Inside the Newsroom

The Celtics Have Arrived

2009-07-11T17:46:00.029-04:00

The rain may have canceled the Saline Celtic Parade this morning, but the skies had cleared in time for the Opening Ceremonies, one of my favorite aspects of the annual festival. Mayor Gretchen Driskell was carried in, following tradition. Festival Chairman Patrick Little also spoke as the pipe and drum bands performed. Among the amazing bands were the Michigan Scottish, Flint Scottish, Grand Rapids, Glen Erin, Shrine Highlanders, Caber Feidh and Ann Arbor, who performed throughout the day.

The day's events included a Maypole Dance, Kids' Celtic Games, Rubber Ducky Races, Sheep dog demonstration, jousting demonstration, and an array of entertainment acts, including Saline's own Fiddlers ReStrung, Tartanic, Rant Maggie Rant, Fior, Blue Caledonia and Eh?

It was another great day in Saline that cast Saline in a positive light for the world to see.

Check out our photos and video will be up soon on our Web site.

Saline Celtic Festival sports schedule

2009-07-09T12:33:00.002-04:00

Hello all of you old age sports fans out there. It's your lucky day. The Saline Celtic Festival is here, and with that comes some pretty old sports that you wouldn't typically see or hear about on your average day. Below is a bit of an itinerary for sports spectacles you might want to check out.

Thursday:
5:30 p.m.--Washtenaw Rugby Football Club match at Saline Middle School
6:30 p.m.--Women's Detroit Rugby Football match at SMS
7:30 p.m.--Men's Detroit Rugby Football match at SMS

Friday:
7:30 p.m.--Gaelic Football game at Mill Pond Park
Evening--Jousting of knights

Saturday:
Afternoon/evening--Jousting of knights
Noon to 7 p.m.--Tossing of cabers, shot put, heavy lifting and throwing... in kilts, no less!

There will also be Irish dancing and participatory dancing on Friday evening, as well as at various times all day on Saturday.

Check it out!

Lodi Township Celebrates 175 Years

2009-07-04T22:00:00.005-04:00

Scenes from Lodi Township's 175th Jubilee at the Washtenaw Farm Council Grounds.

Audrey Tuttle, who is almost 2, eating a hot dog.
She and her sister Kiera Tuttle, 4, and her brother Logan Tuttle, 6, were at the festivities with their mom, Karen Tuttle and dad, Dan Tuttle. They have lived in the township for three years.

Peg Canham, the chairman of the event, takes a breather from the three-day celebration to have her photo taken.

Dave Goodrich of Manchester, showed the crowd how to make S-hooks.

Displays of the township's history were crowd favorites and lines snaked around the building as township residents waited to eat free hot dogs and hamburgers Saturday.

Proceeds from a 50-50 and a silent auction will go to the renovation of the old Township Hall. About $60,000 is needed and about $15,000 has been raised, so far.

Friday night, about 100 people played bingo with celebrity callers Lucy Ann Lance, Ginny Patton Moss and Thayrone from WAAM radio.

Ceremony celebrates history, you decide

2009-07-03T16:42:00.013-04:00

York Township held a ceremony honoring Lt. Dan Throop, a Revolutionary War veteran, today at Judd Road Cemetery despite arguments by Martha Churchill, a historian from Milan, that her research shows that there are no Revolutionary War heroes buried in Judd cemetery. In a story we published last week, York Township Supervisor Joe Zurawski said reputable researchers with ties to the military have verified that the unmarked grave contains Throop, a soldier who fought in the Battle of Lexington.

Zurawski said that the Michigan Society of the Sons of the American Revolution and the National Sons of the American Revolution have assisted in certifying the validity of Throop's war record and a polished granite monument has been donated for both Throop and his son. But Churchill says representatives from the Sons of the American Revolution told her that they do not verify or check historical facts. They leave this up to the applicants.

A Milan attorney and member of the Washtenaw County Historical Society, Churchill checked with a military researcher and learned that a Revolutionary War veteran by the name Throop died in New York in 1824. He is the real one, she says, and is known to the Daughters of the American Revolution. However, DAR will add additional soldiers at the request of applicants, she says, without verifying through additional research. Churchill said that's what's happened here.

Zurawski said when someone applies for membership in the DAR of SAR, what the group cares about is lineage. "These ladies had nothing to gain by making a false claim" back in the 1880s, he said in our story.

The Dan Throop buried in the Judd Road Cemetery is said to have been born in 1748 and died in 1833 in York Township. But Churchill said she couldn't find any record of it in "History of Washtenaw County," published by Chapman and Company and dated 1881. He and his son are missing from the Register of Deeds office, as well and didn't own any land in the township, she said.

