Archive - Jan 27, 2010

By MICKEY ALVARADO

Tecumseh’s varsity wrestling team proved unstoppable at its own Philip Jaimes Memorial Invitational on Saturday, Jan. 23, going 5-0 during the day and providing the MVP’s for both the upper and lower weight classes.

The invitational’s two most valuable wrestlers were Tecumseh heavyweight Kyle Connors and 130-pounder Jeff Jenkins. Both of the Indians went undefeated at 5-0.
Tecumseh also had Colin Lesko (119-125) and Ronnie Bechtol go 5-0 during the Invitational.

The Indians dominated competition in pool play; defeating Pinckney 70-3, Marshall, 44-17 and Parma Western 51-26 before receiving a bye in round four. The Indians finished pool play with a 61-10 win against Blissfield.

Woodhaven was the winner of the other pool and faced Tecumseh in the championship match. The Indians beat the Warriors 44-25 for the title.

Collin Lesko (119) opened the match with a tech fall win (17-2) over Devin Foster while Anthony Lesko (125) won by major decision (10-0) over Mitch Beilic.

The Indians took the next three bouts with Jenkins winning by tech fall (15-0) over Wesley Broughton at 130-pounds, Ronnie Bechtol (135) pinning Marcel Mrech and C.J. Tripp (140) taking a 7-5 decision over Tommy Ramirez.

Tecumseh lost 10-8 in overtime at 145-pounds despite a great effort turned in by Cole Amstutz against T.J. Michetti.

At 152-pounds, Tim Elkins lost by Default to Mitch Bartes.

The Indians traded wins and losses in the following four matches. Tom Carney (160) won 3-0 over Ian McClain but Devin Moore lost by major decision (9-0) to Nick Lamentola at 171-pounds. Gavin Burstall (189) picked up another win by pin over Chris Gutman but Joe Rebottaro (215) lost by pin to Justin Dozier.

Kyle Connors won by pin in 2:59 over Darian Holmes and Luke Liuzzi (103) won by pin in 5:12 over Tyler Antonian.

By MICKEY ALVARADO

Tecumseh’s girls rolled past visiting Adrian at Ten Pin Alley on Thursday for a 22-8 varsity bowling victory while the Indians’ boys were tripped up on their home lanes and handed a 22-8 loss.

Adrian’s girls put the defending Division 2 state champs on the spot after splitting the two baker games. The Indians soundly won the first baker game 205-135 but lost 252-224 in round two.

Tecumseh’s boys lost their opening baker game 248-176 but picked up a 197-187 victory in the second round to also finish with a split.

During regular match play, Tecumseh’s girls came together for a 984-898 victory with individual Division 2 state champion Tawni Vollmer bowling a high game of 229. Catie Behnke rolled 210 for Tecumseh while Alexis Furrow totaled 206.

“Catie (Behnke] and Alexis [Furrow] just came from nowhere and pulled the team through,” said Tecumseh girls coach Ken Richard. “Tawni [Vollmer] bowled well again, Kara [Richard] had her struggles, but, you know, it’s a game. You don’t have your A-game every time you walk in and you’ve got to fight through it.”

The Maples were led by Sarah Ramon with 202.

In game two the Indians won 924-799. Behnke led the Indians with a 222 while Vollmer followed with 219. Senior leader Kara Richard was off during the evening and recorded a team low 148 in game one. She was replaced by freshman Atlanta Roberts in the final frame of game two and the duo finished with 142.

Tecumseh boys lost both regular games with finals of 1096-996 and 986-889. The Maples were led by A.J. Regalado (254) and Trevor Goodfriend (222) in game one and Devon Wright (254) and Regalado (164) in game two. The Indians were led by Tom Craig and Brett Flynn in round one and Andrew Sokol (227) and Tyler Pate (183) in round two.

By DEB WUETHRICH

Communities in Schools of the Tecumseh Area (CISTA) will host The Taste on Saturday, Feb. 6, 2010, with the theme “Food and Feud: Area restaurants present a culinary experience with community members feuding for kids,” based on the popular TV game show. The Taste will take place at Tecumseh High School from 5:30-7:30 p.m. The event is sponsored by United Bank and Trust.

In a break from tradition, a special “Savor the Experience” activity, a beer and wine tasting event, will take place after The Taste, from 8:00-9:30 p.m., sponsored by and held at Cambrian Assisted Living. In previous years, the event was held before the Taste.

“We’re going to lead off with our wonderful, talented high school kids featuring Concert Women, Company Showchoir, and Roadshow, the band that backs up Company,” said Susan Reeder, Executive Director of CISTA. “The Feud part of the event is getting really interesting and I think it’s going to be exciting.” Reeder said that the Feud will begin at 6:40 p.m. with four teams made up of community members challenging each other. Chris Ayotte, who also is an Elvis impersonator, will take on the role of Richard Dawson, The Family Feud’s TV host.

