State Roundup

Kent Plans would rebuild church destroyed by fire KENTWOOD, Mich. (AP) -- Religious leaders say they plan to rebuild a Catholic church in West Michigan that was destroyed by fire over the weekend. MLive.com reports the cause of Sunday morning's fire at St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church was under investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms. A crucifix used on Good Friday was pulled from the debris by firefighters. Grand Rapids Diocese Bishop Walter Hurley watched the flames eat the church building and was allowed briefly inside by authorities on Sunday afternoon. He says the pews were "practically all gone," a piano was heavily damaged and ceiling beams were charred but somewhat intact. Officials say the fire started on the church's roof. A passing police officer noticed the smoke and alerted fire crews. Detroit Zombies in Detroit? Live-action game zone floated DETROIT (AP) -- A man is floating an idea to use some vacant property in Detroit for a live-action game zone where players would try to stay ahead of a growing zombie horde. Marc Siwak of Clawson tells WWJ-AM for a story Monday he's calling the idea "Z World Detroit." He says he envisions a structured game using old buildings where "professional zombies" would get the game going. It currently lacks funding or permission. A spokeswoman for Detroit's mayor declined to comment Monday to The Associated Press. Detroit is working on land use planning following decades of population decline that's left some areas with fewer occupied homes than vacant ones. The city is focusing in part on plans make neighborhoods more viable, keep residents, attract new ones and re-energize the economy. Trenton Detroit River refuge plans dock, fishing pier TRENTON, Mich. (AP) -- A new dock for use by school groups and a public fishing pier are envisioned as part of a hub for environmental education and outdoor recreation at the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge, organizers announced Monday. The dock and pier are part of a $2.8 million project at the Refuge Gateway, which is located next to the refuge's 410-acre Humbug Marsh unit. Canadian railroad operator CN is contributing $200,000 for construction of the dock and pier at the former industrial site in the Detroit suburb of Trenton. "CN is honored to be part of this ... project that showcases sustainable redevelopment of a brownfield site," John Orr, vice president and chief safety and sustainability officer of CN, said in a statement. So far, $1.8 million has been raised for the project. Organizers hope to raise $1 million more by year's end so construction may begin in 2013. The dock will be for the Michigan Sea Grant's Great Lakes school ship that will host children from Detroit-area schools on the Detroit River and western Lake Erie. The ship is expected to use the Detroit River and waters of the wildlife refuge as a "living laboratory," offering day trips for students. The Wayne County-owned Refuge Gateway site also will house a visitor center. The property where the center is planned was the site of an auto parts making plant for more than four decades starting in the 1940s. It was purchased in 2002 by the county for use linked to the wildlife refuge. The refuge itself includes more than 5,700 acres along 48 miles of the lower Detroit River and western Lake Erie. Published: Tue, Jul 3, 2012