The Monroe Evening News

The northbound lane of US-23 was closed earlier today due to a car accident. According to the Monroe County Sheriff's office, a car crash took place just north of the Ohio-Michigan state line. Full Story »

Robert “Hot Dog” Fleming, age 74, of Monroe formerly of Newport, passed away in his home December 7, 2009 of Arteriosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease. Robert was born August 16, 1935 in Detroit, Michigan to George and Helen (Eder) Fleming. Full Story »

— Courtesy photo Sen. Randy Richardville (left) speaks with Keenan Wetzel. High school student Keenan Wetzel is against the concealed pistol bill that would allow some students the legal right to possess handguns on college campuses in Michigan. Full Story »

Margaret M. (Maggie) Dusseau, the first female supervisor for Erie Township, known for being an innovative, hard-working public servant and for her creativity, banjo playing and humor, died Tuesday morning at home after a two-year battle with cancer. Full Story »

It was clear at Tuesday's Monroe County Board of Commissioners meeting that the board believes Royce Maniko is the person to lead the county. The panel voted unanimously to hire Mr. Maniko as the county administrator/chief financial officer for one year and pay him $105,000 for the duty. Full Story »

The Monroe County Board of Commissioners Tuesday unanimously adopted a tentative — and balanced — 2010 budget, but not without the complete understanding that the document will be amended as early as January. Full Story »

DTE Energy said Tuesday it will start work early next year on a $600 million project to further cut pollution from its Monroe Power Plant, creating about 600 jobs over the next few years. Full Story »

OTTAWA LAKE — The Whiteford Township Board tonight will consider asking taxpayers to approve a five-year, 1-mill levy to help pay for a township hall. Full Story »

The Monroe City Council Monday agreed to donate nearly one acre of land for a playground near the Greenwood Townhouse complex on Greenwood Ave. Full Story »

Monroe’s trial downtown parking pass program has the unanimous support of the Monroe City Council. The matter has been discussed for years but was approved without discussion Monday night as part of the council’s consent agenda. Full Story »

Various emergency vehicles and other unusual activity might be observed near DTE Energy’s Fermi 2 nuclear plant Wednesday as utility officials and community agencies test their abilities to respond to an unauthorized intrusion onto the plant’s grounds. Full Story »

— Photo courtesy of Monroe Police Department A chain-reaction crash on Telegraph Rd. heavily damaged the front end of a Dodge Durango Monday. Full Story »

IDA – Officials believe the Christmas in Ida Parade of Lights drew a record crowd Saturday night with an estimated 35,000 people arriving to view the 120 shimmering entries. Full Story »

Former "American Idol" winner Ruben Studdard will headline a benefit called "A Cure for Cancer Concert." Hosted by Soul Lyfe Entertainment, the event will be held at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 12 at River Raisin Centre for the Arts, 114 S. Monroe St. Full Story »

A trial parking pass program for downtown residents and employees will be considered by the Monroe City Council tonight. The meeting will begin at 7:30 in City Hall council chambers. Full Story »

Quatro’s, a longtime Monroe restaurant and bar that was to be demolished and rebuilt as part of a new small commercial center, will reopen sometime this week in the same building. Full Story »

— Evening News photo by DANIELLE PORTTEUS Monroe Middle School students (clockwise from top left) Kennan Tullis, Amanda Lis, Saige Sulfaro and Rami Dahbour were among 23 Monroe Public Schools students who filmed a movie scene at Lincoln Elementary School Nov. 25. The movie, tenatively titled “MOOZ-lum,” will be released next year. Full Story »

The Monroe County Board of Commissioners Tuesday will offer its top post to Royce Maniko, the county’s planner, who has been filling in as county administrator since June. Full Story »

The THANKS Inc. float heads north on Lewis Ave. during the annual Christmas in Ida Festival. IDA — Years ago Lillian Strickler of Erie remembers when she worked for Village Pharmacy and they actually had leftover doughnuts and cider after handing out the treats during the Ida Parade of Lights. Full Story »

The 2011 Ford Mustang V-6 is powered by a 305-horsepower 3.7-liter Ti-VCT engine. This new, all-aluminum dual-overhead cam V-6 delivers a projected 30 mpg on the highway with six-speed automatic transmission. Full Story »

Amanda Scroggs, 17, snuggles with her father Jim Scroggs while visiting with him at Fairview Wednesday. After separating from his wife, Mr. Scroggs lost his home and has suffered health problems, including heart attacks and two recent strokes. Full Story »

— Evening News photos by BRYAN BOSCH Debbee Clark (center) of Minnesota takes a picture of Monroe’s Steve Alexander (portraying Gen. George Custer) during a narrated tour Saturday of historic places in Monroe. Her husband, Archie, is at left. Full Story »

— Evening News photo by KIM BRENT First graders in Carol Foshag’s class, including (from left) Hannah Bogedine, 6; Taiah Carmon, 6; Isabella Rorke, 6, and Charity Sammons, 6, take a closer look at a diarama in the Custer exhibit at the Monroe County Historical Museum. Full Story »

The Monroe County Library System will host Food System Economic Partnership Business Counseling Program Monday. The free program is for those in the agricultural field or people who are considering agriculture as a career option including farming and greenhouse operations. Full Story »

The outdoor Christmas display at night looking south from Kay Drive. For Jerry and Helen Wittkop, the tradition of decorating their home began as a simple tribute for the holidays. Full Story »