May 26, 2012 • Vol. 133 No. 21 514 S. Kalamazoo Ave. in Marshall, MI • Phone 269-781-5444 and FAX 269-781-7766 • www.advisor-chronicle.com
In The News:
MPS Board approves to cut five teaching positions Facing an overall deficit projected to be $2.4 million over the next two years, the Marshall Public Schools Board of Education, at its May 21 business session, approved the layoffs for as many as five teaching staff members. Superintendent Dr. Randy Davis said the board’s action was the the first step in a necessary process in order to inform the teachers who may lose their job should the budget projections hold when the board has to approve the 2012-13 budget in June. Those that may lose their jobs as well as those who may have to be reassigned to a different position within the district were to have met with Davis on Thursday. See story on page 6
Ambulance Authority builds new facility The Marshall Area Fire Fighter Ambulance Authority held a groundbreaking ceremony on May 17 for its new 9,904 square-foot building, located at 16984 Burlingame Drive, off of Old 27. To pay for the $707,000 building, the authority is using a mixture of savings set aside for the project and a loan. “We are using $207,000 of existing funds and the rest will be funded through a 15-year loan,” Executive Director MAFFAA Mark Burke said. “We’ve more than doubled our size since 2005, which has made it extremely tight (at their current location at City Hall)... The city has been fantastic to us, but its time to move out of mom and dad’s basement.” See story on page 12
Honoring veterans forgotten since 1973 American Legion Post 79 Service Officer and VFW Post 4073 member Don Weberling has made it his task to track down Vietnam veterans and Vietnam-era veterans who never received their certificates of recognition at the Memorial Day parade held in Marshall in 1973. “When I found out that these (certificates) were still sitting around, I decided something had to be done,” Weberling said. “They are not going to be lost or forgotten again. I feel this on my heart. There is no one that cares more about getting this done than me. I’ll stick with it until it’s done.” See story on page 32
City Council adopts balanced budget for 2013 At Monday night’s (May 21) meeting, the Marshall City Council passed a balanced budget for 2013 fiscal year (July 1, 2012 through July 30, 2013). “There are no tax increases, no planned layoffs, but there is a reducing of staff in a couple areas,” City Manager Tom Tarkiewicz said. “There will be some service delays, but we are staying within the revenue we are given.” Residents will however see a slight increase in their utility bills due to a water rate increase and an 1 percent administrative fee for collecting taxes. See story on page 14
Tribal Manufacturing named one of 2012’s ‘Michigan 50 Companies to Watch’ Tribal Manufacturing of Marshall was recently recognized as one of the 2012 “Michigan 50 Companies to Watch” by the Michigan Celebrates Small Business organization. “We are really honored,” said Tribal Vice President and General Manager John Tracy, who accepted the award at a May 3 awards banquet in Lansing. See story on page 30
Approximately 1,100 take part in Hospitality Classic Under brilliant sunshine, nearly 1,100 area residents took part in the 30th Annual Oaklawn Hospitality Classic. See photos in sports section
See inside for Community Garage Sale ads.
M
ay 28 marks a day we should never forget - a day that commemorates the men and women who gave their lives while in military service for the United States. This Memorial Day the American Legion will be hosting Memorial Day, alongside the VFW, with activities beginning with a service at the Fountain circle at 9:30 a.m., followed by the annual parade through Marshall's downtown and ending at Oakridge Cemetery. Veteran Al Marske of the Marshall VFW Post 4073 shows his love for his country by saluting during the playing of TAPS at the 2010 event. See Memorial Day stories inside