I'm your neighborhood reporter in Charlotte and Eaton Rapids I'm looking forward to learning about mid-Michigan and being a part of this community (The following is a transcription of the full broadcast story) Families across the country are feeling the financial pressure of youth sports A survey commissioned by Good Sports says 75% of families have considered removing their child from an activity because of costs I caught up with parents in my neighborhood on how they are managing the rising cost "What we have tried to do as a family is just really prioritize what our child want and what they're most interested in," Eaton County resident Nic Kronberg said we just find a way to make it work because we know it can get costly," Eaton County resident Ana Jaurez said Eaton County resident Ana Jaurez tells me her 10-year-old son and 11-year-old daughter participate in one sport each because of the rising cost year after year her son playing football and her daughter a cheerleader "Definitely they have to choose which one they like more because we can't afford to do all of them," Eaton County resident Ana Jaurez said I also met Eaton County neighbor Nic Kronberg who is the head coach for the JV baseball team at Charlotte High School and he says they rely on community donations to help with funds like cleats and gloves "It's about relying on the community as much as you can been very fortunate with our fundraiser efforts at our high school level," Eaton County resident Nic Kronberg said 95 percent of parents agree that children benefit from playing sports she echoed a similar message on how fundraising and volunteering go a long way in helping make sure all kids in sports are accommodated we need people to volunteer for the clock and hold the flags it's a great community and everyone pitches in with that," Eaton County resident Ana Jaurez said Want to see more local news? 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Select from these options: Neighborhood News Follow us on X Like us on Facebook CHARLOTTE — A jury convicted an Eaton Rapids man of assaulting and unlawfully imprisoning three teenage girls in August of 2023 along a rural road near Eaton Rapids faces more than a decade in prison when he's sentenced on March 19 The jury convicted him on all 10 charges after a four-day trial Eaton County Prosecutor Doug Lloyd's office said in a statement The teenage girls "were walking along Wilcox Road near Bellevue Highway (in Brookfield Township)," prosecutors said adding that he "confronted" them and then "produced a firearm The girls were all younger than 16 at the time MORE: Williamston man sought by US Marshals arrested after high-speed chase, crash near Howell MORE: Charlotte lumberyard damaged in overnight fire A message was left seeking comment from Eaton County Public Defender Timothy Havis Nelson's 10 charges include three counts each of unlawful imprisonment assault with a dangerous weapon and felony firearm The jury also convicted him on a misdemeanor charge of reckless use of a firearm The unlawful imprisonment charges carry a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison and the felony firearm charge adds a mandatory two years in prison to any sentence Eaton County Circuit Court Judge Kelly Morton is scheduled to sentence Nelson on March 19 Michigan State Police investigated the case Contact reporter Matt Mencarini at mjmencarini@lsj.com A critical Eaton County Public Safety Millage vote is less than one week away it will cost the average taxpayer roughly 12 dollars a month it's no surprise that the impact varies quite a bit person to person We brought a whiteboard to Evelyn Bay and asked neighbors if they knew how much they would pay who didn't support this when it was first on the ballot it's really disturbing to me," Charlotte neighbor Harry Moore said who is for the millage and would pay $11.30 a month "I've heard of a situation where someone was waiting for over an hour for MSP as someone was trying to break into their house," Charlotte neighbor Mikaela Bliven said "I don't want our prosecuting attorney to have to prioritize cases I want to have animal control that we use frequently I also want to have our sheriff's department." Charlotte neighbor Mikaela Bliven said I spoke with Eaton Place cook Jonathan Burns who believes the crime isn't bad in town and doesn't see the need to raise taxes the county is always asking for more money for the court systems and police departments," Eaton Place cook Jonathan Burns said it will add up to everybody that is paying their taxes it adds up quite a bit," Eaton Place cook Jonathan Burns said Want to know how much the millage could cost you? Click here LANSING - A man and a woman were arrested early Thursday in Eaton Rapids after a domestic violence incident at a home assisted by Ingham County Sheriff’s Office deputies and Michigan State Police troopers to a home in the 900 block of Raeburn Street on a complaint someone had been handcuffed and assaulted Police were unable to get anyone to come out of the residence after making “multiple announcements,” and entered the home with “grave concern for the occupants.” They found four people inside including a man with apparent injuries to his face Police have asked Eaton County Prosecutor Doug Lloyd to charge them with aggravated domestic violence and unlawful imprisonment MORE: State police: Suspect arrested after attempted auto theft at Eaton County rail facility The injured man and another person whose gender was not released were released by police after questioning Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Ken Snyder at 517-507-3534 or ksnyder@cityofeatonrapids.gov Eaton Rapids police were also assisted by the Eaton Area Emergency Medical Service University of Michigan Health-Sparrow Eaton opened a new infusion center to help our neighbors battling cancer and give them care closer to home "We can provide care close to home," University of Michigan Health-Sparrow Eaton President Linda Reetz said University of Michigan Health-Sparrow Eaton opened their new Infusion Center expanding access to leading-edge cancer care so neighbors have treatment access in their backyard President Linda Reetz tells me patients won't have to worry about a long commute anymore "It's so important for our chemo patients because therapy for them is not once a month sometimes it's many days a week," University of Michigan Health-Sparrow Eaton President Linda Reetz said "We will receive our first patient on Monday May 5th," University of Michigan Health-Sparrow Eaton President Linda Reetz said Reetz tells me this has been years in the making they received grants from the state to finish this four-million-dollar project I also caught University of Michigan Health Hospital Board Member Harper Wilder who believes the community will embrace this "For some of these patients to have to drive even 30 minutes just to go to Lansing it sometimes provides a hardship to keep care close to home is exciting," University of Michigan Health Hospital board member Harper Wildern said who has had family members who have had cancer "Once you get the community to embrace and recognize how important a service like this is they rally around the hospital," University of Michigan Health-Sparrow Eaton President Linda Reetz said EATON RAPIDS — A man threatened police with a chainsaw then barricaded himself in a room after officers approached him over a potential ordinance violation Eaton Rapids Police Chief Larry Joe Weeks said in a news release Two city officers and the Eaton Rapids Fire Department were called to the 500 block of Lake Street "to investigate a possible