The following headlines are from March 1919 in The Monroe Evening News of Monroe, Michigan. The stories related included a destructive windstorm in early 1919 in which trees and buildings - including a school in Newport - were badly damaged and train transportation was delayed for hours. There were no serious injuries or fatalities. You'll also hear one of the early stories of Monroe Auto Equipment Manufacturing company; the first woman in Monroe County to be named a law enforcement officer; and a reminder that men are not to assist women in marking ballots at the polls. This is part of our "100 Years Ago" feature that is published monthly in The Monroe News. Narration and audio production by Paula Wethington.

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles is investing $4.5 billion in existing Michigan plants, including a $119 million earmarked for the Dundee Engine Plant.

The automaker made that announcement Tuesday, with the moves intended to increase capacity to meet growing demand for its Jeep and Ram brands. The proposed projects would create nearly 6,500 jobs across the state.

“We are excited Chrysler will be expanding its operation in Dundee,” Uhl said.  “This is fantastic news not only for the Village of Dundee but for Monroe County.  We are looking forward to our continued partnership with Chrysler.”

Modern technology, including improvements in DNA evidence, has helped  investigators solve several cold cases involving victims whose bodies were found in the Monroe County, Michigan, area. The most recently solved case is that of Delores Griffin of Illinois, whose body was dumped at Sterling State Park in 1975. You can read Delores' story at https://www.monroenews.com/news/20190214/puzzling-loss-cold-case-solved-after-43-years. This audio production is by Paula Wethington of the Monroe News.

The following headlines are part of the "100 Years Ago in the Newspaper" feature that runs monthly in The Monroe News. The headlines are from The Monroe Evening News of February 1919 and include an automotive company making a pitch to come to Monroe, an inspection of the Monroe County Jail, a Dollar Days sale, and an arrest of a man who smuggled whiskey in milk cans. Audio production by Paula Wethington / Monroe News.

Jeanette McDonald, housing counselor and financial coach with Habitat for Humanity of Monroe County, talks with Paula Wethington of The Monroe News about the 2019 Show Me the Money Day. The event takes place from 4 to 7 p.m. Jan 31 at the La-Z-Boy Center at Monroe County Community College, 1555 S. Raisinville Rd., Monroe, Michigan.

Did you know President Theodore Roosevelt had visited Monroe, Michigan, in 1896, when he was still a New York City police commissioner? As a result, there was a reception in his honor in the city when he died in January 1919. Other headlines from the time, as found in The Monroe Evening News, include porkless Saturday added to the meatless and wheatless days requested by federal officials; progress continuing on plans for Monroe's first city hospital; and snowdrifts as high as 20 feet that stranded some truck drivers arriving from Detroit. This podcast is based on the "100 Years Ago" column that appears monthly in The Monroe News; audio production by Paula Wethington of The Monroe News.

The Monroe News is presenting sponsor of Christmas Magic in Monroe - Parade and Winter Wonderland. In this interview, Vince Bodiford, president and publisher of The Monroe News, talks about how the event came together in 2017 and what visitors can look forward to in 2018.

You'll find all the details at www.christmasmagicinmonroe.com

#MagicInMonroe

You're listening to headlines from Monroe, Michigan, as published in December 1918 in The Monroe Evening News. "100 Years Ago" is a monthly feature in The Monroe News in print, online and in podcast format.

Production by Paula Wethington / Monroe News

Ralph Mahalak Jr. has been named Grand Marshal of the 2018 Christmas Magic in Monroe - Parade and Winter Wonderland, which takes place Dec. 15 in and around Loranger Square in historic downtown Monroe. You'll find all the event details at www.christmasmagicinmonroe.com.

In this Christmas-themed interview with Monroe News reporter Paula Wethington, Mahalak shares memories of singing carols with his grandmother, ponders which Christmas story character is "the most villiany," and gives heartfelt holiday wishes to everyone in Monroe - especially who are going through tough times.

You'll find the news story about the Grand Marshal appointment in the Nov. 21 edition of The Monroe News and at www.monroenews.com.

"100 years ago" is a feature that runs monthly in The Monroe News of Monroe, Michigan. The headlines for this episode feature the end of World War I, and how residents of the City of Monroe, Michigan, responded to the news. There were two special editions of The Monroe Evening News during that week in response to the news bulletins. The Monroe News traces its history back to 1825; and was known as The Monroe Evening News for several decades. Audio production by Paula Wethington / Monroe News.