Thumb pair face Dash through snow Then and now: felony charges with historical group couples celebrate Page 4 Page 2 Pages 6 and 7
Complete coverage of the Cass City community and surrounding areas since 1899
VOLUME 111, NUMBER 49 CASS CITY, MICHIGAN - WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2018 .75 CENTS ~ 16 PAGES Educators laud career-tech funding proposal
by Tom Montgomery and Economic Development According to Michigan Depart - spectively. Center in Caro. Editor (TED), and Michigan School ment of Education statistics, some Christin Hempton, dean of stu - “The tech center provides a won - Supt. Brian Whiston applauded 850 Tuscola County students were dents at Cass City Junior-Senior derful opportunity for students to School districts could receive an the governor’s proposal for dis - enrolled in career and technical High School, said 36 percent of obtain a wide range of industry incentive up to $50 per pupil for tricts to receive $25 for every high education programs during the Cass City High School juniors and certifications,” she said. Career and Technical Education school student enrolled in any ca - 2016-17 school year. Huron 55 percent of seniors – roughly 72 Cass City Schools Supt. Jeff Har - (CTE) under Gov. Rick Snyder’s reer-tech program, and an addi - County and Sanilac County, students in all – attend career and tel welcomed the governor’s pro - executive budget recommenda - tional $25 for those students meanwhile, had about 730 stu - technical education classes at the posals. tion. enrolled in a career-tech program dents and 380 students enrolled in Tuscola Intermediate School Dis - “I know that one of the goals at Snyder revealed the plan last that provides instruction in critical the same type of programs, re - trict’s (TISD) Tuscola Technology Please turn to page 8. week as he unveiled his proposed skills and high-demand career budget for fiscal year 2019, which fields. runs from Oct. 1, 2018, through Critical skills programs cover a Sept. 30, 2019. variety of career options, includ - The plan also calls for a founda - ing agriculture, natural resources tion allowance increase for and conservation, communica - schools of about $312 million, or tions technologies, computer and roughly $120 to $240 more per information services, engineering, pupil. That would be the largest biological and biomedical sci - increase in the state’s minimum ences, construction trades, me - foundation allowance in 15 years, chanic and repair technologies, according to the governor’s pres - precision production and health entation. professions. If Snyder’s plan remains intact, “We are incredibly excited that the budget represents the first time the executive budget…includes an in recent history — and poten - investment in expanding career tially ever — that there has been and technical education for stu - per-pupil funding aimed at CTE dents in Michigan,” Curtis said. students, according to Michigan “This investment will greatly Career Pathways Alliance leaders, help schools in offering, and suc - who are lauding the governor’s cessfully operating, tech pro - proposal. grams, and further demonstrates Roger Curtis, director of the Michigan’s commitment to being Michigan Department of Talent the national leader in developing talent and pro - viding multiple pathways for students to high-demand, high-wage jobs,” he added. About 109,000 students are en - rolled in career- tech classes, with about 72,000 in criti - CASS CITY High School senior Danielle Kopah, an automotive technology cal skills pro - student at the Tuscola Technology Center in Caro, utilizes a diagnostic tool to grams. Overall enrollment in “talk” to a car’s computer system in order to find out why the vehicle won’t career-tech start. The patch on her shirt signifies that Kopah has earned the ASE (Auto - classes has in - creased by motive Service Excellence) student certification. about 5,000 students since KINGSTON High School juniors 2015. Lacie Peters (left) and Cheyenne Clay - The Thumb is well repre - Suspect in custody in string pool hold lambs in the agriscience sented in those barn at the tech center. numbers. of break-ins in upper Thumb
