FEATURED WEBSITES -- Menu | Featured History | News Highlights | Bay-Journal Updates | Each month we choose a website from our White Pages and Yellow Pages directories to draw attention to sources of local and region information available online. If you have a website and it doesn't appear in our directories, let us know and we'll add it. From the {Web White Pages}: Humane Society of Bay County [Visit Website] When you visit the website of The Humane Society of Bay County, I think you'll be pleasantly surprised at how much they provide in the way of information and the number of photos presentations. Be sure to check on "Pets are People to." From the {Web Yellow Pages}: Clayton Cleaners Inc. {Visit Website] Clayton Clearners, Inc. is own family business that has been serving local customers for over 50 years. Ever wonder what what the difference is between wet and dry cleaning? Well, you can get the answers on their website. Be sure to check the "About Us," it has a nifty picture of one of their early service trucks.

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS & COMMENTARY -- Menu | Featured History | Featurd Websites | Bay-Journal Updates | Index to Highlight News Items & Editorial Comments: B-J - Introduction. Feb. 1 - Michigan Receives B+ Grade In State Management. Feb. 1 - Civil War Role of Bay County Ancestors Recalled. Feb. 2 - Apartment-Retail Complex Being Considered for Essexville. Feb. 3 - Old School Building in Pigeon May Spark Development. Feb. 3 - Editor of Vassar's Pioneer Times Newspaper Says Farewell. Feb. 4 - Head of Bangor Schools Sounds Budget Alarm. Feb. 6 - Students Learn From Scientist by Satellite at Midland. Feb. 7 - State Cracks Down on Tax Avoidance Scheme. Feb. 10 - State Website Resource For Finding A Job. Feb. 10 - Helpful Caseville Students Have A Bid Idea. Feb. 10 - Sign of Hope Hangs at Saginaw's Good Neighbor Mission. Feb. 11 - Massive Budget Deficit to Close 34 Detroit Schools. Feb. 13 - Dean of Democratic Party States He's Thinking Red. Feb. 13 - State Cuts Includes Regional National Guard and Two Prisons. Feb. 13 - You Can Do Something To Make A Difference. Feb. 14 - Black History Month: Detroit's Elmwood Cemetery. Feb. 15 - Gov. Granholm Cleaning Up State's Bureaucratic Clutter. Feb. 15 - Workers Legally Fired For Their Smoking Habit. Feb. 16 - Deficits Forcing Cuts At Two Local School Districts. Feb. 16 - Firemen Cut TV Cable Line Due To Poor Service. Feb. 23 - John Glenn Theater Students Win Again. Feb. 23 - 1912 Commercial Bank Architecture Exposed. Feb. 24 - Abosolute Intelligence To End Search For God! Online Local News Sources: Bay City Times Bay-Journal Headline News Michigan News (Michigan.gov) MichigansThumb (Huron Co.) Midland Daily News My Bay City (local articles) Pioneer Times (Tuscola Co.) Saginaw News Search County News for: Arenac Bay Midland Saginaw Tuscola Bay County Courts Calendar (2005): Feb. Mar. Apr. Other Bay-Journal Resources: {Articles} {Events} {Forum} {Photos} News Icons Reference: Local & Michigan National & World Please note: Featured News & Commentary is an editorial service for our viewers that is primarily focused on local subjects appearing in various public news sources. Refer to "Online Local News Sources list above for in depth news coverage. ^ Introduction - Bay-Journal Commentary. Its been kind of business since the Bay City Times published an article last month about Bay-Journal. The article helped greatly by increasing the number of visitors to the website ten fold the day it came out, however, the stampede the dwindled a substantially lesser number in the days that followed. The article did a wonderful job in bringing awareness of Bay-Journal to many in this community. I have had many new contacts expressing their interest in local history, and helping with content for the website. New materials have been received and in time they’ll become a part of Bay-Journal. I’m sure that you’ll agree that things seem to run in cycles, well I’m in one of those cycles where I am continually being surprised. Since the article I have met a number people who have some amazing history in their possession which they wanted to tell me about, and have allowed me to capture for future content for the website. One has a toolbox that belonged to James Shearer, and it’s in pristine condition. Another has a shared data with me about his ancestor who was the first to rent business space in the Shearer Bros. block, and his family’s history related to lumbering and the judicial system of Bay County. And, a relative who blew me away with some 1863-64 newspapers from Bay City that they turned over to me. These are already being used in this month’s featured history on Bay County and the Civil War. My thanks to everyone that has helped Bay-Journal become better known, and for your contributions to local history. ^ Jan. 1 - Michigan Receives B+ Grade In State