Cass City Reading all the rage Lady Hawks band students at Campbell this week advance into “amazing” Page 14 district semis Page 6 Page 7 Complete coverage of the Cass City community and surrounding areas since 1899 VOLUME 105, NUMBER 50 CASS CITY, MICHIGAN - WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 29, 2012 75 CENTS ~ 14 PAGES Board extends Hartel’s contract School facing difficult times by Tom Montgomery The board agreed to begin a series Editor of finance meetings over the next several weeks to discuss cost-cutting The good news is that Cass City options. The first of those special Public Schools officials expect to be meetings — all open to the public — sitting on a fund balance of more will be held Monday, March 5, at 7 than $744,000 when they approve p.m. in the high school library. their next budget in late June. The bad news? In spite of having MEAP SCORES implemented a myriad of cost-cut- ting measures over the past few Turning to the latest Michigan years, the Cass City Board of Educational Assessment Program Education is facing the prospect of (MEAP) scores, the board reviewed slashing hundreds of thousands of the latest marks posted by Cass City dollars more in spending in order to students. As expected, the numbers approve a balanced spending plan are dramatically lower due to new for 2012-13. “cut scores” implement by the Mike Klosowski, chief financial Michigan Department of Education officer for the Cass City Public in an effort to raise the bar for stu- Schools, outlined his latest financial dent achievement. report during the school board’s reg- State officials say the new cut ular monthly meeting Monday night. scores better reflect how schools are His report included an anticipated preparing kids to be on-track for fund balance of $744,611 by June career- and college-readiness in high 30. The total represents the equiva- school. lent of about 8 percent of the dis- Cut scores are the passing scores Troubled water trict’s general fund balance. that distinguish between the 4 levels However, school Supt. Jeff Hartel of student performance (advanced, indicated the board has its work cut proficient, partially proficient or not Grant to pay for 2-year water sampling out for it in the coming months. proficient) on a given test. “We’re looking at cutting another In spite of lower marks, Cass City million bucks,” said Hartel, who students proved themselves to be project targeting Cass City Watershed pointed out that the $470-per-student among the best prepared for future funding cut implemented by state academic success in most categories by Tom Montgomery Bay RC&D is working with the Cass of problems...is from non-point officials last year remains in effect, compared to their peers in the Editor River Greenway Committee to clean source pollution — mainly phospho- costing Cass City roughly a half-mil- Tuscola Intermediate School District up the watershed. rus and sediments. The sediments lion dollars in revenue. In addition, and across the state. A group led by the Saginaw Bay The Cass River Greenway were revealed to be coming from other costs continue to escalate, with Sixty-nine percent of third graders, Resource Conservation & Committee was formed in 2007 by a dredging, runoff from road crossings retirement expenses up another 3 for example, were proficient in read- Development Council (Saginaw Bay group of volunteers dedicated to and agriculture, and stream bank ero- percent, he added. Please turn to page 6. RC&D) is striving to get the word improving water quality in the Cass sion.” out about the Cass River Watershed’s River. So, why do organizers of the proj- water quality and what the commu- McDonnell noted the 2006 survey, ect need more information? nity can do to restore it. taken along the main stem of the “Previous water quality testing has The organization’s efforts are tar- river, shed light on how wildlife and told us what happened at a particular “Safe routes” project geting the watershed in Genesee, macro-invertebrates are affected by time, on a particular day. But what if Huron, Lapeer, Saginaw, Sanilac and the water quality in the Cass River. there was a drought or heavy rain Tuscola counties. “It shows that there were high lev- storm on the day testing was done?” is nearing completion “Two reports that tell us about past els of phosphorus in the waters along McDonnell explained. “How would water quality are the Cass River the main branch, but no major Please turn to page 6. Biological Survey completed in blooms of algae and other aquatic A busy night for the Cass City posed policy slated for March 26. 