SCHAUER CONTINUES FIGHT TO KEEP MARSHALL SECRETARY OF STATE BRANCH OPEN

Budget agreement guarantees funding

Press Release

LANSING-State Sen. Mark Schauer (D-Battle Creek) helped secure a victory today in the ongoing fight to preserve the Marshall Secretary of State (SOS) branch office.
The General Government budget bill that passed the Senate and House in the early morning hours on Wednesday (SB 229)provides that all SOS offices that were open as of August 1, 2007 - including the Marshall office - will remain open in FY 2008.
The Secretary of State announced back in June that she would close the Marshall branch office in 2008.
“The Marshall SOS office provides basic, essential services that should not be taken away from our residents, and especially not without input from the community or consideration of the specific needs of the Marshall area,” said Schauer.
The budget bill additionally requires that, in the future, the Secretary of State would be required to provide written notice to
legislators at least 180 days before closing or consolidating a branch office, and at least 60 days before relocating a branch office. The Secretary of State would also be required to provide analyses regarding the impact of a proposed change on the residents of the affected community, and the potential savings or costs from such a change.

Care package collections for soldiers underway (Jordan Dryer, pictured)

John Hendler
The Chronicle
Marshall Middle School seventh grade social studies teacher Bill Dryer has a lot on his mind besides geography and state capitals these days.
His son Jordan, 19, a 2006 Marshall High School graduate and a Marine Lance Corporal, was deployed to Iraq in August for seven months. He’s currently on a mission and will not be able to communicate for the next two months.
“We are two, three weeks into it,” said Dryer. “Before his mission he called home a dozen times and he brought his laptop over, so we’ve been able to communicate.”
Jordan is situated southwest of Baghdad where his main responsibility is detonating insurgent improvised explosive devices also known as I.E.D.s and fortifying defenses.
“Basically, he’s building things,” said Dryer.
After Jordan was deployed, Dryer said some other teachers approached him.
“Some of my co-workers said they’d like to do something for my son,” he said. “But during the discussion, they said that wouldn’t it be nice, because our school mascot is the Patriot, to include kids who go to school here as well as adults. So, it went from interest in my son to ‘let’s include our entire school family.’”
The plan is for students to provide names of people they know are in Iraq and to donate items to put in care packages.
“Some instrumental players have been Jan Elyea and Steve Swaton,” said Dryer. “They have shown an incredible amount of interest in this in supporting and organizing.”
Dryer said that a newsletter had been mailed to all middle school families notifying them of the project and what items that are needed.
“We’ll also have that same letter at parent-teacher conferences next week,” he said. “People can bring in items or money which will be needed to mail the packages.”
Dryer said each package sent would cost $8.
Among the items to be sent include hand sanitizer, disposable cameras, personal hygiene items, snack crackers, powdered drink mix, local newspapers, puzzles, dried fruit and the holy grail of them all, beef jerky.
“Beef jerky is a really big deal,” he said. “It’s like Christmas every time they get a package.”
Dryer said pork products will not be accepted out of respect for Muslim dietary laws.
“Students should bring in items and give them to their home-room teacher,” said Dryer “Once we get enough items for one package, we’ll send it. We’re not waiting for one big package send date.”
He said, however, he’d like to make sure that packages go out between Thanksgiving and Christmas and also after the first of the year.
He said packages would be sent until at least March, when Jordan is scheduled to return home.
“We’re not taking a political stance,” said Dryer. “We are doing this to support our troops.”
Dryer said that he had been in touch with a liaison between the families and troops, but because of security reasons, couldn’t get a list of names to send the packages to.
“We’re going to send these items to specific individuals or it will be Jordan’s job to dispense the packages once they get over there,” he said.
Dryer said that his son’s spirits have been good.
“He said that what people see and hear about the war in the U.S. is not accurate,” said Dryer. “Jordan told me that statistically there’s less than a one-percent chance that anything is going to happen to any military personnel over there.”
Dryer said the initial response to the project has been positive and has been spreading by word of mouth.
“People have risen to the occasion,” he said. “This has become an ‘if you build it they will come’ sort of thing.”

Cross-country to seek state title Saturday in Brooklyn!

