Bay City Police asking residents to participate in National Night Out

The Bay City Police Department is asking area residents to join its officers in a nationwide effort to generate a sense of community and prevent crime. From 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Aug. 7, the department is participating in the 29th Annual National Night Out, an event sponsored by the National Association of Town Watch. The effort is occurring in more than 15,110 communities in all 50 states, U.S. territories, military bases and Canadian cities. This year, Target is serving as a national corporate sponsor. Police are asking citizens throughout Bay City to lock their doors, turn on their outside lights and spend the evening outside with neighbors and officers. The department is hosting games, exhibits, youth activities, a chili cook-off, a $2 swim and more at the Community Center in Veterans Memorial Park.

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Davison man who received broken nose in sexual assault of Bay City teen gets year in jail

A Davison man sexually assaulted two Bay City people in one night, receiving a broken nose in the process, expressed heavy regret in learning his penalty this morning. “I want to apologize to everyone I hurt,” said Eric E. Besaw. “For the past seven and a half months, I’ve felt nothing but shame and anger at myself. I’ve anguished immensely over what happened and the pain I’ve caused everyone I know and love. This entire situation has devastated me and I’m truly sorry. This has been a life-alter experience for me. I have and will take lessons I’ve learned from this to heart.” Bay County Circuit Judge Joseph K. Sheeran sentenced the 41-year-old Besaw to one year in jail with credit for 228 days served. Upon release, he is to spend five years on probation, must register as a sex offender, pay $500 in costs and receive sex offender treatment.

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Bay City man pleads no contest to assaulting girl celebrating her birthday at State Park

A Bay City man police said ruined a little girl’s birthday party by drunkenly attacking her and fighting her family has accepted a plea offer. Kevin D. Bender, 32, on Thursday appeared before Bay County District Judge Dawn A. Klida and pleaded no contest to three misdemeanor counts of assault and battery and one felony count of assaulting, resisting or obstructing police. No charges were dismissed. The felony charge is usually punishable by up to two years in prison, but Bender’s previous record doubles the potential penalty.
Bender on the afternoon of June 9 was at the Bay City State Recreation Area in Bangor Township when he approached a girl celebrating her 12th birthday. Bender grabbed the girl by her bathing suit and pulled her toward him, police reports show.

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Bay County prosecutor candidates raise nearly $38,000 in campaigns

In their campaigning for the spot of Bay County’s top law enforcement position, the prosecutor candidates have raised nearly $38,000, campaign finance records show. Incumbent Kurt C. Asbury started with $48.29 and raised $21,220, according to campaign finance reports. So far, Asbury has spent $14,102.92, leaving him a balance of $7,165.37. Challenger Patrick O. Duggan started with $100 and garnered $16,405.04. He has spent $7,408.01 and has $9,097.03 remaining. Friday is the deadline for political candidates to file their campaign finance reports if they raised a minimum of $1,000.


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Bay County Central Dispatch kept busy by overnight thunderstorm

Numerous calls of fallen trees and down power lines kept Bay County Central Dispatch busy Wednesday night and into this morning. Leonard Norman, Central Dispatch director, said that before midnight, his office received eight calls for fallen trees, seven for downed wires and one for a down pole. From midnight to 6:34 a.m., dispatchers received 21 calls of down wires, seven for fallen trees and one for a fallen pole." The staff would've been busy with that kind of call volume," Norman said. "They were hopping, I imagine."


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Michigan State University football player Steve Moore of Pinconning bouncing back after surgery on broken neck

Steve Moore has always had a good head on his shoulders. And a broken neck shouldn't change that. One day after the Michigan State University football player underwent surgery to stabilize the fractured vertebrae in his neck, his father said Moore is thinking positive about the future before him. "He's bouncing back," said Randy Moore of his 21-year-old son. "One thing with Steve is he's task-oriented. Once he gets a plan defined and outlined for his recovery, he'll be OK. He has a good enough attitude now, I'm sure he'll put forth his best effort."


