Tips add up to vacation County’s new finance Local resident goes on

for Mickey’s employees director faces deficit bike ride for good cause
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The Your Hometown Newspaper

VOL. 60, NO. 36

Saline Reporter THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2010
75¢

Saline residents fall victim to fraud

By Art Aisner
Special Writer
Saline police are joining with the management
of a condominium complex and urging residents
to check their bank statements and credit reports
after a complex fraud scheme surfaced last week.
Twelve residents of the Rolling Meadows
Townhomes, located off of Lambkins Drive on
the city’s north side, told police that their banks
either froze their accounts or identified suspi-
cious activity last week, officials said.
It didn’t take long for authorities to realize
they had a large-scale fraud scheme unfolding
“Once we had multiple reports, it was clear
there was definitely something strange going
on, being that they were all neighbors in a large
complex,” Detective Don Lupi said.
But they didn’t anticipate how far the scam
reached.
Lupi said more investigation was needed, but
that he and Sgt. Kevin Murphy determined all of
the victims had their identities stolen and likely
sold to the perpetrators of another scam involv-
ing mystery shopping.
Each of the residents had checks duplicated
Weave the Web:
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clock for in-depth coverage of
Washtenaw County. Our “Most
Viewed” story this week is
“College Football Preview:
with their correct names, addresses, bank Michigan Wolverines.”
account numbers and check routing numbers,
according to police reports.
Those checks were then sent to “mystery”
shoppers around the country who thought
they were getting paid for legitimate work that
involved anonymously sampling products or Check out our videos:
services for major companies. Instead, those ■ Paper, plastic or
shoppers were defrauded when they cashed the cloth?
bogus checks and followed instructions to wire
the majority of the money to a bank in Russia. ■ Henry Thurston talks
The fraudulent checks were typically written about Henry’s Day
for roughly $900, but some victims stood to lose
thousands if the fraud persisted, according to
reports.
Investigators have not determined how the
residents’ check information was compromised, Connect with
but they are working with the property owner
and management firm to stop it from impacting
Yahoo’s Hot Jobs:
more people. Click on the “jobs” tab
There are 70 units in the complex. Several vic- Twelve residents of the Rolling Meadows Townhomes, located on the home page of our
off of Lambkins Drive on the city’s north side, told police that website or go directly to
http://jobs.heritage.com.
PLEASE SEE FRAUD/3-A their banks either froze their accounts or identified suspicious
activity last week, officials said. Join us on Twitter:

Rodeo offers thrill spectacular for all ages

By Steven Howard
Heritage Newspapers We have 1,086 follow-
The Super Kicker Rodeo came through Saline last weekend, bringing ers on Twitter. Become a
fun and entertainment for all ages to the Washtenaw County Farm Council Saline Reporter follower.
Grounds in Lodi Township. Click on the Twitter tab
The three-day event featured a multitude of traditional rodeo events, on the home page or go
including bareback and bull riding, girls’ barrel racing and team roping, directly to http://twitter.
among other contests. com/SalineMilanNews.
Attending a rodeo for the first time was the Hart family of Saline, who
said they were all delighted at what they witnessed performed by both
humans and animals.
“We never have been to a rodeo,” Connie Hart said. “We kind of like
country things like this.”
After eating dinner, Hart said she happened to see a sign on the side of
the road advertising the Super Kicker show, and decided to give it a try.
“We were just driving down Michigan Avenue and I saw a sign for it,” she Join us on
said. “I said, ‘Let’s go to the rodeo.’” Facebook:
Hart said her children have often pretended to be in rodeos while play- We have 423 fans on
ing around the house, so seeing the actual event live was awe-inspiring for Facebook. Click on the
them. Facebook tab on the home
Photo by Steven Howard Hart said her daughter Seanna, 8, was recently practicing her roping page of our website or search
Cowboy Matt Ford tries to style using a little imagination. for us on Facebook.
stay on horse 444 at the “She was pretending to lasso doorknobs,” she said. “She likes the horses,
Super Kicker Rodeo at the too.”
Washtenaw Farm Council Hart’s son, Ethan, 3, could be seen running in circles, pretending to ride
Grounds Saturday night.
PLEASE SEE RODEO/3-A

