Eaton Rapids
Remembering When – The Pickle Factory
Deb Malewski Contributing Writer It was the smell that many people remember. A tart, vinegary scent that lingered over most of the town when pickle production was in full swing. Eaton Rapids was home to the Heifetz Pickle Factory starting in 1958 and ending in 1997....
The Curb Stalker, Finding Art in Junk
Deb Malewski Contributing Writer Waste not, want not, it’s often said. Bryan Russell of Eaton Rapids not only believes this, but he also lives it. Nothing gives him as much joy as finding an interesting item at the side of the road that’s been slated for the dump,...
Getting to Know – Helen Broom
Deb Malewski Contributing Writer 2012 was a year of major change for Helen Broom. That was the year she got married, moved over 800 miles to a new home in a new state, and got her three kids started back to school in that new state—all in the same week. Now, almost...
Eaton Rapids Chamber Under New Leadership
Deb Malewski Contributing Writer 2020 was a rough year for businesses in Eaton Rapids and elsewhere. The Eaton Rapids Chamber of Commerce is hopeful that 2021 is looking up and is making cautionary plans to help return some normalcy to the business climate in town....
The Bargain Shack
Deb Malewski Contributing Writer “It’s amazing the amount of business you can do out of a granary,” said Gary Clarke, owner of the Bargain Shack on South Clinton Trail in Springport. “We’re having a record year here!” The granary that houses the Bargain Shack, a...
If Trees Could Talk: Arbor Day 2021
Deb Malewski Contributing Writer “A magnificent oak was once a little nut that held its ground,” Henry David Thoreau once said. The bur oak tree (Quercus macrocarpa) which stands behind the Eaton Rapids Post Office is a prime example of an oak tree standing its...
Getting to Know… James “Jamie” Davidson
Deb Malewski Contributing Writer As a young boy, Jamie Davidson remembers Eaton Rapids as a “Mayberry” type of town, when most people didn’t bother locking their doors and it was no big deal to leave their keys in the car. Davidson and his brothers, Linton and John,...
Abused Dog Rescued by Eaton Rapids Family
Deb Malewski Contributing Writer As soon as she saw him on TV, Brandi Conley-Kesson of Eaton Rapids knew she wanted to adopt Big Busterton, now known as “Gus.” The moment he was available for adoption she was in line to adopt this friendly, dark copper-colored...
A Business With Big Pipe Dreams
Deb Malewski Contributing Writer So many things we own today become quickly outdated and replaced by newer technology, with new designs and with many fancy bells and whistles. But there are still businesses that are using skills and techniques that have been used for...
BPW Scholarships for Women
Deb Malewski Contributing Writer The Eaton Rapids Business and Professional Women’s (BPW) Club awards scholarships to local women every year. There are just a few stipulations: the women must be over 24 years old, be a resident of Eaton Rapids, be currently enrolled...