Behind the Headlines

By Stephanie Ariganello; stephaniea@monroenews.com

It seemed like a good idea at the time - but then, it always does.

Last week as leap day was approaching I was trying to think of what kind of story was warranted. Inevitably my thinking went back to my own leap day experiences - particularly two leap days ago, in a far away land.

Flashback to the year 2000 (thank you Conan and Andy - I can never say that even in my head without desiring a flashlight and shrill-voiced man). I was still living in Marquette and knowing my time was coming to a likely end there, I decided I would do something special to mark my last year.

I’m not sure where the inspiration came from but sometime - actually it was in 1999 - I decided I would swim in Lake Superior at least once each month of the year. I believe it had something to do with a large glob of people constantly asking - you mean you can swim in Lake Superior? For more than two weeks out of the year? Ever the sassy one, I thought it would be kind of nice to be able to say I swim in it year round. And I love Lake Superior. I should mention this. Thinking back now of late night skinny dips under the northern lights - well, it’s not something most people ever get to experience.

I began in May 1999. It was unseasonably warm and my friend Mari and I went to the beach, for the first time in a long time without wearing boots. Though we tromped through some snow in the woods in our flip flops, it was quite nice once we hit the sand at Little Presque. The thing about up North is that you have to take advantage while you can and before the flies start hatching.

We ended up swimming. I felt awake for the first time in months, the snow cleared out of my winter soul. It was easy enough to uphold the swimming at least once a month throughout the summer. The lake tends to stay somewhat warm into the fall - at least warmer than the air for the most part. September and October were beautiful. November, not so much. The lake hadn’t frozen yet, but for all intents and purposes, my swim was mostly just a dunking. There was not a whole lot to be done.

December, well, it was actually quite nice. There’s a whole long back story here that I won’t go into. But the swim was after a long, sweaty ska-core show. A bunch of us went down to the lake but only a few intrepids went in. It was a little icy, so that made it more difficult. We were at city beach, the towering red lighthouse and coast guard station still visible in the dark.

January of that next year, we had to go to the power plant outtake that didn’t really ever freeze all the way. That was also just a dunking. It was definitely obligatory. I don’t really remember this one - and in fact thought I may have missed it, but was reading one of my journals from back then and had it there. It was right after we had come back from Christmas break.

February. I thought I had missed February. Everything was frozen. The winter had worn out it’s welcome. My commitment was waning and I gave up. I was saved by one little fact - it was a leap year. On the 29th of that year it was freakishly warm - it felt to be about 78 degrees and the lake ice had loosened up. It was one of those days where everything fit into place. It provided a second chance, a spare day.

After all this, it should have been easy to finish out the year. The cold, most challenging months were gone. But nope. March. That’s what killed me. I ended up going home for Spring break and never made it to old GitcheeGoomie in the time that I had. My one blemish on a year’s record.

But that 29th was more than just an extra day to get a swim in - it’s been a benchmark of sorts. It’s been a tether throughout the years since then, reminding me of who I was then and how it’s lead me to here.

By Paula Wethington / paula@monroenews.com

Well, the avalanche has begun. And I’m not talking about the piles of snow. I’m talking about the piles of press releases and event announcements that arrive at The Monroe Evening News starting about three weeks before Easter.

You might think that back to school or Christmas season is the busiest time of year for community events in Monroe County. Guess again. The peak happens in spring with Easter egg hunts, craft shows, school plays, fish fries, Lenten church services, fundraiser auctions, car shows, golf outings …

And since most planning committees want to avoid Easter weekend, Mother’s day weekend and Memorial Day weekend, a lot of events are crammed into the rest of the dates on the calendar.

If you, or any committee that you serve on, is planning a community event or fundraiser this spring, you will want to get those notices sent to the newsroom as soon as you have the details confirmed. The sooner we get the notice, the longer your event will be posted (and seen!) on the MonroeTalks calendar and the more likely we can arrange for the best available date for your notice to appear in the print edition.

My long-standing recommendation has been to get the announcement to the newsroom at least a week before the event or reservation deadline if you intend it to run on Community Page, and two or three weeks ahead for events that are intended for the once-a-week lists such as Arts & Entertainment.

It’s a bad idea to wait until two or three days before the event to send your announcement. You never know when crazy things will happen with e-mails inaccessible because of a power outage, stamped mail that runs into a delay at the post office, snow storms that shut down the roads for a day, and telephone tag messages that can’t be returned on time.

You’ve put a lot of time and effort into planning that event. I don’t want you to miss out on publicity opportunities because the notice arrived too late for the newspaper to help you with your marketing plan.

