Thursday, March 21, 2013
300 pray, mourn at candlelight vigil for Southgate boy, 13, who committed suicide
About 300 students, staff and community members gathered tonight for a
candlelight vigil to honor a 13-year-old Southgate boy who school
officials said committed suicide in a bathroom of Davidson Middle School
this morning.
The high school students who organized the event through Twitter thanked everyone for coming. There were prayers, and a poem, before balloons were released and candles raised.
“I pray that in their hard times, that we all turn to you, God,” said Brianna MacNeil, 17, a senior at Anderson who did not know the 13-year-old.
Several students said the boy was suffering from depression but hid it by being clever, funny, and nice to everyone he knew. His older sister was in attendance, thanking everyone through tears for their support.
“You guys are so awesome,” she said, holding a family portrait that included the 13-year-old, the family’s youngest. “This is so amazing.”
Jonae Mattison, 13, was in class when the school went into lockdown mode. She was with a group of students taken to the auditorium, and when she heard what had happened, she said, “I started crying immediately. He was smiling all the time.”
The student -- whose name was not released by school officials or police at a news conference held today -- was found by another student, according to an official with the school district.
He left behind a suicide note that was found after the teen was rushed to the hospital, where he later died, Southgate Director of Public Safety Thomas Coombs said.
It was written as an open letter explaining that by the time it was read, he would have killed himself, he said.
Coombs said the teen used the word “drama” to describe his life, but the student didn’t offer specifics on the issues he was apparently having trouble dealing with and said taking his life was a way out.
The gun, which was not locked, belonged to a family member and the teen knew where it was and took it, Coombs said.
The student told a teacher he had to use the restroom this morning and was the only one in the bathroom at the time of the shooting, police said.
Delaney, who lives in Wyandotte and said she talked to him on the phone often, had plans to go to a movie with him and a few other friends on Friday, she said. He never told her he was upset about anything.
“It didn’t seem like anything was wrong,” Delaney said. “Just to know that he is gone is really heartbreaking and shocking.”
Teachers were alerted after the shooting and the school was locked down. Students scurried to the corners of classrooms, ran down the hallways and were ushered to the gym. They were, eventually, released to parents and guardians.
As school leaders grapple with what happened, the shock and sadness has hit social media, where fellow students asked for people to pray for their classmate’s family.
“I wish you knew how much we all love and care about you,” one student said in a Twitter post.
“Just yesterday I hugged him,” another tweeted. “I remember what he wore & he looked so happy. Now he’s gone.”
Students described the harrowing scene at the school after the gunshot rang out and the school was locked down.
Kali Timmis, 13, said she went to the corner of her English classroom.
"Wrecked, they're wrecked," Timmis, in the eighth grade, said of her classmates as she left the school with her mother. "There's crying."
Karina Moise, 14, went to the gym with members of her Spanish class.
"We just kept seeing people running down the hallway," she said.
She described the victim as a friendly boy she knew from her lunch period.
"Happy for the most part; always laughing," she said. "He was really nice. He would offer to give you stuff (from his lunch)."
Classes won’t resume at the school until Monday when counselors will be present.
Southgate Community Schools Superintendent William Grusecki said the district doesn’t have any indication that the youth was being bullied and said he never went to staff to report any issues or problems.
“We don’t have a very good idea of what happened yet,” he said hours after the shooting.
Gruscki called the teen a very good student who was somewhat popular.
Police said they have talked with his friends and bullying has not been mentioned.
“We have no reason at this time to understand why,” Director of Public Safety Thomas Coombs said Thursday afternoon.
Relatives declined comment when contacted by the Free Press today.
Southgate Police Detective Sgt. David Fobar, the investigator in charge of the scene at the school, said the boy showed no signs of being suicidal.
“It was a normal day,” Fobar said. “Even the kids that drove him to school, no indication.”
Investigators have spoken to parents of the teen and plan to continue to investigate, Coombs said.
Educators immediately locked down the school at 15800 Trenton Road, with students in place in their classrooms as other employees ran toward the sound.
There are no metal detectors at the school, but school officials will examine whether changes need to be put in place over the next few days.
Students were not allowed to walk home and were released to parents and guardians from the school after a lockdown.
“Our prayers and thoughts are with this family,” Grusecki said.
Staff Writer Eric D. Lawrence contributed. http://www.freep.com/article/20130321/NEWS02/130321038/Police-Student-may-have-committed-suicide-at-Southgate-Middle-School
The high school students who organized the event through Twitter thanked everyone for coming. There were prayers, and a poem, before balloons were released and candles raised.
“I pray that in their hard times, that we all turn to you, God,” said Brianna MacNeil, 17, a senior at Anderson who did not know the 13-year-old.
Several students said the boy was suffering from depression but hid it by being clever, funny, and nice to everyone he knew. His older sister was in attendance, thanking everyone through tears for their support.
“You guys are so awesome,” she said, holding a family portrait that included the 13-year-old, the family’s youngest. “This is so amazing.”
