A man who was trying to jump-start a family member’s car suffered a broken leg as well as head and facial injuries when a vehicle ran into him and his car on Jackson Road in Scio Township late Sunday night.

The 41-year-old Ann Arbor resident was on the side of eastbound Jackson Road near Staebler Road trying to start the car about 10:50 p.m. when the other vehicle crashed into his car and hit him, said Washtenaw County sheriff’s Sgt. Geoff Fox.

Huron Valley Ambulance took the man to the University of Michigan Hospital in stable condition, spokeswoman Joyce Williams said.

The 62-year-old Ann Arbor man who was driving the other vehicle suffered minor injuries, Fox said.

The road was reported closed for two to three hours during the crash investigation.

View Crash 070713 in a larger map

Charles Thurston

Courtesy of WCSO

Police arrested a 62-year-old Dexter man just as he was about to break into a Chelsea garage Saturday, officials said.

Charles Thurston was arraigned Sunday on charges of first-degree home invasion, first-degree attempted home invasion, receiving and concealing firearms and felony firearms a day after being caught standing on a bucket next to the garage window, said Chelsea police Chief Edward Toth.

Thurston first came over to a residence in the 200 block of Wilkinson Street around 5:30 p.m., Toth said. A 66-year-old woman Thurston is acquainted with lives at the home, police said.

“There’s been an ongoing thing between the two,” Toth said.

Thurston came to retrieve some items he believed were his, but there was some sort of dispute and he left, then later came back and slit a screen on a garage window, police said. A neighbor called police, who say Thurston was about to climb inside when they caught him in the act.

“(Officers) located (him) standing on a plastic five-gallon bucket, trying to lift his leg into the window,” Toth said.

Thurston was arrested without incident. Officers recovered a plastic bag inside the garage containing a handgun, three lady's gold brooches and burglary tools, Toth added. He said the bag was linked to Thurston, who remains at the Washtenaw County Jail on 10 percent of $5,000 bond, according to jail records.

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John Counts covers cops and courts for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at johncounts@annarbor.com or you can follow him on Twitter.

A man was found critically injured on West Liberty early Friday morning.

Daniel Brenner | AnnArbor.com

Authorities didn't have any additional information to release to the public Monday about the man who died after being found by a passing motorcyclist on West Liberty near Ann Arbor early Friday morning.

Washtenaw County Sheriff Sgt. Geoff Fox said he didn't have any further information about the incident. Derrick Jackson, director of community engagement for the sheriff's office, was not available for comment.

Responders were called to the 4400 block of West Liberty in Scio Township at 2:08 a.m. Friday after receiving reports of a man struck by a vehicle, officials said.

The man was pronounced dead on the scene at 2:17 a.m., according to Joyce Williams of Huron Valley Ambulance.

Investigators are trying to determine if alcohol was a factor. On Friday, Jackson said deputies previously had responded to several calls reporting the same man being intoxicated and lying in the roadway.

John Counts covers cops and courts for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at johncounts@annarbor.com or you can follow him on Twitter.

Former professional wrestler and Michigan native George "The Animal" Steele is coming to a Barnes and Noble near you.

No word yet on if he's bringing a shirt.

Courtesy photo

The book also discusses how Steele balanced his public persona as wrestler in the WWF—where he was famous for animal-like grunts, attempts at eating turnbuckles, hairy back and green tongue—with his normal life as Jim Meyers: high school teacher, football/wrestling coach and father. Meyers is a member of the Michigan High School Coaches Hall of Fame for his 25-year coaching career at Madison Heights. Madison Heights won a 1969 state championship under Meyers and was runner-up in 1970.

Monday's appearance at Barnes and Noble will include a talk by Steele, followed by a question and answer period and book signing.

George "The Animal" Steele:

Pete Cunningham covers sports for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at petercunningham@annarbor.com. Follow him on Twitter @petcunningham.

