The 5 Biggest Battle Creek Stories of 2017

The B. Carol Hinton Park in Springfield has long been important to residents in the area, as it was the only park around for some distance.

Unfortunately, it was burnt down in June.

In March, a car crashed into the Battle Creek River and stayed undiscovered for some time, before it was eventually recovered; however, the driver's body was still missing.

Eventually, the body of 31-year-old Cortez Lewis of Detroit was discovered.

It's unfortunate that just a few days after Cortez Lewis' vehicle entered the river, a second car crashed in the same spot, and in this case two men died. A vehicle had crashed in that area in November 2016 as well, but in that case the driver was rescued.

At the time, the Battle Creek Police Department said that they would be investigating what makes that intersection so dangerous.

Robert Barosso was found in early January 2017, and police determined that he had been killed by his best friend Stephen Getter.

Getter insisted that his actions were in self-defense, after the pair had agreed to fight over a woman. He was sentenced to life in prison without parole, on a charge of first degree murder.

In May, police say that 63-year-old Frank Zanetti had been helpings customers at his business, Battle Creek Tile & Mosaic Co. in Urbandale, when a man entered and fatally shot him.

Frank's cousin Brian Zanetti was later arrested in connection to the murder, although the Battle Creek Enquirer says that he was found incompetent to stand trial in September.

Frankie Zanetti was known for donating his time and resources to various causes, including the Food Bank, Binder Park Zoo, and St. Jerome Catholic Church.