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Bay County lottery winner Leroy Fick to plead to felony firearm charges

A Williams Township man who had nearly $1 million in cash two years ago and is now destitute and charged with four firearm-related felonies is set to accept a plea deal in Bay County Circuit Court. Leroy N. Fick, 60, is scheduled to make his plea before Circuit Judge Kenneth W. Schmidt at 8:30 a.m. on Sept. 4. Court records show that prosecutors have offered to dismiss two counts of felony firearm if Fick pleads guilty or no contest to single counts of felon in possession of a firearm and larceny of a firearm. Both of the charges Fick could plead to are felonies punishable by up to five years in prison. Prosecutors have agreed not to seek an enhanced sentencing for Fick as a habitual offender, court records show.


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Bay City police seeking public's help in identifying hit-and-run driver

Investigators are hoping the public can help them put a name with the face of a woman they say struck another woman with an SUV, then took off. Around 10 p.m. Monday, Bay City police officers responded to a call of a pedestrian struck by a vehicle in the area of Broadway Avenue and 28th Street in the city's South End. Investigators determined a blond-haired woman had visited the Speedway gas station at 1223 Broadway Ave. then driven off in a black GMC Jimmy, striking a 20-year-old woman in the process.


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Bay County Relay for Life organizer said event raised thousands, was success at new Veterans Memorial Park location

More than 800 cancer survivors, caregivers, friends and family members fundraised, relayed, laughed and cried together at the 18th annual Relay for Life of Bay County this weekend. Debra Lupo, who finished radiation therapy for breast cancer earlier this month, was one of those survivors. "The event meant a lot for me — yes it was emotional, but the bonds that formed were amazing," said Lupo, relay team captain for team "Boosum Buddies." "It seems like you know everyone, because they went through the same thing or know someone who did."


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Bay City Central making fundraising push for $50,000 weight room renovation

Bay City Central's weight room equipment served Mike Maciejewski well when he was a student-athlete. But he never expected it to still be in use 17 years later when he was a Central coach. "The weight room equipment has not been upgraded in forever," said Maciejewski, the 1995 graduate who now serves as varsity basketball and junior varsity football coach at his alma mater. "There's stuff up there I lifted with in high school. There's a bench in there that's red. Well, that came from Handy (which closed as a high school in 1990)."


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Downtown Bay City Sidewalk Days event draws lots of shoppers on its first day

The annual Downtown Bay City Sidewalk Days sale kicked off Thursday, and participating businesses were seeing good crowds despite the cool weather and occasional rain. An estimated 38 businesses in downtown Bay City are taking part in this year's event, offering a variety of sales and giveaways to shoppers hungry for good deals. Janet Beeck, owner of Wind & Willows on the River at 923 N. Water, said the sale was going well for her business as far as she could tell. A longtime participant in Sidewalk Days, Beeck said the opportunity to clear out merchandise while offering deals for customers is always a good one.


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Police arrest Essexville man on charges of stealing $3,000 in Blu-Rays and other merchandise from Meijer

Police here have arrested a 23-year-old Essexville man they say stole more than $3,000 worth of Blu-Rays, DVDs and other merchandise from a Meijer store. Hampton Township Police Lt. Michael Wedding said officers were sent to the Meijer at 595 Pine Road Thursday night for a shoplifter. When police arrived, the suspect ran outside and led officers on a brief foot chase. Officers caught the man and said he remained uncooperative even after being lodged in the Bay County Jail.


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Contamination closes three Bay County beaches

Contamination has closed three Bay County beaches until further notice. Water samples collected Wednesday at Brissette Beach in Kawkawlin, Linwood Beach and Pinconning Park Beach exceeded Michigan's single-event water quality standard for total body contact recreational activities. When bacteriological levels meet the standard, the beaches will be reopened. The state allows for less than 300 colonies of Escherichia coli (E.coli) bacteria per 100 milliliters of water for a single sample. Anything more from a sample area, and the beach is closed down. An average of 130 colonies a day for a 30-day period also would trigger an advisory.


