DNR: News Digest – Week of Nov. 13, 2023
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News Digest – Week of Nov. 13, 2023
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It was an incredible year for birding across the Great Lakes region, as a number of birds that were outside their normal wintering and breeding areas for various reasons were spotted in our wetlands and along our lakes. Among the rare vagrants were several species native to Florida, including the roseate spoonbill, limpkin and American flamingo.
Think carefully before sharing the location of a rare bird. While rare bird sightings are thrilling, they can draw a crowd, which can cause a disturbance.
From duck, deer and goose to coyote, quail and fox, this month (and beyond) is rich with options to try your hand at hunting and trapping.
See more pictures by 
8,000 High School Students Explore MiCareerQuest
8,000 High School Students and Teachers to Explore MiCareerQuest Southeast on November 14
Pontiac, Mich. – MiCareerQuest Southeast, the region’s largest career exploration event for high school students, will be hosting 8,000 youth and teachers from 100 Metro Detroit schools on Tuesday, Nov. 14, 2023, at the Suburban Collection Showplace in Novi.
Participants will engage in a variety of hands-on, interactive activities with nearly 1,000 working professionals from 119 businesses, labor organizations and educational institutions to explore 180 high-demand, high-paying career opportunities. MiCareerQuest Southeast covers more than 400,000 square feet of floor space at the Suburban Collection Showplace.
“There are so many well-paying, interesting career options to explore and pursue right here in the region, and MiCareerQuest Southeast is providing the students a look at what the future could hold for them,” said Oakland County Executive Dave Coulter. “This event also gives companies the chance to educate students about the skills they’ll need to start a successful career path.”
Students are required to visit four career quadrants: advanced manufacturing, construction, health sciences and technology. Each will feature occupations that are expected to be in high demand and experience the highest growth in southeast Michigan over the next several years.
Among the interactive activities for students: mock surgeries and medical procedures using life-like mannequins, physical therapy exercises, operation of industrial robots, virtual reality welding, building of brick walls and carpentry skills, utility linemen pole-climbing, heavy machine operator and truck driving simulators, computer programming demonstrations and operation of CNC machines.
MUST (Management and Unions Serving Together) Construction Careers and the Michigan Building & Construction Trades Council (MBCTC) are partnering as one of the Presenting Sponsors of MiCareerQuest Southeast and hosting multiple occupation activities in the event’s construction quadrant.
“MUST Construction Careers is proud to support MiCareerQuest once again as a construction quadrant Co-Presenting Sponsor,” said MUST Management Co-Chair Donna Pardonnet. “Our group of construction employers and skilled trades find MiCareerQuest to be an outstanding way to engage future talent.”
MBCTC Secretary/Treasurer Pat Devlin added, “MiCareerQuest is a great opportunity for students and educators to spend time with hands-on career exploration with all of the Michigan building and construction trades. We have a strong need to expand our future workforce and events like this are valuable to our affiliates.”
Schools and chaperones are assigned to one two-hour session during the day: 8:15 a.m., 10:15 a.m. or 12:15 p.m., depending on their distance from the venue. They spend 30 minutes in each quadrant. More than 100 federal, state, and local government officials, as well as educational and business leaders, are also scheduled to visit the event. Pre-registration is required.
High schools from across southeast Michigan were invited to MiCareerQuest Southeast, with the typical school bringing 50-100 students. The largest groups of students are coming from Oxford High School (372 students) in Oakland County, Romeo High School (470 students) and Fraser High School (410 students) in Macomb County. Some schools are bringing students from farther way, including Hartland High School in Livingston County and Whitmore Lake High School in Washtenaw County. Wayne County schools registered to attend include Belleville and Ecorse High Schools, as well as Southeastern High School in Detroit, among others.
“MiCareerQuest Southeast stands as an essential experience for students attending from around the region,” said Oakland Schools Superintendent Dr. Wanda Cook-Robinson. “This immersive, hands-on learning opportunity serves as the bridge between the classroom and real-world opportunities, illuminating the path ahead for the next generation of skilled workers.”
The event is organized by Oakland County Michigan Works!, the Oakland County Department of Economic Development, other Michigan Works! agencies across southeast Michigan, the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity, and education and economic development partners from Macomb, Wayne, Monroe, Washtenaw and Livingston Counties.