Thunderstorms will continue to be likely Monday evening and some could produce strong winds and hail, the National Weather Service said. Storms are possible Tuesday and Wednesday as well.

Rain and thunderstorms are possible in the Ann Arbor area for the next couple of days.

Courtney Sacco | AnnArbor.com

If severe storms develop Monday night, they could produce damaging wind gusts to near 60 mph with the possibility of hail up to an inch in diameter.

Low pressure and a stalled front over the northern Great Lakes combined with warm and humid air in southeast Michigan are fueling the potential for storms, the weather service said. The storms are possible through mid-evening Monday before conditions settle down after midnight, forecasters said.

It will be mostly cloudy with a low around 69 overnight and a 70 percent chance of rain.

Tuesday will be mostly cloudy with a high near 86 and a 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. The storm threat increases to 70 percent overnight Tuesday with rainfall amounts of between a quarter and a half inch possible.

Wednesday will be a near repeat of Tuesday with a 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms and a high of 85.

By Wednesday night, the threat of storms will subside, and mostly sunny skies with highs in the high-70s or low-80s are expected the rest of the week.

Signs were up along Miller Avenue on Monday night warning of the upcoming closure and detour at the Newport Road intersection.

Ryan J. Stanton | AnnArbor.com

The work being done on the north half of Miller Avenue in the vicinity of Newport Road — along with some work on Newport — is expected to last through July 30, weather permitting.

This traffic control plan will be in place for three weeks at the Miller/Newport intersection. View larger version of map.

City of Ann Arbor

Miller Avenue will continue to operate with eastbound traffic being maintained along the south side of roadway and westbound traffic being detoured via Main Street, Huron Street/Jackson Avenue and Maple Road.

This phase of work at the Miller/Newport intersection is expected to be complete within three weeks.

Access for emergency vehicles, to driveways, and for pedestrians will be maintained to the fullest extent possible, according to the city.

Miller Avenue east and west of the project limits will remain open to two-way traffic.

This is the first of two stages involving the complete reconstruction of the Newport Road intersection as part of the Miller Avenue Improvement Project.

The work includes a new pavement section comprised of layers of sand, gravel and asphalt, as well as bicycle lanes, a raised-island pedestrian crossing on the east leg of the intersection, a left-turn lane on the west leg, and installation of new sidewalks in areas where none presently exist.

Also included in the plans are new sidewalk ramps and concrete bus stop pads to comply with Americans with Disabilities Act standards, sidewalk repairs, and stormwater improvements.

Work on the intersection will be phased with southbound Newport Road traffic being maintained on either the west side or the east side of the roadway.

As a safety precaution, city officials ask motorists to please reduce speeds and drive cautiously through work zones.

The contractor on the project is Hoffman Brothers Inc.

Madison Street detour

The city also planned to implement a traffic control plan on Monday for major construction on Madison Street that's expected to last through Oct. 31.

The street remained open as of early Monday evening, though.

Orange barrels ready by the side of Madison Street on Monday evening. The road wasn't yet closed as of 7 p.m.

Ryan J. Stanton | AnnArbor.com

Eastbound traffic on Madison will be redirected south on Seventh Street, east on Pauline Boulevard, and north on Main Street. Westbound traffic on Madison will be redirected south on Main Street, west on Pauline Boulevard, and north on Seventh Street.

The Madison Street project includes the replacement of the existing water main with new 12-inch and 8-inch water mains, installation of a stormwater management system, replacement of the curb and gutter, curb ramps, some sidewalk and a complete reconstruction of the street from Main to Seventh.

Access to all driveways is being maintained during the construction. Pedestrian traffic on Madison also is being maintained.

The traffic control plan for Madison Street. View larger version.

City of Ann Arbor

Ryan J. Stanton covers government and politics for AnnArbor.com. Reach him at ryanstanton@annarbor.com or 734-623-2529. You also can follow him on Twitter or subscribe to AnnArbor.com's email newsletters.

A crowd at Elvisfest 2012.

