THE SAGINAW NEWS

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

Soprano Stacey Tappan received top billing in the Saginaw Bay Symphony Orchestra program for Saturday's "A Night at the Opera 2" concert.

And yes, her coloratura voice was superb and met the test of the dizzyingly intricate "Glitter and Be Gay" aria from Berstein's "Candide."

But it was mezzo-soprano Jessye Wright's silky smooth voice which charmed this concertgoer with her arias from Rossini's "The Barber of Seville," Bizet's "Carmen" and, in particular, Saint-Saens' "Samson and Delilah."

Continue reading "Review: Mezzo-soprano, Saginaw Bay Symphony Orchestra win praise for "A Night at the Opera 2"" »

Valley Lutheran High School's homecoming theme, "Around the World," lived up to its Jules Verne-inspired title Saturday when a student arrived to the dance using an unusual mode of transportation.

Matt R. Helmreich, a 17-year-old senior, drove his date to the gala using his family's 2003 John Deere 8320 tractor.

"I'm sure a few of our friends are going to be surprised," he said before leaving for the dance.

Continue reading "John Deere tractor a fashionable ride to the Valley Lutheran High School homecoming dance" »

Frankenmuth voters will have a chance to hear the presidential candidates' opinions on the economy and domestic policy during a community forum.

The event is at 7 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 15, at Frankenmuth High School, 525 East Genesee. Several local and county candidates on the Tuesday, Nov. 4, ballot have received invitations, and the evening also will include a showing of the final presidential debate between Republican Sen. John McCain and Democrat Barack Obama.

The televised debate starts at 9 p.m. and lasts about 90 minutes.

Continue reading "Local candidates speak in Frankenmuth; event ends with viewing of presidential debate" »

Investigators say a "suspicious" blaze kept Saginaw firefighters busy early Saturday.

Fire Battalion Chief Jeffrey A. Martinez said a female tenant at 1933 Wilkins arrived after firefighters began to extinguish the flames about 3:20 a.m.

The blaze burned nearly two hours and inflicted $25,000 in damage, Martinez said.

College footballs weren't the only pigskins put into the air Saturday. Youngsters from the Valley Youth Football League went about their paces in a series of eighth grade tackle football crossover games at Arthur Hill Memorial Stadium.

Teams from the North Division -- St. Thomas, St. Stephen, Thompson, Ricker, Central and Webber middle schools -- played host to teams from the South Division, comprised of schools from the Flint region.

Continue reading "Valley Youth Football League youngsters enjoy a day in the sun and playing in a big stadium at Arthur Hill High School Memorial Stadium" »

A financial crisis sends ripples of panic through the public. The government intervenes and experts calm fears. Then the bottom falls out. Three Saginaw banks take a holiday; only one reopens.

Merely a temporary inconvenience -- that's how Saginaw businessmen looked on the eight-day bank holiday ordered by Gov. William A. Comstock on Valentine's Day 1933. The stock market crashed a few years before, real estate values were falling at alarming rates, and they agreed they had to do something.

But when less than a month later President Franklin D. Roosevelt ordered a national four-day time-out, even the most confident realized dire times were ahead. Only 207 of Michigan's 436 state banks and trust companies reopened their doors.

Continue reading "The crash of 1933" »

This column isn't as much about sports as it is about life.

Harold Hiser Sr. loved sports as much as he loved life.

He loved to teach as much as he loved to compete.

He loved to share as much as he loved to care.

He loved to laugh; so much, that he could make you cry.

Continue reading "Sunday Brunch: Harold Hiser was a good sport and a great teacher of how to live life." »

Mid-Michigan ministers have faith that whatever economic storm looms, believers will come together to see the rainbow.

Long before the economy began unraveling, Ames United Methodist Church operated on a "very lean" budget, the Rev. Mark A. Karls said.

"We have hardly any wiggle room, but we're doing fairly well at this point," Karls, 61, said. "But that's not to say things won't change in a month.

"Beyond that, as the son of a banker I was taught you save during good times so you'll be ready when rainy days come along. I do, however, know that one of the first things people reduce or cut all together is stuff they pay for with discretionary funds -- and for some people, giving to the church is discretionary."

Continue reading "The faithful will stand strong to weather the economic storm" »

Two lawyers who have never faced each other in the courtroom confront one other in the court of public opinion to claim a seat in Congress.

Republican incumbent Dave Camp of Midland faces Democrat Andrew D. Concannon of Saginaw Township in the Tuesday, Nov. 4, general election for the U.S. House 4th District seat.

Allitta Hren, a Big Rapids Libertarian, and John Emerick, a Mount Pleasant member of the U.S. Taxpayers Party, also are running in the 14-county district that spans most of Saginaw County to Leelanau County in northwest Lower Michigan.

Continue reading "U.S. HOUSE 4TH DISTRICT RACE: Economy weighs heavily on candidates Camp, Concannon, Hren and Emerick" »

A Gladwin woman stars in a flier for Sen. Barack Obama, and her assessment of Michigan's economy has drawn ire from those who disagree.

Cheryl L. Verellen, 52, works as a press operator at Dura Automotive Systems Inc., 1016 E. First in Gladwin. Beside her picture in the flier, she is quoted as saying, "The economy's not good and the middle class is dissolving. It's just like a train that's crashing; you're going to jump off or you're going to go crash with it."

"The factory I work for is shutting down and going to Mexico," she said. The plant closes Monday.

Continue reading "A Gladwin, Mich., woman losing her job is featured in a Barack Obama ad" »

If you are a big-time fan of Marilyn Monroe and Michigan's own Madonna -- and we admit to the fact that we indeed are -- there is a breath-taking painting now on display at the Saginaw Art Museum.

Measuring a sturdy 3-feet by 6-feet, tucked in a corner, with a gauzy and shimmering quality to it, the oil on aluminum piece depicts in one feel swoop both singer/sex symbol/actress icons.

Look at it up close and you see Marilyn; from a distance Madonna. "Madonna Marilyn" it's titled.

Continue reading "'Life as a Legend' exhibiton links Marilyn Monroe, Madonna, Mao and Mickey Mouse" »

Most mid-Michigan baseball fans hoping to watch Friday's televised National League playoff game between Philadelphia and Los Angeles received a blank screen instead when they tuned to WSMH, Fox 66.

Problems with the station's analog transmitter tower was the culprit, according to Todd DuBois, public relations coordinator for Charter Communications. Subscribers of WSMH's HD channel were able to view the game, DuBois said.

The decision to double the Saginaw School District's childcare fee had some parents sending home 5-year-olds as latchkey kids, a Board of Education member says.

Months after doubling the cost for afterschool childcare to $10 per day, school officials are lowering the fee to $7.50. The price will drop to $5 per student for a family's second child.

Continue reading "Saginaw schools reduce afterschool childcare fee, but some parents already have dropped out" »

A case of political sign vandalism and retaliation is causing friction in a Buena Vista Township neighborhood.

Donald G. Soule supports Republican John McCain for president, and he planted two McCain/Palin signs in his yard on Hiland.

Continue reading "Altered political sign is gone, but irritation remains in a Buena Vista neighborhood" »