budget woes | city could lay off up to 12, 3A Women’s hoops rout Northern Illinois Sunday, 1B
Military ball honors cadets, alumni, 5A
Central Michigan Life
Monday, Feb. 15, 2010
Mount Pleasant, Mich.
[cm-life.com]
N I N E DAYS LATE R
Student’s friend still missing 22-year-old last seen walking southbound US-127 By Ryan Czachorski Senior Reporter
Matthew Owen Poole has not been seen or heard from since he left O’Kelly’s Bar and Grille the night of Feb. 5. It’s something that deeply troubles his sister,Weslee Rock, who described Poole as someone who would call home when he ran to the gas station for even 15 minutes. “It’s not like Matthew Poole him to be gone for more than an hour or two before calling Dad,” she said. Poole, 22, of Wolverine Lake, came to Mount Pleasant that weekend to visit friends in the area, including Walled Lake senior Mark Fralick. The group was celebrating a
21st birthday at O’Kelly’s, 2000 S. Mission St. They had been drinking before leaving for O’Kelly’s, and took a cab there. Fralick said Poole was not allowed in the bar. “When Matt got to O’Kelly’s, he was being kind of loud and they didn’t let him in,” Fralick said. Once Fralick and his friends arrived, Poole was worried about ruining their night and just ran off, Fralick said. They figured he would show up later that night or the next morning, he said, but called the police when Poole never appeared. ‘Not like him’ Rock, 29, of White Lake ,said Poole visits his Mount Pleasant friends every couple of weeks, so he knows the area well. “For him to be two hours away and not be heard from for nine days is totally unheard of,” she said. ”It doesn’t happen.” He was last seen that night walking southbound near
By Sarah Schuch Senior Reporter
It is difficult to predict what will happen this influenza season. Since swine flu and the seasonal influenza are two different strains, it is best to get both vaccines, said Sarah Yonder, a physician for University Health Services. H1N1 was thought to be a warm-weather virus. But because it is so new, she said, another breakout is not out of the question. Higher numbers of suspected cases were seen in October, then the numbers decreased in December, Yonder said. “We have the luxury of
hindsight right now,” said Dr. Robert Graham, director of the Central Michigan District Health Department. “I would say (H1N1) is no worse than the seasonal flu.” So far, about 300 children have died from H1N1, along with more than 500 adults nationwide, Graham said. “It is not something to not worry about,” he said. The seasonal flu season is just getting under way, Yonder said. Graham said usually at this time, a peak of seasonal influenza would be seen, but that is not the case. It could come later or just be a mild season, he said. Yonder said cases of H1N1 and seasonal flu are declining, but she could start seeing A H1N1| 6A
LIVE CHAT TONIGHT! Join us at 8:30 p.m. today at cm-life.com for our Digital Roundtable live chat with Student Government Association President Jason Nichol and Vice President Brittany Mouzourakis!
Jason Nichol
Want to talk about budget cuts? Student funding? Or anything else on your mind? Jason and Brittany will chat with us LIVE tonight on our Web site. Log on!
Student starts nonprofit to provide sports equipment for needy
By Ariel Black Staff Reporter
S
ports equipment can be costly for families struggling in Michigan’s economy. But Sanford senior Casey Smith is ready to help. Smith is the president and founder of a nonprofit organization called Cleat Repeat. The organization focuses on collecting and donating used sports equipment for needy children. “The idea originally came to me while driving through my hometown,” Smith said. “I played football in high school and drove past a fellow teammate’s house and saw it was foreclosed on. I knew his family didn’t have a lot of money, but they put what they had into their kid playing football. It was hard to see that.” Smith envisioned an assistance group that would allow underprivileged kids to play sports without taking a toll on family expenses. “After doing some research,
Brittany Mouzourakis
CM Life also will broadcast Sapphire, author and Black History Month Keynote speaker, LIVE at 7 p.m. Tuesday from Warriner Hall’s Plachta Auditorium!