Jeffrey Smith | AnnArbor.com file photo

This weekend marks the 14th year that Elvis fans of all ages will descend upon Ypsilanti’s Depot Town to celebrate the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll during the two-day Michigan Elvisfest.

Whether your like four Elvis young and greasy or middle-aged and pudgy, Elvisfest has you covered. In all, 11 Elvis impersonators - or Elvis Tribute Artists—will take the stage, covering every look and sound of the King’s 20-year career.

And it isn’t just Elvis impersonators. Artists will also portray acts ranging from the Blues Brothers to Roy Orbison, rounding out the event’s oldies-heavy vibe.

The event usually draws as many as 7,000 fans to Ypsilanti’s Riverside Park, according to organizers.

Ticket sales support the Ypsilanti Meals on Wheels program and the Hope Clinic.

For more information, see the Elvisfest website.

Tickets are available at the gate or in advance at the following locations: Ypsilanti Township Community Center, 2025 Clark Road, 734 544-3800; Ypsilanti Area Convention Bureau, 106 W. Michigan Avenue, 734 483-4444; Fantasy Attic, 19 E. Cross St., 734 482-5409; The Rocket, 122 W. Michigan Avenue, 734 483-2291; and Little Ceasars at 1944 W. Stadium Blvd., Ann Arbor.

Editor's note: This story was edited at 9:45 a.m. for clarity on the CPL renewal process.

People shop for hand guns at Silver Bullet Firearms in Grand Rapids. CPL permit applications have been increasing in Washtenaw County since 2008.

MLive.com file photo

Since 2008 an increasing number of people have been filing applications for Concealed Pistol Licenses (CPL) in Washtenaw County, records show.

In the first quarter of this year, there have been nearly double the number of applications during the first quarter of last year.

Washtenaw County’s Elections and Administration Division processes the CPL permit applications. Staff is requesting the Board of Commissioners approve turn a part-time administrative coordinator into a full-time position to handle the influx of paperwork.

The office anticipates this year will be a busy one for another reason because of permit renewals as well.

CPL permits expire five years after they’re issued. The jump in permit applications in 2008 means a wave of individuals will be in the office this year to renew their license — for a $105 fee and some paperwork.

The Michigan State Police tracks all registered weapons and CPL permits. The following is from the annual concealed pistol licensing report for Washtenaw County:

• July 1, 2006 - June 30, 2007: 620 applications received; 546 permits issued
• July 1, 2007 - June 30, 2008: 722 applications received; 605 permits issued
• July 1, 2008 - June 30, 2009: 1,853 applications received; 1,563 permits issued
• July 1, 2009 - June 30, 2010: 2,360 applications received; 2,425 permits issued
• July 1, 2010 - June 30, 2011: 1,957 applications received; 1,999 permits issued

President Barack Obama’s win of the 2008 election initiated a fear among some citizens that the country’s gun laws would change - prompting a wave of CPL applications, said Ernest Milligan Jr., chairman of the Washtenaw County Concealed Pistol Licensing Board.

“People just have this fear factor that they’re going to lose their gun and lose their ammunition,” Milligan said. “I’m assuming they’re going to slow down soon … The next wave will be renewals.”

Milligan said the gun board has seen an increase in women applicants for CPLs during the past several years. Ages of applicants vary widely, from younger adults to individuals in their 70s and 80s, Milligan said.

In Washtenaw County as of July 1, there are 11,643 active CPL permits — 177 of which have been denied, 1,261 of which have expired, 125 of which have been revoked and 93 of which have been suspended, according to MSP data.

Michigan has a total of 502,433 active CPL permits. Wayne County has the highest number of active permits in the state at 98,607.

Ed Golembiewski, elections director for Washtenaw County, said generally it takes one to three months to process an application for a CPL.

After filing an application, paying the $105 filing fee and submitting a photograph, the office files the application in their database and requests any documents that name the individual from the MSP and the county.

The $105 fee is split between entities in the process: $64 goes to the MSP, $26 goes to the county and $15 goes to the Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office.

