Wanted for spring:

Qaytord H«rald Tlm^*
Saturday. D0cafnb«r 20, 2006 • A-3
Area lawmakers split on smoking ban
LANSING — Northern Michigan
legislators were still split on the different
versions of a smoking ban being
considered at the state capitol on the
final day of the lame duck session.
Legislators were expected to complete
a longer-than-normal session
Friday, before recessing for the year.
Any bills not passed today will fall
by the wayside and must begin the
process anew next year.
Earlier in the year, the Democratled
House passed a smoking ban that
carved out exemptions for particular
businesses including the three Detroit
casinos, tobacco shops and cigar
Michigan State Police
Gayk>rd Post
Cttation Issued
In rollover crash
• Daniel Decor, 41, Milan, was
northbound on 1-75, one-half mile
south of the Cheboygan County line
In Corwith Township, Wedn^day,
around 4:15 p.m. when he reportedly
lost control of the 2005 Ford
he was driving on snow-covered
roads.
Decor's vehide reportedly left
bars, while the Republican-led Senate
passed a complete ban without any
exemptions.
Sen. Jason Allen. R-Traverse City,
has been a vocal critic of the full ban,
while Rep. Gary McDowell. D-Rudyard,
said he hopes to see some form
of the ban passed, and would support
an exemption for cigar bars but not
casinos.
'The bills we have before us now, 1
would not support," added Rep. Kevin
Elsenheimer, R-Bellaire.
Sen. Mike Bishop, the majority
leader of the Senate, recently assembled
a bi-partisan panel directed to
Police
Blotter
Cheboygan Post
Cheboygan man chained
in home invasion,
safe breaking
• After investigating a Dec, 8
report of a home invasion in which
reach a compromise on the two versions
of the ban.
One possible compromise, would
create for a new licensing system that
would allow businesses to opt-out of
the smoking ban. But this idea has
Republicans and Democrats borrowing
lines from one another.
Both Elsenheimer and Allen said
they support the idea of a licensing
system.
"Technically, it would create a
larger government." said Elsenheimer,
"But it would be relatively small and
any expense should be covered by the
cost of the license. We have a large
enough staff to cover an additional
licensing program."
"It's just a tax increase," said Mc-
Dowell. who is against the proposed
idea.
McDowell added that while he
would support either the House or Senate
bills, or even a conipronnsed ver-
. sion, his hopes for the ban are slim and
indicated Bishop was set against it.
"I don't think it s going to happen
becausc Bishop set up the committee
to fail." he said. "He doesn't want the
ban and put people on the committee
who were very vocal against it." .
Allen countered that the reason the
ban has stalled is because of A disagreement
with thiC Democratic party's
Detroit leaders.
"There's a rift within the Democratic
caucus." he said.
Elsenheimer said there is a fear that
a smoking ban could shut at least one
casino down, and damage revenues of
the remaining two, which would, in
turn, cause a loss to school funding.
"I wish we didn't lie school funding
to gambling proceeds," he said.
"The resulting loss of revenues from
a smoking ban would translate approximately
to loss of S20 per child
in the state."
the east side of the n^adway, struck
a safe was reportedly broken into
a bank of snow and rolled over.
at a Wilmot Township residence,
troopers were able to identify and
Decaire was not injured and
an"est a suspect Tuesday after re-
extensive damage was reported to
ceiving an investigative lead from a
his vehicle.
neighbor of the victim.
Decaire was cited for hazard-
The suspect, 44-year-old
ous driving — violation of basic
Wayne Woodruff of Cheboygan,
speed laws, too fast.
was also linked to an April 9 home
invasion in Inverness Township, in
Snowplow driver
which he was allegedly scared off
cKed in crash
by a woman who was home at the
• Karen Haiker, 39, Gaylord, was
time.
southbound on West Otsego Lake
The Antrim County Sheriff's
Drive, two-tenths of a mile north of
Dept. has obtained a second de-
Gere's North in Bagley Township,
gree home invasion warrant for
Dec. 10, around 9:40 a.m. when
Woodnjff and has placed a hold on
a 1995 Chevrolet pickup driven by
the Cheboygan man.
Terry Lang, 48, Gaylord, reportedly
HT • Chns Engle
According to investigators,
backed into the passenger side of
Woodruff committed his crimes THIS PT CRUISER LET out a "crunch" as it was pulled from a ditch on the east side of Turtle Lake Road Thursday morning. The driver,
the 2002 Chevrolet pickup she was
during the daytime by first knock-
driving.
Anne Proctor, of Gaylord, was traveling northbound when she reportedly lost control and left the roadway, crashing into a tree. Proctor was
ing on the door to see if anyone
Accordirig to reports, Lang was
uninjured and her vehicle sustained moderate damage. Otsego County EMS/Rescue and Otsego County Sheriff's Dept. responded.
was home and if the residence ap-
snowplowing a private drive and
peared to be vacant would break
failed to yield to Haiker's vehicle
In. Woodruff apparenfly focused on West Main Street. Tuesday, around There were no Injuries and mi- indicate Vansice was thrown from ing tor a vehicle in front of him due
when he backed into the roadway
stealing money and small valuable 5:10 p.m. when a 2007 GMC picknor damage was reported to both his snowmobile and sustained seri- to whiteout conditions and Fazekas
There were no injuries and
items.
up driven by Joseph Tomaski, 53, vehicles,
ous injuries.
did not see Cho's vehicle in time to
moderate damage vras reported to
Woodruff was arraigned in Gaylord, reportedly crashed into the Dreffs was cited for hazardous He was transported to Munson avoid a collision.
both vehicles.
89th District Court Wednesday on driver's side of the 1999 Cadillac driving.
Medical Center by Bellaire Ambu- Minor damage was reported to
Lang was cited for hazardous
charges of first- and second-de- Deville Goodenow was driving.
lance and Rescue,
both vehicles and Cho sustained
driving — failed tayield
gree Itome invasion, safe breaking/ Tomaski was^portedly turn-
Investigators indicate speed minor injuries. Fazekas was not
conducting a crinrlnal enterprise ing bnto northbound South Otsego
and alcohol may have been factors injured.
Reared crash
and habituai offender. Bond was froq).d^riva^[0rive and did
in the crash. The incident remains — Compiled by Michaei Jones
onM-32
set at $250,000 cash and a prelim- not see Goodenow's vehicle when Snowmobile driver under Investigation by the sheriff's
• Holly Anthony, 23, Elmira, vras inary exam was scheduled for Jan. traffic In the left lane stopped to al- seriously injured
department,
stopping for traffic on eastbound 7. If convicted, Woodnjff could face low Tomaski to enter the roadway. • Deputies responded Tuesday
M-32 just west of Dickerson Road a maximum penalty of up to life in Moderate damage was report- to a report of a snowmobile crash Otsego County
in Ga^d. Dec. 12, around 3:20 prison and/or a $100,000 fine. ed to both vehicles and there were which resulted in serious injuries to Sheriff's Dept. Correction
p.m. when a 2000 Ford van driven If ^yone has information re- no injuries.
the driver, Pari