Bizarre Michigan Crimes: Unbelievable Stories!

Bizarre Michigan Crimes: Unbelievable Stories! Okay, what the hell is going on in Michigan? You know how people joke about “Florida Man” (there’s an entire reddit thread for it) - but after seeing these two stories, maybe it’s time for a “Michigan Man” (not the football team)...both of these reports made me yell “what the hell is going on in Michigan”

It’s the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Home to Yoopers and their happy go lucky mindset. Always greeting you with a smile…unless you’re neighbors sharing a driveway. Time to yell "what the hell is going on in Michigan"...let's go: 

According to a release from MSP, at approximately 12 p.m. on March 23, troopers were dispatched to a shared driveway area on the Stonington Peninsula after reports of a neighbor dispute involving a gun. When they get there the troopers learned two neighbors sharing the same driveway had an argument over road maintenance issues. The suspect, a 79-yr-old male, produced a baseball bat and revolver. He eventually fired multiple rounds at the alleged victim, a 67-yr-old male, however, none of the rounds struck the victim (thank god). 

The victim used a small tractor to defend himself and eventually pinned the suspect to the ground until troopers arrived. The suspect was injured in all this (pinning someone down with a tractor will do that) - but he’ll be fine. 

There was an easter egg hunt at a Battle Creek elementary school that went really wrong when a fight broke out over the placement of the eggs and a knife was drawn. (FORTUNATELY THE KIDS HAD NOT SHOWN UP YET) 

Deputies with the Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office were called to Valley View Elementary school in Battle Creek amid reports of a violent attack, the sheriff's office said.

They arrived and found a 36-year-old man wielding a knife, authorities said. Investigators said a male and his "partner" female got into an argument over the placement of the eggs."When a family member intervened, the male produced a knife, cutting them multiple times," a sheriff's office statement said. (seriously - what the hell is going on in Michigan) 

Responding deputies convinced the man to drop the knife, and then he was arrested. The victim had some lacerations but was expected to recover.

Again - the kids had NOT shown up yet. So that’s good, right? Seriously...what the hell is going on in Michigan. 

Maybe we do need a “Michigan Man” on reddit. Sigh. Or some new criteria for our City of the Week program with Doni and Joel. 

I love heading to Plymouth.  There's always something going on and the downtown had a historic vibe.  Kellog Park is compact, but a perfect size for being in the middle of the downtown.  It's a perfect place to gather.  Congratulations to Plymouth, the WCSX City of The Week!  Read on for some Plymouth fun facts and history.

Plymouth is an active community with an inviting downtown area.  Plymouth locals refer to the downtown as "Old Village," which is decidedly more charming than the original name of "Podunk." The north end of town was called "Joppa." In the finalizing of the community's name, "Peking" was an early runner, then "LeRoy" became the strongest contender.  If that name had already been used (communities much like rock bands had to choose unique names) the second choice was "Plymouth" after historical ties to Plymouth, Massachusetts.

At the time of Plymouth's naming (1827), the community was not a city, but rather a super township.  Plymouth originally included the areas of Canton and Northville. You can find out more about the naming of Plymouth at Plymouthmi.gov.

Two of Plymouth's biggest events are Art in The Park and The Plymouth Ice Festival.  I find ice carving fascinating.  These artists use chainsaws on giant blocks of ice and make masterpieces that will only last as long as the temperature stays cold enough.  Find out more about these events and other amazing info on Plymouth below.

The Plymouth Ice Festival is North America's oldest and largest ice carving festival. Roughly half a million people head to Plymouth yearly to check out the carvings. More than 60 ice carvings will be in Kellog Park and along the sidewalks of downtown Plymouth.  They also have tubing and other family-friendly events.

In 1980, the first Art in The Park took place when 30 artists came together to show their pieces.  The event has grown through the years and is now the second-largest art fair in Michigan (the Ann Arbor Art Fair is the largest). More than 300,000 people attend Art in The Park each summer.

Detroit Lions Star Defensive End, Aidan Hutchinson, is from Plymouth! Aidan “Hutch” Hutchinson was born in Plymouth in 2000. He was always a bad-a__ football player in high school and went on to be a star player with The University of Michigan Wolverines. After being a stud player at U of M for four years, Aidan Hutchinson was drafted by The Detroit Lions, whom he grew up rooting for. “Hutch” made an immediate positive impact playing for the Lions, and has helped turn the team into winners! Check out Aidan’s stats here:

The BB gun was invented in Plymouth! Daisy Manufacturing Company, now Daisy Outdoor Products, started in 1882 in Plymouth as the Plymouth Iron Windmill Company. In 1886 Plymouth’s Clarence Hamilton invented the first BB-Gun and sold his new invention to the windmill company. If you bought a windmill, you got a free BB gun! BB guns became so popular, that Daisy went on to sell BB guns instead of windmills! Daisy moved out of Plymouth long ago, but the BB gun lives on!  The Plymouth Historical Museum has several large displays dedicated to Daisy and the BB gun.

Check out our adventures from last year in Plymouth! We love to spotlight the community leading up to The Plymouth Ice Festival.  Tons of cool pictures of ice sculptures.  I love it!