Region
Week In Review: 08/10/2008
ANTRIM
Incumbent Sheriff Johnson ousted
BELLAIRE -- Sheriff races across the region involved a couple of incumbents who hung onto their seats and one who didn't.
Daniel Bean ousted incumbent Antrim County Sheriff Terry Johnson in Tuesday's primary election. Bean is the former undersheriff in Antrim County, but was fired by Johnson in February after he announced his intended candidacy for sheriff.
Incumbent Leelanau County Sheriff Mike Oltersdorf won his bid for re-election on the Republican ticket. He was challenged by fellow GOP candidate Mark Walter.
Another successful incumbent was Otsego County Sheriff James McBride, who beat his Republican challenger, Kam Ensing.
Undersheriff Rory Heckman in Benzie County beat out fellow Republicans Jeff Morse and Damon Wilkes.
Undersheriff William Donald Schneider won the race between him and fellow Republican newcomer Donald Sproul in Charlevoix County.
In Manistee County, the race for the sheriff's post was won by incumbent Sheriff Dale Kowalkowski.
Another gas leak in Mancelona
MANCELONA -- Fire officials closed part of Williams Street and evacuated two area businesses after a construction crew severed a natural gas line in downtown Mancelona, the second such incident in nine months.
Gas spewed for hours in downtown Mancelona Tuesday after workers with Corvette Construction struck a 3-inch steel gas main with a large backhoe while installing a sewer line shortly after 11 a.m., said Bill Fleet, assistant fire chief for the Mancelona Fire Department.
CHARLEVOIX
Charlevoix man drowns in lake
CHARLEVOIX -- A Charlevoix man drowned in Lake Michigan while snorkeling near Norwood Park.
Robert Gibson, 63, was snorkeling alone about 150 yards from shore when he called for help and neighbors phoned authorities around 3:30 p.m. Monday, Charlevoix County sheriff's officials said in a statement.
Rescue divers located Gibson underwater and attempted CPR, but he was pronounced dead at Charlevoix Area Hospital, Sheriff George Lasater said.
GRAND TRAVERSE
Man allegedly robs Dairy Queen
TRAVERSE CITY -- Police are looking for a man suspected of robbing an East Bay Township restaurant.
The man allegedly took nearly $700 from Dairy Queen on U.S. 31 at about 5:30 p.m. Aug. 1. A clerk there told police the man entered the store and demanded money. He allegedly patted his pocket during the robbery, leading the clerk to believe he was armed, police said.
The man was described as about 6 feet tall and 200 pounds with blond hair. He was last seen wearing baggy blue jeans and a white T-shirt.
Anyone with information can contact the Grand Traverse Sheriff's Department at 995-5000 or Silent Observer at 947-TIPS.
Commission wants permanent manager
TRAVERSE CITY -- City commissioners are looking for a permanent city manager instead of an interim replacement.
City Manager Richard Lewis announced his resignation last month after 17 years on the job. He's leaving in September to work at international engineering firm CH2M HILL.
Makayla Vitous, assistant to the city manager, will serve as acting manager if a long-term replacement is not in place by the time Lewis leaves Sept. 19.
Board votes to keep road panel at 3
TRAVERSE CITY -- A proposal to expand the Grand Traverse County Road Commission hit a dead end.
Debate over whether to expand languished since March. Back then, county commissioners voted to expand the road board from three to five members and a month later voted to put the expansion on hold.
The end came July 30, when the county board voted 6 to 3 to maintain status quo and keep the appointed road board at three members.
"Expansion may have been the right thing to do, but the timing wasn't right, due to the economic commitment," said county Commissioner Larry Inman. Road Commission Manager Mary Gillis estimated the cost of adding two road commissioners at between $30,000 and $35,000, after the county board trimmed road commissioners' benefits earlier this year.
Commissioners Addison Wheelock, Wayne Schmidt and Larry Fleis voted to make the road board five members. They cited better geographic representation and a need to attract more ideas.
Challenger defeats Grand Traverse sheriff
TRAVERSE CITY -- Challenger Thomas Bensley ousted two-term incumbent Grand Traverse County Sheriff Scott Fewins by a nearly 2-to-1 margin.
