Football | Ithaca QB part of early 2010 commits , 4A Mount Pleasant residents enjoy rides, more at Summerfest, 3A
Central Michigan Life
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Mount Pleasant, Mich.
[cm-life.com]
Office Pros start voting on new proposed pact Union president says membership doesn’t like deal By Amelia Eramya Staff Reporter
photos by Libby March/photo editor
Jan Pauquette, of Barryton, right, laughs and talks with her daughter, Shawn Schalm, of Clare, between customers at the farmers’ market Thursday at Island Park. Pauquette and Schalm have been coming to the market on Thursday mornings as part of Pauquette’s business, Nature’s Expressions, for more than 30 years.
Home grown
Locals persist raising, selling crops despite ailing economy By Joe Borlik | Senior Reporter
an Pauquette has attended Mount Pleasant’s farmers’ market for more than 30 years. The Isabella County resident grows and sells her own perennial flowers and herbs right out of her van. “Either I’m not very smart or it’s worthwhile,” Pauquette said. She said when she first started selling goods at the farmers’ market people didn’t know what perennials were. There were very few variations on perennials, the annually blooming flowers and herbs, she said. The economy has also hurt the business since she first started. “We’ve done probably about 60 or 70 percent of what we did last year, and that was a drop from the year before,” Pauquette said.
Despite suffering sales, Pauquette said gardening gives her a chance to create works of art. “I can express myself in a garden,” Pauquette said. She said wild daisies were the first thing she ever planted. She raised her daughter Shawn Schalm to garden. Schalm has known plants for as long as she can remember. The duo sell their goods together at the farmers’ market as a family business. “My mom is an excellent gardener,” Schalm said. “Any time I have a question on gardening, I always go to my mom.”
Members of the Office Professionals Union could have a new contract this week. Members met to discuss the tentative agreement made between Central Michigan University and the union Tuesday. “There isn’t an outcome,” said Kevin Smart, director of employee relations and human resources technology. “I really can’t discuss the details.” Members can vote today and results are expected in the afternoon. Karen Bellingar, president of Office Professionals and executive secretary of the school of engineering and technology, doesn’t expect members to ratify
Schalm said her mother designed all of her gardens which take up the majority of their yard. She is now raising her 7-yearold Dylan to plant gardens. Schalm said her husband works as a chef at the Woodland Hospice and uses herbs and vegetables from their gardens in his dishes. She said she enjoys planting bright and attractive flowers for hummingbirds. She has always enjoyed the farmers’ market, Pauquette said. “I think it’s excellent,” Pau-
quette said. “It gives me a chance to talk to a lot of gardeners. They’re great people.” Pauquette and her daughter are not the only ones that enjoy selling homegrown delicacies at the farmers’ market. Clare resident Katie Bugbee has been selling kettle corn and cider slushies for three seasons. “Corn is good,” she said. “Everybody’s recipe is a little different.” The markets are held every Thursday from June to October from 6 to 10 a.m. metro@cm-life.com
Other unions Out of the seven unions on campus, three are currently in negotiations with CMU administration since their contracts expired June 30. The Supervisory/Technical union began bargaining in March and have been meeting
A unions | 2A
CMU could offer rental textbooks By Eric Dresden Editor in Chief
Shawn Schalm, of Clare, adjusts blooms at the farmers’ market Thursday at Island Park.
the tentative agreement. She said the tentative agreement was presented as a final offer rather than an indefinite offer. “Based on the meeting, they were in favor of voting it down,” Bellingar said. “It wasn’t agreed upon by (the Office Professional’s) bargaining unit.” Smart said if the tentative agreement is not ratified, CMU administration and the Office Professional’s bargaining unit will begin to bargain again. “We’ll get (the contracts) settled,” Smart said.
