April 14, 2008 04:00 am CRAWFORD Theme park closer to financing deal LANSING -- A company that wants to build a theme park in northern Michigan says it is getting closer to completing financing for the project. Patrick Crosson of Rochester-based Axiom Entertainment said Thursday the company is scheduling updates for this week with state officials about the Crawford County project's financial backing. Crosson said he is "cautiously optimistic" the company will have written agreements for all of the project's financing within two weeks. GRAND TRAVERSE Trial in fatal crash begins TRAVERSE CITY -- The trial of an Interlochen woman who allegedly caused a crash that killed an elderly Lake Ann man was scheduled to begin Tuesday. Police said Patricia Ann Steele's blood-alcohol content topped four times the legal limit when her van crossed the center line on U.S. 31 South near Interlochen in December. Her vehicle slammed into a car carrying Gerald and Elaine Frost of Lake Ann. Gerald Frost, 74, was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver, Elaine Frost, 76, suffered a broken leg and other fractures. MEAP testing shows mixed results TRAVERSE CITY -- In general, students in Traverse City schools are writing better. But, conversely, reading scores have fallen. Now administrators are looking to expand literacy programs to strengthen students' performance in both crucial areas. Michigan Educational Assessment Program, or MEAP, results released Tuesday show students in Traverse City Area Public Schools improved in both writing and science since last year. Of the students tested in grades three through eight last fall, only eighth-graders posted a decline in writing, with an 80.7 percent proficiency rate -- down from 81.8 percent last year. And more than 90 percent of fifth- and eighth-graders are proficient in science. Pair allegedly drove off with cash TRAVERSE CITY -- Police hope two people who drove off with a large amount of cash will return the money to its owner. A Traverse City man noticed several people picking up money blowing around in the wind as he drove along South Airport Road in Garfield Township on April 2, Michigan State Police Lt. William Elliott said. The man pulled over, found a wallet and began collecting cash, Elliott said, and he told other people to give him the money so he could turn it in to police. Two women gave him all the money they managed to grab, but a man in his 40s and a teenage girl drove off with a large amount of cash, Elliott said.. City grants 18-month grace period TRAVERSE CITY -- City officials granted an 18-month grace period to allow vacation rentals in single- and two-family residential zones, but that's not enough for one homeowner who's continuing a lawsuit against the city. George Easley is seeking injunctive relief from zoning rules that prohibit his vacation home rental on the base of Old Mission Peninsula. A city attorney opinion released last fall concluded weekly rentals constitute a commercial use and are illegal in single- and two-family districts. Surcharge reduced by 28 percent TRAVERSE CITY -- An alleged error by the Michigan Public Service Commission will cut a 911 phone surcharge in Grand Traverse County by 28 percent and might reduce funding for the county's emergency dispatch center by $72,000. Grand Traverse County planned to use a new state law to spread its current 80 cent per-month phone surcharge on land lines to cell phones and other electronic devices capable of calling 911. Cherryland Electric interested in TCL&P TRAVERSE CITY -- City officials downplayed another local utility's overture to purchase Traverse City Light & Power, but the door isn't closed on a potential multi-million dollar deal. Grawn-based Cherryland Electric Cooperative recently approached officials from Traverse City and its public utility about possibly buying Light & Power. Comments made by Traverse City Mayor Michael Estes last month sparked the initial interest, said Cherryland general manager Tony Anderson. Sewage spills as pumps fail TRAVERSE CITY -- A failed battery pack in a sewer pump station caused approximately 8,000 gallons of sewage to spill into the Mitchell Creek headwaters. About 16,000 gallons overflowed when sewer pumps in the Grand Traverse County-run system failed to switch on in a Garfield Township industrial park southeast of the Hammond and Garfield roads intersection. Man pleads guilty in robbery TRAVERSE CITY -- A man who helped rob a Traverse City market pleaded guilty to an armed robbery charge. Herman K. Howard, 36, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit armed robbery last week in Grand Traverse Circuit Court. In exchange for the plea, prosecutors dropped a habitual offender charge. His sentencing is set for May 2. Howard and his brother, Joshua David Howard, 32, robbed Deerings Market on Barlow Street in January. Herman Howard allegedly drove the getaway car as Joshua Howard took money from the market's cash register. Utility chooses interim director TRAVERSE CITY -- A new leader hopes to regain credibility for Traverse City Light & Power after the utility drove out its top two administrators amid incidents of misconduct and public discord. Edward Rice will take over as interim executive director on Monday. He said he plans to keep an open dialogue between management, the board and customers -- an approach that some board members said was lacking under former administrators. Porn shop owner sues township TRAVERSE CITY -- Traverse City resident Brad Vannatter believes the U.S. Constitution guarantees him the right to peddle porn in Garfield Township, and he's taking the municipality to court to prove his point. Vannatter, president of 3423 Cass Road Inc., last month filed a federal lawsuit against the township over what he contends is a vague zoning ordinance that violates his rights, U.S. District Court records show. NMC touts text alert system TRAVERSE CITY -- Northwestern Michigan College officials hope to boost enrollment in a system designed to quickly notify students and staff of campus emergencies. The college adopted a voluntary text message emergency alert system late last fall, but only about 10 percent of roughly 5,000 students, faculty and staff signed up for the system, spokesman Paul Heaton said. LEELANAU Officials question zoning status GREILICKVILLE -- Questions persist over a contested electrical substation in Elmwood Township that already has faced multiple appeals. Township officials are researching whether the facility is exempt from zoning or falls under recently amended regulations that require public and township input on essential services. GT Band holds primary election PESHAWBESTOWN -- Voters selected eight finalists for leadership positions in the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians' primary election. Two-term incumbent Chairman Robert Kewaygoshkum and council member Derek Bailey were the top two finishers in the tribal chairman's race, according to preliminary election results, said Sam Evans, who heads the tribe's election committee. Those two candidates will square off in the May 21 regular election. State officials OK use of pesticide MAPLE CITY -- Certified arborist Tom Deering may try out a new pesticide approved by state officials to combat emerald ash borer beetles. Deering, of Maple City, receives plenty of calls from people worried about EAB infestations in their favorite ash trees, a legitimate concern with infestations documented in every county in Michigan's Lower Peninsula. But he wants to test the new chemical before recommending it to his clients in Benzie, Grand Traverse and Leelanau counties. OTSEGO Trout study means new regulations GAYLORD -- A five-year state study will determine whether trout can grow any bigger in the Black River. The coming trout fishing season will bring regulation changes to a 4.4-mile stretch of the Black River in Otsego and Montmorency counties. New rules are designed to test whether the removal of live bait fishing will allow trout to grow to longer lengths, officials said.
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