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STATE NEWS for FRI 26NOV21
The
Michigan Department of Health and Human Services updated its
guidance for long-term
care visitation ahead of the holiday season. According to the
guidelines, if a
visitor, as well as a resident or their representative, is aware of
COVID-19 risks and the
visit doesn't put other residents at risk, the resident must be
allowed to receive visitors
as they choose. Previous guidelines tried to prevent visitors from
introducing COVID-19
into long-term care facilities. Around 84% of long-term care
residents in Michigan are
now fully vaccinated, and boosters are available.
The Ingham County Sheriffs Office is searching for a missing woman
and her
son. Sarah Jane Heltzel was last seen leaving a home on Gale
Rd. in the Onondaga
area on Nov. 23rd at 4 p.m. She was driving a white Ford F250.
Heltzel is a 40-year-old
Caucasian female, five feet six inches tall, with brown hair and
blue eyes.
Her one-year-old son, Ryan, also has brown hair and blue eyes.
Anyone with
information is asked to contact the Ingham County Sheriffs Office.
The death of a Michigan State University student has prompted
officials to suspend the school's chapter of a fraternity the
student was involved with. The university and the Pi Alpha Phi
national organization have prohibited the chapter of the fraternity
from hosting any events on campus, recruit students or take
part in any campus events following the death of 21-YEAR old
Phat Nguyen (Fat Nye-Jen), who was found unresponsive early
Saturday off campus. Police say the death may have been alcohol-
related and the fraternity posted on its Facebook page Nguyen had
just joined the fraternity.
Health departments across Michigan are warning about the risk for
Legionnaires disease as winter weather begins. The disease can
be found in Michigan homes, including showerheads, hot tubs,
fountains, humidifiers and hot water tanks and heaters -- more
often in electric heaters. Symptoms of Legionnaires disease include
a cough, shortness of breath, headaches and fever. Those most
are risk are people 50 and up, current or former smokers,
people with chronic lung disease and people with weak immune
systems.
A Kalamazoo resident is in custody after a police chase involving
a stolen car on Thursday. Kalamazoo Department of Public
Safety officers saw a stolen vehicle in the area of Alcott
Street and Portage Street. They tried to pull the vehicle over, but
it fled, officers had to stop the chase after a short time due
to public safety concerns. The car soon crashed near the
intersection of Portage Road and Kilgore Road and the 39-year- old
driver was arrested without incident.
Governor Gretchen Whitmer called currently deployed members of
the Michigan National Guard on Thursday to wish them a happy
Thanksgiving and extend to them the states gratitude for their
continued service. She told service members that They are
always willing and able to answer this call to service and for that,
we are all truly grateful. Whitmer additionally thanked the
troops for serving so that others could spend time safely with
family.
Two men were shot and killed Wednesday at a home in Grand Rapids.
A third victim was in critical condition Thursday morning. It
happened around 10:50 p.m., at a home on Stafford Avenue
Northwest. Officer found multiple gunshot victims at the scene. One
victim was taken to a local hospital in critical condition, while
two others were pronounced dead at the scene.
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STATE
NEWS for WED 24NOV21
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Authorities
in Flint say a house explosion on Monday night killed a 4-year old
girl, a
55-year old woman and left 2 others hospitalized. The blast so
severe it damaged
homes around the area even shattering windows. Shelters have been
set up at three
Flint churches to help those displaced by the explosion. The blast
was felt in
neighborhoods as far away as Burton and Grand Blanc. An
investigation into what
caused the explosion is still underway. A gas leak has already been
ruled out by
Consumers Energy officials.
A Tennessee woman traveling to Michigan to see family for the
holidays is missing and the Sherriff in Oakland County is asking the
public for help.
73-year old Phyliss Anne Green was supposed arrive in New Hudson in
Lyon Township Monday night but never showed up. She was last spotted
in Columbus, Ohio at 2am on Tuesday in her white 20-17 Lincoln
M-K-C sport utility with Tennessee license plate N-P-T 087. If you
see her, call 9-1-1.
