Tuscola Sheriff asks Chronicle special section: Chemical Bank for residents’ help Spring your home to life presents generous gift Page 4 Pages 6-7 Photo, page 11 Complete coverage of the Cass City community and surrounding areas since 1899 VOLUME 104, NUMBER 52 CASS CITY, MICHIGAN - WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16, 2011 FIFTY CENTS ~ 16 PAGES Man critically injured after striking truck last Tuesday A Cass City man was critically westbound. That vehicle was driven injured last week when the vehicle by Eric Hagen, 50, of Ubly, who was he was driving collided with a semi- not injured. truck just east of town. “Kruse was airlifted to a Saginaw The accident occurred at shortly hospital by FlightCare, then trans- before 10 a.m. Tuesday, according to ferred to Hurley Hospital in Flint, in Tuscola County Undersheriff Glen critical condition,” Skrent said. “He Skrent, who identified the victim as was found not to have been wearing Donald Kruse, 78. a seatbelt.” Skrent reported that Kruse, was MMR ambulance personnel, mem- driving northbound on Schwegler bers of the Elkland Township and A CASS CITY area man Road when he stopped at the stop Elmwood Township-Gagetown fire was listed in critical con- sign at M-81 and then pulled into the departments, and Cass City police dition after the vehicle path of the truck, which was headed assisted at the scene. he was driving struck a semi last week at the Tuscola Co. Sheriff: intersection of M-81 and Schwegler Road. The driver, Donald Kruse, this program will 78, was flown to a Saginaw area hospital, target teen drivers then transferred to Tuscola County Sheriff Lee Teschendorf is again reminding parents of Hurley Hospital in Flint. teenagers who drive of the STOPPED program. STOPPED stands for Sheriffs Telling Our Parents and Promoting Educated Drivers. The program is sponsored statewide by the Michigan Sheriff’s Association and AAA. Couple with roots in the Thumb “The STOPPED program is a parental notification system with a goal to reduce the number of young drivers who are injured or killed in motor vehi- cle crashes each year,” Teschendorf explained. “Annually, over 3,000 driv- running own disposal business ers ages 16 to 21 years old, die in the United States as a result of motor vehi- cle crashes. Although young drivers represent less than 15 percent of all by Tom Montgomery the community they’ve called home “We were living out of the Thumb licensed drivers in Michigan, they are involved in almost 25 percent of all Editor for years. area for the past 13 years, and once crashes. In the process, the Radabaughs, we had children knew that we want- “By signing up (with the STOPPED program), you get an emblem for the For most folks, trash is simply who now reside in the Deford area, ed to raise our family back in this windshield of each vehicle that is used by your child,” the sheriff said. “If something you toss out. have proven themselves good busi- area and be closer to our own fami- a deputy stops the registered vehicle while a person under 21 years of age is Not to Melanie (Churchill) and ness managers, earning the trust of a lies,” said Melanie Radabaugh, who driving, whether or not a ticket is issued, a notification is mailed to the par- Ryan Radabaugh, a couple whose growing number of customers. along with Ryan have 2 children; ent of the traffic stop. This makes the parent aware of potential problems as roots in the area brought them back The Radabaughs — Melanie gradu- Colin, who is 5 weeks old, and well as enables them to enforce parental rules that often co-exist with to the Thumb with their own dispos- ated from Cass City High School in Madison, 3. teenage privileges.” al business in hopes of serving their 1992 and Ryan is a 1995 Owen-Gage “We spent the last several years dis- Parents can learn more about the program and sign up by either calling 1- friends and neighbors and, at the High School graduate — formed cussing that we’d like to own our 800-875-5500 or go online at: www.MichiganSheriff.com. Enrollment same time, earning a decent living in Diva Disposal in 2009. Please turn to page 4. forms are also available at the Secretary of State Office in Caro. Sweet legacy Battels gearing up to share 129-year maple syrup history Talk about sweet success. “We had about 100 people attend The Battel family has perfected the open house last year, although the process of transforming maple the weather was terrible. The year tree sap into syrup, not to mention before, with better weather, we had candy and other natural maple nearly 300,” Stuever Battel noted. treats over the course