violation of the city's open burning ordinance" and approached a 44-year-old man "After initial contact the alleged suspect started a chainsaw and then threatened them with it," the release said "The officers tried de-escalating the situation by talking him into dropping the chainsaw The suspect eventually dropped the saw and began to flee The officers unsuccessfully deployed a Taser before he fled into his home MORE: Police: 1 of 3 Holt teens playing with gun accidentally shot and with the help of the Eaton County Sheriff’s Office Charlotte police and Michigan State Police city police entered the home and forced their way into the room "The suspect resisted but was taken into custody without injury to him or the officers," Weeks said The man was taken to the Eaton County Jail and police are seeking charges of felonious assault and resisting and obstructing Contact Ken Palmer at kpalmer@lsj.com I'm here inside Northwestern Elementary School in Eaton Rapids that's been closed for over a decade but now there is a bright future ahead as this place will turn into an apartment building I've talked with neighbors in the past in Eaton Rapids who have had a hard time finding a home "We had some difficult times in Michigan with the housing market," Owner of Century Construction Aaron Tobias said Tobias owns Century Construction out of Lansing I talked with him about his plan to turn the old Northwestern Elementary School in Eaton Rapids into an apartment building with almost 30 units "I saw a lot of opportunities for buildings and heavier construction buildings to be repurposed into something new," Owner of Century Construction Aaron Tobias said "It was a perfect location because they had a need for housing as a lot of places do," Owner of Century Construction Aaron Tobias said Eaton Rapids Building and Zoning Offical LeRoy Hummel tells me that families with children who end up moving into this former school can make memories because of what's close by "Especially with the park out back," Building and Zoning Offical LeRoy Hummel said Eaton Rapids Mayor Pam Colestock couldn't meet for an interview but gave me this statement "We are so excited for this project at the former Northwestern school This will bring life and value back into this historic neighborhood and we are proud that Century Construction chose Eaton Rapids for this important housing project" Tobias tells me the project could start as early as the end of this year rental rates for the apartments haven't yet been decided GRAND RAPIDS —The National Weather Service has issued a severe thunderstorm warning for northwestern Eaton County until 11:15 a.m Winds could reach 60 mph and accompany quarter-size hail, according to an NWS alert “Prepare immediately for large hail and damaging winds," it said "People outside should move immediately to shelter inside a strong building That National Weather Service has warned that much of the Lower Peninsula could see thunderstorms and severe weather on April 18 I'm your Eaton County neighborhood reporter Travis Hicks I'm here in downtown Charlotte because there was a budget meeting Friday morning at the courthouse County officials went over budget cuts that will happen later this year regardless of whether the public safety millage passes in May Here's what I found out about the impact on neighbors through September this fiscal year with our budget after that point is when we will see major changes," Eaton County Commissioner for District 9 Brian Droscha said tells me cuts to different departments in Eaton will happen regardless of the outcome of the millage it does not cover the other departments," Eaton County Commissioner for District 9 Brian Droscha said it's going to be more difficult to reestablish if the state decides to share more revenue with the counties," Eaton County Commissioner for District 9 Brian Droscha said I also caught up with Deputy Administrator Ben Dawson to see what officials are doing to salvage the situation by looking into grants "Broadly,we are participating both at the state level and the federal level in an attempt to get as much or any money as we can," Deputy Administrator Ben Dawson said there are going to be cuts we going to try to give as much notice as possible; it will play out as part of the budget process," Deputy Administrator Ben Dawson said A new Teen center is coming to my neighborhood The goal is to create a new space for teenagers and help keep them out of trouble "The mission is to get the kids connected with the community and give them the skills they need to really thrive once they exit our doors." Program Director Grace Fannin said Program Director Grace Fannin tells me the new teen center will be huge in keeping 6th through 12th graders academically focused by learning woodshop Grace says that the students even got to add their personal touch to the building they told us they did not want it to look like a school it does not look like a school." Program Director Grace Fannin said April 14th was the groundbreaking ceremony for a three-million-dollar project that was state-funded according to Chair of Eaton Rapids Community Alliance Cheryl Wichman "It is a mile for the kids to walk from the current High School to this building The new building is directly across from the school complex so all they have to do is walk across the street." Chair of Eaton Rapids Community Alliance Cheryl Wichman said Fannin tells me that being a part of this community her whole life has made her want to help give back to the next generation we can evolve in that building to meet those needs of the community," Program Director Grace Fannin said "The building will be done around Thanksgiving." Program Director Grace Fannin said While Wichman is hoping the building will be done in the fall she says the students won't use the building until January of 2026 We held our first-ever "Let's Talk" event nearly two weeks ago at the Eaton County Expo and we heard neighbors' concerns about roads including this one right here on Stewart Road between McConnell and Vermontville highway near Potterville I took one neighbor's concerns to the county road commission So I went to check out the road for myself I couldn't reach the man who told us about the road greasy kind of clay." Charlotte neighbor Neal Rohrs said Rohrs tells me he has lived in Eaton County for many years and has always had a rough time driving on this road "Better go slow or it's going to be a bad ride," Charlotte neighbor Neal Rohrs said I called the Eaton County Road Commission and learned that they are responsible for the upkeep So I took the neighbors' concerns about the road to the engineer manager of the road commission we don't have very many on that section road I was surprised to get a call from you," Matthew Hannahs Engineer Manager said Hannahs says the commission does regular grading of the road with dust control to catch potential issues and he storngly recommends neighbors to call the road commission for help our receptionist will do a service request and that will get to our area supervisors so they know it's an issue they will go look at it so we can address it," Matthew Hannahs Engineer Manager said I'm your Charlotte neighborhood reporter Travis Hicks We have been following the upcoming public safety millage closely and the Animal Control building is at risk of not finding shelter for dogs I caught up with one of our neighbors who has been rescuing dogs who have faced neglect and been abandoned I have a joke that I love dogs more than people," Charlotte neighbor Nicole Christensen said Charlotte neighbor Nicole Christensen loves dogs She currently has 6 in her home