THE SAGINAW NEWS

The Latest Saginaw News, Sports, Entertainment, Business and More

Underground Railroad Inc. of Saginaw is working to raise $50,000 to expand its emergency shelter for victims of domestic violence.

Reaching that goal by Monday would bring in $50,000 in matching funds.

A concert and auction at 6 p.m. today at Pit & Balcony Theatre, 805 N. Hamilton in Saginaw, will help the agency meet its goal. Tickets cost $20, available at the door.

A newly renovated Midland County park is the site of a free day-long musical extravaganza on Sunday, Sept. 7.

Nine mid-Michigan bands perform 45-minute sets during Parkapalooza on the shores of Sanford Lake at Sanford Lake Park.

Continue reading "Parkapalooza at Sanford Lake Park features nine bands" »

A "village of tents" will set the scene when the third Freeland Arts-in-the-Park outing takes place in Tittabawassee Township Park, 9200 Midland Road.

"Food, music, wine, art ... what more could you ask for," says Brian Kischnick, the township manager, of the adults-only party running from noon to 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 6.

"And all included with the admission price."

Continue reading "Freeland's Art-in-the-Park event features music, working artists, wine and food" »

Saginaw County Circuit Judge William A. Crane postponed a hearing planned for today on whether to stop the county Road Commission and its contractor from applying pesticide along roads.

The Road Commission intends to apply the pesticides beginning Tuesday through Friday, Sept. 19.

Crane rescheduled the hearing to 1:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 4, to hear testimony from the plaintiffs, Ronald S. and Marilyn Pokrak.

The Pokraks, who are Burt organic botanical farmers, claim that the Warsaw, Ind.-based Dalton Corp. applies pesticides that violate the Michigan Environmental Protection Act.

Six-year-old Mya Banda-Grayson rolled her arms in a circular motion, got inked up with a football tattoo and hung out with a bunch of animals Wednesday.

She was among more than 600 students who spent the day at the Children's Zoo at Celebration Square in Saginaw, prepping for the first day of school.

Along with her grandmother, Marylou Banda of Saginaw, the first-grader made a bright pink bookmark with her name on it and exercised with staff from the Saginaw YMCA during the third annual "Back to School at the Zoo."

She'll report to the International Academy of Saginaw on Tuesday, the first day of classes for most mid-Michigan students.

School representatives and officials from several businesses and agencies handed out notebooks, pencils and bookbags to children.

"It sort of became like a treasure hunt through the zoo," said Ann Puszykowski, an administrative assistant at the zoo, 1730 S. Washington. "We just want to have a fun way of helping them get ready for school."

Continue reading "More than 600 students prepared for Back to School at Saginaw zoo" »

CARO -- A motorist on M-81 just west of Caro hit a deer, sending it into the path of oncoming traffic, where another motorist hit it this morning.

Tuscola County sheriff's deputies were handling the car-deer-car crash just before 7 a.m. today near Graf in Indianfields Township. Neither driver was injured.

Police are rounding up the shoplifters in Saginaw Township in a two-day crackdown among 15 stores, said township police Detective Sgt. Michael Berent.

Police and Saginaw County sheriff's deputies made five arrests Wednesday, including "one pretty good fish from Detroit nabbed with between $600 to $700 worth of CDs," Berent said.

The crackdown continued today in Saginaw and Kochville townships. Police will announce the results Friday.

CLARE -- A 35-year-old Beaverton buggy driver went to the hospital after a collision with a Chevrolet Cavalier.

A 22-year-old Clare woman was driving south on McEwan north of Witbeck about 12:15 p.m. Wednesday when she struck the rear of a southbound horse and buggy, said Clare Police Chief Dwayne Miedzianowski. The buggy traveled in the slow lane, the chief said.

The uninjured horse ran west; authorities returned it to its owner. Rescue staff transported the man to MidMichigan Medical Center-Clare for examination. The woman was not injured.

LAUSANNE, Switzerland -- The horse that Freeland native Courtney King Dye rode in dressage competition at the Olympics has tested positive for a banned medication, and her rider says it's the first she's heard of the drug.

The International Equestrian Federation notified King Dye of the positive test and her suspension from the games Aug. 22, three days after she finished the dressage competition in Hong Kong in 13th place.

"Evidence and written submissions have been requested from each rider, and a three-member panel of the FEI tribunal has been appointed," the federation officials said in a statement. "The panel will then, in light of all the evidence received, take a decision as to the applicable sanction if any."

King Dye's mount, Harmony's Mythilus, tested positive for felbinac, an anti-inflammatory pain reliever.

Continue reading "Freeland native and Olympic equestrian's mount tests positive for banned substance" »

The days of Buena Vista High School students not turning in class assignments, settling for zeros and not learning the curriculum are over.

Administrators and teachers are demanding students turn in work even if it's late under its make-up and redo policy.

Board of Education members unanimously approved the policy at Wednesday's special meeting.

Continue reading "Buena Vista officials decide homework is better late than never" »

Saginaw Township attorney William S. Koepke II was a true blue University of Michigan fan who had a big heart for people, said his son, William G. Koepke.

"He had a lot of friends from all walks of life," Koepke Jr. said. "He touched different peoples lives including the guys at Dawn's Donuts (where he somestimes socialized)."

Koepke, who practiced law more than 40 years, died Monday of a heart-related condition while playing golf at the Sawmill Golf Course in Saginaw Township. He was 74.

Continue reading "Koepke a real "lawyer's lawyer"" »

This year, Sarah M. Berkley's family and friends gathered to celebrate her 80th birthday with a surprise party. Even then, her modest smile belied that she was very ill.

Berkley, a longtime day care provider to hundreds of mid-Michigan toddlers and preschoolers, died of leukemia at her Saginaw home Friday.

Her funeral service will take place at 11 a.m. Friday at Faith Harvest Church, 1734 N. Mason in Saginaw.

Continue reading "Sarah Berkley loved children, made them her life's work" »

AUBURN -- Bill and Mary Ellen Warmbier "enjoy growing things," so they thought they'd add another crop to their list: bird seed.

The couple, who own Warmbier Farms garden center, 5300 Garfield near Auburn, started growing sunflowers to develop bird seed four years ago.

"I just enjoy agriculture," says Bill Warmbier, 66. "We also grow soybeans, corn and wheat, so we thought we'd try (bird seed)."

Continue reading "Sunflowers a seed for business" »

MOUNT PLEASANT -- Police were looking for a person attempting to obtain bank information from residents.

"This individual will telephone his intended victim and represent himself as a security officer from the Isabella Bank and Trust or Isabella Bank," said Officer Dave Sabuda, Mount Pleasant Police Department public information officer.

Isabella Bank was formerly known as Isabella Bank and Trust.

Continue reading "Police issue caution about giving bank information to callers" »

"Kim Possible"? Impossible.

"The Suite Life of Zack and Cody"? Not so sweet anymore.

The Big Ten Network sacked them all.

Continue reading "Charter adds the Big Ten Network" »

Four years ago, Al Boydston wasn't sure if Justin Decker's death would inspire or devastate.

It devastated.

This year, however, inspiration returns for the Caro football team. When the Tigers face Vassar tonight, No. 58 will take the field for the first time in four years.

Four years ago, Decker died after a car crash on his way to football practice. Since then, no Caro player has worn Decker's No. 58.

No. 58 will return to the field Thursday on the back of his little brother, Jordan Decker.

Continue reading "COLUMN: No. 58 returns to Caro football Thursday night" »