FEATURE: St. Patrick's Day on Douglas Street

Commerce Township sophomore Alicia Potchynok, center, cheers as she and Grosss Pointe junior Craig Henderson see friends approaching the porch as the celebrate St. Patrick's Day on Saturday at Polo Village in Mount Pleasant.



Joseph Broaddus of Hazel Park, 25, and his girlfriend Ashley Macka of Berkley, 25, sleep in each other's arms in the trunk of their car at 4:30 p.m. after drinking since 9 a.m. Saturday on St. Patrick's Day on Douglas Street near High Street in Mount Pleasant.



Haslett junior Jay Twichell, far right, belts out country song lyrics as he props his foot up on a cooler while sharing a porch with seven other Central Michigan students Saturday at Douglas Street Apartments in Mount Pleasant.

FEATURE: Maple Syrup Day

Emma Burrell, 7, left, and her sister Sarah Burrell, 10, both of Midland, push hard as they work together to pump water for Finley Lake of Ohio, 4, who dips his hand into the gushing water from an old-fashioned water pump Saturday at Chippewa Nature Center during Maple Syrup Day, where more than 1,000 people toured facilities, made crafts and saw demonstrations and other activities.



Lily Newton, 2, left, and her sister Katelynn, 4, both of Midland, play around and atop a log fence with long walking sticks they found near the Sugarhouse dawning shamrock skirts and a green hat for St. Patrick's Day on Saturday at Chippewa Nature Center during Maple Syrup Day, were more than 1,000 people toured facilities, made crafts and saw demonstrations and other activities.

SPORTS: Hanover-Horton students rush court after win

Hanover-Horton freshman Cameron Sherman throws his fist into the air in celebration after he and other members of the student section rushed the court Monday when Hanover-Horton beat Vandercook Lake during the district tournament at Michigan Center High School. "It's a great comeback to see Hanover-Horton win after losing twice to them earlier in the season," he said. "What a game to watch. It was awesome."

FEATURE HUNT: Around Jackson, Mich.

FEATURE: Twin Day

Eighth graders Kayla McQuinn, 14, left, Katie Domina, 13, Alex Crane, 13, and Kara Dobulis, 13, all laugh after Domina started eating her cupcake, getting frosting all over her mouth as the joked around before eating their lunches Friday during Twin Day at Freeland Middle School. The school encourage sets of friends to dress alike for the festivity. All four girls are best friends, but they split into duos to make it a fun competition. "(McQuinn) and I are blondes. They're the brunettes," Domina said. "We are tutu twin-kies. They call themselves freaks. It's just so much fun dressing up and hanging out at school wearing these outfits."



Seventh and eighth graders walk through the halls between classes Friday during Twin Day at Freeland Middle School. The school encourage sets of friends to dress alike for the festivity.

FEATURE: Eye on the ball, running down the hall

Eighth-grader Maddy Boman, 14, keeps her eye on a giant bouncy red ball as she lunges underneath to head the ball to a classmate as she and others enjoyed a free hour of gym class Friday morning at Freeland Middle School, where the teenagers chose what activities they wanted to perform.



Seventh-grader Alec Pilon, 12, runs out of the cafeteria to catch up with his friend Joshua Murphy after lunch Friday at Freeland Middle School.

FEATURE: "Hi Mom"

Eighth-grader Ben Whitting, 14, of Freeland shows love for his mother in an unusual way by writing a greeting on his hand Friday at Freeland Middle School.

NATURE: Remnants of winter

SPORTS: Tri-Cities Swimming Invitational

Water droplets splash up from the surface as Dow's Michael Pixton takes a breath leading the 200-yard freestyle at the Tri-City Invitational on Saturday afternoon at Bay City Western High School. Pixton won first place honors, recording a time of 1 minute, 46.10 seconds.



Seven different teams line the pool along with coaches, judges and officials as they say the pledge of allegiance before the start of the Tri-City Invitational on Saturday afternoon at Bay City Western High School.



Dow's Ben Martin performs his final flip turn during the 100-yard butterfly at the Tri-City Invitational on Saturday afternoon at Bay City Western High School. Martin finished in first place with a time of 54.21 seconds. Martin also finished first in the 200-yard Individual Medley and second place for both the 200-yard medley relay and 400-yard freestyle relay.



Dow's Jared Justin, center, stretches his swimming cap down over his ears and onto his head before jumping in the pool for warm-ups at Tri-City Invitational on Saturday afternoon at Bay City Western High School.



Dow's Ben Martin comes up for air as he pushes through the 100-yard butterfly at the Tri-City Invitational on Saturday afternoon at Bay City Western High School. Martin finished in first place with a time of 54.21 seconds. Martin also finished first in the 200-yard Individual Medley and second place for both the 200-yard medley relay and 400-yard freestyle relay.



Dow's Rick Knoff, left, leapt into the arms of his older brother Joey Knoff, who laughs as they celebrate Dow taking first place and the championship trophy at the Tri-City Invitational on Saturday afternoon at Bay City Western High School. Dow won with a combined 362 team points, more than 140 points higher than second place Bay City Central.



The water bubbles as a streamline of air comes from Midland's Tyler Slater as he comes up for his first breath during the 100-yard backstroke at the Tri-City Invitational on Saturday afternoon at Bay City Western High School. Slater finished in fifth place with a time of one minute, 2.28 seconds.