September 2021 - Page 7 of 15

North Farmington cruises past Lake Orion

by Becky Andrus | Sep 20, 2021 | High School Sports

Recaps

Week 2: In first-ever meeting between two programs, North Farmington cruises past Lake Orion, 44-22

Meeting for the first time in the history of the two schools, the North Farmington Raiders jumped out to a two-score lead less than a minute into the second quarter and never looked back, defeating Lake Orion, 44-22, on September 3 at Ron Holland Field.

Sophomore Raider quarterback Ryan Shelby, who spent his freshman year at West Bloomfield and stars for North Farmington’s baseball team, as well, threw three touchdown passes – two to senior Aaron Rice, who is committed to the American Athletic Conference’s Navy Midshipmen – and tailback Jasper Beeler, another senior, ran for two scores.

Lake Orion senior quarterback Kyler Carson completed 5-of-9 passes for 94 yards and finished as the team’s leading rusher with 42 yards. Fellow senior CJ Witt ran for 30 yards, scored the Dragons’ first touchdown, and posted 40 receiving yards on three catches.

After Beeler’s final touchdown of the night, the Raiders took a 44-6 lead with 9:05 to play in the third quarter, leading to both teams removing most of their starters and giving their reserves an extended look.

Dragons junior Connor McCartan made the most of his opportunity, piloting two scoring drives, the first ending in a 13-yard pass to sophomore Joey DeBrincat and the second on a one-yard keeper.

Two plays before his one-yard plunge, McCartan delivered one of Lake Orion’s best offensive plays of the contest, finding senior Izaiah Marve for 37 yards down the left sideline on 3^rd-and-22 from the North Farmington 40-yard line.

With this defeat, the Dragons now stand at 1-1, while the Raiders moved to 2-0.

“They’re a really good team, they’ve got really good athletes and we knew we would have to do a great job of keeping them in front of us and limiting and stopping big plays, and we didn’t,” Lake Orion head coach John Blackstock said.

“That first 3^rd-and-long situation of the game really set the tone. We had them pinned pretty deep, I think 3^rd-and-15 or 16, and one of their playmakers came up with a big play and we just never recovered from that.”

The Dragons totaled 311 yards of offense in this game, with 167 of those coming on the ground. Racking up this total on 34 attempts, Lake Orion averaged 4.9 yards-per-carry, but trailing on the scoreboard limited the unit’s ability to methodically possess the football like they prefer.

“We like to be in control of the game and move at our own pace,” Blackstock said. “When you go down that early, it makes it hard. After that long third down, we were chasing the whole night.”

Running for 153 yards in the season-opening victory over the Utica Eisenhower Eagles on August 26, sophomore Billy Roberson tallied 25 yards on seven carries in this one. One positive development from the night was freshman Trey Pochmara III ripping off a 29-yard run on his first varsity carry.

Lake Orion will look to rebound on Friday, September 10, against the Southfield A&T Warriors in another road game.

Southfield A&T will enter play at 1-1, having lost to the Cass Tech Technicians, 49-22, on August 27 and defeating the Birmingham Groves Falcons, 33-7, on September 3.

The Dragons and Warriors did not meet in 2020. In the last clash between the two programs, which came on September 6, 2019, Lake Orion won, 37-7.

Do your part and be SepticSmart!

by Becky Andrus | Sep 16, 2021 | Environmental

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Sept. 16, 2021
EGLE Media Office, [email protected], 517-284-9278

Dale Ladouceur, Environmental Quality Specialist, [email protected], 517-242-4010

Do your part and be SepticSmart!

Governor Whitmer declares September 20-24 as SepticSmart Week

Governor Gretchen Whitmer has proclaimed September 20-24, 2021, as SepticSmart Week. On Monday, September 20, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) – in conjunction with federal, state, and local governments, and private sector partners – will kick off its ninth annual SepticSmart Week to encourage homeowners and communities to properly care for and maintain their septic systems EPA.gov/Septic.

