SPORTS

Ypsi season ends with loss to Bedford See Page 1-D

INSIDE

INSIDE

Local man ranked top knight in America See Page 1-B

Museum hosts Civil War event See Page 10-A

The
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VOL. 28, NO. 11 THURSDAY, MARCH 15, 2012 Weave the Web:
Make sure to click on www.heritage.com around the clock for the most in-depth coverage. See most popular stories.... Fords 2012 F-150 EcoBoost V6 outpowers many V8 trucks.

Ofcials agree to restore washed-out road

Erosion is threatening sewer line
By Jerry LaVaute
Special Writer

At the back entrance to Van Buren Park from Old Denton Road, not far from the Soop Cemetery, the rudimentary path to the parks interior has been washed away by occasional flooding causing gradual erosion,

and the path leading to the public area of the park is no longer accessible by vehicle. The road is not used by the public and features a locked gate and a No Trespassing sign at its entrance. It has been available to vehicles in special circumstances, however, potentially as access for public safety or DPW personnel. Van Buren Township Public Works Director Tom MacDonald recently obtained agreement from township officials to apply

for a Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund Grant to fund 50 percent of the $233,000 cost to replace the road, primarily by installing a box culvert on which the new road will rest. It will resolve the problem for years to come, MacDonald said in his proposal. The grant money should be available in 2013. In the interim, however, the same water that caused the road erosion is threatening a partly exposed sanitary sewer line that runs in the area. The risk to

the integrity of the sewer line is such that bathroom facilities in the parks public beach area have been closed as a precaution, including the beach house, public restrooms and the boathouse used by the rowing team from the University of Michigan. MacDonald said that a temporary solution has been reached with University of Michigan officials, and the rowing crew continues to practice on the lake. A short-term solu-

tion is required until the grant funding is available, MacDonald said, and he is working with contractors to obtain quotes to protect the sewer line, in part by burying it more deeply. MacDonalds preliminary estimate for the replacement and repositioning of the line is $20,000, and he hopes to have the project completed in three weeks. Jerry LaVaute is a special writer for Heritage Media. He can be reached at glavaute@gmail.com or call 734-740-0062.

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SNYDERS FIRST YEAR IN OFFICE: HOWD HE DO? Assessments go

down party lines
By Jim Pruitt
Special Writer

Click on the jobs tab on the home page of our h e i t go . c o m websiteror a g edirectly to http://jobs.heritage.com.

ssessing Gov. Rick Snyders rst year in ofce is a matter of the lens once perceives life through. Republicans love what Michigans new governor did in his first year and await more in 2012. Democrats, however, are less than thrilled with his performance and believe his actions have harmed the state. An informal survey of lawmakers on both sides of the aisle and some local leaders gave some perspective on Snyders words and actions. Requests for comments from Snyders office were not returned. Snyder came into office on a tidal wave of voter support for the Republican Party. Snyder easily dispatched Lansing Mayor Virg Bernero in the general election, which saw the GOP take the top posts in the executive branch: governor, lieutenant governor, Secretary of State and Attorney General; control of both houses in the Legislature and the state Supreme Court. Snyder promised to reinvent Michigan and help create a climate for business and job growth. In his most recent State of the State Address, Snyder talked of creating Michigan

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3.0, following the natural resource era and the industrial era. He cited the successes of his first year and the work that still must be done. He said the state saw its jobless rate decline from 11.1 percent to 9.8 percent, the lowest level since October 2008. He said the state added 80,000 private-sector jobs. The state was able to eliminate a $1.5 billion deficit and make a $255 million payment to the Rainy Day Fund, the first since 2004. Along with getting budget submitted and approved on time and without gimmicks, Snyder cited the elimination of the Michigan Business Tax as a plus. As for the coming year, Snyder wants progress on the new bridge between Michigan and Canada, while getting a modern transportation and infrastructure system in place. One way is to determine a system to properly fund roads, which are facing a $1.4 billion funding shortfall. This was one of a few highlights for John Hieftje, the Democratic mayor of Ann Arbor. He said he appreciated Snyders goals of increased funding for infrastructure. The need for an effective transit plan is paramount as gasoline prices could soon rise toward $6 to $7 a gallon. We will need a transit system to get people to work, Hieftje said. Other issues looming on the horizon include public safety, government accountability, protecting the Great Lakes, continual work
PLEASE SEE SNYDER/2-A If you live in the greater Belleville area and are interested in writing about local events, news and views or even your own interests and hobbies, please contact David Veselenak at dveselenak@heritage. com.

District to add early childhood programs

school may be offered in the fall. It will be available at all four elementary schools, and to students in fifth and sixth grades at South Middle School. Latchkey programs are now being By Jerry LaVaute operated at a couple Special Writer elementary schools in the district. Additional childFor the VAN BUREN very young, a care and education programs may be SCHOOLS Young Fives available to parents program may of Van Buren Public also be offered, in which Schools children in the students who may not be 2012/2013 school year, as a developmentally ready for result of two unanimous kindergarten are placed decisions reached by the in a program in which two members of the Board of years of kindergarten are Education on March 12. available if required. An expanded latchkey Special Services program before and after

Local ads are just a hop away at the MIcentral. com marketplace. While you are there, you can check out all the special supplements of Journal Register Co. newspapers in Michigan. Click on marketplace on the home page of our website or go directly to www.marketplace.micentral.com.

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Latchkey, Young Fives to be offered

Supervisor Diane Kullis outlined each program, after completing some preliminary research. Four different childcare providers who were prepared to continue or to set up latchkey programs at the five affected schools provided bids for services. The low bidder, who was not identified, said that latchkey services before or after school would cost $7 per day per child, or $35 per week. The same services before and after school would cost $65 per week for each child. On average, Kullis said, the hourly cost per child would be $3.50.
PLEASE SEE DISTRICT/3-A Diane Kullis, special services supervisor.

INDEX
Editorial Calendar Sports Page 6-A Page 1-B Page 1-D

Death Notices Page 8-A

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