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Friends and Community Shiawassee County News and Views, Owosso, MI (2025)

07/11/2025

Two Concerts in Durand Next Week.
Monday: Stranded Hobos - 14th
Wednesday: Boys Gone Mild - 16th

07/10/2025

Live at the Williamston Theatre, I am being taken on a trip back to the 1970s.

Williamston, MI—This play, Incident at Our Lady of Perpetual Help, is presented in Presentational Theatre. The actors sometimes know the audience exists and communicate with them.

If you grew up in a Catholic, Lutheran, or Episcopalian church, the story will take you back to those days when the priest or Reverend was feared. The plot could have easily happened in a Fundamentalist, Baptist, or Pentecostal home where the church leader thought they were next to God.

I don’t want to spoil anything in this play. It covers a week in a teen girl's life; the play is her memories. She very much has a rebellious spirit, as so many of us did. Her parents' beliefs were what we children of the 1970s thought were old-fashioned and out of touch.

This is a comedy but also a drama; it is real life. So many people, whether they lived their teen years in the 1970s, 1980s, 90s, or early 2000s, can relate.

Questions about when and how a child is to be told what a period is, what s*x is, and other items a child entering puberty must know, are laid out in a comedic manner.

One will laugh, and most will be able to relate to the times and the generation gap between all children and their parents.

There is even a third generation thrown in the mix: a family taking care of an invalid elderly relative, and the numerous things that take place.

I won't tell you anything more, for I hope you can devour it, like peeling off the skin on an onion. It is a play that will stick in the minds of many long after they leave the theatre.

Incident at Our Lady of Perpetual Help was written by Katie Forgette.

Directed by Karen Sheridan

Starring: Sandra Birch as Terri, Faith Green as Becky, John Leopard as Mike/Betty/Father Lovett, Sophia Psiakis, and Emily Sutton-Smith as Jo.

The play runs from June 26 to August 3rd.

The link to the theatre and play will be found in the comments.

By Tom Manke.

07/10/2025

You and Your Family are invited to the Iron Wheels 4th of July Retirees Party.
Gates open at noon, and fireworks are at Dusk.
It is bound to be loads of fun.
See the flyer for additional information.

07/10/2025

KINGSTON, MICH. The Michigan State Police (MSP) Computer Crimes Unit, Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force is announcing the arrest of Steven Paul Crafard, 55 of Kingston, for aggravated
possession of child s*xually abusive material and using a computer to commit a crime.

Crafard was arrested following an investigation in which digital evidence was seized from his home. The investigation was initiated when it was learned that Crafard was sharing files of child s*xually abusive
material on the internet.

Crafard was charged with 12 counts of child s*xually abusive material – aggravated possession and 12 counts of using a computer to commit a crime.

Crafard was arraigned in 71B District Court on Thursday, July 3.

The MSP Computer Crimes Unit encourages parents to speak to their children about the safe use of the internet. There are many resources available to parents to assist in keeping children safe online. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children provides a comprehensive list of resources on their website at http://www.missingkids.org.

The Michigan ICAC Task Force also provides resources at
http://www.michiganicac.com.

If you have information regarding possible child s*xual exploitation, report it to the CyberTipLine at

http://www.missingkids.org/cybertipline.

07/10/2025

Lansing, MI - FCNG - On Wednesday afternoon Tudor Dixon released a statement on X on announcing she will not be a candidate for the Republican nomination for Michigan Governor or U.S. Senate in 2026.

Her full statement is posted below

07/10/2025

Tunnel Collapse in Los Angeles Traps 27 Miners.
Los Angeles: FCNG—2am July 10—Just before 8 p.m. On Wednesday, a partial tunnel collapse occurred 450 feet below Los Angeles, causing 27 miners to be trapped. The miners were 6 miles away from the entrance to the mine.

The collapse occurred in the 18 foot diameter, $630.5 million Los Angeles Effluent Outfall Tunnel, part of the LA County Sanitation District’s Clearwater Project.

Over 100 firefighters responded.

Robert Ferrante, chief engineer and general manager for the Los Angeles County Sanitation District, told reporters that the workers were operating a tunnel boring machine when the collapse occurred.

Twenty-seven workers were trapped after the collapse, and four others went in to assist.
"The workers had to climb through debris," and then the rescuers came in to help them out, said LAFD Interim Fire Chief Ronnie Villanueva.

All were rescued, and there were no injuries reported.

Photo: Google - Mine entrance.

07/10/2025

Oh oh oh.... The Best Olive Burger Eva!
Williamston, MI. I am at the Williamston Pub and Grill on Wednesday evening. I am so happy that life changed and that instead of covering something 45 miles away, I was able to make the trek to Williamston.

I am not here by accident. Someone recommended that I visit and try it out.