The Marshall High School girls' cross-country team won the Division 2 regional at Portage West Middle School last Saturday and advance to the state finals Saturday, Nov. 3 at Michigan International Speedway (MIS). Tickets for Saturday’s Finals are $6, and include parking. Marshall is scheduled to run the Division 2 race beginning at 1:30 p.m.

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Well, we had trouble getting this week's front page to upload correctly, as you see below. Something apparently got lost in the cyberspace translation between our computer and Blogger's computers. Oh well, it looks a little spooky - maybe a timely glitch? It IS a full moon, after all. We'll never know.

Greenstreet Arts to Hold Art Café This Saturday

The Artist’s Association of Greenstreet Arts has announced three Art Cafés for the holiday season. Plan on joining Greenstreet artists during these fun open houses for an evening of fun events and spectacular art.
The Fall Festival Art Café will be held on Saturday, October 27 from 7-9 p.m. and features two exciting new events, a Jack-o-Lantern Auction and “The Bakers’ Show” and a silent auction of artist-decorated pumpkins. Do you want a Jack-o-Lantern to help celebrate the season, but don’t want to_carve your own? You’re in luck! Jack-o-Lanterns carved and/or otherwise decorated by Greenstreet artists will be available for purchase during a silent auction during this year’s Fall Festival Art Café. Pumpkins donated by The Bossard Family Farm, 269-781-4905, the Black Cat Pumpkin Patch 269-781-4970 and Avalon Farms 269-207-3047 will be painted, carved or otherwise decorated for this event. Stop by and see all the clever andcreepy creations pick your favorite and place a bid! Advanced orders for carved pumpkins featuring your business logo or specific image are also being taken at this time. Please call Kim Thompson at 269-967-1987 for more information or to place your order.
Also featured during the Fall Festival Art Café is culinary artist Jeff Ver Duin who will be hosting “The Bakers’ Show.”
Ver Duin is attending the Peter Seccia School of Culinary Arts in Grand Rapids pursuing a Baking & Pastry Certificate. In his first semester, our aspiring chef is knee deep in flour and sugar, learning the art of pastries, sauces, breads, pies and cakes. A banquet table set with these culinary delights will include the bakery products of both Ver Duin and his fellow students attending the school. Although there is not a charge for the Fall Festival Art Café, there will be a $5 admission charge to sample the delights of “The Bakers’ Show.” This culinary premiere is a fantastic addition to the sensory delights of the Art Café.
Art Cafés are also planned for Friday, November 30 during the Retail Open House and on Saturday and Sunday, December 8 and 9, during the Marshall Historical Society’s Christmas Candlelight Tour. Plan now to add Greenstreet Arts to your evening’s activities on each of these nights.
Greenstreet Arts is located at 115 E. Green Street, directly across from the Marshall Middle School. The gallery is open Thursday to Sunday each week, from noon to 6 p.m. Please call (269) 789-2379 for more information about these events, or visit www.greenstreetarts.com.

Carve Your Jack-o-Lantern at Greenstreet Arts


 Join the artists of Greenstreet Arts on Friday, October 26 starting at 7pm to carve your Jack-o-Lantern, or to watch the artists carve up some whimsical creations. Instead of carving your pumpkins at home - bring them, your tools and your
ideas and carve as a community during this evening of fun and entertainment. The public is encouraged to join the Greenstreet Arts Gallery for this free-of-charge event. Due to the nature of this event, children under the age of 14 must be accompanied by an adult.
 The artists of Greenstreet Arts will be carving pumpkins that night for the
Jack-O’Lantern Auction to be held the following evening, Saturday, October 27 from 7-9pm. Pumpkins donated by the Bossard Family Farm 269-781-4905, the Black Cat Pumpkin Patch 269-781-4970 and Avalon Farms 269-207-3047 will be painted, carved or otherwise decorated for this silent auction.
Stop by during the Art Café on Saturday evening to see all the clever creations and place a bid on your favorite!
 Advanced orders for carved pumpkins featuring your business logo or specific
image are also being taken at this time. Please call Kim Thompson at 269-967-1987 for more information or to place your order.
 Greenstreet Arts is located at 115 E. Green Street, directly across from the
Marshall Middle School. The gallery is open Thursday to Sunday each week, from noon to 6pm. For more information on Greenstreet Arts check www.greenstreetarts.com.

