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Eaton County

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Eaton County

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Bluegrass festival features McCoury

Posted by Design | June 22, 2026

Joanne Williams
Editor

(Courtesy photo – Bluegrass legend and Country Hall of Famer Del McCoury is the shining star at this year’s Charlotte Bluegrass Festival. He brings along sons Rob and Ronnie as well.)

It’s been 54 years, but who is counting? Maybe the folks who missed the fact that the Charlotte Bluegrass has been a staple on the nationwide music circuit.

“My dad took me to the festival when I was 9 years old,” said Wes Pettinger, festival promoter. Since then, Pettinger has been emersed in a grassroots music movement that has ebbed and flowed since its humble roots.

Last year’s festival was a highlight for Pettinger, with superstar Billy Strings taking the Eaton County Fairgrounds spotlight. There are still whispers that he might sneak back this year.

But what music lovers do know is that a Bluegrass, multi-award-winning legends, and members of his family will be commanding the stage.

The Del McCoury Band is the spotlight act among more than 10 others throughout the June 25-27 event.

Pettinger started with the festival in 2013 with 90-days before the start of the music. There were up and down years, he said, and then COVID, and then a tornado in 2021. But, since then, with Bluegrass more recognized on the popular charts thanks to performers such as Strings, who was born in Lansing and the movie “O Brother, Where Art Thou?”.

Not only will Del McCoury, 87, be featured, but his sons, Rob and Ronnie will be joining him, and performing with their band, The Traveling McCourys.

An up and comer on the schedule is Gavin Conley and the Michigan Bluegrass Band, who will perform two sets. For a full festival schedule, visit charlottebluegrassfestival.com

Most of the performers are there for the full weekend and follow each other’s sets. At night, campsites ring with music.

More than 300 campers could be there, Pettinger said. Folks can claim spots even before the festival. The Fairgrounds camping is a hidden gem in the city, and features restrooms and showers. The cost of the concert is one of the lowest around. There are day and weekend packages. Parking is free and gates open at 8 a.m.

Pettinger has some tips for first-time attendees:

*You can bring your own cooler stocked with your beverage of choice.

*No glass in the concrete areas of the venue.

*Dogs are welcome, on a leash, and are restricted in some areas.

*Bring your own lawn chairs but be aware of high-backs blocking other’s views.

*Golf carts are allowed.

*Children 16 and under are admitted free with adult paid entry.

*There are afternoon music classes offered by the performers.

*There will be vendors on site, and the pass allows re-entry.

*Be prepared for the weather, rain, shine or heat.

Last year, more than 4,000 people found their way to the event. Pettinger expects more. Each performer lists Charlotte, Michigan, in their tour schedule.  For information, call the festival office at 269-832-5519.

Charlotte

Charlotte

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Charlotte

Featured Story

Bluegrass festival features McCoury

Posted by Design | June 22, 2026

Joanne Williams
Editor

(Courtesy photo – Bluegrass legend and Country Hall of Famer Del McCoury is the shining star at this year’s Charlotte Bluegrass Festival. He brings along sons Rob and Ronnie as well.)

It’s been 54 years, but who is counting? Maybe the folks who missed the fact that the Charlotte Bluegrass has been a staple on the nationwide music circuit.

“My dad took me to the festival when I was 9 years old,” said Wes Pettinger, festival promoter. Since then, Pettinger has been emersed in a grassroots music movement that has ebbed and flowed since its humble roots.

Last year’s festival was a highlight for Pettinger, with superstar Billy Strings taking the Eaton County Fairgrounds spotlight. There are still whispers that he might sneak back this year.

But what music lovers do know is that a Bluegrass, multi-award-winning legends, and members of his family will be commanding the stage.

The Del McCoury Band is the spotlight act among more than 10 others throughout the June 25-27 event.

Pettinger started with the festival in 2013 with 90-days before the start of the music. There were up and down years, he said, and then COVID, and then a tornado in 2021. But, since then, with Bluegrass more recognized on the popular charts thanks to performers such as Strings, who was born in Lansing and the movie “O Brother, Where Art Thou?”.