Included in the ceremony was Revolutionary War re-enactors, as well as a bagpiper. There also was a flag ceremony and reading of the famous Ralph Waldo Emerson poem "Concord Hymn," which contains the famous line "The shot heard round the world."

From Reporter Lisa Allmendinger, who covered the event:
As I listened to the historical renditions of the start of the Revolutionary War at a ceremony for Capt. Daniel Throop in Judd Cemetery this morning, I tried to imagine what it might have been like to be there as the shot heard round the world went off.

I closed my eyes and looked for lamps in windows signaling “one if by land and two if by sea.”

I looked at the horses standing in the back of the cemetery and listened for the clip-clop of Paul Revere’s horse as word spread that “The British Are Coming.”

The Revolutionary War re-enactors marched into the ceremony, carrying flags with 13 stars and one that read “Don’t Tread on Me,” it took me back to the many Revolutionary War sites I visited with my mother as a child.

Because of her love for the Revolution, I, too, became interested in Colonial Times. I cannot count the number of times I’ve been to Williamsburg, Va.

Some of my favorite books involve stories about the men who helped create this great nation.

So, it was an honor to meet the family of this Revolutionary War hero and take their photo.

I was given an opportunity to look at the thick red book that chronicled the Throop family back to England, where they were known as the Scroope family.

Happy Fourth of July Throop family and Americans everywhere.

Holy Fourth of July

2009-07-02T11:25:00.004-04:00

There are three things I really love about the Fourth of July.

Thing #1 is that television producers replay the old Saved by the Bell 4th of July episode where Kelly beats Lisa, Jessi and the little country club witch in the holiday beauty pageant because she is OBVIOUSLY way prettier and knows more about what the purpose of the holiday is supposed to be. It's a really great episode in which Zack Morris has outstanding, quaffed hair.

Thing #2 is fireworks. You aren't American if you don't like explosions, and fireworks are perfectly "safe" explosions that celebrate our heritage in the best way we know how. Fire!!!! Blast!!!! Lights!!! Check your local newspapers for firework shows near you. I know Comerica Park always does some, which is where I was on the 4th last year. This year I will be doing something slightly different and more hippie-like.

Which brings me to Thing #3, the ability to plan getaways. Sure, traveling might stink over the next few days and there are bound to be some road ragers out there... but I think we could all really, really use a vacation. Time to see some friends, eat some pasta salad, and celebrate some weekend freedom. It's particularly exciting for me because A) I usually work on the weekends, and this is one of my few outs for that, and B) I will be attending the Rothbury Music Festival in Rothbury Michigan with a bunch of yuppies and hippies and other -ies. I might stand out just a bit, given my wardrobe and general outlook on life, but I expect it to be a dang good time.

So whatever you decide to do this Independence Day weekend, do it with a smile and don't forget what we're celebrating. Sometimes it's easy to forget, but we really are incredibly blessed to live in the country that we do... even if things seem not so hot right now. Cheers, America!

P.S.
For those of you who do NOT have plans and are in need of some 4th of July weekend ideas... here are a few.

1. Watch Independence Day for Will Smith's one-liners ("Now that's what I call a close encounter.")

2. Go to the pool. Don't forget sunscreen though. I hear that spending time around water is therapeutic, and if I wasn't attending the music fest I would be in Irish Hills with my boyfriend and his friends... drinking beer, sitting on pontoons, wake boarding, riding jet skis and tubing.

3. Attend a BBQ. The very best pulled pork and ribs recipes always come out of the woodwork on this very special long weekend. Find some family or friends hosting one such BBQ and RSVP ASAP.

Well, that was weird.

2009-06-26T10:24:00.003-04:00

Dude. Michael Jackson died. He friggin' died. And right before he was about to go on a 50-event tour, too. Dang.

I feel like this was probably the weirdest and most shocking celebrity death that could have happened. Mostly because he's had so much plastic surgery and been on so many drugs that I intrinsically assumed he would magically last forever. Sort of like Keith Richards. He's one of those celebs that you can just picture living forever on the fringe and outliving even the cockroaches. I mean no disrespect; he just seemed well preserved.

