John Robinson

United States

Contributor at WKFR-FM (Kalamazoo, MI)

Articles

Things Michiganders Think After They Move Out of State

2 weeks ago | wkfr.com | John Robinson |John Robinson

We all know someone who has moved outta Michigan...some come back, some don't. Maybe YOU are one of 'em who moved. Some people claim they hate Michigan and are afraid to swallow their pride and come back. Many Michiganders who find it necessary to move out of this great state usually regret that decision. Some don't regret it at all. But regrets or not, there are times when even the most fervent have thoughts of things they miss about the Wolverine State.
Abandoned Detroit Neighborhood Blocks That Have NO Houses

1 month ago | wkfr.com | John Robinson |John Robinson

We've seen seemingly endless videos and images of abandoned Detroit neighborhoods; rows and rows of empty, crumbling, fire-ravaged homes with overgrowth, broken windows, caved-in roofs, graffiti, dumped garbage, doors ripped off the hinges, and attempted looting in practically every single one. They appear as 'ghost neighborhoods', with maybe one or two people walking the street, and many times there's not a soul in sight.
Inside the Historic Ransom E. Olds Mansion: 1904-1966

1 month ago | wkfr.com | John Robinson |John Robinson

How could the Lansing powers-that-be back in 1966 let this happen? I mean, c'mon... really. 1966 was the year they demolished the classic, historic mansion once owned by automobile mogul Ransom E. Olds at 720 S. Washington Avenue. The location is at the head of REO Town and there is a new apartment complex in the area. Olds had this elaborate mansion constructed in 1904 to fit his (and his family's) needs. One of the coolest things he had installed was a turntable in his garage. Why?
Gladwin County, Michigan

1 month ago | wkfr.com | John Robinson

Here's a little jaunt you may want to include in your next Michigan roadtrip: a visit to Estey and Rhodes, two former lumber towns that have dwindled down to a small population...in other words, they're currently considered 'ghost towns'. These two towns - Estey & Rhodes are in Bentley Township in Gladwin County and are not far from each other.
The True Story of Betty Mahmoody: Alpena, Michigan

2 months ago | wkfr.com | John Robinson

Betty Mahmoody is best known for her book Not Without My Daughter, which chronicled the details of her marriage horror during 1984-1986; most people may be more familiar with the movie that was made about her experiences. The film came out in 1991 and starred Sally Field. Betty was from the Michigan city of Alpena and ended up marrying an Iranian man named Moody. They had a child together, and sometime later in 1984, they all made a trip to Iran for a short visit with the man's family.
DeRay Neighborhood, Detroit, Michigan

2 months ago | wkfr.com | John Robinson

This old bank building sits in the Delray neighborhood of Detroit. A bank building was erected here in 1900 as the DelRay Savings Bank but was demolished by 1918. The current structure was completed in 1919 as the People's State Bank. In the 1920s, additions were implemented. In 1933 the People's State Bank split, and the National Bank of Detroit used it as a branch. It stayed so until the 1980s.
The Difference Between a Lynx and a Bobcat

2 months ago | wkfr.com | John Robinson

Wild cats in Michigan? You better believe it. Over the years we've been subjected to videos taken by Michiganders of their confrontations and sightings of cougars (a/k/a pumas and mountain lions). Rarer are sightings of Bobcats and even rarer are panthers. Yeah, there are a couple of photos online of what appears to be possible black panthers skulking through private propertyBut what about the lynx? Yup. Spotting a lynx seems to be the most rare, but nevertheless, they have been recorded.
Stuff Found on the Bottom of the Detroit River

Mar 19, 2025 | wkfr.com | John Robinson

What's beneath the Detroit River? What's lurking down below? Magnet fishing reveals the hidden secrets and treasures that lie on the bottom. The images in the gallery below were taken by an underwater drone that was attached to a magnet and dredged over the river bed. What they reveal is fascinating. A saw blade, boat anchors, knives, cell phone parts, pliers, fishing bells, spark plugs, flip phone, and other items that just can't be identified.
Detroit, Michigan

Mar 8, 2025 | wkfr.com | John Robinson

This former structure looks like it was once a bowling alley, but it was not. It was a former Kroger store that closed in the 1970s and sat vacant until 1980 when it was turned into a RightWay food store. When the 1990s rolled around, the store closed again, and this time permanently. It still sits there, abandoned. So why is there "bowling alley" painted on the building if it wasn't one? It was used as backdrop in 2016 for the Transformers movie, so the movie crew had it painted.
Torch Lake, Michigan

Feb 1, 2025 | wkfr.com | John Robinson

He dresses in seemingly moth-eaten jackets, baggy pants, and a baseball cap...kind of like what Beaver Cleaver would look like if he was on skid row. But it's Michael Moore, Flint Michigan's favorite documentarian. A man who has made a good number of enemies and an equal good number of friends. He's a person you sometimes agree and disagree with. Either you like him or you don't...there's very little room to be on the fence about it.