AP-US-MICHIGAN-PLANE-CRASH
Authorities begin identifying Michigan plane crash victims
BEAVER ISLAND, Mich. (AP) — The victims of a deadly plane crash on Michigan’s Beaver Island include a real estate agent and a couple who were planning to open a winery and vineyard there. The plane crashed Saturday afternoon west of Mackinaw City, killing four of five people on board. Lt. William Church of the Charlevoix County Sheriff’s Office has identified three of the deceased as Kate Leese and Adam Kendall of Beaver Island and Mike Perdue, a Gaylord real estate agent. He says Perdue’s 11-year-old daughter was injured in the crash. Leese and and Kendall had moved to Beaver Island to open a winery. Authorities haven’t identified the pilot, who was also killed.
CEMETERY DISPUTE
Woman whose slain son was buried without her loses appeal
MT. MORRIS, Mich. (AP) — A young man was buried before his mother arrived at a Flint-area cemetery. But Vernisha Key has failed to persuade the Michigan appeals court to reinstate her claims of intentional emotional distress. Key sued the owner of Flint Memorial Park after the funeral of Desmond Savage Jr., who was killed in a drive-by shooting in 2016. Key arrived 15 minutes after the scheduled time of the gravesite service. The casket had been lowered in the ground and covered with dirt. An uncle was present, but he said he didn’t know if other family members would attend. The appeals court says the incident is “worthy of sympathy” but not extreme enough to support an emotional distress claim.
MISSING STUDENT
Distress grows as MSU visitor remains missing 2 weeks later
ROCHESTER HILLS, Mich. (AP) — Hundreds of people have gathered in suburban Detroit to pray for a college student who disappeared two weeks ago while visiting Michigan State University. Brendan Santo still hasn’t been found. The 18-year-old from Rochester Hills is a student at Grand Valley State University. Police say Police said he was on foot when he left a dorm shortly before midnight on Oct. 29. It was the eve of the Michigan-MSU football game. Meanwhile, in East Lansing, Santo’s disappearance was publicized Saturday on the scoreboard at Spartan Stadium and announced over the public address system.
DEER SEASON-BUTCHERS
It could be tricky to get a deer processed in some areas
ALPENA, Mich. (AP) — Deer hunters might find it easier to bag a buck than to have the meat processed in some areas of Michigan. The traditional 16-day firearm season starts Monday. Some butchers in the northeastern Lower Peninsula say several shops have closed or their owners have retired. Alisha Manning is the owner of Bucky’s Meats, west of Alpena. She’s been processing deer from earlier limited hunts. Manning had to put up a sign telling hunters she was “maxed out.” But she’s ready to take deer again during the firearm season.
FATAL OVERDOSES-HOUSE
2 people die from drugs just days apart at same house
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. (AP) — Police say two people died of suspected drug overdoses just days apart in the same central Michigan house. The latest was 63-year-old John Smith, who was renting the Mount Pleasant house and was found dead last Monday. The Morning Sun newspaper, citing police reports, says the landlord made the discovery. Justin Gay was found dead in the same house on Nov. 6. He was 41 years old. The Oak Street house was a hub of drug activity for much of the summer before a raid by police in September. Mount Pleasant is 70 miles north of Lansing.
MICHIGAN-PLANE CRASH
4 people killed in plane crash on Michigan’s Beaver Island
BEAVER ISLAND, Mich. (AP) — Authorities say four of five people aboard a commuter plane have died when it crashed on an island in Lake Michigan. The Charlevoix County Sheriff’s Office says the plane went down Saturday at an airport on Beaver Island, just off Michigan’s northern peninsula and west of Mackinaw City. The identities of the people aboard the twin-engine Britten-Norman plane weren’t immediately released, and there was no initial information on the circumstances surrounding the crash. The Coast Guard district that serves the Great Lakes region tweeted that aircrew members conducted a medical evacuation of a man and an 11-year-old girl to a hospital.
GRAND RAPIDS-POLICE CHIEF
Grand Rapids starts recruitment for next police chief
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (AP) — A national recruitment is being conducted for the next police chief in Grand Rapids. The city says a search firm on Friday issued a candidate profile along with application instructions. The open application period runs through Dec. 10. A search and consulting firm held more than two dozen sessions, seeking input from the community, the police department and others on candidate attributes and characteristics. The city says the input will be used to help evaluate prospective candidates. The position’s current top salary is $160,000. Current Chief Eric Payne has said he will retire early next year.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-FINES
Whitmer vetoes ban on fining employers for COVID violations
LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has vetoed a bill that would prohibit Michigan’s workplace safety agency from fining employers for first-time violations of COVID-19 rules and require them to be reimbursed if they violated 2020 executive orders that were later declared unconstitutional. The Democratic governor said Friday that the Republican-sponsored legislation would cause the state to fall below minimum standards required by federal law, which would have “disastrous consequences.” The bill was approved on party lines by the Republican-controlled Senate last week. The sponsor has said his bill would “give some grace and relief to the employers in our state.”
STOLEN VEHICLE CRASH-TEEN KILLED
Teen charged in stolen vehicle crash that killed passenger
DETROIT (AP) — A 16-year-old boy who was driving a stolen vehicle while fleeing Detroit police has been charged with murder in a crash that killed his 13-year-old passenger. The Wayne County prosecutor’s office says Friday that the teen was being held in a juvenile detention center and faces arraignment next week. Prosecutors said officers on Oct. 21 attempted to stop the stolen vehicle which was speeding as the driver lost control and crashed. The 13-year-old boy was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver and another 16-year-old boy in the vehicle were injured.
BODY EXHUMED
Body found off Lake Michigan in 1988 exhumed for DNA
NEW BUFFALO, Mich. (AP) — Authorities in southwestern Michigan are trying to identify a woman’s body that was discovered in rocks off Lake Michigan more than 33 years ago. Police this week went to a grave in Berrien County to get a DNA sample. The body washed ashore in New Buffalo on April 8, 1988. Investigators believe the woman was 40 to 60 years old, 5 feet, 5 inches tall and 175 pounds. She was wearing jeans, a bra and black boots but no top. The woman had a porcelain bridge replacing a front tooth — dental work that was considered experimental at the time. Anyone with information can call (269) 683-4411 or (269) 469-1500.
The Associated Press
