Michigan
Central Asphalt, Inc. celebrates 40 Years of paving mid Michigan
Central Asphalt, Inc. is celebrating its Fortieth anniversary as a pacesetter in sizzling combine asphalt manufacturing and paving within the Mid-Michigan space.
The household owned and operated firm was based in 1982, and is presently headquartered in Mount Nice.
Beginnings of Central Asphalt
Earlier than Central Asphalt was based, there was The Hicks Firm of Alma.
Following World Battle II, The Hicks Firm flourished as an asphalt paving firm within the space, primarily working transportable asphalt vegetation all through the state of Michigan. Fisher Sand & Gravel, which is at current a sister-company to Central Asphalt, was a significant provider of aggregates to The Hicks Firm to be used of their asphalt vegetation.
On the time, Jim Fisher oversaw Fisher Sand & Gravel’s aggregate-supplying exercise to The Hicks Firm. He would find a supply of gravel in an space the place important paving initiatives have been being carried out.
In flip, The Hicks Firm would set-up an asphalt plant at that very same location to supply the asphalt combine and carry out the paving work whereas using the aggregates supplied by Fisher Sand & Gravel.
In 1972, earlier than the founding of Central Asphalt, The Hicks Firm labored primarily with Bud Fisher to rearrange a lease on Fisher-owned property.
This property was an outdated gravel pit, situated subsequent to the Mount Nice Central Concrete Plant, that might function the situation for The Hicks Firm to set-up and function a everlasting asphalt plant. Presently, that is the location the place Central Asphalt operates at this time.
The Hicks Firm made the choice to promote their Mount Nice plant operation in 1982, with a request to the Fisher Brothers to increase the land lease to a brand new proprietor.
By means of a coordinated effort between Bud Fisher and Vance Johnson, who was a Hicks Firm Worker on the time, a call was made by the three Fisher Brothers to buy the asphalt plant and add it to the suite of Fisher Firm operations, moderately than prolong the lease to a different outdoors firm.
This was the start of Central Asphalt.
Central Asphalt’s First 12 months of Operations
As a part of the acquisition settlement, Johnson was launched from working at The Hicks Firm and given a brand new position at Central Asphalt managing the asphalt plant and paving operations.
Fisher was the primary President of Central Asphalt, with Johnson serving as Vice President of Operations.
Jack Younger was then employed as Common Superintendent, with Mary Montini later becoming a member of the crew, as Central Asphalt’s very first crew of 9 workers was shaped. On the time, this was sufficient workers to function one paving crew and the asphalt plant.
Central Asphalt was pre-qualified with the Michigan Division of Transportation (MDOT) inside the first 30 days of operation. The goal market was, and continues to be, any job that concerned the manufacturing and set up of sizzling combine asphalt – whether or not or not it’s MDOT, metropolis/county, industrial, or non-public work.
Central Asphalt Right now
By means of the years, Central Asphalt has grown to function three paving crews, one miscellaneous crew, and two high-quality graders.
As of the 2022 season, the corporate has 42 workers, and at occasions has employed greater than 50 people.
The asphalt plant itself has been both changed or rebuilt a complete of three occasions for the reason that begin of the corporate, in order to stay on the forefront of the asphalt paving business. The newest rebuild being in 2021.
Central Asphalt has obtained main awards for accomplished initiatives, together with an award for the reconstruction of the Mount Nice Airport, awards for the widening and reconstruction of M-20 (between Mount Nice and Midland), and awards for a design-build mission on M-115 beneath a Federal Program referred to as “Highways for Life”, amongst many different annual awards.
For extra data, go to centralasphalt.com/put up/Fortieth-anniversary.
Michigan
Michigan basketball signee enrolls early, will practice with team
A member of the Michigan men’s basketball 2025 recruiting class is already on campus.
Oscar Goodman, a 6-foot-7 forward from New Zealand, is enrolled for the winter semester, which started on Wednesday, a team spokesperson said. Goodman will not appear in games this season but will be allowed to practice and participate in other team activities.
The spokesperson said this was not a typical “reclassification” — when an athlete graduates early and competes in college a season ahead of a typical schedule — but a byproduct of New Zealand’s school calendar.
Goodman will be listed as a freshman on the roster (he wasn’t listed on the online version as of Thursday morning) and a redshirt freshman next season. The rest of the Wolverines returned to campus on Wednesday after a week-long stay in Los Angeles, where they beat USC and UCLA.
“Oscar arrives in Ann Arbor as an accomplished international player and prospect, who was just named to the New Zealand senior national team,” Michigan coach Dusty May said in a statement upon Goodman’s signing in November.
“He comes from a tight-knit family that values everything that we want our program to be about. His training at the NBA (Global) Academy, as well as his eagerness and ability to compete, will allow him to affect our program positively from day one.”
Goodman, from Opunake, is ranked as the No. 75 player in the 2025 class according to the 247Sports composite. He was an all-star at the 2024 FIBA under-17 World Cup after averaging 17 points, 6.3 rebounds, and three assists per game.
Michigan’s 2025 class also includes Orchard Lake St. Mary’s guard Trey McKenney, the No. 1 player in Michigan and No. 19 prospect nationally, and wing Winters Grady (No. 82), an Oregon native currently playing for Prolific Prep in Napa, California. They figure to arrive in Ann Arbor in the summer.
- BETTING: Check out our guide to the best Michigan sportsbooks, where our team of sports betting experts has reviewed the experience, payout speed, parlay options and quality of odds for multiple sportsbooks.
Michigan
Arrest made in disappearance of Michigan mother
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Michigan
How bird flu is impacting poultry farms in Michigan
Michigan officials say two more instances of bird flu have been confirmed at commercial poultry farms in Ottawa County.
“We’ve seen six commercial organizations confirmed positive with highly pathogenic avian influenza in the past few weeks, two since the start of the year,” said Dr. Tim Boring, Director of the Michigan Dept of Agriculture and Rural Development.
A multi-layered approach is underway to limit the spread.
That includes a disinfection process, robust surveillance, and heightened surveillance at neighboring poultry facilities.
But it’s not just commercial facilities that have seen cases of the virus.
Within the past couple of weeks, bird flu was confirmed in a backyard flock in Jackson County.
He has this advice for anyone keeping poultry in their yard.
“Isolating your birds from wild birds they may be exposed to, making sure they stay in a coup, if possible, locked up at night, segregating food and water system from wild birds,” Dr. Boring.
Handwashing after handling birds is important, too.
The outbreak here in Michigan mirrors what’s happening elsewhere across the country.
Nearly 100 commercial livestock operations have been impacted, affecting more than 17 million birds.
More than 60 people have become infected nationwide, with one reported death associated with the virus this week.
If there is any good news, it’s that the outbreak shouldn’t have an impact on the food supply.
“Food system is safe, pasteurizing is an effective step to kill the virus and any dairy products here, make sure you wash your eggs and cook your meat,” Dr. Boring.
If you keep poultry and notice a sick animal, your first call should be to a vet or the MDARD directly at 1-800-292-3939.
You should also use PPE when handling the animal and wash your hands well. As for any wild backyard bird visitors, Dr. Boring says it shouldn’t be cause for concern; however, if you do notice a sick bird, give the DNR’s Wildlife Disease Laboratory a call at 517-336-5030.
Click here to find more information about the outbreak.
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