'Circus of Life' exhibit at Midland's Creative 360 features fun, fears of the midway

Everyone has memories, says Mike McMath, of walking down the midway at the fair, transfixed by the lights and bright colors, feeling a little sick after certain rides and maybe sensing a menacing undercurrent running through it all. “I don’t want to judge anyone, but sometimes, it looks like there’s a seedy underworld behind the bright lights,” said the Midland artist. “That’s what I tried to capture in my series of paintings, the thrill and the fear you feel when you see a clown at the circus and climb on a carnival ride that’s going to jolt you around.”
You could say the circus has come to town — McMath’s “Circus of Life,” that is — in an exhibit continuing through Friday, July 6, at the Creative 360.

Read the full story here!

Police: Suspicious box left at Midland Post Office was full of clothing

Shortly after noon on Wednesday, the Midland Police Department responded to a reported suspicious package left at the counter of the Midland Post Office, 2900 Rodd. After investigation, police discovered the package did not contain any dangerous items but instead was filled with clothing. According to a press release, a woman addressed the package to a recipient in another state. She put the box on the counter and left. Employees told police they tried to get her to come back and pay for postage, but she refused. The woman "screamed profanities" at the postal employees and sped away from the post office, according to police.

Read the full story here!

Sentencing postponed for Sanford woman convicted of killing ex in Midland Burger King parking lot

A Sanford woman convicted of gunning down her ex-boyfriend in a Burger King parking lot has to wait a while longer before starting her life prison sentence. Midland County Circuit Judge Jonathan E. Lauderbach is now scheduled to sentence Rachel M. Moore, 40, at 2 p.m. on July 12. The previously scheduled sentencing of May 31 was adjourned due to some issues that arose in trial needing to be resolved, according to staff in Lauderbach’s office. A miscellaneous hearing on the case is scheduled for June 21.

Read the full story here!

PRESS RELEASE: Midland, MI Post Office Incident

DATE:  05/29/12
TIME:  1515 hrs
RE:  Incident at Rodd Street United States Post Office


On 5/29/12 at approximately 1222 hours, the Midland Police Department responded to the Midland Post Office in regards to a suspicious package.  Upon arrival, Officers were informed a female entered the post office with an official US Postal Service mailing box.  The box was addressed to a recipient in another state.  After placing the box on the counter of the Post Office, the woman exited the Post Office.  Attempts were made to have the woman come back and actually pay for the postage.  The woman screamed profanities at the postal employees, ran to her vehicle and sped from the scene.  An off-duty reserve police officer was at the Post Office and was able to obtain a plate and vehicle description.  The plate came back to a resident out of the area.

As a precautionary step, Officers called the Michigan State Bomb Squad for assistance.  Officers closed Rodd street and Bayliss street near the Post Office.  After an examination of the box by the Michigan State Police, it was determined the box did not contain any dangerous item but rather contained clothing.  Rodd and Bayliss streets were opened up again about 1500 hours and the package was turned over the Midland Post Master.

Midland Police Department has learned that the woman purchased the box at the Auburn Post Office and returned there after the incident at the Midland Post Office.  From the conversation in Auburn it is likely that the female believed that postage was included in the price of the box which led to her actions in Midland.  The female has yet to be located for an interview.

If anyone has any further information please contact the Midland Police Department at 989-631-4733

Media inquiries should contact Lieutenant London 989-839-4702

Jazz on Jefferson in Saginaw includes jazz artist Zarin-taj

After a career that has taken her around the world, and most recently to Mount Pleasant’s Water Lily Lounge at Soaring Eagle Casino and Resort, jazz chanteuse Zarin-taj brings it home Wednesday, June 6. “I’m coming full circle,” said Zarin-taj, also known as Shirlene Z. Brown of Saginaw. And if all goes well at Jazz on Jefferson — she’s the featured act at the 8 p.m. concert at First Congregational Church — it could lead to more appearances in the Great Lakes Bay Region. “Who knows?” she said. “This came around because of a show I did as part of the Roethke festival last fall, at First Presbyterian in Bay City. You never know what will come next.”

Read the full story here!