Management. LANSING: A report entitled, "Grading the States 2005" written by the Government magazine, gave Michigan a B+ score, only two other States received a higher mark. Full story: [Michigan Newswire] - Michigan.gov ^ Feb. 1 - Civil War Role of Bay County Ancestors Recalled. BAY COUNTY: The historical role of Michigan regiments, and ancestors from this county was outstanding. Local soldiers fought side by side with another famous Wolverine, Gen. George Armstrong Custer, who made his home in Monroe, Mi. Full story: [Article by Dave Rogers] - MyBayCity.com ^ Feb. 2 - Apartment-Retail Complex Being Considered for Essexville. ESSEXVILLE: A multi-story building may go up this year on 112 acres in downtown Essexville on property the city has been developing for the past six years. The property is now owned by Essexville Ventures who will build the structure. Full story: [The Bay City Times] - MLive.com ^ Feb. 3 - Old School Building in Pigeon May Spark Development. HURON CO.: An old school house in the village of Pigeon is going to cost money to deal with one way or another. The roof of the building badly needs repairs to keep it from collapsing. Demolish the building would cost over $100,000. So, leaders of the village listened intently to development options presented by Saginaw based Wilcox Professional Services. Full story: [Huron Daily Tribune] - Michiganthumb.com ^ Feb. 3 - Editor of Vassar's Pioneer Times Newspaper Says Farewell. VASSAR: Sandy Walker, who has been editor of Vassar's weekly newspaper for the past 18 years, has accepted a position with her company that will take her to Sangelo, Texas. Full story: [Pioneer Times] ^ Feb. 4 - Head of Bangor Schools Sounds Budget Alarm. BANGOR TWSP.: School Superintendent Michael A. Andress laid out a bleak picture before those who attended the final budget forum -- the school system is facing a 2005-06 deficit that will exceed $785,000, and this go grow to over $2.8 for the following school year. Full story: [The Bay City Times] - MLive.com ^ Feb. 6 - Students Learn From Scientist by Satellite at Midland. MIDLAND: Over 600 students studying wetlands learned first hand from scientists in a live satellite connection with scientist specializing in the subject. The program was a provide by the Jason Foundation for Education, a non-profit organization founded in 1989 by Dr. Robert D. Ballard. Its mission is to inspire in students a life-long passion for learning in science, math, and technology through hands-on, real-world scientific discovery. Full story: [The Saginaw News] - MLive.com Visit: [Jason Foundation Website] ^ Feb. 7 - State Cracks Down on Tax Avoidance Scheme. LANSING: The State of Michigan estimates that between $62 and $95 million in business tax revenue is being lost each year, and it is taking steps to go after companies that are avoiding paying their fair share of taxes. So far, the State has collected $2.4 million from eight companies. Full story: [Michigan Newswire] - Michigan.gov ^ Feb. 10 - State Website Resource For Finding A Job. LANSING: Visitors to the Michigan Career Portal (MCP) website are greeted with, "Welcome to the Michigan Career Portal Smart career and business decisions start here! This site is a bridge to state and national employment, career, education, training, and business resources and services." MCP is a part of the mammoth Michigan.gov website, and its goal is to be a resource portal for people seeking a employment or employers looking for qualified workers. They do this by acting as an interface to information sources that may help in this regard. If you are having difficulty finding a job or in finding a qualified individual to fill a job, MCP may be the solution for you. Visit [Michigan Career Portal] - Michigan.gov ^ Feb. 10 - Helpful Caseville Students Have A Bid Idea. HURON CO.: The students of Colleen Pantelis’s second grade class at Caseville Public School are thinking big when it comes to giving a helping hand. – They’ve set their goal on raising $500 to adopt an elephant from the Tsavo National Park in Kenya, Africa. The money will be donated to the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust to be used in veterinary care, food and other things that help sustain the life of these gentle giants. Here’s a story that you can get act on by sharing a few dollars that may having them thinking big the rest of their lives. Full story [Huron Daily Tribune] - Michiganthumb.com ^ Feb. 10 - Sign of Hope Hangs at Saginaw's Good Neighbor Mission. SAGINAW: A new sign greets visitors to the Good Neighbors Mission at 1318 Cherry Street in Saginaw. It's not the typical sign one expects to see, its a mural designed by kids at the Trinity-St. John Community Center, who were helped by two students at Saginaw Valley State University. The mural consists of three bright colored panels providing a visual message of hope for the future. Full