Bay County Friend of the Court auctioning off Chevrolet Blazer of father who failed to pay child support

If you’re in the market for a new — or used — set of wheels, stop by the Bay County Court Facility to bid on a 2000 Chevrolet Blazer. The Bay County Friend of the Court is auctioning off the blue sports utility vehicle via a sealed bid process. The Friend of the Court obtained the Blazer from a father who was in arrears in his child support payments. Bid forms are available in the courthouse lobby, 1230 Washington Ave. All bids must be placed in a sealed white envelope and deposited in the bid boxes available in the lobby and the Friend of the Court office.

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Michigan Primary election results at a glance: Bay County returns

Bay County vote totals with the following municipalities reporting: Cities of Auburn, Bay City, Essexville, Midland (in Bay County), Pinconning; townships of Bangor, Beaver, Frankenlust, Fraser, Garfield, Gibson, Hampton, Kawkawlin, Merritt, Monitor, Mount Forest, Pinconning, Portsmouth, Williams.

Bay County totals
13,454 total ballots; 79,201 registered voters; 16.9 percent turnout
Republican -- 10,255 total votes cast
Michele Bachmann -- 19
Herman Cain -- 7
Newt Gingrich -- 729
Jon Huntsman -- 17
Gary Johnson -- 5
Fred Karger -- 6
Ron Paul -- 1,104
Rick Perry -- 20
Buddy Roemer -- 20
Mitt Romney -- 4,010
Rick Santorum -- 3,793
Uncommitted -- 271
Undervotes -- 3 (voted for no candidate)
Write-in -- 2
Democrat -- 3,199 total votes cast
Barack Obama -- 2,577
Uncommitted -- 572
Undervotes -- 2 (voted for no candidate)
Write-in -- 21

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Early presidential primary voting at one precinct is overwhelmingly Republican

Early voting at Kolb School this morning was overwhelmingly Republican, said Randy McPeak, election chairperson for the site. "I think we had 16 Republicans and one Democrat," he said. "We're just rolling along." Moments later, Floyd Ellison chose a Republican ballot. He didn't know beforehand that he was going to have to select a ballot, he said, but he had no problem with it. "I already knew what I was going to vote." His choice? "Rick. For the morals." Ellison said television shows how corrupt our country has become, and Rick Santorum can correct that course. "He wants our morals of the United States to go back to what it was."

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Bay City man to pay nearly $13,000 for 2010 series of armed robberies

A Bay City man serving prison time for robbing several convenience stores in 2010 has been ordered to pay nearly $13,000 in restitution. During a restitution hearing Wednesday, Bay County Circuit Judge Joseph K. Sheeran ruled that Daniel A. Roznowski, 26, pay $12,566.90 to the Marathon gas station at 6024 Center Ave. in Bay City and $125 to the Admiral station at 2626 Center Ave. in Hampton Township. The amounts were determined by witnesses’ testimony. The $12,566.90 sum resulted from three days’ worth of cash being stolen on a Monday morning, a Marathon manager previously testified.

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Bay City police arrest Saginaw-area man in connection with attempted robbery of pharmacy

A Saginaw Township man is in the Bay County Jail this morning, waiting to be arraigned on charges stemming from the attempted robbery of a Bay City pharmacy. Around 10:47 a.m. Saturday, Bay City police responded to the Rite Aid at 901 W. Midland Road in reference to an attempted robbery that had just occurred. Witnesses told the officers that the male suspect entered the store and handed the pharmacist a note indicating he had a gun and demanding prescription medication. Shortly thereafter, the suspect fled the scene without obtaining any of his desired medication.

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Bay City Central's Trenton Robinson hits midway point of 2012 NFL Scouting Combine

Former Bay City Central standout Trenton Robinson completed his second of four days at the 2012 NFL Scouting Combine on Sunday. The former Michigan State captain has met with various NFL teams during the interview portion and he took the wonderlic test. During the physical portion of the combine, Robinson measured in at 5-foot-10 and 195 pounds, while his arms measured 31.5 inches and his hands at 9.75 inches.

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Bay City man headed for trial on rape charge

A Bay City probationer charged with raping a 22-year-old woman was in court for an evidence hearing today. Thomas J. Moreno Jr., 22, is charged with first-degree criminal sexual conduct involving force or coercion. Moreno was charged Sept. 13 and has remained jailed on $250,000 cash or surety bond. The victim testified that June 23, 2010, she left her 2-month-old daughter in the care of her mother and went to Moreno’s home in the 300 block of North Linn Street to hang out.