Textbook rentals could be a new option for Central Michigan University. Barry Waters, director of the CMU Bookstore, said they are considering a program with Nebraska Book Company which will begin on July 15. “Despite the fact we have had no push from anyone on our campus to begin a rental program, we are considering offering selected titles as rentals for fall,” Waters said in an e-mailed statement. Waters said the main reason the bookstore is considering offering the books is to give students alternatives. He said there will be a list supported by the rental programs but he is not sure what books will be offered yet. “Rental is the hot topic around the country but those schools doing rental are only doing a very small percentage of their titles as rental,” Waters said.
He said the cost savings for students won’t be known until the books offered are decided. Waters said used books still offer the better savings. “Used textbooks are still the best value and when sold back at the end of the term translate to a greater savings than rental,” Waters said. Waters said he does not foresee any savings for CMU with the contract. “No money savings, the only real cost to us will be time in learning the process with our wholesaler,” Waters said. Nanette Trottier, a Mikado senior said the idea is interesting but for her it depends on the importance of the book. “Some people might want to keep their books,” Trottier said. Cyprien Nanah, a Cameroon graduate student, said he can see it as a good idea but will not take advantage of it. “In the future I may need to go to those books again,” he said. “I’d rather buy books.” university@cm-life.com
New texting ban, tanning tax worry some students Both effective Thursday; get mixed reaction By Maria Leone Staff Reporter
Texters and tanners will have to face some major changes this week. Thursday, two new changes will come into effect: the law banning texting while
driving and a new 10 percent tax on tanning services. Some students are not excited about either of these changes. “My mom sent me an article about the new law as soon as she heard about it,” Mount Pleasant resident Alyssa Wilcox said. Wilcox said she likes to text while driving, but will try to be more careful. The ban on texting was signed into law by Gov. Jen-
nifer Granholm on April 30 and will cost $100 for a first offense and repeat offenses will cost $200. Lansing sophomore Kellie Eavey said the new law will not discourage her from texting while driving. “When I’m turning in the left turn lane, I’d rather be reckless driving than miss sending my text to my friends,” Eavey said. Eavey said sometimes if she gets too caught up in
messaging, people honk their horns at her. Even when she is talking on the phone, she puts her phone away if she sees a police officer. Nicky Van, a Portage senior, said he knows many people and often can’t avoid texting them back and answering their e-mails. “It’s a habit and I don’t think I will every really stop texting,” Van said. “I know too many people and I’m a
very busy guy, however I will be more cautious about it though.” Tanning tax Mike Lapoe, owner of BTan, 1620 S. Mission St., said people may start tanning less as a result of the 10 percent tax which will be added as a part of the health care bill, but he is not sure yet. “People need to understand that the 10 percent increase will go to the federal
government for the health reform bill and not to our salon,” Lapoe said Lapoe said summer is not the best time for sales, so he will probably notice the change when more people are in the city during the fall. Amanda Ouro, a senior from Sterling Heights, said she will continue to tan. “I still like to tan so I’m
A Text | 2A
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Look at a picture gallery of the events and people of Summerfest.
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2A || Wednesday, June 30, 2010 || Central Michigan Life
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EVENTS CALENDAR
Unions |
PHOTO OF THE WEEK
continued from 1A
Friday
w Clare Summerfest will be held from 5 to 11 p.m. at Shamrock Park, included is a family picnic, live performances and fireworks. w The Michigan ASA Girls Fastpitch Tournament begins in Island Park at noon. The tournament will continue until July 5.
Saturday
w A youth car wash and bake sale in the Blanchard Telephone Co.’s parking lot beginning at 10 a.m. will be held by the Blanchard Church of God.
amelia eramya/staff photographer
Rob McConnell, 36, of Mount Pleasant runs with his daughters, Alexis, 11, and Cammie, 9, at the grand opening of the Access Adventure Trail at Chipp-A-Waters Park, 1403 W. High St. Saturday. McConnell has been a member of the Mount Pleasant Striders for one year. “I started running in high school and in college,� he said. “These events are fun and it’s a community thing.�
university@cm-life.com
English takes seat on Mount Pleasant City Commission By Ryan Taljonick Staff Reporter
Sunday
w The Verve Pipe and several other bands will perform at the Soaring Eagle Casino and Resort from 2:30 to 10:30 p.m. for a free 4th of July concert. A fireworks show will also take place.
