Bart Hawley Show

Jackson City Manager Patrick Burtch reported on progress of various downtown and city construction projects on today's Bart Hawley Show.  Dunigan Brothers is the general contractor on the Michigan Avenue infrastructure project and is slightly ahead of schedule.  Dunigan Brothers was awarded the flat-work and sidewalk contract which will begin late in the summer.  Construction on the new parking lot between Pearl Street and Glick Highway is running three weeks behind schedule due to equipment and supply delays.  The Hotel Hayes developer continues their due diligence and Burtch is optimistic the project has a good chance of beginning next year.

Congressman Tim Walberg spent the holiday weekend in the district, visiting the Grass Lake Sanctuary and holding coffee hours with constituents.  Walberg discussed his disagreement with the two recent Supreme Court decisions on today's Bart Hawley Show.  According to Walberg, the President’s health care law is inherently flawed, and the Supreme Court decision doesn’t change that fact.  Walberg said, "Far too often I’ve heard from families who have lost their doctor or experienced a jump in premiums under this unworkable law. Instead of a top-down bureaucratic system, we need to continue to work on positive solutions that put individual patients in charge and offer more choices for high quality, affordable care."  Regarding the ruling on same sex marriage, Walberg believes this is not a constitutional issue and should be left to individual states to decide.

Steve Simpson assumes the presidency of the Jackson Campus of Baker College on July 1, 2015.  Simpson takes over for Patty Kaufman who has been appointed president of Baker College of Clinton Township in Macomb County.  Simpson has been overseeing the online offerings of Baker College for the past few years.  Kaufman leaves Jackson after serving as president for nine years.  On today's show, they discussed the progress of the Jackson campus and plans for the next year, which include expanding engineering offerings and new expansion of the campus.

The Fresh Food Initiative, a partnership on the Food Bank of South Central Michigan and community organizations begins this week.  Fresh food will be available for distribution starting Monday, June 22 and continuing every Monday through August 31.  Compassionate Ministries of Jackson Executive Director Terry Williams and David's Promise Director Rebekah Moilanen are hosting one of seven sites for the program.  Compassionate Ministries is located at First Church of Nazarene, 3509 Clinton Road in Jackson and each Monday distribution begins at 9:30am at their site.  Other locations (with varying times) include The Salvation Army (9:30am), Parma Elementary School (8:45am), First Evangelical Church of God in Christ (10:30am), Family Worship Center (4:30pm), Concord High School (8:30am) and Jeruel Baptist Church, Munith (5pm).  Monthly distribution, on the 4th Monday of each month, year-round will occur at First United Methodist Church (5pm).  The program is open and free to all in need and you are asked to bring your own box or bag to carry your food.

"Just Brett & Lilly" is the title of a new network television show being filmed in Jackson this month.  The show chronicles the story of a single father raising his daughter and stars Brett Hayworth and Lilly Hayworth as the real life father-daughter team.  Residents of Jackson, the Hayworths appeared on today's Bart Hawley Show to discuss the progress of the pilot's production.  Several days of filming have already occurred at various locations in Jackson, with more shoots planned later this month.  In addition to Brett and Lilly, actor and singer Robert Davi has filmed scenes in Jackson for the pilot.  Several networks are interested in the series and Brett hopes to have a deal soon.  Other guests:  Paula Freehling, Jackson Area Career Center Counselor of the Year with Western High School counselor Becky Callender;  Janet Meyer, Jackson KidzArt and Club Scientific;  Jackson Speedway owner John Lefere with Mark Joseph, owner, Sparky's Fireworks Outlet, Entertainment news with Dave DeBaker;  Ric Walton, Walton Insurance Group.