By Nick J. Buckley / For Black Squirrel News

ATHENS — Shannon Steele wanted a storefront.

Greenfield House wanted a spark.

Steele’s sourdough business had grown beyond what she could sell from her family’s property. The Athens Area Historical Society, meanwhile, was struggling with the cost of operating one of the village’s most recognizable historic homes.

Kacie Brunner, manager of the Athens Area Community Foundation and treasurer of the Historical Society, saw Steele’s Facebook post looking for space and sent her a message. The two had never met.

“She is filling so many holes that we had,” Brunner said. “I mean, we were on the verge of having to sell this house. We couldn’t afford to keep it anymore.”

‘I was bored’

Steele hadn’t planned to become a baker.

“So basically, I was bored,” she said.

Steele and her husband, Cody, moved from Battle Creek to the Athens countryside about three years ago. She was working full time from home for a travel nursing agency and wanted something of her own.

“I’ve never really enjoyed cooking or anything like that,” Steele said. “I mean, I hate cooking dinner, but I can go out and make 150 loaves of bread like nothing.”

Cody encouraged her to sell what she was making on Facebook and later nudged her to approach JoLo Farms in Battle Creek. Steele didn’t think they would be interested. Cody asked anyway.

JoLo became her first wholesale account.

As demand grew, Steele became commercially licensed. Cody and Steele’s father converted part of the family’s barn into a commercial bakery. She approached Horrocks & Co. in Battle Creek next.

“I didn’t even get a sentence out, and they said yes,” Steele said. “They gave me a whole table, and I just haven’t stopped.”

Steele now makes roughly 160 to 200 loaves a week, plus dozens of English muffins, cookies and pizza.

Customers wanted to buy directly from Steele, but she no longer wanted strangers regularly showing up at the family property.

She posted on Facebook that she was looking for space in Athens.

Brunner happened to be scrolling.

A house worth saving

Built between 1863 and 1865, Greenfield House sits prominently near the entrance to downtown Athens, just off M-66. The historic home had already been saved once.

The house had fallen into severe disrepair and faced condemnation before Chico Ramirez, then president of the Historical Society, bought it and poured hundreds of thousands of dollars into its restoration, according to Brunner. He later sold the house to the Historical Society for $1.

The property now hosts Historical Society activities, Athens Area Community Foundation offices and Senior Times. The weekly gathering, supported by Calhoun County Senior Services, brings about 30 older adults together for a free meal, conversation and guest speakers.

Before Shannon’s Sourdough could move in, the front room had to be emptied.

That included a massive piano.

Athens firefighters came over after a Sunday drill to help. They removed the front door, got the piano outside, loaded it onto a backhoe and drove it down the road to the Historical Society museum.

“That’s the great thing about Athens,” Brunner said. “We don’t have the money, but we have the heart. The people step up and volunteer.”

Shannon’s Sourdough opened in the Greenfield House on July 1.

More than a storefront

Steele’s baked goods now share the front room with eggs, flowers, maple syrup and other locally produced goods. Her young daughter is a regular presence behind the counter. Some customers and neighbors walk over. Others arrive by golf cart.

Tomissa Smittendorf, president of the Athens Youth Council, has already visited the new storefront multiple times. The council’s maple syrup is among the local products sold there.

“I absolutely love it because I’m really into homemade things and just shopping local,” Smittendorf said. “I don’t have to go to the big box grocery store for everything, and it’s right here in our community. It doesn’t get any better than that.”

Historical Society postcards are also sold at the storefront.

“She makes nothing selling our syrup and our postcards,” Brunner said. “Nothing.”

Steele has also agreed to coordinate events at the Greenfield House.

“This last month has really opened my eyes and made me realize what I want to do and where I want to go from here,” Steele said. “This is where I want to be.”

The response to her business still catches Steele off guard. She said she has stopped taking individual orders because she can barely keep up with demand.

“I go to the bank and they look at the check and are like, ‘Are you Shannon’s Sourdough?’” Steele said. “It makes me want to cry because I never expected…”

Steele paused. Brunner, standing beside her, stepped in.

“You’ve worked hard for this,” Brunner told her. “You’re doing extraordinary things.”

The two hugged. They had only met about five weeks earlier.

“She’s been thriving here,” Brunner said. “People are loving her. They love what she’s doing. They love that she chose to take a chance on Athens because we’ve been down and out.”

“It’s a fresh spark,” she added. “She brings a lot of hope.”

IF YOU GO

Shannon’s Sourdough at the Greenfield House

Facebook

215 N. Capital Ave., Athens

Hours: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Thursday and Friday

Also available at: Horrocks & Company and Uproot Market and Eatery.

How we reported this: Black Squirrel News reported this article during multiple visits to Shannon’s Sourdough at the Greenfield House in Athens for in-person interviews and observation. Additional research came from the Athens Area Historical Society.

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KCC installs eight new sculptures on campuses as part of Triennial Outdoor Sculpture Exhibition, running through 2029

Source: KCC Daily

As part of the College’s KCC Triennial Outdoor Sculpture Exhibition, eight new sculptures are located on KCC campuses and are free for public viewing through 2029.

Battle Creek seeks public input on draft housing strategy

Source: Community Matters

The City of Battle Creek is seeking input on its housing strategy before a September 15 deadline. In this nearly 20-minute podcast episode, Darcy Schmitt, Planning Supervisor, talks through the housing strategy, which can be found on the City’s website.

Suicide Prevention Coalition hosts suicide prevention and awareness walk

Source: WILX

The Suicide Prevention Coalition of Calhoun County is holding its 5th annual Step Out of the Darkness luminary event next month in Marshall.

Battle Creek Central students to gain real-world banking experience through student-run credit union

Source: FOX17

Battle Creek Public Schools is partnering with Marshall Community Credit Union to open a student-run credit union branch at Battle Creek Central High School. The branch is expected to open Sept. 10.

Kresge Gymnasium celebrates 100 years

Source: Albion College

Learn about the history of the Kresge Gymnasium, which was built in 1925 and started to develop what is now known as the Quad. It was built with a goal of “leaving the center part of the campus to be developed into a beautiful court.”

Nick J. Buckley/Downtown Battle Creek Zine

Customers dapped each other up as they stood on the corner of Angell Street and Hamblin Avenue, patiently waiting for the first Figgs burger of the season.

On opening day June 29, the community returned to Figgs Fast Food. For Andrew “Andy” Figgures, who opened the restaurant in 1988, what keeps his customers coming back is not too complicated.

“The burger,” he said. “Homemade fresh ground burger, never frozen. I get it fresh every morning.”

