'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!