Troopers from the Michigan State Police have released a photo of the suspect in today's robbery of the Firstbank branch in Ashley. A masked man, wearing a white and blue windbreaker, jumped over the counter and demanded that the tellers give him money. No weapon was used nor mentioned, said Michigan State Police Ithaca Post Commander Doug Wright. The robber then ran out the back door and fled with an undetermined amount of cash about 10:15 a.m., he said. No getaway vehicle was seen. Technicians from the Michigan State Police, a tracking dog from the Gratiot County Sheriff’s office and police spent much of the rest of the day investigating the robbery. Once they learned of the robbery, Ashley school officials imposed a lockdown at the school buildings. There are no reports of any injuries in the robbery of the Firstbank branch at 114 N. Sterling St., a storefront bank in a block of businesses in downtown Ashley. The Firstbank branch in Ashley is one of 10 offices of Firstbank-Alma, a subsidiary of the Alma-based Firstbank Corp. of Michigan. The Ashley robbery comes a little more than two months after the robbery of a Chemical Bank branch office in Mt. Pleasant. That robber was quickly arrested and pleaded guilty.
State troopers closed down the Firstbank branch in Ashley Tuesday as they investigate report of robbery midmorning. Anyone with information should call the Michigan State Police Ithaca Post at 989-875-4111
Police are asking for help in identifying the man who committed a strong arm robbery at the Elwell Corners store on West Lincoln Road last week. A man in his early 20s, wearing a black hooded sweatshirt and jeans, entered the store just as the clerk was counting the money about 8:30 p.m. Thanksgiving night, said Michigan State Police Trooper Mike Floriano. The man walked right over to the clerk, told her to give him the money, and grabbed the money from her. She in turn, grabbed his arm and managed to get a few of the bills back. But Floriano said the suspect made off with about $400 . The clerk saw no car and heard no car door slam after he fled the store. The suspect is described as 5 ft. 9 to 10 inches, with short dark hair and dark, thick eyebrows. He had acne and acne scars on his cheeks and weighed between 140 to 150 pounds. He was not wearing a mask, and no weapon was seen or mentioned.
Carlos Boozer had 36 points and 11 rebounds as the Utah Jazz posted a 103-93 victory over the Detroit Pistons on Sunday.
Boozer passes off against Detroit Pistons forward Jason Maxiell. Boozer was 17-for-20 from the floor in his best scoring day this season, helping Utah beat the Pistons for the fifth straight time.
Jazz guard Deron Williams (8) goes to the basket against Detroit Pistons forward Antonio McDyess. Williams added 21 points and 14 assists.
Detroit played without Rasheed Wallace for the second game in a row, then had head coach Flip Saunders ejected after picking up a pair of technicals for arguing with official Marc Davis in the third quarter.
Detroit Pistons forward Jason Maxiell (54) has his shot blocked by Utah Jazz forward Andrei Kirilenko (47), who had 11 points and 10 rebounds.
Detroit guard Richard Hamilton (32), suffering from flu-like symptoms, has the ball knocked away by Utah Jazz guard Jason Hart, right. Antonio McDyess led the Pistons with 19 points and 12 rebounds, and Hamilton added 17.
Pistons guard Chauncey Billups passes off against the Jazz in the first quarter.
Central Michigan guard Giordan Watson (11) drives up-court against Minnesota guard Al Nolen (0) during the first half of Minnesota’s 77-59 win over CMU Saturday in Minneapolis. Watson led the Chippewas with 22 points. Robbie Harman added 10 points for Central Michigan (0-4), winless in its first four games for the first time since the 1993-94 season.
Minnesota guard Lawrence McKenzie (1) drives around Central Michigan forward Nate Minnoy, back. Neither team was stellar with the basketball. Minnesota committed 24 turnovers; Central Michigan had 23. Minnesota shot 52.2 percent in the second half and held Central Michigan to 36.7 percent shooting. (AP Photos by Paul Battaglia)
Nikolai Zherdev scored the winning shootout goal to lead the Columbus Blue Jackets past the Detroit Red Wings 3-2 on Saturday night. Michael Peca and Rick Nash also scored in the shootout for Columbus, which won its second straight despite allowing Detroit to tie it with two goals in a team-record 5 seconds. The game was the second shootout in a week between the teams, with Detroit winning last Sunday.
