^ Aug. 1 - Frankenmuth Historic Farm Fest This Weekend.

FRANKENMUTH: This festival that celebrates farming will be held Friday and Saturday at the William "Tiny" Zehnder farm located at 7775 Wiess Street. The event is free thanks to the William and Dorothy Zehnder Foundation which is underwriting the costs. Its a great opportunity to see what farming life was like long ago. Activities besides live stock displays and farming demonstrations, include stagecoach and wagon rides, a petting zoo, horseback rides, a guide tour and much more.

^ Aug. 2 - Gov. Granholm's Trip To Japan Yields 10 Intentions.

LANSING: Governor Granholm claims success as she completes her economic mission in Japan. During her week long discussions with Japanese businessmen, a total of ten companies stated their intentions to make new investments in Michigan in the near future. -- The companies are: Denso, Tokai Rika, Hitachi Automotive, Sekisuie Chemical, Nippon Antenna, Nippon Piston Ring, Advanced Special Tools, Nakagawa Special Steetl, Taiko Device Technologies and A&D Inc.

^ Aug. 2 - Bay City Lawman Helped Tame Wyoming During 1890s.

{Click to enlarge.}

BAY CITY: George A. Wellman rests peacefully in his grave at the old abandonned Pine Ridge cemetery. Yet, his life as a lawman lives on thanks to local historians Tim Younkman and Dave Rogers. -- Wellman, a native of Canada, grew up in Bay City and at the age of 19 decided to go West for excitement to live a cowboy life. He ended up as foreman at Henry A. Blair's HOE Ranch located along the Powder River near Buffalo, Wyoming. There he became a key figure in the Johnson County Cattle War, and is where his daring deeds brought him acclaim which cost him his life.

^ Aug. 2 - Caseville Will Miss Max Nicholl - Its Long-time Historian.

CASEVILLE: Max Nicholl, a life-long resident of this community and acknowledged authority on its history, passed away on July 21. Max and his brother, W. Robert owned the Caseville Lumber company, which they took over from their father in 1932.

^ Aug. 3 - Bigelow Park's Impressive Wind Props Will Soon Be Gone.

(Click to enlarge.)

BAY CITY: The huge propellers at the north end of the Middle Grounds have become unsafe and without a solution to repair them,and will be removed from Bigelow Park yet this year. It's a shame so see them go as they may be unique only to this city. The 60-foot long blades were manufactured by the Gougeon Bros. company of Bay City for NASA which used them as test blades before being displayed in front of the Dept. of Engery's office in Washington, D.C. They then went to a scrapyard where they were saved and return to Bay City and installed in the park. Get your pictures soon if you want to preserve a keepsake of this bit of the city's history. If the blades must go, it would be nice to erect another distinctive landmark there, maybe minature light house with a lighted beacon at the top.

^Aug. 4 - Mobile Home Park Guilty Of Detroying Wetlands In Kawkawlin.

LANSING: The state filed legal charges against two developers for violating Michigan's wetland law, claiming 15 acres of wetlands were negatively impacted by construction of a mobil home park in Kawkawlin township. The first trial ended with a hung jury, but in the second trial, they were recently found guilty as charged.

^ Aug. 5 - Two Year Study Yields Ground Water Maps of Michigan.

LANSING: New ground water maps of Michigan are now available online. The study was a cooperative effort of the MI Department of Environmental Quality, U.S. Geological Survey and Michigan State University. A zoomable map with many features from the database is available online.

^ Aug. 5 - Michigan's Breath Test Law To Be Challenged In Court.

SAGINAW: The ACLU has file a law suit before U.S. District Judge David M. Lawson in Bay City to over turn Michigan's breath test law which they say is unconstitutional. The law allows the police to arbitrally enforce the breath test on individuals under 21 years of age, if they fail to comply they can be cited and livied a fine of $100. The suit stems from an incident involing a 20 year old reesident of Saginaw Township, who was among a number of individuals at a small party last year interrupted by the police. She and other under the age of 20 were instructed by the police to take a preliminary breath test to check their achohol levels else they would be taken to jail and cited.

^ Aug. 7 - Midland Based National Guard Train For Real Thing.

GRAYLING: The 1460th Transportation Company based in Midland is on a two-week stent at Camp Grayling to hone the skills that may help them save lifes and successfully complete their assigned mission. The unit, which consists of 48 vehicles, served 369 days in Irag with one casualty, Spc. Richard Goward who died on April 14, 2003 when an explosive hit the vehicle he was in.

^ Aug. 7 - Importance of Pine Ridge Endures.

