Michigan Idolizes Hometown Singer

American Idol finalist LaKisha Jones gave them something to talk about in her hometown of Flint, Michigan. Jones, 27, a single mother and bank employee, got one of the “golden tickets,” after tryouts for Idol’s sixth season, a ticket to Los Angeles to appear on the program.

Her star hasn’t dimmed in Flint, even though she was voted off the program in May after making it into the final group of four contestants. Jones says her plans now are to pursue a record contract and a new home.

Flint city leaders will honor for her efforts, including a parade, a proclamation and a key to the city. “LaKisha” continues to shine in front of Flint’s 120,000 residents on store marquees, billboards and web blogs where she has been a rallying point for community pride.

“This has really brought positive attention to Flint, we’ve been so used to getting negative attention all of the time,” said Michael Townsend, a city finance official.
Flint has been hit hard by changes in the auto industry since the mid-1980s. Jones’ run on American Idol gave residents a pleasant change when crews from Good Morning America and Access Hollywood came to town to do features on her, said city attorney Trachelle Young.

“There is such a spirit of hope that LaKisha has given the city. It’s infectious,” Young said.

Jones’ experience has given residents something positive to focus on, reminding them and lots of people nationwide that holding onto a dream can lead to success.
In her appearances on the show and a video posted on the “Idol” web site, Jones appeared humble before the judges and passionate about her family, especially her four-year-old daughter, Brionne.

“I just believe in being real, being who you are and staying strong in your beliefs,” Jones said on the video.

“It’s hard juggling, trying to live your life dream of becoming a singer and also being a full-time mom,” Jones said.

The outcome of Idol’s current season remains an open question, although after one performance, the often-outspoken judge Simon Cowell went as far to tell her, “I’m very tempted to tell 23 other people to book their plane tickets home... that was in another league to anybody else.”

Although her season on American Idol is over, Jones has reminded a lot of fans to hold fast to their dreams.

Dreamed Phone Number Leads to Wedding

Talk about following a dream! A young man in England woke up one morning, with a phone number running through his head.

David Brown, age 24, says he woke up after a night with friends with the number, only a few digits different than his own, running over and over in his head. It was so persistent that he sent a text message, “Did I meet you last night?”

The young woman on the other end, Michelle Kitson, was hesitant at first but decided to reply and the two began exchanging messages. Eventually they met and fell in love.
“It was really weird but I was absolutely hooked,” Kitson told the London’s Daily Mail newspaper. “My mum and dad kept saying ‘But he could be an axe murderer,’ but I knew there was something special about it.”

After a long courtship, the couple has just returned from their honeymoon.

Brown said: “I’ve no idea how I ended up with her number in my head – it’s only a few digits different from mine.”

Circle on Google Earth Leads to Site Discovery

The prehistory of the Americas continues to be uncovered, with the aid of modern technology. While studying contours on a large topographical map, workers in Indiana found a circular formation next to a highway scheduled to be widened to four or five lanes.

According to Ball State University archaeologist Don Cochran, the structure is so prominent it shows up dramatically on Google Earth and resembles the aboriginal enclosures that are within Mounds State Park near Anderson, Indiana.

The circular formation on a wooded tract near Indiana 32 between Muncie and Yorktown was brought to the attention of the Indiana Department of Transportation, which plans to widen that segment of the highway to four or five lanes.

The 150-foot diameter feature was likely constructed by excavating a circular ditch around a space archaeologists call a central platform, said Cochran. He said the structure is probably the work of prehistoric Woodland Indians although the property’s owner has not permitted an examination of the site to determine its true origins.
Beth McCord, Ball State’s assistant director of archaeological research, said it was surprising such a large suspected archaeological site was overlooked near a busy highway.

If the site turns out to be an ancient Indian enclosure, she said it would be very rare example of its kind to have survived into modern times. McCord said such earthen enclosures were probably gathering places for American Indians for ceremonies, dances and feasts during particular religious events, such as the winter solstice.
Cochran said that aside from Mounds State Park, most of east-central Indiana’s 300-plus known mounds and enclosures built by the Hopewell-Adena people about 2,000 years ago have been completely or partially destroyed by agriculture, development and artifact hunters.

“It’s absolutely critical we keep this one. This is one we don’t know anything about.”

Compiled and written by Sally Kimbel