Congressman Dave Camp will face political opposition come the November election. Camp, the 11-term Republican from 139 Ashman in Midland, in November will square off against Debra Freidell Wirth, a Clinton County Democrat who lives at 12740 S. Bauer in Eagle Township. Freidell Wirth's biography on the Saginaw County Democratic Party web site indicates she is an attorney and a member of the Michigan Association for Justice plaintiff's lawyers association.
Four Midland Public Schools teachers were honored recently with the 57th annual Gerstacker Proficiency Awards. The awards, which have been given to four teachers each year since 1956, this year honored Plymouth Elementary third grade teacher Tracey Moeggenberg, Siebert Elementary first grade teacher Penny Church, Jefferson Middle School language arts instructor Mary Zeitler and H. H. Dow High School social studies and English teacher Amy Bushey. The event took place at the Griswold Lecture Hall at Northwood University.
Some say eliminating the personal property tax will encourage investment while others are concerned how local units of government will fare if it is eliminated. And others? They have no idea what the personal property tax is.
The Midland Area Chamber of Commerce hosted an "Issues and Answers" session Tuesday morning with guest speakers William Rusten and Jon Lynch to discuss the tax reform. Rusten works as the director of strategy for Gov. Rick Snyder and previously worked for Gov. William Milliken as his chief staff advisor on environmental matters.
Barb and Mike Ecker have never heard a word from their 8-year-old son Michael. He hasn't developed mentally as quickly as others his age, seizures are frequent, and he requires 24/7 care. Yet he wears a constant smile. "Through it all, he was always happy and a loving little boy," Barb Ecker said. "Through it all, all of the obstacles and challenges that he's been through, he's just been a little huge light." Michael Ecker has been selected as one of 24 people from around the world to undergo clinical testing for a rare genetic disorder called Angelman syndrome.
Pets of all sorts paraded around Midland on Saturday for the 8th Annual Parade Your Pet Pageant. The free event started at 12:30 p.m. Pets were competing for prizes in best costume, best trick, most unusual pet, smallest pet, largest pet, cutest pet, most-looks-like-their-owner and best of show. The pageant was sponsored by Northern Animal Clinic, Howl-A-Day Pet Resort, Soldan's Feeds and Pet Supplies, Wolverine Bank, SOS Animal Rescue, I've Been Framed and Humane Society of Midland County.
Midland native Julie Wright has made a career out of clowning, whether its been locally at birthday parties or on a bigger stage in the Royal Hanneford Circus. But crafting balloon masterpieces, juggling and generating laughs aren't the only benefits of her job. It has also helped her overcome her shy nature. "I was a very shy person, so the clowning helped me. It's like a mask," Wright said. "I still struggle with my shyness in certain situations, around strangers. But, I have a character that isn't shy." As Jewls The Clown, Wright not only has masked her shyness, but has brought joy to thousands of people during her 25-year career.
The Midland County Jail made nearly $1.25 million in 2011 by renting out beds to inmates from out of county, a story from the Midland Daily News said Tuesday. Last year, the jail housed inmates from Iosco, Kalamazoo and Genesee counties, as well as 110 federal prisoners through a contract with the U.S. Marshals Service. In the article, Midland County Sheriff Jerry Nielsen said he was pleased with the money generated by renting out beds, adding that the money generated goes to help pay off the expenses to build the jail.
No Midland residents spoke during a public hearing Monday on the proposed $77.8 million City of Midland budget for 2012-13. The budget would maintain the current property tax rate of 14.79 mills. One mill equals $1 per $1,000 of assessed value, so the owner of a home with an assessed value of $100,000 would pay $1,479 in taxes to the city. The budget meets council goals to keep the tax rate flat, protect public safety jobs, increase funding for road projects and increase in the city's fund balance, Midland Assistance City Manager Dave Keenan said. "We feel sufficient resources have been appropriated in the proposed budget to maintain core services and the array of amenities at their current levels," he said.
When Kaylynn Zia and her husband, Dr. Javed Zia, moved to Midland seven years ago, "as an interracial couple, we really appreciated a diverse community," she said. But they were surprised, Zia added, to see the variety didn't extend to the region's restaurants. She grew up near Detroit, around an abundance of dining options, and her husband, a Pakistani physician, hungered for Indian cuisine. Two years ago, with no other options on the local front, they opened LaZeez Indian Restaurant and the adjacent LaZeez International Market. Its evolved, she said, with the addition of a banquet room in Midland and a second restaurant now open at Broomfield and South Mission in Mount Pleasant.
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