BAY-JOURNAL: Nearly 150 years have passed since 1859 when the Pine Ridge cemetery was built by James Birney. It was Bay City's first formal cemetery and the burial place of many early pioneers of the community. During the 1950s ownership of the cemetery was lost and regular maintenance of its grounds ceased. In recent years, the Friends of Pine Ridge was formed to take on the huge task of preserving this historic place of importance to this community and to those with relatives buried there.

^ Aug. 7 - Open House At Bay City's Boathouse Condos.

BAY CITY: While construction continues on the new Boathouse Condos at the north end of Water Street, one unit is already complete and went on display this past Wednesday to an invitation only group. The $16 million dollar project will contain 36 units ranging in price from about $300 to $800 thousand dollars with living space running from 1,760 to 3,260 square feet. The 2,200 square feet display unit is open for interested parties to see. Call Mitz Dimitroff of RDS Management at 686-1147 for further information.

^ Aug. 9 - Bangor's One Dollar Park May Spur More.

BANGOR TWSP.: Township officials are happy to be taking over Independence Park from Bay County at the bargain price of one dollar. The switch in ownership of the park is needed so that the floating museum USS Edson ship can be stationed at the park some time next year. Terry Watson, the township's supervisor, says the Independence Park arrangement has spurred discussions of adding more parks in the township.

^ Aug. 9 - Bay Area Family Y Making Plans For Expansion.

BAY CITY: Mary Sutton, executive director, of the Bay Area Family facilities went before city commissioners at the Finance and Policy meeting yesterday to advise them on plans being being discussed to expand their aging facilities, because the current facilities built in 1953 is out dated and in need of major repair and changes. Ideas being discussed are expanding at the current location, or relocating to property in the Uptown At River's Edge or to the former Labadie dealership property on Washington Ave.

^ Aug. 9 - Faces of People Behind The Circus Exposed.

MIDLAND: Channing Johnson of the Midland Daily News took time while the circus was in town to capture a photo essay on the people putting on the circus. The essay provides a unique behind the scenes climpse of their lives.

^ Aug. 10 - $286.4 Billion Trans. Bill More About Greed Than Need.

WASHINGTON, D.C.: According to some critics the 286.5 billion highway transportion bill signed Wednesday by President Bush includes $24 billion in pork grease courtesy of powerful politicians in Congress. Apparently there is little regard for the seriousness of the nation's budget deficit, the national debt or the fact we are at war. President Bush hailed the bill in spite of threating to veto it if exeeded the administrations requested amount.

^ Aug. 13 - Kochville Township Celebrating 150th Anniversary.

KOCHVILLE TWSP.: Kochville was founded in what was a wilderness in 1855. Settlers needing provisions had to travel to Saginaw and back using either an old Indian path or the Saginaw River. A century and a half later, that old Indian path is now paved and the location of the Saginaw Valley's largest shopping strip and Saginaw Valley State University. This weekend residents are officially celebrating their township's hertage which was named after Frederick Charles Louis Koch.

Aug. 15 - Bitterness Lingers In Pacific 60 Years After WWII.

Gen. MacArthur returning to Phillipines.

MANILA: War is hell! For some living in the Pacific region it is hard to let go of their bitter feelings about the astrosities committed by Japanese soldiers. Unlike countries which can extend political forgiveness to their former enemy, the bitter memories of individuals that lost a parent or grand-parent can endure for generations. Full story: [Aug. 15: Stuart Grudgings] - Reuters.co.uk

^ Aug. 15 - Kid's Summer Reading Program Sets Library Record.

BAY CITY: Over 4,500 children and students spent a portion of their summer in the Kids Summer Reading program of the Bay County Library system. The number was the most ever for this annual eight-week program that dates back to 1970. In addition, 937 teenagers participated in a separate program of their own at the library. The new spacious central library will be completed in time for next summer's and possibly, another attendance record.

^ Aug. 16 - Emerald Ash Borer Beetle Reaches Huron County.

SLEEPER STATE PARK: The pesky Emeral Ash Borer Beetle invaded Michigan in 2002 and has been working its way from county to county ever since with over 40 now infected. Huron County has just become the latest to be invaded by this bug the feeds off and kills ash trees. The bug's larvae feeds off and kills ash trees. Its rapid movement through Michigan is believed to be caused primarily by the transporting of firewood around the state.

^ Aug. 16 - More Sewer Work Approved With Advise To Contractor.

BAY CITY: City commissioners approved another $4.9 million of work to be done by the Liqui-Force company for sewer updating project that is expected to cost $60 million over a 10 to 15 year period. Along with the approval, several commissioners commented on their desire for Liqui-Force to relocate inside Bay City from its Bangor Township location. The city has funded the ongoing project through through double digit sewer rate increases which began in 2003.

^ Aug. 17 - Senseless Attack Damages New Mini-Park.

