A get out of town Labor Day Friday afternoon open thread

Out with it

Wolverine fan living in Ypsilanti you say?

Ypsi City Desk has confirmed you are in luck as Aubrees in Depot Town WILL be carrying the Michigan game tomorrow. Get a bunch of you together, just like in the old days, grab a burger, a few pitchers, support a local business and tell both the Big Ten Network and Comcast to get bent.

Aubrees in Depot Town, a friend to Michigan football fans

Probably best he missed but Ypsi City Desk applauds his 'can do' spirit

An Ypsilanti Township convenience store clerk at the Dairy Mart at 10131 Textile Road chased off a couple of lowlife crooks this morning with a loaded shotgun, soon to be an unloaded shotgun around 4am.

The City Desk is all in favor of protecting ones self and the hell with the crooks but you know how this works, if he'd hit what he shot at rather than shooting out a store window in the attempt, he'd be brought up on charges and tried for doing so and THEN the greatest insult would either the robber or the robbers surviving family would sue him for daring to be proactive in protecting himself.

Well done but probably best you missed.

Next time aim out in the parking lot. Hey, it worked for Jed Clampett

Great news for EMU--again tabbed a 'Best Midwestern College'

The Princeton Review has once again named Eastern Michigan University a 'Best Midwestern College'. Along with 161 other schools, the recognition is completely based on a survey of students.

"This kind of designation is extremely important because it comes from the students. They are the reason we are all here," Don Loppnow, executive vice president of EMU through a statment. Students especially noted the excellent faculty at EMU in their survey.

This IS great news for EMU, hey, we all know EMU can use good news and it's nice to see some well deserved plaudits coming their way after a very ROUGH beginning to 2007.

Friday pigskin report

Friday night means high school football in Michigan and here are tonight's local tilts and last night's results

Ypsi Willow Run (1-0) faces Dearborn Heights Crestwood at home

Ypsilanti Lincoln (0-1) is home to Saline (1-0)

Ann Arbor Pioneer (2-0) already has the hay in the barn this week by beating Dexter (0-2), 36-14

Chelsea (1-0) is at home to Temperance Bedford

Ypsilanti High squared their record at 1-1 with a 28-9 smackdown over Dearborn Edsel Ford

Ann Arbor Huron (1-1) squeezed out a tight victory over Detroit U-D Jesuit 23-20

Dear locals, the students are back, be ever vigilant

You DO have to look both ways on Hamilton now, you DO have to look both ways before crossing Emmet. Cross Street heading west could have any number of overloaded pickup trucks with frazzled parents driving like caffeinated squirrels.

For your own safety, take precautions for a couple weeks.

Follow-up report--WCC construction

The Ypsi City Desk sent yours truly out to the construction site at WCC, which is causing city busses to troll parking lots and causing the odd traffic delays as equipment gets shuttled around. Real hard hitting Washtenaw County type news. It was suggested by this reporter the Comcast turtles might be foremen on this job. A close inspection of the work and workers did not turn up ANY slow moving turtles, just slow moving men.

Ypsi City Desk apologizes to any turtles who were offended and prays you don't sue us and force us to leave our palacial offices.

Afternoon open thread

Get it off your chest

The Wile E. Coyote school of gay bashing

Two real THINKERS were arrested in Ann Arbor for "felonious assault and intimidation charges" when, after taunting two men on the street below their apartment building, decided the best way to show they didn't like gays was to hurl a DRESSER at them from their balcony.

How maladjusted are you when you dislike someone so much, someone you've never met, that you'll toss a large piece of furniture at them from above? It NEVER worked for Wile E. Coyote and it didn't work here. The two men simply sidestepped the weapon of choice and called AAPD who arrested these morons.

No word on if the dresser was made by ACME.

Ypsi High School--Five minutes for fighting

Evidently, the most egregious of crimes, a girl fight broke out in front of Ypsi High School this morning. I know what many of you are thinking--a girl fight, sweet!--however let's take a look a what the Washtenaw County Sheriffs report said, it was started by someone from Ann Arbor.

Now, Johnny is pretty positive on the City of Trees (and hippies) but if this is going to continue, we're going to need to ask those parents of students coming to Ypsi to start brawls to home school your kids.

Ypsi City Desk wonders if this would have happened if Ypsi High had a working nickname.

