By Jeff Salisbury jeffsalisbury@charter.net
For most of
my 24 years teaching journalism and “news-English” writing courses at Wayland High School, I showed the 1981 movie “Absence of Malice” starring Paul Newman and Sally Field with a special appearance by noted character actor Wilford Brimley.
Basically it centers around the actions of a prosecutor who leaks a false story to a rather naive and inexperienced reporter (Field) that a liquor warehouse owner (Newman) is involved in the murder of an union head, the man’s life begins to unravel. As the story unfolds, instead of suing for libel, Gallagher sets in motion an elaborate plot to exact a level of revenge for not only the demise of his business, but also for the suicide of his childhood friend.
After that many years, I about have the dialogue committed to memory. Seems like I am always applying various lines of dialogue to real-life situations either of my own or something I’ve read in the news. A classic scene, near the very end of the movie contains the following dialogue during the official investigation of the leak:
James A. Wells, Assistant U.S. Attorney General: “You’re a smart man, Mr. Gallagher. I’m pretty smart myself. Don’t get too smart.”
Michael Colin Gallagher: “Everybody in this room is smart, and everybody was just doing their job, and Teresa Perrone is dead. Who do I see about that?”
James A. Wells, Assistant U.S. Attorney General: “Ain’t nobody to see. I wish there was. You’re excused, sir.”
Timothy Russell and Malissa Williams got shot at 137 times and died in what must have been a horribly frightening death — no, make that “execution” — and apparently everyone was just doing their jobs. If not the courts, who do people in Cleveland see about that?
A judge handed down a verdict of not guilty on two counts of voluntary manslaughter against a Cleveland officer charged in the 2012 deaths of Timothy Russell and Malissa Williams — unarmed suspects who were caught in a 137-shot hail of police gunfire following a high-speed chase.
Small protests quickly erupted in Cleveland, but they appeared to be peaceful.
“In summary, I find that the state did not prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant (officer) Michael Brelo caused the deaths Timothy Russell and Malissa Williams because the essential element of causation was not proved for both counts,” said Judge John P. O’Donnell.
In a nearly hour-long verdict, O’Donnell cited testimony from doctors for the prosecution and defense, saying he believed that while Brelo had delivered at least one fatal shot to both Russell and Williams, it was impossible to determine beyond a reasonable doubt that Brelo’s shots — and not those of a dozen other officers — were the ones that killed.
O’Donnell, who began hearing testimony on April 6, also determined that Brelo’s use of force was constitutionally reasonable.
The judge said that Brelo and fellow officers involved in the shooting perceived that Russell and Williams posed a threat. Among other things, when officers responded to the call on Nov. 29, 2012, they were doing so based on an incorrect report that the suspects had fired from their 1979 Chevy Malibu.
Apparently the solution to traditional school districts money woes is… wait for it… “bake sales” — yes, that should do it. Good grief. I guess we’re all supposed to see our state legislators about silly laws like this, but they sure make it seem impossible by being utterly out-of-touch.
http://michiganradio.org/post/bill-bring-back-school-bake-sales-goes-snyder-s-desk
State lawmakers have approved a bill allowing student groups to sell sweets in school to raise money. Senate Bill 139 now goes to Gov. Rick Snyder’s desk. Student groups have complained new federal guidelines have hindered their ability to fund-raise by holding bake sales.
Wayland’s 2nd baseball field will not ‘rob Peter to pay Paul’ but there are other reasons to be concerned about Wayland School Board fiscal decisions
I find myself frustrated with the grumbling I am hearing from some folks who are concerned about spending money to begin equalizing athletic facilities between Wayland High School softball and baseball diamonds. Some apparently have expressed the feeling that such spending will result in personnel and/or program cuts elsewhere, just for renovated baseball diamond.
No one is going to lose their job and no program will be cut because the board finally decided (after four years of discussions) to renovate an unusable baseball diamond behind the middle school. The money to do this will come from the casino revenue and not from the general fund.
Here for some perspective on recent school board authorization of casino fund expenditures:
• Ipads Round ONE — $600,000 in payments spread over THREE (3) YEARS 2013-2014-2015.
• Science Wing — $291,000 PER YEAR FOR TEN (10) YEARS 2015-2024.
• Ipads Round TWO — Proposed LOAN PAYMENT of $14,000 PER MONTH FOR FOUR (4) YEARS 2016-2017-2018-2019 (not yet approved by the Board)
• JV/Frosh Baseball Field Renovations — $282,000 ONE-TIME-EXPENSE
There is only one usable baseball field on the HS/MS campus and four usable softball diamonds, including one varsity, one JV/Frosh and two for 7th, 8th and summer youth programs. The Administration and Board could have completed renovations in phases over multiple years as the project unfolded, though the board chose to do otherwise. Some will recall that the access road was constructed two summer ago and more could have been done. For example, the irrigation well and piping could have been completed the following summer.
Still, if you’re like me and feel as though the casino money or general fund dollars have in some cases been used improperly, then by all means, attend a school board meeting to see about that.
During the PUBLIC COMMENTS, tell Board to:
- Question Every Aspect of the District’s Essential and Non-Essential Educational Programming and Personnel Expenditures (Needs versus Wants)
- Set General Fund & Casino Revenue Spending Guidelines
- Track and Trim All Expenditures & Make Targeted Programs & Personnel Cuts As Needed
REMIND THE BOARD TO:
- “Build ONE Budget” – combine general fund revenue (local, state and federal dollars) and Gun Lake Casino “in lieu of taxes” revenue.
- “Pay Yourselves First” – restore the fund equity – which dipped from 15% to 7% in four years – by committing to saving 1% to 1.5% per year for AT LEAST the next 5 years.
- “No More Loans” – resist the temptation to borrow more money on top of the $291,000 annual loan payments to United Bank for the science wing from 2015 to 2025… no loans for iPads, no loans for school buses – no more loans PERIOD.
Wayland Union Schools – Board of Education Regular Business Meetings, Work Sessions, Committee Meetings
• May 28, 5:30 p.m. – Finance Committee @ Administration Office
• June 8, 6:00 p.m. – Athletic Committee @ Middle School
• June 8, 7 pm – Wayland Union Middle School, 701 Wildcat Drive
• June 22 6:45 p.m.- Administration Building, 850 E. Superior (Annual Budget Hearing)
• June 22, 7:00 p.m. – Administration Building, 850 E. Superior
• July 13, 2015 7 pm – Administration Building, 850 E. Superior
BOARD MEMBERS CONTACT INFORMATION:
Nancy Thelen, President, Email: nancyboe@waylandunion.net Phone: 616-877-3098
Tom Salingue, Vice-President, Email: tomboe@waylandunion.net Phone: 269-792-2061
Toni Ordway, Treasurer, Email: ordwayt@waylandunion.net Phone: 269-910-3297
Theresa Dobry, Secretary, Email: theresaboe@waylandunion.net Phone: 616-681-2119
Janel Hott, Trustee, Email: hottj@waylandunion.net Phone: (h) 269-792-0297 (c) 269-250-0286
Gary Wood, Trustee, Email: glw_boe@yahoo.com Phone: 616-681-2120
Pete Zondervan, Trustee, Email: zondervanp@waylandunion.net Phone: 616-450-1468.