Greenstreet Arts in Marshall Offers Great Opportunity
To Area Professional Artists

Greenstreet Arts in Marshall has some great opportunities for professional artists
in the area. The organization has recently negotiated a short term lease with the Shops
at Garden Theatre in downtown Marshall.

Any exhibiting member of Gallery 115 at Greenstreet Arts may exhibit and sell
her/his work in a Gallery on Michigan Avenue on a commission-only basis for the
months of November and December 2007. This is available for the members of
Greenstreet Arts only.

To inquire about the possibility of becoming a member please contact Scott
Buttrick at 269.986.4408 or e-mail him at scott@scottbuttrick.com.

Another opportunity to sell their work is being made available to members of
Greenstreet Arts this holiday season. The Marshall Historical Society has offered one of
the large trees to Greenstreet Arts to decorate with the art of its members. The
decorations will be priced and available for purchase by visitors to the Honolulu House
throughout the holiday season.

This creates a unique tree for the museum and another outlet for the artists. For
additional information on this project please call Kim Thompson at 269-967-1987 or
e-mail her at k_t_did_it@yahoo.com.

Flags to be lowered Friday

Flags to be Flown Half-Staff Friday for Army Staff Sergeant Donald L. Munn II

LANSING – Governor Jennifer M. Granholm today ordered United States flags throughout the state of Michigan and on Michigan waters lowered for one day on Friday, October 26, 2007, in honor of Army Staff Sergeant Donald L. Munn II, of St. Clair Shores, who died October 11 while on active duty in Iraq. Flags should return to full-staff on Saturday, October 27.

Staff Sgt. Munn, age 25, died in Baghdad, Iraq, from wounds suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near his unit. He was assigned to the Special Troops Battalion, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas.

Under Section 7 of Chapter 1 of Title 4 of the United States Code, 4 USC 7, Governor Granholm, in December 2003, issued a proclamation requiring United States flags lowered to half-staff throughout the state of Michigan and on Michigan waters to honor Michigan servicemen and servicewomen killed in the line of duty. Procedures for flag lowering were detailed by Governor Granholm in Executive Order 2006-10.

When flown at half-staff or half-mast, the United States flag should be hoisted first to the peak for an instant and then lowered to the half-staff or half-mast position. The flag should again be raised to the peak before it is lowered for the day.

When a member of the armed services from Michigan is killed in action, the governor will issue a press release with information about the individual(s) and the day that has been designated for flags to be lowered in his or her honor. The information will also be posted on Governor Granholm’s website at www.michigan.gov/gov in the section titled “Spotlight.”

MPS superintendent addresses CA-MRSA fears

The following letter from Dr. Joyce Phillips, superintendent of Marshall Public Schools is posted on the district web site: (Link to the right of this page)

October 23, 2007

Dear Staff and Parents:

In the last several weeks, the news media has reported stories about students across the country who have contracted MRSA. Some staphylococcus bacteria are resistant to antibiotics; MRSA is one of them. Community-acquired MRSA (CA-MRSA) is a strain that usually manifests itself as a skin infection that occurs in otherwise healthy people.

Last Friday, a Calhoun County school district reported that one of its students may have MRSA. While the key word here is “may,” I want you to know that Marshall Public Schools is being proactive. We want to do all we can to provide for the health and safety of our students.

This afternoon, the district’s leadership team met to discuss CA-MRSA, the preventative practices we currently implement, and the precautions we will put into place. Administrators have been provided with information about prevention and avoiding transmission, as well as practical advice to share with their staffs. Principals will work with our school nurse Sue Boley to schedule hand washing training for younger children. In addition, we are placing hand sanitizer and disinfectant wipes in elementary, middle school, and high school classrooms.

We are working with the district’s custodial services to ensure classrooms continue to be cleaned with a disinfectant and with the transportation department to make sure bus seats are disinfected. The food service department already has a standard cleaning protocol that includes a regular disinfectant.

