Doug Donnelly – Page 93 – Blissfield Advance

Memorial Poker Run raises funds for domestic violence program

By Melissa Burnor

Domestic violence is something that affects many people each year. Bill and Lisa Gritzmaker certainly had the effects hit very close to home last year. Just over a year ago, their daughter-in-law also named Lisa Gritzmaker and their unborn granddaughter, Abigail, were murdered along with the younger Lisa Gritzmaker’s sister, Amy Merrill, by Merrill’s estranged boyfriend.

Gritzmaker, along with his son, Jake who was married to the younger Lisa, belong to the 180th Fighter Wing of the Ohio Air national Guard. The group rallied around the family in the days and weeks that followed the death of Lisa, Abigail and her sister Amy Merrill.

But their deaths would not be the only domestic violence-related deaths that would affect the unit.

Bill Gritzmaker also had had a coworker at the 180th Fighter Wing of the Ohio Air National Guard who was murdered by her husband in their on-base housing at Fort Knox, Ky., earlier this year. Her husband also took his own life. Bill said another very close family member of his was also a previous victim of domestic violence.

Bill and his wife Lisa began thinking about the lack of awareness of domestic in the public and the need for support groups that help people who find themselves in situations like that.

So, after much conversation with each other, friends and family , “buddies at work” Bill said he idea of the Inaugural All-Wheel Poker Run In Loving Memory of Amy Merrill, Lisa Gritzmaker and Abigail Gritzmaker began to take shape. All proceeds to the benefit will go to the Catherine Cobb Domestic Violence Center in Adrian.

Poker runs are usually an activity that motorcycle enthusiasts participate in, but the Gritzmakers wanted anyone who wanted to support their cause to take part if they choose. So while they anticipate a lot of motorcycle riders anyone whether they have a car, truck or a bike, can participate, Lisa said.

Participants can play as many hands as they want,” Bill said. The cost is $20 per hand.

Registration also includes a T-shirt and wrist band. Registration will take place from 9-11:30 a.m. Saturday behind Blissfield Coney Island. It will be a rain or shine event. For more information about the event email gritz@cass.net

Memorial race attracts 118 entrants

By Melissa Burnor

It was warm and sunny morning Sunday for the first annual Amy, Lisa and Abigail memorial 5K run walk. There were 118 people who signed up to complete the course in the village and Greg Scharer was the first person to cross the finish line

“I was really happy to see so many people,” Robin McCowan, mother of Amy Merrill and Lisa Gritzmaker. The two women along with Gritzmaker’s unborn child were shot and killed in Merrill’s home last year by her estranged boyfriend. McCowan was also seriously injured.

Two of Merrill’s sons, Cameron, 11 and Brendan, 13, took part in the opening ceremony. With Cameron giving an insightful prayer and Brendan a warm welcome to all of he participants. Brendan said how thankful the two were to the community that reached out to their families. “They reached out to our family in ways we couldn’t have even imagined was possible,” Brendan Merrill said.

Many came because they knew the sisters or family. Others came because they had read something in the paper or had heard by word of mouth. Scharer, a native of Sand Creek, now residing in Houston, Tex. was in town for a couple of weeks. He routinely runs races in both Texas and Michigan.

Matt Dorr, of Clinton, placed second. Local resident, Trisa Iffland was the first woman to cross the finish line in 26:02. She was third overall.

Blissfield Big League squad wins state crown

By Chad Hutchinson

The Blissfield Legion Post 325 Big League squad rolled over the competition last week to go 3-0 and be crowned Big League state champs for the second consecutive year.

Blissfield defeated Taylor 4-0 in the first round before thumping Macomb 17-1 and Muskegon 12-0 in the championship. All together, Blissfield pummeled its opponents for a combined score of 33-1.

Hosting the state tournament this year, Blissfield had plenty of support from the home crowd. Blissfield’s opening round battle against Taylor also saw both teams fight their way through gusting winds as thunderstorms began to cruise in overhead. Fortunately Blissfield posted four runs in five innings of work before storms arrived, which allowed the game to be counted as an official win before being called due to weather.

The 4-0 victory was Blissfield’s closest call of the tournament.

