Bay City River Roar ticket sales kick off; Skid Row, Cinderella fans line up

Bonnie Rubio is an unapologetic fan of 1980s hair bands. "I love them all," the 45-year-old Bridgeport Township woman said while waiting in line outside a Saginaw Township mobile phone outlet for tickets to see Skid Row and Cinderella at the Dow Bay City River Roar this summer. She was one of 100 people lined up at 10 a.m. when employees at Baycom, 3277 Tittabawassee, began selling tickets. The business was one of three locations in Saginaw and Bay City to kick off ticket sales for the June weekend-long event. Others included Bay City's Graff Chevrolet, 3636 E. Wilder, and Prime Brothers Mattress & Furniture Co., 1500 S. Euclid.

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Bay City meter reader helps mother and her ducklings safely cross the street

A panicked mother, waiting traffic, nearby railroad tracks.  The situation was dire, but Kevin Wagner knew what he had to do. The dozen or so ducklings may have been steadfast as they followed their mother, their little legs just weren't long enough to get them to safety. "I noticed the cars were stopped for them," said Wagner, 30, a Bay City meter reader who was on duty at the time. "Mom made it across the street but the babies were not taller than the curb and I knew they weren't going to make it." So, Wagner parked his truck and went immediately to the duckling's rescue. Despite his intent, mother duck hissed and squawked at Wagner as he scooped the babies to safety.

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United Bay and Acces First credit unions to merge

United Bay Community Credit Union and Access First Federal Credit Union will become a single credit union effective May 1. Followed by a due diligence process and regulatory approval from state and federal regulators, a special member meeting for Access members was held Aug. 22, 2011, in Mattawan. More than 70 percent of the members present voted in favor of the merger. Rob Viland, current CEO of Access First, becomes executive vice president and COO of United Bay Community Credit Union.

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Studio 23's Painters & Potters exhibit in Bay City shows off artwork created in classes

At least once a week, sisters Cora Hartman and Veryl Yenior travel from their Arenac County homes to take Michelle Courier's painting classes at Studio 23/The Arts Center in Bay City. The class is geared toward beginners to those with some knowledge of painting, and the retired sisters are proving art can spring forth at any point in life. While they have doodled over the years, the sisters began putting brush to canvas in the last three years. It started when Hartman began taking water color classes in Flint. When she signed up for Courier's class at Studio 23, Yenior decided to come. These newbies are part of the exhibit Painters & Potters, featuring 30 of Studio 23's students. The show runs May 4-25 at the downtown gallery.

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Jury finds Kraft Foods Global owes Bay City man $1.2 million for wrongfully firing him

A Bay County jury has decided Kraft Foods Global Inc. owes a more than $1 million to a Bay City man for unjustly firing him. A week-long trial before Bay County Circuit Judge Kenneth W. Schmidt ended Wednesday with a jury determining Kraft owes $1.2 million, plus interest, to Bernard J. Walsh, 47. The jury deliberated for about five-and-a-half hours. Walsh worked for Kraft from 1991 until his termination in September 2009, at age 45, "building the northern Michigan territory regarding pizza delivery."

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Michigan State University's Trenton Robinson poised to become first player from Bay City taken in NFL Draft since 1973

It could be a historic weekend for Bay City. And a life-changing one for Trenton Robinson. The former Bay City Central and Michigan State University star is poised to become the first player from Bay City taken in the NFL Draft since Jerry List in 1973. Most projections have the Spartans' three-year starting safety being selected in Friday night's third round or Saturday afternoon's fourth or fifth rounds of the seven-round draft. Regardless of which team selects him – and that remains anybody's guess -- it will be the start of a new career and a new life for one of Bay City's own. The Bay City Times caught up with Robinson as his big day nears.

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Bay City couple passes away on same day after more than 50 years of marriage

Bay City’s Edmund and Doris Johnston were happily married for 54 years right up until the very end. Both passed away unexpectedly last Wednesday together at their residence. For their family, including their daughters Cindy Monroe and Laura Garcia, it came as somewhat of a relief, as both parents had been in ill health for a while and remained deeply in love. “It was a blessing in disguise they went together,” Garcia said. “They were inseparable,” Monroe added, noting when one would be in the hospital the other would worry or bring food.

