State Roundup

Munsing
Court: Icy parking lot couldn’t be avoided at lodge
MUNISING, Mich. (AP) — A woman who was just days away from leaving a job at an Upper Peninsula lodge can sue her former employer over her broken leg in an icy parking lot.
An Alger County judge dismissed the case after the Cherrywood Lodge in Munising argued that the ice was obvious, especially in the U.P. But Angela Sabatos has persuaded the state appeals court to reopen the case.

The court says there was no way for Sabatos to avoid the icy lot in March 2009. One witness said it was like a big skating rink.
Sabatos ended her shift late at night but stayed in the lounge to visit with co-workers, a few days before ending her job. She didn't drink alcohol while she socialized but ate a sandwich.


Detroit
Overall crime rate fell last year at Detroit Schools
DETROIT (AP) — Fewer crimes were reported last year at Detroit Public School campuses as parents in the district became more involved in their children’s education, officials said Monday.

Reported incidents dropped by 120 over the 2010-11 academic year, according to data compiled by the Detroit Public Schools Police Department.

Just over 1,200 incidents were reported last year with 70 of 115 schools reporting declines in criminal activity. Overall, burglaries and robberies were down by 28 percent, while felonious assaults dropped by 35 percent. Reports of concealed weapons dipped by 15 percent and arsons plummeted 61 percent.

Thirteen more criminal sexual conduct cases were reported.

“We will study the data, and for the upcoming school year deploy our resources to address our greatest needs, to create the largest crime reduction result,” Schools Police Chief Roderick Grimes said. “Although these statistics are encouraging, we will continue on our mission to create a safe environment for teaching and learning.”

The drop in crime appears to coincide with an increase in parental involvement.

Surveys show parent engagement in school programs last year was up by 30 percent, according to the district.

More than 4,800 parents also attended workshops and participated in fundraisers last year and 29,200 visits were made to the district’s eight Parent Resource Centers.

“Against a backdrop of increasingly safe and conducive learning environments, and with strong parental involvement moving in the right direction, there’s a bright future for continued academic gains for our city’s school children to follow,” Schools emergency manager Roy Roberts said.


Detroit
Hearing delayed for handyman charged in killing
DETROIT (AP) — A key hearing has been postponed for a handyman who’s charged with strangling a Grosse Pointe Park woman whose husband also has been questioned in her death.
A preliminary examination was scheduled Monday for Joseph Gentz in Detroit’s 36th District Court.

But it was adjourned at the request of defense lawyer Susan Reed.

A new date for the hearing isn’t yet known.

Gentz is charged with murder and conspiracy in the slaying of Jane Bashara (buh-SHAIR’-uh), whose body was found in her Mercedes-Benz in Detroit in January.

He performed odd jobs for Bashara’s husband, Bob.

Bob Bashara hasn’t been charged in his wife’s killing but is charged with trying to hire a hit man to kill Gentz in jail.