Midland's Chemical Bank committed to expanding its Michigan footprint

While Chemical Bank already has more than 140 locations throughout the state, there's still room for growth. Lori A. Gwizdala, Chemical Financial's executive vice president and chief financial officer, said Thursday after the company announced it had acquired 21 branches of Independent Bank, that the Midland-based financial institution is committed to keep growing in the state. "We've been fortunate that our financial strength has allowed us to grow internally and through acquisitions," Gwizdala said. The 21 branches of Independent Bank to be acquired by Chemical Bank are in Otsego, Alpena, Presque Isle, Montmorency, Roscommon, Iosco, Ogemaw, Calhoun and Kalamazoo counties. With the exception of Roscommon, the counties represent new markets for Chemical Bank.

Read the full story here!

Dow Chemical awarded $2.16 billion in damages in K-Dow arbitration

The Dow Chemical Co. today was awarded $2.16 billion in damages from the Petrochemical Industries Company of Kuwait relating to the K-Dow transaction. The International Court of Arbitration of the International Chamber of Commerce on Thursday ruled the Petrochemical Industries Company was liable after it backed away from the K-Dow Petrochemicals venture in 2008. Kuwait pulled out of the deal in late 2008 following weeks of internal political pressure. Dow had expected to get more than $7 billion in cash from the transaction, some of which would have helped pay off its $15.3 billion buyout of Philadelphia-based Rohm & Haas Co.

Read the full story here!

U.S. Rep. Dave Camp, R-Midland, seeks pedal posse for Midland parade

U.S. Rep. Dave Camp, R-Midland, has issued an invitation to Midland elementary school children to join him on a bike ride along the Midland Memorial Day Parade route Monday. Children wishing to participate are asked to meet at Revere Park, 117 Revere in Midland, at 9 a.m. to decorate their bicycles. Parents are asked to meet their children at the end of the parade route near King's Daughter Home and Rodd about 10:45 a.m., and participants are "encouraged to be safe and wear a bicycle helmet."

Read the full story here!

Sanford woman killed, man injured in motorcycle crash

A 54-year-old Sanford woman was killed Tuesday night in a motorcycle crash at Seven Mile and Wackerly.
The woman was a passenger on the motorcycle. The driver, a 43-year-old Sanford man, was critically injured, according to the Midland County Sheriff's Department. They were riding a 2005 Harley Davidson motorcycle southbound on Seven Mile. The driver took a curve onto Wackerly and ran off the roadway into a ditch. The driver and passenger were thrown from the motorcycle, according to a press release. The passenger was pronounced dead at the scene. Deputies believe she was wearing a helmet at the time of the crash.

Read the full story here!

Bonnie Raitt and Marc Cohn heat up the night in Midland

Marc Cohn made a point of telling Tuesday’s standing-room-only crowd at the Midland Center for the Arts about Muriel Davis Wilkins, the piano-playing Christian woman who inspired the Jewish kid from Cleveland that rainy night in Memphis some 21 years ago. And Bonnie Raitt, well, she spent the rest of the night paying homage to the musicians who kept her on course for more than four decades, some sharing the stage with her Tuesday and others remembered in song. But Cohn and Raitt delivered it all in voices most definitely their own, and in the process set the bar high for all that follow their launch of the 2012 Matrix:Midland Festival.

Read the full story here!

Record turnout fuels Midland Community Center's Dow RunWalk in 27th year

The runners were out in full force Saturday for the 27th Midland Community Center Dow RunWalk. In fact, it was a record turnout. Roughly 3,400 runners participated in the 10-kilometer, 5K, 1-mile fun run and other various races in downtown Midland. The Dow RunWalk races were the kickoff for the Dow Weekend of Races, which also features The Qualifier full and half marathons Sunday. More than 1,000 runners are also expected to participate Sunday in the inaugural The Qualifier, bringing the total number of runners for the weekend to well over 4,000.

Read the full story here!

Flushing's Kenny Wall wins inaugural The Qualifier half marathon in his first attempt at distance

Having just concluded his collegiate running career, Kenny Wall hoped to remain competitive while running longer distances. He kicked it off well Sunday, winning the inaugural The Qualifier half marathon by almost seven minutes. It was Wall's first attempt at the 13.1-mile distance. Wall, 22, a Flushing native who just recently wrapped up his running career at Oakland University, finished in a time of 1 hour, 15 minutes, 59 seconds. Grands Rapids resident Ruben Henderson finished in second in a time of 1:22:57. "I was pretty surprised," he said of his win. "It's definitely an honor (being the first winner). My goal was to get under 1:23 so that I could qualify for the New York Marathon."

