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South Haven Tribune
308 Kalamazoo St.
South Haven, MI 49090
ph: 269-637-1104
fax: 269-637-8415
Tribune Highlights
Angel Baginske (left) and Shelly Reed of South Haven Nursing and Rehabilitation Center stand next to a fireplace in the facility's lobby they helped decorate for the holidays.
Deck the Halls
Nursing home staff challenge each other to make Christmas brighter for residents
By BECKY KARK
Editor and general manager
If you're not in the holiday mood yet, you probably will be after viewing the rooms and hallways of a local medical facility.
Employees at South Haven Nursing and Rehabilitation Center decided to make the holiday season merrier for residents, while having some fun at the same time.
They're hosting the center's first-ever Deck the Halls competition and they hope the community will make it an even more festive event by visiting facility and voting for their favorite decorations.
"We divided our staff into five teams and challenged them to make the facility absolutely fantastic for our residents," said Angel Baginski, director of nursing. "We'd like the community to come in and vote Dec. 15-19. The team that is chosen will get something very special."
Employees and administrators have spent the past two weeks coming up with themes and decorating hallways accordingly.
Activity Director Amanda Henritz's team chose the theme of "Winter Wonderland," while other teams dubbed their hallways and rooms, "Snowmen," "Welcome to Whoville" (from the Dr. Seuss classic, "How the Grinch Stole Christmas), "The Night Before Christmas," from the popular children's poem "A Visit from St. Nicholas"), and "Christmas Candy Land."
"All of the decorations were donated by the staff," said Nursing Home Administrator Shelly Reed, adding, "the staff also decorated on their own time. One staff member was here until 2 a.m. decorating the dining room."
The families of several employees also got into the holiday mood by creating their own decorations. A staff members' grandchildren helped design snowmen that hang on the walls of one corridor.
The end result has pleased residents, their families and staff members.
"I like the decorations," said one of the nursing home residents, who stopped by the lobby to admire the fireplace decorations.
"All of these decorations make the facility sparkle," Reed said.
Bangor Schools lays off 8 staff members
By BECKY KARK
Editor and general manager
BANGOR — Bangor Public Schools will have eight fewer employees on its payroll by the start of the second semester in January.
Board of Education voted to lay off the staff members, Monday, in a move expected to save the financially strapped district $233,000.
The positions affected follow: maintenance director, South Walnut Elementary School special education teacher; Community Education Center office para-pro, high school counseling secretary, Student Assistance Lab para-pro, South Walnut and middle school library para-pro and South Walnut part-time library para-pro.
"None of this was done lightly," District Superintendent Dennis Paquette said. "I wanted to keep the cuts as free from affecting students as possible. It was very difficult to make decisions."
The district was forced to make the staffing reductions due to a drop in student enrollment at the beginning of the school year.
"We lost 66 students," Paquette said. Fewer students means Bangor will lose approximately $500,000 in state aid this year because the amount of aid school systems receive equates to the number of pupils enrolled.
Bangor felt the loss more acutely due to compiling a $452,00 general fund deficit in the past two years. The debt forced the district to file a five-year deficit elimination plan with the Michigan Department of Education, which expects the debt to be erased by 2018.
As a result, school officials say they were forced to make cutbacks now rather than wait until the end of the school year - the normal time that school boards reduce budgets if necessary.
"I solicited help to make the budget cuts," Paquette said. "Myself and the administrative team met to see what we could do without. All of our employees were given the opportunity to hear our plight."
The Board of Education's finance committee also examined the district's budget and recommended the school board approve the cutbacks as outlined in the administration's final proposal, according to school board treasurer Mike Hescott.
The drop in enrollment this year came as somewhat of a surprise to district officials, who last year had estimated a slight increase of up to 10 students.
When the number of students decreased at the start of the school year, administrators began tracking the students who had left, and discovered many were from families that chose to move out of the school district.
"Some were moving to Arkansas, Mississippi, other states, some to Grand Rapids," Paquette sad. 'The economy is what I attribute it to."
Bangor will continue to keep a close watch on its budget," Paquette said. "We had suggested cuts upwards of $700,000. My goal is to get us out of this deficit situation. I would like to have us out before the (five-year) deadline."
Private campground owners opposed to campground proposed by state
By ANDREW LERSTEN
For the Tribune
Plans for a new state campground in South Haven Township are moving ahead.
But owners of several area campgrounds are upset about it, saying they're concerned about the competition.
The South Haven Township Board voted Wednesday night to take the first of two required approval steps to rezone state-owned property along Blue Star Highway next to Black River and the Kal-Haven Trail.
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources wants to rezone the 58-acre site east of Blue Star Highway from high-density residential to resource conservation.
The DNR bought the property for $830,000 after owners of a proposed subdivision development went bankrupt.
Some people have feared the campground will have more than 400 camp sites. However, Township Supervisor Ross Stein said the highest number of sites allowed under township zoning regulations would be 179.
But he said no site plans have been submitted by the state.That would occur after rezoning. The site has city water, sewer and electric service.
Tom DeRosa, co-owner of the KOA campground in Covert Township, asked, "Why don't we let the private sector accommodate growing campground needs?
Jim Horan of Sunnybrook Resort in Geneva Township said, "Here's the problem that we have: You guys are inviting competition from the state against private campgrounds. Why should we have to compete against a state-run campground?"
Board members did not reply.
Final board action on the rezoning is expected next month.
A letter from the DNR to the township indicates campground development funds won't even be secured until 2016.
Township planners recommended the rezoning, despite the opposition to the campground raised by the area campground owners.
NRC may downgrade safety status of Palisades plant due to alleged worker radiation exposure violation
By ANDREW LERSTEN
For the Tribune
COVERT — Palisades Nuclear Power Plant is dealing with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission once again.
Federal nuclear regulators say they have found a safety violation of "low to moderate safety signifance" at the Palisades nuclear power plant.
The NRC issued a report this month on its preliminary "white finding" at the plant, related to methods used to calculate exposure to radiation by workers who were replacing control rod drive housings between January and March.
The finding is preliminary for now, giving plant owner Entergy Corp. the chance to dispute it.
But if it stands, the NRC would downgrade the safety status of the plant and boost its regulatory oversight, NRC spokesperson Viktoria Mitlyng said.
Plant spokesperson Lindsay Rose said the company will respond to the finding.
The alleged violation relates to methods used to track radiation exposure, with the use of dosimeters, and specifically whether they were properly placed on the workers to most accurately determine the radiation doses. In its report, the NRC also had a series of photos of the workers, purporting to show how protective vests were worn but there were alleged gaps in the protection provided by the vests due to how they were worn or positioned.
The NRC concluded that while no workers allegedly received higher than allowed radiation doses, the issues had the potential to have low to moderate safety significance.
The color-coded violation system used by the NRC includes green, white, yellow and red findings, with green having the lowest safety significance.
The plan is currently in the highest of four safety status categories used by the NRC, but the white finding would bring the plant down to the second-highest category if it stands, Mitlyng said. The NRC did downgrade the plant to the second-highest category a few years ago, but it was a temporary status until it returned to the top category.
Bangor celebrates the holiday season
Santa Claus waves to the crowd while sitting atop a float in the annual Bangor Lights on Christmas parade, Saturday, Dec. 6. (Photo by Kelly Weber).
Drawbridge drawback
South Haven residents adjust to construction that divides towin in two
By ANDREW LERSTEN
For the Tribune
There's only one bridge that directly connects South Haven's north and south sides.
And it's closed for repairs until the spring.
It's a big job that is sorely needed, officials say. And the project was deliberately scheduled for the winter months to minimize disruptions.
Even so, the Dyckman Avenue drawbridge's closure means inconvenience for those who need to go between the city's two sides. The detour is about four miles long, and goes outside the city into Allegan County's Casco Township and into South Haven Township.
The bridge is one of 28 Michigan bridges listed as "structurally deficient" on a state list.
The $2.5 million project includes replacement of the bridge's electrical and mechanical systems, which date back to the late 1960s. Other work will include new steel deck grating, sidewalks, lighting, traffic signals and fixing sub-foundation scouring.
As inconvenient as the project is for residents and visitors, City Manager Brian Dissette notes it could have been much worse.
The project was originally scheduled to be done starting in the fall of 2013, but was rescheduled after the original bids came in too high.
The city had Phoenix Street, the main downtown road, closed all winter of 2013-14 for a major improvement project, he noted.
"Disruption of the traffic flow was already a huge issue, so that would have been more than most community members would be willing to take," he said.
The city went out of its way to post several temporary signs directing people to the north side, and has been posting weekly project updates on the city web site, Dissette said.
"It hasn't been too bad," said Jamie Cowell, owner of the North Side Memories food and liquor store on the north side. But she did say her evening business has gone down due to the construction work.
When completed, the bridge's infrastructure will have an estimated life expectancy of 20 years, city engineer Larry Halberstadt said. Anlaan Corp. of Ferrysburg submitted the low bid to land the contract.
The city received state and federal grants totaling $1.68 million toward the project. Other city funding sources include the Downtown Development Authority and and the street fund, officials said earlier.
Halberstadt said the project is on schedule to be completed by April 30, 2015. The bridge needs to reopen to accommodate the start of the boating season on May 1, as required by the Coast Guard, he said.