Reeder said that the first teams up will be a United Bank and Trust Team challenging a team from First Federal Bank; then, a City of Tecumseh team will challenge a team from Tecumseh Public Schools. The winners will then challenge each other for the title of Ultimate Champions for Children.

“We surveyed students at our schools for the ‘Survey Says’ questions,” said Reeder, who added that members of Tecumseh Police Officer Kelley Hissong’s unit in Afghanistan also contributed some responses. “We wanted to pay tribute to our troops in some way so we included them,” Reeder said.

By DEB WUETHRICH

A spokesperson for SEAC (Special Economic Advisory Committee) informed members of the Tecumseh School Board Monday night that one of the things that the committee of citizens studying Tecumseh Public Schools financial situation agreed on was the need to better market the school district and its positive assets.

“You don’t hear about cuts in Hudson, Addison or Adrian,” said Stan Ames, who made a presentation for the group assigned to review the district’s financial condition and to consider areas of recommended study for further cost-cutting. “They’re all doing the same thing we are, but we’re the ones with the black eye. We really need to do a better job promoting the positives instead of bickering,” Ames added.
 Over a period of three meetings, one in December and two in January, approximately 25 members of the committee worked toward fashioning a statement regarding TPS finances.  SEAC’s assessment included making some recommendations regarding areas the board might focus on as it develops next year’s budget, which has a projected $2.3 million deficit.

The committee pointed out the sense of urgency in pursuing measures to reduce costs, partially because the state requires a balanced budget by July 1. Ames said when the group first met, schools were facing dire predictions for next year, and although an additional cut to the school foundation allowance of $127 per student did not take place, actions must still be taken because while the district could work out of its $1.9 million fund balance, that would be a one time only situation.

By DEB WUETHRICH

Tecumseh District Library visitors may notice the plastic sheeting covering areas of the facility undergoing some renovation over the next few months, but services are expected to operate as normally as possible during the process.

“Our intent is to keep our services up and running,” said Gayle Hazelbaker, TDL’s director. Actual construction activities take place after hours from 2 a.m. until 10 a.m. “That’s when they’ll do the noisy stuff which will be less disrupting to patrons,” Hazelbaker said.

The facility was originally built in 1962, and became a district library six years ago, governed by a seven-member elected board who serve as representatives of the community to oversee the library and its policies. The need to make changes surfaced as part of the library’s five-year Strategic Plan, which extends to 2013, a community survey conducted last fall, and patron input.

A major thrust of the project is to upgrade the technology, adding 10 computers to the existing eight, with four of those to be utilized in the teen area. The library soon will have more cozy and comfortable areas where people can use Wi-Fi services with their laptops as well, including a central lounge with a fireplace.

“At the beginning of our strategic plan, we committed to have one computer available for every 1,000 people served, and we serve a direct population of just under 18,000,” said Hazelbaker. She said the board wasn’t exactly sure how they’d do it, and thought it would be at the end of the plan. “As the economy worsened, we found that we were helping a lot of people with their resumes and assisting with on-line job searches and accessing unemployment services online. More people were bringing their laptops from home, because some had canceled their connection services, and we realized that maybe we needed to speed things up.”
 

E. Edward Braden, 81, of Tecumseh,  passed away January 26, 2010, at Herrick Medical Center.  He was born June 10, 1928, in Harlan County, Ky., the son of Claude and Mae (Bussell) Braden. On March 15, 1947, he married Shrelda Yeary in Middlesboro, Ky. and she survives.

Ed was retired from Tecumseh Products Company with 30 years of service. He was a member of the Tecumseh Church of God and was the Adult Sunday School Teacher for several years.

In addition to his wife, Shrelda, Ed is survived by his children, Ron E. Braden and Gerald P. Braden both of Houston, Texas, Diane (Merele) Vinson and Lois (Don) Sower both of Adrian; his grandchildren, Rebecca (Ryan) Maxwell of Loganville, Ga., Jeremy Braden of Tecumseh, Rachel Vinson of Adrian, Jason (Jeanette) Braden of Amherst, N.Y.; daughter-in-law, Sandra Braden of South Lyon; great-grandchildren, Devon, Chase, and Nyah Maxwell of Loganville, GA; and brothers and sisters, Maggie Johnson of Charleston, W.V., Denver (Lori) Braden of San Marcos, Calif., LeRoy (Ann) Braden of London, England, Carolyn (Bill) King of San Antonio, Texas, and Larry Braden of Defiance, Ohio.

He was preceded in death by his parents and son, Donald E. Braden.
Funeral services will be held 2 p.m. Friday, January 29, 2010, at J. Gilbert Purse Funeral Home, Tecumseh with Pastor Doug Leith officiating. Interment will follow at Brookside Cemetery, Tecumseh.

Visitation will be from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at J. Gilbert Purse Funeral Home, Tecumseh.

Memorial contributions may be made to Tecumseh Church of God or Hospice of Lenawee.

Condolences to the family may be made online at www.pursefuneralhome.com.