ANTRIM
Swine flu claims area's first victim
BELLAIRE -- Dustin Robinson was healthy.
He hadn't come down with the flu since he was a child, had no underlying health conditions and was vaccinated this fall against the seasonal virus to keep it that way.
But 11 days later, on a Saturday in late October, Robinson, 23, began to run a high fever. He developed chills and body aches. Classic flu signs.
Robinson, of Bellaire, died Wednesday at the University of Michigan Health System in Ann Arbor of suspected complications from the H1N1 strain of influenza known as swine flu, his family said.
A hospital spokeswoman confirmed he died there, but could not offer details.
Robinson could be the first swine flu-related death from northern Michigan since the illness surfaced in the spring.
"He was just sweet and funny and quirky," his mother, Sherri Robinson, said Thursday of her son, a student at the Traverse Bay Area Intermediate School District Adult Work Center. "He liked to do puzzles and he enjoyed music. Just a sweetheart." The Health Department of Northwest Michigan, which represents Antrim, Otsego, Charlevoix and Emmet counties, confirmed a death due to H1N1 in its four-county district Thursday, spokeswoman Jane Sundmacher said.
She would not confirm it was Robinson, but said the patient died Wednesday.
State health officers are investigating another death in the department's jurisdiction. That death involves someone other than Robinson and is not the one confirmed Thursday, Sundmacher said.
GRAND TRAVERSE
Roll 'Em! Movie films in downtown TC
TRAVERSE CITY -- Wes Mayer stood bundled against the cold on Front Street as dozens of film crew members focused on a car parked near the curb.
Mayer, 19, of Traverse City, wore a headset and periodically darted out to make sure spectators weren't in the picture as the crew filmed multiple takes of an actress climbing in the car and driving away.
Mayer seeks a career in the film industry, and he worked Sunday as a production assistant on "A Year in Mooring," a film being shot in Grand Traverse County. He previously worked on Michael Moore's "Capitalism: A Love Story," and is thrilled to see a production in his hometown.
"I love having movies in Traverse City," he said. "It's amazing opportunity for people like myself, and it's a lot of fun for people who just want to come and watch." Most of Front Street through downtown was blocked off all day Sunday for filming. Spectators clutched coffee and lined the street as crew members, extras, security workers and others scurried around.
"A Year in Mooring" stars Josh Lucas, an actor who appeared in "A Beautiful Mind" and "Sweet Home Alabama," among several others. Production crews arrived last week in Traverse City and will shoot into December at various locations around Grand Traverse County.
Donor gives $1M to Munson Medical Center
TRAVERSE CITY -- Dan Edson was cross-country skiing when he noticed something amiss.
He finished that ski race, but after experiencing other troubles he decided to check with a doctor. Edson learned he had a defective aortic valve and underwent surgery to correct the problem.
That was about five years ago. He recovered and continues to ski and bicycle, but the experience at Munson Medical Center made an impression.
Munson announced a $1 million gift from Edson and wife Debbie, of Traverse City. The money will be used to help relocate a non-invasive cardiology unit to Munson's heart center.
"They gave me a new valve and a second chance at life," said Edson, 58. "I've actually been through the program and had the occasion to use these services that are included in this non-invasive cardiology unit." He knows what it's like to travel from one area of the hospital to another and knows it could be more efficient.
Non-invasive cardiology conducts echocardiograms, electrocardiograms and other heart tests and requires a trip from the heart center to the other side of the hospital.
Munson wants to raise $500,000 more to move the unit and also will use its capital dollars to complete the project, estimated to cost $2.3 million. The current unit is "under-sized," said Ed Ness, Munson Medical Center President and CEO.
He called the Edsons' gift "very generous" and said it helps complete the hospital's vision for its heart center. The donation is among the three largest gifts received by the Munson Healthcare Regional Foundation.
Father Fred cancels Thanksgiving meal
TRAVERSE CITY -- Marleen Whitney never made it to one of the Father Fred Foundation's community Thanksgiving meals.
She wishes now she had, because this year she won't get the chance.
The foundation canceled the annual event, traditionally held the night before the holiday, after years of low attendance and the emergence of new charitable dinners seemed to indicate its popularity had waned.
The roughly $2,000 used to host the event in the upscale Park Place Hotel dome will be directed instead toward the agency's cash assistance program, a move to keep lights on at home and fund other emergencies.
Whitney figures the benefits are twofold: If people receive financial aid to cover their most pressing bills, they could use what disposable income they have left to prepare their own dinners.
"It's a good thing to put the money more toward what people need," said Whitney, who moved to Mancelona from Traverse City and has received financial help from Father Fred.
A variety of choices that offer comfort to people in need of a warm meal, especially at Thanksgiving, haven't made it easy to be the veteran provider.
For awhile, Father Fred was the largest of the few local holiday meal programs, serving turkey and fixings to people who didn't have the means to prepare dinner or any family or friends with whom to share it.
The late Rev. Edwin J. Frederick, the foundation's founder and namesake, had envisioned an evening in which people could enjoy a nice meal without worrying about the bill. Fifteen community dinners since have been held.
