ANTRIM
City to consider dredging pond
BELLAIRE -- Residents will help decide whether to dredge Bellaire's Craven Pond in an attempt to rejuvenate trout habitat.
The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality issued a permit to dredge up to 100,000-cubic yards of sediment from a more than eight-acre area in Craven Pond. Village leaders soon will choose whether to embark on the estimated $70,000 project.
"If this is what the residents want, the village will begin looking at how to pay for it without raising taxes," said Janet Person, council executive.
A meeting to gather public input is set for 7 p.m. May 20 at Bellaire's village hall.
Bus driver faces CSC charges
BELLAIRE -- An Alba Public Schools bus driver is charged with four counts of fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct.
Deputies arrested Kenneth Ray Bigger Tuesday at the Alba schools building, where he is employed as a lunch room supervisor and bus driver.
Bigger, 53, allegedly engaged in sexual contact with a female between the age of 13 and 16 during March and April. The alleged conduct took place at a residence in Alba, not at the school, a police release states.
Bigger was scheduled to be arraigned Thursday.
BENZIE
Corrections sergeant faces investigation
BEULAH -- A corrections sergeant with the Benzie County Sheriff's Department has been suspended pending a criminal sexual conduct investigation.
Craig Baker is on administrative leave without pay, according to a release from Benzie Undersheriff Rory Heckman. The incident did not occur while Baker was on duty and did not occur at the Benzie County Jail.
Heckman did not immediately return a call for comment. There are no charges filed against Baker in Benzie County District Court, a spokeswoman said.
GRAND TRAVERSE
Police say drunken driver caused crash
TRAVERSE CITY -- A man was arrested for drunken driving after a three-car crash near Eighth and Division streets.
Traverse City Police arrested the man after responding to the crash at about 10:30 p.m. April 19. Officers found a crash involving three cars, and the at-fault driver allegedly appeared drunk. That driver allegedly struck a vehicle that was waiting to turn left onto Eighth Street.
A preliminary breath test showed the man's blood alcohol level allegedly was .308, almost four times Michigan's legal limit.
The suspect, a man, 37, from Traverse City, wasn't identified in a police statement. He was arrested for drunken driving and driving without a valid driver's license.
Teens allegedly stole from vehicles
TRAVERSE CITY -- Three teens who allegedly stole items from several unlocked vehicles could face larceny charges.
The teens, two 15-year-olds and one 17, allegedly took small electronic devices from cars parked in alleys on the west side of town early April 19. Traverse City Police officers found the teens after responding to a report of suspicious individuals dressed in dark clothing.
Reports were sent to the Grand Traverse Prosecutor's office requesting larceny charges on all three teens.
Citizens who are missing property taken from their vehicles overnight April 19 are asked to contact officer Kevin Dunklow at the Traverse City Police Department at 995-5151.
Man allegedly left accident scene
TRAVERSE CITY -- A man who allegedly left the scene of a traffic crash could face a criminal charge.
Traverse City Police responded to a crash at Union and Ninth streets at about 9:30 p.m. April 16, according to a police statement. Officers interviewed several witnesses who said they saw a red Toyota pickup truck leave the road and strike two signs and a utility pole.
The driver asked witnesses to not call police, and when they did he drove off.
Police located the truck in Kalkaska County and interviewed the driver, who said he fell asleep. He allegedly said he was scared and left the scene.
The driver, a Kalkaska resident, 21, wasn't identified. Police are seeking a charge of leaving the scene of an accident.
Judge won't toss FOIA lawsuit
TRAVERSE CITY -- A judge declined to dismiss a lawsuit filed by an attorney who's investigating the shooting death of an Interlochen man by a Grand Traverse Sheriff's Department sniper.
On Monday, 13th Circuit Judge Thomas G. Power denied a motion to dismiss a state Freedom of Information Act suit filed against the sheriff's department by Traverse City attorney Grant Parsons. Robert Cooney, an assistant county prosecutor who's serving as attorney for the sheriff's department, sought to have the suit dismissed.
