Sunday, March 4, 2012 www.livingstondaily.com $1.25

Volume 167 Number 55

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Inside: Grappling to a state championshipWrestlers from Howell, Fowlerville, Brighton take top honors — Sports, 1B

Calendar ..............4CCounty ................3AEditorials ..........10A Letters ..............10ALifestyle ..............1C

Lottery ................2AMarket Watch ....2AMedia Mix ..........5C Nation/World ....14ANames & Faces ....3C

Obituaries ..........4ASports ..................1BState..................12AStocks..................2A Travel ..................6C

INDEX

Online:Visit livingstondaily.com tosee our photo gallery fromthe season-ending loss of theBrighton girls basketball teamFriday to Ann Arbor Huron.

By Frank KonkelDAILY PRESS & ARGUS

A Howell-area Muslim wo-man said she was not allowedto volunteer for a localChristian charitable organi-zation because she would notagree “to sign a pledge effec-tively renouncing my Mus-lim faith.”

A first-generation Arab-American, Judy Lewis, 71,said that in January, she filledout a volunteer application forthe Howell-based Love In theName of Christ of the GreaterLivingston Area, hoping toadd another day of volunteerwork to her schedule.

In addition to basic infor-mation like her name andaddress, Lewis simply wrote“mosque” in Love INC’s ap-plication space requestingwhat church she belonged to.

Several days later, Lewissaid, she received a phone callfrom a Love INC volunteerwho asked her what churchshe belonged to, and told Lewisthat she would have to agreeand sign off on several stipula-tions, including a statementthat Jesus is the son of God.

Doing so would have beenagainst her religion, saidLewis, who added that she

By Christopher BehnanDAILY PRESS & ARGUS

Amie Giersdorf has re-newed optimism her son canenroll in an intensive autismtherapy program that wouldcost at least $60,000 annually.

Enrolling her son, Andrew,in the program at Children’sHospital of Michigan in De-troit would be impossiblethrough her family’s expens-es, but that would no longerbe a concern under insur-ance changes proposed inthe state Legislature.

No private insurers inMichigan cover autism thera-pies, but the legislation wouldmandate coverage for provenautism therapies and create afund to rebate insurers thecost of paid claims.

If signed into law, theBy Jim Suhrand Ken KusmerASSOCIATED PRESS

HENRYVILLE, Ind. —Emergency crews desperate-ly searched for survivorsSaturday after a violent waveof Midwest and Southernstorms flattened some ruralcommunities.

The storms left behind atrail of destruction: deaths,shredded homes, downed

power lines and streets lit-tered with tossed cars.

Amid the destruction, star-tling stories of survival be-gan to emerge, including that

Volunteersnubbedfor beliefs

RELIGION

Muslim asked to signChristian pledge toserve with Love INC

Deadly storms ripMidwest and South

ENVIRONMENT

By Frank KonkelDAILY PRESS & ARGUS

What a difference a year makes.At this time last year, fire crews

were still putting out trace rem-nants of a massive blaze thatdestroyed 30 percent of MagnaExteriors and Interiors-Howell, amanufacturing division of MagnaAtreum in Howell Township.

The damage was devastatingenough that the plant’s general man-ager, Terry Hobson, feared in the ini-tial walk-through after the fire that,“It might not be our home anymore.”

One year later, though, the auto-motive supplier that employs 450people is churning at 100 percentproduction and is set to bring pro-duction of its spray-skin line — thelast remaining job lost by the plantafter the fire broke out — back tothe facility in the coming months.

In addition, Magna Atreum is inthe midst of a 140,000-square-footexpansion due to be com-pleted July 1.

“The rebound, in oureyes, has been fantastic,”Hobson said. “When Ifirst went in and saw thedamage done here, I wasworried, but that lasted allof one minute. Our corpo-rate offices had a plan inplace so quickly, and theresponse of the local em-ergency responders wasamazing. It was great tosee how everybody — ouremployees and our cus-tomers — pulled together.”

Smoke filled the sky onthe brutally cold after-noon March 2, 2011, and

evidence of the fire was visiblefrom Fowlerville to Hartland Town-ship to Brighton.

More than 100 employees hud-dled together in the parking lotthat runs adjacent to Grand RiverAvenue, calling for rides becausetheir vehicles were blocked in byfire trucks, spreading news of thefire and trying to stay warm in sin-gle-digit temperatures.

