No Crying Over Spilled Milk

Fourth of July is known for fireworks, honoring our veterans and being thankful for the freedoms we have in the United States of America. But this Fourth of July I will remember for its spilled milk.
Jake and I covered a protest out in Cement City of a dairy farmer wanting citizens to understand the financial strife of all dairy farmers. He ended up dumping 1,300 gallons of raw milk down his driveway. At first us reporters at the Citizen Patriot were throwing out all kinds of milk puns, enough to make a middle school student unamused. But the more research done, proved it was a legit protest... to an extent.
A couple in New York started the idea. The amount of money dairy farmers are making versus the cost to produce the milk that you drink is extremely unbalanced. So maybe I don't agree with the farmers wasting their day's worth of product, but it got people's attention. The best quote in the story is “We feed our nation, and right now our farmers can’t feed themselves."



Check out the full story that includes a lot more detail. Go on. Do it!

All Is Well

My first major Sunday story at the Citizen Patriot was a pain in the butt. But I guess it makes sense given the subject — oil. And it's not the like the drilling of oil in the Gulf, so don't go flipping your lid until you read the story or do your own research. While being a journalist, I realized the major factor in people becoming upset is ignorance. I have learned way more than I ever thought I would have the oil process, especially on the smaller scale in Jackson County. The main wells or facilities are mostly on farmers' lands. And one of them told me something that made a lot of sense. "We're farmers. Why would we harm the land?" Sure, there are always going to be some companies that hurt the reputation. But some are just trying to run a business.
But one assumption that might be correct is in the right circumstances, some people can make some big bucks off the oil industry.

Read my story. Get educated.

Just Plane Fun

Sometimes there are perks to being an intern. You get the random assignments that don't really fit under anyone's beat. I worked on a preview story for the Battle Creek Field of Flight Air Show and Ballon Festival. Doesn't sound too interesting does it? How about if I added in the part that I was given the opportunity to go up in one of the air show planes? No it sounds awesome! Sure, it got the pilot a little more attention then the rest of those who were performing, but he offered...


Photos by Nick Dentamaro


Let me paint a picture for you. Imagine being on a 15-minute roller coaster. That's kind of how I felt. I tried to keep my cool, because there was a video camera on me at all times. At first the pilot took it easy, by doing a little roll, but then before you know it he's flying upside down for a solid couple of minutes. He thought it was funny. I, on the other hand, was gripping the bars with a death grip. We barrel-rolled around the plane that Nick rode in. At one point we did a hammer head maneuver. It's kind of like the Power Tower at Cedar Point only in a plane. The plane went straight up, leaving only a blue sky and the sun for me to see. Then it went straight down leaving only the ground. We did a couple of spins in a row and I had a hard time figuring out if I was upside down or right side up. It was nuts. Overall it was awesome! But I don't ever want to do it again. Thank goodness for motion sickness pills.

Check out the story, which includes a video. A portion of it you can see me spin. Enjoy!

A Hairy Situation

Odd stories make my days much more interesting. It gives me and the reporters around me lots to laugh at, and this story was definitely one of those. Sausage takes on whole new meaning for me, and soon you will find out why. I even have a grossed out expression on my face as I write this.
Usually when someone gets their hair cut, the hair usually gets thrown away or if it's enough hair it can be donated. Did you ever think about hair being used to clean up the BP spill in the Gulf? Hair is being put in nylons and used as hair booms to have the oil stick to it. It forms a hair sausage... yuck. Now picture hundreds of them stacked up. Double gross. They couldn't call it a hair boom or something less disgusting? Nope. I guess they are improvising. I will give them credit for that. If they help, great. But don't make touch one, please.
Oddly enough I found five salons and one pet grooming place in Jackson participating. There is a list on the website that shows you every place involved. Check it out. But really your first reaction will most likely be laughter followed by disgust once you see the pictures.

Here's my story...

Hair from local salons being sent to help clean up BP oil spill
By Sarah Schuch

Customers usually watch their hair fall to the ground after it’s cut and then it’s swept into the trash. Now, it could be heading for the Gulf of Mexico.

