Archive - Apr 24, 2008

By MICKEY ALVARADO

A massive group of varsity golfers from 21 schools gathered Saturday morning at Raisin Valley Golf Club for Tecumseh High School's Golf Invitational, each looking to beat the predicted rain later in the afternoon as well as their opponents.

Tecumseh coach Pat Pomy told the large group he wasn't especially fond of slow play and that those lagging behind may very well get caught in rain. His words of advice were taken to heart and the event went off without the weather being a factor.

Of the 21 teams entered, Ann Arbor Huron proved to be the best. The Hurons scored a low 306 for first place while Dexter edged out Marshall by one stroke (310) to place second. Tecumseh entered two teams into the competition and had its Black team place fourth with 316. Adrian's team finished two strokes behind the Indians for fifth place. Tecumseh's Orange team placed seventh with 329.

Mark Lahnala was a member of the Indians' Black team and he led both squads with a round of 74 on the par 71 course. Junior Nick Campell followed with 79 while Ryan Beck shot 80 and Mitch Gramling and Michael Dahlen each recorded 83.

Tecumseh's Orange team was led by freshman Zach Campbell with a round of 80. He was followed by teammates Dylan Orr (81), Josh Short (82) and Kyle Hanson (86).
Dexter's Don Knight was the medalist for the day, shooting par with 71. Lahnala and Adrian's Alex Wilnow were each scored in the top ten and made the All-tournament team.

At Adrian's Invitational on Monday, April 14, the Indians finished 10th with a score of 337. Saline won the event with 299.

Dahlen and Gramling each carded 83 to lead Tecumseh. Lahnala shot 85 while Nick Campbell had 86 and Ryan Beck 88.

By MICKEY ALVARADO

Blissfield is known as a baseball town, there's no doubt about it, and when a team strolls in and beats the hosting Royals it’s big news, especially when the victory was awarded based on head-to-head competition.

Tecumseh's Indians returned home with Blissfield's Lena's Pizza Invitational trophy after going 2-1 during the day just like the Royals but were handed the tournament victory when the stats were reviewed.

Despite dropping their opening game 13-5 against Bay City Central, Tecumseh finished the day strong winning its final two contests, solidly defeating Warren Mott 11-4 and then downing Blissfield 5-2.

Nate Bell took the loss on the mound, going 2 1/3 innings before being relieved. Zach Noack pitched 1 2/3 innings before being relieved by Mitch Rowe, who pitched three scoreless innings. Cam Worker and Louie Davitt each had two hits to lead the Indians.
In their big win against Warren Mott, Will Kasper struck out seven and walked three in six innings of work. He helped his own cause at the plate with two RBI recorded on two doubles. Drew Simpson had three hits including a double with three RBI. Bell hit a triple with the bases loaded.

In the final game against Blissfield, Tecumseh scored one run in the top of the first and Blissfield answered with two runs in the bottom half of the inning. It wasn't until the top of the seventh when the Indians scored four runs to take the lead. John Hacker started the inning with a double and one batter later Sean Bagby tied the game with an RBI single. Will Kasper then reached base on an error and Cam Worker was walked to load the bases. Steven Harrison then hit an RBI single up the middle and Bell followed with a two RBI single.

Mike Nowak pitched the entire seven innings and gave up four hits and one walk.

Tecumseh, like the entire state of Michigan, is facing tough decisions concerning the course of its future.  Whether we are talking about the state or a rural city, we must decide to plan for the future or retreat into conservativism.  Our country, state & county are dotted with cities and villages that have decided to “wait and see what happens with the economy.”  For them the momentum of forward thinking is lost and, in many cases, not to be regained.

It is my hope that we are proactive and realize that what Tecumseh does dictates, to some small degree, the economic direction of our state and nation.  Ours is not a situation where suddenly the state will decide enough is enough, and comes to our rescue.  The turnaround will occur because distinct groups decide to move forward and make investments in the future, regardless of this moment in time.