Sheriff's Officers in Oakland County believe a
great-grandmother may have
accidentally smothered her great-grandson when she fell asleep in a
chair while holding him. Authorities say the Pontiac woman woke up
and found the baby boy lodged between her and the chair around
7:30am Tuesday. When first responders arrived on the scene, they
found the boy lying on the bedroom floor and administered
C-P-R until he was taken to the hospital and pronounced dead.
Kelloggs says it will start hiring permanent replacements for some
of its 14-hundred
striking cereal plant workers after negotiations broke down again.
The Battle Creek-
based company said it failed to reach an agreement with the union
representing the
workers, and is moving forward with its contingency plan to keep its
plants operating.
The Kelloggs workers have been on strike since October 5th, and
negotiations aren't
scheduled to resume until the week of December 6th
A man from the U-P has been ordered to pay 150-thousand
dollars in civil fines and restore wetlands on an island in the St.
Mary's River. A Chippewa County Circuit Court judge ordered
excavator Boyd Rhodes to restore about five and a half acres of
Wetlands and a stream on Sugar Island after regulators said he
illegally dredged and filled-in to create a lake and build a
cabin. W-L-U-C reports that Rhodes says he was wrongly accused
and may appeal.
A marijuana testing lab has filed a lawsuit against state regulators
after a major product
recall and allegations of unreliable results. Viridis Laboratories
says the recall last week
was "unjustified" and caused an estimated $229 MILLION dollar
disruption to the
industry. The state last week told dealers to destroy the product,
have it retested, or
send it back. Consumers should also return it if they have still
have some. The test
dates by Viridis were August 10th to November 16th. The state says
consumers with
weakened immune systems or lung disease are at the highest risk
Several people were taken to the hospital after a head-on crash in
the U-P's Munising Township, east of Wetmore, on Tuesday. The Alger
County Sheriff's Office reports an eastbound vehicle on M-28
lost control on icy roads and crashed into a westbound
vehicle. Those injured were taken to UP Health System Marquette and
are in stable condition.
Cheboygan city officials are once again looking at options to
take care of issues with the elevators at the Pedestrian Footbridge
over the Cheboygan River. The elevators on each side of the
bridge have not worked correctly for several years due to leaking
water underground and mechanical issues. City officials are
exploring the idea of putting the motors on top, or adding
wheelchair ramps.
One-point-six million Michigan residents are traveling this
Thanksgiving. This is
expected to be the busiest day of the week at Detroit Metro Airport
- as travelers return
to the skies following a year off due to the pandemic.
spokesperson Erica Donerson, who warns travelers that you must wear
a mask inside
the airport due to federal laws. There are some on site if you
forget to bring a mask.
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STATE NEWS for TUE 23NOV21
As
a result of increasing numbers of patients admitted with COVID-19
and hospitals at
or near capacity throughout West Michigan, Spectrum Health is
revising its visitor
policies to reduce the number of people in its Grand Rapids and
regional hospitals and
outpatient care sites. Effective today, patients are allowed only
one adult visitor in All
inpatient rooms, emergency departments, urgent care, walk-in
clinics, surgery,
radiology and lab locations, as well as labor and delivery.
Pediatric inpatient areas
allow two adult visitors, who must be the same people throughout the
patients stay.
Some
homes were evacuated in Flint last night after a house exploded .
Search dogs have been on the scene since Flint Fire Battalion Chief
Ramsey Clapper says three people are missing and two are
hospitalized after a possible meth lab explosion at a home on
Hogarth Avenue. Two babies were possibly trapped in the home. Three
homes near the house that exploded were also damaged by fire.
Consumers Energy was on the scene to monitor in case it was a
gas explosion. Shelters have been set up at three Flint
churches to help those displaced by the explosion.
