MORENCI — The city of Morenci is developing a long-term Urban Forestry Management Plan and is seeking input from residents to help shape it.
City of Morenci seeks residents’ input on trees
Council approves additional full-time police officer position
MORENCI — A fourth full-time position has been approved for the Morenci Police Department. At their Aug. 11 meeting, council members agreed to move one of the city’s part-time officers, Nathan Adams, to full-time status.
Work already underway for 2026 Town and Country Festival
MORENCI — The 2025 Town and Country Festival at Wakefield Park may only be a few months in the past, but work is already underway for next year’s festival.
State grant could help residents with home repairs
MORENCI — The city of Morenci plans to apply for a Community Development Block Grant from the Michigan State Housing Development Authority to help low- to moderate-income residents with home repairs.
The application would be for $1.18 million, with $1 million going to repairs and $180,000 being used for program administration.
If the city’s grant application is approved, Mayor Tracy Schell noted at last month’s city council meeting, the funds would only be for owner-occupied, single-family homes, removing concerns that landlords might snap up all the money.
Schell said the grant would help homeowners who have trouble affording necessary repairs.
“This is to help out folks that want to get some stuff done, but they just don’t have it,” she said.
“I think it’s a great opportunity,” council member Kori Christle said. “It’s only going to enhance our city; it’s only going to attract people to our community.”
A public hearing, which is a requirement of applying for the grant, is scheduled for the Sept. 8 city council meeting, which will take place at 6 p.m. at City Hall, 118 Orchard St.
New coach sees lots of potential in this year’s varsity volleyball team
MORENCI — The Morenci varsity volleyball team is looking to change the trajectory and culture of the program during the 2025 season.
First-year head coach Erin Ekins aims to bring stability and passion to the student athletes.
A new season, a new coach, and a family legacy
MORENCI – Ryan McDowell steps into the role as the Top Dog for the Morenci Bulldogs and their 8-man football program this 2025 season.
A 2003 graduate of Morenci, McDowell takes on the head spot once held by Mike McDowell. “My dad coached and taught here for over 30 years,” McDowell said of his dad, who coached two stints for the Bulldogs during the late 1990s and early 2010s.
Morenci’s Labor Day Bridge Walk returns
MORENCI — The Mackinac Bridge may have the most famous Labor Day bridge walk in the state, but Michigan’s southernmost city offers a bridge walk of its own.
Council approves having City Hall open five days a week
MORENCI — Changes to Morenci City Hall’s office hours were approved at the Aug. 11 city council meeting. Beginning Sept. 8, City Hall will keep its current hours of 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Monday, but will be open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday through Friday.
New director on the job at Morenci Senior Center
MORENCI — There are plenty of things Laurie Reinke hopes to do in her new job as director of the Morenci Senior Center, but they all come down to this: “I’m hoping to bring smiles to people’s faces.”
Reinke started working at the senior center on June 10 after retiring from a factory job.
“Honestly, this is a job that I’ve been looking at for quite some time,” she said, noting that her daughter works for the Lenawee County Department on Aging so she was already somewhat familiar with its programs.
However, she said, “it just never was the right time — and this time I just said ‘you know what, I think the time is right.’ ”
New coach hopes to reinvigorate Morenci’s cross country program
MORENCI — Having been a cross country runner himself in high school, Tony Muzzi has an appreciation for the sport.
Now, as Morenci’s new cross country coach, he’s hoping to bring new energy to the program — and more numbers. There were four varsity runners on last fall’s roster, and three of them were seniors. But Muzzi feels there’s a lot to appreciate about cross country as a discipline.