Read the full story here!

Bob the Builder comes to Alden B. Dow museum at Midland Center for the Arts

“Can we fix it?” is the rallying call for "Bob the Builder" fans, and the Midland Center for the Arts’ Alden B. Dow Museum of Science and Art hope it will bring them running to its latest exhibit. While “Bob the Builder — Project: Build It!” and “If a Starfish Can Grow a New Arm, Why Can’t I?” will continue through Saturday, Aug. 18, it kicks off Saturday, May 19, with a Ground Breaking Ice Cream Social. From 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., visitors can meet Bob the Builder, enjoy ice cream and play with the interactive exhibit. The event is included in the museum admission of $8 for adults and $5 for children. The exhibit builds on the children’s series featuring the animated Bob the Builder and his Can-Do Crew in Sunflower Valley.

Read the full story here!

Dow High, Midland High both in Michigan top 50 in U.S. News rankings

via Midland Daily News

Both H.H. Dow High School and Midland High School made the top 50 high schools in Michigan in a new national ranking from U.S. News & World Report. Dow High was ranked No. 32 in the state and No. 1,317 nationally, while Midland High was No. 48 in Michigan and No. 1,712 nationally. The magazine considered 2009-10 data on nearly 22,000 public high schools from 49 states and the District of Columbia. "We're very happy with it," said Midland Public Schools Coordinator of Mathematics and Testing Bob Cooper. "I think for MPS, we're always trying to look not only at the national but also the international results." MPS Superintendent Carl Ellinger also mentioned the honor at Monday's Board of Education meeting, noting that Dow and Midland are in the "top 5 percent of all high schools."

Read the full story here!

Congressman Dave Camp faces Clinton County Democrat in November election

Congressman Dave Camp will face political opposition come the November election. Camp, the 11-term Republican from 139 Ashman in Midland, in November will square off against Debra Freidell Wirth, a Clinton County Democrat who lives at 12740 S. Bauer in Eagle Township. Freidell Wirth’s biography on the Saginaw County Democratic Party web site indicates she is an attorney and a member of the Michigan Association for Justice plaintiff's lawyers association.

Read the full story here!

Four Midland teachers awarded Gerstacker Awards

via Midland Daily News

Four Midland Public Schools teachers were honored recently with the 57th annual Gerstacker Proficiency Awards. The awards, which have been given to four teachers each year since 1956, this year honored Plymouth Elementary third grade teacher Tracey Moeggenberg, Siebert Elementary first grade teacher Penny Church, Jefferson Middle School language arts instructor Mary Zeitler and H. H. Dow High School social studies and English teacher Amy Bushey. The event took place at the Griswold Lecture Hall at Northwood University.

Read the full story here!

Lake County Captains 4, Great Lakes Loons 1

Wednesday: West Michigan Whitecaps (Brennan Smith, 1-2, 2.59) at Great Lakes (Arismendy Ozoria, 3-0, 3.67), 7:05 p.m.

Thursday: West Michigan (Wilsen Palacios, 2-3, 4.70) at Great Lakes (Jarret Martin, 2-2, 2.86), 7:05 p.m.

Friday: West Michigan (Marcelo Carreno, 0-2, 3.66) at Great Lakes (Jose Dominguez, 1-1, 3.33), 10:35 a.m.

Read the full story here!

Midland Chamber discusses personal property tax reform

via Midland Daily News

Some say eliminating the personal property tax will encourage investment while others are concerned how local units of government will fare if it is eliminated. And others? They have no idea what the personal property tax is.

The Midland Area Chamber of Commerce hosted an “Issues and Answers” session Tuesday morning with guest speakers William Rusten and Jon Lynch to discuss the tax reform. Rusten works as the director of strategy for Gov. Rick Snyder and previously worked for Gov. William Milliken as his chief staff advisor on environmental matters.

Read the full story here!

Midland boy selected as one of 'Tampa 24,' first people worldwide to undergo clinical studies for Angelman Syndrome

Barb and Mike Ecker have never heard a word from their 8-year-old son Michael. He hasn't developed mentally as quickly as others his age, seizures are frequent, and he requires 24/7 care. Yet he wears a constant smile. "Through it all, he was always happy and a loving little boy," Barb Ecker said. "Through it all, all of the obstacles and challenges that he's been through, he's just been a little huge light." Michael Ecker has been selected as one of 24 people from around the world to undergo clinical testing for a rare genetic disorder called Angelman syndrome.