2006 by the Michigan Department of plants because of a second problem Village Council Monday included Cristiano lauded Parks and Environmental Quality (DEQ) and — sediments,” she said. “These sed- authorizing Village Manager Peter Recreation Director Sam Moore for the 2008 Rapid Watershed iments (excess soil) were mostly Deputy hurt Cristiano to execute all necessary his guidance in forming the new Assessment completed by the attributed to dredging and the documents for the local “Safe Routes strategy, which meets state require- Saginaw Bay RC&D. Both reports straightening and widening of ditch- To School” project. ments for participation of other units provide us with a basis of what pol- es. in altercation Cristiano reported the village and of government by including Elkland, lutants are present in the Cass River “The 2008 Cass River Rapid Cass City Public Schools are at the Novesta, Evergreen and Elmwood and potential causes that are impair- Watershed Assessment provides a final step of the 2-year undertaking, townships in its development. ing water quality,” said Sara summary of previous water quality with suspect and bids for the $200,000 construc- “The plan is for the purpose of McDonnell of the University of testing in the Cass River,” tion plan will go out this week. The meeting state of Michigan require- Michigan-Flint Outreach, which McDonnell continued. “This sum- at courthouse project, funded by grant money, will Please turn to page 6. along with the non-profit Saginaw mary revealed that the main source replace sidewalks on Ale Street, by Tom Montgomery Leach Street and West Street from Editor Garfield Avenue to Main Street. The strategy also calls for street lights to A veteran Huron County Sheriff’s be placed on Ale Street from Rose deputy was on the receiving end of Street to the high school. an unpleasant retirement gift Construction is slated to begin this Thursday when a defendant resisted spring. arrest following a scuffle at the “In reviewing the MDOT agree- Huron County Courthouse in Bad ment, we find that under a worst- Axe. case scenario it may cost the village Lt. David Drossos, who officially an additional $82,000,” said retired from the sheriff’s department Cristiano. “We do not have $82,000 Friday after 33 years of service, suf- available for this project. If this hap- fered a mild concussion during last pens, we will immediately reduce the week’s altercation, according to scope of the project to keep it within Huron County Sheriff Kelly J. the grant.” Hanson. Turning to other money matters “At approximately 10 a.m....district during the monthly gathering, coun- court Officer Matt Blaine attempted cil members approved the purchase to arrest a 23-year-old Pigeon man of a Jet Vac Hydro Excavator and the after he became disorderly in the sale of a police car. courthouse,” Hanson said. “This truck will provide hydro “Apparently, (the suspect) was meet- excavating for water leaks, replacing ing with his attorney, Jill L. Schmidt, fire hydrants, valves and other proj- during a pre-trial conference on ects underground. The time saved assault-related charges, when he and safety from hitting gas lines and became belligerent in the hallway. electric utilities is immeasurable. “Blaine attempted to arrest him for The truck will save money, life and being disorderly, which led to a scuf- time needed in emergencies,” said fle near the courthouse second floor Cristiano. north entrance. Deputies from our Fredrickson Supply, Wyoming, office responded, and in the process Mich., submitted the winning bid for of affecting the arrest, (Drossos) a new truck in the amount of received a head injury,” added $239,750. Hanson, who noted the lieutenant Also Monday, the council accepted Workin’ hard for the money... was transported by Huron Central the recommendation of Police Chief Ambulance to Huron Medical Craig Haynes and accepted the high THE WINTER STORM that roared into the Thumb early Friday morning Center, where he was treated for a bid in the amount of $3,929 from mild concussion and then released. Asia Motors for a 2008 Ford Crown frustrated motorists, but provided plenty of long-overdue work for folks Hanson said his department submit- Vic Police Interceptor. who earn a living plowing snow. The storm also paved the way for a day ted reports and a warrant request to the Huron County Prosecutor for MASTER PLAN off from classes for area youngsters, including Jacob Ware (above), son of possible charges of assaulting, resist- ing or obstructing a police officer, A new 5-year Cass City Parks and Mike Ware and a second grade student at Campbell Elementary School in and assault or assault and battery Recreation Master Plan was present- Cass City. against the suspect, who remains ed and a public hearing for the pro- lodged in the Huron County Jail. PAGE TWO CASS CITY CHRONICLE - WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 29, 2012 CASS CITY, MICHIGAN Ubly Honor Roll announced Grade 7 Ratcliff, Nicole Sweeney, Joshua Conley, Ashley Deachin, Bart Heidi Ann Vatter and Jeffrey Bailey Bischer, Evan Block*, Ulfig, Kelsey Ulfig, Trevor Walsh, Dekker, Susanne Dekker*, Austin Charles Shippey, both of Bad Axe, Kaylee Block, Emily Booms, Joshua Grant Weber, Bryce Weltin, Jenna Drake, Brittany Forman, Stephanie announce their engagement.