Jail: $250,000, $2.5M, $8M?



County officials are attempting to get some type of jail project back on track. But the scope of the project, and the cost, are still uncertain. In January, the board of commissioners defeated a motion to seek an additional $3 million for an expansion and renovation project that came in way over budget when bids were opened last fall. The […]

CPS Board OK’s budget reductions

Teacher layoffs, reduced staff hours could be avoided

CARSONVILLE — Two elementary teacher lay-offs and two high school teachers on reduced hours are among the cutbacks approved by the Carsonville-Port Sanilac Board of Education last week. Some of the reductionsc could be prevented if the teachers’ union switched to a less expensive health insurance plan, according to the superintendent. Faced with a projected $525,000 deficit for the 2011-12 […]

Sanilac County jobless rate increases to 14.4 percent



BROWN CITY — Seasonally unadjusted unemployment rates advanced in all 17 of Michigan’s major labor market areas in January, according to the Michigan Deptartment of Energy, Labor & Economic Growth. In Sanilac County, the unemployment rate increased from 14 percent in December to 14.4 percent. “Employment, unemployment fluctuations occur regularly,” said Marv Pichla, executive director of ThumbWorks in Marlette. “There […]

All-Thumb Girls Hoops Team!



16-year-old Sandusky gunman sentenced as juvenile



The 16-year-old gunman accused of attempted murder in Sandusky is going to spend at least one year in a secure juvenile facility. However, he can still be sentenced as an adult if he does not successfully complete his juvenile sentence. Last week Sanilac County Circuit Court Judge Donald Teeple ordered Tyler A. Catton of Carsonville committed to the state as […]

Carsonville-Port Sanilac tops in quiz bowl



The varsity quiz bowl team from Carsonville-Port Sanilac High School won first place in the fall and winter seasons in the Thumb Area Quiz Bowl League, which recently wrapped up its 10th year of competition. Marlette’s junior varsity team won first place in their division for the winter season. The league’s Tournament of Champions on March 3 featured individual students […]

Nine bridges found structurally deficient



Compared to bridges across the state, the ones in Sanilac County are not in bad condition. according to a 2011 bridge rating schedule on the Michigan Department of Transportation Web site. Out of the nearly 30 bridges across state highways, four are structurally deficient and three are only functionally deficient. Of the 42 bridges over county primary roads and 144 […]

Cros-Lex schools faced with $1.5 million deficit



Even a healthy fund equity is not going to protect the Croswell- Lexington School Budget. Superintendent Dr. Kevin Miller explained the governor’s education cuts plus the increase in retirement costs could cost the district $1.5 million. And that is on top of a half million dollar deficit in the current school year. He said he has to give the governor […]

Worth sewer lawsuit heads to Supreme Court



WORTH TWP. — The township has been notified that the Michigan Supreme Court will hear the Department of Natural Resources Environment’s appeal of the Worth Township sewer case. On March 23 the court issued an order saying they will hear an appeal on the issue of whether the DNRE can use the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act to require […]

Lawyers battle over recall allegations



WORTH TWP. —The recall organizer’s lawyer has refuted the allegations by the Worth Township clerk’s lawyer regarding accusations about the recall. “First, Mr. Varty has not made any statement to anyone which is false and defamatory concerning Ms. Bartniczak at any time including the newspaper article of October 22, 2010. There is absolutely no reason to raise an issue which […]