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He was handsome, popular, and lived the perfect fraternity life in Ann Arbor. But behind John Norman Collins’s all-American image lurked one of Michigan’s darkest secrets.

In the late 1960s, a series of brutal murders terrorized the college towns of Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti. Seven young women—mostly students—were abducted, raped, and murdered. The media called the killer “The Michigan Murderer.”

In this Radio Free Flint episode, Arthur Busch interviews Gregory Fournier, author of Terror in Ypsilanti: John Norman Collins Unmasked. Fournier recounts how Collins became the prime suspect, how his crimes shattered the sense of safety near two major universities, and why prosecutors charged him with only one of the seven killings.

Collins was ultimately convicted of the murder of Karen Sue Beineman, an 18-year-old Eastern Michigan University student. He received a mandatory life sentence, and his conviction was upheld on appeal. But many still ask: Why were the other murder cases never prosecuted?

Fournier shares his extensive research into the evidence, police investigation, and unanswered questions that continue to haunt Michigan’s true-crime history.

• Fournier shares his extensive findings about these murders in our interview. The book "Terror in Ypsilanti: John Norman Collins Unmasked" is available at bookstores. 
• Fournier, a Detroit native, is one of America's premier true crime authors. He has written several other books, including about Detroit's Purple Gang.

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Obtain a copy of the book "Terror in Ypsilanti: John Norman Collins Unmasked" by visiting your local bookstore or Amazon Books. To learn more about Gregory Fournier and other published true crime books, visit the Author's Website.
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#RadioFreeFlint #JohnNormanCollins #MichiganMurderer #TerrorInYpsilanti #GregoryFournier #TrueCrimePodcast #MichiganHistory #AnnArbor #Ypsilanti #SerialKillerStories #FlintMichigan #ArthurBusch

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Few Flint residents know that one of the city’s most beloved traditions began with immigrants from a tiny mountain village in North Macedonia.

In this episode of Radio Free Flint, host Arthur Busch welcomes Karen Paul Holmes, daughter of Carl Paul, co-founder of Angelo’s Coney Island—the restaurant that helped define Flint’s working-class culture for decades.

Carl Paul came to America through Ellis Island from Bouf, Macedonia, near the border with Greece. Alongside his partner Angelo Nikoloff, he built a local landmark where factory workers, families, and students gathered for the now-legendary Flint-style Coney dog.

Karen reflects on her family’s journey—from her father’s long days behind the grill to her teenage summers waitressing at Angelo’s. Through her poetry, she brings to life the spirit of perseverance, gratitude, and belonging that defines the immigrant story.

She reads three deeply personal poems:

• A warm portrait of her father returning home after long days at the restaurant
• A tribute to his departure from Bouf, Macedonia, in search of the American dream
• A lyrical meditation on Michigan’s lakes, cherry trees, and her father’s love for his adopted home

Karen’s second poetry collection, No Such Thing as Distance (Terrapin Books, 2018), even includes a near-recipe for Flint-style Coney sauce. Her poems have been read by Garrison Keillor on The Writer’s Almanac and by former U.S. Poet Laureate Tracy K. Smith on The Slowdown podcast.

Her debut book, Untying the Knot (Aldrich Press, 2014), explores loss, love, and healing. Holmes’s work appears in over 100 literary journals and anthologies, and she was named Best Emerging Poet by Stay Thirsty Media.

🎧 Listen now to explore Flint’s immigrant heritage, the poetry of place, and the story of how a humble Coney Island became part of Michigan’s cultural DNA.