Bangor ready to ink pact with new police chief
By BECKY KARK
Editor and general manager
BANGOR — It looks like this town will have a new police chief by the end of December.
City council members and citizens met with finalist Elena Danishevskaya, Tuesday, and apparently liked what they saw and heard from the prospective police chief.
"The council likes her, the committee that interviewed her likes her, and people in the audience said 'hire her,'" said treasurer Lisa Imus, who is also serving as interim manager pending the return of Ryan Fellows who is on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of a hearing where the city council has made allegations against him.
Council members are still in the process of finalizing a contract with Danishevskaya and plan to present it to her to sign prior to the next city council meeting, Dec. 15. If she signs the pact the council anticipates she will begin her duties Dec. 22.
Danishevskaya is currently president of Holly Area Youth Assistance, a volunteer-based, non-profit organization dedicated to strengthening youth and families and to reduce delinquency, abuse and neglect, according to her Linked-in profile.
She has been president of the organization since March 2013. Prior to that she served as police chief in the Village of Holly, north of Detroit, for 1-1/2 years, and six years as police chief for Memphis, a small city east of Detroit. Before that she spent 20 years as chief executive officer of Assertive Control Tactics Inc, a training and business development corporation in Davisburg, north of Detroit. She has a bachelor of science degree in criminal justice and a master's degree in interdisciplinary technology, both from Eastern Michigan University.
Bangor has been without a police chief since Nov. 21 when interim chief Randall Pompey submitted his resignation. Pompey replaced longtime police chief Gary Baker, who resigned in the beginning of September. When Pompey began his part-time duties with Bangor, on Sept. 2, he was to work for a period of 90 days, according to City Clerk Kim Schmitz.
However, Pompey, who works full-time as police chief for Coloma Charter Township, said he submitted his written resignation Nov. 20. He said he did so after consulting with his township board supervisor and the township's police committee, which originally allowed him to serve as interim chief in Bangor. Pompey said he and township officials were concerned about liability issues regarding Bangor's police cruisers, which have been in need of repair.
Bangor City Council had shown reluctance in the past two months to repair the vehicles according to Pompey's recommendations. Since he was serving as Bangor's interim chief, Coloma Township felt their municipality could be held liable if Bangor faced legal issues over the condition of their vehicles.
"I felt even though they had hired me to be chief they weren't quite adhering to advice I was giving them which would put Coloma in line for liability," Pompey said. "I had mentioned it several times and felt I was being told what to do....They were micromanaging my job."
Audit: Bangor finances in order
By BECKY KARK
Editor and general manager
BANGOR — City council members here have received some good news.
An audit of the city's financial records for the 2013-14 fiscal year that ended June 30 shows all funds are in the black.
"The City of Bangor is in good financial position," said Robert Gerbel of Gerbel & Co., PC, of St. Joseph, which conducted the audit. "All of the funds have a positive fund balance.
Gerbel went on to say the city's general fund, which pays for government salaries, public safety, public works and recreation, increased its fund balance from $124,675 in 2012-13 to $224,746 for 2013-14..
The city's major street fund balance increased from $80,851 to $82,072; the local street fund from $22,640 to $35,646; and the non-major general government budget (which includes vehicle expenses, fire department costs, and other police expenditures), went up from $130,141 to $157,000.
Even better news came when Gerbel announced the city will not have to continue filing a deficit reduction plan with the State Department of Treasury.
Last year, city officials filed a plan with the state because the water fund was in arrears to the tune of $100,000. However, after raising the water rates earlier this year, the fund shows a slight balance of $10,544. However, both the water and sewer funds remain in tenuous positions, due to the high cost of maintaining and upgrading the systems, when possible. The sewer fund actually showed a slight deficit for 2013-14 of $1,503.
When taking into account capital assets, the water system shows a total net position of $905,514, while the sewer fund stands at $3.6 million, however, the bulk of that money lies in capital assets and cannot be used as tangible cash. As a result, city officials plan to continue closely monitoring the water and sewer funds.
Lawyer to represent manager at hearing
By BECKY KARK
Editor and general manager
Bangor City Council members are giving manager Ryan Fellows more time to respond to written allegations that led to his suspension in November.
At a meeting, Monday, the council voted to allow Fellows 18 days to respond to their complaints of insubordination, an unwillingness to follow the council's direction, misleading the council, refusing to communicate all information to the council, not managing city departments and lacking the ability to perform his duties.
Fellows has chosen not to respond to the accusations that were first brought up at a Nov. 20th meeting by council member Lucas Koenig. In a controversial 4-3 decision, the council voted to put Fellows on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of a hearing to determine whether the allegations are legitimate. Council members then instructed city attorney Brian Knotek to draft a formal complaint against Fellows and present it to him with instructions that he respond within 10 days to the charges.
But at Monday's meeting, Knotek told council members that Fellows' attorney needs more time to analyze the complaints.
"I have spoken to Ryan's attorney. He's given me a head's up his schedule may not allow for 10 days," Knotek said.
Ryan has the right to have an attorney represent him," Knotek said. "But his attorney may need more time."
In a 6-1 decision, the council voted to give Fellows' attorney 18 days to respond to the allegations. Mayor Pro Tem Lynne Farmer voted against the measure.
Although Fellows has chosen not to respond to complaints, he did say during an annual review, Nov. 19, that he has consistently followed a council-approved action plan for carrying out his duties. The council approved the action plan in 2013 and went over it again earlier this year during a workshop. Fellows said he requested the council go over the action plan in the workshop to "make sure everyone was on the same page."
Not everyone in Bangor thought the council made the right decision to put Fellows on leave in November. When the council did so, several citizens threatened a recall of the council. Displeasure continued to show at Monday's meeting.
When Knotek read the formal allegations against the city manager, two citizens protested with signs that read "no more lies" and "stop the municipal madness."
"I think our voices need to be heard," said Darla McCrumb, who held up one of the signs.
Council member Danny Fry, who voted against the motion to suspend the city manager, reiterated his stance, Monday, that the council shouldn't have done so.
"He was hired to do the job, he did it, now he's gone," Fry said.
In a related matter, Knotek cautioned council members that he will be presenting them with terms of a new contract in January.
Currently, Knoteck is paid a flat, monthly fee to take care of the city's legal matters. Since Aug. 1 he said he has spent over 90 hours dealing with the city's legal issues. The city was billed the flat rate of $4,800, however, Knoteck said if he had charged an hourly rate, the bill would have been $11,000. Knotek also said he has spent much more time dealing with the city's legal affairs than he had originally anticipated.
Independent counsel to hear ethics complaints
By BECKY KARK
Editor and general manager
BANGOR — It looks like city taxpayers, here, will foot the bill for an attorney to determine whether several council members violated the city charter's code of ethics.
Bangor City Council members voted Monday to hire independent counsel to take part in two upcoming hearings that involve Mayor Nick Householder and council members Lucas Koenig and Harold Bator.
The upcoming hearings stem from a written complaint from former city council member David Bournay alleging the three men broke several provisions of the city's ethics code.
Council members had scheduled hearings Monday to deal with the issue, however, City Attorney Brian Knotek asked not to be a part of the proceedings
"It is better for everyone involved if you have an independent person take a look at this," Knotek told council members. "An independent counsel would interview the complainant and the people being accused."
"I think it's the fairest way to go," council member Jim Tanner said.
"I'm for the third party," council member Fred Hicks said.
Knotek suggested the city contract with the Lansing area law firm Fahey, Schultz, Burzych, Rhodes PLC, which specializes in municipal governance. If an attorney can soon be retained, Knotek estimated the city should be able to wrap up the hearings sometime in January at a cost anywhere from $2,000 to $10,000.
Due to the council's decision to hire independent counsel, the hearings will have to be postponed until later this month or January.
Bournay's filed his complaints with the city Nov. 3.
"I do not file these requests for action lightly, but it has become increasingly apparent that the City Council of the City of Bangor has not been conducting their meetings and adhering to their duties of representing the citizens in a manner that is appropriate and conducive to effective and efficient city operations," Bournay wrote.
His complaint involves a discussion the council had Oct. 20, about whether to repair the city's leaf vac truck. City Manager Ryan Fellows and Mark Duell of PCI stated it would be too costly to repair the aging truck. But city council members wanted it to be repaired, claiming it could be done at a cheaper cost.
Bournay's complaint states council member Lucas Koenig accused the city manager of "playing games." Council members Harold Bator and Koenig said they inspected the leaf truck themselves with Bator obtaining a quote to repair the truck. And Mayor Nick Householder commented micromanagement is needed at times if the council questions information they are receiving from administrators. The leaf truck ended up being repaired at a cost of $2,200, versus a guesstimate of $6,000. Ironically it has broken down again.
By their actions and comments at the Oct. 20 meeting, Bournay alleged the following code of ethics were violated: Householder and Koenig's comments adversely affected the confidence of the public in the integrity of the city and were representing their own individual opinions; Householder was impeding government efficiency or operation by encouraging micromanagement; and Householder Koenig and Bator were acting on behalf of the city when authority was not specifically given for them to do so. Bournay also took issue with Householder's YouTube video of Oct. 25 where he criticized the city manager and PCI for not wanting to fix the leaf vac.
