Serving the communities of Morenci, Seneca, Waldron, Weston, Canandaigua, Medina, North Morenci, Munson, Fayette and Lyons

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 23, 2016VOLUME 145, NUMBER 12

Morenci, Michigan & Fayette, Ohiohttp://statelineobserver.com

75¢

Page 9: Season endsBulldogs fall in regionals

Page 12: Honored alumniFoundation dinner is Apr. 16

See FAYETTE SCHOOLS page 3

See FUNERAL HOME page 12

BELLA HEILNER/Observer photo

Observer★★

STATE LINE

CARRYING—Riley Terry (blue jacket) and Mason Vaughn lead the way, carrying an empty casket outside to the hearse waiting at the curb. Morenci juniors and

seniors visited Eagle Funeral Home last week to learn about the role of a funeral director and to understand the process of arranging for a funeral.

Just visitingMorenci juniors & seniors visit a funeral home

By BELLA HEILNERIt’s a career path not com-

monly chosen, yet it’s a profes-sion that touches most everyone at some time in their life.

About 30 Morenci juniors and seniors paid a visit to Eagle Funeral Home last week to learn about the job of a funeral direc-tor and to get an idea of what lies ahead when it’s their turn make arrangements following the death of a loved one.

Everyone dies, and when it happens, that’s when funeral directors Jason Ferguson and Mark Monahan step in to guide family members through the funeral process.

Ferguson talked about his unique background and the path he took that led to his cur-

rent role. When he was 14 years old, he started a summer job of grounds keeping and taking care of graves at Fayette’s cem-etery, and through that job he met Monahan, his colleague at Eagle. Upon graduation from Fayette High School, Ferguson was offered a part-time job helping with house calls and body removal. Then, in 2009, Ferguson decided to obtain a mortuary license.

“You are required to complete no less than 60 semester hours at an accredited college, so that’s about two years of school. And then you can enroll in mortuary school,” he said. “I took an online route because it was more con-ducive to my family schedule.”

When he decided to become

a mortician, he was married and the father of two children.

“Upon completion of mortu-ary school, which was a two-year program for me, you have to take what’s called a national board exam. Th ere’s a science test and a funeral law test.”

Successful completion of the exam leads to national certifi ca-tion. Aft er that, it’s a matter of obtaining a license to practice in a particular state.

From the time that Monahan earned his license in 1994 to the time that Ferguson got his, there were only around 1,000 other licenses issued in the state of Michigan for the very special-ized and relatively small fi eld.

Monahan attended Wayne

Morenci’s brush collection is just for that—brush. It’s not for leaves and it’s not for yard waste.

City superintendent Bar-ney Vanderpool reminds citi-zens that the new brush col-lection contract only calls for

the removal of brush. Leaves left at the curb will not be col-lected.

Leaves and other yard waste can be taken to a collection area behind the DPW garage at the back of Wakefi eld Park. Th e entrance drive is located

off Salisbury Street.Vanderpool said that prob-

lems continue at the DPW building because people are leaving brush despite “No Brush” signs. Brush is also being dumped at composting areas.

Brush collection isn’t for leaves

Trash haulerMorenci council extends

contract with Modern Waste

By DAVID GREENFayette Board of Education

members approved three-year contracts for three administrators and accepted the resignation of another.

Three-year agreements were accepted for superintendent Erik Belcher and principal Jon Molter through July 31, 2020, and three percent salary increases will begin Aug. 1, 2016.

Treasurer Kelly Bentley was also given a three-year contract that runs from August 2019 through July 2022. Beginning Aug. 1, 2016, she will receive a three percent sal-ary increase and an annual $2,000 increase for serving as technology assistant.

Th e board also accepted the res-ignation of Gene Rupp. Rupp was hired in 2013 to serve as Director of Digital Services to implement the Fayette Digital Academy and

to help with other chores includ-ing staff evaluations and increasing opportunities for gift ed students.

His resignation is eff ective July 31.

