January 12, 2014 3 of 5

THE FLINT JOURNAL / SUNDAY, JANUARY 12, 2014 / A3

Local FLINT

It’s not easy judging Children’s Champions

I

t was overwhelming M THE EDITOR really to look at the stack of FROM papers, each of which repjory resented another exceptional Marjory teen in our community.

Raymer mer Wow. Wow. Wow. marjory ry _raymer er Page after page about @mlive.com e.com smart, caring kids. Some logged hundreds of hours of volunteer service. Some logged more than 1,000. They world. tackled big issues — bullying, It was so cool to see. poverty, tutoring, mentoring, There were more than 90 of coaching, firefighting (yes, these exceptional kids nomireally). They worked in our nated for the 2014 Children’s community and around the Champion Robert E. Weiss

Outstanding Youth Award.

I was proud to be one of the judges for these annual awards presented by Priority Children.

This breakfast award ceremony is one of my favorites in the community every year, so much so that I became a Priority Children board member in 2012. Hundreds of people pack in at 7:30 a.m. — in all kinds of weather, trust me, I’ve seen it — to enjoy breakfast and honor a lot of really great people in our

community.

Outstanding youth are recognized, along with caring adults, outstanding seniors, healthy leaders and outstanding organizations.

The list of nominees for all the categories is truly aweinspiring.

All told there are 186 nominations highlighting a lot of really great things in our community.

On behalf of all the judges, I think I can say that while it is, indeed, awe-inspiring (and

“Customer service is one of the most important things that we can do.”

MICHIGAN SECRETARY OF STATE RUTH JOHNSON

perhaps a bit overwhelming) to read all those nominations, it’s also kind of heartbreaking.

After all, there is just one winner in each category.

The group of six judges who surveyed the Weiss Outstanding Youth Nominees truly agonized over the selection. There were simply so many amazing kids.

Finally, though, we did determine a winner — as did all the judges for the other categories, although I can’t swear to it because one group

FLINT

Lawsuit claims store sold counterfeit purses

By Gary Ridley

said the lawsuits are part of the designer’s Operation Turnkey, a nationwide civil A small north-side market equipped with burglar bars, litigation effort that seeks to curb counterfeiting by enforcadvertises cheap beer and hot food to its customers, but ing costly civil penalties.

Coach seeks $2 million per a federal lawsuit claims the shop also offered its customcounterfeit item at C&P Party ers designer Coach purses store as well as an injunction that usually fetch about $300 to stop any future violation of at department stores. its trademark, according to the lawsuit.

Coach Inc. filed a lawsuit Dec. 24 in Detroit U.S. District There have been 750 such lawsuits filed in the United Court alleging C&P Party Store on Carpenter Road sold States, Axilrod said. She customers counterfeit purses. added Coach has not lost a The alleged sales were uncov- single case.

“We are on the forefront ered during an investigation by the designer and the of aggressively going after Michigan State Police, accord- people engaged in illegal ing to the lawsuit. behavior,” Axilrod said.

The allegations are the In April 2010, the commost recent in a string of pany sued New York Shoes cases filed by the luxury and Bags, a company that leather goods company in the operated a website that sold state’s eastern district, which handbags labeled as Coach. includes Detroit, Flint and The website would have Saginaw, as part of a nationcustomers transfer money wide strategy to stop the sale to addresses in Burton and of counterfeit goods.

Grand Blanc Township, A clerk at the Carpenter according to the lawsuit. The Road and Dupont Street store company also operated a said the owner was not avail- retail store on Bristol Road in able for comment on the alle- Burton. gations. No response has been A Coach employee allegedly filed to the lawsuit, and the purchased two bags from the store has no attorney on file. website in March 30, 2010, Coach claims it was for $120 plus $15 shipping, informed C&P was possibly according to the lawsuit. The selling the counterfeit goods company claims the average and a company representasuggested retail price for a tive, along with officials from coach handbag is $325. the Michigan State Police’s The investigator also purTobacco Task Force, conchased another Coach handducted a June 26 inspection at bag and pair of sunglasses the store.

April 5, 2010, from the compaThe state police seized nine ny’s retail store. The average counterfeit purses from the price for comparable authenstore as part of the inspection, tic Coach merchandise would according to the lawsuit. cost more than $500, but the Michigan State Police investigator only paid $80 for the items at the Burton store, Inspector Bonnie Kanicki said troopers were investigat- according to the lawsuit. ing possible illegal singleNew York Shoes and Bags cigarette sales at the store never responded to the allegawhen the allegedly countertions in the lawsuit and were ordered to pay $1,000,000 in feit goods were discovered.

Troopers regularly contact damages and $4,000 in attorcompanies if they discover ney, court and investigative potentially counterfeit items costs as part of a default judgment approved in November during their investigations.

2011, according to court The case has been turned records. over to local prosecutors for possible legal action, Kanicki A Detroit jury ruled in December that a Lansing said. A misdemeanor warstore violated Coach’s copyrant was issued against the right and trademark by store’s owner in September for illegally selling individual selling counterfeit bags and cigarettes, according to court shoes. A Jan. 17 settlement records. He has not yet been hearing is scheduled in that arraigned. case.

A three-day trial recently Coach has filed more than three dozen lawsuits in was held stemming from Michigan’s federal eastern a lawsuit filed against an district since early 2010 alleg- 88-acre flea market in Florida ing party stores and websites that allowed the sale of counare selling counterfeit items, terfeit goods. Axilrod said the often at deep discounts from verdict led to a $5.5 million the price of the authentic settlement.

Coach products.

The lawsuits aren’t about “Counterfeiting has been the company making money linked to organized crime, off the judgements and settlechild labor and terrorism,” ments but about creating according to counterfeiting strong financial disincentives education information proto those involved in countervided by Coach. The company feiting, Axilrod said. claims counterfeiting costs “We are not picking on any the U.S. economy $250 billion type of business or any size of business,” Axilrod said. to $500 billion per year.

No new court dates have Nancy Axilrod, vice been scheduled in the C&P president and deputy gencase. eral counsel for Coach, gridley@mlive.com

Michigan Secretary of State Ruth Johnson laughs while speaking Friday at a Flint Rotary Club meeting at the Flint Golf Club. She said she planned to make a major announcement about new technology this week.

(Michelle Tessier/ MLive.com)

FLINT

Secretary of State hints at new ‘smart technology’

By Dana DeFever

ddefever@mlive.com

Michigan Secretary of State Ruth Johnson gave the Flint Rotary a “sneak preview” of an announcement Friday she said she would make this week at the North American International Auto Show at Cobo Center in Detroit.

Johnson referenced the Secretary of State’s office will use “smart technology” soon, while speaking to the Flint Rotary at the Flint Golf Club. She said she will make the formal announcement Jan. 17.

“We’re going to make it easier, better, faster. Customer service is one of the

most important things that we can do,” she said.

Johnson declined to give details about the new technology, but said it would be similar to systems used when going to a restaurant. Patrons would be able to go shopping or run errands while they wait.

“It’s brand new, and we can’t wait to get it in,” she said.

During the Flint Rotary meeting, Johnson touted the office’s expresssos.com website and a program with Gift of Life that asks SOS patrons if they want to sign up for organ donation.

She also spoke about cuts she has made in the Secretary of State office and other ways she is doing more with less in the department — including sharing office space and converting an old trailer into a mobile office.

“Anything we can do to save money and provide better services, that’s what we’re all about,” Johnson said.

Johnson said the state’s population has grown for the second year in a row after years of decline.

“We are coming back. Thank you to our Legislature and our leaders,” she said.

FLINT

Kildee advocates $7.9 million grant for firefighters

By Dominic Adams

SAFER and the Assistance to Firefighters No news is good news for Grant Flint when it comes to the Program. city’s $7.9 million grant request “The through the Staffing for SAFER Adequate Fire and Emergency program proResponse, according to fire vides muchChief David Cox Jr. needed fund“We’ve contacted everying for career Kildee body,” Cox said, adding the lonand volunteer ger it takes to hear something fire departments, including in the more hopeful he is the city my district, to hire, recruit and will get another grant. “We retain firefighters,” the letter wrote a letter to the president. said. “This program is critical We’ve made every contact that to ensuring public safety, espewe can, and now we play the cially in communities like mine waiting game.” that are experiencing signifiA full grant would pay for 39 cant fiscal challenges.” firefighters for two years.

The first year of a grant for U.S. Rep Dan Kildee, D-Flint, Flint would provide almost sent a letter of support to the $4 million in funding and the Senate and House approsecond year $3.97 million. priations committees asking There were 736 structure the federal government to fires in Flint in 2012, the city maintain its $337.5 million for said in the grant application. dadams5@mlive.com

Almost 48 percent of the fires were arson, the grant application says.

If the city gets the full amount it requests, it would be the third consecutive award of a full SAFER grant.

“The more times you receive funding, the more difficult it is to continue to receive funding. No one wants to become dependent on grants,” said Mark Kovach, Flint Firefighters Union president.

“All the things that they have asked of us, we have been doing.”

Flint would be reduced to 45 firefighters from 84 if the city doesn’t get the grant.

The current grant pays for 39 firefighters.

Without a new grant, there will be 19 fewer firefighters in 2015.

The $5.5 million the new

public safety millage brought in during its first year will pay for 20 of the positions previously funded by the SAFER grant.

“During a two-week period in 2010 alone, there was a breakout of 53 arsons” in Flint, Kildee wrote in his letter. “It was only because of the SAFER grant program that the fire department in Flint, Mich., was able to rehire 23 firefighters to combat this sudden influx of fires.”

Two additional fire stations will be closed if Flint doesn’t get the SAFER grant, according to the grant application.

Kovach doesn’t anticipate Flint will get an answer when the first round of SAFER awards are issued at the end of next month.

The current grant expires in April or May, Kovach said.

remained in heated talks long after the rest of us judges had left.

Let me say that although this breakfast honors just a few of these amazing nominees — this whole community is better for the work being done by these 186 people and organizations.

Thank you, all.

The Children’s Champion Awards breakfast is Feb. 7.

For more information, contact Priority Children at prioritychildren.org.

A4 / SUNDAY, JANUARY 12, 2014 / THE FLINT JOURNAL

Local VIENNA TOWNSHIP

Seniors displaced after partial roof collapse

By Amanda Emery aemery@mlive.com

GENESEE COUNTY

Warmer temps lead to thaw, relief for residents after polar vortex

By William E. Ketchum III wketchum@mlive.com

The weather in Genesee County on Saturday was cold, icy and gloomy, just like many other Michigan winter days — but it was a notable upgrade from six days ago.

The high temperature was 44 degrees, melting much of the 17.1 inches of snow dumped on the region earlier this week as a polar vortex hovered over the Midwest, bringing below freezing conditions. Today is expected to have a high near 39 degrees.

Saturday’s thaw meant Grand Blanc resident Shawn Burns could resume his daily walks.

Burns lives in Thornridge Apartments, and he takes walks around the complex: two laps measures out to about two miles, and he tries to complete four miles every day.

With the earlier freezing temperatures, he took a break by staying inside to

A river-like image forms in melting ice atop asphalt in a Flint parking lot.

listen to country, bluegrass and rock tunes. On Saturday, he was three days back into his regimen. He walked around the complex wearing several shirts, two pairs of sweatpants, a winter coat and a balaclava to warm the borders of his face.

“As long as it’s at least 19 degrees or above, I’ll walk,” he said. “As soon as it gets

decent, the cold isn’t that bad.

“I’m walking all the way until Tuesday now,” he said.

“You never know when the weather will be too bad.”

He then watched as another area resident ran by wearing a T-shirt, shorts, sneakers and gloves.

“He’s going a little too far,” Burns laughed.

During the storm, Flint resident Matthew Bonham stayed inside for the first couple of days, only going outside to help neighbors shovel their driveways. He otherwise would have spent the day looking for work.

On Saturday, he visited his daughter and walked to the store to get change for her sister to catch the bus. He still was bundled up, but he was happy the temperatures rose a bit.

“This is a lot better. It’s slippery, and it’s icy, but it’s better than having two feet of snow!”

Bonham said.

iemecke Enrique D 25 Years Maestro

G Celebratin with The tra ony Orches Flint Symph

January 18, 2014 8pm � the whiting

������ Kalamary ��������� Camino y visi�n ��� ���� ������ ���� ��� � ���������� ���������� �������� ��� � �� ������ ����� ��������

Guest Artists

C�cilia Tsan, Cello � Sa�l Medina, Drum Set ������� ��������

Flint Symphony Orchestra 2013 - 2014 Classical Concert Series is sponsored by the Whiting Foundation & MLive and The Flint Journal

��� ������ �������� ������� �� ���� � ��� ����� �� ������� ������ �� ��� ����� �������� ���� � ����� ��������� ��� �������� ����� ������� �� ������ ��� ���� �� ������

����� ������ ��������

4753007-02

Large puddles form Saturday as ice thaws on the roads on Witherbee Street and elsewhere across much of Michigan. (Jake May/MLive.com)

A partial roof collapse at an apartment complex for seniors in Vienna Township temporarily displaced some residents Saturday.

An air conditioning unit could be seen on the sagging rooftop of the Clio Senior Village apartment complex in A maintenance worker stands on the roof after a partial roof colthe 11000 block of Plaza Drive. lapse Saturday at the Clio Senior Village apartment complex in Vienna Township. (Jake May/MLive.com) Employees said a crane was on the way Saturday afternoon to remove the units from Saturday. The collapse may ager was not returned. the rooftop. have been caused by snow It was unclear how long the ABC12 reports the roof accumulation on the flat roof. residents will be out of their collapse happened early A call to the property manapartments.

FSO Classical Concert Series Media Sponsor

��������� ����� �

����������� � �������������������������

Valentine

Love Lines Publishes: Thursday, February 13

Reservation deadline: Tuesday, February 11

Send your loved one(s) (spouse, fiancé, children, parents, stepparent, grandparents, grandchildren, godparent, godchild, neighbor, mentor, teacher, best friend, etc.)

a heartfelt message

Matthew Bonham, 32, of Flint, walks down ice-covered Tobias Street in Flint on Saturday as it begins to thaw into puddles. More than 17 inches of snow fell on the area earlier this week.

printed in Advertisement for Demolition and Disposal of Residential Structures in Genesee County, Michigan

Customize your Love Line:

Sealed proposals will be received by the Genesee County Metropolitan Planning Commission (GCMPC) for NSP Demolitions located at various addresses in the County. Proposals will be received at GCMPC, 1101 Beach Street, Room 223, Flint, Michigan 48502 until January 24, 2014 at 11:30 am.

5 lines of copy & illustration .......... $15 Six illustrations to choose from:

Proposals are solicited on the basis of a lump sum price for all labor, material and/or equipment required to complete the project as designed and specified in the contract.

My Heart

Ribbon Hearts

Candy Hearts

The principal items of work include: demolition and disposal of residential structures.

The above referenced project is a federally funded activity authorized under the Housing and Economic Recovery Act (HERA) of 2008 (NSP1) and the Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010 (NSP3). All successful bidders must comply with federal labor standards, including Davis-Bacon Act and the Copeland Anti-Kickback legislation; federal equal opportunity requirements; and Section 3 of the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1968.

Hugs & Kisses

Big Kiss

Hearts

Add a line of copy ............................. $3 Add a color photo ............................. $6

Minority/Women/Handicapped business owned enterprises and Section 3 business concerns seeking bid opportunities under this Project Notice are encouraged to respond.

Send your Love Lines to

For a copy of all Project and Contract Documents please email gencompc@gmail.com with the subject line NSP Demolitions. Documents will be available beginning Monday, January 13, 2014.

flclassified@mlive.com or call 877-289-8114

The right is reserved by GCMPC to accept any proposal, to reject any or all proposals and to waive any irregularities in any proposal, in the interest of GCMPC. 4766393-01

CGCV-1401

4765911-03

THE FLINT JOURNAL / SUNDAY, JANUARY 12, 2014 / A5

Local GENESEE COUNTY

Subzero temps damage buildings

By Dana DeFever

ddefever@mlive.com

The extreme cold that followed a massive snowstorm last week caused pipes to burst in several buildings.

LIBRARY FLOODED

The Genesee District Library’s Genesee Valley Center branch in Flint Township is closed because of a broken water pipe.

A water pipe in a hallway burst Thursday afternoon, flooding the library. It will be closed for about two to three weeks.

Library patrons are encouraged to use another branch while it is closed. Those with items on hold at the branch will be able to pick them up at the headquarter location while repairs are made to the building.

COLD �WE ATHER ENEMY

“We had clear skies … and the temperature was just able to drop really low.”

HOW PIPES BURST Even inside, pipes can be punished by subzero winds.

3 2

METEOROLOGIST RACHEL KULIK

deep. Water also was coming off of the awning.

Lurvey said it could have been worse, but the alarm went off, and the owners were contacted around 6:30 a.m. Friday. The Flint Fire Department also responded.

Lurvey did not have a damage estimate.

“It’s probably not horribly bad,” he said.

PUB DAMAGED

PIPE BURSTS IN APARTMENT BUILDING

A pipe in the fire suppression system burst after freezing at Blackstone’s Pub and Grill in downtown Flint.

The pipe flooded the front of the building near the entrance and damaged some trim work, said owner Dave Lurvey as he and others were mopping up the mess.

He said the business would be closed Friday, but he planned to reopen Saturday.

When a maintenance worker opened the front door Friday morning, water came gushing out and he ended up standing in water about ankle

Water flooded one building at Thornridge Apartments in Grand Blanc Township on Wednesday night when a pipe burst.

“Due to the frigid temperatures, we had a pipe freeze, burst and cause some flooding. Thankfully, due to our stellar maintenance team, we were able to get the problem repaired expeditiously,” said Candi Roberson, Thornridge Apartments property manager.

Only one building that houses six units was affected by the broken pipe,

FLINT

City may expand leaf pickup after success

By Dominic Adams

dadams5@mlive.com

Judging on feedback from residents, city officials believe the inaugural leaf and yard waste pickup was successful.

In October and November, city residents were allowed to place leaves inside yard waste bags curbside and Republic Services collected them along with the weekly trash pickup.

“I think the feedback has been very positive from the residents that we’ve talked to,” said Howard Croft, director of utilities and infrastructure for the city. “I think Republic gives us a reliable way to make sure that happens.”

Residents pay for the leaf pickup through their trash fee, Croft said.

The city spent about $46,700 on wages and benefits associated with the pickup, according to a resolution signed by Emergency Manager Darnell Earley on Dec. 11 and posted on the city’s website Dec. 19.

Croft did not have figures from Republic that detailed the amount of leaves collected or the number of residents who participated in the leaf pickup.

“This was year one,” Croft said. “Next year, I think we’ll be in a better position of getting people the dates and when pickups are going to occur and the end dates.”

That would include having the city’s blight coordinator and code enforcement officers going door to door to tell residents that it is a violation of city ordinance to put yard waste in the streets, Croft said.

“We’re urging for compliance, and so far people are doing that,” Croft said.

He hopes the leaf pickup will start earlier next year and the city will do a better job in getting details of the pickup to residents.

Preventing pipe problems

By MLive.com

Pipes freezing and bursting is a common problem in buildings during cold weather.

When water freezes, it expands. If frozen water in a pipe expands enough, the pipe bursts, water escapes and serious damage results, according to The Weather Channel at weather.com.

The use of insulation might prevent this problem, but extreme cold or holes in a building that allow outside air to contact pipes can lead pipes to freeze.

Apart from insulation and positioning pipes in warm areas of a building, leaving a

1

CPO rates as low as .9%

1. Wind through a spot such as a crawl space vent or even a cable TV connection cools the unprotected pipes.

2. Water in the pipe freezes.

3. As ice expands, pressure builds and can burst the pipe.

on select certified preowned Infiniti’s

���� Q�� AWD PREMIUM $

RECORD�LOW TEMPERATURE

After more than a foot of snow was dumped on the county during a storm Jan. 5 and 6, temperatures plunged as an Arctic air mass dipped into the Midwest.

The temperature in Flint on Thursday set a record low for the date of minus-21 degrees, more than doubling the previ-

ous Jan. 9 record of minus-8 degrees set in 1962.

“We had clear skies … and the temperature was just able to drop really low,” said Rachel Kulik, a meteorologist for the National Weather Service in White Lake.

The temperature tied Jan. 21, 1984, for the second-lowest record temperature. The lowest record temperature of minus-24 was set in 1872.

Warmer weather has since moved into the area.

— MLive staff writers David Harris and Molly Young contributed to this report.

2,999 TOTAL DUE PLUS TAX, TITLE , PLATES

349

$

(MLive.com)

Roberson said.

Some tenants were displaced, but the apartment complex ensured that those displaced residents had housing, he said.

faucet running can prevent pipes from bursting, weather.com states. A slow flow of water — even from just dripping — can relieve pressure between the faucet and ice blockage. It’s that pressure that causes the bursting.

If people suspect a pipe is frozen, a plumber should be called.

Use of an open flame such as from a blow torch to warm the pipe might result in damage to the pipe or a building fire.

Some people try to use a heating pad or blow dryer, but use of an electrical appliance near water can be dangerous.

/ MO.

PLUS TAX

�� MONTH LEASE, ��K MILES PER YEAR LEASE �� SECURITY DEPOSIT. � OR MORE AVAILABLE IN STOCK ONLY EXP. �/��/��

MSRP ���,���.��

MODEL NO. �����

���� QX�� AWD 3,499 TOTAL DUE PLUS TAX, TITLE , PLATES

$

429

$

/ MO.

PLUS TAX

�� MONTH LEASE, ��K MILES PER YEAR LEASE �� SECURITY DEPOSIT. � OR MORE AVAILABLE IN STOCK ONLY EXP. �/��/��

MSRP ���,���.��

WITH PREMIUM & PREMIUM PLUS PACKAGE MODEL NO. �����

4763524-02

Sales: 888-639-6022

Service & Parts 888-639-6022

INFINITI OF ANN ARBOR

5515 Auto Mall Dr. Ann Arbor, MI 48103

ONE DAY SALE WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 15 SHOP 9AM-1OPM (IT’S A SALE TOO BIG TO FIT IN A DAY!)

ALSO SHOP TUESDAY, JANUARY 14 FROM 1OAM-1OPM HOURS MAY VARY BY STORE TUES & 9AM-1PM WED, DOORBUSTERS 1OAM-1PM GREAT ITEMS! GREAT PRICES!

DOORBUSTER

19.99

DOORBUSTER

DOORBUSTER

LAUREN SUIT SEPARATES Jacket. Doorbuster $160.

Reg. $400, after 1pm: 209.99.

Pants. Doorbuster $60.

Reg. $150, after 1pm: $90. � WebID 627348.

CLEARANCE Doorbuster 17.25-42.25.

Orig.* $69-$168, after 1pm: 24.15-58.88.

Dresses from favorite makers. Misses & petites.

60% OFF

DRESS SHIRTS OR TIES Reg. 49.50, after 1pm: 27.99.

Only at Macy’s.

From Club Room and Alfani. � WebID 930869.

DOORBUSTER

75% OFF

69.99

WARM COATS Reg./Orig.* $195, after 1pm: $78.

Only at Macy’s.

Wool-blend & down selections from Nine West and more.

Misses.

2O% OFF

REGULAR & SALE PRICES ON SELECT ITEMS FOR HER, HIM & KIDS

DOORBUSTER DOORBUSTER

65% OFF

OUTERWEAR Doorbuster 68.25-103.25.

Reg. $195-$295, after 1pm: 97.50-147.50.

From a famous maker, Perry Ellis Portfolio, London Fog®, Nautica, more. � WebID 877811.

DOORBUSTER

EXTRA 20% OFF

FASHION ATHLETIC SHOES FOR HER Doorbuster 27.99-158.40.

Reg. $40-$198, select styles after 1pm:34.99-189.99.

Easy Spirit, Keds (� WebID 564801), G by GUESS (� 837255), more.

DOORBUSTER

DOORBUSTER

DIAMOND EARRINGS Reg. $200, after 1pm: $75. 1/2 ct. t.w.‡ rose-cut in sterling silver (� WebID 1057517) or 18k gold over sterling silver (� 1057518)

by Victoria Townsend.

FRESHWATER PEARLS Reg. $300, after 1pm: 127.50.

9.5-10.5mm 2-row with sterling silver clasp by Belle de Mer™. � WebID 425489.

49.99

DOORBUSTER

DOORBUSTER

CLEARANCE ACCESSORIES Doorbuster $3-159.60 + 1 free. Orig.* $12-$228 ea., after 1pm: $3-159.60 ea.

Scarves, hats, belts & more for her.

BRAS Reg. $32-$38 ea., after 1pm: buy 1, get 75% off 2nd.

Maidenform®, Bali®, Warner’s® & Playtex®.

Shown: Maidenform® One Fabulous Fit. � WebID 574131.

BUY 1, GET 1 FREE

DOORBUSTER

DOORBUSTER

BLENDERS & FOOD PROCESSORS Doorbuster 23.99257.99. Reg. 39.99429.99, after 1pm: 29.99-299.99. From left: Cuisinart, #DLC2007 & EuroPro Ninja, #NJ600.

COFFEE, TEA & ESPRESSO MAKERS Doorbuster 17.99-767.99. Reg. 29.99-1279.99, after 1pm: 19.99-899.99. From left: Cuisinart #DCC1200, Black & Decker #KE2000SD & Nespresso #D121-US -BK-NE1.

$89 CULTURED

40% OFF

DOORBUSTER

DOORBUSTER

DOORBUSTER

Doorbuster 15.99-319.99. Reg. $40$800, after 1pm: 19.99-479.99. Pillows & mattress toppers by our Martha Stewart Collection™, SensorGel & more. � WebID 139387.

BED ENSEMBLES Reg. $100, after 1pm: 59.99. Only at Macy’s.

By Fairfield Square Collection.

Full-king. Shown: Davenport. � WebID 616362.

Twin also available.

Reg. $80, after 1pm: 49.99. Service for 8 from International Silver. From top: Capri Frost (� WebID 402325) & American Bead (� 244574).

60% OFF MEMORY FOAM

39.99 ALL 8-PC.

2 FOR 24.99

40% OFF

29.99 53-PC. FLATWARE SET

FREE SHIPPING AT MACYS.COM WITH $99 ONLINE PURCHASE.

DOORBUSTER

99.99

5-PC. SET Reg. $300, after 1pm: 149.99.

Only at Macy’s.

Tag Coranado spinner luggage. � WebID 325390.

NO PROMO CODE NEEDED; EXCLUSIONS APPLY.

Fine jewelry doorbusters are only available at stores that carry fine jewelry. Free item must be of equal or lesser value than purchased item; returns must include purchased and free items. � REG. & ORIG. PRICES ARE OFFERING PRICES AND SAVINGS MAY NOT BE BASED ON ACTUAL SALES. SOME ORIG. PRICES NOT IN EFFECT DURING THE PAST 90 DAYS. ONE DAY SALE PRICES IN EFFECT 1/14 & 1/15/2014, EXCEPT AS NOTED. *Intermediate price reductions may have been taken. ‡All carat weights (ct. t.w.) are approximate; variance may be .05 carat. Jewelry photos may be enlarged or enhanced to show detail. Fine jewelry at select stores; log on to macys.com for locations. Almost all gemstones have been treated to enhance their beauty & require special care, log on to macys.com/gemstones or ask your sales professional. Extra savings are taken off already-reduced prices; “doorbuster” prices reflect extra savings. Doorbusters are available while supplies last.

Advertised merchandise may not be carried at your local Macy’s and selection may vary by store. Prices and merchandise may differ at macys.com. Luggage & electric items shown carry warranties; to see a mfr’s warranty at no charge before purchasing, visit a store or write to: Macy’s Warranty Dept., PO Box 1026, Maryland Heights, MO 63043, attn: Consumer Warranties. N3120304. � Enter the WebID in the search box at macys.com to order.

OPEN A MACY’S ACCOUNT FOR EXTRA 20% SAVINGS THE FIRST 2 DAYS, UP TO $100, WITH MORE REWARDS TO COME. Macy’s credit card is available subject to credit approval; new account savings valid the day your account is opened and the next day; excludes services, selected licensed departments, gift cards, restaurants, gourmet food & wine. The new account savings are limited to a total of $100; application must qualify for immediate approval to receive extra savings; employees not eligible.

4766202-03

A6 / SUNDAY, JANUARY 12, 2014 / THE FLINT JOURNAL

Local BLUEBERRY MOMENTS GENESEE COUNTY

Blueberries in a snowstorm: Acts of kindness abound in bad weather

By Kristin Longley

klongley1@mlive.com

Who knows how long Sharon Harmer would have been trapped inside her home this week if it weren’t for the continued kindness of a helpful neighbor.

Jim Baumgart didn’t have to plow up and down Lamp Lighter Lane in Flushing on Monday in subzero temperatures — but he did. Harmer was so touched she took a photo of Baumgart tooling down the lane in his yellow Ford backhoe and sent it to The Flint Journal/MLive.com.

It wasn’t the first time Baumgart rescued his neigh-

bors, and it likely will not be the last.

“He has done this in the past (after) big snows,” Harmer wrote. “If it were not for him, we could not get down our street.”

In times of duress — such as the 17 inches of snow that nearly paralyzed the region last week — these simple acts of kindness are a welcome relief to the people who benefit.

We also heard about Matt Appleton who, along with three other people, hand shoveled a long stretch of their cul-de-sac so folks could go to work. And there was Lillie

in Grand Blanc, who sent us a photo of a man clearing her walkway with the simple caption: “Neighbors helping neighbors.”

These Good Samaritan stories are a testament to the good will in our community, and we want to share them with the rest of our readers.

What acts of kindness did you witness during the storm?

Email them to Community Engagement Specialist Kristin Longley at klongley1@ mlive.com, and they may be published in an upcoming edition of The Journal. If you send a photo, we’ll add it to the gallery online.

Looking to complete your team?

FLINT

Use the power of online & print to find qualified candidates in your area. Reserve your spot in our upcoming Best Local Jobs Healthcare feature to get started.

Ennis Center for Children receiving $15,000 from Ronald McDonald Foundation

By Molly Young

myoung7@mlive.com

Flint’s Ennis Center for Children received a $15,000 grant from the Ronald McDonald Charity Foundation that will be used for renovations to the center’s family visiting rooms.

“As soon as we get the funds, we’re going to hit the ground running,” said Karen Williams-Weaver, Ennis Center’s chief operations officer. “We don’t want to sit on this at all.”

The Ennis Center is a child

welfare agency that provides services to more than 500 abused, neglected and at-risk youth in Genesee County each year, Williams-Weaver said.

There are about six rooms, used for supervised parental visits with children, which haven’t been updated since the center opened 35 years ago. Williams-Weaver said she believes the renovation won’t just look better, it will make the children feel better.

“Being taken out of your home is traumatic, no matter what age,” she said, adding

� ��������� ������� ������� �� � �������� ������� ������� � �� ���� �� �������� ������ ����� � ��� ��� ��� ��� SAVE 20% OFF

the current “sterile” feel of the rooms makes it difficult for parents and children to comfortably interact.

The changes will help create a more “natural” home-like setting for families, she said.

“We want to do anything that will make it a better, brighter, easier situation,” she said.

The check was to be presented by local McDonald’s franchise owner Sam Cox and representatives from the Ronald McDonald Charity Foundation on Wednesday.

Reservations due Thursday, January 16 at noon

recruit@mlive.com | 877-300-8308

CGCV-1312

4760494-05

4753131-03

Save money now. For the lowest prices on all things that matter to you – groceries, clothes, home essentials – visit Find&Save today. Discover all the top sales near you. flintfindnsave.mlive.com

THE FLINT JOURNAL / SUNDAY, JANUARY 12, 2014 / A7

Local FLINT

Schools plan MLK events

GENESEE COUNTY

Health Dept. offers free radon test kits “It has no immediate health symptoms, so residents are encouraged to get a free kit and test during the next few weeks.”

By Sarah Schuch

sschuch@mlive.com

Baker College , Davenport seek more volunteers for service projects

By Sarah Schuch

sschuch@mlive.com

Davenport University and Baker College have scheduled service projects to honor the memory of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. Both schools are seeking volunteers for the events, set for Jan. 20, which is Martin Luther King Jr. Day this year.

Davenport University is looking for 100 volunteers to help make no-sew blankets for ill or traumatized children and teens.

The blankets are for Project Linus, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing “security through blankets.”

The organization is named after the lovable, blanketwielding character in the Peanuts cartoon.

The event will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Jan. 20 at Davenport University, 4318 Miller Road. Volunteers will

cut fleece material, tie fringes on crib blankets and compose handwritten notes to accompany the blankets. Light refreshments will be served.

Davenport University is part of the College Town Collaborative, a group dedicated to community service and engaging students from the five colleges and universities in Flint.

Baker College also is inviting people to help make nosew blankets from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Jan. 20 in the Baker College Student Center.

The no-sew project is supported by a $500 grant from the Michigan Nonprofit Association of Lansing.

“One in four children in Genesee County lives in poverty,” said Maureen Miller, director of health and fitness and student clubs coordinator at Baker College of Flint, in a news release.

“These blankets will be distributed where they are most needed — to children in homeless shelters, children’s centers, hospitals or programs for low-income families.”

All College Town Collaborative members will have blanket construction events on their campuses Jan. 20.

Other activities at Baker College of Flint include: •Making toys for the Humane Society of Genesee County by braiding fleece for dog pull-toys and making catnip toys for cats •Clipping and sorting collected coupons for Support Our Troops Troopons, an organization that distributes food, non-food, baby and pet manufacturer coupons to military families so their hardearned dollars go further •Rolling donated change that has been collected since November for “A Mile of Change” to be given to the Food Bank of Eastern Michigan and North End Soup Kitchen.

FOR MORE INFORMATION Contact the admissions office, 810-766-4000, jodi.cuneaz@ baker.edu.

GENESEE COUNTY

Officials eye senior tax renewal in 2014

By Ron Fonger

rfonger1@mlive.com

The director of the county’s Office of Senior Services is planning for a campaign to renew the 0.7-mill property tax that supports her office in the August primary election.

On Wednesday, Director Lynn Radzilowski told the county Board of Commissioners she plans to request the tax renewal this

year even though the millage won’t expire until Dec. 31, 2016.

The tax generates about $6 million for programs including adult day care, home-delivered meals, senior citizen centers and an elder abuse prevention program administered by the county Sheriff’s Department.

County Commissioner Archie Bailey, D-Flushing,

said the tax renewal has a chance at success despite some early struggles of the program, including how funds are divided as demand for the money has outstripped revenues.

Like other countywide taxes, money generated by the senior millage has declined for several years as property values have fallen sharply, particularly in the city of Flint.

The Genesee County Health Department is encouraging residents to check the radon gas levels in their homes.

The department is offering free radon test kits this month after Gov. Rick Snyder proclaimed Radon Action Month in Michigan.

The U.S. Surgeon General has issued a national health advisory on the risks of breathing radon gas in our homes, according to a news release. Radon is the secondleading cause of lung cancer in the U.S. and is the leading cause among nonsmokers.

“It has no immediate health symptoms, so residents are encouraged to get

MARK VALACAK, GENESEE COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT HEALTH OFFICER.

a free kit and test during the next few weeks,” said Mark Valacak, Genesee County Health Department health officer.

Outdoors, radon is diluted by the atmosphere. When radon gas becomes trapped in homes, it can be harmful at elevated levels. During cold weather, people spend more time indoors with windows closed, potentially breathing unhealthy levels of radon.

Exposure can increase the risk of contracting lung

cancer, according to a news release.

Test kits are available yearround for $6, but are free this month.

FREE RADON TEST KIT Where: Genesee County Health Department, McCree South Human Services building, second floor, 630 S. Saginaw St. in Flint.

Price: Free in January More info: 810-257-3603, gchd.us

Burtrum Furs

�

����

����

��������

������� ��

FREE

SILK SCARF OR GLOVES TO THE FIRST 20 PEOPLE EACH DAY

������ � ������

������

������� �� ������ � ������

��������

8 ������� �� ������ � ������

Advertisement for Pre-Demolition ABATEMENT for Genesee County Metropolitan Planning Commission

����

�����

Sealed proposals will be received by the Genesee County Metropolitan Planning Commission (GCMPC) for NSP Demolitions - Abatement located at various addresses in Genesee County.

Proposals will be received at GCMPC, 1101 Beach Street, Room 223, Flint, Michigan 48502 until January 21, 2014 at 11:30 am.

Hampton Inn and Suites

6060 Rashelle Drive, Flint, MI 48507 US-23 O� of Hill Road.

Proposals are solicited on the basis of a lump sum price for all labor and material required to complete the project as designed and specified in the contract.

The principal items of work include: pre-demolition environmental abatement and disposal of asbestos and hazardous materials on residential structures.

The above referenced project is a federally funded activity authorized under the Housing and Economic Recovery Act (HERA) of 2008 (NSP1) and the Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010 (NSP3). All successful bidders must comply with federal labor standards, including Davis-Bacon Act and the Copeland Anti-Kickback legislation; federal equal opportunity requirements; and Section 3 of the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1968.

$

Over 1,000,000 of Furs, Shearling, Leathers & Accessories

40-70

%

Minority/Women/Handicapped business owned enterprises and Section 3 business concerns seeking bid opportunities under this Project Notice are encouraged to respond.

For a copy of all Project and Contract Documents please email gencompc@gmail.com with the subject line NSP Demolitions - Abatement. Documents will be available beginning Monday, January 13, 2014.

The right is reserved by GCMPC to accept any proposal, to reject any or all proposals and to waive any irregularities in any proposal, in the interest of GCMPC.

PLUS AN ADDITIONAL

OFF

20% OFF!

Burtrum Furs 321 E. Grand Blanc Road Grand Blanc, MI 48439

www.burtrumfurs.com 810-449-5964

4766390-01

4767154-01

new

career in healthcare Find your

CGCV-1312

Look for our healthcare feature.

Sunday, January 19

SUND

LI RIING M POWER 00 / $22..0

.CO V E .C

9, 201 A R Y 119

M

NEW

S / B2

ANU AY, J

S PA P

THE ER OF

G > MICHI YEAR

ES AN PR

O S ASS

C I AT

ION

LOCA

L / A3

4757731-01

A8 / SUNDAY, JANUARY 12, 2014 / THE FLINT JOURNAL

Local CLIO

Michigan Supreme Court upholds $375K verdict in email case The Michigan Supreme Court has refused to hear the appeal of a Sept. 17 judgment of the Court of Appeals after it refused to overturn a $375,000 verdict and won’t grant a new trial in a 2006 email scandal.

The case involves former Clio board member Larry Emmerling, former teacher Diane Reed, former City Commissioner Rebecca Freifeld and Clio resident Julie Keyes.

On Dec. 23, the Michigan Supreme Court denied the application to hear the appeals court’s judgment.

The supreme court said it was not persuaded that the questions presented should be reviewed by the court.

In the Sept. 17 ruling, the three-judge appeals panel upheld a 2011 jury verdict

FLINT

Police: Women fight over parking Parking in a neighbor’s driveway led to an assault between two women, according to a police report.

A Flint officer responded to a call of an assault at a home in the 2000 block of Cumings Avenue about 9:30 p.m. Jan. 1.

A woman told the officer she was assaulted by her female neighbor because she parked in her driveway.

According to the report, the victim had a large bleeding cut above her left eye.

Police attempted to talk to the suspect, but she refused to come to the door.

No further information was listed.

FLINT

Snowmobiles reported stolen With all the snow, this guy may have wanted to use his snowmobiles to get around.

But someone else thought they may be useful, and stole two snowmobiles from his driveway at his home on Branch Road near Richfield Road, according to a Flint police report.

He noticed the snowmobiles were missing Jan. 4, the report said.

The trailer the snowmobiles were on also was stolen, according to the report.

There was no suspect information. The owner has insurance.

FLINT

Woman says group a�acked her A woman told Flint police she was attacked by a large group of women at a men’s club on Dort Highway, according to a police report.

Flint police responded to an area hospital in reference to an assault report. The victim told officers she was assaulted by about 15 women at a night club in the 2000 block of Dort Highway about 3 a.m. Jan. 1.

According to the report, the woman had scratches around her face and a red swollen right eye. The victim also showed police photos of cuts to both of her knees and hips.

No further information was released in the report.

FLINT

Man goes in club; truck is stolen A man’s truck was stolen after he left a woman inside the running vehicle while he went inside a motorcycle club, according to a police report.

ordering Freifeld to pay $250,000 and Keyes $125,000 to former Clio schools Superintendent Fay Latture.

A jury awarded the money to Latture after a trial was held on her 2007 lawsuit claiming emotional harm and violation of her privacy.

Freifeld, Reed and Keyes admitted to Clio Police Chief James McClellan that they accessed Latture’s emails without permission or authorization in the spring of 2005.

Reed admitted to sending an email to Latture containing spyware so she could get Latture’s password and then share it with Keyes and Freifeld.

Latture said she found out about her email being hacked in December 2005 after taking her computer to a repair shop.

All four defendants pleaded guilty in January 2006 to

The man told police that about 4:30 a.m. Jan. 1, while at a motorcycle club in the 4000 block of North Saginaw Street, he left a woman in her 30s in his truck while it was warming up.

According to the report, the man went inside the club and returned about three minutes later to find his 2008 Chevrolet Silverado extended cab pickup missing and the woman gone.

Police said the truck was taken with the keys.

No arrests have been made, according to police.

misdemeanor charges of conspiracy to commit fraudulent access to computers, and received jail time.

Latture sued the four in July 2007. Reed and Emmerling were later dismissed from the suit.

The Appeals Court ruling states Latture’s emails were private and had been read more than 9,000 times over the course of a few months by the defendants.

The court denied a claim of First Amendment right “to expose what they believed were matters of public concerns” and found Emmerling resigned from the board in April 2006 and Reed retired the same year.

After nearly 50 years in the Clio school district as a student, teacher and administrator, Latture retired as superintendent in December 2010.

with 10 to 20 other minors, the FBI said.

According to the FBI, Cole had been previously convicted on distributing obscene material to children.

FBI officials said Cole previously worked as a firefighter for the Village of Holly and a 911 dispatcher for Auburn Hills before being terminated as a result of his prior sex offense.

According to the news release, this case first was investigated by local authorities in Lewiston, Idaho, before it was brought to the attention of the FBI.

THE PATH TO A

DEGREE CAN START

CLOSE TO HOME

Through Oakland University’s partnership with Mott Community College, you can ease into the university environment through a unique enrollment option called Mott2O. You’ll attend both institutions at the same time and enjoy expanded academic services, tuition savings and more — all at your pace and comfort level.

LEARN MORE DURING AN INFORMATION SESSION. Go to oakland.edu/visit and select the OFF CAMPUS tab to register for one today.

FLINT TOWNSHIP

Suspects crash near police department Two 29-year-old men allegedly high on drugs and in possession of stolen materials in their vehicle picked the wrong place to spend the night, according to police.

