Archive - Jun 2010

By CRISTINA TRAPANI-SCOTT

CLINTON — In a rare move, Village of Clinton council members went against Village Manager Kevin Cornish’s recommendation and voted unanimously to allow the Clinton Fall Festival committee to close a portion of Tecumseh-Clinton Road on the Friday of Fall Festival weekend.

The fall festival committee has repeatedly sought to close the road on Fridays with Village Manager Kevin Cornish and Clinton Police Chief Mike Randolph recommending it remain open to accommodate weekday traffic. The road is closed on Saturday and Sunday during the festival.

“The difference in traffic on Saturday and Sunday versus Friday is we have the fall festival and now we add truck traffic, but also have commuter traffic,” said Randolph.

In past years, the committee has said the opening of the road will allow for more space for additional vendors that bring in additional revenue for the festival.

“It would make the festival so much better and so much more pleasurable,” said Clinton Fall Festival co-chair Doris Kemner. “We are looking hard to increase booth numbers this year.”

The move does come with conditions. The committee will have to provide a Michigan Department of Transportation approved alternate route. The village also is requiring the fall festival to pay for detour signs as well as up to four police officers to cover issues with rerouting traffic, and the road would only be allowed to close after the high-volume morning traffic subsided.

In addition, council members approved the committee’s request to host a rodeo at Tate Park on Saturday during the festival. The rodeo will be put on by Lost Nations Rodeo Company, the same group that appeared at last year’s Lenawee County Fair.

By DEB WUETHRICH

The city of Tecumseh will be able to move ahead with an early retirement incentive plan following adoption by the Tecumseh City Council Monday night of an amendment to the retirement ordinance. Tecumseh City Manager Kevin Welch estimated that up to $110,000 could be saved the first year with approximately $279,000 in savings per year after that, depending on whether certain city employees do retire, taking advantage of the plan.

Discussions about the proposed plan took place over the past couple of months with Welch pointing out that the plan would involve positions that could go unfilled or be filled from within. The Tecumseh Police Chief and Deputy Chief are among those eligible. Another Tecumseh Police Department staff member also could be eligible for the early retirement incentive after last month’s decision to bring an officer back from the OMNI team.

Tecumseh previously covered the majority of cost for one officer on the team. Attempts to solicit financial help from other entities that benefit from the program have thus far been unsuccessful.

The city council members also approved an ordinance allowing the rezoning of 810 Adrian Street, the former Wolf’s Appliances, from Single Family Residential (RA-2) to Local Business (B-1). The property is the potential site of a used bookstore.
In other business, the council members:

• Heard discussion regarding the status of a loose rail on Chicago Boulevard (see separate story).
• Authorized the sale of a 2003 Ford Crown Victoria automobile (former police cruiser) through JM Auction Service on June 15.
• Agreed to close North and South Ottawa Street between M-50 and halfway down each block on June 17, July 15, and August 19 for the Classic Car shows.

Doris I.  Baker, 89, of Tecumseh, passed away unexpectedly  June 3, 2010. Doris was born Jan. 13, 1921, in Hillsdale, Mich., the daughter of Earl and Pearl Mills.   Doris  married Gerald Baker and  in 2009 they celebrated 71 years of marriage. He preceded her in death Dec. 27, 2009.

Doris devoted her entire life to her family and friends. She was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Tecumseh for more than 50 years.

In earlier years, she was employed by Herrick Hospital. Doris enjoyed camping, knitting, baking and spending time with her grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Doris is survived by one son, Kenneth (Becky) Baker; five grandchildren, Dee (Skeeter) Wagoner, Jennifer Kardatzke, Laura (Daryl) Kreiser, Courtney Kirk and Tommy Baker; nine great-grandchildren, Taylor, Trevor, Sammuel, Sydney, Kendra, Marissa, Logan, Wyatt and Cameron.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Gerald;  parents;  two sons, Richard Gene Baker and Mark Allen Baker;  one grandson, Thomas Richard Baker and one sister, Myrtle.

Visitation services to honor the life of Doris Baker was held on Wednesday, June 9, 2010, at the J. Gilbert Purse Funeral Home, Tecumseh followed by a graveside service  for family and friends  at  Brookside Cemetery, Tecumseh with John Kopke officiating.   Following the graveside, everyone was invited to attend a luncheon in honor of Doris.

