The Associated Press State & Local Wire October 31, 2003, Friday, BC cycle

Upper Peninsula Briefs HOUGHTON, Mich. A Michigan Tech University student was charged Friday in a hit-and-run that killed another student last month. Christopher Lee Haddix, 24, of Midland, was arraigned in Houghton County District Court on four felony counts, including operating under the influence of liquor causing death, and misdemeanor driving under the influence. He could get up to 15 years in prison. Police say Haddix was driving a pickup truck that fatally struck Jeremy Larsen, 20, of Scottville around 3:15 a.m. on Sept. 28. Larsen was trying to cross College Avenue. Also hit was Dominic J. Longhini, 23, of Marquette, who suffered leg injuries. Prosecutor Douglas Edwards issued an arrest warrant Wednesday after state police s u b mitted test results from Haddix's pickup, which a Michigan Tech public safety officer found during a routine search of area parking lots. Defense attorney Mark Wisti said the weather was bad and the victims may have been drunk as they tried to cross the street. He said the accident "just could not have been avoided." Haddix has a prior drunk driving conviction in Yuma, Ariz. from September 2002, The Daily Mining Gazette reported. MARQUETTE, Mich. (AP) - Little progress has been made in negotiating wage and benefit increases for Northern Michigan University employees. A three-year agreement expired June 30 and talks have dragged on since then, said Carolyn Myers, spokeswoman for the 280-member American Association of University Professors. The union is unhappy that Northern Michigan won't be more generous with its workers while spending millions for campus building projects now, Myers told The Mining Journal for a story Friday. Union members have agreed to continue working without a contract. The worsening state budget situation is adding to the uncertainty. Additional cuts to higher education may be coming as officials try to narrow a $900 million deficit. "There is a very definite connection between the university's finances and what we can do for our employees," said Gavin Leach, acting chief financial officer for finance and administration. CompetitivEdge

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MARQUETTE, Mich. (AP) - One of the original businesses to set up shop at the former K.I. Sawyer Air Force Base is planning to nearly double its size. Superior Extrusion Inc. was formed by Marquette natives Randy and Myron DeBolt i n 1996. The company began production in 1999 with about 15 employees and today has a staff of 70. Among its products are tubular running boards for automobiles, window frames and r i f l e scope mounts. The factory is housed in a 42,000 square-foot building on 7 acres on the former base grounds. "We have been very fortunate," said George LaBlonde, the company's director of administration. "Low interest rates, a dedicated and well-trained work force and the commitment and perseverance to get and keep customers have led to our success." He said the company is nearing capacity and considering a $6 million expansion that could create around 50 jobs. The Marquette County Board voted this week to use a state grant to fund infrastructure for the expansion, The Mining Journal reported Friday. HOUGHTON, Mich. (AP) - Motorcyclists cited for not wearing crash helmets say they will appeal a local judge's ruling upholding Michigan's helmet law. District Judge Phillip Kukkonen on Wednesday denied a motion by 13 bikers to dismiss tickets issued them in May for failing to wear helmets. They had intentionally sought tickets so they could challenge the constitutionality of the law, which they say is too vague. Calumet resident C.J. Belill, an organizer of the "freedom ride," told The Daily Mining Gazette the group would appeal. Their attorney, Charles Goodman of Hancock, said state police have not specified which helmets meet the legal requirements. Fraser Strome, assistant county prosecutor, said the bikers made no attempt to comply because they didn't wear any type of helmet. Kukkonen said some state courts have ruled that the law is unenforceable, but that most judges have upheld it. "To have different requirements in different districts would present an unacceptable resolution to this issue," he said in his ruling.

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The Associated Press State & Local Wire October 30, 2003, Thursday, BC cycle