Their resting spot? The parking lot of the Flint Township Police Department.

Sgt. James Baldwin said the episode happened Dec. 19 when someone at the department noticed a vehicle parked the wrong way in the parking lot at the station.

Police officers went to check what was going on and found the two men asleep in the vehicle.

When police looked into the car, they saw several apparently stolen items including an iPad, DVDs, a Tomtom watch and debit cards not in their names, as well as some heroin needles.

The two apparently had crashed in the snow bank and left the car running, causing it to run out of gas and the battery to die, he said.

Police believe the items were stolen from vehicles.

Charges are pending against the two men.

HOLLY

Man sentenced for producing child porn A Holly man has been sentenced to 25 years in federal prison after he pleaded guilty to producing child pornography, according to an FBI news release.

Chad Alan Cole, 45, met a 12-year-old girl from Idaho on the Internet. FBI officials said over the course of several months, Cole befriended the child before eventually convincing her to create sexually explicit pictures and videos of herself.

According to the release, Cole also sent sexual images and videos of himself to the girl and convinced her to engage in sexually explicit conduct over Skype.

After his arrest, Cole admitted to authorities to engaging in similar behavior

ucm8037/12.13

By Amanda Emery

aemery@mlive.com

oakland.edu/ccp

FLINT

Police seek tips in 2011 shooting Flint police are asking for the public’s help finding the person responsible for a 2011 shooting.

On Oct. 29, 2011, about 2:47 a.m., Flint police were dispatched to the area of Saginaw Street and Ridgeway Avenue for a shooting, according to a news release.

Police found the victim, James Lazell Savage, lying on the ground with several gunshot wounds.

According to police, he was transported to Hurley Medical Center where he was treated for his injuries.

Crime Stoppers will pay up to $1,000 for information leading to an arrest for any felony crime or felony fugitive.

Callers do not have to give their name. A special code number will be given, and rewards are paid in cash. Call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-422JAIL (5245).

4735241-02

YOUR NEWS.

YOUR WAY.Y T H U R S D AY, D E C E M B E R 1 2 , 2 0 1 3

$ 1 .0 0 0 / P OW W ER ING MLI VE .COM

N E W S P A P E R O F T H E Y E A R > M I C H I G A N PRE E S S A S S O C I AT I O N

SPORTS / B2

LOCAL / A3

C�A WINS AS MORSE STARTS HOT TOODAY’S MUST�READS FL L IN NT

Fliint Local 432 to hostt rock concert Friday ay

Flint Local 432 will host a rock concer t with several pe errformers this week kend.

Th he Hea ard, Hadley St., Pines, Brown Suga ar and Overdrive will take e the sttage at 7 p.m m. Fridayy.

Deta aills, C1 FLINT

Civic Park plans come to a halt Plans for a manufacturing facilityy at a shuttered school on Flint’ss nor th side have been halte ed. Phil Shalltz, the president d ent o off Sha Shaltz altzz Au Automation, uto omatio on ssaid aid he is no longer planning to purr rchase Civic Park Elementary School. Details, A6

FLINT

LESSONS, FUN BLEND FOR HOUR OF COODE

D E T RO I T

New GM M CEO with Flint ties ‘hhonored,’ promisses to continuue turnaaround

An automotive ve fi firs rst rs

M

By Michael Waylan nd mwayla nd @mlive.cc o m

aryy Barra, a Ketteering University alumna, is poised d to drive General Moto ors Corp. in nto its next, government-ffree chapter.

In her first remarks to employees after being announced as GM CEO Da an Akerson n’s successor on Tuesday, Barra thanked the 65-yyea ar-olld ou utgoing chief for his onleadership and promiised to co tinue building on th hee m mo omentum he instilled in the company.

“My commitment is that we as a team will continue with that and make sure that we continue the momentum, m omentu um a and nd eeven ven p pick ick u up p tthe he pace, because I believe General Motors can continue to do great things,” said Barra, executive vice president of global product development, purchasing and supply chain, during an employee town hall meeting Tuesday a morning. ay Barra’s appointment marks the f r most high-profi f le position ever fo fi a woman in the U.S. auto industry. y y.

The hallf-hour meeting was bro oadcast to GM emplo loyeess across the gllobe. Clips of the event were auttopossted on n the Detroit-based b maker’’s meedia a website te. by Barra a, 511, was introduced d Akerson as a “carr gal” CEO. During a con nference ca call Tuesda ay morning with media, Akerson added having Barra appointed CEO was almostt liike “watcching your daughter graduate from cco ollege.””

“Mary is one of the most gifted executives I’ve met in my careerr,” he ssaid. aid “S She S he w was as p picked icked ffo or her talent, not fo f r her gender; not fo f r political correcctness; r” anyt y hing of that orderr. yt female Barra will be the fi f rsst fe maker. r r.

CEO of a maj a or autom aj arra sa ay ay Those who know Ba they aren’t surprised by b her success.

SEEE CEO, A2

WORK EXPERIENCE

Woman: Boyfriend threatened to kill her Warm coffee turned into a weapon after a boyfriend and girlfriend got into a fight over a phone conversation, according to a police report.

Flint police were called to a home in the 2000 block of Dunn Court about midnight Tuesday in reference to a domestic call.

When the officer arrived, he spoke with a woman who wanted to file a report against her boyfriend.

The woman told police she and her boyfriend got into an argument because she was talking about another man while on the phone. She said her boyfriend threatened to kill her and threw warm coffee on her.

According to the report, the boyfriend broke the victim’s front living room window.

The man fled the scene before police arrived.

The woman had no visible injuries and sought no medical attention.

TIM LIMITE E OF D FER !

FLINT

Whaley House to host Christmas event The Whaley House Museum will host its annual Victorian Christmas on Saturday.

The event includes admission to tour the historic house, children’s crafts, and entertainment led by University theater students. Details, C1

•On Aug. 1, 2013, assumed responsibility for GM’s global purr rchasing and supply chain organization and was named executive vice president of global product development and global purchasing and supply chain.

•Effective Feb. 1, 2011, became senior vice president of global product development responsible for the design, engineering, pro-

uality of gram management and qu d General Motors vehicles arround the world. utive •Member of the GM Execu Operations Committee •Serves on the Adam Ope el AG Supervisory Board •Had been vice president of global human resources.

SEE WO ORK, A2

At right, this Sept. 2, 2010 file photo shows, then, Vice Preside ent Global Human Resources Mary Barra with a 2011 Chevrolet Cruze at GM World Headquarters in Detroit. General Motors named Barra as GM CEO Dan Akerson’s successor on Tuesdayy.

(AP/ P General Motors) P/

FLINT

Jazz n More at Encore Grill Encore Sports Grill and Event Center, 3503 Beecher Road, will host its weekly event, Jazz n More on Sunday. Details, C1

DAILY L QUOTE LY

“ We want our

FLINT TOWNSHIP

Merger of McLaren and Karmanos cancer institutes moving fo f rward, leaders say a ay

By Sarah Schuch

sschuch@mlive.com

The merger of the McLaren and Karmanos cancer institutes is expected to be completed by next fa f ll, off ffi ff ficials at both institutes said dW Weed dnesday neesda ayy. a Despitte the Detroit Meediccal Center’s attempt to

law a suit will not impede aw f ture developments with fu the merger, r which he said r, was done in a legal manner. r r.

The Detroit Medical Center is reacting in an unfo f rtunate way fo ay, ay y, Bepler said sa aid. The D DMC MC be believes elievees Karmanos is abandoning the Detroit areea while tha at

McLaren Health Care, which runs the McLaren Cancer Institute in Flint Township, said it now has the largest cancer care provider in the state aft f er ft acquiring the Karmanos Institute Ins stitute on Oct. Oct 30 0.

Bepler and Dr. r. Justin Klamerus medical direc

For a limited time only, get access to eREPLICA, AN EXACT PAGE-FOR-PAGE DIGITAL EDITION of the printed Flint Journal. � � � �

Local news, sports and entertainment coverage 138+ years of journalistic excellence Email or print stories Check out a past day’s publication

Simply go to mlive.com/ereplica and choose The Flint Journal.

4765317-03

THE FLINT JOURNAL / SUNDAY, JANUARY 12, 2014 / A9

Local

Obituaries 1/12

BELCHER, WILMA L.

ABBEY, LAWRENCE D. "LARRY"

Thousands of Genesee County residents lost power after an ice storm struck the area Dec. 21 and 22. Days later, workers, above, still were trying to get service restored. That storm hit Genesee County the hardest in the state. (Michelle Tessier/MLive.com file)

Weird

RECORD HIGHS AND LOWS

CONTINUED FROM A1

Genesee County has had some strange weather in recent years.

Here’s a look at the recordbreaking temperatures we hit in 2013 and 2012.

other area of the state was effected.

•Nov. 17, 2013: A line of strong storms associated with a cold front rapidly sweeps through the area, leaving more than 5,000 Genesee County homes without power. Many other counties in the Lower Peninsula were effected as well. More than 100,000 homes throughout the state lost power.

•Dec. 21 and 22, 2013: A massive ice storm hits the state, leaving 180,000 people across Michigan without power, about a quarter of them in Genesee County.

Shiawassee County declares a local state of emergency.

Genesee County was hit the hardest in the state.

•Jan. 5 and 6, 2014: A massive snowstorm hits much of the Lower Peninsula, but was concentrated on Genesee County and surrounding areas. Flint got 17.1 inches, and Swartz Creek got 18 inches. The highest snowfall in the state was in Owosso, with 18.7 inches. It was the biggest snowstorm here since April 1975, when 17.3 inches of snow fell. The largest snowstorm recorded in Flint was 22.7 inches on Jan. 26 and 27, 1967, according to the National Weather Service. For the second time in a few weeks, Shiawassee County declared a local state of emergency. The snowfall was followed by several days of extreme cold.

‘HIGHLY UNUSUAL’

Dr. Jeff Masters, director of meteorology for Weather Underground, called the string of extreme weather in and around Genesee County “highly unusual.”

“Certainly, you guys haven’t been offering the proper sacrifices to the weather gods,” Master joked.

But on a serious note, Masters said some of the extreme weather examples may be attributed to climate change and the warming of the atmosphere and the oceans.

“Scientifically, that has to be what happens,” said Masters, an Ann Arbor resident who co-founded the Weather Underground and has bachelor’s, master’s and doctorate degrees in meteorology from the University of Michigan.

“If you’re making unprecedented changes to the atmosphere, you’re going to have unprecedented weather,” he said.

Part of Genesee County’s unusual weather events might simply be a coincidence, too, Masters said.

“That’s a pretty extensive list of extreme weather events. ... Part of it has to be bad luck,” he said.

In 2012, Genesee County

2013 Record Highs

Jan. 12 Jan. 29 Jan. 30 Sep. 10 2013 Record Lows

In an all-too-familiar scene, Edmund Street still was covered in snow Wednesday after storms dumped more than 17 inches of snow on the area this past weekend. (Michelle Tessier/MLive.com)

April 21

set nine record high temperatures, and it set four in 2013.

Each year, only one record low was set, according to data from the National Weather Service.

Matt Mospieko, a meterologist with the National Weather Service in White Lake, said Genesee County’s topography might have something to do with the weird weather.

March 14 March 16 March 17 March 18 March 19 March 20 March 21 March 22 May 2 May 3 May 28 July 16 July 17 Dec. 4

LOW AND FLAT

The area is relativity low and flat, with higher terrain to the south. Weather systems coming from the Southwest, Mospieko said, would have a better chance of getting funneled directly into the Genesee Valley.

Mospieko agreed the weather has been more extreme in the area, and cyclical heating and cooling periods seem to be more dramatic. For example, the previous two winters were very mild compared to the extreme snow and cold this winter.

Like Masters, Mospieko said some of the awful weather to hit this area also probably is just bad luck.

“Some of it can be chalked up to coincidence,” he said.

Jim Reynolds knows bad luck first hand.

In May, a tornado touched down in his Fenton Township neighborhood and tore the roof off his house. He figures

it did about $95,000 in damage.

“It took about two months to get back into our house,” he said, noting it took some neighbors twice that long to get their homes in livable shape.

Then, in December’s ice storm, Reynolds lost power for about a day. In recent days, he’s plowed his driveway more than he can count.

But he isn’t letting it get to him. It’s a trade-off, really, for all the mild winters we’ve seen lately, he said.

“I don’t think I plowed my driveway more than two times last year,” he said.

The weather has been particularly taxing on police and fire departments.

CHIEF: ‘AN AMAZING YEAR’

“I’ll have 42 years in the fire department Feb. 1. I have not seen a year like we’ve had. It’s just been an amazing year,” said Grand Blanc Fire Chief James Harmes.

His department, for example, responded to about 140 calls in four days around Christmastime, Harmes said.

That was after the ice storm that downed power lines across the county.

“We’ve had every kind of thing you can imagine.”

There have been floods, power outages, high winds, extreme cold.

“You don’t think about rescuing people in a rowboat out

2012 Record Highs

2012 Record Lows

April 29

Temp.

60 58 58 96 Temp.

23 Temp.

76 75 79 75 80 84 86 84 85 88 93 97 101 65 Temp.

22

Of Flint, age 85, died Tuesday, January 7, 2014 at his residence. A Memorial Service will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, January 17, 2014 at the Swartz Funeral Home, 1225 West Hill Road, Flint, MI. Cremation has taken place. Visitation 11 a.m - 3 p.m. and 5 - 8 p.m. Thursday, January 16, and 10 a.m. Friday until the time of the service at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to The Wounded Warrior Project or The TOUCH (Take One Ukrainian Child’s Hand) Project. Larry was born in Grand Rapids, MI on May 26, 1928, the son of the late Edwin and Helen (DeBruin) Abbey. He received his Bachelor’s Degree in engineering from U of M-Ann Arbor and was a proud and avid fan. After graduation, he served his country for two years in the U.S. Army. On April 13, 1957 Larry married Alice Olynyk in Flint. He enjoyed traveling, singing, playing duplicate bridge, gardening, bicycle riding, playing softball, making jam, playing FUNERAL HOME & golf, dry fly fishing and ice skatCREMATION CENTER ing. In 2007, he received the City of Flint Volunteer Service www.swartzfuneralhomeinc.com Award, having worked for variFamily Owned ous local organizations over Operated By Rick R. Lamb & Family many years. Larry retired from MDOT in 1989, after 36 years of service. Surviving are son, Ken and wife, Sue Abbey; daughter, Lynne Abbey-Lee and husband, Greg Lee; brother, Dave and wife, Marsha Abbey; two sisters-in-law, Mary Drumlevitch and Vivian Banks; many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife, Alice; sister, Mickey Streby and brother, Gordon Abbey. Special thanks to his caregivers. Your condolences may be shared with the family at BROCK, GEORGE ROBERT www.swartzfuneralhomeinc.com

(MLive.com)

of an apartment complex, but we had to,” in the May 2012 floods, Harmes said.

Genesee County Sheriff Robert Pickell said on one occasion in the recent snowstorm, paramedics had to walk a quarter mile in the snow to respond to a call because the road was impassable by vehicle.

“It’s been one crisis after another,” Pickell said.

On Jan. 6, Pickell said, the department responded to 78 emergency medical calls — ll on a day when snowplows were trying to clear the roads of a record snowfall.

“We’ve had more instances (of extreme weather) this year than I can remember since I’ve been sheriff,” he said.

Of Mt. Morris, age 81, died Saturday, January 11, 2014 at her residence. Funeral service will be held at 11 AM Tuesday, January 14, 2014 11:00 AM at Unity Christian Church, 5255 South Linden Road, Swartz Creek, Reverend Brenda Etheridge officiating. Burial in Flint Memorial Park. Those desiring may make contributions to Unity Christian Church. Visitation 12-8 PM Monday at the Swartz Funeral home, 1225 West Hill Road.

Mrs. Belcher will be at the church from 10 AM Tuesday until the time of the service. Wilma was born in Dayton, OH on November 3, 1932, the daughter of Lawrence and Jessie (Miller) Ward. On December 23, 1961 she married William Belcher in Columbus, IN. She was a member of Unity Christian Church, where she was very active. Surviving are husband, William; children, Ginger Richmond of Swartz Creek, Melinda Kaleel of Mt. Morris, Missy Gatica of Port Huron and John Schroeder of Mt. Morris; a host of grandchildren and great-grandchildren; sons-in-law, Frank Rodriguez and Walter Gatica. She was preceded in death by her daughter, Yvonne Rodriguez.

Your condolences may be shared with the family at www.swartzfuneralhomeinc.com

FUNERAL HOME & CREMATION CENTER

www.swartzfuneralhomeinc.com

Family Owned Operated By Rick R. Lamb & Family

ANDREWS, DONALD KEITH Age 66, of Flint, died Monday, January 6, 2014.

Graveside services will be held 2:30 PM Friday, January 17, 2014 at Great Lakes National Cemetery, 4200 Belford Road, Holly. Those desiring may make contributions to the Wounded Warrior Project.

Online Tributes may be posted on the obituaries page at www.sharpfuneralhomes.com

THE FORECAST YOU CAN COUNT ON. FOR THE WEATHER YOU CAN’T.

Of Mt. Morris, age 89, died Monday, January 6, 2014, at McLaren-Flint.

The funeral will take place 11:30 AM, Tuesday, January 14, 2014, at the Martin Funeral, Cremation & Tribute Services. Family will receive friends at the funeral home on Monday, January 13, 2014, from 1:00 PM to 8:00 PM and on Tuesday from 10:00 AM until the time of service.

Memorial contributions may be directed to the Salvation Army.

George was born April 22, 1924 in Bennington, MI, the son of George Henry and Ella (Ryerson) Brock. He married Dorothy Angeline Vanover on July 28, 1947. He served in the Army during World War II. He was employed by General Motors for over 40 years, retiring on July 1, 2002. When not working he could be found working on cars. He spent many hours searching for that special item in the junk yard. Left to cherish his memory are three children, Wanda Lewis, Brenda Manore and Barbara (Daniel) Treat; 11 grandchildren, Robin (James) Banner, Linda (Darwin) Hetzer, Tonia (Mel) Lomax, Tamara (Blas) Martinez, Robert (LaDonna) Manore, Terry, Brian, Joseph and Shaun Manore, Amanda and Melissa Treat; 30 great-grandchildren; five great-great grandchildren; sister, Ellen Sheeks; many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Dorothy; son-in-law, William Lewis; and brother-in-law, William Sheeks. Friends may share a memory with the family at the funeral home, or online at www.martinfuneralhome.com.

Your weather at mlive.com/weather

Tom and Ashlee Mahaffy’s home was totaled by a May 28 tornado in Atlas Township. It was among several tornadoes that touched down in Genesee County that day, causing $2.5 million in damage. No other areas in the state were hit. (Jake May/MLive.com file)

continued on next page

A10 / THE FLINT JOURNAL / SUNDAY, JANUARY 12, 2014

Obituaries 1/12

continued from previous page CARUTHERS, MS. ELISA

Ms. Elisa Caruthers, age 47 passed away Thursday, JanuElizabeth Brown, age 83, died ary 9, 2014 at her residence.

January 11, 2014. Arrangements to be announced by Sharp Funeral Homes, Miller Road Chapel, 8138 Miller Road, Swartz Creek. Online tributes may be shared on the obituary page of www.sharpfuneralhomes.com

BROWN, ELIZABETH

.

BRYANT, MRS. LILLIE Age 95, passed away Saturday, January 11, 2014 at Clarkston Specialty Care Center. swansonsfuneralhomes.com

CLASE, ALICE E. "PENNY"

HAMMOND, VASHTI

Of Flint, age 89, died Saturday, January 11, 2014 at her residence. Funeral arrangements will be announced later.

Age 88, of Flint, died January 10, 2014 at Durand Senior Care and Rehabilitation Center, Durand. A memorial service will be announced at a later date in the Spring. Vashti was born February 17, 1925 in Doniphan, MO, the daughter of Ira and Lois ( Bettis ) Smith. She married Edward R. Hammond December 31, 1941 in Flint, MI; he preceded her in death on October 3, 2006. Vashti was a graduate of Mt. Morris High School.

She retired from AC Spark Plug with 22 years of service. She was a member of United in Christ Lutheran Church. Surviving are: three children, Lois (Clinton) Campbell of Battle Creek, Elizabeth (Dana) McKinney of Maine, Michael (Janice) Hammond of Swartz Creek; eight grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; three great -great-grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her parents; husband, Edward; grandson, Christopher Vander Gronden; three sisters, Georgia Willette, Jesse Graham, Madeline Ballard; and brother Martin Smith Tributes may be shared on the obituaries page at www.sharpfuneralhomes.com.

FUNERAL HOME & CREMATION CENTER

www.swartzfuneralhomeinc.com

Family Owned Operated By Rick R. Lamb & Family

DARLINGTON, AL Glen Arbor Al Darlington, 90, of Glen Arbor, Michigan, passed away at his home that he loved on Glen Lake on December 27, 2013.

Funeral services will be held 11:00 AM Monday, January 13 at Sharp Funeral Homes, Miller Road Chapel, 8138 Miller Road, Swartz Creek. Pastor William Bolin officiating. Burial in Sunset Hills Cemetery, Flint. Visitation will be held at the funeral home Sunday, January 12th from 12-4 and 6-8 PM. Online tributes may be posted on the obituaries page at www.sharpfuneralhomes.com .

ENGSTROM, CAROL M. (MELANSON, JOHNSON)

BUKSCH, TRAUTE ELFRIEDE Age 95, of Flint, died Thursday, January 9, 2014 at her residence. Funeral services will be held 10:30 AM Monday, January 13, at German Church of God, 2393 Elms Rd., Swartz Creek.

Interment at Bendle Cemetery.

Visitation will be held 2-6 PM Sunday at Sharp Funeral Homes, Miller Road Chapel, 8138 Miller Rd., Swartz Creek; and 10-10:30 AM at the church on Monday. Those desiring may make contributions to the Traute E. Buksch Memorial Fund. Traute was born November 14, 1918 in Poland, the daughter of August and Amanda Adelina (Goehrke) Schultz.

She married Helmut Buksch March 16, 1939, he preceded her in death. Traute was a member of the German Church of God. Surviving are: daughter, Edelgard and husband Kurt Friedrich, of Clayton Township; three grandchildren, Esther and husband Mike Baird, of Shelby Township, Anni and husband Scott Barbour, of Clayton Township, Erwin Friedrich, of California; four great -grand children, Hannah, Stephan, Kaleb and Debra; brother-inlaw, Herbert Gaekel, of Germany; three nephews Sieghard, Heiko, Andreas Gaekel, all of Germany. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; son, Volkhard H. Buksch; two brothers and two sisters. Tributes may be shared on the obituaries page at www.sharpfuneralhomes.com.

CAMERON, CHARLES, JR. Paragould Died Monday, December 9, 2013, at Arkansas Methodist Medical Center.

Survivors include his wife of 59 years, Jonnie Cameron; daughters, Betty Collins and Peggy (Stan) Chwojnicki; granddaughters, Karen (Datin) Ply, Carmen Collins, and Lauren Chwojnicki; and great grandchild, Kadin Ply. Complete obituary at mlive.com/obituaries

Of Flushing, age 69, died Saturday, January 4, 2014, at McLaren Flint. Cremation has taken place. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated 11 a.m. Tuesday, January 14, 2014, at Good Shepherd Catholic Church, 400 N. Saginaw Street, Montrose.

Fr. Roy Horning will officiate.

Visitation will be from 10 a.m. until time of the Mass Tuesday at the church. Burial of her cremated remains will follow later in Sarasota, FL. A celebration of her life will be held in Sarasota in May 2014. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Good Shepherd Building Fund, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, or Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation. Carol was born in Flint, MI on July 12, 1944, the daughter of Edward J. and Aurora A. (Boucher) Melanson. She graduated from St. John Vianney High School in Flint and then moved to Sarasota, FL to live with her oldest sister, Aurore. Carol met and later married her first husband, known as Buddy Johnson. She went to beauty school and eventually owned and operated her own beauty salon. She later worked for the Police Benevolent Association. Carol enjoyed ranch life with Buddy where he was employed and helped raise three children. After many years in Florida, Carol and Buddy moved to Livingston, MT and a short time later, he died. Carol remained in Livingston and was employed at a local bank. She met and married Marshall Engstrom, a kind and gentle man. After a few years, they decided to move to Michigan and reunite with her family. Carol loved her family and friends and had a very generous spirit. She was passionate about the variety of activities and volunteer work in which she participated throughout the years. Some of these included Civil War Reenactment, scrapbooking, her collection of vintage pieces, crochet, Livingston Community Closet, and membership in the Ladies Auxiliary to V.F.W. Post 6579. Carol was an avid reader, especially of spiritual books and developed her own spiritual library that she shared with others.

She was a member of Good Shepherd Catholic Church where she was a Eucharistic Minister, Reader, and also participated in a variety of church activities. Carol is survived by: husband, Marshall Engstrom; three children, Carrie and husband, Eddie Palmer, Deborah Blanco, and William III "Bud" and wife, Andrea Johnson, all of Florida; three grandchildren; three sisters, Mary Velat of Clio, Sandra Melanson, C.S.J. of Kalamazoo, Nancy Brown of Flushing; sister-in-law, Monique Melanson of Flushing; many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; three sisters, Aurore Callendar, Evelyn Miank, Jean Lyman; and brother, Edward A. Melanson.

DUNNIGAN, DONALD A. Como, Colorado Formerly of Swartz Creek Donald A. Dunnigan, age 55, of Como Colorado, formerly of Swartz Creek, passed away suddenly on Sunday, December 22, 2013. Arrangements provided by Sharp Funeral Homes, Miller Road Chapel, 8138 Miller Rd, Swartz Creek. A memorial service will be announced at a later date in his honor. Donald was born February 20, 1958 in Flint, Michigan, the son of Donald R. and Patricia (Santistevan) Dunnigan. He was employed by the City of Colorado Spring, Colorado as a Watershed Operator. Surviving are: wife, Cherri; Children, Natasha, David, Jason, Alishia; several grandchildren; special grandson, Kyle (BOO); mother, Patricia Dunnigan of Swartz Creek; sister, DeAnna of Flushing; beloved Dog, Coty and the whole Seymour Gang. The family would like to extend their gratitude to Danny Schultz (The Rock) and neighbor, Bob and Lynel Fortune. He was preceded in death by his father, Don Dunnigan, grandmother, Vera Haveman, nephew, Tony Giacalone. Online condolences may be posted on the obituaries page of www.sharpfuneralhomes.com

GARY, EMMA Y. “WANNIE” (MARKEE) Of Flint, she was 83 years young, passed away January 5, 2014 at Regency of Grand Blanc. A Funeral Service will be held 11 AM Tuesday, January 14, 2014 at South Flint Church of the Nazarene, 4075 E. Atherton Rd., Burton; Rev. Donald Frey officiating. Cremation will take place after the service.

Visitation will be 12-4 and 6-8 PM Monday at Allen Funeral Home, 9136 Davison Rd., Davison. On Tuesday, visitation will be at the church from 10 AM until the time of service. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the South Flint Church of the Nazarene.

Wannie was born in Flint, MI on June 3, 1930, daughter of the late Alvy E. and Louise V. (Gabriel) Markee. She attended South Flint Church of the Nazarene. Because of her love of music, she started playing the piano at the age of nine for the church and many quartets.

Wannie graduated from Flint Tech with honors. While working at Trojan Laundry, she met Amos and they got married on August 26, 1950, he preceded her in death on January 14, 2008. Through her life, Wannie worked at Chevrolet, Day Brothers Hardware and U of M Flint.

She enjoyed roses, gardening and renovating the Perry farmhouse, while raising three children. After chores were done Wannie enjoyed shopping and having her hair done by Jim Mason at his salon in Grand Blanc.

Wannie is survived by her children, Yvonne (Robert) Atkinson, Sharon (Michael) Martin, Keith (Debbi) Gary; grandchildren, Chad Rodgers, Anthony (Amy) Rodgers, Jeslyn (David) Gordon, Nicole (Brandon) Garrett, Bryan (Melisa) Martin, Brooke (Kyle) Wagner, Breanne (Mat) Rose and Brittany Gary; greatgrandchildren, Nicholas Atkinson, Morgan and Mason Rodgers, Thomas Rodgers, Alex and Brianna Gordon, Emaleigh and Micaela Garrett, Archer and Auralia Martin, Jacob Wagner; siblings, James (Delores), Norma Jean Key, Donald (Alice), David (Sue) and Judy Jones; many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her brothers-in-law, Bud Key and Fred Jones; nephew, Dennis Key. Wannie’s family would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to all of their family and friends for their support and prayers.

Please share your thoughts with the family at www.allenfuneralhomeinc.com.

GRAY, WILBUR LYNN (BILL) Age 90, died Thursday, December 5, 2013 at Cartel Inns of Linden after a brief illness. Mr. Gray was born December 14, 1922 in Bay Shore, MI the son of William and Rose Gray. His early life was spent in Petoskey, Michigan. He served his country with the U.S. Navy during W.W.II. He married Geraldine Van Dorne in 1947. He was a member of the American Legion Post 342 and was past president of the 40 et 8. Mr. Gray worked as a shift engineer in the Power House at Chevrolet retiring after 28 years. Surviving are his daughter, Jeri Lynn Kingsbury; grandchildren, Christian and wife Cheryl Ruppel, Ashlee Rose and husband Jason Zimmer, Alyssa Lynn Kingsbury, Britton Gray Kingsbury; great grandchildren, Makayla, Grayson and Abriana Zimmer, Chase and Cooper Ruppel; loving brother-in-law James and wife Marge Van Dorne, brother-in-law, Orville and wife Karen Lyons, sister-inlaw, Beverly Van Dorne, sisterin-law, Margaret Gray, many nieces and nephews. Mr. Gray was preceded in death by his wife of 62 years Geraldine (Van Dorne) Gray, one brother, Lyle (Bud) and three sisters, Virginia, Dorothy and Eleanor. A Memorial Service will be held 1:00 p.m. Saturday, January 18, 2014 at Reigle Funeral Home with burial at a later date in Petoskey. Share your condolences with the family at www.reiglefuneralhome.com

.

HARPER, KENNETH FRANKLIN GERKE, PAUL E. Of Clio, age 91, died Saturday, January 11, 2014 at Maple Woods Manor. Funeral services will be held at 1 PM Wednesday, January 15, 2014 at Messiah Lutheran Church, 520 Butler St. in Clio. Pastor Erik Cloeter officiating. Burial to follow in Flint Memorial Park.

Friends may call at the church on Tuesday from 4-8 PM and on Wednesday from 12 noon until time of services at 1 PM. Contributions may be made to Messiah Lutheran Church or Genesee District Library, Talking Book Center. Paul was born on May 3, 1922 at the family farm in Herron, MI. He was the son of the late Erwin and Marie (Hoffer) Gerke. He married Lorraine Kindt on August 26, 1950 in Alpena, MI and they have lived in Clio since 1951. Paul was a charter member of Messiah Lutheran Church and in the early years he was a Sunday school teacher and also an usher. He worked for Buick for 30 years as a skilled trades machine repairman retiring in 1977 and was a member of the UAW Local #599. Paul was the ultimate "Mr. Fix-it" working with his hands fixing everything around the house and on the car too. Paul is survived by: his wife of over 63 years, Lorraine; three children, Randy (Barbara), Steven and Janice; granddaughters, Cecelia (Ryan), Melissa, Becky and her children, James, Kelly and Brittney; two sisters-in-law, Bertha Gerke and Wilma Jean Gallagher; several nieces and nephews. Paul was also preceded in death by: brothers, Howard and Bobby; and a sister, Allene (Elmer) Gries. Please sign our guest book or share an online condolence with the family at www.oguinnfh.com.

HALE, NANCY ANN Of Flint, age 47, died Friday, January 10, 2014 at Genesys Regional Medical Center. Funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, January 14, 2014 at the Swartz Funeral Home, 1225 West Hill Road, Pastor Daniel P. Rose officiating. Burial in Crestwood Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the family. Visitation 4-8 p.m. Sunday and 12-3 and 5-8 p.m. Monday at the funeral home. Nancy was born in Flint, MI on June 23, 1966, the daughter of Sonny and Sandy (Conrad) Hale. She loved her dog, Storm. Surviving are parents, Sonny and Sandy Hale; brothers, David Hale, Bob Hale, Timmy Hale and fiancee, Sabrina Fittante; sister, Vickie and husband, Randy Carpenter; nieces and nephews, Jessica, Amanda, Ronie, Timmy, Nickie and Jordan; special friend, Sarah Ellis. She was preceded in death by her grandparents and three uncles. Your condolences may be shared with the family at www.swartzfuneralhomeinc.com

Age 75, of Byron, went home to be with the Lord on January 10, 2014. Funeral services will be held 11 AM Friday, January 17, 2014 at Sharp Funeral Homes, Linden Chapel, 209 East Broad Street, Linden. Pastor Thomas Goupil officiating. Interment in Crestwood Cemetery, Grand Blanc. Visitation will be held 124 PM and 6-9 PM Thursday at the funeral home. Those desiring may make contributions to Bethany Baptist Church, Morrice. Mr. Harper was born January 18, 1938 in Hilton, VA, the son of Kenneth and Verna Mae (Olinger) Harper. He retired as a die maker after 47 years from GM Truck & Bus. Kenneth was a faithful member of Bethany Baptist church and loved to sing gospel music and hymns.

Mr. Harper is survived by his wife, Carolyn; children, Chris Harper, Thresa Cook, Glen Harper, Curtiss Harper, Bryan Harper; 11 grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; three stepchildren, Shannon Shaffer, Mickey Hayes, Christopher Hays. He was preceded in death by his siblings, Kathryn, Pauline, Glen, Wolmer; his parents and former wife, Joyce (Gilliland) Harper. Online condolences may be shared on the obituary page of www.sharpfuneralhomes.com

HELIAS, DONNA J. FUNERAL HOME & CREMATION CENTER

www.swartzfuneralhomeinc.com

Family Owned Operated By Rick R. Lamb & Family

.

Age 66, of Grand Blanc, died January 7, 2014. Private services have taken place. Donna was born November 19, 1947 in Flint, the daughter of Bruce and Jean (Madden) McLenna. She was a graduate of Fenton High School and had lived in the Fenton area most of her life. Online condolences may be posted on the obituaries page of www.sharpfuneralhomes.com

SUNDAY, JANUARY 12, 2014 / THE FLINT JOURNAL / A11

Obituaries 1/12

HURLBURT, MARY Passed away December 1, 2013, after a long illness. Mary is survived by her daughter, Suellen Finatri; son, Noel Hurlburt; grandchildren, Cheryl Clodfelter, Michelle Finatri, Marc Finatri, Justin Hurlburt and Nathan Hurlburt; several greatgrandchildren, nephews and nieces. Mary was preceded in passing by her son, Michael and husband, Harold. A Memorial Service will be held January 18, 2014 at St. Christophers Episcopal Church in Grand Blanc at 1 PM. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a donation to any local extended care organization for AIDS or Ahlziemers Patients.

HUSAK, ROBERT A. Of Mesick, formerly of Chesaning, age 66, died Friday, January 10, 2014, at Munson Medical Center in Traverse City.

Funeral services will be 2 p.m.

Thursday, January 16, 2014, at Rossell Funeral Home. Fr. Paul Schwermer will officiate. Cremation will follow the funeral services. Visitation will be 3-8 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home. If desired, memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association.

Robert was born in Flint, MI on May 31, 1947, the son of Alexander and Arlene (Lalonde) Husak. He married Theresa Tadlock on June 30, 2001. Robert worked at General Motors, retiring in 1994. He was a master outdoorsman and a great prankster. He had a larger than life presence. Robert loved life and his family and was a mentor and father figure to many. He is survived by his wife, Theresa; children, Michele Benjamin of Lake Havasu, AZ, Laura Rebolledo of Livonia; stepchildren, Emily Stroub of Flint, Anna and husband Darin Mohrman of Flushing; grandchildren, Mikayla, Brielle, Savannah, Mykenzie, Juliana, Ethan; siblings, Sandi and husband, Craig Gilbert, Ed and wife, Tami Husak; and many, many close friends. He was preceded in death by his parents.

IVES, DORA E. Of Swartz Creek, MI, age 96, died Monday, January 6, 2014 at her home. Funeral service was held 11 a.m. Saturday, January 11, 2014 at Swartz Creek United Methodist Church 7400 Miller Road in Swartz Creek, Pastor Wendy Orzel officiated.

Burial in Crestwood Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to The Swartz Creek United Methodist Church or the Alzheimer’s Association.

Your condolences may be shared with the family at www.swartzfuneralhomeinc.com

FUNERAL HOME & CREMATION CENTER

www.swartzfuneralhomeinc.com

Family Owned Operated By Rick R. Lamb & Family

.

IVEY, MICAH CHRISTOPHER

KING, THOMAS DAVID

Age 24, of Park City, UT and Linden, MI, died Tuesday, January 7, 2014 at McLaren-Oakland Hospital. Services will be held 2 PM Sunday, January 12, 2014 at Sharp Funeral Homes, Fenton Chapel, 1000 W. Silver Lake Rd., Fenton with Pastor Larry Schell officiating. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Gift of Life or McLaren - Oakland Trauma Center.

Friends may share an online LAMBERT, COLTON JAMES tribute on the obituary page of www.sharpfuneralhomes.com.

Age 10, of Linden, passed away, January 10, 2014. Funeral services will be held 1 PM Saturday, January 18, 2014 at The Rock Church, 11400 S. Linden Rd., Fenton. Pastor Wes Morris will officiate. Visitation will be held 2-9 PM Friday at JOLLAY, EDNA P. Sharp Funeral Homes, Linden Chapel, 209 E. Broad St., LinEdna P. Jollay, 100, passed den and from 12 PM until the away December 15, 2013 at her time of service Saturday at the home in Arlington, VA. She was church. Those desiring may born in Barlow, KY to Walter make contributions to the and Lucy Biggs and was the Colton James Lambert Fund c/o wife of the late McArthur Jollay. The State Bank. Colton was together the Jollays pastored born July 19, 2003 in Grand churches in Cinncinati, OH, Lon- Blanc, the son of Kevin James don, KY, and Riverside Taber- Lambert and Jessica Lynn nacle in Flint, MI. Their last pas- Englund. Colton attended Hyatt torate was from 1957 - 1979 at Elementary School. He enjoyed Christ Church of Washington hunting, fishing, soccer and DC, like Riverside Tabernacle, a working on cars. He also loved church building designed by swimming and boating. Colton Pastor Jollay. In recent years, was loved by everyone that Mrs. Jollay conducted long run- knew him. Surviving are: paning bible studies in several pri- rents, Kevin and Jessica; sister, vate homes and for several Savanah Englund; brother, Gayears in the White House for briel Lambert; half-brothers, White House Staff. She hosted Adam and Matthew Lambert; the "Things Excellent" bible half-sister, Emily Barlup; grandstudy on local radio station parents, Steve and Amy WCTN. Mrs. Jollay is survived Englund, Darrell and Karen by a son, Keith and his wife Lambert; aunts, Angie (Chris) Marty; two granddaughters, Sczodronski, Andrea Englund, Heather Jollay and her husband Susan (Brian) Washburn, HeathMartin Senicki, Lisa Tygielski er (Brian) Foutz, Kim (Frank) and her husband Matt, and Wilcox, Heidi Lambert; uncle, three great grandchildren, Jason Lambert; cousins, Tyler Phoebe Jollay-Castelblanco, Lambert, Brianne Englund, and Noah and Michael Allisha Szcodronski, Kasey Tygielski, all of Asheville, NC. Foutz; many great aunts and The funeral service was held at uncles and cousins. Online conCapital Church of Vienna, VA. dolences may be posted on the on December 19. Burial is in obituaries page of Franklin, NC alongside pastor www.sharpfuneralhomes.com Jollay. Please share condolences with the family at www.loudounfuneralchapel.com

Known to his friends as "Tiny", Age 54, of Fenton, died January 11, 2014 at Genesys Health Park. Service arrangements will be announced at a later time.

Tributes may be shared on the obituaries page at www.sharpfuneralhomes.com.

LABOSKEY, CATHERINE E. Age 91, of Fenton, MI and Bradenton, FL, passed away peacefully on January 9, 2014 in Bradenton, FL. There will be a private family service at Sunset Hills Cemetery in Flint, MI. Arrangements are being handled

by Sharp Funeral Homes, 6063 Fenton Rd., Flint MI. Catherine was born on August 8, 1922 in Flint, MI. She was raised for a while as a young girl in St. Ives, Cornwall, England. After returning to Flint, she graduated from Flint Northern High School, subsequently obtained her cosmetology license and owned her own beauty shop in the 1940’s.

She married William LaBoskey on August 3, 1942; he preceded her in death October 27, 1980.

She was a member of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Flint and was an active volunteer and Sunday School teacher. She participated in many forms of dancing throughout the years and particularly enjoyed clogging with a group in Paradise Bay Park in Bradenton. She is survived by: two children, Christopher P. (Janet) LaBoskey of Edinburg, TX, Karen (Bill) Mavredes of Bradenton, FL; seven grandchildren, Lisa Lindsey of Tampa FL, Shannon Conley of Chicago IL, Lynn Bryant of Bay City, MI, Bill Mavredes Jr. of Flint, MI, Kathryn Smith of Greenville, NC, Nicole Balamucki of Greensboro NC, Christopher LaBoskey of Edinburg, TX; nine greatgrandchildren; several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, William; and three siblings, William Lander, Mary Graham, and Gladys Murray.

Tributes may be shared on the obituaries page at www.sharpfuneralhomes.com.

LYND, JEROME K. "BUD" Of Burton, age 58, died Thursday, January 9, 2014 at Genesys Regional Medical Center.

Memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, January 18, 2014 at the Swartz Funeral Home, 1225 West Hill Road. Per Bud’s wishes, cremation has taken place. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the family. They would like to set up a fund for area children who need assistance in buying sports equipment. Visitation 1 p.m. Saturday until the time of the service and immediately following the memorial service at the funeral home. Bud was born in Flint, MI, the son of the late Lawrence and Adele (Balieu) Lynd. He married Shawn Teeple on June 17, 1978 in Burton. Bud coached numerous sports at various schools throughout Genesee County. He was a mentor and was very involved in the Burton community. On March 2, 2001 Bud received a key to the city and it was named Bud Lynd Day. Surviving are his wife, Shawn; son, Jeremy and girlfriend, Brittni; brother, Lawrence and wife, Maika Lynd; mother and father-in-law, Ellie and Fred Blatchford; brother and sister-in-law, Mitch and Cathy Teeple; step-brother, Fred and wife, Barb Blatchford; step-sister, Valerie and husband, Reuel Herron; many nieces and nephews; dog, Izzy and cat, Allie. He was also preceded in death by his sister, Sandra Lynd and brother, Frederick Lynd. Your condolences may be shared with the family at www.swartzfuneralhomeinc.com

FUNERAL HOME & CREMATION CENTER

www.swartzfuneralhomeinc.com

Family Owned Operated By Rick R. Lamb & Family

KOLMAN, KENNETH H. Of Grand Blanc, age 73, died Tuesday, January 7, 2014 at Genesys Regional Medical Center. Funeral service was held at 11 a.m. Saturday, January 11, 2014 at Mayfair Bible Church, 5339 West Pierson Road, Flushing, Pastor Dean Stewart officiated. Those desiring may make contributions to Mayfair Bible Building Fund. Your condolences may be shared with the family at www.swartzfuneralhomeinc.com

FUNERAL HOME & CREMATION CENTER

www.swartzfuneralhomeinc.com

Family Owned Operated By Rick R. Lamb & Family

.

