Jun. 11

Friends and colleagues of late Congressman Joe Schwarz remember his life and legacy

Source: WMUK

Joe Schwarz, the longtime Battle Creek physician, former mayor, state senator and congressman, died May 27 at age 88. The story highlights his decades of public service, willingness to work across party lines and lasting impact on the Battle Creek community.

GVSU Moves ‘Black Boys and Men National Symposium’ to Battle Creek

Source: Community Matters

A conversation with B. Donta Truss, vice president of enrollment, development and college futures at Grand Valley State University, explores tools educators, mentors and community members can use to support Black boys and men. The discussion previews the Black Boys and Men National Symposium, bringing a national conversation on mentoring and positive outcomes to Battle Creek June 10-12.

AI assistant taking nonemergency calls for Calhoun County dispatch

Source: WWMT

Calhoun County dispatch is using an AI virtual assistant named Callie to answer nonemergency calls, with human telecommunicators reviewing information before calls are dispatched. The system is meant to reduce hold times for routine requests while helping dispatchers stay focused on 911 emergencies.

Battle Creek gets EGLE grant for stream cleanup efforts

Source: WKZO

Battle Creek received a $3,300 EGLE grant to support stream cleanup work between June and September, including a community river cleanup event and new equipment for volunteers. The funding builds on past cleanups that have removed debris from local waterways and supports broader efforts to improve water quality, wildlife habitat and recreation along the Kalamazoo and Battle Creek rivers.

I’ll BCing You: The History of Fort Custer

Source: YouTube

Local historian Kurt Thornton traces Fort Custer’s evolution from Harmonia, a utopian village once home to Sojourner Truth, into a military training base, veterans hospital, industrial park and recreation area. The episode explores how one of the region’s most recognizable places has changed roles over more than a century.

Corrections and Clarifications: A previous version of this digest included incorrect dates for the Black Boys and Men National Symposium.