As more than 100 local firefight-ers from several Livingston Coun-ty departments battled the blaze,employees were shuttled to the

Livingston CountyEMS head-quartersby way ofa Living-ston Es-

sentialTranspor-

tation Ser-vice bus. “I was one

of three peo-ple allowedto see the pro-cess, sittingwith the fireworkers and

the RedCross, and

seeing

Supplierreboundsfrom fire

THE MAGNA BLAZE:ONE YEAR LATER

Legislation targetscoverage of autism

Magna Atreum in Howell Township has rebuilt since a 2011 fire. PHOTO BY GILLIS BENEDICT/DAILY PRESS & ARGUS

Sandra Redman consoles neighbor Vicki Simpson,center, after she rode out a tornado from the safetyof her Wadesville, Ind., basement. Storms tore acrossseveral states. PHOTO BY DENNY SIMMONS/ASSOCIATED PRESS

Twisted wreckage on the western-facing wall at Magna Atreum shows massive damage from the fire thatripped through the Howell Township facility March 2, 2011. FILE PHOTO BY ALAN WARD/DAILY PRESS & ARGUS

Terry Hobson, general manager for Magna Atreum, talks about thereconstruction of the area of the Howell Township plant damaged byfire one year ago. PHOTO BY GILLIS BENEDICT/DAILY PRESS & ARGUS

BUSINESS

“If we do (preventive)strikes on anything, I’ve got to believe it’s better in thelong haul.”REP. BILL ROGERSR-Genoa Township

Continuedon page 5

Firefighters battle the blaze at theMagna Atreum plant on GrandRiver Avenue in Howell Townshipon March 2, 2011. A year later, theplant is at 100 percent production.DAILY PRESS & ARGUS FILE PHOTO

HEALTH

Continued on page 8

Howell-area resident JudyLewis holds her copy of “TheMeaning of The Holy Quran,”an English translation of theoriginal Arabic text. Lewis, aMuslim, said she felt discrimi-nated against after she wastold she would need topledge that Jesus is the sonof God to volunteer for anoutreach group. PHOTO BY ALAN

WARD/DAILY PRESS & ARGUS

Continued on page 4

Continued on page 6

INSIDE• The severe weather thisweekend left a wide swathof destruction. See moreimages on pages 8-9.

4A DAILY PRESS & ARGUS-Sunday, March 4, 2012

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TERESA M. PLOURDEAge 54, of Webberville, died Thurs.March 1, 2012. Services 11AM atNiblack Funeral Home, DillinghamLiverance Chapel, Fowlerville.

OBITUARY POLICYThe first seven lines of an obituary are pub-lished free of charge. After that, there is a feeof $3 a line. Pictures may be published for $25.

*Deadline for obituaries is 4:30 p.m. Mondaythrough Thursday for publication in the nextmorning’s newspaper. Obituaries receivedFriday or Saturday by 1 p.m. will be publishedin Sunday’s newspaper.

For more information, call 888-999-1288,or contact your funeral home.

*Holiday deadlines are subject to change.

JOHN E. GLOVERAge 62, of Fowlerville, died Wed.Feb. 29, 2012. He was born Oct.20, 1949 in Howell to Russell E. &Joan (Spears) Glover and was a1967 graduate of Fowlerville HighSchool. He worked as a mechan-ic, loved the outdoors, history,cooking, his work and his loyalbeagle, Sam. He was the favoriteuncle to his nieces and nephews.Surviving are his mother: Joan,sister: Eileen (Dan) Slider, 3brothers: Mark (Bernadette), Mikeand Jim and many nieces andnephews and his brother-in-law:Dale Dixon. He was preceded indeath by his father: Russell, sis-ter: Mary and brother: Patrick.Services 11AM Mon March 5th atSt. Agnes Catholic Church.Visitation 2-4 & 6-8 PM Sundaywith a Scripture service at 7:30pm Sunday at Niblack FuneralHome, Dillingham LiveranceChapel. Memorial contributionsmay be made to the Heart Assc.www.niblackfuneralhome.com

PassagesCall 888-999-1288 or Email lcpobits@gannett.comView Passages Online: www.livingstondaily.com

Obituaries, Memorials & Remembrances

CLARENCE M. GABELAge 80, of Brighton and formerlyof Farmington Hills, died at homeon Wed., Feb.29, 2012. A celebra-tion of his life is being scheduledfor a later date. Lynch & SonsFuneral Home, 810-229-2905

WENDY LYNNE MCEWENWHITMORE LAKE, MI

Her Legacy... Age 42, passed awayFebruary 28, 2012 in Ann Arbor,MI. She was born October 19,1969 in Chicago, IL the daughterof Wayne and Jill (Kirkwood)Engelke. On December 21, 2009 inLas Vegas Wendy married her lov-ing husband of only 2 short yearsMatthew McEwen. Wendy earnedher B.A. from Northern MichiganUniversity and her M.B.A. atIllinois Benedictine University. Shewas employed as a project man-ager for a consulting firm. Shewas a great advocate for all ani-mals, especially strays.

