Gold TOP $ Over FOR $1685!!

GOLD & SILVER

WE WILL TRY TO BEAT ANY OFFER BY AT LEAST 10% OR MORE!

TOP 12

(734) 433-9900

1170 S. MAIN STREET CHELSEA

Chelsea Rare Coins

Sell Your Unwanted/ Broken Jewelry Here WE BUY ALL COINS & CURRENCY

Ypsi-Willow Run merger gains third spot See Page 2-A

CRIME

Crime briefs from around Ypsilanti See Page 3-A

SPORTS

Saline, Dexter student sections face off See Page 1-C

The
50
THURSDAY, JANUARY 3, 2013
Virtually every organization and agency within Washtenaw County responded in some way to the Dexter tornado.

1-800-666-0348
Minutes from Ann Arbor I-94 Exit 159

VOL. 19, NO. 1

New district looking for name ideas

Danny Shaw
Heritage Media

Weave the Web:

Make sure to click on www.heritage.com around the clock for the most in-depth coverage. See most popular stories....Top 12 of 12: A look at the top news stories of the year.

Do you have an idea about what to call the new Ypsilanti-Willow Run consolidated school district? School administration is now accepting ideas from students, staff and the community on what to call the unified district, which takes effect on July 1. After voters decided to move forward with consolidating the new district in November, its re-branding, which includes a new name and mascot, has been much talked about throughout both communities. According to Ypsilanti Public Schools website, submissions can be emailed to Emma Jackson, Washtenaw Intermediate School Districts director of communications, at ejackson@wash.k12.mi.us. Submissions can also be turned in at the Ypsilanti District Library. The deadline is Jan. 15 and submission boxes will be placed in the main offices of each school building starting on Jan. 7, according to the website. Be creative - explore our local history; milestones that have shaped our community can be incorporated into a name; think about our future aspirations and craft a suggestion. The deadline for submitting an idea for the name of the unified Willow RunYpsilanti School Districts is Tuesday, January 15. Suggestion boxes will be in the main offices of all school buildings in both districts, starting Jan. 7. You may also submit ideas at all locations of the Ypsilanti District Library or email: ejackson@wash. k12.mi.us.

Check out our video:

Haiti trip Saline Mural

Heritage Medias Top 12 stories of 2012

Dexter tornado is number one story of 2012
By Sean Dalton
Heritage Media

Click on the jobs tab on the home page of our h e i t go . c o m websiteror a g edirectly to http://jobs.heritage.com.

Danny Shaw can be reached at dshaw@heritage.com, 734-429-7380 or on Twitter @ShawEduReporter.

The people living in the Dexter area have built a community by forging bonds to improve their overall quality of life and to make the area a great place to live not to prepare for any major disaster. All the same, the communitys strength played a key role in the immediate reaction to and recovery from the devastating F3 tornado that touched down on March 15 and damaged more than 200 homes, some of

which are still in the process of being rebuilt or repaired. The tornado and the communitys response make it Heritage Medias No. 1 story of 2012. Virtually every organization and agency within Washtenaw County responded in some way, proving the communitys strength and laying the groundwork for future emergency response not just in Dexter, but across Washtenaw County. You dont think about where you are going to store the 100 cases of water that Lowes wants to give you, said Assistant Village Manager Courtney Nicholls. Managing donated resources, directing eager volunteers (or holding them back initially when their helpfulness could

put them in harms way), reaching residents when your electronic means of communication are hamstrung by lost power these are some of the experiences that local government officials have learned from. The hope is that there wont be another incident of such magnitude in the county, but the Dexter area and its partners in the tornado response at the Washtenaw County Sheriff s Office, the Michigan State Police and the county government walked away wiser and more prepared. One example is we have our server for email off site so when the power (in the village) goes down, we can access it
PLEASE SEE TOP/2-A

Join us on Twitter:
Become an Ypsilanti Courier follower. Click on the Twitter tab on the home page of our website or go directly to http://twitter.com/ HeritageNews.

The Ypsilanti Courier is looking for Community Bloggers!

If you live in the greater Ypsilanti area and are interested in writing about local events, news and views or even your own interests and hobbies, please contact Erica McClain at emcclain@heritage.com.

For more top stories of 2012, see page 2A

Tea shop opens up downtown

Danny Shaw
Heritage Media

The Marketplace:

Courtesy/ A Pocketful O Tea

A Pocketful O Tea has opened at 8 W. Michigan Ave.

Tea enthusiasts rejoice. Theres a new place in downtown Ypsilanti where customers can relax with a nice cup of chamomile or Earl Grey and even purchase tea by the pocketful. Across the street from City Hall on West Michigan Avenue sits A Pocketful O Tea, a shop where patrons can buy all sorts of tearelated items, gourmet coffee, homemade soy candles and, of course, tea. For owner and Eastern Michigan University student Chris Biek, running A Pocketful O Tea has been an adventure in its own right. Its awesome; its crazy, but its awesome, Biek said, whos working toward his bachelors degree in social work at EMU. Its been so great to meet all the people coming by. Ive been getting tons of advice from the other local businesses, too. A Pocketful O Tea officially opened its doors on Dec. 7, and Biek

said the reception from the public has been something hes proud of. Ive sold out of a few things a few times already, he said. The [tea] thats sold out the fastest is Higher Truth. It has jasmine, green tea, passion flower and lavender. Its the hottest seller. The Ypsilanti Food Co-op provides the store with the majority of its tea blends that Biek says is unique and customers would be hard-pressed to find comparable blends in the area. He said it also helps to give the tea some local flavor. Customers can purchase any herbs, tea or ground coffee for $1.25 an ounce or order a 20 ounce cup of brewed coffee or tea for $1.50. Biek said hes planning to expand the shops inventory to include fresh sandwiches and baked goods in the near future. He runs the shop in conjunction with his roommate, Evelyn Corbin, who also heads the businesss accounting and marketing.
PLEASE SEE TEA / 3-A

Local ads are just a hop away at the MIcentral.com marketplace. While you are there, you can check out all the special supplements of Journal Register Co. newspapers in Michigan. Click on marketplace on the home page of our website or go directly to www.marketplace.micentral.com.

INDEX
Editorial Classifieds Sports Page 4-A Page 4-B Page 1-C

Death Notices Page 6-A

News Tip Hotline: 734-429-7380

Printed on recycled paper

New Car Special

$129 per month* 24 month lease.

Buy For $15,590

2013 Ford Focus SE.

Used Car Special

2010 Ford Focus SES, 30,000 miles, only $12,999

*A/Z Plan Pricing. 10,500 miles per year. Includes Factory and Renewal Rebate. Requires $2,000 due at signing plus taxes and plates. With Approved Credit. **A/Z Plan Pricing. All rebates to dealer. May require Ford Credit Financing. Plus taxes and fees. May require trade-in.

9800 Belleville Rd Belleville, MI 48111 Exit 190 just off I-94 (734) 697-9161 www.atchinson.net

Some restrictions apply. See dealer for details