News: Battle Creek 12+ Inches of Snow, WMU Robbery, Gas Prices Jump

Battle Creek Snowfall

It wasn’t anything like the big snow storms of 1967 or 1978, but the 11 to 14 inches of snow dumped on Battle Creek was a flashback to last Jan. 6.

Calhoun County Sherriff Department emergency management director Durk Dunham says he thinks we are in good shape now with not too many issues moving forward.

Dunham says no deaths or serious injuries resulted from the storm in the county. Despite winds that caused drifting Sunday and overnight, Dunham said Consumers Energy did not report any power outages.

W.K. Kellogg Airport reported the top wind gust during the storm was 35 mph at 10:30 p.m. Sunday.

Flights Cancelled

Airports cancelled hundreds of flights in Chicago and Detroit, and a couple dozen in Grand Rapids. A few flights to Chicago from the Kalamazoo/Battle Creek International Airport were affected today before noon.

WMU Robbery

WMU students are being put on alert following an armed robbery at a LeFevre Hall on Campus.  The university says a male student was robbed at gunpoint about 4:40 p.m. Sunday in a third floor hallway.  Police are looking for two black male suspects. One has dreadlocks and was wearing a red coat. Students are warned to use extreme caution.

Gas Prices Jump

The days of gas costing less than $2 per gallon may be over in Michigan for now, according to the latest AAA Michigan fuel gauge report. A recent jump by 15 cents to a statewide average of $2.11 per gallon ends a five-week streak where Michigan gas cost under two bucks. It’s still better than the $3.34 this time a year ago. Battle Creek gas prices this morning are as low as $2.05 per gallon.

Kellogg Arena to Ask for More Funding

Efforts to getBattle Creek’s Kellogg Arena back in the black will take longer than planned.   City commissioners will consider a revised deficit-reduction plan that’s three years longer than originally hoped.  Arena GM Ted Dearing says the Arena finished in the black this year, barely, but that’s better than the $172,000 in the hole the previous year.   The goal is to have the facility in the black by the end of 2018 and erase a deficit of more than $115,000.

Driver Hits Police Vehicle on US131

A drunk driver hit a Sherriff’s car on 131 Sunday morning, but the officer is ok.   A deputy was waiting for a tow truck to pull a stranded car out of the median near Ravine Road on southbound US 131 when it happened.    The driver was arrested for operating under the influence of alcohol, having open intoxicants and driving on a restricted license.

BC Man’s Case to State High Court

The Michigan Supreme Court will hear the case of a Battle Creek man serving life in prison for the death of a 3-year-old girl.   Leo Ackley was convicted in the death of Baylee Stenman, but a Calhoun County judge granted a new trial, concluding his lawyer didn't do enough to find medical experts to testify in the case.

MSU Student Dies

East Lansingpolice are investigating the death of aMichiganStateUniversitystudent--the sixth to die since the school year began in August.  Police say 21-year-old Anthony Hawley's roomate found him unresponsive in a home on North Hagadorn Road.  The roommate started to perform CPR and called police, but Hawley was later pronounced dead at SparrowHospital.  Officers say there is no indication of foul play, but they do believe drugs played a contributing factor.

Kalamazoo Drug Bust

Kalamazoo Police arrested three people Saturday after finding marijuana and loaded handguns in their vehicle.  A tip led police to the 1200 block ofEast Mainon Saturday afternoon.  Officers smelled a strong smell of marijuana and saw marijuana in the vehicle and also found two loaded handguns.  Three Kalamazoo men in their 20’s face drug and weapons charges.

Lottery

Tuesday's Mega Millions jackpot will be worth $40 (m) million dollars.  There were no winning tickets in Friday's Classic Lotto drawing.  There were no winning tickets in Saturday's powerball drawing.  Wednesday's jackpot will be worth $317 (m) million dollars.