District Court May Get Help Largest Caseload in Michigan
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Clinton County News S&wuu^ihsL CtinipfuCVaucSutoL 1856 116th YEAR NO. 47 ST.JOHNS, MICHIGAN MARCH 22,1972 15 cents District court may get help Largest caseload in Michigan By TIM YOUNKMAN in the Clinton-Grattot District Court 1,000, including traffic and criminal. was introduced last week in the Mich He said that a normal caseload for a igan House of Representatives by R. judge, even in the large counties, ST, JOHNS—Clinton County may Douglas Trezise (R-Owosso) and would be about 60 per cent of that. be getting an additional District Court Richard Allen (R-Ithaca). Judge Duguay said that Gratiot judge in the near future to ease the "The caseload of the 65th District County has the second highest case "growing caseload in the 65th district. Court is the largest of any district load in the state behind Clinton. For A bill to provide a third Judge, in the state," .the lawmakers said, a period of time, he was presiding "In the interest of speedy handling over both courts when Ithaca's Judge of court matters, it is essential that Sullivan died, who was, since been re another Judge be assigned to this placed by Judge Robert Sheldon. area," The state's Supreme Court ruled -, The new bill, introduced as House earlier that there was a need for a Bill 6022, would assign a second new judge, either in one of the two Judge to the Clinton County part of counties or elected at large, .for the the district, leaving the present single area. That paved the way for the bill Judge in the Gratiot County division. to be" introduced into the House. Another bill, introduced earlier and providing for the addition of 21 circuit Judge Duguay said the rapid rise and district judgeships throughout the In the caseloads of both counties state also makes a provision for a new was directly related to their prox position In the Clinton-Gratiot imities to the metropolitan areas of District. This bill would elect the new Lansing and Saginaw. Judge, from the entire district, There was still some confusion "How the additional judge Is elected as to the election process of a new is not as important to us as getting judge for the District Court, There the assistance which is so badly has never been a judge elected at- needed," the lawmakers noted. "We large to cover a two-county area. hope that, if the bill calling for many Judge Duguay said the election new judges is sidetracked because alternatives include electing a judge JUDGE DUGUAY of financial problems, we will be in just one county and "leasing" him able to get our bill approved to take out to the other county, or to have . care of our local problems," they both county voters choose the man with Groups plan blood stated. a combined vote. Members of the Bloodmobile committee gathered this week to make * the final arrangements for the event which will be held at St. John's Episcopal drive competition District Court Judge Roland Duguay "I would go along with either pro said Tuesday the Clinton district has posal," the judge said. "Just as long Church in St. Johns on March 29 from 12 noon to 6 p.m. Seated from left are ST. JOHNS—The Jaycees have the largest caseload per judge in as we get some help here." Mrs. Ricki Dean, publicity chairman; Mrs. Carole Chalmers, publicity; challenged the Lions, Exchange, the entire state. Rotary and Boys Clubs to a contest There was no indication as to when and Barb Stiffler, volunteer .chairman. Standing from left are Mrs. Bette to see which club can contribute the "It's just push, push, push," he said the bill would be up for a vote In Munger, Bloodmobile chairman; Nancy Wells, publicity; and Karen Hundley, most blood at the upcoming Blood- The average monthly caseload for the House, but indications are it might mobile. Judge Duguay is between 800 and come soon. telethon chairman. The contest will be run this way: Each club's membership, less those who are. too. old or otherwise ineli gible, becomes the, 100 per cent figure. Add to this all wives of Local man fights for change in snowmobile laws members for a potential 200 per LANSING—Debate is underway in Helping Sen, William S. Ballenger any formal snowmobile club, reported . roads that were prohibited to snow forth opposing the plan. J cent in each club. The club with the the Michigan Senate over a bill (R-Ovid) in studying the aspects of that the bill was out of committeeand mobiles, which would cut the cost of Worrall said the State Police have highest percentage donating will re that would change the current snow amending the current law is Dean was ready for debate. providing a marking system. indicated there were 25 deaths so far ceive an appropriate travel trophy mobile legislation to allow the riders Worrall, 710 E', Baldwin St., St. He noted that snowmobilers, upset this year attributed, to snowmobiles from the Jaycees, to. .be. held, until-, to'r^travel- onv-the -shoulders:.qj, •sec*^ v.Johns, who ^ls representing jirea The Senate, last week* approved r by, present legislation, should make on the roadways._V .,••..