Chad Steven Rodriguez, a 33-year-old from Weidman, Ronald Raymond Pingilley, a 48-year-old from Mount Pleasant and Robert Lyle Keller Jr., a 19-year-old from Mount Pleasant were taken into custody for the breaking and entering and larcenies that took place between Oct. 6 and Dec.6.

The incidences occurred in Coldwater, Deerfield, Gilmore and Sherman Townships in Isabella County.

Isabella County Sheriff’s Detectives also recovered stolen property from Clare County and turned it over to the Clare County Sheriff’s Department for prosecution in Clare County.

Rodriguez and Keller have each been charged with two counts of Breaking and Entering a Building and two counts of Larceny in a Building.

Pingilley has been charged with one count of Breaking and Entering a Building and one count Larceny in a Building.

A press release from the Isabella County Sheriff’s Department stated some of the recovered items included several farm tractors, several gooseneck trailers, a horse trailer, chicken nests and incubators, 200 gallon tank sprayer, two boats and many other items.

Isabella County Sheriff’s Department is continuing to investigate the incidents.

The hearing was first scheduled for 1 p.m. today at the Isabella County Courthouse, 200 N. Main St., for Jason Lantz Fish. The postponed time will also be at 1 p.m.

Fish is accused of murdering his wife, Stephanie Rochelle Fish, 34. He is charged with one count of homicide, open murder, one count of possession of a firearm by a felon and two counts of felony firearms.

After allegedly murdering his wife, Fish left town with the couple’s 4-year-old son Brody. Jason and Brody were located in Genessee County Nov. 20 and brought back to Isabella County.

The Isabella County Sheriff’s Department discovered Stephanie’s body in a crawl space inside the couple’s Weidman home Nov. 21.

County Prosecutor Larry Burdick said Fish’s attorney made the motion to move the hearing to give her more time to prepare for the case.

Fish’s attorney was just appointed Monday and granting her more time was not an unreasonable request for a murder case, Burdick said.

The ICTC bus service will not be operating on Thursday.

The bus service will operate normally on Wednesday from 6:30 a.m. until midnight. Services will resume again on Friday at 6:30 am.

The ICTC business office will also be closed on Friday and will reopen at 8:30 a.m. Monday.

For any questions regarding ICTC services or to schedule a ride call the ICTC ride line at 772-9441.

On Wednesday the Michigan Senate approved legislation requiring all school districts to have anti-bullying policies. But while the bill should be prohibiting bullying in every instance, it instead leaves large loopholes telling bullies how to avoid punishment.

According to an article in The Detroit Free Press, a last minute addition to the bill states schools cannot make rules that “prohibit a statement of a sincerely held religious belief or moral conviction of a school employee, school volunteer, pupil or a pupil’s parent or guardian.”

You want to torment someone and tell them they are going to hell for being gay? Sure, if that’s your religious belief, go right ahead. Do you have a strong moral conviction about how wrong it is to be fat? Feel free to make fun of the kids that are a little chunkier.

Sound awful?

Well it is. This is not even remotely OK.

What are we doing here? Exceptions for religious beliefs? Where is the separation of church and state?

And as far as moral convictions, I’m pretty sure anyone who voted in favor of this despicable excuse for “anti-bullying” law is lacking in the morals department.

This is not “anti” anything. This is a pro-bullying law.

Imagine a crying child in the principal’s office, sitting next to the kid who has been making their life miserable and all he has to say is, “I said that because the Bible told me so. Can I go now?” Unbelievable.

Cloaking hate, intolerance and cruelty in expressions of religious and moral beliefs is deplorable. We should be encouraging kindness and compassion for all children, instead of allowing bullies to get away with bullying if their reasons pass the test.

This bill, which now moves on to the House, is known as “Matt’s Safe School Law.” It’s named after Matt Epling, a 14-year-old boy who killed himself in 2002 after being harassed by anti-gay bullies. His father has been working with Michigan lawmakers for years to establish anti-bullying legislation, and this is what he gets?

I’d ask all who voted in favor of this bill to be required to explain their rationale to the children facing misery in school each day, telling them why a bully is not being punished for their statements of “religious or moral” beliefs. Or better yet, explain to grieving parents why their dead child’s tormentors were allowed to spew vicious, hurtful remarks with no consequences.

I’m sure they’ll be so thankful for this new law.

According to a press release from the Mount Pleasant Police Department, an officer pulled over the 26-year-old man at approximately 12:17 a.m. The officer believed Wiggins showed signs of intoxication and proceeded to ask him to step out of the vehicle for field sobriety tests.

