IOA seeks clarity on Dow Chemical issue

The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) has sought clarity from the Union Sports Ministry, regarding the stand on Dow Chemical's sponsorship of the London Olympics. In his fourth letter on the subject to the Union Sports Minister, Ajay Maken, the acting president of the IOA, Prof. Vijay Kumar Malhotra, pointed that the Indian stand on the subject had been weakened owing to the fact that a seminar of the Indian Council for Agricultural Research (ICAR), under the Union Agriculture Ministry, had been sponsored by Dow. “IOA has received several queries from abroad on this issue,'' wrote Prof. Malhotra, and added that people wanted to know, “what action Indian government had taken against Dow Chemical's large operation in India.''

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Dow Gardens opens annual Butterflies in Bloom Exhibit, features butterflies from around the world

The Butterflies in Bloom exhibit opened to the public at 10 a.m. Friday at Dow Gardens, 1809 Eastman in Midland. The exhibit is featuring 140 different butterflies and 8 different moth species from all over the world and is running through April 22. The exhibit is open to the public 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. everyday of the week. Admission for adults is $5, $1 for students with a valid ID, and free for children 5 and younger.

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Fresh and hot draws raves at Midland's Buffet King

It’s rather fitting in researching Midland’s Buffet King to find people singing its praises in unusual places. Researching other restaurants was Jiong Rui Wu’s approach 10 years ago when he first took over the Chinese buffet, visiting the popular ones and developing his own style. “The main thing I learned was to serve fresh food maintained at the right temperature,” he said in his native Fuzhou, translated through hostess Stella Look. "When we opened, we had the same kind of restaurant but the menu changed. The food was different.”

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Despite Dow Chemical cleanup, Midland residents concerned about health effects of dioxin

Midland resident AnnaMaria Morgan is pleased Dow Chemical Co. is offering to test nearly 1,500 residential properties for dioxin contamination in the city. She believes, however, the chemical company needs to address possible health effects from dioxins, a toxic chemical byproduct. "If they test the soil, I think it's worth looking into having people tested," said the 17-year Midland resident who lives in the area where Dow will test properties. Working with the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, Dow will test residential properties near Michigan Operations. The corporation will offer cleanup to owners of properties with levels of dioxin contamination higher than 250 parts per trillion.

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Trial rescheduled for Sanford woman charged with killing Midland man

The March trial of a Sanford woman prosecutors say fatally gunned-down a man in a fast food restaurant parking lot is not going to proceed as scheduled. Rachel M. Moore's trial is now slated to begin April 9, with previous dates of March 5 and 26 adjourned. Midland County Circuit Judge Jonathan E. Lauderbach is to preside. Staff at Midland County Circuit Court could not provide the reason for the adjournment. Prosecutors allege the 40-year-old woman shot Brian L. Reichow, 67, six times in the Burger King parking lot at 6730 Eastman in Midland about 7:40 p.m. July 18. Moore fled in her 2011 Ford Fusion and was arrested by police around 3 a.m. the following day, police have said.

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Dave Camp announces constituent hours for March

Rep. Dave Camp, R-Midland, today announced constituent hours for March. His regional representatives will be available across the state to talk with constituents of the state's 4th District.

March 14th
9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.
Saginaw Township Hall
4980 Shattuck Road, Saginaw

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Leap Year Baby: Midland parents say they'll have big birthday bashes every four years for newborn son

The odds of being born on Leap Day are 1 in 1,461, and eight babies at Covenant HealthCare in Saginaw beat them. One of them is newborn Andrew Diegel who arrived on 2:05 a.m. Wednesday at Covenant HealthCare in Saginaw. "It was the only day I didn't want him to be born," said Andrew's mother, Janie Diegel of Midland. "He'll be jipped on his birthday." On the way to the hospital Tuesday night, she and her husband, Taylor Diegel, realized there son would have a rare birthday. "We'll have big bashes every four years," Janie Diegel said.

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