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Round and round on ice

Posted by Aaron - 03/01/11 at 04:01:55 am

Forty seconds may not be enough ice kart racing action. Or it may be plenty.

Read the story here.

Dylan and Paul: Paralyzed with friends

Posted by Aaron - 15/10/10 at 08:10:14 pm

On Thursday night, Citizen Patriot photographer Katie Rausch and I drove out to Grass Lake to drop in on Paul and Dylan. Dylan’s house was completely dark; the whole family was at brother Seth’s junior varsity football game.

Paul had three friends over. They all sat around the bed in his room playing Magic: The Gathering, a role-playing card game. Paul played Magic a few times before his accident but did not take to it.

During therapy, Dylan and Paul play a lot of cards. One, they can; they both have some movement in the hands. Two, holding cards, dealing cards, shuffling cards, strengthens tiny muscles in their hands they both would love to have back.

Paul was bored one afternoon, reading a message board online and looking for a new hobby. Some people on the message board were talking about Magic. He decided to give it another shot.

Within a week, Paul had taught four of his friends the game. (By the way, the game, if you have never played is complicated. Paul has promised to teach me.) Thursday, Paul and three friends had alternating two-on-two matches underway. No one wanted to face Paul.

“It’s becoming the new craze in Grass Lake,” Paul’s father told me.

I am lucky to have met Paul and Dylan over the past months. Their accidents placed significant challenges in front of them and through our interviews, they have challenged me. The story was not easy and at times, frustrating, but it is one of the more enjoyable projects I have completed.

Enjoy.

Dylan Radabaugh and Paul Powell

Grass Lake teens injured in separate accidents forge friendship

They pulled pranks on friends and family who spent the night.

They staged wheelchair races through the courtyard and hospital halls.

And there was something about a bucket used as a helmet and a giant Michigan State University flag as a cape. Don’t ask.

Dylan Radabaugh and Paul Powell tell only a few of the stories from their time together in a shared room on the sixth floor of C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital. If asked about others, the two Grass Lake Township teenagers look at each other and smile mischievously.

“We ran the place for quite a while,” Paul said.

Separate accidents in June paralyzed Dylan, 16, and Paul, 17. Dylan was in a car crash June 6 at Bohne and Kalmbach roads in Grass Lake Township. Paul hit his head on the bottom of a pool June 17 in Napoleon Township.

Related story: Doctors say prognosis for recovery is low for both teens

Neither can move much below their chests, including legs and abdominals. They do not have control of their hands and fingers. But above the neck, the boys are just that, boys, albeit slightly quirky boys, ones with bold personalities.

But that has nothing to do with the accidents.

“I’m still me,” Dylan said.

A story about pumpkins

Posted by Aaron - 04/10/10 at 03:10:21 am

I had a plan set before I went to cover the Fall Harvest Festival at Jackson’s Ella Sharp Park.

[Read resulting story here]

Talk to kids about pumpkins. Kids love pumpkins.

So Sunday, I did just that.

There were a few University of Michigan themed squashes and a few Michigan State ones. Next week is the big game. When one Wolverine fan figured out I would probably be rooting for the Spartans, he not only refused to be in the newspaper but also threatened to break my video camera. He is 7.

Smiley faces were big this year. There were a few scary ones. One girl painted a monkey face on her pumpkin. Others went with bats, cats, ghosts, and a mummy dripping blood. The mummy dripping blood girl, who is 5, was way too into zombies. But she will probably be well prepared for the impending zombie apocalypse.

The best pumpkin, though, hands down, no doubt winner, was one by a little 4-year-old girl. Among the shapes and squiggles of any 4-year-old creation, there was a face — two eyes, a dot for a nose and a big smile.

She was shy and would not tell me who she painted on her pumpkin. Her mother, however, told me it was Justin Bieber, pop-star, heart-throb, Twitter sensation, and her husband.

When I asked the 4-year-old if it was Justin Bieber on her pumpkin, she smiled just a little before covering her face with her paint stained hands.

Anyway, some of the braver souls told me about their pumpkins on video. Enjoy!

Pumpkins at Fall Harvest Fest

Chittock Avenue: Stories from a street with a reputation

Posted by Aaron - 23/08/10 at 02:08:39 am

For about a month, photographer Jake May and I walked up and down two blocks on Chittock Avenue, a street in Jackson with a growing bad reputation and site of the July 6 fatal shooting of Benjamin Willard. We wanted to find out what else happens on that street.

Life on Chittock: Plenty of eyes watch Chittock Avenue, and there is plenty to watch.

Plenty of eyes watch Chittock Avenue, and there is plenty to watch.

Morning to night, children play on its sidewalks, occasionally spilling into the street. Adults gather on porches; neighbors join. Cars speed up and down the hill between Rockwell Avenue and Morrell Street.

The 900 and 1000 blocks of the street are alive, teeming with activity, some neighborly, some not.

It is the latter — the consistent calls to police, loud disputes between families and neighbors, suspicious activity on the street and alley, and a murder last month — that has gained Chittock a reputation it might not deserve.

