https://www.gcwhistleblower.com/ Independent Gratiot County local news and public-records reporting. en-us https://www.gcwhistleblower.com/articles/alma-college-adds-chemistry-transfer-route-from-montcalm/ https://www.gcwhistleblower.com/articles/alma-college-adds-chemistry-transfer-route-from-montcalm/ Sat, 19 Sep 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Students who finish an associate degree at Montcalm Community College now have a mapped two-year path to a chemistry bachelor's degree in Alma, the college says. https://www.gcwhistleblower.com/articles/five-alumni-to-be-honored-at-homecoming-retired-choir/ https://www.gcwhistleblower.com/articles/five-alumni-to-be-honored-at-homecoming-retired-choir/ Sat, 19 Sep 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Alma College has named its 2026 Tartan Award recipients and chosen Will Nichols, who conducted the college choirs for more than four decades, as parade grand marshal. https://www.gcwhistleblower.com/articles/almas-40-million-wastewater-plant-request-is-fully-funded/ https://www.gcwhistleblower.com/articles/almas-40-million-wastewater-plant-request-is-fully-funded/ Sat, 19 Sep 2026 12:00:00 +0000 A city notice says the state has committed the full amount Alma sought to rebuild its wastewater treatment plant. The same notice shows that $34.8 million of the package must be repaid, and it says the funding will affect what sewer customers are charged. https://www.gcwhistleblower.com/articles/animal-control-pay-request-county-oversight/ https://www.gcwhistleblower.com/articles/animal-control-pay-request-county-oversight/ Fri, 18 Sep 2026 12:00:00 +0000 A record-based look at the meeting, the county job description and the questions still before the Board of Commissioners. https://www.gcwhistleblower.com/articles/alma-college-graduate-jake-kelley-wins-masterchef-season-16/ https://www.gcwhistleblower.com/articles/alma-college-graduate-jake-kelley-wins-masterchef-season-16/ Fri, 18 Sep 2026 12:00:00 +0000 The self-taught cook and 2024 neuroscience graduate won the national competition after advancing through a season built around global cuisines and cultural heritage. https://www.gcwhistleblower.com/articles/what-is-publicly-known-about-human-remains-found-near-us-127/ https://www.gcwhistleblower.com/articles/what-is-publicly-known-about-human-remains-found-near-us-127/ Fri, 18 Sep 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Road Commission workers made the discovery April 7 near Michigan Avenue. Public reports reviewed for this update did not identify the person or establish a cause or manner of death. https://www.gcwhistleblower.com/articles/alma-college-reports-fall-enrollment-of-1229/ https://www.gcwhistleblower.com/articles/alma-college-reports-fall-enrollment-of-1229/ Fri, 18 Sep 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Alma College says total fall enrollment is five students higher than last year, while its full-time and transfer counts show larger gains. https://www.gcwhistleblower.com/articles/baltierra-wins-division-race-at-spartan-invitational/ https://www.gcwhistleblower.com/articles/baltierra-wins-division-race-at-spartan-invitational/ Fri, 18 Sep 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Alma's Ezekiel Baltierra took first in the boys Bronze Division race Sept. 11, according to MileSplit Michigan's published meet recap. https://www.gcwhistleblower.com/articles/ithaca-narrows-union-street-financing-to-one-4-million-bond/ https://www.gcwhistleblower.com/articles/ithaca-narrows-union-street-financing-to-one-4-million-bond/ Fri, 18 Sep 2026 12:00:00 +0000 A change in Ithaca's financing plan could lower the cost of issuing debt for the Union Street project, according to the city manager's written report. The public record available Friday morning did not yet show the result of a special council vote. https://www.gcwhistleblower.com/articles/st-louis-packet-proposes-1000-fees-for-two-bulk-data-exports/ https://www.gcwhistleblower.com/articles/st-louis-packet-proposes-1000-fees-for-two-bulk-data-exports/ Fri, 18 Sep 2026 12:00:00 +0000 A proposed policy would set prices for complete assessment and cemetery-data exports while leaving ordinary individual-record requests under existing public-record laws. https://www.gcwhistleblower.com/articles/county-opens-bidding-for-opioid-remediation-services/ https://www.gcwhistleblower.com/articles/county-opens-bidding-for-opioid-remediation-services/ Fri, 18 Sep 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Project 12-26 is open for responses through 11 a.m. Oct. 16. The notice starts a competitive process; it does not identify a selected provider or contract price. https://www.gcwhistleblower.com/articles/draft-fitness-court-plan-calls-for-174050-in-local-funding/ https://www.gcwhistleblower.com/articles/draft-fitness-court-plan-calls-for-174050-in-local-funding/ Fri, 18 Sep 2026 12:00:00 +0000 A draft resolution pairs a $50,000 National Fitness Campaign grant with a proposed $174,050 local commitment for an outdoor court intended to be free to the public. https://www.gcwhistleblower.com/articles/three-filed-candidates-seek-four-alma-commission-seats/ https://www.gcwhistleblower.com/articles/three-filed-candidates-seek-four-alma-commission-seats/ Fri, 18 Sep 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Alma voters are scheduled to fill four City Commission seats Nov. 3, but the city's election page lists only three candidates who filed nominating petitions.