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NFL Draft experts weigh-in on Bay City's Trenton Robinson before the draft

Trenton Robinson has been waiting and working for years to get his shot. And in less than a week, that opportunity will be here. The former Bay City Central and Michigan State University standout heads into the NFL Draft on April 26-28 hoping to see him dream realized with an opportunity to play football at the highest level. The first round of the draft begins Thursday at 8 p.m., with Rounds 2-3 to follow Friday at 7 p.m. Rounds 4-7 begin Saturday at noon. For four months, Robinson has been wrung through the cleaners to find out every little detail about his game and how it projects to the NFL.

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Bay County Jail inmate assaults employee with soap, then swallows Taser barb

An unruly inmate of the Bay County Jail is facing some new charges after police say he attacked a correctional officer with a bar of soap, then swallowed a Taser barb in the fracas. About 10 a.m. April 8, 22-year-old Jermel T. Love was in a holding cell, asking staff if he could make a phone call, according to police reports. When jail personnel told him he’d have to wait, Love said, “I should not have to wait; I’m going to tear this (expletive) up,” fellow inmates later told investigators. The witnesses said they saw Love tear up a T-shirt, then wrap it around a bar of soap. When jail personnel opened the cell, Love was defiant and refused to cooperate, police reports indicate. Despite repeated orders not to do so, Love kept his hands behind his back, prompting a jail employee to discharge his Taser at the inmate.

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Bay City makes $50,000 off poor housing market

The poor housing market has at least one beneficiary: the City of Bay City. The city recently received a $50,000 payment when land along Trumbull Avenue, bordering Portsmouth Township, was not developed as previously agreed. In 2003, a development called Neighborhoods at Heritage was proposed for the site. It was to have smaller lots, narrow streets and corner stores. When that concept failed to take hold, the city agreed to sell the roughly 50 acres for more popular housing. When the property was sold in April 2007, the development agreement specified that 50 lots had to be developed within five years of closing or the city would be owed an additional $50,000. With the crash in the housing market, that payment has been made in lieu of any lot development.

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NFL Draft called Dennis Wirgowski in 1970, but no Bay City Central player since

Dennis Wirgowski was the last player from Bay City Central to be taken in the NFL Draft. And while he might lose that label – with Trenton Robinson poised to be selected in this week’s draft – Wirgowski’s claim to fame as one of Bay City’s best is safe and secure. A 6-foot-5, 250-pound defensive end from Purdue University, he was selected in the ninth round of the 1970 draft by the Boston Patriots. He was on an NFL roster for six seasons, seeing game action in 1970-72 with the Patriots and in 1973 with the Philadelphia Eagles. A high school all-American at Central under Elmer Engel, he returned to his hometown following his playing career and worked for 28 years at Stevens Van Lines as a warehouse manager. Now at age 64, the Bay County Sports Hall of Famer is a regular at the Dow Bay Area Family Y.

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Bay City native Rose Trahan Cipriano and son remain in critical condition at Farmington Hills hospital

A spokeswoman with Botsford Hospital in Farmington Hills said that Bay City native Rose Trahan Cipriano and her 17-year-old son Salvatore remain in critical condition at the hospital. The two, along with Rose's husband Robert Cipriano, were attacked Monday morning in their Farmington Hills home. Robert Cipriano was killed. The Ciprianos' son, Tucker Cipriano, 19, and Mitchell Jordan Young, 20, were charged Wednesday with murder and attempted murder. Both men entered not guilty pleas during Wednesday’s arraignment. Botsford Hospital’s Debbie Wozniak said as of Friday morning, Rose Cipriano and Salvatore Cipriano remain in critical condition, but the family has not released any more information.

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Bay City's A&W Drive-In breaks the rules with coney dog sauce, but delivers summertime success

Owner Terry Burger and A&W Drive-In in Bay City don't consider themselves rebels. But in producing their own coney dog sauce each morning, they not only break rules, but help deliver success. The A&W Drive-In, located at 301 Lafayette in Bay City, ignores the A&W pre-packaged coney dog sauce, instead making their own homemade sauce each day. Burger, who owns the seasonal restaurant along with his wife Penny, said that he breaks the rules because his customers enjoy the sauce. "That's the important thing is making the customers happy," Burger said. "When A&W did decide on their own sauce, it would be difficult to change in the marketplace when your customers are used to one thing.