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State police identify woman they say stole wallet at Bangor Township Meijer

Hours after her photograph appeared on MLive, a 21-year-old woman police say stole a wallet from a supermarket shopper has been identified. Investigators from the Michigan State Police Bay City Post identified the Bangor Township resident Wednesday night. Troopers were led to the woman after receiving a tip from someone who had seen her photo in an MLive article published Wednesday afternoon. The woman confessed to stealing a man’s wallet around 6 p.m. June 25 at Meijer, 2980 Wilder Road in Bangor Township, said Detective Sgt. Dave Rivard. Coincidentally, a couple of days later, the woman’s own wallet was stolen. Thinking it was karma striking back at her, the woman said she turned the man’s wallet over to police, said Rivard, adding that investigators are trying to figure out where she turned in the wallet.


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Prosecution rests in Bay City baseball bat beating trial

After three days of testimony and 21 witnesses, the prosecution has rested its case in the trial of Brandon E. Carbeno, charged with bludgeoning a man with a baseball bat following a Styx concert in Bay City’s Veterans Memorial Park. As her last witness Tuesday afternoon, Bay County Chief Assistant Prosecutor Nancy E. Borushko called Dr. Sivasupiramaniam Sriharan to the stand. The doctor said he treated Chene D. Swarthout when he was brought by ambulance to Bay Regional Medical Center the night of June 25, 2011, suffering from severe head injuries.

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Detroit-area man charged with series of Bay County convenience store holdups from 2009

Just shy of three years since an armed robber plagued area convenience stores, a Detroit man has been charged with the crimes. Bay County District Judge Timothy J. Kelly arraigned Otis Green, 45, on four counts of armed robbery, a life offense, two counts of felony firearm and one count of carrying a weapon with unlawful intent. Prosecutors allege Green on Sept. 19, 2009, brandished a handgun in holding up the 7-Eleven stores at 3543 Old Kawkawlin Road in Bangor Township and 1510 Kosciuszko Ave. in Bay City and then, two days later, used a knife to rob the BP station at 3790 N. Euclid Ave. in Bangor Township. Bay County Prosecutor Kurt C. Asbury asked Kelly deny Green bond, citing the seriousness of the charges and Green’s criminal past. Kelly granted the prosecutor's request.


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Bay County Prosecutor says Jeff Julian would have killed again if left on the streets

In the eyes of Bay County Prosecutor Kurt C. Asbury, the fact that convicted killer Jeffrey A. Julian II is spending the rest of his life behind bars is keeping more would-be victims alive. Bay County Circuit Judge Harry P. Gill on Monday sentenced Julian, 23, to life in prison without the possibility of parole for having strangled Lynn M. Spicer to death outside their Bay City home on Aug. 21, 2010. After killing the 33-year-old mother of three, Julian and brother Craig A. Julian buried her in a makeshift grave they had done at least a week prior.


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Dow Bay Area Y to hold fire safety event with Bay City Fire Department Tuesday

Children can learn how to escape a burning house and how to prevent fires from starting Tuesday at the Dow Bay Area Family Y at 225 Washington Ave. in Bay City. The Bay City Fire Department will bring a smoke house and fire truck to the Y’s south parking lot at 10 a.m. as part of an instructional program for the childcare and day campers at the Y. The smokehouse simulates a burning house and teaches children how to behave during a fire and the best ways to exit a burning building.


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Meeting to be held tomorrow at Bangor Township easement to gather input on property's future

Residents of Bay Side Park Subdivision are gathering tomorrow to voice their opinions on how a local easement in disrepair should be handled. "When I was five, I remember using the easement to access the river to go fishing," said Sandy Meldrum, a township resident who has lived in the subdivision since 1943. "I think the land should be converted back into a usable boat launch." A committee tasked with looking into the issue plans to meet at the easement— Road B — off of River Trail Drive at 8 a.m. on Tuesday, July 17 to inspect the property.


