Charges Dropped Against Owosso Barber

An Owosso barber is no longer facing misdemeanor charges for refusing to close his shop as ordered by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Attorney David Kallman said the charges against 77-year-old Karl Manke are being dropped  because of a Michigan Supreme Court decision regarding the governor’s powers to order businesses to close. Manke said it was “a weight” off his shoulders.”

Barbershops and salons were closed for several months, until June 15, but  Manke reopened in early May, saying “government is not my mother.”