One of the best preventative measures is good personal hygiene. Keeping hands clean by washing thoroughly with soap and warm water may seem simplistic. However, this one action has a major impact on preventing the transmission of any bacteria or virus. All of us can help with this simple measure and make a positive impact on containing CA-MRSA.

If you have questions, please contact a Marshall Public Schools’ principal, or call me at 781-1250, extension 1105. You will also find additional information at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at http://www.cdc.gov/Features/MRSAinSchools.

Sincerely,


Dr. Joyce Phillips

Wildfires affecting those with local ties

The devastating southern California wildfires are affecting a number of people with local ties. If you also know of someone affected by the raging flames, fueled by the strong Santa Anna winds, please call us at 781-5444. Send photos to chronicle@jsnetworks.net with permission to reprint. See what we learned in this Saturday's Chronicle.

Golf team finishes sixth in state

Dick Hamilton's Redhawk girl golfers finished sixth overall in the state golf tournament in East Lansing Saturday, their best finish ever in recent history. See award winning writer John Hendler's story and photos in this Saturday's Chronicle, coming up Oct. 27.

Cross country wins Big 16 tourney

Marshall's girls' cross country team, coached by Steve Wissink, won the Big 16 league tourney and will now head into regional competition on the path toward state competition Nov. 3. See this weekend's Chronicle for more on how this team ran over the competition.

Marshall Brewery takes two awards at national competition

Marshall's Dark Horse Brewery owned by Aaron Morse captured two medals in its debut appearance at the nation's biggest beer competition, the Great American Beer Festival in Colorado Oct. 11-13. Their original micro brews, Scotty Karate Scotch Ale and Three Guy Off the Scale Old ale barley wine, each took second and third place medals in their categories. See the Oct. 20 Chronicle for the full story on this growing, local brewery, started by Morse after he art studies in college took a turn when he found he enjoyed making beer in his dorm room.

Closing schools is not the answer to staph infection

Dr. Greg Harrington, a specialist in infectious diseases and director of the Calhoun County Health Dept. held a press conference today to calm fears resulting from the death of a 17-year-old Virginia student from Methicillin-Resistent Staphylococcus aeureus (MRSA). In that Virginia district, 21 schools were shut down but in reality, Harrington says that is not the right response because the bacteria lives on the person, not on objects and is spread by people. "It's been in our county since 2002," he said. "We had a case reported today. It's the number one diagnosis in my office. I think the school closings really got people's attention."
His office has received an increase in MRSA inquiries since 2002. MRSA, often referred to as "staph" is a contagious but treatable disease spread by direct physical contact, not throug the air.
MRSA has been prevalent in health care facilities (Health Care Associated MRSA/HA-MRSA) for many years. Cases of MRSA have been reported throughout the nation, including Michigan, among correctional facility inmates, athletes, school children and military recruits. According to a Calhoun County Health Department press release, "often, these infections occur among young, otherwise healthy individuals."
Staphylococcus aureus are bacteria that can be carried on the skin and moist areas of the body. MRSA is a Staphylococcus aureus that has become resistent to certain antibiotics.
In most cases an individual can carry this organism without serious health consequences. However, in some instances, infection may occur. The majority of infections involve skin and soft tissue wounds with rare occurrences of pneumonia and blood infections.
Sthapylococcus aureus pneumonia is a known secondary complication following influenza. These MRSA pneumonia cases have been reported nationwide during the annual influenza seasons.
The best preventions against these serious infections is influenza vaccination, appropriate respiratory and hand hygiene, appropriate environmental disinfection and control of acquisition and transmission of MRSA.
Following is the original Associated Press report of the Virginia case:

Virginia teen dies after being hospitalized with drug-resistant strain of staph infection
Source: AP - AP Wire Service
Oct 16 20:52
BEDFORD, Va. (AP) A high school student who was hospitalized for more than a week with an antibiotic-resistant staph infection has died. After a student protest, officials shut down 21 schools for cleaning to keep the illness from spreading.

Ashton Bonds, 17, a senior at Staunton River High School, died Monday after being diagnosed with Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, or MRSA, his mother said.

"I want people to know how sick it made my son," Veronica Bonds said.

Staph infections, including the serious MRSA strain, have spread through schools nationwide in recent weeks, according to health and education officials.