So Johnny was sitting in Sidetrack last night at the bar

When I heard someone say

"You are looking very handsome tonight"

I looked around and didn't see anybody, but then I heard the voice say it again.

I looked down and realized the voice was coming from the dish of peanuts on the bar. So I asked the bartender what the deal was with the nuts.

He said, "Oh them? They're complimentary!"

The Elbow Room will be hopping Friday night

Local music mavens have informed the Ypsi City Desk a hootenanny of a show will be at the Elbow Room Bar THIS Friday night, 8/31. The bill is The New Green with Black Jake and The Carnies, Delta88 and Bone Orchard Revival


The Elbow Room online

A lot of degrees at Washtenaw Community College are 2 year programs

Much like the construction out front to put in a new 'driveway' at WCC.

I think those turtles from the Comcast ads are running the show on that, Ypsi City Desk will check and get back to you.

Late night open thread

Represent, Ypsilanti!

Here now, the Ypsi City Desk College Football Rankings

For Washtenaw County

1) Michigan
2) Eastern Michigan

WOW, amazing. #1 AND #2 will play this October 6 in Ann Arbor. You KNOW ESPN will be all over this matchup of the titans. When games of this importance are played, and a #1 vs #2 matchup IS important, the ESPN Game Day crew shows up early and fans flock to the set. Will Lee Corso put on the Eagles head? Will he put on the a Michigan hat?

All we know is that this game WILL be a huge matchup with incredible implications for the US23 Bowl

Afternoon Blab-fest open thread

Spill citizens...

Bob Dylan AND Elvis Costello to play EMU October 12

While not having the local chops of the Ypsitucky Colonels, relative unknowns Bob Dylan and Elvis Costello will be playing the ACC at Eastern Michigan University (What, is it Chris Webber appreciation night at Crisler?) on October 12.

Tickets will be on sale September 7th at all bend-over-and-take-it Ticketmaster outlets.

Dylan and Costello will be releasing their set lists to Johnny a week before the show for approval....as far as you know

Ypsi’s Unofficial Official Band Releases “Basement Tapes;”

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Aug. 29, 2007

YPSITUCKY, MI -- The Ypsitucky Colonels, the unofficial Official Beat Combo of eastern Washtenaw County, invites you to visit its newly renovated myspace page to sample some of its newly recorded, extra-crispy musical offerings, recorded in the basement of the Sugar Shack, deep in the heart of Ypsitucky.

Thrill to three brand-spankin’-new tunes minted just this week on a four-track recorder and under the influence of PBR and happy cigarettes.

The Ypsitucky Colonels combine members of two of Washtenaw County’s most beloved bands – alt-country stalwarts, Corndaddy, and the late, great garage stylists, The Boomerangs -- to create a powerful, bar-band tour de force that asks the musical question: Crispy or fried?

Fresh off a headlining tour of downtown Ann Arbor, the Crossroads Music Festival and the Elbow Room, look for the Colonels at a shot-and-a-beer happy hour or student-ghetto kegger near you!

Hydroelectric power at Peninsular Dam? Ypsi City Desk says YES

Wow, what a GOOD idea.

The A2 News is reporting that Ypsilanti City officials are considering using the long dormant Peninsular Dam to generate clean, SELLABLE hydroelectric power.

City Council member Bill Nickels (Ward 2) is quoted as saying Ypsi could power 450 homes and raise roughly 150,000 clams a year to help offset the overall 450,000$ per year in electric outlays the city spends now.

It's only in the study stage but boy howdy, The City Desk is behind this 100%.

Mr Nickels if you'd like to use this forum to keep Ypsilanti updated, feel free...

If you live SOUTH of Ann Arbor and are coming to the game Saturday

US23 around Milan heading north will be a parking lot. MDOT, once again is inconveniencing the local populace with laggard road work. It's behind schedule and it WILL cost you some time coming into town on Saturday.

When you drive by the workers on Saturday tell them Johnny says hurry the hell up

Overnight open thread

Vent people, vent.

We'll see how many night owls have found this place

Thursday nights in Ypsi means Depot Town cruise night

Why not drop down to Depot Town and check out the dozens of classic cars on Cross Street? Plenty to see and do and some friendly car owners willing and eager to answer all your questions. You need not be a motorhead to enjoy this one.