The applicant then goes to the Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office for fingerprinting, where they run a background check.

The Washtenaw County Concealed Pistol Licensing Board then reviews the applications. The board, which consists of a citizen member, a sheriff’s office representative and an MSP representative, meets about once a month to conduct their business.

Board members are often contacted by other law enforcement agencies and family members regarding individuals with CPLs that need to be reviewed, Milligan said. Milligan is a former sheriff’s deputy and is a firearms instructor.

“We review anyone with a criminal history issue,” Milligan said.

Licenses are most commonly revoked because of felony and misdemeanor offenses, state records show.

Applying for a CPL the first time requires an individual to present a certificate showing they have completed a firearms training course.

However, when an individual renews their CPL, they’re required to sign a written statement that they've completed at least three hours of review of the pistol safety training course and have spent at least one hour of time at a firing range in the six months prior to the renewal application.

“There’s no accountability where you have to bring in something to say you did it,” Milligan said. “I’m not saying everyone is a liar, but you know people are not telling the truth all the time. … In any event that we find that they’re not telling the truth, the gun board can call them in and revoke (their CPL).”

Amy Biolchini covers Washtenaw County, health and environmental issues for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at (734) 623-2552, amybiolchini@annarbor.com or on Twitter.

Ann Arbor Public Schools superintendent candidate Sandra Harris interviews before the Board of Education on Tuesday, July 9.

Melanie Maxwell | AnnArbor.com

• Related: School board interviews superintendent candidates
• Read the live blog of Monday's candidate interviews.

For the second day the Ann Arbor Board of Education will interview candidates to replace Patricia Green as superintendent.

The two-day process to find Green's replacement is being held at the Courtyard Marriott at 3205 Boardwalk Boulevard in Ann Arbor. Interviews began Monday at 10 a.m. and resume Tuesday at 8 a.m.

By evening Tuesday board members will chose two or three finalists from the group of six candidates. Trustees will then visit the finalists' school district before making a final choice.

Green's retirement is effective Tuesday. She served two years in the position.

Candidates to be interviewed Tuesday include Henry Hastings, instructor at Eastern Michigan University College of Business; Sandra Harris, retired superintendent of Oak Park School District in Oak Park; and Benjamin Edmondson, principal of Roberto Clemente High School in Ann Arbor.

• To read about candidates work experience, read their bios.

Kellie Woodhouse covers higher education for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at kelliewoodhouse@annarbor.com or 734-623-4602 and follow her on twitter.

What did you think of the show? Leave a comment and / or vote in the poll at the end of this post:

David Byrne and St. Vincent brought their musical collaboration to a packed house at the Michigan Theater on Monday.

Backed by a booming brass band of reverberating horns, the pop-art-rock-new-wave legend and his successful-in-her-own-right protegee concocted quite a spectacle.

In part, the show featured songs that Byrne and St. Vincent recorded together for their 2012 album "Love This Giant," which they subsequently re-imagined on their EP "Brass Tactics." Fans of Byrne's iconic late 20th-century band Talking Heads and his solo career got to hear some of the hits. And fans of the 21st-century indie rock singer had some St. Vincent songs to enjoy as well.

Byrne delivered his signature moves, exaggerated pedestrian gestures that are common-place enough to feel familiar but odd enough to be delightfully weird. He belted out his distinctive voice, at times, and provided balanced backup for St. Vincent when her singing and bass playing was at the center of attention. All the while, the brass blared and morphed into a noisy, lovely backdrop for the two leads to play around in.

St. Vincent found her own groove within the show's artful choreography. At the Michigan Theater, her quick, shaky shuffle became a motif. At times, she reminded me of a ballerina in a music box. It fit well with Byrne's somewhat style—a mannequin-come-to-life, it's been said. The brass section also participated in the choreography by marching, lining up, changing around all the time. It was definitely theatrical and visual.