After 38 years on the edge of downtown and the Washington Heights neighborhood, Figgs remains familiar, even as new generations take their places behind the counter and in line. The red-painted building sits quietly on its own, surrounded by vacant lots, railroad tracks and the Kalamazoo River.

Figgures grew up eating hamburgers at Mr. Don’s, which originally occupied the same building. He drove past the vacant restaurant each day after the Clark Equipment plant where he worked closed. Eventually, he decided to buy it.

“I can do it too,” he recalls thinking.

It opened as Figgs Fast Food on June 30, 1988. His wife, Patricia, helped build the business and became known for her sweet potato pies and peach cobbler before her death in 2022.

Today, some of Figgures’ grandchildren help at the restaurant, part of a small team that he described as family, working shoulder-to-shoulder inside the tiny kitchen. Customers wait for orders from their cars, lean against the red-painted building or find shade at nearby picnic tables.

Taja Kirklin, a Battle Creek native, drove from Kalamazoo for opening day.

“It just brings me back to my childhood,” she said. “I love Figgs. They’ve been here forever. So, I just appreciate it that they still can give us the good food that we’ve been getting our whole life.”

Now 81, Figgures has reduced the restaurant’s season and hours in recent years as family members take on more of the work. Over the years, he has endured recessions, a pandemic and personal loss.

“I hung in there all the years,” he said.

John Thomas ordered three Figg burgers on opening day.

“It’s a legend,” he said. “It’s a legend spot.”

This article originally appeared in Downtown Battle Creek Zine and is republished with permission.

IF YOU GO
Figgs Fast Food
*Cash only
Where: 559 Hamblin Ave., Battle Creek
Hours: Tuesday-Friday, 2-7 p.m. (subject to change)
Contact: 269-753-5989
Facebook

The 177th year of the Calhoun County Fair in Marshall

Source: WWMT

The 177th annual county fair is happening now through Saturday, Aug. 22. Hours are 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. each day. Before the end of the week, there will be animal auctions and grandstand events. Visit the County Fair website for details.

Kellogg Community College ranked second best community college in Michigan, 17th best community college in the U.S.

Source: KCC Daily

A recent franking by financial services company WalletHub ranked Kellogg Community College among the top 2.8% of community colleges in the nation. KCC is one of just three Michigan institutions in the Top 50.

Comprehensive Plan update invites community to help guide city’s future

Source: Albion Recorder

The City of Albion is working with McKenna to develop the city’s comprehensive plan update and housing assessment. The process will include surveys and focus groups to get feedback before recommendations are presented to the Albion Planning Commission and City Council.

Marshall police issue warning following alleged threats against city council members

Source: WOODTV

The City of Marshall Police Department is calling on the community to exercise “civil dialogue” following an investigation into threats made against city council members amid ongoing debates over a proposed data center.

By Black Squirrel News

Grammy-nominated duo The War and Treaty will welcome a sold-out crowd to their family ranch in Homer on Aug. 22 for the inaugural HeartsTown Music Festival.

For Michael Trotter Jr. and Tanya Trotter, home has centered on their adopted hometown of Albion.

The husband-and-wife duo built The War and Treaty while living in Albion. They moved to the city in 2016, finding an audience and developing their blend of gospel, blues, soul, rock and country before their music carried them to stages around the world.

“When we dreamed up HeartsTown, we knew we wanted it to feel like home,” the duo wrote in announcing the festival lineup on social media. They described Michigan as “the place we call our second home.”

Albion played an important role in shaping The War and Treaty. Michael became a regular at Blues at the Bohm, and the couple connected with local musicians while performing as Trotter and Blount. Tanya has since credited the Bohm scene with pushing their music toward the blues and helping shape the sound they carried forward as The War and Treaty.

Both had established careers in music before forming The War and Treaty. Michael began performing while serving in the U.S. Army in Iraq, eventually singing at memorials for fallen soldiers. Tanya had already recorded professionally and appeared alongside Lauryn Hill in 1993’s “Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit.” Together, they have since earned Grammy nominations and performed on some of the country’s biggest stages.

In a July 20 social media post, Tanya thanked local fans as tickets for HeartsTown quickly disappeared.

“Thank you so much to our little town of Albion, all the little towns around it, all of our friends in Michigan, all of our fans in Michigan,” she said. “We just came up with the idea to open up our home and love on y’all, just celebrate and enjoy life; so many things we need right now.”

Michael has long credited Albion with helping make The War and Treaty possible.

“Without Albion, there is no War and Treaty,” he said ahead of their 2020 Grammy performance. “That’s family, that’s the hometown. Tanya and I are proud to say that’s where we belong.”

How we reported this: This story draws on public statements by Michael and Tanya Trotter on social media, information from HeartsTown Music Festival and previous reporting and published interviews about The War and Treaty’s ties to Calhoun County.

By Black Squirrel News

The Wall That Heals arrived in Calhoun County on Tuesday, escorted by more than 350 motorcycles ahead of public viewing through Sunday at Harper Creek High School.

The procession began at Galesburg-Augusta High School, led by law enforcement agencies from Kalamazoo and Calhoun counties. Residents gathered along West Michigan Avenue in downtown Battle Creek to wave flags and welcome the motorcade as it traveled to Harper Creek High School in Emmett Township.

The Wall That Heals is a traveling three-quarter-scale replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. The 375-foot-long replica bears the names of 58,281 service members and is accompanied by a mobile education center.

The exhibit is open 24 hours a day from approximately 2 p.m. Wednesday through 2 p.m. Sunday.

The Calhoun County Red White Blue Foundation brought the traveling exhibit back to the Battle Creek area and is hosting its visit. The Wall That Heals last came to the community in 2022.

The Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 313 also raised funds to host the Huey 369 Experience at the American Legion Post 257, across B Drive N from Harper Creek Schools. Three Vietnam-era Huey helicopters will arrive at approximately 11 a.m., Friday, Aug. 21.

If You Go

What: The Wall That Heals, a traveling replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and mobile education center

Where: Harper Creek High School soccer field complex, 7290 B Drive North, Emmett Township

Ribbon-cutting ceremony: 5:45 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 19

Welcome home ceremony: 10 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 20

Hours: Open 24 hours a day through 2 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 23. Taps will be played every day at 9 p.m.

Admission: Free

More information: thewallthathealsbattlecreek.com

How we reported this: Black Squirrel News attended the motorcade as it passed through downtown Battle Creek. Information about the exhibit and its public schedule came from The Wall That Heals Battle Creek event website, organizers and local reporting.