Parsons is investigating the November death of Craig Carlson, who was shot by sheriff's sniper Charles Jetter after a lengthy standoff at Carlson's home. Parsons sued on behalf of the family in January, alleging the department failed to provide a timely response to his request for incident reports under FOIA.
In court, Cooney argued that Parsons filed his suit before the 15 business days allowed under FOIA law had passed. Parsons submitted the FOIA request Jan. 16 and filed his suit Jan. 24.
Power said Cooney could reformulate his motion for dismissal if he thinks Parsons prematurely filed suit.
Cherry Festival aims for early start
TRAVERSE CITY -- The National Cherry Festival wants to extend this year's celebration to include the Fourth of July, but some city officials frown at the notion of an early start.
Festival officials hope to open the beverage pavilion and midway for the July 4 holiday, since it falls on the eve of the festival's opening day.
Independence Day festivities at the Open Space include a Twilight Airshow organized by the Cherry Festival, followed by fireworks sponsored by the Grand Traverse Area Veterans Coalition. The Blue Angels also will have a practice session in the afternoon.
The city commission, at the request of the veterans group, gave the festival permission to allow food vendors to sell their wares at 5 p.m. July 4.
But festival executive director Tom Menzel wants to open the midway, beverage pavilion and food vendors at around noon that day.
Man faces drunken driving charges
TRAVERSE CITY -- A local man is charged with third-offense operating while intoxicated and second-offense operating with a suspended license.
A Grand Traverse sheriff's deputy arrested David Charles Andersen Jr. April 18 after stopping his vehicle in Garfield Township for failing to use a signal while changing lanes and having an improper plate, court records show.
The deputy allegedly smelled alcohol and noticed Andersen had bloodshot eyes and slurred speech, according to records. Andersen allegedly told the deputy he had "quite a few beers" prior to driving.
Andersen previously was convicted of operating while intoxicated twice in 2002, records show.
Resort settles with employees
TRAVERSE CITY -- A settlement was reached in a class action lawsuit between the Grand Traverse Resort & Spa and scores of resort employees over money withheld from their paychecks that was used for resort marketing.
The resort agreed to pay $78,000 to a group of around 150 current and former resort workers in a settlement filed Monday in 13th Circuit Court. The resort was sued last summer over alleged violations of state employment and wage laws over $150 bi-weekly paycheck deductions for numerous employees at its health spa that were used to help fund the resort's marketing efforts.
The deductions were initiated by the resort's former owners, KSL Recreation Inc. They eventually were phased out by the current owners, the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians, after the tribe bought the resort in 2003.
A statement issued by the resort Tuesday said plaintiffs dismissed their allegation that charged tips and commissions on retail products were not properly paid.
Court decides control of shipwreck
TRAVERSE CITY -- A federal appeals court Tuesday ruled that the federal government should have authority for now over a Lake Michigan shipwreck that could be The Griffin, a 17th-century vessel built by the French explorer La Salle.
A three-judge panel of the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Cincinnati reversed a ruling by District Judge Robert Holmes Bell in a dispute between the state of Michigan and the private underwater exploration company that found the wreckage seven years ago.
Great Lakes Exploration Group LLC wants the federal government to have jurisdiction but to appoint the company as custodian until the courts determine who has ownership and salvage rights. The company says the French government may want to submit a claim.
Folgarelli's owner hopes to reopen
TRAVERSE CITY -- Donna Folgarelli and a small work crew cleaned, painted and busied themselves with other chores at her namesake delicatessen, and hoped to reopen the landmark downtown market sooner rather than later.
Folgarelli's Market and its neighboring wine shop on West Front Street have been closed since late March after the business lapsed into bankruptcy under previous owners. Now, Folgarelli hopes for the go-ahead from a local bank to reopen the family business.
For now, the business' short-term future rests with Traverse City State Bank, which owns the shop's inventory and equipment after bankruptcy trustee James Boyd said he would formally abandon those holdings as part of bankruptcy proceedings.