Songs born from their collaboration included the opener, "Who," along with "Ice Age," "I Am an Ape," "The Forest Awakes," "I Should Watch TV," "Lightning," and "Outside of Space & Time."

They also revamped classics from Byrne's days as the front man of the Talking Heads, including "This Must Be the Place (Naive Melody)" and "Wild Wild Life," and encore performances of "Burning Down the House" and "Road to Nowhere."

There were also examples from Byrne's solo career, including a rendition of "Like Humans Do," "Strange Overtones," and "Lazy."

St. Vincent songs were also highlighted throughout the set, including her popular song "Marrow," and performances of "Save Me From What I Want," "Cheerleader," and "The Party."

Some Michigan Theater audience members shared their opinions after the show.

Andy Balwimski, from Berkley, is a "big Talking Heads fan" who regrets never getting a chance to see them. Seeing Byrne perform live helped fill the void. He thought St. Vincent was a good musical fit for him.

"It's almost like he's mentoring and reaching out to other musicians now, late in his career. It's neat to see him spreading it," Balwimski said after the show. "I really enjoyed St. Vincent. She's got a great voice and a unique style. It's really avant-garde, and with the horns it was interesting to see. I think it all married together really well."

Lindsey Taylor, from Haslett, "really liked the artistic direction and the energy," she said.

"They are really compatible on stage, and they really fed off the audience. David is such a legend and she is a legend of our age. I'm really glad those two hooked up. You could tell their hard work really pays off. They were all smiles at the end."

The fourth-annual Suits 4 Success clothing drive will take place from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday, July 11, at Kilwin’s Ice Cream Parlor, 107 E. Liberty St. in Ann Arbor.

Suits 4 Success looks to provide people being released from prison with suits and other professional clothing to interview for jobs. Local defense attorney Steve Tramontin said prisoners who are being released have a significant need.

“We accept clothing of any sort,” Tramontin said. “We focus on professional clothing but will take anything, work boots, anything that can be a resource for people trying to make changes and get a fresh start.”

Suits 4 Success works in conjunction with the Washtenaw Prisoner Reentry Initiative.

Mary King, the director of WPRI, said monetary donations also are accepted. One of the main areas of need are big and tall sizes, and money can often help purchase those sizes.

“The prison system is always challenged to feed people on very few dollars per day,” she said. “People gain a lot of weight and come out bigger than when they went in.”

For more information on the event, call 734-834-6706.

Kyle Feldscher covers cops and courts for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at kylefeldscher@annarbor.com or you can follow him on Twitter.

A 1911 Ann Arbor convertible at the 2012 Rolling Sculpture show.

Jeffrey Smith | AnnArbor.com file photo

Two prototypes—a coupe and a convertible—of the 2014 Corvette will be on hand as well as the futuristic Cadillac ELR concept car are among the more than 350 other classics for the 19th annual version of the show.

“I think we have a really great lineup of concept cars,” said Maura Thomson, executive director of the Main Street Area Association, which, along with Bill Crispin Chevrolet, sponsors the event.

“People who are into Corvettes and who follow the automotive industry will be really excited to see these models at the show.”

And the show’s presence right downtown adds another cool dimension to the event, which also features classic hot-rod tunes spun by DJ Surfer Joe, and live remotes from 107.71-FM to create a fun, family friendly event that typically draws as many as 5,000 visitors to the downtown area.

The event runs from 2-10 p.m.

“This isn’t your typical car show,” Thomson said. “This is such an eclectic mix and attracts people from all different walks of the car world, who maybe haven’t been here before and introduces them to what we have to offer here.”

“It’s all about connecting people.”

Admission is free for spectators. Pre-registration to show cars has expired and a $35 entrance fee for on-site registration, although there is no guarantee of available space, Thomson said.

While participants compete mostly for bragging rights, representatives from Car and Driver and Automobile magazines, as well as the Ann Arbor Observer, will be on hand to award “Editors Choice” trophies to the cars they deem to be the best in the show. In addition, Thomson said, an anonymous sponsor will award the “Skinned Knuckles” trophy to the owner who has done the most “do-it-yourself” work on an entry.