and is ready to help more "So many dogs are found in horrible conditions." Charlotte neighbor Nicole Christensen said "It saves a life," Charlotte neighbor Nicole Christensen said And Christensen is ready to house dogs that might need somewhere to stay based on what happens with the public safety millage vote coming up next month I covered a countywide tax vote that neighbors voted down here in Eaton County Some of the money from that proposal would have paid for upgrades at the county animal control building There's a public safety millage on the upcoming May ballot some of the money will go toward upgrades at the animal control building Eaton County Communications Director Logan Bailey says animal control as a whole could shut down "There is a building we can't afford to replace without more revenue and an office we can't afford to staff without more revenue." Communication Director Logan Bailey said "If Eaton County didn't have animal control we would not be housing dogs anymore," Communication Director Logan Bailey said but we're also talking with neighbors who are against the millage I caught up with a neighbor who plans to vote no "So I think a raise is going to affect people that's part of the reason I would vote no," Eaton County neighbor Christensen is ready to continue to help animals that need it it saves more lives," Charlotte neighbor Nicole Christensen said We'll continue our coverage of the public safety millage that's coming up in Eaton County where Eaton County officials are asking neighbors to consider a public safety millage that will be on the May ballot I caught up with neighbors who are for it and against it "I'm against for sure," Eaton Place cook Jonathan Burns said they're awesome and we need them on the job," Charlotte neighbor Lou'Ann Harag said Eaton County officials are asking neighbors to consider a public safety millage on the May ballot We caught up with neighbors here at the Eaton Place restaurant and heard mixed views Eaton Place cook Jonathan Burns believes if the millage passes it will hurt residents' pockets in the end but at the end of the year it will add up to everybody that is paying their taxes if the Sheriff's road patrol were to be cut "There has been a couple of times we needed them at our house and they are right on it they don't make you wait they take care of things we need them," Charlotte neighbor Lou'Ann Harag said "It's better to have them when you need them when someone is breaking in your home with a gun then you will wish you paid the twelve dollars." Charlotte neighbor Lou'Ann Harag said CHARLOTTE — When county health inspectors visit local restaurants they document problems that need addressing to meet standards set by Michigan food codes and law The most serious problems are considered priority violations which present potential health hazards and should be corrected immediately Priority foundation violations do not present immediate health hazards but should be corrected in a timely manner follow-up inspections and reports may be generated and this information isn't an indication that violations at any establishment are an ongoing issue Here are the most serious violations found in Eaton County restaurants and eating establishments for March: Two priority and two priority foundation violations were found at: Temperature issues: A container of prepared sausage gravy was in a reach-in cooler reading between 43 and 47 degrees Fahrenheit over the cold standard of 41 degrees Fahrenheit or below ambient airwas 49-52 degrees Fahrenheit and "food items in the bottom of the cooler and a container of cooked penne reading around 50 F The top portion of the cooler was holding items such as sliced deli meats and sliced tomatoes between 44 and 46 F." A container of house-made salsa in a reach-in cooler didn't have any date marking A container of house-made BBQ mustard was in the same cooler with a prep date of 11/20 Cooling methods: A container of prepared sausage gravy was observed in a reach-in cooler with an internal temperature of 43-47 F The gravy was in a large plastic container "The PIC stated that their usual method is to initially cool food items such as the sausage gravy by placing the container into an ice bath As the food had been prepared the night before it may be that the ice bath was not at a sufficient level for surrounding the gravy or that there was not enough ice in the slurry." Two priority violations and a priority foundation violation were found at: The facility's prep-cooler was observed with raw shrimp above ready-to-eat food items The facility's prep-cooler was observed storing medicine and vitamins above food The facility's cookline had multiple utensils with grease and old food debris The facility's knives hanging on clean magnet were observed with accumulation of old food debris Temperature issues: Two cooler units were not holding food items at 41 degrees Fahrenheit or below A cold well was holding cooked spaghetti noodles and cut lettuce between 46 and 50 degrees Fahrenheit Sewage and waste disposal: At the time of inspection water was observed backed up from the floor drain that the dining room beverage station drains into A priority and two priority foundation violations were found at: Cheese dip was in a hot holding cabinet at 83 degrees Fahrenheit along with beef and gravy at 108 degrees Fahrenheit "Corrective Action(s): Ensure that TCS (time/temperature control for safety) foods that have been prepared and cooled are rapidly reheated for service to 165 F within 2 hours to prevent bacteria from growing to dangerous levels." There were no date markings for smoked chicken wings and several house-made sauces in the walk-in cooler House-made sauces were observed without date markings in a prep cooler The water heater was struggling to supply hot water to all handwashing sinks Backflow issues: The mop sink was missing its AVB (atmospheric vacuum breaker) cap A priority violation and priority foundation violation were found at: A prep cooler near the cook line was found holding TCS (time/temperature control for safety) food items in the danger zone "This included cut lettuce at 55 F and sliced tomatoes at 44 to 45 F in the top of the cooler as well as raw burger meat at 48 F and coleslaw at 44 F in the bottom of the cooler." The handwashing sink was not accessible because several bags of thawing beef were being stored in it Temperature issues: A prep cooler across from the cook line was holding a few portions of chicken and shaved prime rib between 46 and 48 degrees Fahrenheit "It was determined that the containers had been overfilled as only the packages on top were in the danger zone As it was not known how long the affected meat was above 41 F it was discarded at the time of inspection." Also three cans on a storage rack had dents on their seams that compromised the integrity of the seal "The sanitizing compartment of the 3-compartment sink was observed with a dish drying rack in it along with a table placed in front of the compartment The PIC (person in charge) stated that the wash and rinse their dishes before placing them on the dish drying rack No sanitizing step is performed...After washing and rinsing dishes they must be placed in a chemical sanitizing solution to kill of remaining bacteria." The person in charge could not provide a chlorine test kit A bottle of Pepto Bismol was being stored directly on the wire rack The facility's hot holding unit was observed holding soups around 100-105 degrees Fahrenheit "Since it had not been 2 hours since the soups began reheating the PIC (person in charge) immediately took the soups to the stove to finish reheating The