State Thanksgiving Christmas

Ursula and Tom Pougnet hug their sons Garrett (7) and Jacques after they won the division 5 championship game Saturday at Ford Field in Detroit.

Powers Catholic quarterback Garret Pougnet is tackled by Lansing Catholic defenders Dan Liesman (left) and Ryan Clark during the first half of the division 5 state championship game at Ford Field in Detroit Saturday.

Neighbor Paige Hughes (right) holds hands with Letha Turner while Turner tries to comfort the homeowner as Flint Township Firefighters put out a fire in her house early Thanksgiving morning in Flint Township. The house was initially thought to have two children inside, but it was discovered they were at a relative's house.

Elissa Findling, of Commerce Township, kisses her nine-month-old son Dylan as the Christmas tree is lit at Crossroads Village Friday night in Flint.

Ride Win Smoke Prom

Anthony Frey, 9, attempts to do a "wheelie" on his neighbor's bicycle while playing after school in east Flint Wednesday afternoon.

Frankenmuth team captain Nicole DeGrace (11) celebrates winning the regional volleyball championship over North Branch with her teammates Thursday night at Mt. Morris Junior High School.

Flint Firefighter J. Gilbert takes a phone call while at a vacant structure fire at 1714 Oak St. in Flint Monday afternoon. The fire was under arson investigation, said Captain Joe Morrison of the Flint Fire Department.

Winner of the Miss Michigan's Outstanding Teen Scholarship Pageant Marissa Cowans, 17, of St. Clair Shores, Mich., prepares to participate in a Viper Apparel fashion show as part of a graduation and prom expo at Fenton High School Saturday.

Haircut Dive Defense Vet

Chris Espinoza (left), 27, of Flint, tries to comfort his son, Gabriel, 2, while he gets his hair cut by Juan Ascencio, 24, Friday in Ascencio's Barber Shop in Flint.

Fenton sophomore MacKenzie Deputy competes in the girls one meter diving at the Metro Swimming and Diving Championship at Fenton High School Saturday.

Lapeer West running back Chad Ferguson is tackled by Linden linebacker Gareth Elliott and safety Tyler Voller (4) during Saturday's playoff game at Lapeer West. Linden would go on to win 21-0.

President of Swartz Creek Veterans of Foreign Wars Men's Auxiliary Ernie Roesner, 57, looks at the tombstone of his father's friend, whom he knew as "Dutch" after a ceremony dedicating a Memorial Carillon at Great Lakes National Cemetery in Holly Saturday. Dutch would call his father every Christmas, said Roesner.
"That was one of the hardest days of my life, when Dutch didn't call." Said Roesner.

Sports

Linemen Tyler Brevard (60), Aaron Bigler (50), and Carlos Sanchez (76) do a drill Wednesday at practice for the UM-Flint club football team the Kodiaks.

Davison goalie Brandon Gonzalez punches the ball away from Grand Blanc forward Brennan Smith (23) during Friday's Division 1 district soccer final between Grand Blanc and Davison in Grand Blanc.

Jamestown Ironmen forward Matt Moore is hip-checked by Michigan Warriors defenseman David Johnson during the first period of Thursday night's game at Perani Arena in Flint.

The Bendle High School football team cheers to the crowd after a 36-28 victory at Byron High School in Burton Friday night.

Mortar Hay Protest Run

Genesee area firefighters work to contain a blaze at the former location of the Broad Street restaurant on West Pierson road in Flushing Saturday night.

Stevan Malone, 54, of Flint, Mich., sits outside of a building he purchased at the corner of Stevens and Court Street in Flint hammering mortar out of old bricks Tuesday afternoon. Malone plans to use the bricks on the front of the building, which he hopes to turn into Stevan's on Stevens market by the end of the year. Malone has always wanted a downtown business, but was not planning on opening a market before he bought the building two years ago.
"When I saw this place I said 'man, that'd be a great store.'" Said Malone, "That's part of why this is so hard, I didn't plan any of this."

Lucas Godfrey (far left), 5, of Davison, Mich., and Audrey Johnston, 6, of Genesee, Mich., climb on a trailer while members of Richfield Township Parks and Recreation Committee and 4-H Country Clovers Club prepare the trailer for a hayride in Richfield Park on Saturday.

Jorge Horcasitas, 20, of El Paso, Texas, films the Occupy Flint protesters outside Bank of America on his phone in downtown Flint Friday.

New Lothrop High School junior Julia Johnson, 17, is comforted by her mother, Lynette Johnson, after not placing in the top 20 runners in the Genesee Area Conference cross country meet at Goodrich Middle School Tuesday afternoon. Lynette gives her daughter a good luck kiss on the cheek before every race she runs.

Leaves Candles Tackles Dogs

Josh John (left), 4, and Zach Stiemer, 5, throw leaves at Stephanie Giannini, 16, while Arinna Smith, 3 and her sister Genieve, 4, watch Wednesday afternoon in Flint.

Chrissy Osborne (middle), 17, of Flint, Mich., places a candle at a vigil on Saginaw Street for her cousin, Misty Kurmas, 13, who died after being hit by a van fleeing Michigan State Police Wednesday Sept. 28, 2011 in Flint.

Carman-Ainsworth senior quarterback Shane Barron is brought down by Powers Catholic defenders Nick Sullivan (left) and Idris Hobdy during Friday night's 14-0 Powers Catholic homecoming victory.

Michael Soper, of Davison, Mich., pets Lorie Laboy's (right) Rat Terrier, which she kept in a stroller wearing a bumblebee costume for the opening of the Davison Dog Park.
"They're not really leash dogs." said Loboy about the use of the stroller.

Bikes Cars Recalls Hoops

Jerimiah Lightnin', 23, of Canada, balances on a motorcycle on rollers while Charlie Ransom, 46, of California, announces for an upcoming American Wall of Death show in the flat lot on Saginaw Street in downtown Flint for Bikes on the Bricks Saturday.

Sandy Mamish, of Grand Blanc, Mich., gives Rachell Young, 11, of Swartz Creek, Mich., a ride on her 1902 Curved Dash Oldsmobile at the Golden Memories Car Cruise in Flint Sunday.

Jill Welch (right), of Grand Blanc, Mich., holds up a Recall Paul Scott flyer while she talks to Yvonne Hobbs, a retired Carmen-Ainsworth teacher, and retired Flint teacher Sandy Clay at the Recall Paul Scott kickoff event in Grand Blanc Saturday.

Tim Rice (left), 26, and Deonco Mize, 20, both of Flint, Mich., compete for a rebound during a pickup basketball game Tuesday at Kennedy Park in Flint.