[inside] GOING GREEN Energy conservations helps CMU save money, 3A
I found out there was nothing in Michigan like it,” he said. “I figured, at the very least, I would gain some public speaking and business experience.” Pitch successful After planning out the details of Cleat Repeat, Smith entered the “Make-a-Pitch” contest at Central Michigan University in spring 2009. He won the $500 prize and began to spread the word about his nonprofit. “We are still in the beginning stages,” he said. Along with expanding in Mount Pleasant, Smith is working on reformatting the Web site (cleatrepeat.org) and eventually opening offices all over Michigan and possibly out of state. Smith said nearly all those involved with Cleat Repeat are Central Michigan University students. He said a fellow student created a logo with the initials “CR,” resembling the recycle symbol. Dexter senior Robyn Shepa-
What is Cleat Repeat? w Cleat Repeat was founded in 2009 by Sanford senior Casey Smith to collect and donate used sports equipment to needy children. Ways to donate w Log on to cleatrepeat.org and choose whether you want to donate equipment, money or volunteer services. Questions w Contact Smith at cleatrepeat@gmail.com or 859-6327. rd assists Smith with the public relations aspect. “I am working on the business-oriented aspects right now,” she said. “We’re working on creating a newsletter, updating the Web site and reaching people that can supply us with sports equipment or donations.” Smith also was offered inspiration from a family friend, Tom Haller, who owns a nonprofit organization and helped conceptualize the name “Cleat Repeat.” Haller created Healing Acres (healingacres.com) in Bay City to focus on rescuing horses.
“I’m a big entrepreneur myself, and it’s a great life,” Haller said. “You need to have a selfstarting ability. Being responsible for yourself is a great quality for college students to have.” Along with running his nonprofit, Smith is a member of Delta Chi fraternity. “I don’t want to have a job I don’t love,” Smith said. “That’s the main reason why I started Cleat Repeat. It’s not about the money for me, it’s about the experience and what I get to share with people.” studentlife@cm-life.com
Student’s father aims for governor seat Virginia Bernero says campaign does not affect her life By Emily Grove Staff Reporter
LIVE STREAM TUESDAY
WANT TO ADOPT A PET? Use careful thinking before making decision, 5A
punt, pass, kick
A missing | 2A
H1N1 decreasing, but not seasonal flu Vaccines for both available in the area
matthew stephens/senior photographer
Sanford senior Casey Smith is the founder of Cleat Repeat, a non-profit organization that collects and donates used sports equipment to underprivileged children.
Virginia Bernero is a little more tied to the upcoming gubernatorial election than most. Her father is running for the position. Bernero, a Lansing freshman, is the daughter of Virgil Bernero, current Lansing mayor and a recently announced contender in the race to succeed Jennifer Granholm as Michigan governor. She said it changes the way some people look at her. “When they find out about my dad, some people are intimidated, but it doesn’t change me,” she said. “It may affect my family life, but not who I am as a person. I don’t
walk up to people and say, ‘Hi, I’m Virginia. My dad is the mayor of Lansing and is running for governor.’” Virginia plans to campaign for her father, like she has done plenty of times before. She said she was a little overwhelmed when her father officially decided to run for governor, especially so quickly after winning a second term in the mayoral election. Though Virgil has received criticism for running for governor so early in his term, Virginia said she is very proud of him for taking on the challenge. “I know some people accuse him of job-hopping or being power hungry, but that’s not the case,” she said. “This would be just like a promotion in any other job.” ‘Cool and easygoing’ Virginia’s roommate, Megan Rowe, said she is not
jake may/staff photographer
Lansing freshman Virginia Bernero is the daughter of Lansing Mayor Virgil Bernero, who announced he is running for governor of Michigan. “It’s going to be very hectic, but very exciting,” Virginia Bernero said. “It’s definitely a new chapter in our lives.”
intimidated by Bernero’s political movements. The Jonesville freshman said she enjoys living with Virginia on campus. “It doesn’t change any-
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thing about Virginia,” Rowe said. “She’s really cool and easygoing.” Virginia said she is passionate
A daughter | 2A