Though investigators are now considering a recent series of Bay City house fires suspicious, the actual causes of what sparked the blazes remains unknown. In all, there have been six fires at four houses, five of which occurred in the city's South End. The first was reported about 2:30 a.m. Sept. 27 at 403 Michigan Ave. The house comprised two apartments, one of which was occupied at the time. The building was unoccupied and boarded-up when the second fire occurred there around 2 a.m. on April 14. The house was demolished within days of its second fire.
The Bay City Public Schools Board of Education set a date to hear public comments regarding the budget for the 2012-13 school year. The board approved Monday to hear budget comments during the next board meeting, June 11. At that time, the district plans to update the board on the budget situation and review the final budget for the 2011-12 school year. Superintendent Doug Newcombe said he would be surprised if the board was able to approve a budget at that meeting.
Police officers and firefighters would be cross-trained to save Bay City money under a consolidation plan that will be presented to the Bay City Commission on May 31. "Personnel costs can be greatly reduced with cross-trained public safety officers who can serve citizens in a dual role providing both police and fire services," states the draft plan created by a special city committee. "This would result in additional police on the street who can also respond to the scene of a fire. There would be no reduction in fire services, while the personnel assigned to the fire stations are greatly reduced." Kurt Wagner, president of International Association of Fire Fighters Local 116, said he was not ready to publicly comment on the plan.
Only two candidates are appearing on the ballot for Bay County prosecutor in the Aug. 7 Democratic primary. Incumbent Kurt C. Asbury, 54, is to face off against challenger Patrick O. Duggan. Both are Democrats. Bay County's three circuit court judges appointed Asbury prosecutor in 2006. Voters elected him to keep the position in 2008, when he faced off against Duggan and Edward M. Czuprynski. The Times could not reach Asbury for comment on Tuesday.
Independence Bridge isn't the only one causing local drivers to take detours this afternoon. Lafayette Bridge now is having mechanical difficulties and is closed to vehicle traffic as well. An update shortly before 3 p.m. predicted it would be several more hours until the problem is resolved. Independence Bridge has been closed to vehicle traffic since about 9:30 p.m. May 2 because of electrical problems, and is expected to remain closed another week while thorough testing is conducted. It is the city's northernmost, connecting Wilder Road and Truman Parkway on the west side to Trumbull Avenue on the east side, and is one of two operated by the city.
A run and walk race designed to raise money in support of Bay City Central Principal Tim Marciniak has been canceled after a race official said not enough participants signed up. The Mending Marciniak Perseverance run and walk was scheduled for Saturday at 3 p.m. at the Bay County Community Center, 800 John F. Kennedy Dr. Chandra Gilliam, an organizer for the event, said last year there were 80 people who registered for the event, while only three signed up this year. Marciniak, who has been the Bay City Central principal for 7 years, was diagnosed with bone marrow cancer in 2009. The Mending Marciniak group started as a way to support Marciniak. The group sold purple wristbands with and T-shirts to raise money for the American Cancer Society and a scholarship for Bay City Central students. Two years, ago, the group started the 3K/5K run and walk race.
A state police investigation into missing Bay County Fair Board funds has led to the former president facing seven felony counts. Troopers on Monday arrested Michael W. Coyer, who turns 39 today. Coyer was subsequently charged in Bay County District Court on three counts each of uttering and publishing and forgery and one count of embezzlement of more than $1,000 but less than $20,000. The first two charges are punishable by up to 14 years in prison, while embezzlement carries a maximum penalty of five years imprisonment and/or restitution worth three times the amount which was stolen.
Bay Aggregates is positioned between the Independence Bridge and the mouth of the Saginaw River, but that doesn't mean the bridge closure isn't affecting the business. "It really doesn't impact our shipping for vessels," said Allen Kennedy, Bay Aggregates president. "It does have kind of an impact on the trucking." On average last month, he sent out 60 loads a day of aggregate, which has a variety of applications, and 15 to 20 daily of Ready Mix concrete, which he described as more of a local commodity. Highway-bound loads just take Wilder Road out, but some local ones are hitting detours.
Though the Bay City Police Officers Association made numerous concessions to ensure the ratification of its new contract, that was the cost members were willing to pay to put the past behind them. "For the cops to have recognized the need to get this done, they should be given an enormous amount of credit," said Dan Kuhn, business agent for the Police Officers Association of Michigan, which represents the city officers union. We can get this relationship reset and be a cooperative team going forward. Members of the union approved the contract in a 30-9 vote in April. The Bay City Commission ratified it Monday. The previous contract expired in 2009, and the contract talks were contentious.
Six west side Bay City Catholic churches could shrink to three if diocese officials accept a plan authored by members of the affected churches. During Sunday services, representatives at the parishes St. Vincent de Paul, St. Mary of the Assumption, Holy Trinity, St. Maria Goretti, St. Hedwig and Our Lady of the Visitation informed parishioners of the recommendation, which is a step in the Diocese of Saginaw's move to downsize across its 11-county reach, officials say. The final decision on which churches would be affected could arrive late this year or early 2013. "I'm in favor of the recommendations," said Rev. Robert J. Meissner, pastor at St. Vincent de Paul for about 15 years. Theyre long overdue. To procrastinate any further would not be an advantage for the parishes of the west side.
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