THE LATEST TOP HEADLINES

---

ARGENTINE TOWNSHIP SUPERVISOR: 

Township Supervisor Brian Saad not running for reelection, multiple candidates threw their hat in the ring to be elected to the position.

 In the Republican primary race for the next Argentine Township supervisor on Aug. 6, two people Jason Kosofsky and Mark Boyce received 334 votes. Former supervisor Robert Cole received the most votes at 338, only four p

 23 years, from 1988-1995, 1996-2000, and 2004-2016. “He has faithfully carried out duties of that office to the best of his abilities…Bob loves Argentine Township with his whole heart and truly cares about the community and the people in it,” the resolutions reads. State Rep. Joe Graves attended the meeting and honored Cole for his work. “I had the honor to serve with Bob for four years when I was the clerk from 2004 to 2008. “It is with great honor and personal privilege to join with well-wishers and the entire Argentine Township community in saluting Bob Cole as he is most deservedly recognized for his years of dedicated public service,” Graves said. 

PHOTO CAPTION: Pictured above is Foutch Baseball's 12u Black travel ballclub after playing in a tournament on the sacred groudns of the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York. Roger Foutch's grandson (Kayden Kolesar) is one of the team members. Others on the team include Broc Ankley, Brody Bridgett, Evan Eicher, Jaxon Hadaway, Rocco Henry, Liam Holt, Dallas Larson, Alexander Leclaire, Liam Maser, Grayson Ward and Liam Yelle. The team was coached by 22-year-old John Miller. (See Related Story in Today's Local Youth Sports section of Sports in The Daily Gazette)

BY MIKE KILLBREATH

CCN Executive Editor

 (CCN) — This past weekend in Owosso, Foutch Baseball sponsor Roger Foutch's youngest team of 6-year-olds and 7-year-olds provided one of his biggest thrills in a long local career.

They finished off a season of vast improvement by beating older, more experienced boys to win an 8u tournament.

"I never thought that would happen," Fenton resident Foutch joked before parents urged their sponsor to join in the post-game team photograph.

He arrived in time to enjoy some of the action to watch his youngest grandson — Gavin Foutch. He was away earlier in the weekend to watch his older grandson (Kayden Kolesar) with the Foutch 12u Black travel ball team in Cooperstown, New York at a tournament on the sacred grounds of baseball's Hall of Fame.

They won it all there and Roger's daughter, Amanda Foutch Kolesar, noted how satisfying it was for her family to spend the weekend with her dad, saying she was "so happy my father was able to make the trip to Cooperstown All Star Village and share this wonderful baseball experience with our family! He truly enjoyed watching these boys excel this week!" 

Roger sponsored 21 travel teams this summer in youth baseball for boys and youth softball for girls, out of his Foutch Strike Zone training facility next door to his Foutch's Pub at the corner of Linden Road and Corunna Road in Flint Township.

Roger had a dream several years ago to rebuild baseball in Genesee County. He brought back Connie Mack baseball for 18-&-under talent and formed a 15u team.

The 15u team eventually that first year became the first Flint area team to ever reach the AABC World Series in Texas for that age bracket under the leadership of Walt Head.

Head had just finished a 32-year career at Saginaw Valley State.

Who better to help jumpstart Roger's dream to rebuild baseball? Head led the old Carpets by Smith club to the area's only 18-&-under Connie Mack national title in Farmington, New Mexico. He won it all in 1974 with the likes of future big league stars Rick Leach and Larry Sorenson with two others who would go on to prominent college coaching careers  — Ted Mahan and Steve Jaksa.

Mahan was an assistant coach with the Michigan Wolverines before a 10-year stint as Head Coach at Michigan State. Jaksa was Head Coach for 17 years at Central Michigan before replacing Head at Saginaw Valley State.

.It's the kind of baseball tradition Roger set out to regain from day one at his initial press conference at Foutch's Strike Zone to reveal his plan to bebuild baseball.

"Our area has such a rich tradition," he said that first day. "Just look at the wall behind us of all the pictures of stars who came out of this area. I want to see that happen again. I don't want kids paying all kinds of money and traveling down to Oakland County and Detroit to play travel ball. I believe we can build a great program right here and it doesn't have to cost all kinds of big money like some of our parents are forced to spend today, if their kid have talent."

His indoor training facility is now filled with his former star players, mixed with ex-big league stars and former minor league players.