story: [The Saginaw News] - Mlive.com ^ Feb. 11 - Massive Budget Deficit to Close 34 Detroit Schools. DETROIT: Come June of this year, 34 Detroit schools will be shutdown that'll effect more than 10,000 students. Faced with massive budget deficits, the future of more Detroit public schools is threaten. Another 65-75 buildings could be closed within 3 years. Full story: [Detroit Free Press] - Freep.com ^ Feb. 13 - Dean of Democratic Party States He's Thinking Red. WASHINGTON D.C.: Howard Dean, newly elected chairman of the Democratic party said, "I'll pretty much be living in red states in the South and West for quite a while." He also said, "Republicans wandered in the wilderness for 40 years before regaining Congress. The American people cannot afford to wait 40 years for us to regain control in Washington and put the government back to work for Americans." Seems like the only change in politics these days is are the people carrying the party's message. Full story: [Associated Press] - News.Yahoo.com ^ Feb. 13 - State Cuts Includes Regional National Guard and Two Prisons. SAGINAW: Recent cuts in the State's budget to offset deficit problems continues to have a negative effect on this part of Mid-Michigan. Proposed are the elemination of the Buena Vista Township's National Guard Armory and Corrections Center, and Camp Tuscola near Caro. Full story: [The Saginaw News] - MLive.com ^ Feb. 13 - You Can Do Something To Make A Difference. FEATURED ARTICLE: If you're not feeling the financial pressure resulting from the weak economy of recent years, you probably aren't concerned about do something about it. However, the vast majority of us who are can do something about it. Full story: Information/Magazine/Articles/ {You Can Do Something To Make A Difference.} ^ Feb. 14 - Black History Month: Detroit's Elmwood Cemetery. DETROIT: Elmwood Cemetery, founded in 1846, is the final resting place of some of Detroit's asteem leaders, many of them contributed to furthering the civil rights of blacks. Mayor Coleman Young is one of the most recent to be laid to rest here among 50 other significant Americans of African heritage. Full story: [Detroit Free Press] ^ Feb. 15 - Gov. Granholm Cleaning Up State's Bureaucratic Clutter. LANSING: Seventy-one obsolete, non-functioning or redundant state boards, commissions, councils, positions, task force, and other advisory bodies have been eliminated by Governor Granhold in an effort to streamline the state's bureaucracy. Since taking office, the governor has elminated over 100 entities that no longer needed. Full story: [Michigan Newswire] - Michigan.gov ^ Feb. 15 - Workers Legally Fired For Their Smoking Habit. LANSING: A new company policy implented this past January by Weyco, Inc. makes smoking grounds for being fired no matter where it is done. Employees are required to take a random breath test, those failing or refusing the test will be fired. Four employees refused to take the test and are no longer employeed by the company. Full story: [Detroit Free Press] ^ Feb. 16 - Deficits Forcing Cuts At Two Local School Districts. BAY COUNTY: Both Essexville-Hampton and Bay City school districts are facing deficits for the next school season that will require big cuts to balance their budgets. Essexville-Hampton has approved $1.2 million in cuts that will eliminate 11 jobs, while Bay City schools are pondering the same problem that might lead to closing one school. Full story, Essexville-Hampton schools [The Bay City Times] - MLive.com Full story, Bay City schools [The Bay City Times] - MLive.com ^ Feb. 16 - Firemen Cut TV Cable Line Due To Poor Service. FRANKENLUST TSWP.: Frankenlust Township firemen responding to a call at 3 a.m. regarding power lines crossing Mackinaw Road that had been taken down by the ice storm the other night, was forced to cut the cable TV transmission line in order to clear the road after contacting the local TV cable company and not getting prompt service. Full story: [The Saginaw News] - MLive.com ^ Feb. 23 - John Glenn Theater Students Win Again. BANGOR TSWP.: Thirty-four students from John Glenn put on a winning performance in Ann Arbor last Friday and for the seventh consecutive time coming out on top. Full story: [The Bay City Times] - MLive.com 1932 photo. (Click to enlarge.) Feb. 23 - 1912 Commercial Bank Architecture Exposed. BAY CITY: On the north east corner of Washington and Fifth Avenues sits the old Commercial Bank Building that opened for business in 1912. Many remember it as the LaPorte Shoe. Today it is the business offices of the law firm Smith, Martin, Powers & Knier. The new owners have began a remodeling project to open up the upper level for office space. They were pleasantly surprised when hidden above the drop ceiling was the original architecture of the building. A skylight and an ornate cheery wood ceiling. Tim Younkeman, a reporter and historian