Detroit, MI

Detroit Lakes High School Class of 2024 graduates

Published

8 months ago

May 25, 2024

Press Room

DETROIT LAKES

— The Detroit Lakes High School Class of 2024 graduated with much fanfare on Friday, May 24.

After being welcomed into the Lakeshirts Fieldhouse by the DLHS Band playing “Pomp and Circumstance,” a total of 228 seniors received their diplomas from Detroit Lakes School Board Chairman John Steffl, after which High School Principal Joshua Omang turned their tassels from the left to the right side of their mortarboards.

But in between the processional and the disbursement of diplomas, the seniors heard remarks from classmates Ava Morrison, Josef Nemec and Brayden Sjoblom, as well as Omang and DLHS social studies teacher Kalen Malchow.

The messages ranged from somewhat serious to unabashedly humorous.

Detroit Lakes High School graduating seniors marched into the Lakeshirts Fieldhouse one by one on Friday, May 24, 2024, to the tune of “Pomp of Circumstance.”

Vicki Gerdes / Detroit Lakes Tribune

“We finally made it,” said Morrison. “The past 13 years of our lives have led us to this moment. … As we look into our futures, I know a lot of us, including myself, may be a little bit scared to take the next big leap …”

Morrison concluded her presentation with a quote from Stephen Hawking: “Intelligence is the ability to adapt to change. … Don’t live your life in one spot because you’re afraid to adapt to change. We’ve been adapting for 13 years. So don’t forget to keep taking steps, big or small, even if it’s slowly. Just keep moving. Embrace the little things and dream big.”

Nemec, who said that he hadn’t even told his parents he would be speaking at the ceremony, described himself as “not your typical speaker,” and illustrated that by noting, “Congratulations, we finally made it. Especially considering, just last month, one out of four students among us had a failing grade.”

As the chuckles died down, he continued on a more serious note, “As we embark on the next chapter of our lives, let’s embrace the unknown, with courage and confidence. Let’s dare to dream big, and aspire to achieve greatness in whatever path we choose to pursue.”

After giving “shout outs” to his family and others who had contributed to his path toward graduation, Sjoblom started his presentation out with a confession that he hadn’t told very many people before, noting, “I’m afraid of the dark.”

More specifically, he added, “I’m afraid of what could be in the dark,” and noted that he felt this fear of the dark “applies to a lot of us. We’re going out into the completely unknown.”

DLHS graduation diplomas.JPG — Detroit Lakes High School seniors from Davin Abraham to Charlie Zok took turns walking the stage to receive their diplomas at the Lakeshirts Fieldhouse on Friday, May 24, 2024. A total of 128 seniors received their diplomas during the two-hour ceremony.

Sjoblom added that he felt his fellow graduates had the ability to overcome that fear. “Any challenge, any darkness … don’t fear what could happen. Just take a look at yourself and say, you’ve faced worse, and you will be able to overcome whatever happens.”

Malchow entertained the seniors with some humorous predictions for their future, and left them with the following advice: “Stick together; be there for each other. No. 2, get a job… and laugh every day.”

Omang expressed his pride in this graduating class and left them with some parting advice: “Nobody gets anywhere by themself. Say thank you to the people who help you get where you want to go. Don’t forget them.”

In between these presentations, the audience was treated to performances from the DLHS Concert Choir, Concert Band and Laker Singers, who performed selections including “Omnia Sol,” “How to Train Your Dragon,” and “What Was I Made For,” respectively.

A reporter at Detroit Lakes Newspapers since relocating to the community in October 2000, Vicki was promoted to Community News Lead for the Detroit Lakes Tribune and Perham Focus on Jan. 1, 2022. She has covered pretty much every “beat” that a reporter can be assigned, from county board and city council to entertainment, crime and even sports. Born and raised in Madelia, Minnesota, she is a graduate of Hamline University, from which she earned a bachelor’s degree in English literature (writing concentration). You can reach her at 218-844-1454 or vgerdes@dlnewspapers.com.

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Detroit, MI

Michigan native’s home in California destroyed in wildfire

Published

2 hours ago

January 10, 2025

Press Room

Michigan native’s home in California destroyed in wildfire – CBS Detroit

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As fires continue to burn across Los Angeles, the recovery process is beginning for some. One pastor lost everything to the flames, and now Michigan is stepping in to help.

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Detroit, MI

Detroit Tigers avoid arbitration with all nine eligible players for $26.76 million in 2025

Published

10 hours ago

January 9, 2025

Press Room

Detroit Tigers avoid arbitration with all nine eligible players for .76 million in 2025

The Detroit Tigers agreed to terms with all nine of their arbitration eligible players.

Their salaries are locked in for the 2025 season.

Seven players signed one-year contracts before MLB’s deadline Thursday to avoid arbitration: left-hander Tarik Skubal, right-handed reliever Jason Foley, outfielder Matt Vierling, catcher Jake Rogers, right-hander Casey Mize, right-handed reliever Will Vest and right-handed reliever Beau Brieske.

The Tigers already agreed to terms in late November with two additional arbitration eligible players: infielder/outfielder Zach McKinstry at $1.65 million and infielder Andy Ibáñez at $1.4 million.

