State Roundup

Harrison Township $1.5M project to restore Metro Beach Metropark HARRISON TOWNSHIP, Mich. (AP) -- A $1.5 million project aims to revive up to 500 acres of marshland at Metro Beach Metropark that has nearly dried up due to development and invasive plant growth. The Macomb Daily of Mount Clemens reports that the project aims to improve habitats for plants and animals, waterfowl and fish at the park in Macomb County's Harrison Township. The project's federal funds are coming from the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative. Organizers say the project is in the early planning stages. Petoskey Bird conservation topic of Ornithological Congress PETOSKEY, Mich. (AP) -- The effect of the Kalamazoo River oil spill on wildlife will be among the topics discussed during a four-day meeting on bird conservation at North Central Michigan College in Petoskey. The fifth annual Ornithological Congress will include speakers from The Nature Conservancy, the Kellogg Biological Station, Michigan Audubon Society and Michigan State University. They'll speak on issues involving threats to bird life in Michigan. Those expected to attend include wildlife biologists, students, hunters and bird watchers. The congress begins Wednesday and runs through Saturday. The public is welcome to attend. The congress is being held jointly with the Michigan chapters of the American Fisheries Society and The Wildlife Society. Mount Pleasant Police say man admitted shooting wife MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. (AP) -- A Chippewa Township man is being held on $2 million bond after police in Isabella County say he killed his wife, then confessed to sheriff's deputies. Isabella County Sheriff Leo Mioduszewski says deputies found 51-year-old Cheryl Reen's body in a pole barn in central Michigan's Chippewa Township after her husband, Gary Reen, told deputies he had shot her there. Mioduszewski says Gary Reen walked into the sheriff's department office shortly before 7 p.m. Friday, and told deputies he wanted to turn himself in for shooting his wife. He says the woman had been shot twice with a handgun. Police don't know a motive for the shooting but Mioduszewski says the couple was having marital problems. Reen has asked for an attorney, but Mioduszewski says he doesn't know who was appointed. Lansing Arrests made in beating of crossing guard, 73 LANSING, Mich. (AP) -- Police have arrested two Lansing parents they say beat a 73-year-old school crossing guard after he tried to break up a fight between their son and another 7-year-old boy. Lt. Noel Garcia tells the Lansing State Journal the boys were involved in an altercation at Lyons Elementary School on Wednesday. Garcia says the next morning the parents drove to the area, let out their son and told him to beat the other boy. Garcia says the couple's 7-year-old punched the other child, knocking him to the ground. When the crossing guard intervened, Garcia says the couple attacked him. The State Journal says the parents were arrested Friday and are expected to be arraigned Monday on charges of assault or assault and battery and contributing to the delinquency of a minor. Published: Tue, Apr 5, 2011