LIONS

Football On-The-Go!
Text: LIONS To: 22700
Stay on top of the game no matter where you are with news and score updates.

Author brings Operation Nice to Milan school See Page 14-A

$115

Todays coupons are worth up to ...

FFA holds Fall Harvest fundraiser See Page 23-A

Message and data rates may apply. apply. Message

Anytime. Anywhere.

Milan News-Leader
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2011 Weave the Web:
Make sure to click on www.heritage.com around the clock for the most in-depth coverage. See our Most Viewed story, Michigan football: State plays dirty, but still plays better.

The

75

VOL. 129, NO. 42

Tour of Marble Cemetery takes people back in time

By Joyce Ervin
Special Writer

Going for a walk through a cemetery near dusk, with wet fallen leaves under foot and a light drizzling rain falling, might seem foreboding and not a place one would care to visit. But it was last week in Milan. The Milan Area Historical Society held its annual historic cemetery tour at Marble Park Cemetery on just such a day and, despite the weather, the mood was festive. Volunteers, portraying early Milan citizens, arrived in colorful period clothing and entertained onlookers at the gravesites, reciting life stories. Nine of Milans late citizens were honored as history was relived. Some figures had their story told by descendants. Others listened to their family members being memorialized and were proud of their ancestors achievements.

One such person was Carolyn Holcomb Olds. She came to hear her father, Paul Holcomb, portrayed by Milan businessman Lance Smith, greet the guests. She is also a descendant of another honoree, Charles Swinerton. Olds said it was a wonderful way to visit family gravesites, and she was proud that her family had been selected. I am Holcombs daughter and Swinertons granddaughter, she said. Author, historian and Councilwoman Martha Churchill wrote the scripts for the re-enactors. The life stories included contributions made to the community and personal antidotes, many of which were humorous. Jackie Howard welcomed guests as Clyde Lawson. Lawson was a musician and Howard caught everyones attention when she announced that she didnt mind her name. My father,

Sylvester Nase, had two daughters, Clyde and Linda, Im Clyde, she said. Lawson studied music at the Sherwood Music School in Chicago and was a founding member of the Milan Girls Orchestra, which played concerts in Milan. Clyde Lawson, nee Nase, married John D. Lawson and resided on Ideal Street. She would later be known for playing the organ at Peoples Presbyterian Church in Milan for 35 years. Ezekiel Enriquez portrayed Lyman Burnham, the scoundrel who turned states evidence in Milans infamous sugar scandal and escaped prosecution. He was dressed in elaborate 1800s garb furnished by Say Yes Fitness of Milan for the event. His outfit included a beige, felted beaver fur, Photo by Joyce Ervin top hat, long black morning coat, stiff shirt collar and a Ezekiel Enriquez portrayed Lyman Burnham at the Milan Area Historical Societys annual tour of Marble Park PLEASE SEE TOUR/7-A Cemetery.

Check out our video:

SafeHouse Director Barbara Neiss May Author Kristy Shorts Operation Nice 2 for U Saline schools foundation kicks off fund drive

Click on the jobs tab on the ehome page m our h r i t a g e . c o of website or go directly to http://jobs.heritage.com.

Completion of Milan Crossing infrastructure has been frustrating for subdivision residents

SPECIAL REPORT: BEHIND THE SMOKE PART III

Join us on Twitter:
We have 1,434 followers on Twitter. Become a Saline Reporter follower. Click on the Twitter tab on the home page or go directly to http://twitter. com/SalineMilanNews.

Criminals scoring with state pot law, cops say

By Michael P. McConnell
Journal Register News Service

By Gerald LaVaute
Heritage Media

This is a story that began in 2003, as the Milan Crossing Limited Liability Corporation was formed. Heathco, a housing developer run by the father-andson team of Harold and Bob Heath, with longtime ties to the Milan community, began to build condominiums in an area in the northeast corner of the city, and named it Milan Crossing. Its a tidy neighborhood of newer, well-kept condominiums, a neighborhood in which many would be happy to live. In fact, Arlene Wolf, a former member of the homeowners association, said of the neighborhood where she has lived for several years, Its a good neighborhood. There are wonderful people here. But despite many good things about Milan Crossing, the current homeowners, the developers and the city have been locked together in ongoing discussions for over two years about final steps to complete some unfinished projects.
PLEASE SEE CROSSING/3-A