Bensley led Fewins by more than 2,000 votes in the Republican Primary election late Tuesday, collecting roughly 60 percent of the total vote count. Challenger Brian Weese had about six percent of the votes. Bensley won't face a Democratic challenger in the November general election.
Bensley, 60, of Garfield Township, joined the Grand Traverse County Sheriff's Department as a part-time marine patrol officer in 1971 and was hired full time in 1973. His experience includes dispatch, jail officer and road patrol, and he retired in 1999.
Acme incumbents survive shake-up try
ACME -- Acme voters stood behind a township board bruised, battered, but unbowed by years of development battles that featured illegal efforts to oust them from office.
All six incumbent township board members won re-election Tuesday -- some by wide margins -- as Acme voters embraced a board that survived a 2007 recall drive that stemmed from development disputes along M-72 involving a Meijer store.
Supervisor ousted after decades in office
TRAVERSE CITY -- Voters terminated Lee Wilson's 32-year reign as Garfield Township supervisor by an overwhelming margin and sent five additional incumbents packing.
Chuck Korn, 56, a boat sales manager, led the board takeover by defeating Wilson 1,699 to 872.
Voters also ousted township Treasurer Dennis Habedank and all four trustees, some who've served for four decades.
Mixed bag for township incumbents
TRAVERSE CITY -- Voters turned out some township office incumbents, but others survived close races.
Former Blair Township supervisor Pat Pahl, recalled from office two years ago, returned to narrowly defeat incumbent Supervisor Marilyn Fleis. Incumbent trustees Stacey Clous, Joseph Lowe, Mike Rademaker and Roger Zeits were re-elected in Blair.
In Peninsula Township, incumbent Treasurer David Weatherholt survived a challenge from longtime township assessor Gil Uithol.
Incumbents also survived challenges in Whitewater Township, where Supervisor Larry Lake defeated challenger Annie Hill and Clerk Carol Hockin turned back challenger Emily Krogel. Incumbent trustees Arnell Boyd and Paul Hubbell also won re-election, and treasurer candidate Ardella Benak defeated Suzanne Lewallen.
In Green Lake Township, incumbent Treasurer Sue Schroeter breezed past challenger Lynette Ferman. In the race for four trustee seats, incumbents David Bieganowski, Marvin Radtke Jr. and Sherry Lee West won re-election, along with newcomer Pat McDonald. Incumbent trustee Rick Sager finished in fifth place.
Schmidt prevails in 104th District race
TRAVERSE CITY -- A Grand Traverse County commissioner was on track to defeat a Rapid City author in the state House 104th District race.
Wayne Schmidt beat challenger Tony Hefner in the district that includes Grand Traverse and Kalkaska counties.
Schmidt will face Traverse City attorney Roman Grucz in November, with the winner taking over the seat held by outgoing state Rep. Howard Walker, R-Traverse City. Walker, term-limited.
Franz wins by only 9 votes
TRAVERSE CITY -- Ray Franz, of Onekama, likely will face Democrat Dan Scripps for the 101st District state House seat.
Franz, a Bear Lake grocery store owner, topped three other candidates in Tuesday's primary to earn the Republican nomination for a district that includes Leelanau, Benzie, Manistee and Mason counties.
He edged challenger Mike McManus, of Leland Township in Leelanau County, by a margin of nine votes. Unofficial results show Franz earned 4,855 votes to McManus' 4,846.
Challenger Janice McCraner finished third with 3,037 votes, and Gregory Ferguson earned 596.
The results need to be certified by the state Board of Canvassers. But unless there are any dramatic changes, Franz will square off against Scripps -- a two-time candidate who last ran for the seat in 2006 and lost to Republican David Palsrok, who's term-limited.
TCAPS scores up in most areas
TRAVERSE CITY -- Students in the region's largest school district are performing the same or better as last year in all core content areas, according to statewide test results.
Michigan Merit Exam scores from spring 2008, released Thursday, show Traverse City Area Public Schools students posted increases in math, reading, science and writing compared with 2007.
There was no change in social studies scores.
Traverse City students outperformed the state in all areas, and their results mirrored the trend happening elsewhere in Michigan. Proficient scores statewide were constant or higher in all areas except social studies, down 3 percent.