.

LOY, DEBORAH Z. (ELLISON) "DEBBIE" Of Flushing, age 60, was welcomed into the arms of the Lord on Monday, January 6, 2014, surrounded by her husband and loving family at Hurley Medical Center. Funeral service was held at 12 noon Saturday, January 11, 2014 at the Swartz Funeral Home, 1225 West Hill Road, Pastor Robert E. Henson officiated. A Private burial will take place later. Your condolen- MORGAN, MR. LEE ces may be shared with the TAYLOR, JR. family at www.swartzfuneralhomeinc.com Age 72, passed away Tuesday, January 7, 2014 at McLaren Flint. Family and friends will FUNERAL HOME & gather in the Comfort Chapel of CREMATION CENTER Swanson Funeral Home 2210 M.L. King Ave. Flint, MI 48503 www.swartzfuneralhomeinc.com on Monday, January 13, 2014 at Family Owned 12 NOON, with service comOperated By Rick R. Lamb & Family mencing promptly at 12:30 PM. Overseer Clarence Duckworth, officiating. Mr. Morgan will lie in MACDOUGALL, GARY L. state at Swanson Funeral Home Of Millington, age 52, died on Sunday, January 12, 2014 Tuesday, January 7, 2014 at his and may be viewed 2PM-6PM. residence. Funeral services will Interment Gracelawn Cemetery. be held 11 AM Monday, Janu- swansonsfuneralhomes.com ary 13, 2014 at the O’Guinn Family Funeral Home in Clio.

Rev. Dr. Janet M. Engler officiating. Burial will be in Flint Memorial Park. Friends may call at the funeral home on Sunday from 3 PM until 7 PM and on Monday from 10 AM until the time of service at 11 AM. Contributions may be made to the Disabled American Veterans.

MCCARTHY, ANNE V. Of Flint, age 95, died Friday, January 10, 2014 at Homewood Village. Funeral arrangements will be announced later

MAYBERRY, VICKI Of Flint, passed away peacefully at her Florida home on January 2, 2014, after a brief illness.

She was surrounded by family and friends. Vicki, born on September 13, 1956, in Paintsville, KY, was raised in Inez, KY. She was the daughter of the late John F. and Leila Crum. She graduated from Sheldon Clark High School, and then from the University of Louisville. She worked as a protective services supervisor for the Kentucky Department of Heath and Human Services until her move to Michigan in 1993. She became the first director of the LACADA Women’s Shelter in Lapeer, MI. Thereafter, she became a Friend of the Court case manager for Genesee County until her retirement. Vicki met the love of her life, Mark P. Mayberry in Flint. They were married 1997, and spent the happiest years of their lives together. They spent weekends boating, entertaining friends, seeking out new places to investigate, and babysitting their grandson, Maddox. At home, their Friday night neighborhood gatherings were legendary.

Vicki was the most loyal and committed daughter, sister, and friend. Family came first for Vicki. She made countless trips to Kentucky to care for her parents and brother Phillip. Her friends were like family. She had boundless love for her neighbors and their children, Kennedy, McKenzie and Madison Speer, her surrogate nieces. Vicki and Mark eventually found their way to Merritt Island, FL, their new get-away spot. Vicki’s endless enthusiasm for making friends nurtured a new life for them in Florida.

People could not help but gravitate to her warmth, sincerity and kindness. Her interest in style and fashion eventually led Vicki to her part-time job at Merle Norman’s and then to the Space Coast School of Cosmetology. She graduated in 2013 with the highest marks in the school’s history. Vicki leaves her husband, Mark; step-son, Nicholas Mayberry and his wife, Emma Mayberry; grandson, Maddox; mother-in-law, Shirley Mayberry; sister-in-law, Sheila Mayberry and her husband, Alan MacDuffie; sister, Mary Edgeworth and husband, Myron ("Buz"); brothers, Phillip, Frankie and Benton; and many nieces and nephews. A springtime memorial service is planned.

FUNERAL HOME & CREMATION CENTER

www.swartzfuneralhomeinc.com

Family Owned Operated By Rick R. Lamb & Family

.

MILLER, MARGARET Margaret Miller, age 76, died January 11, 2014. Arrangements will be announced by Sharp Funeral Home & Cremation Center, 6063 Fenton Road, Flint. Online tributes may be shared on the obituary page of www.sharpfuneralhomes.com .

MOEN, MARILYN "DIANE" Of Flint, age 71, died Saturday, January 11, 2014 at home. Funeral arrangements will be announced later.

FUNERAL HOME & CREMATION CENTER

www.swartzfuneralhomeinc.com

Family Owned Operated By Rick R. Lamb & Family

MOGELINSKI, JOSEPH Of Flushing, age 29, died Friday, January 10, 2014 at his residence. Funeral arrangements will be announced later.

PEARCE, ELAINE MAE Age 98, died Monday, January 6, 2014 at The Pines of Goodrich. Mrs. Pearce was born June 26, 1915 in Flint, the daughter of Clarence and Ida Miller. In 1932 she graduated from Flint Northern High School.

She married Leslie Pearce on September 8th, 1934 in Angola, IN and in 1999 they celebrated 65 years of marriage. For over 70 years she was a member of Asbury United Methodist Church, where she was very active, including serving several years as President of the Women’s Society. In recent years she attended Halsey United Methodist Church where she had become a member.

She enjoyed traveling and had visited all 50 states and also traveled overseas on numerous trips, most recently to China at the age of 88. She was a wonderful china painter and had worked as a bookkeeper for Pearce Landscape and Lawn Service. She was a current member of the Genesee County Historical Society, Flushing Historical Society, Flint Institute of Arts, Pioneer Memorial Association of Fenton, and Organization of China Painters. She lived most of her life as a resident of Davison until the last ten years, most of which were residing at Abbey Park in Grand Blanc. The family would like to express their gratitude to the staffs of Abbey Park, The Medical Team, and The Pines of Goodrich.

Surviving are her daughter, Lynn (Gerald) Kendrick; grandchildren, Todd (Jill) Pearce, Scott (Shannon) Pearce and Brian Kendrick; great-grandchildren, Jordan Pearce, Grant Pearce, and Gabrielle Pearce; brother, Kenneth Miller and his special friend, Katie; sister, Janet (Bob) Martin; many special nieces and nephews. Mrs. Pearce was preceded in death by her husband, Leslie Pearce and son and daughter-in-law, David and Donna Pearce, brothers Claremont and Jack Miller. As were her wishes cremation has taken place. A Memorial Service will be held at a later date. Share your memories and condolences with the family at www.brownfh.com.

FUNERAL HOME & CREMATION CENTER

www.brownfh.com

www.swartzfuneralhomeinc.com

Family Owned Operated By Rick R. Lamb & Family

continued on next page

.

A12 / THE FLINT JOURNAL / SUNDAY, JANUARY 12, 2014

Obituaries ROMANOWSKI (POWERS), JOYCE E. Flint Joyce E. Romanowski (Powers), of Flint, age 82, went home to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Tuesday, January 7, 2014 at McLaren-Flint. Funeral service will be held at 1 p.m.

Monday, January 13, 2014 at Riverside Tabernacle, 429 NB Chavez Drive, Flint, Pastor Thomas Mattiuzzo officiating. Burial in Evergreen Cemetery. Visitation 1-8 p.m. Sunday at the Swartz Funeral Home, 1225 West Hill Road.

Mrs. Romanowski will be at the church from 12 noon Monday until the time of the service. In lieu of flowers, donations may be directed to Resurrection and Life. Your condolences may be shared with the family at www.swartzfuneralhomeinc.com

FUNERAL HOME & CREMATION CENTER

www.swartzfuneralhomeinc.com

Family Owned Operated By Rick R. Lamb & Family

Age 66, of Flint, died January 9, 2014. Funeral services will be held 3 PM Tuesday, January 14, 2014 at Sharp Funeral Home & Cremation Center, 6063 Fenton Road, Flint. Visitation will be 1/12 held 4 - 8 PM Monday at the funeral home. Online condolences SNIDER, CARL DAVID may be posted on the obituaries page of Age 64, of Fenton, passed www.sharpfuneralhomes.com. peacefully at his residence Friday, January 10, 2014. Cremation has taken place. A Memorial Service will be announced at a later date at Sharp Funeral Homes, Fenton Chapel, 1000 Silver Lake Rd., Fenton. Carl was born in Flint, June 15, 1949, the son of William Harold and Lillian Alice (Waghorn) Snider. He was a graduate of Swartz Creek High School and Central Michigan University.

Carl was a Technical Engineer for General Motors and retired after many years of service. He loved to golf and spend time with friends and family. Carl was a generous person who loved to help others less fortunate. He is survived by: brother, Paul, wife Babi and their chilTHURMON, MRS. JULIA MAE dren, Bill and Sara; son, Mi"MOM MAE" chael Snider; daughter, Michelle Pinter; four grandchildren; Aunt Age 87, passed away WednesJoy and Uncle Bob; several day, January 8, 2014 at her resicousins; and special friend dence. Family hour 10:30 a.m.

Dawn Fuller. He was preceded Monday, January 13, 2014 at in death by his parents and sis- New Zion Missionary Baptist ter, Jane. Tributes may be Church, 1601 Chippewa St., shared on the obituaries page with funeral service commencof ing at 11 a.m. Pastor Jacob www.sharpfuneralhomes.com. Hawkins, Jr. officiating. Inter-

ROYCE, DEBORAH JEAN Age 56 , of Flint, died Thursday, January 9, 2014. Funeral services will be held 1 PM Tuesday, January 14, 2014 at Sharp Funeral Home and Cremation Center, 6063 Fenton Road, Flint. Pastor Ken Carver officiating. Burial will follow in Evergreen Cemetery, Grand Blanc.

Visitation will be held 5 PM - 8 PM Sunday, 2 PM to 8 PM Monday and 10 AM until time of service Tuesday. Those desiring may make contributions to the family or to the American Heart Association. Mrs. Royce was born July 4, 1957 in Flint, MI, the daughter of the late Charles and Martha May (Martin) Duca. She married Robert Royce on July 17, 1993 in Flint.

Deborah enjoyed Bingo, going to the casino and camping at Outdoor Adventure. Surviving are: husband, Robert "Bob" Royce of Flint; children, Leannah Jenkins of Fenton, Nancy Cuevas of Holly, Paul Maize of FL, Curtis Jenkins of Fenton, Amy (Lonnie) Harper of Swartz Creek, Robert Royce JR. of Davison; grandchildren, Viviano IV, Selena, Antonia, Jase, Zach, Dustin, Zoie; brothers, Larry, Jim, Martin; sisters, Connie, Sue, Donna; many nieces and nephews. Online condolences may be posted on the obituaries page of www.sharpfuneralhomes.com.

SELLERS, LARRY W. "GUNNER" Of Flint, age 65, died Tuesday, January 7, 2014 at his residence. Funeral service was held at 6 p.m. Friday, January 10, 2014 at the Swartz Funeral Home, 1225 West Hill Road, Pastor Sarah LaRose-Nettell officiated. Those desiring may make contributions to the family. Your condolences may be shared with the family at www.swartzfuneralhomeinc.com

FUNERAL HOME & CREMATION CENTER

www.swartzfuneralhomeinc.com

Family Owned Operated By Rick R. Lamb & Family

SKAGG, MRS. SHIRLEY Age 47, passed away Wednesday, January 8, 2014 at McLaren-Flint.

STEPHENS, DIANE MARGHERITA Of Clio, age 59, died Friday, January 10, 2014 at her residence. Honoring her wishes, cremation has taken place. A celebration of Diane’s life will be held 2PM Wednesday, January 15, 2014 at the O’Guinn Family Funeral Home in Clio. Friends may visit the funeral home on Wednesday from 11AM until the time of service at 2PM. Memorial contributibutions may be made to Autism Speaks

TAYLOR, JAKE

TOWNSEND, CLINTON ARTHUR LInden

STOGNER, THOMAS

ment Forest Lawn Memorial Gardens Cemetery, Pine Bluff, AR. Friends and pallbearers will assemble at the Church 10:30 a.m. Monday. Mrs. Thurmon will lie in state in the Chapel of Lawrence E. Moon Funeral Home, 906 W. Flint Park Blvd. and may be viewed from 10 a.m.-6 p.m.

Sunday, with family present 4 p.m.-6 p.m. Mrs. Julia Mae "Mom Mae" Thurmon was born March 8, 1926 in Pine Bluff, AR, the daughter of the late Willie and Della (Moten) Wilburn. She married Clovellon Thurman and they relocated to Flint, MI, where they worked faithfully together until his death in 1994.

Julia Mae was employed at McLaren Medical Center in laundry retiring after 27 years of service. She was affectionately known as "Mom Mae" by everyone that knew her. "Mom Mae" spent her retirement years enjoying family, talking daily to friends and co-workers, closely following the local news and monitoring her Police Scanner.

"Mom Mae" had a very giving and generous heart and reached out to help friends and neighbors and touched everyone that she knew in a special way. Mrs. Julia Mae "Mom Mae" Thurmon leaves to cherish her memory: devoted daughter and son-in-law, Charlie Mae (Hilton) and James T. Rhodes; three granddaughters, Pamela (Terry) Powell, Julia (James) McKinnon and Lori (Victor) Campbell; grandson, James (Latasha Artis) Rhodes, Jr.; four greatgranddaughters, JaNay and Stephanie Vines, Chardenea Burrell and Deijana Rhodes; six great-grandsons, Philip, Stephan and Aaron Powell, DeQuan Gettens, Dequavion Paige and James Rhodes III; one great-great-grandson, Darreion Fowlkes, all of Flint; sister-in-law, Myrtle Wilburn of Milwaukee, WN; god-daughter, Valerie (Homer) Mosley; godson, Everett Cosey; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives including Mildred Buggs, Evelyn Faye Harrison; a host of friends, including special friends, Esther Jones, Rose Wilson, Berncie Staten and Flora Mae (Clovester) Baber. Mrs. Thurmon was preceded in death by her husband, Clovellon Thurmon; parents, Willie and Della Wilburn; three brothers, Willie, Henry and Arthur Wilburn. The family would like to express special thanks to Pastor Jacob Hawkins, Jr. and the New Zion Missionary Baptist Church family, Bro. Rigel Dawson and the North Central Church of Christ family, neighbors and friends for their special kindness including special neighbor, Lucy White.

Age 74, of Lapeer, died January 9, 2014 at McLaren Hospital-Lapeer.

Funeral service will be held 12 noon, Tuesday, January 14, 2014 at the New Dawn Chapel 1569 S. Elba Rd. Lapeer, MI. Family will receive visitors from 12-8 PM Monday, January 13 at the chapel.

Burial in Dawn Cemetery. Jake worked for GM for 35 years, loved fishing and bowling and his grandchildren.

Jake was a veteran of the United States Marines and Navy.

He is survived by children: Ronnie, Sherry, Christopher (Sheila), Louis (Sheryl), Matthew (Veronica); grandchildren: Sarah, William, Allyn, Amber, Connor, Kodi, Curtis, Ahreonna; sisters: Theresa and Daisy.

VAN HORN, MRS. BARBARA Jake was preceded in death by his wife, Margaret Taylor.

Age 60, passed away Saturday, January 11, 2014 at her residence.

TOMPKINS, JAMES D. Otisville James D. Tompkins, of Otisville, age 59, died Friday, January 9, 2014 at McLaren of Flint. Funeral services will be held 10AM Tuesday, January 14, 2014 at the O’Guinn Family Funeral Home in Clio. Rev. Dr. Carl Petty officiating. Burial to follow in Great Lakes National Cemetery in Holly. Friends may call at the funeral home on Sunday from 12-3PM and 5-8PM and on Tuesday from 9AM until the time of service at 10AM. Memorial contributions may be made to the family. James was born on January 6, 1955 to John "Jay" and Laverne (Bloomer) Tompkins. He graduated from Ainsworth High School in 1973 and from Pikes Peak College in Colorado where he earned his Associates degree.

James married Kathleen Hamblin on April 25, 1975. Mr. Tompkins served as a Master Sergeant in the U.S. Army for more than 20 years; traveling to and or living in Alaska, Texas, Colorado, Maryland, Korea, Somalia, Cuba and Germany.

James retired retired from the service and moved back to the Flint area. He was also a member of the Disabled American Vets. He was formerly employed at Auto Zone and Minacs - Morley. He enjoyed hunting, gardening, traveling, fishing and spending time at his cabin. Surviving are: wife, Kathleen Tompkins; two sons, David (Kim) Tompkins and John Tompkins (Rolanda Pinkney) of Mt. Morris; three grandchildren, Cody, Austin and Gage Tompkins; mother, Laverne; two brothers, Johnny Tompkins (Angie Meyers), Donny (Rachel) Tompkins; sister, Sonya (Mac) Kirkalnd; many nieces, nephews, cousins and special friends. James was preceded in death by his father, John "Jay" Tompkins; sister, Judy Tompkins and father and mother in law, Ron and Mary Lou Hamblin. Please sign our guest book or share an online condolence with the family at www.oguinnfh.com

WILLIAMS, MR. BURKS

Age 79, passed away Saturday, January 11, 2014 at Gentiva Clinton Arthur Townsend, age Health Services-Flint, MI. 87, of Linden, died January 8, 2014 in Allen TX. Funeral services mass will be celebrated 11 AM Thursday, January 16 at St. Augustine Catholic Church, 6481 Faussett Road, Howell, Fr. Gregg Pleiness celebrant.

Interment in Crestwood MemoIN MEMORIAM rial Cemetery, Grand Blanc. Visitation will be 2-4 and 6-9 PM Wednesday with a 7 PM Scripture service at Sharp Funeral Homes, 209 East Broad Street, Linden. Tributes may be shared on the obituaries page of www.sharpfuneralhomes.com

WILSON, ANNIS L.

DESHANO, LLOYD G. 07/31/1929 - 01/08/1989

Annis L. Wilson, of Flint, age 101, died Wednesday, January 8, 2014 at Genesys Convales- It’s been 25 years since you cent Center. Funeral service will gone from us, God has you in his keeping hands, and we be held at 11 a.m. Monday, Janhold you in our heart. We uary 13, 2014 at Swartz Funeral Home 1225, West Hill Road. love and miss you so much.

Burial in Flint Memorial Park.

Visitation 12noon-8 p.m. Sun- Wife, Rose, children, Teresa day at the funeral home. A spe- and Dana Moore, Lynn and cial thank you to the staff of Steven Ocenasek, Cheryl and Genesys Convalescent Center Joe Appel, Lloyd DeShano, Patricia and James Sarka, for their many years of caring for Annis. Your condolences Laura and George Mersinas, Lawrence and Cindy may be shared with the family at DeShano. www.swartzfuneralhomeinc.com

FUNERAL HOME & CREMATION CENTER

www.swartzfuneralhomeinc.com

Family Owned Operated By Rick R. Lamb & Family

.

WITHERBY, ROSEMARIE ALICE

HAHN, BARBARA LEE

RoseMarie Alice Witherby, age Jan. 12, 1940 - Dec. 26, 2012 77, of Linden, passed away on Happy Birthday Barbie.

January 9, 2014. Funeral Mass will be celebrated 11 AM Friday, January 17, 2014 at St. John Still Miss You, Still Love You. the Evangelist Catholic Church, John, Steve, Keith, Erin, 600 N. Adelaide St. Fenton. Fr. Luke, Mary and Dru Dwight Ezop Celebrant. Burial will follow at Great Lakes National Cemetery, Holly. Visitation will be held 10 AM until time of Mass.

ZIMMERMANN, ELLEN

.

WILLIS, MR. ROBERT EDWARD Age 69, passed away Saturday, January 4, 2014 at Genesys Health Park-Grand Blanc, MI. Family hour 10:30 a.m.

Tuesday, January 14, 2014 from the Chapel of Lawrence E. Moon Funeral Home, 906 W. Flint Park Blvd., with funeral service commencing at 11 a.m.

Pastor William Parker Jr., officiating. Interment Great Lakes National Cemetery, G-4200 Belford Rd., Holly, MI. Friends and pallbearers will assemble at the funeral home 10:30 a.m.

Tuesday. Mr. Willis will lie in state in the Chapel of Lawrence E. Moon Funeral Home, and may be viewed from 6-8 p.m.

Monday. Mr. Willis was honorably discharged from the U.S. Army.

Ellen Zimmermann died at her home in Sylvan Lake, MI on January 5, 2014 of a heart attack. She was born August 14, 1957 in Midland, MI, to the late Marcella (Dereszynski) Zimmermann and Myron Paul Zimmermann. She attended Midland Public Schools and graduated from Northwood University with a degree in accounting. We will always chuckle at her sense of humor, wry comments which brought mirth to even the least funny situations. Ellen was talented and we will remember her handmade books, lovely quilts, drawings and imaginative assemblages. A voracious reader, she always had a particularly good book to suggest. From a young age she was a friend to all animals (cats, most of all). Her garden was her laboratory and a great joy.

Nothing pleased her more than planning her gardens each spring and planting new and interesting varieties of vegetables which she canned. Her family and friends enjoyed the homecanned bounty. She is survived by her love, Sandra Lodge; son, Ian (Dejana Perrone) Spiridigliozzi, of Flushing, NY; grandson, Cameron North; brothers, Brian (Kathy) Zimmermann, of Midland, Eric Zimmermann, of Los Angeles, CA; sisters, Margaret Zimmermann, of Grand Rapids and Kathryn (Robert) Mass, of Midland; seven special nieces and nephews; and many close friends, including Mitzi Forrest.

The family will receive visitors Saturday, January 11, 2014 from 2-4 PM at the SawyerFuller Funeral Home, 2125 12 Mile Road, Berkley (two blocks west of Woodward). Although flowers are welcome, the family wishes memorial contributions to be used for the education of her grandson, Cameron North.

MITCHELL, JEANETTA EGGERSON Happy Birthday Mother We Love You FROM YOUR CHILDREN

PAYNE, HAZEL D. (NENNIE) In Loving Memory of Mother, who made her transition into eternity.

January 11, 2003.

Lovingly Remembered, Sadly Missed by, Her Family

RICE, Bertha (Fails) Sunrise March 23, 1936 Sunset January 11, 2013 Love and Miss You Your Family

THE FLINT JOURNAL / SUNDAY, JANUARY 12, 2014 / A13

Michigan For the latest breaking news, go to MLive.com LANSING

Snyder be�ing big on Super Bowl Sunday

G

ov. Rick Snyder isn’t a betting man, but his re-election campaign committee is betting big on another Super Bowl ad, doubling down on the 2010 commercial that made “one tough nerd” a household nickname.

A 2006 photo shows gray wolves on Isle Royale National Park in northern Michigan. (AP)

“We don’t know that our lethal controls brought down those depredations.”

BRIAN ROELL, A TOP DNR WOLF EXPERT IN MARQUETTE UPPER PENINSULA

A�acks by wolves wane

T

By John Barnes

jbarnes1@mlive.com

he icon on the GPS shows his dog is on the move.

For Michael Crippen, it provides hope his radio-collared bear hound survived the wolf attack that took her hunting mate.

Lake Superior Marque�e

Munising

Pete’s Lake Location of wolf a�ack

N (MLive.com)

since 1996, when the first attack was recorded after wolves’ return, also on a bear hound.

FEWER WOLVES KILLED

In 2013, the lower number of attacks came the same year as the state’s first managed wolf hunt. It also came one year after removal of Michigan wolves’ protected status allowed farmers to It is a gray morning here use lethal means — includin the Hiawatha National ing licensed shooters — to Forest, about 12 miles south kill nuisance wolves. of Munising. The skies In 2012, 25 wolves were will shed rain later. Beech killed under various meatree leaves are turning yelsures. Six were killed in the low and bronze. Angular act of attacking livestock, 11 beechnuts have ripened, and were killed under privatethe trees’ serrated leaves land lethal control permits, will cling most of the winand eight were killed by ter, shivering in the wind. state or federal wildlife Temperatures are in the agents.

50s.

In 2013, that dwindled to Blood is on the ground.

12. Four wolves were killed Crippen has just topped attacking livestock, six a knoll and sees flashes of under private lethal control movement, frightening four permits, and two by wildlife to five wolves that cornered officials. and killed one of his Bluetick The latter fact has given purebreds while hunting wolf-hunt opponents bear. He saw its last gasp. ammunition for their arguThe Midland-area man’s ment that the 2013 hunt hope that another dog surwas unnecessary to get rid vived ended 250 yards away. of problem wolves. They That’s where he found Ring, say other lethal measures an experienced 6-year-old should have been given tracker worth $4,000 to more time to prove their $5,000. effectiveness.

“There was a long bloody “The law had only gone drag mark that led to where into effect for lethal manageRing was found (that’s why ment in January 2012. They his icon was moving on the did not wait to see how that GPS) and many of his interworked before charging into nal organs had been eaten,” a wolf hunt,” said Jill Fritz, reads the Department of Michigan state director for Natural Resources report on The Humane Society of the the Oct. 12 attack.

United States and director This incident in the Upper of Keep Michigan Wolves Peninsula’s Schoolcraft Protected.

County was one of the last But Brian Roell, a top DNR verified wolf attacks in 2013 wolf expert, said it is too — 20 attacks in all. soon to draw conclusions.

But as horrific as the inci“We don’t know that our dent was — two dogs were lethal controls brought killed, two others injured down those depredations,” — last year saw the lowest said Roell, a wildlife biolonumber of wolf depredagist in Marquette. tions in Michigan in years, “My hunch is that we did by at least half. not take enough to control The year before saw 41 behavior through lethal conattacks on one or more anitrol measures.” mals; 2011 registered 44. In Sometimes, after a hard 2010, there were 49 attacks. winter, deer are stressed It was the most of any year and easier prey, meaning

wolves might not turn to livestock as much, Roell noted. This is shaping up to be a hard winter, though it and other factors are impossible to predict, he noted.

Some speculate canine attacks are not really down, but that hunters are less likely to report them and handle the problem themselves. Unlike cattle, the government does not compensate for dog losses.

None of that is much consolation to Crippen, owner of the four dogs killed or injured on that autumn morning in the Hiawatha National Forest.

The area, it should be noted, is not within the state’s three hunting zones for problem wolves.

HUNTERS BECOME PREY

It was the middle of Michigan’s third and last bear season of 2013.

The plan was for Crippen and his friends to follow the dogs, which were on bear grazing trails. The hope is that a bear would be forced into a clearing, or at least “bay-up” — make a stand until the hunters arrived.

If the bear is treed, all the better.

Cindy and Bill Thome, owner of the five-cabin Kenbuck Resort where Crippen’s hunting party was staying, joined their longtime customers in the

hunt about eight miles to the north.

The dogs were howling in the distance.

“Cindy said, ‘Did you hear that?’ And I said, ‘Hear what?’ ” Bill Thome said.

“She heard three things that cut in front of her. Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh. Moving fast.

“About 15 minutes later we heard the dogs howl, and then we heard a howl that was a wolf. Then — about 15 seconds later — they got one of the dogs, and it was a death howl.”

Ring was killed first, an investigation determined.

Diamond, a 3-year-old female worth about $2,500, died second.

Blaze and Flo, both 3-yearold bear hounds worth about $2,500 each, soon came out of the woods separately, wounded.

A fifth dog, Patch, emerged from the woods uninjured.

“He was traumatized, just shaking,” said Thome, 60.

“I think with those dogs howling, it was like a dinner bell or something.”

Ç ONLINE EXTRAS

Search all wolf attacks in Michigan, 1996-2013, bit.ly/wolfcomp See what it cost to protect one Michigan farm, bit.ly/wolfcost

WOLF NUMBERS RISE, ATTACKS FALL

600

GUN PRIVACY

So how much will the Snyder campaign spend on Super Bowl ads? FCC records show a one-minute game-day spot on Fox will cost the committee $400,000 in Metro Detroit and another $25,000 in the Flint market.

MIRS subscription news reports he also will spend $40,000 in Grand Rapids, $18,000 in Lansing and $12,000 in Cadillac/ Traverse City. Combined with a $166,130 cable buy on Fox News, Snyder’s total February advertising tab already is at $661,130.

That’s a big figure for a guy who still won’t confirm his re-election plans.

Democratic challenger Mark Schauer has filed an application for public funding in the primary, meaning he likely will be limited to spending $2 million total through Aug. 5. But if the race is close, expect plenty of independent spending by outside groups as well.

House Republicans on Thursday unveiled their updated action plan for 2014, highlighting a push to use a projected budget surplus on some form of tax relief for Michigan residents. It didn’t get the headlines, but the plan includes a new nod to the gun lobby.

House Speaker Jase Bolger, of Marshall, told reporters the caucus wants to “protect gun owners from intimidation and harassment by exempting their information from” Freedom of Information Act requests, pointing out that is the only gun-related measure in the action plan.

House Bill 4155, introduced last year by state Rep. Aric Nesbitt, R-Lawton, appears to be a response to a controversial move by The New York Journal News, which published the names and addresses of gun owners in two counties following the Sandy Hook school shooting in late 2012.

GOLDEN PARACHUTE?

Senate Minority Leader Gretchen Whitmer, of East Lansing, is calling for an independent investigation into the Michigan Department of Treasury after reports surfaced last week that former Treasurer Andy Dillon, who resigned Nov. 1, continues to make his full $174,204 salary as an adviser to his successor.

“Michigan taxpayers deserve to know that the department that’s entrusted with the state’s finances and collecting tax dollars is itself being run in a fiscally responsible manner,” Whitmer said in a release referencing Dillon’s “golden parachute” and significant pay raises given to Treasury investment officials in 2013.

Dillon serves at the pleasure of new Treasurer Kevin Clinton, according to department spokesman Terry Stanton. He has assisted “with transition issues and has been working on local government fiscal issues.”

His role — and pay — is expected to last another four to six weeks.

joosting@mlive.com

500

= wolf population = a�acks on livestock* = a�acks on dogs

300

200

100

0

’96 ’97 ’98 ’99 ’00 ’01 ’02 ’03 ’04 ’05 ’06 ’07 ’08 ’09 ’10 ’11 ’12 ’13

*Mostly cattle, but includes sheep, chickens and other fowl.

Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Midwest Region; Michigan Department of Natural Resources

joosting g @mlive.com .com

SUPER BOWL SUNDAY

By Jonathan Oosting

400

Jonathan than Oosting ing

MEDICAL MARIJUANA

House-approved legislation to bring back medical marijuana “provisioning centers” and allow edible products scored a small victory in the Senate when both bills were referred to the Government Operations Committee chaired by Majority Leader Randy Richardville, of Monroe.

Supporters had feared the bills would end up in the Judiciary Committee chaired

by Sen. Rick Jones, R-Grand Ledge, a former sheriff who has spoken out against dispensaries in the past. There’s no guarantee Richardville will act on the legislation any time soon, but the ball is firmly in his court.

“I don’t know that we have a plan on those bills, so to speak, but he’s been very open to having hearings on anything to do with that topic, obviously,” said Richardville spokeswoman Amber McCann, referencing consideration and approval of a pharmaceutical-grade marijuana bill late last year.

“Don’t rule that out.”

Lawmakers considering plans for $971 million budget surplus

700

Figure not available

Opponents say it shows hunt was unnecessary, but proponents say it is too early to tell

POLITICAL TICAL POINTS POINN T S

(Jeff Johnston/MLive.com)

LANSING — Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder and state lawmakers are looking at $971 million in new one-time and ongoing revenue as they begin work on the next fiscal budget, setting the stage for a debate over possible tax cuts, rebates and new investments.

Officials from the non-partisan House and Senate fiscal agencies, along with the state Treasury Department, settled on that figure Friday at a Consensus Revenue Estimating Conference in Lansing, where they discussed economic forecasts and compared updated revenue projections for fiscal years 2013 through 2015.

The Senate Fiscal Agency projected $1.3 billion in increased revenue over a

May 2013 estimating conference. The House Fiscal panel pegged the number at $1.1 billion, while Treasury officials offered a more conservative $708 million, citing uncertainty over unclaimed Michigan Business Tax credits.

The consensus figure of $971 million includes approximately $325 million to build into the long-term budget, while $646 million will be available for onetime appropriations. It is a mixture of general fund and School Aid Fund revenue.

Michigan House Republicans last week unveiled an updated action plan that emphasized tax relief for residents.

Gov. Rick Snyder also has signaled he is open to the idea but has stressed the need for long-term planning.

A14 / SUNDAY, JANUARY 12, 2014 / THE FLINT JOURNAL

Michigan LANSING

Rogers: Snowden leaks could have ‘lethal consequences’

W

elcome to The Michigan Delegation, your weekly look at what Michigan’s members of Congress are up to and the elections for their 14 congressional seats and two Senate seats.

Last week’s stories:

MICHIGAN DELEGATION Fritz tz Klug ug fklug@mlive.com g@mlive.com

ROGERS SAYS SNOWDEN ENDANGERS MILITARY LIVES:

An FBI report sent to Congress last week said the thousands of documents leaked by Edward Snowden put U.S. military at risk.

U.S. Rep Mike Rogers, R-Brighton, said, based on the report, Snowden’s actions “are likely to have lethal consequences for our troops in the field.”

“This report confirms my greatest fears — Snowden’s real acts of betrayal place America’s military men and women at greater risk,” Rogers said in a Rogers statement, according to Politico.

Rogers, who chairs the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, has been a vocal opponent of Snowden and the revelations about the National Security Agency brought to light by documents he leaked.

Snowden was a contract worker for the NSA and leaked thousands of documents that have details of the agency’s vast surveillance program of American citizens. He currently is in Russia under temporary asylum.

UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS

The Senate voted to end debate on extending unemployment benefits, which could lead to a vote.

Democrats are trying to have a vote in the House.

In Michigan, about 43,000 people lost long-term unemployment ben-

efits in December, according to the state Unemployment Insurance Agency. In a statement last week, U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow said the benefits are “a critical lifeline for families out of work through no fault of their own.”

Without action by Congress, thousands more each week would feel the impact as their state-funded benefits expire, generally after 26 weeks.

Forty nine freshman House Democrats, led by U.S. Rep. Dan Kildee, D-Flint Township, sent a letter asking Speaker John Boehner to call a vote on the extension.

U.S. Rep John Conyers, D-Detroit, a supporter of extending the benefits, said “it is unconscionable that House Republicans previously blocked consideration of extending unemployment insurance that helps Americans make ends meet as they look for a job.”

Two candidates for the U.S. Senate support extending the benefits.

U.S. Rep Gary Peters, D-Bloomfield Hills, is a longtime backer and reiterated his support in a statement, saying the benefits have a “proven economic return” and that “Congress must act without delay to extend emergency unemployment insurance benefits.”

Former Republican Secretary of State and Senate candidate Terri Lynn Land said she also supports extending the benefits.

On the Brian Patrick Shields show, Land said “I think it’s important we take care of the folks in Michigan

Earthweek: A Diary of the Planet

U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Brighton, chairman of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, said he believes former National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden, above, has put American lives at risk. (AP file)

who are hurting.”

ASIAN CARP

The Army Corps of Engineers released a study this week with several alternative plans for keeping Asian carp out of the Great Lakes.

The report comes from a bill sponsored by Stabenow and U.S. Rep. Dave Camp, R-Midland, that would separate the Great Lakes and Mississippi watersheds.

After the report was released, Camp and Stabenow said the Army Corp should have endorsed a single plan.

“More work is needed to com-

By Steve Newman -68 -68° Selagoncy, Siberia

3.1

2.9

2.9

01B

Ian

2.3

+119°° Onslow, Western Australia Week Ending January 10, 2014

Cold War Legacy

Earth’s upper atmosphere is still littered with radioactive particles from the more than 500 aboveground nuclear tests that took place decades ago, according to a new study.

Most of the plutonium and cesium isotopes from those blasts have since been rinsed out of the lower atmosphere by falling in rain or snow, or by being brought down by gravity. The stratosphere was also thought to be relatively fallout-free before a Swiss team found its contamination to be about 1,000 to 1,500 levels higher than in the troposphere, the layer just above the surface. Jose Corcho of the Swiss Federal Office for Civil Protection says the contamination probably poses no danger to humans. “Most of the radioactive particles are removed in the first few years after the explosion, but a fraction remains in the stratosphere for a few decades or even hundreds or thousands of years,” said Corcho.

Frost Quakes

The most brutal chill in decades, which plunged the American Midwest and parts of southern Canada into a sudden deep freeze, also triggered loud booms that sounded like explosions or falling trees. Meteorologists assured nervous residents that the sounds were being caused by a relatively rare phenomenon known as “frost quakes.” The booms occur when water in the soil freezes and expands in extreme cold, causing the ground to suddenly fracture like a jar of water in the freezer. Also known as cryoseisms, they can only happen when the ground has been saturated by heavy rain shortly before a quick freeze sets in. Such conditions have not occurred on a large scale in North America for decades, leaving some people experiencing the quakes for the first time in their lives.

Heat Fatalities

A spell of scorching summertime weather in Australia’s Queensland state killed as many as 100,000 bats in an ecological disaster officials called unprecedented. Many of the flying foxes, or fruit bats, fell dead from the sky while the carcasses of others hung on branches. Residents said the stench of decay was unbearable as temperatures reached nearly 110 F. At least 16 people were reportedly receiving anti-viral treatment after coming into close contact with a bat. The animals sometimes carry lyssavirus, which can cause paralysis and even death in humans. But wildlife officials say the flying foxes are a key part of the ecosystem, and such a massive loss to their populations will have consequences. The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals was caring for many young bats left orphaned by the heat disaster.

Eruption Swarm

Sumatra’s Mount Sinabung erupted 115 times during a three-day period in a relentless eruptive phase that began in September, sending even more people fleeing its flanks. The volcano sent superheated clouds of debris cascading down its slopes and lava streams flowing for miles. Residents of more than two dozen villages have been living in temporary shelters outside a 3-mile danger zone, some for months. Many of their homes and farms have been blanketed with a thick layer of ash and other debris while they’ve been gone. Indonesian geologists say magma beneath Sinabung is rising from deep within the Earth, swelling the size of the lava dome near its peak. That dome occasionally collapses, triggering pyroclastic clouds and gushes of lava. Sinabung roared to life in 2010 after lying mainly dormant for 400 years.

Tropical Cyclones

The island nation of Tonga was buffeted by gales and heavy rain as Category-2 Cyclone Ian churned the waters of the South Pacific.

• Cyclone 01B formed briefly over the southwestern Bay of Bengal, but lingering clouds brought three days of downpours to a swath of Sri Lanka.

Earthquakes

Weak tremors were felt around the South Australia capital of Adelaide and in southern Bulgaria, coastal areas of metropolitan Los Angeles and southeastern Nebraska.

Shark Tweets

Surfers and swimmers on popular Western Australia beaches can now get warnings of nearby sharks thanks to new wireless technology and Twitter. Marine biologists have attached tiny transmitters to more than 320 sharks, including great whites. Their progress up and down the Indian Ocean coast is monitored, and a computer automatically sends out shark alerts via short messages on Surf Life Saving Western Australia’s Twitter feed. Details about the size, species and approximate location of the fish are provided. Western Australia is the world’s deadliest place for shark attacks. Surfer Chris Boyd was killed in November and was the sixth person to die from shark attack in the region during the past two years. The new alert system went online just days after a controversial law was approved allowing fishermen to kill sharks larger than 5 feet in length if they are found in some areas used by surfers and swimmers.

Distributed by: Universal Uclick www.earthweek.com © MMXIV Earth Environment Service

pletely develop a serious plan to protect the Great Lakes and the jobs and economy they support,” Camp said in a statement. Stabenow added: “While this report is a step in the right direction, it’s time to move past reports and get moving on actual projects that will stop Asian carp.”

ALSO LAST WEEK

• Stabenow told Politco she is feeling good about the Farm Bill, and negotiaters are “just tying up loose ends. … We just have to get through that conference committee, get the report signed,” Stebenow told the Washington D.C., publication.

“There’s a desire to get this done by everybody.”

• The U.S. House voted unanimously Wednesday night on Gary Peters’ bill to eliminate redundant auto sales paperwork. The bill, cowritten by Peters and U.S. Rep. Bob Latta, a Republican of Ohio, would remove the need for documentation that the car or truck complies with Clean Air Act, because every car or truck sold in the U.S. must already comply. It passed the Energy and Commerce Committee and is likely to go to a vote in 2014.

• Stabenow named a new chief of staff, longtime adviser Bill Sweeney.

LANSING

Tax cuts top state House Republican action plan

By Jonathan Oosting joosting@mlive.com

Michigan House Republicans are eager to talk about tax relief — not new taxes for roads — in 2014.

House Speaker Jase Bolger of Marshall, flanked by colleagues at a Capitol news conference Thursday, unveiled an updated version of the House Republican Action Plan, which includes some leftover items from last year and a set of new goals for 2014.

With analysts predicting a budget surplus of about $975 million through fiscal year 2015, tax relief is at the top of the list.

“It will be targeted, focused towards individuals, and it will reward those who worked hard to pay the bill that resulted in the surplus,” Bolger told reporters.

“There’s many forms it can take. That’s a debate we’ll have with the Senate and the governor. But it’s a debate I’m excited about having.”

Bolger said he is “certainly open” to considering a gradual reduction of the income tax from 4.25 percent to 3.9 percent by 2018, a proposal that one Republican senator already is working on.

He also noted talk of property tax relief but explained he is less inclined to restore Earned Income Tax Credits or revisit the state’s so-called “pension tax” enacted in 2011 as part of a larger package that included substantial tax cuts for businesses.

“I would be very resistant to undoing the reform we did last time, which is a reform that makes our system more fair,” Bolger said.

An income tax reduction sounds well and fine, according to state Rep. Brandon Dillon, D-Grand Rapids, but

he pointed out the rate was scheduled to drop to 3.9 percent by 2015 before the Republican-led Legislature stopped the reduction in 2011, later cutting the rate from 4.35 to 4.25 percent in 2012.

Democrats want to reinstate the tax exemption for pensions and restore various tax credits cut or scaled back in 2011, including the EITC, which was reduced from 20 percent to 6 percent of the federal credit.

“It’s no surprise this is happening in an election year,” Dillon said of the tax-cut talk. “It’s also no surprise that Republicans continue to ignore the elephant in the room, which is the massive tax increase they imposed on seniors.”

