The Argus-Press

08/24/2025

FAIRFIELD TWP. — A private Facebook group named “Country Barn Estates Wedding” was created in May and has more than 60 members. Most of the members are brides, grooms or family members of brides and grooms who booked Fairfield Township event venue Country Barn Estates for a wedding, and have had their events canceled after the venue was effectively shut down by court order in March.

Nearly five months later, some customers say they have yet to receive refunds for money rendered to CBE and are not receiving responses to numerous emails sent to the venue’s owner, Chesaning’s Beau Parmenter.

FAIRFIELD TWP. — A private Facebook group named “Country Barn Estates Wedding” was created in May and has more than 60 members. Most of the members are brides, grooms or

08/20/2025

CORUNNA — Amidst discussions of a workforce apartment development at Fiddler’s Green Senior Community, the Corunna City Council voted unanimously Monday to keep a current land contract in place between the city and the vacant retirement community.

Fiddler’s Green CO1 LLC — which entered into a $500,000 purchase agreement with the city for the former county medical care facility in December 2019 and closed on the 729 S. Norton St. property in January 2020, per previous reporting — was seeking for the city of Corunna to pause any interest/principal on the land contract, set to be closed upon in 2026, and assume operational expenses until it is able to sell the property, per information submitted to the city on behalf of Fiddler’s Green obtained by The Argus-Press.

But the four-person council, with Councilmember Helen Granger making the motion to keep the contract as is, did not grant Fiddler’s Green its request.

Corunna City Manager Joe Sawyer said the relationship between the city and Fiddler’s Green has proven challenging over the years, with COVID-19 hitting a few months after the company purchased the property and planned to renovate it into a facility providing short-term, long-term and transitional housing for veterans.

CORUNNA — Amidst discussions of a workforce apartment development at Fiddler’s Green Senior Community, the Corunna City Council voted unanimously Monday to keep a current land contract in place between

08/18/2025

CALEDONIA TWP. — The Shiawassee County Animal Shelter held a grand reopening Saturday after it had been shuttered for more than a decade.

The no-kill animal shelter, located at 1251 E. Hibbard Road, will be run by the office of Shiawassee County Sheriff Doug Chapman in collaboration with the Shiawassee Humane Society and other local rescue organizations.

Chapman said a few small hurdles remain before the building can begin housing animals, including a final inspection from the Michigan Department of Agriculture & Rural Development on Aug. 25. He said it will start with 17 kennels and a veternarian on staff, along with interns with a veterinary background qualified for spaying and neutering.

The Shiawassee County Board of Commissioners authorized $25,000 to help get the building in shape.

“We still have a few small things to do, but right after we get the inspection: Bingo! I want to open as soon as we can,” he said. “I do not see any problem. I think we will pass the inspection and we will be open.”

CALEDONIA TWP. — The Shiawassee County Animal Shelter held a grand reopening Saturday after it had been shuttered for more than a decade.

08/15/2025

A former Owosso resident wanted in Shiawassee County for allegedly selling n**e photos of her underage daughters was arrested Tuesday in Citrus County, Florida.

Paige A. Bennett, 35, was charged in April 2023 with four felonies: two counts of using a computer to communicate with another individual for the purpose of committing a crime, one count of child s*xually abusive commercial activity and one count of surveilling an unclothed person. A warrant for Bennett’s arrest was issued in February 2024.

Shiawassee County Sheriff Doug Chapman told The Argus-Press a state hold was placed on Bennett, and she will remain in custody while awaiting extradition.

“All these crimes against children really sicken me,” Chapman said. “I’m really partial to kids and animals, so my suggestion is: Don’t come to this county and harm either one, because we will find you.”

CITRUS COUNTY, Fla. — A former Owosso resident wanted in Shiawassee County for allegedly selling n**e photos of her underage daughters was arrested Tuesday in Citrus County, Florida.

08/14/2025

CORUNNA — An Owosso-area man who was working as a driver’s training instructor was found guilty Wednesday of s*xually assaulting a 15-year-old student multiple times throughout the summer of 2022.

Shaun L. Parker, 39, was convicted by a 12-member jury in Shiawassee County Circuit Court of two counts of first-degree criminal s*xual conduct (relationship) and three counts of third-degree criminal s*xual conduct. He was found not guilty of assault by strangulation.