🔗 Links & References

• Karen Paul Holmes — Official Website
  
  
• No Such Thing as Distance — Terrapin Books
  
  
• The Writer’s Almanac — Episode Archive
  
  
• The Slowdown Podcast — Episode featuring Karen Paul Holmes
  
  
• Radio Free Flint — More Episodes

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 What’s a “Snowbird,” really—and why do millions of Americans and Canadians head south every winter? In this video essay, Arthur Busch—former Genesee County Prosecutor and host of Radio Free Flint—shares why he became a Snowbird and what the lifestyle reveals about working-class culture from the Rust Belt to the Sunbelt. From union paychecks and shift work to HOA meetings and pickleball courts, the Snowbird migration isn’t just about sunshine—it’s about identity, mobility, and the American promise of a little comfort after forty years on the line. Arthur explores the joys, trade-offs, and quiet contradictions: community vs. roots, leisure vs. purpose, and the feeling of leaving family to chase better weather. Is this seasonal move a luxury, a necessity, or a new stage of American life? Let’s talk about the ducks, the geese—and us. 

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Good school districts are more than a function of how much money they collect from taxpayers.  Schools must connect with the community where they are located in ways that go beyond math, science and reading.  

Flint, Michigan at one time was the envy of America. Flint leaders developed and funded the concept of the Community Schools Program.  The Flint School District and its Community Schools Model drew people from across the nation and the world to study the educational model. The concept was replicated in thousands of school districts in the United States and abroad.  

The product of that district's efforts were after-school programs that enriched the community and provided learning experiences for the whole family after school was in recess.

Skip Harbin, a life long native of Flint, as well as a former teacher, school administrator and school board member shares with us the "golden years" of the Flint Community Schools.  Skip provides context and insight to the devolution of on of America's great industrial towns.  He discusses the effects of economic changes that resulted from GM's globalization, the breakdown of family structure and the growth of Charter and private schools.  

This interview is part of a series of personal histories that showcase the people of Flint, Michigan.  They provide a tapestry from which to view the dramatic economic and social change that has come to the heartland of America.---

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Our guest is musician Howard Ryan, a native of Wisconsin who now lives in San Francisco, California. Ryan, also known as Hauras composed a song, "Flint, Michigan," intending to make a social statement about the problems of the beleaguered rust belt city. 

Ryan is a musician and composer who is known for his work in the drone music genre. He has released several albums and EPs that showcase his unique style of electronic music, which often incorporates elements of experimental and ambient sounds. Ryan is known for his ability to create immersive and atmospheric soundscapes that draw the listener in and transport them to another world. In addition to his solo work, Ryan has collaborated with other artists in the drone music scene and has performed at various music festivals worldwide.

Drone music is a subgenre of electronic music characterized by its slow, repetitive rhythms and sustained tones. It often uses synthesizers and electronic instrumentation to create a meditative and ambient soundscape.

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Please visit Band Camp to download a copy of the song Flint, Michigan, or the album In these Coming Days by Hauras.  To obtain other works of music by Hauras and Howard Ryan, please visit the Helen Scarsdale Agency website.

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Our podcast guest is Daniel Moilanen, a Fenton area native now living in Flint.

 Dan is currently the Executive Director of the Michigan Association of Conservation Districts (MACD). His leadership in this organization brings conservation-minded farmers together to reduce toxic algal blooms in the Great Lakes by encouraging environmentally sound agricultural techniques.   

The Michigan soil conservation districts have been working to modernize farming practices to protect Lake Erie and its surrounding ecosystems. One key aspect of this effort has been implementing precision agriculture techniques, which involve using advanced technology to monitor and optimize crop production in real time.

One example is GPS-guided machinery, which allows farmers to precisely target inputs such as fertilizers and pesticides, reducing the risk of over-application and runoff into the lake. Additionally, the districts have been promoting the use of cover crops and conservation tillage methods, which help to improve soil health and reduce erosion.

Another important aspect of this effort has been the development of nutrient management plans, which help farmers to optimize the use of fertilizers and minimize the risk of excess nutrients entering the lake. These plans involve working with experts to identify the most effective and environmentally friendly fertilization practices for specific crops and soil types.

Overall, these efforts have helped to improve the sustainability of farming in Michigan and protect the health of Lake Erie while also supporting the economic viability of the state's agriculture industry.

