Archive - Jun 4, 2009

Wow, somehow a reader thinks the Herald is in cahoots with the Tecumseh Public School administration and/or the board. I'm sure the board would get a laugh out of that. I would like to think that the Herald, and the public in general, has a shared commitment to the schools and its students and to join the board and administration in working for the betterment of the district. The Herald has all of a sudden been pulled into the ongoing school controversy after a letter was edited in this week's paper. The writer did at least two things wrong: a postscript (p.s.) was tagged at the end of the letter; and the information in the "p.s." was declared a "rumor." It wasn't hard to edit out a self-declared rumor, first of all, and secondly, p.s.'s are not and have never been included with any letter. If you have something to say, then say it in the body of the letter, and if you believe you have beneficial information or a question, then say so without suggesting that it's a "rumor." Sorry, but the writer asked for it. We give a lot of latitude to writers, some using the opinion page as a thank you bulletin, some who call presidents liars and terrorists, and others who actually have a sound opinion to make. We prefer letters that sound off with opinions. If you want to ask a public body, like the school board, a question, then ask the school board. Are you really seeking an answer or just passing off criticism disguised as a question in a letter to the editor? We're not defending the school board here. We have made our share of critical opinions on board actions, but wishing for us to print self-declared "rumors" doesn't wash.

During my years as a writer, I have often written about my daughter, Michele, whom we lost at age 11 to Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA). It was back in 1982, but seems like yesterday. Yes, I still grieve – always will, as other parents who have lost children know, we just learn to carry it. One of my salvations, however, has been being able to write about Michele and the instructive, intuitive way she LIVED LIFE! More than two decades since her passing, those lessons still resonate, some at certain times more than others.
When I first wrote about an experience we had while living in Iowa when Michele won a prize at a local mall’s Halloween costume contest because she disguised herself as “The Fonz” and her wheelchair as a motorcycle, it was in a column as I remembered the kind, compassionate roller-skating gorilla who took an interest in her and turned out to be one of the judges. The column, which appeared here at the Herald before, was my attempt to capture the lesson in that: you never know the long-armed reach of a simple kindness. That of the gorilla meant the world to Michele that night. It means the world to her mother more than two decades later.

It's difficult to write about what's happening in Tecumseh when I haven't really been around Tecumseh for the last week. I know I missed a lot. My usual tradition of waking early on Memorial Day to attend the parades in Clinton or Britton was not to be this year and then there was all the school stuff. I spent that week in Louisville, Kentucky, with little time to think much about Tecumseh or Lenawee County. That's not to say that this place is always somewhere in the back of my mind. Tecumseh, like Louisville, is my home away from home.

I've already written to great extend about my academic pursuits. I'll only say that that was why I was gone. It was only a week, but it feels like I've been gone much longer. I was so out of my routine as I lived and breathed creative writing and didn't have to think about chores or responsibilities of any kind except getting from workshops to lectures. I'll surely miss going to those residencies, but I'm ready to be back in the swing of things here in Tecumseh and ready for summer.

I meant to send dispatches from Kentucky, but it was a little hard to fit any writing in a week all about writing. I know it makes no sense. It's just the way it was.

I've attached the picture of me and J. Graham Brown that I meant to send along with my first dispatch about my accidentally discovering that he haunts the hotel that bears his name—the hotel where I lived during each of my residencies. Prior to my travels, I was looking for the hotel address on Google so I could Mapquest driving directions. I typed in "Brown Hotel Louisville." As most know, Googling something often brings up a few other options. So, along with "Brown Hotel Louisville" I got "Brown Hotel Louisville Haunted." My curiosity got the better of me.

By MICKEY ALVARADO

It was survival of the fittest during the Division 2 District games in Chelsea on Saturday, May 30, with both Onsted and Chelsea making Tecumseh prove they were worthy of claiming this year's title.

The Indians did hang on to pick up yet another district championship but not without biting their nails in both contests. Tecumseh won the semifinal by edging out the Wildcats 1-0 and despite finishing the title final with a 6-1 victory, Tecumseh was toe-to-toe with the Bulldogs until finally busting things wide open in the sixth inning.

The biggest workhorse for the Indians came in the form of a small-framed junior pitcher, Catie Kaliszuk, who threw in every inning of both games. Without her determination when facing trouble in the circle, the Indians could have easily fell completely apart and lost a game to end their season.

“I definitely feel like we survived,” said Tecumseh coach Kristalyn Smith. “We had great pitching, and that's absolutely what kept us in both games.”

Kaliszuk's skills were put to the test several times in the semifinal with Onsted putting runners on the bases in every inning but the seventh. The Wildcats had possibly their best opportunity to score in the fifth inning after loading the bases and having their cleanup hitter at the plate with two outs. However, Onsted's runner at first base took one step too many off the bag and was picked off by senior Maddi Benedict to end the threat.

“It was exciting,” said Kaliszuk, “I think that's what kept me in it, all the excitement. Our team was really pumped.”

Clinton's varsity softball team will advance to regional competition after dominating the Division 3 district games at Hudson and winning the title.

The Redskins won 15-0 in both the semifinal against Hudson and the final against Madison on Saturday, May 30, after having beaten Sand Creek 15-0 in a pre-district game on Tuesday, May 26. All three contests were shortened by the mercy rule.
In the championship final, Kristin Espinoza pitched all four innings and allowed just one walk and one hit while striking out six in the shutout.

Katelyn Houghton led Clinton offensively, going 3-for-3 at the plate with two runs scored and a RBI while Jordan Randall and Emily Sell each went 2-for-3. Randall scored three runs for the Redskins.

The young guns of freshman Tierney Nelson earned the win in the game against Hudson to open play on Saturday. She pitched four innings, allowed four walks and struck out seven.

Three of Clinton's players were perfect at the plate, going 3-for-3, including Abi Clark, Randall and Kelsey Baker. Clark finished the game with five RBI while Randall and Baker each had two.

Haley Mercy and Sadie Brown (3 RBI) each went 2-for-3 at the plate for Clinton.

The Redskins host the regional games this year and play against Jackson Lumen Christi in the semifinals on Saturday, June 6.

Tecumseh’s Valedictorian/ Salutatorian address was temporarily put on hold during the 143rd commencement exercises when high school principal Robert Scheick couldn’t locate twin sisters Jordan and Samantha Harrison’s shared speech. All was saved, however when vice principal Dennis Niles ran to the office and retrieved a copy.