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Bay City plagued by 25 watermain breaks from hot weather in less than three weeks

The hot weather is putting a strain on Bay City's water system, causing 25 watermain breaks in less than three weeks. "This increase in the number of pipe failures is directly related to high water use in the community and increased water flows related to the recent hot and dry weather," according to a news release. Since June 24, the City of Bay City Water Distribution Department has responded to and repaired 25 watermain breaks within the city limits. Three of those came within an hour on Monday afternoon, with a break at South Euclid Avenue and West Jenny. Fifteen minutes later, breaks were reported at State Street at Wilder Road, and on Gary Street. On Wednesday morning, there was an additional break on South Euclid Avenue at Thomas, the one-way that runs parallel to Jenny.


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Identical twin brothers from Bay County reunite to serve together at Florida Navy base

Growing up, identical twins Michael and Matthew Wilson often faced the world as a team: they attended the same school, worked the same paper route and shared similar interests. After 18 months apart, the men, who grew up in Bay and Saginaw Counties, are now serving at the same Navy base. Their first week together caused a number of double takes — and instances of mistaken identity. Matthew Wilson, 20, joined his older brother, Michael Wilson, last Sunday at Corry Station Naval Technical Training Center in Pensacola, Fla. He graduated from boot camp on Friday.


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First day of testimony ends in Bay City baseball bat beating case

The first day of testimony in the trial of Brandon E. Carbeno saw a series of witnesses offer various perspectives on how and why the defendant struck a man with a baseball bat following a Styx concert in Bay City’s Veterans Memorial Park. In all, Bay County Chief Assistant Prosecutor Nancy E. Borushko called 10 witnesses to the stand, none of which knew Carbeno, 28, or his alleged victim, Chene D. Swarthout, 45, when the clash between them occurred the night of June 25, 2011. All were in agreement that a verbal argument occurred between both men as they attempted to leave a crowded parking lot following the show.


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Police: Driver turned in front of another car, causing crash that injured 3 in Kawkawlin Township

A three-car crash on M-13 near Beaver Tuesday night sent two by ambulance and one by helicopter to hospitals for treatment, Michigan State Police reported. A 17-year-old Bay City man was driving a 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier southbound on M-13 with three passengers about 10:45 p.m. when he made an illegal turn onto eastbound Beaver, failing to yield to a 2002 Chevrolet Malibu being driven by a 69-year-old Essexville woman, police said. The two cars collided and the Cavalier spun out of control and hit a 2004 Pontiac Grand Prix owned by a 39-year-old Pinconning woman that was stopped on westbound Beaver at the M-13 traffic light, police said. 


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Lawsuit hearing in August for former Bay County deputy who claims that since he is a veteran, only prosecutor can OK his firing

A former deputy’s lawsuit against Bay County Sheriff John E. Miller is continuing to work its way through the court system. A pre-hearing conference is expected for some time in late August, attorney Kevin J. Kelly said of Jason Holsapple’s lawsuit. An exact date hasn’t been set, Kelly said. Holsapple was hired as a deputy in July 2011 and was terminated March 9 of this year. In his suit, he claims Miller fired him for supporting sheriff candidate Robert “Bobby” Lee.


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Bay City cleaning up nicely after weekend fireworks festival

With one of the major festivals of the summer season behind it, Bay City is already beginning to look like itself again. The huge crowds that seeped into the city throughout the weekend to attend the 50th annual Bay City Fireworks Festival left their mark on the area with trash, and other festival remnants such as fencing, gates and port-a-potties still inhabited Wenonah Park and Veterans Memorial Park long after the fireworks subsided.