Presenting sponsors include Oakland County Michigan Works!, Michigan Works! Macomb/St. Clair, Michigan Works! Southeast, SEMCA Michigan Works! Detroit Employment Solutions Corporation and MUST Construction Careers/Michigan Building and Construction Trades Council. Gold sponsors include Oakland Community College, Oakland Schools, Oakland University and Washtenaw Community College.
Silver sponsors include Automation Alley, Barton Malow, Corewell Health, Jackson College, Lawrence Technological University, Macomb County Planning & Economic Development, Michigan Economic Development Corporation, Operating Engineers 324 and Williams International. In addition, the family of Kenny Adkins, a member of Roofers Union Local 70, provided a silver sponsorship in his memory.
For more information, visit www.OakGov.com/MiCareerQuestSE.
Week Twelve Thoughts
Week Twelve Thoughts.
Written Saturday November 11th at 4:30 PM
Harper Woods: The Pioneers had no issue with Carleton Airport on Saturday afternoon at Harper Woods winning 46-19. The Pioneers went through the air behind the play of Nate Rocheleau and Stephone Buford. Colby Bailey started the Harper Woods scoring with a 44 yard touchdown giving them the 7-6 lead in the second quarter. Rocheleau added a 77 yard passing score to Dakota Guerrant to give them a 14-6 lead. They would connect again going 53 yards and a 21-6 lead into the half. Rocheleau would continue his strong play through the air in the second half as he connected with Yasin Milton to extend the lead to 28-6. Carleton Airport got a touchdown and a fourth down stop but an interception from Willie Powell brought momentum back to Harper Woods. Bailey had another big run and Buford had a one yard rushing score making the score 34-12 Harper Woods. Carleton Airport would add another score to make it 34-19 but Buford put the game away with a 50 yard rushing touchdown making it 40-19 Harper Woods. Donald Adams went 66 yards for the Pioneers making the score 46-19 which was the final. The defense looked very good as well. Corey Bailey, Javonta Lee Forbes, and Eilron Beaman had sacks and big plays which included a fumble and Jacob Oden and Powell interceptions on defense. The Pioneers will play Goodrich next week.
Southfield Arts and Tech: The Warriors earned their first regional crown in school history with an impressive 31-21 win over Chippewa Valley on Friday night. Isiah Marshall played lights out football. He threw four passing touchdowns on the night with two to Xavier Bowman and two to Juwan Jarrett. The Southfield Arts and Tech defense played well despite allowing 14 points to a very good Chippewa Valley offense that had a really good quarterback in Andrew Schuster. The Warriors will play West Bloomfield next week.
West Bloomfield: The Lakers came from 20-0 down to beat Clarkston and earning revenge after falling 44-36 in week six winning 21-20 in the regional finals at the Swamp. West Bloomfield got a block on the winning field goal by Nigel Dutton who also added a rushing score in the game. Kameron Flowers had a ten yard touchdown and Reqez Nance had the winning 42 yard run off the zone read on a fourth and one. The Lakers defense calmed down and was solid all night. They picked off Desman Stephens in the red zone. West Bloomfield behind a stout defense and timely plays they found a way to win the game. The Lakers have a week eight rematch with Southfield Arts and Tech looming next week.
Clarkston: The Wolves lost a tough one to West Bloomfield 21-20 on Friday night. Clarkston had a very controversial holding penalty called against them which set them back. Eddie Langton had his field goal attempt blocked with two seconds to go in the game. Clarkston had a really good start behind two touchdowns from Brady Collins, one to Brody Kosin (13 yards) and the other to Desman Stephens (94 yards.) Lukas Bowman added a passing score to Kosin from 23 yards out. The Wolves had everything lined up very similar to the Lake Orion game. They connected on a fourth and nine from Collins to Kosin at the two yard line but the West Bloomfield defense locked in stopping Griffin Bowman on two rushing attempts but the Wolves had a chance with the Langton field goal attempt but it was blocked. The extra point miss after the second quarter proved to be very vital in the game. Clarkston has a case that the officials called a roughing the kicker penalty against West Bloomfield that would had given Clarkston another shot. The officials called an unsportsmanlike penalty but they said that time had expired. If they had time they would had one more shot. They lose Kosin and Stephens to graduation but has Brady Collins and the Bowman twins coming back. The Wolves will be back in the hunt next season.
Week Twelve Recap
Week Twelve Recap.
