Caro bags grant of Hospital announces Effort underway to nearly $1 million leadership team restore state funding Page 4 Page 6 Page 7 Complete coverage of the Cass City community and surrounding areas since 1899 VOLUME 113, NUMBER 40 CASS CITY, MICHIGAN - WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2019 .75 CENTS - 16 PAGES - 1 SUPPLEMENT Tribe, state officials to co-manage petroglyphs Representatives of the Saginaw sign the document early last week. Director Daniel Eichinger. the largest known group of ancient floodplain show tribal groups Chippewa Indian Tribe and the In a news release issued by the “We hope this collaboration will rock carvings in the state. Listed have occupied the area periodi - Michigan Department of Natural tribe, officials called the memo - serve as a model, both within and in the National Register of His - cally throughout the last 8,000 Resources (DNR) have signed a randum of understanding ground - beyond Michigan, of respectful, toric Places, the park covers 240 years. memorandum of understanding breaking, as it marks the first inclusive, equitable management acres along the Cass River in The petroglyphs were likely (MOU) establishing the beginning state/tribe co-management of a practices that protect important Sanilac County’s Greenleaf Town - carved within the last 1,400 years, of the tribe’s co-management of state park in Michigan. historic resources while helping ship. with some possibly created in the Sanilac Petroglyphs Historic “This partnership is a major step people understand their relation - The carvings were discovered by more recent centuries. State Park near Cass City. forward in strengthening the au - ship to them.” residents after fire swept through The tribe and state began discus - Saginaw Chippewa Tribal Chief thentic interpretation of the Sani - Donated to the State of Michigan the area in 1881 and revealed sions regarding the preservation Ronald F. Ekdahl was joined in lac Petroglyphs site, which speaks by the Michigan Archaeological rocks bearing the designs. Stone and stewardship of ezhibiigadek Mount Pleasant by DNR represen - to the connections of humankind Society and managed by the DNR tools and pottery found on the pet - asin (Sanilac Petroglyphs Historic tative Sandra Clark and others to to nature and the earth,” said DNR since 1971, the petroglyphs are roglyphs site on the Cass River Please turn to page 8. Trooper sentenced to one year in jail by Tom Montgomery also placed him on probation for Editor three years and ordered him to pay court costs and fines totaling A former Michigan State Police $426. trooper convicted of assaulting his While on probation, Mullin is female partner – and an attempt to prohibited from having contact cover it up – last February in Bad with his victim or her family and Axe was sentenced to one year in from possessing weapons. He will jail last week in Huron County also be required to attend a 52- Circuit week anger management-style Court. program and is to receive mental Judge health counseling. Gerald M. A jury in October deliberated for Prill gave about two hours before convicting Adam the former law enforcement offi - Mullin, 26, cer on four criminal counts, in - of Milling - cluding felony charges of ton, credit obstruction of justice, which car - for 149 ries a maximum five years incar - days ceration and/or a $10,000 fine; served, Adam Mullin and obstructing a police officer – leaving causing injury, punishable by up 216 days left for him to serve. He Please turn to page 12. CASS CITY’S Christmas in the Village celebration kicked off Saturday District court jurors with breakfast with Santa at the Cass City VFW Hall, and while some babies aren’t too thrilled to sit on Santa’s lap, eight-month-old Roland will serve fewer days Gomez (above), son of Angel and Mitchel Gomez, Kingston, was en - by Tom Montgomery thralled with the big guy’s whiskers. (See story and related photos, page Editor 16) Receiving a jury duty notice in the mail isn’t typically a reason for celebration, although most people understand it’s a civic obligation that enables them to participate in a very important aspect of this country’s democracy, and it’s the law. Starting next year, however, Tuscola County residents who receive a Searchers find body of missing man district court jury summons will be asked to serve fewer days, lessening the inconvenience. Residents who are selected to serve on a jury for the Tuscola County by Tom Montgomery noon in the Unionville area. Resources (DNR), were involved District Court in 2020 will be the first to experience a number of Editor Tuscola County Sheriff Glen in the recovery effort, according to changes in the local jury process, according to Sheila Long, Tuscola Skrent identified the victim as 44- Skrent. Please turn to page 12. Law