Jonae Mattison, 13, was in class when the school went into lockdown mode. She was with a group of students taken to the auditorium, and when she heard what had happened, she said, “I started crying immediately. He was smiling all the time.”
Boy left a suicide note behind
The boy shot himself once with a .40-caliber handgun at Davidson Middle School in Southgate around 8 a.m. -- stunning the community and leaving students, police and school officials looking for answers.The student -- whose name was not released by school officials or police at a news conference held today -- was found by another student, according to an official with the school district.
He left behind a suicide note that was found after the teen was rushed to the hospital, where he later died, Southgate Director of Public Safety Thomas Coombs said.
It was written as an open letter explaining that by the time it was read, he would have killed himself, he said.
Coombs said the teen used the word “drama” to describe his life, but the student didn’t offer specifics on the issues he was apparently having trouble dealing with and said taking his life was a way out.
The gun, which was not locked, belonged to a family member and the teen knew where it was and took it, Coombs said.
The student told a teacher he had to use the restroom this morning and was the only one in the bathroom at the time of the shooting, police said.
Delaney, who lives in Wyandotte and said she talked to him on the phone often, had plans to go to a movie with him and a few other friends on Friday, she said. He never told her he was upset about anything.
“It didn’t seem like anything was wrong,” Delaney said. “Just to know that he is gone is really heartbreaking and shocking.”
Teachers were alerted after the shooting and the school was locked down. Students scurried to the corners of classrooms, ran down the hallways and were ushered to the gym. They were, eventually, released to parents and guardians.
As school leaders grapple with what happened, the shock and sadness has hit social media, where fellow students asked for people to pray for their classmate’s family.
“I wish you knew how much we all love and care about you,” one student said in a Twitter post.
“Just yesterday I hugged him,” another tweeted. “I remember what he wore & he looked so happy. Now he’s gone.”
Students described the harrowing scene at the school after the gunshot rang out and the school was locked down.
Kali Timmis, 13, said she went to the corner of her English classroom.
"Wrecked, they're wrecked," Timmis, in the eighth grade, said of her classmates as she left the school with her mother. "There's crying."
Karina Moise, 14, went to the gym with members of her Spanish class.
"We just kept seeing people running down the hallway," she said.
She described the victim as a friendly boy she knew from her lunch period.
"Happy for the most part; always laughing," she said. "He was really nice. He would offer to give you stuff (from his lunch)."
Classes won’t resume at the school until Monday when counselors will be present.
Southgate Community Schools Superintendent William Grusecki said the district doesn’t have any indication that the youth was being bullied and said he never went to staff to report any issues or problems.
“We don’t have a very good idea of what happened yet,” he said hours after the shooting.
Gruscki called the teen a very good student who was somewhat popular.
Police said they have talked with his friends and bullying has not been mentioned.
“We have no reason at this time to understand why,” Director of Public Safety Thomas Coombs said Thursday afternoon.
Relatives declined comment when contacted by the Free Press today.
Southgate Police Detective Sgt. David Fobar, the investigator in charge of the scene at the school, said the boy showed no signs of being suicidal.
“It was a normal day,” Fobar said. “Even the kids that drove him to school, no indication.”
Investigators have spoken to parents of the teen and plan to continue to investigate, Coombs said.
Educators immediately locked down the school at 15800 Trenton Road, with students in place in their classrooms as other employees ran toward the sound.
There are no metal detectors at the school, but school officials will examine whether changes need to be put in place over the next few days.
Students were not allowed to walk home and were released to parents and guardians from the school after a lockdown.
“Our prayers and thoughts are with this family,” Grusecki said.
Staff Writer Eric D. Lawrence contributed. http://www.freep.com/article/20130321/NEWS02/130321038/Police-Student-may-have-committed-suicide-at-Southgate-Middle-School
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
Guilty Thief Returns $800 From 1980s Michigan Burglary
HASTINGS, Mich. -- A burglar expressing guilt about stealing $800 from a western Michigan store three decades ago has repaid the money, plus some interest.
The anonymous thief sent a note and $1,200 in $100 bills to the Barry County sheriff's department in Hastings, and they arrived Monday, WOOD-TV reported (http://bit.ly/WzFNjS).
The writer admitted breaking into the Middle Mart on Michigan 37 in Thornapple Township north of Middleville about 30 years ago.
In a letter packed with emotion and spelling errors, the writer asks for "help in locating a man" to whom the writer owes the money.
"Anyways, I did a very bad thing that I am shamed of and have lived with this guilt," the writer said. "I can't begin to say how sorry iam but have lived with this guilt too long," the letter went on to say. "If you do find him, please tell him that I was afoolish stupid man when I did that and iam sorrie."
The letter was unsigned and had no return address.
The $1,200, while it includes some interest, falls short of making up for the loss in the dollar's purchasing power over the intervening years. The stolen $800 would be worth about $1,800 today, based on changes in the consumer price index.
WOOD-TV said the former owner of the store, now called Greg's Get-N-Go, confirmed it was broken into in the 1980s. The store was sold in 1988.
