KISS? Not when it comes to the DNR Lewis Cass was a pioneer, politician Reporter’s Notebook, page 5 Page 16 Complete coverage of the Cass City community and surrounding areas since 1899 VOLUME 108, NUMBER 38 CASS CITY, MICHIGAN - WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2014 75 CENTS ~ 16 PAGES - 3 SUPPLEMENTS Christmas in the Village celebration on tap by Tom Montgomery ishable food item for the Eastern chili at any participating business for of the day and the winner announced first-place chili honors behind the Editor Michigan Food Bank and be entered $4 (adults) and $1 (kids age 12 and at Knight Insurance Agency, 6468 culinary talents of Kurt Russell, fol - into a drawing for door prizes. under). Main Street. lowed by Amy Peters of Knights The Christmas season in Cass City Once again, the Cass Theatre will The ballots will be tallied at the end CK Graphics took home last year’s Please turn to page 8. kicks off in earnest this weekend, be showing a free matinee both this and everyone is invited to share in Saturday and Saturday, Dec. 13, the fun. courtesy of Thumb National Bank. The annual Christmas in the Village The doors will open at 1:30 p.m. and celebration is scheduled for the movies will start at 2 p.m. The Saturday, Dec. 6, with activities for theatre will be showing “ICE AGE: the entire family, from the wildly The Meltdown” this week and popular chili cook-off to a colorful “Marmaduke” the following lighted winter parade — now in its Saturday. ninth year — in the evening, to visits Another popular attraction is the with Santa and Mrs. Claus. Christmas in the Village Chili Cook- The day’s events kick off at 10 a.m. off. Now in its 11th year, the event with a large craft show that runs is sponsored by Knights Insurance through 4 p.m. at Cass City Junior- Agency, Cass City, and pits the Senior High School. Dozens of area’s best chili chefs against each crafters sign up to showcase their other with a year’s worth of bragging wares each year, offering visitors a rights at stake. wide variety of Christmas gifts and Here’s how it works: cooks at local other items. businesses will be preparing their Last year roughly 60 crafters signed best chili recipes — from mild to up for the show, matching the annual wild. Visitors can wander through holiday extravagana’s most success - town from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., tasting ful year ever, in 2011. each one after purchasing a ticket to Those planning to stop at the show participate in the event. You can buy are encouraged to donate a non-per - your ballot to vote for your favorite DOUG SOFFA OF Cass City tastes the chili cook-off entry at Coach Light Trial slated for Huron Pharmacy, served up by Leah Sanders, during last year’s Christmas in the Village Chili Cook-off. Organizers are gearing up for what they hope will be Co. woman charged another wildly successful competition during Cass City’s 2014 Christmas in in fatal drug overdose the Village celebration Saturday. by Tom Montgomery Sanilac County business targeted Editor The Huron County woman charged in the fatal drug overdose of her Police looking for armed robbery suspect boyfriend in March 2013 is scheduled to go to trial April 21. That was the date set in Huron County Circuit Court, where Amanda I. by Tom Montgomery along M-25, and then ran westbound State Police post in Caro and the Vanvalkenburgh, 23, is charged with a felony count of delivery of a con - Editor near Gardner Line Road.” Michigan Department of Natural trolled substance – causing death. Vanvalkenburgh, of Elkton, previously Witnesses told police that the victim Resources (DNR) Law Enforcement waived her right to a preliminary examination in Huron County District Thumb law enforcement authorities appeared to be in his late teens to Division. Court last month. responded to an armed robbery early 20s, about six feet tall with a The March 27 incident took place at an apartment complex in Elkton, report in Sanilac County over the skinny build. Deputies ask that anyone with where Vanvalkenburgh allegedly injected her boyfriend, 19-year-old Ryan weekend, and investigators are ask - Officers from the Lexington, information related to the case con - A. Shemka, with methadone, resulting in an overdose. ing for the public’s help by providing Croswell and Port Sanilac police tact the Sanilac County Sheriff’s According to Huron County Sheriff’s Department reports, deputies were any information citizens may have departments all assisted at the scene, Department Detective Bureau at dispatched to the complex to investigate a report of a man who was uncon - regarding the crime. as did troopers from the Michigan (810) 648-2000. scious and not breathing. Sanilac County Sheriff’s deputies Sheriff Kelly J. Hanson said dispatchers worked with occupants of the reported the robbery occurred at the apartment to initiate CPR. An Elkton Ambulance crew arrived and took over