Traffic crash leads to chase
TRAVERSE CITY -- Clarence Gomery won't soon forget a white-knuckle chase that began moments after an alcohol-fueled traffic crash near Greilickville.
The Traverse City attorney followed an allegedly drunken driver for several miles Thursday morning after he watched the man cause a three-car crash on M-22. Gomery chased the man through parts of three counties before police were able to stop and arrest the suspect.
The driver stumbled around outside his car after the crash, Gomery said, but hopped back in and sped away. He took off west on M-72, and Gomery followed.
Police eventually stopped the man, a 27-year-old Grand Rapids resident, on Cedar Run Road near Church Road in Grand Traverse County.
Hotel in works for Grandview Parkway
TRAVERSE CITY -- Plans are in the works for an upper-end, national chain hotel in the downtown Warehouse District.
Grand Rapids-based developers hope to start construction next spring on a four-story, 130-room hotel with underground parking in the 200 block of Grandview Parkway.
City officials see the project as an economic boost, but some local land and business owners are worried it'll diminish the Warehouse District's hip, underground atmosphere.
Plans show the hotel at the site of Bay West Antiques and Gilbert's Service Oil Co. on Grandview Parkway. A four-story condominium building is marked for future development just west of the hotel, with another four-story building to the east.
City planning commissioners last week gave initial site plan approval as long as the developers work something out regarding driveways.
KALKASKA
Boyfriend charged in toddler's death
KALKASKA -- Authorities charged a Kalkaska man with murder after his girlfriend's toddler died.
Cody Lawrence Cross, 3, died last Sunday morning at a Grand Rapids hospital. Police believe Sheldon James McDonald, 25, beat Cody in a downtown Kalkaska apartment where McDonald lived with the child's mother, Pamela Sue Buning.
McDonald was arraigned Monday in Kalkaska District Court on an open count of murder, felony murder and first-degree child abuse. Bond was set at $2 million, and a preliminary examination is scheduled for Aug. 13.
Cody was unconscious and appeared to have a head injury when police and medical personnel arrived at the Cedar Street apartment at about 9:30 p.m. Aug. 1, Kalkaska County Prosecutor Brian Donnelly said.
McDonald is a registered sex offender, records show.
LEELANAU
District 3 commissioner loses election
SUTTONS BAY -- New faces could soon join the Leelanau County board.
Challenger Richard Schmuckal -- a former county commissioner -- beat incumbent District 3 Commissioner William Bunek in Tuesday's Republican primary by 11 votes.
Unofficial county results show Schmuckal earning 414 votes to Bunek's 403.
Newcomers James Schaub Sr. of District 2 and Dan Semple of District 6 also bested their opponents in the primary.
Also winning Tuesday was incumbent District 1 Commissioner Jean Watkoski, who beat challenger Jeff Howell 554 to 294. She is unopposed in the November general election.
Incumbents Mary Tonneberger of District 4 and David Schiflett of District 5 were unopposed in the primary.
In District 7, Republican Melinda Lautner earned 324 votes and Democrat Traci Cruz earned 66. Both will be on the ballot again in November.
Kelly unseats Elmwood Supervisor Smith
GREILICKVILLE -- Jack Kelly knocked out Elmwood Township's incumbent supervisor and another Republican challenger in the primary election.
Kelly received 53 percent of the votes, while incumbent Supervisor Derith Smith took 30 percent and challenger John Naymick got 17 percent.
Kelly will face Donald Barrows, who's running as a Democrat, in November.
Kelly is the zoning administrator and planner in Kalkaska County. He formerly served as chairman of the Elmwood Township planning commission.
Incumbents for clerk, treasurer and trustees all won voter support.
Clerk Connie Preston beat fellow Republican challenger Diane Hubert, and Treasurer Debbie Street secured her position from fellow Republican challenger Wendy Barker.
Incumbent trustees Terry Lautner and Paul Walter were the top vote-getters, followed by David Darga and Mary Barrows. They'll face Donald Gallagher, a Democrat candidate, for four trustee spots.
OTSEGO
Pair suspected in business break-ins
GAYLORD -- Police arrested two Grayling-area men suspected of breaking into multiple area businesses.
