Carson Health eliminated 9 percent of its workforce this week due to federal budget cuts and changes to healthcare reform. A total of 56 positions were eliminated throughout the organization, including 16 through a transfer or a reduction in hours, 18 through attrition (vacant positions that will not be filled) and 22 through position elimination. Carson Health, which is affiliated with Sparrow Health System, employed a total of 619 people before the cuts.

The year of 1853 is at least two lifetimes in the past. Franklin Pierce was the 14th president of the United States. Troops under the direction of American attorney/journalist William Walker captured La Paz in Baja, Calif., and declared the Republic of California, which proved to be short-lived. Future painter Vincent van Gogh was born and past U.S. Vice President William King died. And a church parish came into existence in the small village of Hubbardston.

As graduate Andre Collins accepted his diploma and walked across the stage in the gymnasium of Carson City-Crystal High School, he paused for a brief moment, smiled, and raised his diploma high into the air. “Dad, I did it!” he shouted with satisfaction.

Dakota Chesebro has forever been “Daddy’s little princess,” as she recalls her father fondly calling her. It was only fitting that the 17-year-old senior at Carson City-Crystal High School was crowned queen of the upcoming Carson City Frontier Days festival.

Loud bangs and the smell of sulfur filled the air in Carson City-Crystal Elementary School on Wednesday night, May 15, during a police training exercise. Kolton Kavanagh, 16, and Karagan Kavanagh, 14, were both student volunteers helping out Carson City Police Chief Bruce Partridge during active shooter scenarios. “I don’t think anyone can prepare for a real school shooter,” Kolton Kavanagh said. “But seeing the police train for what could happen is good thing for us.”

Community policing in Carson City has been a win-win since the very first day. A collaboration between the city of Carson City, the police department and Carson Health has been a substantial safety and security benefit for patients, hospital staff and the small mid-Michigan community.

For 10 seconds, Cliff Fry thought about calling it quits. On vacation in Florida on Feb. 20, Fry sat heavy in his chair as he watched live security camera video of his golf cart repair business burning to the ground. A fire that started in the back of the facility at 5575 S. Mt. Hope Road, likely from a golf cart battery explosion, consumed the storage facility that Fry and his employees operated out of.

The Mount Pleasant Midget Hockey team is the 2012-2013 ADRAY State Champions.

A near capacity crowd turned out at St. Mary’s Hall in Carson City to honor this year’s Citizen of the Year, Carol Wiles. Wiles was awarded the honor by the Carson City Lions Club, which each year hosts the event.

Historically speaking, there’s some doubt as to whether St. Patrick really drove the snakes from Ireland, or whether that’s simply a myth, bound inextricably to his conversion to Christianity of several pagan sects whose worship had previously included images of snakes. There have even been some latter-day theologians who have questioned the very legitimacy of Patrick’s sainthood itself. If that’s your opinion, it’s one you were probably inclined to keep to yourself on St. Patrick’s Day in Hubbardston. They take St. Patrick’s Day seriously at Shiel’s Tavern, reputed to be Michigan’s oldest pub.