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Chelsea StandardVOL. 138, NO. 41 THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13, 201175¢

Editorial Page 6-A

Calendar Page 3-C

Death Notices Page 10-A

Sports Page 1-B

Community Page 1-C

INDEX

Check out our photosof Waterloo’s PioneerDay!

Page 1-C

INSIDEToday’s

couponsare worth

up to ...

$109

U of M professor talkssustainability at clubevent

Page 15-A

INSIDE

Bills could change school electionsBy Crystal HaydukSpecial Writer

Superintendent DavidKillips informed the ChelseaSchool District Board of Education about the pos-sibility of legislation nowin the House that will affecthow local districts do busi-ness at a Monday meeting.

Bills 4005 and 4006 wouldcause school board electionsto take place during theNovember general elections.Historically, board electionshave taken place in May.

According to Killips, noone’s term would be short-ened by the new rule, but theterm could be lengthened tocoincide with a Novemberelection. A board memberwould not be obligated tothe longer term, however, inwhich case it is likely thata special election would becalled.

“They would like schoolsto be run like business,but business would notrun like this,” Killips said,referring to a change of sev-eral board members in the

middle of the budget year.A board member elected inNovember would assumethe new seat the followingJanuary 1.

Another potential changeinvolves the repeal of thepersonal property tax. If this bill passes, businesseswould be exempt from pay-ing tax on personal property.Money collected from thepersonal property tax helpsto fund not only the founda-tion allowance, but alsothe sinking fund and bondissues.

“If you take the tax bur-den from business, it willincrease the tax burden of residents,” Killips said.

The details of how thestate would make up for thelost funds are not known atthis time.

Killips said the districtenrollment on the unauditedcount day was down 43 stu-dents from last year.

“When Pierce was closed,we told the communitywe would have a minimalincrease in class size,” hesaid. “In fact, some of the

class sizes went down.”On average, North Creek’s

class size is 21, third andfourth grade class size is 23,Beach Middle School classsize is 28.6, and the highschool’s class size is 27.8.

“Fifth grade is a bubblewhere we have 28 studentson average in each class,”Killips said.

He also said that num-bers at the middle and highschools are not exact due tothe nature of the variety of 

Trio willplay freeconcert

By Crystal HaydukSpecial Writer

The nationally-acclaimedgroup Brass Roots Trio willbe performing a concert inChelsea called “Con Brio!”which is musical terminol-ogy for “with spirit” or“with vigor.”

The musicians, playingpiano, trumpet and Frenchhorn, will perform 7:30 p.m.Oct. 22 at the First UnitedMethodist Church, 128 ParkSt.

The program will bean eclectic blend of jazz,ragtime, contemporary andclassical music presentedwith their unique style of exuberance and warmththat has gained the trio aninternational followingsince they began perform-ing together in 2004. Thegroup has received standingovations and rave reviewsfor their performances atengagements that includedthe St. James PiccadillyConcert Series in London,the Chicago Brass Festival,Lincoln Center andCarnegie Hall in New York.In 2009, they performed atthe White House by invita-tion of the Obama adminis-tration.

All three of the group’smembers are excellentmusicians and performerson their own, but togetherthey put on a dynamicperformance. Rosetta

High school to host fundraiser for injured student

PLEASE SEE BILLS /3-A

By Jerry WolffeJournal Register News Service

AU.S. Marine who spent six monthsin Operation Enduring Freedomand has a severe back injury hasfound some relief in legally usingmarijuana three times a week.

Spec. 4 Chris Swift, a 31-year-oldWaterford Township father of two, withhis current wife, Jaclyn, 27, also spenttime in Okinawa Prefecture before beinghonorably discharged from the Marineson July 20, 2008.

Swift, who went to Parris Island, S.C.for training to be a Marine, also has Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.

He was involved in a severe car acci-dent while stationed near San Diego andhas degenerativediscdiseasein hislower

back, he said.He is applying for Social

Security Disability Income, andhe and his wife, and two young girls liveon his $500 a month in veteran’s benefits,he said. In addition, the family receivesfood stamps.

His wife just gave birth to their secondchild and plans “to go back to school tostudy to be an ultra-sound tech.”

His apartment rent is $499 a month,and Swift says his family is only makingit because his wife’s family is financiallyhelping them.

“After I got into thatcar accident, I couldn’trun, my back was sore,and my legs were killingme,” he said.

He said a truck ran ared light near the SanDiego base and his carT-boned the truck. Hesuffered a head injuryand needed several sta-ples to close the wound.

“After a couple of 

SPECIAL REPORT: ‘BEHIND THE SMOKE’ PART II

Former Marine ChrisSwift wants marijuanaregulated properly sopatients can use it toease pain.

Former Marine: Medicalmarijuana should beregulated to relieve pain

See more ‘Behind theSmoke’ coverage onPages 10-A and 11-A

PLEASE SEE PAIN /3-A

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performance. RosettaSenkus Bacon is the pia-nist, arranger and found-ing member of the group.She earned her master’sdegree from the ManhattanSchool of Music. A nativeof West Virginia, shereceived the “OutstandingMusician Award” from theWest Virginia Arts andHumanities Commission.

Trumpeter Thomas

High school to host fundraiser for injured studentA spaghetti dinner and

silent auction fundraiserwill be held Oct. 25 forKersch Ray, a 14-year-oldChelsea High School fresh-man who was struck by acar during an early morn-ing cross country practicelast month. Ray suffered aclosed-head injury and twobroken legs.

The fundraiser will bein the cafeteria of Chelsea

High School, 740 N. FreerRoad from 4 to 8 p.m. At-willdonations will be taken atthe door. Dinner will beprovided by Thompson’sPizza, and Yellow Door willprovide dessert.

Organizers of the eventare looking for donateditems or services for thesilent auction, which theyneed as soon as possible butno later than Oct. 21. Please

contact one of the followingpeople to donate an item:Mari jane Nelson at 734-260-9666; Deb Herman at 734-417-4250; Lisa Clouse at 734-433-9223; or Emily Zimmer at734-418-3207.

For each item or service,please provide the name of the company or person donat-ing, a contact phone number,a brief description of theitem and the item’s value.Kersch RayPLEASE SEE TRIO /3-A

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