By Nick J. Buckley / For Black Squirrel News

BATTLE CREEK — City leaders, community partners and neighbors gathered in the back parking lot of 614 Capital Ave. NE on May 27 to mark the opening of five apartments for people in recovery.

Some incoming residents shared their experiences with substance use disorder, including the importance of a stable place to live.

“You have no idea how life-changing it is for me,” one incoming resident said at the ribbon cutting.

Battle Creek used $328,266.47 in opioid settlement funds toward the $862,000 renovation of the former osteopathic hospital.

The project is one example of how millions of dollars from national opioid settlements are beginning to show up across Calhoun County, supporting housing, treatment, prevention, harm reduction and recovery.

How much money is Calhoun County receiving?

The money comes from national settlements with opioid manufacturers, distributors and pharmacies, including Johnson & Johnson, McKesson, Cardinal Health, CVS, Walgreens and Walmart.

In 2023, more than 81% of Calhoun County’s 37 accidental drug-related deaths involved opioids, according to the county’s 2024-25 opioid settlement impact report.

The impact extends beyond overdose deaths. Calhoun County is spending about $400,000 a year on medication-assisted treatment in its jail, while opioid-related needs also draw resources from specialty courts, law enforcement and public health.

Michigan splits its share between the state and eligible local governments. Battle Creek receives its own settlement payments, separate from the approximately $13.2 million Calhoun County government expects to receive over 18 years.

Calhoun County had spent about $4.1 million of its opioid settlement funds through June 2026.

The money is legally restricted to addressing substance use through treatment, prevention, harm reduction and recovery. It is not taxpayer money and does not go into the county’s general fund.

How is the money being used?

Calhoun County government formed an Opioid Settlement Fund Steering Committee to identify local needs and recommend how the money should be spent.

Some money supports county programs, including specialty courts and the Public Health Department’s syringe services program. Other money goes to community organizations through grants.

County Administrator/Controller Kelli Scott said the process has also helped providers identify gaps and work together.

“It’s been an amazing journey over the last couple years to be able to take what some might think is a relatively small amount of money each year, and just multiply it through the increased collaboration,” Scott said.

Current grants support recovery, homelessness services, treatment and youth prevention. Among them:

• The Alano Club of Battle Creek used settlement funding to expand peer-led recovery programs.

• Substance Abuse Prevention Services expanded prevention and harm-reduction efforts centered in Albion and serving Homer, Marshall and surrounding townships.

• Bronson Battle Creek used funding to educate health care providers on responsible opioid prescribing and medication for addiction treatment across Calhoun County.

Turning settlement dollars into housing

The settlement money helped close a funding gap after an earlier redevelopment of the Capital Avenue property stalled.

Battle Creek had federal Community Development Block Grant funding for the project but not enough to complete it.

“We didn’t have enough federal dollars,” Community Development Supervisor Helen Guzzo said at the ribbon cutting. “We used Community Development Block Grant dollars, [and] the city committed opioid settlement dollars.”

Recovery Services Unlimited operates the five apartments, where residents can receive recovery coaching, case management and other support.

Building programs that can last

Settlement dollars are also helping recovery programs tap into other funding.

Haven of Rest Ministries received two $150,000 awards from Calhoun County for its men’s and women’s Life Recovery programs, which together cost more than $1 million annually.

Executive Director Daniel Jones said the money helped support a two-year effort to earn accreditation and become credentialed to bill Medicaid. That allows The Haven to seek Medicaid reimbursement for eligible services.

Accreditation also makes The Haven eligible to pursue larger grants.

At the county’s Aug. 6 steering committee meeting, Jones said the investment is beginning to free Haven resources for other work.

“Suddenly the Haven is able to do a whole lot more with the half a million dollars we used to shovel into these Life Recovery programs,” Jones said. “We can spend it on our shelters. We can spend it on street outreach, and we can spend it on some really neat things.”

What’s next?

Staffing and housing were among the challenges reported during the Aug. 6 steering committee meeting, including difficulty hiring and training workers and finding stable housing for people in recovery. Scott said more permanent and transitional housing could be among the county’s next steps.

The county also established a $200,000 Emerging Needs Fund this year for needs that arise outside its regular grant cycle.

At the May ribbon cutting, Tracy Bales said she has been sober for four years, completed the Women’s Life Recovery Program, returned to school and now works in the recovery field.

“I’m not sharing my story because it’s easy. I’m sharing it because programs like sober living, transitional housing matter,” Bales said. “Recovery doesn’t happen alone. People need safety, support, and a chance to rebuild.”

Learn more

Calhoun County publishes its spending plans, grant awards, impact reports and steering committee materials on its opioid settlement funds webpage.

How we reported this: This report is based on Calhoun County opioid settlement records, attendance at the Aug. 6 opioid settlement steering committee meeting and the May 27 recovery housing ribbon cutting, and interviews with county, city and recovery service leaders.

Community Oversight Board completes review of June 14 Greenwood Avenue incident

Source: City of Battle Creek

Battle Creek’s Community Oversight Board found aspects of a June 14 police interaction involving a minor warranted additional attention related to officer professionalism, community trust and police-community relations. The officers involved received coaching and counseling, and the city plans additional departmentwide training.

Kellogg says it’s removing artificial dyes from cereals by the end of this year

Source: Associated Press

Battle Creek-based WK Kellogg Co. plans to remove artificial colors from all of its cereals by the end of 2026, a year earlier than previously announced. The company also plans to remove the preservative BHT from its remaining cereals.

Calhoun County takes ownership of 245 acres near BlueOval Battery Park

Source: WWMT

Calhoun County now owns 245 acres along the Kalamazoo River near Ford’s BlueOval Battery Park in Marshall. The land transfer aims to protect natural resources while supporting future outdoor recreation.

Community partnerships, infrastructure projects highlight Albion council meeting

Source: Albion Recorder

Albion welcomed visitors from its sister city of Noisy-le-Roi, France, during a recent City Council meeting. The council also took action on infrastructure, housing and economic development items.

Youth programs, river cleanup and more outdoors in Calhoun County

Source: Calhoun County Government

The county’s August Outdoors in Calhoun newsletter highlights Kalamazoo River Watershed Council programs that have reached more than 250 youth this summer and a Battle Creek River cleanup that removed about 40 tires and other trash. The newsletter also includes outdoor recreation opportunities and seasonal information from organizations working across the county.

By Nick J. Buckley / For Black Squirrel News

BATTLE CREEK – Garden of Dreams needed a new home.

The Valentine Center needed new life.

Bronson Battle Creek Hospital needed to better support the child care needs of its workforce.

Those needs converged at the Valentine Center at Irving Park, where a vacant child care center has been transformed into the new home of Garden of Dreams Community Preschool and Childcare. The center is expected to serve about 80 children and employ 25 staff members when it opens this fall.