Dan is a graduate of Albion College. Recently, the Flint-Genesee Chamber of Commerce selected Moilenan as one of 40 Under 40 distinguished young community leaders.

Dan Moilanen has a wealth of experience in small business ownership, community service, and political engagement. He is the founder and former owner of Vehicle City Tacos, a popular downtown Flint food truck. His community and political involvement include serving as leader of the Genesee County Democratic Party and the Genesee County Young Democrats.

Dan is with us to discuss Michigan environmental issues like soil conservation and better and less harmful agricultural practices that help keep our water resources and wetlands free of harmful pollutants. Michigan is the second largest producer of agricultural commodities in the United States. Outmoded farming practices in Michigan threaten to deplete its rich soil over the next 60 years. 

In recent years Dan has continued his interest in music by performing with a SKA Punk Band in the Flint area.  We are sure you will find our guest fun and exciting and learn how important it is to protect our food and water resources through conservation.

Visit the Genesee County Conservation District website to learn more about Flint area programs and projects.  

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Fixing aging roads and bridges in cities like Flint, Michigan, needs creative solutions for its hollowed-out city with blocks and blocks of vacant homes. While a vacant house can be torn down, the near-bankrupt municipality must maintain the aging paved roads in front of those houses. Is the answer to downsizing or shrinking the city? How difficult is that to do?   Get some answers to these questions and others.

Please share your thoughts with us by email or voice message.

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Midnight in Vehicle City by author Edward McClelland is a book that tells the story of Flint, Michigan, during the Great Recession and the struggles of its residents as they try to survive in a city that has been hit hard by the economic downturn. The story centers around autoworkers struggling to make ends meet and their challenges of working for General Motors Corporation in the 1930s. Those challenges included poor pay and working conditions.

The author does an excellent job of capturing the mood and atmosphere of Flint during this time, and the characters are well-developed and believable. The book is also well-researched and provides a lot of insight into the history and culture of Flint and the larger economic and political forces that have shaped the city.

Overall, Midnight in the Vehicle City is a compelling and poignant read that provides a unique perspective on the struggles of ordinary people in an extraordinary time. It is a powerful reminder of the resilience and determination of the human spirit. It is highly recommended for anyone interested in social and economic issues or the history of the Rust Belt.

Listen to a clip of a stirring archival speech by the late Walter P. Ruether, former President of the United Automobile Workers Union. Ruether's words hit a note, given today's struggle to protect democracy.

The conversation examines the impact the strike made on the culture of Flint, Michigan, and its people. Does the intensive local activism of 1937 that spurred the birth of the UAW still exist today in Flint?

Now that the 1937 sit-down strikers are gone, why does the labor movement still celebrate this strike? What did this historical confrontation between the UAW and General Motors accomplish? Did the famous strike help build the American middle class?

Please visit the author's website if you want more information about author Edward McClelland and to purchase his book Midnight in the Vehicle City or any of his other books.

• Watch Video: Babies and Banners: Story of the Women's Emergency Brigade (1979). Oscar-nominated documentary about the women who battled the police to help and support their striking husbands inside the GM auto factories of Flint, Michigan.
• Watch Video: The Flint Sit-Down Strike and White Shirt Day. A video about the history of the historic strike. The UAW produced it.

The song "1937" in the podcast introduction and outro was written by David O. Norris and Dan Hall and performed by Dan Hall and a local choir of UAW members.   Many thanks to them and UAW Region 1-D for their assistance in producing this song.

The historical photographs included on the Radio Free Flint episodes page are courtesy of the Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division, FSA/OWI Collection, [reproduction number, e.g., LC-USF34-9058-C]

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Musician George Winters has performed for audiences for over 50 years across America.  The Michigan native is well-known in music venues in southeastern Michigan for his fabulous keyboard skills, especially on a Hammond organ.  George plays the keyboard, guitar, and harmonica and also sings. 