enforcement officials recov - year-old John Loughner, Searchers located the victim at ered the body of a missing Tus - Unionville. about 11 a.m. in a swampy area, in cola County man late Monday The Tuscola County Sheriff’s about three feet of water, across morning about a quarter-mile Department Dive Team along the road from the ditch where his from where the victim’s sub - with the Michigan State Police, vehicle was found. Veteran Elkland Township merged vehicle was discovered in with some assistance from the The search was launched Friday a water-filled ditch Friday after - Michigan Department of Natural Please turn to page 7. Supervisor Dan Erla retiring by Tom Montgomery Police: man assaulted woman who answered ad Editor Dan Erla is looking forward to giving up the supervisor’s chair in Elk - by Mary Drier third degree; and one count of officer, MSP Third District Head - land Township later this month, but don’t be surprised if you see him at For the Chronicle criminal sexual conduct – assault. quarters, Flint. future meetings of the local township board in Cass City. Bond was set at $250,000 cash According to reports, the assault “I told them (board members), I’ll be coming to those meetings,” Erla A 52-year-old Caro man is facing for Freeman, who remains lodged allegedly took place after the vic - commented last week. nine felony sexual assault charges in the Tuscola County Jail. He is tim had returned to the defen - Erla recently formally submitted his resigna - after he allegedly assaulted a 43- scheduled to appear for a prelimi - dant’s home from a grocery tion as supervisor, effective Dec. 31, and year-old woman who answered nary examination Monday, Dec. shopping trip. board members unanimously named veteran his help-wanted advertisement for 23, at 9:30 a.m. The incident prompted law en - Trustee Terry Muntz to the post. Muntz, who a cleaning lady. forcement officials to remind area was expected to be officially appointed during The defendant, Gilbert Herbert According to the Michigan State residents to exercise caution when the board’s December regular monthly meet - Freeman, was arraigned Thursday Police, the victim had gone to answering ads or responding to ing Monday night, will complete Erla’s cur - in Tuscola County District Court Freeman’s residence Dec. 3 in re - any social media postings or other rent term in office, which expires at the end of on three sponse to a call-in advertisement media messages. 2020. counts of he had placed with a Thumb radio Erla isn’t certain just how many years he’s criminal sex - station for someone to clean his “The MSP (urges) citizens to be served in township government, although Dan Erla ual conduct, home and run errands for him. vigilant when meeting people he’s been supervisor for the past 22 years, first degree; “Upon meeting the 52-year-old from any sort of online posting, taking on the job after Cass City’s Dave Milligan resigned from the post two counts Indianfields Township suspect – radio posting, online sale – after 12 years at the helm. criminal sex - they did not know each other – Craigslist/Facebook, etc.,” Kaiser Norma Wallace, a former longtime Elkland Township clerk who retired ual conduct, and spending some time together, said. “We encourage people to in 2008 with 26 years of service to the township, recalled Erla was a second de - the female victim was sexually as - Gilbert Freeman meet at their local police depart - trustee when she joined the board in 1983. That would give Erla a tenure gree; three saulted,” said Special First Lt. ment parking lot or any MSP post exceeding 36 years. “I know Dan will miss it,” she said. counts of criminal sexual conduct, David Kaiser, public information to exchange goods.” Please turn to page 12. PAGE TWO CASS CITY CHRONICLE - WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2019 CASS CITY, MICHIGAN Cass City Schools name “students of the month” Nominated by: Nominated by: Mrs. Stoutenburg Mrs. Peruski Characteristics she displays: Characteristics he displays: Harper displays all the Clayton has a lot of posi - characteristics of SOAR. tive energy! He works She always strives to do hard all day in class, and her best. She is kind to cooperates with any others and is always partner he works with, helpful. he is interested in everything. Clayton is a Some of her favorite things: friend to everyone. Playing board games, especially Monopoly Some of his favorite things: her family and His new ATV, playing Kindergarten Playing with her 1st Grade upstairs in the garage Student of the Month is dog, Layla. Student of the Month is with my brother Harper Kanyak Clayton Colling and my Black Panther Halloween costume. Nominated by: Nominated by: Mrs. Dorland Mrs. Murdoch Characteristics he displays: Characteristics he displays: Jordan is a great helper.