Library gearing up Happy birthday, Cass Visiting chaplain to host Author City Chronicle! ministered at Twin Michael J. Thorp Reporter’s Notebook, page 5 Towers crash site Page 2 Page 16 Complete coveraCgAeSS o Cf ITthY,e M CICaHssIG CANit y- WcoEmDNmEuSnDiAtYy, aSEnPdT EsuMrBrEoRu n18d,i n20g1 3areas since 1899 VOLUME 108, NUMBER 52 CASS CITY, MICHIGAN - WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2015 75 CENTS ~ 16 PAGES - 1 SUPPLEMENT Traffic crash claims one life by Tom Montgomery Editor A three-vehicle traffic accident claimed the life of a Tuscola County woman last week. Troopers from the Michigan State Police post in Caro identified the victim as Tammy Lynn Shonk, 32, of Mayville. According to reports, the crash occurred Tuesday afternoon on M-24 near Please turn to page 4. THE DISCOVERY OF a hidden stockpile of nearly 800 packs of stolen ciga - rettes along with 22 bottles of liquor inside an Owendale residence last week Two-vehicle accident led investigators to the suspect they believe broke into an Owendale business back in August 2013. leaves 4 people hurt by Tom Montgomery ger of the Hartwick vehicle, Kyle J. Editor Robinson, 23, of Au Gres. He was transported to Deckerville Cold case cracked Four people were hurt in a two- Community Hospital and later trans - vehicle traffic crash last week in ferred to Covenant Hospital in Sanilac County’s Moore Township, Saginaw for additional treatment of Hidden stockpile of stolen smokes, liquor leads troopers from the Michigan State non-life threatening injuries. Police post in Caro reported. Two other passengers, Joleen M. deputies back to suspect in Owendale break-in The accident was reported Tuesday Kedron, 28, of Standish, and Miracle at 2:58 p.m. at the intersection of A. Manor, 23, of Charlotte, were by Tom Montgomery unlawfully driving away an automobile and kidnapping. Ubly and Deckerville roads. treated at Deckerville Community Editor “Today he was officially charged with two felonies by Investigators said a 1999 Chevrolet Hospital and then released. The the Huron County Prosecutor’s Office for breaking and minivan driven by Codi D. pregnant driver was also transported The discovery of a hidden stockpile of stolen cigarettes entering with Intent and receiving and concealing stolen Hartwick, 25, of Standish, was trav - to Deckerville Community Hospital and liquor inside a residence last week led Huron County property over $1,000. Those charges stemmed from the eling east on Deckerville Road and and later transferred to Covenant Sheriff’s deputies to a suspect they believe broke into an 2013 Stack’s Market incident. failed to yield for a northbound vehi - Hospital for further evaluation, Owendale business more than a year ago. “Back then, he was originally questioned by our office cle. The minivan was struck in the according to reports, which note Huron County Sheriff Kelly J. Hanson reported the about that incident and fled the state soon after,” Hanson front passenger door after it pulled Zimmerman was treated at investigation was revived when Sgt. Ryan Neumann said. “He was then located by the Michigan Department into the path of a 2012 Chevrolet McKenzie Memorial Hospital in responded to a Sixth Street residence in Owendale to of Corrections and brought back to our state. He served Traverse driven by Lana Sandusky and then released. investigate a large quantity of found property. time for violating his parole and was then released on Zimmerman, 38, of Snover. The “Apparently the owner of the residence found 797 parole.” Hartwick vehicle came to rest on the Sanilac County Sheriff’s deputies, packs of assorted cigarettes concealed inside of an old Jaffray remains lodged in the Huron County Jail on a east shoulder of Ubly Road, while Sanilac County EMS, Cass City large television set. The homeowner also found 22 bot - $50,000 cash bond, as well as being held on a parole the Zimmerman vehicle continued MMR, Argyle and Bingham tles of assorted liquor in different quantities, concealed detainer. north and struck a telephone pole. Township fire fighters, and a in a hidden compartment,” Hanson said. “The residence According to earlier police reports, the Stack’s Market Troopers said the Jaws of Life were Beaumont Hospital helicopter crew has had several different occupants living in it over the break-in took place during the early morning hours of used to remove the front seat passen - all assisted troopers at the scene. last couple of years. Aug. 23, 2013, with officers later arriving to find the “Evidence was then gathered and the property, (worth) store’s front door glass broken out. nearly $5,000, was taken for safekeeping,” Hanson Video surveillance revealed that a suspect had entered added. “Detective Daryl Ford and Deputy Ryan Swartz the business at about 3 a.m. with two duffle bags and Green: reforms make began looking into the matter. It was eventually deter - removed multiple items, making a