Archive - Jun 11, 2008

DEB WUETHRICH

A recent Tecumseh High School graduate already is on the road to making his career dreams come true. James Rowe, who received a $4,000 scholarship from the Allen H. and Nydia Meyers Foundation, is serving an apprenticeship at Meyers-Diver’s Airport on Macon Road in Tecumseh under the tutelage of Keith Diver, a Machine Repair Journeyman who is FAA certified. He also learns from Keith’s wife, Joan, who also is a FAA Certified Aircraft Mechanic. The airport is a FAA Certified Repair Station.
James said he has always been around airplanes and his father, Ted Rowe, and grandfather Ormel, are FAA Certified Aircraft Welders. Ted works for National Aircraft, and moved the family, including James’ mother, Melinda, and brother, Michael, from Ypsilanti to Tecumseh in 1998.

“James kind of grew up here, starting with lawn maintenance,” Keith said. “Now he’s progressed to working on aircraft.”

James vaguely remembers his first airplane ride. He said it was in a Super Cub with Jim Mynning, whom Keith said was a famous air show pilot. James was six or eight then. He said he also was friends with Rob Webster who used to take him up.

James always enjoyed mechanics and has worked on cars, and knew some time ago that he would like to work on aircraft, and not just any plane. He wanted to specialize in Meyers Aircraft, which were built at the company founded by Allen H. Meyers in Tecumseh. Keith said the planes were made locally until 1966 when the patent rights were sold and production moved to Albany, Georgia.

By DEB WUETHRICH

The Tecumseh School Board passed what they called a necessary resolution Monday night to eliminate nine teaching positions next school year unless other budget cuts can be substituted.

“Let me state that this is strictly a step we have to take as a board by the end of June to give notification to teachers about the possibility of layoff,” said board vice-president Dan Gunder who presided at the meeting. “This certainly is not final. We continue to work on the approximately $1.5 million deficit we face so we have to look at certain things to balance the budget and this is one,” he said. The board met in executive session following the meeting and Gunder said it would likely meet several more times prior to a budget hearing, which was scheduled for Monday, June 23, at 6:30 p.m.

In a report for the board’s Finance Committee, board member Debbie Johnson-Burges read a statement mentioning how factors such as the instability of school funding allowance increases and the failure of the school bonds, among others, have made such cuts necessary to balance the budget. “We have tried to balance the needs of all our students,” she said.

The tentative elimination of positions includes one special education position at Tecumseh High School, one special education position at Tecumseh Middle School, two kindergarten positions, one first grade position, one second grade position, one third grade position, one fourth grade position, and one elementary resource special education position.

One of the difficulties the district faces is entering a new school year without being able to predict if an enrollment decline will continue — a critical factor with funding allowances based on student counts.

By DEB WUETHRICH

A little luck and some research into old Tecumseh High School  (THS) yearbooks recently helped reunite a former THS grad with a class ring that was lost over 20 years ago.

About a week ago a phone call from a man named Mark Roberson, who currently lives in Las Vegas, was forwarded to THS English teacher Karen Ricketts, who also serves as the Yearbook Advisor. The man had found a THS class ring with a date of 1987 on it and wondered if someone at the school might be able to help him get it back to its owner.
“It also had an engraving of a volleyball and the number #26 and the name ‘Michelle’,” said Ricketts. She said she pulled yearbooks from 1987, as well as books from 1985 and 1986. One of the earlier yearbooks showed an action shot of a girl named Michelle playing volleyball — a Michelle DeShano.

Ricketts said she then spoke with Mathematics teacher Carl Novak. “He’s been around a long time,” Ricketts said. “He said that he thought Michelle’s brother still lived in Tecumseh and got in touch with Scott DeShano.”
According to Ricketts, Scott DeShano

said that Michelle, who currently lives in Pennsylvania, had been a student at Eastern Michigan University following graduation from Tecumseh High School.
“He said that someone stole her jewelry box from her dorm room while she was there,
and the class ring was in it,” said Ricketts.

The ring, which has a green stone, arrived at Tecumseh High School in a priority mail envelope.

By MICKEY ALVARADO

Believe. A small but significant word inked across the biceps of many of Tecumseh's varsity softball players. It isn't there for show; it's to remind each what they already know. They can pick up back-to-back Division 2 championships if they play to their full potential.

Tecumseh dominated play at the Regional games on Saturday, June 7, at Chelsea. The Indians blasted their way to the regional title by beating Eaton Rapids 10-0 in game one and then beating Trenton 5-0 in the championship final.

At the quarterfinals in Novi on Tuesday it was just like flippin' chicken for Tecumseh's girls with the Indians grilling Allen Park 12-1 in just five innings.

“We're excited,” said Tecumseh coach Kristalyn Smith. “This is exactly where we wanted to be. We've played so well during the postseason. Everyone is seeing the ball.”
Sophomore Catie Kaliszuk earned the pitching win, backed by the strong bats of Tecumseh. Stayci Cook (2 doubles, 2 RBI) Kaitlyn Kenyon (3 run HR, 3 RBI) and Chelsea Gonzales (2 doubles, RBI) each went 2-for-3 to lead the Tribe.

The Indians (35-8) will now advance to the state semifinal in Battle Creek on Friday and face Notre Dame Prep, a team that Tecumseh defeated last year in the state quarterfinals.

Kaliszuk was the Indians' starting pitcher for both Regional contests, remaining in the circle for four innings of game one and until the seventh inning of the final. Senior catcher Cook, who calls the throws for the Indians, guided the young pitcher through the innings.