WATZ Today's Country

Monday News Summary 03-20-23
Wed, 10 May 2023 21:27:36 EDT

MI COLLEGE PLAYER SHOT
A college baseball player from Olivet College is suffering multiple gun shot wounds.
The incident occurring shortly after 7 p.m. Friday night in New Concord, Ohio, on the
campus of Muskingum University in New Concord, Ohio. The player was taken to a
local hospital to be treated for injuries. The investigation into the shooting is ongoing.
The remaining three games of the trip for Olivet have been canceled.

HAZARDOUS SPILL CLOSES FREEWAY
A hazardous spill closed a Michigan freeway for the better part of 12-hours on
Saturday. East of Flint, I-69 between M-24 and Lake Nepessing Road was closed in
both directions following a hazardous chemical spill caused by an overturned semitruck. According to the Lapeer Fire and Rescue Department, Lapeer Sheriff's officers
responded to a rollover crash just before 5 o'clock Saturday morning. They contacted
fire and hazardous materials crews after discovering the chemical spill. Nobody was
hurt in the crash.

100 CAR PILEUP
150 cars were involved in a Saturday pile-up incident in Ionia County on eastbound I-96
near Portland Township because of snow squalls and white out conditions. Michigan
State Police officials say 84 cars were damaged in the pile-up. The other 66 cars that
were involved were not damaged, but part of the slide-offs'. 16 people had to be taken
to a local hospital. The expressway was shutdown around 5 o'clock Saturday evening
and reopened before 10 p.m..

LANSING COMMUNITY COLLEGE TO RESUME
As Lansing Community College continues to investigate a possible cyber security
threat, the school is set to resume some classes today (Monday). On social media, LC-C announced the Mid-Michigan Police Academy, Fire Academy, Corrections
Academy, Aviation Technology courses in Mason, and all scheduled clinical's will
continue today, while all other face-to-face classes will begin on Tuesday. They also
asked all staff, non-teaching faculty & student employees to report to their on-campus
work area, but do not expect internet or email while they continue to work out their
security issues.

GREENVILLE EXPLOSION
An explosion at the Dicastal manufacturing facility in Greenville near Grand Rapids
leaves one person injured. The explosion reportedly happening around 9:45 Friday
night. The Greenville Department of Public Safety says all employees are accounted
for, and one was taken to the hospital with severe burn injuries. Dicastal manufactures
aluminum alloy wheels for the auto industry. Authorities say there are no
environmental issues in the area due to the explosion. An investigation into what
caused the blast is underway.

TOXIC SITE HEARING
There is a State House Committee hearing scheduled Thursday that will focus on
oversight of the Romulus Deep Well Injection site. The hearing comes after many
Wayne County and state leaders were caught off guard when toxic material from the
East Palestine, Ohio train derailment site were transported to the site. Representatives
from the state Department of Energy, Great Lakes and Environment will be speaking at
the Ethics and Oversight Committee hearing.

SEVERE WEATHER AWARENESS WEEK
Michigan averages 15 tornados a year. That's why state officialswant you to be
prepared. It's Severe Weather Awareness Week. The yearly statewide tornado drill is
schedule for Wednesday at 1 p.m. Sirens will be activated, and TV and radio stations
will be airing the message from local emergency management agencies. Are you
prepared? Best practice is to develop an emergency plan. Have a preparedness kit
with essential items such as a three-day water and food supply, a NOAA Weather
Radio, important family documents, and other unique items that your family may need.
Also, identify a safe place in your home. They say the average lead time for tornadoes
to develop is 10 to 15 minutes, which means you need to be ready to react quickly
when a warning is issued.

MICHIGAN STATE-SWEET 16
Michigan State is back in the 'Sweet 16'... for the 15th time under head coach Tom
Izzo... as the 7th-seeded Spartans beat Number-2 seed Marquette on Sunday.
The Spartans took down the Golden Eagles, 69-to-60, in the second round of the N-CA-A Tournament at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. This is Michigan States first
trip to the 'Sweet 16' since a Final Four run in 2019.
Up next... M-S-U plays 3rd-seeded Kansas State on Thursday at Madison Square
Garden in New York City.

