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VOL. 133 NO. 5 THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 1 9 , 2024 http://www.thebattlecreekshopper.com

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BATTLE CREEK

SHOPPER NEWS

See KRAZY on 7

Dances, music, food and celebration were part of the Hispanic Heritage Month kickoff Fiesta

Saturday at Friendship Park in downtown Battle Creek. (Shopper News photo by Shelly Kehrle-

Sulser) See story on page 2

Battle Creek Fiesta

Resident Martin Spranger talks with

Bessie Ploeg with the City of Battle Creek

Department of Public Works environmental

division about his upcoming effort to

join the Oct. 5 Krazy for the Kazoo River

Cleanup project by joining other volunteers

in picking up litter under the Capital Ave.

SW boardwalk between Weeks and Golden

avenues. (Shopper News photo by Shelly Kehrle-Sulser)

Krazy for the Kazoo

Cleanup and Stewardship

Day is Saturday, Oct. 5

Battle Creek Police Chief

Shannon Bagley assumed the

role of interim director for both

city fire and police services on

Sept. 16.

The decision followed a thor-

ough department review that

determined a leadership change

was necessary to better align

with the city’s performance

goals and objectives.

“We thank Bill Beaty for

his service and contributions

to the department during his

tenure as fire chief,” said City

Manager Rebecca Fleury. “I’m

confident this change will lead

to new opportunities for growth

and professional development

within the department.”

The Battle Creek Fire

B.C. police chief named interim head of both fire, police services

Department has a workforce of 82

employees who service 44 square

miles and respond to more than

9,000 calls annually.

Bagley, who was appointed chief

See POLICE on 4

SHELLY KEHRTE-SULSER

Executive Editor

The City of Battle Creek and the Battle

Creek Area Clean Water Partners are host-

ing the 23rd annual Krazy for the Kazoo

River Cleanup and Stewardship Day on

Saturday, Oct. 5, from 8:30 until 11 a.m.

and volunteers are being south to help pull

it off, said Bessie Ploeg and Patty Hoch-

Melluish of the Department of Public