The Red Wings' Pavel Datsyuk, left, carries the puck across the blue line Zherdev defends. Datsyuk had a goal and an assist. Manny Malhotra and Zherdev scored in regulation for Columbus, which has won two straight. Pascal Leclaire made 23 saves, including a big stop on Henrik Zetterberg in the shootout.
The Blue Jackets' Peca, right, and Red Wings' Zetterberg fight for a loose puck.
The Blue Jackets' Ron Hainsey, left, and the Red Wings' Tomas Holmstrom fight for a loose puck. Holmstrom also scored for Detroit, which has lost five of seven.
Chris Osgood made several spectacular saves to keep the Red Wings in the game.
The Fulton High School Football team took the win in a close game against Climax-Scotts on Saturday in Kentwood. The Pirates will now play in the state championship game on Friday at Ford Field.
17 Shots from the game will be available for purchase here, likely on Monday.
Law enforcement officers salute as the casket bearing the remains of Pfc. Casey Mason, a graduate of Farwell High School, comes off a charter jet at Mt. Pleasant Municipal Airport Sunday morning. (Morning Sun photo by Mark Ranzenberger)
Pfc. Casey Mason came home Sunday morning. The 22-year-old Farwell High School graduate died in Iraq last week. His body arrived on a charter jet mid-morning Sunday at Mt. Pleasant Municipal Airport.
An escort of police officers met the soldier’s flag draped casket on the ramp in front of the E.H. Tope Terminal. A U.S. Army sergeant and members of Mason’s family also were there. Low, dark clouds slid across the sky, and temperatures hovered at the freezing mark as the casket was brought from the twin-engine aircraft onto a portable elevator. A northeast wind rippled the flag covering Mason’s casket as it came off the plane. The law enforcement officers saluted and stood at attention as the casket was lowered, the silence on the field broken only by a muffled sob from an onlooker. The hearse was escorted to the Lux Funeral Home in downtown Mt. Pleasant by an escort of seven police vehicles from the Isabella County Sheriff’s Department, Mt. Pleasant Police, the multi-jurisdictional Isaballa County Traffic Team and Saginaw Chippewa Tribal Police. The funeral for Mason, the son of Jeffrey and Robbin Mason of Cadillac, is set for Tuesday morning at 10:30 at Mt. Pleasant Sacred Heart Church. Deacon Larry Fussman is to officiate. Visitation is set for Mondayfrom 1 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home. Mason is to be buried in Haring Township Cemetery near Cadillac. Mason was killed in combat last Tuesday in Mosul, Iraq. Mason died after enemy forces attacked his unit using small arms fire, according to Sgt.1st Class David Gillespie of the 8th Theater Sustainment Command at Ft. Shafter, Hawaii. Mason was a military police officer assigned to the 728th Military Police Battalion, 8th Military Police Brigade, 8th Theater Sustainment Command. A memorial service is set for this week, as well, for Schofield Barracks, Hawaii. Mason had joined the Army in October 2006 after working at Lux Funeral Home and the Mobile Medical Response ambulance service. His unit had been in Iraq since September. Friends remember him as a great young man with a good sense of humor, with passions for golfing, riding all-terrain vehicles, computers and firearms. His family has asked that memorials be made to Hospice of Central Michigan to support construction of the Hospice House.
At Los Angeles, Lamar Odom had 25 points and 15 rebounds, and Kobe Bryant and Jordan Farmar made key plays down the stretch as the Lakers beat the Pistons 103-91. Bryant, right, reaches in on Detroit Pistons guard Richard Hamilton (32). Bryant finished with 19 points. Tayshaun Prince had 16 points and nine rebounds for the Pistons.
Bryant, bottom, scrambles for a loose ball along with Detroit Pistons guard Richard Hamilton, top, and the Lakers' Farmar. Hamilton also scored 16 points.
Farmar (5) puts up a shot as Detroit Pistons guard Ronald Murray blocks.
Los Angeles Lakers forward Lamar Odom (7) dunks the ball during the second half.
Bryant (24) puts up a shot as Detroit Pistons forward Amir Johnson (25) guards.