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Bay City man's third trial in two months results in acquittal of sexual assault charges

A Bay City man’s third trial in two months has ended in him being exonerated of sexually assaulting a woman. A jury on Thursday found Thomas J. Moreno Jr., 23, not guilty of first- and third-degree criminal sexual conduct. Moreno’s trial before Bay County Circuit Judge Kenneth W. Schmidt began Wednesday. Moreno first went before a jury on the charges on Feb. 7, but that trial ended in a mistrial when jurors failed to reach a consensus on his guilt or innocence. Though Moreno testified in his own behalf during the first trial, he did not take the stand the second time around. Throughout the trial, Bay County Assistant Prosecutor Barbara J. Hayward argued Moreno on June 23, 2010, raped a 22-year-old woman in his house.

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Icy roads, fog causing crashes in Bay County

Emergency responders are responding to a crash near the intersection of Russell and Tuscola roads in Portsmouth Township, Bay County Central Dispatch reports. At least one person is reported injured. Dispatchers are urging motorists to drive carefully, as fog is very thick in the area. Two crashes have been reported on U.S. 10, one in the westbound lanes just west of Seven Mile Road in Monitor Township. The second crash has resulted in a car in the median at U.S. 10 and Nine Mile Road in Auburn. No injuries have been reported in either of the U.S. 10 crashes, Central Dispatch reports.

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Western Middle School student with autism wins geography bee

Noah VanMullekom faced some hurdles at the Western Middle School geography bee. As a sixth grader, the 11-year-old Noah was going up against students a grade or two above him. But there is another hurdle Noah had to clear. Noah is autistic. Despite the developmental disability, Noah came in first place at the school’s geography bee and now has a chance to move on to the state competition at Central Michigan University in March.

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Michigan State's Trenton Robinson excited and ready for 2012 NFL Scouting Combine

When more than 300 of the best college football prospects travel to Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis for the NFL Scouting Combine from Feb. 22-28, Bay City’s own will be among them. Former Bay City Central standout and Michigan State University captain Trenton Robinson was invited to attend the combine and is scheduled to arrive Friday for three days of tests and evaluations before taking to the field for drills with other defensive backs on Tuesday. “He’s pretty excited,” Central football coach Morley Fraser said. “He’s pretty focused and feels like he’s physically in great shape.”

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Bangor Township man charged with firing handgun during Russian roulette game

A Bangor Township man has been charged with firing off a gun in his home, supposedly as part of a Russian roulette game. Bay County District Judge Timothy J. Kelly on Tuesday arraigned Luke C. Prieur, 37, on single counts of firing a gun at or in a building, a four-year felony, and felony firearm. The latter charge is a two-year felony, but the term must be served consecutively to any other sentences. Early Sunday morning, a Bay County sheriff’s deputy was dispatched to Prieur’s house in the 3300 block of Cramer Road in Bangor Township in reference to a firearm being discharged. Upon the deputy’s arrival, Prieur’s wife, Tina Prieur, told them she and her husband had been arguing over her recently dating someone else, court records show.

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Bay County Commissioner Vaughn Begick receives Veteran of the Year Award

The Bay County Veterans Council has granted county Commissioner Vaughn J. Begick the Veteran of the Year Award. The council on Sunday bestowed the award to Begick, R-3rd District Commissioner, during a meeting at the American Legion Post 18, of which Begick is a member. “I was up against two others — a 93-year-old Army veteran and an 82-year-old Korean War veteran,” Begick said. “I was the young guy of the group, but they were active doing community service, too.” Begick, 65, enlisted in the U.S. Army in April 1969 and received an honorable discharge in April 1972. He served as a clinical specialist and was stationed in the U.S. and in Vietnam.

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Grampa Tony's in Bay City is more than a family restaurant

Bill Lagalo recently went to a potluck dinner where a pasta salad caught his interest. “I’ll tell you my secret,” whispered the woman who brought it to the event, obviously not recognizing Lagalo. “I went to Grampa Tony’s and bought a bottle of the Italian salad dressing …" Lagalo, sitting at a table in the eatery his family opened in the mid-1960s, still laughs. “That’s what I tell people, Grampa Tony’s isn’t just a restaurant: It’s an institution around here,” he said. “We are a true neighborhood meeting place, where people come Sunday nights for our ice cream or after a weekend show because they know they can still get a full dinner until 2 in the morning.”

