Monday Morning Michigan Musings
Andrew Norton
I thought it would be nice to get a new week off to a start by reviewing the past weekend here in Michigan. In the world of sports we saw the Tigers come back to split a four game series with the Orioles and the Red Wings take the first two games in the Stanley Cup Finals. Pittsburgh columnist, Gene Collier, has dubbed Michigan (namely Muskegon) native, Justin Abdelkader, The Magical Michigander after he scored a goal in both games. Speaking of the Stanley Cup playoffs - it was great to see a couple of the Pure Michigan advertisements during the game. What a great idea to showcase Michigan with the home-state Red Wings playing - I hope it was a commercial for the national broadcast and not just our local station (based out of northern Indiana).
Meanwhile, the price of gas has magically jumped in Michigan to around $2.75 over the weekend. While it has backed off a few cents as of this morning, I wouldn't be surprised to see it hover over $3 a gallon before too long and stay that way through the Labor Day weekend. It's still cheaper than what we were paying last summer, but there are more folks without jobs or with reduced wages than at this time last year which makes it just as difficult or more so than last summer.
GM is perched on the precipice of bankruptcy and will in all likelihood announce their bankruptcy at some point today. The rest of Michigan awaits the announcement with baited breath as this will have a huge trickle down affect.
On a better note, it was a beautiful weekend across much of the state and a number of summer concerts and festivals were held. There was the 2nd Annual Ribfest and Krusin' Klassics Fun Run in Escanaba, our local town of Constantine held a concert in the park along with a downtown art hop, and most schools across the state held their graduations over the weekend.
Good luck to the graduates and to the rest of you - have a Great Week!