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Westbound lane of Lafayette Bridge closing until 3 p.m.

The westbound lane of Lafayette Bridge is closing until about 3 p.m. today for maintenance, according to the Michigan Department of Transportation. The eastbound lane will remain open. MDOT owns, operates and maintains the bridge.

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Business owner wonders whether anyone is interested in restoring Bay City's existing murals

As students around town work on new murals for Bay City, a local business owner is wondering if anyone is interested in restoring the old ones. The 2012 Bay Area Chamber of Commerce Leadership Bay County class is running Art S.P.A.R.C., a project that partners area students, the Downtown Management Board and business owners in creating historic murals to be installed throughout downtown. Students are working now on the mural panels, which likely will be installed in late May or early June. We identified several old murals around town. Others have been lost to time, such as the ones depicting the Bay City Rollers.

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Bay City burglar heads to prison after leaving cellphone at crime scene

Would-be burglars take heed: if you're planning on committing a crime, at least give police a challenge by not leaving your cellphone at the scene. Such advice would have benefited Kyle A. Schmiege, whose misplaced cellphone has cost him up to 15 years in prison, a place his older brother already calls home. Bay County Circuit Judge Harry P. Gill last week sentenced the 20-year-old Schmiege to 23 months to 15 years imprisonment, with credit for 126 days served. Schmiege in February pleaded guilty to one count of second-degree home invasion, in exchange for the prosecution's dismissal of a count of breaking and entering with intent to commit a larceny. One evening in September, Bay City police responded to a break-in at CB Discount convenience store, 310 N. Henry St. They found a portion of the drywall had been kicked-in and a cellphone on the ground.

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Bay City trial of man charged with killing New York woman he met on Facebook delayed again

The trial of a Bay City man who has already confessed in open court to killing his girlfriend is not going ahead in May as scheduled. Bay County Circuit Judge Joseph K. Sheeran on Friday adjourned the May 15 and 30 dates for the trial of Jeffrey M. Julian II. The dates were adjourned due to scheduling conflicts with prosecutors and defense counsel. The 23-year-old Julian is now slated to go before a jury on June 13. Julian testified in the June trial of younger brother Craig A. Julian that he strangled 33-year-old Lynn M. Spicer outside their home in Bay City’s Banks District in the early morning of Aug. 21, 2010. Jeff Julian said his brother had nothing to do with Spicer’s slaying, while prosecutors argued the brothers planned the killing and buried Spicer’s body together. The jury sided with prosecutors and found Craig Julian guilty of first-degree premeditated murder and removal of a body. He is serving life in prison without possibility of parole.

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Bay City Civil War veteran getting second funeral 123 years after death

More than a century after his death, a local Civil War veteran is getting a second funeral service and a new grave marker. Michael Winkler died in 1889. When his great-great granddaughter, Bay City native Kathy Lutzke Mihalenko, discovered his aging tombstone in the community’s Green Ridge Cemetery, she began a process that will lead to the replacement of the fading marker along with a military funeral at the gravesite this summer. “We consider it an honor,” said Mihalenko, a retired Department of Defense employee who lives in Orlando now. “It’s a tribute to all military personnel who served.” Mihalenko said what began as a genealogical search turned into an effort to honor the long-ago-fallen war veteran again.

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Bay City seeking $1 million MDEQ loan for Uptown at RiversEdge work

The City of Bay City is looking for a cool million dollars to move forward on the Uptown at RiversEdge site. The Bay City Commission will be asked at its 7:30 p.m. meeting today to support a loan application to the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality for $1 million to further clean up the Uptown at RiversEdge redevelopment. The money would be used to demolish one vacant defunct industrial building, 12 concrete slab on-grade foundations associated with former commercial and industrial buildings, and abandoned, unusable underground utilities that remain on the site, plus complete any related environmental work. The application goes to the State Administrative Board and may take two to three months for approval. If approved, the funds cannot be spent until a work plan is approved by both the MDEQ District Coordinator and the local MDEQ office. The city will not submit a work plan until the closing with Uptown developer SSP Associates has occurred or is imminent.

