Voters take to the polls, fire temporarily closes White’s Restaurant: Jackson headlines Nov. 2-7

JACKSON COUNTY, MI – Voters across Jackson County took to the polls this week to decide not only who would lead the country, but also many local municipality and judicial offices.

Here is that headline and some more you might have missed this week.

Results for the Tuesday, Nov. 5 general election in Jackson County

Jackson County residents are currently casting their votes in the Tuesday, Nov. 5 general election, deciding who will be the next U.S. President, as well as winners in state and local races.

Operating millages are on the ballot for the Jackson County Jail, Jackson District Library and Jackson College. Voters will also decide between contested races for township, city council and school board seats, as well as who should represent Michigan in Congress and the U.S. House and Senate.

White's Restaurant temporarily closed due to kitchen fire

A staple restaurant in the Jackson community is temporarily closed due to kitchen fire that broke out Sunday afternoon.

Fire crews were called at about 3 p.m. Nov. 3 to White's Restaurant and Catering, 845 N. West Ave., for a report of a fire with flames seen coming through the roof, Jackson Fire Department Lt. Joseph Carpenter said.

Crews arrived and found an active fire in the restaurant's kitchen area and were able to extinguish it quickly, Carpenter said.

A 3-year-old boy was taken to the hospital early Sunday morning after he shot himself with a firearm.

The child was home with his parents around 1 a.m. Nov. 3 in the 4200 bock of Lansing Avenue in Blackman Township when he found a firearm in the residence, according to a release from the Blackman-Leoni Department of Public Safety. The gun discharged and struck the child, police said.

Republican trying to keep Jackson state House seat raises over $1.5M

A Republican candidate has raised over $1 million to keep her seat in a key state House district in Jackson County while her Democratic challenger secured nearly $760,000, state campaign finance records show.

In Michigan's 46th State House District, Rep. Kathy Schmaltz, trying to ward off a challenge from Jackson Mayor Daniel Mahoney, received $179,777 in cash contributions through Oct. 20 this year. In addition, Schmaltz received in-kind contributions totaling $701,634 from the House Republican Campaign Committee. These helped fund advertisements and other campaign efforts.

Jackson's downtown social district expands its hours

Jackson's downtown social district is expanding its hours.

In its Oct. 22 meeting, the Jackson City Council unanimously approved a request from the Jackson Downtown Development Authority to expand the social district hours. The action will provide additional benefits and freedom to businesses, Jackson DDA Director Beth Kuiper said.

The social district launched in March 2023, and allows patrons to legally purchase alcohol and consume it in designated outdoor spaces. It has operated noon to midnight Thursday and Friday, and 9 a.m. to midnight Saturday and Sunday.

Lawsuit dismissed against jail that allegedly failed to provide Ramadan meals

A lawsuit accusing Jackson County sheriff and jail staff of failing to accommodate Muslim inmates during Ramadan has ended in dismissal.

United States District Judge Gershwin Drain signed an order Oct. 10, dismissing the lawsuit with prejudice after agreeing with the sheriff's office that the claims in the lawsuit were insufficient to warrant allowing the case to move forward.

In being dismissed with prejudice, the lawsuit claim is over and cannot be filed again.

See the 'unprecedented' record number of early ballots submitted in Jackson County

An "unprecedented" number of people showed up to their local polling place before election day in Jackson County, city and county officials said.

Between the City of Jackson and the wider Jackson County area, 19,136 ballots were cast through early voting services ahead of the Nov. 5 general election.

A total of 16,585 voters in Jackson County townships utilized in-person early voting, said Cierra Sowle, Jackson County clerk and register of deeds.

Feds charge Jackson man for alleged threats to political action committee

A Jackson man faces federal charges amid accusations he made threats to a political action committee, or PAC, that was soliciting funds for the Nov. 5 election.

Christopher Clay Pierce, 46, of Jackson, was arrested and charged Nov. 5 in U.S. District Court Eastern District Michigan on one count of making a threatening interstate communication after he allegedly made threats to injure or kill individuals associated with the PAC, according to a U.S. Department of Justice release.