Actors Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher watch the Pistons play the Lakers. Maroon 5 lead singer Adam Levine was in the seats, too. (AP Photos by Mark J. Terrill)
Eastern Michigan surprised Central Michigan with a 48-45 win over the Chippewas Friday night at Mt. Pleasant. Central led 38-28 at the end of the third quarter, but the Eagles outgunned the Chippewas 20-7 in the final quarter to come from behind and win. Watch the highlight video here.
Central Michigan quarterback Dan LeFevour makes an easy touchdown in the second quarter against Eastern.
Eastern Michigan's DeAnthony White cuts through Central Michigan defenders on his way toward the end zone.
Central Michigan's Tommy Mama (14) pulls down an interception on a pass intended for Eastern Michigan's Tyrone Burke (86). Central still is headed for the Mid-American conference championship game after its only conference loss to the Eagles Photos by Ryan Evon
The Rev. Charles Williams II of the Detroit-based National Council for Community Empowerment speaks on the campus of Central Michigan University Friday, demanding a federal investigation in the wake of the Engineering and Technology noose incident. CMU officials say they've already called in the FBI.
Students and others gathered in front of the Bovee University Center after the university announced that someone had hung four nooses in the Engineering Technology Building. Campus police are questioning students and faculty about whether they noticed suspicious activity in the building, the university released a statement denouncing the nooses as racist, and raised the reward offered for information on the incident to $5,000. (Morning Sun photos by Ryan Evon)
Central Michigan's Marcus Van, top, misses the dunk over teammate Nate Minnoy, bottom left, and Central Missouri's Kevin Wolbrinck, bottom center, and Paul Bannister, bottom right, during the first half of Tuesday’s college basketball game in the CBE Classic game. Central Missouri won the game 75-70 as the Chippewas fall to 0-2. (AP Photos by L.G. Patterson)
Central Missouri's Kevin Wolbrinck, center, is surrounded by Central Michigan's Chase Simon (1) and Robbie Harman (20) during the first half.
Central Michigan's Nate Minnoy, left, knocks the ball away from Central Missouri's Tremaine Luellen, right, as he shoots during the second half.
Central Michigan's Giordan Watson, bottom, lays on the floor in dejection after he dribbled the ball out-of-bounds in front of his bench in the final seconds of their 75-70 loss to Central Missouri. Watson led the Chippewas with 20 points.
Missouri's DeMarre Carroll, right, and Central Michigan's Marko Spica, left, battle for a rebound during the first half of a college basketball game in the first round CBE Classic Monday, Nov. 12, 2007, in Columbia, Mo. Missouri won the game 87-76.(AP Photos/L.G. Patterson)
Central Michigan's Jon Yeazel, right, tries to get the ball away from Missouri's Stephon Hannah during the first half.
Central Michigan's Jon Yeazel, center, has the ball knocked away by Missouri's Matt Lawrence, right, during the first half.
Missouri head coach Mike Anderson, right, discusses a play with his player DeMarre Carroll during the first half.
Central Michigan's Giordan Watson, right, fouls Missouri's Stefhon Hannah.
Central Michigan's Giordan Watson, right, bites on his shirt after he fouled out.
Central Michigan University President Michael Rao, six days after the Tuesday night Central Michigan/Western Michigan game, released a statement calling on the Mid-American Conference to stop scheduling games on school nights.
Here's the text of the statement:
Message from President Rao and Interim Provost Shapiro There has recently been discussion on campus about Mid-American Conference midweek football games, in general, and the Tuesday night WMU-CMU football game in particular. While we take great pride in the success of our football team, we take the position that the Mid- American Conference should not schedule football games on midweek nights, although we recognize that some future commitments have been made. This position is shared by CMU Athletic Director David Heeke, the CMU Faculty Athletic Representative, Kevin Love, and by many others on campus. The issue of midweek football games has been raised and will continue to be addressed with seriousness at future Mid-American Conference meetings. However, we hereby clearly express our position on class cancellations. The University policy is to conduct classes as scheduled regardless of athletic event scheduling. Faculty members should continue to hold classes and students are expected to and should attend their classes.
No word yet on Tuesday's TV ratings. The final regular-season game is on Friday.
