BAY CITY, MI — Here are a few headlines from Bay County last week that attracted reader interest.
Bay City man, 81, charged in crash that killed Saginaw musician while changing friend’s tire on I-75
An 81-year-old man has been criminally charged with causing the death of a Saginaw musician who was killed while changing a friend’s flat tire on Interstate 75.
Jose F. Gomez of Bay City on Tuesday, Sept. 16, appeared before Saginaw County District Judge Terry L. Clark for arraignment on one count of moving violation causing death. The charge is a misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in jail and a $2,000 fine.
Read more here.
SVSU students invited to explore downtown Bay City at Hell’s Half Mile event
Saginaw Valley State University students will have an opportunity to discover the attractions of downtown Bay City during a special event later this month.
Cardinals at Hell’s Half Mile will take place from 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 26, offering SVSU students a chance to experience local shops, restaurants and cultural venues in the waterfront community.
The placemaking initiative aims to connect college students with Bay County’s business district while providing free access to the Hell’s Half Mile Film Festival.
Read more here.
Great Lakes captain Jeff Letzkus to share maritime stories in Bay City
A veteran Great Lakes captain will share stories from his nearly three-decade career on the water during a free presentation this Saturday in Bay City.
Jeff Letzkus, who retired in April 2025 after 28 years as a merchant mariner, will present “Driving on the Great Lakes: Stories of a Local Captain” at Trinity Episcopal Church. The event, hosted by the Saginaw River Marine Historical Society, begins at 6:30 p.m. on September 20.
Letzkus spent 12 years as a captain and worked aboard numerous Great Lakes vessels including the Alpena, JAW Iglehart, Paul H. Townsend, Maumee, Calumet, and Manitowoc. He also served six years as a pilot on saltwater vessels.
Read more here.
Hello, Bay City: A behind-the-scenes look at MLive’s ‘love letter to Bay City’
A documentary chronicling one of Michigan’s most intense high school football rivalries will return to its hometown when “Rivalry: Battle of the Bay” screens at the Hell’s Half Mile Film Festival on Sept. 26.
The film, created by MLive’s video team nearly two years ago, captures the storied competition between Bay City Western and Bay City Central high schools.
“It’s definitely the biggest video project we’ve ever done,” said MLive video producer Lori Chapman, who is based in Ypsilanti but works with MLive’s statewide video team. “It’s almost like our love letter to Bay City.”
Read more here.
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