside the home at the time of the incident was taken to the Calhoun County Jail for attempted murder The suspect and the victim are believed to have known each other This incident remains under investigation by BCPD who said there is no immediate threat to the public Anyone with information is asked to contact Calhoun County Consolidated Dispatch at 269-781-0911 or Silent Observer at 269-964-3888 by Katie Sergent and Autumn Pitchure | News Channel 3 BATTLE CREEK, Mich. — A West Michigan teen will spend the next 35-60 years in prison for the 2023 shooting death of Jack Snyder Justice Chimner previously pleaded guilty to a charge of open murder in the case as part of a Dec Chimner and Estes III were walking along Battle Creek Avenue on Feb who was driving home from his girlfriend's birthday party offered both boys a ride home out of kindness The pair accepted Snyder's offer and got into the car but as the two teens tried to carjack the high school senior Chimner later admitted that he pulled the trigger while Estes III claimed he was just a bystander that would be the one thing in the world I would do," Chimner said during sentencing Monday expressing his remorse and taking responsibility for killing the 17-year-old Battle Creek senior “I have come to realize the severity of my mistake and I am truly sorry for any distress I may have caused to the Snyder family Chimner’s lawyer added how the 15-year-old had an unstable upbringing that lacked parental structure believed Chimner's past contributed to the decision he made the night her son was killed “It wasn't new that he was a trouble maker "Clearly nobody did enough to stop it.” about a stealing a car for money before Snyder was killed an adult conviction with a juvenile sentence and has since been placed under the ward of the Department of Health and Human Services Estes III will also remain within a juvenile home until he turns 18 years old and court will also have to have a hearing every 90 days to monitor the teenager's progress Estes III could have his sentence either lowered or increased according to the ruling handed down by Judge John Hallacy Parsons was arrested and ultimately charged with felony murder about 22 days after Estes III's sentencing on Jan Parsons admitted the Snapchat name and account was his and that his account was used to contact Chimner Parsons admitted to "being present" while discussing the carjacking and believed Chimner had a gun that he had taken from his mother but stated a friend had the conversation using his account stated Parsons was the only person present during the conversation about the carjacking "He [Parsons] was in the planning and was the leader of sending the two juveniles to steal a car," Jordan said "He had also asked to buy a firearm from Chimner at one point too.”' 28 he "didn't make anybody pull the trigger." and just because he looks the way he do does not make him the person everyone is pinning him to be," Broadus said Parsons is scheduled to appear for a preliminary examination on March 21 according to court documents obtained by News Channel 3 The high school basketball season has come to an end in the Battle Creek area Vote here for the 2024-25 Battle Creek Enquirer 'Readers Choice' Girls High School Basketball Player of the Year Here's our list of Enquirer Girls Basketball Player of the Year poll (in alphabetical order): BATTLE CREEK - We are listing the top 25 high school girls soccer players in the area and asking readers to vote for who will end up being the Battle Creek Enquirer Girls Soccer Player of the Year when the season is over It's the 2025 Battle Creek Enquirer Preseason Girls Soccer Player of the Year poll and some players are already serving notice that they are ready for breakout years But here's a preseason list of possible choices MORE: 2025 Battle Creek Enquirer Girls Soccer Season Preview You can vote for who you believe to be the Preseason Battle Creek Enquirer Girls Soccer Player of the Year below The list of athletes was gathered from the collection of players to watch for the area in our season preview Here's our list of 25 girls soccer players in our Preseason Enquirer Girls Soccer Player of the Year poll (in alphabetical order):