This whole thing made me come to several realizations, however, most of which pertain to technology. First observation, it's sort of sad when TMZ is your fastest and most accurate news reporting source. They knew what went down WAY before the real news stations even bothered to collect details. It was hours and hours. Perhaps it's because the methodology TMZ uses to collect their news is so disgusting that there's no way it isn't true. They're like the town gossip, who you don't really like, but when they do speak up about an event it tends to be right on. CNN drug its heels and eventually got up to speed. But you have to wonder how this sort of pecking order will continue to mold the news industry. In the days of twitter and camera phones and facebook, news just isn't that hard to transmit to others. TMZ has way more weapons in its arsenal than legit reporting stations who have their so-called hoops to jump through first. And while I appreciate a news source that bothers to confirm details BEFORE broadcasting, there's something to be said about breaking a story.

The second technology-based observation is how our age of technology has transformed what people perceive as real relationships. When I got home from the bar last night, I decided to get on facebook. Well lo and behold, nearly every facebook status in my news feed was either "Michael Jackson R.I.P." or "you will be missed" or "omg my life is over bc MJ died." The obsession with celebrities never ceases to surprise me, especially how attached people can get to them and how they begin to feel like they genuinely know them. People are behaving as if he was never a creeper with psychological issues. Or perhaps they're pretending to ignore that little tidbit in order to respect his better years.

As far as I'm concerned, the real Michael Jackson died a long time ago... right around the time he officially made the race change to become a new person. The only remembrance we've had of his old and true self since the new millennium is his older albums. I love Michael Jackson's music as much as the next person, but let's leave fanaticism at the door and simply be appreciative of a good artist. Which most of the bars did because pretty much no matter where you went in Ann Arbor last night, the venues were hopping with MJ's hits. I heard Thriller three times at Babs Underground. (Side note: I did NOT hear Dirty Diana, which happens to be a personal favorite.. and I was quite angry.)

The only thing that could possibly result from all of this that might legitimately effect everyone is that (and I'd bet quite a bit of money on this) a record label will now re-release some sort of greatest hits album. Or perhaps we'll now be offered some never-before-heard tracks that hit the cutting room floor. Sort of like what happened with 2Pac.

On a related note, how much does it stink to be Farrah Fawcett? I mean, the one thing celebrities always have in common is that when they die, they become immortalized and have a day dedicated to remembering their careers and whatnot. This was Fawcett's chance to be remembered and to earn a tiny shrivel of "oh yeah. I remember her. She totally rocked." Instead, her fame and glory was completely overshadowed by the MJ stuff. Too bad...

The old English way

2009-06-22T14:18:00.003-04:00

Wimbledon is here, my dearest ladies and gentlemen. It's very exciting. Of the four grand slam tennis tournaments, the English and proper grass court games are exceedingly exciting to watch. It is the only major on grass and it is the third installment in the four-major tour. The series began in Australia in the Australian Open, then took place in Paris only weeks ago for Roland Garros (the French Open). Now Wimbledon is up and the U.S. Open will follow in New York in several months.

There are two important things to know about this year's tournament. First, a majority of the matches will take place in the morning and afternoon Eastern Standard Time, because of the 6-hour time difference with the European overseas site. Related to this is the fact that one can listen to Wimbledon radio online or follow an online scoreboard in real time. Both can be found at wimbledon.org and are incredibly entertaining sidekicks to have open while at work. Nothing like listening to the proper commentating of a Brit while at working, discussing "lovely volleys," "the grand Queen of England" and the "antics and excitement of the British crowd which always loves a good challenge and underdog." Things are always so official with a British accent.

The second thing to know for this year's tournament is the absence of the No. 1 player in the world. Rafael Nadal pulled out of this year's draw only a week or two ahead of the first schedule match, citing continued tendinitis in his knees. The Spanaird is the rival of No. 2 player and Roland Garros champion Roger Federer from Switzerland. Nadal lost to Robin Soderling in an early round of the French Open several weeks ago and also struggled in a minor grass court tournament that took place in the weeks leading up to Wimbledon. He's definitely struggling with injuries.

But given Nadal's absence, this could very well be the year that Federer breaks Pete Sampras' record of 14 major tournament wins. Federer tied the record of 14 two weeks ago in Paris and will be going for a new record at 15 this week and next. It will be history in the making for the Swiss player, who also finally completed his grand slam in Paris. He's playing really well.

I do advise watching some of the tennis. Local American players Serena Williams, Venus Williams and Andy Roddick will all make appearance with relatively decent seeds. The Williams sisters are seeded No. 2 and No. 3, and Roddick is No. 6 this year. Serena is poised to potentially win at Wimbledon again, but will be challenged by several Russians who are battling for majors. Roddick has only won one major in his career, so I doubt he'll progress past the quarterfinals. James Blake is fun to watch, too, but has struggled to break through to any notable level of greatness. He has a fun peanut gallery, though...

