A four-year journey

Members of the Morenci girls basketball team celebrate with coach Ashley Joughin after securing their third straight regional title with a 44-26 win over Summerfield on March 11. (Photo by Mike Dickie)
Members of the Morenci girls basketball team celebrate with coach Ashley Joughin after securing their third straight regional title with a 44-26 win over Summerfield on March 11. (Photo by Mike Dickie)

EAST LANSING — When the Morenci girls basketball team arrived at the Breslin Center on March 19, it was the culmination of a four-year journey. 

The Lady Bulldogs were set to face the Hematites of Ishpeming in a state semifinal game many viewed as a matchup of the two best remaining teams. 

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Girls basketball heads into postseason

Evelyn Joughin greets her teammates as the Morenci girls basketball team celebrates Senior Night on Feb. 6. Joughin is one of a strong corps of seniors who helped propel Morenci to a postseason berth and a shot at the Division 4 state championship. (Photo by Heather Walker)
Evelyn Joughin greets her teammates as the Morenci girls basketball team celebrates Senior Night on Feb. 6. Joughin is one of a strong corps of seniors who helped propel Morenci to a postseason berth and a shot at the Division 4 state championship. (Photo by Heather Walker)

MORENCI — The Morenci girls varsity basketball team will enter 2026 postseason play as one of the top-ranked teams in Division 4 according to the Michigan Power Rating rankings that are used to seed District brackets. 

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State grant will improve downtown’s landscape

A state grant will assist in the renovation of the former hardware store at 148 W. Main St. in downtown Morenci. (Photo by Erik Gable)
A state grant will assist in the renovation of the former hardware store at 148 W. Main St. in downtown Morenci. (Photo by Erik Gable)

MORENCI — A long-vacant building in downtown Morenci is about to get a new lease on life.

A grant from the state of Michigan’s Revitalization and Placemaking program has been awarded to help rehabilitate and renovate the former hardware store at 148 W. Main St.

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Generations of service

Pictured at Roth Fabricating Inc. are Joel Swett, Lauren Wilson, Jason Wilson, Jim Roth, Jeanie Sarnac, and Shane Sarnac. Roth is holding a photo of himself and his late wife Rita. (Photo by Arlene Bachanov)
Pictured at Roth Fabricating Inc. are Joel Swett, Lauren Wilson, Jason Wilson, Jim Roth, Jeanie Sarnac, and Shane Sarnac. Roth is holding a photo of himself and his late wife Rita. (Photo by Arlene Bachanov)

MORENCI — A humble blacksmith shop in the 1920s provided the roots for a family-run business that has been part of Morenci’s fabric for some 45 years now.

That blacksmith shop’s offshoot opened the door in the 1970s to WR Production Welding, which was owned by Wendell Glaser and operated by James Roth. When that company went bankrupt in 1979, some of its customers asked Roth and his late wife, Rita, if they would open their own related business.

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Past-due water bills on city’s list for 2026

MORENCI — Out of 916 total water accounts with the city of Morenci, 177 are at least six months past due and 56 are at least 12 months past due. Addressing that problem rose to the top of the city council’s priority list for 2026 during a planning session on Dec. 16.

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Championship dreams

This year’s girls varsity basketball team: In the back row, Colbie Ekins, Katelyn Ruse, Emersyn Bachelder, and Aly Curtis; and in the front row, Hailey Cleveland, Evelyn Joughin, Addyson Valentine, Lauryn Dominique, and Tessa Zuvers. (Photo courtesy of Morenci Area Schools)
This year’s girls varsity basketball team: In the back row, Colbie Ekins, Katelyn Ruse, Emersyn Bachelder, and Aly Curtis; and in the front row, Hailey Cleveland, Evelyn Joughin, Addyson Valentine, Lauryn Dominique, and Tessa Zuvers. (Photo courtesy of Morenci Area Schools)

MORENCI — The Morenci girls varsity basketball team enters the 2025-26 season in the midst of the program’s most successful run, having three-peated as league champs and won back-to-back district and regional championships. 

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Boys basketball looks to turn the corner

This year’s boys varsity basketball team: In the back row, Blake Moran, Jonas Castillo, Kylan Lester, and Talan Kruse; and in the front row, Drew Joughin, Finn Molitierno, Skyler Trent, and Landon Wilkins. (Photo courtesy of Morenci Area Schools)
This year’s boys varsity basketball team: In the back row, Blake Moran, Jonas Castillo, Kylan Lester, and Talan Kruse; and in the front row, Drew Joughin, Finn Molitierno, Skyler Trent, and Landon Wilkins. (Photo courtesy of Morenci Area Schools)

MORENCI —The Morenci boys varsity basketball team enters the 2025-2026 season hoping to turn the corner using groundwork laid over the past two years. 

“We are looking to finally get over the hump of what we have been building for multiple seasons,” head coach Garrett Benjamin said. 

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Cleghorn, Christle, Speiser win Morenci City Council election

MORENCI — Voters elected Gail Cleghorn to the Morenci City Council and returned incumbents Kori Christle and Kandi Speiser to their seats in the Nov. 4 election.

There were five candidates for three seats. The returns reported by the Lenawee County Clerk’s office were:

  • Gail Cleghorn — 242
  • Kori Christle — 164
  • Kandi Speiser — 162
  • Brad Lonis — 147
  • Gary Pfund — 142

Mayor Tracy Schell, was unopposed for re-election and received 283 votes, with eight write-ins.

With 329 ballots cast, turnout in the city of Morenci was just over 17%.

Vote totals are unofficial until reviewed by the Lenawee County Board of Canvassers.