by Tom Montgomery several of the burglaries run a stop Smith, detectives and Investiga - Ice fisherman survives Editor sign at Deckerville and Wheeler tors from the various county, city roads. and state agencies subsequently A Huron County man is behind “Upon contact with the driver performed a series of search war - falling through bay ice, bars after being arrested in con - and only occupant of the vehicle, rants in the Bad Axe, Mayville nection with a string of break-ins it was determined that he was in and Vassar areas. in the Thumb. violation of several traffic laws “These search warrants produced sheriff issues warning That’s according to Sanilac and was in possession of an illegal evidence linking the suspect to County Sheriff Garry Biniecki, quantity of marijuana,” Biniecki several of the area B and E’s,” by Tom Montgomery who said weeks of investigating said. “Further investigation led Smith said. Editor the crimes paid off with the arrest Sgt. Park and her back-up, Deck - of 38-year-old Gonzalo Medellin erville Police Chief Bob Willis, to “The solving of this case was due Tuscola County Sheriff Glen Skrent repeated warnings to ice fisher - III of Bad Axe, who has been for - locate stolen items in the vehicle to solid police work by all my men tempted to head out on Saginaw Bay after deputies rescued a fish - mally arraigned on felony charges that were taken in some of the area deputies involved in the case, as erman who fell through the ice early last week. of home invasion, larceny in a B and E’s.” well as neighboring agencies, but In a statement released by the sheriff and posted on the department’s building and larceny of firearms. The officers arrested Medellin I feel it should be noted that Sgt. Facebook page, investigators said a woman called 911 at about 7 p.m. Medellin also faces charges of and transported him to the Sanilac Park’s initiative and focus was key Monday and reported that her son had called her after falling through possession of a controlled sub - County Jail. in bringing this suspect to justice,” the ice. stance and receiving and conceal - According to D/Sgt. Nathan Biniecki said. “He had been five miles out from Thomas Road and was coming back ing stolen property. when he drove into open water. He and the quad went into the water,” “Good police work capped off a Skrent said. “The subject had managed to pull himself out, but was un - lengthy multi-agency response to able to get back in to shore, so he took refuge in a shanty he had been a series of B and E’s that occurred Greenleaf home invasion towing. during the fall of 2017 in north - “Sgt. (Justin) Nitz and Deputy (Kirk) Dutcher, who are part of the joint western Sanilac County and defendant faces evaluation Huron/Tuscola airboat team, responded. Caseville Fire Chief Ben Wil - neighboring Tuscola and Huron counties,” Biniecki said last week. Please turn to page 2. “Several residential (break-ins) by Tom Montgomery occurred where various tools, Editor electronics and other items were taken,” he noted. “These cases The criminal case against the remaining suspect in a home in - Traffic crash claims one life were investigated by sheriff’s vasion-double homicide in Sanilac County in November is on deputies from Huron, Tuscola and hold following his attorney’s request to have her client undergo by Tom Montgomery Sanilac counties as well as the a psychiatric evaluation to determine if he’s competent to stand Editor Michigan State Police.” trial. The case was broken open Jan. 9 The request was recently granted in Sanilac County District A Tuscola County man lost his life in a two-vehicle traffic accident at about 2 p.m., when Sanilac Court. Thursday in Fremont Township. County Sheriff’s Department Sgt. No other court dates have been set for the defendant, Preston Troopers from the Michigan State Police post in Caro were dispatched Shelly Park — who was respond - Jack, 30, of Flint, who is being held without bond in the Sanilac to M-24 and Snover Road, according to Specialist First Lt. David A. ing to a call in the northwest cor - County Jail. It can take several weeks to schedule and complete Kaiser, public information officer for the MSP Third District Headquar - ner of the county — observed a psychiatric evaluations. ters. vehicle matching the description Please turn to page 2. Please turn to page 4. of a vehicle seen in the area of PAGE TWO CASS CITY CHRONICLE - WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2018 CASS CITY, MICHIGAN Greenleaf historical group planning old-fashioned sledding fun Feb. 17
