10 Questions this week was with one of the most interesting, articulate people I have ever met, John Wilberding. His life story is interesting, and he tells it so well hours pass without the listener noticing.

See a video of John telling just a portion of his life here.

Derek Bonds of Mt. Pleasant loves baseball and skillfully handcrafts bats that are unique and high quality so that guys like him can play like he wants to.

"I'm a big believer in the pureness of the game," Bonds said about creating unique wooden bats instead of metal ones.

View a video of Derek Bonds Here.




Sun Photographs and Video by RYAN EVON

The Central Michigan University softball team took on Valparaiso University on Wednesday.

10 Questions with Clinton Roscoe, 12, of Mt. Pleasant.

Clinton is a student at West Intermediate, in many extra activities, including acting.

To see a video about Clinton, click here.

The sap buckets are ready in the village of Shepherd, but the weather's been too cold for the sap to run.

Along Orchard Street, the ancient maples are tapped and ready. A little bit of sap has dribbled out on the sunny side of the trees, but the sap run's later this year than it has been recently.

Maple Sap runs best when the temperature at night falls below freezing, but spikes up into the 40s or so during the day.

Once the sap starts running, the remaining snow pack probably will help keep the sap sweet.

Meanwhile, the buckets are waiting all over the village on the hundreds of maple trees.

Technology marches on, but sometimes the old ways -- the galvanized sap bucket - works best.

Organizers at the Shepherd Sugarbush say they're confident they'll have enough sap for the Shepherd Maple Syrup Festival in late April.
(Photos by Mark Ranzenberger)

The kid in the middle didn't seem to be too interested in the CMU men's team's match up against WMU...


but the action was great.

Several ski resorts closed today due to rain and warm weather.
A large snow system is expected overnight. AAA recommends calling ahead to verify hours of operation.
XC = Cross country conditions available. Snow base; is listed in -inches.
NORTHEAST/CENTRAL:
Snowsnake, Harrison: CLOSED TODAY
Treetops Resort: CLOSED THIS EVENING
EAST/CENTRAL:
Apple Mountain, Freeland: CLOSED TODAY
WEST/CENTRAL:
Cannonsburg Ski Area, Cannonsburg: CLOSED TODAY
Pando Winter Sports Park, Rockford: CLOSED TODAY
SOUTHWEST:
Bittersweet Ski Resort, Otsego: CLOSED TODAY
Swiss Valley Ski Area, Jones: CLOSED TODAY
Timber Ridge Ski Area, Gobles: CLOSED TODAY
SOUTHEAST:
Mt. Holly, Holly: CLOSED TODAY
Pine Knob, Clarkston: CLOSED TODAY
Mt. Brighton, Brighton: CLOSED TODAY
Alpine Valley, White Lake: CLOSED TODAY
NORTHWEST:
Shanty Creek, Bellaire: 49 runs; nine lifts; 20- to 48-inch base; packed powder
open 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
XC-21km tilled and track set machine groomed
Boyne Highlands, Harbor Springs: 55 runs; six lifts; up to 64-inch base; groomed/packed powder
XC-35km open-35km track set
Terrain and new half-pipe open
Boyne Mountain, Boyne Falls: 49 runs; eight lifts; up to 96-inch base; groomed/packed powder
XC-25km-10km track set
Terrain and super pipe open
Crystal Mountain, Thompsonville: 45 runs (100 percent); seven lifts; up to 72-inch base; packed powder
Open 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
XC-40km - groomed 8-inch base; new snow
Half pipe and terrain park open
Nub’s Nob, Harbor Springs: 53 runs; six lifts; up to 80-inch base; machine groomed
Terrain Park open; 13 rails
XC-28km (100 percent) packed and tracked
Caberfae Peaks, Cadillac: 34 runs; five lifts; up to 76-inch base; packed powder
The Homestead, Glen Arbor: n/a; n/a; 12-20-inch base; , groomed
Open Friday through Sunday
XC Ski Headquarters, Roscommon: All eight trails have set tracks and good conditions.
UPPER PENINSULA:
Ski Brule, Iron River: 17 runs (100 percent); four lifts; 45- to 78-inch base; machine groomed XC-100 percent open and tracked
Open 8a.m. to 5p.m.
Marquette Mountain, Marquette: 26 runs; four lifts; 26- to 46-inch base; machine groomed Fun Park open, 3-inch base; new snow
Open 9:30 a.m.-9:30 p.m.
Indianhead Mountain, Wakefield: 29 runs (100 percent); seven lifts; up to 60-inch base; groomed/packed
Half pipe and Terrain Park open
Big Powderhorn Mountain, Bessemer: 33 runs (100 percent); three lifts; up to 60-inch base; power tilled
Open daily 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
XC-24km groomed (100 percent open)
Blackjack Ski Resort, Bessemer: 20 runs; four lifts; 28- to 60-inch base; groomed/packed
Half pipe and terrain parks open
Open Friday, Saturday, Sunday
Mt. Bohemia, Lac La Belle: 71 runs (100 percent); two lifts; up to 30-inch base; groomed/packed
Open Monday through Friday 10:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Open Saturday 9:30 a.m.-7 p.m., Sunday until 5 p.m.
Mont Ripley, Hancock: 24 runs (100 percent); three lifts; up to 48-inch base; groomed/packed powder
Terrain park open
Pine Mountain, Iron Mountain: 15 runs; four lifts; 36- to 46-inch base; groomed/packed
Terrain park 100 percent open
Open 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Porcupine Mountain, Ontonagon: n/a n/a; up to 22-inch base; groomed
Open Friday 10:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Open Saturday and Sunday 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m.
Norway Mountain: 17 runs; three lifts; up to 50-inch base; groomed/packed
Terrain park open
ABR Trails, Ironwood: Trails in good shape. Snow in the wooded area ranges from 18 to 32 inches or more, 13 to 19 inches on the trails.