Because of Bournay's complaintS, the city council had to form a "controlling body" consisting of the city attorney, city manager and council members that are not part of the complaints. That group, which will now be represented by independent counsel, will determine if the accusations are warranted. They then can take a course of action that could include removal of the council members in question.
New kayak and canoe launch planned if city gets grant
By ANDREW LERSTEN
For the Tribune
South Haven city officials hope a state push to make Michigan's waterways more handicapped-accessible will work in their favor.
The City Council last week voted to authorize staff to seek a $100,000 state Coastal Zone Management grant to install a pathway and barrier-free kayak and canoe launch at Black River Park.
The proposed new launch would replace a floating dock used seasonally at the park, Assistant City Manager Paul VandenBosch said.
The new launch would include a roller system, so a boater could get in a kayak or canoe and roll down into the river. It also would have handrails to allow a boater to pull the boat back onto shore.
Councilman Clark Gruber said he was impressed with the design when he saw a similar one in Midland, Mich., this summer.
The grant would fund the entire project, City Manager Brian Dissette said. The floating dock could also be relocated to another part of the park, or to another location, he added.
The city Parks Commission recommended seeking the grant.
It's possible the project could cost as much as $113,000, according to estimates, but city officials are confident the scope of the work could be scaled back to meet the grant amount if necessary.
Mistletoe Market marred by theft
A Grinch makes off with one-of-a-kind jewelry
By BECKY KARK
Editor and general manager
The holiday season turned sour for the South Haven Art Center, this past Wednesday.
Someone broke in the previous evening and stole an estimated $1,500 worth of cash and jewelry on display for the center's annual Mistletoe Market.
"They cleaned out our cash box, our petty cash, even our donation box," said art center Executive Director Thea Grigsby. "They took whole displays of jewelry. We still have some left, but a lot was taken."
Art Center Communications Manager Emily Wondergem was the first to discover the break-in when she arrived to work Wednesday morning and called South Haven Police, who arrived at the crime scene and dusted for fingerprints and other clues.
"We have 15 cents left," Wondergem said with disgust.
The suspect or suspects apparently gained entrance to the art center, 600 Phoenix St., by throwing a rock that shattered a side door window.
"It happened sometime after 6 p.m. Tuesday and early this morning (Wednesday)," said Grigsby, who issued a warning to the suspect(s). "The jewelry is handmade signature jewelry. Whoever wears it is marked."
The art center has hosted the Mistletoe Market for the past 28 years. It features a wide variety of unique gifts created by dozens of local artists, who split the proceeds with the art center. This year's event began Nov. 18 and continues through Dec. 24.
"Fifty-seven artists make their Christmas money off this. Whoever did this isn't stealing from rich people, but craftspeople, it's just mean," Grigsby said. "Thankfully, we have insurance, but this is a big loss."
The Mistletoe Market remained closed to the public Wednesday, due to the break-in.
Some people, like Paula Duffrin of Zeeland, had hoped to spend time shopping there on Wednesday but had to be turned away.
"I can't believe this," she said regarding the break-in and theft. "South Haven is like our favorite place to visit. For christmas we love coming here. It's a shame, it's like stealing from a church."
Despite the break-in and theft, Mistletoe Market will still continue until Dec. 24, Grigsby said.
"We still have many items on display," she said. "We hope the community comes out to support the art center and the artists."
Council hopeful about hiring police chief
By BECKY KARK
Editor and general manager
BANGOR — Bangor City Council members had hoped to ink a contract with a new police chief, this past week, but it looks like they'll have to wait until this week to do so.
Members met in a special meeting this past Wednesday to hire Elena Danishevskaya to oversee the city's police department. However, the prospective chief asked for more time to go over the city's proposed contract and also to meet with council members, personally. So, city council members voted to set a special meeting for 7 p.m., Tuesday, to meet with Danishevskaya and discuss the contract.
"We wanted to get this done before Thanksgiving, but it would have been a rush," Mayor Nick Householder said. "It's probably better to give it more time."
Danishevskaya is currently president of Holly Area Youth Assistance, a volunteer-based, non-profit organization dedicated to strengthening youth and families and to reduce delinquency, abuse and neglect, according to her Linked-in profile.
She has been president of the organization since March 2013. Prior to that she served as police chief in the Village of Holly for 1.5 years, and six years as police chief for Memphis, a small city east of Detroit. Before that she spent 20 years as chief executive officer of Assertive Control Tactics Inc, a training and business development corporation in Davisburg, north of Detroit. She has a bachelor of science degree in criminal justice and a master's degree in interdisciplinary technology, both from Eastern Michigan University.
If Danishevskaya is hired, she will replace longtime police chief Gary Baker, who retired in September.
City Manager Ryan Fellows hired Randall Pompey, police chief of Coloma Township, soon after Baker's retirement. However Pompey only agreed to help supervise Bangor's police department until Nov. 21.
The police department has been facing staffing problems for several months. That situation could get worse before it gets better, city officials indicated.
Two of the three full-time officers have submitted resignations because they have secured employment elsewhere, according to City Treasurer Lisa Imus. Their last day will be Friday. Then the force will only consist of one full-time officer and two part-time officers.
Several citizens at Wednesday's meeting expressed concern whether there will be enough police coverage.
Farmer stated she talked with Van Buren County Sheriff Dale Gribler about Bangor's staffing issues.
"I spoke with Dale Gribler to make sure we have coverage," she said.
If Danishevskaya takes the job, city council members said they feel confident she will be able to hire officers and retain them for longer periods of time. Bangor pays its officers $12.50 per hour. Because of the low pay, many of the officers stay with the city for a year or two and then take jobs elsewhere that pay more money.
"She wants to make sure she retains officers," council member Luke Koenig said. "She has a background in building up a department."
Good news for Covert: Statwide report gives high school an 'A' rating
By JOHN MATUSZAK
For the Tribune
Covert Public School District, which has struggled with deep budget cuts and dwindling enrollment in the past several years, received some good news this past week.
Covert High School, along with Countryside Academy charter school in Benton Harbor and Watervliet High School were tops in a study of 659 public high schools by the Mackinac Center for Public Policy comparing test scores to the socio-economic background of students.
All three schools earned an "A," with Covert listed as the top district-run school and seventh overall in Michigan, and Countryside Academy ranked ninth among charter schools and 27th in the state. Watervliet was listed 61st, among the top 10 percent.
This is the second Mackinac Center report on high schools, the first released in 2012, and the center completed one on elementary and middle school students in 2013.
The Mackinac Center is a free market think tank based in Midland.
Pfeiffer said the Mackinac report provides "more of a fairer comparison" by filtering out the advantages of districts in a higher economic bracket.
"School rankings and report cards that mainly rely on absolute student achievement run the risk of measuring schools based on student poverty, rather than school quality," the introduction to the report explains. "By taking into account student socioeconomic background, this report card provides a better 'apples to apples' comparison of school quality."
The higher the percentage of a high school's students who are eligible for a free lunch, the lower that school's average score on standardized tests tends to be, according to the analysis.
Using test scores and poverty rates, the report assigned a "Context and Performance," or CAP score, to each school. A Cap score of 100 or more showed a school had performed above expectations, while a score below 100 indicated that the school performed below its predicted level.
The study included scores from the Michigan Merit Exam from 2010-13. The researchers determined that this provided a better look at overall performance, rather than focusing on one class of students. The MME, which consists of five different subject tests and the ACT test, is administered to high school juniors.
Covert earned a CAP score of 115.88 (the top school had a CAP score of 136.31). Countryside posted a CAP score of 111.37 and Watervliet's score was 107.97.
According to the Michigan Department of Education, 86.9 percent of Countryside's students were "economically disadvantaged" during 2013-14. The percentage was 97.1 percent for the Covert district, and 57.2 for Watervliet.
Schools were graded on a curve, with the top 10 percent receiving As, down to Fs.
Schools receiving Bs were Buchanan, Lakeshore, New Buffalo, Niles, St. Joseph, and South Haven. Schools receiving Cs were Eau Claire, Bridgman and Berrien Springs. Benton Harbor and Coloma received Ds. Dream Academy, in Benton Harbor, was listed among the bottom 10 charter schools.
The average CAP score in Berrien County was 101.
"These grades and CAP Scores are relative," the report's author notes.
"In other words, they are not based on an absolute standard of academic performance. Instead, they indicate how each high school compares to other high schools on standardized tests given the school's respective student populations."
John Matuszak is a staff writer for the Herald-Palladium
The Michigan Maritime Museum, which leases South Haven's historic lighthouse keeper's house, built in 1872, is seeking a $20,000 state grant to replace the roof and do other restoration work.
Museum seeks grant to replace roof of historic lightkeepers home
By ANDREW LERSTEN
For the Tribune
South Haven's historic lighthouse keeper's house at 91 Michigan Ave. may get a new roof next year, with the help of a state grant.
The Michigan Maritime Museum, which leases the property from the city, is seeking a $20,000 grant to fund a $30,000 renovation project.
The City Council last week voted to approve a resolution of support for the grant, on the museum's behalf.
The project would include replacing the roof of the 1872 house with a cedar roof that is in keeping with the era in which it was built, said Patti Montgomery Reinert, executive director of the museum. The rain gutters would also be replaced, and the porch would be repaired, she said.