“I think there is a stigma,” said Juan Almaguer Jr.

When Jake and I started, people thought we were 1) from the cable company, 2) police, 3) case workers from the Department of Human Services. Once we assured people we were none of those things but journalists, all but a few welcomed us onto their porches and shared their stories. Now I cannot drive down the street without someone flagging me down just to chat.

Jake had his camera. I brought with me the paper’s Marantz digital recorder. In addition to the story, we produced three audio slideshows capturing life on Chittock.

Life on Chittock Street: Troy Bednar

Life on Chittock Street: Bruce Edwards

Life on Chittock Street: Wanda Jordan

One final note: Wanda Jordan grew up 3 miles from me in Ada, Michigan. Small world.

Lyon Street 500-foot Water slide

Posted by Aaron - 22/08/10 at 01:08:13 am

Went to downtown Grand Rapids Saturday afternoon to check out the 500-foot water slide on Lyon Street near Grand Rapids Community College.

Decided not to brave the five-hour plus line for a ride but got a good view of sliders from the catwalk above the street — until the police told people to leave.

Great atmosphere downtown. Awesome to see so many people. Thanks Rob.

Shooting of Jackson police officer James Bonneau and Blackman Township PSO Darin McIntosh

Posted by Aaron - 06/05/10 at 02:05:09 am

The death of police officer James Bonneau devastated Jackson.

Bonneau, 26, was assisting Blackman Township public safety officer Darin McIntosh with a call on Mitchell Street when Elvin Potts fired at both officers. Bonneau was killed, McIntosh shot in the leg and taken to the hospital in critical condition. The Blackman township officer shot Potts in the head, killing him at the scene.

The news dominated The Citizen Patriot for days. Bonneau’s funeral was in his hometown of Canton and hundreds of police officers for around the country, including McIntosh, attended.

For complete coverage of Bonneau’s death and funeral and McIntosh’s recovery, click here.

(On some stories, I share a byline with fellow public safety reporter Danielle Quisenberry)

Wounded Blackman Township officer eager to return to duty, May 6, 2010.

As soon as his right leg can handle it, Officer Darin McIntosh will be back on the job.

“I’m coming back,” the Blackman Township public safety officer said Wednesday, “and I will be back earlier than you thought.”

McIntosh was shot in the right thigh March 9 by Elvin Potts, who also shot and killed Jackson Police Officer James Bonneau. McIntosh returned fire, killing Potts.

Hundreds of officers from around the state pay respects to Jackson Police Officer James Bonneau, March 13, 2010.

CANTON — As hundreds of officers stood at attention in long rows outside the funeral of Jackson Police Officer James Bonneau, the badges on their left shoulders showed how far the law enforcement family stretches.

Jackson. Albion. Delta County. Van Buren County. Morenci. Trenton.

Police officers, firefighters, paramedics and academy recruits from as far away as the Upper Peninsula and Chicago filled the sanctuary, the balcony and the lobby of St. Michaels Lutheran Church in Canton Township on Friday morning.

“We’re here to show support for our brothers in arms, to support the family of the Jackson Police Department,” said Sault Ste. Marie Police Department Capt. Judd Price. “It’s never too far.”

A somber salute: More than 1,000 attend funeral for slain Jackson Police Officer James Bonneau, March 13, 2010.

Jackson Police Officer Larry Jacobson did Friday what Officer James Bonneau could not do Tuesday.

He signed off for the slain policeman.

“Officer Jim Bonneau, badge No. 042,” Jacobson said, re-creating the radio conversation every officer has with dispatch at the end of a work day.

“His shift is over, and he is going home. We have watch. Officer Jim Bonneau will be secure.”

It was an especially emotional moment during a funeral that brought tears to the eyes of many police officers who gathered at St. Michael Lutheran Church in Canton Township to remember Bonneau, 26.

Injured Blackman Township Public Safety Officer Darin McIntosh was determined to attend Jackson Police Officer James Bonneau’s funeral, March 12, 2010.

CANTON — Moments before the sanctuary filled with more than a thousand men and women in uniform, Blackman Township Public Safety Officer Darin McIntosh offered a solitary tribute to his fellow officer James Bonneau.

After a Jackson Police Department Honor Guard rolled Bonneau’s flag-draped casket down the center aisle of St. Michael Lutheran Church on Friday morning in Canton Township, McIntosh, sitting in a wheelchair at the back of the church, brought his hand to his brow in a salute.

“It meant a lot to him to be here,” Blackman Township Public Safety Director Mike Jester said.

Police say calls for domestic disturbances are fraught with danger, March 13, 2010.

Police officers often work alone. They pull over speeders, follow up on missing persons’ reports and investigate crime typically by themselves.

A domestic disturbance or assault is a different story. Most local departments send officers to those calls in pairs.

“There’s a lot of emotion in them,” said Blackman Township Public Safety Director Mike Jester. “Officers know that it is a dangerous situation. It’s something that’s always in the back of their mind.”