“This event really is a car lover’s dream,” Thomson said.

Mike Stanley

Stanley’s origins are from the Metro Detroit area, although he’s more of a Chicago guy now, at least when he’s not touring. He was named “Best Chicago Stand-up Comedian” in a People’s Choice poll done by the Chicago Reader and ranked in the Top 10 of the best comedians in Chicago by a poll on Comedy.com. Last year he won the "Last Comic Still Standing " competition in Rochester, N.Y., and placed in the top three of “Michigan’s Up and Comers.”

Stanley has a knack for breaking down day-to-day subjects with a keen wit, and he drives his points home fearlessly. Beware, if that kind of thing offends, that salty language sometimes peppers his act.

Mike Stanley performs at 8 and 10:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, July 12-13, at Ann Arbor Comedy Showcase, 314 E. Liberty St. Tickets are $10-$12. Details at www.aacomedy.com or 734-996-9080.

A rebuild of a crumbling section of Grove Road is set to begin.

Tom Perkins | For AnnArbor.com

Grove Road in the city of Ypsilanti will be reduced to one lane Tuesday as the road's long-awaited reconstruction project begins.

The road will be closed to southbound traffic, but one lane will remain open for northbound traffic throughout construction, which is expected to last until Sept. 15.

Stan Kirton, director of city’s department of public works, said the official detour takes southbound traffic east on Michigan Avenue, then south on Ecorse Road. From Ecorse, motorists are directed to head south on Harris Road, which dead ends into Grove.

Springport, Mich.-based Mead Brothers Excavating was awarded the $609,000 rebuild. The city is responsible for around $150,000 and the federal government will pay for $460,000.

The deteriorating stretch of road between the Interstate 94 overpass and the city limit at the intersection of Grove and Emmerick Street will be rebuilt. The road will be reduced to two lanes and two bike lanes will be continued from the township. Sidewalks will be added on the east side of the road and Kirton said there will be some stormwater drainage improvements.

The rebuild is the city’s only major summer road project, but it’s an important one both in terms of how deteriorated Grove is and due to the issues it caused with Ypsilanti Township.

Although the road is in the city, only Ypsilanti Township residents live in the immediate area and surrounding neighborhoods, and they were most impacted by the potholes.

“It’s a much-needed project,” Kirton said. “This is one of our worst roads and I’m sure Ypsilanti Township residents will be happy. It’s just a rough piece of road.”

The border between the township and the city runs down Emerick Road, which dead-ends at a southwest angle into Grove. The area south and east of Emerick and Grove is the township. A small slice of land that includes the road north and west of Emerick belongs to the city.

The Washtenaw County Road Commission repaved the road on the township’s side several years ago. During that project, it slimmed the township’s section of the road from four lanes to two while adding bike lanes. Kirton previously said that has caused extra stress on the city’s side.

Tom Perkins is a freelance reporter. Contact the AnnArbor.com news desk at news@annarbor.com.

The Brides Project designer and brander Kellie Bambach, Executive Director Barb Hiltz, Marketing Co-Chair Ashley Edwards, and The Brides Project Co-Chair Monique Sluymers stand with wedding gowns inside of their former space on West Liberty Street on Sept. 13, 2011.

Angela J. Cesere | AnnArbor.com file photo

The Brides Project, a volunteer-run shop now located at the Courtyard Shops at 1689 Plymouth Road, opened in 2011 in downtown Ann Arbor. Relying on donated wedding dresses, proceeds from sales go to help cancer patients and their caregivers.

Since it opened, the shop has sold 309 gowns and raised $107,000 for the Cancer Support Community of Greater Ann Arbor -- the organization that operates the Brides Project, the Detroit Free Press reported.

Among the 1,005 dresses that have been donated is a Vera Wang gown, first purchased by a Chicago woman for $13,000. After finding the Brides Project, the woman donated the gown to the shop, the Free Press reported.

