Good morning, Bay City.

Menards is hosting a food drive to support local food pantries this month — visitors may donate nonperishable items at large collection boxes near store exits.

The drive runs from Oct. 1 until Oct. 31.

Our Lady of Peace Parish will host a Blessing of the Animals in its church garden at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Oct.

6 to honor St. Francis of Assisi, and all pets are welcome at the event.

Bangor Township hosts a volunteer cleanup at the pet cemetery on Oct.

17. Volunteers start with a free breakfast from 8 to 9 a.m. at Castaways, 3940 Boy Scout Road, then meet 9 a.m. at 3301 Two Mile Road; participants must provide their own equipment.

Dairy Queen Grill & Chill is set to open Monday, Oct.

5 in front of the Meijer store on Tittabawassee near Bay Road. The new 2,747 sqft location will serve customers from 10:30 a.m. to midnight along a busy commercial corridor.

Consumers Energy plans to build a $1.1 billion natural gas power plant in Hampton Township to help meet growing electricity demand for nearly 2 million customers.

The project will require regulatory approval by Sept. 2027 and is expected to create over 330 union jobs during construction.

The Bay Area Community Foundation has announced a Career & Technical Scholarship Program that offers up to $2,000 for one-year training in high-demand fields such as truck driving, CNA, cosmetology and phlebotomy.

Applicants 18+ in Bay City can apply now via the online portal and partner programs.

Bangor Township Schools will receive $30,000 from the Rollin M.

Gerstacker Foundation to boost the band program by purchasing new instruments and easing financial barriers for students.

Thomas Pyrett, 67, claimed a $250,000 Powerball prize after his winning ticket—with a Power Play—boosted his win from the Sept.

23 drawing, and he plans to pay off his house and save the remainder. The ticket was bought at the Shell Gas Station on Woodruff Road in Weidman.

The Coast Guard said its station on the Saginaw River will return to full operations in 2027—a change expected to boost water safety and reduce Bay County search and rescue duties caused by earlier staffing cuts.

Sheriff Troy Cunningham welcomed the update.

The Coast Guard will restore full operations at its Saginaw River station in 2027 after two years of reduced staffing, and Rep. Kristen McDonald Rivet said she pressed for full coverage to improve ice & water rescue response on Saginaw Bay.

Senior linebacker Grant Bennett recorded eight tackles and scored a touchdown in Frankenmuth’s 42-7 Week 5 win over Freeland to earn Saginaw Area Athlete of the Week.

The Eagles will face Romulus Summit Academy North in a nonconference game on Friday.

Tonight, local high schools take the field for Week 6 football — Bay City Academy will host Bay City All Saints in a first-ever matchup while Bay City Central holds a homecoming game against Saginaw United at Engel Stadium.