Cass City Area Escapes Major Storm Damage
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ryrrt- --L J,q2r‘2Fl E!!ti;;EF,\ L,kn;Cl;-zhi-_- y! L;:.t4 VOLUME YO, NUMBER 13 CA; CASS CITY. MICHIGAN[TY - WEDNESDAY, JUNE 26, 1996 CHRONICLE FIFTY CENTS 16 PAGES PLUS ONE SUPPLEMENT County hard hit Cass City area escapes major storm damage Cass City area residents possible so road crews can counties to secure a presiden- Saginaw County, where a were spared the wrath of get their work done. tial disaster declaration. “If tornado roared through the weekend storms that roared Tuscola County, along with we could do that,” he ex- business district without through the Thumb Friday Saginaw, Lapeer, Sanilac and plained, “that would open the warning Friday at about night, wreaking havoc on St. Clair counties, received door for residents to at least 1 1 : 10 p.m. roads, bridges, drains, homes an official disaster declara- get low interest loans.” and other property. tion from Gov. John Engler While residents of Tuscola The twister damaged or de- While Cass City received Saturday. and surrounding counties stroyed some 50 homes as only a quarter-inch of pre- “Now, it’s just a matter of will feel the effects of the well as some businesses and cipitation Friday, much of putting together the num- recent storm for some time, the city library. Miracu- Tuscola County was deluged bers,’, Jashinske said, adding most areas fared better than lously, there were no reports with 5 to 7 inches of rain. an effort is underway by the Frankenmuth in eastern of injuries. Tuscola County officials are still trying to assess the dam- age in central, southern and HEAVY RAINS CAUSED high water in the Cass City area earlier last week, nearly western sections of the Farm visits set county. reaching the top of the M-53 Cass River bridge. However, the area escaped the “We’re looking at later in widespread damage and flooding caused by a weekend downpour that dumped 5 to the week before we have a true handle on it (damage),’’ County seeking 7 inches on much of Tbscola County, which along with some neighboring counties Tuscola County Undersheriff James Jashinske commented has received an oficial disaster declaration from Gov. John Engler. Monday. “The center part of (Related picture page 16) the county really took a beat- ing.’, disaster status Although there are no firm estimates yet, Jashinske said Thumb area farmers hit Service and Rural Develop- alike,” he said. damage to public roadways hard by heavy spring rains ment. “The window farmers have Drunk drivers target for and drains in the county and water-logged fields may Green said disaster assess- each season to plant their alone could top $I .5 million. receive disaster relief. ment teams will visit affected crops is short as it is, and this The heavy rains caused se- Legislators from the area areas and review soil erosion year’s window has been re- vere flooding and drain dam- last week announced joint fields, ditches and river bank, duced even further by the road patrols age in Wisner, Gilford and efforts aimed at keeping and water damage to crops. cold, wet spring. My farm- beefed-up Akron townships in the farmers’ heads above water They will also evaluate losses ers are telling me that this is northern part of the county, in what is shaping up to be for unplanted acres due to one of the toughest planting Slow down, bucklc up and said Thursday. First Lt. Doug Lautncr, as well as Car0 and areas the worst growing season in wet weather, and decide seasons they have faced in don’t get behind the wheel of Tuscola and Bay counties commander of the Michigan south and west of the county years. whether any additional plant- years.” a car if you’ve been drink- were selected for the alcohol State Police post in Caro, seat, including Mayville and “Michigan corn should be ing can be completed. MSU Extension officials in ing. commented troopers from Juniata. Officials in Vassar, knee high by the fourth of Reports are expected to be the Thumb agree. no stranger to flooding woes, That was the message from his post responded to about July, but we’re going to be completed by July I, and the “It’s not pretty,” corn- Tuscola County, Bay County 100personal injury accidents have already documented lucky to see tiny green emergency board plans to nieii ted Carrie Andrich, an some $100,000 in damage to and state law enforcement last year. Of those, 41 in- shoots,” said state Rep. Mike meet again July 18 to review agricultural agent in Huron pfficials Thursday as they volved alcohol. roads. Green, R-Mayville. “The the data and decide with the County. Likewise, roads