MRSA is a strain of staph bacteria that does not respond to penicillin and related antibiotics but can be treated with other drugs. The infection can be spread by skin-to-skin contact or sharing an item used by an infected person, particularly one with an open wound.

Staunton River students organized a protest overnight Monday using text messages and social networking sites. They took Bedford County Schools Superintendent James Blevins on a tour of the school Tuesday to show him how unclean it is, in particular the locker rooms.

Blevins said at a news conference Tuesday that the schools will be closed for cleaning Wednesday. Staunton River will be cleaned by a commercial cleaning company, and the county's other schools will be cleaned by janitorial staff.

Many of the infections are being spread in gyms and locker rooms, where athletes - perhaps suffering from cuts or abrasions - share sports equipment. Ashton Bonds played football last year but was not playing this season.

The teen went to Bedford Memorial Hospital on Oct. 4 after complaining of pain in his side, his mother said. He was sent home after doctors ruled out appendicitis, but was readmitted three days later and taken to Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital.

Last week doctors diagnosed him with a MRSA infection that had spread to his kidneys, liver, lungs and the muscles around his heart.

Early Thursday morning, the teen had to be sedated and put on a ventilator. He was about to undergo surgery to drain the infection from his lungs when doctors detected a blood clot near his heart. Bonds said the clot was inoperable.

###

Redhawks final game is a winner, 42-24

The Marshall Redhawk gridders ended their season on the road at Sturgis on a high note, defeating the Trojans 42-24 Friday night. While it was Coach Richard Hulkow's first losing season in 25 years, finshing 4-5, the team charted a winning road record. See John Hendler's report in the Saturday, Oct. 20 Chronicle page 12.

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JPC wants more time and information

More time to look over a 15-page report from Marshall City Manager Chris Olson is what Joint Planning Commission Chairman Mark O'Connell says his six member panel has now that they have voted 5-1 to table a rezoning request from Trae Allman and business partner Kevin Neilsen. The developers had asked in August that local officials change the zoning designation on prperty they want to buy from professional office service to commercial so they can develop the 63 acres owned by State Farm they refer to as The Crossing. Commissioner Vic Potter cast the lone dissenting vote, saying the panel would have no more information at the next meeting than they had last night. "We could keep doing this until hell freezes over," Potter said repeatedly as the meeting was breaking up. Citizens and some commsissioners wanted more information on the proposed development first while Olson said in his report that the action should be postponed to allow for a traffic study. See more on this story in Saturday's Chronicle.

Dad grieves daughter, her boyfriend and his long time companion

The Detroit News published an interview today with Percy Shaw, the 71-year-old Detroit man whose car was disabled on I-94 Monday night. He told the News that he was returning from Chicago with his long time companion when the car began experiencing problems. He called his daughter in Detroit who drove to Battle Creek with her boyfriend to render assistance. It was they who died inside the second vehicle when a semi truck struck the second car from behind containing all but Shaw. The fiery crash occurred in Marengo Township just one mile east of Marshall at 8:30 p.m. Oct. 15. See the complete story in the Detroit News and the Chronicle's coverage in the Oct. 20 edition.

Crash victims still not identified

Michigan State Police say that the identifications of three people killed in a fiery crash on I-94 at the 113 mile marker in Marengo Township, eastbound lane at about 8:3o p.m. last night, have not been confirmed. Their bodies are at Sparrow Hospital where officials are working make positive identifications before notifying family members. Troopers said the three were occupants in a car that was pushing another, disabled car, driven by a 71-year-old Detroit man. They were attempting to push his car off the highway at a low speed when their car was struck from behind by a semi truck hauling apples driven by a 55-year-old Canadian man. Responding to the scene were Marengo Township and Marshall City Firefighters, Marshall Firefighters Ambulance Authority, the Calhoun County Sheriff's Office, the Battle Creek Post of the Michigan State Police and Bud's Wrecker Service. The highway was closed for 9 hours following the crash.

Sharpley to start for Notre Dame against USC

Marshall's Evan Sharpley has not started a game since joining the Fighting Irish football team in 2005. Saturday, he gets his chance to quarterback the team against arch rival, USC. See award winning Chronicle sports writer John Hendler's commentary on this milestone day for the home town boy in the Oct. 20 Marshall Chronicle.