So check it out. There should be plenty of television coverage in the coming weeks, so check your local listings. And check out Wimbledon Radio at wimbledon.org, as well. The finals are usually on Sunday (June 28), I believe.

Sparklepires and their ruckus

2009-06-19T11:25:00.002-04:00

Most people in the newsroom are aware of the fact that I'm a Twilight nerd. If it wasn't already plainly obvious by my quoting the book and daydreaming about a fanged hero named Edward, it was made ever the more clearer by the Twilight Bella and Edward poster that hangs over my computer. It's an addiction, what can I say.

But in Twilight-related news, I thought I should report a local crime beat in relation to a recent screening of said movie. To be frank, some Twilight freak fans got into it at a Top of the Park Twilight screening over whether or not the actors and movie writing were up to snuff. It was sort of like watching an ABC Family horror movie in which there's an awful lot of name calling and buildup but very little action. It fizzled, and I was disappointed. And I'm fairly aggressive and protective of my series, so it's a good thing my roommate and her boyfriend were there to hold me back.

Oh yeah, I forgot to tell you that I was involved, but only as a peanut gallery commentator.... who incidentally was making peanut gallery comments about a peanut gallery. But it was exciting, nonetheless.

The thing that made all of this funny is that only two days prior a friend had emailed me a link to a newspaper article written by some southern softy who felt that Twilight is destroying today's youth. (Man Stephanie Meyer would roll over in her Mormon, Arizona bed if she knew people were going to make that accusation.) The article basically accused Twilight and other vampire-related literature and pop culture shows of giving today's youngins an inappropriate picture of life and what vampirism is really about. He feared that middle schoolers would go around sucking each other's necks more than usual (hickeys galore!) and perhaps drawing blood for fun. They also might experiment with sex more, and wooden stakes and brooding would most likely be involved.

I smirk at the author, because although there are certain sexual fetishes out there that have to do with vampirism (I think this was actually featured on an episode of "Nip Tuck", in fact), the likelihood that Twilight can be blamed for middle schoolers and their premarital hand holding is questionable. (Note: there is also an amazing amount of hand holding and giggling at Top of the Park) The series is written by a Mormon and vampirism is arguably a metaphor for abstinence. The couple does not engage in sex; they can barely even kiss each other before he gets omg TOO EXCITED about premarital touching or he might kill her.

And yet, here I was, on Ann Arbor's Ingalls Mall watching Twilight against Rackham Auditorium... and these middle schoolers are about to come out swinging over a MOVIE. And not even a particularly amazing movie. So now I've decided that Twilight might not be the sexual apocalypse that the article's author suggests, but it just MIGHT be the newest and most dangerous obsession gone terribly wrong that I've seen in years, or ever. Not to mention these girls are setting expectations for their love lives that are completely and utterly ridiculous.

Example #1: In the movie, Edward says "You are my life now." and "I couldn't live with myself" if anything ever happened to you. First of all, boys don't do that. It is very rare that a male will claim to love you forever wholeheartedly and in such an intense way by the age of 16. Just isn't going to happen, so I do wish they wouldn't get so swept up in this idea.

Example #2: Edward is a stalker, and a creepy one at that. It perplexes me that no one seems to notice the fact that Edward watching her sleep or sneaking in to her bedroom window or threatening to kill people for her doesn't make anyone's skin crawl. Even for just a second. In the real world, people like that are axe murderers. You know, the super polite types who freak out and shoot someone. This is not a personality type to strive for. Parents, please advise your daughters about overly passionate and potentially abusive men.

Now I love Edward as much as the next average Twilight reader. He protects her, he's intelligent, etc. etc. But he has his flaws, too. They just aren't made immediately obvious to you because it's written from Bella's perspective. And when you're in love you don't necessarily see that person's flaws. So while Edward is AH-MAZE-ING to look at, let's make sure we can keep some sanity about it all. Appreciate and love the series, but don't pick fights with each other in public screening venues over whether or not Kristen Stewart "deserves to kiss Rob Pattinson." And don't swarm the actors like a group of locusts. They are people, too. And Fox News reported yesterday that the actor was clipped by a cab on the street in New York amid a flurry of overzealous fans who, coincidentally, could not reel in their sexual obsession with the actor.

So cool it chicks. Do the right thing. Buy a poster. Drool a little. But leave the obsession at the door. You're scaring people.

A Fun Weekend in Saline

2009-06-13T16:54:00.012-04:00

This weekend in Saline is rockin'. Jesse Palter kicked off the weekend and the Saline Summer Music Series Friday. Two Twelve Arts Center's Family Fun Day this afternoon was a highlight and I am looking forward to Old Vehicle Day at Saline Depot Museum Sunday, followed by Grillin' for the Hungry in the late afternoon at the Farm Council Grounds near Saline. Check out video of all of these events at www.salinereporter.com. You'll find the link in the left-hand corner of the home page. In the meantime, enjoy some photos from yesterday's concert (above and Family Fun Day.

