This week's front page. Click for larger view.

Tennis Courts Grounbreaking May 21

Goalkeeper Morgan Buzzell makes the save ; Hannah Richardson fights for the ball; Abby Longhurst's reaction after scoring vs. Loy Norrix

1600-meter relay team of Amanda Weaver, Hannah Sievers, Kelsie Dryer and Kayla Vallar are headed to state finals

Budget may pinch custodial staff out of local schools

Monday's school board workshop has sent the district in search of an outside firm to maintain the school district buildings and grounds. That consensus has the support staff worried about lost jobs. We are working on this story. If you have an opinion on this method and other potential methods for saving the district money, send us a letter to the editor, chronicle@jasnetworks.net with your name and phone number.

This week's front page. Click for larger view.

Marshall celebrates Michigan Week

After a busy Saturday filled with fun and the annual Oaklawn Hospital Hospitality Classic in which our own sports writer, John Hendler was a participant, today kicks off the work week celebration of Michigan Week. Commerce Day recognizes the local businesses that help keep Michigan working. Today is the Manufacturer's Appreciation Luncheon at Schuler's, presented by Marshall Economic Development and the Marshall Area Chamber of Commerce. Today also marks the delivery of this week's Chronicle, featuring the sobering story of rising gas prices, the variety of science projects entered into the Gordon Elementary Science Fair and the disturbing testimony of a 15-year-old Marshall High School student who was sexually assaulted at least three times on school property during school hours by the same boy. The boy was bound over for trial on the most serious of sexual assault charges, first degree CSC. A second victim was also to testify about her own alleged victimization by the same boy at school one week after the other victim reported the incidents to police. Also in today's Chronicle, you'll read about what new Marshall City Manager Chris Olson did during his first week on the job, about the retirement of Marshall Middle School science teacher Bob Crandall after 38 years in the profession and see what happened when a large sign truck rolled over three times on southbound I-69. See where Calhoun Intermediate School District Superintendent, Chris Wigent, is going for his next, new job and read about what Parrish Excavating told the downtown merchants and building owners about the north and south alley repaving, storm sewer repair project that also includes conduits and vaults for the burial of downtown utility wires.
The project is set to begin today. The Chronicle is on sale all over town and at our offices, 514 South Kalamazoo Avenue. If you want to respond to anything we've written, please either post your anonymous comment here or email us at chronicle@jasnetworks.net.

Spaghetti dinner for Relay for Life is Saturday

The Joseph Campbell Company's Relay for Life team is having a spaghetti dinner on Saturday, May 19 at the Marshall Moose Lodge, 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. The cost for adults is $6, children $3 and five and under are free.

Gas prices up, temperatures down

The same day the gas prices shocked motorists by shooting up to $3.49 per gallon for regular unleaded, a west Michigan storm swept through the area and took the temperatures from 85 degrees down to the mid 40s for the morning and 61 in the afternoon. That storm brought high winds to Marshall, toppling a large tree limb into a North Liberty Street power line, knocking out electricity to the northeast quadrant of the city, from 7:30 p.m. Tuesday to 12:30 a.m. Wednesday as citizen Paul Davis of Marshall reports. Thanks to Paul, we'll have his spot news photos of Marshall's electric crews working to restore power to the neighborhoods and businesses.
If you would like to offer your comments and quotes for our report on how the local gas prices are impacting citizens, please send your comments with your name and phone number to us at chronicle@jasnetworks.net.

Sharpley gets win vs. Harper Creek; Loughrige tags up and scores Marshall's first run

Concert and Symphonic bands perform at MHS

Justin Miller wins pole vault at Big 16 League meet

This week's front page

Operational, debt millage bond proposals pass

The voters have approved both the operational millage and the bond debt renewal millage in the Marshall Public Schools. Proposal II will allow the district to make ADA, security and building HVAC improvements, along with technology upgrades with the $8.7 million the continuation of 4.45 mills still being levied from the 2001 bond issue will provide. The image above is courtesy ElectionMagic.com

And on page 4....

Pfc. Adam Lafferty, right, sent along this photo during a break in the action in Baghdad. Lafferty included a message about having been shot in the chest by a sniper when his humvee overturned but thankfully, his body armor saved his life. You can write to Adam at lafferty_recon1@yahoo.com.

This week's front page

Please, let us know what you think of this week's paper! Click "Comments" below and let us in on your reactons to this week's stories.

In the May 7 Chronicle...

Yet another Marshall native is going off to war. See this week's front page story by John Hendler about James Todd Frohm, 44, who just became a father for the first time two years ago and how he now must leave that toddler behind, along with his wife and step children, to answer the Navy's call to Iraq. He leaves today for homeland training before heading overseas. Also in this week's issue, you'll read about how the cities of Marshall and Albion plan to proceed with their exploration of a combined dispatch authority to avoid duplication of services while keeping in mind that other communities may want to join them later. Both citys' councils met together in an historic joint meeting last week. And, read about two robberies that occurred in Marshall last week, one in which the perpetrator used a gun to get a bag of cash from the Cash Store while in the other, an unarmed man robbed the Admiral Gas station. Other stories rounding out the issue include the in-depth examination of how a 14-year-old boy whom school officials were told by police had been accused of sexually assaulting a student at Marshall High School was able to remain in school and do it to second victim six days later and why the mother of the first victim is being prosecuted for keeping her child out of school where she was being abused.
The superintendent said the boy had only been accused and not convicted and that the school was unable to complete its own, internal investigation. Why was this report not taken seriously by the MHS staff? Why was a teacher accused of similar charges but never convicted placed on administrative leave more than one year ago? The current case raises serious questions and exposes this potential contradiction.
It's also this week that we introduce our new, summer intern, Marshall native and Adrian College student, Corinne Kellogg.
And, see the Opinion page for a letter accompanied by a surprise photo with a local connection from half way around the world!

This Week's Front Page

You can buy this edition on newstands in and around Marshall (area convenience stores,) at Darling and Daughter Variety, Hemmingsen's Rexall Drugs, National House Inn and of course, the Marshall Chronicle and Ad-Visor offices, 514 S. Kalamazoo Avenue in Marshall.

Voters to head to the polls

Board seats at Marshall Public Schools, Mar Lee and Kellogg Community College will be up for grabs when voters go to the polls Tuesday, May 8. In Marshall, two, four-year spots held by incumbent candidates for re-election Vic Potter and Janice Darling are open and both are unopposed. Voters will also be asked to renew the MPS operating millage and to allow the district to continue collecting 4.45 mils rather than allowing the 2001 bond issue to begin its slow decline. See the April 30 Chronicle to read about the hot contests for three open KCC board seats in our extra large, letters-to-the-editor section.

Larry Schuler named company president

Larry Schuler, representing four generations in the restaurant industry, has been named president as he joins his father, Hans, in the daily operations of Schuler's Restaurant and Pub. "It's a family company and I'd like it to remain that," said Hans.
Larry began his career at the landmark, tourist attraction eatery before entering high school in the 1970s and was general manager of the Marshall restuarant in the 1990s. He is the great grandson of Albert Schuler who first opened the restaurant in 1909 and grandson of Win Schuler who is still a household name. He is also president of Schu's Restaurant in St. Joseph where he will continue to reside. See the Apriil 30 Chronicle for the complete story.