Story - An Honest Living

AN HONEST LIVING

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“What is junk?” Ron Frederickson wants to know. A 12-year legal battle with Lee Township near Midland, Michigan has not provided an answer as the Frederickson family defends their livelihood against the township’s blight ordinance. This picture story documented the family-run salvage business that has kept its patriarch out of jail for eight years and allowed him to make an honest living. However, the township has threatened to come in by force and remove the cars that they strip down and recycle. “I’m going to fight. Somebody’s got to stand up for our rights,” Mr. Frederickson remarked about his situation.

   Update: A settlement was agreed to between the family and Lee Township negating the forced clean-up. Sadly, 18 months after this story ran, the family home burned to the ground, and several months after that, their youngest son, Max (standing in final photo), was struck and killed by a car in front of their home. These tragic events sent Ron into a violent and drug fueled spiral landing him back in prison for several years.

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