PIC reheated the soups up to 165 degrees F and it was mentioned that this would now be the method for reheating." The facility's buffet was holding pasta noodles at 53 degrees Fahrenheit and bean sprouts at 53 degrees Fahrenheit "The PIC stated the food items were brought out around 10:30 AM and it was discovered the ice was not fully surrounding the food items The PIC surrounded the food items with more ice during inspection." Three priority foundation violations were found at: There was no paper toweling at a hand washing sink Dish washing was happening at the hand washing sink A bottle of bleach was missing a manufacturer's label A priority foundation violation was found at: Incorrect prep dates in a walk-in cooler for salsa verde and chicken broth The handwashing sink in the men's restroom was not able to provide water hotter than 67 degrees Fahrenheit below the requirement of 100 degrees Fahrenheit Contact editor Susan Vela at svela@lsj.com or 248-873-7044 The Eaton County Expo will begin on Saturday I got a sneak preview inside and caught up with businesses that are excited about what the event brings to the community Tammey Wine is the organizer of the Eaton County Expo "You're going to see a lot of your friends not just from Charlotte but all over Eaton County," Eaton County Expo organizer Tammey Wine said The Eaton County Expo is an event where businesses can connect with neighbors from around the community "It's a lot of resources and a lot of fun," Eaton County Expo organizer Tammey Wine said I stopped by the Cruise Planner Organization and met Cindy Miller who says she loves to travel and is excited to connect with others over the weekend to help fulfill their travel dreams and it is my retirement job," cruise planner Cindy Miller said "I love meeting and greeting people and talking about their travel ideas and things they want to do," cruise planner Cindy Miller said I will be at the Eaton County Expo Saturday morning don't miss our event called "Let's Talk" on Saturday from noon to 2 p.m We invite you to tell us your story ideas and let us know about the most important issues you're seeing in your neighborhood The Eaton Rapids Fire Department has only one full-time employee and this station hasn't received a volunteer firefighter in almost a year as you can see the training room is empty "Going on for seven-eight years," Eaton Rapids fire Chief Roger McNutt said Eaton Rapids Fire Chief Roger McNutt tells me the Eaton Rapids Fire Department has gone nearly a decade without a full staff most of the departments had a waiting list it just doesn't happen anymore," Eaton Rapids Fire Chief Roger Mcnutt said other staff members told me they believe there's a lack of interest in being a firefighter among younger generations "The volunteer aspect of fire fighting has gone away with the newer generations," Eaton Rapids Fire Lieutenant David Hendon said McNutt says one way they've tried to recruit volunteers is by posting on social media it doesn't work that," Eaton Rapids Fire Chief Roger Mcnutt said And I found numbers that show Eaton Rapids is not alone According to the National Fire Protection Association There were more than 800,000 volunteer firefighters nationwide Eaton Rapids Fire Lieutenant David Hendon talked with me about the need for more people to step up "Everybody needs volunteer firefighters," Eaton Rapids Fire Lieutenant David Hendon said I learned about this issue while I was covering a different story in Eaton Rapids That was when the police department was able to get fully staffed but the police chief told me that the fire department was still struggling with staffing he also told me that even though they're short-staffed they're still ready to respond to calls and be there to help here is the information to contact the department (517) 663-8118 I'm here inside the Eaton Rapids police department the Eaton Rapids police department was struggling to hire officers "Incredibly challenging about a year ago," Eaton Rapids Police Chief Larry Weeks said the Eaton Rapids police department was operating with just six officers they're now fully staffed thanks to some welcome additions to their ranks "This something I wanted to do," Eaton Rapids Police Officer Michael Reynolds said a former counselor in the Eaton Rapids school district "I felt the drive to serve and be in law enforcement the opportunity came and here we are," Eaton Rapids Police Officer Michael Reynolds said He was inspired to join the Eaton Rapids police department after a conversation with Eaton Rapids school resource officer Jason Ferguson Eaton Rapids Chief Larry Weeks still needed to fill three spots and reach his goal of being fully staffed with 10 sworn officers the department relied on social media and community outreach "In addition to some of the advertising we have done that drew in a candidate as well that filled a role here we've assembled a really great team," Eaton Rapids Police Chief Larry Weeks said Gives them the ability to protect and serve more effectively than in the past Weeks says most of his staff has two years of experience or less something Reynolds sees as an advantage as they become a team "Helps us to kind of grow and go through the growing pains together some of us will be learning going through the same things," Eaton Rapids Police Officer Michael Reynolds said (The following is a transcription of the full broadcast story The Eaton County Expo began Saturday at the fairgrounds in Charlotte I caught up with vendors and businesses on why this event is so special to the community Many neighbors came out in support of local businesses stuff we don’t necessarily get to do as business owners,” Eagle Fit 247 owner Trevor Clough said Eagle Fit 247 owner Trevor Clough tells me he has enjoyed spending time in the gym his whole life But he says even more special is seeing what getting active your mental health,” Eagle Fit 247 owner Trevor Clough said Other businesses like Ramley Solutions can spend time at events like this to make more connections in the neighborhood ”Connect and get to know the company more than just a phone number,” social media coordinator for Ramley Solutions ”So Ramley Home Solutions [aims] to be a one-stop shop for your home a new deck,” social media coordinator for Ramley Solutions Clough says it's amazing to see the expo grow every year it's over 200 local businesses here to support our community,” Eagle Fit 247 owner Trevor Clough said Here are the unofficial results for contested races in Eaton County Township officesCarmel Township supervisor Non-partisan racesVillage of Vermontville trustee (vote for 3) Grand Ledge schools operating millage renewal Grand Ledge schools sinking fund millage renewal Eaton Rapids Area District Library millage Library funding questions are being posed to voters in many Michigan communities Most of the library requests on ballots this cycle are millages that would not necessarily add any new taxes These “renewal” ballot proposals ask voters whether they want to keep existing millages in place Libraries often put up informational pages and host town halls to explain and pitch their millage requests and other ballot proposals to voters The amount of time these millages last can vary some libraries are asking for as little as two years and others are asking for 10 The amounts and purposes of the millages vary greatly too – most millages are needed to keep the libraries’ budgets afloat but others might fund additional pressing issues The Jackson District Library in Jackson County, for example, is asking voters to renew its millage at a rate of 1.7411 mills – or 0.017411 cents per dollar of