law enforcement would be lax and it would be easy for them to do business. Oakland County NET agents have olice investigations show busted and dismantled more than 150 Michigans medical marijuana marijuana growing operations since law is attracting a cast of crim- the state medical marijuana law was inals, from low-level thieves passed nearly three years ago. More and armed robbers to convict- than a dozen people connected ed drug trafckers. with marijuana dispensaries in With illegal pot sales a multibillion- Ferndale and Waterford were dollar industry in the U.S., states that arrested and charged last year. allow limited cultivation and use of Michigan thus far has seen marijuana for patients are magnets for relatively few violent mariblack market operators, law enforcejuana related crimes. In other ment officials say. states with similar laws such Pot advocates argue the solution is as California and Washington to make marijuana legal nationwide patients, growers and clinic and end a fruitless war on drugs, but operators have been robbed, police say they have to enforce existing shot and even murdered. laws that protect the public against Burglaries and armed criminals. robberies have been Federal narcotics agents learned reported in Michigan in March that several illegal Cuban at dispensaries in Barbara Agro, 70, of Lake immigrants who had done time for Lansing, Ann Orion talked on her cellphone cocaine trafficking were looking to buy Arbor and outside the Clinical Relief houses in northern Oakland County to marijuana dispensary in PLEASE SEE set up marijuana growing operations. Ferndale Aug. 26, 2010, a day LAW/19-A The Cubans were linked previously to after Oakland County narcotic a Columbian cocaine cartel, said one agents raided the facility. investigator. Agro, a medical marijuana The Cubans couldnt get medical patient, was a receptionist at marijuana cards for themselves so the dispensary and is one of they recruited people and paid them eight people con to get the cards, said Oakland County nected to Clinic Sheriff s Lt. Joseph Quisenberry, head Relief to face of the countys Narcotics Enforcement charges. She Team. With the medical marijuana is appealing law in Michigan, the perception is that a conviction for manufacture and delivery of See related Behind the marijuana in Smoke coverage on Oakland County Circuit Court. Pages 10-A and 15-A.

Join us on Facebook:
We have 699 fans on Facebook. Click on the Facebook tab on the home page of our website or search for us on Facebook.

Get breaking news:

To receive breaking news alerts, text HERNews to 22700.

The Marketplace:
Local ads are just a hop away at the MIcentral.com marketplace. While you are there, you can check out all the special supplements of Journal Register Co. newspapers in Michigan. Click on marketplace on the home page of our website or go directly to www.marketplace.micentral.com.

Online poll:
Make sure to visit www.heritage.com each week to participate in our online polls.

WHATS INSIDE
Printed on recycled paper

Community Calendar . . . . 1-C Editorial . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-A Death Notices . . . . . . . . 10-A Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-B

News Tip Hotline 429-7380

www.milannews.com

E-mail: editor@milannnews.com
New York Strip Steak Dinner fundraiser will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. Oct. 29 to raise funds for Aid in Milan at Peoples Presbyterian Church, 210 Smith St., in Milan. Tickets only may be purchased in advance through Oct. 23. Dinner includes a steak grilled to order, baked potato, salad, green beans, roll, butter, an assortment of pies and brownies and a beverage for $13. Net proceeds will go to Aid in Milan. Call 439-1922 for tickets.

BRIEFLY...

bloggers to write on a variety of subjects. Currently, www.Heritage.com carries blogs on high school sports, parenting, education, technology, Get breaking news text alerts: The Saline fashion, religion, politics, senior issues, successReporter and Milan News-Leader, as part of ful businesswomen, movie reviews, retirement Heritage Media, offer breaking news text alerts. and food. To pitch a blog idea or share a current Text HERNews, HERSports and HERWeather to blog, which would be featured at www.Heritage. 22700 to sign up. com, email Heritage Online Coordinator David Bloggers sought: The Saline Reporter and Veselenak at dveselenak@heritage.com. Milan News-Leader are seeking community Fundraising dinner set Oct. 29: A Grilled