ANTRIM
Crash may have been 3rd offense
MANCELONA -- A Kalkaska woman allegedly was driving drunk in a crash that left a man in critical condition.
Catherine Rose Musser, 45, faces charges of operating while intoxicated causing serious injury and third-offense operating under the influence, court records show.
Musser drove a vehicle through an intersection on Scholl Road in Mancelona Township Monday evening, according to a police statement. The vehicle slid, left the road, overturned and ejected a passenger.
That passenger, Gary Thomas, 46, of Bellaire, remained in critical condition at Munson Medical Center Wednesday afternoon, Antrim County Sheriff Terry Johnson said.
A third person in the vehicle, Mancelona resident Bruce Underwood, 40, was treated and released at the scene.
Musser was arrested and eventually released on bond, Johnson said. Her arraignment was scheduled for Thursday.
CHARLEVOIX
Baby born in video store parking lot
CHARLEVOIX -- Movies to go weren't the only items C.J. and Breann Winnell picked up at their local video rental store.
They got a baby there, too.
The couple's daughter, Claire Anne, was born early Dec. 5, as wind and snow swirled around her parents in the parking lot at Family Video in Charlevoix.
The Winnells already have two sons by natural childbirth: Grant, 5, and Harrison, 3. They planned for their third baby to arrive the same way -- though not in a parking lot -- so staying calm was part of their mantra to help them through the situation.
C.J. had the car warming outside, bags ready for the hospital and Breann tottering to the car. They only made it about a quarter-mile from their home before Claire Anne made her grand debut.
C.J. is a certified emergency medical technician, but his medical training wasn't necessary that night, as Claire arrived with relative ease and no complications.
GRAND TRAVERSE
City explores brownfield options
Traverse City -- Discussions continue as some city commissioners push for more control in Grand Traverse County's brownfield redevelopment authority.
Feelings are mixed on the creation of a separate city brownfield authority, but a majority of commissioners agreed that elected city officials should serve on the county authority.
After initially resisting the idea, county officials agreed to consider allowing two city commissioner spots on the authority. City commissioners expect an answer by February and will meet with the brownfield coordinator in the meantime.
The county board appoints the nine-member authority, which in effect chooses development projects to receive local and state property tax dollars based on a set of criteria including site contamination and blight.
There are more than a dozen brownfield sites in the county, the vast majority of which fall within city limits.
Montessori moving to Glenn Loomis
TRAVERSE CITY -- Traverse City's public Montessori program is staying in town.
Its home beginning next school year will be Glenn Loomis Elementary, following a 5-1 vote by the Traverse City Area Public Schools board of education Monday night. The program has been housed at Central Grade School since 2000.
Board member Suzann Brooke was not present.
Superintendent James Feil recommended Glenn Loomis over the other finalist, Sabin Elementary, which closed in 2005. The board had final approval.
Administrators decided during the district's recent long-range planning process to move Montessori students into a closed building. Board members voted in July to close Glenn Loomis after this year.
Some Glenn Loomis parents in attendance remained upset that another group of students was moving into their building. Montessori parents tried to reassure them, saying their children also were being displaced.
Reporter arrested for drunken driving
TRAVERSE CITY -- City police arrested a Traverse City man for suspicion of second-offense drunken driving, fleeing and eluding police, and resisting and obstructing officers.
Traverse City police arrested Victor Skinner, 26, around 11:30 p.m. Dec. 8 after an officer observed a Jeep stuck in a snow bank at the McDonald's Restaurant driveway on East Front Street. Skinner is a Record-Eagle reporter.
The officer turned around and the Jeep pulled out and turned east on Front Street. Police said the Jeep weaved as it continued east and the driver ran a red light at Barlow Street.
Police alleged the driver, Skinner, failed to yield to the patrol vehicle's emergency lights and siren until it reached the next intersection at Rose Street, where he turned off Front Street and came to a stop. He refused to submit to blood-alcohol tests, police said.
Skinner previously was convicted for an alcohol-related driving offense in Muskegon in 2002.
Deputy returns to active duty
TRAVERSE CITY -- A sheriff's department sniper who fatally shot a man during a standoff has been cleared by an internal department review and returned to active duty.