Not only will Del McCoury, 87, be featured, but his sons, Rob and Ronnie will be joining him, and performing with their band, The Traveling McCourys.

An up and comer on the schedule is Gavin Conley and the Michigan Bluegrass Band, who will perform two sets. For a full festival schedule, visit charlottebluegrassfestival.com

Most of the performers are there for the full weekend and follow each other’s sets. At night, campsites ring with music.

More than 300 campers could be there, Pettinger said. Folks can claim spots even before the festival. The Fairgrounds camping is a hidden gem in the city, and features restrooms and showers. The cost of the concert is one of the lowest around. There are day and weekend packages. Parking is free and gates open at 8 a.m.

Pettinger has some tips for first-time attendees:

*You can bring your own cooler stocked with your beverage of choice.

*No glass in the concrete areas of the venue.

*Dogs are welcome, on a leash, and are restricted in some areas.

*Bring your own lawn chairs but be aware of high-backs blocking other’s views.

*Golf carts are allowed.

*Children 16 and under are admitted free with adult paid entry.

*There are afternoon music classes offered by the performers.

*There will be vendors on site, and the pass allows re-entry.

*Be prepared for the weather, rain, shine or heat.

Last year, more than 4,000 people found their way to the event. Pettinger expects more. Each performer lists Charlotte, Michigan, in their tour schedule.  For information, call the festival office at 269-832-5519.

Olivet

Olivet

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Olivet

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Mason closes the door on decades of preschool work

Posted by Design | June 22, 2026

Joanne Williams
Editor

(Photo provided – Carrie Mason (center) and four of her five grandchildren. She is retiring after 35 years as program director and lead teacher at Wee Ones Preschool.)

 

How many times has Carrie Mason wiped runny noses, tied shoes, zipped up jackets or looked behind to make sure no little kiddos were lagging behind?

Who’s counting? Not this teacher, mom and grandmom, not even after 35 years. It’s just what she does.

Mason, of Olivet, is retiring from Wee Ones Preschool there, and a lifetime of working with other people’s children. 

She started there in her senior year of high school and has not stopped since. She has been situated in the basement of the castle with generations of area children. The school is in the lower level of the Olivet Congregational Church, and the architecture reminds most youngsters of a castle, Mason said.

Working where she lives has given her career, as program director and lead teacher, a boost, knowing her parents and students beyond the classroom and in life, and working closely with the church, and The University of Olivet, which supplies teaching assistants and field trip opportunities.

“The church has been so community minded, so mission minded,” Mason said. 

Mason is happy to say she has had her student’s moms and dads as preschoolers. The community “bubble” allows for Olivet graduating seniors to walk through the hallways of Wee Ones and Fern Persons Elementary School, in their caps and gowns, as folks cheer them on.

Mason had just held her last Wee Ones’ graduation, complete with white caps and gowns for the wee ones. It was an emotional evening. “I thanked the village,” she said of Olivet. “It’s been a great ride.”

She started at Wee Ones in 1991. Carrie Henry marred Perry Mason and they had a family in Olivet. Her daughter attended Wee Ones.

It was at that time she was asked to be an assistant there, and two and a half years later, the director. Along the way, she studied and received her professional credentials.

“I don’t know how we got here so fast,” Mason said. “I was so unsure back then, but they saw something in me.” She is quick to point out “great” assistants along the way, as well as support from the organization’s board and the parents.

Hanging out with 3 to 6-year-olds has to be exhausting. The preschool offers three sessions with up to 20 students in each time period, mornings and afternoons.

“It’s a reality check,” said Mason of the students. They are the best, and the funniest, and their honesty…”

She rejoices when she sees the lightbulbs come on in them and prides the preschool in its approach to life skills, conflict resolution and how to be kind.

Becky Britton and her husband Geoff, sent one of their children (who just completed her second year of college) and all 10 of their grandchildren.

She notes how lucky Olivet is to have Wee Ones in their backyard. Britton and Mason worked together years ago with the summer recreation program.