This is what Jackson voters have to say about the 2024 presidential election

As polls begin to close across the country, Jackson voters showed up in droves to have their voices heard.

Unsurprisingly, the heated presidential race between current Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump has provoked a wide range of opinions.

The Jackson Citizen Patriot interviewed several people coming and going from the ballot box about their stance on the contentious election. Read on to see what Jacksonians had to say.

Tim Walberg wins reelection to U.S. House seat representing Jackson County

U.S. Rep Tim Walberg was elected to serve another term in Congress, covering Jackson County, in the Tuesday, Nov. 5 general election.

The Associated Press declared Walberg, R-Tipton, the winner in the 5th District, defeating Democratic candidate Libbi Urban of Buchanan and Green Party candidate James Bronke of Cassopolis.

So far, Walberg has received about 70% of the votes, with Urban receiving 28.6% and Bronke receiving 1.6%. About 30% of votes had been counted, according to the Associated Press.

Voters select Kathy Schmaltz for second term in Jackson County state House district

Voters decided to keep a Republican candidate as their representative in a key state House district in Jackson County.

In the Tuesday, Nov. 5 general election, Rep. Kathy Schmaltz, R-Jackson, was elected to another two-year term in the House of Representatives 46th District, which covers the city of Jackson and parts of Jackson and Washtenaw counties, including Chelsea.

She defeated Daniel Mahoney, D-Jackson, who mayor of Jackson. Schmaltz received 52.1% of the votes, while Mahoney received 47.9%, according to the Associated Press, which called the race for Schmaltz shortly after 4 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 6. About 98% of votes are counted.

Newcomer will fill Ward 5 Jackson City Council seat

A new councilmember will fill the Ward 5 seat on Jackson City Council following the Tuesday, Nov. 5 general election.

Ward residents have elected candidate Christy Davis. She defeated her opponent Todd Moore, receiving 749 votes, while Moore received 470, according to unofficial Jackson County election results .

Jackson County Jail operation millage fails for third time, by 973 votes

Police services for Jackson County are in budgetary peril after a third attempt to pass a millage, just enough to keep operations going at the jail and sheriff's office, failed again.

It was a tight race. The millage failed by 973 votes with 36,978 saying yes and 37,951 saying no, according to unofficial election results yet to be certified.

The county was asking voters to approve a tax of 0.25 mills to be levied on properties for 10 years to fund public safety services, including county jail and other sheriff's operations. It was called a jail services millage.

Newcomers take over several Jackson County school board seats

Several Jackson County school boards will seat new members next year as a number of newcomers challenged and beat incumbents in the Nov. 5 election.

The boards of the Columbia School District, Springport Public Schools and Grass Lake Community Schools will all have at least one new member at the start of 2025.

Voters select Cierra Sowle to remain Jackson County's top election official

Jackson County's current appointed clerk will stay right where she is after securing victory Tuesday night.

Voters took to the polls Nov. 5, and selected Cierra Sowle as Jackson County clerk, meaning she will retain the position she was appointed to after the previous clerk's retirement.

Sowle, Republican, defeated Democrat Sabrina Brownlow 49,322 votes to 28,053 securing 63% of the total votes, according to the unofficial election results yet to be certified.

Jackson County selects new probate judge in tight race

In a tight race, Jackson County has selected its newest probate judge.

Jennifer M. Kelly defeated her opponent Bill Rappleye in the general election Tuesday, Nov. 5. She will take over the judicial position being vacated by retiring judge Diane Rappleye, Bill Rappleye's ex-wife.

Winning with 54% of the vote, Kelly won the election by 5,055 votes, or 31,400 votes to 26,334, according to unofficial county election results.

See the results of contested county commissioner races in Jackson County

Incumbents came out on top in each of the four contested races for Jackson County Board of Commissioner seats on the Nov. 5 ballot.

Each winning candidate is now set to represent their districts for a four-year term.