After you work up an appetite walking down memory lane, Aubree's and Sidetrack will be happy to quench your thirst and fill your stomach. It's a great cheap night out.

On the web

Got something to say to the authority figures?

Then SAY IT, citizen. I hope this bunch answers their emails, Barry LaRue never answered mine when he was simply keeping a chair warm on City Council.

Tell 'em Johnny sent ya

Mayor & City Council

City of Ypsilanti
One South Huron Street
Ypsilanti, Michigan 48197

City Council Meetings are held on the first and third Tuesday of the month at 7:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers.

Mayor
Paul Schreiber
Mayor@cityofypsilanti.com

Please contact the City Clerk's Office at (734) 483-1100 for an appointment

Mayor Pro-Tem
S.A. Trudy Swanson, Ward 1
satswanson@hotmail.com

Council Members
Lois Richardson, Ward 1
loiserich@hotmail.com

John Gawlas, Ward 2
jgawlas@cityofypsilanti.com

William Nickels, Ward 2
kbnickels@aol.com

Brian Filipiak, Ward 3
bfilipiak@cityofypsilanti.com

Brian Robb, Ward 3
brobb@cityofypsilanti.com

City of Ann Arbor to issue lawn ornament warning

The City of Ann Arbor will be issuing a "lawn ornament warning" starting Thursday in and around the neighborhoods surrounding Michigan Stadium. With Appalachian State and their fans coming to the Big House for Saturday's season opener, city officials are worried about homeowners with "CRITTER" type lawn ornaments that Appalachian State fans could mistake for vittles and shoot or club causing damage to property. The watch list will include lawn ornaments of:

*Deer
*Squirrels
*Gnomes
*Pandas
*Beavers
*Porcupines
*Wombats
*Opossums
*Snipes

Maybe it'd be best to just bring those tempting ceramics inside for the weekend

Open thread for Jibber Jabber

Comment away on anything you choose

Report street light outages in Ypsi

Criminals hate lights and involved citizens, so do your part and report street light outages to the Department of Public Works at 483-1421

Please have the following info handy:
1. A specific streetlight location (i.e., the nearest cross roads, nearby business, etc.).
2. Whether the pole is wooden or metal.
3. The streetlight pole number (For metal poles it is located at the base of the streetlight pole. For wood poles it is located approximately eight feet up the pole).
4. Details about the outage (i.e. Light off during the night, light turns on and of at night, light stays on during the day, etc).

BREAKING NEWS--Ypsilanti River Monster strikes again

Intrepid Ypsi City Desk reporter Daniel X breaks news on the young boy who the Ann Arbor News reports FELL into the Huron River:

Ypsilanti boy narrowly escapes from Huron River water beast

Ypsilanti, MI – Around 1pm on Monday afternoon, a 10-year-old Ypsilanti boy fell into the Huron River while fishing. He escaped unharmed after only a few minutes, but onlookers say that the boy was not the only thing in the water at the time.

At approximately 12:50pm on Monday, Ypsilanti Police and Fire crews and Washtenaw County Sheriffs responded to an emergency call at the banks of the Huron River near the Leforge road bridge. The young boy was fishing and apparently fell into the water. This would not normally be a crisis situation, but recently Ypsilanti Police have had reason to believe that a person falling into the Huron River would be in danger from possibly unnatural sources. Marissa Kingston said, “They been watching up and down this river, like something more is in there. I think they believe something’s living in there, but they won’t tell us about it. No way.”

In the past two weeks, Ypsilanti Police have responded to multiple 911 calls regarding a “monster in the river”. Each call has been different, but most have to do with a pet or small animal being taken from the bank into the river, allegedly by a creature. In most cases, the pet was within a few feet of the river and residents claim that their pet was, “there one moment and gone the next”. Witnesses say they looked in time only to see a glimpse of movement under the surface of the water. “It looked like a huge snake, or something like that”, said Ypsilanti resident Matthew Johnson, “I ain’t never seen nothing like that before. People need to be watching out for this beast of a thing.”


Artist Rendering by Clark Tammer, Graphic Design Student at WCC

Ypsilanti officials have not commented on what could be lurking beneath the surface of the Huron River, but some residents speculate that this “monster” could have something to do with the pollution. “There was a lot of raw sewage that was dumped into the river a while back. That can’t be good for the animals. Eventually they eat that stuff and I guess you get some kind of sci-fi movie like scenario on your hands,” said EMU biology student Samantha Harris.