Undersheriff Bob Baker said the letter and cash came as quite a surprise.http://bit.ly/WzFNjS
The anonymous thief sent a note and $1,200 in $100 bills to the Barry County sheriff's department in Hastings, and they arrived Monday, WOOD-TV reported (http://bit.ly/WzFNjS).
The writer admitted breaking into the Middle Mart on Michigan 37 in Thornapple Township north of Middleville about 30 years ago.
In a letter packed with emotion and spelling errors, the writer asks for "help in locating a man" to whom the writer owes the money.
"Anyways, I did a very bad thing that I am shamed of and have lived with this guilt," the writer said. "I can't begin to say how sorry iam but have lived with this guilt too long," the letter went on to say. "If you do find him, please tell him that I was afoolish stupid man when I did that and iam sorrie."
The letter was unsigned and had no return address.
The $1,200, while it includes some interest, falls short of making up for the loss in the dollar's purchasing power over the intervening years. The stolen $800 would be worth about $1,800 today, based on changes in the consumer price index.
WOOD-TV said the former owner of the store, now called Greg's Get-N-Go, confirmed it was broken into in the 1980s. The store was sold in 1988.
Undersheriff Bob Baker said the letter and cash came as quite a surprise.http://bit.ly/WzFNjS
Tuesday, March 19, 2013
Ensure Your Business Survives (Even If You Don’t)
Thursday, March 14th, 2013
If you are a business owner, the business you’ve built is your pride and joy, and most likely your source of 
income. So it’s critical to think about the future of your business—one that doesn’t include you.You might think that if you die, your family could maintain their income by running the business themselves or by hiring someone to handle the day-to-day management. The fact is, your loved ones may not have the skills or the desire for the job, and your co-owners may not welcome the idea of an unintended partner.
That’s why a buy-sell agreement is important to consider. This is a legal agreement among owners to buy a deceased owner’s share of the business at a previously agreed upon price.
There are four ways to fund a buy-sell plan at an owner’s death. They include: 1. Cash method: The purchaser(s) could accumulate sufficient cash to buy the business interest at the owner’s death. Unfortunately, it could take many years to save the necessary funds, while the full amount may be needed in just a few months or years.
2. Installment method: The purchase price could be paid in installments after the owner’s death. For the purchaser(s), this could mean a drain on business income for years. In addition, payments to the surviving family would be dependent on future business performance after the owner’s death.
3. Loan method: Assuming that the new owner(s) could obtain a business loan, borrowing the purchase price requires that future business income be used to repay the loan PLUS interest.
4. Insured method: Only life insurance can guarantee that the cash needed to complete the sale will be available exactly when needed at the owner’s death, assuming that the business has been accurately valued.
With a properly structured buy-sell agreement funded with life insurance, your business partners won’t have to scramble to come up with the money to buy out your share of the business and you’ll be guaranteed that your survivors will be compensated fairly and promptly.
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
III - Do I need professional liability insurance?
III - Do I need professional liability insurance?
Do I need professional liability insurance?
Professionals that operate their own businesses need professional liability insurance in addition to an in-home business or businessowners policy. This protects them against financial losses from lawsuits filed against them by their clients.
Professionals are expected to have extensive technical knowledge or training in their particular area of expertise. They are also expected to perform the services for which they were hired, according to the standards of conduct in their profession. If they fail to use the degree of skill expected of them, they can be held responsible in a court of law for any harm they cause to another person or business. When liability is limited to acts of negligence, professional liability insurance may be called "errors and omissions" liability.
Professional liability insurance is a specialty coverage. Professional liability coverage is not provided under homeowners endorsements, in-home business policies or businessowners policies (BOPs).
Professionals are expected to have extensive technical knowledge or training in their particular area of expertise. They are also expected to perform the services for which they were hired, according to the standards of conduct in their profession. If they fail to use the degree of skill expected of them, they can be held responsible in a court of law for any harm they cause to another person or business. When liability is limited to acts of negligence, professional liability insurance may be called "errors and omissions" liability.
Professional liability insurance is a specialty coverage. Professional liability coverage is not provided under homeowners endorsements, in-home business policies or businessowners policies (BOPs).
Friday, March 8, 2013
How do I find the right insurance agent? Look no further! Call me.
III - How do I find the right agent?
The first step in getting the proper coverage for your particular business is to find the right insurance agent or broker. Here are a few tips:
The first step in getting the proper coverage for your particular business is to find the right insurance agent or broker. Here are a few tips:
- Ask friends and acquaintances in the same kind of business about the agent they use.
- Ask the agent or company that provides your personal insurance for advice on the kind of insurance you need for your business.
- Contact business trade associations to see if they sponsor an insurance program designed specifically for your business or if they can provide a list of insurers who specialize in your field.
- Make sure the insurance agent you pick is knowledgeable about your business's insurance needs. Your agent can tell you what to do to reduce the likelihood of theft, injuries to visitors and workers, and other business-related losses.
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