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1. Absolute Michigan
   Posted June 9, 2008 at 1:41 pm | Permalink

   Cool spring slows bees; fruit may suffer via the Record Eagle

   Darkness dominates Dave Nesky's spring routine, those pre-dawn and evening hours when he shuffles about 2,600 colonies of honey bees from local orchards to staging areas across northwest Michigan.

   Beulah-based Nesky is among a handful of area beekeepers who rent hives to local farmers to pollinate crops such as cherries and apples during the late April and May blooms.

   Nesky's bees seemed in good shape last week as he rounded up his remaining colonies, but he and area growers are troubled by a late freeze and unusually cool spring. At risk is 2008's fruit and honey haul.

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2. Absolute Michigan
   Posted June 9, 2008 at 1:55 pm | Permalink

   Michigan-shaped meteorite sells for $20,000 from WOODTV.com

   India trumps Michigan - at least in the world of extraterrestrial art.

   A 75-pound nickel-and-iron meteorite resembling Michigan's Lower Peninsula sold at auction Sunday for $20,000, less than its expected price of $32,500 to $40,000.

   Michigan native Darryl Pitt, the meteorite's owner, says he was disappointed by the low price. He says the anonymous buyer got a bargain. Pitt believes the space rock is worth $50,000.

   Another nickel-iron meteorite, which weighs three-quarters of a ton and resembles the Indian subcontinent, sold at the same auction for $90,000.

   Pitt says there was "greater interest" in India than in the Great Lakes State at the auction, held at Heritage Auction Galleries in Dallas.

3. Absolute Michigan
   Posted June 10, 2008 at 10:44 am | Permalink

   Movie to tell Coleman A. Young's story from the Freep

   A $10-million film about the late Detroit Mayor Coleman A. Young will begin shooting in Detroit in September, its producer-writer-director said.

   Marc Cayce (pronounced KAY-cee), an independent filmmaker who produced "Nikita Blues" and "Forbidden Fruits," and who most recently worked on "Haitian Nights," said that he is in pre-production through September here for the film that will be a labor of love and will feature many Detroit actors.

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4. Absolute Michigan
   Posted June 10, 2008 at 10:47 am | Permalink

   AN OPEN LETTER TO THE CITY OF DETROIT from ESPNTheMag.Com

   Dear D-Towners,

   Enjoy this Cup. It may be a rocky road for a while.

   The Tigers are currently 24-35, losers of three straight and 3-7 in their last ten. Leyland's patented rant—now copied by the likes of John McLaren—may have worked in 2006 (they started slow, then made the Series) but it's not working now. Despite a lineup that should terrify Greg Maddux in his prime, the team is essentially treading water.

   The Pistons? Joe Dumars says "everyone is on the table." They might hire a long-term assistant as their head man when Avery Johnson is available (hey, so's Isiah!). Rasheed, arguably the most talented player on the team-first Pistons, is likely the first to go in a fire sale. The East may be weak, but 11 months out, we can't see the Pistons making seven straight Conference Finals.

   Then there's the Lions.

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5. Absolute Michigan
   Posted June 10, 2008 at 10:50 am | Permalink

   Honoring outstanding Michiganians for the 30th year - The Detroit News

   Since 1978, The Detroit News has paid homage to individuals who exemplify excellence, courage, philanthropy and simple acts of kindness that uplift not only the metro area, but the entire state of Michigan.

   From titans in the boardroom, entertainers and most-valuable athletes to community activists and unsung heroes, the 250-plus recipients of this prestigious honor have worked unselfishly to help others, oftentimes without seeking recognition for themselves. For this edition, we asked recipients to give us a word that best describes their personal mission.

   This year - our 30th anniversary - we present the 11 citizens who shined in 2007.

   Check out who they are...

6. Absolute Michigan
   Posted June 10, 2008 at 3:37 pm | Permalink

   Learn to drive a Model T - Sue Schroder | Booth Michigan Travel Editor

   Forget NASCAR -- now is your chance to hit the road in a Model T Ford. To celebrate the 100th anniversary of the car that put Americans on the road, the Gilmore Car Museum in Hickory Corners, northeast of Kalamazoo, is offering Model T driving courses. The first two of three classes, are Father's Day weekend.

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7. Absolute Michigan
   Posted June 10, 2008 at 3:40 pm | Permalink

   Field crops swamped, West Michigan farmers worried -The Grand Rapids Press

   Area farmers are watching their profits wash away.