Improving roads and bridges remains a part of the House GOP action plan, but Bolger said he does not anticipate any new revenue sources in 2014.

Republican Gov. Rick Snyder last year proposed raising $1.2 billion in new long-term road funding through a combination of gas taxes and registration fees.

Snyder and legislative leaders continue to talk about infrastructure funding, but new taxes are unlikely in an election year. Instead, lawmakers may look to re-prioritize the budget, convert existing gas taxes to the wholesale level or enable more publicprivate partnership projects.

Rep. Kevin Cotter of Mt. Pleasant, who chaired the workgroup that crafted the House Republican plan, said he would like to see some of the projected surplus go to roads, but he acknowledged the one-time funding would not solve the long-term problem, which will only get more expensive as the existing

infrastructure continues to deteriorate.

“I’m very hopeful that we can do something on that front,” Cotter said. “Might this surplus provide an opportunity to re-invest in roads?

It’s my hope that it can. I think that we can couple that together maybe with a tax cut — which there’s a lot of energy for.”

Other new priorities on the House Republican Action Plan include: • Human trafficking: “Protecting women and children who are victimized by human traffickers who seek to exploit their freedom for money” • Gun owner privacy: “Protecting individual privacy and freedom by protecting personal information of legal gun owners from exploitation under FOIA” • School safety: “Apply common sense with a focus on effective public safety to secure our children’s schools” Overall, House Republicans say they completed more than half of their two-year action plan in 2013, but some items remain unfinished, including a controversial proposal to repeal the state’s prevailing wage law, which guarantees union pay rates and benefits for workers on construction projects financed or sponsored by the state.

Organized labor strongly opposes any attempt to repeal the prevailing wage law, likening it to the next fight in a battle that began with right to work in 2012.

“That is certainly an issue that gets a lot of attention, but it’s an issue where you look at state-funded projects and how are we making the best use of taxpayer dollars,” said Cotter.

THE FLINT JOURNAL / SUNDAY, JANUARY 12, 2014 / A15

Nation&World WASHINGTON

CHARLESTON, W.VA.

Residents seek help after chemical spill

Doctors: Food stamp cuts could backfire

By Lauran Neergaard and Mary Clare Jalonick The Associated Press

Steve Bosshard, right, hands over a specially prepared box of food for Gordon Hanson, left, at a food bank distribution in Petaluma, Calif., as part of a research project with Feeding America to try to improve the health of diabetics in food-insecure families. (AP)

Many doctors are warning that if Congress cuts food stamps, the federal government could be socked with bigger health care bills. Maybe not immediately, they say, but over time if the poor wind up in doctors’ offices or hospitals as a result.

Among the health risks of hunger are spiked rates of diabetes and developmental problems for children down the road.

The doctors’ lobbying effort comes as Congress is working on a compromise farm bill that’s certain to include food stamp cuts. Republicans want heftier reductions than do Democrats in yet another partisan battle over the government’s role in helping poor Americans.

Food stamps, known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, feed 1 in 7 Americans and cost almost $80 billion a year, twice what it cost five years ago. Conservatives say the program spiraled out of control as the economy struggled and the costs are not sustainable. They say the neediest people will not go hungry.

The health and financial risks of hunger have not played a major role in the debate. But the medical community says cutting food aid could backfire through higher Medicaid and Medicare costs.

“If you’re interested in saving health care costs, the dumbest thing you can do is cut nutrition,” said Dr. Deborah Frank of Boston Medical Center, who founded the Children’s HealthWatch pediatric research institute.

“People don’t make the hunger-health connection.”

A study published last week helps illustrate that link. Food banks report longer lines at the end of the month as families exhaust their grocery budgets, and California researchers found that more poor people with a dangerous diabetes complication are hospitalized then, too.

The researchers analyzed eight years

of California hospital records to find cases of hypoglycemia, when blood sugar plummets, and link them to patients’ ZIP codes.

Among patients from low-income neighborhoods, hospitalizations were 27 percent higher in the last week of the month compared with the first, when most states send out government checks and food stamps, said lead researcher Dr. Hilary Seligman of the University of California, San Francisco. But hospitalizations didn’t increase among diabetics from higher-income areas, she reported Tuesday in the journal Health Affairs.

Seligman could not prove that running low on food was to blame. But she called it the most logical culprit and said the cost of treating hypoglycemia even without a hospitalization could provide months of food stamp benefits.

“The cost trade-offs are sort of ridiculous,” Seligman said.

She is working on a project with Feeding America, a network of food banks, to try to improve health by providing extra, diabetes-appropriate foods, including fresh produce and whole-grain cereals and pastas, for diabetics at a few food banks in California, Texas and Ohio.

Last year, research from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and The Pew Charitable Trusts estimated that a cut of $2 billion a year in food stamps could trigger an increase of $15 billion in medical costs for diabetes in the next decade.

Other research shows children from food-insecure families are 30 percent more likely to have been hospitalized for a range of illnesses. But after a temporary boost in benefits from the 2009 economic stimulus, children whose families used food stamps were significantly more likely to be well than kids in low-

income families that did not participate, Children’s HealthWatch found. About half of food stamp recipients are children, and 10 percent are elderly.

How much would be cut from the foodstamp program ranges from $400 million a year in a Senate-passed farm bill to $4 billion a year in the House version.

Congressional negotiators now are seeking about $800 million a year in cuts.

That would be on top of cuts in November, when that 2009 temporary benefit expired. According to the Agriculture Department, a family of four receiving food stamps now gets $36 less each month. The average household benefit: $270.

Since then, food banks are reporting more demand because people’s food stamps aren’t stretching as far, said Maura Daly of Feeding America.

Conservatives pushing the cuts say they want to target benefits to the neediest people, arguing that those who are truly hungry should have no problem getting assistance if they apply.

The final bill will most likely crack down on states that give recipients $1 in heating assistance in order to trigger higher food stamp benefits. However, some would still receive food stamps.

The bill also likely will add some money for food banks and test new work requirements for recipients in a few states, a priority for many Republicans.

“While this program is an important part of our safety net, our overriding goal should be to help our citizens with the education and skills they need to get back on their feet so that they can provide for themselves and their families,” said Majority Leader Eric Cantor, R-Va., when the farm bill was on the House floor last summer.

FIVE-DAY FORECAST FOR FLINT TODAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

32° 15°

-10s

THURSDAY

38° 33°

38° 24°

Breezy with times of clouds and sun

A chance for a rain or snow shower

Mainly cloudy with snow possible

Colder with clouds and sun

A snow shower possible; not as cold

Wind: SW 10-20 mph

Wind: SW 10-20 mph

Wind: WSW 8-16 mph

Wind: W 10-20 mph

Wind: SW 12-25 mph

Houghton 35/23

Shown is today’s weather. Temperatures are today’s highs and tonight’s lows.

23° 17°

Ironwood 36/15

ALMANAC

Ishpeming 32/23

44° 37° 30° 15° 55° 36°

PRECIPITATION

24 hours through 3 p.m. Sat. Month to date Normal month to date Year to date Normal year to date

SNOWFALL

24 hours through 3 p.m. Sat. Month to date Season to date

HUMIDITY

Saturday’s high / low

0.45” 1.85” 0.64” 1.85” 0.64” 0.0” 20.4” 38.9”

96% / 82%

SUN AND MOON

Sunrise today Sunset tonight Moonrise today Moonset today

8:05 a.m.

5:22 p.m.

2:50 p.m.

5:02 a.m.

MOON PHASES Full

Jan 15

Last

Jan 24

New

Jan 30

Levels in feet Saturday at 7 a.m.

Location Flood Stage Level 24 hour Change

Flint River Swartz Creek Thread Creek Kearsley Creek

Flint near Flint near Flint near Davison

Escanaba 32/25

High Low Normal high Normal low Last year’s high Last year’s low

First

Feb 6

-0s

T-storms

13 10 -10

Newberry 33/27

3.96 2.08 3.93 4.68

Ariel Sharon, the hardcharging Israeli general and prime minister who was admired and hated for his battlefield exploits and ambitions to reshape the Middle East, died Saturday. His death came eight years after a stroke left him in a coma from which he never awoke.

He was 85.

As one of Israel’s most famous soldiers, Sharon was known for bold tactics and an Sharon occasional refusal to obey orders. As a politician he became known as “the bulldozer,” a man contemptuous of his critics while also capable of getting things done.

He led his country into a divisive war in Lebanon in 1982 and was branded as

General Motors is recalling 370,000 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra pickups from the 2014 model year to fix software that could cause the exhaust components to overheat and start a fire.

The recall includes 303,000 trucks in the U.S. and 67,000 in Canada and Mexico. All of the trucks involved have 4.3-liter or 5.3-liter engines. GM said eight fires have been reported, but no injuries.

One garage was damaged, GM said. All of the incidents occurred in cold weather.

The company is asking customers not to leave their trucks idling unattended.

GM dealers will reprogram the software for free.

The company will inform owners starting Thursday.

WASHINGTON

House passes health care security bill The Republican-led House voted overwhelmingly Friday to add security requirements onto President Obama’s health care law, with 67 Democrats breaking ranks to join with the GOP. It was the first skirmish of what is certain to be a contentious election-year fight.

The vote was 291-122 with Republicans relentlessly focusing on “Obamacare,” convinced that Americans’ unease with the troubled law will translate into significant election gains in November.

Among the Democrats joining the Republicans was Rep. Steve Israel of New York. He is chairman of a campaign committee dedicated to electing Democrats.

Rain

0s

10s

Showers

20s Snow

30s Flurries

40s

50s

60s

Cold Front

Ice

70s

80s Warm Front

90s

100s

110s

Stationary Front

+0.34 none +0.70 +0.32 Sault Ste. Marie 32/28

Munising 34/26

Flint through 3 p.m. Saturday

TEMPERATURES

34° 18°

River

Marquette 34/26

L’Anse 36/22

Iron River 34/18

Former Israeli leader dies at 85

General Motors recalls 370K pickups

RIVER LEVELS

Copper Harbor 33/24

Forecasts and graphics provided by AccuWeather, Inc. ©2014 Ontonagon 36/20

JERUSALEM

DETROIT

NATIONAL WEATHER TODAY

MONDAY

MICHIGAN FORECAST

A handful of people have been hospitalized and several hundred thousand remain without water after a chemical leaked from a storage tank in Charleston into the public water treatment system, state authorities said Saturday.

About 300,000 people in nine counties entered their third day without being able to drink, bathe in, or wash dishes or clothes with their tap water after a foaming agent escaped the Freedom Industries plant and seeped into the Elk River. The only allowed use of the water was for flushing toilets.

Allison Adler of the Department of Health and Human Resources says 32 people sought treatment at area hospitals for symptoms such as nausea and vomiting.

Of those, four people were admitted to the Charleston Area Medical Center.

indirectly responsible for the massacre of hundreds of Palestinians at the Sabra and Shatila refugee camps outside Beirut when his troops allowed allied Lebanese militias into the camps. Yet ultimately he transformed himself into a statesman.

Iron Mountain 33/21

Drummond Island 33/28 St. Ignace 34/29

Manistique 35/28

Petoskey 37/31

Menominee 33/22

Shown are noon positions of weather systems and precipitation. Temperatures reflect today’s highs and lows.

TODAY

Alpena 34/29

Gaylord 33/27

CONDITIONS TODAY

NATIONAL CITIES

Rogers City 36/30

Cheboygan 37/30

UV Index and RealFeel Temperature® Traverse City 38/31 Cadillac 36/27

17° 18° 21° 26° 24° 23°

8 a.m. 10 a.m. Noon 2 p.m. 4 p.m. 6 p.m.

The higher the AccuWeather.com UV Index™ number, the greater the need for eye and skin protection. 0-2 Low; 3-5 Moderate; 6-7 High; 8-10 Very High; 11+ Extreme. The patented AccuWeather. com RealFeel Temperature is an exclusive index of effective temperature based on eight weather factors.

AIR QUALITY INDEX

Ludington 38/30 Big Rapids 36/28 Muskegon 36/33

Saturday

Holland 36/34

Source: Michigan Dept. of Environmental Quality

TODAY IN WEATHER HISTORY™

WEATHER TRIVIA™

A cold snap in the Pacific Northwest spread eastward on Jan. 12, 1888, spawning the “Blizzard of ‘88.” The storm affected an area from northern Texas to the Dakotas and killed 200 people.

Q: At what temperature does mercury freeze?

East Tawas 35/30

Midland Bay City 37/32 38/32

Mt. Pleasant 36/31

Grand Haven 36/33

Today’s forecast

Houghton Lake 36/28

Grand Rapids 38/34

Bad Axe 34/31 Sandusky 36/30

Flint

38/33

Kalamazoo Ann Arbor 38/33 35/29 Battle Creek 38/33 Jackson Benton Harbor 38/33 38/34 Sturgis Adrian Niles 38/33 38/31 40/33

MON.

HI/LO/W 47/27/s 27/19/sf 55/32/pc 59/38/r 52/44/pc 54/40/pc 62/35/r 35/17/sn 40/23/pc 51/37/pc 78/51/s 45/25/r 68/50/s 56/32/r 59/39/s 35/23/c 50/31/r 45/27/r 49/30/r 63/39/s

WORLD CITIES

Saginaw 38/32 Lansing 38/33

CITY HI/LO/W Albuquerque 56/28/pc Anchorage 20/17/sf Asheville 52/30/pc Atlanta 58/41/s Atlantic City 46/37/pc Baltimore 49/30/s Birmingham 58/44/s Bismarck 38/3/pc Boise 41/27/sf Boston 46/33/pc Brownsville 77/64/c Buffalo 36/31/sf Chrlston, SC 65/40/s Chrlston, WV 48/32/s Charlotte 58/37/s Chicago 42/31/pc Cincinnati 46/38/s Cleveland 38/35/pc Columbus, OH 44/37/s Dallas 72/43/s

Port Huron 35/30 Pontiac 36/32 Detroit 36/32

CITY Amsterdam Athens Baghdad Beijing Berlin Bermuda Bogota Buenos Aires Cairo Dublin Hong Kong Jakarta

TODAY

HI/LO/W 41/37/pc 63/48/pc 60/39/s 38/21/s 40/30/s 72/62/r 69/39/pc 77/68/s 68/51/s 49/38/r 70/55/s 86/76/t

MON.

HI/LO/W 47/38/r 60/50/c 60/42/pc 36/20/s 41/34/pc 67/59/s 70/39/pc 83/72/s 70/56/pc 46/34/sh 64/51/s 85/75/t

CITY Denver Des Moines Helena Honolulu Houston Indianapolis Kansas City Las Vegas Little Rock Los Angeles Louisville Memphis Miami Milwaukee Minneapolis Nashville New Orleans New York Norfolk Okla. City

TODAY

HI/LO/W 48/19/c 47/26/pc 39/29/c 83/65/s 72/58/s 46/36/s 58/29/pc 61/42/s 66/44/s 72/50/pc 52/43/s 60/47/s 79/69/pc 36/29/pc 38/13/c 56/42/s 65/54/s 47/36/pc 52/37/s 70/35/s

TODAY

CITY HI/LO/W Johannesburg 80/58/t Kabul 45/22/c Kinshasa 92/74/r London 48/43/c Madrid 54/45/pc Manila 82/72/pc Mexico City 72/46/pc Montreal 36/27/sf Moscow 31/26/sn Nassau 83/71/pc Paris 49/43/pc Rio de Janeiro 92/78/s

MON.

HI/LO/W 53/29/pc 39/26/pc 45/28/sn 83/66/s 70/42/r 43/27/r 47/32/s 61/44/s 58/35/r 79/52/s 51/34/r 56/37/r 81/70/pc 32/19/c 20/8/c 55/33/r 69/43/r 51/41/pc 62/48/s 58/35/s

MON.

HI/LO/W 83/56/t 42/22/pc 90/73/t 50/41/s 52/37/sh 80/73/r 71/45/pc 37/30/c 28/8/sn 82/71/pc 49/39/sh 91/77/s

TODAY

MON.

CITY HI/LO/W Omaha 49/24/c Orlando 73/52/s Philadelphia 48/33/s Phoenix 70/46/s Pittsburgh 41/32/sf Portland, ME 44/26/pc Portland, OR 48/42/r Raleigh 58/37/s Reno 44/24/s Richmond 56/34/s St. Louis 57/37/s Salt Lake City 38/29/sf San Antonio 74/50/pc San Diego 67/51/pc San Francisco 58/44/s San Juan, PR 85/72/pc Seattle 49/45/r Tampa 74/55/s Tucson 70/40/s Wash., DC 51/37/s

HI/LO/W 43/29/pc 79/59/pc 52/40/pc 69/46/s 49/34/r 43/33/pc 48/34/r 61/45/s 50/25/pc 59/44/s 47/33/r 39/21/pc 68/36/s 74/52/s 63/45/s 84/72/s 52/41/r 75/63/pc 66/40/s 53/42/s

TODAY

MON.

CITY HI/LO/W HI/LO/W Riyadh 55/40/pc 57/38/s Rome 57/43/c 57/43/s Seoul 34/12/pc 28/16/s Singapore 86/77/t 86/75/t Stockholm 23/12/s 23/19/pc Sydney 84/68/pc 81/66/pc Taipei 67/56/sh 60/53/c Tel Aviv 64/54/c 66/55/pc Tokyo 52/36/pc 45/30/pc Toronto 36/28/pc 38/21/c Vancouver 43/43/r 50/43/r Warsaw 41/31/sn 35/27/c

Weather (W): s–sunny, pc–partly cloudy, c–cloudy, sh–showers, t–thunderstorms, r–rain, sf–snow flurries, sn–snow, i–ice

A: -40 F.

A16 / SUNDAY, JANUARY 12, 2014 / THE FLINT JOURNAL

Nation&World SAN DIEGO

Reversals in hard-won Iraqi city vex veterans Fallujah’s fall to al-Qaida has some U.S. soldiers wondering if their sacrifice was worth it

The so-called second battle of Fallujah — code-named Operation Phantom Fury — came seven months later.

For several bloody weeks, the Marines went house-tohouse, room-to-room in what has been called some of the

By Allen G. Breed heaviest urban combat involvand Julie Watson ing the Corps since the Battle The Associated Press of Hue City, Vietnam, in 1968.

The image of two charred Historian Richard Lowry, American bodies hanging who interviewed nearly 200 from a bridge as a jubilant veterans of the battle, likens crowd pelted them with shoes it to “a thousand SWAT teams seared the name Fallujah into going through the city, clearthe American psyche. The ing criminals out.” brutal house-to-house battle “These young Marines — to tame the Iraqi insurgent 19 years old — went in every stronghold cemented its building and every room of place in U.S. military history. Fallujah,” said Lowry, author So it is no surprise the city’s of the book “New Dawn: The recent fall to al-Qaida-linked Battles for Fallujah.” ‘‘They forces has touched a nerve entered darkened rooms, for the service members who kicking down doors, never fought and bled there. knowing if they would find an Some call the news “disIraqi family hunkered down heartening,” saying it revives in fear or an Islamist terrorist painful memories of their waiting to shoot them and kill sacrifice, while others try to them. And they did that over place it in the context of Iraq’s and over and over again.” history of internal struggle About 100 Americans since the ouster of dictator died and another 1,000 were Saddam Hussein in 2003. As wounded during the major difficult as it is to see Islamist fighting there, Lowry said, banners flying from governadding that it is difficult to ment buildings they secured, overstate Fallujah’s importhey refuse to accept this as a tance in the Iraq war. permanent reversal.

“Up until that time, the “I’m very disappointed nation was spiraling into right now, very frustrated,” anarchy, totally out of consaid retired Marine Col. Mike trol,” said Lowry, a VietnamShupp, who was commanding era submarine veteran. “The officer of the regimental com- United States Marine Corps bat team that secured the city — with help from the Army in late 2004. “But this is part of and from the Iraqis — went this long war, and this is just into Fallujah and cleared the another fight, another battle entire city and brought secuin this long struggle against rity to Anbar Province, allowterrorism and oppression.” ing the Iraqis to hold their “I do not see this as the culfirst successful election.” mination of the failure of all of Lowry said Fallujah was our efforts — yet,” agrees Earl “the turning point in the war Catagnus Jr., who was wound- in Iraq for America.” And that ed by an improvised explosive is why the al-Qaida takeover device in Fallujah and now is such a bitter disappointteaches at a military college. ment for many.

“This is just one battlefield, one city in a host of battles that has POLARIZATION BETWEEN THE SHIITES, SUNNIS been happening since 2003.

It’s just for us as Americans, Former Marine Lance Cpl. because we’ve elevated that Garrett Anderson fought in battle to such high standards, the second Fallujah battle, ... that it becomes turned into where his unit lost 51 memthe ‘lost cause,’ the Vietnam bers. When he considers War syndrome.” whether the fighting was in vain, it turns his stomach.

BATTLE FOR FALLUJAH “As a war fighter and In the annals of the Marine Marine veteran of that battle, Corps, the battle over that I feel that our job was to ancient trading and culdestroy our enemy. That was tural center on the Euphrates accomplished at the time River certainly does loom and is why our dead will large. never be in vain. We won the The fighting there began day and the battle,” said the in April 2004 after four 28-year-old, who now studies security contractors from filmmaking in Portland, Ore. Blackwater USA were killed “If Marines were in that city and the desecrated bodies of today there would be dead two were hung from a bridge. Qaida all over the streets

again, but the reality is this is only the beginning of something most people who have been paying attention since the war began knew was going to end this way.”

Lowry said the U.S. “abandoned” the region’s Sunnis, paving the way for a Shiite-led government that has “gotten into bed with the Iranians.”

He adds: “There is a polarization returning between the Shiites and the Sunnis ... and it’s spreading.”

Catagnus and others say the situation is more nuanced than that.

A sergeant and scout sniper with 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines, Catagnus was gearing up to go out when insurgents detonated an improvised bomb about 8 feet away. Despite a concussion and shrapnel wounds to his face, he never left the line.

Now an assistant professor of history at Valley Forge Military Academy & College in Wayne, Pa., Catagnus feels the battle has taken on an almost

Former Marine Corps scout sniper Earl Catagnus Jr., stands in front of his home in Eagleville, Pa. Catagnus fought, and was injured in the taking of Fallujah. Now an assistant professor of history at Valley Forge Military Academy & College, Catagnus feels the battle has taken on an almost disproportionate importance in the American mind. (AP)

disproportionate importance in the American mind.

“If you watch ‘NCIS’ or anything that has a Marine ... they always say, ‘Oh, I was

in Fallujah,’” said the Purple Heart recipient, who left the military as a staff sergeant in 2006 and is studying for a doctorate in military history.

“For the new generation, it’s because everybody keeps mentioning it. And that is the battle that really made a warrior a warrior.”

YOUR CLOTHING PURCHASE Excludes Red Tag Items

Redeemable at all Genesee County Salvation Army Locations

Flint

Offer good only Saturday, January 18th, 2014.

Oak Brook Square

4766305-02

flint.satruck.com

across from Genesee Valley Mall

810-230-0784

4756230-01

For the latest breaking news, go to mlive.com

Opinion

B

SECTION

SUNDAY, JANUARY 12, 2014 / THE FLINT JOURNAL

Skubick

/ B3

Call it ‘logical,’ call it ‘reasonable.’ You can also call the GOP Senate leader’s idea ‘impossible to pass.’

Demas

/ B4

Heller

/ B3

The state expects to have a surplus of about a billion dollars.

I have one crazy idea on how to use it.

The plan that would ould have let Mi� Romney mney win Michigan in 2012 is back. Look for it in December.

Will Obamacare last through the year? Five myths about the longevity of federal programs

Government immortality Care act, hated today, is about due for a boost

By Eric M. Patashnik and Julian E. Zelizer

B

The Washington Post

oth liberals and conservatives believe they are seeing the light at the end of the tunnel with the Affordable Care Act. With the HealthCare.gov website running more smoothly, liberals are confident that the law will soon be entrenched. Just as Republicans in the 1950s came to accept Social Security to avoid electoral defeats, ACA supporters insist that conservatives are courting political disaster if they continue to oppose the law.

Republicans have a different perspective.

They point to millions of canceled policies, ongoing enrollment problems and repeated implementation delays as signs that the law is on the brink of collapse. The ACA remains fundamentally flawed, they claim, and all these Band-Aid improvements will never repair it.

But what do we really know about the dynamics of “policy entrenchment” — that is, whether programs survive after Congress creates them? It’s time to take stock of what political science research actually tells us on these five myths about government policies and programs:

By Christopher Flavelle

A

Bloomberg News B

1. GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS NEVER DIE

Given how difficult it is to revise an existing law, it might seem that a program’s entrenchment is assured once it has been enacted. In his 1976 book “Are Government Organizations Immortal?” political scientist Herman Kaufman argued that “government activities tend to go on indefinitely.” More recent research demonstrates, however, that policy entrenchment has limits. According to a study

by Christopher R. Berry, Barry C. Burden and William G. Howell, a spending program has a 1 percent chance of death every year in its first 10 years of life, after which the probability of termination slowly begins to decline.

New policies are trial and error affairs, and they don’t always pan out. Programs can be killed. An example is the Medicare Catastrophic Coverage Act of 1988, which Congress terminated in 1989 when senior citizens soured on the measure. Short of formal repeal, programs can simply fade away, as did Lyndon Johnson’s Model Cities initiative and Richard Nixon’s revenue-sharing program. The main danger the Affordable Care Act faces is not outright repeal, but the gradual whittling away of its subsidies, regulations and tax provisions.

2. NEW POLICIES CREATE A NEW POLITICS

It is certainly true that policies can become durable by building supportive clienteles.

MIT political scientist Andrea Campbell has shown how Social Security transformed senior citizens into the most active participatory age group in American politics. As we argue in our recent essay in Perspectives on Politics, however, new programs do not create a new politics automatically. To generate a clientele that defends its benefits, programs must not only deliver resources, they must change the way recipient groups perceive their social identities and their relationship to the program. If voters don’t see a program as helping them, it is less likely they will storm the barricades when opponents try to take it away.

It is remains unclear just how much of a clientele the Affordable Care Act will produce. It is a far more redistributive reform than many other social programs. Some Americans will be losers. Moreover, as political scientist Jonathan Oberlander points out, “unlike Medicare and Social Security, Obamacare does not have a well-defined population of beneficiaries, and its benefits are diffuse.” The ACA “treats different groups of Americans in different ways and different times,” making it harder to mobilize public support.

Illustration by Edward Riojas

3. ‘DECK STACKING’ CAN STOP POLICIES FROM BEING UNRAVELED.

5. CONFLICT OVER LAWS USUALLY DIES DOWN

A major threat to a policy is that the coalition that enacted it may be replaced by a future coalition that opposes it. One solution is to “stack the deck” by creating institutions that make it harder to damage the program in the future. Vanderbilt’s David Lewis has shown that policymakers can make legislation more durable by giving independent commissions control over policy implementation. Yet in the fragmented American political system, in which lobbyists can nearly always find a friendly institutional venue, there are limits to deck stacking. The ACA, for example, created the Independent Payment Advisory Board to require the secretary of Health and Human Services to implement its recommendations unless Congress passes an alternative plan to reduce Medicare costs. Yet the advisory board has not yet been launched due to opposition from industry groups and many members of Congress.

Political conflict over a program can last for decades. Congress passed the Voting Rights Act in 1965, and opponents continued to attack the legislation through 2013, when the Supreme Court invalidated one central component. The potential for conflicts has only increased as a result of partisan polarization.

While both the Social Security Act of 1935 and the Medicare Act of 1965 had some bipartisan support on final passage, the ACA was passed on a party-line vote. Forrest Maltzman of George Washington University and Charles Shipan of University of Michigan have shown that the greater the roll-call opposition when a bill is passed, the more likely the law is to be amended. An open question is whether partisanship exacerbates the problem of divisive enactment. While systematic research has not been done, there are good reasons to think it might. As David R. Mayhew of Yale argues, while a cross-party opposition to a policy might fade, “a party that loses on a congressional issue and stays angry may have an incentive to keep the conflict going.”

These five myths suggest that liberals and conservatives alike should be cautious about making sweeping predictions about the future of Affordable Care Act. The reality is that the dynamics surrounding any program — even the most popular entitlement — are constantly evolving and always contingent, subject to all the normal forces of politics.

4. POLITICIANS DECIDE THE FATE OF LAWS

Politicians don’t control everything.

The reactions of market actors can have a large impact on the fate of public policies.

Sometimes business interests promote policy entrenchment because firms adapt to a new law in ways that become costly for them to reverse. One reason why airline deregulation became entrenched, for example, is that it led carriers to alter their internal governance and business plans. Legacy carriers that couldn’t adapt to the harsh realities of market competition either merged with other airlines or went under. The entrenchment of the ACA will depend in part on the financial stakes that hospitals and insurers are developing in the new health care system.

Erik M. Patashnik is professor of public policy and politics at the University of Virginia. Julian E. Zelizer is the Malcolm Stevenson Forbes professor of history and public affairs at Princeton University. For other commentary from The Monkey Cage, a blog anchored by political scientists from universities around the country, see washingtonpost.com/blogs. /monkey-cage.

CNN poll shows that support for the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act has fallen to a new low, with just 35 percent of respondents ssaying they approve of the law. Look a llittle deeper, and the poll suggests the public’s views will turn around once the p ccoverage starts to take effect this month.

First, 15 percent of respondents oppose tthe law because it doesn’t go far enough.

JJust 43 percentthink the law is too liberal.

But even among that group, there’s reason B tto think some of their opposition is based on not quite understanding how the law o will work or who it will affect. w Some areas of misunderstanding: •Thirty-five percent of respondents ssaid they thought they would be cut off ffrom the doctors they now see. And some people will, as care networks cut costs by p narrowing the choice of doctors and hosn pitals. But that will affect far fewer than 35 p percent of Americans — more like 2 perp ccent, or those covered by exchange-based plans. p For most other Americans — with eemployer plans, or Medicare or Medicaid, or Tricare — there’s unlikely to be a simio llar shift, at least not yet.

•The poll also found that 63 percent of rrespondents think the amount they pay ffor medical care will increase because of Obamacare. This too makes sense: News about Americans losing their bare-bones coverage, and being forced to buy pricier plans on the exchanges, has dominated debate.

Yet here, too, most Americans are assuming, often mistakenly, that the horror stories they’ve heard will apply to them. For most of the 160 million or so Americans who get employer insurance, the biggest change under Obamacare is the end of co-payments for preventive care. The same goes for the roughly 105 million Americans on Medicare or Medicaid.

Over the longer term, of course, some people outside the exchanges will see an increase in their medical costs, or they’ll find that their current doctor is no longer part of their network. Some of that is the result of the law, including employers deciding to shift to exchange-based coverage or cut costs in response to the tax on Cadillac, plans. And some would have happened even if the law had never been passed.

But most of those changes will happen over years. More immediately, at some point early in 2014, two things will happen to boost people’s views about Obamacare.

• First, some people covered by exchange plans will find that the coverage is better than they expected.

• Second, an even larger group of people will realize that the worst disarray caused by Obamacare doesn’t apply to their own coverage.

None of that means Democrats can kick back and stop worrying about what this year will bring. Yet the negative news of recent months has had the salutary effect of lowering expectations for Obamacare, in a way that has probably exaggerated both the magnitude and scale of its disruptions.

— Christopher Flavelle is a member of Bloomberg View’s editorial board.

B2 / SUNDAY, JANUARY 12, 2014 / THE FLINT JOURNAL

Opinion

Ö Share your opinions Letters to the Editor, The Flint Journal, 540 S. Saginaw St., Suite 101, Flint, MI 48502 flletters@mlive.com

EDITORIAL

COUNTY SHOULD HAVE CALLED IT A SNOW DAY

I

Flint Journal/MLive.com Editorial Board

f ever there were a weather emergency in Genesee County, it was Monday.

A historic 17.1 inches of snow and blistering cold blasted the region, nearly paralyzing our community and rendering the roads dangerous for travel.

In the name of public safety, a weather emergency should have been declared and all non-essential Genesee County government offices closed for the day.

Unfortunately, that didn’t happen.

We understand that the weather put Board of Commissioners Chairman Jamie Curtis in a seemingly unwinnable situation. The county “can’t afford” to pay people for a snow day, he said, reasoning that employees could take a vacation day or unpaid day off if they couldn’t make the trip into work.

But putting the onus on the employee to make a decision under hazardous conditions Yes, the governor doesn’t demonstrate leadership.

Curtis also cited the county’s did not declare policy of not closing offices a snow unless the governor declares a statewide emergency. emergency We feel the policy is flawed.

Monday. But he We elect local officials to take did close state our local needs into consideration — not to pass the buck onto offices. the state executive.

Even though Gov. Rick Snyder did not declare a statewide emergency, he did order state offices closed in Lansing.

The county’s order also conflicted with the city of Flint’s. Emergency Manager Darnell Earley closed City Hall (rightly, in our opinion) and advised residents against travelling unnecessarily due to the messy roads.

So most county employees who did make it to work were driving through an area where people were being told to stay off the streets when possible.

It wasn’t just county employees who were affected by Curtis’ decision, or lack thereof. What about the members of the public who had to navigate the snow-covered roads that day because of a court date or other appointment?

The bottom line is: There was no way the county should have expected staff or members of the public to show up Monday.

We were heartened to hear the county’s policy is being reviewed, and hope it will be revised to make safety a priority during future weather emergencies.

EDITORIAL BOARD Marjory Raymer Editor marjory_raymer@mlive.com

Bryn Mickle Managing producer bmickle1@mlive.com

Kristin Longley Community engagement specialist klongley1@mlive.com

Clark Hughes Managing producer chughes3@mlive.com

Jason Christie Audience solutions sales manager jchrist2@mlive.com

FROM THE COMMENTS: ICE STORM EDITION

Preventing the outages As the state Public Service Commission looks into the electric utilities’ restoration efforts following the pre-Christmas ice storm that cut power to more than 500,000 Michigan customers, commenters on MLive.com raised questions about what could have been done to limit the damage.

Genesee County was the hardest hit in the state, with outages at their peak affecting more than 42 percent of the customers. The PSC will be deciding whether to hold a formal investigation into how utilities handled the outage. That was last done after storms in June 2008 left 720,000 customers in the dark.

At the top of commenters’ agenda was keeping trees trimmed away from power lines, a point acknowledged by former Consumers Energy chief Fred Buckman. However, he said, “Then they will look at their utility bill and say ‘This is too big.’ ... How much do you pay for reliability?”

Commenters also mentioned putting the lines underground, although Buckman said “generally, people have been unwilling to pay the price. DTE Energy said burying electrical lines could cost in the $30 billion range, or $15,000 per customer.

Here’s what online readers had to say.

COMMENTER SHARISE MILLER WAS UNHAPPY WITH COMPENSATION

“A $25 credit for five days of burning on a gas stove is a joke.

Consumers says the colder it gets, the more we pay and a $25 credit for food lost.”

COMMENTER NDAKE EMPHASIZED THE POWER OF PREVENTION

“You can drive just about anywhere and see dead and dying trees within reach of the power lines, Then you have trees that have been trimmed so badly they are more likely to split when they get covered with ice. Then you have to address the residents who have fits when they attempt to trim trees. The power company can only do what they have the manpower to do, so preventive trimming must be done and done aggressively.”

COMMENTER JOHN DALY SAID THE JOB IS BIG AND EXPENSIVE

“Frankly, the scope and cost of removing the dead ash trees is such that the problem needs to be dealt

with at the state level. To provide some financial perspective, the Genesee County Road commission spends approximately $150,000 each year to remove dead trees from the public right of way; it takes seven to eight years to make a complete circuit of the county.”

COMMENTER HUNDY WANTED A SHORTER TRIMMING CYCLE

“Exactly as many point out, Consumers has a 14 year tree cutting cycle that must be reduced substantially. This would have drastically reduced the number of people that lost power. Consumers is lazy and knows it.”

COMMENTER THE TRUTH DETECTOR RESPONDED

“I think cheap is more the term you are looking for. The crews are out in the weather, the bosses not so much.”

COMMENTER BURTONGUY WOULD DO A COST�BENEFIT ANALYSIS

“The only way increased tree trim-

ming could make your bill go down instead of up is if the routine extra trimming reduces the cost of bringing in more linemen when we have outages. So, we are looking at how much extra money you want to pay to get better reliability.

COMMENTER MCGERM SAID WE CAN PAY FOR BURYING LINES

“Most local lines are underground in Europe and have been for some time. How so if it costs so much? They have national infrastructure plans that are long-term and incremental.

They did not bury everything all at once, but budgeted long term to do it, and implemented it over many years.”

COMMENTER JACKSON DM OFFERED PRAISE FOR RESTORATION EFFORTS

“Let’s see: The worst ice storm in at least a decade — maybe longer.

Consumers Energy had all their crews and hundreds of others from around the country working double long shifts to try to restore power. It was tough — and slow. Consumers’ Energy, over all, did a good job under extreme difficulties. (And, no, I don’t work for ‘em nor own their stock.)”

COMMENTER STULPNAEGL DIDN’T APPEAR TO TRUST LANSING

“All of this is just another example of how politicians are now the upcoming experts on someone else’s business. They know how to run a utility company — just watch — it’s so easy!

Now we are going to politicize power outages. Next time, you will be waiting three weeks to a month for power so politicians point fingers and score brownie points to make everyone believe they care more than anyone else.”

COMMENTER ORIGINAL ENERGY SAID WE MUST RELY ON OURSELVES

“People have to be more selfsufficient and properly prepared so they can take care of themselves. This storm was predicted and talked about widely in advance. This was not a tornado, or catastrophic event. Peoples homes were not demolished, they mostly just lost power. This did not have to be a big deal.”

GUEST COLUMN

Judge’s dilemma points up nation’s failure to help the mentally ill

R

By Geoffrey L. Neithercut

ecently I sentenced a mentally ill woman to prison, when she really needed hospitalization.

In the 1960s, society decided mental institutions were inhumane. Michigan had many such institutions that provided psychiatric and psychological services. Some patients were allowed to roam the idyllic campuses freely, while others were locked in secure wards.

The patients were safe, but abusive treatment was reported. The institutions were costly to taxpayers.

Mental health professionals decided that most patients could be mainstreamed through halfway houses and

foster homes. The theory was patients could live more normally with freedom in the community, while outpatient mental health care was provided.

The institutions were closed. Only three remain open today.

That new system has been less than perfect. Many times patients roam stores and streets, causing citizens to be nervous. They are not really dangerous, but they look threatening. Some suffer assaults. Many escape supervision and end up sleeping in rescue missions or vacant lots or abandoned homes.

Some unsupervised mentally ill people become dangerous. They are not provided

medication, or they refuse it. They lose stability and become paranoid, erratic, depressed and sometimes violent. The greater community suffers.

In my recent case, the defendant became delusional and attacked someone who loved her with a knife. She was found guilty, but mentally ill, of an assaultive felony.

As a sentencing judge, I found it frustrating to fashion a remedy. We could not ask Probate Court to commit her to a hospital because she has been stabilized with medications while in jail. She is temporarily not dangerous. But based on her medical history, it is expected that she will refuse medications when she

is released from jail. Then she again will be dangerous. She is not eligible for placement in adult foster care due to her violent history. As she is stable at this time and in custody, she cannot even be evaluated by the local outpatient mental health agency. There is no place to institutionalize her.

We cannot keep her safe and we cannot make the public safe.

There are only two sentencing solutions. One is to let her out of jail to wander the streets to cause or suffer more than harm.

The other solution is to send her to prison, where mental health care is minimal. At least in prison she won’t hurt the general public.

But prison will not treat her, will not care for her, will not counsel her and will not help her heal. Eventually she will be released to be dangerous again.

Our country is failing the mentally ill. Our country is creating a dangerous community by failing to provide proper care and supervision of the mentally ill.

Our country is ignoring the mentally ill. The only time we acknowledge issues of mental health is when we see a tragedy such as the killings at Sandy Hook Elementary School. We don’t want to pay for it, even though it is far cheaper than sending an insane person to prison. We don’t want to pay for it even

though dangerous persons will eventually be released from prison.

So I sentenced her to prison to keep you citizens safe, but you are only safe for a minimum of 23 months.

I want more options and treatment for the mentally ill.

Our system needs to change.

I would like to explore larger residential institutions that are safe, friendly and provide proper treatment.

We need to do something because right now we are all losing — the public and the patients.

— Geoffrey L. Neithercut is a judge in Genesee County’s 7th Circuit Court. He also was a district court judge and served on Flint City Council.

THE FLINT JOURNAL / SUNDAY, JANUARY 12, 2014 / B3

THE YEAR IN SKUBICK

Eugene Robinson

JULY 19

AUG . 20

Author of Michigan’s self-defense law stands his ground

Tea partiers show they have some level-headed aims

With everybody and his uncle joining the feeding frenzy surrounding the George Zimmerman not-guilty verdict, there was no good reason to leave out state lawmakers. So when asked, they jumped in.

GOP Senate leader Randy Richardville has no problem with a review of Michigan’s version of Florida’s Stand Your Ground law. Our law allows anyone to pop an intruder if he or she figures they may be popped first.

“It’s always a good idea to revisit laws ... and see if they make sense in comparison,” says Mr. Richardville.

Sheriff turned GOP Sen. Rick Jones couldn’t disagree more.

Mr. Jones, who helped write the so-called Castle law (named after the notion that a man’s home is his castle), sees no logic.

In fact, he fears if they reopen this debate, “somebody would like to gut it.”

The Senate GOP leader has not elevated this review to the top of the to-do list, but “I’m not opposed to anybody who wants to take this on as a priority.”

You won’t see the sheriff raising his hand on that one.

The other day, the “Off the Record” gang, which is usually good at keeping its game face on, lost it.

Todd Courser, from the tea party, broke everyone up with his line about what one Democrat described as a “civil war” in the state GOP between the tea wing and the “old guard,” as Mr. Courser described the other guys.

But he tagged it with a new term: “Intense fellowship.”

As funny as the line was, it’s not so funny if you are Gov. Rick Snyder and other members of the “old guard” who got an earful from Mr. Courser.

He expressed supreme confidence that his side was poised to “take over” the party from the establishment, which he described as “not committed to conservative convictions vs. convenience.”

In recent weeks tea party advocates have given credence to the notion that the movement is not just a bunch of wild-eyed radicals off on some tangent.

Their message is of trying to re-invent the state GOP. Using “intense fellowship” apparently is one way to do it.

NOV. 15 VINTAGE SKUBICK

“The governor had no way to know that the pension tax would cost him an opportunity to fix the roads. But with voters opposed and the parties unable to talk to each other, road funding is kaput. And not even a strong overdose of Relentless Positive Action can save it.”

ON THE END OF RICK SNYDER’S QUEST FOR $1.2 BILLION FOR ROADS, DEC. 8

Have a beer: State’s chief Dem goes after 900,000 MIA votes Democratic operatives have quietly launched a campaign to lure over 900,000 Democrats who sat out the last governor’s race back in the game a year from now.