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Bay County Vietnam Veterans Memorial and Project Freedom Walk cleanup planned for Saturday

A spring cleanup of the Bay County Vietnam Veterans Memorial and the neighboring Project Freedom Walk takes place Saturday and the event is looking for volunteers. The project is headed up by Judy Brunner, the wife of state Rep. Charles Brunner, D-Bay City. Judy Brunner said she has organized the annual cleanup for the last six years. “It’s quite a big job,” Brunner said. According to Brunner, the cleanup starts at 8 a.m. Saturday. She expects it is going to last four to five hours depending on how many volunteers they have. “The main reason we do it is because of what it represents: our veterans,” Brunner said. “It’s important we keep it looking the best it can possibly look. It’s a place people go to remember the conflicts our country has faced and those who have served and fallen.”

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Staff respond to emergency situation during Zumba class at Dow Bay Area Family Y

A fitness class at the Dow Bay Area Family Y was interrupted last Thursday when a member collapsed during the routine. A press release issued today by the Y stated that near the end of a full Zumba class, one member stumbled, went down and 911 was called. The staff evacuated the other class members per standard procedure and an AED was brought into the room in case further assistance was needed. The AED was not used. Emergency responders transported the individual via ambulance to McLaren-Bay Region.

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Bay City woman gets prison time for kidnapping woman for $200 ransom

A Bay City woman will be spending up to the next decade in prison for her part in the kidnapping of an acquaintance for $200. Bay County Circuit Judge Joseph K. Sheeran this week sentenced Tracie V. Joyner, 31, to three to 10 years imprisonment, with credit for 119 days served. Joyner in January pleaded guilty to single counts of attempted kidnapping and attempted extortion. Though each count is a five-year felony, Joyner's penalty was increased due to her previous felony convictions. In exchange for her pleas, prosecutors dismissed single counts extortion and kidnapping and conspiracy to commit each of those crimes.

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Michigan Lt. Gov. Brian Calley speaks to crowd at Rotary Club of Bay City meeting

Michigan Lt. Gov. Brian Calley spoke to a crowd of about 100 members and guests at the Rotary Club of Bay City's weekly meeting shortly after noon today at the Doubletree hotel and conference center. Ed Keating, club president, introduced Calley, who holds Michigan's second highest elected office. "Brian Calley is committed to helping small business find success," Keating said. Calley began his talk by recalling an event last summer in Jackson, where protestors asked him to sign a petition to recall govenor Rick Snyder. "I asked them if they knew what would happen if they were successful — the lieutenant governor becomes governor," Calley said. "They said he can't be as bad as Snyder, so the next day I went in the office and said 'sorry Rick, but the people want me'."

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Curves health club food drive donates over one ton of food to the St. Vincent de Paul food pantry

A food drive undertaken at the Wilder Road health club Curves for Women resulted in a ton of food being donated to the St. Vincent de Paul food pantry at Visitation Church. It’s not a rough estimate, the club donated 2,047 pounds of non-perishable food to stock the pantry’s shelves. According to Curves owner Mary Makinen the food was collected throughout the month of March before being sent to the food pantry. Visitation St. Vincent de Paul pantry secretary of the treasurer Mark Morand was thrilled by the drive. “It was tremendous,” Morand said. “Our shelves were naked as a jaybird, we only had one food order left we could take out before this (came in).”

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Bay City offers one last chance to comment on plan for federal housing money

The public response to Bay City's annual action plan for spending Housing and Urban Development money has been dead silence so far, but the guidelines specify that there be one more opportunity. Citizens have until May 4 to comment on the five-year consolidated plan and the annual plan for Community Development Block Grant and HOME Grant funds. Copies may be reviewed at Temporary City Hall, 700 4th St., Bay City, between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. weekdays. Those wishing to comment also may call 989-894-8158.

