THE SAGINAW NEWS

The Latest Saginaw News, Sports, Entertainment, Business and More

Paintings, prints and sculptures from some of the finest homes in mid-Michigan play a role in this year's Art Dart fund-raiser for the Saginaw Art Museum.

Debbie A. Thompson of Debbie Thompson Interior Design Inc. in Saginaw operates a by-appointment-only consignment shop where she sells the home furnishings her customers no longer want after she has created a new look for them.

"We share 50/50 when it sells -- I get half and they get half," says Thompson. "I have works of art, furniture, carpeting, wall and window treatments."

Continue reading "Saginaw Art Museum's Art Dart event offers fine pieces from upscale homes" »

After more than three decades of family practice medicine, Dr. John W. Cavendish II is getting ready to hang up his stethoscope.

His plan of succession: He's introducing his patients to Dr. Birjitender "B.J." Singh, who will take over the office by the end of the year. As a doctor shortage reaches critical levels, smooth transitions like the one Cavendish and Singh are planning will become harder to find.

For patients, so will primary care physicians and specialists.

Continue reading "Training doctors: Patients will have less access to physicians unless Saginaw leaders follow through with plans to step up" »

State Police closed M-57 (Peet Road) between M-13 (East Road) and Sheridan roads in Maple Grove Township for about two hours Saturday while they investigated a motorcycle crash that sent the driver and a passenger to the hospital.

Trooper Jasen Sack said the driver lost control of his motorcycle while braking and slid into a guard rail. The collision happened at 3 p.m. The female passenger hit the rail and suffered serious injuries, but is stable at St. Mary's of Michigan hospital in Saginaw, he said. The driver received cuts and also was treated at the hospital. Both are from the Flint area.

Continue reading "Troopers re-open M-57 after motorcycle crash leaves two injured" »

After holding its fundraising campaign goal steady for two years, the United Way of Saginaw County will ask donors to pledge a little bit more this time around.

With a theme of "LIVE UNITED. Give. Advocate. Volunteer," the charity will target a $2.6 million goal for the 2008 campaign, which begins Saturday with a communitywide Day of Caring event.

Last year, county residents helped put the United Way over its $2.4 million goal by donating almost $7,400 more than the goal. They hope an additional $200,000 will help meet the growing need for more funding as local, state and national economies continue to slump.

Continue reading "United Way sets campaign goal, plans 'Day of Caring'" »

ALMA -- Hola, Alma College.

Vicente Fox, Mexico's former president, will follow in the footsteps of Bob Dole and Madeleine K. Albright as the 1,355-student institution's featured guest for the Robert D. Swanson Responsible Leadership Speaker Series when he arrives at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 24, in Cappaert Gymnasium. Admission is free.

Fox's wife, Marta Sahagun de Fox, president of Vamos Mexico Foundation, also will speak with students about leadership.

Continue reading "Former Mexican president, wife to speak at Alma College" »

The Step Into My Garden feature has concluded for the year. Saginaw News writer Brenda Wiegand will once again highlight mid-Michigan gardeners starting in late May. View previous columns if you missed them by clicking on the links below.

Click your mouse on the play arrow to watch the slideshow. Continue reading "Step Into My Garden 2008" »

Don't call it a comeback, community members say -- Saginaw's Northeast neighborhood never went away.

Members of the Northeast Saginaw Neighborhood Association gathered nearly two weeks after a community event attracted 300 people to city-owned Unity Park, which they plan to revitalize.

"We want that park back," said Joseph Atwater, a 78-year-old retired General Motors employee who has lived in the neighborhood since 1955. "We showed the city that we can take care of that park."

Atwater, a member of the 100-person neighborhood group, isn't alone.

Continue reading "Activists in Saginaw, Mich., see Unity Park as rallying point for neighborhood" »

Saginaw firefighters spent more than an hour putting out flames early Saturday 9-6 at a vacant house at 2503 S. Niagara.

Batallion Chief Jeff Martinez said the blaze did about $10,000 worth of damage to the two-story house worth $64,000. About 15 firefighters responded to the call at 2 a.m. No one was injured. The cause is under investigation.

The department also is investigating an attempted arson of a vacant house at 136 N. Fifth. A crew arrived on the scene about 1 a.m. Saturday, but spent just 15 minutes because the fire never got going, Martinez said.

Some restaurant patrons are breaking from chains in favor of hometown eateries -- and Hagerty's deli is the latest escape.

Three years ago, owner Dennis Hagerty thought he'd boost sales at his Zilwaukee liquor store by offering submarine sandwiches. He and his workers used a bit of
ingenuity by converting a closet into a kitchen area to prepare the food.

Hagerty's sold 20,000 subs the first year.

Continue reading "A plan to boost sales nets a new business for Zilwaukee couple" »

Bridgeport Township leaders have approved a tax break to help a glass maker expand operations.

Members of the township Board of Trustees approved the 12-year, 50 percent personal property tax abatement for new equipment at Central Insulated Glass, 6739 Dixie Highway.

The abatement will save the company $550,000.

Continue reading "Bridgeport Township glass maker to expand shop" »

Sometimes, in the still of the night, Allegan historian Larry Massie can hear a train's whistle that is eight miles away.

"The noise comes through the trees, and it's haunting," says he.

So ends a documentary about the romance of the rails, premiering at 8 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 11, on Delta Broadcasting's Channel 19. It repeats at 9 p.m. Sunday. Sept. 14. (See related blog on Saginaw Backstage Pass)

"Tracks Through Time: Michigan's Railroads" was researched and written by Christine Santiago of Saginaw and produced and directed by Channel 19's Robert P. Przybylski of Bay City.

Continue reading ""Tracks Through Time" television special looks at Michigan's surprising railroading history" »

A Midland-based barbecue company won first place last week during the 20th annual Best in the West Nugget Rib Cook-off.

Bone Daddy's BBQ took home a check for $7,500 and a trophy after competing against 24 cookers from around the United States, including competitors from Chicago and Elizabethtown, Ky., who gathered at John Ascuaga's Nugget Casino Resort in Sparks, Nev.

"We are the best team in the U.S, the best in the West," said an excited and hoarse Bill Wall Jr. by phone from his Nevada hotel room. "This is pretty good bragging rights."

Continue reading "Bone Daddy's wins national honors at BBQ contest in Nevada" »

Move frame by frame using the arrows, or click through thumbnails using the thumbnail icon to the left of the arrows.

Continue reading "Vows and views" »

For 150 years, members of the Saginaw Fire Department have stood guard over the city.

Saturday, an anniversary celebration will commemorate its legacy and the risks firefighters take in doing their jobs.

From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Morley Plaza in downtown Saginaw, the event will display fire-fighting vehicles from local agencies and provide a history of the department and firefighting.

Continue reading "Saginaw Fire Department marks 150th anniversary Saturday; see first pumper truck city bought" »

American Civil War soldiers come to life again next weekend -- one of them a 16-year-old, a second who took part in Sherman's epic March to the Sea and a third who saw duty at the Battle of Bull Run.

The annual Victorian Funeral & Cemetery Tour, hosted by the Midland County Historical Society, has a theme of "The Civil War As Never Before" this year -- highlighting stories of "local boys" who fought in the War Between the States.

Continue reading "ODDS AND ENDS: Civil War soldiers live again, fitness classes offered, families can have fun with fashion" »