BAY CITY: Of Legends and Legacy, a new mini-park located on Saginaw Street and Center Avenue in downtown Bay City has been viciously and senselessly attacked destroying its photographic glass display of historical images. The dastardly deed that defies logic should not go unpunished. A bounty of $250 has been posted for information leading to the arrest of the culprit, call 894-0161.

^ Aug. 17 - Job Losses Has Vassar Looking To State For Help.

VASSAR: When a small community like Vassar, with a population of about 3,000, loses 150 jobs its effect is no less significant that what a job loss of 1,000 would be to a city 10 thems its size. The changing dynamics of the economy has left many cities looking to the state or federal government for help. Unfortunately, both are struggle to balance their own budgets.

^ Aug. 18 - Warning! Saginaw River To Get Fishing Signs.

BAY CITY: People fishing the Saginaw River will soon be greeted by new signs that will warn advise them of the dangers associated with certain fish according to Al Taylor from the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality. The annoucement came at a townhall meeting held at the Doubletree hotel which was attended mainly by public officials. The signs are intended to increase safe fishing awareness among the public.

^ Aug. 19 - You Drink & Drive. You Lose - Crackdown Begins Today!

LANSING: Be forwarned! Today marks the beginning of the drinking drivers' hunting season in Michigan. During last year's crackdown on drunk driving, which ran from December to early January, over 1,800 individuals were arrested for alcohol offenses. In 2004, 418 (<0.00001%*) people died and 8,667 (<.00087%*) were injured in alchohol/drug related accidents. (* Represents percentage figure based on Michigan's 2003 estimated population of 10 million.)

^ Aug. 19 - Midland Health Agency Sounds Warning On Melthamphetamine!

MIDLAND: Charles Lichon, a director at the Midland County Department of Public, is raising local public awareness about the dangers of methamphetamine (Meth), also known on the street as crystal, speed, ice, crank and peanut butter. These drugs can easily be made with home chemicals using Meth as a base. A major harmful side affect from these drugs is paranoia which dramatically alters the victims ability to rationalize and thereby, creating a dangerous situation for themselves as well as others they come in contact with.

^ Aug. 19 - Dow To Clean Up Radioactive Waste On Saginaw River Land.

BANGOR TWP.: Dow is taking steps in coordination with state and federal agencies to clean up waste containing radioactive therium from its old foundry that operated 1940-60 on their property along the Saginaw River across from the Consumers Power plant. The work is expect to done in 2006. Another radioactive site in the Tobico Marsh State Game area is considered properly sealed and safe, will not be disturbed.

^ Aug. 20 - Rapidly Increasing Energy Costs Hurting Everyone.

BAY-JOURNAL EDITORIAL: Consumers, businesses and the economy are taking a licking from high energy costs with no end in sight. Gasoline prices, which have been increasing for several years, rocketed this summer as a barrel leaped to over $60. Heat and electric bills have also been climbing at double digit rates. While escalating energy costs affects everyone, it hits the poorest among us the most.

Michiganders can be thankful that the cost of heat and electricity is regulated, otherwise the 20-30% increases of recent years would most likely have been higher. There is no regulation on gasoline prices, and suppliers are free to arbitrarily raise prices in lock-step netting egregious profits off oil refined months earlier at lower costs. Gas prices are fluctuating almost daily, and they go up faster then they come down, regardless of the current cost of oil.

Reasonable price stability, controlled by competition, is an essential element for an economy to flourish. Energy costs are so pervasive in the costs of other products that it has to be regulated as there is little to no competition among the companies that produce it. Most consumers and businesses can deal with the realty of paying the true costs associated with energy, but not by leaps and bounds on a daily or seasonal basis!

Some economists say that higher oil prices haven't stopped the recovery of the U.S. economy. That may be true, but extremely high energy costs inflates the prices for all products reducing the purchasing power of consumers the amount of goods they can buy, which leads to job losses as companies produce less.

Energy costs, and in particularly oil, have been a threat to our national well-being for nearly four decades, yet we have done little to avoid present crisis. Everyone is more vulnerable today to disastrous consequences that range from national security issues to personal budgets. We are no longer in control of the switch that determines our future. Our country is literally forced to act in ways it might other wise avoid, such as military engagements to protect oil sources around world to sustain our economy.

We are at this point because we failed collectively to invest the time and resources required to prevent the present situation. Perhaps the worst offenders among us are our representatives in Washington that are directly responsible for making decision in the nation's best interest. Instead, the priority for an overwhelming number of politicians has been has on party or their own individual interests. The consequences are they avoid, put off or ignore the facts before their eyes whenever it may affect their priority.

The next time you get upset at the gas pump, paying your monthly utility bill, or higher prices on a product impacted by energy costs – don’t just get angry, do something positive about it. Let your representative know you’ve had enough of the politics as usual, that you will actively campaign for their defeat at the next election if things don’t change. Keep repeating your message and then vote accordingly.