Milan Graduation festivities

2009-06-09T16:54:00.019-04:00

I have to say when I attended Milan High School's class night and graduation last week it definitely brought back memories. It also made me realize that I've been out of high school for 7 years now. Talk about a wake up call. Time sure does fly by. I definitely felt like I could relate to those students, considering at one point I was in their shoes. I guess what I'm trying to say is by covering all the graduation festivities it made me appreciate the path that I chose to take, from my choice of school to the career path I have followed. All I would say to the class of 2009 is, once you leave high school and head off into the real world take in every minute and enjoy it. Time sure does fly by.

Milan High School Graduation in Pictures

2009-06-07T16:03:00.017-04:00

It has been a busy week in Milan, with the Milan Community Fair from Wednesday through Saturday and high school graduation today. The graduation ceremony featured the Milan High School Band performing "Pomp and Circumstance," the concert choir singing the "Star Spangled Banner" and welcoming remarks from Principal Ron Reed. Class President Emily Hendricks got teary-eyed during her speech as some 177 graduates and their families looked on. Valedictorian Joseph Cadagin also spoke and Milan High School teacher Jeff Davis delivered the commencement address. The class of 2009 featured 17 summa cum laude graduates, four magna cum laude and 26 cum laude graduates. Below are some photos from the ceremony. A video should be up on our Web site, www.milannews.com, by Monday morning and there will be full coverage in Thursday's print edition.

Milan Fair in Pictures

2009-06-06T16:00:00.015-04:00

I spent about an hour at the Milan Community Fair taking photos and capturing video for our Web site. While traffic seemed light, it was the last day and many people probably had paid a visit already. In our video, the treasurer of the Milan Community Fair said this year's event is considered a success and the fireworks last night brought out about 15,000 spectators. Enjoy some of our photos below and be sure to check out our Web site for a video soon. Next Thursday's Milan News-Leader will include photos and a story, as well.

10 ways to make your car greener

2009-06-04T12:12:00.002-04:00

We all know I'm a huge fan of listicles... the whitty, yet informative, little posts and articles that draw out countdowns from various things and inform the reader how best to proceed in an area of interest. Well this time the listicle will feature the top 5 ways to make your car greener.

First of all, I didn't come up with this listicle. I sort of stole it from info released at the auto show. BUT, it's still pertinent information and now I'm safe because I've officially tipped my hat to the international auto show creators and managers. Cheers, auto thinkers.

Step 1: Try a hybrid (obvious)
Up and coming in popularity, with obviously also means the quality of hybrids are bound to improve exponentially. At this late stage in their creation, several kinks have been worked out to make your driving experience ever so pleasurable.

Step 2: Pick a vehicle with a lean engine. You don't always have to have a hybrid to have good gas mileage, so do your research.

Step 3: Reserve those cylinders! You actually have the option in some cars to shut off essentially some of your cylinders to improve fuel economy. A V8 can become a V4 or a V6 can be a V3. And let's be frank, in most city driving you don't need the added oomph anyway.

Step 4: Use a different fuel
There are various oils in use today other than the standard. Vegetable oil, ethanol, biodiesels or natural gas have all been experimented with. Give it a shot.

Step 5: Take care of your tires
Tire pressure is important. If they are under inflated, they produce excessive resistance and burn off more fuel. Not only does this create a danger by increasing the chances of a tire failure, but it reduces gas mileage. So head to the pump and check your tire pressure. Each tire has the optimum pressure written on it in tiny writing along the rim, and public air machines come equip with a pressure gauge.

Milan Loves A Parade

2009-06-03T20:39:00.021-04:00

The saying goes, "Everyone loves a parade," and that certainly holds true in Milan, where just nine days after the Memorial Day Parade and a few weeks after the Little League Parade, the Milan Community Fair Parade was held today. I am looking forward to the Milan Fair, which kicked off tonight. I plan to go Thursday or Friday and plan to be at the fireworks capturing images for video and this blog. Below are some photos captured of the procession as it made its way down Marvin Street.

New Reporter Starts

2009-06-01T15:46:00.005-04:00

As some of you may know already, Sue Collins has left her position at The Saline Reporter and Milan News-Leader because she is moving to Atlanta later this summer. Last week, our new reporter for Saline and Milan, Krystle Dunham, started covering the community.