Tuesday
w “Sweeney Todd!� orchestra auditions will begin at the Broadway Theatre at 6 p.m.
Corrections
Nancy English is excited to take on a whole new set of responsibilities and commitments. The Mount Pleasant Appointments Committee appointed English to fill Jeff Palmer’s vacant seat on the Mount Pleasant City Commission. She sat in on her first meeting on Monday. English served on the Mount Pleasant Planning Committee for about a year and has been involved with several local committees and organizations, including Vision 20/20, a group dedicated to improving Isabella County communities. She said she is excited to step up to the plate and fill the vacant seat on the city commission. “It’s a very big undertaking. I’m sure there’s a lot of people who have no idea the
Central Michigan Life has a long-standing commitment to fair and accurate reporting. It is our policy to correct factual errors. Please e-mail news@cm-life.com. Š Central Michigan Life 2010 Volume 91, Number 91
text |
vast amount of knowledge these commissioners have to get their arms around to make good decisions for our community,� English said. “It’s very humbling.� The appointments committee, consisting of Vice Mayor Bruce Kilmer, Commissioner Jon Joslin and Commissioner David McGuire, received 10 applicants for the vacant city commission spot. McGuire said English stood out the most. “She’s had experience on the planning commission, she has years of experience in a position where she’s had to make tough decisions, she’s very positive about Mount Pleasant,� he said. “She’s just very conscientious and I think she’ll work hard to study things and make the right decisions.� Kilmer said her experience with the master plan was also a positive.
“She seemed like a person who could make some of the difficult decisions we have to make regarding the budget,� Kilmer said. He said English is independent and hard working and will be a great addition to the city commission. “We wanted to look at somebody with a broad range of experience in the community so that they would be in touch with a large section of our community and understand the great assets we have in Mount Pleasant, and also the challenges we’re facing,� Kilmer said.
English said she has a lot to learn but will work hard in order to make competent decisions as a member of the city commission. “My job right now is to come in and get up to speed,� English said. “I’m just absorbing as much information as I can, talking to citizens, commissioners, the city, preparing to make the best decisions we can make moving forward,� English said.
Wesley Foundation, which hopes to expand its 1400 S. Washington property. Mount Pleasant resident Jim Engler also requested the city waive his 2009 interest and penalty from his personal property tax bill after a judgement in Isabella County court. Commissioner Kathy Ling suggested postponing the decision because the commission does not have a policy on such requests.
Other issues Monday the commission set a July 26 public hearing to consider rezoning of the
-Senior reporter Joe Borlik contributed to this report. metro@cm-life.com
Summer just got even better...
UNIVERSITY EVENTS PRESENTS:
Music Mall
THE RHYHM BILLIES
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continued from 2A
still going to go, however I think the only thing that will change a bit is how often I will go,â&#x20AC;? Ouro said. Ouro said she does not tan too often, but enjoys how she feels after a trip to the salon. â&#x20AC;&#x153;People have already complained a lot about the new tax increase and are buying their packages now, before the bill goes in effect,â&#x20AC;? said Lauren Conn, assistant manager of Mountain Tan, 1635 E. Broomfield St. Conn said their business expects an increase in sales until Thursday. â&#x20AC;&#x153;They tax alcohol and cigarettes,â&#x20AC;? Conn said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;People will find a way to afford tanning too.â&#x20AC;?
on the
ALMA PERCUSSION ENSEMBLE
RAY KAMALAY & THE RED HOT PEPPERS
The Rhythm Billies brings the style of â&#x20AC;&#x153;old-timeâ&#x20AC;? music that has similar sound to that of country with a mix of bluegrass to Warriner Mall on
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July 7th at 7:00pm.
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metro@cm-life.com
Alma Percussion Ensemble MOUNTAIN TOWN SINGERS
brings a mix of jazz, steel drum and classical music to Warriner Mall on
July 21st at 7:00pm.
