In the opening rounds of women’s basketball district action Monday night, Feb. 26, the Blissfield Lady Royals took down Summerfield on the Lady Bulldogs’ home court by a score of 57-30, and the Britton Deerfield Lady Patriots defeated the Whiteford Bobcats 48-45 in overtime taking advantage of home court.
For the full story on women’s basketball districts, please see the March 7, 2018, edition of The Advance.
By Brad Heineman
MASON — The Madison Trojans are on a mission. It’s such an important mission that even perennial state competitive cheerleading power Hudson could not get in the way of the Lady Trojans during Saturday’s regional championship event at Mason High School.
In record-breaking fashion, Madison took home its first-ever regional competitive cheerleading championship in program history by earning the top overall score in Division-4 cheering, a 749.64, which outpaced the Hudson Tigers’ second-place score of 746.26.
The Trojans’ score was a season-high for the blue-and-gold. Last season, Madison advanced from the regionals and went on to the state meet, finishing in third place. In 2018, they made it a return trip to the state finals, but this year they move on as the regional tournament champs.
Madison got out to a first-round lead of 229.30 to Hudson’s 226.80, and the Trojans never looked back from then on. They led by more than four points after rounds one and two, but Hudson was able to slice into the edge a smidgen in the third round. Still, it was Madison that did not falter after grabbing the early lead and they walked away from the Mason gymnasium with a closely contested regional title.
Just like the district competition, the top four scoring teams from the regional bracket advance on to the state finals at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Delta Plex Arena, Grand Rapids.
The Blissfield Royals, who were back-to-back Class C runners up in 1996 and 1997, will not get an opportunity to cheer for their first state championship in over 20 years, after finishing with the 11th best score of the Mason Regionals.
The Royals, who advanced to the regionals for the first time in close to eight years, ended Saturday’s tournament with a score of 647.10.
For all the details on local regional cheer action for Madison and Blissfield, please pick up a copy of the Feb. 28, 2018, edition of The ADVANCE. To subscribe, please call 517-486-2400. The ADVANCE could be in your mailbox weekly with just a quick phone call!
By Brad Heineman
For five high school varsity bowlers representing Blissfield and Madison, their team portion of the season may have reached its end, but their individual success on the season and in the postseason regional tournament continues on into this Saturday’s state finals tournament.
Representing the Blissfield Royals in the individual state finals tournament at Battle Creek’s M-66 Bowl Alley will be first-ever state finalists, Amanda Fisher, Breann Knierim and Zack Taylor.
Representing the Madison Trojans individually at the state finals, will be senior Isaac Solis, a three-year state bowling finalist, and first-time finalist Donnie Farrar. Madison, bowling in the Division-3 tournament this postseason, will compete in the state finals at Muskegon’s Northway Lanes.
Britton Deerfield was not eligible to participate in Friday’s team tournament due to not having enough players to form a team. They opted to draw a forfeit on the day and instead bowled in Saturday’s individual tournament hosted by Blissfield at Ten Pin Lanes in Tecumseh.
For more details on this week’s bowling results, please see Brad’s story in the Feb. 28, 2018, edition of The ADVANCE.
A minor flood experienced in the area late last week dissipated over the weekend. The River Raisin crested at 1.19 feet over flood stage (683 feet) n Blissfield. Water filled Bachmayer and Ellis parks, and some basements in low-lying areas.
Technically, the area is still the Cottonwood Swamp and when snow melts and rains are heavy, the land soaks up the water. During the late winter when frost is in the ground, it takes a little more time for the water to be absorbed. What can’t be readily absorbed pools into lakes and drains into the River Raisin.
Along with that water, more water from the melted snow and rain from the west, the river can overflow its banks this time of year.
For the rest of this story, please see the Feb. 28, 2018, edition of The ADVANCE on newsstands now. To subscribe for home delivery, please call 517-486-2400.
RIGA – Terry Curtis Slusher, age 45, of Riga passed away peacefully on Friday, February 23, 2018, at his home surrounded by his loving family, after a courageous battle with ALS. Terry was born August 9, 1972, in Adrian to Gary and Julia (Henley) Slusher. Terry graduated from Blissfield High School in 1990. On October 13, 2007, Terry married Carolyn Carr in Blissfield and she survives. Terry worked for Accu-Worx in Temperance where it was a second family and greatly enjoyed all the people that he worked with. He continued to work well into being diagnosed. Terry loved coaching Little League in Blissfield and had done so for at least a decade. He also coached for the “Lookouts” and traveled with them to a Little League World Series. Terry was adventurous and loved to solve a good challenge. Terry loved the outdoors and camping with his family.