property value – for eight years Other millages on the ballot this year are smaller than that. The Barryton Public Library in Mecosta County is asking for a 1 mill renewal. And most of the other library millage renewals, like the Peter White Public Library in Marquette County If voters were to reject these renewal requests property taxes would decrease — but often not by much A Jackson County home with a $75,000 taxable value would pay $130.58 a year for the proposed library millage there. According to the state property tax estimator tool that home might still pay nearly $3,700 in other 2023 taxes without the library millage While it’s a small portion of the property tax these millages can be a big deal to the libraries that use them The Jackson library millage is used for general funding and accounts for 90% of the budget. Barryton Public Library says 80% of its funding comes from its millage The Peter White Public Library actually has five separate millage renewals for each Marquette County township it serves with similar rates The city of Marquette has a permanent library millage that does not need to be renewed If any of those five townships vote against their millage renewal the library says “services to the township will be terminated.” Residents of that township would not be able to get a free library card anymore but they would still be able to buy one to access books and services Only a few communities will see new library millages or increases on their ballots. One of the more notable increase requests comes from the Eaton Rapids Area District Library That library is coming back to voters a few months after they narrowly rejected a bond proposal, which is a type of loan That loan has to be paid off with a millage They also hope to add more space and update technology for patrons’ use The bond request comes with a 18 year millage to pay off the loan at .90 mills — 90 cents a year for every $1,000 in taxable value According to estimates released by the library the millage rate is expected to drop after the first 10 years Voters already rejected a version of this bond measure during this year’s August primary existing millage funds the library’s general operations Library leaders said that is not enough to cover renovations and maintain current operations The proposed millage would cost $90 a year for an Eaton Rapids home with a $100,000 taxable value. The state property tax estimator tool suggests that home might still pay nearly $4,120 in other 2023 taxes without the library millage EATON RAPIDS - An Owosso-based coffee roaster and chain with two locations is buying a downtown coffee shop Lisa Barna opened BlackDog Coffee on West Hamlin Street in 2022 "I love what we've done here," she said on Monday "The way that we've grown and developed a community here has been just amazing." established itself just over a decade ago and operates two coffee shops in Owosso and East Lansing has been Blackdog Coffee's roaster since the business opened "They roast all of our beans for us so this will be a pretty seamless transition for the community and for us," she said said Foster Coffee approached her about buying the business Foster Coffee co-founder Nick Pidek said his company has been interested in expanding and approached Barna because the shop was established and Foster Coffee already had a relationship with the business "We're very interested in downtowns," Pidek said "It's a downtown location that has a robust downtown Pidek said his company plans to invest approximately $30,000 in the space He said they'll also make some cosmetic and aesthetic changes I looked at what Foster can do for this community versus what I can bring to the table and once I took my ego out of it I realized that they're just going to be able to do so much more for Eaton Rapids than I will," Barna said According to a news release from the company the space will reopen as Foster Coffee in April “We are honored to build upon the foundation Lisa has laid,” Pidek said in the release “Our goal is to carry forward her focus on connection and local economic growth through coffee We started in a small town and have seen the impact a central gathering place through coffee can have on positive growth We’re excited to see that continue in Eaton Rapids.” I just knew that this is what the community deserves and the only thing standing in the way of that growth was me and I'm not going to be the one to inhibit development in downtown," Barna said The new owners also plan to nearly double the staff from seven to between 12 and 14 employees They are currently interviewing existing staff for positions and hope to retain several current employees Contact Reporter Rachel Greco at rgreco@lsj.com having to get new brakes is connected to getting her taxes done.It all has to do with that tax refund and I'm showing you how some of my other neighbors can She tells me she paid $800 last week to get new brakes "Repairs are not cheap on any vehicle I drive repairs a little more," Eaton Rapids resident Megan Crawford said And just like most of my neighbors can relate to car expenses most can also relate to filing and paying taxes the Eaton Rapids Library is set to offer what's called the VITA program That's short for volunteer income tax assistance "Free tax prep services for households earning up to $67,000," Eaton Rapids Library Director Bryonna Barton said Eaton Rapids Library Director Bryonna Barton told me that free tax service can be beneficial for neighbors who are looking to save money huge relief on their financial burdens or sure taxes are expensive to get done," Eaton Rapids Library Director Bryonna Barton said "It's just beneficial because everything has gone up in cost," Eaton Rapids resident Megan Crawford said "If you can save a tax prepare cost which is anywhere from $150 to $300-plus for your taxes is worth it," Eaton Rapids resident Megan Crawford said she qualifies for the federal child tax credit of $2,000 per year she's getting free help to make sure she sees that money "$2,000 can be a home repair," Eaton Rapids resident Megan Crawford said The VITA program starts this Friday at the Eaton Rapids Library There will be another session every month through April https://form.jotform.com/250125771807052 We know many of our Neighbors have news tips to share stories to tell and ideas that will make Mid-Michigan an even better place to live FOX 47 is holding its first Let's Talk event on Saturday April 12th at the Eaton County Expo in Charlotte Come visit our booth and share what's on your mind with members of the FOX 47 News Team We look forward to meeting you on Saturday I'm showing you different businesses that are opening in the neighborhood the community has been wonderful," Cozy Corner's Jennifer Davis said Cozy Corner is a bookstore that opened less than a year ago in downtown Charlotte and owner Jennifer Davis says that corner is how the store got its name "Always wanted to own a bookstore for years and years came up an opportunity on the corner so I took it," Cozy Corner Jennifer Davis said and she's living out her childhood dream by running the store that the store being a part of the social district has also helped get more people downtown A social district is where neighbors can buy a drink in a bar or restaurant in the district and they can then take it out onto the sidewalk and even into other businesses within the district "So you can grab a social district at any of the four bars and come walk through the bookstore and hang out," Cozy Corner Jennifer Davis said The next stop was down the street at Crystals 'N Such Crystals 'n Such owner Amber Ford tells me her son is