Suspect Arson Hotel Fire Investigation Continues
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Special U t6u meA't fflS Clinton County News (KytiadCwte tevtw 52 Pages ST. JOHNS, MICHIGAN 48879 APRIL 8,1975 15 Cents Suspect arson Hotel fire investigation continues By Jim Edwards (Buck) and Mary Haney had said they County News Editor would take polygraph tests. Sgt Massey also met Monday with Jon ST JOHNS -- The St Johns Police Dept has Newman, Clinton County prosecuting, to been told by the Fire Marshall's Division of advise him of the continuing status of the the Michigan State Police that arson is the investigation. suspected cause of the March 28 fire at the It was later reported in the Lansing State Steel Hotel, now known as the Clinton arras. Journal, however, that Mrs Haney has Detective Sergeant Wilbur Massey of the stated she would not take a polygraph. Fire Marshall's Division reported to Lyle Chief French, Monday afternoon, said French, St Johns police chief, that evidence that, as of 4 pm, Monday, he had not been would indicate arson in the basement of the notified of any statement about Mrs Haney hotel. taking a polygraph test other than what was Fire inspectors are concluded with their earlier reported by Mrs Haney to the investigation at the scene, but are con Lansing State Journal. tinuing their field and laboratory in However, Monday Mrs Hcney told vestigations. Deborah LaParl, County News staff writer, Following the report of suspected arson, it that both she and her husband would take a was reported that owners of the hotel Wayne polygraph test. Charge 2 men with Fowler armed robbery ST JOHNS - A 17-year-old Grand Ledge to the rear of the store and Finkbeiner was man and a 22-year-old Portland man have ordered to open the safe where drugs are been arrested by the Clinton County stored. Sheriff's Dept and charged with the March Then, reportedly, the subjects left the 31 robbery of Finkbeiner's Pharmacy in store-one by the front exit and the other by Fowler. the rear exit. Arrested were Anthony Edward Swint, 17, Swint was believed to be the man who left Grand Ledge, and James Lee Fox, 22, Pryor by the front exit and subsequently ordered Rd, Portland. Geraldine Swanson back into her antique Swint was arrested the evening of the store. robbery when he was found hiding in a ditch She refused and also refused to drive him Det Sgt Wilbur Massey of the State Police about a mile north of Fowler on Wright Rd. Fire Marshall division sifts through rubble away in her car when he alledgedly grabbed Fox was arrested the following day at 1:2fl her car keys and fled. This was the scene Thursday morning as up to 13 inches was dumped on the Clinton left by Steel Hotel Fire. He has said arson pm at his home. is suspected. Later, Mark Witgen, who lives, about 1 County area, clogging streets and driveways. Clinton Comity residents, as well as much of Judge Frederick Lewis set a $20,000 bond Michigan, spent Thursday and Friday digging out of the April 3 snow storm. on each, which had not been posted. mile north of Fowler, reported a suspicious person, covered with mud, had used the Swint, according to the Sheriff's Dept. is telephone in Witgen's home. currently out of bond on 2 felony charges in Eaton County. After authorities visited Witgen's home, DeWitt teacher faces the subject was arrested abmt a block from ., It's time for Crafts Fair When Swint was arrested Monday night, the house where he was hiding in a ditch. found at the scene of the arrest were a shotgun, drugs and money. In addition to drugs, about $400 was taken The Crafts Fair sponsored by the Friends Entered crafts" may be taken to the attempted murder charges in the robbery and was reported recovered of the Bement Public Library will take place Municipal Auditorium Monday April 14 Officials tyund drugs, believed to be by the Clinton County Sheriffs Dept. „• , * 'T,-< <*V« stolen, in Fox's bedvpom. - April 15 during Nat rna! Library We;k April froitel to 8 pm or Tuesday morning April 15 John Avery Slagel, 38,7509Vfe S/Woodbury David Bone', 23, Lansing arid Penny Strange Assisting the' Sheriffs Dept' in the in is to ». * -from 9 to 11 am. Late registration of entries The, robbery was reported to the Sheriff's vestigation and subsequent arrests were the 1 Rd, Laingsburg, a teacher in the DeWitt of the Meridian Twp address. Dept last Monday night at 8:28 pm. Hod The fair will be open to public viewing will be accepted on Monday Apnl 14. School System is currently lodged in the Bone was reported shot in the chest and Lansing City Police Dept and their from 