Ray Kamalay & The Red Hot Peppers Trio brings cool, mainstream jazz of the swing variety to Warriner Mall on
WHAT COULD YOU DO IN 85 MINS?
Catch up on a favorite book.
and discussing since then. The Broadcasting Union ratified a contract at the end of May. Smart said they accepted a flat pay rate for 2010-2011. Their contract will begin July 1 and will expire June 30, 2013. â&#x20AC;&#x153;In addition to the zero increase on wages, the union agreed to freeze health care contributions from the university,â&#x20AC;? Smart said. Currently, the university pays 92 percent of the cost of health care premiums, he said. Smart said the university is holding off on increase in wages because of budget issues. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The major objective is to look for opportunities to moderate increasing cost of operations,â&#x20AC;? Smart said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re a labor intensive business.â&#x20AC;? The Police Union will be entering the third year of their contract. Smart said there is a scheduled increase of three percent in wages per their contract. The contract expires June 30, 2011. Maintenance and Custodial Service Unionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s contract will also expire June 30, 2011. Smart said Custodial Service Union members will receive an increase of two and a half percent in wages as their contract continues into its third and final year.
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July 14th at 7:00pm.
Mountain Town Singers A premier menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a capella chorus performs at Warriner Mall on
July 28th 7:00pm.
The event is free and open to the public and will be held at Warriner Mall on Franklin Street. If it rains, the event will be held in Plachta Auditorium. All performances will also be broadcast live on 104.3 WCZY.
www.cm-life.com
[News]
Central Michigan Life || Wednesday, June 30, 2010 || 3A
Fluoride: Smile saver or hazardous material in water? Government bodies, researchers disagree on effects By Ryan Taljonick Staff Reporter
Editor’s note: This is the third article in a series examining water fluoridation in Mount Pleasant.
photos by Chris Bacarella/staff photographer
Alma resident Jamie Redman holds her daughter Cali Thomas on the merry-go-round Saturday evening at the Mount Pleasant Summerfest in Island Park.
Summerfest provides carnival fun By Kristyn Woll | Staff Reporter
G
ood weather brought many out for a good time over the weekend. The 26th annual Mount Pleasant Summerfest had plenty of activities. With a children’s village, used book sale, softball tournament, fireworks, a duck race, parades, a petting zoo and flea market a diverse crowd could enjoy the weekend. “I liked all the promotion tents and vendors they had,” Mount Pleasant resident Alyssa Atkinson said. “It was a nice break between the rides and the food.” A children’s parade on Wednesday led kids through town and to a free pizza and ice cream party afterwards. The kids were welcome to take in crafts, clowns and
Clare Primary School student Zaidin Strobel holds on to his little brother, Damin Strobel, as they speed down the Fun Slide on a canvas sack Saturday afternoon at the Mount Pleasant Summerfest at Island Park.
face painting for free. For the older crowd, a blues band performed in the food and beverage pavilion. “The beer tent was a big hit,” said Nick Konieczka, who worked on the sound and lighting set up for the band. “It was all locals and local bands hanging out in there, so there was a sense of community.”
The festival went on for five days from Wednesday to Sunday, only suffering from 2 inches of rainfall within 2 to 3 hours on Sunday which shut down several of the carnival rides. The Rods in the Park auto show, which was set to be held that morning, was rescheduled for August 18. Visitors on Friday and
Saturday night were able to take in a fireworks show in the skies north of Island Park. “Everyone was smiling and having a great time the whole week,” said Keith Voeks, Summerfest director of logistics. “I didn’t hear any complaints.” metro@cm-life.com
Grandparents U provides bonding time on campus by Ryan Taljonick Staff Reporter
Haley Fox has always wanted to be a policewoman when she grows up. But last week the 11-year-old found a new interest — public broadcasting. Haley and her grandmother, Joyce Coe, were two of 110 participants in the third annual Grandparents U, a three-day program giving kids between the ages of eight and 12 and their grandparents a chance to bond and experience a taste of college life on Central Michigan University’s campus. “I really liked it all,” Haley said. “We did lots of different things, it was really fun.” During the event, participants stayed in residence halls, ate in on-campus cafeterias
and took miniature class sessions lasting about an hour. Anne Sanders, assistant director of alumni relations, coordinated the event. “We try to make it a collegelike experience,” she said. “We want to provide an experience for people to come to campus and see what CMU has to offer.” Class sessions were tailored to be enjoyable for the participants while offering a glimpse of what a career in each subject might entail. A variety of different class topics were offered, including chemistry, musical theater, foreign language and science class sessions. Sanders said more than half of this year’s participants have attended the program at least once before.