the reason for opening up the business "My son has been bringing crystals heart shape rocks since he was three," Crystals 'N Such Owner Amber Ford said "When I started adding to my own crystal collection I said we should just start buying crystals to sell to other people to get them excited like we get," Crystals 'N Such Owner Amber Ford said The Fords say they hope the enjoyment they get from the crystals can also be enjoyed by the community "Our mission is just to make people happy," Crystals 'N Such Owner Amber Ford said If you want to see even more businesses that are in my neighborhood Which starts Saturday morning at the Eaton County fairgrounds MI – A man was arrested after allegedly threatening police officers and firefighters with a chainsaw Around 11:37 a.m. Wednesday, two police officers, along with firefighters, responded to a complaint about an open burning violation on Lake Street in Eaton Rapids, WILX reports allegedly started a chainsaw and threatened the officers and firefighters with it He eventually dropped the weapon and fled into his home where he barricaded himself in a bedroom The suspect allegedly resisted arrest but was taken into custody The suspect is lodged in Eaton County Jail awaiting charges ©2025 Advance Local Media LLC. 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Eaton County officials are asking neighbors to consider a public safety millage that will be on the May ballot I took a ride along with an Eaton County officer to find out what the outcome for the department would be depending on whether the millage passes or not The public safety millage in Eaton County could help decide Eric Smith's future "I wanted to be a police officer since I was a kid," Police Academy Recruit Eric Smith said part of a group of 10 cadets ready to join the Eaton County Sheriff's Office But captain Chris Kuhlman with the sheriff's office says that if the upcoming public safety millage fails the sheriff's office will not be able to hire on the cadets including Smith and the effects would go even further "The cuts for the sheriff's office if the millage doesn't pass are substantial it would eliminate our entire out-county road patrol," Chris Kuhlman Captain of Administrative Services said I've been reporting on the financial situation of Eaton County for months A countywide tax proposal failed back in November It would have raised property taxes by 3 mills which means taxpayers would had to pay an average of $18 a month the new public safety millage proposal is asking for 2 mills which would be $12 a month on average for neighbors if it passes I got in a sheriff's car for a ride along with Captain Kuhlman to learn more about the millage and one neighbor wanted me to ask officials about this millage affecting neighbors financially I asked Kuhlman about that neighbor's concern if this millage passes," Chris Kuhlman Captain of Administrative Services said "People have to ask themselves if is it something can afford in two different ways out of their pocketbook and out of their safety," Chris Kuhlman Captain of Administrative Services said And keeping neighbors safe is something Smith has wanted to do since he was a teenager It was a decision that came after a personal tragedy my dad passed away from suicide and a state trooper came and sat in my room with me but we're here to help people in need," Police Academy Recruit Eric Smith said That's when he decided to become a law enforcement officer and wanted to serve Eaton County he'll be able to finish his training at the academy he told me he's grateful for the opportunity regardless of how the vote goes they gave me the opportunity to go through this academy and work somewhere i can give the public what they need," Police Academy Recruit Eric Smith said And since suicide was mentioned in this report.. you can call or text the suicide and crisis lifeline EATON RAPIDS ― Like the prom and formal dresses it hopes to give away Ever After Opportunities has found a second chance with the Robbins United Methodist Church in Eaton Rapids The nonprofit that hosted dress giveaways out of the Lansing Mall closed in March Robbins UMC Pastor Janet Shaffer jumped on the chance to continue the program after Ever After Opportunities closed She took in more than 500 dresses collected by Ever After Opportunities and racks now fill several rooms used for church activities Every weekend in April the church is open to any teenager who is looking for a dress - free of charge It's one of the largest prom dress giveaways in the area High schools typically start hosting their proms in late April and prom season runs through May Haslett and DeWitt high schools start off Lansing's prom season on April 26 and the final proms are held May 17 "This offers an avenue so they can feel good about themselves," Shaffer said of high school girls who may not be able to afford a new dress not the one they had to settle for because of a budget and have a memory that can be with them the rest of their lives." New prom dresses range in cost from less than $100 to several hundred dollars and high-end dresses can approach $1,000. After adding in the cost of shoes, tickets, transportation and dinner, prom costs can easily be $600 to $1,000, Fortune Magazine reported The church hosted a "soft opening" the first weekend of April The giveaway seemed to be off to a good start you could hear her from the other end of the church she was saying 'Oh my gosh this is gorgeous!' Weber said "She couldn't decide between two dresses and we let her take her both home." All of the dresses are for the teenagers to keep Shaffer plans to have another giveaway in the fall for homecoming and for prom seasons into the future Shaffer said she's excited and grateful for the opportunity to continue the work Ever After Opportunities began it's a little bigger than free prom dresses Shaffer said she hopes to get more community businesses involved and work with outreach groups like the Charlotte Pregnancy Center to build "solid foundations" for the teenagers across the Lansing area She said there's a real need for skills building and support systems "Our youth are such an important thing that we have and if we don't build a solid foundation for them Robbins United Methodist Church will be open from 10 a.m The program is completely based on donations from the community Robbins United Methodist Church is located at 6419 Bunker Road in Eaton Rapids Project Prom of Greater Lansing is another place to go to get a free prom dress the organization plans to announce pop-up events this spring I’m going to move to Los Angeles or New York or somewhere exciting,” he recalled He did move west – but only as far as Grand Rapids where he found strong movie talent and “was inspired by a great actress” (Katie Snoap) which he says is the state’s largest motion-capture facility he’ll be at the Capital City Film Festival for the debut of his half-hour film That’s a one-person show – or a 16-person show her ex-boyfriend and 13 variations of Poppy’s mind funny film that kept Snoap and Street busy edited and composed; that pace fits a subject of the film “We talked about how both of our ADHDs have differences and a lot of similarities,” Streed said Then they found a way to make attention deficit hyperactivity disorder into an entertaining and involving film The CCFF overflows with short films and more “It’s starting to feel like the ‘80s again,” said William Corbett That decade brought a surge of indie filmmaking boosted by new political/social themes and by better access to technical quality The CCFF received 490 entries this year and added some curated films That provided