"My goal is to put together a staff to teach the game the right way and build a program hopefully some day with teams at every level," he told his audience at the press conference announcement. 

Old baseball stars from yesteryear showed up. Flint Township's Supervisor (Karyn Miller) said a few words.

She would later give Roger a key to the township in honor of the area's first ever appearance in the 15u AABC World Series.

Roger paid the way for everyone.

It's the kind of reputation he has developed as one of the best sponsors ever in local amateur baseball circles.

"I sponsored lots of teams and we were first class in Connie Mack ball, including kids who went on to play in the big leagues like Jeff Hamilton and Jim Abbott," said Bob Centilli, now 90 and retired from the game after easily sponsoring more teams than anybody in the area's youngest ranks.

"It was good advertising to put Centilli Cement on shirts and I had a deal with Lanny Valentine at the old Mullin's Sporting Goods," Centilli recalled. "If any team couldn't find a sponsor, I told Lanny to slap t-shirts and caps on them as Centilli Cement. God bless Roger for what he does though. That's not for a little advertising — that's giving back, big time."

Roger dresses all his travel ball teams at every level like big league teams.

They have multiple uniforms with different colors, matching bags and big league arrivals to out-of-town parks as opponents mumble about how unbeatable his young teams seem.

He and Foutch's Strike Zone General Manager Dave Dohrman recruit the best possible coaches for their travel ball teams, too.

The Foutch Baseball reputation is growing around the state, especially at the lower levels.

This year's Foutch Baseball 8u Red team won 50 games in a row before their first loss. The Foutch 9u Red team is 52-10 with one tournament to go, and won the 10u AA USSSA state championship. (See Related Story in Today's Local Youth Sports section of Sports in The Daily Gazette)

The Foutch Baseball 9u Red team won a state title in 8u travel ball last summer when ranked No. 1 in the entire nation.

Is it a sign of national championships to come as all the young Foutch Baseball players take aim at the ultimate goal of becoming Flint's second ever Connie Mack national champion?

Roger knows a thing or two about winning it all. Twice his old Halo-Foutch teams in the City Baseball-West won AABC national championships in the adult bracket — one with son Brad Foutch who leads the 8u Black team of what Roger calls his "rookie team" and one with Mike Gates who is on the coaching staff of Roger's state champion Foutch Baseball 9u Red club.

Gates has a son, Beckett, who is batting near .400 this year. Brad Foutch's son Gavin finished up with a sparkling .724 batting average.

Roger's prep career at Atherton and CBL-West playing career was memorable, but he's best known for his coaching in addition to being one of the best baseball sponsors in local history. He led prep baseball and basketball teams at Atherton, Lake Fenton and Grand Blanc in addition to 32 years as the winningest coach in CBL-West history. His nearly 1,000 victories,  21 CBL-West titles including 16 straight at one point,  earned him a place in the Greater Flint Sports Hall of Fame.

Maybe a couple of his grandsons will someday join  him there. They're off to great starts!

PHOTO CAPTION: Roger Foutch poses above at Foutch's Strike Zone with son Brad and grandsons Gavin and Jack. Click on each of the photos in the collage below to read the captions.

 PHOTO CAPTION: Pictured above is Foutch Baseball's 8u Black travel ballclub after winning a tournament in Owosso. Roger Foutch's grandson (Gavin Foutch) was one of the team's stars. In the back row (from left) are Assistant Coach, Assistant Coach Matt DuPrey, sponsor Roger Foutch, Assistant Coach Mark McKinnon and Head Coach Brad Foutch. Players kneeling in front of them are Conner Duffy, Lukas Buelter, Loklan Freeman, Collin McKinnon, Gavin Foutch, Nolan Hatchew, WIlliams DuPrey, Chase Williams, Brock Beckley and Preston Guevara. (See Related Story in Today's Local Youth Sports section of Sports in The Daily Gazette)

(CCN) —A violent homicide is being investigated in Fenton Township that killed a 33-year-old man who lived in an apartment near Thompson Road and Jennings Road.

The incident happened at about 3 pm on Saturday (July 6, 2024).

A  Michigan State Police Crime Lab was still on the scene Saturday night and Sheriff Swanson confirmed for WJRT ABC TV 12 that there were reports in the area of gun shots.

It's the first homicide case of 2024 in Fenton Township.