Fox and her grandmother have attended all three years of Grandparents U. “We love everything,” Coe said. “The instructors were very, very nice, they’re just so caring about the grandparents and kids. It’s a fun experience.” Coe appreciated that the program allowed kids to experience a variety of career fields. If not for the program, her granddaughter may not have developed an interest in public broadcasting, she said. Fox said she really enjoyed staying in the dorms. “I really liked it all,” she said. “You learn a lot, too.” Cindy Thompson and her 9-year-old granddaughter, Hailee Thompson, have also attended all three years of the program. Cindy said she really enjoyed
LIFE IN BRIEF Brooks Hall closed Brooks Hall will be closed for up to three weeks while repairs and tests are done on the building’s electrical systems. Only those working in the building as well as students enrolled in BIO 208: Microbiology and BIO 326: Genetics will be allowed in. Lecture portions of those classes will be moved to Dow 170 but lab sessions will still be held in Brooks. Students in those courses will have to enter through the loading dock door and will be directed to the lab.
Adjunct faculty union rally The Union of Teaching Faculty is planning a rally to gather support for unionization. Daniel Kukuk, an organizer from the American Federation of Teachers of Michigan, said a rally is planned today at 11 a.m. at the Charles V. Park Library mall. “Currently we’ve had no movement from the administration,” Kukuk said.
New printing policy The new “PrintQ” printing solution went into effect June 28. The new regulations focus on increasing sustainability by allowing student Global IDs $10 worth of prints per semester, translating to 250 pages printed in black-and-white. More prints can be purchased at a rate of $2 per 50 black-and-white pages. “PrintQ” will go into effect at participating public labs across campus and may not affect all computer facilities under individual colleges.
being able to bond with her granddaughter. “It’s important because you’re with your grandparents, that one-on-one time,” she said. Cindy said Hailee has decided to attend Central Michigan University when she gets older. Hailee said she wants to be a doctor. She wears a CMU headband to bed every night. “We’re going to come next year, too,” Thompson said. “She won’t forget this.” university@cm-life.com
Water fluoridation, the practice of adding fluoride to municipal water supplies to fight tooth decay, is a hotly contested issue not restricted to the Mount Pleasant city limits. Government agencies such as the American Dental Association and the Centers for Disease Control have said water fluoridation is a safe, effective way to fight tooth decay. The CDC heralded water fluoridation as one of the ten great public health achievements of the 20th century. “The CDC’s understanding of and support for community water fluoridation is based on more than 65 years of use and research as well as an assessment of a science base developed over many years by independent scientists,” said Linda Orgain, a health communications specialist from the CDC’s Division of Oral Health in an e-mailed statement. Mount Pleasant dentist Kenneth Egger feels water fluoridation is beneficial and the practice should continue. Egger said he used to practice dentistry in Detroit, where a majority of residents drink municipal fluoridated water. In Mount Pleasant, many more residents drink from unfluoridated sources. “I saw a lot fewer cavities and decay down there than I do up here,” he said. Hardy Limeback, head of preventive dentistry at the University of Toronto and dentist of more than 27 years, formerly supported water fluoridation, but has since reconsidered. “A lot of dentists change their minds about fluoridation when they read about the potential harm but are then afraid to speak out against the mainstream in their profession,” he said in an e-mailed response. Mandatory medication However, some have spoken out against water fluoridation, claiming it is not a medical miracle, but instead a toxic practice. Paul Connett, professor emeritus of environmental chemistry at St. Lawrence University, has studied the water fluoridation issue for more than 14 years. He said fluoride is the only chemical added to water supplies intended to treat the human body. “The practice should never have started,” Connett said. “Using the public water sup-
ply to deliver medication is absolutely ridiculous. It defies every notion of pharmacology that you could think of.” Connett said the dosage of fluoride intake can not be controlled because every person drinks a different amount of water. “We’re allowing a whole community, in some cases a whole state, to do to everyone what a doctor cannot do to a single person, and that is to force them to take medication,” Connett said.