Teams and arbitration-eligible players were required agree to salary figures by 1 p.m. Thursday. For those who didn’t reach an agreement, there was another deadline at 8 p.m. Thursday to exchange salary figures in preparation for an arbitration hearing to be scheduled within the next month. During the hearing, a panel of arbitrators selects either the team’s proposed salary or the player’s proposed salary.

The Tigers, under president of baseball operations Scott Harris, operate as a “file-and-trial” club, which means there would have been no further negotiations on one-year contracts after Thursday’s salary-exchange deadline.

However, the Tigers and their players will avoid arbitration hearings altogether in 2025, as all parties agreed to terms, extending the Tigers’ streak without an arbitration hearing to six years.

The most notable news from Thursday’s deadline: Skubal — the 2024 American League Cy Young winner who previously turned down a contract extension offer — settled with the Tigers at a $10.15 million salary for 2025, earning a $7.5 million raise from his $2.65 million salary in 2024.

Skubal, 28, will be eligible for salary arbitration for the third and final time after the 2025 season. He is scheduled to become a free agent after the 2026 season.

Aside from Skubal’s raise, Rogers settled at $2.64 million — up from $1.7 million last year — in his second year of arbitration and Mize settled at $2.34 million — up from $830,000 last season — in his second year of arbitration. Both Rogers and Mize, like Skubal, are set to reach free agency after the 2026 campaign.

The other six eligible players are in their first year of salary arbitration: Foley at $3.15 million, Vierling at $3.005 million, McKinstry at $1.65 million, Vest at $1.4 million, Ibáñez at $1.4 million and Brieske at $1.025 million.

Players must have at least three years of service time — or qualify for Super Two status — to be eligible for salary arbitration, then players become free agents after six years of service time. Therefore, most players are arbitration-eligible for a total of three years, but a Super Two qualifier — such as Ibáñez and Brieske — receives four years of arbitration eligibility.

In 2025, the Tigers will pay $26.76 million to nine arbitration-eligible players.

Here’s the full breakdown, listed in order of salary: Skubal ($10.15 million), Foley ($3.15 million), Vierling ($3.005 million), Rogers ($2.64 million), Mize ($2.34 million), McKinstry ($1.65 million), Vest ($1.4 million), Ibáñez ($1.4 million), Brieske ($1.025 million).

The Tigers are also on the hook for another $68.5 million to five players on free agent or longterm deals: SS Javier Báez ($25 million), RHP Alex Cobb ($15 million), 2B Gleyber Torres ($15 million), RHP Kenta Maeda ($10 million) and 1B Colt Keith ($3.5 million). The remainder of the Tigers’ 26-man roster, including players such as DH Kerry Carpenter and RHP Reese Olson, will make the league-minimum salary, set for $760,000 in 2025.

[ MUST LISTEN: Make “Days of Roar” your go-to Detroit Tigers podcast, available anywhere you listen to podcasts (Apple,Spotify) ]

For now, Skubal is the fourth-highest paid player on the Tigers’ roster in 2025, trailing only Báez, Cobb and Torres. Keith, who signed a contract extension before his MLB debut, checks in at sixth on the leaderboard.

Skubal made the All-Star Game for the first time in his five-year MLB career en route to winning the Cy Young in 2024, posting an 18-4 record with a 2.39 ERA, 35 walks and 228 strikeouts across 192 innings in 31 starts. He led the AL in wins, ERA and strikeouts to secure the first AL pitching Triple Crown in a full season since 2011.

When next offseason rolls around, Skubal is all but guaranteed to surpass $15 million (and could reach $20 million) for his 2026 salary in his third and final trip through the arbitration process before free agency.

The Tigers haven’t had an arbitration hearing with a player since Michael Fulmer in 2019, with Fulmer losing to the Tigers. Before Fulmer’s case, there hadn’t been an arbitration hearing involving the Tigers since 2001.

Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him @EvanPetzold.

Listen to our weekly Tigers show “Days of Roar” every Monday afternoon on demand at freep.com, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts. And catch all of our podcasts and daily voice briefing at freep.com/podcasts.

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Detroit, MI

Detroit Police officers authorized to wear Lions hats during NFL playoffs

Published

18 hours ago

January 9, 2025

Press Room

Detroit Police officers authorized to wear Lions hats during NFL playoffs

Detroit Lions fans come together to celebrate historic victory

02:08

(CBS DETROIT) – Detroit Lions hats are now temporarily part of the Detroit Police Department’s attire.

Chief Todd A. Bettison announced Wednesday that officers can wear either a Detroit Lions skullcap or ballcap when they are in uniform. It’s just one of the ways that community leaders and fans are showing support for the Lions as the NFL playoffs continue.

Detroit Police Department

“Congratulations to the Lions on their historic season! Go Lions!!” the department’s Facebook post said.

The Lions took a 31-9 win over the Minnesota Vikings Sunday, which gave them home-field advantage and the top seed in the NFC playoffs. The team currently has a bye week for the divisional round during the weekend of Jan. 18.

The Super Bowl is on Feb. 9.

On Monday, Oakland County Sheriff Mike Bouchard authorized his staff to wear Lions baseball caps and beanies through the playoff run. The Spirit of Detroit statue also has been attired in a Honolulu blue Lions jersey.

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