Surviving is his wife, Carolyn of Riga, his mother Julie Loar of Tecumseh; five children, Christopher (Kristin) Piotter of Adrian, Cheyanne Brown of Adrian, Abigail Slusher of Adrian, Emma Brown of Riga, and Devon Slusher of Blissfield, a brother Dustin (Carmen) Loar of Palmyra, a sister Dawn Heath of Denver, Colo.; and one grandson Christopher Carl; and by numerous aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and cousins. Terry is preceded in death by his father, and by his maternal and paternal grandparents.
Funeral services for Terry will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, March 2, 2018, at the Anderson-Rudd Funeral Home, Blissfield with Pastor Gayle Ruble officiating. Burial will follow in Riga Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 4-8 p.m. Thursday, March 1, 2018, at the Anderson-Rudd Funeral Home. There will also be Visitation from 10 a.m. until the time of service Friday, March 2, 2018, at the Anderson-Rudd Funeral Home. Condolences may be given online at www.andersonfuneralservices.com. Memorial contributions are suggested to ALS of Michigan. Envelopes are available at the Anderson-Rudd Funeral Home, Blissfield.
James Allen Staup, age 61 of Blissfield passed away peacefully on Thursday, February 22, 2018 at ProMedica Ebeid Hospice in the presence of his loving wife, Sandy. He was born on February 23, 1956 in Adrian to Gail and Marian (Westgate) Staup. Jim married Sandra J. Konieczny on October 17, 2015 at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Blissfield. She survives. Jim loved his life. He stated “I lived life to the edge and back”. He especially loved his job as a truck driver for Estes Express. The relationships that he had with his co-workers were very important to him. Jim served in the U.S. Air Force for 22 years in munitions and then as an inflight refueler, “boom operator”. He said he had the “best job in the Air Force.” He saw the world and loved this period of his life. He loved NASCAR, his favorite driver was Dale Jr. Jim also loved his two Ford Mustangs, his two “Ponies”. He loved carpentry and building trades and was quite the handyman. He also enjoyed shooting his guns and archery, and was proud of his skills. He always had a smile for everyone he met.
In addition to his wife, Sandra Staup, he is survived by his mother, Marian Keller of Blissfield; two sons, Bryan Staup of Sylvania, OH and David Staup of Alabama; three stepdaughters, Kelli (Noah) Ross of Enon, OH, Kristen (Kristopher) Kellinghaus of Bellevue, KY and Lindsey (Brad) Couturier of Beavercreek, OH; five step-grandchildren, Avery Ann, Will, Kristopher, Kolten and Autumn and a sister, Linda (J.C.) Hamann of Blissfield. Jim was preceded in death by his father, Gail, a son, Gregory Staup and a brother, Jeffery Staup.
Funeral services for Jim will be held at 11:00 a.m. Thursday, March 1, 2018 at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Blissfield with Pastor Gary Leking officiating. Burial will follow in Pleasant View Cemetery with full military rites conducted by the Blissfield American Legion Post #325 and the Annis-Fint V.F.W. Post #1584. Visitation will be held from 2-8 p.m. Wednesday, February 28, 2018 at the Anderson-Rudd Funeral Home and also on Thursday from 10-10:45 a.m. at the church.
You may send condolences to the family at www.andersonfuneralservices.com. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Paul’s Lutheran Church. Envelopes will be available at the church or at the Anderson-Rudd Funeral Home.
By Melissa Burnor
OTTAWA LAKE – The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office arrested a 14-year old male, Whiteford High School student for allegedly making terrorist threats towards a school.
Staff from the Whiteford High School contacted the sheriff’s office on Feb. 22 and filed a report regarding a suspicious incident involving a student making threatening gestures inside a classroom.
Whiteford Superintendent Valerie Orr addressed the situation in a letter to parents at Whiteford Schools. The letter was sent to parents on Saturday after police arrested the suspect.
According to police the suspect was located at his residence and taken into custody without incident at approximately 7 p.m. Saturday. He is now lodged at the Monroe County Youth Center and was expected to be formally charged by the Monroe County Prosecutors Office on Monday.
Orr said when police investigated the situation on Thursday, the district was advised there was no credible threat to students at Whiteford at that time. However, police continued to investigate the individual.
Detective Mike McClain led the investigation and followed up with several leads and was able to obtain a juvenile pick-up order through the Juvenile Court of Monroe County for the suspect.
“It is important that people understand that the threat came in Friday night,” Orr said.
She received a call on Friday evening from law enforcement regarding another alleged credible threat from the same suspect.
This prompted the district to cancel a middle school dance scheduled for Friday.
For the rest of the story, please see the Feb. 28, 2018 edition of The ADVANCE.