for plenty of full-length movies The festival opens with whimsy: “OBEX” (6 p.m April 2) has a secluded chap obsessing on a video game then blurring the line between the game and reality It closes with reality: “Firebreak” (7:30 p.m April 12) is a quietly passionate documentary about men training other ex-cons to be firefighters a documentary about the Blackfoot people “bringing the first wild buffalo back to their territory.” April 9) and “Boys Go to Jupiter: (5:25 p.m. April 12) – to quiet dramas and to action films April 11) and “Vampire Zombies … From Space!” (8:30 p.m family films and two latenight tributes to departed heroes: David Lynch’s “Eraserhead” (1978) is 10:45 p.m April 4; Gene Hackman stars in “The Royal Tenenbaums” (2001) All of this will be scattered over four locations There will be extra space to mingle with filmgoers or filmmakers “We want to make it feel like there’s a party going on,” Corbett said It lists 106 of them in 15 packages – plus the shorts preceding features and some others including “global,” “pride in motion,” “documentaries” and more “Portraits of Poppy” could have fit the “absurdly funny” category but it’s in “ReelAbilities” because of its ADHD focus literally (astronaut Scott Kelly) or figuratively (Greta Gerwig A lot of the things we give Poppy in the film are actually mine.” But ADHD can also brings great bursts of productivity then joined the project to film a full-budget movie (“Hayseed,” which debuted at CCFF) in Eaton Rapids That’s when he “heard a lot about fun stuff in Grand Rapids.” He moved there and was impressed by Snoap and by the film scene in general Our gaffer is 21 years old and he gave us some of the best shots I’ve seen.” There’s no reason to rush to California or New York Jackson and Eaton Rapids players warm up on Monday.eingles@mlive.com .st1{fill-rule:evenodd;clip-rule:evenodd;fill:#2a2a2a}By Eric Ingles | eingles@mlive.comJACKSON -- Strong production from its sophomore class led the Eaton Rapids girls basketball team to a 49-30 win over Jackson on Monday at Jackson’s MLK Day Festival of Hoops Avah Vozar added 14 and Elle Lorente had 13 the Class of 2027 combining for all but 10 of the Greyhounds' points It was Winkelman putbacks on two of the Greyhounds’ first three trips down the floor which put Eaton Rapids on the board Later in the first quarter Lorente assisted on baskets by Kylie Alvarez and Zoe Newberry then added a jumper of her own to put Eaton Rapids up 11-2 Vozar added a layup and a 3-pointer in the second quarter Eaton Rapids shot 19-of-46 from the field in the game including going 5-of-8 from 3-point range in the first half “They were hitting shots,” Vikings coach Richard Anderson said “[Lorente] hit some pretty big shots tonight We didn’t get settled in until that second half They gave us a little bit of a wrinkle with that 1-3-1 Jackson’s only first-quarter points came from Kialye Harrell free throws Her consistent attacking of the rim led to trip after trip to the free throw line Harrell finished with 11 points to lead the Vikings but she’s using her quickness,” Anderson said that makes the game a whole different dynamic she puts the team on her back and says ‘I’ve got to do it.‘” While Eaton Rapids had 18 points in the second quarter and added five quick points early in the third when Lorente hit a 3-pointer and Winkelman added a layup the Vikings held the Greyhounds to 11 points over the game’s final 15 minutes so we did a pretty good job in the second half The Vikings’ first field goal of the game came early in the second on a Kaylee Arnett basket in the paint the Vikings did put together an 8-2 run with a Harrell drive followed by Alexis Bennett hitting a 3-pointer and free throws from Jayla Estelle and Jeniya Graham with Bennet blocking a shot and grabbing a steal But the Greyhounds responded with 3-pointers from Vozar and Lorente Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, (updated 8/1/2024) and acknowledgement of our Privacy Policy, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (updated 1/1/2025) © 2025 Advance Local Media LLC. All rights reserved (About Us) The material on this site may not be reproduced except with the prior written permission of Advance Local Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site YouTube's privacy policy is available here and YouTube's terms of service is available here Ad Choices The Urban Air Streamer is set to come back to Eaton Rapids for the first time since 2019 I caught up with city leaders and community members who tell me this is huge for the city "It has been a long time." Eaton Rapids Mayor Pam Colestock said "We have a lot of residents that ask about this I get personally asked often," Eaton Rapids Mayor Pam Colestock said One of Eaton Rapids' most unique and popular events Eaton Rapids City Council approved the Urban Air Streamer to return in 2025 The 4-day community brings neighbors and their trailers to camp in the heart of downtown Friday I talked to businesses in the area about what it means for them great for the whole town we get together and people walking around town it's great," Owner of Las Flores Ady Pintor said T&D Coney Island Waitress Sandra Cain tells me it's a great opportunity to make Eaton Rapids a destination "There isn't a whole lot that goes on in this town customers have said that they just pass through to go to bigger cities so it will be nice to bring something into our community," T&D Coney Island Waitress Sandra Cain said Eaton Rapids mayor Pam Colestock says the pandemic was one of the main reasons this event was stalled for years city leaders are eager to start working on dates for 20-25 "We want to start putting together a committee for it so it's not just one or two people a community event we can all plan together," Eaton Rapids City manager Yvonne Ridge said Local and city leaders tell me events like this bring the community together Your FOX 47 Neighborhood News reporters have been listening to neighbors about the cost of eggs and how it's impacting families and businesses about not only how egg prices are affecting my Charlotte neighbors But also the rising cost of everything else in our grocery carts It used to cost Keisha Howe four dollars for eggs she told me what it meant to her family's budget this is all I got for that money," Charlotte Neighbor Keisha Howe said She told me she used to go to the grocery store more often Other neighbors told me about similar habits to try to save money so I have a leftover for another meal," Charlotte Neighbor Joe Cheeney said I wanted to dig deeper into how much grocery prices are rising right now because I know it's a big topic in my neighborhood And I found some information that could help my neighbors grocery store prices are predicted to rise about 1 percent this year.that's lower than the recent average we've seen over the last five years Those are numbers that Howe has felt in her own budget "I would spend probably fifty to seventy-five to get a full meal hundred and twenty-five," Charlotte Neighbor Keisha Howe said If she sees someone who could be struggling digging for change cuz they're coming up short on their groceries I step up and insist that they let me help them on their groceries because that's what good neighbors do." Charlotte Neighbor Keisha Howe said WILLIAMSTON – Coming off a CAAC White title and rolling through its district with a score differential of 14-0 the Eaton Rapids boys soccer team was brimming with confidence ahead of its regional semifinal with Ann Arbor Greenhills on Tuesday evening Greenhills had great success in its district So it was fitting that the teams battled through full time