Archive - Mar 2011

By MICKEY ALVARADO

A promising outlook was given by Tecumseh High School’s varsity baseball coach for the 2010-2011 season, which was set to kick off on Tuesday, with a game against Ann Arbor Gabriel Richard at Adrian College. The Indians’ first home game is April 14, against Monroe High School.

The Indians’ players from the seniors on down showed up to media day sporting mohawk haircuts as a show of solidarity.

“We have a little bit of everything which is the kind of team you really look forward to having,” said Tecumseh coach Tom Bullinger. “We have senior leadership that’s been around. Two of the seniors have been here three years on varsity so I’m really looking forward to Kyle Hooper and Stephen Bilotta stepping up and being leaders.”

Bullinger added the other seniors played a lot last year as juniors so they should be ready to go as they finish out their careers.

“The’re going to get even more playing time this year so it should be a really good senior group where I think the leadership isn’t going to be a problem at all this year.”

The Indians have Hooper and sophomore Jake Britt at first base. Senior Caleb Armstrong played the position last year but Bullinger said he’s probably moving to the outfield this year. Tecumseh needed a third outfielder to go along with seniors Matt Napieralski and Brendan Diroff. Junior George Preston will also help out in the outfield.

Senior Jake Moore returns as the team’s shortstop and he’ll be replaced by Bilotta on occasion. Bilotta may also see time at second base with junior Brad Vannatter.

Junior Max Patterson is at third base and he can be replaced by Armstrong or Diroff when needed.

Junior Jared Powell and sophomore Eric Eldred are the team’s catchers. The two are also capable of covering third base or the outfield.

By MICKEY ALVARADO

Approximatly 30 kids watched with glazed eyes as Tecumseh’s varsity softball players gave them tips on how to improve their game during the Indians’ annual camp on Sunday, March 27.

The indoor camp setting provided warmth from the frost covered fields of the early spring morning and gave the girls an opportunity to hone their pitching and hitting skills without having to shiver.

Tecumseh’s anticipated starting pitchers, Alli Watson, Bailee Crots and Emily Maves had obviously been putting hours of practice in already with the girls snapping their specialty pitches to an extended 43 feet from the center of the circle to the plate. Tecumseh head coach Krisatlyn Musselman expects the added three feet will speed up the game and is excited about the season.

“It’s going to put an interesting spin on the game,” she said. “It should be a bit more offensive.”

Tecumseh’s first game is scheduled for April 13, at Blissfield and Musselman said the team will be ready. The Indians are the defending Southeastern Conference White Division champions and look to retain the title with a group of strong pitchers.

“I think we’ll be alright. We do have a lot of good pitching within the program,” said Musselman. “So, it’ll be interesting to see who steps up. I feel confident with our team and the girls who have come out and worked hard with us in the winter. We think we’ll do well.”

The Indians’ roster has three seniors listed with a mix of juniors, sophomores and two freshmen.

Junior pitchers Watson and Crots saw time in the circle last year and will be returning as the Indians main starters. Also joining the varsity pitching staff is sophmore Emily Maves.

“All three pitchers are going to make the adjustment at 43 feet,” said Musselman. “It’s going to be interesting to start with but I feel very confident in our pitching staff. They all bring a different feel to the circle.”

By DEB WUETHRICH

When President Abraham Lincoln put out a call for 300,000 troops in 1862, Michigan was asked to form six regiments. Lenawee County men came through, along with neighboring Hillsdale and Monroe counties. Stories of the men and their journeys during the Civil War, which is commemorating a 150th anniversary, were among those told Tuesday evening at the Tecumseh District Library by Gary Holmes, a member of the Sons of Union Veterans Nash Hodge Post in Blissfield.

“This is a kick-off for the 150th year commemorations that will take place over the next four years,” said Linda Kronberg, who has been a member of the Sons of Union Veterans Auxiliary for 14 years. Kronberg said the majority of the group’s fundraising goes toward restoration of monuments and scholarships. They also send letters and goods to military troops.

Don Shaw, State Commander of the Sons of Union Veterans, was on hand to commemorate the 145th anniversary of the Grand Army of the Republic and to talk about its Allied Orders that sprung from the original organization.

“The GAR wasn’t set up to be political,” he told the packed meeting room, detailing the group’s founding in 1866 by Dr. Benjamin Franklin Stevenson of Decatur, Illinois. “It was put together to serve 2,700,000 men and women who fought in the Union Army, to recall mutual affections, comradeship and memories the soldiers had.” Later, however, the group began helping those who suffered injuries get treatment, and provided charitable assistance for veterans, along with establishing hiring preferences. It soon became politically astute to get the endorsement of the GAR, which six presidents, beginning with Ulysses S. Grant, did.

