Depending on where you are there may be public mapping projects that have better images. Your state might host it's own contribution to The National Map (nationalmap.gov). In KY, at least, it provides a much better resolution for rural areas. Or contact the state university's geography department.

There's also bing maps which sometimes has better coverage of certain areas than google.

thanks for the reply GBB,

do you kow of companies that sell satellite images,
the less expensive resellers?

thanks

I have not used this software as much as i wanted too, but consider checking out Global Mapper, they use different servers and mapping imagery than just Google

Do you have Long/Lat coordinates of the area you are looking for? I might be able to help.

42° 25' N 83° 1' W if it's the downtown region

scale bar is : 1722ft

~96.5mb

thanks much