^ Aug. 22 - Opinion: Should Politically Safe Election Zones Go?

OPINION: For two centuries Congressional districts have periodically been redefined to balance the representative power of government The process has always had a political bias that favors the reelection of incumbents. But today, computers have made the practice more precise which divides the country along party lines. The following article from USA Today speaks to the specifics on this subject:

^ Aug. 23 - Recent Articles On MyBayCity.com Filled With History.

BAY CITY: "My Bay City" is one of the better local websites around if you are looking for interesting stories about Bay City's past and present. Its owner, O.J. Cunningham, Jr. has put together a fine team of reporters who do an excellent job covering what's happening around the community, and quite often their stories includes history relevant to a subject. The most recent issue offers up quite a bit of interest history that you might enjoy reading. Be sure to check their history article archive as the end of this listing.

^ Aug. 24 - Mind Over Matter May Be True According To Study!

ANN ARBOR: A study at the University of Michigan has for the first time, been able to demonstrate a physical connection to the chemistry of the mind that can affect the body. The study, done on a small group of fourteen men, could expedite further studies of what may lead to a whole new approach in medicine -- using the power of the mind to heal the body.

^ Aug. 25 - Michigan Unemployment Figures For July Released.

LANSING: Figures released by the Michigan Department of Labor & Economic Growth for July, show the number of unemployed increased in from June this year, which was expected due to the seasonal affect for end of the school year, auto-industry retooling and the reduction of the summer work force. This chart shows the figures for Bay County and Michigan, data for all areas of the state are available from the link below.

^ Aug. 26 - Saginaw Police Want New Technology To Stem Gun Violence.

SAGINAW: A new techology could be of great help to the Saginaw Police Department in stemming criminal acts associated with guns. The technology costing $300,000, is an electronic alert system that can instantly identify a gun shot, the located where it took place, and active remove cameras to scan that area. The system immediately transmits this information to police cars and emergency teams, improving the possibility of an arrest and saving lives. The price tax is cheap if it can turn the tide on violence in Saginaw, whose economic well-being is directly affected by violence associated with criminal activities.

^ Aug. 27 - Agnes Thayer Moves On After An Active Life Of 107 Years.

MIDLAND: Doctors would shake their heads in wonderment about Agnes Thayer, whose passion was raising chickens and caring for her garden. She rose at the break of dawn each day attending to the chickens before sitting down to a breakfast that usually consisted of eggs, bacon and pototoes! She spent the last few years of her centurian-life at King's Daughters, which was fine with Agnes, because they had a garden in need of her help. Agnes departed this life on August 20th -- most likely, she has already begun applying her special touch to the eternal garden.

^ Aug. 30 - Midland St. Micro-brewery And Restaurant Sold.

BAY CITY: Art Dore has purchased the former Hereford & Hops facilities on Midland Street, which as sat idle for about two years. Mr. Dore has not announced his plans for the brewery-restaurant, other than his goal is to have it open for business before the end of the year.

^ Aug. 30 - Katrina Devastates Gulf States On Way North.

Hurricane Katrina was been downgraded to a tropical storm today as it continues on a path north to north east. At its peak force, Katrina's hurricane force winds spanned over 200 miles in diameter, making it the largest ever recorded to hit the U.S.

Aug. 27 - Former Mayor's Home Used For Mercy Hospital Will Soon Be Gone.

Article written in 1956 about the pending demolition of the original Mercy Hospital which was once the home of Nathan B. Bradley, the city's first major.

Aug. 23 - More Civil War News!

1865 news articles published by the Bay City Journal.

Aug. 22 - 29th Regiment, Michigan Infantry, organized in East Saginaw.

An article from the Bay City Journal in 1864, on the 29th Regiment, which was organized at East Saginaw. Includes names of officers and their hometowns.

Aug. 13 - Pictorial: Street Scapes

A beginning of a new Pictorial indexed by streets showing how they looked during different time periods. Plans are to add contempory pictures of the same location for comparison. Pictorials / Street Scapes / {Street Scapes}

Aug. 2 - Michigan Central Depot and Improved Jackson St. (1890).

1890 newspaper article donated by Alan Flood. When the MCRR depot on Jackson Street in Bay City was built it was considered one the finest buildings in the city and led to many other improvements near the depot. Heritage Library / Writings / {Michigan Central Depot - 1890}

Aug. 2 - Construction of Jones Clinic (1916).

This 1916 article, donated by Alan Flood, appeared in The Bay City Times Tribune newspaper. The article describes the construction details of the new clinic being built on the corner of Jefferson and Fifth by Dr. J. M. Jones. Heritage Library / Writings / {Jones Clinic 1916}