“Organizations can die, but the ideals go on,” said Shaw, noting that the ideals of fraternity, charity and loyalty continue through the allied groups.

By DEB WUETHRICH

The Tecumseh School Board adopted a “Resolution and Notification to Layoff Administrative Personnel Due to Economic and Financial Reasons” at Monday night’s meeting. Although there are no specific plans in place at this time to lay off any administrators, by contract administrators who could potentially be laid off have to be notified by April 1. The move covers members of the Tecumseh Administrators Association, and could affect administrators who have the least seniority. Those members listed were: Herrick Park Elementary Principal Robyn Francis; Tecumseh High School Principal Griff Mills; Tecumseh Middle School Assistant Principal Greg Lewis, and Athletic Director Casey Randolph.

“Hopefully it won’t come to fruition, but at the same time, it gives us all our options if we have to look at things like closing buildings or something,” said board president Dr. Edward Tritt.

The resolution stated the following description of circumstances that could prompt reductions: “Whereas the Board has reasonably determined that, under the circumstances in which the district finds itself, a reduction of certain Administrative positions covered by the Tecumseh Administrators Association (T.A.A.) Master Agreement is necessary for economic and financial reasons including restructuring of Administrative positions and/or reassignment of Administrators, and that such a reduction would be in the best interest of the District.”

“If the governor comes through with what he’s said he was going to do, the district stands to lose $3.9 million,” said Supt. Mike McAran. “The state requires a balanced budget by June 30. They don’t care how you get there or the process, so you have to look for anything and everything you can to balance the budget.” McAran said looking at a reduction or reassignment of administrators is just one area that the district will be looking at in addition to ideas of consolidating services.

Virginia Marie Guilford, 70, of Adrian, formerly of Tecumseh, passed away March 25, 2011. Virginia was born May 13, 1940, in Detroit, the daughter of Floyd and Clarissa (Panck) Cross. On Sept. 9, 1967, she married John L. Guilford. He preceded her in death June 22, 2002. She was a retiree of Ford Motor Company after 23 years of service. Her interests included traveling abroad, reading and above all loved being with her family.

Virginia is survived by her children, Deborah (Glen) Marty, Greg (Kyong) Guilford, Donna M. (John Hierholzer) Higgins; two sisters, Ida May and Leota; three brothers, Fred, Raymond, and Paul; grandchildren, Tyler, Kaylynn, Christopher, Angela, Courtney and Justin; and great-grandchildren, Jared, Rebekkah, Chase, Brenden, Tianna, Tyrone and Jaden.

In addition to her husband, John, she was preceded in death by her parents; brothers, Jimmy, Carl and Bobby; sisters, Mary Louise and Christine; grandson, Michael; and great-granddaughter, Kristian.

Funeral services were held Wednesday, March 30, 2011, at the J. Gilbert Purse Funeral Home, Tecumseh with Pastor Doug Winters officiating.
Condolences to the family may be made online at www.pursefuneralhome.com.

Linda Ann Lacny McCrate of Onsted won her heavenly battle against cancer on Saturday, March 26, 2011, surrounded by her family. Born on July 12, 1962, Linda was the wife of David McCrate and is now the Guardian Angel and heavenly protector of her daughters, Claire Exelby McCrate and Alison Mari McCrate; her parents, Frances and Clarence Lacny of Onsted; sisters, Susan Polan of Milford and Mary (Mark) Deming of Tecumseh; brothers, John Lacny of Plymouth, Mich. and Jim (Kari) Lacny of Zeeland, Mich.; and several nieces and nephews and cousins she loved dearly.

Linda was the consummate Peacemaker who always placed her needs aside so she could help others to learn and live. When Claire and Ali were young, Linda left her job at the University of Michigan to raise her daughters and take an active role in their education, school sports programs and all of their school activities.

Linda later became a teacher’s assistant for Sutton Elementary School, and then director of the St. Elizabeth youth program where she quickly created a special bond with the kids, serving as a role model while teaching them about the importance of community service.

She worked very hard to provide a positive experience such as redecorating their meeting room in the St. Elizabeth Education Center to create a fun and nurturing environment. Here, they would organize activities that would provide services to the homeless and needy in Kentucky and here in Michigan. At the time she became ill, she was employed by the University of Michigan Department of Medicine.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, March 31, 2011, at St. Elizabeth Catholic Church in Tecumseh with Father Tom Wasilewski officiating. Burial will be in Brookside Cemetery. Visitation was held at the Tecumseh Chapel of the Anderson Funeral Home.