Read the full story here!

Pets parade around the Midland Farmer's Market for 8th annual pageant

Pets of all sorts paraded around Midland on Saturday for the 8th Annual Parade Your Pet Pageant. The free event started at 12:30 p.m. Pets were competing for prizes in best costume, best trick, most unusual pet, smallest pet, largest pet, cutest pet, most-looks-like-their-owner and best of show. The pageant was sponsored by Northern Animal Clinic, Howl-A-Day Pet Resort, Soldan's Feeds and Pet Supplies, Wolverine Bank, SOS Animal Rescue, I've Been Framed and Humane Society of Midland County.

Read the full story here!

Clowning around: Midland's Julie Wright overcomes shyness to win seven international clown awards

Midland native Julie Wright has made a career out of clowning, whether its been locally at birthday parties or on a bigger stage in the Royal Hanneford Circus. But crafting balloon masterpieces, juggling and generating laughs aren't the only benefits of her job. It has also helped her overcome her shy nature. "I was a very shy person, so the clowning helped me. It's like a mask," Wright said. "I still struggle with my shyness in certain situations, around strangers. But, I have a character that isn't shy." As Jewls The Clown, Wright not only has masked her shyness, but has brought joy to thousands of people during her 25-year career.

Read the full story here!

Midland County Jail earned $1.25 million in 2011 housing out-of-county inmates

The Midland County Jail made nearly $1.25 million in 2011 by renting out beds to inmates from out of county, a story from the Midland Daily News said Tuesday. Last year, the jail housed inmates from Iosco, Kalamazoo and Genesee counties, as well as 110 federal prisoners through a contract with the U.S. Marshals Service. In the article, Midland County Sheriff Jerry Nielsen said he was pleased with the money generated by renting out beds, adding that the money generated goes to help pay off the expenses to build the jail.

Read the full story here!

City of Midland to adopt budget during May 21 meeting

via Midland Daily News


No Midland residents spoke during a public hearing Monday on the proposed $77.8 million City of Midland budget for 2012-13. The budget would maintain the current property tax rate of 14.79 mills. One mill equals $1 per $1,000 of assessed value, so the owner of a home with an assessed value of $100,000 would pay $1,479 in taxes to the city. The budget meets council goals to keep the tax rate flat, protect public safety jobs, increase funding for road projects and increase in the city's fund balance, Midland Assistance City Manager Dave Keenan said. "We feel sufficient resources have been appropriated in the proposed budget to maintain core services and the array of amenities at their current levels," he said.

Read the full story here!

LaZeez, Urdu for 'yummy,' lives up to its name with Midland diners

When Kaylynn Zia and her husband, Dr. Javed Zia, moved to Midland seven years ago, “as an interracial couple, we really appreciated a diverse community,” she said. But they were surprised, Zia added, to see the variety didn’t extend to the region’s restaurants. She grew up near Detroit, around an abundance of dining options, and her husband, a Pakistani physician, hungered for Indian cuisine. Two years ago, with no other options on the local front, they opened LaZeez Indian Restaurant and the adjacent LaZeez International Market. It’s evolved, she said, with the addition of a banquet room in Midland and a second restaurant now open at Broomfield and South Mission in Mount Pleasant.

Read the full story here!

Midland Resort and Convention Center in Midland, Michigan, approved for USD11 million renovation

Sader Hospitality Worldwide, LLC, a hospitality management company in Los Angeles, California, announced today that the Midland Resort&Convention Center located in Midland, Michigan, will be transformed into a high-end hotel after a US$11 million renovation is completed by the end of 2013. Mr. Ghassan (Gus) Sader, founder and CEO of Sader Hospitality, made the announcement. The 235-room hotel has been under the management of Sader Hospitality since May 2011, and the firm has provided the turnaround services for the owners, which delivered the current positive financial results. This transformation allowed the management company to secure the funding for the planned renovation.

Read the full story here!