Krystle has a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Central Michigan University. For the last year, she has been a freelance writer for The Jackson Citizen Patriot. She also has reported for The Brooklyn Exponent and is a former intern at the Saline and Milan papers. Krystle is familiar with the communities, having written stories for us as a freelance writer for the last year.

Krystle’s primary responsibility will be to report for the Saline and Milan newspapers, writing general news and features, taking photographs, shooting video and helping in other areas, including design and contributing to this blog.

We look forward to working with Krystle and hope you do, as well. Please join us in welcoming her. She can be reached at kdunham@heritage.com.

Saline Graduation Day in Pictures

2009-06-01T12:31:00.010-04:00

Saline High School held its graduation ceremony Sunday for the class of 2009. Reporter Jana Miller covered the event with freelance photographer Hiroshi Onuma. Below are some stats Jana came up with, as well as some amazing photos by Hiroshi. Look in Thursday's edition for the story and photo package.
423 students graduated from Saline High School May 31.
The Saline High School Advanced Placement test pass rate is No. 1 in Michigan.
14 National Merit finalists.
114 students graduated with highest honors.
More than $74,000 earned from over 100 local scholarships and local individual contributors.
$2 million in private sector and university scholarships.
$3.1 million in total scholarship money awarded to the class of 2009.
73 percent of graduates will attend four-year colleges and universities.
19 percent will attend two-year educational programs.

Districts time!

2009-05-28T14:24:00.002-04:00

Lots going on this weekend... so for those of you who need an update on scheduling and everything, here is what's coming up in the next few days.

Today
--Saline girls' varsity soccer plays its second District game at home at 7 p.m. The finals are to be held Saturday.

Friday
--Saline girls' tennis is headed to the state tournament at Midland Dow
--Saline girls' water polo begins its state tournament competitions. The Hornets are set to play Hudsonville first and the winner of the Okemos versus E. Grand Rapids game next. The girls have a really good shot at second place in the state.
--Saline boys' lacrosse plays a regional game against Cranbrook after winning its first two
--Saline boys' golf competes at the Lakes of Taylor Golf Club in the regional tournament. Hoping for a title here
--Milan hosts the student versus staff softball game at the high school to raise money for sports

Saturday (big day)
--Both Milan and Saline track teams will be competing in state meets
--Saline baseball and softball host district games; their first games are at noon
--Milan baseball and softball host district games; their first games are at 10 a.m.
--Saline water polo continues to play presuming all went well the day before
--Saline district soccer final (presuming the Hornets won on Thursday)

Sunday
GRADUATION FOR SALINE

New Staff Reporter

2009-05-28T11:39:00.005-04:00

I thought I would start my very first post to the blog, by introducing myself to those of you who haven't met me yet. I am the new staff reporter at the Saline Reporter and Milan News-Leader. In my first week here, I have already been asked a few times what brought me to Saline. So here is a shortened version of how I got here. It all goes back to me searching for a newspaper internship while completing my degree at Central Michigan University. I live in Jackson and while I was on spring break I searched the web to see what newspapers were located not to far from my home. Among the newspapers I found, I came across the Saline Reporter's website. I decided to stop by the office and see if they would be interested in having an intern for the summer. In the end, I was an intern for the summer of 2007. I wrote several stories and took photos for the Reporter and the News-Leader. I also had the chance to help put the newspaper together. It was an all around good experience, which I found very beneficial as I left college and entered the real world. I loved the people I worked with, I enjoyed meeting the people I met and loved the small town atmosphere. At the end of the day, I'll always be a small town girl. After my internship was over, I decided to sign on as a freelancer for the Reporter and the News-Leader. I figured it would be the best thing I could do, while I searched for a job. I also decided to do some freelance work for the Jackson Citizen Patriot. So that brings us to the present, as I wrap up my first week in Saline. Thanks for all the warm welcomes and best wishes this week. I look forward to the future here and hope to serve this community well. : )

Memorial Day in Pictures

2009-05-25T11:35:00.032-04:00

I've just returned from covering Memorial Day events in Milan. It was a more solemn experience than in the past because the Milan High School Marching Band did not participate this year. The program went on as scheduled and brought out scores of residents, who paid their respects. Video will be up soon on our Web site and an article will be published on Thursday's front page. For now, enjoys these photos.

O.M.G. IT'S SO WARM!

2009-05-21T11:05:00.002-04:00

I'm wearing a summery dress today and so is my editor and it's really exciting and lovely. Everyone should celebrate. Here's a few ways to get outside and enjoy the weather if you're indoors and at a loss for ideas... you could...