Grand Traverse County Sheriff Scott Fewins said a review board determined deputy Charles Jetter did not violate any department policies when he shot and killed Craig Carlson after an 11-hour impasse at Carlson's Interlochen home.
The review board of Undersheriff Nathan Alger, Jetter's supervisor Capt. Tom Emerson, training officer Lt. Bryan Marrow and union board member Paul Postal on Dec. 7 recommended Jetter immediately be returned to active duty.
Jetter was on paid administrative leave.
Fewins said he also reviewed a Michigan State Police incident report, spoke with the investigating officer, made sure Jetter was ready to return and was cleared by a mental health professional before returning him to road patrol Monday.
Law firm's ice sculpture vandalized
Traverse City -- A local law firm hoped to give the community a gift that would last all winter when it commissioned a festive ice sculpture.
The gift lasted less than three days.
Someone destroyed an ornate sculpture of two children riding a toboggan in front of Smith Haughey Rice & Roegge's 202 E. State St. offices last Sunday, said Robert Tubbs, a partner at the firm.
Traverse City artist Steven Berkshire completed work on the sculpture Dec. 7. The firm hired him to create something cheerful for the community to view, Tubbs said.
Firm employees last saw the sculpture standing on Sunday morning, and one saw it smashed by 2 p.m. that day, Tubbs said.
About 28 hours of work went into the sculpture, Berkshire said.
Wal-Mart store may become supercenter
TRAVERSE CITY -- Retail giant Wal-Mart may expand its Garfield Township store to a supercenter, featuring a supermarket and 24-hour operations.
A company spokesman confirmed Tuesday that Wal-Mart is conducting "due diligence" on expanding its store in the Grand Traverse Crossings mall on South Airport Road, after looking into other potential locations in recent years for a new supercenter outlet.
"We have been looking for a supercenter in the Traverse City area for some time now," said Nick Infante, a senior manager of public affairs for the Arkansas-based company. "Right now, we're focused on the current site."
The local Wal-Mart store opened in the mid-1990s and covers more than 123,000-square feet, according to township assessment records. The discount center is classified as a "Division 1" store, compared to a supercenter outlet that offers a full line of grocery products and produce, including an organic food section and expanded wine area, Infante said.
Input sought on artwork's location
Traverse City -- Plans for public art on the Open Space face scrutiny from some residents and city officials who question placing a large steel beam sculpture on the bayfront.
A donation is pending for the Dennos Museum Center at Northwestern Michigan College to receive a piece that currently stands at Kmart's Troy headquarters.
The city planning commission voted recently to support the acquisition of the piece and strongly encourage an Open Space site be considered for its final placement as long as no city tax dollars are used. The project also gained approval from the bayfront planning committee and Downtown Development Authority. The Parks and Recreation Commission accepted plans to obtain the sculpture but requested more site options at its recent meeting. Gene Jenneman, director of Dennos Museum Center, is working with the Downtown Traverse City Association's public art committee to bring the piece to the bay. He cited the city's "Your Bay, Your Say" initiative for suggesting public art on the Open Space.
Lake Ann man faces charges in 3rd OWI
TRAVERSE CITY -- A Lake Ann man is free on bond to face drunken-driving charges in Traverse City.
Elliot Tyler Papazian, 23, was released from Grand Traverse County Jail after he posted a $5,000 bond, court records show. He was arrested Dec. 8 and charged with operating a vehicle while intoxicated, resisting and obstructing police and driving on a suspended license.
This is Papazian's third OWI offense. His first conviction was in 2005, and he was on probation for his second offense, in 2006, records show.
Police allege Papazian failed to stop at a sign on Wellington Street, and officers could smell alcohol on him when they stopped him near Wellington and Front streets, records show. He then allegedly took off on foot before he was apprehended.
Man allegedly grew marijuana
TRAVERSE CITY -- Prosecutors are seeking felony drug charges against a Traverse City man for allegedly growing marijuana in his home.
An arrest warrant was authorized Monday against Jay Michael Clynch, 41, for one count each of delivering and manufacturing marijuana and maintaining a drug house, court records show. Clynch has a prior conviction and is being charged as a habitual offender on the latter charge, records show.