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All Bay City utilities on table during 2012-13 budget talks; proposed electric rate hike now at 4.2%

All Bay City utility rates were discussed Monday at a city budget work session. An electric rate hike of 4.2 percent is proposed, slightly less than in an earlier plan. The Bay City Commission's Finance Policy Committee has been hearing budget proposals from the various city departments as commissioners prepare to adopt the 2012-13 budget. In his initial presentation on March 26, Electric Department Director Phil Newton projected rate increases of 4.7 percent in May 2013 and the same hike again in 2014. Newton said Monday he now is proposing a 4.2 percent increase each year instead. "The main reason for this was a reduction of $217,000 in the power supply planning area where we found some double counting," Newton said.

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Bay City burglar stopped by 11-year-old pleads guilty as charged to numerous felonies

A Bay City man whose burglary spree was ended by an 11-year-old girl has pleaded guilty as charged to eight felony charges. Bryan R. Harrison, 40, last week appeared in Bay County Circuit Court and pleaded guilty to three counts of larceny in a building, two counts of second-degree home invasion and single counts of first-degree home invasion, possession of burglary tools and safe breaking, with the last charge punishable by life in prison. As a condition of his plea, Harrison's minimum prison sentence is not to exceed 216 months. If Circuit Judge Harry P. Gill opts not to follow this stipulation, Harrison will be permitted to withdraw his pleas. Harrison spent Dec. 30 breaking into Bay City homes, stealing a safe, a laptop, a DVD player, several DVDs and jewelry from a house in the 1200 block of North Dewitt Street and a watch, TV and Blu-Ray player from a residence in 1300 block of North Trumbull Street.

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Every play written by William Shakespeare performed in two hours by the Whistling Idiots Comedy Dinner Theatre in Bay City

Every play written by William Shakespeare, all characters played by three guys in right around two hours.
Impossible, you say? Not so, say the three guys and a gal bringing “The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged)” to the stage of the Whistling Idiots Comedy Dinner Theatre.
Those three guys will be bringing the characters of Hamlet, Romeo, Titus Adronicus, Julius Cesar, and Juliet and Cleopatra to life with lightening speed for an evening that the gal – director Caitlin Berry – says may get a little more blue than the first time she directed this show at Bay City Players in 2009.
“It's an absolutely perfect who for a comedy dinner theater,” she said. “We can get away with more craziness than we could at the Players. It's at least a PG-13, but we may push it a 15 or 16.

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Wines Around the World offers fare from the Bay City area's best restaurants paired with the perfect wine or beer

The first time Rick Rivette was asked to cater an event at the Nathan Weidner Center for the Child Abuse and Neglect Council, he had no idea what went on in the building. The CAN Council Great Lakes Bay Region is the place where children who are victims of physical or sexual abuse find a safe haven. Beyond that, the agency focuses on abuse prevention, intervention and advocacy programs that are nationally accredited and award-winning. He walked away a believer. “I was so impressed with the place,” he said. “The security is like Fort Knox. How nice they have it decorated. That was my first experience. I started doing their fundraiser. I've done it every year because I know what a tremendous cause it is.”

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Red Cross confirms that money bequeathed for Bay County use is spent here; former board members, volunteers unconvinced

Whether funds meant for Bay County Red Cross programs are being spent that way still has not been answered to the satisfaction of former board members and volunteers. Gary Riedlinger had the top signature on a letter sent in February to the national office of the American Red Cross asking for an accounting of the $3.2 million left by George Wagner, with the interest to fund "Red Cross programs and projects in Bay County, Michigan." As the Red Cross reorganized and Bay County became one of seven counties in the new Great Lakes Bay Chapter, local staffing shrank. The 15 signatories asked for specific information about the Wagner funds for the fiscal years 2010, 2011 and through Dec. 31, including an itemized list of disbursements for Bay County programs. They didn't receive it.

