Tim McAllister is a Staff Writer at Interlochen Public Radio. He focuses on a diverse range of topics including construction and real estate, education systems, and public security, often exploring the intersections of these areas with regional interest and world news. Tim's work has been featured in notable publications such as Interlochen Center For The Arts, Frontiers, and The Daily News (Greenville, Mich.).
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Ionia, United States (Local)
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Tim’s coverage is heavily focused on local news, including government and politics, education, and community events in Ionia County. He tends to cover a wide range of local topics such as city council meetings, educational initiatives, and community events.
Given this focus, Tim would likely be most responsive to pitches related to significant local developments or impactful community events within Ionia County. Pitches featuring human-interest stories about residents making a difference in the community may also resonate with his coverage style.
As he focuses primarily on the local area of Ionia County and Michigan at large, outreach should highlight how the pitch relates specifically to these geographic areas. Offering unique access or insights into local government processes or notable individuals within the county could increase the likelihood of engagement with him.
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By: Tim McAllister
The Ionia Community Library plans to install a permanent story walk downtown near the new Steele Street Park after receiving an $8,000 Slice of Literacy grant from the Pizza Hut Foundation's Book It reading program. The grant will fund Trail Tales, an outdoor reading space that transforms a sidewalk into a self-guided story by mounting pages from a picture book in display cases along the route.
By: Tim McAllister
On Nov. 3, two candidates are vying for the position of Ionia Township treasurer. The incumbent treasurer is Mackenzie Waters, 31, a lifelong township resident who is running as a Republican. Waters was named deputy clerk four years ago and appointed treasurer in July 2025 after the resignation of former township treasurer Marilyn Harp, who pleaded guilty in August to more than $700,000 worth of bank fraud from 2014 to 2025.
By: Tim McAllister
During public comment at Wednesday's Ionia City Council meeting, two residents asked council members to reconsider the ban on raising chickens within city limits. Samantha Hanson, who lives on Crawford Street, asked the council to review its domestic fowl ordinance.
After a public hearing Wednesday, a homeowner's residential rezoning request was approved by the city's Planning Commission and will head to the Ionia City Council for final consideration. Homeowner Kylee Morris and her mother Dendee Morris appeared at this week's regular meeting to request that the home Kylee recently purchased be rezoned from “B1” (neighborhood business district) to “LDR” (low-density residential).
By: Tim McAllister
School buildings around the Ionia Public Schools (IPS) district will be more secure after a $2.1 million security improvement project was approved by the school board Monday evening. “Right now, in all of our schools, if the wrong person is let in, they have free rein and access to all hallways, and classrooms in every building,” said Superintendent Benjamin Gurk.
By: Tim McAllister
Discussion of a failed recall effort dominated public comment at the Oct. 13 meeting of the Otisco Township Board. The ongoing controversy within the township dates back to the 2024 election, when voters elected trustees Stephanie Wireman and Joe Borek over fellow candidates James Conley, Jeff Hunter and Sonya Jakeway.
By: Tim McAllister
The Belding City Council approved a request Tuesday from the Denny Craycraft Veterans Freedom Park Committee to install banners on city-owned light poles around town honoring local military veterans. Holly Noble, vice president of the committee, asked the council to reserve an estimated “200-and-some” light poles for the banners annually during May, July and November.
A dispute playing out in a Belding Facebook group made its way into City Hall on Tuesday, as residents and council members voiced concerns about hostility, personal attacks and the effect of online arguments on the community. Mayor Bonita Steele recently posted on her personal Facebook page that she decided to leave the “Positively Belding Un-censored” Facebook group after a fellow council member challenged her on why she remained with the group while disagreeing with the behavior taking place online.
IONIA — More than $2.6 million in state grants will help Ionia transform a former downtown bank into a new community library and expand public transportation services, including rides to medical appointments outside of Ionia County.
By: Tim McAllister
The featured speaker at this month's Ionia County Connect meeting was a representative from a state agency that assists individuals with disabilities in locating and retaining employment. Sharlene Organ is a business rehabilitation consultant with Michigan Rehabilitation Services (MRS), where she has worked for more than 20 years in Region 4, which includes Ionia, Kent, Barry, Ottawa, Mecosta and Muskegon counties.