More than 1.3 million homes and businesses in Michigan depend on septic systems to treat wastewater. If not maintained, failing septic systems can contaminate water resources and harm the environment by releasing bacteria, viruses, household chemicals and other pollutants to local waterways. Proper septic system maintenance protects public health, the environment, and saves the homeowner money by limiting costly repairs.

Simple tips for homeowners:

Protect It and Inspect It: Homeowners should generally have their system inspected every three years by a qualified professional or according to their state or local health department’s recommendations. Regular septic system maintenance can save homeowners thousands of dollars in repairs and protect public health.
Think at the Sink: What goes down the drain has a big impact on your septic system. Fats, grease, and solids can clog a system’s pipes and drainfield.
Don’t Overload the Commode: A toilet is not a trash can. Disposable diapers and wet wipes, feminine hygiene products, condoms, coffee grounds, cigarette butts, and cat litter can damage a septic system.
Don’t Strain Your Drain: Use water efficiently and stagger use of water-based appliances. Too much water use at once can overload a system that has not been pumped recently. Fix plumbing leaks and install faucet aerators and water-efficient products.
Shield Your Field: Tree and shrub roots, cars, and livestock can damage your septic drainfield.
Pump your Tank: Ensure your septic tank is pumped at regular intervals as recommended by a professional and/or local permitting authority.
Keep It Clean!: Contamination can occur when a septic system leaks due to improper maintenance. Be sure your drinking water is safe to drink by testing it regularly.The U.S. EPA’s SepticSmart Program educates homeowners about proper septic system care and maintenance all year long. In addition, it serves as an online resource for industry practitioners, local governments, and community organizations, providing access to tools to educate clients and residents.For information on Septic Systems, SepticSmart Week, or tips on how to properly maintain your septic system, visit Michigan.gov/EGLEOnsiteWastewater or the EGLE SepticSmart website at: EGLEOnsiteWastewater/SepticSmart.

Another bridge hit, another freeway closed

by Becky Andrus | Sep 16, 2021 | Transportation

Another bridge hit, another freeway closed

Last week, after inspectors discovered severe damage to a bridge that carries rail cars over the US-23 freeway near Milan, Michigan, engineers made the difficult decision to close the road and pursue emergency repairs. The damage came to light upon a more in-depth inspection of the bridge that revealed severe structural damage from a high-load hit involving a truck traveling underneath in late August.

Listen now: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1374205/9208140-another-bridge-hit-another-freeway-closed

As Pew Trust research underscored in 2019, “so-called bridge strikes occur all over the country when trucks or their loads are too tall to pass under highway bridges and overpasses. They damage valuable infrastructure, create epic traffic jams and can be hazardous for other drivers who may be pelted with fallen debris or forced to swerve into another car.”

Matt Chynoweth, chief bridge engineer for the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT), joins the podcast to explain the sequence of events and why the busy freeway needed to be closed. He also talks about the bridge engineers’ efforts to move quickly on emergency repairs, acknowledging the inconvenience to commuters who rely on the freeway every day, as well as freight haulers traveling farther north or south on the freeway.

The bridge is owned by the railroad and is important to the movement of freight. It is more than 80 years old, pre-dating the conversion of the original two-lane US-23 into a freeway. Chynoweth explains why the jurisdiction for railroad bridges is different than vehicle bridges that carry local roads over or under state-owned highways.

As of the podcast recording on Thursday, Sept. 16, MDOT officials were waiting to open bids and award a contract for the emergency repairs necessary to make the bridge safe for vehicles to pass underneath.

Chynoweth also talks about the importance of truck drivers planning their routes and obtaining permits for oversize loads. In Michigan, a permit is required for objects and/or vehicles at 13 feet, 6 inches or higher.

Podcast photo shows the Ann Arbor railroad bridge above US-23 near Milan. The view shows the yellow northbound bridge height sign.

Listen now at https://www.buzzsprout.com/1374205.

