Local efforts to force a recall of four Tecumseh School Board members moved forward last Friday as petitions were turned in to Lenawee County Clerk Roxann Holloway. Local resident Dave Govro spearheaded the effort, and turned in petitions well ahead of the Nov. 20 deadline.

Petitions must contain signatures of 25 percent of the voter turnout in the last gubernatorial election, or 1,695 signatures for each board member being recalled, which includes trustees Louis Englund, Dan Gunder, Karen Januszek and Kevin Packard. Some constituents were unhappy with these board members’ support of a new $2.1 million athletic complex at Tecumseh High School.

The County Clerk has seven days to review and certify signatures, and then clerks in the other school district jurisdictions will have 20 days to certify the signatures. The board members may challenge any of the signatures within 30 days. A final determination will be made within 35 days, or by November 6. If there are enough signatures, a special election could be held in February for a vote by all school district constituents.

Board members not targeted in the recall effort are new member Jimmie Rice; board member Jason Sines, who had opposed the complex, stating that he preferred to explore other options before going that route; and board president Debbie Johnson-Berges, who finished out a regular term on June 30 and then was appointed to finish a term created when Gary Urban resigned from the board.

Brice Matthew Baldwin, 19, of Tecumseh was sentenced to an 18-month to 10-year prison term Thursday in Lenawee County Circuit Court. The ruling was handed down for his involvement in the March arson fire that destroyed the Atlas Feed and Grain Mill in Clinton.

Baldwin and two other teens were arrested just two weeks after the fire following an arson investigation. He was arraigned in Lenawee County District Court on April 1 on charges of breaking and entering and felony arson. He pled guilty in August, avoiding a trial.

The Atlas Feed and Grain Mill at 429 W. Franklin was more than 160 years old and had been vacant since 2007. Owned for a long time by Charlie Steffens, the building was purchased by Brian Riley and then closed for financial reasons not long after. While in operation, the business provided local residents with a convenient stop for hardware needs along with feed.

Arson was suspected early in the investigation because no electricity had been running to the building at the time of the fire.

Firefighters knocked the March 12 blaze out in 40 minutes and were able to keep it contained, preventing damage to several nearby homes.

Music and art will be the stars of the evening on Sunday, Oct. 4, with the Toledo Symphony Orchestra performance and the celebration of the Community Art Project at Tecumseh Center for the Arts. Broadway and show tunes will highlight the symphony’s program that will coincide with the TCA’s Community Art Project. “We’ve planned a relaxing enjoyable event,” commented TCA Director Johanna Walker, “The TSO is a great orchestra. It’s an honor to have the TSO here as we celebrate our local artists.”
The TCA invited area artists to create flower boxes; the finished creations were displayed all summer in businesses throughout Tecumseh. The collection of art is now displayed in the TCA lobby gallery. The public is invited to stop by to view the 40 unique art pieces that will be auctioned at the conclusion of the Toledo Symphony’s performance on Sunday evening. “We are showcasing the talent of our local artists,” Walker stated, “The TCA is overwhelmed by their talent, support and generosity.”

Sunday’s events begin at 6 p.m. with The Toledo Symphony Orchestra.

The program will feature Broadway music and show tunes under the direction of TSO Resident Conductor Chelsea Tipton, II. In his sixth season with the TSO, Tipton has won over audience and critics alike with his vibrant musicality and versatility. As a sought-after guest conductor, Tipton has appeared with major orchestras across the country, including the Symphony Orchestra’s of Chicago, Pittsburgh, Houston, Detroit, Atlanta and with many other great orchestras.

For the TSO’s selection, A Tribute to Ol’ Blue Eyes, special guest Keith Hoyt will join the orchestra singing the songs of Frank Sinatra. In addition to the Sinatra show tunes, TSO’s performance will include favorites such as Moon River, music from Broadway shows Guys & Dolls, Carousel and Old Man River.

By CRISTINA TRAPANI-SCOTT
and DEB WUETHRICH

As State of Michigan legislators went into 11th-hour discussions on the
state budget Wednesday, schools throughout the state were bracing for
as much as a $218 cut to per pupil funding, in addition to a proposed
44-percent cut in funds going to Intermediate School Districts and the
elimination of Promise Grants. All three school districts, Tecumseh,
Clinton and Britton-Macon, in the Herald coverage area are sweating out
the final outcome.

“The $218 is going to hurt bad enough, but the 44-percent at the ISD
will also have an effect because we get some funding from them. How
much of an impact? We don’t know,” said Clinton Supt. David Pray.

Clinton Community Schools already is faced with lower than expected
enrollment, even with a record number of Schools of Choice students.
Pray said the school district did anticipate a cut, but only about half
of what the state is proposing. The new figure will mean as much as
$250,000 less revenue for the district. “The bottom line is it’s going
to hurt,” he said. “The thing that hurts most is that it’s a surprise.
The $218 came out of nowhere. We had expected as much as $110, but the
other $108 came out of nowhere. What do we do now when the year is
already one-quarter the way over? Eighty-two percent of our budget is
salary and benefits. We can’t cut people now.”

Britton-Macon Area School could lose up to $135,000, should the cuts be
finalized. “It cuts the heart out of education,” said Supt. Chuck
Pelham. “We are just waiting to see what the numbers are going to be.
Then we’ll examine the impact it will have on our budget and make the
necessary adjustments.”

By CRISTINA TRAPANI-SCOTT

Tecumseh’s varsity football team won its first match ever at the new Indian Stadium last Friday night with Zac Merillat (center) recording two touchdowns during the game against Ypsilanti. Tecumseh won the contest by putting up its first field goal of the season. See Sports for complete story.