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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