throughout dld a news conference to statewide for year, he pointed out, there “That’s a telling cold, wet spring has meant a governor what relief should Farmers tried to get corn the county, including por- kick off the second wave of crashes in which thc driver have hen 6 fatal crashes, and that says there needs to be slow start for corn as well as planted, and when time ran tions of M-53 and M-24, he requested. the “Safe and Sober” cam- had been drinking, 3 of those (50 percent) in- other crops. The chances of Areas in which current out they tried to get soybeans paign, June 23 through July Nationally, about 40 per- volvcd alcohol. Please turn to page 13. were washed out or other- a poor harvest increase every in, and what did get planted wise damaged. Scores of county crop averages are at 7. day farmers can’t get to their least 30 percent below the isn’t doing well due to the During the 2-week period, homes, particularly those in fields .” soaked fields, she said. areas such as Cat Lake and previous year’s yields qualify sheriff’s deputies, Michigan Green announccd Thursday for assistance. “If we can’t aet drv beans State Police troopers and Richard Emmons injured Shay Lake, experienced se- that all 83 Michigan counties planted in the next 2 weeks, vere flooding. Car0 police will be targeting are being invited by federal DISASTER AREA there’s not much else you can motorists who drink and Because of the widespread ofticials to submit damage plant? drive. Beefed-up road pa- in accidental shooting road damage and the risk of Co.Officials say this at year’sMichigan sugar Sugar beet ds, funded by more than motorists venturing out and $10,000 in federal grant A Cass City area man re- en route to the scene, they accidentally discharged, becoming stuck or worse, crop has been hit hard, but funds, will be working spe- mained hospitalized in seri- were informed that family striking Emmons in the neck. county officials declared a the extent of losses won’t be cific areas of the county des- ous condition Monday fol- members had transported the The name of the other per- state of emergency shortly known for some time. ignated by high accident lowing anapparent acciden- victim to Hills and Dales son involved was not re- after midnight Friday. rates. tal shootingsunday night in General Hospital in Cass leased pending completion The state of emergency re- HARD TO ASSESS While violations involving Elmwood Township. City, according to a spokes- of the investigation. mained in effect throughout drinking and driving are the Troopers at the Michigan man at the Caro post. The shooting appears to the remainder of the week- “It’s hard to assess. It’s so priority, speed and seat belt State Police post in Caro Emmons was transferred by have been accidental, the end, and the sheriff *sdepart- wet we can’t even get into the laws will also be enforced. identified the victim as Rich- Flightcare Helicopter to St. spokesman said, but it re- ment is continuing to tell fields,” said Robert Braem, “The purpose is to save ard Emmons, 2 1, Dodge Rd. Mary’s Medical Center in mains under investigation, motorists to use extreme cau- vice-president of agriculture. yes, arrest the drunk driv- Troopers were dispatched Sag i na w. and a report will be filed with tion, Jashinske urges resi- With rainfall amounts near ers (and) get them off the to Emmons’ Dodge Road Troopers said an individual the Tuscola County dents to avoid affected areas 10 inches in some parts of the road,” Tuscola County residence, near Hoppe Road, was showing Emmons a .22 Prosecutor’s office for re- in southern and western por- county this month, Braem Undersheriff Jim Jashinske at about 10:33 p.m. While caliber rifle when the firearm view. tions of the county if at all added, “I would say Tuscola County has probably been hit been planted being de- as hard as any of our grow- II stroyed, producers need to be ing areas.” able to make some plans for In the Caro area, Braem the balance of the year. said, farmers planted 14,300 Food Closet closes Knowing whether or not di- acres, 1,700 acres short of saster assistance might be this year’s goal. About 20 available would be very help- percent of those acres had to ful .” be replanted. Camp agreed. “The recent Andrich pointed out crops after 13 years devastating weather, com- that have been planted face bined with serious concerns an uphill battle. “These are about tight grain stocks and perfect growing conditions After more than 13 years of and Wednesdays from one to a short crop year, could have for fungus and disease,’’ she service to the community, the 3 p.m.