Frances Zilke

        DEERFIELD — Frances Zilke, age 90, of Deerfield, passed away Sunday,
July 14, 2013, at Fieldstone AFL, in Tecumseh. She was born May 6,
1923, in Jasper, to Joseph and Mary (Valasek) Ricica. She married
Rollin R. (Pete) Zilke on March 2, 1946 and he preceded her in death
on October 3, 1980.
        She is survived by three sons and daughters-in-law: Joseph (Judy)
Zilke of Brooklyn, Mich., Peter (Denise) Zilke of Riga, and Richard
(Robin) Zilke of Adrian. Also surviving are grandchildren Michael
Zilke and fiancée Melissa Preston, Matthew (Jessica) Zilke, Christina
(Matthew) Karpinski, Jeffrey (Christi) Zilke, Nicholas (Melissa)
Zilke, Jonathon (Kristin) Zilke, Justin (Maggie) Zilke, and Bradley
Zilke and fiancee Shae Biers, and Christopher Matthias. Also
surviving are great-grandchildren Paige and Madison Zilke, Tyler and
Trevor Karpinski, Brody and Kendall Zilke, Adam and Hadley Zilke,
step-great-grandchildren Julia, Roger and Brian Preston and Kara and
Kaitlin Burns. Also surviving is her sister Vi Hutchinson of Dearborn
Hts., MI.
        Besides her husband Pete, she was preceded in death by her parents,
and sisters Rose Repka, Helen Repka, Martha Kinsley, and Anna Fust.
        Funeral services for Frances will be at 11:00 a.m., Thursday, July
18, 2013, at Wagley Funeral Home, Tagsold Chapel, Blissfield, with
Deacon Joseph Repka presiding. Burial will follow at Deerfield
Cemetery. Visitation will be on Wednesday from 2 to 8 p.m. at the
funeral home.
        Memorial contributions in lieu of flowers may be given to Hospice of
Lenawee, Department on Aging or the American Diabetes Foundation.
Envelopes will be available at the funeral home. Online condolences
to the family are welcomed at www.WagleyFuneralHome.com

Russell Spalding

        TECUMSEH — Russell Spalding, of Britton, age 89, passed away
Wednesday, July 10, 2013, at The Fieldstone, Tecumseh Place, Tecumseh.
        He was born Nov. 12, 1923, the son of Claude Eugene Spalding and
Goldie Grace (Elkins) Spalding in Cass County, Michigan. On June 10,
1950, he married Johanna M. Warner in East Lansing, Mich.
        He served in the Army during World War II, in which he was an active
member of the 10th mountain division. During 1968, he served in
Vietnam as a civilian military advisor. He was a life time member of
the Masons, Shriners, NEA and MEA, as well as a member of DAV #20,
American Legion #155, V.F.W. #1584 and served as past state commander
of DAV, national executive committee of DAV, a past veteran service
officer, volunteering his time transporting veterans from Lenawee
County to the VA hospital in Ann Arbor and back home, and a member of
40 et 8.
        He worked as a teacher and administrator for Reading, Britton, Mio,
where he also served as superintendent, and Dundee school systems.
He along with his wife taught one year in Hawaii. Russell was
instrumental in the formation of the Retired School Personnel of
Lenawee County Association.
        He is survived by his sister in laws, Wanita Spalding of Buchanan,
Mich., and Rose Spalding of South Bend, Ind.; nieces and nephews, Bob
Diedrich of Portland, Ore., Patricia Massey of St. Cloud, Fla., Diane
Spalding of South Bend, Ind. and Sue Spalding of Buchanan, Mich.,
Karen Spalding-Mayer of Plymouth, Ind., and Donald Spalding of South
Bend, Ind., Jan Spalding of Mishawaka Ind.; and many other nieces and
nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Johanna;
brothers Max, Lowell, Bob and Donald Spalding; sisters, Mable Wilds,
Mildred Weed, and Marguerite Bonjarno; and niece Sandra Diedrich.
        The funeral service for Russ was held at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday,
July 14, 2013, at Wagley Funeral Home with Rev. Richard Bruce
officiating. Burial was private at Fort Custer National Cemetery
in Augusta, MI. Friends visited the family on Saturday, July 13,
from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home where the
various Veterans groups held a service at 7:00 p.m. In lieu of
flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Housing Help of
Lenawee for the Veterans’ Dire Needs Fund. Envelopes will be
available at Wagley Funeral Home. Online condolences are welcomed at
www.WagleyFuneralHome.com

