FLINT TOWNSHIP NEWS

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FLINT, Michigan -- An unusual sentencing for an unusual crime.

That's how Genesee County Circuit Judge Joseph A. Farah described Christine J. Gage's choice to fake her own abduction from a Flint Township VG's grocery store March 13.

"It's the elaborate adult version of the dog ate my homework," Farah said.

Farah delayed Gage's sentencing until Feb. 10, 2009, once restitution can be agreed upon with VG's grocery store.

FLINT TOWNSHIP, Michigan -- The entrance ramp onto northbound I-75 at Miller Road is expected to remain closed until 11 p.m. Friday, the Genesee County Road Commission says.

The closure, which started Monday, will allow for reconstruction of the ramp. A detour is sending traffic to southbound I-75, then to the eastbound Bristol Road exit and back onto northbound I-75.

Flint Journal extras: See below for a district-by-district comparison of the graduation rates.

GENESEE COUNTY, Michigan -- About one in every six high-schoolers in Genesee County did not graduate in four years, according to 2007 data released Monday by the state of Michigan.

It's a significant drop from previous graduation rates, partly because state officials are using a new formula -- which they say gives a more accurate account of how many students graduate on time.

Some school officials say it isn't a fair assessment. They believe their districts are being punished for helping students who need it the most: those in alternative education programs.

FLINT TOWNSHIP, Michigan — Three more weeks to go.

Miller Road construction has reached its final phase, much to the delight of business owners.

Pardeep Toor The Miller Road Reconstruction Project is still on schedule to be completed by Sept. 15.

Melissa Cousineau | Flint Township NewsSylvia Hansen, Carl Hansen and Nancy-Lee Wilson, all of Flushing, hold items that their church, King of Glory Lutheran, has gathered to send to troops over in Afghanistan in September. This collection hits home to the Hansens because their son, Bjorn, was once in Iraq for more a year and they can relate with other families affected by war.

FLINT TOWNSHIP, Michigan -- The bumper stickers in the parking lot say "Support the Troops," and members of King of Glory Lutheran Church have materialized that message by collecting supplies for soldiers in Afghanistan.

"Those troops that are serving need to have a connection with people in the country to know that they're being supported and cared about. It's a tangible way for us to do that. We pray for them, but that's not as tangible as a nice package of things they need," said Sylvia Hansen, a church volunteer.

FLINT TOWNSHIP, Michigan — Backpacks are a practical need for the start of school, and more than 200 children will get new ones today.

South Baptist Church's "Friend Day" — meaning friends of Carman-Ainsworth School District — is in its third year of welcoming the community back to school. The day will feature a 9:30 a.m. breakfast, lunch and a variety of activities and information for students and parents at the church, 4091 Van Slyke Road.

The church will donate the backpacks filled with school supplies such as paper, pencils, markers, tissue boxes, crayons and "pretty much anything you need for the first week of school" to students, said Outreach Pastor William Payne.

Pardeep Toor South Baptist Church in Flint Township will be donating 200 backpacks to Carman-Ainsworth students today during "Friend Day."

FLUSHING TOWNSHIP, Michigan — A worker at the Barack Obama campaign field office in Flint recently got more than an earful from a Flushing Township man disgruntled with politics — employees feared he might try to blow up the building.

Flushing Township Police Detective Sgt. Don Gansen said a worker at the field office at 877 E. 5th Ave. reported a bomb threat to the Flint Police Department at 3:06 p.m. Aug. 11.

File photoSen. Barack Obama, D-Illinois, shakes hands before his June 16 speech at Kettering University during a visit to Flint.

FLINT TOWNSHIP, Michigan — Rachel Haviland sat on the rocking chair with her ukulele in hand and began singing "Hello. How are you? Very well. Thank you" with one catch — it was in four different languages.

The English as a Second Language (ESL) teacher and her K-two students sung in Arabic, Chinese, Spanish and English, with each language being the native language of at least one of the students.

Melissa Cousineau | The Community NewspapersDuke Zhu, 4, and Brenda Cisneros, 5, play on the rug during classtime at Carman Ainsworth High School. The kids are part of a GISD class for English as a Second Language during the summer to better prepare them for the school year.