Archive - Jan 5, 2011

By JIM LINCOLN

Charges of indecent exposure have been filed against City of Hudson City Manager Steve Hartsel following an incident on Dec. 22 at 2:30 p.m. at the corner of Main and Beecher streets in Adrian where a female city of Tecumseh employee witnessed the event.

According to an Adrian Police Department report, she saw a man driving a mini-van, owned by the City of Hudson. Hartsel had pulled up alongside the employee’s truck, and both were stopped at the traffic signal in front of Wendy’s restaurant where Hartsel was reportedly masturbating when he exposed himself.

When the traffic signal changed and Hartsel’s vehicle pulled away, she recorded the license plate number and reported the incident to police.

Adrian Police Chief Terrence Collins confirmed Tuesday that a report was received and sent to the prosecutor’s office.

Hartsel was notified shortly after the incident and went to the police department where he confessed to the charges.

Under questioning, Hartsel first said that he had been to Arby’s restaurant and was eating a submarine sandwich in his vehicle when stopped at the traffic signal.

He then said, “she saw what she said she saw,” and offered his apology.” It was a stupid thing to do,” he said, according to the police report.

Hartsel, a retired U.S. Navy commander, has been city manager in Hudson since Oct. 1, 2009.

By DEB WUETHRICH

The Rt. Rev. Wendell N. Gibbs, Jr., Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Michigan, was present Tuesday night, Jan. 4, for “A Celebration of The Life and Ministry of St. Peter’s Episcopal Church.” The special service was held to close the church which has had a congregation in Tecumseh since 1833. Settlers that included Musgrove Evans, J.W. Brown and George Spofford invited Rev. William Narcissus Lyster to preach at the new church, the first Episcopal Church west of the Alleghenies.

Others who served during the last service were Rev. Robin Smith, St. Peter’s current priest in charge; Richard Boulter, Deacon, a former member who now serves Trinity Church in Belleville; Joyce Holden, Eucharistic minister from Grace Church in Adrian; and Jaymes Gibson. Dr. Howard Mahler filled the sanctuary with music from the church’s famous organ.

In his sermon, the Rt. Rev. Gibbs acknowledged that St. Peter’s has had a long history, and that some people are sad or even upset at its closing, but encouraged an attitude of celebration of the journey. The service was tied to a passage from Ecclesiastes 3 which states, “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.”

“We’re here to celebrate life, to celebrate ministries past,” he said. “My friends when ministry ends in one place, it’s time to celebrate what’s gone before — the comforts, talents and energies of the people who made that ministry possible. It’s time to say, ‘thank you, God, for being with us,’ and to ask that He continue to be with us to show us the new path that we must walk.”

The rite included hymns and readings as well as an opportunity for the congregation to recite the Renewal of Baptismal Vows and take Holy Communion.

By DEB WUETHRICH

The city of Tecumseh will be sharing funds on road grants through 2014, with the Lenawee County Road Commission bowing out of the equation for that period, according to an update given to Tecumseh City Council by City Manager Kevin Welch. Welch was responding to a recent report about the Road Commission not being a part of the current cycle of grant funds.

“My guess is that they just don’t have the matching funds and they didn’t have a project that met the guidelines,” said Welch. “With those two factors, they’re just not going to use their share of it and that was planned. We will be dividing up their share, along with the City of Adrian.”

Welch said that a certain amount of grant funds are earmarked each year for the group that they are a part of, potential projects are submitted, and then the group agrees as a whole.

“We will still have to come up with our share of the match on the projects, though,” he said.
The city anticipates sharing two years of grant funding of approximately $350,000 over the next four years for street reconstruction and resurfacing projects.

Using a 2012 grant award, the city has been confirmed for a proposed reconstruction of half a mile of North Occidental Road from M-50 north to Brown Street. The grant is up to $347,000 with $86,750 the estimated local match.

For 2013, the city is expected to split grant funding between two repaving projects on South Maumee Street and South Occidental Road between M-50 and Russell Road. That funding is for up to $363,500 with local matches of $90,875.

To the Editor,

Why is it that I can check the “Tecumseh” Herald and find out nothing about the local boys basketball, but read only about Clinton and Britton? 

I can find more through the “Adrian” Daily Telegram about our sports than through the Herald.

Nick Benschoter
Tecumseh

(Editor’s note: The Herald has, in fact, reported and published articles on all three games played so far this year by the Tecumseh High School boy’s varsity basketball team. The first three games were away with the first home game scheduled for Jan. 10.)

To the Editor,

I would like the citizens of Tecumseh to know, if they do not already, what a wonderful veterinary clinic we have here in our city. Drs. Edward and Lorri Tritt, at the Tecumseh Veterinary Hospital, have a top-notch facility.  From the clerical staff to the veterinarians themselves, this hospital for our pets is beyond comparison.

Since we moved to this city in 1994, we have used Tecumseh Veterinary Hospital for all our pets needs. Recently, our sweet cat became ill, and over the last two months of her life, Dr. Lorrie treated her and us, with compassion and sensitivity.

 I could not have asked for, or found, better service and treatment. I am very grateful, and would like to thank Dr. Lorrie for all that she did for us.

Ruth Spigiel
Tecumseh

To the Editor,

On Jan. 3, Lenawee Emergency and Affordable Housing Corporation (LEAHC) received a check from the Sunday school children at Gloria Dei Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tecumseh.  This check, in the amount of $113.50, was a donation from the children in an effort to make a difference for people experiencing homelessness.  

On behalf of LEAHC, I say “Thank You.” It is wonderful to witness young people caring about the homeless in Lenawee County and making a difference for people in housing crisis.  

Without the support of our community, LEAHC could not continue our mission of advancing housing stability for the low-income people of Lenawee County and helping those in need.

Khristine Henson-Jones
Executive Director
LEAHC