The house is home to the museum's Marialyce Canonie Great Lakes Research Library and other museum collections. The grant is from the Michigan Light-Keepers' Assistance Program and would require a $10,000 match from the museum.
"Obviously it's a very significant building. It was the lighthouse keeper's house, and it has so much history here in South Haven," she said.
Museum officials will know by the end of the year whether the grant will be awarded, and the work would be done in late spring or early summer.
In other matters, the council last week held a public hearing on the proposed rezoning of the former Three Pelicans restaurant site at 38 North Shore Drive from waterfront commercial to single-family residential. The restaurant building has been torn down.
City planners have recommended the rezoning. The council will consider action at its next meeting on Dec. 1.
Council places manager on leave; Claim he violated city charter
2 citizens accuse council members of violating city charter's code of ethics
By BECKY KARK
Editor and general manager
BANGOR — Amid threats of recall, Bangor City Council members voted this past Thursday to place City Manager Ryan Fellows on paid administrative leave pending a hearing to determine whether he violated several provisions of the city charter.
The controversial 4-3 decision came about after council member Lucas Koenig introduced a motion stating the city manager is unwilling to follow the city council's direction, he stalls council decisions by misinforming them, he refuses to give the mayor and mayor pro tem keys to the city hall, and overall, he is not "acting in the best interest of the city."
Mayor Nick Householder, and council members Harold Bator, Jim Tanner and Koenig voted in favor of the motion, while mayor pro tem Lynne Farmer, Danny Fry and Fred Hicks voted against it.
The council's decision displeased citizens who were in attendance at the meeting.
"It's time for you to resign," Richard Grey told council members.
Jo Blasco, who was also at Tuesday's meeting,where the council gave Fellows a less-than-favorable review, stated, "I'm so disappointed in you. You ran an election where Bangor had all kinds of problems and I believed you and I thought you were going to address problems. This isn't solving the problem...If you think you have the backing of the town, you don't."
Julie France agreed. "Thee are people here with agendas. You don't represent the people."
"Recall," another citizen said. "I think that might be a good idea."
A town without a manager again
If Fellow were to leave as city manager, permanently, some citizens questioned how long it would take the city to find a new manager, who, if hired, would be the fifth one in two years.
"What's going to happen now when we don't have a city manager," Penny Moench asked.
In the meantime, Fellows will be placed on administrative leave for 10 days. A public hearing will then take place where the city manager can address the complaints. Fellows will be allowed to have legal representation if he chooses to do so.
When asked after Thursday's meeting if he plans to be represented by a lawyer, Fellows chose not to comment. He also did not comment on the council's allegations against him. However, a month ago, Fellows accused council members of micromanaging duties that are entrusted to city administrators, such as himself, the interim police chief and management of PCI, which oversees the Department of Public Works. He suggested council members take a course in leadership offered by the Michigan Municipal League. The training, which took place Wednesday in Paw Paw, was attended by only three council members.
Citizens accuse council members of wrong-doing
The council's allegations against the city manager come after two local citizens filed written complaints claiming the mayor and two council members have violated the city charter's code of ethics.
David Bournay, a former city council member, filed his complaint Nov. 5.
"I do not file these requests for action lightly, but it has become increasingly apparent that the City Council of the City of Bangor has not been conducting their meetings and adhering to their duties of representing the citizens in a manner that is appropriate and conducive to effective and efficient city operations," Bournay wrote.
His complaint involves the council's discussion, Oct. 20, about whether to repair the city's leaf vac truck. The city manager and PCI stated it would be too costly to repair the aging truck. But city council members wanted it to be repaired, claiming it could be done at a cheaper cost. Bournay's complaint states council member Lucas Koenig accused the manager of "playing games." Council members Harold Bator and Koenig said they inspected the leaf truck themselves with Bator obtaining a quote to repair the truck. And Mayor Nick Householder commented at times, micromanagement is needed if the council questions information they are receiving from administrators. The leaf truck ended up being repaired at a cost of $2,200, versus a guesstimate of $6,000. By their actions and comments at the Oct. 20 meeting, Bournay alleged the following code of ethics were violated: Householder and Koenig's comments adversely affected the confidence of the public in the integrity of the city and were representing their own individual opinions; Householder was impeding government efficiency or operation by encouraging micromanagement; and Householder Koenig and Bator were acting on behalf of the city when authority was not specifically given for them to do so. Bournay also took issue with Householder's YouTube video of Oct. 25 where he criticized the city manager and PCI for not wanting to fix the leaf vac.
The second written complaint was filed Oct. 14 by former Mayor Jennifer Carpio-Zeller after she attended a special meeting where council members planned to amend the city's budget. In her complaint, Carpio-Zeller accused Householder of not presenting to the city a quarterly update of the city's budget in a timely manner, refusing to let the treasurer present budget data, instead insisting the city manager do so; failing to approve the evening's agenda; and failing to allow for public comment. She also accused the council of approving expenditures prior to amending the city's budget.
"The purpose of a budget is not only to approve expenditures but also to control expenditures," she wrote. "The Budget Act requires budget amendments before any expenditures exceed the budget."
When asked after Thursday's meeting about the allegations made against him, Householder replied, "It's a joke."
Koenig stated, "It's easy for people to cast stones. I think it's an attempt to threaten my free speech."
Now that the complaints have been lodged, the council has to set a hearing to deal with the accusations. The hearing is scheduled at 6 p.m., Dec. 1. Per city charter, a "controlling body" consisting of the city attorney, city manager and council members that are not part of the complaints, will decide if the accusations are warranted. They then can take a course of action that could include removal of the council members in question.
Rather than be a part of the "controlling body," City Attorney Brian Knoteck suggested the council hire a different attorney to represent the city for the hearings, to avoid the possibility of a conflict of interest.
City council gives manager poor review; Citizens question council's motives
By BECKY KARK
Editor and general manager
BANGOR — If numbers mean anything, Bangor City Manager Ryan Fellows may be looking for a new job.
Fellows, who has been at the helm of the small city for 11 months, received a one-year evaluation this past Tuesday, and his scores weren't pretty.
On a scale of one to five, with one being the lowest, Bangor City Council members gave Fellows an overall average of 1.9.
"(The score) is indicative that Ryan doesn't meet standards," said City Attorney Brian Knotek.
But local residents in attendance at the meeting weren't buying the council's assessment of Fellows.
"I look at this and say this is a hanging jury," Jo Blasco said. "The numbers are so overwhelmingly negative."
Another resident, Jim France, said, "This review was used to drag Ryan down. If you do a review properly, it is to build somebody up, not tear them down."
In reviewing Fellows' job performance, council members rated him in 10 categories, including supervisory skills, fiscal management, communication with the council, relationship with citizens, and relationship with staff.
During the evaluation, several council members focused on a lack of communication between Fellows and the council.
"We can't make decisions if we don't have information," Mayor Pro Tem Lynne Farmer said.
Other council members say they don't think Fellows is the right person to lead the city; that he lacks experience.
"I don't think Ryan is a good fit," council member Fred Hicks said. "We're not running functionally right now. I don't think he has the ability to run it."
Hicks was referring to the recent departures of police chief Gary Baker and Department of Public Works Director Steve Lowder, and the pending contract negotiations with PCI, a private firm that will supervise the Department of Public Works, and the hiring of a new police chief.
Mayor Nick Householder agreed saying Fellows needs to "build the team from zero...we have to work our way up."
In his defense, Fellows presented the council with a two-page memo detailing the accomplishments he has made in the past 11 months. He said the accomplishments were based on an action plan approved by city council members in 2013 and then updated earlier this year. His work included improvements to Arlington Street, hiring a firm to oversee the Department of Public Works, undertaking a search to hire a new police chief, upgrading the city's website, filling committees that had vacant memberships for several years, establishing a city charter review committee, updating the city's master plan, pursuing grants, overseeing the city's water fund deficit reduction plan, recertifying the city's industrial park with the Michigan Economic Development Commission, and updating the city's election records.
At the conclusion of Tuesday's 2-1/2 hour review city attorney Brian Knotek stated that Fellows had told him prior to the meeting that he felt the council had lost confidence in him and that his ability to do his job was being compromised.
Fellows asked Knotek to draft five options for the city council to consider regarding whether he will stay with the city or leave. Even though the options were presented to council members individually prior to the review, Knotek would not disclose the document to the press citing attorney/client privileges that are protected under the Open Meetings Act.
When Fellows was originally hired in January he was given a two-year contract. If council members choose to ask for his resignation, it would mark the fourth city manager to come and go in Bangor in the past two years.
Gary Marten shovels snow from the sidewalk in front of Clementine's Saloon in downtown South Haven.
Say hello to winter
First major snowfall brings rash of accidents; More snow on the way this week
By BECKY KARK
Editor and general manager
Ol' man winter came a little earlier than usual this past week, dumping more than a half foot of snow that wreaked havoc with motorists not quite ready for snow-covered roadways.
"It's a little early," admitted Gary Marten, who spent part of his Friday morning clearing snow from sidewalks in front of Clementine's Saloon, in downtown South Haven.
The snow began during the day on Thursday, and began falling in earnest by nightfall. Along with it came a rash of accidents and slide-offs that kept emergency crews busy.