   As much as 9 inches of rain have fallen over parts of Kent, Barry, Ottawa and Allegan counties in the past few days, forming small ponds on corn, soybean and blueberry fields. Known as "ponding," the water eventuall causes suffocation.

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8. Absolute Michigan
   Posted June 10, 2008 at 4:52 pm | Permalink

   MSU tabbed as likely 'surprise' team for '08 - The Detroit News

   Michigan State is listed as one of "five teams that could surprise" in 2008, according to LindysSports.com, the Web site associated with the preseason football magazine.

   Lindy's writer Matt Lowe has the Spartans listed along with Penn State, Utah, North Carolina and Rutgers.

   Lowe writes: "Mark Dantonio can flat out coach," and adds, "Keep in mind, the Spartans lost six games last season by a touchdown or less. That won't happen again."

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9. Absolute Michigan
   Posted June 11, 2008 at 3:17 pm | Permalink

   Michigan maple syrup production highest since 1964 from CNBC

   The U.S. Department of Agriculture says Michigan produced an estimated 100,000 gallons of maple syrup this year.

   That's 67 percent more than last year's 60,000 gallons and the most since 1964, when 110,000 gallons were produced.

   The USDA said Tuesday the state's tapping season was relatively short, with most producers starting later than usual.

   But cold nights and slightly warmer days helped boost the output of maple syrup.

   U.S. production totaled an estimated 1.64 million gallons in 2008. That's a 30 percent increase from last year.

   Vermont led all states with 500,000 gallons, up 11 percent.

   Michigan ranked sixth both this year and last year.

10. Absolute Michigan
    Posted June 11, 2008 at 4:08 pm | Permalink

    Turtle crossings alarm motorists, but not officials - The Muskegon Chronicle

    While she was driving to work earlier this month, Dennis Greeno said his wife was surprised to see a turtle crossing U.S. 31 near the Muskegon River flats.

    She even called to give him the "breaking news," Greeno said. Such a sighting typically wouldn't create such excitement. But the controversy surrounding the $303,000 "turtle fences" erected last summer to keep turtles from crossing the busy freeway, made Greeno's sighting especially "comical," said Greeno of Twin Lake.

    He, like many others in the area, believe the fences are "just a huge waste of money."

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11. Absolute Michigan
    Posted June 12, 2008 at 9:18 am | Permalink

    Mackinac Bridge dimming lights to save energy from wzzm13.com

    Operators of the Mackinac Bridge say they'll reduce energy costs by 11% a year under a new conservation plan.

    The Mackinac Bridge Authority says it will power down computers at night and on weekends. Also, decorative lights will be turned off at 1 a.m. and wattage will be reduced at the St. Ignace toll plaza.

    Other efficiency measures will be studied as well.

    Officials say the cutbacks will save about $13,000 a year.

    Board Chairman William Gnodtke says bridge operators want to save energy and money wherever possible.

12. Absolute Michigan
    Posted June 12, 2008 at 4:23 pm | Permalink

    Google includes Ann Arbor in Street View feature - The Ann Arbor News

    The world can take now a walking tour of Ann Arbor without ever entering the city limits.

    Earlier this week, Ann Arbor was among 37 cities in the United States to be included in areas covered by Google Maps Street View. The feature essentially allows users on the mapping Web site to have a 360-degree view of city streets through a series of still photos.

    Street View appears to cover most city streets within the freeways surrounding Ann Arbor.

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13. Absolute Michigan
    Posted June 12, 2008 at 6:57 pm | Permalink

    Mayor gives Harwell reprieve to save part of Tiger Stadium - The Freep

    It's extra innings for the effort to save part of Tiger Stadium.

    Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick has given Hall of Fame baseball broadcaster Ernie Harwell and Harwell’s allies a new, final deadline of Aug..1 to raise the money needed for their plan.

    The Old Tiger Stadium Conservancy missed a June 1 deadline to raise $15 million to save a dugout-to-dugout corner of the historic ballpark, which has been vacant since the Tigers moved to Comerica Park after the 1999 season.

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14. Absolute Michigan
    Posted June 13, 2008 at 11:29 am | Permalink

    FDA declares Mich. tomatoes safe to eat - The Freep

    The government says Michigan-grown tomatoes are safe to eat.

    The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has determined that the state’s tomatoes aren’t associated with the recent outbreak of salmonella.

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