Salons all over the country are donating extra scraps of hair to an organization called Matter of Trust, which is making booms to help clean up the BP oil spill. The hair is stuffed into nylons and then covered by an orange mesh, creating a boom that floats in the water.

Five local hair salons and one pet grooming business are involved in the effort.
Annette Bartlett, owner of Jackson Hair and Nail Co., 1310 W. Michigan Ave., signed up to help six or seven weeks ago and has already sent four boxes of hair to help the cause.

“It’s a horrible thing that happened, so if it works why not (send it)?” she said.

Read the rest of the story here. You know you are intrigued!

World Changers

More than 23,000 students this summer will be fixing up houses all around the United States. I'm impressed. And the organization that puts it on came to Jackson. It was called World Changers, which seemed fitting. Students from age 12 to in their 20s were out and about Jackson for a week fixing 14 houses. They either painted or put on new roofs... for free.

Everyone always complains about all news is bad these days. I feel honored to prove those people wrong. There are people all the time doing great things to help make a difference, but they choose not to be recognized. It's called being humble. That's why as a journalist I get to make the decision for them and show the world that there are good people out there. Participating in mission trips before, I can appreciate what these students did. And they did with a smile and with no complaints. They paid $250 each to go to a different state for a week and fix up a house of someone they have never met. To me, this is what makes a cool story... and most of them had a strong accent so that made it even better.

I also took this opportunity to get a video under my belt. It's with the story on Mlive. Check it out!

World Changers volunteers from across the country fix up houses in Jackson
By Sarah Schuch

Felicity Adkins, 20, was up early Wednesday morning working on the roof of a house whose owner she had never met before this week.

And she did it for free. In fact, she paid money to do it.

"It shows teenagers are willing to spend a portion of their summer to come help other people," said Adkins, an Alabama resident. "Your sleep is a little deprived throughout the week. … It's very worth it."

More than 170 students are in Jackson this week with hammers and paint brushes in hand. They are part of World Changers, a ministry of the North American Mission Board, which sends thousands of students around the United States to work on home projects for a week at a time in different locations.

Check out the rest of the story AND VIDEO on Mlive!

Gentlemen Start Your Engines

NASCAR. Yup. NASCAR



I had the great opportunity to be the NASCAR summer reporter for the Jackson Citizen Patriot. I didn't cover the race itself, but the people and some news angles. I witnessed a lot of different characters during the weekend from the workers, to the president of MIS, to hicks barely wearing any clothes, to sports reporters.



I had the opportunity to sit in the press box during the race and feel like a sports reporter. You know what I learned? They have it easy. Someone teach me about sports so I can get this kind of treatment more : ) But I will say one thing... I have a new respect for NASCAR, although I still didn't really watch the race too much. But I did learn more about the racers and the sport itself.

Oh and did I mention I met Adam Sandler and Kevin James?!



I worked a lot on my stories during the week and Friday and Sunday when I was at Michigan International Speedway. I met a lot of fans and learned their stories. Fans are what makes NASCAR what it is. They all have a story to tell.

Enjoy the stories!

Some fans upset about the new smoking ban at MIS

MIS President expects track to keep two races a year

Some campers at Michigan International Speedway are just there for the party

Grand Rapids couple continues to come to Michigan International Speedway, the site of their first date

Race noise adds to the experience at Michigan International Speedway

So after walking up way too many stairs, being stared at and hit on by creepy drunk men and leaving with ringing ears I am still really excited for Round 2 in August!!

Her wheelchair is like her shoes

It makes me really enjoy being a journalist when I get the opportunity to work on a story that makes readers aware of unfair situations. Shayna is 16 years old. She has Cerebral Palsy and in August went through an eight and half hour surgery to straighten her spine. Soon after, the family started a process to get her a wheelchair through Medicaid that would better support her new back. After nine months the family still had not received the chair.
I had the opportunity to spend some time with the family, and I would have never guessed Shayna was not a normal 16-year-old girl. The family was full of spirit and full of laughs. It was great to see that.
The story made a cool front page package.


Check out the full story here.