"On Thursday, dozens of single and multiple vehicle crashes occurred in Allegan County resulting in road closures, injuries and property damage," Captain Michael Larsen of the Allegan County Sheriff's department reported. "White out conditions, slippery roads and driving too fast for conditions were all contributing factors."
Two serious personal injury accidents occurred on the east side of Allegan County on US 131. One involved a deputy whose vehicle was struck while he was responding to a crash scene. Several minutes later a tow truck at the scene was also struck by a semi truck. Both the police officer and tow truck driver were taken to area hospitals for treatment.
Closer to the South Haven area, roads were also dangerous for drivers.
South Haven Police closed Phoenix Road early Friday morning after a motorist slid off the road and struck a power pole. bringing down utility lines. The road remained closed for several hours while South Haven Board of Public Utilities electricians and cable company workers repaired lines.
"We were busy all night," Jamie Washegesic of South Haven Area Emergency Services said, Friday morning. "Before 10 a.m. (Friday) we were running about all night."
Municipal plow trucks and private snow removal companies were also kept busy dealing with the first major snowfall of the season.
"We were ready for it," said Bridget Neal of Dave's Landscaping and Home Improvement of South Haven. "We made a few stops at 10 p.m. Thursday and were back at it at 3 a.m. Friday."
Van Buren County remained under a winter storm warning through Friday afternoon as more snow fell throughout the weekend, and it doesn't look like the start of this week will be much better, as another storm system is predicted to blow in by Tuesday.
Curtain closes on Foundry Hall — for now
By KIM INGALLS
For the Tribune
A local performing arts venue is closing its doors after over seven years of providing entertainment to the community.
Foundry Hall, which hosts more than 200 events annually, was given notice that it had to be out of the historic building it is located in by the end of the year.
The brick building, which operated as a factory for many years, has not been officially sold yet, said Prudential realtor Cindi Compton, but it is under contract.
"I can't give out more data than that because it is private," she said in a phone interview. "Nothing has been closed yet, but it is in the works."
Speculation has it that the new owners plan to open an antique mall.
What will happen with Foundry Hall is still up in the air. Some of its events like Open Mic have been moved to a different location and a different day.
"The last Open Mic at Foundry Hall is November 26," said Foundry Hall president Charlotte Resek. "Open Mic will then move to the Black River Tavern basement in December. We are still working out details for Song Swap and lessons."
Foundry Hall was established in October 2007 as an effort to create a community performing arts center. Run by a Board of Directors, the non-profit organization has been the hub for performances by a multitude of indie artists, community events, and recitals.
The Winter Farmers Market, which is held on Saturdays, is another event that was held at Foundry Hall. Organizer Darlene Westfahl has been meeting with local churches and places like the Warren Center as she searches for a new home for her market.
While the pending sale has left many organizers scrambling for new digs, it looks like Foundry Hall's Board of Directors hope to keep the music going by pursuing all avenues and opportunities.
"We are hoping to grow the education and community programs and work with the schools more and so hope to find a space that would be amenable to more teachers, workshops, group lessons, recitals, etc," said Resek. "This may be a separate site from performance space. We have a possible performance space, but details are still not there."
Parent Resource Center opens new mobile medical unit for pregnant teens
By KIM INGALLS
For the Tribune
Becoming pregnant at a young age is difficult. To make things easier and to make sure that young moms get the best healthcare they can at an affordable price, HOPE Parent Resource Center is providing a mobile medical unit.
"My concern is that teenagers who are pregnant are going to hold off and not get pre-natal care," explained center director Sheryl Postma. "Teens don't often have transportation to travel to Holland or Kalamazoo."
Thanks to a new service at HOPE, early detection is easier and closer than ever.
"We now have a mobile medical unit that comes every Wednesday," said Postma.
The Positive Options mobile unit is at the center from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. offering free pregnancy testing and early ultrasounds for women of all ages. The mobile unit is just one of the many services offered by HOPE, which opened its doors almost two years ago as a support resource for parents and pregnant teens.
"Our goal is to make the first year of life the best possible for baby and parents," she explained.
Serving both fathers and mothers, the center offers a variety of services from early pre-natal education to positive parenting programs. Along with the mobile bus, there is a variety of programs that address the importance of job skills and caring for newborns.
A new program - Earn While You Learn - combines education with obtaining some much needed personal items.
"Anyone who is pregnant or are parents can come in and pick a topic," explained Postma. "They watch the video and they get a certificate that can be used to purchase items that their child may need from our Itsy Bitsy Baby Boutique. The best part of this program is we just don't give the stuff away, they have to earn it."
Stocked in the boutique are items like baby wipes, diapers, bath tubs, bouncers and even handmade blankets.
"This community has been just marvelous," said Postma. "The AAUW gives us stuff. A local quilters group makes blankets. We get grants from Albemarle. Church groups, organizations and others in the community - everyone has just been amazing. We couldn't survive without any of them. Anytime we need something they have been there for us. It's been incredible the wonderful support we have gotten."
While the non-profit, volunteer-run center is open to parents of all ages, helping teens is at the heart of the programming.
Van Buren County' s teen pregnancy rate runs about 5 percent higher than the state average. A Community Needs Assessment completed by Bronson Hospital in 2013 showed that of the 1,000 live births - 49.3 were by teenage mothers. Michigan, as a whole, ranked higher at 44.4 than the national average of 31.3.
Postma said the center helps between 9 and 12 pregnant or parenting teens each week.
Knowing that being a teenage parent is difficult, the center offers a program called Teen HOPE. Free for pregnant and parenting teens, Teen HOPE utilizes the "Earn While You Learn" approach. Local educators come in each week and talk about subjects like healthy growth and development for both parent and child.
Several local groups that offer positive parenting programs hold their meetings at the facility, as well. The Moms Breakfast Club meets on Fridays from 9:15 am – 11:30 a.m. and on the third Wednesday of the month, the Great Start Parent Coalition holds its meetings at the center.
The HOPE Parent Resource Center is at 901 S. Bailey Ave, next to the Liberty Hyde Bailey Museum. For more information on programs or to donate, contact 269-872-3172.
New queen rules in Bangor for 2015
By KIM INGALLS
For the Tribune
BANGOR - A Hartford High School senior, who also attends the Van Buren Technology Center, was crowned Miss Bangor 2015 in front of a packed crowd Sunday in the Bangor High School auditorium.
Kaylynn Woodard, the daughter of Stacy and Alan Hembree, was also chosen as Most Photogenic. She is a member of the varsity cheer team, the Winterguard school float committee and is active in many sports including basketball and baseball.
Woodard was crowned Miss Teen Hartford in 2012.
Upon graduation she plans to pursue a degree in cosmetology.
Selected as first runner-up was South Haven High School junior Winter Ellis. Bangor High School senior Alanis Mellinger earned second runner-up and People's Choice crowns.
Chosen as Miss Congeniality was Hannah Hiatt.
Senior Damonique Gallimore was crowned Mr. Bangor. He is the son of Alicia Wadas and Cory Gallimore.
Miss Teen Bangor and Miss Junior Teen Bangor contests were also chosen Sunday. Casey Burrows was crowned Miss Teen and Emily Underwood earned the Miss Junior Teen.
Miss Teen first runner-up was Jennifer Rhodes, and Breanna Hecht earned the second-runner-up and People's Choice crowns.
Crowned Miss Junior Teen first runner-up was Hailee Stone and second runner-up Kali Reyne.
The pageant theme was "Rub A Dub-Dub" in conjunction with Blossomtime's overall theme of "Rhyme Time with Blossomtime. Emcees were South Haven High School English teacher Scott Jackson and Miss Bangor 2012 Hayley Melvin.
Spruced up VFW hall pays tribute to Old Glory
By BECKY KARK
Editor and general manager
PULLMAN — When Vietnam War veterans John Slater joined the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6134 five years ago he didn't like what he saw.
The building's exterior on 109th Avenue hadn't been tended to in years and the inside needed a lot of tender loving care, as well.
"It was looking bad," Slater said. "I said we need something nice for the community and for veterans."
But, thanks to fundraising efforts by previous commander Ed Anderson and other VFW members, things look much different these days at the post, especially the exterior siding of its entrance.
Above the door, contractors used colored siding to create a brightly colored American flag.
"I wanted something special on the front," said Tony Popielewski of TP Contracting. Old Glory seemed to be the perfect idea, but molding stars and stripes from metal siding strips proved a challenge.
That's where Tom Harrington of TP Contracting came in. "Tom figured it out," Popielewski said. "He made patterns and got everything to fit. He made and donated the stars from stainless steel."
"It looks great," said Slater, who took over as commander when Anderson, also a Vietnam veteran, became ill a year-and-a-half ago. "Eddie (Anderson) did a lot to raise the money."
But the completion of the renovation project remains bittersweet for the 67-year-old Slater.
A month ago, doctors diagnosed him with terminal stomach cancer.
"I was told I could live two months or two years," Slater said. "But, I have a positive attitude."
That attitude has been honed over the years for the Navy veteran, who suffered burns over 65 percent of his body in October of 1967 after a rocket hit the carrier he was aboard during the Vietnam War.
"The doctor didn't think I'd make it, but I told him, 'I'm going to make it,'" Slater recalled. "I hadn't been home for Christmas in three years. On Dec. 16th (1967) I walked out of the hospital."