--Make a trip to a local ice cream place, such as Dairy Queen or Mickey's Dairy Twist. Always scrumptious. I like blue raspberry Mr. Misty floats. Best of both worlds.

--Clean that car! And do it yourself! It's decent exercise and it gets you outside, and afterwards you can cruise around and not feel like a bum. It only costs a dollar to clean your car at one of the carport car washes. Or really get some exercise and do it with a sponge in your driveway.

--Take a stroll down Main Street. All the flowers are poppin' and the breeze is nice enough to keep you comfortable. Plus, you might notice a few new local businesses which have sprang up over winter that you never noticed before when driving.

--Buy flowers. They're pretty, and they can lift your spirits, or those of a special someone you give them to. If you're a hardcore green person, I understand that cut flowers are against your religion. In that case, buy a trough and some dirt and some seeds or bulbs and grown your own.

--Go swinging! You know, swinging... on a swing set. The parks are starting to really fill with people and children and spring/summer activities, but enjoy that age-old pastime. But don't jump off from the highest point you can get. You might not be ready to try that again. I know I wasn't.

--Take pictures of a local event you heard about. We're always excited to get photos of the community for our neighbors pages, and you're the perfect person to do it. All you have to do is snap some shots with your digital camera, email them over to us (mrogers@heritage.com or jmiller@heritage.com) and include the names of the people in the photos. It's easy, and the people performing the activity will really appreciate your leadership.

--Go rollerblading! My roommate is a trainer at Bally's... and after she took one client rollerblading for some outdoor work, they all wanted to go. Just make sure you wear the proper protection, especially if you're likely to fall a lot or have any health risks. (I.E. wrist guards, helmet, knee pads, etc.)

--And of course, check out a local sporting event. It's the final stretch of the high school sports with end-of-season games and district competitions. So check those out while you can. Youth league things are well under way, as well.

Hopefully this will incline some of you to get outside and enjoy the beautiful day. Or at least get you thinking about the great ways in which you can do. Cheerio!

Make them pay!

2009-05-17T11:37:00.003-04:00

I recently got into an accident with a city service company. I won't say which company it is, because I'm pretty sure they don't want people to know about it, and I wouldn't want to tarnish their image because they've taken care of this quickly and reasonably.

But the story goes as thus... at 12 a.m. at a friend's house on my day off, the doorbell rings and a policeman is waiting to tell me my car has been hit. Having parked half on the lawn and half on the street, this is the sort of thing that makes you want to kick yourself in the face. So I wander outside, and sure enough my parked car has a medium-sized dent where the driver's side quarter panel and door meet. I could not open the door, but it's drivable, as long as I enter the car from the passenger side and climb over the mid console in my teeny tiny Sunfire two door. It was an annoyance, but that is beside the point...

The point of this post is that I learned quite a few things about Michigan law over the past week in getting all of this handled. And I thought I'd share what those laws are so that if others find themselves in this situation with a less cooperative party than the one I worked with, you'll know your options.

First, I learned that accidents that are written up with absolute clear fault on one party or the other wave the no-fault law that Michigan accidents currently operate under. Now don't get excited, because this doesn't happen often. The only reason it applies to me is because I wasn't even in the vehicle. Someone just backed into my parked car when turning around in the opposite driveway. So when this happens, that guilty person is required by law to supply or give money for a rental car during the time which the damaged vehicle is undergoing repairs. Great law. I'm driving a rental that I won't have to shell out for while they fix my car. Thank god, too, because I'm under 25 and the rates are through the roof for renting to people my age.

The other thing I learned, is that when this situation occurs and the no-fault is waived, the guilty party has the option to put the accident through their own insurance rather than having it go through the insurance of the person they hit. Depending on deductibles and whether or not rates may increase for certain parties, this is a nice option to have. But additionally, if in the end the accident IS claimed by the person whose vehicle was damaged, the guilty party must pay the deductible. This is why the two parties will want to discuss which insurance to use.

Car repairs and accidents are a royal pain. Whether it's your fault or not, paying for it all or paying for none, they're still an annoyance and stressful. Hopefully it doesn't happen to you anytime soon or ever. But the likelihood that it will is fairly high, and especially right now (according to the repair shops I appraised with, the accident rate is extremely high right now), so I hope some of this information leaves you better prepared and collected if you find yourself in a similar situation. But good luck and drive safe.

A really beautiful Saline afternoon

2009-05-12T14:44:00.004-04:00

This is a great job.
Today, after finishing a story about the budget challenges facing the diligent folks on City Council, I headed out to the SHS track where 180 athletes were gathered to compete in the county's Special Olympics. I love love love this event. I'm not sure who was having a more fun and rewarding experience - the competitors or the high school students who were volunteering to be their "buddies" I hope to print some of these in the paper, but here's a preview.