When she thinks of Mason, she said, “She is just fun, energetic, kind, just a wonderful person.” And, she certainly has a way with the little ones, Britton said.

“My parents, my mom, have always advocated for children. I always wanted to be a mom. I care about what kind of adults they become,” Mason said. Her parents are Tink and Shirley Henry.

Mason has also been a youth pastor and cheer coach. Whenever she works with youth, she sees their potential. “I am proud to see the kids grow, learn and discover.” She said it has been her “greatest honor that parents have entrusted their children to Wee Ones.”

Now, Mason looks forward to MeMe duty with her five grandchildren.

Bellevue

Bellevue

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Bellevue

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Stepping back in time at Bellevue’s Historic Reynolds School

Posted by Design | June 22, 2026

Tracy Shick
Contributing Writer

(Tracy Shick /TCJ – (Left) John Dexter outside of Historic Reynolds School. (Right) Classroom Interior of Historic Reynolds School.)

Standing inside the Reynolds School is like stepping back more than a century into a time when education looked very different from what it does today.

Recently, Bellevue resident and historical society volunteer John Dexter provided a tour of the Reynolds School, originally built in 1885 as one of the many one-room schoolhouses that served rural Bellevue-area students before school consolidation. The building is one of twenty-four schools that once educated children throughout the Bellevue area before students were eventually brought together into a centralized district.

According to Dexter, the Reynolds School was moved to Bellevue in 1948 and later relocated to its current site near Bellevue Elementary School in 2012. The move and restoration effort required years of dedication from local volunteers determined to preserve an important piece of Bellevue’s history.

The last class to attend Reynolds School was a fourth-grade class in 1957, marking the end of more than six decades of service to local students.

Today, visitors entering the building immediately notice the authentic details that bring the classroom to life. Rows of antique desks remain arranged throughout the classroom, creating a setting that allows visitors to imagine what a typical school day looked like for students more than a century ago. Historic textbooks rest on desktops waiting for students who will never return. A beautifully restored upright piano sits in one corner, while vintage photographs show classrooms filled with Bellevue children from generations past.

One of the most striking features is the ornate cast-iron wood stove that was donated by Robert and Catherine Brown and remains a centerpiece of the room. Numerous books, photographs, and educational artifacts have also been donated by local residents and organizations, creating a genuine glimpse into everyday school life from more than a century ago.

Outside the building, a historical marker explains that Reynolds School serves as a memorial to the teachers and students who lived and learned there. The preserved schoolhouse helps visitors understand both the evolution of education and the history of the Bellevue community.

Dexter and other volunteers hope the school will soon become an educational destination once again. Plans are being discussed to open the building when school resumes this fall for field trips, homeschool groups, daycare centers, and other educational organizations. The goal is to provide students with a hands-on experience that allows them to compare modern classrooms with those of the past.

For anyone who has ever wondered what school was like before computers, smart phones, and even electricity, the Reynolds School offers a rare opportunity to experience history firsthand. Thanks to the dedication of volunteers and donors, this small one-room schoolhouse continues teaching lessons nearly 140 years after it first opened its doors.

“Preserving the past for the future” remains the mission of the Bellevue Historical Society, and the Reynolds School stands as one of its finest accomplishments.

Vermontville

Vermontville

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Vermontville

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Junior Teegen McDonald scores 1,000 points and then picks up a pitcher’s glove

Posted by Design | May 4, 2026

Joanne Williams
Editor

(Joanne Williams/TCJ: The night they will all remember, – 1,000 points, at home, in Teegen’s junior year, witnessed by mom and dad, Crystal and Darren McDonald.)

 

In a town full of athletes and athletic boosters and a house with two brothers playing multiple sports, there is bound to be competitive drive and hometown pride.

That is the way in Vermontville, where the McDonald family celebrates sons Jakeb and Teegen as they make their way into record books and winning teams.

This February saw Maple Valley High School junior Teegen McDonald score 1,000 on home court, with the crowd waving cards reading  “1,000” for all to see.

For high schoolers in general, 1,000 is a dream and it mostly happens to seniors, not juniors. Statistics say there are just a handful  of  this milestone in each state per season.