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Bay City Fireworks Festival Telethon scheduled for this weekend

The Bay City Fireworks Festival Telethon is scheduled to take place this weekend. This year is the 50th anniversary for the festival while has raised money using a telethon auction for the last 12 years. According to the festival’s website, the event is scheduled to take place February 25-26. The event is going to be televised live on Bay3 TV, Charter cable channel 99. “Hopefully we can make this telethon the largest ever,” said Jo Ann Weiler, co-chairperson of the event. “One cannot do it alone and we have many volunteers out to get the merchandise (for the auction) we need to make it go.”

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Bay City's Kevin Lodewyk wins two titles to lead local highlights from MIAA Championships

Kevin Lodewyk's name was never too far down the list. But this season, it can be found right at the top. The former Bay City Central standout captured first place in two events to help power Kalamazoo College to its second straight title at the MIAA Swimming and Diving Championships at Holland Aquatic Center. Lodewyk was joined by Ryan Tobin, Tyler Russell and Madison Behmlander among the Bay County products who excelled at the championships. Lodewyk, who placed in the MIAA Championships all four seasons with the Hornets, finished second to none in his final go-round. He swam to an individual title in the 200 butterfly, posting a 1:52.10 that was one of five B-qualifying standards he hit for the NCAA Division III Championships.

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Bay City, Bay County will work together despite differences of opinion, two officials say

An unusual scene played out Tuesday during the Bay County Board of Commissioners meeting. During the period reserved for citizen input, Bay City Commissioner Chris Girard, 6th Ward, said he is disappointed in some County Board members. Girard ran for public office, he said, with the agenda to improve the community, and looks forward to when political payoffs and paybacks are not the norm. Attacks on other public officials, both in public and online, he said, "are not living up to the standards those who elected us to office expect and deserve." Citizens expect them to cooperate, he said. "I hope for the future of our community that we can work together."

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Harrison man charged in Bay County with committing drive-by fondling on U.S. 10

A 42-year-old Harrison man has been charged in Bay County with committing a drive-by self-fondling. According to police, Robert A. Williams Jr. on Feb. 2 was driving east on U.S. 10 through Monitor Township when he pulled alongside a car driven by a 19-year-old woman and flashed his penis. The woman told police she let the white 2004 Chevrolet Silverado pass her and wrote down its license plate, court records show. The woman called Delta College police, who in turn passed the case to Bay County sheriff’s deputies. The woman identified Williams as the man who flashed her from a photo line-up, court records show.

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Free food giveaway attracts hundreds in Bay City

Hundreds of people turned out to a free food giveaway in Bay City this morning. One of those was Eartha Bell of Bay City. She couldn't say enough good things about the monthly Salvation Army food giveaway. "The Salvation Army food giveaways are something that really help the community. They even have baby formula, baby food, meats, breads, poultry, everything that you might need", said Bell. The Salvation Army says despite reports that the economy could be slowly improving, it still passes out hundreds of pounds of free food once a month and dishes up a lot of meals.

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Trial starts today in Bay City high-heeled eye-gouging case

The trial of an Ingersoll Township woman charged with gouging out a Bay City woman’s eye with her high-heeled shoe is beginning today in Bay County. Jury selection is underway in the trial of Rebekah M. Lloyd. Lloyd, 25, is charged with felony counts of assault with intent to cause harm less than murder and assault with a dangerous weapon. The former charge is punishable by up to 10 years in prison, while the latter carries a four-year sentence. Prosecutors contend Lloyd attacked Michelle M. LeBlanc in the early morning of Aug. 13, 2010, while they were in the area of East Midland and South Linn streets. LeBlanc, 49, previously testified she was intoxicated and walking through a crowd of people when she hurled a racial slur and other belligerent language at a black woman, LaShay McFarlin.

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Bay City Police Department's policy change in issuing traffic tickets is a step in the right direction

Bay City Manager Robert Belleman said Tuesday the Bay City Police department is changing its policy regarding how tickets are issued. The new rules mean officers must issue tickets at the time of the offense, or mail a ticket at a later time after the approval of a command officer. No longer will officers be allowed to issue tickets in person after an incident has taken place. "The modification is, if the ticket is not issued at the time of the incident, it cannot be issued without the signoff of that officer's command officer. It's kind of a check and balance,” Belleman said in an interview Tuesday.

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No serious injuries in Friday's 65-car crash on I-75

A few days after a crash on northbound Interstate 75 south of Bay City, investigators still are going through the about 65 crash reports to determine what caused the chain reaction that held up traffic for hours. State Police Bay City Post Commander Lt. John Card said state troopers were called in early and others stayed later than usual on Friday, joined by first responders, ambulance crews and tow trucks from around the region. About 65 cars were either involved or slid off the roadway at the crash, near the Salzburg overpass south of Bay City.