Assistant City Manager Marcie Gillette said the project shows how Battle Creek’s thinking about child care has changed, with access to care increasingly viewed as a community issue rather than one that affects families alone.

Local governments often focus on services such as police, streets, sewer and water because those are the things communities expect them to provide. Gillette said Battle Creek is taking a broader view.

“Our responsibility is to provide the healthiest community that we can, and child care is a piece of that infrastructure.”

Finding solutions in a fragile child care system

The Valentine Center was initially envisioned as a second Garden of Dreams location that would add child care capacity. Garden of Dreams has operated at First Congregational Church since 2005, but those plans shifted after the church announced plans to sell its building, turning an expansion into a necessary move.

The city-owned Valentine Center had been largely vacant since Kids Campus abruptly closed following the death of longtime director Roberta “Bobbie” Wetherill-Zull in September 2023. At the time, families were suddenly left scrambling for care, and because the child care license was held in Wetherill-Zull’s name, the center could not simply continue operating.

Across the street, Bronson Battle Creek Hospital was exploring ways to better support employees who depend on reliable child care to remain in the workforce.

Bronson President and CEO Bill Manns said Bronson joined other organizations in asking how they could ensure families had a safe place to send their children.

“It’s amazing what a community can do when we come together around shared need,” Manns said.

The project ultimately brought together the City of Battle Creek, Garden of Dreams Community Preschool and Childcare, Bronson Healthcare, the Bronson Battle Creek Hospital Community Partners Board, the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, Pulse at the W.E. Upjohn Institute, IFF and other community partners to renovate the city-owned Valentine Center and preserve it as a place where children, families and educators can grow.

“The Kellogg Foundation invested in this project because expanding high-quality childcare strengthens children, supports working families and creates the conditions for communities to thrive,” said Megan Russell Johnson, program officer at the W.K. Kellogg Foundation.

While the Valentine Center will preserve and expand access to child care, community leaders say it is one piece of a broader effort to address the region’s continuing shortage of affordable, high-quality care.

Gillette said the project’s most immediate impact is the stability it brings to Battle Creek’s child care system.

“What this does is it stabilizes our child care market,” she said. “Without this, there would be a high level of uncertainty.”

Room to grow and explore

For nearly three years, the Valentine Center sat mostly quiet. This fall, children are expected to return to classrooms overlooking Irving Park.

The roughly $1 million renovation was supported by $1.1 million in commitments, including $500,000 from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation and $300,000 each from Bronson Healthcare and the Bronson Battle Creek Hospital Community Partners Board.

The renovated center features larger classrooms, more natural light and additional space for children and educators than Garden of Dreams’ previous location.

Outside the windows, Irving Park’s lagoons, mature trees and familiar waterfowl provide a natural backdrop. Soon, children will venture beyond the fenced playground on walking ropes to explore the park as part of their day.

Garden of Dreams Executive Director Robin Beasley said the environment surrounding the center will become an extension of the classroom.

“You can’t help but feel the serenity,” Beasley said. “It’ll help children with special needs... it’s calming.”

Samantha Hager, lead teacher in Garden of Dreams’ classroom for children ages 12 to 24 months, said the greatest change may be that educators can devote their energy where it belongs.

“Giving us the support for a new building was great,” Hager said. “We’re not fixing stuff as teachers. We’re focusing on the kids. We’re not fixing tables. We’re not changing rooms around. We have the space to grow at the center.”

How we reported this: This story was written with research from local news sources, press releases and interviews conducted during the July 27, 2026 ribbon cutting ceremony at the Valentine Center.

Disclosure: Nick J. Buckley was contracted to produce separate content for the W.K. Kellogg Foundation’s Every Child Thrives platform. This story was independently reported, and coverage was independently determined by the Black Squirrel News editorial team.

Marshall approves one-year moratorium on data center projects

Source: City of Marshall (YouTube)

Marshall City Council unanimously approved a one-year moratorium on data center approvals during its Aug. 3 meeting. Council members said the pause will allow the city to study issues such as noise, environmental impacts, infrastructure capacity and potential zoning and ordinance changes before considering future data center proposals.

Calhoun County election results from Aug. 4 primaries

Source: Calhoun County Government

Calhoun County voters rejected a Harper Creek Schools bond proposal while approving a Homer Community Schools bond and an Albion District Library millage in the Tuesday, Aug. 4 election. The county election website also includes results from local and state primary races.

Fredonia Grange will not serve food at Calhoun County Fair for first time in 63 years

Source: WWMT

Fredonia Grange will not serve food at the Calhoun County Fair this year for the first time in 63 years, excluding the COVID-19 pandemic. Grange leaders said a gas line was not restored by their July 20 deadline, while fairgrounds officials said alternative cooking equipment and additional space were offered.

Rx Kids off to strong start as 14 Albion families enroll

Source: Albion Recorder

Less than a month after launching in Calhoun County, the Rx Kids program has enrolled 14 Albion families, with three babies already born under the program and $19,500 in direct financial assistance distributed. Eligible families receive $1,500 during pregnancy and $500 per month during a baby’s first six months, with local leaders encouraging expectant parents to enroll before their child is born to receive the full benefit.

National Guard Northern Strike training activities scheduled in Battle Creek area

Source: WKZO

Residents may see military personnel, vehicles and related training activity in the Battle Creek area through Aug. 14 as part of the National Guard’s Northern Strike exercise. Limited activities are planned at designated locations on four nonconsecutive days, but officials said the exercise will not include large-scale maneuvers or troop movements throughout the city.

By Lucy Hough / For Black Squirrel News

BATTLE CREEK — Kurt Thornton’s interest in Battle Creek history permeates his home. He has pieces of some of Battle Creek’s most famous buildings that have been torn down, turned into household display cases or a window between rooms. Visitors are treated to a museum experience as he points out his collections and what they mean to him.

History is central to who Thornton is. He is the author of numerous books of Battle Creek history and was a founding board member of the Battle Creek Regional History Museum. He currently sits on the Oak Hill Cemetery Board of Directors. He’s received recognition in the community for volunteer leadership and preserving local history.

The interest stems from his mom who was a historian in her own right, with a wealth of knowledge she was called upon to share and a massive Battle Creek photo library and postcard collection. Frances Thornton brought Kurt and his sisters along in her interest, taking them to historic moments in the city as they happened, like when the cement river was built downtown or the Post Tavern was torn down.

“My mom loved Battle Creek history and we were always involved in doing history stuff. Mom wanted us to be at these historic moments in Battle Creek,” Thornton said. “Mom’s love for Battle Creek history carried through to me and my two sisters.”