Do the math. Rick Snyder chalked up 1.87 million votes to Virg Bernero’s 1.28 million.

Add 900,000 to that and voila, Mr. B. is governor.

The significance is not lost on new state Democratic Party chair Lon Johnson, who is on his maiden voyage to knock off his first incumbent.

He is putting together a phone list of those 900,000 slackers. Emails, home addresses, where they go for vacation, what kind of beer they drink. Who knows what data Mr. Johnson will amass as he begins his sell job?

Recent polling shows Mr. Snyder with a decidedly unimpressive 3 point lead over Mark Schauer, whom most voters don’t even know.

Yeah but. That’s if the election is today, which it is not.

The battle is not enjoined and the numbers will change over time.

But one number Mr. Johnson wants to change is that minus900,000 non-voters from three years ago.

voters decide to send them back to offer, they would have this option to this town. seek voter support to run again.

“I think it’s a reasonable request,” the GOP honcho tells the MIRS news THE VIEW FROM INSIDE guys.

On that point, for whatever it is worth, you will find many current HERE’S THE CATCH skubickt@aol.com legislators who supported term limJust like the word “logical,” the its when they were on the outside term “reasonable” is another reason looking in, but now on the inside why this probably won’t float. looking out, seeing the world differFirst, lawmakers would have ently. They realize that it takes time to vote to place this change on the to become more effective, and just statewide ballot, and a majority of when you begin to get there, the law citizens would have to approve it. dictates you must leave.

However, just opening that debate Some say that is contrary to every would lay legislators open to all other career in the world, where sorts of brickbats from the pro-term experience on the job is embraced. limit cabal, which has fought tooth Could you imagine telling a brain and nail to avoid any alterations. surgeon to find another job after six Mr. Richardville seeks to insulate years in the operating room? everyone from those attacks by preYes, yes, writing laws is not rocket his scheme is so logical that you have to wonder why venting current legislators from tak- science and any schlub can do it, but ing advantage of the switch. It would doing it right and getting it right is nobody came up with it earlier. And the fact that it is impact new lawmakers elected not as easy as it looks — and recall, so logical means it probably doesn’t have a snowball’s only under this revision. what lawmakers do affects everyone chance of passing in the Legislature.

As if that would nullify the oppoin the state; some say it’s just comNow comes the affable Senate GOP leader with less nents, who will argue that the voters mon sense to adopt a mechanism have spoken and this is just another that permits them to use what they than a year to serve before he’s automatically sent to attempt to undo what they did. have learned to the benefit of all. the legislative retirement heap thanks to term limits. Randy But proponents of the change Oh yeah. Common sense is right Richardville, R-Monroe, seeks to leave his mark on the procould argue if you applied that conup there with logical and reasonable, cept to other laws, we’d still have which many voters don’t care about. cess by “modifying” the state’s term limit law. women who could not vote.

Nice try, Mr. Richardville.

Nothing new there. Since voters law, but with voter participation.

The term limit law would remain embraced the booting-out-of-office It’s based on the long-held belief on the books per se. And after six notion in 1992, some lawmakers that citizens don’t want politicians or eight years, lawmakers would be Ä SEE IT NOW and special interests have pondered, to stay in office for life, but they like under no obligation to run again.

MLive political columnist Tim unsuccessfully, how to allow legisla- their local lawmaker.

They could move out and new blood Skubick is host of “Off the tors to hang around for more than Hence the Richardville plan would would move in, which is what the Record” on WKAR-TV in East six years in the House and eight allow local lawmakers to gather term-limit folks intended.

Lansing. See “Off the Record” years in the Senate, the most restric- petition signatures just when their But if lawmaker X, Y, or Z felt, anytime at video.wkar.org. And tive law in the land. careers are about to end, and if they as many now do, that they are just watch “Evening with the Governor” Mr. Richardville’s approach get enough names, they can run for beginning to learn the ins and outs on WKAR at bit.ly/19PQWjR amounts to an end run around the office again, and again and again, if of the job and they have more to

Tim Skubick

Term limits? Let local voters speak, GOP leader says

T

If I had that billion dollars, here’s what I’d do

W

hen I read that the state of Michigan has a budget surplus of as much as a billion dollars, I was reminded of the Austin Powers movie where Dr. Evil – who has been in a cryogenic sleep for 30 years – tries to hold the world ransom for “one meellion dollars.”

And the world’s leaders laugh at him. A million bucks? Har! Sure.

Hey everyone, empty your pocket change on the table. Boom. Here you go, Dr. Evil. Anything else?

So a billion dollars is, let’s face it, not what it used to be.

But it’s still a lot of dough. And if there’s one thing a columnist is good at, it’s spending other people’s money.

So here’s my crazy, crazy idea for what to do with the state’s billion dollar surplus: Buy some more damned snow plows. And some stock in Morton salt. (Maybe that way they’d start using some of the stuff on the roads.)

I’m sorry, but the governmental response thus far to last week’s polar vortex attack (we really oughta nuke Canada — just saying) has been positively anemic.

Let me add a caveat, so I don’t end up with the entire subdivision’s worth of snow piled in front of my

Andrew Heller

andrewhellercolumn@gmail.com

driveway: The plow drivers who were out there did a fabulous job and deserve a medal, not to mention some time off.

There just weren’t enough of them.

Here we are days later, and the freeways are just now becoming usable. The rest of the roads?

Fuhgeddaboutit. They remain rutted, icy, and in some cases almost impassable messes. And the poorer the township or city, the worse the roads have remained.

that is state revenue-sharing, which has dropped about $4.2 billion in recent years.

The state is recovering from the Great Recession, but it clearly ain’t all the way back yet. And your local government is feeling it big-time.

Which means you and I are feeling it, too.

It’s amazing more people don’t make the link between lower taxes and declining services. But we don’t seem to, and that’s another column.

TAXES FOR SERVICES

Today, though, it’s play time. Let’s face it, when you find a $20 bill in the pocket of some jeans you haven’t worn for a while, it’s found money.

You don’t stick it in your 401K. You spend it.

So let’s dispense with the idea that some lawmakers favor of saving the billion for a rainy day. Can

Can you blame people for asking, “Don’t we pay taxes?”

We do, but apparently not enough. Cities and townships have cut way back on services like snowplowing for the simple reason that they don’t have enough money coming in, and a significant reason for

TIME FOR A SHOPPING SPREE

you think of a rainier day than right now in Michigan? Our roads stink, our parks are decaying, our larger cities are in deep financial peril.

Carp need stopping, schools need help, sewers need fixing. We need more cops, firefighters, park rangers and so on.

A billion dollars, of course, isn’t going to make a dent in problems that vast. But you gotta start somewhere, and right now a billion dollars’ worth of extra plows on the street sounds awfully darned nice, as long as they don’t go too crazy.

As a fellow smart aleck said on Facebook, “Don’t scrape away too much snow. It’s filling in the potholes.”

Of course, you probably have other ideas, which is where all of this has been leading.

So tell me: If you were king, what would you do with that billion dollars?

ä What’s your idea?

Tell me what the state should do with a billion bucks by using the comments section of this column on Mlive.com. You can get to it by visiting bit.ly/19XaIzJ. We’ll print your ideas next week.

The cruelest cut of all Washington Post Writers Group

T

o 1.3 million jobless Americans: The Republican Party wishes you a Very Unhappy New Year!

It would be one thing if there were a logical reason to cut off unemployment benefits for those who have been out of work the longest. But no such rationale exists.

On economic and moral grounds, extending benefits for the longterm unemployed should have been an automatic bipartisan vote in both houses of Congress.

It wasn’t. Nothing is automatic and bipartisan anymore, not with today’s radicalized GOP. In this case, a sensible and humane option is hostage to bruised Republican egos and the ideological myth of “makers” versus “takers.”

The result is a cruel blow to families that are already suffering.

The 1.3 million have been unemployed more than six months.

These are precisely the jobless who will suffer most from a cutoff, since their financial situations are already precarious, if not dire.

Extending unemployment benefits is something that’s normally done in a recession, and Republicans correctly point out that we are now in a recovery. But there was nothing normal about the Great Recession, and there is nothing normal about the Not-SoGreat Recovery.

Only in the past few months has the economy shown real signs of life. Job growth is improving but still sluggish, with unemployment hovering at 7 percent — not counting the millions of Americans who have given up looking for work.

An extension of long-term unemployment benefits should have been part of the budget deal between Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., and Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., but wasn’t. Democrats tried to offer an amendment that would extend the benefits for three months, and they identified savings elsewhere in the budget to pay for it. But House Speaker John Boehner refused to allow a vote.

In terms of economic policy, this makes no sense. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimated that extending long-term unemployment for a full year would cost about $25 billion, which would add to the deficit.

But the measure would boost economic growth by 0.2 percent and create 200,000 jobs. Refusing to extend the benefits is counterproductive as well as cruel.

Sadly, cruelty is the point.

The Republican far right perceived the budget deal as a political defeat — even though it caps spending for social programs at levels that many Democrats consider appallingly low — because it does not slash Medicare and Social Security. For some in the GOP, an unemployment extension would have been too much, simply because it was favored by Democrats.

For some other Republicans, unemployment isn’t really about growth, deficits or even politics.

They see it as a moral issue.

To this way of thinking, extended benefits coddle the unemployed and encourage them to loll around the house, presumably eating bonbons, rather than pound the streets for any crumbs of work.

This view is consistent with the philosophy that Mitt Romney privately espoused during his failed presidential campaign. It sees a growing number of Americans as “takers” who luxuriate in their dependence on government. The “makers” who create the nation’s wealth are not really helping the down-and-out by giving them financial support in tough times, this philosophy holds. Much better medicine would be a kick in the pants.

I wonder if these Ayn Rand ideologues have ever actually met a breadwinner who has gone without a job for more than six months.

I wonder if they understand that unemployment benefits don’t even cover basic expenses, much less bonbons.

The Republican establishment doesn’t want this to be a campaign issue for Democrats, so it’s quite likely that the benefits will eventually be extended. Until then, more than a million households are being made to suffer privation and anxiety — for no good reason at all. Thanks for nothing, GOP.

B4 / SUNDAY, JANUARY 12, 2014 / THE FLINT JOURNAL

DEMAS REVISITED

George F. Will

DEC. 30

JAN. 3

Who’s looking down their noses at the jobless?

With friends like far right, Snyder doesn’t need enemies

Three days after Christmas, 43,000 Michiganders lost federal unemployment benefits because Congress failed to extend them. Another 145,000 Michiganders will lose benefits during 2014 without the extension.

What’s disturbing is the attitude that we shouldn’t be helping the jobless at all. As Matthew O’Brien of the Atlantic puts it: “They think the only reason someone couldn’t find a job today is if they’re lazy — or addicted to drugs — so we just need to kick them off the dole to make them less lazy.”

My inbox overflows with less genteel responses anytime I write about gaping holes in the safety net. With varying degrees of hostility, writers explain that they’re better than people on government assistance because of intelligence, hard work and morals.

But not all successful people are good people. And this argument leaves out a big piece of the puzzle: luck.

The simple fact is thousands of people deserve a shot to get their lives back on track.

Extending jobless benefits is the very least we could do.

The biggest challenge to GOP Gov. Rick Snyder’s authority hasn’t come from unions, environmentalists or gay rights groups.

The real threat comes from those within the Republican base.

The thanks he’s received for enacting the most conservative agenda in modern Michigan history is to be derided as “a little too liberal” by tea party leader Joan Fabiano.

But perhaps the most defining moment in Snyder’s tenure came Dec. 11, when the Legislature voted for Right to Life’s initiative banning abortion coverage in standard health care plans, no exceptions.

In 2013, Snyder put his foot down and vetoed legislation doing just that. He did sign highly controversial legislation that’s likely to shut down abortion providers.

But that wasn’t good enough for the anti-abortion lobby. It saw an opportunity with GOP majorities in the House and Senate to launch a petition drive for the insurance ban.

The Legislature passed it.

Here’s the nifty thing: That cut the governor completely out of the process. His signature isn’t required.

So essentially, Right to Life of Michigan President Barb Listing got to be governor for a day.

Susan J. Demas

sjdemas@gmail.com

Another lame-duck time bomb is waiting to go off

T

he plan to game the Electoral College in Michigan may be forgotten — but it’s not dead.

A year ago, there was a flurry of stories about legislation sponsored by GOP state Rep. Pete Lund that would have given Republican Mitt Romney the majority of Michigan’s electoral votes — even though he lost by a jaw-dropping 10 points.

That’s almost 450,000 votes.

Not surprisingly, the plan was overwhelmingly backed by the Michigan Republican Party.

Right now, Michigan is one of 48 states with a winner-take-all system for electoral votes. Pretty simple.

The problem for Republicans is that Democrats have won Michigan

CARTOON ROUNDUP

in the last six presidential elections. So clearly, they believe a new approach is needed.

Lund’s plan would divvy up Michigan’s 16 electoral votes this way: Just two would go to the candidate who won the most votes statewide, and the other 14 would go to

DEMAS ON DEMAS READER COMMENT

“Sorry, these unemployment benefits were intended to expire at some point.

Enough of bilking the taxpayers. It’s thinking like Demas’ that has put our country six feet under financially.”

UMGUY, COMMENTING ON MLIVE. COM ABOUT THE DEC. 30 COLUMN ON EXPIRATION OF EXTENDED UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS FOR 1.3 MILLION AMERICANS JUST AFTER CHRISTMAS

the winner in each of the state’s 14 congressional districts.

Lund, R-Shelby Township, knows quite a bit about the makeup of those districts. As chair of the House Redistricting and Elections Commission in 2011, he was instrumental in drawing those lines.

And as luck would have it, Republicans managed to score a 9-5 advantage in the party base of those districts. Coincidentally, that is the exact makeup of the congressional delegation today.

FROM LOSER TO WINNER

So it would be fairly easy for the next Republican nominee to win Michigan, even with losing the state by a half-million votes.

That would also be the antithesis of democracy.

Other blue states where Republicans were in charge, like Wisconsin, Virginia and Pennsylvania, flirted with this idea and dropped it under scrutiny.

Notice how Republicans weren’t pushing the change in red states like Georgia or Arizona, where Democrats would pick up electoral votes.

You might assume the idea is dead in Michigan, too. Lund hasn’t reintroduced his bill. GOP Gov. Rick Snyder last year said it’s “not the appropriate time” to take up the issue.

But many Republicans still love the idea.

And you know when might be an

The next president and other campaigns “Republicans do have a history of nominating the ‘next guy in line.’ It will be interesting if that holds up in 2016 and what role the tea party plays.”

— On her Dec 29 column about early polling for the 2016 presidential race.

“Actually, I wrote a critique of polls. If this is a Hillary (Clinton) defense column, it’s admittedly a poor one.”

— On the same column.

“Journalists tend to make horrible campaign managers.

They’re too honest.”

— On a column noting Terry Lynn Land’s surprising strength in this year’s U.S. Senate race.

“Good question about the state committee and Kwame Kilpatrick, and I don’t know if they did. While some Democrats were way too slow to step away from Kilpatrick, it is significant that fellow Dem Gov. Jennifer Granholm eventually presided a hearing and removed him.”

— On her column chiding the Michigan Republican State Committee leaders for declining to act against national committeeman Dave Agema.

appropriate time? The post-2014 election session, when Republicans can flex their legislative muscles with little consequence.

That’s what happened in lame duck 2012. Right to Work wasn’t on Snyder’s agenda. And lo and behold, it suddenly was. So were abortion restrictions he’d expressed concern over and citizenship requirements for voting that he had vetoed.

BACK FROM THE DEAD

Lame duck 2014 is the perfect time to resurrect the electoral college legislation that could enshrine GOP power for decades.

And Pete Lund is just the man to do it. Armed with an affable smile, partisan hammer and boundless ambition (he last year toyed with a U.S. Senate run), Lund would ensure his place as a Republican player if he could jam this through.

If Michigan makes this move, other states will likely follow.

Sure, there will be hand-wringing newspaper editorials and diatribes from good government groups, but they can be ignored. The next presidential election would be in 23 months, and Lund is term-limited anyway.

There’s no real risk in exercising raw political power. The most surprising thing would be if Republicans didn’t try to do so.

— MLive columnist Susan J. Demas is editor and publisher of the biweekly newsletter Inside Michigan Politics.

Political ignorance Washington Post Writers Group

I

t was naughty of Winston Churchill to say, if he really did, that “the best argument against democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average voter.” Nevertheless, many voters’ paucity of information about politics and government, although arguably rational, raises awkward questions about concepts central to democratic theory, including consent, representation, public opinion, electoral mandates and officials’ accountability.

In “Democracy and Political Ignorance: Why Smaller Government is Smarter,” Ilya Somin of George Mason University Law School argues that an individual’s ignorance of public affairs is rational because the likelihood of his or her vote being decisive in an election is vanishingly small.

The small incentives to become informed include reducing one’s susceptibility to deceptions, misinformation and propaganda. And if remaining ignorant is rational individual behavior, it has likely destructive collective outcomes.

Somin says that in Cold War 1964, only 38 percent of Americans knew the Soviet Union was not a member of NATO. In 2003, about 70 percent were unaware of the prescription drug entitlement, then the largest welfare state expansion since Medicare (1965). In a 2006 Zogby poll, only 42 percent could name the three branches of the federal government. Voters cannot hold officials responsible if they do not know what government is doing, or which parts of government are doing what.

The average American expends more time becoming informed about choosing a car than choosing a candidate. But, then, the consequences of the former choice are immediate and discernible.

Many people, says Somin, acquire political knowledge for the reason people acquire sports knowledge — because it interests them, not because it will alter the outcome of any contest. And with “confirmation bias,” many people use political information to reinforce their pre-existing views.

Despite dramatic expansions of education and information sources, abundant evidence shows the scope of political ignorance is remarkably persistent. And if political knowledge is measured relative to government’s expanding scope, ignorance is increasing rapidly: There is so much more to be uninformed about.

A good ameliorative measure would be to reduce the risks of ignorance by reducing government’s consequences — its complexity, centralization and intrusiveness. In the 19th century, voters’ information burdens were much lighter because important federal issues — expansion of slavery, disposition of public lands, tariffs, banking, infrastructure spending — were much fewer.

Some people vote because it gives them pleasure — the satisfaction of expressive behavior — and because they feel duty-bound to cast a ballot that, by itself, makes virtually no difference, but affirms a process that does. And although many people deplore the fact that U.S. parties have become more ideologically homogenous, they now confer more informative “brands” on their candidates.

Political ignorance, Somin argues, strengthens the case for judicial review by weakening the supposed “countermajoritarian difficulty” with it. If much of the electorate is unaware of the policies adopted by the sprawling regulatory state, the policies’ democratic pedigrees are weak.

Hence Somin’s suggestion that the extension of government’s reach “undercuts democracy more than it furthers it.”

An engaged judiciary that enforced the Framers’ idea of government’s “few and defined” enumerated powers, leaving decisions to markets and civil society, would, Somin thinks, make the “will of the people” more meaningful by reducing voters’ knowledge burdens. Somin’s evidence and arguments usefully dilute the unwholesome democratic sentimentality and romanticism that encourage government’s pretensions, ambitions and failures.

For the latest breaking news, go to mlive.com/sports

Local Sports

C

SECTION

ä High school sports Want to read about teams from your favorite school?

You can do that by clicking on the “find a school” tab and filling it in at mlive.com/flpreps.

SUNDAY, JANUARY 12, 2014 / THE FLINT JOURNAL

HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL ROUNDUPS / C2� C3

POWERS CATHOLIC GIRLS ROUT MIDLAND LOCAL

Bronchos fall to perennial power

This week’s poll ready and waiting for your votes

Country Day hands Holly its first loss of season

High school basketball season is in full swing now, and big game nights follow big game nights.

The Flint Journal/MLive.com Game of the Week basketball poll offers the following options this week: Flint Southwestern at Northwestern girls, Durand at Beecher boys, Flint Northwestern at Southwestern boys, Fenton at Holly girls, Davison at Flushing boys and Lapeer West at Linden girls. All games are Friday.

School pride and expanded coverage is on the line. Your vote determines what game we’ll highlight in our previews, and then we’ll provide bonus coverage to the winning game online and in Sunday’s paper. We’ll even include a live chat and comments from the game.

Voting is underway and wraps up Tuesday night, support your team and show your school pride.

Go to mlive.com/flpreps, and you can vote once an hour.

By Eric Woodyard

ewoodyar@mlive.com

Holly didn’t show up to lose Friday night at home, but Detroit Country Day was just a little bit better in key moments.

Country Day handed the Bronchos their first loss of the season, 84-66.

Maceo Baston scored a gamehigh 31 points for Country Day and Holly’s Jake Daniels ended with a season-high 29 points.

Country Day’s Edmond Sumner, a Xavier signee, also chipped in 23 points with six assists.

Holly’s big man Logan Spiker contributed eight points to go along with a career-high 17 rebounds.

“Eventually, we just had better talent and that overwhelmed them,” Country Day coach Mark Bray said. “We’ve got to do a much better job at rebounding, and (Spiker) exploited that, but when we get in transition and we get open shots, our guys are really talented and can finish.”

Country Day led 16-9 after the first quarter after getting out to a 10-3 start.

Holly relied primarily on its jump shooting for most of the first quarter but still forced three offensive fouls with hustle plays on defense.

Sumner began to heat up in the second quarter, scoring nine points during that stretch.

Sumner’s deep 3-pointer at 2:14 in the second quarter put Country Day ahead 12 before Holly cut the margin to 32-22 at halftime.

GIRLS BASKETBALL

No. 1 Goodrich takes care of business

HIGH SCHOOL WRESTLING

Caro wins tourney; wrestler hits milestone The Caro wrestling team had many reasons to celebrate Saturday.

Toward the end of Caro’s invitational, senior Skylar Ley earned his 150th career victory with a pin, and the Tigers later followed with a team championship.

Caro swept through all of its challengers, including a 46-25 win over Croswell-Lexington in the championship final.

Kendall Betterridge was the last Caro wrestler to hit 150 victories, two weeks ago at a tournament in Freeland.

Besides Ley and Betterridge (215/285), other unbeaten Caro wrestlers Saturday were Patrick Ford (103), Brett Green (145/152) and Tyler Deming (189).

OUTLOOK GOOD FOR HUNTERS, HIKERS IN ’14

GAME OF THE WEEK

HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL

The Goodrich girls basketball team lived up to its lofty ranking with a 53-13 victory over Montrose on Thursday.

Goodrich, ranked No. 1 in the first Associated Press Class B poll of the season, forced 20 first-half turnovers and took a 38-8 halftime lead.

The showing made Montrose coach Sam Spence a believer in Goodrich’s No. 1 ranking.

“I think defensively this is one of their better teams. They’ve had better individuals in the past, but they’re a team,” he said.

Tania Davis had 18 points and eight steals, while Alexis Sevillian had 17 points and five steals for Goodrich (5-0).

“We played a nice trapping defense that was really effective and we also had a number of deflections that caused them problems,” Goodrich coach Jason Gray said.

More basketball coverage, C2-C3

OUTDOORS / C 4

Holly sophomore guard Kyle Woodruff goes in for a layup on a breakaway against Detroit Country Day on Friday at Holly High School. (Jake May/MLive.com)

Daniels hit eight quick points at the beginning of the third quarter, but Country Day still found ways to control the tempo and maintain its lead.

Country Day forced turnovers and went ahead by as many as 15 points in the third quarter until Daniels put

the team on his back, scoring 12 in the period after twisting his ankle as Holly made it 56-48 going into the final quarter.

Country Day, however, outscored Holly 18-6 to start the fourth quarter to all but seal its victory.

“We got it down to eight points

going into the fourth, but there were a couple of very untimely turnovers and that was huge,” Holly coach Lance Baylis said. “They’re fast and they close the passing lanes faster than we’re used to, and this game is just going to serve us very well moving forward.”

DETROIT COUNTRY DAY 84, HOLLY 66

Once-beaten Holly forced to settle for moral victory Coach happy with team’s overall play, despite final score

Eric Woodyard ewoodyar@mlive.com

H

OLLY — Moral victories don’t show up in the standings for high school basketball, but Holly certainly got one Friday night.

Unfortunately for Holly, it had to sacrifice its undefeated record in return for it, though.

Detroit Country Day certainly gave Holly an 18-point thrashing for its first loss of the season at home, but the final 84-66 score wasn’t a true indication of the outcome. Holly fought until the end and learned a lot about itself afterward.

“This game is going to serve us really well going forward. We wanted to win today,” Holly coach Lance Baylis said. “What we learned is that we can play with anybody. There wasn’t one guy in that locker room after the game that didn’t think we had a chance to win that game.”

Sure, the loss hurt, but there were a lot of positive things to take from it. Holly learned that its team has the heart to make up for a lack of athletes, but the group still must learn to play better defense and not rely on its jump shooting so much. Holly’s shot selection was questionable at times, especially early in the game, but the

Bronchos played more efficiently in the second and third quarters.

There were some unnecessary 3-pointers attempted in transition that didn’t always go in their favor and killed momentum. Those shots were costly, and Country Day capitalized on many of those misses.

“I was really happy that his kids competed, because in the past, Country Day really blew them out and it’s never been really a game,” Country Day coach Mark Bray said.

“We were up by 10 for most of the game, but it never really felt like it because they were competing well.

The way they play, being up 10 is like a three-possession game because they can bomb it. They’re really good.”

The outcome was settled in the fourth quarter when Country Day kicked it up a notch and outscored Holly 28-18 to close out the game, but Baylis still was proud of his team’s effort. The Bronchos had no reason to hang their heads. Holly isn’t a top-

Holly junior guard Isaac Casillas, left, fights for position with Detroit Country Day junior center Nazir Wallace as he drives for a layup in their game Friday.

The Yellow Jackets defeated the Bronchos 84-66. (Jake May/MLive.com)

ranked powerhouse like some of its fans might have believed after its 6-0 start, but the Bronchos are on the right track. The Flint Metro League could have a new champion this year with Holly and Lapeer West at the top of the conference standings.

“We came into this game not scared at all and gave our full effort, and we didn’t get the outcome that we wanted, but we’re going to keep going,” said Holly junior Jake Daniels, who scored a season-high 29 points. “People aren’t done hearing about Holly. All around, I’m proud of my teammates.”

Detroit Mercy’s all-time leading scorer Rashad Phillips also supports Holly’s players with training, and even assisted Baylis with coaching during the Country Day game, which served as a big plus for the program.

Phillips’ support seems to have been a boost, and at age 35, he’s still young at heart and not out of touch with the younger generation.

Baylis is committed to taking Holly’s program to the next level and is making everyone take notice to the new direction the program is taking.

Gone are the days of mediocrity.

Nobody in the Holly locker room got too down about Friday’s loss, and after the players got past the initial letdown, they walked out of the back area with smiles on their faces.

Holly will be back, but how far the Bronchos go depends on what they took from the Country Day loss. It will be interesting to see how the team moves forward from here.

Opening the season 6-1 isn’t a bad way to start.

C2 / SUNDAY, JANUARY 12, 2014 / THE FLINT JOURNAL

Local Sports SCOREBOARD BOYS BASKETBALL AREA STANDINGS FLINT METRO LEAGUE League Overall W-L W-L Holly 5-0 6-1 Lapeer West 4-0 7-0 Fenton 3-2 3-2 Swartz Creek 2-2 2-2 Ortonville-Brandon 2-3 2-5 Clio 1-2 2-2 Flint Kearsley 1-3 1-5 Lapeer East 1-4 1-5 Linden 1-4 1-6 GENESEE AREA CONFERENCE (BLUE DIVISION) League Overall W-L W-L Burton Atherton 3-0 4-0 Flint Hamady 2-0 3-0 Morrice 2-1 4-1 Burton Bendle 2-1 3-1 New Lothrop 2-1 3-1 Burton Bentley 1-2 1-3 Byron 1-2 1-3 Genesee 1-2 1-4 Dryden 0-2 0-3 Webberville 0-3 0-4 GENESEE AREA CONFERENCE (RED DIVISION) League Overall W-L W-L Goodrich 1-0 4-1 Flint Beecher 1-0 2-1 Montrose 1-1 2-1 Lake Fenton 1-1 3-2 Perry 1-1 2-2 Durand 0-1 2-4 Mt Morris 0-1 1-4 KENSINGTON LAKES ACTIVITIES ASSOC. (WEST) League Overall W-L W-L Howell 2-0 4-1 Grand Blanc 1-0 4-1 Brighton 1-1 4-3 Hartland 1-1 4-3 Pinckney 0-2 6-3 Milford 0-1 0-6 SAGINAW VALLEY LEAGUE SOUTH League Overall W-L W-L 6-1 4-0 Flint Carman-Ainsworth Flint Northwestern 1-0 1-2 5-2 2-1 Flushing 2-2 2-1 Flint Southwestern Davison 1-3 3-5 1-7 0-4 Flint Powers Catholic

BOYS BASKETBALL AREA STANDINGS FLINT METRO LEAGUE League Overall W-L W-L Holly 5-0 8-0 Fenton 4-1 4-3 3-3 3-1 Swartz Creek Lapeer West 2-2 2-4 Linden 2-3 4-5 3-5 2-3 Ortonville-Brandon Clio 1-2 3-4 Flint Kearsley 1-3 2-5 0-8 0-5 Lapeer East GENESEE AREA CONFERENCE (BLUE DIVISION) League Overall W-L W-L New Lothrop 5-0 6-0 Flint Hamady 4-0 6-0 5-2 4-1 Morrice Dryden 3-1 3-2 Byron 2-3 3-4 2-5 2-3 Burton Bendle Genesee 2-4 3-4 Burton Bentley 1-3 2-5 2-4 1-4 Webberville Burton Atherton 0-5 0-5 GENESEE AREA CONFERENCE (RED DIVISION) Overall League W-L W-L Goodrich 3-0 6-0 7-0 3-0 Perry Lake Fenton 1-1 3-4 Durand 1-2 4-3 2-4 1-2 Montrose Mt Morris 0-2 2-6 1-5 0-2 Flint Beecher KENSINGTON LAKES ACTIVITIES ASSOC. (WEST DIV.)

League Overall W-L W-L 5-2 2-0 Brighton Howell 2-0 5-2 6-2 1-1 Hartland 2-5 0-1 Grand Blanc Milford 0-1 2-6 2-7 0-2 Pinckney SAGINAW VALLEY LEAGUE SOUTH League Overall W-L W-L 10-1 4-0 Flint Powers Catholic Flint Carman-Ainsworth 3-1 6-4 Davison 1-2 5-3 Flint Southwestern 0-1 4-3 Flushing 0-2 4-5 Flint Northwestern 0-2 1-4

SCORES SATURDAY BOYS BASKETBALL Melvindale Academy for Business & Technology 60, Flint Beecher 48 WRESTLING Warren Woods Tower Invitational 1. Brighton 238; 2. Flint Carman-Ainsworth 217.

Caro Team Invite 1. Caro 5-0; 2. Lexington 4-1; 3. Monroe Jefferson 3-2; 3. Waterford Mott 3-2; 5. Sanford Meridian 2-3; 6. Lapeer East 1-4; 6. Vassar 1-4; 6. Marlette 1-4.

Flushing Invite 1. Lapeer West 3-1; 1. Lansing Everett 3-1; 3. Montrose 2-2; 3. Flushing 2-2; 5. Bath 0-4.

Wolfpack Team Challenge 1. Grand Blanc 232; 2. Bay City Central 220; 3. Ann Arbor Skyline 200; 4. Durand 114; 5. Forest Hills Eastern 92; 6. Bad Axe 87.

Saginaw County Meet 1. Saginaw Swan Valley 274; 2. Birch Run 261; 3. Freeland 177; 4. Chesaning 161; 5. Saginaw Heritage 136; 6. Carrollton 120; 7. Hemlock 104; 8. Frankenmuth 72; 9. Saginaw Michigan Lutheran Seminary 61; 10. Saginaw Arthur Hill 44; 11. Saginaw 36.5; 11. Saginaw Nouvel 36.5; 13. Saginaw Valley Lutheran 12; 14. Bridgeport 0.

HOCKEY Detroit U-D Jesuit 5, Flint Powers Catholic 3 BOYS BOWLING SVL Meet Bay City Western 2-0; Flint Carman-Ainsworth 1-0; Davison 1-1; Flushing 1-1; Flint Powers Catholic 1-1; Flint Southwestern 1-1; Saginaw Heritage 1-1; Bay City Central 1-1; Mt Pleasant 1-1; Saginaw 1-1; Flint Northwestern 0-1.

Flint Kearsley 17, Holly 13 Ortonville-Brandon 18, Swartz Creek 12 GIRLS BOWLING SVL Meet Saginaw Heritage 2-0; Davison 2-0; Bay City Western 2-0; Flint Carman-Ainsworth 1-0; Flushing 1-1; Flint Northwestern 1-1; Flint Powers Catholic 0-1; Flint Southwestern 0-2; Bay City Central 0-2; Mt. Pleasant 0-2.

Flint Kearsley 30, Holly 0 COMPETITIVE CHEER Oxford Tournament 1. Lapeer West 588.24.

Blackhawk Invitational 1. Mason 734.56; 2. Onsted 725.64; 3. Jackson Northwest 641.44; 4. Napoleon 618.2; 5. Leslie 575.42; 6. Eaton Rapids 519.68.

FRIDAY BOYS BASKETBALL Birch Run 62, Otisville LakeVille Memorial 36 Bridgeport 48, North Branch 45 Burton Atherton 51, Dryden 33 Burton Bendle 72, Byron 31 Detroit Country Day 84, Holly 66 Fenton 58, Linden 45

GIRLS BASKETBALL ROUNDUP Flint Carman-Ainsworth 65, Midland Dow 59 Flint Hamady 71, Burton Bentley 36 Flint Kearsley 61, Lapeer East 43 Flushing 61, Saginaw Heritage 50 Genesee 54, Webberville 41 Goodrich 71, Montrose 66 Grand Blanc 72, Brighton 41 Imlay City 83, Armada 63 Lake Fenton 45, Mt Morris 43 Lansing Catholic 76, Corunna 43 Lapeer West 51, Ortonville-Brandon 47 Midland 55, Flint Powers Catholic 48 Millington 76, Caro 51 Morrice 58, New Lothrop 41 Owosso 52, St Johns 47 Owosso Home School 46, Flint CHASE Home School 45 Perry 55, Durand 33 Saginaw Arthur Hill 88, Davison 55 Swartz Creek 62, Clio 57 GIRLS BASKETBALL Brighton 64, Grand Blanc 23 Burton St Thomas More Academy 47, Burton Genesee Christian 32 Corunna 46, Lansing Catholic 45 Davison 60, Saginaw Arthur Hill 42 Flint Kearsley 33, Lapeer East 25 Flint Powers Catholic 54, Midland 26 Holly 73, Lake Fenton 42 Linden 55, Fenton 48 Midland Dow 55, Flint Carman-Ainsworth 38 Ortonville-Brandon 38, Lapeer West 32 Saginaw Heritage 32, Flushing 29 St Johns 43, Owosso 27 Swartz Creek 45, Clio 41 HOCKEY Howell 8, Grand Blanc 0 BOYS BOWLING Walled Lake Northern 23, Grand Blanc 7 GIRLS BOWLING Grand Blanc 23, Walled Lake Northern 7 BOYS SWIMMING Midland Tri 1. Saginaw Heritage 2-0; 2. Flint Powers Catholic 1-1; 3. Midland 0-2 THURSDAY BOYS BASKETBALL Flint Madison Academy 83, Charyl Stockwell Academy 59 Flushing 81, Flint Powers Catholic 50 GIRLS BASKETBALL Birch Run 44, Otisville LakeVille Memorial 37 Byron 39, Burton Bendle 35 Dryden 42, Burton Atherton 25 Flint Hamady 58, Burton Bentley 15 Flint Madison Academy 45, Charyl Stockwell Academy 15 Flint Powers Catholic 68, Flushing 35 Genesee 35, Webberville 27 Goodrich 53, Montrose 13 Lake Fenton 49, Mt Morris 34 Millington 47, Caro 37 New Lothrop 36, Morrice 29 North Branch 42, Bridgeport 26 Perry 48, Durand 43 WRESTLING Fenton Tri 1. Ortonville-Brandon 2-0; 2. Clio 1-1; 3. Fenton 0-2.

Lakeville Quad 1. Otisville LakeVille Memorial 2-0; 2. North Branch 1-1; 2. Millington 1-1; 4. Bridgeport 0-2.

BOYS SWIMMING Fenton 108, Swartz Creek 73 Holly 106, Flint Kearsley/Clio 74 Lapeer 98, Ortonville-Brandon 85 Owosso 97, Ionia 88

SCHEDULE MONDAY BOYS BASKETBALL Burton St. Thomas More Academy at Kimball Landmark Academy, 7 p.m.

Flint Kearsley at Davison, 7 p.m.

New Haven Merritt Academy at Burton Faith, 7 p.m.

Saginaw Arts & Sciences Academy at Burton Genesee Christian, 7 p.m.

HOCKEY Auburn Hills Avondale at Metro League Griffins, 7 p.m.

GIRLS BASKETBALL Burton St. Thomas More Academy at Kimball Landmark Academy, 5:30 p.m.

TUESDAY BOYS BASKETBALL Bay City John Glenn at Flushing, 7 p.m.

Birch Run at Caro, 7:30 p.m.

Burton Atherton at Genesee, 7 p.m.

Burton Bendle at Flint Hamady, 7 p.m.

Burton Genesee Christian at Davison Faith Baptist, 5:30 p.m.

Clio at Holly, 7 p.m.

Durand at Lake Fenton, 7 p.m.

Flint Beecher at Montrose, 7 p.m.

Flint Carman-Ainsworth at Swartz Creek, 7 p.m.

Flint Kearsley at Linden, 7 p.m.

Flint Powers Catholic at Flint Northwestern, 7 p.m.

Goodrich at Mt. Morris, 7 p.m.

Ionia at Corunna, 7 p.m.

Lapeer East at Ortonville-Brandon, 7 p.m.

Lapeer West at Fenton, 7 p.m.

Millington at Frankenmuth, 7:30 p.m.

New Lothrop at Dryden, 7 p.m.

North Branch at Essexville Garber, 7:30 p.m.

Flint Chase Home School vs. Novi Home School, 7:30 p.m.

Owosso at Davison, 7 p.m.

Pinckney at Grand Blanc, 7 p.m.

Webberville at Burton Bentley, 7 p.m.

BOYS BOWLING Owosso at Stockbridge, 3:30 p.m.

HOCKEY Grand Blanc at Hartland, 6 p.m.

BOYS SWIMMING Flint Powers Catholic at Corunna, 6 p.m.

Ovid-Elsie at Owosso, 6 p.m.

Pinckney at Grand Blanc, 6 p.m.

GIRLS BASKETBALL Birch Run at Caro, 7:30 p.m.

Burton Atherton at Genesee, 5:30 p.m.

Burton Bendle at Flint Hamady, 7 p.m.

Burton Genesee Christian at Montrose, 5:30 p.m.

Corunna at Ionia, 7 p.m.

Davison Faith Bapt. at Burt. Genesee Chr., 5:30 p.m.

Durand at Lake Fenton, 5:30 p.m.

Fenton at Lapeer West, 7 p.m.

Flint Beecher at Montrose, 5:30 p.m.

Flint Carman-Ainsworth at Clarkston, 7 p.m.

Flint International Academy at Almont, 6 p.m.

Flint Northwestern at Flint Powers Catholic, 7 p.m.

Flushing at Flint Southwestern, 7 p.m.

Goodrich at Mt. Morris, 5:30 p.m.

Grand Blanc at Pinckney, 7 p.m.

Holly at Clio, 7 p.m.

Linden at Flint Kearsley, 7 p.m.

Millington at Frankenmuth, 6 p.m.

New Lothrop at Dryden, 5:30 p.m.

North Branch at Essexville Garber, 6 p.m.

Ortonville-Brandon at Lapeer East, 7 p.m.

Owosso at Davison, 6 p.m.

Swartz Creek at Bay City John Glenn, 7:30 p.m.

Webberville at Burton Bentley, 5:30 p.m.

GIRLS BOWLING Owosso at Stockbridge, 3:30 p.m.

WEDNESDAY BOYS BASKETBALL Saginaw Arts & Sciences Academy at Flint Madison Academy, 7 p.m.

Swartz Creek at Fenton, 7:30 p.m.

GIRLS BASKETBALL Saginaw Arts & Sciences Academy at Flint Madison Academy, 5:30 p.m.

Swartz Creek at Fenton, 6 p.m.

COACHES To report a score, please contact MLive at 877-2709533, fax 877-271-4518 or email results to prepsports@mlive.com

Powers Catholic dominates on defense MLive.com

Ally Haran led Flint Powers Catholic with 13 points, five rebounds, five steals and four assists to a 54-26 victory over Midland, and the Chargers used dominant defense in the SVL crossover showdown.

Powers Catholic’s Sara Ruhstorfer chipped in 12 points, four assists and two steals, and Francesca Coury added 11 points and Ruhstorfer three steals for the Chargers, who outscored Midland 40-10 in the first three quarters.

Elena Nartker came off the bench to lead Midland with 10 points, all in the fourth quarter, and Emily Resmer chipped in four points and eight rebounds.

Key to the victory was Ruhstorfer’s defensive play against Midland guard and Indiana University commit Jessica Walter. Ruhstorfer held Walter below 17 points for the second time this season, limiting the guard to single digits.

“Sara did a great job against a great player and really set the tone for us,” Powers Catholic coach Thom Staudacher said. “We knew coming in that this was going to be a big game against one of the best teams in the Saginaw Valley League, and both teams were really intense and playing hard from the tip.”

Midland coach Elaine Mahabir said her team couldn’t find a rhythm offensively against the Chargers.

“We didn’t shoot particularly well, and that’s tough when you play a great team like we did tonight,” Mahabir said. “We haven’t played since Dec. 19, and we looked like a team who hasn’t played in a while.”

Powers Catholic (10-1, 4-0 SVL South) hosts Flint Northwestern on Tuesday, and Midland (6-1, 3-0 SVL North) hosts Bay City Central the same night.

FRIDAY

Corunna 46, Lansing Catholic 45: Corunna went on a 6-0 run with less than four minutes remaining to come back and defeat Lansing Catholic.

Payton Birchmeier led Corunna with 19 points, 15 rebounds, seven blocked shots and four steals.

Lansing Catholic led 31-19 at halftime, but Birchmeier scored 15 points in the second half to bring her team back for the back-and-forth fourth quarter.

“Our defense picked up in the second half and gave us additional opportunities and helped us create offense,” Corunna coach Ron Birchmeier said.

Flint Kearsley 33, Lapeer East 25: Flint Kearsley put together strong play during the first and third quarters.

Maddie Major led Kearsley with 12 points and nine rebounds, followed by Mallory Miller with eight points and five assists.

