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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.”

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