Jackson College millage fails with voters for 17th straight time

Jackson College's most recent attempt at a millage restoration has failed with voters, marking the 17th unsuccessful proposal since 1964.

The proposal on the Nov. 5 election ballot failed with 40,439 no votes to 33,464 yes votes.

The proposal sought to restore the college's original authorized charter millage rate of 1.33 mills, entailing a 0.1973-mill increase on the current millage of 1.1327 mills.

Meet the 3 new board members for Jackson Public Schools

A trio of newcomers each earned a spot on the Jackson Public School Board in the Nov. 5 election.

In a hotly contested race that fielded 10 candidates vying for three soon-to-be-vacant board seats, Subba Reddy, Alaina Sharp and Cheryl Simonetti each garnered enough voter support to be named future board members.

If the race for Brooklyn village president remains tied, how do you pick a winner?

The final selection determining who is village president in Brooklyn might come down to who has more luck on their side.

Out of a total 638 votes cast in the Nov. 5 general election, current Village of Brooklyn President Terry Mahr and challenger Estella Roberts each won 319 votes, ending the election in an even tie, according to the unofficial election results yet to be certified.

To break a tie, state law dictates a drawing, and whoever blindly selects the "elected" paper wins.

Challenger defeats longtime incumbent for Jackson College trustee seat

A longtime staple of the Jackson College Board of Trustees lost his seat in the Nov. 5 general election, marking the end of an 18-year stint on the board.

Current board chairperson John Crist came up third in the race for two six-year terms on the board in Tuesday's election. Donna Lake, a 12-year incumbent received 29,678 votes, followed by newcomer Danielle Mackey with 28,975 votes and Crist with 27,108 votes.

Polls have closed, the votes have been counted, and results are in for a handful of proposals on the Jackson County ballot.

Here is a round-up of what voters decided to pass and reject out of the six proposals Jackson County voters considered.

Regardless of how your candidate fared at the ballot box, everybody is going to need a chance to relax after this year's election cycle, and the Jackson area has plenty of establishments that offer a chance to do that.

Here are five great Jackson-area drinking spots to visit if you're looking to - responsibly - detox from politics with a little intox.

Fatal shootout that injured a Jackson officer began with man wanted for shooting brother

Police have released details on a shootout that left a suspect accused of shooting his brother dead and a Jackson police officer shot.

At 5:09 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 6, the Lenawee County Sheriff's Office contacted Jackson County Central Dispatch that a shooting suspect they were tracking with GPS was in the Jackson County area, according to the Jackson County Sheriff's Office.

Jackson residents warned to watch for possible pipe bombs thrown as man fled police

A shooting suspect who was killed in a shootout with police had several pipe bombs, which investigators believe he may had thrown from his car during his pursuit.

Investigators are asking residents to be on the lookout for suspicious looking pipe objects in the streets as they could be one of several bombs tossed as the man fled police after 5 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 6. There were reports of explosions heard as well as gunshots during the chase, according to the Michigan State Police.

Text message from state rep telling people to vote after Election Day is being investigated

The Michigan Secretary of State is investigating a complaint regarding a text message informing people to vote on Wednesday, Nov. 6.

State House Rep. Kathy Schmaltz, R-Jackson, and her campaign sent the message on Tuesday, Nov. 5. The text stated the polls would "open tomorrow," the day after Election Day, according to a screenshot of the message.

Angela Benander, chief communications officer for the Michigan Department of State, confirmed in an email that the department received a complaint about the text message, and it is under investigation.

A self-proclaimed animal rescuer is in court on felony and misdemeanor animal abuse charges after more than a dozen dead animals were found locked up in her Jackson home.

Makayla Mylin Stefaniuk, 20, waived her right to a preliminary examination Friday, Nov. 1, sending her case to Jackson County Circuit Court. She faces one felony count of animal abuse for abandoning 10 or more animals and six misdemeanor counts of improper burial of an animal, court records show.

" daily newsletter.