Archive - Feb 2012

By DEANE ERTS

Confusion has been expressed about the wording of the Feb. 28 referendum on the proposed .25 mill for the operation and maintenance of the Tecumseh Memorial Community Pool.

Some are under the impression that the approximately $141,000 that would be raised annually, if approved, could be used for playgrounds or for the city’s Parks and Recreation Department. Neither is the case.

The wording of the proposal on the ballot will be as follows:
MILLAGE PROPOSAL TO PROVIDE FUNDS TO OPERATE A SYSTEM OF PUBLIC RECREATION AND PLAYGROUNDS

Shall the limitation on the amount of taxes which may be assessed against all property in Tecumseh Public Schools, Lenawee County, Michigan, be increased by and the board of education be authorized to levy not to exceed.25 mill for a period of five (5) years, 2012 to 2016, inclusive, for the purpose of providing funds for operating a system of public recreation and playgrounds; the estimate of the revenue the school district will collect for such recreation program if the millage is approved and levied in 2012 is approximately $140,750?

SUMMARY;

TECUMSEH PUBLIC SCHOOLS MILLAGE PROPOSAL TO PROVIDE FUNDS TO OPERATE A SYSTEM OF PUBLIC RECREATION AND PLAYGROUNDS .25 MILL(S) FOR 5 YEAR(S).

Tecumseh Public Schools referred the writing of the ballot language to the Thrun Law Firm, the district’s contracted legal advisors.

The statute that covers levies of this nature, the lawyers explained, was written in 1917, before municipal swimming pools were commonplace. The statute is recorded in Michigan Compiled Laws Complete Through PA 73 of 2009 under RECREATION AND PLAYGROUNDS Act 156 of 1917, 123.53 Public recreation system: operation. The language of the statute was left broad enough by the drafters of the law to cover a wide range of possibilities that governing bodies might encounter.

Philip A. Stutesman, 75, of Howell, died on Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2012.

He was born in Comins, Mich., January 1, 1937, the second son of Walter and Vadah (McWilliams) Stutesman. He was raised in Britton and Tecumseh, Mich. Philip attended Moody Bible Institute, and the University of Michigan, where he earned a Master’s Degree.

His lifelong love was Biology, which he taught for 30 years in junior high and high schools in Decatur, Ill., and Jackson, Mich. His students remember him for his humor and for making learning thoroughly enjoyable. His favorite quote from a student was, “You made learning so much fun that by the time I realized I was really learning something, it was too late to do anything about it!” He served as Naturalist for Camp Storer in Napoleon for a number of years. He was life member of the Audubon Society.

Philip is survived by two sons, David (Lee) Stutesman of Ypsilanti and Stephen (Patricia) Stutesman of Howell and five grandchildren: Hannah and Jordan (David) and Alexis, Taylor and Quinten (Stephen). He is preceded in death by both parents and one son, John (Jennifer) Stutesman. Also surviving are his siblings: James (Ruth) Stutesman of Grand Haven; Esther (Bob) Howder of Springfield, Ohio; Mary Alice (Jerry) Payne of Litchfield, and Louise (Norman) Barnard of Shepherd and ten nieces and nephews.

The family will gather with friends from 2- 4 p.m., memorial service 4-5 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 25, at Borek Jennings Funeral Home Lamb Chapel, Howell, Mich.

By MICKEY ALVARADO

It took until the second half of Tecumseh’s Friday, Feb. 3, varsity girls basketball game before the hosting Indians heated up against Lincoln but once their spark was ignited they turned in a solid second half and picked up their second season victory.

Both teams hit the net for seven points in the opening quarter and despite having a sparse crowd in the Indians’ home stands the refs could hear loud chatter following several calls on the court. One Tecumseh fan, seated right next to the scoring table, made it known how displeased he was with the job the refs were doing and was escorted out of the gymnasium. The Railsplitters were quick to shake off the unfortunate exhibition and finished the first half with a two point, 16-14 lead.

Tecumseh outscored the Railsplitters by three points in the third quarter and held a one point, 29-28, advantage going into the fourth quarter.

“Our intensity picked up and we did a pretty good job of boxing out in the third quarter,” said Tecumseh coach Jamie Mossburg.

Haven Shaffer hit six of her 13 total points in the final quarter to help the Indians put up their most points in the final quarter, tagging on 10 points to Lincoln’s six, to secure their second season victory.

Key to the win was Tecumseh’s ball handling. “We only had 13 turnovers, which was huge,” said Mossburg.

It was the second time the Indians faced Lincoln this year and the first ended as a loss in overtime. Mossburg was especially proud to see his girls hanging on for the win after having lost several games in overtime or the final minutes of the game. It was a two-point game against Lincoln with only 25 seconds remaining.

Silvernail connected on 4-of-6 shots from the free-throw line in the final quarter to help secure the win. She finished the night with five points, three steals and eight rebounds.

Clinton’s varsity girls basketball team defeated the visiting Morenci Bulldogs 57-32 on Friday, Feb. 3.

The Redskins jumped out to a 21-7 lead after the first quarter and managed to keep one step ahead of Morenci all night. The Bulldogs outscored Clinton 10-7 in the second quarter but the Redskins took a 28-17 lead into halftime.

Haley Mercy led Clinton with 14 points and four assists while Haley Hoelzer added 12 points. Abi Clark and Elizabeth Barkel each added nine points to Clinton’s totals. Clinton’s Emily Wilson scored a three-pointer while Kris Forest, Gretchen McNitt, Kim Kuebler, Danielle Nation and Leigha Sanborn each scored two points.

The ‘Skins broke their four game losing streak in their previous contest against Ida, winning 43-37.

Hoelzer led Clinton with 12 points while Mercy added 11. Sanborn added eight points and seven rebounds.

Clinton is now 8-7 overall and 5-5 in the Tri-County Conference.

Both of Tecumseh’s varsity bowling teams defeated visiting Ann Arbor Pioneer 28-2 on Wednesday, Feb. 1.

Tecumseh’s girls won both baker games (203-135, 232-136) and recorded team games of 977 and 888.

Jordan Richard rolled a 434 series with games of 227 and 207 while her sister Haley Richard had a 425 series with games of 224 and 201. Atlanta Roberts had a 202 high game for Tecumseh.

The Indians’ boys won both baker games (210-164, 213-158) and had team games of 902 and 1004.

Andrew Sokol recorded a 460 series for Tecumseh with games of 244 and 216 while teammate Spencer Hite had a 411 series with games of 209 and 202. Tyler Pate bowled a 212 game for Tecumseh.

Bernice was born September 24, 1933 in Detroit, Michigan the daughter of John and Shirley (Hines) Minch.

On January 19, 1957 she married William Lewis in Redford, Mich., and he survives.

Bernice graduated from Harper Grace Hospital in Detroit as a registered nurse and spent her entire life in the nursing profession retiring in 1995.

In addition to her husband, William, she is survived by her daughters, Barbara (Garry) Coffman and Karen (Matt) Horvath; sister, Audrey (John) Zoulek; brother, John (Linda) Minch; grandchildren, Greg, Justin, Jason, Lindsay (Jon) and Kerri and great grandchildren, Ashley and Adrienne.

She was preceded in death by her parents; son, Richard and sister, Joanne.

Funeral services will be 6 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 9, 2012 at the J. Gilbert Purse Funeral Home, Tecumseh, with Rev. Chris Cadwallader officiating.

Visitation will be 3-6 p.m. Thursday before the funeral service. Burial will take place at Brookside Cemetery, Tecumseh, at a later date.

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