But, after his discharge and being labeled "100-percent disabled," Slater faced a tough road ahead when returning to the States. He got a job as an assistant manager at a gas station in Kalamazoo and then took jobs elsewhere as the years went by.
It wasn't until he met his wife, Ellen, 35 years ago, that his life began to have more meaning.
"Since I married Ellen I have learned not to let things bother me," Slater said. "Everything has a way of working out. If the Lord says this is my time, it's my time. I keep plugging ahead as best I can."
PHOTO: From left: Tony Popielewski, Sandy Anderson, Dan Overkemp, Tom Harrington and John Slater are shown in from of the renovated VFW hall in Pullman.
Child abuse and torture case
moved to Circuit Court for possible trial
By ANDREW LERSTEN
For the Tribune
A Van Buren County case alleging child torture and abuse has been moved to Circuit Court.
District Court Judge Art Clarke III ruled enough probable cause exists against Randall Hamilton and his mother, Peggy, to bind them over to potentially stand trial on the charges.
Randall Hamilton, 28, and his mother, 46, are both charged with first-degree child abuse and torture.
The Hamiltons are being held in Van Buren County Jail in Paw Paw on $1 million bonds. A pretrial conference - a preliminary step before arraignment – is scheduled Monday, Nov. 3, in Van Buren County Circuit Court.
Police said earlier they believe the Hamiltons confined a boy, 11, for long periods of time by nailing him to the floor of their home in rural Geneva Township with metal strapping tape.
The boy is the son of Randall Hamilton's girlfriend, and
the Hamiltons were charged after an investigation into allegations made by the boy after he was found walking along County Road 380 around 2:30 a.m. on Aug. 26.
Police say the boy was also malnourished when he was found, and was treated for serious injuries.
Meanwhile, Children Protective Services was contacted and removed the boy and his younger brother, 2, from the home.
During the district court hearing in October, the public was not allowed in the courtroom while the boy was testifying, court officials said.
Flooding problem addressed in South Haven
By ANDREW LERSTEN
For the Tribune
The city of South Haven is getting into the real estate market. Well, sort of.
The City Council voted this past month to authorize city staff to buy a house at 801 Green St. for $215,000, with the approval of owners Al and Linda Crawford.
The house has a long history of flooding, and is next to a county drain.
City Manager Brian Dissette said plans call for the city to demolish the house in the spring and install a berm on the west property line to create a new water retention area.
The alternative to buying and demolishing the house would have been to to install larger drainage culverts and related work in the vicinity of the property, at an estimated $1.3 million cost, Dissette said.
In other matters, the council at the Oct. 21 meeting voted 4-3 to take the first of two required approval steps to rezone the former Three Pelicans restaurant site at 35 North Shore Drive from waterfront business to single-family residential.
If the rezoning is granted, owner Tom Brussee could split the 0.35-acre parcel into two single-family residential lots, Zoning Administrator Linda Anderson said. The restaurant has been torn down, and the site is too small for any conceivable business, Anderson added.
Voting for the first approval round were Mayor Bob Burr and Councilmen Andy Klavins, Jeff Arnold and Vickiy Kozlik Wall. Council members Suzie Fitzgibbon, Gail Patterson and Clark Gruber voted "no."
Final approval will be considered at the council's Nov. 17 meeting, the city manager said.
Bangor fall trash pickup planned
Bangor city officials have established Saturday, Nov. 8 for the fall trash clean-up.
City residents can place unwanted household items at the street curb starting Wednesday, Nov. 5. All items must be placed at the curb by 7 a.m., Saturday, Nov. 8, according to City Manager Ryan Fellows.
Most items placed curbside will be picked up as long as they are placed in "manageable bundles" - bags, boxes or containers. Bags and containers must weigh less than 50 pounds. Metal items should be separated from bundles.
Items to be picked up include furniture, toys, bicycles, appliances (any Freon must be removed and appliance tagged), home fixtures, carpet and other items as long as they are considered non-hazardous. Building materials, doors, and sections of fencing must be cut down to fit into the refuse truck and be lifted by one person. Latex Paints must be dried up in containers.
Unacceptable items include large plastic drums, concrete, large pieces of metal, yard waste, dirt or bricks, liquid or hazardous waste, tires, non-latex paints and varnishes, motor oil & solvents, any batteries, medical waste, large car parts, building demolition (large volumes such as garage or house demolition). Hazardous materials such as car batteries and appliances with Freon (air conditioners, refrigerators and freezers) cannot be picked up.
For more information please call City Hall at 269-427-5831.
1, 2, 3...Crunch!
As part of National Food Day, Van Buren Technology Center welding students Nathan Cole and Joshua Watkins of Bloomingdale, along with Trevor Footh of Lawton joined 10,120 students throughout southwesern Michigan who took part in the Michigan Apple Crunch this past Friday. Apple growers throughout southwestern Michigan, including Overhiser Orchards, McIntosh Apple Orchards, Sill Farms and Stephenson Farms, donated apples for the event. Food Day is a nationwide movement for healthy, affordable and sustainable food.
Not forgotten
South Haven church provides final resting place for unwanted cremains
By BECKY KARK
Editor and general manager
The two dozen people who gathered for a funeral service at The Church of the Epiphany didn't know the man they were about to bury. Only his name, date of birth and the day he died.
But that didn't matter.
Members of the South Haven church attended the service earlier this month for 61-year-old Maurice Harrison because they wanted to honor a life that had been forgotten.
"Claiming the unclaimed makes sense to us," said Rosie Thurber, a congregant of the Epiphany Episcopal church in South Haven. "When we first started doing this it struck us as a good thing to do and that it was needed."
Harrison is the fourth unclaimed person whose cremains are buried in the Episcopal church's memorial garden. His cremains had sat in an urn at Family Funeral Home of Benton Harbor since March of 2013.
"Unfortunately he (Harrison) had no history that we could find. I think he lived in a halfway house," said Fr. Michael Ryan, pastor of Church of the Epiphany. "The more we know about a person the more personal we can make this."
But lack of history didn't stop Church of the Epiphany members from taking part in the funeral service and burial for a man they didn't know.
Church members have hosted services for the unclaimed for the past two years.
"In 2011 we learned that cremated remains, unclaimed for five years or more, were left in storage at an area funeral home," Ryan said..
The startling revelation led Ryan and other church members to explore how they could honor people who appeared to be forgotten by their loved ones. In 2012, they reached out to several funeral homes in Southwest Michigan and offered to host memorial services and internment ceremonies for unclaimed cremains.
The first service took place in 2012 and cemented the church members' resolve to honor unclaimed souls.
"We feel like we're welcoming someone to our family," Ryan said. "When they arrived to this world someone loved t hem and they should go out with loving care. Belonging is at the heart of being human."
PHOTO: Rosie Thurber of Epiphany Episcopal Church in South Haven places flowers on the burial site for Maurice Harrison, whose cremains were left unclaimed at a Benton Harbor funeral home for more than a year.
Box-cutter attack leads to prison time
By BECKY KARK
Editor and general manager
A South Haven man, who stabbed his estranged wife's boyfriend in August, faces 18-30 years in prison.
Van Buren Circuit Court Judge Kathleen Brickley sentenced 45-year-old Stephen Simpson, Monday, after he pleaded guilty in September to assault with intent to murder.
Simpson had originally been charged with first-degree home invasion and habitual offender 4th offense, however, those charges were dropped, according to a clerk at the Van Buren County Clerk's office.
Simpson faced the three charges when he used a box cutter to stab his estranged wife's boyfriend, 31-year-old Charles Smith, 15 times outside her Maple Glen apartment, on Aug. 19.
South Haven Police Department officers found Smith bleeding in the hallway near the apartment.
Smith, who was cut in the face, neck and chest, identified Simpson as his attacker. He was taken to South Haven Health System, treated with stitches, and later released.
"(Simpson) used a box cutter.," said South Haven Assistant Police Chief Natalie Thompson in an interview at the time of the incident. "That is the reason the victim didn't sustain life-threatening injuries. He was stabbed 15 times. It was bloody, but the cuts didn't go deep enough, which was fortunate."
Thompson said Simpson, who has a history of domestic violence, had knocked on the door of 24-year-old Ericka Nicole Simpson's apartment. When Smith answered the door, Stephen Simpson forced his way inside. Mrs. Simpson escaped by locking herself into a bathroom.
"It appeared to be a love triangle," Thompson said.
Simpson fled the scene after the stabbing, but turned himself in to police the following day.
Bangor council restores fall cleanup services
By BECKY KARK
Editor and general manager
BANGOR — It looks like the City of Bangor will offer curbside leaf vacuuming and fall trash pickup after all.
Council members, Monday, overrode a recent staff recommendation to halt the two services this year due to budget concerns.
Instead, council members voted to repair the city's leaf vacuum truck at a cost of less than $4,000, and to offer a fall trash cleanup day where citizens can put unwanted household refuse at the curb on designated days.
Council members made their decision based partly on citizen input, but also because they questioned the reasoning behind not repairing the leaf vacuum this year.
Two weeks ago, City Manager Ryan Fellows and Mark Duel of Perceptive Control Inc., which oversees the city's Department of Public Works, stated it would be cheaper to offer one designated area for disposal of unwanted household goods and that maintaining the city's aging snow plows are more of a priority than fixing the leaf vacuum truck.
