Charlevoix County ordered to give e-mails to local newspaper

PETOSKEY, Mich. (AP) -- A judge has ordered Charlevoix County officials to release to the Petoskey News-Review two e-mails between the county prosecutor and a member of the board of commissioners. The newspaper sued the board and the prosecutor last year, accusing them of violating the Michigan Freedom of Information Act. The paper had asked for six e-mails to determine whether prosecutor John Jarema and commissioner Chris Christensen had e-mailed each other during board meetings. The paper reported that Emmet County Circuit Court Judge Charles Johnson had ordered the release of one message dealing with an embezzlement investigation and portions of a second message that raised concerns about another commission member. The judge ruled that four other messages could remain private because they were computer-generated real estate ads. Published: Thu, Mar 15, 2012