with The Bay City Times was called in to see what they uncovered. The building was designed by architects Dillion Prosser Clark and Averton Munger for the Commercial Bank of Bay City. Chief officers of the new bank were Charles R. Hawley, president and Guy H. Multhrop, vice-president. The building may have appeared small next its huge neighbor the Davidson Building, but from the inside it was very impressive. Customers walking into the bank were treated with a full view of that extended to the roof level and the skylight surrounded by cherry wood with custom ornate carvings. The street side walls had very tall windows on the main and upper level to let in plenty of natural light. The new owners hope to be able to recapture a some of that original experience by leaving the portion with the skyline open while using the other half for new offices. I’m sure it will be one of the most impressive office buildings in the city. The building remained the Commercial Bank of Bay City for only a short period of time. James Davidson, the shipbuilder and owner of the Davidson block acquired the bank and renamed it People’s Commercial and Savings Bank. In the 1960s, the Laporte store set up their shoe business there until the 1990s. Source: Feb. 23, 2005: Law firm’s renovations uncover historic architecture in Bay City. By Tim Younkeman, The Bay City Times. ^ Feb. 24 - Abosolute Intelligence To End Search For God! HOUSTON: On March 14, a new book entitled, "Abosolute Intelligence" will go on sale. The book written by Ilexas Yardley is said to anwwer the debate between science and religion mathematically proving there is a God. [PRWeb.com]

BAY-JOURNAL WEBSITE UPDATES -- Menu | Featured History | Featured Websites | News Highlights | Help us if you can! -- Contribute content to Bay-Journal. Feb. 1 - Civil War News of 1863 from The Bay City Press And Times (new) Thanks to the generous contribution of Linda and Rick Pierson, we have the good fortune of being able to share coverage of the Civil War from the daily news of 1863. Read first hand the articles of publisher William Bryce reporting and discussing subjects such as a "bounty" for volunteers, "feud" with Wayne County over quota credits swindled from Bay County, and much more. -- Additional news accounts from Mr. Bryce's paper will be added in the future. Heriage/Groups/Military/Civil War/ {Civil War News 1863-64} Feb. 2 - Frankenlust Township Map of Early Amelith Homesteads. (new) Map shows locations of the first homesteads of the early 1850s. Maps Library/ {Frankenlust Twsp. Pioneer Homesteads} Feb. 3 - 1873 Bay County Map. (new) In 1873 map of Bay County when present Arenac County a part of county. (large file) Maps Library/ {1873 Map of Bay County} Feb. 4 - Pictorial: James Shearer's 1862 Tool Box (new) James Shearer's tool box and large collection of wood working hand tools. An excellent view of the many carpenter tools used in making cabinets and other wood products during the later half of the 19th Century and early 20th Century. Pictorials/ {James Shearer's 1862 Tool Box} Feb 12 - Potters Field Cemetery Potters Field was the first group burial of the white settlers in Lower Saginaw. It was located on the between Saginaw and Washington just north of Columbus. Included is known history of this cemetery and clippings from old newspaper articles about it. {Potters Field Cemetery} Feb 14 - Bay County Courts Calendar. On this page to the right of the articles listing menu you'll find a this new feature added the Monthly Magazine. It's a quick link to schedule activies of the court by the months shown The calendar's file is very large and will take a while to load and display -- even if you have a cable connection. This feature was added in January, but we failed to call attention to it at that time. A direct link to their home page is [baycountycourts.com] Feb 17 - Boys Charge Saloon Keeper With Being Open Sunday. A humorous article from 1908 about a trio of youngsters (Kowalak, Kusmierz and McKenzie.) that got even with saloon keeper (Joseph Gorney) by bringing charges against him for having the saloon open on a Sunday. Hertiage/Writings/Misc. {Boys Charge Gorney With Keeping Saloon Open Sunday.} Feb 22 - 1857 United States Map Do you know what represented the United States in 1857 when Bay County was organized? What we know as the West was primarily territories. At that time Michigan was considered a far Western state. The map also shows the states were slavery was practiced. Maps Libary/ {1857 United States Map} Feb 24 - Street Names And Changes of Bay City. When the village of Portsmouth and West Bay City merged with Bay City, some of the street names had to be changed to eliminate duplication. This database shows the original names of streets and what they were changed to. Heritage/ {Street Names and Changes of Bay City}

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