Chronicle is only Calhoun County paper to win awards

The Marshall Chronicle is the only Calhoun County newspaper to garner awards in the Michigan Press Association's annual Better Newspaper Contest held each year during National Newspaper Week, Oct. 7-13. Editor Shelly Sulser clinched first place out of 10 entries for her Spot News Story on the police bust of a large drug ring that occurred when local, state and federal authorities wrapped their 18 month investigation by executing eight search warrants simultanously. And, Sports Reporter John Hendler took first place out of 21 entries for his Sports Feature on Marshall man Bill Welke, who works as a professional, Major League Baseball umpire. See more on the story behind these awards in Saturday's Chronicle.

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Small business people angry over new taxes

Susan Love and Jim Zawodni, both computer IT consultants, joined Angel Stage of Marshall Cutting Edge Lawn care and Lee Justice of Sunshine Window Cleaning Service in sharing their frustration with state lawmakers last week after the last minute budget deal included a six percent sales tax on their services in addition to an income tax hike. See what they're doing about it in the Oct. 6 edition of The Chronicle.

Fire departments take part in training burn

Area fire agencies gathered on South Kalamazoo Avenue in Marshall this morning to participate in the controlled burn of an abandoned home for training purposes. Firefighters have been participating in rapid intervention training on the site for several weeks and are learning techniques for rescuing themselves in certain firefighting situations, according to Lt. Jeff Rhodes of the Marshall City Fire Department.

Man charged with sexual assault

A 41-year-old Marshall man whom police said lives near the Marshall Alternative High School has been charged with second degree criminal sexual conduct with a 15-year-old girl he allegedly took for a motorcycle ride to Stuart Lake's boat launch where police say he sexually assaulted her. The man, Cameron Engle, is lodged in the Calhoun County Jail awaiting preliminary examination on the charges.

Cronin sisters kept card file on patrons

The women who patronized the former Cronin Department store were catered to by the late Elizabeth and Virginia Cronin in a way they may not have realized. The sisters kept a card file on their regulars recording their bra, girdle and shoes sizes, among other statistics in order to help them meet their customer needs. This and many other fading memories of the store that thrived in downtown Marshall since 1851 until circa 1988 are shared in a front page story about former Cronin Department Store owner, Phil Weber, now 90 years old. Weber wanted to chronicle his stories of the sisters and the Cronin building for the first time in The Chronicle to help preserve the history with words, while the building's structural history changes with renovations underway now.

It's National Walk to School Day, Oct. 3

The Marshall Public Schools are for the second consecutive year participating today in National Walk to School Day observances to promote healthy lifestyles with physical exercise like walking to and from school. The event also helps cut down on exhaust emissions and congestion at the schools where more and more parents who drive their children to school gather to drop them off. Organizing this year's event are school district nurse Sue Boley and counselor, Pam McCann, among others. Watch for extra pedestrians on the streets this morning on your way to work and this afternoon when school lets out.

Healing racism summit this Saturday at MHS

Tree trimming is hot topic

The tree branches are extensive and so was the debate last night over the City of Marshall's tree trimming program and the lack thereof. In recent years, the issue was trimmed from the budget, saving the city some $23,000 annually but last night, Director of Utilities and Infrastructure Tom Tarkiewicz said the 600 man hours and up to $50,000 he wants to pay AMP Ohio to trim trees, including "back lot" trees near the city power lines - those in your back yard - would not be enough get the city caught up on the long overdue task. Overhanging branches fall onto power lines during high winds causing major repairs for the city's municipal electric department. At Large Trustee Ron Goodwin voted against outsourcing the work because he feels the city's line crews can do the job. Fifth Ward Trustee Luann Miller voted in favor of the budgeted expense but urged the city staff to consider how far the $50,000 would have gone toward training the city crews to trim backlot trees. In response to the comment below, Ron Goodwin voted against the tree trimming contract with AMP Ohio. His was the only dissenting vote with Luanne Miller, Brent Williams, Mike Kinter, Matt Glaser, Jim Dyer and Mayor Bruce Smith voting in favor the contract.

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