And what about the other free publicity you might be able to arrange for in Monroe County? I know, from having made phone calls on that very question a couple of years ago, that there are several free options that work very well in conjunction with a newspaper announcement. And the more frequently someone sees a notice, the more likely they are to remember it. But you need to make those additional publicity arrangements three to four weeks ahead in some cases!

The Monroe County Board of Commissioner meeting was canceled for tonight because of the weather.

Chairman of the board William Sisk asked that the meetings be rescheduled in order to look out for the safety of the constituents. We’ll let you know when it’s rescheduled.

Stephanie Ariganello; stephaniea@monroenews.com

The county board of commissioners will likely make that determination tonight.

Road problems are one of the most common complaints from residents, regardless of where they live in the county. In south county, it’s: “why are our roads crappy and then I drive two miles over the border and Ohio’s are fine?” In north county, kind of the same countywise, especially when it comes to clearing the roads after a big snow. And everywhere in between - everyone knows of at least one road that could use some work. And the potholes, my god, the potholes.

The road commission (the employees) says it’s numbers plain and simple - they don’t have the dollars to make an impact and they keep trying to shuffle what they do have. That isn’t really a sufficient answer for most people, so when the state passed legislation allowing local communities to elect or appoint their road commissioners - the actual people who approve the budget and the road projects each year - people took notice. Currently the commissioners are appointed by the county board of commissioners.

This will be the hot topic at tonight’s board meeting at 7 p.m. tonight in the commissioner chambers at the Monroe County Courthouse, 125 E. Second St.

Here’s a short breakdown of the issue and what people are saying:

• The road commissioners are opposed to election saying it would take the focus off of qualifications and objective decision making, turning it into something that highlights politics and personal agenda.
• Those who support election over appointment say it would hold the road commissioners accountable for their decisions.
• If there was a move to elected commissioners, the election would be county wide - not segregated into districts. Some fear a county wide election for road commissioners could unfairly stack the deck with representatives from the larger municipalities in the county, leaving the smaller cities and townships to fend for themselves when it comes to funding.
• It’s also not necessarily true that an election would result in better candidates. Votes might go to the best known or most vocal candidates, rather than the most qualified. In contrast, under the appointive process, county commissioners can solicit applications, set educational requirements, review resumes, check references and conduct interviews.
• Some argue that it won’t matter - either way. The most common complaint is that county roads just aren’t getting fixed. Michigan’s fuel tax is one of the lowest in the nation, and Michigan is ranked in the bottom 10 states in per capita funding for roads. Elected officials would face the same tough choices as appointed officials in allocating limited funds.
• Thus far, Commissioners Jerry Oley, LaMar Frederick and Dale Zorn have been very vocal about supporting elected officials.
  
• The board put off making a decision last time - postponing the vote until a later meeting like tonight’s. It should be fairly interesting to hear what the other commissioners have to say about it.
  
• The commissioners also can consider expanding the road commission panel from three to five representatives.
  

Stephanie Ariganello; stephaniea@monroenews.com

I’ve been hearing about this online backlash against Barack Obama so I decided to find out what that meant.

One of the sites, http://barackobamaisyournewbicycle.com/ is one of my favorites. It’s a play on Barack being all things to all people. Often those who support him come up with these reasons why they support him - that are completely different than those of the person standing next to him who is also an Obama supporter. If you visit the site, click on the page and a new Barack Obama message will load.

Personally, I like that Barack Obama picked me up from the airport. I wonder if he would help me move?

By Paula Wethington / paula@monroenews.com

The 2008 Big Read book theme for Monroe County is “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee.

I picked up a book I had on reserve at Dorsch Memorial Branch Library this afternoon and … saw the Big Read promotion items on display!

I haven’t read this year’s book, so I took a copy home. I also snagged a bookmark and a “reader’s guide.”

By Stephanie Ariganello; stephaniea@monroenews.com

Since we have a slight history of posting NASA-like things on this blog, I thought I would continue the tradition.

The moon will disappear tonight. But don’t be alarmed, it’s just doing what it occasionally does - taking a reprieve from watching over us humans while passing through the shadow of the earth. It could be quite spectacular, says NASA.

According to NASA, during a total lunar eclipse, “the Moon’s disk can take on a dramatically colorful appearance from bright orange to blood red to dark brown and (rarely) very dark gray.”
An eclipse of the moon can only take place during the full moon phase, and only if the moon passes through some portion of Earth’s shadow. The shadow is composed of two cone-shaped parts, one nested inside the other. The outer shadow, or penumbra, is a zone where Earth blocks some (but not all) of the Sun’s rays. In contrast, the inner shadow or umbra is a region where Earth blocks all direct sunlight from reaching the Moon.
Tonight’s eclipse will last three hours and 26 minutes, starting at 8:43 p.m., hitting mid-eclipse at 10:26 p.m. and concluding at 12:09. The actual total block out of the moon will begin at 10:01 and will last until 10:51 p.m.
There were two total lunar eclipses visible from the continental U.S. last year - one on March 3 and the other on Aug. 28. North Americans will have their next opportunity to see a total lunar eclipse on Dec. 21, 2010.

