Voters face state voucher, Local funeral home organizes Village opposes proposed local control proposals WWII memorial fundraiser EPA arsenic level rules Page 11 Page 9 Page 8 ’ MICHIGAN - WEDNESDAY. NOVEMBER 1,2000 FIFTY CENTS 18 PAGES ,:CVOLUME 94.A NUMB€ IT Y CHR-0 NI CLE For Tuscola County sheriff Kern, Estes square off in general election Nov. 7 Incumbent Tuscola County “It’s a foolish concept,” Sheriff Tom Kern will square Kern countered. “They’re off with Republican chal- great for PR things and pa- lenger Troy Estes in next rades, but on a normal day week’s general election, when you’re going from one Tuesday. complaint to another, it’s just Kern, 56, a Tuscola County impractical .” native, is seeking his fourth Maneuverability is not a term. He has been with the high priority, according to department since 1970 and Kern, who noted patrol cars was first elected sheriff in are equipped with a great 1988. deal of sophisticated equip- Estes, 36, has lived in the ment that officers would not Mayville area for the past 5 have access to on a motor- years. During that time he cycle. And, he asked, where Troy Estes has worked for the Waterford ‘lorn Kern are you going to put a sus- Township Police Depart- Abuse Resistance Educa- heEstes said. said he would also pect after arresting him? ment. Before that, he spent tion) program now in place Estes said crime and traffic OWEN-GAGE FIFTH grade students Bethany Kovach (left) and Lea Aldrich dem- 11 1/2 years as an officer in county schools with what introduce motorcycles to the fatality rates in the county are with the Pontiac Police De- he described as a more com- department, among his biggest concerns, onstrate a Sioux family at work during the class’ first-ever Native American Festi- partment. prehensive youth program. “Every officer in the depart- and he would work to imple- val and Museum, presented Monday to the various classes at Gagetown Elemen- Kern said he hopes voters D.A.R.E. is a good program ment would have that op- ment programs to address will give him the opportunity in that it targets drug abuse tion,” he said. Motorcycles those issues. tary School. (Related photos, page 12) to continue building on his and peer pressure, he said, offer several advantages over “I like Tom Kern, but past achievements within the but it focuses only on 2 grade patrol cars, including maneu- there’s no innovation - sheriff’s department. levels and is laclung as far as verability and cost effective- there’s no real direction in “I have the energy to do it addressing youth violence. ness, Estes explained. “It the department,” he said. Developers urge village to focus yet. My health is good and I “I think we need programs puts the police officer more “There’s no accountability.” like the job,” he added. “1 that start when kids enter in touch with the people he’s Kern disagreed. “My track think the department is run- school and follows them serving. It makes the officer record kind of speaks for it- ning good. We have a good throughout the school years,” more approachable.’’ self,” he said. on housing, comrnuntty center staff and good employees.” Kern, who resides in Reese, A pair of Cass City busi- the town’s high quality of life He also suggested that the and at the same time enhance said he has made ,a point of nessmen urged village offi- and tap into a growing de- village make the parks and Cass City’s downtown. malung promises and keep- Up for grabs cials Monday to look at im- mand for retirement housing, recreation director job a full- Smith said the Downtown ing them during his tenure in proving Cass City’s down- including rentals. “I just time position with the addi- Action Agenda recently rec- office. They include estab- town district by cashing in on think there’s a real market tion of duties as director of ommended for Cas City by lishing an area triad organi- Meyer, Stillwell-Binder vying for House seat a big demand for retiree there .” the community center. the HyettPalma consulting zation, which focuses on co- housing as well as by work- Herron also suggested that And while the facility firm included several nice operation among the sheriff’s department, local Area voters will choose a factory industries as well as lies, and is active in the ing towards the creation of a a community center could be would be ideal €or seniors, ideas. “But how realistic are new state representative in real estate, banking and edu- Tuscola County Democrats, set both Smith and Hewon these things?’he added. “I police agencies and senior community center down- up in the downtown area the Tuesday, Nov. 7, general cation. having serving as a precinct town. through a community effort, agreed the center should of- think we’ve got to learn tu citizens in an effort to pro- fer a meeting space and ac- work with what we have.” vide crime prevention