It has happened at Maple Valley two times before Teegen’s turn.

“I knew going into the (home) game (Feb. 12, 2026, against the Calhoun Christian Cougars). “It was a great feeling,” Teegen said of his rare accomplishment. “It also took the pressure off.” Cheers in the locker room called him “the GOAT.”

Teegen scored 28 points that night in the Lions’ win, a bit above his 22 or so point average. 

His coach this season has been Ryan Nevins. Teegen has also been coached by his uncle, Kevin Rost. That night, he held his 1,000-point banner with his parents, Darren and Crystal.

Jakeb is a freshman at The University of Olivet, where he pitches on the baseball team.

Teegen is a pitcher, too, for the Lions. His lanky profile and ubiquitous orange shoes are a site to see.

He has those shoes for every sport. This has become his ritual as he “keeps healthy, stays active and stays in the gym.”

Baseball Coach Bryan Carpenter writes of Teegen, “Teegen has a knowledge of sports and a belief that he is the best player on the court or on the field.  He doesn’t let the moment get too big and isn’t afraid to take the shot or throw the pitch.  He’s a gamer that steps it up when the game calls for it.”

His mother, Crystal, credits travel baseball and basketball in keeping her sons active and learning how meet and talk to others. “It’s made my kids who they are,” she said, noting that it is a sports family on both sides.

Dad Darren is also “happy” that they got past the 1,000 mark and can move on playing ball. He is one of many athletic boosters who help “supplement the sports teams’ needs” and keep athletics accessible and fun for families and the community, including a “Bullpen” pass fundraiser, providing premium parking at the baseball field.

Another supporter of Maple Valley school sports is Kevin Rost, who coached his nephew Teegen early in his career. Teegen’s family said Kevin “had a pretty big impact in getting both sons through their careers.”

Rost said he coached Teegen “no differently than any other kid,” and said ,“His success is on him.” Rost added, “He put in the extra time,” and was in the gym practicing before school.

Potterville

Potterville

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Potterville

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Gizzards aren’t the only things on the menu at the annual Potterville three-day festival

Posted by Design | May 22, 2026

Joanne Williams
Editor

(Cindy Gaedert-Gearhart/TCJ – Crowds, food, music, rides, vendors, a parade, car show and so much more. What a great way to begin summer festival season, right here in Potterville.)

Do you know what a gizzard is?

They tend to “pop up” at Thanksgiving, when folks buy whole turkeys and discover a bag containing the bird’s organ meat – heart, liver, neck, and gizzard, which is found in the digestive tract of many animals and helps break down food. Some folks refer to it as a second stomach.

Gizzards are tough, so preparation requires time, unless you deep fry it, as Joe Bristol does at Joe’s Gizzard City in Potterville. Chicken provides the gizzard of choice.

Bristol’s restaurant, more than 65 years in the family, is famous for the dish, and is a destination for many summertime travelers.

This June 4-6, Potterville celebrates with Gizzard Festival, now nationally known because of its unique delicacy and a few choice television show spotlights.

It wasn’t always that way. The late spring, early summer festival used to be known as Potterville Days, and was more homegrown for a small, community celebration. Potterville’s population is about 3,100.

When the festival dwindled for lack of money and volunteers and took a COVID hiatus, it was resurrected as Gizzard Fest.

Today, three-day event, June 4-6, features vendors, amusement rides, contests, a pageant, entertainment, a parade, car show,  and so much more. Crispy the Chicken will be there, too. The gizzardfest.org site spells it all out, including the parade on Friday at 6:30 p.m.

Now run by a community committee, Potterville hosts around 20,000 visitors.

This year’s theme is Beach Party. Next year’s, already set, is “Under the Big Top.”

Perhaps by then, more folks will learn of the lore of the gizzard.

They will also be treated well by the organizers, who, with the help of townspeople and Police Chief Richard Barry, make sure things run smoothly.

For example, there is parking at the high school, just across the street, with shuttles to take people to and fro, or an under-the-highway bridge to keep people out of harm’s way.