Stay connected by subscribing to Talking Michigan Transportation e-mail updates.

Whitmer Joined Ford to Support F-150 Lightning Production

by Becky Andrus | Sep 16, 2021 | Regional News

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

September 16, 2021

Contact: [email protected]

PHOTOS: Governor Whitmer Joined Ford to Announce 450 Jobs and $250 Million Investment in Michigan to Support F-150 Lightning Production

DEARBORN, Mich. – Governor Gretchen Whitmer today joined Ford leadership, Director of UAW Region 1A Laura Dickerson, and Congresswoman Debbie Dingell and Congressman Dan Kildee at Ford’s Rouge Electric Vehicle Center in Dearborn, to announce that Ford’s electric vehicle facility is complete, and the first F-150 Lightning pre-production trucks are leaving the factory for real-world testing. Ford also announced plans to invest an additional $250 million to create 450 jobs in Dearborn, Ypsilanti, and Sterling Heights to support the production of the new F-150 Lightning.

“We’re standing on the edge of an era of electrification that will be built in factories like this one by hardworking UAW members and the innovative minds at Ford,” said Governor Whitmer. “I am proud of Ford for committing to invest $250 million today to create 450 jobs in Dearborn, Ypsilanti, and Sterling Heights that will support production of the new, all-electric F-150 Lightning. Their efforts will help us reach my statewide goal to be carbon-neutral by 2050 and create good-paying jobs along the way. I will stay laser-focused at the state-level on making investments in the future of mobility and electrification, and together, we can create good-paying, high-skill union jobs and lead the world in electric vehicle development and manufacturing.”

“Electrifying the F-Series – America’s best-selling truck for 44 years – and assembling it at this high-tech facility in Michigan – represents a significant step toward mass adoption of electric vehicles in America,” said Kumar Galhotra, Ford’s president of The Americas and International Markets Group. “F-150 Lightning is intended to be more than a no-compromise zero tailpipe-emissions truck. It’s packed with ingenious features and technology that will improve over time, it’s exhilarating to drive and it can power your home and worksite.”

“Today’s announcement is a great example of the right way to navigate the transition to tomorrow’s vehicles by ensuring good-paying jobs of the future – investing in building vehicles in the United States, with the hard-working men and women of the UAW,” said Laura Dickerson, UAW Region 1A Director. “Investments like this can pave the way to a future that protects our families, our communities and our middle class. Ford is doing this the right way with the F-150 Lightning – creating 450 additional UAW-represented jobs. Ford is investing in this all-electric F-150 Lightning, as well as hybrid and gas F-150 versions, as consumer demands shift. It’s not a one-size-fits-all approach.”

Since Governor Whitmer took office, a record 15,000 good-paying auto jobs have been created in the state of Michigan, including the first Detroit auto plant in 30 years, cementing Michigan’s status as a global manufacturing leader. Michigan continues to lead the world in the automotive space, receiving multiple awards for our manufacturing capabilities and potential.

Last year, Governor Whitmer created the Office of Future Mobility and Electrification to coordinate all auto and mobility-related initiatives across state government, including economic development, workforce development, and infrastructure, to secure Michigan’s status as a global leader in autonomous, connected, electric, and shared future mobility.

In September of 2020, Governor Whitmer signed Executive Order 2020-182 and Executive Directive 2020-10 to create the MI Healthy Climate Plan. The governor’s comprehensive plan protects Michiganders’ public health and the environment and help develop new clean energy jobs by putting Michigan on a path towards becoming fully carbon-neutral by 2050. The MI Healthy Climate Plan, a plan to move all sectors of our economy to carbon neutral by 2050 and ensures marginalized communities impacted by climate change will benefit from our energy transition.

Earlier this year, Gov. Whitmer announced grants for 88 electric vehicle charging sites across Michigan, to expand the statewide charging network and support electric vehicles and yesterday announced the first round of Michigan Mobility Funding Platform grants to accelerate mobility and EV investments in the state.