Sidney Cousino

PETERSBURG – Sidney Lee Cousino, age 71, of Petersburg passed away
Wednesday, July 10, 2013, at the home of his son in Toledo. He was
born August 7, 1941, in Stockbridge, to Arnold and Elizabeth Ann
(Baum) Cousino.
        He married Viola Mae Reinhardt in Adrian, and she precedes him in
death. Sidney loved fishing, hunting, farming and especially
spending time with his eight very special grandchildren, Amber and
Alex Lippert, Jordan McKinna, Makayla, Christian, Daniel and Arabella
Cunningham and Aiden Salinas.
        Sidney is survived by one son, Josh (Carrie) Cousino of Toledo,
Ohio; extended family, Michael (Jennifer) Cunningham, Samuel
Espinoza, Pete and Daisy Salinas and Raymond Bair ; four brothers,
Delbert (Bethal) Cousino of Saylersville, Ky., Carlton (Rita) Cousino
of Adrian, Keith (Diane) Cousino of Petersburg, and Thomas Cousino of
Rollin; and one sister, Beulah Whitman of Stockbridge.
        In addition to his loving wife, Viola, he was preceded in death by
his parents; brothers, Joe, John, Ernie, Elton and Donald Cousino and
a sister, Ellen.
        Funeral services for Sidney were held on Monday, July 15, 2013,
at 3 p.m. at the Adrian Anderson Funeral Home. Interment was in
Deerfield Cemetery. Visitation was held on Monday from 1-3 p.m. at
the Adrian Anderson Funeral Home.
        You may send condolences to the family at
www.andersonfuneralservices.com.
        Memorial contributions may be made to the Anderson Funeral Home to�
help Sidney’s family with his funeral expenses. Envelopes are�
available at the Adrian Anderson Funeral Home.

Victim of bicycle crash LifeFlighted from Raisin Center Hwy.

By Melissa Burnor

A woman was airlifted from an unknown situation on Raisin Center Highway in Palmyra Township Sunday afternoon.

A passerby called in a report of a possible crash involving a woman on a bicycle on Raisin Center Highway south of Demlow Road shortly before 2 p.m., according to police.

Michigan State Police troopers at the scene said they were still trying to determine what happened . At the time, troopers said, there were no witnesses who had come forward and no visible signs of a crash such as skid marks or debris. LifeFlight landed on the road and later transported the woman to an unknown hospital.

No additional information was available.

WEB palmyra bicycle crash or accident — Palmyra Township fire and rescue workers prepare to transport the victim of a bicycle crash to LifeFlight which landed on Raisin Center Highway Sunday afternoon. Copyright 2013, River Raisin Publications, Inc. Photo by Melissa Burnor

Suspect charged after downtown assault

Chopper at BSB 7-13-12 — The victim of Saturday morning’s alleged downtown Blissfield assault is prepared for air transport to the hospital in the Blissfield State Bank parking lot, where the chopper had landed. The victim was initially transported to the bank lot by ground ambulance. Copyright 2013, River Raisin Publications, Inc. Photo/Marcia Loader

By Melissa Burnor

A 57-year old Tipton man was arraigned Monday on charges of felonious assault after allegedly cutting a man’s neck with a knife on the sidewalk in the 100 block of South Lane Street early Saturday morning.

Police and rescue crews responded to the west side of the street at 1:43 a.m. Saturday to a report of an assault. According to witnesses on the scene, a 31-year-old Blissfield man later identified as John Burtle, allegedly had his throat slashed by suspect Bradley Bences. Blissfield Fire Department responded to the scene quickly and took the Burtle to the parking lot of the Blissfield State Bank on Jefferson Street where he was airlifted to a Toledo hospital.

Blissfield Fire Chief Gary Crist said Burtle was talking and conscious when ambulance crews loaded him into the chopper.

Blissfield Police Sergeant Jacob Wagner said the altercation allegedly occurred after the two men may have had contact earlier in the evening.

A woman across the street from the crime scene allegedly witnessed a stockily-built, possibly bald man with a goatee wearing a flannel shirt, run through the mini park and into the area between The Advance and Bill’s Service on Newspaper Street.

A large pool of blood covered the curb and part of the sidewalk on the west side of the street. While several people had gathered on the sidewalk, a woman dumped a large pail of water on it to wash it away. A trail of blood droplets could be seen on the pavement and sidewalk through the minipark and on parts of Newspaper Street.