•,--., ^ ; _ the next"Bi66dmob"Ue. btldaYy rbadY UHde*pertain circuit^ sno,wrriobllers.. ' ' ' '" : amendments including _ one that, themselves heard, especially"by sym- - directs the shbwmobiler to operate "~*That"isn't'true,*he saidV'«ibeiieve The Bloodmobile will be held stances. Worrall, who is not attached to pathetic lawmakers. there have only-been a"few actually Wednesday, March 29, at the St. at a minimum speed while using The changes in the law, If approved, a right-of-way or road shoulder, the killed on.the roads.* He said in Johns Episcopal Church, The hours would permit snowmobilers to use vestigations of the 25 accidents in are noon to 6 p.m. Any other group vehicle must come to a complete the right-of-way area outside the stop at all road or street inter dicated that some crashes were not wishing to participate in the contest Grand Ledge youth corporate limits of a city or village the fault of the snowmobller and should contact Barry Dean of the sections; must operate with the flow or the extreme right hand shoulder of traffic; and must have snowmobile 'should not be counted in the figures. Jaycees for details. of the road if a,right-of-way did not He cited an example where a man c lights on when operating oh a right- third county victim exist, of-way, shoulder or roadway. was killed near Laingsburg when The amendment to allow the -his vehicle crashed into a truck. Stoller fund EAGLE—Dennis L. Cooper, 17, The roads that snowmobilers could Worrall said the snowmobile had and released. use would be designated by local vehicles on the right-of-way or $ of 12919 Georgia, Grand Ledge died Cooper is a former Grand Ledge been on private land, but the throttle' nears 1,000 of injuries following a car crash county highway commissioners by shoulder on a state wide basis was High student and was a member of held over. stuck forcing him into a ditch and on Grand River east of Hinman in a series of signs. Funda for such on to the roadway where the crash ST. JOHNS-Receipts of $947.47 St. Michael's Church in Grand Ledge; markings would be paid through the Eagle Township Sunday morning at Survivors include his parents, Mr, Worrall defended the snow- occurred, to the Dr.P.F. Stoller Memorial 2:50 a.m. registration fees paid to the state mobilers right to use the Fund were reported in the first and Mrs. Donald Cooper; four and returned to the counties. State Police from the East Lan brothers, Donald Jr. of Dimondale, shoulder of the road when the right- Worrall said State' Police op financial accounting by the Fund Another Idea would be to have of-way is blocked or does not exist, position is unwarranted since there chairman, Mrs, Sharon Reha. sing Post said the youth was a pas David, stationed at Fort Lee, Va,, senger in a car driven by John P. Danny stationed in Germany, and the local road commissions mark and criticized State Police figures set " Continued on Page 3-A The chairman reported total de Manning, 27, of Eagle. Police said DeWayne at home; a sister, Mrs. posits to date of $932.20 and interest Manning lost control of his 1972 Margaret Thomas of California. of $15,27. Disbursements included Chevrolet and struck a tree after one withdrawal from the account of Funeral services will be held at traveling 335 feet after leaving the St. Michael's Church Wednesday at $100 as a contribution to the Doc roadway. Shiawassee deputy tor's Search Committee, 10:30 a.m. with Peters and Murray Manning was treated for minor Funeral Home in charge of the ar continued to page 10 A injuries at St, Lawrence Hospital rangements. candidate for sheriff ST. JOHNS-A 36-year-old Shia toss his hat into the ring, was de ternal Order of Police* and is wassee County Sheriff's deputy and feated by Patterson in the 1970 elec presently serving as a division pres former Clinton County deputy an tions. Clinton County Undersheriff ident of the FOP. • nounced Monday that he would seek Anthony Hufnagel announced his can continued on page 7 A the Republican nomination for the didacy for the post March 6, Clinton County Sheriff's ppst, Terpening, a long-time resident Ray Terpening of St.