BOND—Board members voted to retain the fi rm of Peck, Shaff er and Williams to serve as bond counsel. Th e board was scheduled to meet at 7:30 a.m. this morning (Wednesday) to discuss seeking voter approval of a levy for physi-cal improvements at the school.

TAX RATES—The following tax rates were approved: General Fund Inside Millage, 4.5 mills, expected to bring in $295,423; General Fund Outside Millage, 43.2 mills, expected to bring in $1,127,415; Bond Outside Mill-age, 3.2 mills, expected to bring in $210,781; Permanent Improve-ment (Maintenance): Outside Millage, 0.50 mills, expected to

Administrativecontracts OKd

Morenci city council members voted March 14 to renew a trash hauling contract with Modern Waste for a three-year period. Rates charged the city will not change, although the cost of cart rental will go up by 40 cents.

Th e rate of $5.44 a month for all households remains the same and includes one bag of trash a week plus one bulky item. For $2, residents can buy a tag for addi-tional bags of trash. In addition, an extra bulky item can be placed at the curb for $10.

Th e contract includes an annual city-wide trash collection on the fourth Saturday of July at no extra cost to residents, however, the optional trash cart rental will rise from $5.30 a month to $5.70.

Th e contract continues to pro-vide a free container for city hall and the EMS garage; a free con-tainer at the DPW garage for card-board recycling; a free container for the Town and Country Festival; and a container at the DPW garage with a cost of $55 a month.

Curbside recycling remains at no extra cost.

The cost of the contract is $50,265 for each of the next three years. In recent years, revenue

from the special trash removal assessment has brought in between $52,000 and $59,000.

DEMOLITION—Morenci’s request for demolition funding through the Michigan Land Bank was not approved. Council voted to direct the city attorney to seek an injunction for demolition of the property at 217 East St. S, passing all costs on to the property owner, Restoration America.

“It’s an eyesore and a danger,” said council member Sean Seger. “It’s time to move forward.”

Sessions will ask the attorney to have the costs placed as a lien on property taxes.

PLANNERS—Chipper Connin and Brad Webster were given three-year terms to continue serving on the planning commission.

P R O B AT I O N — C o u n c i l approved a motion to remove EMS worker James Hannah from proba-tionary status and increase his pay to $13 an hour.

EXCHANGE—Council agreed that Sessions should pursue may-or’s exchange days with Blissfi eld. An exchange was discussed last year, but Blissfi eld offi cials chose to match up with a diff erent com-munity.

Observer12 MARCH 23, 2016 ■ STATE LINE OBSERVER

Funeral home

BELLA HEILNER/Observer photos

Practice of embalming grew

during Civil War– Mark Monahan

TOOLS OF THE TRADE—Funeral director Mark Monahan talks to visitors about instruments and products used in preparing a body for a funeral.

Continued from page 1

Distinguished alumni awards set for April 16Foundation seeking auction items

Two Morenci graduates will be honored with Distinguished Alumni awards at the 14th annual dinner and auction sponsored by the Morenci Education Foundation.

Dr. Roger Bloomer, a 1989 graduate, will be joined by 1993 graduate Monica (Smith) Blackwell as Distinguished Alumni. In addition, the evening will be dedicated to Robert Walton who has provided assis-tance to the school athletic program for 45 years.

Dr. Bloomer earned a bachelor’s degree at Grand Valley State University and was a member of the track and cross country teams for three years. He was chosen cross country MVP in 1992.

He earned a medi-cal degree from Wayne State University School of Medicine in 1997 and fulfilled his residency in family medicine at Flower Hospital in Sylvania. He practiced family medi-cine at Health Specialists of Lenawee in Tecumseh from 2000 to 2003 and with Allegiance Health in Concord, Brooklyn and Vandercook Lake from 2003 to 2015.

L a s t y e a r h e w a s appointed to serve as med-ical director of wound care and hyperbaric medicine for Allegiance Health’s Hillsdale Hospital.

Dr. Bloomer points out to today’s stu-dents that “the best parts of life do not come from virtual reality.”