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LED billboard still sought for downtown Bay City

An outdoor advertising company wants to swap its current billboard for a digital version, but so far the city is saying no. Lamar Outdoor Advertising plans to present its case at the 7 p.m. Tuesday meeting of the Bay City Zoning Board of Appeals. In August and November, the city denied sign permit applications to substitute a color LED digital display for the current billboard at 1107 Washington, at the corner of Third, between Chan's Garden and the Social Security Administration. A company representative said the sign would offer new technology and more income opportunity for the company, but he wanted to save his remarks for the meeting.

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Bald eagles gathering at mouth of Saginaw River for winter hunting

Bald eagles are a majestic sight but normally not a common one in Bay City. That is not the case right now, though, as more than 20 of the birds can be found in the vicinity of Bay Harbor Marina near the mouth of the Saginaw River. The eagles are gathering in the area because of open unfrozen water that allows them to swoop down and hunt fish. The group is a little larger this year because of the availability of more open water than usual.
“They will congregate around any area of open water,” Federal and Michigan Licensed Rehabilitator Sandy Miner said. “It’s normal... They come here to hunt, especially in the winter time.”

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Republicans gunning for control of Bay County Board of Commissioners in November election

The Bay County Republican Party is setting its sights on controlling the Bay County Board of Commissioners.
That possibility now is more in focus after Commissioner Mike Duranczyk, District 1, filed for re-election this week not as a Democrat, as he began his term, but as a Republican. Aaron Baylis, Bay County GOP chairman, said the party is excited to have Duranczyk on board. "He'll be a great asset to our ticket as we work to earn a majority on the Bay County Board of Commissioners," Baylis said. Democrats still hold a thin 5-4 majority on the board. The democrats include Brandon Krause, District 2; Ernie Krygier, District 5; Kim Coonan, District 6; Tom Ryder, District 7; and Donald Tilley, District 9. Republicans on the board include Vaughn Begick, District 3; Joe Davis, District 4; and Christopher Rupp, District 8.

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Crump bar tries again for topless waitresses, Garfield Township Board weighs in next week

A rural bar in Crump is causing a stir again in the rural community where it operates. The Silver Derby Bar has applied a second time for state permission to allow waitresses to go topless for certain events. On Monday, the Garfield Township Board holds its regular monthly meeting. On the agenda is whether the board will approve or deny the Silver Derby's request for a Topless Activity Permit. The recommendation is then sent to the Michigan Liquor Control Commission, which has the final say. "I haven't had anyone call me and say that they are for it. It's a small community and people like to talk," Garfield Township Supervisor James Dubay said. "It will be on the agenda and people aren't going to leave until they hear our answer."

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Black History Month: Oscar W. Baker was Bay County's first black attorney

It was 110 years ago this spring, when a popular former Bay County prosecutor who had opened his own law firm took in an associate, a home town young man recently graduated from the University of Michigan Law School — and with that partnership came history. The young attorney was Oscar W. Baker, born and raised in Bay City, who was the first black attorney in Bay County. As the Bay City NAACP chapter gears up to mark Black History Month on Saturday with a free concert at the State Theatre, Baker's story is an important part of that history.

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Jury contamination delays trial for former Bay City teacher charged with having sex with students

A few hours into jury selection, the trial of a former Bay City substitute teacher charged with having sex with students was adjourned due to contamination of potential jurors. Jury selection began this morning in the trial of Heidi L. Lewis, 42, charged with six counts of third-degree criminal sexual conduct with a student. While potential jurors were sequestered outside of the courtroom, one juror — a former police officer — allegedly made comments regarding the case. Questioned by attorneys in Circuit Judge Joseph K. Sheeran’s courtroom, the former officer said some of the prospective jurors had discussed similar cases of teachers having sexual relationships with students, though he did not divulge specifics. When asked by defense attorney Richard Lee Jr. if he discussed lying to get on or off the jury, the man denied making such comments.

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Bay City Commissioner Chris Girard says Trenton Robinson case offers example of how in-car cameras could be useful

Bay City Commissioner Chris Girard, 6th Ward, said maybe video cameras in police cars would help with investigations such as the recent one into a citizen's complaint filed by Trenton Robinson. The Michigan State University football star and Central High School graduate filed the complaint when he was stopped for failing to signal on Dec. 22 and not issued a ticket until he was dining across town an hour later. Girard understands the report concludes Bay City Police Officer Keath Bartynski used profanity, but that use of force and racial profiling were not substantiated. Girard has fielded suggestions from constituents and attorneys for video cameras in police cars. "At least it clears any question in anybody's minds how these incidents took place."