Fluoride source Connett said over 90 percent of the fluoride used in municipal water supplies is a hazardous waste byproduct of the phosphate fertilizer industry. “They can’t dump it into the sea by international law, they can’t dump it locally because it’s too concentrated, it would cost them an arm and a leg to deal with it as a hazardous waste,” Connett said. “But if someone buys it from them, it becomes a product. Once it is an industrial product, it no longer is covered by hazardous waste regulations.”
Possible effects Kathleen Thiessen, a senior scientist at SENES Oak Ridge Inc. Center for Risk Analysis in Tennessee, said exposure to fluoride can cause several adverse health effects. She served as a member of the National Research Council panel that studied fluoride in 2006. Some of the studies the panel reviewed showed fluoride may lower IQ during childhood development. Dental and skeletal fluorosis have also been linked to fluoride consumption. Fluoride is biocumulative, meaning it builds up in the body after years of consumption, and makes bones harder, but more brittle, Connett said. Connett said fluoride may also be linked to osteosarcoma, a form of bone cancer, in young men, as well as a decrease in thyroid function. Though water fluoridation is marginally effective, Connet said, there is no difference in tooth decay between fluoridated and non-fluoridated countries. Connett said the ADA and CDC continue to push for water fluoridation despite evidence that the practice is harmful and ineffective. “It’s politics which absolutely controls and runs all the way on this issue,” Connett said. “We would love to resolve it scientifically, we have attempted to resolve the issue scientifically, but the other side has power. They have the power and the chain of command of the American Dental Association, which can fan out to every dentist in the country. It’s the most frustrating experience of my life.” metro@cm-life.com
4A || Wednesday, June 30, 2010 || Central Michigan Life
cm-life.com/category/sports
[Sports] FOOTBALL
Ithaca QB among 2011 commits By Aaron McMann Senior Reporter
AMELIA ERAMYA/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
From left: Heather Oesterle, assistant coach of the Central Michigan University’s women’s basketball team, Sue Guevara, head coach, and Dwayne Scott, a women’s summer basketball coach for the Amateur Athletic Union stand on the sidelines of the basketball court in the Student Activity Center.
GROWING UP WITH GUEVARA New assistant women’s basketball coach Heather Oesterle adjusts to role alongside former coach, mentor By Aaron McMann | Senior Reporter
Sometimes you want something so bad you’re willing to do whatever it takes to get it. Heather Oesterle, the newest member of the Central Michigan women’s basketball coaching staff, can attest to that. After playing four years at Michigan under current CMU head coach Sue Guevara, Oesterle looked to her former coach for advice for going into coaching. The two went recruiting during the summer of 2002 and Guevara introduced her to Amy Tucker, associate head women’s basketball coach at Stanford. Tucker, looking to give an old friend a favor, proposed to Oesterle the idea of being a volunteer coach. The Cardinal were coming off a 32-3 season and Sweet 16 appearance in the NCAA tournament. “I was like, ‘really, how would I get out there?,” Oesterle said. “It never crossed my mind that would be (an option).” However, soon enough, it
became her only option. Just months removed from graduating college, while eager, she was young and unproven. Toledo, Miami (OH) and Oakland all passed on her. “I was on vacation with my family and, on the same day, all three called and said I didn’t get the job,” Oesterle said. “I was bawling and everything.” The next day she called Tucker at Stanford, inquiring about the volunteer position. After getting the OK, Oesterle packed her bags and headed for California with her mom. During Oesterle’s brief time there, Stanford finished the 2002-03 season 27-5, including making another NCAA appearance. Oesterle, able to sit in coaches meetings, learned and absorbed as much as she could from legendary Stanford head coach Tara VanDerveer. But the fact remained she wasn’t being compensated. “It was hard,” Oesterle said. “I ended up moving in with Heidi,