“We pressured (Lapeer East) and got some easy buckets,” Kearsley coach Matt Gilbner said. “When we ran our offense and were under control, it made a big difference for us.”

Taylor Prusatis led Lapeer East with eight points.

Lapeer East outscored Kearsley in the second and fourth quarters, but it wasn’t enough to make up for the first-half deficit.

St. Johns 43, Owosso 27: Tori Henning scored a teamhigh 11 points, and Claire Whitford added nine for visiting St. Johns.

“We’ve been trying to get them more aggressive in scoring and on the defensive end,” Owosso coach Dave Owens said. “I was very proud of how our halfcourt defense played, but we gave up too many turnovers and they scored in transition.”

Delaney Springsdorf led Owosso with 10 points.

Owosso faces Davison on Tuesday.

Swartz Creek 45, Clio 41: Swartz Creek survived a fourth-quarter scare against host Clio in a Flint Metro League matchup.

Swartz Creek (3-3, 3-1 FML) took control of the game in the second quarter and entered the final frame leading 29-22.

Clio (3-4, 1-2 FML) outscored the Dragons 19-16 and took the lead more than once in a back-and-forth affair, but Swartz Creek finished strong at the free-throw line to seal the victory.

Swartz Creek travels to Bay City John Glenn on Monday, and Clio hosts Holly on Tuesday.

Saginaw Heritage 32, Flushing 29: Flushing center Clare Glowniak carried the 4-5 Raiders to the lead in the second half, scoring eight of her team-high 10 points in the second half. Glowniak also had 10 rebounds, while Breanna Perry led the team with 13 rebounds.

Brighton 64, Grand Blanc 23: Brighton (5-2) built an early lead and cruised past visiting Grand Blanc (2-5).

Natalie Peterson scored 15 points and Taylar McNeil added 14.

Jenna Endsley led Grand Blanc with six points.

Holly 73, Lake Fenton 42: Holly (8-0, 5-0 Flint Metro League) unleashed a balanced scoring attack to defeat Lake Fenton.

Alyssa Copley led Holly with 18 points.

Brooke Jackman came off the bench and grabbed a game-high 12 rebounds, while Lewandowski hauled in 10. Jordan Newman led Lake Fenton (3-4, 1-1 Genesee Area Red) with 11 points.

Linden 55, Fenton 48: Linden outscored host Fenton 37-24 in the second half.

“The girls slowed it down a little bit and were able to score some points for us,” Linden coach Ben Varner said. “We made some free throws down the stretch. I want to bottle up what we did tonight and keep our intensity going.”

Lindon’s Bri Holscher scored a game-high 17 points, Taylor Smith added 13 and Alyssa Logie added 11 and grabbed six rebounds.

Sydney Elmer finished with 11 rebounds, six assists and three steals.

Cassandra Reuschlein led Fenton with 13 points, and Hannah Evo added 11.

Midland Dow 55, Flint Carman-Ainsworth 38: A strong team rebounding performance helped Midland Dow put away host Flint Carman-Ainsworth.

Emily Lyman led Dow with 13 points, and Ellie Taylor chipped in 10 for the Chargers, and each hit a 3-pointer on back-to-back possessions to end the third quarter that helped Dow pull away.

Randi Richardson led Carman-Ainsworth with 10 points.

“We focused a lot on rebounding in practice after we did a poor job of it against Mount Pleasant on Wednesday,” Dow coach Bob Wellman said.

Dow (8-1, 3-1 SVL North) returns to league play Tuesday against Saginaw Arthur Hill, and CarmanAinsworth (6-4, 3-1 SVL South) faces another stiff

nonconference test in Clarkston and all-stater Erika Davenport.

Davison 60, Saginaw Arthur Hill 42: Alex Gill led Davison with 12 points, 13 rebounds and four assists as the Cardinals used a 19-point first quarter to take an early lead and never looked back against visiting Saginaw Arthur Hill.

Brooke Graham chipped in 13 points for Davison, and Hayley Gabriel scored 12.

Janae Wicker led Arthur Hill with 17 points, and Kristaun Boykins chipped in 10.

“The thing I liked most was our consistency,” Davison coach Dick MacLachlan said.

“Every player scored and every player had an assist, and that’s a sign of the significant growth our team has had since the beginning of the season.”

Davison (5-3, 1-2 SVL South) hosts Owosso on Tuesday, and Arthur Hill (0-7, 0-3 SVL North) travels to Midland Dow the same night.

eight points for New Lothrop, which led 10-5 after the first quarter.

Averi Munro led Morrice with nine points and six rebounds, and Courtney Wolf chipped in eight points.

New Lothrop (6-0, 5-0 GAC Blue) next plays Dryden on Tuesday, and Morrice (5-2, 4-1 GAC Blue) looks to bounce back against Byron on the same night.

Genesee 35, Webberville 27: Genesee outscored visiting Webberville 13-5 in the first quarter en route to victory.

Sara Walker led the Wolves with 10 points and 12 rebounds.

“This was probably her best game on varsity, and first double-double,” Genesee coach Josh Kennard said.

“She’s been an all-around player for us this year and is playing a lot more positions.”

North Branch 42, Bridgeport 26: Despite a slow start, North Branch held visiting Bridgeport to one point in the third quarter of its victory.

Rachel Losey finished with THURSDAY a game-high 16 points, five assists and four rebounds Perry 48, Durand 43: Chasity Potter led Perry with for North Branch, and Dani 11 points and six rebounds as Leander scored 10 points and grabbed eight rebounds. the Ramblers held off a late comeback by Durand.

Bridgeport’s Alexandria Carter scored 12 points.

Lindsay Crim added North Branch (2-5) visits 11 points for Perry, and Madison Hardy chipped in 10 Essexville Garber at 6 p.m. for the Ramblers.

Tuesday, while Bridgeport (1-7) visits Otisville LakeVille Alexis Ayala led Durand with 14 points, and Nicole Memorial.

Millington 47, Caro 39: Waterman chipped in 13 for the Railroaders, who got Host Millington outscored back into the game with a visiting Caro 14-9 in the 17-point fourth quarter. fourth quarter.

Perry (7-0, 3-0 GAC Red) After a defensive stop and looks to keep the best start in 3-pointer to tie the game, school history going against Millington switched from Stockbridge on Tuesday, and zone to man-to-man defense.

Durand (4-3, 1-2) hopes to “We forced some turnbounce back against Lake overs and got some layups Fenton on the same night. late to help stretch the lead,” Dryden 42, Burton Millington coach Aaron Atherton 25: Burton Chamberlain said.

Atherton’s Tariana Arrington Ashely Lee led Millington grabbed a game-high 16 with 12 points. rebounds and added eight Caro’s Melissa Cockerill points in her team’s loss scored nine points.

Atherton next plays Millington plays Tuesday at Genesee.

Frankenmuth on Tuesday.

Byron 39, Burton The Eagles are undefeated Bendle 35: Parker Viele had and lead Tri-Valley East. a game-high 26 points for Birch Run 44, Otisville Byron, which overcame a LakeVille Memorial 37: Birch one-point halftime deficit.

Run built a 22-12 halftime Alyssa Choate led Bendle lead and held off visiting with nine points, while LakeVille Memorial (3-4, 1-3 Samantha Jackson added 14 Tri-Valley Conference East). rebounds.

“We got a good lead and “We had a few more turnthen just held on for dear life,” overs than they did,” Bendle Birch Run coach Dan Kramer coach Lianne Steller said. said.

“It’s hard to play with six Birch Run’s Savanah people and be competitive in Gibson had a game-high 13 our league. We didn’t have points, while teammate Kyla the depth on our bench.”

Breckenridge added 11 points off the bench.

New Lothrop 36, Morrice 29: Emily Severn LakeVille’s Ashley Pardee scored 22 points to lead New had a team-high 10 points.

Lothrop past host Morrice.

Birch Run (5-2, 3-1 TVC East) plays Tuesday at Caro.

Morgan Rombach added

AD HAS BEEN MODIFIED DO NOT PLACE

THE FLINT JOURNAL / SUNDAY, JANUARY 12, 2014 / C3

Local Sports BOYS BASKETBALL

BOYS BASKETBALL ROUNDUP

Demps leads Hamady to victory over Bentley MLive.com

today and were able to hit shots,” Genesee coach Mike Ribant said. “We had a more balanced attack.

“We had to have some guys step up and make plays, and that’s what happened. We’ve been taking steps, and everything fell into place.”

Webberville’s Kyle Oesterle scored 12 points.

Genesee hosts Burton Atherton on Tuesday.

Saginaw Arthur Hill 88, Davison 55: Arthur Hill (4-1) outscored Davison 20-12 to end the first half.

Andrew Miller led the way for Davison (3-5) with 10 points and three rebounds, while Frank Vukaj grabbed eight rebounds to go along with eight points.

Arthur Hill junior guard Eric Davis, considered one of the top players in the country, scored 26 points with Michigan coach Jonn Beilein and Providence coach Bob Simon in attendance.

Lake Fenton 45, FRIDAY Mt. Morris 43: Logan Readdy Burton Bendle 72, led Lake Fenton with 13 Byron 31: Burton Bendle points as the Blue Devils returned to the court Friday edged host Mt. Morris. after almost a month of postPete Plasters scored 10 poned games, and while most points, and Chase Hanson of the team worked to shake had seven points and nine off the rust, senior D’Monte rebounds for Lake Fenton Johnson went to work.

(3-2, 1-1 Genesee Area Johnson scored 29 points Conference Red). to lead the Tigers past Byron.

“I thought defensively, we “That’s his job,” Bendle probably had the best game coach Erich Mullin said. of our season with our half“D’Monte played very well in court press,” Lake Fenton the second half, scoring 21 of coach Jake Erway. “Our scorhis 29 points.” ing has been very spread out Johnson added 12 all season, and we have four rebounds, seven blocked or five guys scoring well. We shots and four steals. definitely score together as a Donovan Kingston added team this season.”

10 points and 11 rebounds — Eric Smith led Mt. Morris all in the second half.

(1-4, 0-1) with 18 points.

“Donovan and D’Monte Lake Fenton hosts Durand complement each other very on Tuesday, while Mt. Morris well,” Mullin said. “We also hosts Goodrich. played very well as a team.”

Flint Kearsley 61, Lapeer Levi Joslin led Byron with East 43: Brendan Silvas 10 points and eight rebounds. scored a game-high 23 points “We’re a young team, and to help Flint Kearsley defeat their pressure kind of hurt us visiting Lapeer East. toward the end of the game,” Kearsley’s (1-5) Anthony Byron coach Kyle Hopkins McMasters scored 21 points. said. “We kind of lost focus of “McMasters scored 17 the task at hand. points in the first half, and Bendle has a tough task ended the game with a career against defending Genesee high,” Kearsley coach Paul Area Conference champion Adas said.

Flint Hamaday on Tuesday.

Keaton Pnacek led Laper Burton Atherton 51, East (1-5) with 21 points.

Dryden 33: Host Burton Goodrich 71, Montrose 66: Atherton led 17-6 after the Goodrich’s Jaylin Fordham first quarter and kept Dryden had 19 points, and Jay Vallie at bay much of the night. scored 17 in a win against visBrandon Smith led iting Montrose.

Atherton with 12 points, while Goodrich (4-1, 1-0 Genesee Devon Stadfeld scored 10.

Area Red) squandered a “We run a press, so it car20-5 first-quarter lead but ried us,” Atherton coach Earl regained the advantage in Jordan said. “They didn’t play the third quarter. A few sucAtherton type of ball, but they cessful free throws late in the fought through it and won the game clinched it. game. It’s time for us to get “It was a very hard-fought ready to play really hard.” game,” Goodrich coach Gary Dryden’s Nathan Spivey Barns said. “We felt like whoscored nine points. ever had the ball last was Atherton plays at Genesee probably going to win it down on Tuesday. the stretch. We just had to Midland 55, Flint Powers keep fighting to protect the Catholic 48: Will Williams ball.” scored a game-high 25 points Montrose’s Antonio to give Midland the edge in McMillion scored a gamethe second half and defeat high 25 points. visiting Flint Powers Catholic Montrose (2-1, 1-1 GAC in a Saginaw Valley League Red) plays Tuesday at Flint nondivisional matchup.

Beecher, while Goodrich trav“He knows when to take els to Mt. Morris. the team on his back,” Morrice 58, Midland coach Eric Krause New Lothrop 41: Griffin said. “He’s just steady.”

Lewis recorded 19 points and Spencer Myers led Powers 15 rebounds to lead Morrice Catholic (1-7) with 15 points. past host New Lothrop.

Midland (4-1) used a 19-9 Morrice entered the fourth scoring advantage in the quarter trailing by three third quarter to take the lead points, but outscored New and closed the game with 20 Lothrop 21-1 in the final quarpoints in the fourth. ter to secure the victory and “Both teams played badly improve to 4-1 overall. on offense,” Krause said. “You “We changed from man to could tell by the halftime zone (defense) and just played score (18-16 Powers Catholic solid zone in the fourth quarlead). Both teams picked it up ter,” Morrice coach Jeremy in the second half.”

Rogers said. “The solid Genesee 54, defense turned into easy basWebberville 41: Rayce Jacobs kets on the offensive end.” led visiting Genesee with 15 Ronnie Hubble also points, followed by Dylan posted a double-double for Williams (12) and Mitchell Morrice with 14 points and Purcell (11).

12 rebounds to go along with “Mitchell and Dylan scored his five blocked shots. Garrett Flint Hamady outscored Bentley 45-10 in the first and third quarters en route to a 71-36 victory, led by Jamil Demps’ 23 points, nine assists and four steals.

“Jamil started off very aggressive and knocked down his 3-pointers,” Hamady coach Kenyada Dent said. “If he comes out Demps strong, the rest of the team will follow.”

Bentley had its best offense in the second quarter and outscored Hamady by six points, led by Wyatt Thomas with nine points and 12 rebounds.

Hamady will host Burton Bendle on Tuesday, and Bentley will face Webberville.

McPherson added 10 points.

“I thought we did a nice job defensively in the third quarter,” New Lothrop coach Brady Simons said, whose team fell to 3-1 overall.

Nolan Wendling led New Lothrop with 16 points, while teammate Kyle White added 10 points.

Perry 55, Durand 33: Cameron Koons led Durand with a career-high 18 points in a Genesee Area Conference Red Division home loss against Perry.

Durand fell to 2-4 overall, 0-1 GAC Red. Flushing 61, Saginaw Heritage 50: After a 24-24 tie at halftime, Flushing scored 24 points in the third quarter of its victory against visiting Saginaw Heritage.

Jaylen Odneal scored 18 points to lead Flushing, and teammate Alec Myers added 14. Flushing utilized a halfcourt trap in the second half to create turnovers that led to points in transition.

“The half-court pressure created some easy looks for us,” Flushing coach Adam Smith said. “Heritage played hard, and the difference was just a couple of runs with transition baskets.”

Jalen Young led Heritage with a game-high 23 points, and Quinn Erway added 15.

“You’ve got to be able to handle the pressure ... and we couldn’t in the first few minutes after the half,” Heritage coach John Wilson said.

“There was a lot of energy showed, which is something the kids can build on moving forward.”

Flushing (5-2, 2-1 Saginaw Valley League South) will host Bay City John Glenn at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, while Heritage (2-4, 1-3 SVL North) will host Bay City Western.

Birch Run 62, Otisville LakeVille Memorial 36: Peyton Miller led Birch Run with 14 points, including 10 in the second half.

Birch Run had a 27-15 lead at halftime.

“After having 24 days off, it was nice to get back into action,” Birch Run coach Clark Tlitchta said.

Harley Lang led Otisville LakeVille Memorial with eight points.

“They came at us for four quarters,” Otisville LakeVille Memorial coach Reid Johnson said. “They forced us into turnovers.”

Birch Run plays Caro and Otisville LakeVille Memorial takes on Bridgeport, both games on Tuesday.

Bridgeport 48, North Branch 45: Rebounding helped Bridgeport secure its victory with seconds left in the game.

“We were shooting a free throw with 2.5 seconds left down by three,” North Branch assistant coach Lyle Jamison said. “We missed it on the front end of the basket, and that was the ball game.”

Jamison said the game featured good defensive performances from both teams.

“Both teams played good, solid defense,” Jamison said.

“They played with great pressure and didn’t give our scorers a lot of looks.”

North Branch’s Curtis Gaza and Joey Schulte reached double figures, with 17 points and 10 points, respectively.

Bridgeport coach Jason Kowalski was equally satisfied with his team’s defensive showing, but said his team’s free-throw shooting was the reason for a close game.

“Lately, we have been lazy getting back on defense, but tonight we did that very well,” Kowalski said.

Aquavis Brooks carried Bridgeport with 25 points.

Bridgeport (3-3) travels to Otisville LakeVille Memorial and North Branch (2-4) visits Essexville Garber, both

Tuesday.

Lansing Catholic 76, Corunna 43: Mikhail Myles and Michael Petersen each scored 13 points for Corunna in its loss to Lansing Catholic.

“Lansing Catholic just punched us in the mouth and beat us until we were bloody,” Corunna coach Jason Schemenauer said.

Mikhail Myles added 10 rebounds, while M.J. Myles scored eight points and added eight rebounds.

“We scouted them like crazy,” Schemenauer said.

“We knew what was coming, we just couldn’t do anything about it. They executed their game plan better than we executed ours.”

Corunna hosts Ionia on Tuesday.

Fenton 58, Linden 45: Fenton outscored Linden 21-9 in the fourth quarter to pull away in the Flint Metro League matchup.

James Claborn led Fenton with 16 points, and Ross Ebert added 12 points and seven rebounds. Scott Lukas rounded out the Tigers’ double-digit scorers with 10 points and eight rebounds.

“Overall, we’re pretty balanced,” said Fenton coach Tim Olszewski, whose team led by one point heading in to the final quarter. “A lot falls on execution, so we’ll be working on executing what we need to, playing smart and taking care of the ball.”

Collin Hoeberling led Linden with 15 points.

Both teams play home games Tuesday, when Fenton (3-2, 3-2 Flint Metro League) faces Lapeer West, and Linden (1-6, 1-4) battles Flint Kearsley.

Millington 76, Caro 51: Shawn Pardee scored a career-high 25 points to lead four Millington players in double figures, and the visiting Cardinals won to remain undefeated. “(Pardee) had a great shooting night, and he handled the ball well,” Millington coach Shane LeVan said. “He’s been playing well for us all season, and he really stepped up and helped us out.”

Millington’s Austin LeVan scored 13 points, Jeremy Johnson had 11 and Wyatt Munson added 10.

The Cardinals outscored Caro 25-13 in the second quarter to build on a onepoint first-quarter lead, and held a 19-8 scoring advantage in the third to pull away.

Millington (6-0, 3-0 TriValley Conference East) travels to Frankenmuth on Tuesday, and Caro (0-5, 0-3) will host Birch Run. Lapeer West 51, OrtonvilleBrandon 47: Jon Currie led Lapeer West (7-0, 4-0 Flint Metro League) with 16 points as the Panthers overcame an eight-point deficit in the fourth quarter against visiting Ortonville-Brandon.

Currie also had five rebounds, Matt Place added eight points, 13 rebounds and four assists, and Terry Forgione had nine points.

“It was a very close game,” Lapeer West coach Chuck Mahoney said. “I expected this from Brandon. They played tough, never gave up and were really patient with their offense.”

Nick Keller led OrtonvilleBrandon (2-5, 2-3) with 15 points, Jake Sutherland added 11 and Tyree Gibbs scored 10.

Ortonville-Brandon outscored Lapeer West 19-11 in the third quarter to take a 39-31 lead, but Lapeer West had a 20-8 advantage in the final quarter to secure the win.

Lapeer West travels to Fenton for its next game at 7 p.m. Tuesday.

Owosso 52, St. Johns 47: Owosso senior guard Austin Klapko scored a game-high 16

points to propel the Trojans past visiting St. Johns.

Gavin Barnes scored 13 points, and Emett Alman added eight points and eight rebounds for Owosso, which got a fourth-quarter 3-pointer to take a lead it wouldn’t relinquish. “(Austin’s) been able to step up for us this year,” Owosso coach Dave Owens said. “He had a key basket for us with about three or four minutes left in the game.

Austin stepped up and nailed a 3-pointer to give us the lead, 46-45. He’s an even-keeled player.”

St. Johns’ Austin Ervin scored a team-high 11 points.

“We missed a lot of good opportunities in the first quarter,” Owens said. “We scored eight, but realistically we could have scored double that.

“I thought we played solid the entire game. It was a nip-and-tuck game the whole way. Fun and competitive.”

Owosso next plays Tuesday at Davison.

“I’m not sure what to expect from them,” Owens said. “They are always a solid program, they have good players at every position and they’re very well-coached.”

Swartz Creek 62, Clio 57: Ten players scored for Swartz Creek, led by Fred Toins with 12 points and Jacob Littles with 10 points, as the Dragons won in Flint Metro League play.

Swartz Creek (2-2, 2-2 FML) took a 19-11 lead at the end of the first quarter and withstood a late Clio rally.

Chauncey Bryant, Clio’s leading scorer, sat during the first quarter for disciplinary reasons but still tied Jaylon Arkwright with 14 points.

James Ziobro led Clio with 15 points.

“We got off to a slow start offensively because Chauncey had to sit on the bench,” Clio coach Tyler Thompson said.

“We came out with a different attitude in the second half.”

Clio had no offensive rebounds in the first half but came up with nine boards in the second half.

“I thought James had a really nice game for us,” Thompson said.

Clio travels to Holly on Tuesday.

“Holly is undefeated (in the FML), so this is a must-win situation for us,” Thompson said. “We have to trust in each other and believe in our offense.”

THURSDAY

Flushing 81, Flint Powers Catholic 50: Senior Jaylen Odneal scored a game-high 24 points to lead Flushing past visiting Flint Powers Catholic in an SVL South matchup.

Flushing coach Adam Smith was not surprised by Odneal’s breakout performance.

“We’ve being waiting for Jaylen to have a game like this, because every day in practice he looks great,” Smith said. “This game will do a lot for his confidence going forward. He was our spark plug, and I’m glad that happened for him.”

Flushing’s Alec Myers scored 19 points, Aaron Walker scored nine and Chris Triplett and Logan Plude scored eight points each.

Tyrone Hunter led Powers Catholic with 12 points, Noah Sargent scored nine and Adam Hartley had eight.

The Raiders outscored the Chargers 43-24 in the second half.

“We applied pressure to them, and it led to easy baskets for us,” Smith said.

Flushing hosted Saginaw Heritage on Friday, and Powers Catholic traveled to Midland to take on the Chemics.

CarmanAinsworth prevails vs. Dow MLive.com

Flint Carman-Ainsworth was a perfect 13 of 13 from the free-throw line in the fourth quarter to hold off host Midland Dow for a 65-59 win in boys basketball action Friday.

Justice Green led Carman-Ainsworth with 21 points, three steals and two assists. Cameron Morse chipped in 18 points, four rebounds, four assists and four steals for the Cavaliers, who outscored Dow 22-16 in the fourth quarter for the winning margin.

“We got a huge performance at the line in the fourth quarter from our players to put the game away, and that was the difference,” CarmanAinsworth coach Jay Witham said. “Justice and Cameron were big for us tonight. Cameron is a fouryear varsity player with a lot of poise, and Justice is just very hard to defend.”

Jon Borke led Midland Dow with 16 points and nine rebounds, and Evan Marquardt chipped in 14 points and six rebounds.

Alec Marty added 11 points and five assists for Dow, and Austin Deiters finished with 12 points.

While Dow didn’t come away with the victory, coach Marshall Gray was pleased with his team’s effort after a loss to Mount Pleasant on Thursday.

“We were beat in all facets of the game on Thursday, so we really challenged them to pick it up (Friday), and they regrouped nicely,” Gray said. “We talked about playing with energy and effort, and focusing on the things we can control, and they responded with an effort that was good enough to get us a win on most nights.”

Witham and Gray praised the play of Borke down low.

“Dow really got the ball into the paint, and (Borke) just killed us down low,” Witham said. “We have to do a better job of defending the post, because Dow scored a ton of points in the paint, and that was what kept them in the game.”

Carman-Ainsworth (6-1, 4-0 SVL South) faces Swartz Creek on Tuesday in a nonconference matchup, and Dow (4-4, 2-3 SVL North) faces a stiff test when it travels to Saginaw Arthur Hill on the same night.

BOYS BASKETBALL

Beecher loses to Melvindale MLive.com

The Melvindale Academy for Business & Technology boys basketball team defended its home court Saturday with a 60-48 victory against Flint Beecher 60-48.

Derek Jamerson led Melvindale Academy with 14 points, followed by Jamal Cain with 11 and Lavail Russell with 10.

“We had at least 14 turnovers today, and a number of them were unforced,” Beecher coach Mike Williams said.

Senior Amariontez Ivory led all scorers with 17 points for Beecher (2-2), while Isiah Reed had nine points and seven rebounds.

“He’s probably our most complete player,” Williams said about Ivory.

C4 / SUNDAY, JANUARY 12, 2014 / THE FLINT JOURNAL

Outdoors

Snowshoeing on ungroomed trails in Michigan forests can provide a day of exploration in the woods. (Howard Meyerson/MLive.com)

MICHIGAN

Here’s a roundup of expected developments, from hunting and fishing to parks and trails

2014 holds promise for outdoors enthusiasts Howard Meyerson howardmeyerson @gmail.com

L

ast year was full of interesting developments: The endangered Kirtland’s warbler was reported to have made a comeback, Lake Michigan salmon were huge but proved less plentiful, the DNR moved to reopen some state forest campgrounds, camping participation climbed at Michigan state parks and deer hunting proved a hit-and-miss proposition for hunters, though the incidence of Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease was down from 2012.

Seven deer in six counties were diagnosed with EHD. State wildlife officials estimate 100 to 400 deer might have died, far fewer than the 13,000 in 30 counties in 2012.

Now that the new year is upon us, what lies ahead looks just as interesting. Expect developments in a variety of areas, from hunting and fishing to parks and trails. Here’s a look at a few things on the horizon: Coho on the Grand: Look for a bigger fall run of coho salmon on the Grand River in 2014. The DNR revised its stocking plan in 2013. Fewer hatchery coho were planted at Lansing. Far more were planted downstream at Lyons and the Rogue River in Kent County.

More cohos are expected to return to the river next fall from Lake Michigan.

Groomed forest ski trails: Nineteen state forest pathways are being groomed for crosscountry skiing this winter, two more than last year. Any of those are worth the trip north.

Nine other state forest pathways are opened

for skiing but are not groomed. They can be just as much, if not more, fun to explore on skis or snowshoes. Parking lots will be plowed at all but one Upper Peninsula site. You can see a complete list of cross-country ski/snowshoe trails on the DNR website at michigan. gov/dnr. Just click on Camping and Recreation in the left column, then scroll down to the link under Events.

Lake Michigan Water Trail development: Expect to see more effort from local communities in 2014. The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality Coastal Zone Management program gave water trail planning grants to local communities in 2013.

You can find maps of the trail online at the Lake Michigan Water Trail website, lmwt.org. A second annual Great Lakes Water Trail Conference is scheduled for May 15-16 at the Saugatuck Center for the Arts.

The link for that is on the same website.

New fish consumption advisories: The Michigan Department of Community Health will be coming out with new fish advisories this year. Agency staffers are working on a new format and approach to developing the advisories that let people know what fish are safe to eat and where caution is due.

Lake Huron Atlantic salmon: Lake Huron anglers are excited about the possibility of having an Atlantic salmon fishery. State fisheries managers now head into their second year of stocking Atlantics on the lake at four different locations. About 100,000 were stocked in 2013. None turned up in the 2013 catch, but those stocked last spring are expected to show up in the fishery this spring when another 130,000 will be planted at the same locations: the St. Mary’s River, Alpena/ Thunder Bay, the Au Sable River and Lexington.

mum length of 1.8 inches. The ammo already is permitted for pistols that are used for hunting there. Michigan United Conservation Clubs supports the bill, but the DNR opposes it. It was voted out of the Senate Committee on Outdoor Recreation and Tourism in November. Further action is expected this year.

Easy road-kill dinners: Sen. Darwin Booher, R-Evart is trying to make it easier for people to pick up road-kill without having to get a DNR salvage permit first, so he introduced SB 613 to streamline the process, and to allow The Lost Lake Pathway in Grand Traverse the use of roadkill deer for bait when huntCounty is a scenic trail through the forest and ing. State wildlife officials say the change isn’t one of 28 state forest ski trails open this winter. needed. They have been working on a rule change that would allow deer to be used as Five salmon limit: Salmon anglers again bait during a hunting season when picked up can catch five salmon a day. State officials say by a licensed hunter. The Natural Resources the measures they use to evaluate whether to Commission approved that rule Thursday. lower the limit to three per day didn’t warrant Hunters and non-hunters are already allowed dropping the limit in 2014, despite the drop in to pick up deer for food if they get a DNR salsalmon numbers. The nuts and bolts of how vage permit. The bill sits in the Senate Natural that decision is made will be revisited this year Resources, Environment and Great Lakes by the members of the Lake Michigan Citizens Committee.

Fishery Advisory Committee, who questioned Antler point restrictions: This topic has been the degree that science shapes the decision heating up. It is likely to get hotter this year versus social factors. Look also for further as the DNR explores the question of whether inquiry into the state of forage fish in Lake to restrict deer hunting in southern Michigan Michigan. and additional northern counties by adoptRifles in the shotgun zone: Some hunters ing rules that would require hunters to shoot have pushed to allow the use of rifles in the only deer that have three or four antlers on lower part of the state that long has been a side. The initiative was pushed by a group designated as a shotgun zone. Rep. Matt Lori, called the Lower Peninsula Deer Management R-Constantine, introduced a bill last year, Initiative. Needless to say, it is controversial.

HB 4283, to make that happen. If passed, the Stay tuned. rules would change the shotgun zone to a “limited firearms area,” and hunters would be allowed to use a .35-caliber or larger rifle with Ç GO ONLINE Follow Howard Meyerson on his blog, The straight-walled cartridges that have a minimum case length of 1.16 inches and a maxiOutdoor Journal, at howardmeyerson.com.

MARION TOWNSHIP

Livingston County nature center staff members, volunteers treat injured wildlife

By Jim Totten

The Associated Press

They’ve been bitten, pecked at and pooped on by all sorts of birds and animals, but none of that ruffles the feathers of the volunteers at the Howell Conference and Nature Center.

Instead, they respond with love pecks and soothing voices.

This group feeds, cleans and cares for all types of Michigan wildlife brought in injured or orphaned 365 days a year, including hawks, owls, coyotes, herons, beavers, opossums, turtles and snakes. They nurture these animals so one day they can be returned to the wild. The

nonprofit facility is south of Howell in Livingston County’s Marion Township.

Some of the tasks are creepy, such as placing frozen rats and mice into bags for feedings of hawks and owls.

Yet these volunteers don’t mind. They’re motivated by one thing: love of animals.

“They all seem to have their own personalities,” Glenn Brado said.

He started off as an intern at the wildlife rehabilitation clinic in January 2012 after graduating as a zoology major from Michigan State University and remained as a volunteer. The Webberville man usually spends six hours volunteering every Sunday.

Brado, who always has had pets, said animals don’t always get the help they need.

“I like to help them out as much as possible,” Brado said.

The wildlife rehab clinic takes in 2,300 wild animals each year and tries to get them healthy enough to return to the wild. However, the nature center also has a Wild Wonders Wildlife Park that has a collection of birds, mammals and reptiles that are permanently injured.

Those animals are used for educational programs.

Hamburg Township resident Maryanne Stanard has volunteered there since 1995.

She’s known as the “bird lady” or “bird whisperer.”

“I’ve always liked birds, don’t know what it is,” Stanard said.

She takes care of the baby birds, something she has done since she was a little girl.

However, she’s comfortable around all the birds.

Stanard takes Eddie, a 25-year-old crow at the center, to schools. She talks to Eddie, who responds with a “wa, wa, wa” or a deep sigh.

“I talk to everybody,” Stanard said.

Dana DeBenham, director at the facility, said there are 130 volunteers at the center each year.

“They do everything from feeding the animals, bagging mice and rats for the freezer,

filling bird feeders and unloading Christmas trees,” DeBenham said.

She said students from Michigan State University and University of Michigan serve as interns. Volunteers and interns are unpaid.

“Their services are just invaluable,” DeBenham said.

“Our volunteer force is the backbone of the wildlife program.”

DeBenham said the nature center has the largest raptor rehabilitation clinic in Michigan. It treats hawks, owls, eagles and falcons.

She said these birds must have whole food with fur and bones, which they get in the form of frozen rats and mice.

DeBenham said the frozen rats and mice are delivered in large garbage bags, and volunteers must pick them out and place them in smaller plastic bags for daily feedings.

“That volunteer position might not be suitable for everyone,” she said.

Maxine Biwer, who oversees the rehabilitation clinic, said she usually has five to six volunteers who help each day.

“We don’t have a dull moment,” Biwer said.

In addition to volunteers providing manpower, Biwer said many of their supplies are donated.

She said it’s really great to see how everything comes together.

For the latest breaking news, go to mlive.com/sports

Sports

D

SECTION

ä Detroit Red Wings You can find results of Saturday’s late game at Los Angeles and a live blog of tonight’s game at Anaheim at mlive.com/redwings.

SUNDAY, JANUARY 12, 2014 / THE FLINT JOURNAL

COLLEGE FOOTBALL / D3

MICHIGAN WELCOMES NEW COORDINATOR STATE MSU BASKETBALL

Spartans highs and lows Highlights from Michigan State’s win over Minnesota: •Kenny Kaminski made four first-half 3-pointers and earned a start in the second half over Branden Dawson. Kaminski finished with a career-high 15 points.

•Coach Tom Izzo said during pregame that they were happy to know Travis Trice was “alive and kicking” when he was able to shoot on Friday. Trice not only played, but gave MSU 19 minutes after spending most of the week in bed.

•MSU’s defense held the Gophers without a field goal for 13:30 in the second half.

Lowlights from the game: • With Adreian Payne out, Izzo again needed a big game from Dawson. He had to pull him just two minutes in, and he was scoreless in the first half.

• MSU’s defense gave up 41 points in the first half, their second-most allowed in the first half this season (47 at Penn State).

RED WINGS

Ericsson, brother share Olympic dream As delighted as Detroit Red Wings defenseman Jonathan Ericsson, 29, was to earn a spot on the Swedish Olympic team for the first time, he was more thrilled for his brother, who will be skating with him in Sochi, Russia.

It will be the first time the brothers have played together.

Jimmie, 33, is a forward who plays in Sweden.

“I was more excited than him.”

Jonathan Ericsson said. “To represent your country is a big honor, and I’m real, real happy about it.”

Their parents will travel to Russia to watch them.

The brothers were in the lineup together for one game in the 2010 World Championship, but Jimmie injured his knee during his first shift. In 2012, an injury to Jimmie again prevented them from playing together in the Worlds.

Jonathan has been out since Dec. 23 with broken ribs but expects to return in a couple weeks and play several games with the Red Wings before the Olympics (Feb. 9-23).

NO. 5 MSU 87, MINNESOTA 75 (OT)

Winning Payne-free, for now UPDATE Next game: Michigan State at Northwestern, 7 p.m.

Wednesday TV: BTN

Mike ke Griffith iffith mgriffith riffith live.com @mlive.com

E

AST LANSING — Michigan State basketball got a glimpse into the future on Saturday afternoon at Breslin Center.

It didn’t look good.

The No. 5-ranked Spartans defeated Minnesota, 87-75 in overtime, but don’t be misled by the final score.

MSU (15-1, 4-0 Big Ten) was fortunate to leave the building with a win without the services of senior power forward Adreian Payne.

Spartans coach Tom Izzo made the decision to rest Payne, who has been suffering from the painful foot ailment, plantar fasciitis.

“There’s nothing medically wrong; there’s no stress fractures. We did MRIs, X-rays, and he wanted to play,” Izzo said. “Adreian’s not being a wimp, he wanted to play. I didn’t want to take the chance and suit him up. Last time (against Ohio State on Tuesday), it was his choice (to play). This time, it was my choice.”

And this time, this game, it was telling what Payne means to this team.

If not for senior point guard Keith Appling stepping up with 24 points — 15 in the second half — the Spartans would have been beaten soundly.

It was that much of a struggle and grind against Minnesota (13-4, 2-2).

Denzel Valentine, who grabbed 10 rebounds in Payne’s absence, wasn’t afraid to state the obvious.

“A.P. is impossible to replace — he’s a 6-foot-9 freak athlete who can shoot, who has great post moves,” Valentine said. “He’s impossible to replace, but we have certain guys who can do certain things who can make up

itself to get caught up trying to play at Minnesota’s jumpy pace coming out of the gates en route to a 41-36 halftime deficit.

Pitino, while not wishing misfortune on anyone, admitted it was a relief not to have to contend with Payne.

“There is so much insideout attack with Adreian Payne, he’s probably a top 5 (NBA) pick, so when I heard he wasn’t playing ... that was a pleasant surprise, because he’s a great player and he changes a lot of the game,” Pitino said. “He’s a tough, tough matchup.”

But it was the Gophers who were tough to match up with through the first 20 minutes, forcing Izzo to Michigan State’s Keith Appling and Minnesota’s DeAndre Mathieu fight for the ball Saturday make the sort of adjustments at the Breslin Center in East Lansing. (J. Scott Park/MLive.com) that enables his teams to win on days like Saturday.

Michigan State tightened for it.” return at some point this its perimeter defense, One of the most obvious season — perhaps as early clamped down on the shootcandidates is Preseason Big as Wednesday’s game at ers, and it was enough to Ten Player of the Year Gary Northwestern, or maybe at rattle Minnesota.

Harris, except that Harris Illinois on Saturday.

After making 7-of-12 threes is not yet 100 percent back But looking further into in the first half, the Gophers from his ankle injury. the future, there’s cause for missed their first seven Izzo attributes much of concern. threes of the second half.

Harris’ inability to find his Appling won’t be around Harris, just 2-of-7 shootbasketball equilibrium to to bail out the Spartans next ing in the first half, made a the shooting star’s struggles season, and most everyone couple of shots and a transito get back into shape. expects Harris to take his That may or may not have talents to the NBA, assuming tion slam dunk in the second half, showing flashes of his had anything to do with he regains his all-star form.

Harris missing two free Saturday’s struggle wasn’t old self.

Harris said Izzo pulled throws with 11.8 seconds left completely about Michigan him aside during intermisthat would have clinched the State.

Adreian Payne sits on the win in regulation.

Minnesota is a feisty team, sion and told him to play bench in street clothes and a and Coach Richard Pitino more aggressive.

Then, at the other end, walking boot Saturday. (AP) But even on their best Minnesota’s DeAndrew has quickly proven he knows days next season, the Mathieu — all 5-foot-8 of how to craft a game plan. him — drove on Harris for a Harris made no excuses But the Gophers don’t have Spartans aren’t going to basket with 1.7 seconds left to for his free-throw misses, much of a margin for error. have Payne around. send the contest to overtime. calling them “inexcusable.”

Playing well — which for “We’re just gonna have to The Spartans took control Had it ever happened Minnesota means hitting figure it out,” Valentine said, in overtime, and Harris finbefore to the former Indiana 3-pointers and controlling asked to look into the 2014ished with 19 points.

Mr. Basketball? the tempo — the Gophers 15 future. “Guys will have to Looking deeper into “I don’t think so,” Harris built 10-point leads in the step up, and guys will take Harris’ stat line, however, he said. “I guess there’s a first first and second halves. on a bigger way. We’ll figure was just 1-of-8 shooting the time for everything.’’

Payne’s absence didn’t out how to play Spartan bas3-pointer and finished 5-ofMSU fans can breathe a have anything to do with ketball.”

16 from the floor. sigh of relief that Payne will Michigan State allowing The sooner, the better.

U�M FOOTBALL

Top QB recruit still eyeing U-M Michigan made a splash this week with the hiring of offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier.

Will it pay immediate dividends on the recruiting trail?

Five-star quarterback Josh Rosen, the top-ranked signal caller in 2015 per ESPN.com, already had expressed interest in U-M prior to the Nussmeier hire.

And, while he told ESPN.com that his interest is still there, he’s not sure he will visit Ann Arbor before he commits.

“I really want to check out Michigan and Texas because of the areas,” Rosen, a Bellflower, Calif., native, told ESPN. “I want to give them a fair shot, but, at the same time, it’s tough to get out there without official visits.”

Rosen is being heavily courted

by West Coast schools UCLA, USC and Stanford.

LIONS

Whisenhunt walks delicate line between interviewing, coaching

By Kyle Meinke

kmeinke@mlive.com

Ken Whisenhunt’s time is a precious commodity these days.

He interviewed Thursday for the Detroit Lions’ coaching vacancy, and spoke with the Tennessee Titans on Friday in San Diego and reportedly the Cleveland Browns on Saturday. And, oh yeah, his current Whisenhunt team plays an important game today.

San Diego would be within a game of the Super Bowl with a win in Denver.

Whisenhunt, though, has been through times like this before, and he

MORE INSIDE • Three assistants to keep, D2 • Dilfer weighs in on Stafford, D2

seems to be handling an awkward, if not difficult, situation with veteran poise.

“I understand the process and appreciate the (head coaching) interest, but I just want to make sure everyone understands we’re focused on the game (today),” Whisenhunt told San Diego reporters during a news conference Thursday.

And how can he possibly do that, when he spends three consecutive days interviewing for jobs with other teams?

“It’s not hard — this is a playoff game,” he said. “I think that’s where

the focus has been. Anything outside of that is really secondary.”

Whisenhunt is believed to be Detroit’s top candidate to replace Jim Schwartz. He fulfills both of the team’s top criteria: He has offensive expertise and head coaching experience.

He’s credited with grooming then-rookie Ben Roethlisberger into a Super Bowl-caliber quarterback while he was offensive coordinator in Pittsburgh. He parlayed those credentials into his first head coaching gig in Arizona.

Whisenhunt went 45-51 in six years as the Cardinals’ coach, and guided the organization to its only Super Bowl appearance in 2008.

He was fired after the 2012 season but landed in San Diego as the Chargers’ offensive coordinator this

season, and now has revived Philip Rivers’ career.

Rivers has completed a careerhigh 69.5 percent of his passes, while throwing the second-most touchdowns (32) and the third-fewest interceptions (11) since he became a starter in 2006.

That resume has made Whisenhunt a prized target. Four of the six teams with coaching openings this offseason issued formal requests for an interview.

Whisenhunt is doing his best to deflect the attention he’s receiving.

“The only thing that’s important to me, to be perfectly honest with you, is getting prepared for this game,” he said. “That’s the work that has got my focus right now. Everything else is secondary.”