In addition to the assault charge, Parker was initially charged with five counts of first-degree criminal s*xual conduct (relationship). The caveat applies when a victim is between 13 and 16 years old and the suspect is a member of the same household, a close relative or someone in a position of authority who used that authority to coerce the victim.

On those five counts, the jury had the option to find Parker guilty of the lesser charge of third-degree CSC. The jury found him guilty of the lesser charge on three counts, presumably unable to agree that Parker used his authority as a driving instructor to coerce the victim into s*x acts on those occasions.

CORUNNA — An Owosso-area man who was working as a driver’s training instructor was found guilty Wednesday of s*xually assaulting a 15-year-old student multiple times throughout the summer of 2022.

08/13/2025

CALEDONIA TWP. — Caledonia Township officially opened its brand-new fire station Saturday with a time-honored tradition: about a dozen firefighters pushing a fully equipped engine into the bay by hand, marking the beginning of a partnership between Owosso and Caledonia townships.

The fire hall, 135 N. State Road, will serve as the Caledonia Township headquarters for Owosso Township Fire Department personnel. The partnership between the two townships began Jan. 1 after Caledonia Township trustees voted in December 2023 to end its long-standing fire-service contract with the city of Corunna.

“The good thing is, this is what came out of it,” said Owosso Township Fire Chief Mike Ardelean. “The citizens of Caledonia Township got their own fire hall just off what I call the miracle mile,” referring to the busy stretch of M-21.

Ardelean said the ceremonial “push-in” dates back to the 1800s, when horse-drawn engines had to be physically pushed back into their stations.

“It’s a tradition now for good luck,” he said. “It represents the commitment by the fire department and the firefighters to the community — that we take it so seriously that we would hand-push an engine in.”

About a dozen firefighters joined in to move the engine, which Ardelean estimated weighs between 52,000 and 54,000 pounds.

CALEDONIA TWP. — Caledonia Township officially opened its brand-new fire station Saturday with a time-honored tradition: about a dozen firefighters pushing a fully equipped engine into the bay by hand,

08/06/2025

OWOSSO — A commercial building in Westown could soon face demolition after the city’s Building and Code Enforcement department deemed the structure unsafe, prompting the closure of a portion of Cedar Street near Main Street.

During Monday’s Owosso City Council meeting, City Manager Nathan Henne provided an update on the Mowinski Financial Building, 800 W. Main St., which houses Mowinski Financial, Tadrick’s Tax and Mo Mortgage Group.

The building was declared structurally dangerous and unlawful to occupy following an emergency meeting with city officials on June 26, forcing the businesses to temporarily relocate to The Armory, 215 N. Water St.

A portion of Cedar Street, from Main Street to Eleanor Drive, has remained closed since.

Henne said the issue was discovered after building owner Brent Mowinski hired a private structural engineer to assess the property in preparation for planned masonry work.

“That structural engineer became quite alarmed and contacted us regarding a lean that the building has taken,” Henne said. “That’s why Cedar Street is closed, because that’s the direction that the building is leaning.”

OWOSSO — A commercial building in Westown could soon face demolition after the city’s Building and Code Enforcement department deemed the structure unsafe, prompting the closure of a portion of

08/06/2025

CALEDONIA TWP. — A softball player from Owosso just came home a World Series champion.

Ady Freeman, who is about to enter her junior year at Owosso High School, was part of a team from Grand Blanc that won the Senior League Softball World Series Sunday at Bruce Layton Field in Roxana, Del.

Freeman, who’s main position is catcher, hit a three-run homer to right-center field with two outs in the second inning to help Grand Blanc to a 10-0 victory in the championship game over the host team from Georgetown, Del.

CALEDONIA TWP. — A softball player from Owosso just came home a World Series champion.