Jackson Police Chief Matt Heins says phone call about slain police officer changed his life; hundreds head to graveside service after funeral, March 12, 2010. (with audio recording of Heins’ eulogy)

Jackson Police Chief Matt Heins said it was a call no chief wants to get.

Heins told an overflowing crowd of police officers from around the country, and friends and family of slain Jackson Police Officer James Bonneau the magnitude of that phone call he received Tuesday morning when he learned one of his officers had been shot.

“That phone call changed my life, the officers’ lives and certainly the lives of Jim’s family forever,” Heins said.

Wounded Blackman Township officer hit hard by shooting death of Jackson cop, March 11, 2010.

When Darin McIntosh came out of surgery Tuesday morning, he immediately asked about his fellow police officer.

“He was devastated,” said his mother, Jeanine McIntosh.

The 22-year-old Blackman Township Department of Public Safety officer took a bullet in the leg during the Mitchell Street shooting earlier Tuesday that killed Jackson Police Officer James Bonneau, 26.

Video: Reaction to Officer James Bonneau’s death, March 10, 2010.

Reaction to Officer James Bonneau’s death

Jackson Police Officer James Bonneau remembered by family, friends, colleagues as genuine, good-natured, March 10, 2010.

Overwhelmed by grief and often unable to check her emotions, Rachael Maloney at first did not want to speak about Jackson Police Officer James “Jim” Bonneau. She later changed her mind, saying she wanted others to get to see the man she and his father called loyal, genuine and good-hearted. “I got to,” said Maloney, Bonneau’s girlfriend. “I was very lucky.”

>Jackson police officer shot to death identified as 26-year-old James Bonneau; Blackman officer wounded identified as Darin McIntosh; suspect killed identified as 63-year-old Elvin Potts, March 9, 2010.

Jackson Police Officer James Bonneau remembered by family, friends, colleagues as genuine, good-natured The Jackson police officer killed in a shooting early Tuesday on Mitchell Street was identified as James Bonneau. A Blackman Township Department of Public Safety officer also was wounded in the shooting. Jackson police officer killed in Tuesday shooting is 16th area officer to die in the line of duty Jackson police officer killed, Blackman Township public safety officer wounded in shooting early Tuesday; suspect also killed Bonneau died at Allegiance Health. He was 26.

Video: From the shooting scene, March 9, 2010.

Shooting scene on Mitchell Street

Jackson police officer killed, Blackman Township public safety officer wounded in shooting early Tuesday; suspect also killed, March 9, 2010.

A Jackson police officer was killed and a Blackman Township Department of Public Safety officer was wounded in a shooting early Tuesday morning on Mitchell Street.

The officers shot and killed the suspect, Jackson County Undersheriff Tom Finco said.

The Blackman Township officer was shot in the leg, an injury Finco did not believe was life threatening. The officer was taken to Allegiance Health.

Michigan Winter Beer Festival 2010

Posted by Aaron - 03/03/10 at 01:03:34 am

Nothing like meeting up with folks from the Kalamazoo Gazette’s Kalamabrew beer blog for the 2010 Winter Beer Festival in Comstock Park, Michigan.

Sheepdogs at play

Posted by Aaron - 01/02/10 at 05:02:53 am

Meet the new Aupperlee sheepdogs, Sophie and Lucy.

Back in November, my mom and I took the dogs down Knapp Street to the ball fields at Forest Hills Eastern. The dogs had a good time.

Check out photos of the sheepdogs at www.photoaup.com.

Opening up events with video

Posted by Aaron - 19/09/08 at 12:09:00 am

On the third Tuesday of each month, business owners in Barstow meet for a breakfast put on by the Chamber. You have to be on the list.

What goes on at these meetings, most people in Barstow don’t know, but being that they are full of business types, it could be important. And this week, it was.

On Tuesday, most of the candidates running for City Council (go here to sign my petition requesting City Council meetings be moved to Wednesday so I can watch Gossip Girl) and mayor spoke. To give people in Barstow an idea of what these candidates are all about, I video taped their speeches, ran quotes in the paper and uploaded the full speeches on the Internet. The result: an interesting front page design and our most popular videos.

The videos were linked to the story and viewed 400+ times the day they went live.
Willie Hailey (CC)
Lawrence Dale (Mayor)
Carmen Hernandez (CC)
Richard Villegas (CC)
Gean Deaton (CC)
Marvin Ellis (CC)
Joe Gomez (Mayor)
Tim Saenz (CC)

I pulled the same stunt today, Thursday. Every year, the Chamber hosts a State of the City, State of the County lunch. The Mayor and Barstow’s supervisor in San Bernardino spoke about how Barstow and the area is doing, but you have to be on the list (and to get on the list it cost $25).

Thinking there could be some interest in what our elected leaders have to say, I brought the video camera again and set up shop. The result, another risky design scheme and more LONG videos.

VIDEOS (they are long)
Mayor Lawrence Dale
1st District Supervisor Brad Miztelfelt

At the end of two long days, the Desert Dispatch successfully opened two events to the public through video. And that’s what papers should do.

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