Upper Peninsula briefs HOUGHTON, Mich. About 30 landlords have volunteered to have their rental properties looked at by o f f i cials in the weeks since the city announced it would make safety inspections mandatory. City Manager Scott MacInnes said Wednesday that he expects the program to be in f u l l swing by spring. Notification letters will be mailed to landlords shortly and door-to-door inspections w i l l begin after the letters are sent, MacInnes told The Daily Mining Gazette for a Thursday story. MacInnes said the inspections thus far have revealed some problems. For example, s e v eral properties have second-floor bedrooms without a second exit like a large window. He said two vacant houses were deemed dangerous; one of the building owners is making improvements. To pay for the inspections, the city is imposing a registration and inspection fee on rentals. Collection will begin in January. The city will charge $100 to register and inspect a house. Apartment complexes will be assessed $30 per unit, with a minimum of $100 and a maximum of $300. City officials have been increasingly concerned about safety since a fraternity house f i r e killed a Michigan Technological University student in August 2002. ESCANABA, Mich. (AP) - A Rock woman will spend up to six months in jail for embezzling more than $40,000 from the Rock Community Ambulance fund. Cindy Nummilien, 48, pleaded guilty in September to embezzling more than $1,000 but less than $20,000 and agreed to pay back $41,230 before sentencing in exchange f o r not being charged with a greater crime. Also, Delta County Prosecutor Tom Smithson agreed not to levy tax fraud charges against Nummilien for not reporting the illegal income, the Daily Press reported in a Thursday story. Before the sentencing, Rock Community Ambulance Secretary Jeff Patrick told the court that the embezzlement has ruined the community's trust in the ambulance service. A new board of directors has been named and steps have been taken to insure bookkeeping is monitored, Patrick said.

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Nummilien also will serve on a work crew, which will allow her to cut time from her sentence. She also was placed on probation for three years and was ordered not to work i n a position where she handles money for that time. She also is forbidden to have direct control over or access to anyone's financial accounts. MARQUETTE, Mich. (AP) - The Michigan Department of Natural Resources can open a snowmobile trail through a residential section of Marquette County's Chocolay Township this winter, a state appeals court has ruled. But it is unclear exactly how snowmobile use will be regulated along the roughly 8 - m i l e section of railroad grade, which passes dozens of homes, The Mining Journal reported i n a Thursday story. "We'll try working with the township to try to mitigate some of the negativity and m i n i mize impacts as much as we can," said Debbie Begalle, western Upper Peninsula district supervisor for the DNR's Forest, Mineral and Fire Management Division in Marquette. In reversing a decision made in January by Marquette County Circuit Judge Thomas L. Solka, Appeals Court judges Patrick Meter, Henry Saad and Bill Schuette ruled that the DNR is not subject to Chocolay Township zoning rules prohibiting snowmobiles on c e r tain state land. Township Treasurer John Greenberg said he was disappointed with the ruling. He said the township board will discuss the ruling with the its attorney.

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Detroit Free Press October 30, 2003 Thursday 0 EDITION

College hockey player of the week they come. I just try to chip in. The team looks for me to put up some numbers. The big concern the last two years was I wasn't really consistent with my game. . . . I did a lot over the off-season. I feel a lot better on the ice this year."

Name:Colin Murphy. School:Michigan Tech. Year:Junior. Position:Left wing.

On playing alongside Chris Conner, who leads the nation with 11 points (nine goals, two assists):"He's a pretty amazing player. He's real fast, he has great hands. He's definitely the full package. It's really fun to play with him. We work well t o gether."

Height:6-0. Weight:195. Hometown:Ft. McMurray, Alberta. Major:Marketing. What he did:Scored with 25 seconds l e f t after Tech pulled goalie Bryce Luker, helping the Huskies tie host St. Cloud State, 3-3, on Friday. Gave Tech a 2 - 1 lead with his sixth goal of the season and added two assists before St. Cloud State came back to win, 6-5, on Saturday. Saturday's goal extended his consecutive points streak to nine games dating to last season. Second in the nation in scoring, with six goals among 10 points. Murphy had a hat trick, including the overtime winner, in a 7-6 victory over Northern Michigan on Oct. 18.

On the team's goals:"I've talked to a lot of people and people say, 'It looks l i k e Michigan Tech is the team to move up i n the standings.' . . . I think we can definitely challenge for the WCHA championship this year."

On the team eking out big goals two weekends in a row:"It was a huge goal (Friday). It was the second weekend in a row we were down a goal, pulled the goalie and scored a goal. I think it was a good step i n the right direction. Shows we have a lot of heart to come back like that."

On his personal goals:"I don't really set personal goals. I just let it come,let i t happen. I noticed when I set personal goals and I don't achieve them, you get pretty down on yourself. I just like to set team goals. Whatever happens with the i n d i vidual stuff, happens."

On his points streak:"I just try to go out and work hard and the points come when

By George Sipple

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On how the team has responded to f i r s t year coach Jamie Russell:"Coach Russell has done a real good job with the type of team we have. He's very positive with us. So far, the adjustment has been good. I think we're going to do well under him."

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