THE KALAMAZOO GAZETTE

The Latest Community News, Photos, and Videos for Kalamazoo and Southwest Michigan

PAW PAW -- Areas of Allegan and Van Buren counties are expected to receive up to 11 inches of snow by Friday afternoon, according to the National Weather Service in Grand Rapids.

Forecasters have issued a lake-effect snow warning for both counties that is in effect until 1 p.m. Friday.

The heaviest snowfall is expected west of a line stretching from Holland to Paw Paw with accumulations of seven to 11 inches possible, the weather service Web site said.

For more information on the forecast and lake-effect snow warning, click here.

PAW PAW -- A convicted murderer testified Wednesday that Ronald Spangler Jr. killed a Lawton couple in 2002 when she and another man were with him.

PORTAGE -- The Portage Education Association, which represents teachers in Portage Public Schools, has a tentative contract with the school district for the 2008-09 school year.

Association members are scheduled to vote on the contract Dec. 4. If approved by union members, it could be finalized by the school board at its Dec. 15 meeting.

The two sides were not releasing details of the contract pending ratification. The teachers have been without a contract since this summer.

The district has about 550 full-time-equivalent teachers.

Contact Julie Mack at jmack@kalamazoogazette.com or 388-8578.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency imageThe removal of about 500 barrels from property at 10135 West O Avenue is now expected to cost over $1 million.

TEXAS TOWNSHIP -- The price tag for a chemical cleanup west of Kalamazoo will be more than $1 million when it's completed early next month, federal officials said.

The tally includes a $900,000 bill from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and costs between $200,000 and $300,000 by the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality to remove chemicals in about 500 barrels on property at 10135 West O Avenue, EPA spokesman Mick Hans said.

SCHOOLCRAFT -- All lanes of U.S. 131 south of Schoolcraft were reopened this morning at about 9:15 a.m., a dispatcher said.

Both northbound lanes and one southbound lane of U.S. 131 were shut down at 7:35 a.m. following a multiple-vehicle crash, police said.

The crash involved five to six vehicles in both the northbound and southbound lanes.

Police have received reports that three people suffered minor injuries, Lt. Robert Phillips said.

KALAMAZOO -- Local homebuilders, real estate agents and mortgage lenders want the buying public to know that while the housing market may be soft, there are values to be had and plenty of money to borrow to get those deals.

That was the message presented Wednesday by a panel of Kalamazoo-area housing professionals at the headquarters of the Greater Kalamazoo Association of Realtors, in Oshtemo Township.

"A lot of people in this market believe there isn't money to borrow," said Dale Shugars, executive vice president of the Home Builders Association of Greater Kalamazoo.

ALLEGAN COUNTY -- The Allegan County Sheriff's office says a 20-year-old woman missing for nearly two weeks is fine and has contacted family members in the hours after authorities announced they were searching for her on Wednesday.

Erin Michele Quigley had not been seen since 10:30 p.m. Nov. 7 when she left a Burger King restaurant on M-40 in Allegan.

Quigley had not talked with friends or family since then, and sheriff's officials sought assistance.

• Previously: Police seek public's help in locating missing woman

John A. Lacko / Special to the Kalamazoo Gazette

Bonnie Richards as "Bubble Rapper," Brad Miller as "Candy Rapper" and Karen Frank as "Gift Rapper" were among the cheer team for the Schupan & Sons team during the Kalamazoo Public Library's "Great Grown-Up Spelling Bee" Wednesday evening at the Bernhard Center on the WMU campus. Local teams competed not only in spelling but also for best costume and team spirit. The event raised more than $34,000 for Ready to Read.

Continue reading to see videos of past years of the Great Grown Up Spelling Bee and read a 2006 column from Jeff Barr about the Bee.

Associated PressAssociated PressAuto industry executives, from left, General Motors Chief Executive Officer Richard Wagoner; Chrysler Chief Executive Officer Robert Nardelli; and Ford Chief Executive Officer Alan Mulally, testify on Capitol Hill in Washington on Wednesday before a House Financial Services Committee hearing on the state of the auto industry.

WASHINGTON -- A Democratic Congress, unwilling or unable to approve a $25 billion bailout for the Detroit Three, appears ready to punt the automakers' fate to a lame-duck Republican president.

Caught in the middle of a who-blinks-first standoff are legions of manufacturing firms and auto dealers -- and millions of Americans' jobs -- after Senate Democrats canceled a showdown vote that had been expected Thursday. President George W. Bush has "no appetite" to act on his own.

WASHINGTON -- Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney is standing steadfastly behind the forces opposing a $25 billion "bridge loan" for struggling Detroit auto manufacturers.

Gasoline prices around southwestern Michigan went down another couple of cents on Wednesday night and Thursday morning.

Clinic in Kalamazoo
The Active Older Adults Program of the Kalamazoo County Family YMCA is sponsoring a blood-pressure-reading clinic at the Maple Street YMCA, 1001 W. Maple St. People age 21 and older may participate. The clinics are free and open to member and nonmembers. No registration is required. 345-9622, ex. 160. 1 to 3 p.m. Friday.

Blood drive in Vicksburg
The Greater Kalamazoo Area Chapter of the American Red Cross is sponsoring a blood drive at Vicksburg United Methodist Church, 217 S. Main St., Vicksburg. No appointment is needed. 353-6180, ext. 0. 11 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. Friday.

Meeting at Western Michigan University
Friends of the Historic East Campus is meeting in Western Michigan University's Walwood Hall. 327-2794. Noon Friday.

Comedy and more in Kalamazoo
Crawlspace Eviction and Kinetic Affect are performing "I Don't Need a Life -- I've Got a Blog!" at Whole Art Studio, 246 N. Kalamazoo Mall. The show features improv and sketch comedy with a performance poetry duo. Tickets are $10, or $7 for students. 599-7390. 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

Film at WMU
"Gonzo: The Life and Work of Dr. Hunter S. Thompson" is being screened at WMU's Little Theatre, corner of Oakland Drive and Oliver Street. The film, directed by Alex Gibney ("Taxi to the Dark Side") looks back at the unorthodox journalist and author, who eventually became a prisoner of his own fame. Tickets are $5 adults, $3 students with valid ID. 387-8221, http://www.rso.wmich.edu/wfs. 7 and 9:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 2:30 and 5 p.m. Sunday.

KALAMAZOO -- Attorney Edwin Hettinger was ordered to pay $300 in fines and court costs Wednesday after pleading guilty to a misdemeanor charge of possession of marijuana.

KALAMAZOO -- Kalamazoo Valley Community College has extended the deadline to apply for its new Hospitality Academy to Dec. 12.

ALLEGAN -- Police are looking for information on the whereabouts of Erin Michele Quigley, 20, of Allegan, who hasn't been since 10:30 p.m. Nov. 7 when she left a Burger King restaurant on M-40 in Allegan.

This fall's economic downturn means that many retailers are offering special deals to holiday-season shoppers. The Gazette will be alerting our online readers to some of the best holiday shopping deals in the upcoming weeks.

Continue reading below to find out about some online-shopping bargains available now and a store deal available beginning Thursday.

WASHINGTON -- President-elect Barack Obama is putting some longtime aides in senior posts at his White House.

Obama named four new members of his West Wing staff Wednesday. That include a senior adviser job for his chief campaign strategist, David Axelrod.

He also announced Greg Craig as White House counsel. Craig was President Bill Clinton's lawyer during his impeachment.

Chris Lu will be Cabinet secretary, the White House liaison to the Cabinet and government agencies. And Lisa Brown, a lawyer who served as former Vice President Al Gore's counsel, will be staff secretary.