Those heading to gamble in Detroit are going to have to mask up
at 2 casinos starting today. All customers and employees will
be required to wear a face-covering at M-G-M Grand and Motor
City casinos, regardless of vaccination status beginning at noon.
The rule will not apply to guests attending banquets or events at
Motor City's Sound Board. Greektown Casino has not announced a
mask mandate for customers as of yet.
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The
governor is stepping on the gas when it comes to the removal of lead
pipes from local water systems. With 10 Billion dollars
in infrastructure funding coming to Michigan, 1.2 Billion of it
earmarked for lead pipe removal, the departments of
Environment, Great Lakes and Energy and Technology, Management and
Budget are being directed by Governor Whiter to accelerate and
coordinate plans to remove the pipes from water utility systems.
There are about half-a-million lead service lines in use around
Michigan. Despite the infusion of federal funds, state
officials estimate the cost falls 2.5 billion short to
complete the project.
In southwest Michigan, the Hartford Public Schools is getting rid
of its Indians mascot. The school board voted Monday to retire
the Indians mascot. Hartford Schools superintendent Kelly
Millin said in a news release that the name change was sped up
by information presented to the school district by the local Pokagon
Band of Pottawatomie. Its Tribal Council approved a resolution last
March that would encourage all non-Native institutions in the
U.S. to eliminate the use of Native American Indian mascots,
logos, and nicknames.
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STATE NEWS for MON 22NOV21
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High
winds on Sunday have resulted in more than 10-thousand power outages
statewide for Consumers Energy this morning. There were 40- thousand
on Sunday.
New information this morning about a group of missionaries who
have been held as hostages in Haiti for more than a month. Two
of the 17-people who were there as part of a trip through Christian
Aid Ministries have been released. One adult and 4 children
from Oceana County in the west-end of the state were part of the
October 16th mission. A statement from Christian Aid officials
says the two hostages are safe, in good spirits and being
cared for. No more information will be released at this time.
Negotiations are expected to start this week between Battle
Creek based Kellogg Company and the union representing 14-Hundred
workers who have been on strike for nearly 2 months. The
meeting is the first time the two sides will meet since the
beginning of November when an agreement couldn't be met after
two days of bargaining. Picketing workers at 4 plants are fighting
to get rid of the two-tier wage and benefits system, which
they claim unfairly devalues newer workers and creates hostility
between newer and older workers.
One person is hospitalized after being shot in a drive-by
shooting in Kalamazoo yesterday afternoon. Police are investigating.
The victim has non-life threatening injuries.
An elderly man is missing in Lansing. Police say 87-year-old
William McKaney was last seen last evening in the 200 block of West
Jolly. McKaney suffers from dementia. He was seen walking to
the nearby McDonald's/ He is five foot eight and weights 150
pounds. He was wearing a baseball hat, black jeans, and white tennis
shoes.
A student from the University of Michigan has been named a
20-22, Rhodes Scholar only one of 32 Americans chosen for an Oxford
University scholarship. Rachael Merritt is a senior in the college
of Literature, Science and the Arts and is double-majoring in
Russian and International Studies. The Grand Rapids native plans to
enroll in the Oxford Russian and Eastern European studies
Master's Program and follow with a Masters' in internet social
science. She is the 30th Rhodes scholar from U-of-M since the award
was created in 1902.
In Petoskey, North Central Michigan College has announced the
addition of six varsity athletic teams that will compete within the
National Junior College Athletic Association beginning in the
Fall of 2022. The Timberwolves will add men's and women's
basketball, women's volleyball, men's and women's cross country, and
E-Sports.
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STATE NEWS for THU 18NOV21
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Every year, tons of trash is illegally dumped in
Michigan's forests. Want to help clean it up? Join the
Adopt-a-Forest program and help to keep our
woods, water and trails beautiful.