One thing Thornton learned from his mom is to stay organized. She had 40 boxes of Battle Creek history that weren’t organized. For instance, when she got a call about Martin Luther King Jr.;s 1960 visit to Battle Creek, the Thornton kids would have to go through all 40 boxes to find the pictures. He helped her to organize them later in life, now called the Frances Thornton collection.

The Frances Thornton collection is one archive Kurt uses to tell the stories of Battle Creek history for the community. He produces a video series on AccessVision called I’ll BCing You and an in-person presentation at the Battle Creek Regional History Museum. He also shares stories and answers questions with visual aids on social media. Across all platforms, Thornton shares Battle Creek history in a way that’s both informational and entertaining.

“I try to make them interesting and educational but sort of fun so you get more out of it more than just ‘yawn,’” Thornton said.

This storytelling highlights Thornton’s creative talents. He shares illustrations of Battle Creek landmarks and he sang the opening credits for I’ll BCing You — singing the Billie Holiday song to respect the copyright. It was his mom’s idea to use the song as a reference to Battle Creek — BC — and she didn’t get the chance. He thought his AccessVision series was a good opportunity.

Sharing The Complicated Stories about Battle Creek

Thornton helps people think about history dynamically. There are parts of Battle Creek history that are murky and maybe that was because there weren’t recording devices at the time or photographs. Times have changed, and how we see situations now might differ from how it might have been perceived at the time.

“(Dr. John Harvey) Kellogg did some crazy things, but no one was doing it. So he came up with these things — he also believed in fresh air, eating food that was pure, exercising. All the things that we now believe in, but he also believed in multiple enemas a day. But he believed it was right. He wasn’t doing it to torture people, he thought it was making you healthier,” Thornton said.

Thornton brings his inquisitive mind to all of the stories he shares, but tries not to judge. In a recent episode of I’ll BCing You about the history of Fort Custer, he addresses the irony of the way the land was once the utopian village Harmonia in the 1800s for Quakers and Spiritualists, where Sojourner Truth lived for 10 years before moving into Battle Creek. In 1917, the United States purchased 8,000 acres that included the village of Harmonia, to create what was called Camp Custer.

“Some structures from Harmonia were converted for use by the Army,” Kurt shares in the episode. And he shows pictures of Harmonia’s Methodist Church then converted into an automatic rifle school for Camp Custer.

Thornton has lived through a lot of Battle Creek’s history and he continues to participate in the vital conversations about the community’s history. He saw the rise and fall of Cereal City USA. The organizers came and spoke with his church about their plans before it opened, from facilities to community events. Then, “no one went and then it folded,” he shared. “When they had the auction [after it closed], you’re walking around thinking, ‘This should have made it.’” Thornton has some theories about why it didn’t, but he laments the opportunity to engage people in Battle Creek’s cereal history.

He’s seen a lot of change over the years in Battle Creek, and he understands when people feel remorse about historic buildings being torn down, like Southwestern Junior High School which is being demolished this month. A recent episode of I’ll BCing You shares the school’s history and what happened after it closed, which led to it becoming blighted.

He encourages people to consider what they want to save and get organized to do so. Referring to buildings being torn down, like Southwestern, Thornton said, “We can’t save that building but look around and if there’s some building that you see that has some architectural significance, it’s attractive, and you think it should be saved, let someone know. Sometimes your political leaders haven’t got a clue.”

Feeling Responsibility to Share This History

Thornton is passionate about sharing this history and not just holding on to it. He’s eager to share the photos that he and his mother have collected.

“Having them to myself? No,” Kurt shook his head. “It’s nice to get recognized for saving the picture but the big picture is I’d like to get them out there so someone else doesn’t have to rescan them or re-find them,” he said.

He doesn’t want to lose the history of this area, which he understands can happen when there aren’t stewards of the stories. That’s why he takes storytelling seriously.

“I keep thinking about the responsibility (of sharing this history),” Thornton said. “I need to do a good job instead of just saying things. I should pay attention to what I’m doing, which is why I went to AccessVision to do the program. I have all of this history and (some day) I’m going to die and it won’t get out there. Someone will have to refind it again, which is the thing I always hate about history is it goes through cycles and we have to relearn it.”

Thornton hopes that local history organizations can work together to help keep and share Battle Creek’s history. The Battle Creek Museum Alliance, which is made up of four local history organizations, has begun offering programming to share each organization’s individual strengths. He likes to imagine what is possible for sharing the area’s history.

“I’d like to see them make a museum that’s educational and entertaining so people will want to come and see it, and then they’ll want to come back. People will leave, but say, ‘I’ll go tell my friends and come back again.’ But they might go back two or three times because it’s so cool,” he said.

Thornton has ideas for how that might come together. In the meantime, he’s hopeful the community can come together to celebrate the City’s 200th birthday in 2031.

“I’d like to see us do something because in 1931 it was huge. They had the parade that lasted two hours through downtown and events happening all the time and this was at the height of the depression,” he said. He can only imagine what’s possible today.

Explore I’ll BCing You

• AccessVision, www.accessvision.tv

• YouTube, www.youtube.com/@BCingYou

• Battle Creek Regional History Museum, bcrhm.org/events.html

How We Reported This

This article is based off an interview with Kurt Thornton in his home, as well as a review of his biography, the I’ll BCing You series and his history-related social media posts.

Support Black Squirrel News

Black Squirrel News is building a free local news, information and storytelling resource for Calhoun County. Subscribe and consider supporting our work to help keep it accessible to everyone.

Calhoun County Senior Services honors centenarians

Source: View Newspaper Group

Calhoun County Senior Services celebrated residents age 100 and older July 16 at Marshall United Methodist Church, recognizing 10 new centenarians during a reception featuring music, memories and storytelling. Each year since 2021, Senior Services staff and Senior Millage Allocation Committee members have interviewed local centenarians for an online project now featuring 85 residents and 85 unique stories.

Willard Library Helen Warner Branch to begin expansion

Source: Willard Library

A nearly 3,300-square-foot addition at the Helen Warner Branch will add a larger programming room, a permanent home for the Joanne TenBrink Creative Space, three small meeting rooms and a dedicated children's area. The branch will remain open during construction, which is expected to be completed in 2027.

Clean audit, library renewal and public service highlighted in Albion

Source: Albion Recorder

Albion City Council received a clean independent audit, heard details about renewing the Albion District Library’s operating millage and recognized longtime community leaders and public servants during a July 20 meeting.

