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FLINT, Michigan -- A Flint man who was busted a little while back had a dangerous way of making ends meet.

Rather than go through the trouble of finding real crack to sell, the man told cops he just made it himself using baking soda and rocks.

When cops pressed him on where he got his supply of rocks, the man told them he stole them from upscale neighborhoods.

Continue reading "Offbeat: Rockhead -- Rich people unwitting contributor to drug scam" »

Here's The Flint Journal letters to the editor for Sunday, Oct. 12 2008: (Give your view on any of these letters in the comments area below)

Mott Community College statue not bear-like

With a great effort -- it is nice that the art department of Mott Community College designed and built a bear for the college ["MCC grins and bears it," Local News, Sept. 23].

It is an interesting piece, indicative of the nickname, the Mott Bears. Yet, based on the photograph in the article, is it really a bear? Perhaps it's an armadillo or a misshapen alligator. Probably it's more a reflection of modern art. At any rate, intriguing.

Dr. Marshall H. Cossman
Flint Township

Continue reading "Flushing Township voters should OK police millage; What's with the MCC bear statue; And other letters to The Flint Journal" »

$5.87? For all day? No way. Can't be done. Not by me, anyway.

That was my reaction when I received a challenge from the state Department of Human Services to try feeding myself for that amount, per day, for five days.

It's called the Michigan Food Stamp Challenge, and it starts today. Gov. Jennifer Granholm, legislators, media types and others are taking part for two very good reasons:

1) To build a perception in themselves and others of what it's like to be one of the 27 million people nationally and 1.3 million in Michigan -- look around you, that's nearly one out of every seven people you'll see today -- who receive food assistance.

2) To goad you into donating to your local food bank, which help staggering numbers of people.

Continue reading "Could you eat on $5.87 per day?" »

Flint revels in glory during the late days of every August with the running of the Crim Festival of Races, so if anyone feels a little unease at seeing the Crim begin to stretch itself, that's understandable.

This year alone the Crim Fitness Foundation has taken on ownership of the Riverfront Character Inn -- a challenge of mammoth proportion. It also has branched out to Oakland County to stage the inaugural Brooksie Way Half Marathon and 5K race last Sunday -- an event whose success will result in inevitable follow-ups.

Clearly, the Crim continues to evolve, expanding its mission from a one-day event to a broader role as a health-promoting organization.

Continue reading "Journal Editorial: Crim continues to broaden its mission" »

Flint revels in glory during the late days of every August with running of the Crim Festival of Races, so if anyone feels a little unease at seeing the Crim begin to stretch itself, that's understandable.

This year alone the Crim Fitness Foundation has taken on ownership of the Riverfront Character Inn -- a challenge of mammoth proportion.

It also has branched out to Oakland County to stage the inaugural Brooksie Half Way Marathon and 5K race last Sunday -- an event whose success will result in inevitable follow-ups.

Continue reading "Crim Fitness Foundation continues to broaden its mission by branching out to start Brooksie Half Way Marathon, says Flint Journal editorial" »

It seems like Flint Area Narcotics Group officers couldn't take two steps the other night without finding a gun.

During a four-hour span in Flint, officers seized three guns.

But here's the scary thing: Two of the guns were in the hands of teenagers who haven't even turned 16 yet.

Continue reading "Offbeat: Guns galore -- Young teens ditch toy guns for real thing" »

How many times have you done this?:

You see a gas price that's 10 cents cheaper than all the neighboring gas stations, so you pull in excited that you're going to get a great deal (that's relatively speaking, of course).

But once you're in the station you look a bit closer at the fine print on the sign and see the dreaded words "with car wash".

It took me a couple times (OK, about eight times), but I've caught on and now don't go in any gas station that's 10 cents cheaper than all the other stations around it. That'll teach 'em.

But I do have a couple stations that I will use when I actually need a car wash.

Continue reading "Pain at the pump; Flint Journal business columnist dislikes gas stations that give discounts tied to car washes and paying cash" »

A Burton man's garden got him in trouble after police discovered he didn't fight weeds.

A recent visit by the Flint Area Narcotics Group found the man was growing 21 marijuana plants outside his Atherton Road home.

And forget about any protests that he was growing it for personal use.

Continue reading "Offbeat: Homegrown -- Late crop is trouble for gardener" »

"Don't try to be friends with your students."

That's the advice of Kelsey Peterson, the 25-year-old teacher from Lexington, Nebraska who is currently serving six years in federal prison for having an affair with her 12-year-old student.

And while the vast majority of female teachers do not have affairs with their students, the advice is still good.

It's a lesson we all learn eventually; to be a good teacher you do not have to be friends with your students.

Friendly, yes. Friends, no.

Continue reading "Teens need adults, but not as friends; More should learn from mistakes and advice of jailed Nebraska teacher Kelsey Peterson" »