Archive - Feb 2008

A huge cast of 36 players, supported by 25 tech members, will take to the stage this weekend in the contemporary musical love story Aida by Elton John & Tim Rice. Presented by the Tecumseh Youth Theatre, under the direction of Donna Andre and producer Kathy Field, Aida features lead players (pictured l-r) Deanna Shelle and Matt Felkey, playing Amneris and Radames, respectively, and Laura Sawinski as Aida. All three are seniors at Tecumseh High School. Aida is the story of a soldier and an enslaved princess who fall in love, are condemned to death, but ultimately herald peace between their two warring nations.Showtimes are 7:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, Feb. 29 and March 1; and Sunday, March 2, at 2 p.m. All tickets are $6. Call the Tecumseh Center for the Arts for more information at 423-6617.

By DEB WUETHRICH

Tecumseh School Board members unanimously passed a resolution on Monday night that seeks to place two bond proposals, totaling approximately $37 million, on the May 6 ballot. The bond issues would accompany the district’s annual school board election.
Tecumseh Superintendent Mike McAran said copies of the resolution would be delivered to both the City and County Clerk’s offices on Tuesday, since the County Clerk’s Office now is responsible for school elections. The board’s Facilities Committee has been working with the school’s architect and legal counsel since last year to refine projects and split an original plan into two separate proposals.

The resolution noted that, “In the opinion of this Board it is necessary and expedient to remodel school district buildings, excepting the high school; erect an addition at Tecumseh Acres; acquire and install instructional technology improvements district-wide and develop and improve sites.” Those items would be taken care of with the passage of Proposal 1. The resolution noted that it would be necessary for the district to borrow $12,280,000 and issue bonds for that project, with the remaining funds for a total of $12,523,846 to be derived from the investment of the bond proceeds.

Further, the resolution noted the Board is “further of the opinion that it is necessary and expedient to erect additions to the high school; remodel and partially re-equip the high school and middle school; develop and improve sites, athletic fields and facilities and playgrounds.” Work at the high school would include cafetorium remodeling, and the addition of an orchestra room for the strings program, among other changes. The Board estimates that the district would need to borrow $24,450,000 for that work and issue bonds, with the remaining funds for a total of $25,333,288 to be derived from the investment of the bond proceeds.

By CRISTINA TRAPANI-SCOTT

CLINTON — A Clinton man is out on bail after being charged last week in an alleged murder-hire-scheme. Brad Rounds, 47, posted bail on a $500,000 bond Tuesday, according to the Lenawee County Second District Court in Adrian.

Rounds was arraigned on Thursday following an investigation by the Michigan State Police post in Adrian and an arrest last Wednesday on the charge of murder solicitation. Clinton Police Chief Michael Randolph stated that an individual made the police department aware in late January that there was a plan allegedly in place to have someone murdered.

The department conducted a preliminary investigation and then Randolph called in the assistance of the Michigan State Police. “After a preliminary investigation we realized we didn’t have the resources to continue to investigate on our own and we needed some assistance,” Randolph said. He said the investigation was then turned over to the state police and the Clinton Police Department assisted detectives throughout the remainder investigation.

Detective Sgt. John Figurski conducted the investigation that led to Rounds’ arrest. He was assisted by State Police personnel in Richmond and Cheboygan as well as by members of the COMET and OMNI teams, the First District Fugitive Team and the Major Case Team. Figurski said that although the case is pending court the Michigan State Police is continuing its investigation.

Police are not yet releasing the name of the individual who came forward, the name of the intended victim of the alleged scheme, or details of the murder-for-hire plan. “No names or location are being released,” said Randolph, “due to the fact that it is an ongoing investigation and we wouldn’t think appropriate to release that information.”

By DEB WUETHRICH

Tecumseh is one of many Michigan school districts that are struggling to apply — and to make sense of — the finer points of the new Michigan Merit Curriculum. The new high school graduation requirements place even more emphasis on the mastery of mathematics and languages than previously required, and adds some new twists, such as mandating that students receive at least one credit through an on-line learning experience. The law applies to students who entered the 8th grade in 2006, or the graduating class of 2011.
Tecumseh Superintendent Mike McAran said one of the things behind the new curriculum was the mass exodus from the state.

“What Michigan is after in talking about the 12,000 people leaving the state is that some of them are college graduates who leave because they want better jobs that don’t exist in Michigan,” McAran said. “The plan is to train our own (workers) and they think if they can get the requirements up to produce brighter kids then more technology and more jobs will be brought back to the state and there will be a better chance the economy can switch around in Michigan.”

Problems have arisen, however, as various schools work to interpret the new rules and how to apply such concepts as common assessments, so that students taking a given subject will all be educated the same way and their mastery of a subject would be assessed in the same manner; and something called a “personal curriculum” which is the only means for a student to be allowed to deviate from the spelled out requirements.

In response to the recent recall of 143 million lbs. of beef - it is difficult to understand how and why in this 21st century humans are still viewing animals as “ours” to use for whatever purpose we deem fit.  The treatment of animals in “factory farms” and slaughterhouses is nothing new and neither is the threat to our health from eating meat produced in these horrific conditions.  

Everyday millions of cows, pigs, chickens, turkeys, and other animals are confined to small cramped spaces in factory farms, not allowed to roam free or exhibit their own natural behaviors.  They are often fed an unnatural diet, as well as given horomones, antibiotics and various other drugs in an effort to prevent disease.  These drugs are in the meat that we eat and the affects on human health are widely known.  

After a relatively short time when compared to the animals’ natural life span – they are sent to slaughterhouses where cruelty is rampant and often times animals are abused and tortured, and sometimes still alive while being processed and skinned.  
Slaughterhouses have a 100 percent employee turnover rate due to injury and stress and safety training is often difficult due to the fact that many workers do not speak English and are often illegal immigrants or citizens that have a difficult time finding other suitable employment.

Factory farming contributes to global warming and it is estimated that the methane that is produced as a result of animal waste is equal to the damage caused from our cars and trucks.  Animal waste pollutes our ground, our water, and our air.  

Dianna Lee (Spence) Catenacci, 50, of Onsted, formerly of Mt. Pleasant, passed away peacefully at 7:04 a.m. on Wednesday, February 20, 2008.

                                          
Dianna is survived by her devoted husband, John Catenacci; her father and mother, Bernard and Patricia (Rahl) Spence; her sister, Tricia (Jeff) Jones; her brothers, Julian and David (Mary) Spence and numerous nieces and nephews, extended family and at least a million dear friends.

All who knew her could not help but be deeply touched by her sparkling optimism, her sense of humor, her love of life, and her utter devotion to her friends and family, her indomitable Appreciation for Life and, most of all, her loving spirit. She will live in our hearts forever.

Funeral services were held Saturday, February 23, 2008, the Springville Methodist Church on Springville Hwy., Onsted, with Pastor Margery Host officiating. Funeral services were also held on Monday, February 25, 2008, at the Clark Funeral Chapel, in Mt. Pleasant, MI. Burial followed in Calvary Cemetery in Mt. Pleasant.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Springville Methodist Church or St. Joseph Mercy Hospital. Envelopes are available at the Anderson Funeral Home.