Miles for Memories developing new support network for dementia caregivers

Source: Battle Creek Podcast

Miles for Memories founder Sherii Sherban discussed CARDS (Caregivers for Alzheimer's and Related Dementia Support), a new initiative under development that would connect dementia caregivers with mentors, online resources and a community support network.

M-66 and M-37 resurfacing starts Aug. 3 in Battle Creek

Source: Michigan Department of Transportation

MDOT will resurface M-66 from Beckley Road/B Drive North to S Drive South and M-37/I-94 Business Loop from I-94 to Helmer Road. The $1.4 million project covers 10.4 miles and will require single- and double-lane closures through Sept. 15.

DOWLING — A Battle Creek Public Schools bus crossed county lines carrying preschool students from the Dudley Great Start Readiness Program to a place that has welcomed generations of learners.

When the students and staff arrived at the Outdoor Education Center at Clear Lake Camp for a field trip to cap off the school year, parents and guardians were waiting to join them. Together, they went on a hayride, met farm animals and followed staff members through fields and woods. Along the way, children stopped at a sycamore tree before continuing down the trail.

For all of the preschool students, it marked their first school field trip.

For some, it was the first ride on a school bus. For parents, it was a chance to share in a familiar rite of passage.

“This place is just a memory maker for people,” said Shannon Thornton, a volunteer and retired staff member.

The farm program is one of many offered at the Outdoor Education Center, a 180-acre property owned and operated by Battle Creek Public Schools. Throughout the school year, students visit Clear Lake Camp for environmental education, overnight camp experiences, STEM programming and hands-on learning opportunities that extend beyond the classroom.

Making memories since 1940

For generations, students have come to Clear Lake Camp to learn outside the classroom.

Inside the dining hall, names such as Flying Squirrels, Gray Treefrogs, Tiger Muskies and Blue Racers still mark the overhead beams. Nearby, a handwritten scoreboard tracks points and food waste by school, part of a campwide challenge to leave as little behind as possible.

Those details are part of the Clear Lake experience, alongside cabins, canoeing, the Pioneer Cabin, box hockey, a climbing wall, archery, campfires and wooded trails.

“The big thing is just making sure generations and as many kids as possible enjoy this,” said OEC Director Blake Tenney, the ninth director since Clear Lake became the nation’s first public school camp in 1940.

While Battle Creek Public Schools owns and operates the camp, its reach extends beyond Bearcat students. Other schools and community groups use the property throughout the year, and the facilities can be rented for family reunions, weddings, retreats, camps and other gatherings.

An experience that sticks

On a recent visit, sixth-grade students from Battle Creek STEM Innovation Center built their own breakfast burritos before heading down a wooded trail for a lesson on fire building. As instructors demonstrated how to use matches and flint strikers, students sat on logs, listened closely and passed the time drawing in the dirt with sticks.

For many of the students, the staff members leading the activity were familiar faces from fifth-grade overnight camp. Some students first visited Clear Lake Camp through earlier programs and returned years later for STEM activities, outdoor education and other experiences.

The setting may have been different from a traditional classroom, but the lesson was the same: listen, learn and work together. Surrounded by trees, dirt and the occasional bug, students settled into the activity.

For OEC Program Coordinator Hannah Hazewinkle, those moments help explain why Clear Lake Camp continues to resonate with students long after they leave.

“There is just so much inherent value in just being with people out in nature, building community out in nature, that will never be able to be replicated by technology.”

Outdoor Education Center at Clear Lake Camp

• Address: 10160 S. M-37 Hwy., Dowling, MI 49050

• Programs: Farm Animal Program, Pioneer Cabin, residential camp, day programs and group-building activities

• Rentals: Weekend group rentals and summer cabin rentals available

• Phone: 269-721-8161

• Learn more: clearlakecamp.org

How we reported this

This feature was reported through multiple visits to the Outdoor Education Center in Dowling and interviews with students, parents, educators and staff. Background information came from Clear Lake Camp’s website and newspaper archives.

Disclosure

Reporting for this story was conducted as part of freelance contract work for Battle Creek Public Schools. Black Squirrel News independently edited and published the story.

$1.7M Mars grant supports food access in Battle Creek

Source: Battle Creek Community Foundation

Food access in Battle Creek was strengthened with a $500,000 contribution from the Mars Snacking Foundation to the Equitable Well-Being and Food Access Fund. The fund supports programs such as emergency food assistance, fresh food distribution and senior nutrition programs. The contribution is part of $1.7 million in grants from the Mars Snacking Foundation to programs in Calhoun County.

Early in-person voting begins July 25 for the Aug. 4 primary

Source: Calhoun County Clerk and Register of Deeds

Two locations will offer early in-person voting in Calhoun County from Saturday, July 25 through Sunday, Aug. 2 for the Aug. 4 primary. Residents of the cities of Battle Creek and Springfield, as well as Bedford and Pennfield Charter Townships, can vote 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily at the Kool Family Community Center in Battle Creek. All other Calhoun County residents can vote between 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily at the Marshall County Building in Marshall.

Albion honors Vera Simpson with street designation

Source: Albion Recorder

Jefferson Street in Albion will now feature the name of “longtime community visionary” Vera Simpson, whose work was influential in education, neighborhood revitalization, community gardening, preservation of Black history, mentoring and community service in Albion.

City council takes next step for housing repair project in Marshall

Source: Marshall Ad-Visor & Chronicle

The City of Marshall is resubmitting an application to the Michigan State Housing Development Authority, which would support housing rehabilitation projects in city limits.

Innovate Albion Receives $150,000 to Expand Landmark Michigan STEM Initiative in Marshall Public Schools

Source: Innovate Albion

The Ford Future Builders Labs in Marshall Public Schools will transition into high-impact learning centers with recent grants to Innovate Albion to hire two full-time STEM coordinators to provide hands-on instruction in all four elementary schools. The grants are from the Marshall Community Foundation and Cronin Foundation.

By Eston Tolf / For Black Squirrel News

BATTLE CREEK — Rainbow flags waved above hundreds of attendees as music, local vendors, and community organizations transformed Leila Arboretum into a vibrant celebration of pride on Saturday, July 18, bringing Battle Creek residents together for a day centered on visibility, inclusion, and community.

Hosted by BC Pride, the annual festival featured local organizations, vendors, performers and community members who gathered to celebrate while creating opportunities for connection and support. This marked another milestone for an organization that has grown significantly since its beginnings a decade ago.

Building a community celebration

For BC Pride President and co-founder Deana Spencer, the festival represents more than a yearly gathering; it is an opportunity to create a space where people feel intentionally welcomed and supported.

“Battle Creek Pride works really hard to focus on our community and to make this a very intentional event,” Spencer said.