Since then, one bride has walked down the aisle in the Vera Wang gown and felt compelled to return it to the Brides Project afterwards. A Romulus bride has now bought the dress to wear in her wedding next year, and also plans to return the dress to the shop, the Free Press reported.

• Read the full story in the Detroit Free Press

Amy Biolchini covers Washtenaw County, health and environmental issues for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at (734) 623-2552, amybiolchini@annarbor.com or on Twitter.

A thief kicked in the front door of a home in the 600 block of Grassland Drive in Ypsilanti Monday night and stole miscellaneous items, police said.

Ypsilanti police responded to the call, which came in at 8:30 p.m.

The victim told police that the suspect stole miscellaneous property after entering her residence, police said in a media summary.

Police are investigating. Further information, including what was taken, was not immediately available.

View Home Invasion in a larger map

Chelsea Hoedl is an intern reporter for AnnArbor.com. She can be reached at choedl@mlive.com.

Tad Weed, a powerhouse of a pianist who is usually found performing with his groups The Freedom Ensemble; The Dobbins, Krahnke, Weed Trio; or the Dave Bennett Sextet, will treat Ann Arborites to a rare solo show Saturday at Kerrytown Concert House.

No stranger to local jazz fans, he’s even earned the praise of jazz pianist and music journalist Leonard Feather, who wrote in his “Encyclopedia of Jazz” that “Tad Weed displays a very rare ability to cross over from dashing bop lines to rich impressions, he has the bases covered, from funky blues to the border of the avant-garde.”

Weed’s discography includes more than a dozen CDs, and he has performed with some of the greatest names in jazz including Carmen McCrae and Woody Herman. Since Weed relocated from Los Angeles to the southeast Michigan a few years back, California’s loss is clearly Michigan’s gain.

Tad Weed performs at Kerrytown Concert House, 415 N. Fourth Ave., at 7 p.m. Saturday, July 13. Tickets are $30-$15 ($5 students). Details at www. kerrytownconcerthouse.com or 734-769-2999.

EncoreMichigan.com's 2013 Wilde Award nominations—recognizing some of "the best productions, performances and technical work produced or presented by professional theaters from across the state" this past season, as determined by EncoreMichigan.com's team of theater critics (of which I am one)—were recently announced, and artists and productions in our area earned a total 20 nominations.

Ann Arbor's Performance Network Theatre earned the overall top spot as the most-nominated theater with 15; Chelsea's Purple Rose Theatre earned 4 nominations, while Dexter's Encore Theatre earned 1.

Wilde Award winners will be revealed at a ceremony on Monday, Aug. 19 at 8 p.m. at the Berman Center for the Performing Arts in West Bloomfield. To see a complete list of 2013 Wilde Award nominees, visit www.encoremichigan.com.

Here are the nominees from our area:

Best Drama: "Good People," Performance Network, David Wolber, director; "My Name is Asher Lev," The Jewish Ensemble Theatre and Performance Network Theatre, David Magidson, director (this co-production starts its run at Performance Network on August 8).

Best Musical: "A Little Night Music," Performance Network, Phil Simmons, director

Best Performance, Actor - Comedy: Sebastian Gerstner, "Lend Me a Tenor," The Encore Musical Theatre; Phil Powers, "Brill," Performance Network Theatre; John Seibert, "In the Next Room, or the vibrator play," Performance Network Theatre.

Best Performance, Actor - Drama: Jon Bennett, "Burn This," Performance Network Theatre

Best Performance, Actor - Musical: John Seibert, "A Little Night Music," Performance Network Theatre

Best Performance, Actress - Comedy: Aphrodite Nikolovski, "In the Next Room, or the vibrator play," Performance Network Theatre

Best Performance, Actress - Drama: MaryJo Cuppone, "Good People," Performance Network Theatre; Michelle Mountain, "33 Variations," The Purple Rose Theatre Company; Suzi Regan, "Good People," Performance Network Theatre.