Written Saturday November 11th at 4:30 PM
HARPER WOODS 46, Carleton Airport 19: The Pioneers had no issue with the Jets on Saturday afternoon at Harper Woods winning 46-19. Nate Rocheleau and Stephone Buford were dominant at quarterback. Kolby Bailey was also solid for the Pioneers. He had a 44 yard touchdown run giving Harper Woods a 7-6 lead after the Jets scored late in the first quarter for a 7-6 lead. Rocheleau would extend the lead with a 77 yard pass to Dakota Guerrant for a 14-6 Harper Woods lead. That duo would connect again from 53 yards to give them a 21-6 lead at the half. Rocheleau would continue his dominance through the air. He connected with Yasin Milton giving the Pioneers a 28-6 lead. Jack Mills kept the Jets in the game with his second score but the two point try failed making the score 28-12. Carleton Airport had momentum but Willie Powell had an interception which led to a Bailey run and a Buford one yard touchdown making the score 34-12 Harper Woods. Carleton Airport added a touchdown from Mills to make it 34-19 but Buford responded by going 50 yards to make it 40-19 Pioneers. Harper Woods would add one more score on a 66 yard Donald Adams touchdown to make it 46-19 Harper Woods. The Pioneers defense was very good all day as well. Harper Woods will have a showdown with Goodrich at Livonia Franklin next week in the State Semifinals.
SOUTHFIELD ARTS AND TECH 31, Chippewa Valley 21: The Warriors earned their first regional title in school history with a 31-21 win at Chippewa Valley on Friday night. Southfield Arts and Tech started the scoring with a rushing touchdown from Mathas Davis from three yards out. Chippewa Valley added a touchdown to give themselves a 7-6 lead. Southfield Arts and Tech answered with Isiah Marshall connecting to Xavier Bowman making the score 12-7 Warriors. Marshall would connected again this time to Jawon Jarrett from 13 yards in the third quarter making the score 18-7 Southfield Arts and Tech. Marshall and Jarrett would connect again from 23 yards out making the score 24-7 Warriors. The Big Reds scored on an 24 yard touchdown pass from Andrew Schuster to Cash Shaw making the score 24-14. Marshall connected with Bowman again for a 15 yard score making the score 31-14 Southfield Arts and Tech. Chippewa Valley added a 75 yard fumble recovery making it 31-21 which ended up being the final score. Southfield Arts and Tech will have a rematch with West Bloomfield at Troy in the State Semifinals next week.
WEST BLOOMFIELD 21, CLARKSTON 20: The Wolves “Nothing to lose” mentality went into the Swamp and it became an instant classic. It was all Clarkston early as Brady Collins had two passing touchdowns including a 94 yard pass to Desman Stephens. Stephens added an interception while Brody Kosin caught two touchdown passes one was a 23 yard catch from Collins and a 20 yard touchdown pass from Lukas Bowman on a trick play. The Wolves also recovered a squib kick and did a solid job defensively on Reqez Nance. Nigel Dutton answered for the Lakers with a two yard touchdown run but missed a 36 yard field goal as the half closes with Clarkston leading 20-7. West Bloomfield answered on a Kameron Flowers 10 yard rushing touchdown making it 20-14 Clarkston. The Lakers defense got a big stop forcing a Stephens interception. They took the lead on a 42 yard rushing touchdown from Nance on fourth down and one yard giving them a 21-20 lead late in the fourth quarter. Clarkston had an opportunity on a fourth and seven and connected from Collins to Kosin giving them a chance to win the game from Eddie Langton from 26 yards out but the kick was blocked by Dutton and Jamir Benjamin came up with the football. West Bloomfield earned a 21-20 win over Clarkston and will move on to play Southfield Arts and Tech at Troy in the State Semifinals next week.
Volleyball State Quarterfinal Preview
Volleyball State Quarterfinal Preview.
Written Monday November 13th at 7:25 AM
The Wolves come into their State quarterfinal with a ton of motivation and confidence. It was last season at the same place at St. Clair Community College where Paige Giethbrook tore her ACL which led Birmingham Marian to their win over Clarkston.
The Wolves return to Port Huron but it’s not the Mustangs they will be playing, it will be Macomb L’Anse Creuse North they will play on Tuesday night.
Clarkston has not put a full complete game yet which has to bother Coach Alison Smith. Most of their wins have went four games and they have had slow starts in each of them. The Crusaders have been very good all season and they have wins over Macomb Dakota and Utica Eisenhower.
It will be very interesting with the winner heading to Battle Creek to take on either Birmingham Marian or Farmington Hills Mercy on Thursday in the Division One State Semifinals.
We’ll see what happens.