Dickersons

Last year, I think exactly to the day, we worked on a story about the Dickersons, a family of six who have had to overcome quite a lot over the past couple of years. Last year I met them at their home and it was a blast just being able to hang out and photograph their daily business.

Yesterday, I had an assignment to meet the Dickersons while they were checking out the progress of a new home that is being built for them by students in a local high school building trades class. So, after hanging out with the family, I asked to meet them later at their home and then met Mark at a high school basketball game, he helps coach one of the teams. At a basketball practice back in March is where fellow assistant coach Kevin Dodick, also the building trades teacher, suggested Mark look in to the program to see if his family qualified. Mark's son Matt, 7, was diagnosed with muscular dystrophy in 2007 and the family of six was outgrowing their old home and needed a new place to accommodate their needs.

Just to give a little run-down of the things they've experienced and overcome in the last couple of years- Matt was diagnosed with muscular dystrophy, his younger brother Caleb, 2, wasn't growing and couldn't breathe properly because his tonsils were swollen and cut off airflow, Mark was diagnosed with skin cancer, on the way back from a trip to a hospital their van was totaled, Mark was recently diagnosed with Bell's Palsy. Despite some of the obstacles, they're all extremely close and wonderful to be around.

Sidelines

Tonight I was at a big basketball game to work on a story that will be running over the holidays. I was there to photograph Mark Dickerson, one of the assistant coaches for varsity, after stopping by several times throughout the day to photograph him and his family. Just two photos I shot while waiting for other things to develop.

WEBSITE UPDATE

I updated my website with some new work, revised (and still revising) some old work, and still going through some singles to see if I'm going to include sports or not...but here's a "soft launch." Thanks for looking and comments are more than welcomed.

WEBSITE WEBSITE WEBSITE WEBSITE WEBSITE WEBSITE

Tough to swallow

Tonight, the Midland Public Schools Board of Education voted to close five elementary schools in the district beginning next year and lay-off teachers and faculty mid-year...meaning in 2 weeks. The issue of school closings was proposed last year as an attempt to salvage the budget and with cuts across the state and country over the past year increasing, the district had to make cuts of its own. Some parents of the Mills students said they were marginalized because it is a Title 1 school in a low-income part of the district. Some of their children already have 45 minute bus rides to and from school and that time could dramatically increase next year due to proximity and issues the school district may face with an increase of students having to be bused outside their neighborhoods to other schools.

Night's Dream

Surrounded by family, John Haag salutes to Midland Fire Department's shift Thursday night after Stations 1, 2, and 3, from across Midland drove Haag to his home in a parade of firetrucks. After 25 years with the department, Haag retired and worked his last day as Battalion Chief on Thursday. Among many things he mentioned he wanted to do during retirement, dedicating more time to learning Blues guitar was on his list.



When John Haag interviewed for a job as a firefighter with the Midland Fire Department 25 years ago, he sat in the same chair he used Thursday night to hold a bag as he packed up the sleeping quarters at Station 1, he said. After 25 years with the Midland Fire Department, Haag's last day as Battalion Chief was Thursday. Earlier in the afternoon, shifts from the three stations celebrated over hot wings for lunch and drove him home on a fire truck at night, a tradition Haag began years ago.

Midland Night's Dream

I've added some more photos to the Midland Night's Dream ongoing...whatever.

CLICK HERE then find the link under GALLERIES

An unfortunate visit to a suspected homicide at an apartment complex police were investigating.

Epic Snowball Fight

Sunday night, local high schoolers created a facebook group for a Midland-based snowball fight. They thought maybe 100 friends would join and they could use it to coordinate the fight. However, by this morning, over 1,100 people from Midland had joined and 70 people showed up within about a 3 hour notice this morning for a snowball fight at 1 PM. The next fight they're expecting hundreds.

Ryan Fant, 17, runs for cover as a snowball is hurled his direction during a massive snowball fight at Chippewassee Park on Wednesday afternoon. The snowball fight was organized by Charlie Beacom, a senior at Midland High School, via a group on Facebook created on Sunday. Over 60 people, mainly teenagers, participated.



This guy said he could run, attack and defend better without shoes. I was impressed when he lasted about 20 minutes.

Some recent work

Richard L. Switzer Jr. sits in his living room shortly after arriving back to his home on Wednesday night after five days in the hospital following a hunting accident that took place Saturday morning. Climbing down from his tree stand about a quarter mile behind his home, his .30-.30, lever action rifle he has owned for around six years, slid from a propped position in his stand and hit the ground butt first, 15 feet below. The impact caused the gun to fire, sending a bullet through his left wrist as he held onto the ladder. He underwent three surgeries in the past five days and doctors told him there could be a total of six altogether. Monday he begins physical therapy but it is uncertain how much use he will have of his hand.



From a story about a new auto shop that just opened.

Christmas Tree Farm

Hunting Buddies

On and off for the past couple weeks I worked on a little feature about Sara Bober and her dad Steve that will run Sunday as a 1 page spread in our feature section. I think this would have really developed if I were able to have met with them earlier in the season. Sara began following her dad to his tree stand when she was 10 and would sit there with him as he bow hunted for deer. When she turned 12, he would bring her and put her in a stand, then walk to his not too far away. Last year, Sara hunted alone for the first time, which Steve said was the happiest moment he had hunting with her because she had grown up and progressed as a hunter tremendously. Steve and Sara walk back to a barn empty handed after an evening hunting.

Battle of the Titans

Last night I had about 30 minutes to shoot a basketball practice for a last minute assignment running Sunday in sports as their main package. The Northwood's women basketball team left today for two away games, so I decided to also meet them this morning as they waited for the bus. Maybe with better planning we could have gone on the road with? Maybe not. I was hoping they would have got together last night for a team dinner or even just to hang out, but the players didn't have anything going on.
Northwood University's women's baseketball team hit the road early Wednesday morning to travel to the Upper Peninsula to kick off the season against Northern Michigan and number one ranked Michigan Tech on Thursday and then on Saturday, respectively.

Ye Ole' House

Sophia Bagnall, 12, talks with her grandmother, Jill Lareaux, of Holland, while Becky Hodges, of Midland, right, works to fasten decorations to the staircase at the Bradley Home on Sunday afternoon. According to a plaque on the side of the home, it was constructed in 1874 and originally stood on the corner of Ashman and Larkin Streets. The home belonged to a Midland businessman, Benjamin Franklin Bradley, and is decorated by the Midland County Historical Society for the 'Alight at Night' events taking place throughout December.