Barry also advised caution, as with any crowd situation. Keep your vehicles locked and valuables out of sight, he said, and, if the weather calls for it, stay hydrated.

Barry has been in Potterville for nine years, and says the police force, with reserves on hand, feel comfortable with the crowds.

The crowds are urged to give gizzards a try. If not now, when?

According to Dave Stoltzfus of Dutch Meadows Farms in Pennsylvania, “While the gizzard is not wildly popular in the United States (yet) it is considered a delicacy in other parts of the world. In places like Haiti, Mexico, Southeast Asia, Europe and Africa, it’s quite common to find the gizzard as mouthwatering street food, adorning a salad, or paired with your main meal as the perfect side dish.

In the south, you’ll often find them fried to a deliciously crispy texture or stewed for hours in a soup until melt in your mouth tender.”

He says it is “an excellent source of iron and zinc.”

Eaton Rapids

Eaton Rapids

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Eaton Rapids

Featured Story

Hamlin Fire Truck, Car Show funds cancer awareness

Posted by Design | June 12, 2026

Dan LaLone
Contributing Writer

(Photo provided – The first annual Hamlin Fire truck and car show raised funds for Neighbors United #WalkForThe Red, which advocates for firefighters affected by cancer and the risk to firefighters from toxic exposure.)

The Hamlin Township Firefighters Association partnered with the Hamlin Township Fire Department and Neighbors United #WalkForTheRed to host its inaugural Fire Truck and Car Show, raising funds and awareness for firefighters battling occupational cancer.

The event raised $250 for Neighbors United, in addition to donations made directly to the organization by attendees.

Neighbors United #WalkForTheRed advocates for firefighters affected by cancer and raises awareness about the risks firefighters face from exposure to carcinogens and toxic substances encountered during fires and hazardous materials incidents.

Several fire departments from Eaton and Ingham counties participated in the event, including Eaton Rapids, Olivet, Windsor Township, Charlotte, Onondaga and Leslie. Eaton Rapids firefighters raised a large American flag over the show grounds.

The event also featured a variety of classic and specialty vehicles. Among them were a 1941 Dodge COE, a 1966 Chevrolet Chevelle, several Chevrolet Camaros and a 1989 Nissan Skyline GT-R.

Awards were presented in both the classic car and fire truck divisions.

David Wood received the Best in Show award in the classic car division for his 1931 Chevrolet Coupe. Steve DeKett of the Leslie Fire Department earned Best in Show honors in the fire truck division with a 1949 International fire engine.

Organizers said they collected feedback from participants and spectators throughout the day and are already considering improvements for next year’s event.

“We received a lot of great ideas and suggestions,” organizers said. “We hope to continue building on this year’s success and make the event even bigger next year.”

The association also thanked the Eaton Rapids Area Historical Society for loaning former Hamlin Township Fire Department Engine 3 for display during the event. Organizers said they hope the historic apparatus can continue to participate in future community events and parades.

The Hamlin Township Firefighters Association extended a special thank you to everyone who attended the event, entered vehicles, purchased raffle tickets, made donations and supported the cause. Organizers also expressed their appreciation to the firefighters association members, fire department personnel and volunteers whose efforts helped make the event possible.

“The support from the community exceeded our expectations,” organizers said. “We are grateful to everyone who helped make our first car show a success.”

Those interested in providing feedback or suggestions for future events can submit them through the contact form at HamlinFireRescue.com.

Anyone interested in supporting the Hamlin Township Firefighters Association or Neighbors United can visit HamlinFireRescue.com or follow the Hamlin Township Firefighters Association on Facebook for upcoming events and opportunities. Association members are also planning to participate in the Eaton Rapids Community Market on June 20, where they will offer homemade breads, soaps, jams, jellies, supporter apparel and other traditional farmers market items.

Organizers described the event as a successful first-year show that brought together firefighters, classic car enthusiasts and community members in support of an important cause. 

They hope it becomes an annual tradition that continues to grow in the years ahead.

Editor’s Note: Dan LaLone is a part-time volunteer member of the Hamlin Township Firefighters Association.

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