Things that make you go "Hmmmm": Epic Lutheran Church (Utica) will conduct a series of Star Wars-themed sermons. Hmmmm.

GM, Ford Rated High-Risk
The Detroit News reports that after Standard & Poor's flagged the debt-rating of General Motors and Ford as high-risk, the State of Michigan can no longer buy bonds or commercial paper from the companies. Michigan will still consider buying GM and Ford stock for pension funds.

Curtain Call at Lansing Car Assembly Factory
The Lansing State Journal has a feature on the closing of General Motors' Lansing Car Assembly Verlinden Avenue plant. At about 9 PM last night, the plant's final car body (a Pontiac Grand Am) came out of the plant. The facility was purchased by GM in 1935 and was known as Lansing Fisher Body, the Buick-Oldsmobile-Cadillac plant and Lansing Car Assembly in later years.

Mt. Clemens Regulars - an Old, Old School Ballclub
The Detroit Free Press has a feature on the Mt. Clemens Regulars, part of an international collection of baseball teams that celebrate the early uniforms, rules and traditions of baseball in spring and summer games before small crowds. The team moved from Sterling Heights and changed their name from the Upton Base Ball Club as the Regulars were an actual 1860s group that played in Mt. Clemens.

Lake Michigan Salmon Fishing Good
The Muskegon Chronicle reports that early May is usually when salmon action picks up on Lake Michigan and that 2005 is no exception. Anglers are reporting catches of king salmon (many 15-16 pounds) off Grand Haven, Mona Lake and a few near Muskegon Lake. Coho, lake trout and a few steelhead have been reported as well.

100 Years of Automobiles Celebrates MDOT's Centennial
The St. Ignace News reports that plans are moving forward for Michigan Department of Transportation's 100 year celebration that will take place in St. Ignace over the Labor Day holiday weekend with a "100 years of automobiles" event, a historical exhibit, a fireworks display, and the unveiling of a historical marker, concluding with the 48th annual Mackinac Bridge Walk September 5.

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