Do You Know Where Your Children Are?

Rumblings about Missaukee starting near the end of July when "Men in Black" made a visit to a local child care center. At which time, it probably would have been prudent for the operators of this child care center to inform their customers about this odd visit. You know, it would just be a little nicer than having your child tell you about the men in suits who put letters in the rooms and performed a seemingly thorough search of the premises (if the youngsters can be believed, that is).

Hush, hush...

Having not heard anything regarding the results of any such investigation, this blogger performed a simple search to see if there was any news out there. Click here to share the discovery. Take a peak at the first "Investigation Report" listed and if you don't want to read the whole thing, just scroll to the final page.

Funny that a child care center, licensed to care for 60 children, can have their license recommended for revocation and there's not the slightest blip from our "media." Or...look at it this way, the state is broke, there is not enough money to go around to all the families that need assistance and this child care center, admittedly, has defrauded the state of over $20,000 and again our "media" lets this one slip.

Must be too busy getting ready for the Festival of the Pines.

It might be a good time to find a new child care provider, you can start here.

Slow Down Detroit!

Just when we start to get down on Missaukee, Wayne steps in to remind us that it's not all that bad...

Driver nabbed after license revoked 45 times
BY TAMMY STABLES BATTAGLIA
FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER

Despite having her driver’s license suspended 45 times, a 33-year-old Detroit woman was arrested Tuesday in Ferndale driving a car that had been reported stolen, police said.

Renee Lashon Beavers had a 24-ounce container of beer on her lap when a Ferndale Police officer spotted the stolen car eastbound on 8 Mile near Livernois just after midnight, Lt. William Wilson said today.

She told investigators she bought the green 1999 Dodge Stratus from another woman at a shelter in Adrian for $1,000. And she took it anyway after the woman demanded another $400, she said.

Investigators found an unsigned title to the car in the glove box.

Her license, which is currently revoked, has been suspended 45 times in Highland Park, Southfield and Detroit, according to investigators.

Police expect to ask prosecutors to charge the woman with – again – driving with a suspended license as well as having an open container of alcohol in a car, Wilson said.

Lawnmowers at the Beach

Alas, no photos of the famed Titties & Beer truck but we do have this wonderful sighting on Lake Missaukee:



Obviously taking a break from moving that lawnmower to take a dip.

In a county where 99%* of the inhabitants own a truck, this is a treat indeed (well, it gets even more bizarre...there aren't ANY trucks in that pic-wow)!

Only in Missaukee...

*I just made that statistic up and maybe I'll back it up with some on-the-road research later today...I'll just count how many trucks I see...and how many minivans.

Titties & Beer

Well, now you may be wondering at the willfully irreverent title of this post but I assure you it is in the spirit of acquiring greater knowledge (unlike the cute tyke in the above photo who is obviously being exploited by parental units). A worthy pursuit. Don't you agree?

I have heard legends tell of a green truck that has been seen traversing Missaukee County, particularly in the Lake City area, with the words Titties & Beer emblazoned across the windshield. One legend actually describes the driver of said vehicle as a woman!

I have not had the pleasure of viewing this site with my own two eyes and so, I call upon you, noble reader to report any Titties & Beer sitings here (please include photos if you are photographically proficient!).

TART hosts Bicycle Commuting Classes

With great weather just around the corner (hopefully), it's a good time to think about dragging that old bike out of the garage and getting it, and yourself, into great summertime shape. If you are able to take advantage of it, TART (Traverse Area Recreation and Transportation Trails, Inc.) is offering free Bicycle Commuting Class, details as follows:

Traverse Area Recreation and Transportation (TART) Trails, Inc. is excited to be hosting Bicycle Commuting classes in Traverse City. Course dates and times are Wednesday, May 20, from 4-7 p.m. at Northwestern Michigan College and Wednesday, June 10, from 4-7 p.m. Munson Medical Center.

The classes will be taught by League of American Bicyclists Certified Instructor, Reuben Chapman. Course content will include: riding with traffic, signaling, bike attire and gear, choosing routes, and more. The class will be interactive and will include a short bike ride on main roads, peripheral streets, bike lanes and on trails. The goal of the class is to educate and encourage proper bicycle handling and increase the level of comfort of bicycle commuters.

The classes are designed for people of driving age as it assumes knowledge of basic traffic rules.

If you would like to participate in the class, please email missy@traversetrails.org or call us at (231) 941-4300 to pre-register.

Bicycle Commuting Classes at a glance:

" 2-hours of classroom instruction and 1-hour of on-road training
" Course dates and times are May 20 from 4-7 p.m. at Northwestern Michigan College and June 10 from 4-7 p.m. at Munson Medical Center.
" The classes are offered free of charge.
" Attendees must pre-register by calling TART Trails at (231) 941-4300

Did I Say One?

Yesterday morning the television news reported one case of H1N1 in Missaukee county but when I saw the Cadillac News I noticed that there were reported three cases in Missaukee.

The most interesting thing, IMO, would be to see the path that H1N1 took to reach Missaukee. Any guesses?

Swine Flu aka Influenza A (H1N1)

It's been confirmed that there is at least one case of Influenza A (H1N1) here in Missaukee county. As the hysteria has passed, well for the rest of the nation at least, this should go over fairly quietly but we'll see. It sometimes seems like it takes a bit for the news to take hold up here in northern MI. In fact, I cannot find a current story on the Missaukee county cases but I really did hear it on the news this morning!