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Scholarship bill goes to governor
LANSING --A 38-0 Senate vote on Wednesday completed legislative approval a $4,000 state scholarships that will be available to all high school students, starting with the class of 2007. The plan is the brainchild of Gov. Jennifer Granholm, who is expected to sign it. The higher stipends will replace the $2,500 Merit Awards, which are available to high school students who score well enough on standardized state tests. Granholm proposed the new program, to be known as Michigan's Promise Grant, in her State of the State Address last January. She believes it will encourage more students to obtain college degrees or advanced training. "This is a great day for Michigan families and higher education," said Sen. Deborah Cherry, D-Burton. Scholarships of $4,000 will be available to all Michigan students who complete at least two years at public universities, private colleges or trade schools in Michigan while maintaining a 2.5 grade-point average.
Hensel Phelps partners lose Union Station bid
GREELEY - A bid by Union Station Partners, which included Greeley-based construction giant Hensel Phelps, lost to a rival bid to redevelop Denver's historic Union Station.
The selection of the design and construction team called Continuum/East West Partners was made by the four public entities that own the 125-year-old station in downtown Denver: Regional Transportation District, the city of Denver, Colorado Department of Transportation and the Denver Regional Council of Governments.
The Union Station Partners proposal, headed by Cherokee Investment Partners, called for a 46-story hotel and condo tower to be built behind the station and an underground light-rail station. Continuum's winning proposal includes a 22-story building and a ground-level station.
The publicly supported construction project will be the largest since Denver International Airport and will provide the hub for Denver's $4.7 billion FasTracks transit network.
Intel's Barrett wins 2007 Horatio Alger Award
Intel Corp. Chairman and Arizona resident Craig Barrett is among recipients of the 2007 Horatio Alger Award. The award, given by the Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans Inc., is given to individuals who have overcome adversity to achieve success through the American free enterprise system -- contemporary examples of people who have achieved the American Dream. Other winners are: Thomas Brokaw, NBC Nightly News; Jenny and Sid Craig, Jenny Craig International; Craig Hall, Hall Financial Group; Clarence Otis Jr., Darden Restaurants; Richard Rosenberg, Bank of America; David Rubenstein, The Carlyle Group; Howard Schultz, Starbucks Coffee Co.; Roger Staubach, The Staubach Co.; and Chris Thomas Sullivan, OSI Restaurant Partners Inc. Barrett was born at the end of the Great Depression in San Francisco.
Harbaugh Era at Stanford kicks off
The new leader of Stanford football arrived Tuesday sporting a navy blue pinstriped suit, a shiny red tie and a smile that lit up the packed auditorium. Jim Harbaugh spoke about memories, vision and turning around a program that has known only losing since Tyrone Willingham left in December 2001. "The journey that has taken me from Palo Alto High School across the El Camino Real to the Farm has prepared me well," Harbaugh said, "and has prepared me to have great success here at Stanford University." If Harbaugh can coach as well as he charmed the room at his introductory news conference, Stanford athletic director Bob Bowlsby might have struck gold. Harbaugh, who was an NFL quarterback for 15 years and also was an assistant coach with the Raiders, proved he can succeed at the non-scholarship, Division I-AA level.
Bruins named first team All-PVL
Four members of the Bear River varsity football team have been named to the All-Pioneer Valley League team.
Leading the way for the Bruins was senior linebacker Axel Wadman, who was named the PVL's Defensive Most Valuable Player.
Also earning All-PVL honors was Bear River senior quarterback C.J. Crausby, along with senior wide receiver Lars Nielsen, junior offensive lineman Joel Davis and junior defensive lineman Spencer Krans.
Voted to second team were juniors Jobany Betancourt (center), Chase Duncan (offensive tackle), Gary Schmidt (tight end), Matt Belnap (linebacker), Tommy Jones (defensive tackle), Jared Murnan (kicker) and senior Hunter Tanquary (defensive back).
The Bruins finished the season with an overall record of 7-4 and took second place in the PVL.
Mathis earns Pro Bowl trip, Taylor denied
JACKSONVILLE -- Fred Taylor might go down in history as the best running back to never make a Pro Bowl. Taylor, who leads Jacksonville and ranks fourth in the AFC with 1,120 yards rushing, was overlooked again when the Pro Bowl rosters were announced Tuesday. Cornerback Rashean Mathis made his first Pro Bowl, giving Jacksonville one representative for the fourth consecutive season. Defensive tackle Marcus Stroud was the only Jaguars player voted to the AFC squad the last three years. The Jags (8-6) had hoped to get more recognition this season, especially with the defense ranked second in the league and the offense ranked second in rushing. But Taylor, defensive tackle John Henderson and the entire offensive line were left out of the league's all-star game in Hawaii.
Exchange is step to becoming ambassador
Sergey Kononenko, 16, of Magaden, Russia, arrived in the United States on Aug. 17, after having won an English competition in his homeland for the scholarship abroad. "I wanted to investigate new cultures," said Kononenko, who now attends high school at Altmar-Parish-Williamstown. "I wanted to see how people live, learn about their traditions and habits, tell them about my country, my lifestyle and maybe break some stereotypes." He hopes it will be good training for what he hopes will be a future an ambassador. Arriving with a working knowledge of English helped, but "the first few days I was here, I didn't really know what I was doing or where I was going. People are so friendly, and I'm very thankful to them for that." And thanks was abundant in late November when he celebrated his first Thanksgiving, a holiday Russians don't have.
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