Third week in Flint

Shariay Jenkins, 11, tosses Armondo Jenkins Jr., 6, into the pool with Shariah Jenkins, 9, and Quatashia Nelson, 13, in their great grandmothers yard Wednesday in Flint.

Kathleen Mears, Davison, Mich., encourages her son Jason, 9, as he attempts to eat two 14-inch pizzas in 20 minutes in The Pizza Co.'s pizza eating competition Saturday at the Davison Festival of Flags.

Jake Harman, 19, Hartland, Mich., lifts a 340-pound stone onto a platform as part of the Davison Festival of Flags strongman competition Saturday in downtown Davison.

Bruce Garrett, 72, Flint, Mich., looks inside a 1949 Chevy, the same as the model of his first car, he said.
"I didn't have a fancy steering wheel like that, though." Garrett said.

Second Week in Flint

We'll see how long I can keep up the weekly posts.

Detroit Lions defensive tackle Rob Callaway, 23, works out in Beecher High School's weight room in Beecher, Mich., Wednesday afternoon. Callaway graduated from Beecher High in 2006.
"This is the first time I've been back but I do want to make it my business to be back at least once a year." Callaway said.

Brian Jones, 39, Burton, Mich., catches his breath on the sidewalk after completing the Bastille Day 15k race Saturday morning in Fenton, Mich.

Wanda Collinsworth, 80, Flint, Mich., sells place-mats at her table at Buckham Alley Fest in downtown Flint Saturday afternoon. Collinsworth said she thinks the festival is great for Flint, but wished they would have turned down the volume of the live performances.

Dr. Loretta Long, known for her part as Susan on the television show "Sesame Street" signs her book "Courtney's Birthday Party" for Malyrica Moore Wednesday at the Flint Public Library.

First Week in Flint

I've just finished my first week interning at The Flint Journal in Michigan. Here's some photos from this past week.

Phillis and Leo Vaillancourt, Clarkston, Mich., pass a young garden tourist during the Goodrich Garden Tour Saturday at the home of Darlene and Robert Morgan.
"It's interesting, but I'd rather be at the golf course." Said Leo, who also said his wife convinced him to go.

Cinthia Montague, 20, Candice Stewart, 19, and Sam Maxson, 20, dance in the Grand Fountain in downtown flint after performing in the Genesee Towers show Friday.

Virginia Hutchins, 65, Flint, Mich., sits in her garage waiting for police to come so she can file a burglary report for her house, which has been robbed three times since a fire forced her to vacate it. She waits in the garage as many days as she can.

Mark David Doak (right), 48, has been going to the same dock after work for five years.
"We stop here every day, converse about our troubles and try to help each other out." he said. Doak has been living in and out of hotel rooms for the past two and a half years, he said, which he finds more affordable than owning a home or renting a room. Doak said that anywhere from four to nine people come to the dock every evening to hang out, and that most of them work manual labor.
James Malone Jr. (left), 44, worked in auto assembly before being laid off in 2007. Lately he has been collecting bottles and cans for money, riding 10 or more miles a day, he said.