Sunfield Area SPY's Report---10/22/09

“Nickels for Noodles”
Benefit For Neil McDiarmid Is This Saturday

Neil “Noodles” McDiarmid was in a bad accident recently. He underwent brain surgery and now has a plate in his head. He is doing very well now, but Neil was laid off and didn’t have any insurance at the time of the accident. His Hospital and Aero Med bills total more than most people make in a year! So, a benefit is being held to, hopefully, raise enough money to help put a dent in his bills.

THIS Saturday, October 24th, at the Farmer’s Tavern & Steakhouse in downtown Mulliken, there will be a Spaghetti Dinner from 4:00-6:00 pm - Cost per plate is by donation. Take out will be available. Other activities will include:

Silent Auction & Bake Sale ends at 7:00 pm
Euchre Tournament starts at 6:00 pm $10 per person
50/50 Drawings
Live Entertainment
Also, bring your pesky unwanted Nickels to put in the Pickle Jar….Let’s see how many we can fill!!!

Any questions please contact Shasta Wheeler at 616-299-7696, or by email wheelercs@att.net

News Briefs

+ The Sunfield Area Sponsors of Programs for Youth would like to acknowledge some recent contributions to the Scholarship Fund and / or the Youth Activities Trust Fund. They came in from the following fine folks:

* Harold & Val Hanna made donations in memory of Linda Sandborn and Kathryn Guy.

* Buddy & Jari Collins gave in memory of Linda Sandborn.

* LeRoy Jackson & Elaine Merryfield contributed in memory of Carroll Baker.

* John & Sandra Fisher gave in memory of Harold McNamara.

We thank you all for using this means to help us help kids!

+ A BIG Sunfield Area SPY shout-out for a job well done goes out to the fantastic crew that turned out last Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday to work a shift or two at the Tripper’s Texas Hold ‘Em event. Thank you---

Cris & Susan Glazier
Darin Weller
Buddy & Jari Collins
Larry Terpstra
Caleb Terpstra
John & Sandy Fisher
Gary Updyke
Rosie Best
Wendel Peabody
Brian & LouAnn Harrigh
Barry Vezino
Craig Cappon

Special thanks goes out to our event chairperson, Sam Coan for heading this up for us. Good job one and all!!!

+ Trivia Question-Of-The-Week: With Halloween just around the corner, here’s an eerie bit of trivia for you---In 1952, Hank kissed his wife on the cheek and left the Skyline Club. In 1960, Johnny kissed his wife on the cheek and left the Skyline Club. Why would these two events eight years apart be interesting? (Answer later in this column).

+ Thought #1: Do you realize that 4 out of 3 people have trouble with fractions?

+ Andy Woodman’s Sports Trivia Question-Of-The-Week: What mega-hit country and cross-over singer that was big with “story-songs” back in the 60’s had basketball scholarship offers from 26 different colleges and universities when he graduated from high school? (Answer later in this column)

+ “Honest Roy’s” Quote-Of-The-Week: “I’m so old that whenever I eat out, they ask me for money up front.”

+ Honest Roy’s good buddy Chicken-Man’s Quote-Of-The-Week: I am not an alcoholic. I’m a drunk. Alcoholics go to meetings.

+ Wendel Peabody’s Quote-Of-The-Week: If it weren’t for tailgaters and the opportunities I get at the 50’s / 60’s dance, no one would ever check out my rear end.

+ The “Sports Trivia Just For Ward ‘Smarty-Pants’ Mac Cready Question-Of-The-Week: Who were Bubbles and Pinky? (And no, they aren’t the pole dancers at the Tanked Fish Lounge in Lansing. Although that would probably be Jimmy Z’s first guess.) (Answer later in this column).

+ Thought #2: Jesus is coming. Look busy.

+ Craig Mulholland’s Quote-Of-The-Week: I believe in sharing the road with drivers. They can have the part behind me.

+ Rosie Best’s Quote-Of-The-Week: I hate those orange barrels. They keep getting stuck under my car.

+ Louie “Trouble-Shooter” Trowbridge’s Tip-Of-The-Week: Be Cautious About Giving Info to Census Workers 

With the U.S. Census process beginning, the Better Business Bureau (BBB) advises people to be cooperative, but cautious, so as not to become a victim of fraud or identity theft. The first phase of the 2010 U.S. Census is under way as workers have begun verifying the addresses of households across the country. Eventually, more than 140,000 U.S. Census workers will count every person in the United States and will gather information about every person living at each address including name, age, gender, race, and other relevant data. 

