About “The Portland Beacon”
The mission of The Portland Beacon is to brief the residents of Portland, Michigan, about the current affairs of this community, by serving as a fair, accurate and transparent information source. Our goal is to serve as a steward of the community by educating citizens so as to encourage a more engaged and vibrant community.
We began operations in August of 2017 to serve as a local news source for Portland, Michigan, and neighboring communities. This independent hyperlocal online only news service was created largely in response to a lack of local news coverage that the community was getting from established print publications. We cover local news and events featuring the people, schools, non-profits and businesses that call Portland home.
We are unlike traditional printed newspapers in that we are a dependent on a mix of advertising as well as reader contributions to fund our operations. Our network of paid and volunteer contributors writes content for the site on a part-time basis.
If you should have any comment, a news tip, and any other feedback you want to share, please email Jim@theportlandbeacon.com.
Our Team
Jim Townsend
Owner/Publisher
Originally from Livonia, MI, Jim has called Portland home since 2000. After meeting his future wife Sarah (Lefke) at Alma College, the couple decided to start their young family in Portland. Two of their three children graduated from Portland High School and one still attends PHS.
A self-described “news dork,” Jim regularly follows regional, state and national news using a variety of online, TV and radio sources.
Jim said, “When I moved here, I fell in love with the local newspaper. I loved the local focus and small-town feel. With that newspaper long gone, I felt like something had to replace it."
He added, “I started The Portland Beacon to fill that void. We have a lot of great things going on here and I what to help spread the word.”
Jim is an analyst for the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, and leads the operations of the Beacon in his spare time. He can be reached at jim@theportlandbeacon.com.
Benjamin Rex Cross
Contributing Writer
Benjamin Rex Cross was born and raised in Portland, and graduated from St. Patrick's in 1994. He married Trisha Fedewa in 1999, and have 2 children, Chloe (18) and Connor (15) who both attended St. Patrick's as well.
Benjamin is a Refrigeration Coordinator for Techmark Inc. out of Lansing, and also coaches football at St. Patrick's. He began writing a few years back, and uses his full name out of respect for his maternal grandfather, Rex Avery Bennett who also wrote extensively in local newspapers and who Benjamin was named after.
Benjamin and his family attend St. Patrick's parish, and are very involved in the Catholic community, he enjoys going to the Men's faith group at St. Patrick's and describes his coaching position as being a "Youth Minister". Benjamin loves the town of Portland, the people, the history, and the family, and he doesn't plan on ever leaving. In his spare time, he enjoys landscaping, permaculture, and reading.
He can be contacted at goshamrocks@yahoo.com.
Kurt Fedewa
Contributing Writer
Kurt is more or less a life-long resident of Portland. He graduated from St. Patrick School and from MSU. He says, "At sixty-five years of age, I am in semi-retirement and I write articles for local publications as a way to feel connected to the community. Over the years I have enjoyed music, photography, and travel. I like good friends, good food, and tall glasses of iced tea with a splash of lemonade in them."
Kurt can be reached at kufede@aol.com.