Folgarelli said she made an offer to the bank last week to reclaim the business, but awaited a response Tuesday afternoon.
TCL&P board fills positions
TRAVERSE CITY -- A new member was appointed and an incumbent reappointed to the Traverse City Light & Power board of directors.
The city commission chose resident Mike Coco for a five-year term and incumbent Linda Johnson for a term ending in April 2012.
Light & Power board members voted on Tuesday to name Johnson the new chairwoman with John Welch as the vice chairman. Welch previously served as chairman and Johnson as vice chair.
TC fire chief announces his retirement
TRAVERSE CITY -- Fire Chief Ed Fisher is retiring next month after spending more than half his life working for the Traverse City Fire Department.
It's an emotional goodbye for Fisher, who became a firefighter 32 years ago at age 21. He's headed the department for the past six years.
Fisher said he wants to spend more time with his friends and family.
Under his leadership the department took over fire services at Cherry Capital Airport, expanded the inspections department and received training and equipment to join the state's homeland security network.
Fisher's last day is May 30. City Manager Richard Lewis posted the job internally and knows of a couple employees interested in the position.
Symphony retains interim director
TRAVERSE CITY -- Ed Downing signed up to serve as the interim director of the Traverse Symphony Orchestra as it looked for a new executive director.
It turned out he was the man for the job.
TSO officials announced Thursday that Downing will be the orchestra's new executive director.
The departure last year of former Executive Director Andrew Buelow sent TSO searching for a new leader. Buelow announced his resignation in October to take a post with the Tacoma Symphony Orchestra.
Downing brings plenty of experience to the position. He served as president of Interlochen Center for the Arts from 1998 to 2003 and worked there as vice president for education.
Silver Lake berm removal planned
TRAVERSE CITY -- The removal of a berm separating a shallow pond from the north end of Silver Lake in Grand Traverse County could be a key move in boosting the lake's fish populations.
Garfield Township officials were to submit a permit application to the state Department of Environmental Quality last week to create a fish channel between a weedy pond adjacent to East Silver Lake Park and the main lake.
The township recently approved plans to construct a 160-foot channel that would be two feet deep, and will submit the DEQ application within the next week. Fishing will be allowed at the pond from the shores of East Silver Lake Park, but boat traffic will be restricted to the big lake, said Deputy Supervisor Joe McManus.
NMC officials blast software company
TRAVERSE CITY -- Northwestern Michigan College officials lashed out at the "negligence" of a software company after a laptop theft exposed the personal data of college students and staff.
Someone stole a laptop belonging to an employee of SunGard Higher Education at a community college in New York state March 13, NMC spokesman Paul Heaton said.
SunGard develops data management software used by NMC, and the laptop contained social security numbers and other personal information for roughly 1,600 former and current NMC students and staff members.
NMC officials contend the data was gathered for legitimate purposes as SunGard worked on business software in 2003, but said the data should have been erased long ago. The college hasn't received a "sufficient" explanation from SunGard as to why the data was still on the computer, Heaton said.
SunGard also took about a month to notify college officials of the theft, Heaton said. The college hasn't decided if it will take legal action against SunGard.
Bus stop shelters not yet installed
TRAVERSE CITY -- The promised installation of several local public bus stop shelters is stalled again, extending the delay
from fall and winter to at least part of spring.
Since November, officials with the Bay Area Transportation Authority contended they wanted to erect 14 bus stop shelters, but had to wait on grant money, then for better weather.
Officials recently reported the shelters would be up in May, but they've now revealed that exact sites aren't nailed down. The contractor chosen for the work said he hasn't heard from BATA since March.
Some shelters could be in next month, but others will have to wait as separate construction projects at some spots hold up progress for a couple more months, said George McBath, BATA assistant director for administration.
Minors cited after police end party
TRAVERSE CITY -- Police cited several minors for alleged alcohol consumption after breaking up a house party on Hannah Avenue.