Spencer added that the festival’s growth reflects the support it has received from community partners, vendors and volunteers. What began as a small picnic at Willard Library with around 30 people has grown into a four-day celebration that included trivia, drag performances, a downtown parade and Saturday’s festival at Leila Arboretum.

Looking ahead, Spencer said she hopes BC Pride continues expanding while maintaining its focus on partnerships and education.

“My goal is just to keep getting bigger and better,” Spencer said.

Celebrating through connection

For Jim Craig, a tattoo artist with Ink Station Tattoo in Battle Creek, participating in Pride is a way to support the community while representing a group that is not always highly visible in his industry.

“Coming from a queer background, you don’t see a lot of artists or tattoo artists that are really prevalent in the business,” Craig said. “So I have always made it my mission, now that I’ve become a tattoo artist, to be involved with the community and to celebrate.”

Craig said Pride also provides an opportunity to connect with others and create a welcoming environment.

“There are a lot of people who make you feel ashamed for just being who you are,” Craig said. “So I want to always celebrate, and I want to celebrate other people because meeting people and celebrating others is what I do best.”

Finding belonging at Pride

Among the crowd at Leila Arboretum was David Greenquist, who stood offering something simple to festivalgoers: a free hug.

Greenquist and his sign were one example that reflected the welcoming atmosphere that he said keeps him returning to Pride each year. Greenquist said he first discovered the event through an online advertisement and continues returning each year because of the connections he makes with other attendees.

“Pride means to love whoever you want,” Greenquist said.

For those attending Pride for the first time, Greenquist offered a simple invitation.

“Do come. You’ll be glad you did.”

How we reported this

Black Squirrel News attended Battle Creek Pride’s July 18 festival at Leila Arboretum, interviewing organizers, participants and festivalgoers while documenting the event through photographs.

Demolition begins on Southwestern Junior High

Source: WWMT

Demolition has officially begun on the former Southwestern Junior High in Battle Creek. The Battle Creek Public Schools building served students from 1926 until 2006. The community had one final tour in November of 2025. Crews say a community playground will be built on the site.

Community organizations find a new home at Albion College’s Ludington Center

Source: Albion Recorder

Many community members will get their first look at the renovated first-floor offices at Albion College's Ludington Center during the Greater Albion Area Career Fair on July 16. The Greater Albion Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau has moved into the building, and the Albion Community Foundation is expected to complete its move soon.

Calhoun County Identifies 87 Cases of Cyclosporiasis Amid Statewide Outbreak

Source: Calhoun County Public Health Department

The Calhoun County Public Health Department has identified 87 local cases of cyclosporiasis as of July 17, part of a broader statewide outbreak investigation. The foodborne illness causes diarrhea and other gastrointestinal symptoms and is often linked to contaminated fresh produce. Officials recommend thoroughly washing fruits and vegetables and contacting a health care provider if symptoms persist.

Battle Creek Oversight Board begins deliberations into teen detainments

Source: WOODTV

Battle Creek’s Community Oversight Board has begun deliberating over the police department’s handling of a June 14 encounter in which officers detained a teenager who had also been stopped by police 10 days earlier. The review follows widespread public concern and an internal investigation that found the officer’s actions were consistent with department policy. The board expects to complete its work within 10 days and submit its findings to the city manager.

Hamblin Avenue closed July 13-31 for Washington Avenue bridge work in Battle Creek

Source: MDOT

Hamblin Avenue is closed between Kendall and McCamly streets through July 31 while crews set beams for the M-89/Washington Avenue bridge over the Battle Creek River. A detour is posted along Kendall Street, Michigan Avenue and Hamblin Avenue as work continues on a $7.6 million project that includes bridge rebuilding and repairs, drainage and signal improvements and water main relocation.

By Nick J. Buckley / Downtown Battle Creek Zine

For Benjamin and Denise Young, the move to Michigan Avenue has been years in the making.

What began as a shared dream and a home-based food business has grown into Mitts 2 Pits, the family-owned catering business and eatery now serving customers in the heart of downtown Battle Creek after relocating from Calhoun Street.

The business adds soul food to downtown’s dining scene. While Mitts 2 Pits offers a variety of menu items throughout the week, it has become known for its Soul Food Sundays, featuring dishes such as catfish, collard greens and candied sweet potatoes alongside specialties such as Denise’s peach cobbler lemonade.

“You need people to support you to even be successful,” Benjamin said. “Nobody’s successful by themselves.”

The married couple and parents of three started Mitts 2 Pits as a cottage food business operating from their home before spending two years working from Sprout BC’s incubator kitchen in Springfield. There, they built a customer base, refined their business plan and gained confidence that their dream could become a brick-and-mortar business.

Along the way, they worked with organizations including Sprout BC, BC Food Reimagined, the City of Battle Creek’s Small Business Development Office and Northern Initiatives.

The Youngs also received mentorship from Peecoon and Lance Allen, owners of Umami Ramen. Mitts 2 Pits’ first storefront occupied the former Umami location on Calhoun Street before the opportunity arose to relocate into Umami’s former Michigan Avenue space.

Denise described the transition as a passing of the torch.

“It takes a village,” she said.

The opportunity came sooner than expected.

Benjamin said the couple had recently completed a three-year plan for their Calhoun Street location when the Michigan Avenue opportunity emerged. Expanding into a larger space meant higher costs and new challenges, but the couple decided to move forward.

“You’ve got to take a leap of faith,” Benjamin said.

Today, Mitts 2 Pits serves customers through catering, lunch service and special events. The new location includes space for private gatherings, outdoor seating and access to Reflection Park, a small downtown green space where Denise has planted flowers and vegetables.

The couple say their strengths complement one another as partners in business and in life. Benjamin oversees much of the cooking and menu development, drawing on years of culinary experience that began in local church kitchens and continued through culinary training at what is now the Calhoun Area Career Center.

Denise handles marketing, customer relationships and community outreach while also working as a doula with Milk Like Mine, supporting mothers and families during pregnancy, childbirth and the early months of parenthood. She also manages much of the business’s social media presence, regularly posting menu updates, hours and behind-the-scenes videos on Facebook, where many customers follow the latest offerings from Mitts 2 Pits.

As they settle into their new home downtown, the Youngs hope to build on the support they have received from customers, mentors and community partners along the way.

“We want to be able to give back to this side of town,” Denise said.

This article originally appeared in Downtown Battle Creek Zine and is republished with permission.

Michael Loves Shannon: The history of a local landmark

Source: KCC Daily

On M-37/Bedford Road for years there was a road sign with the hand-painted words, Michael Loves Shannon. Then, a commercial billboard was erected in its place, and the community noticed the words went away. KCC designers brought the message back with a new design this March.