Partial Eclipse Begins: 08:43 pm
Total Eclipse Begins: 10:01 pm
Mid-Eclipse: 10:26 pm
Total Eclipse Ends: 10:51 pm
Partial Eclipse Ends: 12:09 am

For more information visit http://sunearth.gsfc.nasa.gov

By Paula Wethington / paula@monroenews.com

A story was on page 1A of the Feb. 12 print and e-editions of The Monroe Evening News about a 13-year-old Hamtramck girl who called 911 to tell Monroe County Central Dispatch that her dad was driving drunk southbound on I-75. After the Monroe Police Department pulled over the driver, the girl was taken to the police station where another relative picked her up.

And a court date has been scheduled in Monroe County District Court for the driver.

After the original story was in our newspaper and on www.monroenews.com, the article was picked up by the Associated Press and made headlines in many other newspapers. Someone in Niagara Falls, Ont., saw the story and wrote a heartfelt letter that you’ll see on page 4A of today’s print and e-editions of The Monroe Evening News.

A snippet:

Having no way to contact this young woman personally, I wanted to reach out to her through your publication, if at all possible, and tell her how proud I am of her bravery and clear thinking.
She must have been frightened of the consequences on many levels, but in the end she probably saved her own life and that of her father’s. She is to be commended for her courage, especially now when her father has been arrested and the long-term consequences to her family may be severe. …

Wherever this young lady is, I am so very proud of her.

By Paula Wethington / paula@monroenews.com

Miss America Kirsten Haglund, before her recent crowning with the national title, was trading platform ideas and information with Laura Serpetti of Newport, who has competed in the Miss Monroe County Scholarship Pageant.

The two pageant contestants share the same platform: awareness of eating disorders.

You can read more on page 3A of today’s print and e-editions of The Monroe Evening News.

By Paula Wethington / paula@monroenews.com

When I saw the Miss America Kristen Haglund’s homecoming schedule at www.missmichigan.org, I quickly realized three members of Miss Monroe’s royalty were on the VIP list for the Feb. 29 and March 1 events in Muskegon.

But I held off on a report until I contacted the Miss Monroe County Scholarship Program committee to make sure I didn’t miss anybody. Then I learned a total 40 people will be part of the local delegation. Wow!

A story with all their names and affiliations is on page 7B of today’s print and e-editions of The Monroe Evening News. In the meantime, here’s a salute to the local royalty who are officially part of the festivities:

• Melissa Cousino, who was Miss Monroe County 2006 and now holds the title of Miss Spirit of the State 2007.
• Cassidy Nugent, who was Junior Miss Monroe County 2006 and now holds the title of Michigan’s Little Miss.
• And, of course, Kaye Lani Rafko Wilson of Monroe, who was Miss America 1988.

(Wow, it’s been awhile…)

“Eww. Hillary Clinton just said I touched her heart,” said one person, looking at an incoming email.

“You don’t happen to be a rock collector, do you?” responded another.

Wah wah wah.

But not today.

By Stephanie Ariganello; stephaniea@monroenews.com

I should be in Lansing right now, but alas, am not. I had the whole day set aside to hang out with State Reps. Kate Ebli and Kathy Angerer.

First it was the weather - I had been driving home from Holland on Sunday and whew - it was the most treacherous I have seen it in awhile on 94; I’m still a little gunshy after all those accidents. After driving in to work at 6:30 on somewhat slick roads and hearing a plea from my mom not to go, I was a little apprehensive.

I called a few people in Lansing to see how the weather was there and left a round of messages. I was all wimpy this morning and told the photographer who was going to shoot the assignment that we wouldn’t go.

Then Kate Ebli called back and said it was slow, but passable. So, I said to Photographer Kim, let’s just go. It will be fine. I’ll drive. She then has to move her car and I drive over to pick her up. In the meantime, I keep getting conflicting reports. What - it’s snowing all crazy there, said one person. It’s fine, said another. The forecast is clear, said one. The clouds and snow are rolling in and not going anywhere, with a 90 percent chance of snow all day, said another.

As I’m picking Kim up at her now-moved car, my cell rings and it’s a representative from Kathy Angerer’s office. Since we would be arriving later than planned and because her plans changed - the people she was meeting with all morning/afternoon asked that press not be present - asked if we could reschedule.