D2 / SUNDAY, JANUARY 12, 2014 / THE FLINT JOURNAL

State Sports PISTONS 110, SUNS 108

LIONS

Smith hits game-winner with 1.2 seconds left

Dilfer: Stafford needs boundaries

By David Mayo

kmeinke@mlive.com

lead to as many as 18 points, dmayo@mlive.com then had to hang on late, as AUBURN HILLS — When Phoenix got back in the game Josh Smith and Brandon with offensive rebounding Jennings are good, so are the and 3-point shooting.

Detroit Pistons.

The Suns (21-15) eventually Smith made what seemed worked into a 92-92 tie on a possible game-winning a Channing Frye 3-pointer 3-pointer, blew it with a with 6:52 left. silly defensive foul, then The Pistons answered with redeemed himself with a a 7-0 run begun by a 3-pointer driving basket with 1.2 secand transition layup by onds left in a 110-108 win Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. over the Phoenix Suns at The But with the lead at 105-97, Palace of Auburn Hills. the Pistons’ efficiency vanSmith’s 3-pointer with ished in a series of missed 26.8 seconds left gave the jumpers, as a Frye threePistons a 108-105 lead. point play, two Goran Dragic But Smith fouled Gerald free throws and a P.J. Tucker Green on a fly-out effort at the corner 3 made it 105-105.

3-point line with 4.3 seconds Both teams were playing left. With announcer John their fourth game in five Mason announcing his name days. The Pistons have the before every free throw, next five days off.

Green sank all three to tie.

HIGHLIGHTS Smith — who earlier in the week chastised himself •The Pistons ended a fivefor settling for a perimeter game home losing streak. jumper in the final seconds Their last home win before of a loss at New York — took Friday was Dec. 13 against Channing Frye to the right Brooklyn. side of the lane and banked •The Pistons had 50 in his game-winner. points in the paint in the first Jennings, meantime, half. They finished with 68. placed his name alongside •Detroit improved to 2-12 the greatest Detroit Pistons vs. the Western Conference. player ever with 11 assists LOWLIGHTS in the first quarter and 16 at halftime, both tying fran•The Pistons’ shortcomchise records held by Isiah ings at the 3-point line were Thomas. He finished with 18. glaring. Phoenix shot 13 of Smith — the Pistons’ other 35. The Pistons were 3 of 17. major offseason acquisition •Phoenix had nine offen— had 15 points in the first sive rebounds for eight quarter and 25 for the game. second-chance points in the One night earlier, Smith third quarter. The Pistons became the first player with had 11 defensive rebounds as many as 22 points, 13 that quarter. rebounds, seven assists, four •The Suns played without steals, five blocked shots and point guard Eric Bledsoe, at least one 3-pointer (he had who had arthroscopic knee two) in the same game, in a surgery Friday.

114-104 win at Philadelphia.

Now, he has his first regular-season game-winning NEXT GAME shot as a Piston.

Friday: Utah at Detroit Detroit (16-22) built the When: 7:30 p.m. TV: FSD

RED WINGS

Search for solutions frustrating for Howard

By Kyle Meinke

Matthew Stafford has been compared a lot lately to Brett Favre, for better or worse. And so far, it’s been for the worse.

Both were/are considered so-called “gunslingers,” with big arms and a penchant for the big play — or the bad play.

Favre still leads the league with 288 interceptions in his 20-year career.

Stafford so far has duplicated Favre’e turnover issues — he had 19 in 2013, sixth most in the league — but not the winning.

He has zero division titles (Favre had eight). Zero Super Bowl appearances (Favre had two, and won one). Zero playoff wins (Favre had 13). And much of that is his own undoing, due to a spectacular fall from grace to conclude the 2013 season.

How does he go about changing that?

According to former NFL quarterback Trent Dilfer, Stafford must take a page from Favre’s playbook and learn “boundaries.”

“Favre was as reckless as any quarterback ever early in his career,” Dilfer said on a conference call Thursday. “(Former Packers coach Mike Holmgren) wanted the good stuff that came out of Brett Favre, so he didn’t want to squish all that by turning him into a robot. He wanted all that to come out and to minimize the recklessness, and that was by creating boundaries and awareness — the awareness of the ramifications of what happens to everybody in the building when you get reckless.”

Stafford has immense ability, but is on a two-year backslide into mediocrity.

He threw the 19 picks in 2013, plus completed only 58.5 percent of his passes.

That was 30th in the league.

Both numbers were his worst since his rookie season in 2009.

Stafford still puts up the big stats.

His 4,650 passing yards were third last year, trailing only some guys named Drew Brees and Peyton Manning. And he joins Brees as the only quarterbacks to pass for at least 4,500 yards each of the past three seasons.

But while Brees and Manning will be playing this weekend in the divisional round of the playoffs, Stafford will be

STAFFORD VS. FAVRE Stafford Seasons 5 Losing seasons 4 286.2 Yards per Game* 1.79 TD passes per Game* Interceptions per Game* 1.20 0 Division titles 0 Playoff wins 0 Super Bowls Super Bowl wins 0

Favre 20 2 239.5 1.69 1.11 8 13 2 1

*Not including 2 games in Favre’s rookie season when he threw 4 total passes.

on his couch, ruminating on how his season soured from a 6-3 start into a 1-6 finish.

That slide can be most attributed to Stafford’s play. He threw 12 picks in those final seven games and was abysmal in the fourth quarter. That includes throwing a pick leading to the deciding field goal against Tampa Bay and a pick-six against the New York Giants which forced an overtime that Detroit lost.

The first loss was a crushing blow to the Lions’ playoff chances, and the second sealed their elimination.

“A lot of times you think, ‘Oh, it was just an interception. We can overcome

the interception,’” Dilfer said. “Well, there’s a bigger story to an interception in the fourth quarter that costs you a game. People lose jobs. It ruins the week for a lot of people.

“It creates a lot of negative energy in the building that shouldn’t necessarily be there.”

Stafford’s development, or lack thereof, has been at the forefront of Detroit’s ongoing coaching search. The club wants to bring in someone who has a plan for pulling its franchise quarterback out of the gutter — the quarterback who is signed for three more years and guaranteed $41.5 million.

Detroit even has had Stafford sit in on at least one of its coaching interviews, with Baltimore offensive coordinator Jim Caldwell.

Finding the right coach won’t magically solve Stafford’s issues, but landing a guy capable of setting boundaries could be the push Stafford needs to harness his undisputed ability.

“What’s hard is finding a coach that has the wisdom to create an environment that allows his natural ability to surface, and at the same time minimizing the recklessness,” Dilfer said. “That guy’s out there, but they have to find him.”

Three assistants next coach should consider retaining Justin Rogers jrogers @mlive.com

By Ansar Khan

career,” Howard said. “It’s frustrating when it keeps EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — happening. You just got to When Jimmy Howard shut find a way.” out the New York Islanders Howard is 7-10-8, with a on Nov. 29, following a seven- 2.74 goals-against average game winless streak, he and .909 save percentage. thought his troubles were He continues working behind him. with goalWhen he made 44 saves tending in a 5-1 victory at Dallas last coach Jim Saturday, he hoped he had Bedard on turned the corner. and off the But those are his only wins ice searchsince Nov. 2. Howard wasn’t ing for able to gain any traction answers. from those performances in “We’re Howard what has been the toughest just con10-week stretch he’s ever stantly trying to work on experienced. staying low in your crouch, “It can be frustrating, and getting your hands up and it has been frustrating,” out, like I’ve always been,” Howard said Friday. “Just Howard said. “Continue to trying to continue being a hammer that home. professional, continue to “We always do video. We work hard. Hopefully, it all look at the areas that have turns around.” been going really well and Howard allowed four goals things we can do better.”

— two which coach Mike Babcock noted his injuryBabcock referred to as ugly depleted, offensively chal— on 23 shots and was pulled lenged club’s slim margin for after two periods Thursday error, which heightens the in a 4-1 loss to the San Jose importance of goaltending.

Sharks at the SAP Center.

“We’re not getting to four He got another opportunity (goals), we’re getting to to bounce back Saturday three, max,” Babcock said. night against the Los Angeles “You got to keep them to two Kings at the Staples Center. and under.”

With backup Jonas Said Howard: “It’s not Gustavsson still out due to a like I’m not working hard pulled groin, Babcock elected and not trying, it’s just that to go back to Howard rather things didn’t go well. It’s not than rookie Petr Mrazek. like I was sitting there pointBabcock has said on multiple ing fingers at other guys. I occasions that this team will always take the blame when go only as far as Howard I know it’s on me.” takes it, and the Red Wings desperately need their workhorse to return to the form NEXT GAME that made him one of the top Today: Detroit at Anaheim goalies in the NHL the previ- When: 8 p.m. TV: FSD ous four seasons.

For coverage of Saturday night’s “Everyone goes through game at Los Angeles, go to bouts like this through their mlive.com/redwings.

Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford threw 19 interceptions in 2013. (MLive.com file)

akhan1@mlive.com

T

veterans and respected by the club’s younger players, Washburn got shocking results out of a unit in flux during his first season in charge of the position group.

Despite three new starters, and a revolving door at right tackle because of injuries, the Lions got their most complete performance from the offensive line in more than a decade. Quarterback Matthew Stafford was sacked 23 times, second lowest in the league, while the Lions had their most productive season running the ball since 1998.

he Detroit Lions could hire a new coach in the next few days. At that point, he will be charged with filling out a staff.

The team’s front office already has said all staffing decisions will be up to the coach, but with several assistants still under contract, general manager Martin Mayhew SPECIAL TEAMS: said the team will recomJOHN BONAMEGO mend a handful be retained.

Here are three the next In the 2012 season, coach should consider.

Detroit’s special teams were a mess. The team solved the OFFENSIVE LINE: majority of their issues by JEREMIAH WASHBURN drafting punter Sam Martin Loved by the team’s and bringing in Bonamego to

replace Danny Crossman.

With 14 years of experience coaching special teams at the professional level, Bonamego helped correct the flaws that plagued the Lions’ coverage units last season.

Detroit didn’t allow a touchdown in 2013, after allowing four the previous season. The team was fifth in net punting.

Midway through the season, the Lions found a quality return option in receiver Jeremy Ross.

The one area where the team struggled was with blocked kicks. The team game up four blocks — two field goals, a punt and an extra point.

LINEBACKERS: MATT BURKE

After four years with the Titans, Burke followed Schwartz to Detroit where

he’s been the linebackers coach for the past five seasons.

The Lions linebackers have seen steady growth under Burke, particularly current starters DeAndre Levy and Ashlee Palmer.

Levy, a third-round pick in 2009, bounced between outside and middle linebacker his first couple seasons, before finding a home on the outside once the team signed Stephen Tulloch in 2011. Levy has developed into one of the league’s premier 4-3 outside linebackers, and has taken a massive leap forward in his coverage skills.

Although he’s best known for his work on special teams, Palmer earned the other starting outside job this season and played exceptionally well against the run, tallying six tackles for loss.

U�M BASKETBALL

Hatch completes comeback, hits emotional 3-pointer

By Brendan F. Quinn bquinn@mlive.com

Michigan basketball signee Austin Hatch spoke with conviction during a Nov. 20, 2013, press conference that produced national headlines.

Standing behind a podium at Loyola High School campus in Los Angeles, the teenager said, “Basketball has given me something to shoot for, and it’s been my goal since I woke up from the coma in Chicago and told people I was going to play basketball again.”

Hatch is known for surviving two life-altering plane crashes, the most recent being a 2011 crash that killed his father and stepmother and left him in a medically induced coma.

On Wednesday night in Los Angeles, the 6-foot-6 forward made good on his word.

Austin Hatch played in a basketball game for the first time in three years.

Not only that, but Hatch turned Loyola’s league opener against host Sherman Oaks Notre Hatch Dame into a game for the ages. After checking into the game in the fourth quarter, the senior peeled out from the low blocks, caught a pass, set his feet and drained a 3-pointer on his first shot attempt.

Hysteria ensued.

According to the LA Times, the jumper “caused his Loyola High coach and teammates to charge onto the court and pick up a technical foul.”

Loyola won 87-59.

“It was the best technical foul I’ve ever been a part of,” Loyola Coach Jamal Adams told the Times.

Hatch is originally from Fort Wayne, Ind. He verbally committed to play basketball at Michigan on June 15, 2011, back when he was a star at Fort Wayne Canterbury High School, where he averaged 23 points and nine rebounds as a sophomore.

He sat out his junior season at Canterbury and, after attempting to play last season,

but being physically unable to do so, moved to Los Angeles to live with family members.

“I had to relearn how to walk and talk,” he said. “I had to relearn everything.”

Michigan coach John Beilein honored the scholarship offer made to Hatch as sophomore and on Nov. 16, Hatch singed a National Letter of Intent to be a member of the U-M basketball program in 2014-15.

“I still need to work on my fundamentals,” Hatch said.

“What was once second nature, as a result of the brain injury, I have to think about stuff on the court that I really shouldn’t have to think about. That’s just going to take time.”

THE FLINT JOURNAL / SUNDAY, JANUARY 12, 2014 / D3

State Sports: College Football MSU FOOTBALL

U�M FOOTBALL

‘Tough, physical, explosive’ Doug Nussmeier wants to give Michigan’s offense an identity

MSU grades out well over Mike ke course of its 13-1 Big Ten Griffith iffith mgriffith riffith championship season @mlive.com live.com m

By Nick Baumgardner

nbaumgardner@mlive.com

ANN ARBOR — After two disappointing seasons, including an offensively-challenged 7-6 campaign in 2013, Michigan decided it was time for a change. And that change comes in the form of Doug Nussmeier, the now former national championship-winning offensive coordinator at the University of Alabama.

On Friday, Michigan formally introduced Nussmeier as its new offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, and one of the first — and most pressing — questions fired at the Wolverines’ new play caller was: Why Michigan?

“It’s Michigan football.

When you say the word ‘Michigan,’ everybody knows about Michigan football,” Nussmeier said Thursday during his introductory news conference. “When you say ‘Michigan,’ it’s synonymous with football. I don’t care if you go to a mall in California, Texas, Florida — you’re going to see somebody wearing ‘Michigan.’

“It’s a special, special place, and there’s not many of them.”

Nussmeier arrives in Ann Arbor to replace former play caller Al Borges, who guided an offense that floundered to No. 87 overall nationally last season — his final year with the program.

He answered questions from reporters for roughly 20 minutes Friday, as head coach Brady Hoke, Michigan athletic director Dave Brandon, the entire Michigan coaching staff, quarterback Devin Gardner (who was still walking with crutches) and star sophomore tight end wide receiver/tight end Devin Funchess looked on.

Hoke — who did not take questions from the media Friday — began his statement by thanking Borges.

He said he and the rest of the staff view Borges as “more than just a colleague,” but the time for a change was needed.

“We took this job three years ago to make Michigan better. We took this job knowing that every decision that’s going to be made by me is going to be what’s best for Michigan and the kids on this program and the legacies and the 134 years of teams that have come before it,” Hoke

T

he final exam — part essay, part multiple choice — was turned in at the Rose Bowl on Jan.1, and the Michigan State football team passed with flying colors in a 24-21 win over Stanford.

The Spartans’ improvement throughout the season was impressive and most certainly is reflected in the “coaching” grade.

The overall grades are outstanding for the Spartans, who won the Big Ten championship and finished 13-1 overall.

Here’s how Michigan State graded out at each position, from a collective standpoint.

Doug Nussmeier is introduced as Michigan’s NCAA college football offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach during a news conference Friday in Ann Arbor. (AP)

said. “We have a vision. We know what that is. That’s why Doug is here today.”

Hoke said Michigan ultimately decided to make the change Wednesday, when the program announced Borges’ firing. Reports of Nussmeier’s hiring then surfaced late Wednesday night before the hire was made official Thursday.

Asked when he first spoke to Hoke about the job, Nussmeier only said “recently.”

Brandon shot down speculation that he made the decision to oust Borges and hire Nussmeier, calling that notion “nonsense.”

“When Brady first called me and identified Doug, my first reaction was, ‘Wow, that would be great, but really?’”

Brandon also refuted reports that Nussmeier will rank among the top three nationally in assistant coach pay. He also added that a contract had yet to be finalized for Nussmeier.

While Brandon says he left the ultimate decision up to Hoke, when asked if he felt Michigan needed a change on offense, the athletic director didn’t hesitate to offer his opinion.

He was in favor of it.

“Yes, (a change was needed),” Brandon said.

“Sometimes, you look at results, and you look at performance, and you look at accountability, and you’ve got to make changes. I respect

the fact that Brady stepped up to that. This is an important change.

“His relationship with Al went back several years. I respect Al a lot. I enjoy Al. I appreciate everything he did here. But we needed a change. We needed energy.

We needed new direction and an offense that was building and gaining confidence and improving. And I believe with Doug being here we have a high probability of doing that.”

In terms of the rest of the coaching staff and their collective status, Nussmeier said he was excited to work with the assistants Michigan currently has, mentioning by name offensive line coach Darrell Funk, wide receivers coach Jeff Hecklinski, running backs coach Fred Jackson and tight ends coach Dan Ferrigno.

As far as Nussmeier’s coaching scheme, the former Fresno State, Washington and Alabama offensive coordinator played things rather close to the vest.

He did not talk specifically about the development of Gardner or Shane Morris, and did not offer any real hints at what Michigan’s offense would look like outside three words.

“Tough. Physical.

Explosive. That’s what we want to be,” Nussmeier said.

“We want to be able to run the football, and we want to put points on the board. We

want to force the defense to defend all different elements of the game.

“We’re going to put our playmakers in the best possible position we can to make plays. That’s the goal. What that means? We want to control the tempo of the game on offense ... and give our guys an opportunity to make plays and schematically look at ways where we want to create competitive advantages for our players.

“What that means, is, you could see us in one formation one week with one play and a different the next week. But the identity is, we want to be physical. We’re going to play fast. We want to be explosive.”

A former NFL quarterback himself, Nussmeier’s offenses have all achieved statistical success during his stops at Fresno State, Washington and Alabama.

With the Crimson Tide, his offense scored better than 38 points per game a year ago, and he helped A.J. McCarron set a school record with 30 touchdown passes in 2012.

“Obviously, I can’t say enough about coach (Nick) Saban and the opportunity we had there at Alabama.

It was a great opportunity,” Nussmeier said. “But Michigan football, the opportunity to be a part of the winningest program in all of college football, to integrate into a staff and take this program to where we all want to go (was too good to pass up).”

Five things Nussmeier must accomplish run, not one of them ever Nick worked consistently.

Baumgardner mgardnerr There was the famed “Deuce nbaumgardner gardner Formation.” The pistol. The @mlive.com .com pistol zone read audible.

Options with fullbacks. Lots of reverses. Halfback passes.

Jump balls. Running into NN ARBOR — Michigan eight-man fronts. And so on. has its man and the new Even if it’s incredibly basic leader of its offensive and simple, Nussmeier’s attack. offense has to have some type The Wolverines officially of an identity. hired Doug Nussmeier away This seems so basic and from Alabama on Thursday pretty over-arching. But the to serve as the team’s new last coordinator never accomoffensive coordinator/quarter- plished this. And it was, ultibacks coach. mately, his undoing.

For Nussmeier, this won’t GET YOUR QB COMFORTABLE be the easiest of tasks, but it won’t be impossible either.

Devin Gardner was a lot of Michigan has talent on things in 2013, but comfortoffense. But it must click now. able was rarely one of them.

Here’s a look at what There’s no question Nussmeier and his staff must Gardner lost confidence do to fix what was clearly a at some point, and it’ll be broken attack in 2013.

Nussmeier’s job to get it back.

Whether it’s Gardner or FIND A CALLING CARD Shane Morris, the individual Michigan tried to do so skill development at this posimany different things in three tion has to jump off the page. years under Al Borges, and With Borges, there were outside of waiting for Denard baby steps. But never an Robinson to break off a long explosion.

A

Final report card: Spartans pass with flying colors

FIX THE OFFENSIVE LINE

weight and out of shape last If Darrell Funk remains the fall, and Smith never really team’s offensive line coach — was given a chance to show or if it’s someone else — this what he could do in the first position group has to be fixed. three months of the season.

Maybe more than any other Moving forward, these guys spot on the field. have to be your work horses.

That starts by identifying And they have to hear it from five players who you can roll you. There’s room for both with by the end of spring prac- players, just like there was at tice and letting them mesh.

Alabama. Remember Eddie The competition in spring Lacy and T.J. Yeldon taking ball should be fierce and wide turns blasting through holes open. The production level up in 2012? Well, that’s what you front last season was abysmal. sell these guys on.

Once you do find five guys, BRING ENERGY you have to let them soak in there and become a real unit.

The number of times this Even if there are rough offense looked like it was patches, those five should be having fun over the past two allowed to work through them years probably can be countto develop some chemistry. ed on one hand.

If the offensive line isn’t Nussmeier has a reputafixed, all hope is lost for tion for being a hands-on guy, Michigan. As we’ve seen. bringing energy and developing relationships with players.

PUSH DERRICK GREEN Michigan needs all of that AND DE’VEON SMITH and more on offense.

When we talk about Borges was fired because Michigan having talent that Michigan needed a change. hasn’t really shown itself It needed a spark. Nussmeier yet, the conversation usually has to be able to provide that, starts with these two guys. from the minute he steps into Green showed up overhis first team meeting.

Quarterback

B+

Connor Cook will be on a lot of preseason all-star teams and begin to get plenty of hype as Michigan State’s next NFL prospect at the position. Cook made some big-time throws that few in the nation, much less the Big Ten, can match. But Cook will be the first to tell you that he has some work to do and can improve across the board. The QB position went from one of great uncertainty to a team strength.

Running backs

B-

Jeremy Langford runs hard and should be credited with working hard to improve as the season progressed. But Langford has yet to prove he’s an NFL-caliber back, as his vision and anticipation of holes must improve. As fast as Langford is, his burst is only adequate when the field opens up before him. Delton Williams has power, vision and cut-back ability, but if his heart is not in the position, he will never achieve greatness. Nick Hill gets stronger and bigger each offseason, and while he’s not likely to play a down in the NFL, it would be surprising if he wasn’t a contributor next season. Trevon Pendleton has shown he’s more than a strong blocker with some heady pass receptions out of the backfield.

Receivers

B+

What a mixed bag this group was, but you can’t help but tip your cap to them for evolving into a team strength after an embarrassing start to the season that put their position coach’s job in doubt. It only could be hard work that got it done for the Spartan wideouts, who outplayed their opposition in every game from October forward.

Bennie Fowler, Tony Lippett and Macgarrett Kings laid it all on the line, and I’m convinced the real Aaron Burbridge will emerge next season along with DeAnthony Arnett. A healthy Keith Mumphery might turn heads, too.

Offensive line

A-

Without a doubt, this was the most consistent and valuable unit wireto-wire just one season after being a circus rife with injuries and position shuffles.

Again, much credit to the coaches, but, at the same time, the Spartans’ big uglies decided they were sick of being pushed around and were ready to do something

about it. On many occasions, there were several offensive linemen staying late after practice and working on their own to improve.

Defensive line

A-

The season started with questions but ended with a Rose Bowl championship answer, as Michigan State dug in against arguably the best offensive line in the nation and came up with a fourthand-1 stop. If Stanford gets a push, Kyler Elsworth’s soaring tackle never happens. If the Cardinal draw State offsides, it’s moot. Notre Dame and a couple of Big Ten offensive lines, Nebraska and Ohio State, held their own with the Spartans defensive line at times, but, for the most part, they were dominant.

Tyler Hoover and Micajah Reynolds finished out by playing the best football of their careers on the biggest stage. Shilique Calhoun was enjoying a banner campaign until offenses recognized as much and began to account for him.

Linebackers

A+

The heart and soul of the team, it was only fitting that both Denicos Allen and Elsworth made fourth-down stops against Stanford’s powerful run game. It was strength on strength, and Michigan State prevailed. Taiwan Jones was a force against the run, showing great improvement.

Ed Davis emerged as a playmaker that has given fans optimism about the future at linebacker. The biggest question is, who’s going to be the leader? This season, Max Bullough led the charge and Allen had his back.

Secondary

A-

Pat Narduzzi will tell you there’s always room for improvement, though he doesn’t like hearing that about his players from anyone outside of the club. Darqueze Dennard was an A+ cornerback, Trae Waynes was an A-, and safeties Isaiah Lewis and Kurtis Drummond were B+, both having occasional tough moments but enough other great ones to compensate.

Special teams

A-

Mike Sadler (A+) and Michael Geiger (A+) couldn’t have done much better.

Macgarrett Kings emerged as a dangerous return man, even though his blocking was mostly inadequate. If there’s one area to improve, it’s the return games.

Coaching

A

Dantonio’s coaching effort was worthy of a national award.

He had just the right touch in his management and delegation, skills, that, for a head coach, are just as important as Xs and Os. Offensive coordinators Jim Bollman and Dave Warner meshed incredibly well when one considers they were thrown together last spring. Narduzzi? What can you say: He has produced a Top 10 defense three consecutive seasons and was 2 for 2 in run blitz calls on pivotal fourth downs against Ohio State and Stanford.

D4 / SUNDAY, JANUARY 12, 2014 / THE FLINT JOURNAL

TV TODAY

BASKETBALL Noon — Men’s College: Nebraska at Purdue. Big Ten Network Noon — Women’s College: Texas at West Virginia. FSD 1 p.m. — Women’s College: Florida at LSU. ESPNU 1 p.m. — Men’s College: Southern Mississippi at Tulsa. Fox Sports 1 1:30 p.m. — Men’s College: Iowa at Ohio State. CBS 2 p.m. — Women’s College: Nebraska at Illinois. Big Ten Network 2:30 p.m. — Men’s College: La Salle at Duquesne. NBC Sports Network 3 p.m. — Women’s College: Purdue at Penn State. ESPN 3 p.m. — Women’s College: Louisville at South Florida. ESPNU 3 p.m. — Men’s College: Colorado at Washington. Fox Sports 1 4:30 p.m. — Women’s College: Michigan St. at Michigan. Big Ten Network 5 p.m. — Women’s College: Tennessee at Vanderbilt. ESPN 5 p.m. — Women’s College: Missouri at Kentucky. ESPNU 5 p.m. — Men’s College: Stanford at Oregon. Fox Sports 1 7:30 p.m. — Men’s College: Illinois at Northwestern. Big Ten Network 8 p.m. — Men’s College: Maryland at Florida State. ESPNU 10 p.m. — Men’s College: Arizona State at UCLA. ESPNU

FOOTBALL 1 p.m. — NFC Divisional Playoff: San Francisco at Carolina. Fox 4:30 p.m. — AFC Divisional Playoff: San Diego at Denver. CBS

GOLF 7 p.m. — PGA Tour: Sony Open in Hawaii, Final Round. Golf Channel

HOCKEY 7 p.m. — NHL: Philadelphia at New York Rangers. NBC Sports Network 8 p.m. — NHL: Detroit Red Wings at Anaheim Ducks. FSD

TENNIS 7 p.m. — Australian Open. ESPN2

OTHER 3 p.m. — U.S. Figure Skating Championships. NBC MONDAY

BASKETBALL 7 p.m. — Men’s College: Virginia at Duke. ESPN 7 p.m. — Women’s College: Connecticut at Baylor. ESPN2 7 p.m. — Men’s College: Texas at West Virginia. ESPNU 7 p.m. — Men’s: Coll. of Charleston at Northeastern. NBC Sports Network 9 p.m. — Men’s College: Kansas at Iowa State. ESPN 9 p.m. — Men’s College: Syracuse at Boston College. ESPNU

HOCKEY 7:30 p.m. — College: Minnesota at Penn State. Big Ten Network

TENNIS 9 p.m. — Australian Open. ESPN2 TUESDAY

BASKETBALL 7 p.m. — Men’s College: Wisconsin at Indiana. ESPN 7 p.m. — Men’s College: Oklahoma at Kansas State. ESPN2 7 p.m. — Men’s College: Georgia at Florida. ESPNU 7 p.m. — Men’s College: St. John’s at DePaul. Fox Sports 1 8 p.m. — Men’s College: Penn State at Michigan. Big Ten Network 9 p.m. — Men’s College: Kentucky at Arkansas. ESPN 9 p.m. — Men’s College: Pittsburgh at Georgia Tech. ESPNU 9 p.m. — Men’s College: Butler at Creighton. Fox Sports 1

HOCKEY 7:30 p.m. — NHL: Philadelphia at Buffalo. NBC Sports Network

TENNIS 9 p.m. — Australian Open: Second Round. ESPN2 WEDNESDAY

BASKETBALL 7 p.m. — Men’s College: Michigan St. at Northwestern. Big Ten Network 7 p.m. — Men’s College: Notre Dame at Maryland. ESPN2 7 p.m. — Men’s College: South Florida at Southern Methodist. ESPNU 7 p.m. — Men’s College: Clemson at Virginia Tech. FSD 8 p.m. — NBA: Utah Jazz at San Antonio Spurs. ESPN 9 p.m. — Men’s College: Purdue at Illinois. Big Ten Network 9 p.m. — Men’s College: Baylor at Texas Tech. ESPNU 10:30 p.m. — NBA: Denver Nuggets at Golden State Warriors. ESPN

HOCKEY 8 p.m. — NHL: Washington at Pittsburgh. NBC Sports Network

TENNIS 9 p.m. — Australian Open. ESPN2 THURSDAY

BASKETBALL 7 p.m. — Women’s College: Ohio State at Penn State. Big Ten Network 7 p.m. — Men’s College: Connecticut

Scoreboard at Memphis. ESPN 7 p.m. — Men’s College: Missouri at Vanderbilt. ESPN2 7 p.m. — Men’s College: Belmont at Eastern Kentucky. ESPNU 7 p.m. — Men’s College: Providence at St. John’s. Fox Sports 1 7 p.m. — NBA: New York Knicks at Indiana Pacers. TNT 9 p.m. — Women’s College: Minnesota at Nebraska. Big Ten Network 9 p.m. — Men’s College: Ohio State at Minnesota. ESPN2 9 p.m. — Men’s College: BYU at San Francisco. ESPNU 9 p.m. — Men’s College: Arizona State at Arizona. Fox Sports 1 9:30 p.m. — NBA: Oklahoma City Thunder at Houston Rockets. TNT 11 p.m. — Men’s College: BYU at San Francisco. ESPNU

GOLF 3 p.m. — PGA Tour: Humana Challenge, First Round. Golf Channel

HOCKEY 7 p.m. — NHL: Detroit Red Wings at New York Rangers. FSD 8 p.m. — NHL: Los Angeles Kings at St. Louis Blues. NBC Sports Network

TENNIS 11 p.m. — Australian Open: Third Round. ESPN2 FRIDAY

BASKETBALL 7 p.m. — NBA: Los Angeles Clippers at New York Knicks. ESPN 7 p.m. — Men’s College: Green Bay at Wright State. ESPNU 7:30 p.m. — NBA: Utah Jazz at Detroit Pistons. FSD 9 p.m. — Men’s College: Canisius at Iona. ESPNU 9:30 p.m. — NBA: Golden State Warriors at Oklahoma City Thunder. ESPN

GOLF 3 p.m. — PGA Tour: Humana Challenge, Second Round. Golf Channel 7 p.m. — Champions Tour: Mitsubishi Electric Championship, First Round.

Golf Channel

HOCKEY 6:30 p.m. — College: Penn State at Michigan State. Big Ten Network 7:30 p.m. — College: Lake Superior State at Notre Dame. NBC Sports Network 9 p.m. — College: Ohio State at Minnesota. Big Ten Network

TENNIS 9 p.m. — Australian Open. ESPN2 SATURDAY

BASKETBALL 11 a.m. — Men’s College: Toledo at Akron. ESPNU Noon — Men’s College: Tennessee at Kentucky. CBS Noon — Women’s College: Illinois at Michigan. Big Ten Network Noon — Men’s College: Boston College at North Carolina. ESPN Noon — Men’s College: TBA. ESPN2 Noon — College: Seton Hall at Georgetown. FSD 12:30 p.m. — Men’s: George Mason at Rhode Island. NBC Sports Network 1 p.m. — Men’s College: Missouri State at Northern Iowa. ESPNU 2 p.m. — Men’s College: North Carolina State at Duke. CBS 2 p.m. — Men’s College: Oklahoma at Baylor. ESPN 2 p.m. — Men’s College: Alabama at Missouri. ESPN2 2 p.m. — Men’s College: Miami at Georgia Tech. FSD 2 p.m. — Men’s College: USC at Colorado. Fox Sports 1 2:30 p.m. — Men’s College: Northwestern at Indiana. Big Ten Network 2:30 p.m. — Men’s College: Fordham at St. Louis. NBC Sports Network 3 p.m. — Men’s College: Dayton at Richmond. ESPNU 4 p.m. — Men’s College: Oklahoma State at Kansas. CBS 4 p.m. — Men’s College: Pittsburgh at Syracuse. ESPN 4 p.m. — Men’s College: Indiana State at Wichita State. ESPN2 4 p.m. — Men’s College: DePaul at Villanova. FSD 4 p.m. — Men’s College: UCLA at Utah. Fox Sports 1 5 p.m. — College: Cincinnati at South Florida. ESPNU 6 p.m. — Men’s College: Michigan at Wisconsin. ESPN 6 p.m. — Men’s College: Dartmouth at St. John’s. Fox Sports 1 7 p.m. — Men’s College: Penn State at Purdue. ESPNU 8 p.m. — Men’s College: Michigan State at Illinois. Big Ten Network 8 p.m. — Men’s College: Creighton at Providence. Fox Sports 1 8 p.m. — NBA: Philadelphia 76ers at Chicago Bulls. WGN 9 p.m. — Men’s College: Louisville at Connecticut. ESPN 9 p.m. — Men’s College: Vanderbilt at LSU. ESPNU 11 p.m. — Men’s College: Washington at Stanford. ESPNU

GOLF 3 p.m. — PGA Tour: Humana Challenge, Third Round. Golf Channel 7 p.m. — Champions Tour: Mitsubishi Electric Championship, Second Round. Golf Channel

HOCKEY 7 p.m. — NHL: Los Angeles Kings at Detroit Red Wings. FSD

FOOTBALL

NFL PLAYOFF GLANCE DIVISIONAL PLAYOFFS SATURDAY Seattle 23, New Orleans 15 New England 43, Indianapolis 22 TODAY San Francisco at Carolina, 1:05 p.m. (Fox) San Diego at Denver, 4:40 p.m. (CBS) CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIPS JAN. 19 New England at Denver or San Diego at New England, 3 p.m. (CBS) San Francisco/Carolina at Seattle, 6:30 p.m. (Fox) SUPER BOWL FEB. 2 AT EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. AFC champion vs. NFC champion, 6:30 p.m. (Fox)

NFL

THURSDAY 1 1

0 3

0 — 0 —

1 4

1st PERIOD—1, San Jose, Pavelski 20 (Thornton, Burns), 4:59. 2, Detroit, Tatar 9 (Glendening, Smith), 16:48.

2nd PERIOD—3, San Jose, Desjardins 2 (Kearns, Vlasic), 9:44. 4, San Jose, Pavelski 21 (Stuart, Braun), 12:25. 5, San Jose, Boyle 8 (Demers, Thornton), 16:28 (pp).

3rd PERIOD—None.

SHOTS ON GOAL—Detroit 12-8-5—25. San Jose 9-14-3—26.

Goalies—Detroit, Howard, Mrazek. San Jose, Niemi.

A—17,562 (17,562). T—2:27.

vs. LA 7 p.m.

FSD

vs. Penn St. 8 p.m.

BTN

MICHIGAN

at Wisconsin 6 p.m.

ESPN at NW 7 p.m.

BTN

W

Atlantic Toronto

18

Brooklyn New York

15 14

Boston

13 12

Philadelphia Southeast

GB —

22

Pct .514 .405

22

.389

4½

24 25

.351 .324

6 7 GB

L 17

4

W

L

Pct

10 17 19

.730 .541 .457

Charlotte Orlando

15

23

10

27

Central Indiana

W 29

L 7

Chicago

17

18

Detroit Cleveland

16

22

Pct GB — .806 .486 11 ½ 14 .421

13

23

.361

16

Milwaukee

7

29

.194

22

WESTERN CONFERENCE Pct L W Southwest .778 8 28 San Antonio

GB — 5

Atlanta Washington

— 7 10 .395 12 ½ 17 .270

Houston

24

14

.632

Dallas

22 16 15

16 19 21

W 28

L 9

7 .579 .457 11 ½ 13 .417 Pct GB — .757

Memphis New Orleans Northwest Oklahoma City Portland

27

9

.750

½

Denver

19

17

.528

8½

Minnesota Utah

18 12

18 26

.500 9 ½ .316 16 ½

Pacific L.A. Clippers

W 26

L 13

Pct .667

Golden State

25

14

.641

1

Phoenix L.A. Lakers

21 14

15 23

.583 .378

3½ 11

Sacramento

12

22

.353 11 ½

GB —

Thursday New York 102, Miami 92 Denver 101, Oklahoma City 88 Friday Indiana 93, Washington 66 Detroit 114, Philadelphia 104 Atlanta 83, Houston 80 Minnesota 119, Charlotte 92 Memphis 104, Phoenix 99 Dallas 107, New Orleans 90 Brooklyn 104, Miami 95,2OT Chicago 81, Milwaukee 72 Cleveland 113, Utah 102 Sacramento 103, Orlando 83 Golden State 99, Boston 97 L.A. Clippers 123, L.A. Lakers 87 Saturday Houston 112, Washington 106 Toronto 96, Brooklyn 80 New York 102, Philadelphia 92 Detroit 110, Phoenix 108 Chicago 103, Charlotte 97 Oklahoma City 101, Milwaukee 85 Dallas 110, New Orleans 107 Denver 120, Orlando 94 Boston at Portland, late Today Cleveland at Sacramento, 6 p.m.

Atlanta at Memphis, 6 p.m.

Minnesota at San Antonio, 7 p.m.

Monday Milwaukee at Toronto, 7 p.m.

Houston at Boston, 7:30 p.m.

Phoenix at New York, 7:30 p.m.

Washington at Chicago, 8 p.m.

San Antonio at New Orleans, 8 p.m.

Orlando at Dallas, 8:30 p.m.

Denver at Utah, 9 p.m.

30 29

28 25

PISTONS 114, 76ERS 104 FRIDAY DETROIT (114) Smith 8-23 4-6 22, Monroe 5-6 5-8 15, Drummond 5-12 1-3 11, Jennings 4-10 7-8 19, Caldwell-Pope 5-11 0-0 12, Singler 6-17 3-4 16, Bynum 6-11 3-4 16, Stuckey 0-1 0-0 0, Billups 1-3 0-0 3, Jerebko 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 40-94 23-33 114.

PHILADELPHIA (104) Turner 6-14 5-6 19, Young 10-21 0-1 22, Hawes 6-14 1-1 16, Carter-Williams 9-20 3-4 21, Anderson 4-8 2-2 10, Wroten 1-6 3-6 5, Davies 1-3 0-0 2, Williams 4-7 0-0 9, Thompson 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 41-95 14-20 104.

Detroit Philadelphia

28 36

27 27

29 18

30 — 114 23 — 104

3-Point Goals—Detroit 11-30 (Jennings 4-6, Caldwell-Pope 2-4, Smith 2-8, Billups 1-2, Bynum 1-3, Singler 1-6, Stuckey 0-1), Philadelphia 8-24 (Hawes 3-8, Turner 2-3, Young 2-6, Williams 1-1, Wroten 0-1, Thompson 0-1, Carter-Williams 0-2, Anderson 0-2). Fouled Out—None. Rebounds—Detroit 74 (Smith 13), Philadelphia 50 (Hawes 10).

Assists—Detroit 24 (Smith 7), Philadelphia 23 (Hawes 6). Total Fouls—Detroit 19, Philadelphia 19.

Technicals—Drummond. A—13,742 (20,328).

BASEBALL

DETROIT TIGERS SPRING TRAINING RADIO/TV SCHEDULE: (ALL GAMES AT 1:05 P.M. UNLESS NOTED OTHERWISE.) Tigers home games are in Lakeland, Fla. Games listed as Radio are on the Tigers Radio Network.

Feb. 25: vs. Florida Southern College Feb. 26: at Braves (Disney World), Radio Feb. 27: vs. Braves Feb. 28: vs. Yankees, Radio Feb. 28: at Phillies (Clearwater) March 1: vs. Astros, Radio March 2: at Braves (Disney World), Radio March 3: vs. Cardinals, Radio March 4: vs. Pirates, Radio March 5: at Astros (Kissimmee), Radio March 6: vs. Phillies March 7: at Yankees (Tampa), 7:05 p.m.

March 8: vs. Mets, Radio March 9: at Marlins (Jupiter), Radio March 10: at Cardinals (Jupiter), Radio and FSD March 11: vs. Blue Jays, Radio March 12: at Yankees (Tampa) March 13: vs. Marlins, FSD March 14: vs. Nationals, Radio March 15: vs. Astros, Radio March 16: at Nationals (Viera), Radio March 17: vs. Nationals, Radio March 18: vs. Blue Jays, Radio March 18: at New York Mets (Port St. Lucie), 1:10 p.m.

March 19: Open date March 20: at Nationals (Viera) March 21: at Braves (Disney World) March 22: at Blue Jays (Dunedin) March 23: vs. Marlins, Radio and FSD March 24: at Pirates (Bradenton), Radio March 25: vs. Braves March 26: at Phillies (Clearwater), Radio March 27: vs. Braves, Radio and FSD March 28: vs. Rays, Radio March 29: at Nationals at Washington, D.C., 2:05 p.m., Radio DETROIT TIGERS RADIO AFFILIATES STATION CITY FREQUENCY WXYT DETROIT 97.1 FM/1270 AM 96.7 FM ALPENA WRGZ 100.3 FM ANGOLA, IN WLKI WTKA ANN ARBOR 1050 AM 96.1 FM ARCHBOLD, OH WMTR 930 AM BATTLE CREEK WBCK WBRN BIG RAPIDS 1460 AM 93.7 FM CADILLAC WKAD 1360 AM CARO WKYO WMKT CHARLEVOIX/HARRIETTA 1270 AM WLJZ CHEBOYGAN/MACK. CITY 94.5 FM 1590 AM COLDWATER WTVB WDBC ESCANABA 680 AM WTRX FLINT 1330 AM WBBL GRAND RAPIDS 107.3 FM WGRY GRAYLING 101.1 FM WCSR HILLSDALE 92.1 FM WHTC HOLLAND 1450 AM WCCY HOUGHTON 1400 AM WMIQ IRON MOUNTAIN 1450 AM WIBM JACKSON 1450 AM WKZO KALAMAZOO 590 AM WVFN LANSING 730 AM WLDN LUDINGTON 98.7 FM WMTE MANISTEE 1340 AM WDMJ/WIAN MARQUETTE 1320 AM WAVC MIO 93.9 FM WLCS MUSKEGON 98.3 FM WNBY NEWBERRY 1450 AM WWTH OSCODA 100.7 FM WMBN PETOSKEY 1340 AM WPHM PORT HURON 1380 AM WSGW SAGINAW 790 AM WTGV SANDUSKY 97.7 FM WSOO SAULT STE. MARIE 1230 AM WBET STURGIS 1230 AM WLQR TOLEDO, OH 1470 AM WCCW TRAVERSE CITY 1310 AM

COLLEGE BASKETBALL

BIG TEN CONFERENCE STANDINGS Wisconsin Michigan St. Michigan Ohio St. Illinois Iowa Minnesota Indiana Purdue Nebraska Penn St. Northwestern

SATURDAY PHOENIX (108) Tucker 6-13 2-2 17, Frye 7-14 2-4 21, Plumlee 6-10 0-0 12, Dragic 4-9 5-6 15, Green 5-17 4-5 15, Mark.Morris 0-4 0-0 0, Barbosa 3-9 2-2 9, Len 0-1 0-0 0, I.Smith 1-7 0-0 2, Marc.Morris 5-10 6-6 17.