But some council members questioned the $6,000 guesstimate made two weeks ago for fixing the vac truck. They also questioned a recommendation Fellows made Monday that the city spend $4,000 to rent a leaf vacuum truck for this year. Council member Lucas Koenig argued that a quote to fix the city's truck for $3,200 made more sense.
"The reason I want to see the leaf vac fixed is people can live with an inconvenience if it can't be fixed this year, but they don't want to lose it," Koenig said.
Koenig and other council members instructed city staff to obtain several more quotes for repairing the vac and making sure it is operational in November.
Fellows stated after the meeting he made the suggestion to rent a truck because there is not enough money in the city's motor equipment fund to repair the truck as well as maintain city snow plows. As a result, the council have pay for the vac truck repairs from another budget, and that will require a budget amendment, which will take place at the next council meeting.
"Somewhere down the road we're going to run out of these magic tricks of taking money from other places," he cautioned.
Tentative dates for leaf vac pickup are the weeks of Nov. 3-7 and Nov. 17-21. Leaves in biodegradable bags will be picked up at other times. A date for the annual fall trash pickup has not yet been set.
In other city council news:
• The council voted to form a committee to review and update the city's charter. The committee will consist of council member Jim Tanner and Fred Hicks, City Clerk Kim Schmitz, City Manager Ryan Fellows and two Bangor citizens that will be recommended by the mayor for the council's approval. Local citizens who are interested in serving on the charter review committee can submit letters of interest to city hall by noon, Thursday, Oct. 30.
• The council voted to start up a police advisory committee. The council at one time had an active police advisory committee, however, it was disbanded in 2002. A police building committee formed several years ago to determine whether the city should build a new station or renovate the building that was damaged by fire in 2010. That committee is no longer active, city officials said, and the police department continues to share quarters with the Van Buren County Sheriff's Department at its Bangor office. The new committee will consist of Mayor Pro Tem Lynne Farmer and council member Danny Fry and three citizens. Citizens interested in being a part of the committee can submit a letter of interest to city hall by noon, Thursday, Oct. 30.
• Halloween trick or treating hours are set for 5-7 p.m., Friday, Oct. 31.
Roles of city council, supervisors debated in Bangor
By BECKY KARK
Editor and general manager
BANGOR — Bangor City Council members may be getting a few lessons from the Michigan Municipal League on improving their working relationship with city administrators.
City Manager Ryan Fellows reported earlier this week that council members have been micromanaging duties assigned to such administrators as himself, the interim police chief and the company in charge of the city's Department of Public Works.
"One thing that is important is following a chain of command," Fellows told council members. "The city council sets policy and should let the manager be the chief operations manager. When council members show up at the DPW and ask questions that's fine. However, when you're looking at how police cameras are installed that's a supervisory job, that's not your role."
Fellows also pointed out that a council member recently told a police officer he was in the way of traffic while responding to a medical emergency on M-43.
"The council member said to the officer, 'you're blocking traffic,'" Fellows said. "Even the president of the United States doesn't have a right to tell officer in the line of duty how to do their job."
A city official, who did not want to be named, said he also has observed council members trying to oversee what paid staff members are doing. The official said he observed several council members, two weeks ago, repeatedly questioning accountants who have been at city hall to conduct the annual audit of the city's books.
Council member Danny Fry admitted that several council members are making it difficult for administrators to do their jobs.
"It's time to cut the bullsh-- and let him (Fellows) do his job," Fry said. "I can see going to him once a week but I know people that are going into his office four to five times a day."
After the meeting Fellows said Fry's comment was somewhat exaggerated, but Fellows admitted at times he receives repeated emails, text messages, phone calls and personal visits from council members depending on the issue at hand.
Council members, four of whom are new to their jobs this year, agreed to allow Fellows to seek cost estimates for training sessions by the Municipal League, however, at the end of the 2.5-hour city council meeting Mayor Nick Householder defended some of the council's micromanagement practices.
"Micromanagement has to be done sometimes just for the common sense and smell test," Householder said. "We are accountable for the people's money."
Householder admitted that council members have gone in "groups" to observe the city's DPW equipment and police cars that city staff have said are in need of repair. Householder said council members question the estimated costs for the repairs because they think it can be done more cheaply or not at all.
Household used the analogy of aging brakes. If the brakes squeal, he said, it's a minor problem. "Even when brakes are metal to metal, they'll work," he went on to say, and then ended the analogy by saying when a person pushes the brake pedal to the floor and can't stop and finds a brake line is broke, then it's time to fix the brakes.
Pretty on the outside, ugly on the inside
Corrosion, lead paint, asbestos threaten existence of South Haven's lighthouse
By BECKY KARK
Editor and general manager
South Haven's century-old lighthouse looks great these days thanks to a fresh coat of red paint.
But the paint masks what's going on inside the 30-foot tall structure.
Corrosion threatens to destroy the beacon's base, seams, windows and stairs. Lead paint peels along the second-story floor and walls, while asbestos poses an environmental health threat.
Ed Appleyard and other volunteers from the Historical Association of South Haven spent the past summer painting the lighthouse's exterior, monitoring it against the ongoing threat of graffiti, but they know it's just a band-aid approach to preserve what is arguably South Haven's most popular attraction. That's why the historical association is embarking on a campaign to educate the public about the importance of preserving the lighthouse.
"It is definitely an attraction for tourists and local residents," said Jim Ollgaard, president of the historical association. "What would the pier look like if the lighthouse wasn't there? There'd just be a white signal light like you see on the North Pier. There wouldn't be the catwalk either."
The historical association took ownership of the lighthouse in 2012 from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The Corps built the structure in 2002 to help ships navigate to the local harbor. But over the years, the need for lighthouse keepers and lighthouses themselves has greatly diminished due to advances in navigational technology.
As a result, the Corps began turning ownership of lighthouses along the Great Lakes to municipalities or historical groups. When the historical society heard the Corps would no longer maintain the local lighthouse, members took notice.
"If nobody had stepped forward, they (the Corps) would have removed it and put up a signal light," Appleyard said.
But, South Haven's beacon, like many others along the Great Lakes, is old and in need of expensive repairs if it is to remain for another 100 years.
It will cost $275,000 to preserve South Haven's lighthouse, according to standards set forth by the National Parks Service, which oversees the preservation of lighthouses throughout the United States. By comparison, preservation of neighboring St. Joseph's lighthouse structures will cost an estimated $2.1 million.
"It's not an option," Appleyard said, regarding whether the historical association could try to do it less expensively. "That (preservation standards) comes from the Feds by way of the National Parks Service and the General Services Administration."
Why would it cost so much to preserve a circular, metal structure, though?
"It's a combination of things?" Appleyard said. "Some of the materials in the lighthouse — lead paint and asbestos — will have to be removed. The environment the contractors work in will have to encapsulated around the lighthouse. The company that is hired will have to build a containment that will protect the structure from the elements while they're working on it."
Two years ago when the historical association gained ownership of the lighthouse, it undertook a fundraising campaign that so far has garnered $55,000. However, the association wants to step up its efforts. So last month, it formed a separate lighthouse committee to undertake the task of gathering financial support for preservation efforts.
"The longer we wait the worse the structure will get," Ollgaard said.
The committee, with help from the City of South Haven and Abonmarche, has applied for a $65,000 National Maritime Heritage Education and Preservation grant and intends to apply for other grants, but many other lighthouse preservation groups across the country are applying for the same dollars.
To inform the public about the preservation efforts the committee hopes to undertake, the Historical Association of South Haven will host an information session Nov. 29 at its museum in the historical Hartman School, 355 Hubbard St.
PHOTO: Jim Ollgaard, president of the Historical Association of South Haven, points to rust along the seams of the lighthouse.
SH high school adopts new policies for unexcused absences, tardiness
By ANDREW LERSTEN
For the Tribune
South Haven High School now has consistent enforcement policies for students who are late or absent without permission.
This past week, Assistant High School Principal Jeremy Burleson presented the Board of Education with information about the new policies, which were implemented at the start of the school year.
Previously, teachers exercised discretion on enforcement of tardiness and unexcused absences, Burleson said.
Under the new protocol, a student who is tardy for the same class three times in a nine-week marking period, is given one hour of after-school detention.
The school has also started to notify parents by phone or email if their son or daughter is not in school after the first class period. Letters go out to parents when their son or daughter is absent without permission, on the 7th, 10th, and 18th days that it occurs.
Principal Jerome Sardina noted that the second letter sent to parents requires them to call the school and set up a meeting to discuss the problem.
In other matters, the board last week heard a presentation from Jeff Hoag of bond project architects GMB, Holland, showing the latest design drawings for new locker rooms at the high school.
More locker rooms will be added so that a seasonal sports team will be able to exclusively "own" a locker room for the duration of the season, Hoag said.
"We're gaining a lot of space, which is needed," said Board President Bryan Lewis.
County helps with trail's progress
By ROD SMITH
For the Tribune
ALLEGAN — Friends of the Blue Star Trail have something to cheer about after the Allegan County Board of Commissioners decided to take ownership of a portion of the trail in Casco Township.