For now it seems the only action that has been taken is to ensure that no one enters the water. When someone does happen to enter, the police response is large and quick and police do everything in their power to pull the person from the water as fast as they can. Until some more solid answers can be found, the residents of Ypsilanti will just have to stay away from the Huron River and enjoy their water sports elsewhere.

Ladies and Jellyspoons, here now YOUR Ypsilanti ___________

They have no nickname anymore. None. They are simply the Ypsilantis or purple and golds.

How LAME. I mean how hard is it to pick a nickname? EMU did it in a minute and half years ago (How else do you explain the sanitized EAGLES name?).

The PC crowd has struck again in our fair city, no Braves for Ypsi High, no Hurons for EMU.

How about the Cowboys? They croaked Indians, right?

Since the school board decided not to adopt the student choice of 'Royals' (methinks it's a power grab thing by the board, how DARE the kids who attend the school get to choose, WE are adminstrators, only WE get to say) the school nickname sits in limbo. Sure the board SAYS they'll let students have SOME say, but Ypsi City Desk says let the kids decide. Royals was a fine name, classy, intelligent and not being used by a hundred other schools. The kids are on the right track.


If you want to submit an idea or logo call 734-714-1218. (DO NOT CHOOSE EAGLES)

I'm a biker and I know my rights....

Yes yes, you ride a bike in Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti and around the county. You KNOW your rights. You DEMAND your rights. You demand OTHERS recognize your rights.

So why, don't you follow the rules of the goddamned road? You demand to ride in the car lane. Fine, I have NO problem with that. BUT where I and MANY MANY local resident DO have an issue is when you cut through stopped cars, run stop signs, and run red lights after merely SLOWING down. You'll ride up on the sidewalk and almost pick off pedestrians to get around stopped traffic and them right back into the car lane you go. Look if you wanna play ball and ride with the big boys, follow the laws. You're nothing but hypocritical little prima donnas on two wheels. Sometimes I'd love to see a hero use a well placed car door on you lawless clowns.

Guess what biker, you have rights BUT you have responsibilites too. If you fail to heed this warning DO NOT come crying to Johnny Action Space Punk whan you get 'carbunkled'. Chances are, you'll have deserved it.

Weekly Crime Stats for 'Hipsilanti'

Ypsilanti Police Department
Weekly Statistics
From Monday August 13 to Sunday August 19, 2007

ASSAULT OFFENSES
DOMESTIC ASSAULT 8/14/2007 700 PEARL ST
DOMESTIC ASSAULT 8/17/2007 RIVERSIDE PARK
DOMESTIC ASSAULT - ARREST MADE 8/13/2007 900 W MICHIGAN AVE
DOMESTIC ASSAULT - ARREST MADE 8/14/2007 900 W MICHIGAN AVE
DOMESTIC ASSAULT - ARREST MADE 8/16/2007 500 N CONGRESS ST
DOMESTIC ASSAULT - ARREST MADE 8/16/2007 1200 WASHTENAW AVE
DOMESTIC ASSAULT - ARREST MADE 8/17/2007 200 PEARL ST
DOMESTIC ASSAULT - ARREST MADE 8/19/2007 1900 WASHTENAW AVE

BURGLARY / HOME INVASION
BURGLARY / HOME INVASION 8/13/2007 100 N NORMAL ST
BURGLARY / HOME INVASION 8/15/2007 400 MADISON ST
BURGLARY / HOME INVASION 8/18/2007 300 N NORMAL ST
BURGLARY / HOME INVASION 8/19/2007 200 PERRIN ST

BURGLARY / HOME INVASION - UNKNOWN / UNSECURE 8/18/2007
300 W CROSS ST

BURGLARY / HOME INVASION - UNKNOWN / UNSECURE 8/18/2007
400 S HAMILTON ST

LARCENY VIOLATIONS
LARCENY FROM MOTOR VEHICLE 8/14/2007 1100 GRANT ST
LARCENY FROM MOTOR VEHICLE 8/14/2007 200 N RIVER ST
LARCENY FROM MOTOR VEHICLE 8/15/2007 00 S HURON ST
LARCENY FROM MOTOR VEHICLE 8/15/2007 00 W CROSS ST
LARCENY FROM MOTOR VEHICLE 8/16/2007 700 WASHTENAW
LARCENY FROM MOTOR VEHICLE 8/16/2007 500 W MICHIGAN AVE
LARCENY FROM MOTOR VEHICLE 8/17/2007 100 N NORMAL ST

MOTOR VEHICLE THEFT
MOTOR VEHICLE THEFT 8/13/2007 1600 WASHTENAW AVE

ROBBERY
ROBBERY 8/19/2007 1000 HURON RIVER DR

A message from the local Farmer's Markets

Support Local Farmers AND
Do Something Healthy This Week!