Five people were cited for being minors in possession of alcohol after Traverse City police entered a house at about 12:15 a.m. Thursday. Officers responded to a complaint of a loud party with underage drinking, according to a police statement.
Capt. Steve Morgan said officers could see several people drinking as they looked through the home's windows. As officers spoke with two people who left the house, they allegedly saw people in the house running around and closing windows and curtains.
Officers entered the residence and cited the five minors. Two of the five also were cited for hosting an underage drinking party.
KALKASKA
Four teens injured in M-66 crash
KALKASKA -- Four Rapid City teens were injured after their vehicle left the road and struck several trees along M-66.
Kalkaska sheriff's deputies responded to a single-vehicle crash on M-66 in Orange Township at about 1:30 a.m. last Sunday, according to a police statement. The driver of a Pontiac Bonneville, traveling south on M-66, lost control, left the road, rolled and struck several trees. Investigators believe the car was traveling more than 100 miles per hour at the time.
Four occupants were taken to Munson Medical Center in Traverse City. The driver, Justin Michael Bielski, 17, was in fair condition Monday afternoon. Passenger Nickolas Martin Konsella, 16, also was in fair condition. Terrance Tufford, 15, was in critical condition and Nicole Marie Hildebrand, 17, was in serious condition.
The crash remains under investigation.
LEELANAU
AG: Sheriff didn't illegally eavesdrop
SUTTONS BAY -- Leelanau County sheriff's brass didn't illegally eavesdrop on employees when they recorded and listened in on their telephone conversations, state officials said.
Two Leelanau sergeants -- Michael Lamb and Jimmy Kiessel -- contend Sheriff Mike Oltersdorf, Undersheriff Scott Wooters and jail administrator Cheryl King broke the law when they digitally recorded telephone conversations in the sheriff's department.
The sergeants filed a complaint with the FBI, which referred the case to Michigan State Police.
The Michigan attorney general's office recently said charges wouldn't be sought against the sheriff's administrators.
"The sheriff had a policy in place, and everyone knew that," attorney general spokesman Rusty Hills said. "There was no expectation of privacy."
Oltersdorf said it's standard policy to record phone conversations on all department lines aside from those to administration and the detective bureau, and some of the conversations at issue surfaced during internal investigations.
Police Officers Association of Michigan spokesman Pat Spidell said the union is "satisfied with the process" and will take no action in wake of the attorney general's decision.
Soldier dies in vehicle accident in Iraq
GAYLORD -- A Gaylord soldier died in Iraq.
U.S. Army Pfc. John Thomas Bishop, 22, died Wednesday in a vehicle accident in Iraq, where he was stationed as an infantry member of the 101st Airborne Division. His parents are John William and Gaye Bishop of Gaylord.
"He was in a heavy armored vehicle and the side of the road gave way and the vehicle rolled over into a canal and he was trapped," said John Bishop about his son's death. "Two other soldiers died, too."
U.S. Department of Defense officials would not confirm Bishop's death on Thursday, although family members did. Bishop did not know if his son drowned, but an autopsy will be conducted, he said.
Bishop was serving his first tour of duty in Iraq and was about half way through the hitch. He came home on leave in March.
Wildfire consumes hundreds of acres
GRAYLING -- Michigan's largest wildfire of the season raged across Crawford County Thursday, where rain-starved jack pine woods were tinder dry and prone to burn quickly in the windy afternoon conditions. The wildfire was spotted from a plane around 3:30 p.m. and consumed 1,100 acres -- nearly two square miles -- by 9 p.m., when firefighters began to battle the blaze into the night.
Six homes burned in the fire, although no firefighters were reported injured, officials said. Homes and businesses in and around Grayling lost power because of the wildfire and traffic was backed-up and redirected from Interstate 75, Old U.S. 27 and M-72.
As many as 20 homes were evacuated near Grayling after the forest fire ignited near railroad tracks on the east side of town and burned northwest toward Grayling, said Ada Takacs, spokeswoman for the state Department of Natural Resources.
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