“The officer stopped the vehicle on a routine traffic stop when the officer smelled what he believed was alcohol coming from the driver’s breath,” said Mount Pleasant Police Department Public Information Officer Jeff Browne.

Wiggins then fled the scene, driving his 2003 Ford Crown Victoria through Central Michigan University’s campus while being pursued by the officer. The pursuit ended when Wiggins crashed into a utility pole after he was traveling too fast. He had been attempting to turn off Broomfield Road to go north on Isabella Road.

Following a short foot pursuit, the suspect was taken into custody and lodged at the Isabella County Jail.

Wiggins is charged with one count of fleeing and eluding third degree, two counts of resisting and obstructing, one count of driving with a suspended license second offense, one count of no insurance and one count of false identification.

“We don’t get a whole lot of flee and eludes. It’s something that doesn’t happen every day here, thankfully,” Browne said. “It puts the public at risk if you don’t know why they’re fleeing. You don’t know what happened that causes that person to drive at high speeds.”

He is being held at the Isabella County Jail on an $80,000 cash surety bond.

According to a press release from the Isabella County Sheriff’s Department, information was received on Thursday about a subject possibly selling marijuana. A search warrant was obtained Friday morning for Nelsen’s house.

Recovered from the 58-year-old man’s home were 56 Vicodin pills, 2.1 pounds of packaged marijuana, a 12-gauge shotgun with shells and vehicle picks for gaining entry into vehicles.

Nelsen is charged with delivery/manufacture of a schedule 3 controlled substance, a 7-year felony, and delivery/manufacture of marijuana, a 4-year felony.

He was also charged with a 2-year felony for the possession of the shotgun, a 1-year misdemeanor for possession of marijuana and a 90-day misdemeanor for the possession of the master key.

The press release states Nelsen was arraigned in the 76^th Trial Court.  His bond was set at $50,000 cash or surety. Nelsen remains in the Isabella County Jail.

Bradford T. Gibson of East Orange, N.J. was found unconscious and without a pulse at 3 a.m.

Isabella County Sheriff Leo Mioduszewski said officers at the jail reacted exactly as they were trained to by performing CPR, which was unsuccessful.

“They did what was protocol,” he said. “It’s unfortunate it ended the way it did.”

Gibson was arrested at about 2 a.m. Saturday for disorderly conduct, two counts of obstructing justice and resisting a police officer, and aggravated assault on a police officer. He was brought into custody by the Mount Pleasant Police Department.

“There were no tasers used and no punches thrown,” Mioduszewski said. “I have no idea what the cause of death will be (determined to be).”

The Michigan State Police Department will conduct an independent investigation into the inmate’s death as requested by the Isabella County Sheriff’s Department and the Mount Pleasant Police Department.

Mioduszewski said all information has been submitted but there is no timeline for when the investigation will be complete.

An autopsy has been scheduled.

As Sgt. Steven Riske of the Army National Guard rounded the corner to his home, he was met by embraces from his three daughters, Gracelyn, Kadyn and Avery.

“He’s been gone a long time,” 5-year-old Gracelyn said.

Earlier that day, Riske’s wife Carly and her father drove to Port Huron to meet Riske at the bus station. On Sept. 15, 2010 Riske was placed on active duty and left in November for Kuwait.

Originally, Carly had planned a small gathering to welcome her husband home, but while she was away the plan changed.

Angie McCormick sits with her grandchildren Kayden, 3, left, Avery, 1, and Gracelyn, 5, as they wait for the return of their father Army National Guard Sgt. Steven Riske Friday afternoon in front of their High Street home. (Jeff Smith/Photo Editor)

“I came home and it literally looked like the Fourth of July had puked all over my front porch,” she said. “I’m just as surprised as he is.”

Carly’s sister, Kelsey McCormick, began decorating the front porch, but even she wasn’t prepared for the twist the event took.

“I just thought, let’s do something fun and just decorate the front of the house, so we started doing everything and the neighbors just kept coming over,” she said.

Neighbors and even people just passing by transformed the event from a small family gathering to a cookout complete with a “Welcome Home” cake.

A woman dropped off a box of flags, while another gave a gift card to Papa John’s, McCormick said.

Clyde Dosenberry, owner of Doozie’s Ice Cream Place, 1310 E. Pickard St., also gave the family Doozie dollars, she said.

Carly said she could not contain her emotions when she first saw her husband.