Tara’s sister, because I ran out of money. I had to sweep floors during halftime of the men’s games and volleyball games so I could earn some extra money.” Her time out west proved to be the break she needed as Miami head coach Maria Fantanarosa, who passed on her a season before, hired her as an assistant coach for the 2003-04 season. She spent five seasons with the RedHawks, winning two Mid-American Conference championships - including the team’s first-ever NCAA appearance in 2008. She spent the next two seasons at Northern Illinois as an assistant and recruiting coordinator. MEETING GUEVARA Oesterle’s relationship with Guevara goes beyond her college days. Guevara, then an assistant coach at Michigan State, first noticed Heather during her early years playing at Mason High School, where she currently holds the school scoring record, and with the Capital City Express AAU team. “She was just a big guard that saw the floor very well,” Guevara said. “She was always looking to hit the open player, she was very unselfish and one of those
garbage kids that did all the little things.” Growing up in Mason, a 20minute drive south down U.S.127 from East Lansing, also meant supporting the Spartans. She attended MSU basketball camps as a youngster while Guevara was in East Lansing and played pickup games against MSU teams on several occasions. She even remembers her dad taking her to MSU women’s games when she was younger. But things changed when Guevara took the head coaching job at Michigan in 1996. “One of the reasons I wanted to go Michigan State was because of coach,” Oesterle said. “I felt like I knew her the best on staff and we had the best relationship.” Her close-knit relationship with Guevara ended up leading her to Ann Arbor and state rival Michigan. “When I got the job at Michigan, there were two kids that I knew I wanted to have with me at Michigan and Heather was definitely one of them,” Guevara said. “To put the block M on instead of the S, that was a big deal.” She played four seasons A OESTERLE | 6A
The Central Michigan football team hit the ground running this past week in carving out its future. CMU received verbal commitments from five players over the weekend for its 2011 recruiting class, including Ithaca High School’s Alex Niznak. The 6-foot-3, 220-pound quarterback told head coach Dan Enos on Saturday he will make Mount Pleasant home, ending his a recruitment process that saw him garner offers from other Mid-American Conference schools Western Michigan, Toledo and Northern Illinois. “How many times has Central Michigan got the best quarterback in the state of Michigan?,” said Kyle Warber, Mlive.com blogger. “He’s got all the tools. The only thing he’s missing and the only reason he probably didn’t get an offer from Indiana or Northwestern is that quirky throwing motion. But if Central Michigan fans want to be optimistic, Tim Tebow had a quirky throwing motion and he turned out OK.” Niznak led Ithaca to the MHSAA Division 6 football state semifinals while rushing for 1,637 yards and 28 touchdowns and throwing for 2,044 yards and 22 touchdowns. Safety Denzel Wimberly (Cardinal Gibbons HS, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) also made his commitment known Saturday after attending CMU’s 7-on-7 team camp. “I liked the coaches a lot. My mother and father both liked the place and I liked the atmosphere of the place,” Wimberly said Tuesday. “They actually liked me off the field more than
they did on the field. They said I was a guy that would fit their program on the field and off the field and the type of guy they were looking for.” Wimberly is Enos’ first recruit from Florida, a state Cincinnati head coach Butch Jones recruited pretty heavily during his time at CMU. “He opens the door for more Florida recruits like his teammate Tim Burton, who has a Wisconsin offer and CMU offer,” Warber said. “He’s a little bit on the short side, but he has all the tools to be a great safety. He’s fast, got a 27 score on his ACT so you know he’s going to have great instincts and be really smart.” On trying to convince his friend and teammate Burton about choosing CMU, Wimberly said: “Once I committed, I texted him and he said he was proud of me for it and that he would give heavy consideration into it since I liked it because we trust each other.” The Chippewas also picked up commitments in the last week from offensive tackle Ramadan Ahmeti (Lansing Waverly), wide receiver Jason Wilson (Farmington), linebacker Tim Hamilton (Birmingham Brother Rice) and defensive lineman Justin Cherocci (Birmingham Brother Rice).