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Bay City Commission hears three hours of comments on prevailing wage, casts same votes as two weeks earlier

The Bay City Commission heard about three hours of public comments Monday night on "PH3" — the second and final reading of an amendment to repeal the city's prevailing wage ordinance. One by one, audience members left their seats in the packed State Theatre, stepped to the microphone, recorded their names and addresses in a ledger, removed their hats and spoke for up to five minutes — some for, some against, many emotional. Mayor Chris Shannon finally called for a 10-minute recess, after which there were only a few more speakers. At about 10:50 p.m., commissioners voted exactly as they had on Jan. 23, and 5-4, prevailing wage was no more.

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Read Trenton Robinson's complaint against Bay City police officer

In his citizen’s complaint against a Bay City police officer, Michigan State University football star Trenton D. Robinson claimed his civil rights were violated when he was pulled over Dec. 22. Robinson filed the complaint against Officer Keath Bartynski on Dec. 24. Bartynski pulled over Robinson around 5:45 p.m. as he drove a 2003 Buick in the area of North Van Buren and Third streets. In his narrative, a copy of which was obtained by The Times via a Freedom of Information Act request, Robinson states Bartynski told him he initiated the stop due to a suspicion of having needles in his car, implying drug activity. Bartynski had Robinson exit his car and “aggressively use[d] unnecessary force to command my body in motions that I was uncomfortable with,” Robinson states.

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Bay City NAACP celebrating Black History Month with State Theatre show

February is Black History Month and the Bay City NAACP is going to celebrate it with a free concert at the State Theatre in downtown. The concert takes place at 6 p.m. Saturday Feb. 11. The event's theme is “Continuing A Historical Celebration Through Music.” Admission to the concert is free, although seating is limited, and tickets are available at the State Theatre Box Office, the Bare Bones BBQ & Pizza, a few select barber shops and the State’s members. If seating is available at the event people are not going to be turned away.

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Michigan State Police confirm one fatality in M-13 crash Thursday night

The Michigan State Police confirmed today that Thursday night’s pedestrian accident on M-13 resulted in one fatality. The state police confirmed the death of 53-year-old Randall Pierson of Pinconning. According to a news release, Pierson was walking in the roadway when he was struck by a northbound 2004 GMC Envoy sport-utility vehicle driven by an unidentified 21-year-old female. A witness to the aftermath of the crash confirmed an attempt by rescuers to perform CPR on Pierson at the scene before he was taken by ambulance to McLaren-Bay Region Medical Center. He was later pronounced dead.

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Bay City Public Schools eliminating Young Fives program, focusing more on services for kindergarten classes

A common concern parents and guardians have when a child ready to enter kindergarten is whether or not the child is old enough. Parents and guardians, especially those with children considered young five, may not think their child is mature enough or academically advanced enough to handle a kindergarten classroom. With an increased amount of support for students, Bay City Public Schools is hoping to put those fears to rest. Starting next year, the district plans to enroll all kindergarten-eligible children into classes at the district's eight elementary schools and provide additional services and support, said Adair Aumock, K-12 curriculum director for the district.

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Accused Bay City killer Stephen Ashley should be honest about alleged involvement in Lonnie Houston's death, father says

As Stephen P. Ashley Jr. tried to set himself on a new path, drugs began to interfere, his father said. “I didn’t know he did cocaine, but I knew he drank and smoked pot,” Stephen P. Ashley Sr. said. “I gave him advice not to do those things and not to be getting into trouble. You can give your children all the advice you want. It doesn’t necessarily mean they’re going to listen to you.” Codefendant Kaleb S. Rosin said Ashley Jr. had a cocaine problem and that he owed 27-year-old Lonnie L. Houston Jr. money for cocaine. Ashley Jr. telephone Houston in the early morning hours of Nov. 14 in an effort to buy more of the drug, Rosin said.

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Matt Costello website launched to push Michigan State signee for Mr. Basketball

Matt Costello isn't big on titles. But Mr. Basketball has a nice ring to it. The Bay City Western basketball phenom is taking his game into rare air this season, averaging 25.3 points, 19.2 rebounds and 5.6 blocks per game. And that's a level of performance that just might vault him to the pinnacle of prep hoops. Now Costello's soaring notoriety is getting an extra boost with the launch of a website that promotes the 6-foot-10, 240-pound senior for Mr. Basketball, the highest individual honor in the state of Michigan.

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