and extra time without a goal being scored That left a spot in the regional final up to a penalty kick shootout but a save from the Greenhills keeper in round two proved pivotal while Eaton Rapids' final shot in the fifth round to stay alive hit the outside of the post and stayed out ending its season with a regional semifinal loss but it is a tough way to lose," Eaton Rapids coach Mike Decker said "We've won some games like this in the past and we lost some but the few quality ones we had we just couldn't capitalize." Both sides had a handful of chances in the first half but the best chance came early in the second half when Eaton Rapids had a free kick from just outside the penalty box barely sail over the crossbar The Greyhounds will graduate seven seniors who experienced tons of success on the pitch but will return plenty of talent looking to continue as the best team in the CAAC White next season I've coached them since their Under-9 season and they won four league titles and three district titles and had a regional final appearance," Decker said "Those guys know what it means to win and hopefully the younger guys will take away something from them." Eaton Rapids finished the season with an 11-8 record and captured the program's third district title in four years Williamston won its regional semifinal game 4-2 over Grosse Ile and will face Ann Arbor Greenhills in the regional final at 7 p.m Contact Nathaniel Bott at nbott@lsj.com and follow him on X @Nathaniel_Bott — Two people were killed in single-vehicle crash in southeast Eaton County on Tuesday It's unclear when the crash happened, but the Michigan State Police First District posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, at 1:15 p.m. that crash happened on Marshall Road between Bellevue Highway and Stine Road in Walton Township near Olivet posting to social media that a 58-year-old man and a 44-year-old woman The vehicle left the road and struck a tree adding that the cause is still under investigation did not immediately return a message seeking comment About 30 minutes after posting about the Marshall Road crash, the MSP First District posted to X that a section of westbound Interstate 96 at U.S. 127 was closed following a crash between a tractor-trailer and passenger vehicle The MSP social media post did not mention injuries or how long it expected traffic to be disrupted Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInLANSING Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Andrew Birge was sentenced to 210 months in federal prison for the distribution of child pornography a 15-year-old child in New York created several sexually explicit videos and sent them to him He says Eversman sent two of those videos to another person on the internet a month later Eversman was employed by the Eaton County Sheriff’s Office as a corrections officer reinforces the FBI’s unwavering commitment to enforcing the highest standards of integrity in law enforcement,” said Cheyvoryea Gibson Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Michigan The case is part of Project Safe Childhood a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Michigan State Police investigated the case and the case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan Roth PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Former Eaton County corrections officer facing federal charges for alleged sexual exploitation of a minor This story was updated to add new information — An Eaton Rapids man died Thursday morning after his vehicle struck a tree along M-99 near Dimondale Michigan State Police said the crash happened shortly after 8 a.m on North Michigan Road (M-99) at Skinner Highway The driver was heading north when his 2012 Nissan Murano went off the road was taken to a hospital with critical injuries and died at a hospital about an hour later Anyone with information about the crash is asked to call an investigator at (989) 264-2902 Windsor Township Emergency Services assisted state police at the scene deputies will no longer be on the road from 6 pm to midnight Eaton County Sheriff's Office will cut the hours where deputies are out on road patrol deputies are on patrol from 6 in the morning until midnight the new patrol hours will be from 6 in the morning The changes come after the failure of the county tax vote last week County officials had said that more money coming in is critically needed our budget is good until September of next year," Eaton County Sheriff Tom Reich said But fewer patrol hours is not the way the sheriff wanted to go "I want to bring back 24-hour coverage again," Eaton County Sheriff Tom Reich said Sheriff Reich said that during times when deputies are not on the roads the Michigan State Police would be the ones responding to calls for help I caught up with Michigan State police to see how they would help Eaton County "At this time we have no changes to who we have working the road it's business as usual for us," Michigan State Police Rene Gonzales said Lieutenant Gonzales with the Michigan State Police says it could be longer wait times depending on the call "If it's an emergency situation you're going to see the same responses as far as for a traffic crash or a complaint that has happened already like breaking and entering it may take a little longer," Michigan State Police Rene Gonzales said Sheriff Reich tells me hopes the county will try again to find more money He'd like a public safety millage to go up for a countywide vote in May we're going to look at different avenues to take it's going to be layoffs in the sheriff's office and county-wide," Eaton County Sheriff Tom Reich said Officials tell me there will be a meeting next month to discuss the potential proposal for May there's no word yet on how much that potential millage might cost taxpayers EATON RAPIDS — Nearly four years after MOO-ville Creamery opened an ice cream shop in the city’s downtown Michigan-based dairy operation has plans to move the Eaton Rapids location to a vacant building a half mile away which also has locations in Ionia and Zeeland who manages the Eaton Rapids shop at 142 S said the purchase will allow the local store to add a drive-thru window and on-site parking two things the current location doesn’t have MOO-ville's drive-thru lane at its Nashville site is popular He expects the drive-thru lane at the new building to be popular as well Benkovsky said the 3,532-square-foot property has been vacant for several years and has since been gutted Before MOO-ville moves to the new building it will be equipped with walk-in coolers and freezers about 20 indoor seats and a space for customers to pick up milk and cheeses The company makes more than 60 varieties of ice cream The current store has a limited shelf and cooler space making it difficult to keep all the items the business sells stocked there "we'll be able to store more because we run out of milk a lot and run out of small products "We'll have more room and we're excited about that." "The goal is just to have a small lunch menu," he said The Nashville location currently offers different options the Eaton Rapids menu will likely be very similar Carrie's Kitchen to close in Lansing, less than three months after opening. Here's what's next for Mikal Moore Ingham, Eaton counties say they're prepared to pay people who lost properties to tax foreclosure MOO-ville's current Eaton Rapids staff of 10 employees will move to the new building and the business may hire a few additional people which will include adding some outdoor patio seating The goal is to open the new location by spring 2025 but it shouldn't be too complicated a process