Doug Marrin

See photos from Monday’s Memorial Day parade through downtown Chelsea Photos by Dawn McCann Residents lined the streets of downtown Chelsea on Memorial Day as veterans groups, marching bands, first responders, scouts, and community organizations took part in the annual parade honoring those who gave their lives in military service. Here are scenes from the ... Read more

AI data center project touts jobs, tax revenue and innovation while critics continue to question scale, energy use and rural impacts

While OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and business leaders gathered Monday, June 1, to celebrate construction of The Barn, a group of opponents demonstrated nearby, arguing that residents still have unanswered questions about the massive data center project in Saline Township that has become the national epicenter for the controversial facilities. Among them ... Read more

Reader Question: Why does the newly paved stretch of Dexter-Chelsea Road have sections with grooves that look like the new pavement was ground down? Drivers on Dexter-Chelsea Road may have noticed some stretches of the newly paved roadway that appear rougher than the surrounding pavement, almost as if the fresh asphalt was ground off shortly ... Read more

A $10 million contribution announced during Monday’s celebration of The Barn AI data center project could significantly reshape the future of the Saline Recreation Center, a city-owned facility that has been grappling with long-term funding and sustainability challenges. The pledge was announced by Jeff T. Blau, CEO of Related Companies, during an invitation-only event at ... Read more

The Washtenaw County Office of Community and Economic Development (OCED) has released its 2025 Annual Report, highlighting programs that provided housing assistance, nutrition services, financial counseling and other support to thousands of county residents throughout the year. Among the report’s most notable accomplishments, the Washtenaw County Continuum of Care served 2,408 people experiencing homelessness and ... Read more

A series of infrastructure and recreation improvement projects totaling more than $14 million are planned or recently completed at local state parks and recreation areas, according to Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) project information. The projects are part of a historic $273 million investment in Michigan state parks and trails funded through the American ... Read more

The Dexter City Council has approved a one-year extension of the city’s police services contract with the Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office, securing law enforcement coverage through Dec. 31, 2027. The extension, requested by Sheriff Alyshia Dyer’s office, provides additional time for the recently reinstated Police Services Steering Committee to review and discuss future contract methodologies, ... Read more

The Dexter City Council has accepted a donation from the Dexter Historical Society and the community-led Historic Sign Committee to install three permanent historical signs in downtown Dexter, bringing local history into the streetscape through an innovative design that allows visitors to compare the past with the present. The signs are being funded entirely through ... Read more

The Dexter City Council approved the city’s Fiscal Year 2026–2031 Capital Improvements Plan (CIP) at its June 8 meeting, following a recommendation from the Planning Commission, which raised questions about whether several sidewalk projects that have remained on the plan for more than two decades should continue to be included. The six-year CIP serves as ... Read more