This Week's File

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Nov. 20, 2007 – Week 12
To: CNS Editors
From: Eric Freedman & Vic Rauch

BEST WISHES FOR THE HOLIDAY WEEKEND.

HERE’S YOUR FILE:

TRANSFERSTUDENTS: Experts say losing college credits when transferring to a four-year university is a waste of time, money and energy. A new Web site, the Michigan Transfer Network, is aimed at easing the transition process and assuring students that as many of their credits as possible will transfer. We hear from the Presidents Council of State Universities, the Michigan Community College Association and the lieutenant governor, who chairs a commission on higher education. By Tim Alberta. FOR LANSING, MARQUETTE, OAKLAND, HOLLAND, LUDINGTON, GREENVILLE, SOUTH BEND, MICHIGAN CITIZEN, GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS & ALL POINTS.

TREEPLANT: Arbor Day is five months away, but the Department of Natural Resources and the DTE Energy Foundation plan to give grants of up to $3,000 each to local governments, schools and nonprofit groups to plant trees on public land in 2008. This year, 30 grants worth $60,125 went out in communities served by Detroit Edison and Michigan Consolidated Gas Co. A Romeo schools official describes how the district spent the grant it received this year. The program also is intended to raise public awareness about where to safely plant trees—for example, away from power lines. By Andrew F. Mutavdzija. FOR ROMEO, MACOMB, MICHIGAN CITIZEN, BAD AXE, OAKLAND, MARQUETTE, UP NORTH, ALPENA, PETOSKEY & ALL POINTS.

w/TREEPLANTINFO: List of some of the 30 projects funded in 2007, including ones in Oakland, Macomb, Alpena, Delta, Kalkaska and Huron counties. Source: DTE Energy.

SCHOOLSAFETYPLEDGE: Students at 132 schools around the state, including Ojibwa Elementary in Macomb and Thunder Bay Junior High in Alpena, signed safety pledges this month. It was part of an effort to promote safety awareness, prevention of bullying and anti-violence efforts. Teachers also benefit through instructional material and lesson plans. By Crystal L. Burks. FOR MACOMB, MICHIGAN CITIZEN, ALPENA & ALL POINTS.

DNRCUTS: If the Legislature fails to approve the first hike in hunting and fishing fees since 1996, 14 conservation officers will lose their jobs, on top of 20 existing vacancies, the Department of Natural Resources warns. Michigan has the lowest fees in the Midwest. DNR and Michigan United Conservation Clubs say layoffs could mean slower response time to crimes, accidents and emergencies, as well as an increase in poaching. A Cadillac-based DNR law enforcement supervisor warns that lay-offs mean his officers will have to respond to calls from surrounding areas in his 11-county district. A West Branch lawmaker prefers channeling sales tax revenue from sporting goods to DNR instead of raising fees. By Jeff Riley Jr. FOR LUDINGTON, GRAYLING, CADILLAC, UP NORTH, CLARE, TRAVERSE CITY, GLADWIN, HOLLAND, SOUTH BEND, ALPENA, BAD AXE, GREENVILLE & ALL POINTS.

READHEMINGWAY: A new traveling photographic exhibition focuses on Ernest Hemingway’s ties to the northern Lower Peninsula, and Walloon Lake in particular, as part of an effort to promote reading of his books, particularly the “Nick Adams Stories,” whose main character reflects some of Hemingway’s own experiences. Sponsors include the Michigan Humanities Council and Central Michigan University’s Clarke Historical Library and the Hemingway Society. Upcoming sites include Marquette, Three Rivers, Alpena, Marquette, Lansing and Cadillac. The exhibition opened in Mio and will close in Flint. By Hayley Outslay. FOR PETOSKEY, UP NORTH, MARQUETTE, LANSING, THREE RIVERS, STURGIS, SOUTH BEND, CADILLAC & ALL POINTS.

WARMEMORIALS: Citing recent incidents in Monroe and Mount Pleasant, some lawmakers want to crank up the penalties for vandalizing or destroying war memorials. They say deterrence is necessary in a time when the public has strong but mixed feelings about U.S. military involvement in Iraq. The mother of a dead soldier from Monroe talks about her reaction on discovering the damage at the city’s War on Terror monument last Memorial Day weekend. We interview sponsors from Grand Ledge and West Branch. Other backers include representatives from Manistee, Portland, Rochester Hills and Bay City. By Gregory Herbert. FOR MONROE, LUDINGTON, LANSING, OAKLAND, CLARE, UP NORTH, CADILLAC & ALL POINTS.

WOLVES&MOOSE: Climate change is taking its toll on the wolves and moose of Isle Royale, where the numbers of both species are down. Wildlife biologists at Michigan Technological University say warmer-than-normal temperatures in recent years are the principle reason for the decline. Aside from the biological impact, future visitors to the national park are more likely to be disappointed when they don’t see any moose, a Clarkston travel writer says. By Eric Freedman. FOR MARQUETTE, TRAVERSE CITY, OAKLAND, PETOSKEY, LUDINGTON, CADILLAC, LEELANAU, HOLLAND & ALL POINTS.

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