With Monday marking the official start of fall, I figured it was high time we fully leaned into everything the season has to offer.

While for most, that means the classics we’ve already covered, like leaf peeping and fall festivals, I’ve always gotten more excited about the spookier aspects of fall.

So, in that spirit, ’Gander’s Sophie Boudreau brings us a look at seven haunted cemeteries in Michigan that you can visit.

Plus: For the lovers of classic fall activities, a guide to apple picking in the state.

ID program for the formerly incarcerated expands (WKAR): Michigan is expanding a program that helps people leaving jail get driver’s licenses or state IDs. Wayne County is the latest to host mobile Secretary of State offices, which officials say are key for housing, jobs, education, and restoring voting rights once people are eligible.

New bill could charge some protesters with crimes (MLive): The Michigan House approved a bill to make blocking traffic during a protest a misdemeanor punishable by jail time and fines, replacing the current $100 civil infraction. Supporters say it’s about public safety, while opponents argue it threatens free speech and could chill lawful protests. It now moves to the Democrat-controlled Senate.

2,000 lbs. of drugs seized before entering Canada (Detroit News): Authorities seized more than 1,000 pounds of cocaine and nearly 1,000 pounds of meth in two separate busts at Michigan’s Ambassador and Blue Water bridges last week. Both truck drivers were arrested, and officials say the cases highlight ongoing efforts to stop large drug shipments along the US-Canada border.

Gear up for ghostly adventures when you visit the most haunted cemeteries in Michigan.
 (Nick Fewings/Unsplash)

By Sophie Boudreau

Whether or not you believe in paranormal activity, this time of year offers a perfect opportunity to engage with local lore and indulge in a healthy dose of curiosity about the oft-referenced “spirit world.” One way to get in touch with your witchier side is by visiting cemeteries in Michigan where ghosts and spirits are said to linger—or, at the very least, where infamous figures are buried.

To help welcome the most mysterious season of them all, we’ve compiled a list of seven (supposedly) haunted cemeteries in Michigan. Of course, when you check out these unique resting places, you should always show respect for the people buried and their families.

Without further a-boo, here are seven Michigan cemeteries where you might just find yourself face-to-face with a ghost.

1. Pere Cheney Cemetery

At first glance, Pere Cheney Cemetery might not strike you as particularly scary. In fact, the cemetery grounds are largely green space with the occasional shade tree nestled among tombstones. However, when combined with local legends and historical information, the vibe at Pere Cheney Cemetery grows a bit darker. Pere Cheney itself is a bona fide Michigan ghost town, mostly abandoned by 1912 after its once-bustling lumber industry slowed and diphtheria killed many residents.

Local lore holds that the diphtheria outbreak was caused by a wronged witch who was banished to the woods (or hanged from a tree, according to other accounts). Today, visitors to the cemetery report seeing the witch herself—or simply feeling her ghostly presence. Are you brave enough to check it out for yourself?

2. Findlay Cemetery

While we’re on the topic of witches, here’s one many Michiganders might not have heard of: The Ada Witch, who’s said to haunt the small community of Ada. Legend has it that a local woman, Sarah McMillan, was caught by her husband engaging in an affair. In a rage, Sarah’s husband killed her (and, some say, her lover). Today, Findlay Cemetery in Ada is said to be Sarah’s haunting grounds, where she wanders and laments her untimely death.

Of course, local historians point to a much more benign story: A real woman named Sarah McMillan did die in Ada around 1870, but her cause of death was the far less sensational typhoid fever—and there was no secret lover to speak of. Still, we think the supernatural angle is a lot more thrilling.

We’ve got the when and where to go for all your apple picking in Michigan fall fun needs, so bring on the apple cider! (Natalie Grainger/Unsplash)

By Chaunie Brusie

If you’ve been waiting for fall to officially hit in Michigan to go apple picking, there is no need, because apple season in the Mitten State actually starts in August. Who knew, right?

But then again, this is Michigan we are talking about, and those of us proud to call this state home know that sometimes, there is no rhyme or reason to the fickle changes of the seasons here, so I say if the apples are ready, it’s time to get picking! As the second-largest apple-producing state in the entire nation, it’s pretty much your inherent duty to pick apples if you live in Michigan.

Here’s a closer look at everything you need to know about picking apples in Michigan, along with what variety of apples you can find in the state, where the best U-pick apple farms are, and when to pick for maximum freshness.

Across the country, the future of local news is uncertain. But here at The ’Gander, we’re staying focused—on you.

Our goal for our fall fundraising campaign is to raise $3,200 by Sept. 30 to keep this kind of coverage strong in Michigan.

If you’ve ever read one of our stories and thought, “I wouldn’t have known this otherwise,” we hope you’ll consider supporting our work today.

On Monday, we shared reporting from Votebeat over a proposed bill in Michigan to fine people who knowingly spread lies about elections.

So we asked you:

Would penalties like these help protect election integrity in Michigan, or is this government overreach?

Here’s what you said:

“Yes, I feel this law is needed badly. It should be more than $1,000 though. It is so hard to know the truth anymore. Now with AI in the mix it will be even harder.” — Betty Dork

“Does this mean that politicians will be bared from lying? I’ve said for years that the punishment for lying should escalate to the point where three strikes and you’re out. If three strikes and you’ve out can be applied to criminal behavior it should apply to everyone.” — Rick McCarty

“Social media might as well be eliminated once fines for false information goes into effect. Very little truthful information on social and main stream media.” — Mary Bailey

“Yes indeed! Penalties for providing false election information should help curb the proliferation of misleading election information. However both parties need to fully support this effort and begin by strong discipline of their own parties and members for providing false and misleading information. Then disciplining their own PACS and supporters. Elections succeed when voters have reliable and valid information about issues and candidates.” — Michael Radke

“I say sue them for the value of their disinformation. What’s a $1,000 dollars to a lot of these guys. Go for the money so (till) it hurts.” — Dave VDovick

Have a question you want me to ask our community? Feel free to send it my way. I might feature it in a future newsletter.

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Thanks for reading. This newsletter was written by Karel Vega with stories by Sophie Boudreau and Chaunie Brusie. It was edited by Paula Solis.

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