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Trial adjourned for trio charged with selling medical marijuana from Bay City compassion club

The trials of three men charged with selling marijuana from a Bay City compassion club has been put on hold, pending a ruling of the Michigan Supreme Court. Bay County Circuit Judge Joseph K. Sheeran on Wednesday stayed the trials of brothers Jonnie V. Randall and Corey R. Randall and Joshua J. Perry. The trio’s defense attorney, Edward M. Czuprynski, sought the adjournment in light of the state Supreme Court on March 28 granting a request by a Mount Pleasant compassion club to review a Court of Appeals' ruling. In August, a Court of Appeals deemed state law “does not include patient-to-patient sales of marijuana,” a decision that shut down most of the state’s marijuana dispensaries and left growers in limbo. The ruling deemed compassion clubs “public nuisances” as defined by the Public Health Code.

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Gougeon Brothers expansion, tax break among Bay City Commission approvals

A tax break for a Bay City company with a niche market was among the matters before the Bay City Commission on Monday night. Gougeon Brothers, which formulates and manufactures West System and Pro-Set marine-grade epoxies used around the world in boat building and boat repair, asked for the boundaries of its Plant Rehabilitation District on Patterson Avenue to be expanded so it could build an 11,000-square-foot addition for lab and technical areas. That was approved. The company also asked for and received a tax exemption for the new work, including a $1 million building and $200,000 in equipment. As a direct result of the project, three new jobs will be created and 11 retained, all at wages above $12.50 per hour. Over the 12-year period of the 50 percent abatement, the city could have collected $114,237 in taxes and instead will collect $57,118.
   
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Judge tells Bay City man involved in Midland Street brawl `You need to make some changes'

A Bay City man who initially faced a 15-year felony after police say he knocked a man unconscious at a Midland Street bar has received credit for time served. Bay County District Judge Timothy J. Kelly on Tuesday credited Sam A. King, 23, with having already served 123 days in jail, the extent of his sentence. The judge also ordered King pay a $130 crime victim fee. King in February pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor count of aggravated assault, in exchange for prosecutors dismissing a felony charge of assault with intent to do harm less than murder. “I’d like to say I’m sorry for being in front of you so much,” King told Kelly.

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Bay City Public Schools, teachers union have not held bargaining sessions for teachers' contracts

The head of the Bay City Public Schools teachers’ union said there have been no formal negotiations between the district and the union, but there are meetings scheduled for later this month. Bay City Education Association President Rick Meeth said the union and the district have talked only informally and have not conducted any bargaining sessions regarding next year’s contract between the teachers and the district. Meeth said the two sides have meetings scheduled for April.

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Bay City Juvenile Fire Center Program educating kids about danger of playing with fire

Fire is a dangerous thing but it also can sometimes be a very interesting one to kids. It’s a risky combination but one the Bay City Fire Department is looking to defuse with its Juvenile Fire Center Program. The program is handled by Bay City’s fire prevention officer Bob Beck who said the program is designed to help counsel kids and their families on fire safety. “The program works,” Beck said. “There are kids out there that are just curious that the program works for.” Beck said most of the calls he receives about the program are from parents who caught their kids playing with matches or a lighter. The program includes lessons in the dangers of fire plus several in fire safety such as fire escape plans and ‘stop, drop and roll.’

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Sen. Mike Green says MDOT is ready to take over Bay City bridge maintenance, should happen in 2012

Bay City could wash its hands of maintaining its two northernmost bridges by the end of 2012. Sen. Mike Green, R-Mayville, said that responsibility for the Liberty and Independence bridges should fall to the Michigan Department of Transportation in the state's 2012-13 fiscal year, which begins Oct. 1. "The goal is to give the maintenance of both bridges to MDOT. They're willing to take it," he said. "It's just a matter of getting it through the process."

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Citizen's complaints, Part 2: Emotions and perceptions lead to complaints against Bay City police

When a citizen complained in 2009 that a Bay City police officer went too far by shouting at her during a traffic incident, it was up to police officials to determine if the complaint had merit. Ultimately, the complaint was sustained and the officer reprimanded. Another complaint, this one from 2007, involved a school liaison officer aggressively escorting a parent from a Bay City middle school. That complaint was also sustained. Bay City Police Chief Michael Cecchini says such incidents are rare, but admits they do happen. Usually it's a matter of the officer letting their emotions get the better of them, which can lead to a citizen's complaint. "The officers are people too, and sometimes their emotions can get the best of them,” he said. Other law enforcement officials agree.

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