by Mary Drier warm if they have to wait for their “It’s a part of our history that we Special for the Chronicle turn for a ride,” said Greenleaf are trying to show,” said Cleland. Historical Society Board member “The rides are free. It’s open to Greenleaf Township residents Jerry Cleland. “There are Amish Greenleaf Township residents and will have an opportunity to go in the area. Andrew Miller will to those who are interest in the dashing through the snow in a provide the horses and I have an area’s history.” one-horse open sleigh this week - old bobsled that we will be using.” The Greenleaf Township Histor - end, just like in bygone days. Before automobiles became the ical Society is always on the look - The Greenleaf Historical Society main mode of transportation, out for new members, according will host bobsled rides from 2 to 4 horseback or a horse and buggy to Cleland. “We’d like to get some p.m. Saturday, Feb. 17, at the old were used. During the winter younger ones to join us and learn Holbrook Church on Germania months, buggies with wheels were about the area’s history,” he said. Road. replaced with sleds that had steel For more information about the “We are having the bobsled rides runners so it was easier for the bobsled rides and the historical so - at the Holbrook Church so we horses to pull them through the ciety, call Cleland at (989) 658- have a place for people to keep snow and ice. 8767. Senior Citizen Movies scheduled for Feb. Rawson Memorial District Li - past is unfolded through re-enact - graphic Traveler magazine, as he brary in Cass City will host its ments, film and TV clips. A rare travels through exciting and edgy next Senior Citizen Movies Fri - historical look at the most famous Tokyo and the craft capital of day, Feb. 16, at 1:30 p.m. beach in the world (70 minutes). Japan, Kyoto (30 minutes). *”Rudy Maxa’s World: Japan” – Films slated to be shown are: Join Rudy Maxa, public radio’s Refreshments will be served. *”Waikiki: In the Wake of original Savvy Traveler and con - This older adult program is of - Dreams” – Waikiki’s charming tributing editor for National Geo - fered free of charge. Greenleaf invasion-homicide case on hold
Continued from page one. more of the suspects were shot,” with the doors locked while police Biniecki said. “One of the sus - searched for the last two suspects. Jack and a co-defendant, Stephen pects was at the residence de - Jack and Shimmel were subse - Vance Shimmel, 47, also of Flint, ceased and the other suspects fled quently arrested and charged with were formally arraigned on a host on foot. assault with intent to commit mur - of felony charges following the der (two counts), conspiracy to Nov. 19 crime in Greenleaf Town - After arriving at the scene, offi - commit assault with intent to mur - ship that left two other Flint men cers discovered a vehicle in a der, armed robbery – causing seri - dead from gunshot wounds. ditch at Holbrook and Germania ous injury, two counts of assault The double homicide investiga - roads. Inside the vehicle was a with intent to rob while armed, tion unfolded after the man tar - black male from the Flint area, de - conspiracy to commit armed rob - geted in the home invasion placed ceased with a gunshot injury. bery, first degree home invasion, a 911 call to Sanilac Central Dis - Biniecki noted the vehicle had possession of a firearm by a !$ patch at about 5 a.m., according to been reported stolen from the Flint felony, receiving and concealing a Sanilac County Sheriff Garry area last October. stolen motor vehicle, and posses - Biniecki, who reported the call Deputies, who were assisted by sion of a firearm in the commis - ! ! & came from a residence in the 4300 a host of other law enforcement sion of a felony. % % block of Holbrook Road. officers from various agencies Hours later, Shimmel took his &$( &'% “The caller advised that three - '%((!%$" , +#( along with helicopter surveillance, own life, with Biniecki reporting # '! ') # male subjects just broke into his K-9 units and crime scene inves - the defendant hung himself inside - '('!&)!%$( !"" home and shot him in the leg. tigators, ordered residents in sur - a single-occupant cell in the upper $! (# + - ' (")!%$ % '#( Gun fire was returned and one or rounding homes to remain inside level of the county jail. - "" ),&( % %$))( - %"!$ !%"( ### - "((( '&!' " $! () '%" ) - "* '%(( ..&')!!&$) Fisherman survives scare on Saginaw Bay $ !% ) *!) ! "" & ! In that case, Huron County Sher - Continued from page one. this season, and refreezes with !