08/06/2025

Byron schools millage passes, Shiawassee Twp. fire fails

SHIAWASSEE COUNTY — There were two millages on the ballot for some Shiawassee County voters in Tuesday’s special election.
One passed, one didn’t
Byron Area Schools asked residents to approve a non-homestead operating millage renewal. As a non-homestead act proposal, residents would pay an 18-mill tax ($18 per $1,000 of taxable value), for all secondary property such as rentals and businesses. A similar 18-mill proposal passed in 2018 and ended this year. The new millage would run from 2026-32.
The Byron schools proposal passed by a total vote of 657 (66%) to 333 (34%).
A millage proposal that would benefit the Shiawassee Township Fire Department failed by a vote of 241 (55%) to 197 (45%).
The fire department sought a 10-year fire department services and protection millage that would double the previous rate (2-mills), which voters approved in 2014 and that expired in January. Department officials said the rising cost of equipment and the department’s need for upgrades were the reason for the increase.
The Byron Area Schools district stretches into three counties — Shiawassee, Genesee and Livingston. The results per county are is as follows: Shiawassee, 427 (67%) yes, 212 (33%) no; Genesee, 154 (64%) yes, 86 (36%) no; Livingston, 76 (68%) yes, 35 (32%) no.
All election totals are unofficial pending a review by a county board of canvassers.

08/05/2025

ARGUS-PRESS HIRING FOR SALES POSITION

The Argus-Press is seeking applicants to join our organization as an advertising sales representative. We provide the training. You provide the enthusiasm.

This is a full-time position with a base salary plus commission. This position also has a great upward earnings potential.
Candidates should enjoy working under deadlines, meeting and working with new people, learning about their business and designing advertising messages to help them succeed.
Applicants must have a reliable vehicle and a valid driver’s license.

Highly-desirable candidates will have the following credentials:
-An established, stable employment history.
-Experience in active, rather than passive, sales.
-A history of reaching sales goals.
-Experience projecting a confident attitude and a professional appearance.
-A history of being able to set individual and team goals.
-Experience in a goal-oriented work environment, managing multiple projects and deadlines.
-A history of working in a detail-oriented position of employment.
-References who will speak to the level of your motivation to succeed.
-A track record of being able to provide creative solutions to customer needs.

Please email your resume to Sheila Mondeau at [email protected] or deliver it to The Argus-Press, 201 E. Exchange St., Owosso, MI 48867.

08/04/2025

SHIAWASSEE TWP. — Tayloe Spielman was admittedly nervous when she woke up Saturday morning, but by the time she stepped on stage for the annual Shiawassee County Fair Queen Pageant, the jitters had all but disappeared.

Spielman, 17, was crowned fair queen Saturday evening, kicking off the week-long festivities at the fairgrounds. Although it wasn’t her first time participating in a pageant — in 2023, she was named Curwood Junior Queen, and in 2017, she was a Curwood Princess Attendant — it was her first time running for fair queen.

Spielman said she grew up going to the fair, where she has shown horses since she was 3 years old. Running for fair queen seemed like a fitting way to cap off what could be her final year showing.

“I was so excited,” Spielman said of the moment her name was called. “When they called the attendant, I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, I’ve got one more shot.’ And then they called my name. I’m so thankful I did this. … I’m going to college next year, so I didn’t know if I was going to show next year, so I’m so thankful it worked out for my one chance.”

SHIAWASSEE TWP. — Tayloe Spielman was admittedly nervous when she woke up Saturday morning, but by the time she stepped on stage for the annual Shiawassee County Fair Queen Pageant,

08/02/2025

SHIAWASSEE TWP. — The Shiawassee County Fair returns to the fairgrounds this weekend with a full week of family-friendly fun, featuring animal exhibits, carnival rides and a packed schedule of entertainment for all ages.

The fair, held annually at the Shiawassee County Fairgrounds, 2900 Hibbard Road in Shiawassee Township, officially begins Sunday and runs through Saturday, Aug. 9. The event will kick off with its “Veterans Day,” which begins with a flag-raising ceremony at 8 a.m. Sunday in the fairgrounds “bowl,” which is located near the center of the property.

However, prior to the fair’s “official start,” plenty of fair-related activities are scheduled for Saturday. Judging for the 14th annual truck show will begin at 1 p.m., with plaques awarded to the top three semis in various classes, including custom paint, custom interior and engine. Best of show trophies will be awarded to the top combination and bobtail trucks.

The Shiawassee County Fair Queen Pageant will begin at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, in the free show tent, with five candidates vying for the crown. At dusk, the annual truck show light parade will illuminate the streets, heading north on State Street into Corunna, west on Corunna Avenue to Gould Street, north on Gould to M-21, east on M-21 to State Road and back to the fairgrounds.

SHIAWASSEE TWP. — The Shiawassee County Fair returns to the fairgrounds this weekend with a full week of family-friendly fun, featuring animal exhibits, carnival rides and a packed schedule of