Sunrise Marathon Station in Worth the life-saving efforts, but Shemka was pronounced dead at the scene a short Township Saturday just before 6:30 Injuries reported in crashes time later. p.m. A 19-year-old female clerk at “It was learned that the victim…who had been temporarily residing at the the business called 911 at 6:26 p.m., by Tom Montgomery apartment, had fallen asleep with his girlfriend in a closet used as a bed - according to Sgt. Nathan Smith. Editor room,” Hanson said. “This was apparently after the two had spent several “The initial investigation revealed hours intravenously injecting each other with methadone and consuming that a male subject wearing a red Injuries were reported in traffic crashes last week in both Tuscola and alcohol.” hooded sweatshirt, dark colored blue Sanilac counties. The investigation by deputies and the Elkton Police Department resulted in jeans and black face mask entered Sanilac County Sheriff’s Department investigators said two individuals the request for a search warrant for a Colfax Township residence, where offi - the front entrance of the store and were hurt in a one-vehicle accident Friday at about 2:15 p.m. on South cers seized several methadone pills and a small amount of cash. produced a black in color semi-auto Germania Road near Cooper Road. “A 2011 Chrysler Town and Country Bad Axe attorney Walt Salens has been appointed to represent pistol,” Smith reported. “The male driven by a 56-year-old female was northbound on Germania Road near Vanvalkenburgh, who could face up to life in prison if convicted. demanded money from the clerk, Cooper Road when she left the roadway and entered the west ditch,” Sgt. Her bond was initially set at $3,500 (10 percent cash), but Huron County which she provided him from the Nathan Smith of the Sanilac County Sheriff’s Department reported. “She District Court Judge David B. Herrington later revised the amount to register. The male subject then left then struck a driveway embankment and came to rest in the yard of 760 S. $10,000 (personal recognizance) at the request of Prosecutor Timothy J. the store and was observed by wit - Germania Rd. The driver and her 27-year-old passenger were both wearing Rutkowski, who cited the severity of the alleged crime. nesses to be running southbound Please turn to page 8. !3&% -#!./-31,%.%)#.$*-! 3*/,-!'".*-'!-$,*)%'!)!. '!..!,-.*). !..!,- ) '-* ! (%'! .* .$! 0!,3* 3&)*1-).$- ++!, . %) . -/-,%+.%*) .* --%.3 .$! -- %.3 *, ,*+.$!(*"".* $,*)%'!) /-%)+!,-*)1!4,! AN ESTIMATED 200 $! $!&- '*.! ..$!*, area residents gathered !$ %--/! )!, *" %) for this year’s Cass City '*-!'3 .$%- ) & Community .%(! *" 3!, %) -.,!!.-)!2. Thanksgiving Dinner at -!,$ *" $,%-. .* $)!! the Cass City United (- '%-.- ",*( !,#!,4- Methodist Church, according to Scott $%' ,!) %) .$! ''*".$!'!..!,-1%'' Mills, veteran event $/(,! !+/'%-$! %)!!( coordinator, who laud - ''3*/$0!.* *%-1,%.!3*/,'!. !,(*-.*".$!(%)*/,))/' ed all of the volunteers, .!,) -!) %..*/-$!!-%!-. $,%-.(-! %.%*)! )!- 3! service clubs and 13%-.*$0!(*(*, !(%' /.#!.-.,.! )*1!/-!.$! churches for their par - 3*/, )*.! '*)# 1%.$ +$*.* *" ! '%)!%-/!- 3! ticipation. PAGE TWO CASS CITY CHRONICLE - WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2014 CASS CITY, MICHIGAN Owen-Gage honors students of month The focus for Owen-Gage’s stu - Clarkson, eighth grade (junior high junior, where she was enrolled in the ',"1&##/3'!#-//-"2!1 dents of the month for November is level), son of Brad and Amy Health Science Program and was a ‘Respectful of Others’. A student Clarkson: Morgan Ondrajka, ninth member of HOSA – Future Health -2##"',&'0 who is respectful of others cares grade (high school level), daughter about others and their property, of Fred and Sarah Ondrajka; and demonstrates courtesy and cooper - Sidney Bencheck, twelfth grade ates with others. The student also (senior student), daughter of Kelly listens to others, interacts appropri - # "!$ Bencheck and the late Mark ately, shares with others and accepts Bencheck. differences in others. Special recognition goes to the The following students have been “Senior Student of the Month”, chosen: Addison Bach, third grade Sidney Bencheck. Sidney participat - % (elementary level), daughter of Ernie ed in volleyball as a freshman, junior and Christi Garcia; Cordell and senior. She was a member of the varsity softball team her sophomore year. Sidney has also been a member of the Owen-Gage Band all four years, in which she plays the flute. Academically, Sidney has been on the honor roll and a member of the 3.0 Honors Club each year. She was inducted into the Owen-Gage Chapter of the National Honor Sidney Bencheck Society as a sophomore. She served as the N.H.S. treasurer her junior Professionals. As a senior, Sidney is year. taking dual-enrollment classes at the Each year, Sidney has served as H.A.T.C. through Mid-Michigan secretary of her class. She was a Community College.