Dewitt City Council Unveils Finance Director Position in Development of New Financial Methods.

Dewitt City Council Introduces New Finance Director Position to Drive Fiscal Success

During the bi-monthly meeting on Monday (Sep. 25), the Dewitt City Council voted unanimously in favor of approval for a new Finance Director position. The decision came in response to acknowledging staffing shortages, and it aims a fresh proposal to separate duties currently handled by the Interim Clerk-Treasure Sarah Stoltzfus, who is temporarily overseeing the financial aspects.

Bath High School’s Chalkboard Project creates a welcoming environment

After weeks of seeing negative and hurtful comments on walls throughout the school, Bath High School students covered them with kind words.

The Chalkboard Project took over the walls of Bath High School in March, a project where students and teachers posed holding a chalkboard of a slur, offensive or rude comment directed at them. On April 3, those words were covered with kind, encouraging and helpful words to bury the effects of bullying and bring kindness to campus.

Bath Safe Routes to School Program seeks new sidewalks 

Bath Township has many stretches of road without sidewalks, which means kids who walk or bike to school travel on road shoulders that are often less than a foot wide — or in mud and snow next to the road. Traffic can reach up to 45 mph in some of these areas, and during dark winter mornings, walking to school can become dangerous.  

Long-time resident Chris Hagerman recalls “maybe a couple” new sidewalks added to Bath Township during the several decades he’s lived there. He thinks that to ensure pedestrian safety, there should be a lot more.

Muddy paws and wet snouts sniff out Easter eggs

Dogs from nearby towns spent their rainy Saturday morning scavenging in an Easter egg hunt.

Soldan’s Pet Supplies hosted an event April 1 for dogs to come out and scavenge for eggs. These eggs contained treats and prizes for the pups to enjoy, as well as one Golden Ticket that participants could redeem for a gift basket of toys and treats, according to Soldan’s Facebook page.

Dogs were invited to come in their best Easter attire: bunny ears, duckling bandanas and pastel raincoats were seen across the lawn of the pet store. Plastic eggs were scattered over the lawn for dogs to sniff out.

Controversy shrouds Bath Board of Trustees following charges against supervisor

The Bath Charter Township Board of Trustees has come under public scrutiny due to the handling of charges filed against Board Supervisor Marie Howe. During the board meeting on March 20, multiple residents spoke out against what they described as “disrespectful and inappropriate” behavior.

On Feb. 8, the State of Michigan charged Howe with assault and battery. Records from the 65A District Court reveal that the alleged offense occurred Aug. 25, 2022. The reported victim is Deputy Clerk April Dunham. 

DeWitt sets weekend of Aug. 18 for 77th annual ox roast  

Chief of Police Bruce Ferguson discusses crisis intervention training with the DeWitt City Council. The DeWitt City Council met March 13 to discuss the annual ox roast festival and grants for improvements to McGuire Park and the sewer system. The council passed four items at the meeting. Approval of ox roast applications

Council discussed the DeWitt Memorial Association’s application for the 77th annual ox roast. The association also requested road closures and consumption of alcohol in designated locations. 

The event is scheduled for the weekend of Aug.

Two men in yellow jail clothes and their attorneys confer at courtroom table.

Men accused of 2018 slaying of Bath hunter to stand trial

Two men accused of the 2018 slaying of a Hmong-American hunter in Bath Township will stand trial. This comes after a three-day preliminary hearing to determine whether there is probable cause to bind the charges over from the District Court to the Circuit Court to move the case forward to the formal trial.