The big question is - how do you tell the difference between a U.S. Census worker and a con artist? BBB offers the following advice: 



If a U.S. Census worker knocks on your door, they will have a badge, a handheld device, a Census Bureau canvas bag, and a confidentiality notice. Ask to see their identification and their badge before answering their questions. However, you should never invite anyone you don't know into your home.
Census workers are currently only knocking on doors to verify address information. Do not give your Social Security number, credit card or banking information to anyone, even if they claim they need it for the U.S. Census. While the Census Bureau might ask for basic financial information, such as a salary range, the Census Bureau will not ask for Social Security, bank account, or credit card numbers nor will employees solicit donations. 


Eventually, Census workers may contact you by telephone, mail, or in person at home. However, the Census Bureau will not contact you by Email, so be on the lookout for Email scams impersonating the Census. 


Never click on a link or open any attachments in an Email that are supposedly from the U.S. Census Bureau.
+ Trivia Question-Of-The-Week Answer: In December of 1952, country singing legend Hank Williams played a gig at the Skyline Club in Austin, Texas---it was to be his last. On his way to his next gig in Canton, Ohio, Hank died while sleeping in the back of a car at the age of 29. In November of 1960 Johnny Horton, now famous for such songs as “Battle of New Orleans” and “Sinking of the Bismarck” had a gig at the Skyline Club. After the gig, Horton was driving toward Shreveport, where he had just purchased a house when a drunk driver ran into his car and killed him. After Johnny Horton's last gig at the Skyline Club, he kissed his wife Billie Jean Jones good-bye in the very same place and on the same cheek where Hank Williams had kissed her after his last gig at the Skyline eight years before. Billie Jean Jones had been married to both men and never saw either alive again.

+ Phil Fife’s Quote-Of-The-Week: Here’s a tip as you get older---never wear a hearing aid because if you do people will expect you to listen to them.

+ Katie Horvath’s Quote-Of-The-Week: The last guy I went out with had a lot in common with the tires on my car---bald, unbalanced and full of hot air.

+ Andy Woodman’s Sports Trivia Question-Of-The-Week Answer: Johnny Horton.

+ The “Sports Trivia Question Just For ‘Smarty-Pants’ Mac Cready Question-Of-The-Week Answer: Eugene Franklin “Bubbles” Hargrave was a catcher who played for the Chicago Cubs, Cincinnati Reds, and for the New York Yankees. “Bubbles” became the first catcher to ever win the batting title. He did it in 1926, by hitting .353.

William McKinley “Pinky” Hargrave was “Bubbles” younger brother and was also a catcher who played ten seasons with the Washington Senators, St. Louis Browns, Detroit Tigers, and Boston Braves. His best season was 1929 with the Tigers, when he batted .330.

+ To find out more about the SPY’s organization, download forms or applications, or catch-up on past issues of the “Dirt Sheet”, go to the SPY’s website at www.sunfieldspys.org.

Ravings Of The Mad Columnist

Here are a couple of things to consider concerning some critical issues impacting our educational system. They are indicators of whether or not we really do put a value on education and who is falling down on the job.

First Point: According to a new survey of teachers, Michigan kindergartners are unprepared to begin school. The Early Childhood Investment Corporation report says that one in three Michigan children isn’t intellectually, socially, physically, or emotionally prepared to succeed when entering school for the first time. The 675 teachers who responded to the survey also overwhelmingly (86%) said the needs of the “unprepared” kindergartners detract from instructors’ abilities to teach the rest of the class. It is a sad commentary on parenting that these kids know more about cage fighting and Hannah Montana then they do about the alphabet, colors, or how to spell their name. They say it shows the “urgent need” for school-readiness programs. But is that really the answer? I don’t think we need another program to do the job that parents should be doing. This topic is the one area that most elected officials tend to tread lightly on. While it is now in vogue to blast Michigan adults for things like being obese, lawmakers continue to shy away from criticizing parents for not preparing their kids for school. Even teachers seem reluctant to criticize parents, although they continue to lament the absence of certain parents when parent-teacher conferences are held.

Second Point: It is inexcusable that over one hundred days after schools were required to adopt their budgets, the Legislature finally got off their butts and passed the conference report for House Bill (HB) 4447---the school aid budget. In an all too common midnight session, and with little opportunity for public input, the conference report sailed through both chambers gathering 66 yes votes in the House and 20 in the Senate. The newest version of the school aid budget is a far cry from flat level funding, and called for a per pupil reduction of $165. (In essence, do more with less). Once again the politicians make and enforce rules that schools must adhere to, but violate the law that sets time limits on establishing the State’s budget which provides the information needed for schools to effectively plan and operate.

Both politicians and parents need to understand-----Our Kids---Our Future---Our Responsibility!

+ MDLIII