total of seven differ - mined that the property had been stolen from Stack’s ent entries and exits. At the time it was estimated that Market in Owendale back (in) August 2013.” more than $15,000 worth of property was stolen, includ - Michigan a true “shall Deputies arrested a former occupant of the residence on ing cigarettes, liquor and chewing tobacco. a parole detailer, according to the sheriff, who said 57- “At one point the suspect actually used the store’s trash year-old Thomas R. Jaffray, who now resides in the Bad barrel to remove stolen property,” Hanson said. “It is issue” state for CPLs Axe area, was on parole for his convictions on charges of believed the entire heist took almost an hour.” by Tom Montgomery Editor State Senator Mike Green’s long-fought effort to make Michigan a true “shall issue” concealed pistol license (CPL) state ended in victory last week when Gov. Rick Snyder signed legislation that will do away with county gun boards and cut the red tape and cost involved in obtaining a permit. Senate Bills 34 and 35, sponsored by Green (R-Mayville), reform how CPLs are issued. The legislation streamlines the process across all counties, dissolving county gun boards and transferring all application and licensing duties to county clerks and the Michigan State Police, which is now respon - sible for conducting background investigations previously overseen by county gun boards. “These bills streamline how we issue concealed pistol licenses, creating a uniform system that will better support the rights of firearm owners in Michigan,” Snyder said. “I appreciate that the Legislature revamped this legislation, removing any unintended consequences that could have put domestic abuse victims in danger.” “I applaud the governor for working with the Legislature to address con - cerns surrounding my previous CPL proposal,” Green said. “As passed by both chambers and now signed by Gov. Rick Snyder, Senate Bill 34 repre - sents the most fundamental overhaul of Michigan’s concealed pistol license system on behalf of law-abiding citizen gun owners since ‘shall issue’ was adopted in 1999. This uniform statewide process finally completes those important reforms.” Green’s bills will eliminate lengthy application periods – waits that often exceeded the 60-day limit under the old law — by creating a uniform, cen - TROOPER MARK SWALES, a community service trooper tralized system when applying for a concealed pistol license. The legislation places jurisdiction with the county clerks, decreasing the from the Michigan State Police post in Caro, recently spoke to entities involved in the CPL process from five to two. “This allows for a the freshman health classes at Cass City Junior-Senior High more efficient and timely process for applicants seeking their CPL, an issue that was previously dependent upon the county of residence,” said Green, School on the topic of dating abuse. Swales stressed the impor - who noted county clerks will now be required to respond to any application tance of teens talking to an adult if they find themselves in an within 45 days after fingerprints are taken. “While the law contains a $10 increase in the statutory CPL fee, the bill abusive relationship or know of someone else who is being will actually decrease an applicant’s cost below what they’re currently pay - abused. He also offered local support service and crisis counsel - ing, according to Green, who explained his bill accomplishes this by wrap - Trooper Mark Swales ping current additional fees for photos and other items into the statutory fee ing resource information. and by substantially reducing the travel time and costs required to obtain a CPL. At Cass City Junior-Senior High The reforms also require MSP to establish an online permit renewal system by October 2018. The change makes Michigan the 47th state to update its concealed pistol Trooper schools teens on dating abuse licensing process in this similar manner. “I am very pleased the governor is willing to stick up for the Second by Tom Montgomery program through the Tuscola County more to dating violence than just Amendment rights of Michigan’s citizens,” Green said. “This is a major vic - Editor Health Department. physical harm,” noted Luedtke, who tory for Michigan; no longer will the residents of this state be subject to arbi - “With one in three teens experienc - recruited the assistance of Trooper trary local policies that directly infringe on their constitutional rights. I am Sheila Luedtke’s abstinence pro - ing some form of physical, verbal Mark Swales to get that message proud that the governor and my colleagues in the Legislature were able to gram curriculum covers a wide vari - and/or sexual abuse or threats from a across to a group of students at Cass bring Michigan in line with other true ‘shall issue’ states.” ety of issues in an effort to keep local dating partner every year, nearly 1.5 City Junior-Senior High School.