Roger is married to another Morenci graduate, Crystal (Richardson) Bloomer. He is the son of Herbert and the late Wanda Bloomer.

Monica Blackwell is employed at the Toledo Zoo as the associate curator of birds. She manages a department of 11 full-time keepers who care for more than 1,000 birds.

Monica’s husband, Dennis, is part of the Zoo’s exhibits department. She is the daughter of Tom and Betsey Smith.

Monica urges young people to “travel and keep your eyes open to the world around you.” Th at can lead to many fantastic discoveries, she said, and create an appreciation for small-town upbringing.

E a c h y e a r t h e Morenci Education Foundation dedicates the scholarship fund-raiser to a couple or individual who has made a significant contribution to the school and commu-nity.

Not many years p a ss e d a f te r B ob Walton’s 1963 gradu-

ation from Morenci Area High School that he started keeping statistics for football, basketball and baseball, and serving as a scorekeeper at basketball games. With the completion of this year’s basketball season, Walton has aided the athletic program for 45 years.

Walton was there for the seasons when wins were few and far between, and he was there to keep tabs on the football team that advanced to the state fi nals two years in a row, along with the basketball team that played in the state fi nals in 2015.

Walton has put in even more time serv-ing the community with the Morenci Fire

Department—47 years. He was elected chief twice and he fi lled several other offi ces over the years.

• Dinner tickets can be purchased on the Foundation website (www.Morenci-EducationFoundation.org) or by contacting Rosemary Dickerson or Tim Bovee.

Donations from area residents and busi-nesses are what make the annual auction successful. To make a donation, take items to the Morenci branch of Old National Bank. If an item needs to be picked up for delivery, call foundation board member Steve Kutzley at 517/458-9741.Bob Walton

Monica (Smith) BlackwellDr. Roger Bloomer

State University for his mortuary studies.“I suggest that you pick out three diff erent

types of careers and build your way towards that,” he said.

Monahan initially aimed to become an engineer, among other things, and ended up working with the United Parcel Service for 15 years. His in-laws owned Eagle Funeral Home and that’s how he entered the busi-ness.

Funeral processWhen family members arrive at the funer-

al home, they meet with the directors and discuss the options for a funeral service.

“When they walk out the door they have a pret-ty good indication of what expenses are going to be,” Ferguson said.

Family members provide information for the funeral home to use for writing an obituary. A sample memo-rial folder was distributed to the students prompted a question from junior Garrett Smith.

“It says that she died in Leesburg, Fla.,” he said. “So how do you transport the body?”

Th e process is called shipping out of state, Ferguson explained.

“Th e family still calls us when the death occurs, and we basically subcontract. We contact a local service in Florida. Th ey go to the hospital, or wherever the death has occurred, and do the removal for us.”

If cremation is desired, that would take place in Florida, and the remains would be

shipped to Eagle Funeral Home.“Once embalming takes place for a tradi-

tional burial, the body is shipped on an air-line. All of our human remains fl y into Detroit Metro Airport,” Ferguson explained.

Th e embalming process was next on the agenda.

Students learned about embalming, including the instruments, fl uids and other products used in the process.

Monahan asked the visitors for a guess about when in history embalming became common practice.

One of the students answered correctly: dur-ing the U.S. Civil War.

“Yes,” Monahan replied. “People died and they had to get the bodies back to their home towns.”

Home was oft en many states away.

Students completed their tour by taking a close-

up look at caskets, and fi nally a contingent of the visitors served as pallbearers to carry an empty casket to a hearse waiting at the curb.

Th e experience walked students through the entire funeral process from making the initial call to arranging the services and beginning the procession to the cemetery.

Teacher organizers Molly McDowell and Heather Walker wanted to familiarize their students with both career opportunities asso-ciated with the funeral home and funerals themselves in hopes of making the process a little easier for their students in the future.

PREPARATION—Bodies are readied for a family’s visitation and for burial in Eagle Funeral Home’s prep room at the Morenci location.