Her Family... Loving wife ofMatthew, beloved daughter of Wa-yne and Jill Engelke of Henderson,NV, dear sister of AlexanderEngelke also of Henderson.Additional survivors include hermother in law Deborah (Eric)Vangerud of Orlando, father in lawDouglas (Iris) McEwen of LakeCity, MI and her aunt and uncle inlaw Sharon and Jay Moilanen ofBrighton and her uncle and aunt inlaw Theodore and Nancy Kordusof Waterford, MI. Her maternalgrandmother Emily Boughton pre-ceded her in death.

Her Farewell... A TraditionalFarewell was held Saturday, March3, 2012 at the Borek JenningsFuneral Home, Hamburg Chapel.Memorial contributions are sug-gested to the Huron ValleyHumane Society, the NationalAudubon Society or the NationalOvarian Cancer Coalition. Pleaseleave a message of Comfort toWendy's family by calling 877-231-7900 or visit her guestbookat www.borekjennings.com.

DORIS MARIE HOUGHTONAge 78, of Howell, formerly ofWarwick, RI (Norwood)andPortsmouth, VA, died Thursday,March 1, 2012. Graveside serviceswill be held 10 AM Friday, March9, 2012 at Great Lakes NationalCemetery with services followingat 11 AM at Sharp Funeral Homes,Linden Chapel, 209 E. Broad St.,Linden. Those desiring may makecontributions to the AmericanHeart Association, American LungAssociation or Alzheimer'sAssociation. Mrs. Houghton wasborn October 26, 1933 in NorthCambridge, Massachusetts, thedaughter of Arthur and Claudia(Gagne) Paris. She marriedCharles Houghton Jr. onSeptember 15, 1952; he precededher in death on May 1, 2011. Sheattended Oak Grove UnitedMethodist Church. She was agreat mother and grandmotherand enjoyed time raising children.She loved to spend weekends atthe beach at Twin Rivers. Doris issurvived by her children, CharlesF. III and wife Cindy, Daniel andwife Sandy, Art and wife Millie,Donna Sherman, Doris Heitke,Diane Smith, Ken and wife Kerry;special granddaughter, MalindaErickson and husband Lee; 14grandchildren; 18 great-grandchil-dren. She was also preceded indeath by her parents; brothers,Roland, Morris, Germaine andJunior; sisters, Bunnie andTheresa. Online tributes may beshared at the obituaries page at:www.sharpfuneralhomes.com

COUNTY

Continued from page 1

was told she would have to sign some-thing “like a pledge.”

“I told her, ‘Well, I can’t do that,’ andthe lady said, ‘Well, I didn’t think so,’and after we hung up, I realized sheknew I was Muslim,” said Lewis.

Lewis believes she was not allowedto volunteer for Love INC because ofher religious beliefs. She said it wasthe first time she has ever felt dis-criminated against because of her re-ligious beliefs.

“I just got really upset and sad,”Lewis said. “Why did she even callme?”

Love INC serves those in need byproviding them services throughmore than 50 area partner churcheswith it. It refers those in need tochurches that provide the neededservice.

Love INC Executive DirectorKatherine Janego said the organiza-tion did not discriminate againstLewis.

She said volunteers who serve LoveINC through its clearinghouse inHowell are asked to adhere to theorganization’s 10 core values, the firstof which states, “We are Christian.Everything we think, say, and do is inthe name of Christ.”

This is made clear on the organiza-tion’s Web site, www.livingstonlove-inc.org, Janego said.

In addition, Janego said volunteersare asked to sign a confidentialityagreement and the Apostles’ Creed, aChristian statement of belief in a tri-une God — as the Father, Son andHoly Spirit.

“We had a conversation over thephone, as we do with all potential vol-unteers, asking how they heard aboutus and what church they are from,”Janego said. “Through this conversa-tion, she told us that she could not signthe Apostles’ Creed.”

Furthermore, volunteers are askedto pray with those seeking help on thephone if the person calling in is OKwith it, Janego said.

“That is who we are, and that is whowe represent,” said Janego, referringto her organization’s name, Love In theName of Christ. “We do not discrimi-nate. It is difficult for someone who isunable to serve in the name of JesusChrist and pray in the name of JesusChrist to be on the phone with those inneed and perform those duties.”

Don Rohrer, Love INC board chair-man, does not believe any discrimina-tion took place either, noting that itwas Lewis’ choice not to agree withLove INC’s core values.

“It’s not discrimination, not in thelegal sense and not ethically,” Rohrersaid. “We respect her choice, and I hope

she can find an organization to volun-teer for that she is excited about.”