Said Kim: Something is telling us to stay right here. I can agree with that. We’ll save our trip for another day. The story I wanted to do, by the way, is a day in the life of a legislator. I’ve heard often and loudly that people don’t know what it is legislators do all day, all week, all term. I thought we could shed some light on that. But for now, it will remain a mystery.

By Stephanie Ariganello; stephaniea@monroenews.com

I’ve just got to tell you - I love the text message scandal story that’s been a-brewing in Detroit the last two weeks. First off, it’s juicy. It’s got all the good makings of a prospective Law & Order episode. And while it’s true that there are actual people at the heart of this who may end up wounded - not just a good story - it’s can still be a positive thing.

I won’t lay on you the whole self-righteous “the people who suffer in this are the people of Detroit.” We know this. But it seems to have broken open what some have always suspected: a long, winding trail of corruption in Michigan’s largest and hardest pressed city. It’s only when the light shines and we’re able to see what we’re dealing with that change happens.

But aside from all that, I love it because of what it does for newspapers. There’s all this talk of newspapers grasping for air, clutched little hands held fast over our news-mongering hearts, trying to understand the what and why of our own story. There is a general bad feeling about media, a mistrust, or even worse a dismissal of traditional news outlets. And then along comes the Detroit Free Press story on the explicit text messages. Suddenly, everyone is paying attention to the printed word again.

When the story first broke, I delighted in reading the comments on the Freep forums. Most skewered and barbecued the mayor. Some of them defended Kwame and commented that they finally came up with something, after intense scrutiny and wouldn’t we all have something that we would like to hide?

Or they verged on the edge of “this is a private matter between him and his family.” This stance gulled me. One person asked if the Free Press invaded the Mayor’s and his aide’s privacy by taking info off of their phone/pagers and wondered if it was legal. It’s fine to question, but it should be made clear: the devices they used in their affair were city issued. That means, every text, every phone call, every directory assistance is funded by taxpayers. And, additionally, what the texts seemingly revealed is that both people involved perjured themselves, possibly costing the city upwards of $9 million - and counting. That is nowhere near a private matter.

Bloggers can blog, commenters can comment, but what it really came down to is reporting. The release of the messages, obtained through the Freedom of Information Act - something any person in the country can and should use - was the first step. (Albeit a step that took much effort and tenacity - which it shouldn’t since it’s public info…) Now we have a person who abused city resources who has resigned, a mayor who is being investigated, a full city council investigation into budget matters and city spending and possible criminal charges to be filed. Isn’t this what newspapering - the watchdog of the media - is all about? Reporting what has been overlooked, seeking truth in matters that affect all people of a particular place whether they realize it or not and shedding light into the dark corners?

Yes, websites and other media can cover issues like this (and the Free Press took full advantage of its site during this story), but they didn’t. And when stories break elsewhere, on different media that is, it doesn’t seem to generate quite the same amount of buzz and permanence.

So maybe print is going out of fashion, but let’s not forget its purpose.

Maybe they’re finally getting tougher and enforcing the laws set up to protect our resources here. What do you think? Would this or has this ever happened in Monroe County? Was this enough of a punishment?

From the DEQ:

Chippewa County District Court Judge Sentences Two Wetland Violators to Jail Time

Chippewa County District Court Judge Michael W. MacDonald recently accepted a guilty plea and sentenced two individuals to serve five days in jail and pay a fine of $2,500 plus $155 in court costs and fees in connection with illegal dredging and filling of state regulated wetlands. The defendants, Michael Edward Coon and Michael Donald Lucchesi, pled guilty to a misdemeanor violation of Michigan’s wetlands protection law as a result of their driving off-road vehicles through valuable Great Lakes coastal wetland areas on Drummond Island, destroying much of the wetland vegetation and disturbing the habitats of nesting Ospreys and other wildlife.
In addition to serving jail time, Judge MacDonald ordered the defendants to file with the court a plan to restore the impacted wetland areas to their original condition in accordance with DEQ requirements and to have the wetland restoration plan completed by no later than June 30, 2008.
This resolution is the result of the coordinated efforts between the DEQ, Department of Natural Resources, and the Office of Chippewa County Prosecuting Attorney Brian Peppler. These combined efforts have resulted in quickly resolving this case and ensuring that the coastal wetland area will be restored.
“It is critical that we protect our Great Lakes coastal wetland areas that provide a unique and valuable ecological habitat for Michigan’s fish and wildlife,” said DEQ Director Steven E. Chester. “We appreciate the support of the local community in helping to resolve this case and protect our environment.”
Judge MacDonald additionally required the defendants to provide a letter to the residents of Drummond Island through the local newspaper regarding the violation and terms of their sentence.