Businesses and industries that explore our state and city will examine our commitment to education & extracurricular endeavors.  Although our landscape is dotted with communities that have rolled up the carpet, there are many in our area that see the importance of working through hard economic times to offer the best educational situation possible.  South Lyon, Saline, Dexter, and a number of other cities are examples of communities that have decided to invest in the future through district improvements. While in a sense we partner with these communities in an economic turnaround, we also compete with them for new business and for the fuel of Michigan educational funding, student enrollment.  If we are to continue to offer a comprehensive curriculum, as well as excellent choices in after school activities, it is imperative that we become a viable choice for families that want to “shop” districts in our area.

The special joint meeting on Jan. 22, 2007 with (Tecumseh) city council and the (Tecumseh) school board was interesting. Seems our schools own Nelson Park but do not use it and will not repair it. Our superintendent stated a budget of approximately one million dollars a year for pool maintenance and operation. Simple division will tell us, it costs $2,739 and changes every day. Yet in your latest fancy newsletter you say that swimmers wonder why we haven’t repaired the leaking roof. Why indeed?

Last year the paper reported ceiling tiles were falling in the administrative center before something was done to patch the roof. Now it would appear that all your elementary buildings and the middle school need new roofs. From March 6, 2008 our schools business manager states there has been a lot of deferred maintenance putting pressure on General Fund dollars. Then he questions how do you fix things with operational money when enrollment is declining? Then he goes on “So if you can eliminate deferred maintenance and fix buildings up at the same time you attract new people into the community and the school district, you’ve helped solve your own problem.”
Problem? After following these articles, I see a “problem” waiting until things need to be replaced before anything is done. That makes it a remodel or replacement project. Also from the newsletter it states expenditures of bond proceeds cannot be used for repair or maintenance costs. The solution seems to be defer maintenance until it has to be replaced. Then you can hold your hand out for bond dollars.

Instead of budgeting what you have to work with and taking good care of what properties you’ve been entrusted with, just wait, don’t use the General Fund, where maintenance and repairs should come from, wait for bond dollars.

On May 6, 2008, Tecumseh voters are being asked to consider two bond renewals.  These bonds are to provide improvements to all schools in the Tecumseh district.  At a time when the economy is in such turmoil, I have heard a lot of people complain about having to make this decision.  I wanted to take the opportunity to let these people and the students of TPS know that I’m happy to support this bond renewal.  For the first time in ages, I have a direct say in how my tax dollars are being spent, and given the choice, I will choose our children every time!

I’ve made a point of being informed about these bonds.  There are many reasons I feel a “yes” vote is a sound choice.  First of all, improvements are planned that will benefit every Tecumseh student from the earliest years all the way through high school.  It’s extremely important to let the students know they are worth investing in.  Another very important aspect of the bond is the work it will bring to the community.  With guarantees that a large percentage of the jobs will be given to local businesses, at this time in our economy, how can we afford not to vote yes?  Finally, the improvements mean a better choice for students considering Tecumseh as their learning institution.  

I think it’s safe to say that spring is officially arriving in southern Michigan.  The coming of spring and the long waited warming of the days promises us that summer will eventually arrive once again this year.  It also means that swim lessons have begun again at the Tecumseh Community pool.  Have you been to the pool lately to observe or participate in the many activities that are offered to the community there?  In addition to valuable Red Cross swim instruction, the pool is used for community lap swim for all ages as well as water aerobics for all. If you have been there you have also observed the happy faces of Tecumseh residents of all ages enjoying the water, staying healthy, safe and fit. If you look beyond the swim capped and goggle clad patrons, you will also see many of the reasons that the school bond issues that you are being asked to support are so important to our community.  You will see the visible effects of the deteriorating roof in the rust stains running down the north wall, or the doors to the outside doors so rusted that your can see the daylight without even opening the door. This is happening because the roof hasn’t been replaced since the pool was built 20 years ago.  How old is the roof on your home?  This structure houses an environment that by nature is much more hostile than that which the roof of your home protects.