A Traverse Narcotics Team deputy said he saw marijuana plants growing inside Clynch's home from outside, according to court records. Clynch allegedly agreed to allow the deputy to search the home, where the deputy said he found multiple plants and plastic bags of the drug. Clynch then allegedly told two detectives the drugs were his, records show.
Board split on phone motion
TRAVERSE CITY -- Traverse City school board members are divided on whether to allow a member who's awaiting surgery to
participate in meetings by telephone.
The idea arose last week when board member Fred Tank suggested allowing Suzann Brooke, who has missed the past two meetings due to a hip injury, to participate by teleconference in future meetings.
But efforts stalled Monday after members split 3-3, leaving the issue until the Jan. 14 organizational meeting before it again could go before the full board.
Without a policy in place by then, however, Brooke likely would have to attend if she wants to participate. The organizational meeting will be the first with new members Marjie Rich and Megan Crandall, and the year's board president will be chosen.
Officials notify parents about threat
TRAVERSE CITY -- Administrators at Traverse City Central High School are notifying parents after discovering a threatening message on a bathroom stall.
The message found Wednesday indicated a possible threat that might occur Friday, according to a letter Principal Jim Leyndyke sent home with students.
"The implied threat is not credible and we will not disrupt the learning process," the letter reads. "Proper precautions are being taken with the involvement of law enforcement as we continue this investigation."
Traverse City Area Public Schools Superintendent James Feil learned of the message Wednesday and said authorities are unsure of its author.
"We just want to err on the side of keeping people informed," Feil said.
Man arrested as robbery suspect
Traverse City -- Downstate authorities located and arrested a man suspected of robbing a Traverse City resident.
The Macomb County Fugitive Team arrested Anthony Paul Rodriquez, 37, on Tuesday, according to a statement from the Traverse City Police Department.
Rodriquez allegedly took a large amount of cash from a Traverse City man on Nov. 7. He had taken a trip with the victim, 47, and two other men to the Turtle Creek Casino, and on the way back he allegedly assaulted the victim, took the money and fled.
Rodriquez is wanted on additional charges in Monroe County, police say. He will be transported to Traverse City to face felony charges of assault, strong-armed robbery and being a habitual offender after his Monroe charges are addressed.
Man charged in pharmacy break-in
Traverse City -- A Kingsley man is charged with breaking into a pharmacy.
Trevor Michael Walton, 19, is charged with breaking and entering a building with intent, according to court records. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.
Walton allegedly admitted to police he broke into Kingsley Pharmacy on 114 S. Brownson on Oct. 21 to steal drugs to settle a drug-related obligation, records show.
He has not been arrested. A warrant for his arrest was authorized Dec. 7.
Rotary donates more than $580K
TRAVERSE CITY -- Sixteen area organizations have received more than $580,000 in all from Rotary Charities of Traverse City.
Rotary officials Wednesday distributed $582,500 in the form of capital, capacity and planning grants.
Funding for capital projects added up to $400,000, with two-thirds of it going to renovation at the Father Fred Foundation and $100,000 going toward waterfront improvements at Long Lake Township's Twin Lakes Park.
Seven organizations received capacity building grants, awarded to help nonprofits improve their operations. The largest, $35,000, was awarded to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Grand Traverse.
An additional seven groups received smaller planning grants at a maximum of $5,000, including the Inland Seas Education Association and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwestern Michigan.
Work to go forward on hotel
TRAVERSE CITY -- Plans are moving ahead for a $22 million hotel and conference center at Grand Traverse Commons.
Grand Traverse County's Brownfield Redevelopment Authority approved a $2 million loan application through the state Department of Environmental Quality to pay for clean-up work in and around three buildings planned for the project.
A company called Partners in Development, headed by longtime local seasonal resident John R. Weeman Jr., wants to renovate two century-old cottages and a connecting dining hall at the former state hospital grounds into an 84-room hotel, with a full-service restaurant and 500-seat banquet room facility.
State brownfield funds will be used to remove lead paint and asbestos in the buildings. It also will be used to remove boilers, equipment and other hazardous material from the old power plant building near the proposed hotel site.
Weeman said the clean-up will begin this month and renovations could start early next year, with completion scheduled in March or April 2009.