POWER OUTAGE TOWN HALL
More hearings this week regarding the recent power outages in southeastern Michigan.
The Michigan Public Service Commission will hear from people impacted by recent
snow storms.. which left THOUSANDS without power for several days. These hearings
come before the commission's third-party audit of the electricity distribution system of
both DTE and Consumers Energy.
The hearing in Metro Detroit will take place at Fordson High School in Dearborn --
starting at 5:30 this evening. A hearing in Jackson is also set to happen this afternoon.
A virtual hearing is also scheduled for Tuesday.

VAPING POLL
If you're a parent do you think you have realistic views on your kids' exposure to
vaping? A new national poll ....the C.S. Mott Children's Hospital National Poll on
Children's Health at the University of Michigan Health shows a gap. Sarah Clark is codirector of the poll and says four in five parents think their child understands the health
risks of vaping.
She says adolescents may not consider long term health effects in their daily actions.

PUPPIES SAVED FROM FIRE-METRO DETROIT
Several fire departments working to save puppies out of a burning house.
The Eastpointe Fire Fighters Association says Warren, St. Clair Shores and Roseville
firefighters assisted Eastpointe with saving 14 puppies and one dog out of a burning
home around 4 Sunday morning. The fire allegedly started in the basement, but the
cause is still unknown.
There were no injuries.

GAS PRICES
Michiganders are paying less at the pump this week.
According to a new Triple A report, gas prices in Michigan dropped 8 cents from a
week ago.
The average price for a gallon of gas is now $3.45 -- still 18 cents more than this time
last month, but 78 cents less than this time last year.
Triple A say if crude oil prices keep falling, then drivers will continue to see lower prices
at the pump.

SEVERE WEATHER AWARENESS WEEK
Governor Whitmer has declared this week as Severe Weather Awareness Week. State
Police, emergency management officials and Homeland Security are calling on
residents to act by taking part in a voluntary statewide tornado drill this Wednesday at
1pm.
According to the National Weather Service, Michigan averages 15 tornadoes a year.
During the drill, residents will hear alerts on tv, radio and hear outdoor sirens in some
communities.

CADILLAC BODY FOUND IN TRASH
A Cadillac man, 30-year-old Kyle Dickinson, will be back in court later this month after
he was arraigned in connection with the death of a woman whose body was found in a
garbage can in a Cadillac neighborhood. 26-year-old Laken Clark's body was found in
mid December. Dickinson has been charged with concealing a death and tampering
with evidence.
Dickinson had told police that he had discovered Clark's body in the basement,
possibly from an overdose and he placed her body in a trash can in the road. Police
say drugs were found in her system, but it hasn't been determined if that was the cause
of her death.

RESTAURANT FIRE-WHITE CLOUD
Fire destroyed a restaurant in White Cloud , north of Grand Rapids. The fire broke out
at Charlie's Family Grill and the cause of the fire is being investigated.

MOTORCYCLE FATAL-MONROE COUNTY
A motorcyclist is dead after a crash in Monroe County.
Monroe County Sheriff deputies responded to a crash just after midnight Sunday
morning near Dixie Highway in Frenchtown Township. Investigators say 34-year-old
Joseph Hoag was driving his Harley Davidson motorcycle when he lost control when
attempting to go around a curved road. He drove off the road and hit a tree and utility
pole. Deputies found Hoag on the ground. He was taken to the hospital and
pronounced dead.
Police officials say he was NOT wearing a helmet and speed and alcohol are factors in
the crash.

OBERON DAY
It's a sure sign of Spring as it's Oberon Day for Bell's Brewery in Kalamazoo. The
wheat ale is Bell's iconic summer drink. Bell's is celebrating Oberon Day at Bell's
Eccentric Cafe in Kalamazoo today with live entertainment with Oberon and eight
different varieties on draft. There are other Oberon Day festivities throughout the state.