As she gears up for competition in the Dow Corning Tennis Classic, Russian tennis professional Vesna Dolonts took time Friday morning to appear at the Wake Up Midland Chamber of Commerce breakfast. Dolonts has ranked as high as 86th in the world in women's tennis and has competed in all four grand slam events. She's making her first appearance at the Dow Corning Tennis Classic at the Midland Community Tennis Center. "From this moment, I will come every year," Dolonts told an audience of about 300 attending the morning chamber event at Valley Plaza Resort's Great Hall.
Midland County Sheriff Jerry Nielsen wants children to be safe on the internet. He's offering parental internet monitoring software to any parent who wants to make sure their kids are safe when using the internet. "It's really an eye-opener when you look at some of the things that have happened out there. And how easy it is to really get into a mess that you really can't get out of," Nielsen said. The program is called Computer Cop. It works by placing a disk inside the computer. Then the software scans the computer's hard drive for any inappropriate images or language that a child might've seen on the internet. Parents can use this information to talk to kids about what they're doing on the Web. "I have heard that it's helped the parents get into discussions with their children as to some of the things that's going on in their computer. And it's really helped them, and they feel it makes it much safer," Nielsen said.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency missed its self-appointed deadline to release the official and complete study on dioxins. The EPA had promised to release the study by the end of January. It has been working on the study of dioxins since 1985. Members of the Lone Tree Council, a nonprofit environmental organization based in Bay City, said they were disappointed but hopeful that a study would be released soon. Thousands of individuals and organizations all across the United States have urged the release of the study.
Steve Elmer will have to wait, although he did get a phone call from Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly. Elmer is only a junior, so he was only a spectator Wednesday when three of his Midland High teammates signed letters of intent to play college football next season. Andrew Wylie was the centerpiece of the trio, signing with Eastern Michigan University. Fellow offensive lineman Joe Vieu and receiver David Walter signed to play for Division II Michigan Tech.
Magic Johnson made his name in basketball, but the former Michigan State and Los Angeles Lakers star is making a bid to add Major League baseball to his resume. Johnson, who is a part owner of the Dayton Dragons minor league team, is part of an ownership group that is in the running to purchase the Los Angeles Dodgers. Johnson's group, which includes former baseball executive Stan Kasten, was one of approximately 10 bidders to advance to the second round of bidding. "We made the first cut, and we're in the second round," Johnson said Monday while visiting Saginaw to announce a partnership between his company, Sodexo Magic, and the Saginaw School District.
The Dow Chemical Co. on Thursday will release its fourth quarter earnings report. The Midland-based chemical giant in October released strong third quarter results, with increased earnings and sales compared to the same period in 2010. Shares were up 24 cents from the third quarter in 2010, to 69 cents per share for the 3rd quarter of 2011. The third quarter of 2011 also marked record sales for the company at 15.1 billion, up 17 percent from the previous year, with volume growth being led by its sales in China where the company achieved record sales.
Want to be a part of choosing the Great Lakes Loons' Fifth Anniversary Team? Get on a computer and vote. Every week until the Loons' opening day home game on April 9, fans can vote on the website www.loons.com for the player they feel has been the best Loons' player at his particular position over the team's first five years. Loons' President and General Manager Paul Barbeau is excited about this and other upcoming promotions, as nearly five years have passed since the Loons made their debut as a minor league baseball team at Dow Diamond in Midland in April 2007. "It really has flown by," said Barbeau, who was hired in the spring of 2006 just as Dow Diamond was beginning to be built. "It doesn't seem like too long ago that we were just starting up and building our staff and making all of our plans.
Although Danielle Blackhurst's hair salon has been open for several months, she's seen recent milestones that remind her the business still is new. In November, she hosted a ribbon cutting with the Midland Area Chamber of Commerce for her new business, Dani B's Studio for Hair at 4308 N. Saginaw Road between Stacker's Grill and Nature's Gift Organic Market. She'd opened her doors in May. "It took awhile," she said. "I wanted to get everything going before I had a ribbon cutting." Just days ago, she put up her road sign. Then she added her second employee, a sign that she's growing. It's her plan to go slowly and steadily.
The Dow Chemical Co. on Thursday will host a virtual conference, gathering leading experts to discuss the future of science education and workforce readiness. The conference begins at 7 p.m. EST, and is open to the public. More than 3 million jobs related to science, technology, engineering and math remain unfilled, Midland-based Dow Chemical said, and the only way to ensure the future of American manufacturing and competitiveness is to better prepare. Andrew Liveris, chairman and chief executive officer of Dow Chemical, will be among the featured participants. Liveris has led Dow, a private sector company, as it grew, created jobs in new sectors, and retrained displaced workers and put them back to work.
Kids Day 2012 -- a free daylong event packed with fun activities for children -- will hit the Midland Mall from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. More than 50 area kid-oriented organizations will set up tables including the Chippewa Nature Center, Midland Gymnastics Training Center, Mid-Michigan Children's Museum and more. "The event is held for the kids of the community and surrounding area," said organizer Linda Malekadeli. "It not only provides information as to what services are available for kids, but also as something to do on a cold, snowy day." Malekadeli said a variety of crafts and activities will be offered at each booth with center stage entertainment throughout the day. The White Pine Pipes & Drums and Highland Dancers will kick off the event at 10 a.m. followed by a martial arts demonstration by Yats' Tae Kwon Do.