Midland Tomorrow among top economic development organizations in the nation

Midland Tomorrow might have its sights set on the future, but the economic development organization was recently recognized for what it has done. Business Facilities magazine awarded Midland Tomorrow the Economic Development Excellence Award for a community with a population of 50,000 to 200,000 people. "It helps build support for our efforts from our board, our investor base and the community at large," said Scott Walker, Midland Tomorrow's chief executive officer. The award recognizes Midland Tomorrow for its programs that attract and help grow business in the area. Walker said the organization began focusing its efforts on economic gardening, or helping to strengthen existing businesses, about eight years ago, and has seen tremendous success. Over the past two years alone, Midland Tomorrow has assisted companies in investing more than $900 million in the community, resulting in the creation of more than 3,000 jobs.

Read the full story here!

Democrat contender Joan Brausch joins hunt for state House seat currently held by Midland Township Republican Jim Stamas

Two Republicans and a Democrat have filed to politically combat for the 98th District state House of Representatives seat in August and November. Jimmy Mosca, R-Midland, filed to run against incumbent Rep. Jim Stamas, R-Midland Township, on April 2; and Jone Brauschof Midland, the sole Democrat, filed eight days later. If he wins, Stamas would serve a third and final term. The primary election is May 8 and the general election Nov. 6. Brausch is formally announcing her candidacy at 4 p.m. Tuesday at Williams Township Park, 1080 W. Midland in Auburn, MI.

Read the full story here!

Jacksonville Jaguars sign former Midland Dow star Jalen Parmele

Former Midland Dow star Jalen Parmele signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars after sitting out the 2011 NFL season.  Parmele played three seasons with the Baltimore Ravens, but the Ravens cut the running  back/kick returner before the 2012 season. In three seasons with the Ravens, Parmele returned 33 kicks for 845 yards and ran seven times for 44 yards. The 5-foot-11, 222-pound back also made 19 tackles on special teams.

Read the full story here!

First Midland residents get chance to sign up for dioxin testing

via Midland Daily News

The owners of about 100 homes that are eligible to have their yards tested for dioxin contamination in Midland this year were invited to a private meeting Tuesday night to learn more details and sign up for sampling. The homes make up the first phase of a proposed multi-year effort to address historic pollution caused when incineration processes at The Dow Chemical Co. Michigan Operations site led to the release of dioxin, a toxic chemical byproduct. Homeowners first learned about Dow’s proposal to sample and clean about 1,500 homes in a resolution area at a community meeting in March. The company submitted a formal plan to the state in March and a decision is expected on approval at the end of this month.

Read the full story here!

Bohuslav Rattay "a breath of fresh air" for the Midland Symphony Orchestra

Teasing at the announcement of the new Midland Symphony Orchestra music director, “I love the musical creativity and energy he brought to the podium,” Mike Hayes told a rapt audience tonight at the Midland Center for the Arts. Bohuslav Rattay – pronounced Bo-hoo-slav – was “truly a breath of fresh air,” continued Hayes, president of the center at W. St. Andrews and Eastman, talking about the Nov. 11 concert that helped him earn the post. And when the Prague native took the stage tonight, it was easy to see how he won over the committee that conducted the secret search for the past year.

Read the full story here!

In front of wet School Kids Day crowd, Great Lakes Loons pound out 13 hits in 6-1 win over Kane County

The Great Lakes Loons finally came out of their offensive slump Monday, recording 13 hits and six runs in a 6-1 win over Kane County at Dow Diamond. Too bad nobody was there to see it. The game was originally scheduled as a 10:35 a.m. game, one of several School Kids Day Games throughout the year, when kids attend the game as part of a school field trip. But after rain delayed the first pitch by more than two hours, and most of the kids needed to return to class, the bleachers were emptying as the game was just getting started. And by the time the Loons scored all six of their runs in a the fourth, fifth and sixth innings, they were doing so in front of a nearly empty ballpark.

Read the full story here!

Midland County in top 10 in infant health

via Midland Daily News

Midland County ranked in the top 10 in a report released Monday by the Michigan League for Human Services’ Kids Count in Michigan project, which looked at a number of maternal and infant health measures. Saginaw and Clare counties ranked in the bottom 10 in the state. The report showed many babies born in Michigan are not getting the right start in life, with big disadvantages for children in some areas of the state as well as those born to African American and Hispanic mothers. “These data are early indicators of how successful our next generation will be — and in turn how successful our state will be,” said Kids Count in Michigan Project Director Jane Zehnder-Merrell. “We know we won’t have a well-educated and healthy citizenry without giving children the foundation they need.”

Read the full story here!