Here's how to get from Beal City High School to the Superior Dome at Northern Michigan University, where the Aggies take on Crystal Falls Forest Park in the Michigan High School Athletic Association Division 8 semifinals Saturday. Click on "View Larger Map" for turn-by-turn directions and an interactive map. Zoom in zoom out using the slider, or plus and minus keys. Pan using the directional arrows, or just hold your mouse and drag. Kickoff is at noon Saturday, and the estimated drive time is almost six hours. If you're looking for a place to stay, check with the Marquette Country Convention and Visitors Bureau or the link from the Marquette section from the Upper Peninsula Travel and Recreation Association.
Here are the directions from Fulton High School to East Kentwood High School, where the Pirates play Climax-Scotts at noon Saturday in the Michigan High School Athletic Association Division 8 semifinals. Click on "View Larger Map" to get turn-by-turn directions. The map is interactive -- you can zoom in and zoom out by clicking plus and minus, and pan by clicking the arrow keys -- or just holding your mouse and dragging. Travel time is estimated at 1 hour, 22 minutes -- and that seems about right.
Fire destroyed Earl and Denise Smith’s home at 2409 W. Jordan Road in Isabella County’s Nottawa Township Friday morning.
Nobody was injured in the blaze, which is under investigation by the Nottawa-Sherman Townships Fire Department, but the family’s two cats did not escape.About 25 firefighters fought the blaze for more than two hours after being called to the scene shortly before 8 a.m., Nottawa-Sherman Townships Fire Chief David Livermore said.
The Mt. Pleasant Fire Department, Deerfield Township Fire Department, Isabella Northeast Fire Department, Mobile Medical Response ambulance and the Red Cross assisted at the scene.
The home had been in Earl Smith’s family for nearly 100 years, relatives said. (Photos courtesy Bob Hooker.)
Coming into the 2007 football season, many people questioned whether Butch Jones would be a good fit as head coach of the Central Michigan football team.
He lacked head coaching experience, was an assistant during a down period in CMU football, and was inheriting a team that was coming of one of the greatest seasons in Chippewa history.
Jones admittedly didn't get off to a good start, losing by large margins at Kansas, Purdue, and home to North Dakota State.
While CMU took its lumps, the Chippewas remained strong where it mattered most, the Mid-American Conference.
CMU posted 52 points on Toledo in the second game of the season and walked into Ball State and beat the Cardinals 58-38 in what was one of the biggest games Ball State has played in decades.
Jones also did a lot of firsts for CMU in a while.
The Chippewas 35-10 win over NIU was the first win for CMU over the Huskies since 1997. The win over Toledo marked the first time CMU had beaten the Rockets in back-to-back seasons since 1993 and 94.
Then there was the win Tuesday night.
Tuesday's win over Western Michigan was a defining win for Jones and his coaching staff as it gave CMU its first win in Kalamazoo since 1993 and gave the Chippewas the MAC West title for the second-straight year.
Winning last year was something special for CMU, but to win this season with the targets on their back and to clinch the title on your rival's home field is something that is so rare. Tuesday's win may go down as the greatest win in the WMU-CMU rivalry because of all that came with it.
So now Jones and the Chippewas are on the verge of playing for the MAC Championship. CMU has only won the MAC title in consecutive season on one occasion, in 1979 and 1980. The last MAC team to do it was Marshall in 1999 and 2000, and the Thundering Herd had two NFL quarterbacks in Chad Pennington and Byron Leftwich lead the way.
CMU is on the verge of greatness and Jones is on the verge of winning a championship in his first season as head coach. That accomplishment doesn't occur often and Jones should be applauded for his efforts and continued success. It appears that after all the debate, he was the right fit after all.
Above, Western Michigan's Jordan White, center, is brought down by Central Michigan defenders Red Keith, left, and Chaz West during first quarter college football action in Kalamazoo on Tuesday. Below, Western Michigan defender E.J. Biggers, right, knocks away a pass intended for Central Michigan wide receiver Joe Bockheim (AP Photos/Kalamazoo Gazette, Jonathon Grunke) No one will forget the last two minutes of Central Michigan's 34-31 win over Western Michigan Tuesday. Western overcame a 10-point deficit late in the game, scoring two touchdowns in a span of 33 seconds to take a 31-27 lead on a 15-yard touchdown run by Brandon West with 1:34 left. Then CMU marched 65 yards in 1:22, including Dan LeFevour’s 39-yard pass to Bryan Anderson that put the ball at the 1. LeFevour scored two plays later. Now, it’s the MAC title game, and very likely a bowl bid for the Chippewas.