But wait, that's not all. I then stopped by the beautifully restored Weber-Blaess one-room school where my super awesome son, Patrick and his classmates were experiencing school, c.1860. Cheryl and Jim Hoeft (love them), Joe Rossi (former SHS principal) and parents were on hand to help. Some pics, here, too. Now, I strongly suggest you get outdoors. On your bike, because it's Bike to Work Week in Saline and around the state. Can I borrow your bike lock?

Dealing with athletic injuries

2009-05-07T14:11:00.002-04:00

This hits close to home this week, because my knee is injured and I'm attempting to slowly nurse it back to help. But first of all, the best way to deal with an athletic injury is to have a professional athletic trainer or doctor look at it, especially if it is serious. If you have that option or someone knowledgeable available to you, take advantage. And if the injury is obviously bad (a break to a bone or something that causes an inability to move the injured part), you have to seek out a doctor whether you like it or not. But since we don't always have the time or money to deal with tiny aches and pains at medical offices, here are a few steps you can follow on your own to help things along.

Listed below will be some basic, simple guidelines for treating various athletic injuries. For the most part, this applies to sore muscles, which could be a result of fatigue, hyperextension, a pulled muscle, a hurt ligament/tendon, or (obviously the worst) a tear of some kind.

For all muscle, tendon, and ligament injuries, however, you should know that it takes a long time to heal. Bruised, sprained and weakened body parts that we hurt during exercise tend to be in areas that we use very often in everyday activities. That means if you hurt your knee, ankle, or leg, it's kind of hard to stay off of it enough to allow it to heal while still remaining functional in everyday needs such as work. But do your best.

The first step is rest. Stop what you're doing, sit down, and plan on staying less active until it is fully healed. Just because it starts to feel better doesn't mean it is, and you'll feel the proof of that if you try to compete again too soon.

The next step is to ice. Inflammation is a common side effect of an acute muscle or tendon injury. Ice is usually a post-workout technique. If your injury does not cause inflammation, ice might not be the best move, and you'll feel it if it isn't. Your body will know instantly whether or not the ice feels good or bad. If you are going to ice, it is important to follow the proper protocol. Putting ice directly on the skin can cause burns, and if there isn't enough barrier between the ice and your body, it can get incredibly cold and will actually make it more difficult for your muscle tissue to heal. So wrap your injury and put the ice in a towel before using it. Ice for 15-20 minutes about three times a day.

If ice isn't right for you, heat might be. Sometimes soreness and stiffness is best dealt with by using a heating pad on the area. But do not apply heat after exercise. Use it to loosen muscles and relieve tightness.

The next step is anti-inflammatory medication. AKA Tylenol. Motrin is ok, but what you really want is just Acetaminophen and that's all Tylenol is. Motrin is ibuprofen. Both will reduce pain, but many studies show preference to Tylenol where athletic injuries are concerned, and Tylenol is easier on the liver.

Another option to reduce inflammation and increase the likelihood that you don't push yourself too hard is to wrap it. Compression is another useful injury tool, and for this you can use ACE bandages and tapes. Don't wrap so tight that you start to tingle or feel numb in places, but it should be secure enough that it isn't loose.

If you are working through an injury, another side effect can be favoring other muscles and movements to avoid pain in the injured area. But this will probably cause an injury somewhere else. Try to move like normal as best as you can.

If you don't start to feel better after several weeks, make an appointment with a doctor because there is probably worse going on that may require surgery.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles in Saline

2009-05-05T14:14:00.003-04:00

If you lived and breathed with the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, now's your chance to see it all again right here in Saline. As a part of the 25th anniversary "Shell-ebration," the TMNT Road Trip is coming to the ATA Martial Arts studio owned by Paul Teboe at Woodland and Maple Roads today, May 5 from 5.30 - 6.30. See Michelangelo and the Turtle Party Wagon. There will be martial arts demos, photos, free pizza and more.

get more into at www.ataonline.com/tmnt

Seems they are making a new movie and video and are on a national tour, stopping at the best martial arts studios, including Saline's own Teboe ATA. Call them at 429-5112 for class schedules and info. A few friends of mine take classes there and claim it's a very professional organization with programs for kids and adults. Check it out.

Discover Milan Day in Pictures

2009-05-02T13:06:00.022-04:00

Discover Milan Day was a huge success Saturday. Here are some photos that I took and some Martha Churchill is sharing with the newspaper. Video is on our Web site, as well.