This podcast includes a conversation with George Winters about his long career and several unreleased tracks that include his distinctive mellow jazz and upbeat popular music.  Winters shares his story about how his music career started and grew in and around Flint and Detroit, Michigan.  In this podcast interview, he talks about how the troubles of the automobile industry affected the life of local musicians in Michigan.  

The son of a Hammond B3 organ salesman, George got his musical start very early in life in Flushing, Michigan. He entertained the audience during local theater intermission as a child by playing the organ.

George shares stories about his interactions with former Detroit Tiger star pitcher Dennis McClain, who also was an organist.  Winters tells of his amusing experience delivering a Hammond B3 organ to the home of Mark Farner of the Rock Band Grand Funk Railroad.    

In recent years he has toured the country in clubs that host dueling pianos. 

George has produced five compact disc recordings. The first, entitled "The Seed" was completed in 1994 and was recorded in less than two hours. "The Seed" was picked up by major retailers in Michigan, including Harmony House, prompting some local success. George's second effort, "Rhythm," released in 1998, comprises mostly original music with instrumentation including the Hammond B3, drums, bass, guitar, and piano.

His love of the dueling pianos concept also began in 1998 at JD's Key Club in Pontiac, MI, and continues to this day. You can see George at select Dueling Pianos clubs - click on "show dates" on his web page for a complete schedule.

With the release of his fifth CD, "Back to the B3" George hopes to put his music into more hands than ever, using the internet medium to deliver his creations. "Back to the B3" will be available soon from online retailers such as iTunes, or you can order directly from this website.

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This is a conversation with Sarah Carson about her book of poems, How to Baptize a Child, in Flint, MI. Carson's poems are a jarring portrayal of life in a declining, once mighty, and still proud American rustbelt town, Flint, Michigan. 
 
"How to Baptize a Child in Flint, Michigan" is a heartwarming and thought-provoking exploration of faith, family, and community in the midst of challenging circumstances.

The book tells the story of a young mother, Sarah, who is struggling to raise her child in the midst of the Flint water crisis. As she navigates the complexities of living in a city with contaminated water, Sarah turns to her faith as a source of hope and strength.

One of the book's most powerful aspects is how Carson portrays Sarah's faith as an active and essential part of her life. She doesn't shy away from the challenges of raising a child in a difficult environment but instead leans into her faith as a source of resilience and strength. This is particularly poignant as Sarah grapples with the decision of whether or not to baptize her child in the midst of such uncertain and tumultuous times.

Ultimately, "How to Baptize a Child in Flint, Michigan" is a profoundly moving and thought-provoking exploration of faith, family, and community in the face of difficult circumstances. Carson's writing is engaging and heartfelt, and her portrayal of Sarah's journey is inspiring and relatable. This is a must-read for anyone interested in exploring the role of faith in times of crisis.

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This book won the 2022 Lexi Rudnitsky Editors Choice Award, a poetry collection that portrays quintessentially American struggles and hopes.
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Carson peeks inside the windows of Flint's working class with a searing indictment of a society responsible for the ghastly moral failures resulting in massive unemployment and poisoned water. 

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Sarah Carson was born in Flint, Michigan. She now lives in East Lansing, Michigan, with her daughter and two dogs, who make a guest appearance on the podcast. After college, she spent ten years working with literary organizations in Chicago, including the Poetry Foundation and Switchback Books. 

Sarah is the author of two prose poetry collections, Buick City (Mayapple Press, 2015) and Poems in which You Die (BatCat Press), as well as the forthcoming How to Baptize a Child in Flint, Michigan (Persea Books, Nov 1, 2022). Her poetry and other writing have appeared in Diagram, Brevity, Guernica, the Minnesota Review, and others. You can read more of her work at stuffsarahwrote.com

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This book of poetry is available at the following retailers:

• Amazon Books
• Persea Books
• Barnes and Noble Books

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