Refinancing saves taxpayers $2.2 million
TRAVERSE CITY -- District taxpayers will see roughly $2.2 million in savings from a series of refinanced bonds in Traverse City Area Public Schools.
The refunding will lower the bonds' interest rate from nearly 5 percent to 3.78 percent through 2020, and will result in smaller annual payments, said Paul Soma, the district's chief financial officer.
The move helps keep the TCAPS levy at 3.1 mills.
"The taxes that we have to levy to pay back that series of bonds is now lower," Soma said. "It ensures that we're able to stay within the millage rate promised to the public."
The deal was sealed recently when school board members approved the transaction. The savings officially will begin in February.
LEELANAU
Northport man awaits extradition
NORTHPORT -- A Northport man is behind bars awaiting extradition to Florida to face charges for violating terms of his probation for a previous drug arrest, court records show.
Ralph Lemerial Corbitt, 45, waived extradition Dec. 7 in 86th District Court, which will expedite the process. He is being held without bond at the Leelanau County Jail.
Corbitt was sentenced in Florida in 2005 for possession of methamphetamine, and his probation is scheduled to end in July 2008, according to online Florida Department of Corrections records.
Substation plan generates static
GREILICKVILLE -- A proposed electrical substation in Elmwood Township and plans for related transmission line upgrades in western Traverse City continue to generate static.
Residents from both communities voiced opposition to the projects at public meetings last week.
Neighbors are concerned with "the rush, the lack of communication, and questionable facts regarding the need and also the location of the power lines, as well as the substation," Elmwood Township resident Robert Doughty said.
Wolverine Power Cooperative plans to build a high-voltage substation near the corner of Bugai Road and M-72 in Elmwood Township. The utility controls transmission lines for Cherryland Electric Cooperative, which would be interconnected through the station with lines for Traverse City Light & Power and Consumers Energy.
Light & Power wants to upgrade transmission lines and connect them to the substation by the time it's completed next summer or fall.
Property for the substation is being purchased from Elmwood Township trustee Terry Lautner, who also is a Cherryland director.
OTSEGO
Rumors of violence impact school
GAYLORD -- Many students poured out of Gaylord High School long before classes let out for the day.
Anonymous callers reported rumors of a possible incident of school violence at GHS, but after investigating, police said the whole thing was an "unsubstantiated rumor." Nevertheless, many students stayed home from school on Monday morning, some parents picked their children up early and there was a noticeable police presence on school property.
Absenteeism was at three times the normal rate at the high school Monday, but it did not throw off the entire district attendance enough to affect state funding, school officials said.
Detective Sgt. Kevin Day of the Michigan State Police post in Gaylord said a crime tip came in last Sunday morning and police immediately investigated the reported rumor of threatened school violence. He said no verifiable source could be found.
Amount of DDA money missing unknown
GAYLORD -- Police, accountants and Otsego County's prosecutor still do not know how much money is missing from the Gaylord Downtown Development Authority and whether criminal charges will be filed, seven weeks into an investigation.
The agency's former executive director, Sherrie Schuster, 45, of Gaylord, resigned in October when police and city officials began to investigate financial irregularities that left city coffers short by more than $200,000.
"We're still waiting for bank records and the audit to come back," said Michigan State Police Detective Sgt. Gwen White-Erickson of the Petoskey post. "A holding pattern is typical in this kind of case."
The city hired public accounting firm Plante & Moran of Southfield to complete a forensic audit of DDA accounts. Scrutiny of the agency's cash flow will begin when all subpoenaed bank records are received, said Sy Adler, from the company's investigative services department.
Embezzlement probed at builders association
GAYLORD -- Gaylord Police are investigating an embezzlement complaint from the northern Michigan chapter of the Associated Builders and Contractors of Michigan.
Police interviewed a possible suspect in the case and an audit was completed by a certified public accountant. Police did not identify the suspect, but said there is evidence that a large sum of money is missing.
Otsego County Prosecutor Kyle Legel will review the police report and decide whether to issue charges. Legel does not yet know an exact amount of missing money, but said it's a six-figure sum.
The crime allegedly occurred over the last couple of years and involves an agent of the group, Legel said.
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