Celebrity treatment, dreamy-eyed girls, blogs about his reporting style -- it's not the life Derek Van Dam had in mid-Michigan.

But the former WEYI (Channel 25) weather forecaster is dealing with the instant fame that comes from being one of the head guys at an international news channel in South Africa.

Seven months ago, Van Dam made what seemed like a drastic life change: He decided to pick up and move to Cape Town to become chief meteorologist at eTV News -- South Africa's first 24-hour news channel. It has more than 15 million viewers.

Continue reading "Derek Van Dam, eTV's sexy weather forecaster, now predicting the weather in South Africa" »

DAVISON, Michigan -- The public is invited to attend Warm Hearts, Warm Bodies, a chicken dinner fundraiser to benefit the L-Point Warming Center for the Homeless, 5-8 p.m. Friday at the Davison Masonic Center, 9108 Davison Road, Davison.

Tickets are $9 for adults, $6 for children. All proceeds will be used to support L-Point, a warming shelter supported by nine local evangelical Lutheran churches, scheduled to open this season at Salem Lutheran Church in Flint.

The event is sponsored by the Masonic Center of Davison and the Flint Cluster of Lutheran Churches, ELCA.

Details: (810) 424-6707 or (810) 471-8139.

DAVISON, Michigan -- People probably knew John Rawls was around the corner before they even saw him.

That's because Rawls of Davison was probably laughing. Rawls, who family said had a distinctive laugh, died Tuesday of a brain aneurysm. He was 57.

Continue reading "Davison man, John Rawls, loved to laugh, joke with family and friends" »

DAVISON TOWNSHIP, Michigan -- Ian Ludington was in seventh grade the first time he sensed something was not quite right with his mom.

"We were in the car together talking, going through the drive-up at McDonald's. We went through and placed the order, and then she completely forgot to pick up the food. She just drove right on through," said Ian, now 24. "I said 'Mom, you forgot the food.' We laughed it off as a slip of the mind... . I realize now it was the first sign of trouble."

Continue reading "When Alzheimer's strikes at an early age, debilitating disease adds even more stress for families" »

FLINT TOWNSHIP, Michigan -- If Genesee County roadways require as much as they did last winter, it will mean $726,000 less in funding for summer road projects.

Salting Genesee County highways will cost $41.43 a ton this season, up $8.55 per ton from last year.

The hike comes from the Detroit Salt Co., the county's lowest bidder and the only working salt mine in Michigan, said John Daly, manager-director of the Genesee County Road Commission. There also is the potential for a salt shortage like last year's if there is a heavier-than-normal snowfall.

"Countywide, we used about 85,000 tons (of salt) last year," said Daly.

If the county uses that amount this year, it'll pay $726,000 more for its salt.

"It'll be $726,000 in work we won't do in the summertime," he said.

Continue reading "Salt shortage in Genesee County will depend on amount of snow" »

DAVISON, Michigan -- Diana Snider sometimes gets a little emotional after she hears the stories of the clients she serves at the Davison United Methodist Church food pantry.

The details are gripping. There's the elderly man who has to choose between taking medicine and eating. And the woman who comes from an abusive household. "I can't tell you how many times I have had to fight back the tears and the hard lump that is left in my throat after I have heard some of their stories," said Snider, 46, of Davison. "It's a very humbling experience." Continue reading "At the heart of Food Bank of Eastern Michigan are volunteers like Diana Snider" »

FLINT TOWNSHIP, Michigan -- Generations have immigrated to the United States in search of a new life with the costly trade-off of leaving loved ones and familiar places behind. Continue reading "Holiday traditions handed down through churches, families" »