Gaylord police officers attempted to stop a vehicle near Dickerson and Vantyle roads for a traffic violation Aug.1 , according to a police statement. The vehicle allegedly led police on a high-speed chase into Antrim County and then back into Otsego County. Police eventually stopped the vehicle with spike strips and arrested the driver.
Officers identified a second suspect after interviewing the driver. Police believe the two men, 22 and 17, broke into multiple businesses in Otsego and Crawford counties. Officers determined the vehicle from the initial chase also was stolen from a Gaylord car dealership.
Officers recovered stolen property from the suspects, including a safe from a business. Both suspects are in the Otsego County Jail.
WEXFORD
Assault suspects denied bond
CADILLAC -- A judge denied bond for three men accused of sexually assaulting a woman near a Cadillac school.
The suspects -- Cadillac residents David Andrew Bell, 21; Aaron Lee Schwab, 18; and Kyle Lee Hatch, 17 -- were arraigned Wednesday in 84th District Court in Cadillac on one count each of first-degree criminal sexual conduct and unarmed robbery, authorities said.
They are being held at the Wexford County Jail.
Police believe the men sexually assaulted a 27-year-old Cadillac woman Tuesday morning outside Cooley School on Marble Street, Cadillac police Detective Lt. Todd Golnick said.
She was taken to Mercy Hospital in Cadillac, but since has been released, Golnick said.
The woman was not stalked or abducted, but allegedly met the suspects before the incident, he said.
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School equity may return
Equity aid payments for Michigan schools, relatively new when they disappeared in the recession, could resurface this year if lawmakers succeed in using federal dollars to close the gap.
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Ex-Ellsworth teacher heading to prison
An Ellsworth man who taught math for nearly three decades in his hometown will spend at least 15 years behind bars because he engaged in a sexual relationship with a female student.
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GT County investigates septage hauler
Grand Traverse County will investigate a septage hauler who officials said didn't dump waste from portable toilets used by the Traverse City Film Festival at the county's treatment facility.
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Programs help local homeowners
A series of programs designed to give local homeowners a boost during tough economic times is available through the Traverse City Housing Commission.
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Coast Guard recognizes Trish Fiebing
Trish Fiebing has long been a voracious volunteer. She retired this year from Traverse City Area Public Schools as its volunteer coordinator and this week received an award from the U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Traverse City for her efforts.
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Gaylord graduate dies in Afghanistan
The Department of Defense confirmed the death of a Gaylord High School graduate in the Afghanistan war.
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Man recovering from stein attack
Cadillac police responded Tuesday to an apartment where a local man, 28, sustained severe slash wounds.
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Hazardous waste collection Sept. 30
The last hazardous waste collection for 2010 for Grand Traverse County is scheduled for Sept. 30.
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Region in Brief: 09/02/2010
Summer term dean's lists online; Museum closed for cleaning Sept. 6-10; Tickets on sale for James Bradley talk
Continued ... - September 1, 2010
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Hundreds attend fallen marine's funeral
Life often was a competition for Jason Calo. Calo, 23, of Mancelona, hit the books in order to achieve higher grades than his classmates. He trained harder during practice to chalk up better game statistics than his teammates.
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Staff Sgt. Matt West dies in Afghanistan
A Gaylord High School alumnus was killed this week in Afghanistan.
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Stabenow talks jobs, carp, Afghanistan
Michigan's economy is not in good shape, but positive signs are emerging that should give consumers confidence in its recovery, U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow said.
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Video: Interview with Sen. Stabenow
U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Michigan, was in Traverse City Tuesday. One of her stops was at the Record-Eagle, where she met with the newspaper's editorial board. She responded to questions on a variety of domestic and foreign policy issues, including the U.S. economy, the effort to keep Asian carp out of the Great Lakes and Afghanistan.
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Region has had 31 days with temps at 85+
The waning days of summer brought waves of sweltering heat into northern Michigan, but the arrival of September will usher in some welcome relief in the region.
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Tribe wants to join Asian Carp lawsuit
An American Indian tribe based in Leelanau County requested permission Tuesday to join a lawsuit demanding stronger action to prevent Asian carp from infesting the Great Lakes.
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School equity may return