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Iosco
County Officials recently discussed the future of Emergency Medical
Services. The Iosco County Board of Commissioners discussed
the county’s Emergency Medical Services. According to the Iosco
County News Herald, board members began the process of ceasing
services with Mobile Medical Response in managing the county’s EMS.
The intention is for the county to run its own management of
Emergency Medical Services. The move will save the county money in
the long run. The contract with Mobile Medical Response will
terminate 120 days after MMR is informed by the county.
An
Oscoda County Township recently approved expenditures. 
Huron
Pines is one of sixteen Wildlife Habitat Grant recipients from the
Michigan Department of Natural Resources. Huron Pines will use the
$84,400 dollars to try new approaches to habitat restoration on
state land with a focus on the broader Jack Pine ecosystem in and
around Ogemaw County. Now that the Kirtland’s Warbler population is
more stable, Huron Pines, in collaboration with state and federal
conservation agencies and local partners is looking to take a more
comprehensive approach to restoring the landscape.
Arenac
County officials recently approved project funding. The
approval came during the Arenac County Board of Commissioners
meeting November 9th. According to the Arenac County Independent,
commissioners accepted a subcommittee proposal to use American
Rescue Plan Act funding for a renovation project. The funding will
be used for Phase Two of the Arenac County Courthouse and Jail
Renovation project. Cost of the project is estimated at $195,000
dollars. 
Numbers
were recently released for the Fall School Head Count. The
head count was held on October 6th. According to the Iosco County
News Herald, Tawas Area Schools Superintendent John Klinger reported
preliminary reports to the board of education. Klinger told the
board that this year’s count was very similar to last year’s
numbers. Klinger said this year’s total student head count was 1,166
compared to 1,165 in the fall of 2020 head count. Klinger added that
the fall count was an increase of 27 students from last February’s
spring count. 
The
Fairview Area School Board recently approved two bids. The
Fairview Area Schools Board of Education recently approved a bus
purchase bid. According to the Oscoda County Herald, board members
approved the bid of $109,252 dollars to purchase a new Bluebird
diesel bus. The board also approved a bid of $23,930 dollars from
Kuhn’s Specialty Flooring to sand and refinish the gymnasium floor.
Also during the board’s November 8th meeting, approval was given to
transfer $10,000 dollars from the district’s general fund to the
athletic department to cover program expenditures. 
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An
Alpena County man has won nearly 700-thousand dollars playing Fast
Cash Lotto. The man , who chose to remain anonymous, bought his
winning ticket at the K-and-T Party store on M-32 in Herron,
west of Alpena. The 37-year-old plays to pay bills and save the
rest.
An
Iosco County Corrections Officer recently completed training.
Corrections Officer Abby Colburn completed a local corrections
officer training academy. According to the Iosco County News Herald,
Colburn graduated from the 18th Delta Community College
Academy. The four week course offered an interactive, comprehensive
instruction program with topics including custody and security;
defensive tactics, first aid, suicide awareness, fire safety and
interpersonal communications. Iosco County Sheriff’s Office Jail
Administrator, Captain Brian Golden, said the training helps
corrections officers develop and practice the tools necessary to be
successful in this high stress environment. 
An
Arenac County Municipality was recently honored. 
Local
fire crews recently responded to a structure fire. 
Two
Mio-AuSable School teachers recently won technology awards.
The Crawford, Ogemaw, Oscoda and Roscommon Intermediate School
District Board of Education presented the 2020 Lyle Spalding Award
for Educational Technology to Mio-AuSable Elementary School
teachers, Michelle Marsh and Melinda Green. According to the Oscoda
County Herald, the teachers were nominated by Mio-AuSable Elementary
School Principal, Celeste Shiffer. They were nominated due to their
effective use of the Google Classroom and Zoom platforms during the
pandemic. The Lyle Spalding Educational Technology Award is named
after a former COOR ISD Superintendent and is given to those who
demonstrate the importance of technology to enhance education.
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