Community fair kicks off five days of fun
By Steven Howard
Heritage Newspapers
The Saline Community Fair
is coming to the Washtenaw
Farm Council Grounds begin-
ning Tuesday, bringing five
days of family fun, entertain-
ment and agricultural-related
exhibits to the area.
Kevin Ernst has presided
as fair president for the last
several years, and said this
year’s fair will be packed with
excitement despite the substan-
tial budgeting issue organizers
have had to deal with as of late.
“We were funded by the
state,” he said. “We lost that
two years ago.”
Ernst and the rest of the fair
board have risen to the chal-
lenge, however, and a long list
of diverse activities will com-
mence for opening day Tuesday.
In addition to animal judg-
ing, the Talent Show and the
Miss Saline Pageant will take
place that day, at 5 p.m. and 8
p.m., respectively.
There also will be special
pricing for opening day.
“Tuesday is value day,” Ernst
said. “It’s only $5 admission
because the rides don’t open
until Wednesday.”
Wednesday will play host to
the Auto Enduro Derby on the
fairground track, and Ernst
said the event is always a favor-
ite.
“It’s small-to-mid-size cars
on a motorcross style track,”
he said.
Thursday is being billed as
Pre-School and Children’s Day,
with Livonia-based Cirque
Amongus providing a show
designed for that age group at
10 a.m.
The group’s website indi-
cates Cirque Amongus allows
participants to “rotate through
a circuit of circus skills involv-
ing balance, wheels and coordi-
nation.”
Later in the evening, at 7
p.m., the Farm Stock 8000 and
the Super Stock Tractor Pull
will take place.
Friday is Old Settlers’ Day, as
well as Ladies’ Day.
“We offer free admission to
senior citizens that day,” he
said.
Females 9 and older will be
offered a discounted admission
rate of $5 Friday, however both
the free senior citizen deal and
women’s discount will expire
at 1 p.m. when prices go back to
normal.
In addition to the Wolverine
Tractor Pull, Four-Wheel-Drive,
Super Stock and Super Farm
competitions, Friday night
will feature music of the Blue
Coyote Band beginning at 7:30
p.m.
Ernst said everyone will
want to be in downtown Saline
at noon Saturday as the fair
parade makes its way down
Michigan Avenue.
He said the procession will
feature a something for every-
one.
“There’s animals, floats,
equipment,” he said. “It’s a
PLEASE SEE FAIR/3-A
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Community Calendar . . 2-B News Tip Hotline – 429-7380 www.salinereporter.com E-mail: editor@salinereporter.com
WHAT’S Commentary . . . . . . . . . . 6-A
INSIDE Deaths . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12-A 1991 to 1996, was honored with the 1997 George A. Flat Stanley?” The event is a Kaleidoscope after-
Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-C BRIEFLY... Anderson Vision Award. He is one of the founders school story and craft program. Participants will be
and chairman of the Saline Celtic Festival. making a mini “Flat Stanley” and a journal for his
■ Former mayor target of ‘roast’: Pat Little, The event will be held at Stonebridge Golf Club adventures.
Printed Saline City Council member and former mayor, will in Ann Arbor. Reservations are required at $28 per Participants will choose between Sept. 28 and 29,
on be the target of the 2010 annual Ellen Ewing Roast
recycled person or $30 after Sept. 13. For more information, 4:15 to 5:15 p.m. In-person registration begins Sept.
paper 5:30 p.m. Sept. 17. This Saline Area Chamber of call 429-4494. 13. Call-in registration begins Sept.14.
Commerce event began in 2001 with the “roast” of ■ Story and craft program to be held at library: The program is free. Call the Youth Department
former Saline School Superintendent Ellen Ewing. The Saline District Library will host students in at 429-5450 or visit the library’s website at www.
Little, who served as the mayor of Saline from first through fifth grades for “Where are You Going, salinelibrary.org.

Motorcraft Synthetic Blend All Makes

Oil & Filter Change All Models
$14.95 (Save $18.00) No Appointment
Includes Multipoint Inspection Located at Briarwood Ford Across from the new Saline Walmart (Shuttle Available)
Expires 9/30/10.
Includes up to 5 quarts Motorcraft Synthetic Blend Oil. Price applies to most vehicles with gas engines. See Quick Lane Manager for details.