BRANCH COUNTY, MI (WTVB) – After over a decade of being unable to provide around the clock service, the Branch County Sheriff’s Department will be fully staffed when 2024 rolls in.
The approval of six new Sheriff’s Department Road Patrol deputies by the Branch County Board of Commissioners in August was the top local story of 2023 according to AM 1590 and FM 95.5 WTVB News.
The Commissioners approved a recommendation from a five person committee made up of Sheriff John Pollack, Treasurer Steve Rutz, Branch County Administrator Bud Norman along with County Commissioners Tim Stoll and Alan McClelland.
After hearing from many county residents and township supervisors, Stoll felt it was time to take action.
There was a changing of the guard for the Branch County Economic Growth Alliance. Audrey Tappenden took over as the Alliance’s Executive Director on July 1. She replaced Lisa Miller who had been Executive Director since January of 2009. Miller told the Downtown Development Authority in May she was comfortable with turning the reins over to Tappenden.
Another top story in 2023 was the relocation of the Children’s Museum of Branch County to the former Taylor’s Stationers building in downtown Coldwater. Tappenden told the D.D.A. Board as the museum opened in late April that just about everything was in place.
Paul Flynn took over the Superintendent of the Coldwater Community School District on July 1 as he replaced the retiring Terry Ann Whelan. He was hired by the district’s school board in March.
A February 22 ice storm knocked out power for 6,600 Consumers Energy customers in Branch County. Consumers Community Affairs Manager Greg Moore told Branch County Commissioners in March the storm was one of the most expensive in their history and he apologized to customers who lost their power.
Maple Lawn Medical Care Facility began to repay $500,000 they had to borrow from Branch County as they repaid half of the money in November. Maple Lawn has been battling financial difficulties for over a year. A cut in residents during the COVID-19 pandemic has been cited as the main reason Maple Lawn got into a financial squeeze. A resolution passed by County Commissioners in April calls for Maple Lawn to make a full repayment to the county by May 1, 2024.
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