1 to 9 pm at the auditorium of the Finkbemer, owner of the store, said 2 men helicopter, St Johns Police Dept, Ionia All craft articles may be picked up as soon Ingham County Jail facing 2 counts of at Ms Strange was shot in the hip. entered the store, 1 armed with a shotgun. Municipal Building. There is no admission as the show is over. tempted murder. Bone told Shenff's deputies he was able to County Sheriff's Dept and State Police from charge. Employees and customers -were ordered East Lansing, Ionia and Ithaca. For Further information and entry blanks wrestle the gun away from Slagel after Awards will be presented at 7 pm April 15. contact the Bement Public Library. The charges followed an investigation being wounded. early last Thursday morning at the scene of All 3 were admitted to a Lansing hospital. a shooting at 6218 Brookhne Court in Ingham Bond for Slagel was set at $25,000 and was Dewitt residents County's Meridian Township. not posted. Slagel was charged with the shooting of He has demanded examination. protest sewer, Heather Pipers present road projects By Deborah LaParl tank and fill it with sand, $10 a month to use County News Writer the sewer and that's an extra $45 to $60 a Tartan Ball month," Shano explained. ST JOHNS -- The Heather Pipers of St DEWITT - It was standing room only at Both Shano and Gorman questioned what Johns are once again sponsoring their the DeWitt City Council meeting Monday the city did for them in return for the 15 popular Tartan Bail, Saturday, April 12, at night and several people did just that. mills they pay the city. the St Joseph gym from 8:30 pm until l am. Most of the citizens, numbering over 35, Shano felt the city should provide roads Music offered will feature both the big were Lake Geneva property owners there to for Lake Geneva and said he understood band sound of music and the sight and sound speak their minds about the proposed sewer that there was an agreement made by a past of Scottish pipers and drummers in colorful and roads for that area or to see what action mayor who promised road upkeep. regalia. the council was going to take. The council members did not recall such Peter Vanderwaal's Orchestra, a lQ-piece What the council did do was honor the an agreement. group will perform for dancing. request of Tom Warth, recent elected Warth said the matter would be looked The Flint Scottish, Caledonia Kilties and president of the Lake Geneva Property into by committee of the Lake Geneva Heather Pipers will be the featured pipe Owners' Association. Property Owners' Association. bands who will play during the intermission. There will also be Irish and Scottish singers He asked the council to delay action on the and dancers. road proposal for 2 weeks and a 4-week delay on the sewer proposal. (Sea Page 7) Judge Frederick Lewis is Pipe Major of Judge Frederick Lewis displays Stating the association and the residents the Heather Pipers, who tartan is MacLeod of Lake Geneva needed more time to study of Lewis. bis prowess on the pipes-you can see it in person at the Tartan Ball. the proposals Warth said: "The council has Gerald Savage, formerly of Belfast and looked at this sewer-road issue for years, Medicade Isaac Wilkie, formerly of Glasgow, are the but we have only seen it since Wednesday featured singers. night." Warth added that the association was not totally up to date on all that had taken place children Arrest local school teacher concerning the proposals and wanted to find answers for people finding fault with them. Four men who found much fault voiced their complaints at the meeting and screened produced 2 petitions filled with the names of on marijuana charges Lake Geneva property owners against the sewer proposal. for diseases ST JOHNS - A large percentage of eligible ST JOHNS - Phillip Earl Greer, 32-year- was later released on $3500 bond. Tony Shano, Lake Geneva resident, children screened under the Early Periodic old St Johns school teacher, was arrested Examination date has been set for April 25. produced a petition with 37 signatures which Screening, Diagnosis and Treatment the night of April 2 and has been charged Seized in the raid was a quantity of he said was 6 names short of 51% of the Lake Program are referred for treatment. with 3 marijuana violations. marijuana and paraphernalia. Geneva population. Joe Latoff of the Mid Michigan District He has been charged with possession of Olhers in the house were interviewed and He said all the property owners had not Health Department told the Clinton County marijuana with intent to deliver, main released.