Totals 37-94 21-25 108.

DETROIT (110) J.Smith 11-16 2-3 25, Monroe 6-14 8-11 20, Drummond 5-9 3-7 13, Jennings 4-14 0-0 8, CaldwellPope 4-8 0-0 9, Singler 3-9 0-0 6, Stuckey 3-8 2-2 8, Bynum 6-11 4-4 16, Villanueva 2-5 0-0 5. Totals 44-94 19-27 110.

21 35

at Illinois 8 p.m.

BTN

Detroit 32 (Jennings 18). Total Fouls—Phoenix 23, Detroit 19. A—15,224 (22,076).

27 20 16

Miami

Phoenix Detroit

SAT

vs. Utah 7:30 p.m.

FSD

PISTONS 110, SUNS 108

SHARKS 4, RED WINGS 1

FRI

DETROIT PISTONS

EASTERN CONFERENCE

GA 129 99 115 119 135 137 145 GA 119 115 93 114 136 142 164

THU

at NYR 7 p.m.

FSD

BASKETBALL

NOTE: Two points for a win, one point for overtime loss.

Thursday Florida 2, Buffalo 1, SO New Jersey 1, Dallas 0 Carolina 6, Toronto 1 Washington 4, Tampa Bay 3 Anaheim 4, Nashville 3 St. Louis 5, Calgary 0 Minnesota 4, Phoenix 1 Los Angeles 4, Boston 2 San Jose 4, Detroit 1 Friday N.Y. Rangers 3, Dallas 2 Washington 3, Toronto 2 Columbus 3, Carolina 0 N.Y. Islanders 2, Colorado 1, OT Edmonton 4, Pittsburgh 3, OT Vancouver 2, St. Louis 1 Saturday Tampa Bay 6, Philadelphia 3 Montreal 2, Chicago 1, OT New Jersey 2, Florida 1, OT Ottawa 2, Nashville 1, SO Columbus 6, Winnipeg 3 Colorado 4, Minnesota 2 Anaheim 5, Phoenix 3 Pittsburgh at Calgary, late Detroit at Los Angeles, late Boston at San Jose, late Today Buffalo at Washington, 3 p.m.

N.Y. Islanders at Dallas, 6 p.m.

New Jersey at Toronto, 7 p.m.

Philadelphia at N.Y. Rangers, 7 p.m.

Edmonton at Chicago, 7 p.m.

Minnesota at Nashville, 7 p.m.

Detroit at Anaheim, 8 p.m.

Monday Calgary at Carolina, 7 p.m.

Tampa Bay at Columbus, 7 p.m.

Phoenix at Winnipeg, 8 p.m.

Vancouver at Los Angeles, 10:30 p.m.

Detroit San Jose

DETROIT at Anaheim RED 8 p.m.

WINGS FSD

NBA

L OT Pts GF GA 14 2 58 128 98 14 4 58 132 109 15 5 57 117 107 18 8 48 131 146 15 10 48 115 125 20 5 47 125 141 21 7 41 105 139 26 5 29 75 120 L OT Pts GF GA 12 2 66 150 111 18 4 50 120 125 16 6 50 135 133 20 3 49 114 123 17 9 47 111 128 18 9 47 106 114 20 4 46 126 129 22 7 41 126 150 GF 170 161 132 114 125 109 128 GF 160 148 118 123 133 100 123

WED

The Top 25 teams in The Associated Press final college football poll, with first-place votes in parentheses, final records, total points based on 25 points for a first-place vote through one point for a 25th-place vote, and previous ranking: Record Pts Pv 1. Florida St. (60) 14-0 1,500 1 2. Auburn 12-2 1,428 2 3. Michigan St. 13-1 1,385 4 4. South Carolina 11-2 1,247 8 5. Missouri 12-2 1,236 9 6. Oklahoma 11-2 1,205 11 7. Alabama 11-2 1,114 3 8. Clemson 11-2 1,078 12 9. Oregon 11-2 974 10 10. UCF 12-1 959 15 11. Stanford 11-3 936 5 12. Ohio St. 12-2 816 7 13. Baylor 11-2 778 6 14. LSU 10-3 717 14 15. Louisville 12-1 693 18 10-3 632 17 16. UCLA 10-3 598 13 17. Oklahoma St. 459 20 9-4 18. Texas A&M NR 10-4 299 19. Southern Cal 16 258 10-4 20. Arizona St. 25 256 9-4 21. Notre Dame 245 19 9-4 22. Wisconsin 23. Duke 10-4 190 22 24. Vanderbilt 9-4 117 NR 25. Washington 9-4 109 NR Others receiving votes: Nebraska 107, Fresno St. 54, N. Illinois 22, N. Dakota St. 17, Texas Tech 14, Georgia 13, Iowa 13, Mississippi 10, Kansas St. 8, Arizona 5, Navy 3, East Carolina 2, Utah St. 2, Mississippi St. 1.

EASTERN CONFERENCE

WESTERN CONFERENCE L OT Pts GP W Central Chicago 47 29 8 10 68 8 5 67 44 31 St. Louis Colorado 45 28 12 5 61 47 24 18 5 53 Minnesota 44 20 17 7 47 Dallas Nashville 46 19 20 7 45 47 19 23 5 43 Winnipeg Pacific GP W L OT Pts 8 5 73 47 34 Anaheim 45 28 11 6 62 San Jose Los Angeles 45 27 13 5 59 Vancouver 46 24 13 9 57 Phoenix 44 21 14 9 51 Calgary 44 15 23 6 36 Edmonton 47 15 27 5 35

TUE

FINAL 2013�14 AP TOP 25

HOCKEY W 28 27 26 20 19 21 17 12 W 32 23 22 23 19 19 21 17

MON

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

NHL

GP 44 45 46 46 44 46 45 43 GP 46 45 44 46 45 46 45 46

SUN

MICHIGAN STATE

2014 NFL DRAFT EARLY ENROLLEES Davante Adams, WR, Fresno State George Atkinson III, RB, Notre Dame Dion Bailey, S, Southern Cal Russell Bodine, OL, North Carolina Blake Bortles, QB, UCF Chris Boyd, WR, Vanderbilt Teddy Bridgewater, QB, Louisville Jadeveon Clowney, DE, South Carolina Brandon Coleman, WR, Rutgers Brandin Cooks, WR, Oregon State Scott Crichton, DE, Oregon State Dominique Easley, DT, Florida Kony Ealy, DE, Missouri Eric Ebron, TE, North Carolina Mike Evans, WR, Texas A&M Kameron Jackson, CB, California Kelvin Benjamin, Florida State Timmy Jernigan, DT, Florida State Storm Johnson, RB, UCF Henry Josey, RB, Missouri Cody Latimer, WR, Indiana Marqise Lee, WR, Southern Cal Johnny Manziel, QB, Texas A&M Marcus Martin, C, Southern Cal Tre Mason, RB, Auburn Terrance Mitchell, CB, Oregon Viliami Moala, DT, California Donte Moncrief, WR, Mississippi Jake Murphy, TE, Utah Troy Niklas, TE, Notre Dame Louis Nix III, NG, Notre Dame Ronald Powell, LB, Florida Loucheiz Purifoy, CB, Florida Darrin Reaves, RB, UAB Antonio Richardson, OT, Tennessee Paul Richardson, WR, Colorado Marcus Roberson, CB, Florida Greg Robinson, OT, Auburn Richard Rodgers, TE, California Bishop Sankey, RB, Washington Lache Seastrunk, RB, Baylor Austin Seferian-Jenkins, TE, Washington Ryan Shazier, LB, Ohio State Brett Smith, QB, Wyoming Willie Snead, WR, Ball State De’Anthony Thomas, RB, Oregon Stephon Tuitt, DE, Notre Dame George Uko, DL, Southern Cal Sammy Watkins, WR, Clemson

ATLANTIC Boston Tampa Bay Montreal Ottawa Detroit Toronto Florida Buffalo Metropolitan Pittsburgh Philadelphia Washington N.Y. Rangers Carolina New Jersey Columbus N.Y. Islanders

SPORTS CALENDAR

29 — 108 21 — 110

3-Point Goals—Phoenix 13-35 (Frye 5-10, Tucker 3-5, Dragic 2-4, Barbosa 1-3, Marc.Morris 1-4, Green 1-7, Mark.Morris 0-1, I.Smith 0-1), Detroit 3-17 (J.Smith 1-1, Villanueva 1-4, Caldwell-Pope 1-4, Singler 0-3, Jennings 0-5). Fouled Out—None.

Rebounds—Phoenix 51 (Tucker 11), Detroit 68 (Drummond 13). Assists—Phoenix 24 (Dragic 8),

Conference W L Pct. 3 0 1.000 4 0 1.000 3 0 1.000 2 1 .667 2 1 .667 2 1 .667 2 2 .500 1 2 .333 0 2 .000 0 3 .000 0 4 .000 0 3 .000

W 16 15 11 15 13 13 13 11 10 8 9 7

Overall L Pct. 0 1.000 1 .938 4 .733 1 .938 3 .813 3 .813 4 .765 5 .688 5 .667 7 .533 8 .529 9 .438

Thursday Michigan 71, Nebraska 70 Iowa 93, Northwestern 67 Friday No games scheduled Saturday Indiana 79, Penn State 76 Michigan State 87, Minnesota 75, OT Today Nebraska at Purdue, noon Iowa at Ohio State, 1:30 p.m.

Illinois at Northwestern, 7:30 p.m.

Monday No games scheduled

NO. 5 MICHIGAN ST. 87, MINNESOTA 75, OT SATURDAY

MINNESOTA (13-4) Osenieks 1-3 0-0 3, Eliason 1-3 5-6 7, An. Hollins 7-14 8-8 24, Mathieu 3-10 2-3 8, Au. Hollins 2-8 3-5 7, Shell 0-1 0-0 0, McNeil 0-0 1-2 1, Ahanmisi 0-0 0-0 0, Walker 1-2 0-0 2, King 2-3 0-0 6, Smith 6-13 0-0 17. Totals 23-57 19-24 75.

MICHIGAN ST. (15-1) Costello 1-3 5-6 7, Dawson 3-6 0-0 6, Appling 4-10 15-16 24, Harris 5-16 8-11 19, Valentine 3-9 3-5 9, Gauna 1-1 0-0 2, Ellis III 0-1 1-2 1, Trice 2-6 0-0 4, Kaminski 5-7 0-0 15, Schilling 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 24-59 32-40 87.

Halftime—Minnesota 41-36. End Of Regulation— Tied 71. 3-Point Goals—Minnesota 10-26 (Smith 5-10, King 2-3, An. Hollins 2-6, Osenieks 1-2, Shell 0-1, Mathieu 0-1, Au. Hollins 0-3), Michigan St. 7-21 (Kaminski 5-7, Appling 1-2, Harris 1-8, Trice 0-2, Valentine 0-2). Fouled Out—Eliason, Au. Hollins.

Rebounds—Minnesota 32 (Eliason 11), Michigan St. 44 (Dawson, Valentine 10). Assists—Minnesota 13 (An. Hollins, Mathieu 3), Michigan St. 16 (Valentine 4). Total Fouls—Minnesota 26, Michigan St. 17.

A—14,797.

MICHIGAN 71, NEBRASKA 70 THURSDAY MICHIGAN (11-4) Robinson III 9-12 0-0 19, Morgan 7-9 1-2 15, Walton Jr. 3-6 2-5 10, Stauskas 5-9 0-2 12, LeVert 5-8 0-0 10, Albrecht 1-1 0-0 3, Horford 1-2 0-0 2, Irvin 0-3 0-0 0. Totals 31-50 3-9 71.

NEBRASKA (8-7) Petteway 6-12 3-4 16, Shields 1-5 2-2 4, Pitchford 4-6 2-2 12, Webster 1-1 0-0 2, Gallegos 5-11 0-0 14, Biggs 5-7 4-4 14, Parker 0-0 0-0 0, Smith 4-7 0-0 8. Totals 26-49 11-12 70.

Halftime—Michigan 33-30. 3-Point Goals—Michigan 6-17 (Stauskas 2-4, Walton Jr. 2-4, Albrecht 1-1, Robinson III 1-3, LeVert 0-2, Irvin 0-3), Nebraska 7-20 (Gallegos 4-10, Pitchford 2-4, Petteway 1-4, Shields 0-2). Fouled Out—None.

Rebounds—Michigan 20 (Morgan, Robinson III 4), Nebraska 26 (Smith 6). Assists—Michigan 16 (LeVert 5), Nebraska 10 (Petteway, Shields 3). Total Fouls—Michigan 13, Nebraska 12. A—15,012.

MEN’S MAJOR SCORES EAST Indiana 79, Penn St. 76 Memphis 79, Temple 69 Oklahoma St. 73, West Virginia 72 Pittsburgh 80, Wake Forest 65 Syracuse 57, North Carolina 45 UConn 84, UCF 61 UMass 73, St. Bonaventure 68 Villanova 74, St. John’s 67 SOUTH Boston College 62, Virginia Tech 59 Clemson 72, Duke 59 Floida 84, Arkansas 82, OT Georgia 66, Alabama 58 Georgia Tech 74, Notre Dame 69 Kentucky 71, Vanderbilt 62 LSU 71, South Carolina 68 Mississippi St. 76, Ole Miss 72 Missouri 70, Auburn 68 Texas A&M 57, Tennessee 56 Virginia 76, NC State 45 MIDWEST Cincinnati 71, Rutgers 51 Georgetown 70, Butler 67, OT Kansas 86, Kansas St. 60 Marquette 67, Seton Hall 66 Toledo 86, Cent. Michigan 71 W. Michigan 78, Miami (Ohio) 77, OT Wichita St. 72, Missouri St. 69 SOUTHWEST Baylor 88, TCU 62 Florida 84, Arkansas 82, OT Oklahoma 87, Iowa St. 82 Texas 67, Texas Tech 64 FAR WEST California 88, Oregon St. 83

WOMEN’S MAJOR SCORES EAST Creighton 97, Providence 65 Georgetown 85, Butler 79 Rutgers 64, SMU 54 St. John’s 96, DePaul 86 Seton Hall 64, Villanova 56 UConn 80, Temple 36 SOUTH Memphis 88, UCF 52 MIDWEST Kansas 67, Texas Tech 46 Marquette 73, Xavier 67 Ohio St. 70, Indiana 51 Oklahoma St. 69, Iowa St. 62 SOUTHWEST Baylor 80, TCU 46 Cincinnati 59, Houston 50 Oklahoma 61, Kansas St. 50 FAR WEST Gonzaga 79, San Diego 50 Oregon St. 88, Oregon 80 Washington St. 85, Washington 76

TENNIS

APIA INTERNATIONAL SATURDAY At Olympic Park Tennis Centre Sydney, Australia Purse: Men, $511,825 (WT250); Women, $710,000 (Premier) Surface: Hard-Outdoor SINGLES MEN Championship Juan Martin del Potro (1), Argentina, def. Bernard Tomic, Australia, 6-3, 6-1.

ATP WORLD TOUR HEINEKEN OPEN SATURDAY At ASB Bank Tennis Centre Auckland, New Zealand Purse: $514,345 (WT250) Surface: Hard-Outdoor SINGLES MEN Championship John Isner (3), United States, def. Yen—hsun Lu, Taiwan, 7-6 (4), 7-6 (7).

AUSTRALIAN OPEN SHOW COURT SCHEDULES TODAY At Melbourne Park Melbourne, Australia Play begins on all courts at 7 p.m. Today ROD LAVER ARENA Angelique Kerber (9), Germany, vs. Jarmila Gajdosova, Australia Alejandro Gonzalez, Colombia, vs. David Ferrer (3), Spain Sam Stosur (17), Australia, vs. Klara Zakopalova, Czech Republic Night Session (3 a.m. Monday) Lukas Lacko, Slovakia, vs. Novak Djokovic (2), Serbia Serena Williams (1), United States, vs. Ashleigh Barty, Australia HISENSE ARENA Stanislas Wawrinka (8), Switzerland, vs. Andrey Golubev, Kazakhstan Li Na (4), China, vs. Ana Konjuh, Croatia Kiki Bertens, Netherlands, vs. Ana Ivanovic (14), Serbia Not before 1 a.m. Monday: Jordan Thompson, Australia, vs. Jerzy Janowicz (20), Poland MARGARET COURT ARENA Ekaterina Makarova (22), Russia, vs. Venus Williams, United States Tomas Berdych (7), Czech Republic, vs. Aleksandr Nedovyesov, Kazakhstan Julia Goerges, Germany, vs. Sara Errani (7), Italy Luksika Kumkhum, Thailand, vs. Petra Kvitova (6), Czech Republic Night Session (3 a.m. Monday) Marcos Baghdatis, Cyprus, vs. Denis Istomin, Uzbekistan SHOW COURT 2 Heather Watson, Britain, vs. Daniela Hantuchova (31), Slovakia Nicolas Mahut, France, vs. Matthew Ebden, Australia Samuel Groth, Australia, vs. Vasek Pospisil (28), Canada Mirjana Lucic-Baroni, Croatia, vs. Sabine Lisicki (15), Germany

GLANTZ�CULVER LINE

NFL PLAYOFFS

TODAY FAVORITE

San Francisco at Denver

OPEN

1 9½

TODAY

O/U

1 (41 ½) 9 (55)

UNDERDOG

at Carolina San Diego

— The Associated Press; all times Eastern

THE FLINT JOURNAL / SUNDAY, JANUARY 12, 2014 / D5

NFL SAN FRANCISCO AT CAROLINA

Underdog Panthers look to upend 49ers again The Associated Press

Seattle’s Marshawn Lynch runs for a 31-yard touchdown. (AP)

SEATTLE 23, NEW ORLEANS 15

Seahawks rumble past Saints

By Tim Booth

The Associated Press

SEATTLE — When he got around the edge, there was no one for Marshawn Lynch to hit. Directly ahead was open field, the end zone and the Seattle Seahawks’ place in the NFC championship game.

Once again, Lynch overpowered the New Orleans Saints in the postseason.

“That was maybe ‘Beast Mode II.’ I don’t know but it was a very cool way to end that game and give us the score that we needed,” Seattle coach Pete Carroll said.

Lynch carried 28 times for 140 yards and two touchdowns and Seattle’s defense flustered Drew Brees and New Orleans in a 23-15 victory Saturday in the NFC divisional playoff game.

“You just don’t know how many more opportunities you’re going to have,” Brees said. “That’s what makes it so tough standing up here and talking about it.”

Steven Hauschka added three field goals in blustery conditions and the topseeded Seahawks advanced to the NFC title game for the second time. They will host San Francisco or Carolina next Sunday after last reaching the conference title game in the 2005 playoffs.

Seattle shut out the Saints in the first half, got Lynch’s first 100-yard game since Week 10 of the regular season and received a spark from the brief return of Percy Harvin before he left with a concussion. Lynch scored on a 15-yard run in the first half and capped the victory with a 31-yard scoring run with 2:40 left that Carroll celebrated by jumping into offensive line coach Tom Cable’s arms.

“I don’t run to get tackled,” Lynch said.

While the clinching score lacked the stunning explosiveness of Lynch’s “Beast Quake” touchdown run against the Saints in the 2010 playoffs, this one was more important. It ensured Seattle would not be the latest No. 1 seed to get

upset by a No. 6 seed in the divisional round.

Lynch’s clinching TD was a similar to that 2010 play. Lynch read the blocking perfectly and cut to the outside using two blocks from tight end Zach Miller and Jermaine Kearse. Lynch’s only contact was a stiff-arm of Keenan Lewis that allowed him free passage to the end zone and left CenturyLink Field swaying.

“It’s all want with him,” Seattle wide receiver Golden Tate said. “He’s blessed with tremendous athleticism and body control and power. But right there he wanted that. He just wanted it and he went and got it.”

Lynch set a franchise playoff record for yards rushing. His running made up for another shaky day passing by Russell Wilson. Seattle’s offense was a concern heading into the postseason and, outside of Lynch, did little to quell those worries.

Wilson missed on five of his first six pass attempts to start the second half but came through with a 31-yard completion to Doug Baldwin with 2:57 remaining. The Saints blitzed and Wilson and Baldwin connected. Lynch scored on the next play.

“At the end of the game I knew they were going to bring everybody,” Wilson said.

Wilson finished 9 of 18 for a careerlow 103 yards. His leading receiver was Harvin, making his second appearance of the season after nearly getting put on injured reserve less than two weeks ago. Harvin had three receptions for 21 yards in the first half and one rush for 9 yards, but left the game late in the first half with a concussion.

Carroll said they won’t know Harvin’s status for the NFC championship game until later in the week.

“He was electric. He made some awesome plays today,” Wilson said about Harvin.

Hauschka hit field goals of 38 and 49

yards with the windy, rainy conditions at his back and hit a 26-yarder into the wind late in the third quarter.

Brees finished 24 of 43 for 309 yards and scared Seattle in the closing seconds. Brees took the Saints 80 yards in nine plays, capped with a 9-yard TD pass to Marques Colston with 26 seconds left that made it 23-15.

Colston then recovered the onside kick when it caromed off Tate’s and directly to the Saints’ receiver.

Brees took over at his 41 with 24 seconds left and Jimmy Graham caught his first pass of the game on an 8-yard completion. Brees spiked the ball to stop the clock, then found Colston near the sideline. Instead of stepping out of bounds, Colston tried to throw across the field to Darren Sproles. It was an illegal forward pass and the penalty ran off the final 10 seconds of the clock giving Seattle the victory.

Seattle’s defense also made Graham invisible for the second time this season. He had just three receptions in the first meeting in December and was even less of an option on Saturday.

“We’re not scared of him,” Seattle cornerback Richard Sherman said. “We have to deal with him but he has to deal with us.”

Graham’s lack of production was just part of the Saints struggles, especially in the first half. New Orleans was shut out in the first half for the third time in Sean Payton’s tenure as head coach and first since 2011. Brees was held to 34 yards passing in the half.

There was also Mark Ingram’s costly fumble on the first play of the second quarter that was forced and recovered

by Michael Bennett. Two plays later, Lynch danced in for his first touchdown and the Seahawks had a 13-0 lead.

“It’s my responsibility to take care of the football,” Ingram said. “I lost it in a critical moment, and they scored a touchdown off of it. That was huge.”

SAN DIEGO AT DENVER

Broncos back a year after playoff pratfall at home The Associated Press

DENVER — Philip Rivers likes to say the San Diego Chargers have been in playoff mode since last month, scrapping just to squeak into the postseason party.

Wesley Woodyard would like him to know the Denver Broncos have been in the pressure cooker ever since their playoff pratfall a year ago when they lost at home in double-overtime to underdog Baltimore.

“Absolutely. We have been waiting for this moment for a long time,” Woodyard said.

Since the first-round bye was introduced in 1978, 16 other teams have opened the playoffs at home a year after losing a divisional home game to a wild-card winner.

Only one of those teams,

the 1987 Chicago Bears, lost again.

Nine of those reached the Super Bowl and five of them won it: the ‘83 Raiders, ‘88 49ers, ‘90 Giants, ‘97 Broncos and the ‘06 Colts — led by current Denver quarterback Peyton Manning.

The ‘96 Broncos lost to Jacksonville 30-27, then whipped the Jaguars 42-17 the following year on their way to winning their first of two straight Super Bowls behind Hall of Fame quarterback John Elway.

Manning’s 2005 Colts were upset by Pittsburgh, but he led them to the championship the following season.

He’s out to repeat that feat beginning today, when the top-seeded Broncos (13-3) host the Chargers (10-7) at Sports

Denver quarterback Peyton Manning throws during practice Jan. 10. Manning hopes to lead the Broncos to victory over the San Diego Chargers today. (AP)

Authority Field on the anniversary of Denver’s 38-35 loss to the Ravens.

“This is why you have the offseason work, this is why you meet as often as you do in April, May and June. It’s for opportunities like this,” said Manning, who set a slew of records this season as the

Broncos became the highestscoring team in the Super Bowl era.

AFC DIVISIONAL PLAYOFF Who: San Diego Chargers at Denver Broncos, 4:40 p.m. today TV: CBS

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — It doesn’t surprise safety Mike Mitchell that the Carolina Panthers are only the third home underdog in the NFL divisional playoffs in the past 20 years.

“We haven’t gotten much respect all year,” he said.

“It looks like we still have people to prove wrong.”

The Panthers (12-4) are playing the no-respect card after opening the week as a 1-point underdog against San Francisco (13-4), despite defeating the 49ers 10-9 at Candlestick Park on Nov. 10.

Panthers wide receiver Steve Smith said the 49ers likely are favored because of their playoff experience.

This is the third straight season San Francisco has been to the playoffs under coach Jim Harbaugh, and most of the players have returned from last year’s NFC championship team.

The Panthers will make their first playoff appearance since 2008 under third-year coach Ron Rivera.

That doesn’t seem to bother Rivera.

“No, because two years ago (the 49ers) didn’t have any playoff experience, and they did pretty well,” Rivera said.

Harbaugh, who was teammates with Rivera with the Chicago Bears, also downplayed the experience factor.

“I’ve always really felt that where you’re going is a heck of a lot more important than where you’ve come from,” Harbaugh said.

Rivera said the Panthers got some playoff-type experience by winning a number of

big games during the season — they beat New England and New Orleans along with San Francisco — to battle back from a 1-3 start to win the NFC South and secure a first-round bye.

The Panthers sacked Colin Kaepernick six times and limited him to 91 yards passing and 16 yards rushing in the first meeting in a win that defensive end Greg Hardy said “proved we were a contender.”

But Rivera said Kaepernick’s play has vastly improved since.

“He is playing with a lot of confidence right now,” Rivera said. “Maybe we’ll get lucky and catch him on a bad day.”

Kaepernick said he’s eager to bounce back from perhaps the most disappointing game of his career against Carolina. When asked what the Panthers did that was so effective, he said “I think it was more of what we did to ourselves. I didn’t play well.”

Being the home underdogs might not be a bad thing for the Panthers.

According to the GlantzCulver Line, one of the two home divisional playoff underdogs since the 1994 season was the ‘96 Panthers, who upended the Dallas Cowboys in the very same stadium they’ll face the 49ers in today.

NFC DIVISIONAL PLAYOFF Who: San Francisco 49ers at Carolina Panthers, 1:05 p.m. today TV: Fox

Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Harry Douglas (83) is hit by Carolina Panthers free safety Mike Mitchell (21) on Dec. 29. Mitchell said he isn’t surprised the Panthers are only the third home underdog in the NFL divisional playoffs in the past 20 years.

(AP)

NFL

NFL: 2 players violated league concussion protocol in games The Associated Press

BOSTON — Two players violated league concussion protocol during last weekend’s wild-card games, according to a letter sent by the NFL’s head, neck and spine committee chairmen to all team doctors and trainers.

In a document obtained by The Associated Press, Drs. Hunt Batjer and Richard Ellenbogen said one player re-entered the game and another refused to leave the sideline.

The doctors did not identify the players, but one was Green Bay tackle David Bakhtiari, who went into the game for an extra-point try despite being examined for a concussion and not cleared.

The other was Saints cornerback Keenan Lewis, who remained on the sideline but did not get back on the field.

“On two occasions last weekend, and contrary to the advice of the team medical staffs, players who had been diagnosed with a concussion and therefore declared ineligible for play nonetheless refused to leave the sidelines as required by league concussion protocols,” the letter said. “In one case, the player

went back onto the field for one play before being removed from the game.”

The doctors found “no fault” in how the medical staffs conducted themselves.

“If a player refuses to follow your advice and leave the sidelines after being diagnosed with a concussion, we recommend that the head athletic trainer seek assistance from the player’s position coach (or another member of the coaching staff) or from another team official to remove the player from the sidelines as soon as possible,” the letter said.

The NFL’s Madden Rule requires a player diagnosed with a concussion to be taken to the locker room or another quiet location.

“We will continue working with the league to ensure that team doctors, coaches, trainers and other members of a team’s medical staff enforce return-to-participation protocols,” the NFL Players Association said in an email.

“Players naturally want to play and ultimately, the gameday medical and coaching staffs have the responsibility and obligation for player protection and care.”

D6 / SUNDAY, JANUARY 12, 2014 / THE FLINT JOURNAL

National Sports FIGURE SKATING

BASEBALL

White, Davis skate to sixth ice dance title

A-Rod ban cut to 162 games

The Associated Press

By Ronald Blum

BOSTON — Charlie White and Meryl Davis, the reigning Winter Games silver medalists danced their way to victory at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships on Saturday to win their sixth national title — one more than the record five they had shared with American ice dance pioneers Tanith Belbin and Ben Agosto.

They finished with 200.19 points — their most ever at nationals — thanks to a perfect score for the elements in their free skate.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

Penn State hires Vandy’s Franklin Penn State has hired James Franklin as its next head coach Saturday. Franklin, 41, who led Vanderbilt to bowls in all three of his seasons there, replaces Bill O’Brien, who left the Nittany Lions after two years to coach the NFL’s Houston Texans.

Mizzou star arrested Missouri receiver Dorial Green-Beckham was arrested in southwest Missouri after an officer found about a pound of marijuana in the vehicle he was in with two other men.

Green-Beckham, a sophomore who led No. 5 Missouri in receptions last season, and the other men were released without formal charges after their arrest late Friday, Springfield police said.

Green-Beckham, John W. McDaniel and Patrick Prouty, were pulled over late Friday because the vehicle McDaniel was driving had expired license plates, police said.

The statement said the officer smelled marijuana in the vehicle and found “approximately a pound of marijuana and assorted drug paraphernalia” in the vehicle.

‘Bama hires Kiffin Alabama hired former Southern California coach Lane Kiffin on Friday as its offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. Kiffin spent a week in Tuscaloosa, Ala., last month exchanging ideas with coach Nick Saban and his staff .

Evan Bates and Madison Chock were second with 181.44 points and siblings Maia and Alex Shibutani, were third (170.44).

Earlier, hometown favorites Simon Shnapir and Marissa Castelli won the pairs title. The women’s free skate was scheduled for later Saturday, with the men’s long program today.

The U.S. Olympic figure skating teams will be announced today. The top three in dance and top two in pairs are expected — but not guaranteed — to get spots.

NBA

Rondo plans return Rajon Rondo said he hopes to make his season debut before the All-Star break.

Boston Celtics coach Brad Stevens said he has never spoken to Rondo or anybody in the organization about a specific return date. Rondo has been out since tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee last January.

NHL

Sabres prospect won’t report Buffalo Sabres prospect Mikhail Grigorenko will not report to the Quebec Remparts after Buffalo assigned its former first round pick to the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League club Saturday. Grigorenko, 19, has been unhappy not to be staying with Buffalo since the junior championships.

The Associated Press

NEW YORK — Alex Rodriguez’s drug suspension was cut to 162 games from 211 by arbitrator Fredric Horowitz, a decision the New York Yankees third baseman vowed to fight in federal court.

Rodriguez also would be sidelined for any postseason games this year under the ruling announced Saturday.

“The number of games sadly comes as no surprise, as the deck has been stacked against me from day one,” Rodriguez said in a statement. “This is one man’s decision, that was not put before a fair and impartial jury, does not involve me having failed a single drug test, is at odds with the facts and is inconsistent with the terms of the Joint Drug Agreement and the Basic Agreement, and relies on testimony and documents that would never have been allowed in any court in the United States because they are false and wholly unreliable.”

The three-time AL MVP was given the 211-game penalty by Commissioner Bud Selig on Aug. 5 following Major League Baseball’s investigation of the Biogenesis of America anti-aging clinic, which was accused of distributing banned performance-enhancing drugs.

The Major League Baseball Players Association filed a grievance saying the discipline was without “just cause” Horowitz ruled Rodriguez is entitled to 21-183rds, or about 11.5 percent, of his $25 million salary this year, a person familiar with the decision said, speaking on condition of anonymity because the decision was not made public. That comes to $2,868,852.46.

Baseball’s drug rules allow Rodriguez to participate in spring training and play in exhibition games, although the Yankees might try to tell him not to report.

While the 38-year-old Rodriguez could fight the ruling in court, judges rarely overturn arbitrators’ decisions.

“While we believe the original 211game suspension was appropriate, we

Alex Rodriguez’s drug suspension has been cut to 162 games from 211 by arbitrator Fredric Horowitz, a decision sidelining the New York Yankees third baseman for the entire 2014 season. (AP File)

respect the decision rendered by the panel and will focus on our continuing efforts on eliminating performanceenhancing substances from our game,” MLB said in a statement.

The union said in its own statement that it “strongly disagrees” with the ruling but added “we recognize that a final and binding decision has been reached.”

Rodriguez, however, plans to continue the fight.

“This injustice is MLB’s first step toward abolishing guaranteed contracts in the 2016 bargaining round, instituting lifetime bans for single violations of drug policy and further insulating its corrupt investigative program from any variety defense by accused players or any variety of objective review,” he said.

“I have been clear that I did not use performance-enhancing substances as alleged in the notice of discipline, or violate the Basic Agreement or the Joint Drug Agreement in any manner, and in order to prove it I will take this fight to federal court.”

Rodriguez has claimed Selig was on a vendetta to smear him as a way of burnishing the commissioner’s image following the Steroids Era. Fourteen players were penalized following the Biogenesis probe, and they all accepted penalties. Milwaukee outfielder Ryan Braun sat out the final 65 games of the season, the other players were given 50-game suspensions.

A-Rod’s drug penalty was for “his use and possession of numerous forms of prohibited performance-enhancing substances, including testosterone and human growth hormone over the course of multiple years,” MLB said last summer. His punishment under the labor contract was “for attempting to cover up his violations of the program by engaging in a course of conduct intended to obstruct and frustrate the office of the commissioner’s investigation.”

Rodriguez admitted in 2009 that he used PEDs while with Texas from 2001-03 but has repeatedly denied using them since.

GOLF

Kirk leads Sony Open A birdie on the final hole gave Chris Kirk the outright lead in the Sony Open.

Cloudy conditions and a mild breeze meant just about everyone had a chance at Waialae Country Club. At one point there was a six-way tie for the lead, and 14 players were separated by one shot.

Kirk had a 65, giving him a one-shot lead over Harris English and PGA Tour rookie Will Wilcox. A dozen are separated by three shots going into the final round, including Zach Johnson. Masters champ Adam Scott had a 71 and was six shots behind.

— The Associated Press

•Buddy Hield scored 22 points and Ryan Spangler Clemson tops Duke; added 16 points and 15 rebounds to help Oklahoma Iowa State loses (13-3, 2-1 Big 12) knock off •K.J. McDaniels scored previously unbeaten No. 9 24 points and Jaron Iowa State (14-1, 2-1) 87-82.

Blossomgame had career •Markel Brown hit a highs with 14 points and 14 3-pointer with 12 seconds to rebounds as Clemson (11-4, lift No. 11 Oklahoma State (142-1 ACC) defeated No. 16 Duke 2, 2-1 Big 12) to a 73-72 win at (12-4, 1-2) 72-59 Saturday.

West Virginia (10-6, 2-1).

•Andrew Wiggins scored •Noah Vonleh scored a 22 points, fellow freshman career-high 19 points, Yogi Wayne Selden added 20 and Ferrell added 15 and Indiana No. 18 Kansas beat 25thheld off Penn State 79-76. ranked Kansas State 86-60.

Indiana (11-5, 1-2 Big Ten) Kansas (11-4, 2-0 Big 12) has trailed by as many as 15. DJ won 48 of the past 51 vs. the Newbill tied a career-high Wildcats (12-4, 2-1). with 24 points for Penn State •C.J. Fair scored 20 (9-8, 0-4).

•Trae Golden scored 20 points, Jerami Grant had 12 points as Georgia Tech (10-6, points and a career-high 12 rebounds, and No. 2 Syracuse 1-2 ACC) beat Notre Dame (16-0, 3-0 ACC) beat North (10-6, 1-2) 74-69.

Carolina 57-45. UNC (10-6, •Julius Brown had 15 0-3) equaled the worst confer- points and 12 assists in ence start in school history.

Toledo’s (13-2, 1-1) 86-71 win •Cleanthony Early had 22 over Central Michigan (7-7, points and 14 rebounds and 0-2). the No. 6 Wichita State (17-0, •No. 7 Baylor (13-2, 1-1 Big 4-0 Missouri Valley) rallied 12) beat TCU (9-6, 0-3) 88-62. from a 19-point second-half •No. 8 Villanova (15-1, 4-0 deficit, knocking off Missouri Big East) beat St. John’s (9-6, State (12-4, 2-2) 72-69 in OT. 0-3) 74-67.

•Dorian Finney-Smith •No. 14 Kentucky (12-3, 2-0 scored a career-high 22 SEC) beat Vanderbilt 71-62. points as No. 10 Florida •No. 19 Massachusetts (13-2, 2-0 SEC) overcame (14-1, 2-0 Atlantic-10) beat St. Bonaventure (11-5, 1-1) 73-68. the absence of leading scorer Casey Prather to snap •No. 24 Memphis (12-3, Arkansas’ (11-4, 0-2) 23-game 3-1 American) beat Temple 79-69. home winning streak with — The Associated Press an 84-82 overtime win.

Hall of Fame: Up to BBWAA to propose vote changes

By Ronald Blum

maximum 10 votes, and some say there’s a logjam as Barry NEW YORK — The Hall of Bonds, Rogers Clemens, Mark Fame says it’s up to baseball McGwire remain on the balwriters to propose any chang- lot at a time new players are es in the selection process. added.

The Baseball Writers’ The Hall electorate includes Association of America has anyone who has been a voted on Hall of Fame canBBWAA member for 10 condidates since 1936, and elecsecutive years at any point. tions have become more conSome say the voting group troversial in recent years as should be expanded beyond stars tainted by accusations of writers. steroids use have fallen well Dan Le Batard was kicked short of the 75 percent needed out of the BBWAA for one for entry to Cooperstown. year and barred from future Writers are limited to a Hall votes Thursday after he The Associated Press

turned over his 2014 ballot to the website Deadspin, which allowed readers to choose the selections. Le Batard, an ESPN host and longtime Miami Herald columnist, said Wednesday he gave his ballot to the website because he detests the “hypocrisy” in the voting process and it “needs remodeling in a new media world.”

BBWAA SecretaryTreasurer Jack O’Connell said ballots averaged 8.4 players this year and just over half of the 571 voters used all 10 picks.

The BBWAA decided last month to form a committee to study whether the 10-man limit should be altered.

While the BBWAA long was limited to reporters for newspapers and news agencies, a small number of website writers have been allowed to join in recent years. Broadcasters and MLB.com reporters are excluded.

ESPN broadcaster Keith Olbermann advocates eliminating the 10-players restriction and increasing the voting pool.

COLLEGE BASKETBALL

AUSTRALIAN OPEN

Grand Slam season begins Monday in Melbourne Murray curious to see how coaches change dynamics The Associated Press

MELBOURNE, Australia — Andy Murray is curious to see how the locker room dynamics change with the likes of Boris Becker, Stefan Edberg and Michael Chang following Ivan Lendl into the coaching ranks.

Murray made career breakthroughs after hiring eighttime Grand Slam winner Lendl as coach.

Becker and Edberg, both six-time major winners, are reporting for coaching duty for the first time at a Grand Slam event when the Australian Open starts Monday, working with Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer respectively. Chang is working with Kei Nishikori. And there are others.

“It’s a bit different now in the locker room,” Murray said. “There might be a few interesting dynamics going on there with the ex-players.”

Murray and Federer are in the top-heavy half of the draw with No. 1-ranked Rafael

Nadal and No. 5 Juan Martin del Potro, the 2009 U.S. Open champion.

No. 2-ranked Djokovic, seeking a fourth straight Australian Open title, is the only major winner in the bottom half.

Murray has only played one match since minor back surgery in September. He has reached three finals at Melbourne Park, but never got the title. Lendl helped him end a decades-long drought for British men by winning the 2012 U.S. Open, then Wimbledon last year.

Murray’s ascent has coincided with Federer’s demise.

The 17-time major winner didn’t reach a Grand Slam final last year for the first time since 2002. The problems he had initially adjusting to a new racket are behind, he said, after putting a lot of practice hours into it.

Nadal has all the pressure on him. He didn’t play at the Australian Open last year, during his seven-month absence from the tour with injuries. He returned to win 10 titles, including the French and U.S. Opens, and regained the No. 1 ranking from Djokovic in October.

Serena Williams seeks historic 18th major win The Associated Press

MELBOURNE, Australia — Serena Williams’ next challenge comes at the Australian Open, which starts Monday with Williams seeking her 18th Grand Slam title — an accomplishment that would match Martina Navratilova and Chris Evert.

“It would mean a lot to be on the same level as such great players,” Williams said Saturday. “I still have a lot of work to do. I obviously want to reach that level, but I’m not there yet.”

The No. 1-ranked player is entering the new season after a spectacular year. In 2013, Williams won 78 of her 82 matches, including the French Open and the U.S. Open. She earned more than $12 million in prize money, a record for women’s tennis.

At 32, an age where most professional players are in decline, Williams is playing the best tennis of her career, said Navratilova, who predicted that Williams will win

in Melbourne and go on to eclipse Steffi Graf’s 22 major titles in the Open era.

“If she can stay healthy, there’s no doubt she can go into the 20s. The sky is the limit,” Navratilova said earlier this week.

No. 3 Maria Sharapova, a four-time Grand Slam winner, is coming back after playing just one post-Wimbledon match in 2013 due to hip and shoulder injuries.

The player who is considered the greatest threat to Williams is No. 2 Victoria Azarenka, the two-time Australian Open defending champion. Williams has defeated Azarenka in 14 of their 17 matches.

Williams got a strong start to the new season, with backto-back wins over Sharapova and Azarenka earlier this month in Brisbane.

In Melbourne, Williams will get the chance to play only one of them. Azarenka and Sharapova are on the opposite side of the draw.

Williams has 2011 U.S. Open champion Sam Stosur and two-time Australian finalist Li Na in her half of the draw.