The Rev. Deon Johnson of St. Paul’sEpiscopal Church in Brighton saidLove INC’s policy is “contradictory,”and said he “would not necessarilysupport the stance they’ve taken onthis issue” even though St. Paul’s is oneof the member churches of Love INC.

Johnson sits on the Livingston Div-ersity Council Board of Directors.

“We support Love INC and the out-reach they provide, don’t get mewrong,” Johnson said. “But if theirintent is to make sure we serve thewidest community out there in needin the name of Christ, well, do that,but don’t have an implicit rule thatyou have to be Christian to volunteer.”

Johnson said that he did not under-stand why individuals with other reli-gious affiliations would be turned downfor volunteer positions by Love INC,and questioned how that policy mightaffect those who seek assistance.

Both Janego and Rohrer said LoveINC provides services to everyone,regardless of religious affiliation, cul-ture or any other circumstances.

In 2011, Janego said Love INCserved 2,620 children and 4,735 adultsin the Livingston County area. InJanuary of this year, the nonprofitorganization received 775 calls forassistance and made 815 return phonecalls, assisting almost 700 individualsin one month.

“We help families and individualsof all faiths, and people who have nofaith,” Janego said. “We, literally,serve everyone.”

Johnson, however, said that LoveINC asks its volunteers to be Christ-ians, and asking those Christian vol-unteers to pray on the phone in thename of Christ with those in need

seems to restrict those who mightreceive assistance from Love INC.

“What if I’m Muslim and I call in,they’re instructed to pray in the nameof Christ with me,” Johnson said.“Christ becomes a bit of a problemthen. You’re almost implicitly sayingyou’re only going to offer services toChristians.”

Rohrer disagreed, stating that it is“not mandatory” that volunteers praywith individuals who call Love INCseeking assistance.

“We ask them, ‘Is it OK if we praywith you?’ ” Rohrer said.

Lewis attends the American Mus-lim Center, a mosque in Dearborn.

Imam Mohammad Mardini, one ofthe mosque’s leaders, said that as longas an organization like Love INCmakes known its conditions, require-ments or qualifications “from thebeginning,” then it did not discrimi-nate against Lewis.

“We can’t say this is discriminationif they have posted it and already toldyou this qualification,” Mardini said.“If this is a condition from the begin-ning, she should understand that. Ifthey have it posted, she should not beoffended when they ask her for that.If it is public, if they have it ex-plained, that’s it.”

In Lewis’ case, Mardini said hecould understand the confusion.

“Now she knows their rules, corevalues and ethics,” Mardini said. “Iunderstand if I am coming to them tovolunteer in Bible study, I definitelyhave to believe in all of that. If you areasking me to just deliver the goods,and I have it in the heart to do that,this is up to them.”

Lewis said she plans to pursue somemore volunteer work, though she isnot sure what that will be just yet.

As was the case with Love INC,Lewis said she just wants to help peo-ple wherever they need it.

“I was taught that all religions andethnic backgrounds are God’s cre-ations, and to treat all people withrespect,” Lewis wrote in a letter to theeditor to the Daily Press & Argus.

“I am sorry for Love INC and theview they hold,” she said.

Contact Daily Press & Argus reporter

Frank Konkel at (517) 552-2835 or at

fkonkel@gannett.com.

THE APOSTLES’ CREEDLove INC asks its volunteers to

agree to the organization’s core val-ues as well as to sign the Apostles’Creed, which reads:

“I believe in God, the Father Al-mighty, Creator of heaven and earth.I believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son,our Lord. He was conceived by thepower of the Holy Spirit and born ofthe Virgin Mary. He suffered underPontius Pilate; was crucified, diedand was buried. He descended to thedead. On the third day, he roseagain. He ascended into heaven andis seated at the right hand of theFather. He will come again to judgethe living and the dead. I believe inthe Holy Spirit, the holy catholicChurch, the communion of saints,the forgiveness of sins, the resurrec-tion of the body, and the life ever-lasting. Amen.”

Howell-area resident Judy Lewis holds her copy of “The Meaning of The Holy Quran.” Lewis, a Muslim, believes shewas not allowed to volunteer for Love In the Name of Christ of the Greater Livingston Area because of her religiousbeliefs. After being asked to take a pledge that Jesus is the son of God, Lewis said it was the first time she has ever feltdiscriminated against because of her religious beliefs. PHOTO BY ALAN WARD/DAILY PRESS & ARGUS

Love INC denies discrimination“It’s not discrimination,not in the legal senseand not ethically.” DON ROHRERChairman, Love In the Name of Christ of the Greater Livingston Area Board of Directors