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Michigan, Maine share similar Dexter. Page 11-A

INSIDE

Kids, parents cook up healthy choices. Page 1-C

VOL. 142, NO. 47

DEXTER LEADER
75
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Suspect in beating death to stand trial

By Ben Baird
Heritage Media

A suspect who has been accused of aiding another to beat a 55-year-old man to death in an auto dealership break-in six years ago will stand trial next year. Jonathon Aiden is accused of helping Shane Noel Roscoe beat William Samuel Kenney to death in August 2006, according to the Washtenaw County prosecutors office. He appeared in court Nov. 14 for a pre-trial.

Roscoe, Aidens uncle, already has been found guilty of breaking Aiden into a Scio Township auto dealership and the murder of the 55-year-old man. In July, Roscoe Roscoe was sentenced to life without the possibility

of parole for the beating and break-in. Aiden was charged in November 2011 with open murder, breaking and entering and safe breaking. Open murder includes all forms of first- and seconddegree murder. A jury trial is scheduled 8:30 a.m. Feb. 4, 2012, in Washtenaw County Circuit Court, according to the county prosecutors office. A final pretrial hearing is also reportedly scheduled 1:30 p.m. Jan. 23.

Aiden is also charged with safe breaking, conspiracy to commit breaking and entering, and conspiracy to commit safe breaking. He is being held in Washtenaw County Jail without bond. He was extradited to Michigan from the Florida legal system, where he had been held on other charges related to other breakingand-entering cases. Kenney, the murder victim, worked as a porter at the Jim Bradley GMC car

dealership, 500 Auto Mall Drive, where Aiden and Roscoe previously had been employed. On Aug. 18, 2006, Kenney was found brutally beaten and run over by a car, according to a press release from the Washtenaw County Prosecutors Office. He died from his injuries 27 days later. Washtenaw County Assistant Prosecutor Dianna Collins, the trial
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Dexter grad pens book

By Sean Dalton
Heritage Media

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Dexter High School graduate Jennifer Adkins credits her love of writing and her creation of her first childrens book to her teachers at Dexter Community Schools. The 1995 DHS graduates book, Mom, Am I Different, deals with topics such as the value of individuality in a childs world, where conformity is often the norm and breaking away from the norm can be dangerous. I feel truly blessed to

have had the experience growing up in Dexter, where I had teachers who care about me said Adkins, who is a teacher. It was these teachers who helped inspire me and mold me into the writer and teacher that I am today . Adkins describes a childhood spent reading assigned books, such as Bridge to Terabithia, The Indian in the Cupboard, and the Serendipity series of books, which gave her the foundation of a love for reading and literature. I can vividly recall my obsession with the creative

An illustration from Jennifer Adkins book, Mom, Am I Different.

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writing box in her classroom which was an endless supply of writing prompts that had me wanting to write more and more, Adkins said. I loved how books and stories could transport you anywhere. While other kids were probably busy playing outside

or with toys, my best friend and I were preoccupied with creating stories at home in our free time. That was the beginning, I believe, of a life-long love of writing. Years later, I still look back on those early years and silently thank her for the gift that she gave to me.

The book began with the question Mom, Am I Different repeating in her mind, having been a bit different as a child for loving reading. She also has 7- and 9-year-old daughters, who are dealing with forging an
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Brewery approved for tax exemption

By Kody Klein
Special Writer

The Dexter Village Council approved a motion to grant Northern United Brewing Co., parent company of Jolly Pumpkin, a tax break. The tax exemption is for investments the company is making to its new brewing facility at 2319 Bishop Circle East. The Industrial Facilities Tax Exemption will apply for six years for roughly $1.57 million in real property and seven years for an estimated $1.6 million in personal

property. This is money that Tony Grant, the companys chief financial officer, said is being invested into the new facility. Were buying new equipment, he said. Were retrofitting the space and making the investment. According to Grant, Northern United Brewing Co. currently has two brewing facilities. We currently operate a facility in Dexter and Traverse City, he said. The facility in Dexter has brewed the line of Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales and the facility in Traverse city has brewed the line of North Peak beers. Due to demand exceed-

ing production, Grant said were consolidating both of our production facilities into this new facility. No members of the council spoke against the motion during the public hearing, nor did any residents. Council Trustee Jim Carson said the companys investment in Dexter would be good for the community. In other business: Council President Shawn Keough announced that the county clerk has planned a vote to take place on May 7 to decide whether residents of Dexter Village wish to

continue the process toward cityhood. Keough and other members of the council expressed frustration that the vote wasnt planned to take place earlier in the year. The only reason that waiting until May 7 would be better than February is cost, Keough said. Polling in May could potentially be cheaper, because it would coincide with other elections. What weve learned is that there isnt a huge cost to do this. Keough said the cost of holding an election just for the village and its contemplation of cityhood would cost roughly $5,000.

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Korean War vet seeks return of badge

By Kathleen Murphy
Heritage Media

Death Notices Page 8-A Sports Community Page 1-B Page 1-C

Korean War veteran Robert T. Murphy has lost something precious from his days serving in the U.S. Army Infantry. While walking in downtown Dexter recently, he dropped his Combat Infantry Badge, also known

as a CIB. The badge is metal with a silver rifle on a blue background and a wreath, about two or three inches long. In all the years since he served 14 months in Korea in 1953-54, Murphy said he never took the badge anywhere. The day he lost it he was thinking about having something embroidered to

look like the badge. After he lost the badge, Murphy retraced his steps along the Dexter streets looking for it with no luck. I stuck it in my pocket, recalled Murphy, 80. I

must have pulled it out It isnt worth anything to anybody, I dont think. The CIB is invaluable to Murphy, though, a reminder of his combat days in the Armys Item Co. 27th Regiment 25th Division. It was issued when I was in Korea. Murphy grew up in Metro Detroit, but his

family has roots in Chelsea. He is a former Ann Arbor firefighter and has lived in Dexter since 2004. If you think you have found Murphys Combat Infantry Badge, he asks that you please call him at (734) 424-0002. He would really like to have the badge returned.

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