For some reason the blog system did not want to include the following photos in the entry below. They are from my Sylvan Solace walk with Wife Sharon on November 4.
Yesterday Wife Sharon and I took a short Sunday afternoon hike on the "blue" loop trail through the Sylvan Solace Preserve in Isabella County.
Fall foliage was in its last hurrah.
Warm late afternoon light bathed the scene, and even the usually dour oaks were dressed in festive and brilliant colors. Brilliant yellows played off against dark forest greens to create startling contrasts. We found wonderful textures everywhere.
Sylvan Solace Preserve covers 78 acres and includes frontage on the Chippewa River. Don and Nancy Nagler, of Mt. Pleasant donated the property to the Chippewa Watershed Conservancy in 1996.
Started as the Isabella County Nature Conservancy in 1985, the Chippewa Watershed Conservancy now protects 25 parcels of land covering more than 3,000 acres in Clare, Isabella, Gratiot. Montcalm and Mecosta Counties.
We are fortunate to have an organiztion like the Conservancy, and generous, conscientious people like the Naglers in our midst.
For more about the Conservancy, visit http://www.chippewawatershedconservancy.org/.
(Edited Nov. 6, hoping that all te photos will finally appear. db)
Cross country runners from across mid-Michigan aren't the only competitors headed south Saturday to compete in a state championship meet. The Michigan Competing Band Association's championships are Saturday, and the Mt. Pleasant Oiler Marching Band will be at Ford Field competing for the championship.
The 72-member band goes into the competition ranked seventh in Flight III. The show is called "Socially Numb," and it's based on the music of Pink Floyd's "The Wall."
Even though rock 'n' roll and traditional marches both are in 4/4 time, that's where the similarity ends. Rock 'n' roll shows are always tempting for marching bands, but they're very difficult to pull off.
Mt. Pleasant's band has learned how to pull them off. Last year's "Elemental Led" show, featuring Led Zeppelin music, ended up sixth at Ford Field. This year's band, with a mix of veterans and rookies, has impressed the judges at times with the visual presentation, sometimes with the music. Now, it's up to the Oilers to put both elements together. Band members say this week's practices have been tight, focused, and they're ready. Many of the band members have been to Ford Field before, and the veterans know what they're up against.
The goal is simple: One shot at the best performance of the year. Show time is 5:20 p.m. in downtown Dee-troit.
Last week my Morning Sun Time Out section photo assignment took me into the dance studio at Alma College, where talented students and instructors were preparing for a November 9-10 performance.
Some of the pictures can be seen in the blog posts below.
More program details can be found in the November 1 edition of Time Out
Alma College student Tara Roberts will dance "Nacht und Nedel" ("Night and Fog") during a November 9-10 Heritage Center performances.
This piece is a reminiscence of the German Holocaust experience under Adolf Hitler. Roberts and her instructor, Carol Fike, choreographed the dance, set to music by Samuel Barber.
It is a story told without words, and very moving.
Choreographed by Alma College associate professor of dance, Carol Fike, "Moments Ago" is an evocation of historical events in the last century. It is performed with accompaniment by saxophonist Kenny G., playing a setting of the familiar Scottish tune, "Auld Lang Syne."
The dance begins with something that seems like a colorful game of musical chairs, and ends with a startling surprise.
It will be performed November 9-10, Alma College Heritage Center.
Alma College ballet students under the mentorship of associate professor Tom Morris will perform two dances during the November 9-10 Heritage Center program.
One is “Passages,” a ballet set to Maurice Ravel’s Introduction and Allegro for Harp. The second is “Americana,” accompanied by a medley of familiar tunes by John Philip Sousa.
What is there to say about ballet?
It is wonderful to watch. In ballet we find grace, beauty, strength, motion, art … and fun.