of nearly “We’re also having a special ‘Maple 130 years. Syrup Day’ for homeschoolers on And, for the past 2 years, they’ve Friday, March 18. We expect home- invited the Thumb community to schooling families from as far as stop by for a tour and a taste of Livonia and Flint to be there.” their natural family legacy. This The Battel family’s maple syrup year’s open house is slated for history dates back to more than a Saturday, March 19, at Battel’s century. Sugar Bush, which is located at “One year after the Great Fire of 7964 Daus Rd. (also known as 1881 swept across the Thumb, Ritter Road). The sugar bush is George and Annie Battel settled on a one mile west of M-53 and one farm on Daus Road, northeast of mile south of Bay City-Forestville Cass City, having moved from Road. Ontario,” Stuever Battel said. “They “This is the third year we’re began tapping a 10-acre stand of doing a free public open house sugar maple trees that was spared by where people can see how syrup is the 1881 fire and also by the 1871 made. We make sure everyone fire, and from these trees they made gets a pancake with fresh maple pure maple syrup. Their sons, syrup,” said family member Sue Daniel, George and John, continued Stuever Battel. “Join us anytime making syrup, as did John and from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. for a free, Bessie’s son, Arthur, and his wife, public open house. See firsthand Marjory. Today, 129 years later, how we make our sweetness from their son, Mark, and his wife, Diane, the woods. are still making maple syrup in the “Visitors are invited to experi- same sugar bush.” ence the making of fresh maple Two more generations are carrying Photo courtesy of Sue Stuever Battel syrup as the family shares its tradi- on that tradition, with their son, Bob, DORI BATTEL, 5, one of the sixth generation of Battels to help in the fam- tion. Participants can try their and his wife, Sue, and their young hand at tapping a maple tree, see children pitching in to help. And, ily’s Cass City area sugar bush, catches a drip of sweet maple sap right out how sap is gathered and boiled, Mark and Diane’s daughter, Brenda, of the tree. The Battels will be hosting a public open house Saturday, and get a taste of the finished is sure to spend time in the woods product,” Stuever Battel said. each “sugaring season”, while March 19, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The sugar bush is located at 7964 Daus “Guided tours will be given by Mark’s siblings, John Battel and Rd. (also called Ritter Road), one mile west of M-53 and one mile south of request, and children may enjoy a Margaret Battel — although no self-guided scavenger hunt. Please turn to page 8. Bay City-Forestville Road. PAGE TWO CASS CITY CHRONICLE - WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16, 2011 CASS CITY, MICHIGAN Kenneth L. Orton and the late Janice M. Orton of Deford announce the engagement of their son, Jess L. Orton of Saginaw, to Tobi L Ehmcke of Saginaw, daughter of Leonard and Patricia Ehmcke of Saginaw. The groom-to-be is a 2001 graduate of Cass City High School. He received his Associate’s of Science from Davenport University of Caro in 2008. The bride-to-be is a 1985 graduate of Arthur Hill High School. She attended Delta College, where she received her Unit Secretary Certificate in 1986. The couple is planning an April 2012 wedding. Find the Service or Product You Need in This.... Action Guide SERVICE DIRECTORY APPLIANCE SERVICE PRINTING SERVICE JOHNSON CASS CITY APPLIANCE & CHRONICLE REFRIGERATION SERVICE • Business Cards Ashleigh Finley Cass City, Michigan • Invitations • Flyers Over 20 Years Experience • Brochures • Booklets and Kurt Hanby Washers, Dryers, Stoves, Dishwashers, Microwaves, Ashleigh Brooke Finley and Kurt 6550 Main St. Refrigerators, All Brands Allen Hanby, together with their par- Cass City, MI 48726 Martin and Mercedes Smith ents, announce their engagement. (989) 872-1101 (989) 872-2010 Ashleigh is the daughter of Jill Finley of Plymouth, Ind., and Paul Finley of Crestview, Fla. She is a HOME DECORATING & REPAIR SERVICE Smith and Chiroque 2006 graduate of Plymouth High School and graduated from Bethel College, Ind., in 2010 with a & Y DECORATING exchange vows in Peru Bachelor’s Degree in elementary PLAIN ANCY education. Paint - Wallpaper - Window Treatments Martin Ross Smith and Mercedes Carolina Landa Chiroque were married Kurt is the son of Jim and Rita Flooring & Repair - Custom Framing - Rug Binding Aug. 14, 2010 in Lima, Peru. Hanby of Cass City. He is a 2007 Martin is the son of Gary and Louise Smith of Unionville.