% ) # "" #& iff Kelly J. Hanson said deputies added snow covering, have made lenberg and other members of were dispatched to the shoreline for unstable ice. Please do not take % their fire department transported community of Rose Island in the ice for granted just because the airboat to the scene and as - Fairhaven Township after a friend colder temperatures are once sisted also. of the missing fishermen reported again occurring. The reward is in “Using the airboat, thermal im - that he had received a voicemail no way worth the risk.” aging and GPS coordinates they from one of the victims, stating Skrent agreed. “We are seeing located the fisherman and trans - they had broken through the ice many questions on social media ported (him) to shore. He was and needed immediate help. about events like this. Is there a treated at the scene by ACW am - Rescuers later recovered the bod - cost if you call 911? The answer bulance, Skrent added. ies of both victims, and Hanson is no. However, someone pays for The fisherman, who was not said it appeared the voicemail sent your rescue and it is the taxpayers identified, was extremely fortu - by one of the men had been sent of the county,” Skrent said. “The nate. roughly five hours before it was first responders are also risking $" received by the friend on shore. their lives to save yours.” A pair of ice fishermen lost their “With repeated warnings over ! # lives after falling through the ice the last couple of weeks about un - In addition, the sheriff noted, res - on Saginaw Bay earlier this safe ice already being issued, we cuers do not recover equipment – month. The victims were identi - once again remind anglers that the individuals who lose equipment fied as Willard E. Slider, 69, of ice conditions are very unpre - must pay a private recovery com - Caro, and Dennis W. Shaw, 73, of dictable,” Hanson said. pany to recover their quadrunner Fowlerville. “The thaws we’ve experienced or other vehicle from the water. “If you do fall through the ice and can make a call, your first call # ! ! should be 911. It may be the only % !$ call you are able to make,” Skrent ) stressed. Saginaw Bay is to be respected ! and can be dangerous anytime of ' ( the year, which is why law en - forcement officials are urging anyone planning to venture onto the ice to take the following pre - cautions: #&#$ " *Do not rely on your phone as a compass. " *Carry a real compass and a GPS "! and learn which direction is back "! to shore from where you came. " *Carry ice picks to use if you fall " ! through. *Tell people where you will be ! - *)% - %# fishing and when you are sup - posed to return. *(!$(( -") $)( $ $ " $% $" " $"# !% "% $#$ Correction !$ ) (( !), " " ! A recent story in the Chronicle " incorrectly reported that the Ever - green Township Board’s next #!" meeting will be held Tuesday, !%! !# Feb. 27. In fact, the board’s next $%% #$ regularly scheduled meetings will be in March; a budget session is set for Saturday, March 10, at 10 a.m., followed by a regular meet - ing Tuesday, March 13, at 7:30 p.m. The Chronicle regrets the error. CASS CITY, MICHIGAN CASS CITY CHRONICLE - WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2018 PAGE THREE Drier Humor by Mary Drier Nothin’ says lovin’ like a roach
Clarke Haire Tom Montgomery Valentine’s Day is normally about hearts and flow - You can learn more by visiting the website bronx - Publisher Editor ers. zoo.com/roach. The problem with that is, candy gets eaten and flow - Either way, Happy Valentine’s Day. ers wilt, but cockroaches are forever. The Bronx Zoo’s “name a roach” program is back again this year. The event started in 2011 in the name Organ donors give of love — the love for animals and the environment, that is. Sending someone a roach is for a good cause and for fun, or it can be an expression of true feelings. Zoo goers, or anyone interested, can name a not-so- Rabbit Tracks gift of life to many cuddly Madagascar Hissing Cockroach in honor of a by Clarke Haire loved one, or even a not so loved one. Either way, it will be a gift to remember… forever. Organ transplants have been saving lives for decades, Whether a roach is given with sincerity or done as a (And anyone else he can and yet thousands of patients in Michigan face uncer - snark, the naming of the four-inch-long hissing cock - roach is a unique gift. get to help) tain futures because the supply simply isn’t keeping up According to Wildlife Conservation Society Execu - with the demand. tive Vice president of Public Affairs John Calvelli, It’s a concern many of us could help to address by sim - love can be like a cockroach. A roach’s characteristics could be symbolic. Love is elusive. Love can be re - I made a rookie mistake in my story last week on ply registering as donors. silient, and sometimes it can be scary. the Cass City Chamber of Commerce Annual Din - In honor of fallen Wayne State University police offi - With this program, you can name your cockroach ner. after anyone you want; a lover, ex-lover, friend, Missing were the names of two outstanding seniors