Monthly Archives: January 2015

"Steel Magnolias" will premiere at the Purple Rose Theatre Company January 15 and run through March 14.  Purple Rose Artistic Director Guy Sanville is directing this classic comedy about six small-town women and the bonds they share.   Guy says you may think you know "Steel Magnolias" but you've never experienced the story quite like this. Veteran actress Michelle Mountain, from the cast, joined Guy on today's show.  Tickets available online here.  Other guests:  Jackson Police Department Chief Matt Heins;  Money Matters with Jeff Matzen, Matzen Financial;  Monty Brown, Kiwanis Travel Adventure Film Series (the presentation has been moved to January 15 due to weather);  Eric Beda, Spring Arbor University Director of Intercultural Relations; Executive Chef Davan Gerding, Commonwealth Commerce Center.

The 2015 Martin Luther King, Jr. Medal of Service will be presented to Farris Coppage, Jr. at the annual Jackson College MLK celebration: "Embracing the Past:  From Dreams to Reality" Saturday, January 17.  Lee Hampton, Jackson College Director of Multi-Cultural Relations has lined up guest speaker author Dr. Tyrone Bledsoe.  As a boy, Dr. Bledsoe marched alongside Dr. King.  The evening includes dinner and entertainment;  tickets are $20 and available by calling 517-796-8600.  Other guests:  Sandra Place, Administrator, Jackson County Medical Care Facility with new Director of Nursing Deborah Heath;  Kristi Edgar and Liz Niles, American 1 Credit Union;  Jamie McKibbon, ESPN 1450 Outdoor Expo (Saturday, January 10 at American 1 Events Center);  Amy DeShon, President, Albion Chamber of Commerce;  Sue Lovell, Cascades Humane Society's Pet of the Week.

Jackson City Manager Patrick Burtch updated viewers on progress the city has made in neighborhood revitalization, streets, parks and staffing in the past year.  He noted the city's population grew by 250 for the first time in over 7 decades.  Other guests:  Melanie Duquesnel, President and CEO, Eastern Michigan Better Business Bureau;  Coffee Talk with Robert Ernst, Jackson Coffee Company;  Amy Reimann, Executive Director, Ella Sharp Museum;  Bob Schultz, Big Foot Bob and the Toe Tappers (with a benefit concert Sunday at the Michigan Theatre at 3pm).

The winners of the Jackson Citizen Patriot Al Cotton Award, Vandercook Lake High School track coaches Tom Gass and Dan Roggenbaum talked about the honor on today's show.  The award is presented annually to someone who has made Jackson a better place to play.  The two coaches will be starting their 40th year coaching this spring.  Other guests:  Kelli Hoover, City of Jackson Parks & Recreation Director;  Phil Wrzesinski, Jackson Retail Success Academy;  Adrien Sharp at American 1 Soup Wars;  Shawna Tello, Jackson YMCA;  Michigan Theatre Executive Director Steve Tucker.

The Jackson Citizen Patriot Citizen of the Year, Wendy Wight discusses "Together We Can Make A Difference" on today's show.  Wendy's work in founding the non-profit and her service to the community among the reasons the newspaper chose her for their annual honor.  Other guests:  Executive Director of the Jackson Anchor Initiative Al Hooper;  Miss Jackson County RoseQueen Courtney Clark with Pageant Director Lynda Waldron;  Angela Machnik, Jackson County Chamber of Commerce, Dave DeBaker with movie reviews.