The fate of Catholic churches

A source familiar with the negotiations on the fate of various Catholic parishes in the Flint area wrote in with this information:

"I have two confirmed reports if you are interested and want to post them on your website. The Diocese of Lansing website should release this information soon.

"In Flint, St. Mary's will cluster with St. Michael's. Both parishes will continue to function as separate parishes, but will employ only one priest, whom I assume to be the priest at St. Mary's, since Father Phil Gallagher, last acting pastor at St. Mike's, has recently retired from active duty.

"Most Blessed Sacrament, Burton, will merge with St. John, Davison, when deemed necessary. Most Blessed Sacrament Church will then become Most Blessed Sacrament Chapel. The church building at MBS will remain open only; all office duties, clubs, CCD, etc. revert to St. John's. When the priest at MBS is reassigned in the future — that is the "deemed necessary part — the parish will then merge with St. John's immediately."

Nudist club just misunderstood

You know, I always thought of Burton as a pretty quiet, low-key sort of place. Compared to Flint, you might even call it sedate. Man, either things have changed or I never got a chance to experience the real Burton:

"A 'nudist club' on Fenton Road is in trouble for allegedly offering more than just relaxing massages," reports Bryn Mickle of The Flint Journal.

"With complaints from residents that used condoms have littered the neighborhood since the Paradise Spa and Sun Club opened this year, Genesee County Prosecutor David S. Leyton has asked a judge to padlock the club on the grounds that it is a front for prostitution.

"The owners says the club is misunderstood.

"'It's a beautiful place and it's above board,' said Jon Lindhurst.

"'My neighbors don't understand it.'"

Welcome to Burton, Spice Girls!

BURTON, Mich. (AP) -- A 911 call from the driver of a Spice Girls' tour bus about a possible drunken driver led to the arrest of a suspected carjacker.

The bus was heading south on Interstate 75 on Saturday night when its driver noticed a man weaving in and out of traffic. Police in suburban Detroit later arrested a 36-year-old Burton man.

He was turned over to police in Burton, about 50 miles northwest of Detroit, in connection with a carjacking at a gas station. Authorities say he also had been stopped earlier in the day on suspicion of shoplifting.

The man was being held in the Genesee County Jail pending arraignment.

The Spice Girls were in the Detroit area to perform at The Palace of Auburn Hills.