Police checked out the area but did not find the suspect there.

30th River Raisin Festival begins: Magical History Tour!

When the 30th Annual Blissfield River Raisin Festival returns to Bachmayer and Ellis parks on both sides of the River Raisin in Blissfield July 10-13, there’s a big change in the schedule: A shift to a pumped-up Thursday, Friday and Saturday, rather than the traditional Friday-Sunday schedule. The reason; the popularity and growth of the Thursday evening events.

“We have had Thursday night activities for a few years now with the carnival actually opening on Wednesday — which it will again this year,” Fetzer said. “Our Thursday attendance was growing, but Sundays were dropping off.’ She explained that the growth of Thursday afternoon and evening is seen as an opportunity to add even more activity on Thursday night including acts on the main stage and the Car and Bike Show — with a free “drive-in movie” to follow as well as the opening of the festival beverage tent for Everyone’s Homecoming Party, bingo, Princess Walk and big entertainment on the Pavilion Stage, the Dockside Deck and the Tugboat Stage for kids. The carnival will be in full swing, too. “We’re bringing it Thursday night!” she said.

The committee has been discussing concluding the festivities with a bang —Saturday fireworks — for several years and decided that the 30th anniversary was the time to do it. Fireworks two nights, a free lumberjack show, a giant sand sculpture, the return of Bingo, what is billed as the best entertainment package ever and much more at the festival means a memorable weekend for all. Best of all, admission continues to be free for the summer event. Because of business sponsorships, the festival will offer to all who wish to attend three free stages of entertainment, crafts, children’s activities, a major parade, a Miss America local preliminary pageant and more. Organizers are inviting visitors to come for a “Staycation” weekend and to enjoy the many facets of the festival — again, with no admission charge.

Held in the charming Village of Blissfield, the festival continues to grow each year. While the committee worried about the rising River Raisin, due to all the rain, the river never broke the banks and just a few adjustments in where things would take place were made to accommodate areas where the ground was too soft or wet for activities.

The festival grounds are just south of U.S. 223 at the three bridges (actually, there are now four bridges in succession over the River Raisin), and west of the downtown area. However, it isn’t just a party (though a grand party it definitely is), but it’s also an important cog in the charitable wheel of this unique community. Many organizations, clubs and churches raise significant percentages of their funds with activities, raffles, drawings and more during festival weekend. The theme of “Magical History Tour: 30 Festive Years” was chosen to pay homage to the past by bringing back some favorites — Bingo, hosted by the Blissfield Athletic Booster; a Saturday noon Chicken BBQ; and a lumberjack competition, the Great Lakes Timber Show along with the annual favorites people expect — and adding some exciting new activities including three amazing bands Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights on the Pavilion Stage; a sand sculptor who transforms giant piles of sand into works of art over the week; and moving the Car and Bike Show from Sunday’s intense midday heat to a late-day event when the cool breezes off the River Raisin provide a more comfortable setting and an outdoor movie on the big screen.

DSCN2033 — In the 2012 parade Saturday of the festival, Miss River Raisin Festival Charlotte Squires made her first appearance.

Sand sculpture comes to life at Blissfield River Raisin Festival

Roger Powell works on one of his Easter sculptures in Findlay, Ohio. — Roger Powell works on one of his Easter sand sculptures in Findlay, Ohio. He is creating a special new work for the Blissfield River Raisin Festival.

As children, many people have memories of building sand castles at the beach. It took just the right amount of sand mixed with a little water packed firmly in a pail to produce a basic sand sculpture. Roger Powell of Findlay, Ohio, has taken the concept to a much grander scale with intricate artistry and design. This week he will bring his amazing sand art to the River Raisin Festival. Approximately 80 tons of sand is being delivered to Ellis Park in the area of the bridge close to U.S. 223 where Powell will spend the better part of the next three days creating a larger-than-life sand sculpture depicting the festival’s “Magical History Tour: 30 Festive Years” as well as highlighting some of the icons and images that are specifically Blissfield. Powell is known for his creations that draw tens of thousands of people to his hometown each year to witness his sculptures of Easter scenes such as the Crucifixion with a 25-foot long Christ and the Last Supper.

For the complete copyrighted story, please see Melissa Burnor’s story in The Advance, July 10, 2013, edition. And to see this sculpture as it takes shape, please visit the Ellis Park side of the Blissfield River Raisin Festival July 10-13.