Hello, Ann Arbor: An intolerable gun range, football controversy and sad business news - mlive.com

Nov 08, 2024

From left, Courtney Robbins and her parents John and Eileen Cosner discuss the sounds of gunfire coming from a training facility for the FBI and other law enforcement located near their August Township home, Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2024.Jennifer Eberbach/MLive

Occasionally and increasingly this time of the year, a nut falls on my shingled roof or, worse, on the metal shelter covering the wood stack near the house.

The sound, a loud ping, always startles me.

There is the combine too I can sometimes hear motoring through the back field, and hundreds of birds and squirrels peeping and squeaking through the trees.

But usually when I work at home - with my noisy trio of offspring sent to elementary school - it is quiet. So quiet.

Nice for person whose mind has tendency to leap about. Put my notebook and laptop in Augusta Township near Milan, and it could be far more difficult to focus.

“Sometimes it goes on for hours,” resident Eileen Cosner said. “There are days it’s just so hard. I can’t concentrate on anything else."

An FBI shooting range neighbors Cosner’s property, in the family for generations, and the persistent noise is intolerable, she told Reporter Jen Eberbach.

It is distracting and confusing to her grandchildren who live next door. Her 4-year-old grandson wonders about weapon-firing “bad guys.”

But relief does not appear imminent. Washington is not hearing the community’s pleas and Milan, which owns the land, would need federal funding for a sound barrier, reports Eberbach, who contacted the mayor.

And in Saline, more displeased residents.

Saline Area Schools administrators are exploring an appeal to a recent ruling resulting in the forfeiture of its first three regular-season games because of an alleged residency violation of one player.

The district self-reported the issue, and football families are not happy.

“What was this alleged violation? What steps were taken before self-reporting? Why such swift acceptance of a penalty?” one football mother asked at a special school board meeting.

You can understand the frustration, or disappointment. Prior to the forfeitures, Saline was 5-0 and ranked No. 4 in Division 1 by The Associated Press. Now, they are 2-3, reports Jackie Smith with help from our esteemed Ann Arbor sports reporter Greg Wickliffe, busy every Friday night in the fall.

Now to business news.

Ron Jeffries, who founded with his wife Laurie Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales in 2004 in Dexter, died recently, his son confirmed in a Sept. 30 social media post.

Longtime friend and business partner Tony Grant said Jeffries was “a Renaissance man” who was “wicked smart,” Eberbach writes.

Crafting sour beers was his niche.

Before his death, Ron and Laurie Jeffries had moved to Hawaii and worked on a brewery there, fulfilling a lifelong dream.

A few blocks from the Jolly Pumpkin’s Ann Arbor location, Haymaker Public House, 203 E. Washington St., abruptly closed, Jordyn Pair reports.

The restaurant, known for elevated bar food, first opened as Curtain Call in 2016.

The restaurant staff did not make clear the reason for the closure; Reporter Makayla Coffee was working to learn more.

I will highlight one final, fun story as Oct. 31 nears: 5 great Halloween attractions to check out this spooky season.

A “Night Terrors” theme at Wiard’s Orchard might not be my little family’s thing - I am not interested in dealing with child nightmares, but we certainly enjoy some harvest fun.

Go ahead and pour the cider!

Here are some other stories from in and around Ann Arbor this week:

Our latest election coverage less than a month from Nov. 5, click here.

After years of complaints, Ann Arbor to address dangerous sidewalk steps

Ypsilanti teacher surprised with $50K check in front of his students

Ann Arbor aims to shift public safety millage funds to unarmed alternatives to police

Weigh in on U.S. 23 improvement project during Ann Arbor open house

These 2 Michigan universities rank in the top-125 in the world, global ranking says

‘Right to sit’ law to protect Ann Arbor workers advances in 11-0 vote

11 shots fired, assault-style rifle used in shooting that killed football coach

Vandals tag University of Michigan president’s home 1 year after Oct. 7 Hamas attack

From housing affordability to power grid, see how Ann Arbor residents rate city

Multiple false threats prompt talks between Ypsilanti schools, parents, police chief

Increasing demand prompts Ypsilanti schools to expand Spanish immersion program

Parents, alumni pushback on plans for new Ann Arbor school encroaching on nature area

Former Ypsilanti union president embezzled thousands for rental cars, shoes

About “Hello, Ann Arbor”: Each week, we deliver the big headlines straight to your inbox. “Hello, Ann Arbor” has also won awards from both the Michigan Press Association and the Associated Press for best column. Sign up here for the newsletter.

Danielle Salisbury is editor of MLive/The Ann Arbor News. She was a public safety reporter in Jackson for more than 11 years and a health reporter on MLive’s statewide team for a couple more. She was promoted to editor in 2024, and has a husband, two sons and a daughter. She can be reached at [email protected].

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