pro- election. Stillwell-Binder initiated delegate and secretary as Local developers Tom including donations, similar Battling for the 84th Dis- and served on the Mayville well as on the executive to the success achieved dur- tivities for both young and , grams for seniors. Herron and Kelly Smith both trict seat, now held by Mike PTA. She has also served on board. She has also valun- addressed the Cass City Vil- ing construction of the old. SHOPPERS In addition, Kern cited his The businessmen offered to implementation of profes- Green (R-Mayville), are a a UAW Local 599 commit- teered time for variouscom lage mCouncilduring its village’s new playscape. tee to raise money for the “I think we’d all like to see organize an ad hoc commit- Turning to other matters, sional hiring practices, uni- pair of political newcomers; monthly meeting. Republican Tom Meyer, 58, unemployed and their fami- Please turn to Page 12 a community center dis- tee to study the issue in con- the council briefly discussed form promotional proce- Herron, referring to a na- Bad Axe, and Democrat Pam cussed, at least, and work junction with the council’s continued problems related dures, an annual awards pro- tional consulting firm’s rec- Stillwell-Binder, 39, of toward that goal,” Village Parks and Promotion Corn- to the delivery of shopper gram designed to recognize ommendations for revitaliz- Mayville. The 84th District ing the downtown, indicated President Les Karr com- mittee. publications within the vil- officers within the depart- is comprised of Huron and >** I he doesn’t believe attracting mented. He noted, however, Past efforts to rally support lage. ment, expansion of educa- Peputies probing Tuscola counties. small retailers is realistic in that funding will be a criti- for construction of a commu- Herren complained the tional programs for young light of the competition in cal issue. nity center have failed, pri- publications amount to litter people, computerization of Meyer has more than 37 surrounding communities. Smith agreed with Herron’s marily due to the cost. HOW- in many situations because the entire department, equip- years of experience in the suspicious death “I know that Main Street suggestion, saying any num- ever, Smith and Herron indi- they end up in yards and on ment upgrades in patrol cars, radio business and is cur- needs something,” he said, ber of vacant Main Street cated they’re confident the the streets, making it difficult and a remodeling project that rently station manager of adding the village should buildings could be leased for project, utilizing an existing to maintain the appearance of added 2 dozen beds to the Thumb Broadcasting Inc., Thscola County Sheriff’s Department irivdgators are concentrate on promoting use as a community center. building, could be affordable the Northwood Condo- county jail. Bad Axe. continuing their probe into the death of a tvomm minium mounds. Estes brings 16 years of law He has served as board whose body was found in a creek near UTafk: Road over enforcement experience to president of Thumb Indus- ’he weekend. his campaign. tries and was selected to A sheriff’s department spokesman said the body, lobated V serve on the trustee board of Sunday about one-quarter mile of ha ceive the publications, but he During his tenure with the north M-81*, been Waterford department, he Davenport University, He is dentified as Maureen Ann Sullivan, 52. said“They’re many just others a big do not. has coordinated community also a member of the Huron Officers observed Sullivan’s body while investigating a County MSU Extension ‘suspicious situation”, according to investigator&who There’s something that policing and reserve officer are of body discoverd in bay Council, treasurer of the Hu- :ailing the death suspicious. The cause and of should be done aboutthat.” programs. He also initiated manner ron County Republican Party ieath had not been determined as of An autopsy has confirmed of a muddy trail, on the edge airboat in a search for the Council Trustee Don Ball K-9 and motorcycle units Monday, although that a body recently discov- of Saginaw Bay, with the woman, and the Sebewaing and established a citizen’s Executive Committee, past in autopsy was scheduled to be performed late in the day. agreed, saying he recently church treasurer and past ered in a swampy area of the keys still in the ignition. The Police Department assisted police academy. No other information was released 85 of press time. asked a delivery person not president of the Elkton Ro- Deputies, who are continuing Fish Point Wildlife Area just trail is located west of the along with Sebewaing Fire to leave the publications at 2 Estes said he would estab- their investigation, were west of Unionville was that Sebewaing VFW Hall in Department volunteers who lish some of the same pro- tary Club.