Authorities were searching for a newer model orange Chevrolet Camaro in connection with the investigation and Sheriff Swanson has asked anyone with information to contact the Genesee County Sheriff's Department.

(CCN) — Fenton City Councilman Scott Grossmeyer was honored as Grand Marshal for this year’s Freedom Festival during a reception Tuesday (July 2, 2024) at the Fenton Community & Cultural Center. 

The Freedom Festival parade through the streets of the City of Fenton will be on the 4th of July.

 "What an amazing night celebrating my dear friend," said Will Stiverson in a Facebook post about Councilman Grossmeyer.

"Scott is one of the reasons I have loved serving Fenton," Stiverson added. "He literally helps with everything and very rarely says no in offering a helping hand!  For those of you who have asked me about different things in the city or had a challenge that needed to be addressed, Scott was normally who I went to serving on the Fenton City Council.  We need more people like Scott in this world.  Kind, caring and humble.  I am blessed and grateful because you’re in my life Scott.  May your new journey be blessed and time with your family savored!"

PHOTO CAPTION: Pictured above this story is involved Fenton community member WIll Stiverson with Fenton City Councilman Scott Grossmeyer who was honored at a reception as Grand Marshal of the 2024 Freedom Festival. The photo was posted on Stiverson's Facebook Page.

(CCN) — A former football national champion who played in the Super Bowl with the New York Giants will be signing autographs on July 27 at Fenton's B&D  Sportand Memorabilia 

Andre Weathers will be on hand to take photos and sign autographs from 2-4 pm.

B&D is located at 1122 N Leroy Street.

Weathers was a defensive back for the Michigan Wolverines when they won the 1997 national title.

Weathers went to the old Flint Central High School and is a member of the Greater Flint Sports Hall of Fame.

He has been a varsity football coach in Genesee County at Bentley High in Burton and at Flint Southwestern High School for the Jaguars. Weathers was announced last week by Mt. Morris Athletic  Director Jeff Kline to become the new head coach for his school's football program. (See Related Story in Today's Prep Sports Section of the Sports Section in The Daily Gazette)

(CCN) — State Rep. Mike Mueller of Linden released a statement to the Tri-County News about the passing of a former colleague in Genesee County's delegation in Lansing.

Rep. Mueller reflected on memories of Tim Sneller who spent more than 40 years in Lansing as a legislative aide, Chief of Staff and member of the State House of Representatives. (See Related Story  in Today's Metro Section of The Daily Gazette)

The statement by Rep. Mueller said: "We all lost a friend with the passing of Tim Sneller. The first time I met Tim was the day all new legislators got sworn in. We got seated on the house floor by district numbers, not by party affiliation. Being from Genesee County, the delegations districts were numerically close. My father, who was a former rep in the 70’s and 80’s, attended the ceremony. We were seated by newly elected representative John Cherry, whose father served with my father ( Tim was his staff). Tim Sneller was also seated by us and said, 'Nice to see you Representative' — not to me but my dad. My dad’s response was, 'You're still here!!!' Our relationship built from there and I am grateful for his friendship and the friendships he created. Rest easy my friend. "

PHOTO CAPTION: Pictured above this story is a photo shared by Rep. Mike Mueller (in front at left). In the rear at left is then State Rep. Tim Sneller who passed away on Friday (July 12, 2024).

(CCN) — The Tri-County Times reported that a 94-year-old woman from Swartz Creek was killed in an Argentine Township car crash on Wednesday (July 10, 2024).

The newspaper reported in its onlin edition that the woman's 70-year-old daughter from Swartz Creek is hospitalized in critical condition.

The report said a 46-year-old Byron man sustained non-life threatening injuries when also injured in the crash.

Tri-County News began as a print publication in 1957. It was purchased by Tri-County Publishing in 1992 and became a 6-day daily newspaper with 5 Sunday weekly editions — Fenton Press, Linden Press, Holly Press, Hartland-Highland Press and Grand Blanc Press. Print editions eventually ceased and this online edition is now owned by Tri-County Publishing LLC and operated by FAME Newspapers which is a division of Crusader Communications Network Inc. ("CCN").

 We produce 4-7 page web sites for a basic fee if you provide the words, graphics and the photos or videos. We also offer creative services to assist with the project. We have a quarter century of experience helping customers present the best possible advertising messages! We know how to help you sell your products and services after decades of experience in newspaper advertising, broadcast advertising, etc. Call (810) 347-9803.