As usual, when asked what I wanted to eat, I said I would like some fresh road kill raccoon. As usual, I was told they were sorry, but they didn't serve that dish. As usual, I then asked to be surprised.

They brought me a huge olive burger and fries. They asked what I wanted to drink, and yes, they had hot black coffee. It was good. I don't drink alcohol, but a beer sounded great. To my surprise, they had 6 different Non-Alcoholic Beers to choose from. I had an Athletic with zero alcohol, less than 10 calories, and only 5 carbs.

The vibe is fire. People of all ages are eating, drinking, and talking.

I am watching Bob Ross on the big screen, teaching people how to paint, and the music playing is Spectrum XM 90s Alternative.

I love this place. I could so come in here with a laptop or two and my phone, sit in a back booth away from everyone, and work for hours.

Story/Photo: Friends Community News Group, Tom Manke, July 9, 2025.

07/09/2025

This Weekend Shiawassee Conservation Association

07/09/2025

Wednesday Night Live—The band has canceled due to the weather, but come to Durand Anyway and grab a bite to eat at ...

The Union Station Smoke House

Nick's Hometown Bar and Grill

Iron Horse Pub

D-Railed Bar and Grill

Our 206 Bar.

07/09/2025

Our Lady of Perpetual Help receives race reviews.

Williamston, MI - Friends Community News Group, Tom Manke, July 9, 6 pm - In early June we shared the news that - A Wonderful Play Is Coming to the Williamston Theatre...

Though we have not seen the play yet, we have read the reviews and they are great reviews. I Hope to cover this play this weekend.

Here is what we wrote in early June -
Wiliamston, MI. - We are told that the next production, Incident at Our Lady of Perpetual Help, By Katie Forgette, and Directed by Karen Sheridan, is a hilarious family comedy! It is about an Irish Catholic family as they navigate through the growing pains of adolescence in the tumultuous early 1970s.
The play will play from June 26 - August 3

The cast is composed of - The O'Shea Sisters, played by Faith Green, an Oakland University Alum, and Sophia Psiakis a MSU Alum. Then there is Sandra Birch, John Lepard, and Emily Sutton-Smith.

07/09/2025

The Flint Repertory Theatre - Introducing our first cabaret of Flint Repertory Theatre's new GHOST LIGHT CABARET SERIES, a thrilling one-night only event!✨

Come see some of your favorite Flint Rep artists performing songs from past Flint Rep productions in "Try to Remember: Highlights of Flint Rep’s Musical History." Featuring songs from beloved past shows, from Ragtime, to Godspell, to Spring Awakening!

Make sure to keep an eye out as we announce our fabulous performers for this first cabaret of the season.🎤

Get your tickets now! Click on link in the comments.

07/09/2025

This photo was taken just days before everyone in it was swept away by a 24-foot-tall wall of water.

Hunt, Texas - The water is receding, leaving what witnesses say is an overwhelming stench of death. There are dead fish everywhere. The stories of the unparalleled bravery of individuals, including teenage girls who gave up their lives trying to rescue the children trapped in the flood, are heart-wrenching.

The latest numbers as of 9:30pm Tuesday are at least 110 known dead and at least 161 missing.

Survivors say it was pitch black, and you could only see the wall of water in between lightning flashes. Some people who lived along the river were found dead in their beds. They were sleeping when the water surged through their homes.

The flood came barreling in at about 4 am. It was pitch black. Authorities state the river crested at 6:30 am.

The children's cabins were over 200 feet from the riverbank.

There are individuals, search organizations, military personnel, and police, all with dogs trained to find bodies, searching the areas where the water blasted through.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said today, "We will not stop until every missing person is found."

One elderly lady said that she was in bed, went to get up, and found water ankle-deep. She called a neighbor on higher ground, who hurried down to help her, and in a matter of just a couple of minutes, the water was waist-high.

There was no power or lights except for those with flashlights. Locals say they have never seen anything like this. They are used to floods, and many who received phone notifications about a flood ignored it.

The New York Post reports that the girls in the photo were in the “Bubble Inn” cabin at Camp Mystic. The photo was taken on June 29, and the girls are smiling big.

The photo shows 13 girls and two counselors in spotless white dresses, skirts, and sneakers, beaming at the camera.

Less than five days later, the Texas flash floods swept away every person in the photo. None survived.

It is stated that the search is taking quite a mental and emotional toll on the searchers.

Locals interviewed all state that they are Texans and will rebuild and stay.
Reporters have stated that as they drive through this devastated land, they see one item placed in almost every yard, that being the flag of Texas.

There are so many bodies of children and adults, we are told at least 161, that need to be found across an area covering 6 counties, and given a proper burial.

Story Friends Community News Group,
Source material: AP, Reuters, CNN, National News, New York Post, CBS, Fox, and several local news sites in Texas.

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