City mulls management deal for opera house
TRAVERSE CITY -- A deal is in the works to pay an East Lansing organization $75,000 annually to manage the City Opera House in downtown Traverse City.
The City Opera House would be managed by the Wharton Center for Performing Arts at Michigan State University. Traverse City commissioners must decide whether to sign off on a proposed three-year contract for the city-owned historical building on Front Street.
The first public discussion about the contract was held last week during the city's Downtown Development Authority board meeting. City commissioners then are expected to discuss the proposed deal at a study session on Monday, then later consider the contract at a regular meeting.
"It is good for downtown. In a year we'll all look back and think this is great," said Angela Schuler, co-chair of the opera house board.
The facility went through a multimillion-dollar renovation paid for by a long-running community fundraising campaign.
The spot is now available for private rentals as a performance venue directed by the City Opera House Heritage Association, the nonprofit that raised money for restoration.
The opera house is entirely funded through donations and venue rental rates, and pays taxes and rent to the city. It does not receive city tax dollars to operate.
Wharton's fee will be paid from the opera house's operational fund, Schuler said.
Some have concerns.
"I don't want the money going out of the community. If it's not being managed well, then perhaps we should hire a new manager here," said T. Michael Jackson, who sits on the DDA board.
Firearm season off like a shot in region
TRAVERSE CITY -- Firearm deer season is well underway and hunters are still pulling bucks and does out of northern Michigan forests.
Department of Natural Resources wildlife technician Steve Griffith said that 34 deer had come though the Traverse City check station on Wednesday by mid-afternoon.
"As far as action at the check station, we've been busy," Griffith said. "It's hard to compare to last year because we had three other check stations open. We've had several hunters say 'Kalkaska is closed, so we're here instead.'" While the TC check station has been busy, it may not be a good indicator of the overall success of this year's hunt.
"The talk from most guys and ladies coming in is they're not seeing as many hunters or hearing as many shots," Griffith said.
Several factors could play into that, including the warmer temps.
"Deer with their winter coats, when it's too warm they tend not to move a lot," Griffith said. "It's been getting cold enough at night. That has somewhat been a factor, but not like years past."
Also, the lack of snow makes it more of a challenge for those out on the hunt.
"It makes them harder to spot," Griffith said. "Having snow as a backdrop, hunters like that. (Not having snow) definitely makes it more difficult as far as tracks or seeing them." Sunday was opening day across the state, which wasn't necessarily the ideal day to begin the season.
"With opening day on Sunday, we expected it to not be that busy," Griffith said. "We were open from noon to 4 p.m. and we had 15. That's a pleasant surprise for this weekend."
LEELANAU
Stabbing death surprises neighbors
SUTTONS BAY -- Nancy Kenney lives in an old farm house tucked among the woods and rolling fields that border French Road in northern Leelanau County.
Kenney's residence is a short distance from a house where police contend a man fatally stabbed another man during an early-Monday argument. She called friends and family in an attempt to find out more details.
"I guess you'd have to say shock that something like that would happen in this area," Kenney said. "It's a very, very quiet road. It's (surprising) to hear something like that happened so close to where you live." The incident happened at about 1 a.m. Monday.
A Suttons Bay man, 33, died not long after being stabbed at the Leland Township residence, police said.
Leelanau man charged with open murder
SUTTONS BAY -- Craig M. Romer, a construction worker with an "infectious laugh" and a young daughter, was on a first-name basis with many in Suttons Bay.
Equally familiar to locals is Ricardo Roman Jr., the man police believe stabbed Romer to death during an argument at Roman's home early Monday. The incident put many residents in a somber mood.
"It was a dark funk over this whole town yesterday," said Mark Perry, 52, who knew both men.
Authorities on Tuesday charged Roman, 35, with an open count of murder in Romer's death. He was arraigned by video before 86th District Judge Michael Haley, who denied bond.
Romer, 33, went to Roman's home on French Road in Leland Township and was stabbed at about 1 a.m. Police won't provide details, but Roman allegedly told authorities Romer "pushed him and tried to gain entry into his house, so he grabbed a kitchen knife" and stabbed him, court documents show.
Authorities await autopsy and toxicology reports.
Friends said the mother of Romer's daughter had a relationship with Roman, so Romer likely went to the suspect's house to collect his daughter.
"Craig didn't go out of his way looking for trouble," said Ben Koenig, a bartender at The Village Inn in downtown Suttons Bay.
Tribal member seeks part-time council
PESHAWBESTOWN -- Jaime Barrientoz no longer wants to worry about his local American Indian tribe's financial struggles.
So he submitted an initiative this week that would transition nearly every member of the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians' Tribal Council from full- to part-time status.
"I think that they have too much time on their hands," said Barrientoz, 37, of Traverse City. "Put them back to part time and you'd save about $1 million a year."
The initiative proposes that Tribal Chairman Derek Bailey remain full time, but the other six council members would transition to part-time status.
Barrientoz plans to present his initiative to council members at a Nov. 25 tribal session. Council members then will have 14 days to recommend any changes to the initiative.