Best Performance, Actress - Musical: Naz Edwards, "A Little Night Music," Performance Network Theatre.

Best Ensemble: Naz Edwards, Mitchell Koory and John Seibert, "My Name is Asher Lev," The Jewish Ensemble Theatre and Performance Network Theatre (the show starts its run at PNT on August 8).

Best Choreography: Rhiannon Ragland, "The Meaning of Almost Everything," The Purple Rose Theatre Company

Best Design - Sets: Monika Essen, "In the Next Room, or the vibrator play," Performance Network Theatre; Daniel C. Walker, "Brill," Performance Network Theatre

Best Design - Sound or Video: Quintessa Gallinat, "The Meaning of Almost Everything," The Purple Rose Theatre Company

Best Music Direction: R. MacKenzie Lewis, "A Little NIght Music," Performance Network Theatre

Best New Script: Jeff Daniels, "The Meaning of Almost Everything," The Purple Rose Theatre Company.

Jenn McKee is an entertainment reporter for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at jennmckee@annarbor.com or 734-623-2546, and follow her on Twitter @jennmckee.

The former owners of the Ann Arbor-based Ariel Computing Company pleaded guilty on Monday to one count each of conspiracy to defraud the United States.

Anthony Kumar Chaudhuri, 55, and Margaret Ann Chaudhuri, 60, were arraigned in 2011 on 11 counts of failing to pay employment taxes and one count each of conspiracy to defraud the United States and obstructing Internal Revenue Service laws.

According to a Department of Justice news release, the former Ann Arbor residents owned a hospital inventory control software company under the name of Ariel Computing and several other nominee names. The business was operated from multiple addresses in Ann Arbor and employed between three and 10 people.

Court documents report that between 1996 and 2008, the Chaudhuris withheld about $888,353 in employment taxes from Ariel Computing employees, but approximately $704,488 of the withheld taxes failed to be paid over to the IRS.

The 2011 indictment reports that W-2 forms were prepared for employees and falsely stated the taxes had been withheld and paid to the IRS.

Instead of paying Federal Insurance Contribution Act taxes, the Chaudhuris spent the money on “business expenses, employee salaries and personal expenses”, according to the 2011 indictment.

The Chaudhuris will face a maximum punishment of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine for the conspiracy charge. A sentencing date has not yet been set.

Chelsea Hoedl is an intern reporter for AnnArbor.com. She can be reached at choedl@mlive.com.

A man was found critically injured on West Liberty early Friday morning.

Daniel Brenner | AnnArbor.com

No one has stepped forward in last week's hit-and-run death of a man near Ann Arbor, police said.

The victim was identified by authorities Tuesday as 52-year-old James Samons.

Samons lived in Scio Township, within a few miles of where he was found critically injured on West Liberty around 2 a.m. Friday, said Sgt. Geoff Fox of the Washtenaw County Sheriff's Office.

A passing motorcyclist discovered Samons in the roadway in the 4400 block of West Liberty and called 911. The vehicle that had hit him was gone, police said. Authorities pronounced Samons dead soon after arriving on scene.

“He had significant trauma to the head,” Fox said.

Samons may have already been lying in the roadway when he was struck, according to police who said they have responded to several previous calls reporting Samons intoxicated and in the road.

Police said last week that Samons' injuries and the amount of debris left behind by the vehicle also indicates he may have been in the road before the accident.

Samons was known to walk the Scio Township area where he was found, police said.

“He didn’t have a car," Fox said. "If he went anywhere, he’d walk."

Fox confirmed Tuesday Samons did have alcohol in his system when he died, although he could not say how much.

Police continue to look for the driver involved in the hit and run. If you have any information, please contact the Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office at (734) 994-2911 or anonymously through Crime Stoppers at 1-800-SPEAK-UP.

John Counts covers cops and courts for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at johncounts@annarbor.com or you can follow him on Twitter.