A Refresher Guide to Early Voting in Calhoun County this Election Season

Source: Inside Calhoun County Podcast

Early in-person voting begins on Saturday, July 25, ahead of the primary election on Tuesday, Aug. 4. There are two locations for early in-person voting depending on the municipality in which a voter is registered. Residents of the cities of Battle Creek and Springfield, as well as Bedford and Pennfield Townships can vote early at the Kool Family Community Center. Voters in all other municipalities in Calhoun County can vote early at the Marshall County Building. Hear more from Clerk Kim Hinkley about early in-person voting in the podcast.

Harper Creek proposes $28M bond for August election

Source: WWMT

Harper Creek Community Schools will have a $28 million bond proposal on ballots during the August primary. The $28 million bond would be used for a variety of projects, including adding four classrooms to each elementary school and concerting the pool at the middle school into a classroom.

What Albion residents need to know this summer

Source: Albion Recorder

Numerous infrastructure projects, including road construction and utility upgrades, are underway in the City of Albion. While residents are likely feeling the impacts of these projects, many are designed to serve the community for decades to come.

Weekly Updates from the Calhoun County Road Department

Source: Calhoun County Government

Every week, information is shared on the Calhoun County Road Department’s website about ongoing construction. It provides updates on pothole patching and construction projects happening throughout the County.

Support Black Squirrel News

Black Squirrel News is building a free local news, information and storytelling resource for Calhoun County. Subscribe and consider supporting our work to help keep it accessible to everyone.

By Nick J. Buckley / For Black Squirrel News

James and Jon Powell’s first recordings required a reel-to-reel machine, long microphone cables and plenty of running up and down the stairs of their parents’ Portage home.

The microphones were set up in the family room. The recorder was in the basement. Somewhere on those old tapes are recordings of the brothers’ late parents singing background vocals on one of their songs.

“If I could just get that back, that’d be really cool,” James said.

Decades later, the brothers are still making music together as The Powell Experience, a three-piece rock band featuring James Powell on guitar, Jon Powell on drums and lead vocals, and bassist Mike Rosenbaum of East Leroy.

While the trio mixes in a handful of cover songs during performances, its focus remains the original music the brothers have spent decades writing together.

Meet more local bands: Allie Garland and Awesome Sauce

Barefoot Blonde

Bombshell

The Fat Animals

The Powell brothers grew up surrounded by music. Their father sang opera and both parents performed with the Kalamazoo Singers. James and Jon also sang in church choirs, while James started on violin before switching to guitar as a teenager.

Jon’s role as drummer and lead singer began less as a plan than a solution.

“Unreliable singers, man,” Jon said. “I had to fill in eventually all the time.”

Rosenbaum first crossed paths with the brothers while attending Western Michigan University in the late 1980s. He played with them briefly, recorded with them for a studio class and stayed connected through the years before making the current trio in 2021.

“I was at the point in my life where I was an empty nester,” Rosenbaum said. “So now I have no kids in the house, I have actual time to do this stuff.”

The band rehearses weekly, often recording directly from Jon’s living room setup. Members said years of experience help the three-piece sound bigger than its lineup, using samples, vocal effects and technology to fill out live performances without straying too far from what they can reproduce on stage.

Though the band would welcome more chances to perform, its members are realistic about what music means at this stage of life. They are not chasing stardom as much as opportunities to keep playing original songs for new audiences.

“I always find it very encouraging when people come up to me and talk to me,” James said. “They’re taking their time to talk to me. I always appreciate it.”

How to hear them

The Powell Experience will perform in the second semifinal round of Battle Creek Battle of the Bands, 6 p.m. July 9 at Squirrel Hollow Golf Course.

How we reported this

This article is based on an interview with members of The Powell Experience.

Support Black Squirrel News

Black Squirrel News is building a free local news, information and storytelling resource for Calhoun County. Subscribe and consider supporting our work to help keep it accessible to everyone.

By Nick J. Buckley / For Black Squirrel News

Everybody loves a fat animal.

Alvin Lautzenheiser’s youngest daughter was about 11 when she said it during a family conversation about possible band names.

Lautzenheiser heard it and knew.

“Yep,” he said. “That’s it.”

Fat Animals has carried the name ever since, a fittingly unserious label for a Battle Creek-area band of serious musicians who know a good hang matters as much as good music.

The band traces its roots to 2018, after guitarist Phil Wiswell and vocalist Don Daniel’s previous band, Big Love, dissolved. Wiswell posted a Craigslist ad looking for musicians and connected with bassist Shawn Kelly. Lautzenheiser, a guitarist, joined after crossing paths with Daniel through other local music projects, and drummer Oz Rinckey completed the lineup in 2021 after reconnecting with Daniel.

By then, each member had played in enough bands to know talent alone was not enough.

“If they’re a good hang and they’re good people,” Rinckey said, “we clicked.”

Meet more local bands: Allie Garland and Awesome Sauce

Barefoot Blonde

Bombshell

The group rehearses most weeks around work and family commitments.

“If I lost this band today, I would still be playing guitar,” Wiswell said. “I’d be completely happy playing guitar by myself, but there’s so much more fun when you’re doing it with other people… We just generally like each other’s company.”

When the power went out before a recent rehearsal at Wiswell’s Bedford Township home, the five musicians gathered around a backyard table instead of plugging in. A steel fire ring bearing the Fat Animals logo, a gift from fellow bandmates, sat nearby. Wiswell drank from a matching band mug.

“We generally row in the same direction,” Daniel said. “A lot of bands, you’ve got a lot of captains on the boat, and they’re trying to plot different courses. We don’t have that.”

Fat Animals mixes original music with deep cuts and jam-band improvisation, giving songs room to stretch instead of reproducing them note for note.

“We take kind of a Dead approach,” Kelly said. “We try to make the live show experience exciting.”

For Lautzenheiser, the best moments come when the band stops feeling like five separate musicians.

“I cannot imagine the unbearable human being that I would be if I didn’t do this,” Lautzenheiser said. “You get to this spot where all of a sudden it’s hive mind. It’s playing as an ensemble.”

How to hear them

Fat Animals will perform in the second semifinal round of Battle Creek Battle of the Bands, 6 p.m. July 9 at Squirrel Hollow Golf Course.

How we reported this

This article is based on an interview with members of Fat Animals.

Support Black Squirrel News

Black Squirrel News is building a free local news, information and storytelling resource for Calhoun County. Subscribe and consider supporting our work to help keep it accessible to everyone.