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Snyder reflects on first year in office See Page 5-A

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Milan News-Leader
THURSDAY, JANUARY 5, 2012 Weave the Web:
Make sure to click on www.heritage.com around the clock for the most in-depth coverage. See our Most Viewed story, Lake Superior State University seeking nominations for 2012 Banished Words list.

The

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VOL. 130, NO. 1

Horror-themed charity teams with Dominos to help area sick children

Melissa Gordon leading the local effort
By Krista Gjestland
Heritage Media

Local Dominos pizza stores are teaming up with a horror-themed charity to raise money for three families. Every Monday night in January, and Friday the 13th, Dominos in Saline, Ypsilanti and Ann Arbor will donate 20 percent of sales to Scares that Care for those who order and mention the fundraiser. Scares that Care is a non-profit organization that helps sick children and their families through monetary donations. The organization also partners with two other organizations, Scares for Pairs, which helps women dealing with breast cancer, and I Helped Kane, which helps children burn victims and partners with Friday the 13th star and stuntman Kane Hodder. Hodder suffered burns on 40 percent of his body when a stunt went wrong. After the experience, he began donating time and

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2forU Memorial service held for Greg ODell Milan library hosts holiday programs

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

Photo courtesy of Missy Gordon

Author Michael Aloisi (left); Elvis Page, Scares that Care director of the I Helped Kane burn program; Missy Gordon, Scares that Care co-director of gifts and donations and state of Michigan representative; and Kane Hodder, horror lm icon and stuntman. money toward helping burn victims and eventually partnered with Scares that Care. Scares that Care was started by horror film director Joe Ripple with the idea of utilizing the genres fan base to help those in need. From these three programs, three families are chosen every year to receive $10,000 each.
PLEASE SEE CHARITY/11-A

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A look inside our downtowns

By Erica McClain
Heritage Media

In our last look in our two-part series on the smaller downtowns of Washtenaw County, we examine the perceived value of safeguarding the history of downtown buildings and how various downtowns have done that. Last week, we focused on business vacancies in downtowns and what local officials are trying to do to fill them. What do you see for your downtown? Do you think its history should be preserved? What new businesses would you like to see fill

One case of norovirus conrmed, others suspected in the area

By Amy Bell
Heritage Media

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those empty storefronts? Heritage.com will host a live chat noon Jan. 11 on just that. We want to know

your concerns and suggestions for improving your downtown. Please be sure to join us.

Turn to Page 4-A for Part II of our series on area downtowns

A case of the highly contagious norovirus has been confirmed in Washtenaw County. Monique Reeves, medical director at the Washtenaw County Department of Public Health, said one of three clusters of norovirus occurring within the county have been confirmed. The case affected individuals attending a private holiday party. The

others involved staff and residents at both a nursing home and assisted-living facility. Its that time of year, she said. Norovirus is a gastrointestinal virus that involves symptoms of nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal cramping. Some experience a low-grade fever, chills and headache. Although some may have more severe symptoms than others, every
PLEASE SEE VIRUS11-A

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School districts receive MEAP scores to review

By James David Dickson
Heritage Media

The Marketplace:
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.

The Michigan Department of Education announced that 2011-12 MEAP scores went out to school districts midDecember, so as to allow educators to review and direct individualized focus to students. The Michigan Educational Assessment Program is administered every October to thirdthrough ninth-graders.

In February, the Michigan Board of Education approved a study new, tougher cut scores for both the MEAP test and the Michigan Merit Exam, which is given to juniors every March as a gauge of college readiness. In September, the board approved the new cut scores. In collaboration with staffers at ACT Inc., the National Center for Educational Achievement, employees of the Michigan Department of Education
5-B 6-A 8-A 1-C

Measurement Research & Psychometrics unit conducted the study. While a student needed to answer roughly 39 percent of questions correctly to earn proficiency under the old system, as of this year roughly 65 percent correct answers are needed. The state has warned school districts, and school districts have warned parents, of the coming dramatic decline in test scores under the new scoring system. Having these data in

their hands allows teachers to pinpoint what their students know and dont know, and where each student needs additional help in learning, said state Superintendent of Public Instruction Mike Flanagan in a statement. According to the MDE, this is the third year that school districts received the MEAP data prior to winter break. But just because school districts have the numbers doesnt mean it can pass them on to parents or

the media in fact they are prohibited from doing so. Schools are not permitted to share any school- or district-level results with the community or other external parties until statewide testing results are released to the public, a release explained. Once the MEAP results have been finalized, likely in the spring, they will be released to the public. Staff Writer James David Dickson can be reached at JDickson@Heritage.com.

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would be featured at www.Heritage.com, email Heritage Online Coordinator David Veselenak at dveselenak@heritage.com. Whats Next Michigan: The Milan News-Leader wants to know Whats Next Michigan? Tweet us using #whatsnextmi on Twitter or email mrogers@heritage. com. We welcome your ideas, suggestions for sources or stories, or a guest column.

BRIEFLY...

local motto is We take care of our own The talk will be held at the Milan Public Library, 151 Wabash St. Its open to the Book discussion set Monday: The public. Call 439-2714 or check the Friends Jan. 9 Book Bunch discussion hosted by website at www.milanlibrary.org for more Friends of the Milan Public Library will be information held 1 p.m. At Home in Mitford, by Jan Bloggers sought: The Milan NewsKaron, will be the focus. Its Karons rst Leader is seeking community bloggers to novel in the popular series set in the c- write on a variety of subjects. To pitch a tional world of Mitford, N.C., where the blog idea or share a current blog, which