cer Collin Rose, Secretary of State Ruth Johnson re - enemy, a boss, a politician. The possibilities are end - – Lauren Dickinson and Travis Albrecht - that I cently joined law enforcement officials in Southeast less. A hissing Madagascar cockroach really does hiss, an failed to include as Junior Citizen of the Year nomi - Michigan to promote organ and tissue donation. interesting talent it uses as a defense. nations for 2018. “Sgt. Rose was a man who gave easily of himself to Although you won’t get an actual roach. For $15, a Problem is I used up that excuse long ago. digital certificate with the roach’s name will be sent to My apologies to the Dan and Janelle Dickinson others, so it is no surprise that his final wish was to your loved one to cherish for years to come. family and to the Jim and Sue Albrecht family for give of himself through the gift of life,” Johnson said. For $50, something shiny and cuddly can be sent to my mistake and congratulations on two fine, young your loved one along with a certificate with the cock - adults. “I am so proud of our new partnership with his broth - roach’s name. That gift includes socks with cockroach ers and sisters in law enforcement to remember his characters and a “roach broach” pin in the image of a legacy and help others through organ and tissue dona - cockroach with a rose. ********** There is also a certificate, chocolate and pin gift set tion.” (with that one you can get a roach, chocolates shaped Rose was killed in the line of duty in November 2016, like a cockroach, and a pin), and there is a socks and Third strike you’re out, right? Not when it comes chocolate package. to one of my favorite winter pastimes – skiing. and his family supported his decision as a registered For $75 — the premium package – you get a certifi - Strike one occurred in 2016, when the Haires organ and tissue donor to give the gift of life to others. cate, roach broach, socks and cockroach-shaped gour - planned a 9-day dream trip to Jackson Hole for my met chocolate candies. son Parker’s senior year at Cass City High School. Because of his generosity, many lives were improved. The program, which is in its seventh year, was organ - Unfortunately, foul weather shut down the Denver “With the support of our branch office staff, we have ized to help the Wildlife Conservation Society further airport on our departure date and our airline carrier made great strides since I was elected to increase the its mission to save wildlife in New York and around couldn’t get us out west until the middle of the fol - the world. lowing week. number of registered donors,” Johnson said. “Michi - Since our trip was prepaid, it left one option. And gan has actually gone from one of the worst states in 27 hours later we drove our rental car into the Wyoming resort. That’s no way to start a dream trip, the nation to one of the best states for organ donor reg - Have a Concern? but still, it was a trip of a life time. istration.” Strike two came in 2017, when Parker and I sched - Johnson noted that when she became secretary of uled a boys only trip to Beaver Creek, Colorado. The A Complaint? trip west without the entire family was a first and was state in 2011, about 27 percent of the state’s residents created due to different spring break dates for the were registered as organ donors. “Today…that number Haire children. Just want to Misfortune struck on my second run of the day, has climbed to over 62 percent,” she added. tumbling down the mountain and dislocating my “Those numbers represent hope to real people,” voice your opinion? shoulder on the way. That injury ended my skiing last Johnson said. “There are over 3,300 people in Michi - year, but was still worth the pain and a visit to the emergency room. gan right now whose families are waiting for that life- Finally, strike three came over the weekend after saving phone call.” The Cass City we shrunk our family ski vacation to just three days. As always, I prepaid for our 2018 vacation that was Nationwide, that number stands at roughly 114,000 Chronicle scheduled to leave Detroit Metro airport early Friday patients. night and return early in the morning Monday, to Organ donation may involve the recovery of lungs, save a few bucks. welcomes Yep, Detroit Metro closed Friday night and canceled kidneys, heart, liver, pancreas and intestines for trans - our trip to Winter Park Resort and was unable to plantation to severely ill patients on the transplant letters arrange other transportation to the mile high city – strike three, you’re out, right? waiting list. Tissue donation