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JACKSON COUNTY, MI – Parking fines in the City of Jackson have been increased to help maintain meterless parking in the city. Here is that headline and some more you might have missed this week. Jackson City Council approves higher parking fines to keep downtown meterless The city of Jackson is increasing downtown parking fines and permit fees to help maintain meterless parking. During its Tuesday, Oct. 28 meeting, the Jackson City Council unanimously approved the changes, and voted 6-1 to approve the $238,375 assessment roll for downtown properties and businesses. Together, this will maintain free, two-hour parking for downtown visitors. This reflects the recommendation from the Jackson County Chamber of Commerce in June, which suggested higher fines, permits and a one-time business fee to address infrastructure funding needs. Guilty on all counts: man convicted in brutal stabbing death of Jackson man A man on trial accused of stabbing a man to death in his own home more than two years ago has been found guilty on all counts. After three hours of deliberation, jurors Thursday, Oct. 30, decided Joshua Keith Pirtle is guilty of first-degree premeditated murder. Pirtle, 33, was on trial for the death of Sebastian Igafo-Teo, 30, stabbed Oct. 25, 2023, in the 300 block of Randolph Street in Jackson. Sentencing is scheduled for Dec. 10 before Jackson County Circuit Judge Susan Jordan. First-degree murder carries a mandatory penalty of life in prison without the possibility of parole. Man accused of stabbing man 70 times in Jackson is on trial for murder A man accused of fatally stabbing a Jackson man in his own home, stealing his truck and leading police on a high-speed chase is on trial for murder. Trial proceedings began Monday, Oct. 27, in the case of Joshua Keith Pirtle, who is accused of fatally stabbing Sebastian Igafo-Teo more than two years ago. Pirtle, 33, is charged with open murder, car theft and third-degree fleeing and eluding police. He also faces two counts of assault with intent to murder. Witness details erratic behavior of murder suspect before fatal stabbing Joshua Keith Pirtle was acting erratic when he arrived - uninvited - at the home of Sebastian Igafo-Teo two years ago, testimony reveals. Igafo-Teo’s friend of more than seven years, Mathew Kush, testified before jurors Tuesday, Oct. 28. Pirtle attacked him and Igafo-Teo inside Igafo-Teo’s Jackson home after a confusing argument broke out and Igafo-Teo told Pirtle to leave. Leading up to the attack, Pirtle made strange accusations against the pair, Kush said. These included telling them they owned him $10,000, they were sleeping with his girlfriend, sexually abusing kids and something about making live videos, Kush said. Medical examiner details 73 stab wounds in Jackson murder trial testimony There is a chance Sebastian Igafo-Teo did not suffer long when he was repeatedly stabbed 73 times in his neck, face and head, a medical examiner said. Finding both his carotid and jugular arteries severed, Igafo-Teo likely would have passed out within 15-30 seconds, Medical Examiner Dr. Patrick Cho said testifying before jurors Wednesday, Oct. 29. Though those wounds would have killed him quickly, Cho could not state if those were the first or last wounds he suffered in the attack, adding he believed defensive wounds found on his hands were likely the first. ‘Sex and jealousy’ at center of Jackson murder case as jury begins deliberations The fate of a man accused of stabbing a man to death in his own home more than two years ago now rests in the hands of jurors. Following closing arguments, jurors entered deliberations Thursday, Oct. 30, in the case against Joshua Keith Pirtle. Pirtle, 33, is on trial for murder of Sebastian Igafo-Teo, 30, who was found stabbed to death on Oct. 25, 2023, inside his home in the 300 block of Randolph Street in Jackson. Police release names of mother, daughter killed in house fire near Jackson Police have released the names of a mother and daughter killed in a house fire early Sunday. Sandra M. Miracle, 76, and her daughter Susan M. Miracle, 50, died when their Napoleon Township home caught fire, Napoleon Township Police Chief Duaine Pittman said. The names were previously being withheld pending family notification, which has been challenging, Pittman said. Here is what’s on the Nov. 4 Election Day ballot in Jackson County Residents in Jackson County will cast their votes for the Tuesday, Nov. 4 election. Several tax proposals are on the ballot, including from Jackson Public Schools to improve school infrastructure, road maintenance in Summit Township and Vandercook Lake schools for several major capital improvements. City of Jackson voters living in Wards 1, 3 and 5 will also select who they’d like to represent them on City Council. Here’s a guide to contested races and ballot proposals for Jackson County. Jackson County trick-or-treat times 2025: When to go in your community It’s almost time to get dressed up with the family and venture out to neighborhoods for trick-or-treating. Halloween, Oct. 31, falls on Friday this year, and many communities are celebrating on that day. Here’s when you can trick-or-treat in your area. Jackson judge accused of misconduct admits to alcohol issues, comment about colleague’s breasts Jackson County Circuit Court Judge Thomas Wilson admitted, in a written response to misconduct allegations, to heavily consuming alcohol starting as early as 2013 and ending as late as 2021. He neither confirmed nor denied appearing in public, including at the courthouse, smelling of alcohol or intoxicated, according to the response, filed Oct. 22, to the Michigan Judicial Tenure Commission. In the response, Wilson admitted to some of the allegations, denied some and stated he did not recall the events of others. Van tips over after collision with truck on Springport Road near Jackson A crash involving a heavy-duty passenger van and a truck occurred Tuesday, Oct. 28 on Springport Road in front of North Pointe Apartments. The crash, about 3 p.m., caused the van to tip onto its side in the front yard of the apartment complex in Blackman Township. Blackman-Leoni Township Department of Public Safety and Jackson Community Ambulance responded shortly after the crash. Firefighters and police broke the van’s rear view window to allow several passengers to exit the vehicle. Two people were taken from the scene by ambulance on stretchers. Digital innovation hub opens at Jackson College with custom recording system Jackson College is celebrating the opening of two new technology-focused spaces designed to empower students and faculty with professional digital tools. The Jets Studio and Center for Innovation Sandbox, located in Bert Walker Hall on the Central Campus, will be unveiled during a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 5 p.m. Monday, Nov. 3, followed by tours of the facilities, according to a news release. Developed through the college’s Innovation 100 initiative, the new spaces address growing needs for accessible digital media production and collaborative learning environments. Jackson buys land for southside grocery store development for $90K The city of Jackson is another step closer to getting a grocery store on its south side. In a Tuesday, Oct. 28 meeting, the Jackson City Council unanimously voted to purchase 1.5 acres of land from Consumers Energy for $90,000 on the corner of Cooper and Biddle streets. It’s planned for the property to be combined with a city-owned lot, creating a 5.1-acre site for development. Since February, the city has been working to develop the land to bring access to fresh food and grocery to the area. Residents living on the southside and other neighborhoods of the city lack access to a major grocery store within city limits, affecting the residents’ quality of life. Want more Jackson-area news? Bookmark the local Jackson news page.