At the family’s request, memorial contributions are suggested to Hospice of Lenawee. Envelopes will be available at the funeral home. Condolences to the family may be made online at www.pursefuneralhome.com.

Selma E. Kennedy, 81, of Tecumseh, passed away  June 7, 2010, at home after a  battle with cancer.  Selma was born August 2, 1928 in Saline, Mich., the daughter of John  and Amanda Kohler.  On May 13, 1950, she married Robert Kennedy in Saline.  They recently celebrated 60 years of marriage with a family gathering.

 
Selma retired as a bus driver from the Tecumseh Public Schools after 22 years of service.  She enjoyed golfing, gardening and playing cards with friends and family.  Selma was a  member of Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church, Tecumseh.

Selma is survived by her husband,  Robert; three children, John (Marcia) Kennedy, Michael (Susan) Kennedy and Gail (Randy) Elliott; eight grandchildren; five great-grandchildren;  one sister, Helen (Robert) Guenther; and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents and brother, Elwin.

A celebration of life  will be held 11 a.m. Thursday, June 10, 2010, at Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church, Tecumseh with Pastor Philip Krieger officiating.    Visitation was held Wednesday, June 9, 2010, at the  J. Gilbert Purse Funeral Home, Tecumseh. Donations in memory of Selma may be made to Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church or the charity of your choice.   

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

Marcella Brosamer, 88, of Tecumseh, passed away June 5, 2010.  Marcella was born April 11, 1922, in Churubusco, Ind., the daughter of Harry and Loree (Grable) Boggs.

On June 7, 1942, she married Roy J. Brosamer in Defiance, Ohio.  He preceded her in death.   

Marcella was a homemaker and belonged to the Holloway Extension Club.  She also was a member of St. Elizabeth Catholic Church, Tecumseh  and their Altar Society.

Marcella was a loving mother and is survived by her children,  Richard L. (Madelaine) Brosamer, Karen (Dennis) Irelan and Carl Brosamer; eight grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.

Besides her husband, Roy, she was preceded in death by her parents; son, Robert J. Brosamer; grandson, Roy B. Brosamer; one brother; and two sisters.

A Mass of the Christian Burial was celebrated Wednesday. June 9, 2010,  at St. Elizabeth Catholic Church,   Tecumseh with the Rev. Fr. Daniel Wheeler officiating.  Burial followed in the Brookside Cemetery, Tecumseh.   Visitation was held at the J. Gilbert Purse Funeral Home, Tecumseh.

Memorial contributions may be made to St. Elizabeth Catholic Church.
Condolences to the family may be made online at www.pursefuneralhome.com.

Mark S. Mann, 55, of Tecumseh, died peacefully at home with his family at his side under the compassionate care of Hospice of Lenawee.  He was born on Oct. 25, 1954, in Jackson, Mich., the son of Rex and Virginia (Johnson) Mann.  He was united in marriage with Connie Burge on April 13, 1973.

He was a very active member of the Grace Bible Church in Tecumseh for many years.  He was employed by Lenawee Stamping here in Tecumseh for 21 years until he had to medically retire.  Prior to that, he worked with his brother-in-law Bob Sweezey who then owned Carpet on Wheels.  Mark was a loving son, husband, dad and grandpa who enjoyed the time he spent with family and friends.  He enjoyed hunting, fishing and tinkering in his yard and gardening.  He will be greatly missed by all those who knew and loved him.

Mark is survived by his wife, Connie, of 37 years, his parents, Rex and Virginia and his grandmother, Marcella Johnson all of Jackson, Mich.; one son, Justin (Courtney) Mann of Tecumseh; two daughters, April (Matthew) Cooperrider of Newark, Ohio and Kelly Scott of Tecumseh; two brothers, David (Marsha) Mann of Bowdoinham, Maine and Kris (Janice) Mann of Muskogee, Okla.; two sisters, Kim (Russ) Meyers of Jackson, Mich. and Paula (Joe) Henthorn of Oklahoma City, Okla.; and four grandchildren, Arianna and Sydney Scott and Chloe and Samuel Cooperrider.  

Mark was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents and maternal grandfather.