DEPARTURES Sophomore defensive backs D.J. Scott and Evan Ray both left the team. Scott, a 2009 recruit from Thomas Johnson High School in Frederick, Md., enrolled early during the 2008 winter semester. He finished the 2009-10 season with eight tackles while playing in 14 games as a freshman. sports@cm-life.com
6A || Wednesday, June 30, 2010 || Central Michigan Life
OESTERLE| continued from 4A
1998-99-2001-02 - with the Wolverines, the first two of which were spent behind forward Stacey Thomas, the 23rd pick in the 2000 WNBA Draft. “I don’t know if Heather ever knew this, but her mom called,” Guevara said as Oesterle remembered, began laughing and interjected herself to say her mom apologized the other day for it. “Her mom called about playing time and said ‘please don’t tell Heather I called.’ I get that all the time. It’s like ‘no, if Heather wants playing time she understands her role. Janet, I appreciate you calling, but this is between Heather and I.’” She quickly earned a starting position and was named team captain her senior year. Guevara said her willingness to wait her turn and work hard to get where she wanted to be is a very important characteristic to have when dealing with players. “She got herself into the best shape she could be in, understood her role and contributed,” Guevara said. “Was it easy?
Absolutely not. She never quit. Maybe got down a little bit, but understood these are the steps I have to take if I want to play.” THE HIRE THAT ALMOST NEVER HAPPENED Following the 2009-10 season, NIU head coach Carol Owens decided to step down, leaving Oesterle and the rest of Owens’ staff looking for other jobs. “I was stressing,” Oesterle said. “She told us May 1 and at that point the Final Four is over. I applied to everything and sent my resume everywhere. I didn’t know what I was going to do.” Looking to help Oesterle out, Guevara made a few phone calls on her behalf. She interviewed with a school via telephone and went down to Virginia to interview for a job there, but had no luck. Meanwhile, Guevara was on the brink of losing one of her top assistants, Bill Ferrara, to Hofstra. “Bill was going to leave, then he didn’t leave and then he left,” Guevara said. “You have people in your head as to who you’d like to bring in. Initially,
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[Sports] there was some miscommunication because I didn’t think Heather was interested in our job.” After Ferrara’s departure, Guevara had a telephone conversation with Molly Murray, former associate head coach at NIU, inquiring about Oesterle. According to Guevara, Murray told her that she wouldn’t be interested because “you would be her third MAC school.” Hurt and upset, Guevara talked to Owens on the phone about a week later and the former NIU head coach told her that Oesterle was still without a job. When Guevara told Owens she didn’t think Oesterle was interested, Guevara said Owens replied: “Sue, she is interested in your job. She just didn’t want to step on anybody’s toes.” Guevara immediately hung up the phone and called Oesterle, who interviewed the next week. “She told me to think about it and call her Sunday,” Oesterle said. “I got 20 miles down the road and I called her and said, ‘This is where I want to be.’ “You can tell when you fit somewhere. I was really excited driving away from my interview. I’ve never been this ex-
Ticker Rose qualifies for IAFF World Juniors Freshman Alex Rose qualified for the IAAF World Junior Championships July 19-25 in Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada, on Thursday after finishing runner up in the discus at the USA Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Des Moines, Iowa.
Hernandez promoted
AMELIA ERAMYA/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Sue Guevara, head coach of Central Michigan University’s women’s basketball team, makes a call at the women’s basketball summer camp on Thursday.
cited about a job since I went out to Stanford. This is where I want to be.” sports@cm-life.com
cm-life.com Visit the website for a story on the 2010 field hockey schedule
Fomer CMU pitcher Jesse Hernandez was promoted to Single-A Auburn (N.Y.) on Friday. He allowed one run in two innings of relief in his debut for the Doubledays on Saturday.
Bitzer honored