May 12, 2012 • Vol. 133 No. 19 514 S. Kalamazoo Ave. in Marshall, MI • Phone 269-781-5444 and FAX 269-781-7766 • www.advisor-chronicle.com
In The News: Marshall High School hosts Special Olympics More than 200 special education students came to Marshall May 12 to take part in the Region 19 Special Olympics at the MHS Track. For more than three decades, the event had been held in Battle Creek, either at Harper Creek High School or the Doris Klaussen Development Center, but the powers that be decided to implement a rotation after area schools expressed their desire to host the event as well. See story on page 47
HOSPITALITY CLASSIC
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Council hears from Oaklawn about future expansion At Monday’s Marshall City Council meeting, the council heard the first of several presentations regarding the Oaklawn Hospital’s expansion plans for the next 20 years. “I understand the challenges you are dealing with today,” said Oaklawn Hospital Board of Directors Chair-Elect Charles Blank. “I know your challenge is to balance the health care needs of the community and Oaklawn’s need to expand with the concerns of the surrounding neighborhood…This overlay district is needed because with Oaklawn Hospital, it’s not a question of if the hospital will need to expand, but when.” See story on page 45
Marshall High School students receive departmental honors Nine Marshall High School seniors were recognized for their achievements during a departmental honors luncheon hosted by the Marshall Rotary Club on May 7. The students and the respective departments they were were recognized for: Jonny Baxter (English); Brett Brothers (History); Bruce DeGraw (Business); Michael Graves (Math); Nick Holbrook (Physical Education); Nick Ramon (Applied Arts); Vicki Sell (Science); Colin Thompson (Language); and Josh Webb (Music). See story on page 43
Marshall’s Katrina Cribbins receives Gold Award Marshall’s Katrina Cribbins’ efforts to clean up a park in Homer is golden in the eyes of staff and volunteers with Girl Scouts Heart of Michigan which is awarding her the highest honor a Girl Scout may receive, the Gold Award. Cribbins, 17, a senior at Homer High School, will be among eight Girl Scouts from the Southwest Michigan area to receive the coveted award during a ceremony on May 20 at GSHOM’s Program and Training Center in Kalamazoo. Cribbins said she always planned to go for the gold, but wasn’t sure if she’d actually get there. See story on page 57
Four honored for efforts at Walden Pond fire At Monday’s Marshall City Council meeting, Marshall Fire Department Assistant Fire Chief Jeff Rhodes honored two Marshall Police Officers, Garrett Moore and Anthony Philpott, and two Walden Pond Apartment residents, Susan Zebolski and Patricia Fox, for their efforts surrounding the Easter morning fire on April 8. “It is with great pleasure to recognize our citizens and public servants of this community for their lifesaving efforts,” Rhodes said. If it weren’t for their quick actions by calling 911 and alerting the families inside, the outcome that day could have been very tragic.” See story on page 10
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aturday, May 19, marks the 30th Annual Oaklawn Hospital Hospitality Classic, an activity that brings more than 1,100 participants together with running and walking events that take them through historic Marshall and its rural surroundings. Among those taking part in this rite of spring are members of the Mike and Kelly Feneley family: Clare, a seventh grader at Marshall Middle School; Gordon Elementary fourth grader Connor; and five-year-old Callum who will begin kindergarten in the fall. See story on page 34