It's peak season at the Ypsilanti Farmers' Market with an abundance of
fresh, locally grown peaches, tomatoes, squash, zucchini, potatoes, corn, herbs, and so much more ready for purchase! You won't want to miss the delicious baked goods, locally-produced meat products and hand made crafts as well. Come on down to the Downtown Market from 2-6pm on Tuesdays in the Key Bank parking lot or visit the Depot Town Market on Saturdays from 8 am to 3 pm. Both of the locations accept credit cards, food stamps, Project FRESH or Senior Project FRESH coupons, and of course cash! Or, pay with cash ony at the Depot Town market on Wednesdays from 10 am to 2 pm. Do something healthy for you and your family this week. Support your local farmers and join us at the Ypsilanti Farmer's Market.

The Farmer's Market Is Open Through October!

Downtown Ypsilanti Farmers Market
Tuesdays 2-6 pm
Corner of Michigan Ave & Hamilton in the Key Bank parking lot (#6 AATA bus)

Depot Town Ypsilanti Farmers Market
Saturdays 8 am- 3 pm
Wednesdays 10 am- 2 pm
Outside the Historic Freight House in Depot Town (#10 AATA bus)

Oh yeah, the proposed city income tax

Yes, I suppose at some point this blog will have to take some kind of controversial stand on the proposed city income tax for Ypsilanti.

*thinking*


*thinking*


*thinking*

OK, not only NO, but HELL NO. I'm not some anti-tax crusader or right wing idealogue but before saddling the RESIDENTS of Ypsilanti with one, why not place one on NON-RESIDENTS? I mean they would have no objections they could LEGALLY voice. There's no harbor or ships with tea they could vandalize to show their anger at taxation without representation.

It's a no brainer. Tax them, not Johnny and Johnny's people.

And while we're on football, Dammit EMU.....

Why do you INSIST on playing games at Ford Field? What's THAT crap? You HAVE a home field. You're supposed to TRY at least to build SOME kind of home field advantage but for whatever reason, EMU Athletic Director Derrick Gragg (And former EMU Atletic Director Dave Diles) insist on putting the only big game draws out at Ford Field. I mean NORTHWESTERN plays EMU this year here. Well not HERE here but THERE here.

Why in god's name would EMU forfeit this home game to Detroit? Sorry, that's CRAP. Way to pay back the few fans you have here in Ypsilanti and make them go to Detroit for the game? You did it with Central Michigan too. WHY? You disrespect the fans in Ypsilanti by doing this. Suppose, just suppose EMU beat Northwestern (and last years game was razor close) at Rynearson, how COOL would that have been? Guess we'll never know, Derrick Gragg and Dave Diles have a hard on for games at Ford Field. Your school is in Ypsilanti as is your fan base, STOP giving away home games and YES you are.

Wanna play a game at Ford Filed? Win the conference, I promise then you will play at Ford Field

Friday's High School football score roundup

Chelsea 26
Ypsilanti 14
I didn't see any of this game or the highlights but no doubt Chelsea used 13 players from time to time...

Willow Run 24
Warren Conner Creek 0
Willow Run breaks out the whipping stick right out of the box.

Livonia Stevenson 49
Lincoln 26
Games start at 7 guys, not 7:45.......

Well done MDOT, no REALLY

You couldn't have planned to gum up Washtenaw Avenue any better if you'd PLANNED to. Oh, wait, you retards DID plan it. I mean to close off lanes on the BUSIEST surface street in Washtenaw County JUST as all the students come back to town is a stroke of SHEER GENIUS.

You should ALL be so proud of yourselves.

/sarcasm

Welcome to the Ypsi City Desk

The home for, well shit you can read the title, you get it. If you have ANYTHING to share please feel free. Juicy innuendo and slander get top priority!