For details, go to the NWS web site.

I just came across this web site: MichiganFireworks.com.

You can search by date or by city for fireworks shows across the state. Monroe and Luna Pier are among the notices in the database.

Consumers Energy Co. reported about 200 Monroe County residents were without power late Wednesday evening when strong thunderstorms ripped across the county.

The company’s Web site is reported about 150,000 customers across the state are without power. Thousands in Wayne and Lenawee Counties are included.

DTE Energy was not reporting any power outtages on its Web site at 10 p.m.

The storm came from the north and hit the county around 7 p.m., with lots of lightning, strong winds and heavy rains. Downpours put standing water in some business parking lots and briefly filled ditches

Traffic along US-23 near the state line came to a brief standstill as a flurry of rain drenched the region. Some downed tree limbs were also being reported.

Showers and potential thunderstorms remain in the forecast for Thursday in the region. The forecast for the holiday, however, appears to be clear.

DTE, meanwhie, reported it was going to start a tree-trimming program in Ida and Berlin Townships this month.

“Tree interference is responsible for about two-thirds of the power outages that occur during storms,” company officials said in a press release. “That’s why Detroit Edison employs more than 500 professional tree trimmers to maintain the estimated 3.5 million trees in its service territory.”

The National Weather Service in Detroit has issued a severe thunderstorm watch for Monroe County, Mich., until 10 p.m. today July 2.

There is another round of power outages this morning, most likely weather-related.

Monroe County Central Dispatch has received reports of outages on the east side of Monroe and along the Dixie Hwy. area. That coincides with where I saw power out this morning in northeast Monroe.

Dispatchers also have reports of power outages in the Summerfield-Ida West area.

DTE Energy has an outage map by zip code in pdf format that, as of 6:45 a.m. today, is showing current outages in the 48162 (north Monroe) and 48166 (Newport) zip codes.

Feel free to chime in here or on MonroeTalks as to where else you’ve noticed electrical problems today.

In Saturday’s edition of The Monroe Evening News, there will be a story and at least one photo of the Monroe Advanced Robotics Competition taking place at Monroe High School.

Now while the story does focus on what’s taking place at the high school and why, there also was a very clever publicity event scheduled at the Phoenix Theater at Frenchtown Square mall.

You see, there’s this new movie called WALL*E, a Disney-Pixar science fiction film that stars a robot who  goes about his tasks on Earth, when he meets and falls in love with another robot.

And the press release that was sent to The Monroe Evening News explained this publicity tie-in. The robotics teams participating in Monroe were invited to “bring their robot to the movies” for a special screening. The plans included reserved seating up front for the robots, while their team members / handlers / students enjoyed the show. And a concession stand display was intended for the robots, with bolts and batteries such as they might prefer in lieu of popcorn and soft drinks.

Now, I don’t know who thought up that idea, because a similar publicity event also was scheduled at Phoenix Theater in Farmington Hills.

But it was a very clever concept to cross-promote the student contest and the movie!

The National Weather Service has issued a severe thunderstorm warning for the city of Monroe and parts of Monroe County until 3:15 p.m. today Monday June 23.

A severe thunderstorm watch has been issued for Monroe County, Mich., until 7 p.m. today Saturday June 21.

National Weather Service - Detroit

Did you get involved with Big Read 2007 and Big Read 2008?

Monroe County got a grant to set up Big Read 2009. The next assignment is “The Great Gatsby.”

Read about it on page 1A of today’s print and e-editions of The Monroe Evening News or at monroenews.com.

A severe thunderstorm watch has been issued for Monroe County, Mich., until 9 p.m. today Sunday June 15.

National Weather Service - Detroit.