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Michigan State freshman Matt Costello 'very impressive' in summer pro-am

While starring at Bay City Western, Mr. Basketball Matt Costello proved that he has the tools to do big things on the basketball court. Now that he’s a Michigan State freshman, Costello is proving that he also has the drive. While Costello was regularly the best player on a high school basketball court, the PARADE All-American has seen a noticeable increase in talent during the Spartans’ summer league. But according to reports, he has proven up to the task at Pattengill Middle School which hosted the 9th annual Moneyball Pro-Am over the weekend featuring Michigan State and a host of other players.


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50th annual Bay City fireworks display goes out with a bang, wows crowd

A lot can change in 50 years. In the five decades since Bay City's inaugural Fourth of July fireworks display, a small show with a smattering of hand-lit fireworks transformed into a three day festival, complete with booze, food, music and family activities. With a focus on the fireworks that started it all, the festival has thrived with community support, raising funds each year to continue the tradition. Festival organizers and volunteers commemorated the show's long history in the best way it knew how — by shooting off a 50-minute fireworks display to a variety of movie themes and songs with 50,000 separate fireworks shells Saturday night.


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New coffee shop in downtown Bay City hopes to make a unique mark

Elizabeth Propp has a passion for coffee. After working in the business for about eight years, it made perfect sense to her to eventually break off and run a store of her own. With the help of her sister, Mary, and her husband Dan, the Saginaw resident is finally living out her dream of opening her own shop, ThunderBrew Coffee Company at 521 Washington in Bay City. "I've spent the last five years thinking about it, and it's been a dream to finally do it," she said. "I really enjoy the coffee shop atmosphere, but I'm really excited to have one that feels like it's my own."


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Bay City Post Office offers special cancellation to commemorate 50th fireworks festival

Want a collectible way to commemorate the 50th annual Bay City Fireworks Festival? The Bay City post office is stepping in with envelopes for the occasion that feature a Celebrate! "forever" stamp, three different local fireworks photos and a special cancellation. The mark is dated July 7 and comes from the Bay City Fireworks Festival Station.


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Bay County dog and cat adoptions up 53 percent in year since new policy enacted

It has been a year since Bay County Animal Control changed its adoption policy in an effort to see that more cats and dogs are spayed and neutered. Renee Morgan of Kawkawlin visted the shelter yesterday to browse available dogs. "I want a dog that I can take out on a leash and exercise with," Morgan, who went on a wait list for a black lab mix, said. "I want to give a dog a nice home and help them enjoy life." Since the adoption policy change, 53 percent more animals at the shelter, 800 Livingston St., have found homes. Currently, the shelter has around 18 dogs and more than 100 cats.


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Bay City teen police say armed self with knife and went looking for a fight pleads no contest to two felonies

A local teen police say armed himself with a butcher knife and went looking for a fight has the chance to keep some felonies off his record, so long as he proves he can stick to the straight and narrow. Joshua A. Aldrich, 17, on Monday appeared before Bay County District Judge Mark E. Janer and pleaded no contest to two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon, a four-year felony. Bay County Assistant Prosecutor Jordan E. Case agreed to dismiss a charge of carrying a weapon with unlawful intent and will recommend Aldrich be sentenced to probation under the Holmes Youthful Trainee Act.


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3-year-old boy drowns in family pool in Bangor Township

A 3-year-old boy died Friday after apparently drowning in his family’s pool. Bay County Sheriff’s deputies, Mobile Medical Response and Bangor Township firefighters were dispatched to a house in the 3400 block of Old Kawkawlin Road at 7:07 p.m. in reference to a child submerged in a pool. Upon deputies’ arrival, Eric J. Zimmer II was being administered CPR and rescue personnel continued to try resuscitating him, said Lt. Troy Cunningham. The child was eventually transferred to McLaren Bay Region hospital, where he was declared dead. Eric was missing for about 20 minutes before his family found him at the bottom of an above-ground pool, Cunningham said. An autopsy was performed and it appears the death was caused by an accidental drowning, though the case remains open pending toxicology results.


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