“We all chased the bus when we saw it,” she said. “And of course I was the blubbering wife when he hopped off.”

Riske sat at a picnic table eating hot dogs with his daughters and smiled at all the people surrounding him.

“It’s just wonderful (and) very exciting to see everyone,” he said. “It’s been so long that you forget.”

Riske said he has plenty of family plans to make up for lost time, including taking his daughters fishing, as well as going to the zoo and water park.

Army National Guard Sgt. Steven Riske, kisses wife Carly during a welcome home party Friday evening at their High Street home. Riske returned home to his family after a tour of duty in Kuwait which lasted nearly nine months. (Andrew Kuhn/Assistant Photo Editor)

Carly said she is looking forward to family normalcy, like being able to go to the grocery store without having to find a babysitter for her daughters.

“I don’t feel overwhelmed anymore,” she said. “It’s back to being a two-parent household.”

Carly and the girls also worked to surprise Riske with remodeling to their home.

The family renovated a bathroom, and received a new, donated bathtub from Bathtub Boys, 6870 E. Airport Road. They also had the entrance-way to the home remodeled.

Carly said a new bathtub is something Steven had wanted for a while.

“It’s a huge blessing,” she said about the donations.

Riske said he plans to take full advantage of the amenities of home.

“I’m looking forward to sleeping in a real bed with a real shower and not having to go outside to shower or use the bathroom,” he said.

“Where students get in the most trouble is alcohol related offenses,” said Director of Public Safety Anthony Gomez-Mesquita.

Tickets and arrests for minor in possession, driving while intoxicated and open intoxicant are all incidents that happen at a higher volume over Welcome Weekend, Gomez-Mesquita said.

The next most common offense over Welcome Weekend was drug possession or dealing, he said.

Authorities are particularly concerned about the drug presence at Central Michigan University, both during Welcome Weekend and throughout the year.

Prosecutor Larry Burdick said last year he saw between 50 to 60 drug cases involving CMU students.

Burdick said he does not think this is above the norm of other colleges, but is concerned because some of these drug crimes are felonies in Michigan.

“Those convictions can be disqualifiers for jobs and my guess is many students are unaware of that,” he said.

Drug convictions can often result in students being denied financial aid, Burdick said.

Gomez-Mesquita said assaultive behavior is another one of the larger issues police face over Welcome Weekend.

Often fights are between individuals at bars, dorms and other residences, Gomez-Mesquita said.

Burdick said there have also been instances of people resisting arrest and injuring police officers.

“This weekend there were four or five cases involving fighting with police,” he said. “When people drink to that extent and actually are struggling with police officers, that’s going to lead to serious repercussions.”

CMU Police Chief Bill Yeagley said all the law enforcement agencies are working together trying to promote good decisions.

“From the prosecutor right down to the newest officer, we’re just trying to encourage safety,” he said.

Gov. Rick Snyder

State officials have spoken out regarding the Central Michigan University Faculty Association’s decision to strike.

“The Governor urges both sides to come back to the table and work this out for the tens of thousands of CMU students and the higher education they are counting on, need and deserve,” said Gov. Rick Snyder’s press secretary Sara Wurfel in an emailed statement to CM Life.

State Rep. Kevin Cotter, R-Mount Pleasant sent a press release Monday afternoon to comment on the situation.

“These are tough times for everyone in Michigan, and our local universities are feeling the effects as much as anyone,” Cotter said. “We are all trying to find innovative solutions in this economy, and changes must be made to keep our schools up and running.  It is my hope that all parties work together for the benefit of the students as classes get underway.”

Cotter referenced Michigan’s budget and its role in the current situation.

State Rep. Kevin Cotter, R-Mount Pleasant

“As the Vice Chair of the Appropriations subcommittee for Higher Education, I know the budget situation has forced everyone to do new things and share in the sacrifice,” he said. “Breaking the status quo is never easy — but our financial reality is undeniable and students are missing class time as we speak.  We all need to work together to move CMU forward as soon as possible.”

Vice Mayor Kathy Ling said she could not speak on the issue since the City Commission has no official position on the contract disputes.

“It would be best for me not to make a comment other than to wish them well,” she said, referring to the FA.

Isabella County Circuit Judge Mark Duthie signed Monday on behalf of Isabella County Trial Court Judge Paul H. Chamberlain a temporary restraining order forcing FA members to return to classes immediately.

FA members were made to teach Monday night classes if they lived close enough, and will return to the classroom Tuesday.