may include corneas, to the editor . Hold it, appears that that last strike actually was a bone, skin, heart valves, nerves, blood vessels, liga - foul tip. Officials from Winter Park say they will ments, tendons and other soft tissue. work something out concerning the cost of our lift Letters must include the tickets – which cost over $1,000 for two days of ski - It costs nothing to be an organ donor, and there are writer’s name, address and ing for four adults. no age limits to register. In fact, there have been donors telephone number. The latter A refund would be best, but even a gift certificate in their 70s and 80s who have saved lives. is in case it is necessary to call good for a year would do. for verification, but won’t be According to officials at the Ann Arbor-based Gift of used in the newspaper. Life Michigan, the state’s only federally designated ********** organ and tissue recovery program, every organ donor Names will can save up to eight lives, and each tissue donor can be withheld The Michigan Department of Treasury reminds tax - from publi - payers who filed a 2017 state return to check the sta - improve the lives of up to 75 people. tus of their refund online by going to More than 9,000 Michigan patients have received a cation upon www.michigan.gov/wheresmyrefund. life-saving organ transplant over the past 10 years, and request, for Individuals who e-filed can check their refund sta - an adequate tus two weeks from the date confirmation was re - many thousands more have benefited from tissue and reason. The ceived that the state return was accepted. The status corneal transplants. Chronicle reserves the right to of paper-filed tax returns can be viewed from six to eight weeks after postmarking. Sadly, while an average of 88 lives are saved by an edit letters for length and clar - The most up-to-date information about a taxpayer’s organ transplant in the United States, another 22 peo - ity. refund is on the “Where’s My Refund?” website. ple die while waiting for a transplant that never comes. Taxpayers interested in learning the status of their re - We will not publish thank you fund are encouraged to use the website. Area residents can learn more about signing up to be letters of a specific nature, for “Michigan taxpayers look forward to receiving their organ and tissue donors by visiting the website refunds during the income tax season,” said Deputy instance, from a club thanking State Treasurer Glenn White, head of Treasury’s Tax www.michigan.gov/sos and clicking on “organ dona - merchants who donated prizes Administration Group. “Whether a return was e-filed tion.” for a raffle. or sent through the mail, taxpayers can go to this website to check the status of their refund.” More than 5 million individual income tax returns are processed annually, with more than 4.1 million News Staff returns being e-filed. PUBLISHED EVERY WEDNESDAY Last year, approximately 3.7 million returns pro - AT 6550 MAIN STREET, CASS Clarke Haire vided nearly $2 billion in refunds. More than two- CITY, MICHIGAN, by Clarke Haire, Publisher thirds of the refunds issued were directly deposited publisher. [email protected] into a taxpayer’s bank account. 6550 Main Street Periodical postage paid at Cass City, Tom Montgomery Required Information for Checking Refund Status Michigan 48726. Editor To ensure taxpayer privacy and security, the follow - P.O. Box 115 [email protected] ing information is required when checking the status POSTMASTER: Send address changes of a refund at www.michigan.gov/wheresmyrefund: Cass City, MI 48726 to CASS CITY CHRONICLE, P.O. Krysta Boyce BOX 115, CASS CITY, MI 48726. Sr. Sales Executive * Social Security Number Phone: (989) 872-2010 [email protected] * Tax Year Fax: (989) 872-3810 National Advertising Representative, [email protected] * Filing Status Michigan Weekly Newspapers, Inc., * Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) or Total Household Email: [email protected] 257 Michigan Avenue, East Lansing, Deb Severance Resources (THR) Michigan. Composition Individuals can find their AGI on line 10 of the MI- Website: www.ccchronicle.net Mary Drier For information regarding newspaper 1040. Total Household Resources are found on line advertising and commercial and job Freelance Writer, Columnist 33 on the MI-1040CR or line 34 on the MI-1040CR- printing, telephone: (989) 872-2010. Tina Pallas 7. (USPS 092-00) Columnist PAGE FOUR CASS CITY CHRONICLE - WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2018 CASS CITY, MICHIGAN Thumb men, including Decker # "('*# $+- .0 )'//'*% '/#). '* /