The commissioners made their decision earlier this month after Casco Township Board of Trustees chose not to do so because of the cost involved in maintaining their own park.
The off-road pedestrian-bike trail, which is partially completed, is located on Blue Star Highway from South Haven to Laketown Township near Holland.
The proposed 19-mile trail starts at Baseline Road at South
Haven and will connect to the Beeline Road Path in Laketown Township.
From there a user could then travel along the Holland Metro Area Trails system.
The county's agreement to take ownership of part of the trail will allow the Friends of the Blue Star Trail to receive a $680,000 grant to construct a 1.8-mile stretch from Baseline Road north to Beverly Shores subdivision.
The Friends group is asking governmental units along the trail to take ownership of portions of it so that grant funding can be obtained. It is estimated that the entire project will cost $6.1 million to complete.
The city of Douglas has already completed its portion. Saugatuck Township has completed its section of Blue Star north of Douglas, connecting to Beeline at 64th Street, and a third section has been completed from Baseline Road in South Haven to North Shore Drive.
But the large chunk of the trail from Beverly Shores Subdivision to Douglas needs to be completed. As those portions of the trail are completed, either Allegan County or Ganges or Casco townships will be asked to take ownership.
Completion of the entire trail is expected by 2020.
As part of the Blessings in a Backpack program, volunteers prepare bags of food for Lincoln Elementary School students to take home for the weekend.
Students in need get blessings indeed
By BECKY KARK
Editor and general manager
A dozen volunteers, including South Haven Schools Superintendent Bob Herrera and South Haven Mayor Bob Burr spent part of an afternoon this past week packing lunch bags full of food for Lincoln Elementary School students to take home and enjoy.
It's part of the Blessings in a Backpack program that provides non-perishable food for children to take home to their families for the weekend.
The local program, which began three years ago, kicked off its 2014-15 year, Friday, Oct. 3, and will continue each Friday throughout the school year, according to Paula Marcoux, a Blessings in a Backpack board member.
The program is geared toward students who qualify for free and reduced lunches, which is about 80 percent of Lincoln school's youngsters.
"At first we limited the program to preschool and kindergarten," Marcoux said. "Now we offer food for the whole school, about 238 kids."
The program provides seven food items for students to take home, including cans of spaghetti and meatballs, instant oatmeal, rice dinners, granola bars, fruit snacks and boxes of raisins.
Volunteers from various organizations and churches spend an hour or so each Friday packing the bags, which then are taken to each classroom to be distributed.
Donations and grants from area businesses, churches and organizations have helped make Blessings in a Backpack a reality, according to Marcoux.
The local program is part of the nationwide Blessings in a Backpack non-profit program, which started in 2005 in Kentucky when a teacher noticed children at her school, who were on a free or reduced lunch program, returned to school on Mondays tired, hungry and sluggish. She realized there was little or no food for the children to eat at home on the weekends.
The program now serves more than 72,000 students in 700 schools throughout 44 states and the District of Columbia, according to the organization's website.
Roads vs. fall cleanup
Bangor no longer plans to vacuum leaves, nor offer curbside cleanup program for residents
By BECKY KARK
Editor and general manager
BANGOR — It looks like Bangor city residents will have to change their fall cleanup habits this year.
City officials announced Monday the Department of Public Works will no longer vacuum leaves nor pick up unwanted household items during the annual fall cleanup weekend.
Instead, residents will be asked to bag their leaves and haul unwanted household goods to dumpsters that will be placed in one location on designated days this month.
"There's not money budgeted for how we've done this in the past," City Manager Ryan Fellows told city council members during Monday's meeting.
"One of the complaints I've received is our roads need to be done. We've used 57 tons of asphalt to repair streets (in the past several weeks). Part of allocating resources to take care of streets is having less brush pickup."
Several council members, however, questioned the decision to change leaf pickup and fall cleanup procedures.
"Bagging leaves is more of a problem for people," said council member Lucas Koenig, who went on to say the city's DPW budget hasn't changed from last year. As a result the department should continue to use its leaf vacuum truck and pick up unwanted household goods during the fall cleanup weekend.
Fred Hicks said he worries that blight will become a problem if the city does not pick up household goods.
"I think it's going to be a disaster," he said.
Fellows responded that the DPW, which is overseen by Perceptive Controls Inc. of Plainwell, has been facing several budget issues that necessitates the changes in cleanup services offered by the city.
The DPW, he said, had to make a choice this fall between repairing the leaf vac or properly maintaining its three snow plow trucks for the upcoming winter season.
"The snow trucks needs to be properly maintained, " said Mark Duell, vice president of infrastructure services for Perceptive Controls. "They're older trucks and a lot of equipment is in need of repairs."
The city does intend to seek bids to repair the leaf vacuum truck, but does not intend to make the repairs this year.
Regarding the household pickup program, Duell and Fellows both said it is quite costly for the city. Because it takes place during the weekend, the city pays overtime for the workers who are contracted to do the job.
"Can you find an example where a community has people driving around picking up household items for fall cleanup? Fellows asked. "You need a dedicated millage for that."
Duell said the city would be able to set up dumpsters in a designated area for two weekends at a fraction of the cost it has paid in the past for curbside fall cleanup.
"It's not uncommon for communities to do it that way," he said.
The tentative dates for the fall cleanup are Oct. 25 and Nov. 1. Bangor city residents can bring unwanted household items to a dumpster that will be set up behind the Van Buren County Sheriff's Department/Bangor Police Department station at 14 Pine St.
Dates have not yet been scheduled for the bagged leaf pickup.
20,000 indivdiuals benefit from area food pantries
By TRIBUNE STAFF
Fall equates with students returning to school and Friday night football games. But for a local human service ministry, fall also means feeding the hungry.
We Care in the Name of Christ provides food for more than 20,000 individuals each year in the greater South Haven area. It does so mainly by coordinating food drives, several of which begin in October.
"We do it through the generosity of residents within the South Haven, Covert, Bangor, Breedsville, Lacota, Grand Junction, Glenn and Pullman communities," said Linda Olsen, We Care's executive director.
Covert Township is hosting a month-long food drive that involves municipal groups, churches and businesses.
"October is Covert's annual We Care Food Drive month and all foods collected are distributed through the food pantry at Lily of the Valley Church in Covert," Olsen said. "Clean trash bins are provided by Best Way Disposal Company and placed around the community including at Covert Public Schools, Covert Township Hall and the Covert Fire Department. Residents of Covert place donated items in the bins and volunteers then empty the bins delivering the goods directly to Lily's Food Pantry."
Two more food drives will take place, Oct. 17-18 and Oct. 24-25 at Village Market in South Haven.
Volunteers will hand out an invitation to shoppers entering the store on those days inviting them to purchase a food product from a list of goods provided. Donors then purchase food items while they are doing their own grocery shopping and drop off their food donation when leaving the store.
"For the last several years, over 3,000 pounds of food have been collected annually during this October food drive," Olsen said.
The October food drives in Covert and Village Market are just a few of the collections that take place throughout the year to stock five area food pantries that are located in area churches that work with We Care.
The ministry provides each of the pantries with referrals of families in need while the sponsoring churches are responsible for stocking the pantries and distributing food to those in need of food assistance within the community in which they live.
"There are over 100 active volunteers that work at least once a week who share their time working within the pantries that are involved with the We Care network," Olsen said.
Those numbers are interesting enough but how the pantries are stocked deserves recognition as well. The 37 partner churches of We Care take turns collecting non-perishable food items and then, in turn, see that the collected goods are delivered to a specific pantry in need of the items.
Monetary donations made to either a specific pantry or to We Care that are specified "food" are used to purchase items to provide recipients with a nutritional food package that will feed their family for two or three days. Funds are also raised for food each year when local churches, businesses and civic groups participate in the Black River Area CROP Walk which was held Oct. 5.
For people who cannot make it to the five food pantries, We Care and its member churches have also provided mobile food trucks.
"First Congregational Church hosted a mobile food truck purchased from Feeding America (a southwest Michigan food bank), "Olsen said. "Purchasing a food truck costs $545 which is more than cost-effective since each truck contains 5,000 pounds of produce and other perishable food stuffs."
The mobile food truck can provide 100 families who each receive 50 pounds of food.
We Care co-sponsored five mobile food trucks earlier this year, including a truck for Bangor Church of Christ, two trucks at First Congregational Church in South Haven and two trucks that were shared with South Haven Area Senior Services.
We Care food pantries are located in the following communities: South Haven, Covert, Bangor and Pullman. There are also two dinner ministries that serve dinner at no charge, both located in South Haven. For additional details or to request food assistance, individuals and families should contact We Care South Haven clearinghouse office (637-4342) or Bangor We Care (427-9581).
Waves douse the light
Waves from strong winds crash over the South Haven lighthouse, Sunday, Sept. 21, almost obscuring it from view. Dozens of people lined North and South beaches to get a glimpse of the waves crashing over the lighthouse, the navigational tower and the north and south piers. (photo by Kelly Weber)
Planners seek input on state campground
By ANDREW LERSTEN
For the Tribune
Two proposed new campgrounds in South Haven Township - including a state-owned campground along the Kal-Haven Trail - will be discussed by township planners this week.
The Planning Commission will host public hearings related to both campgrounds at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, township Zoning Administrator Patrick Hudson said.
The state Department of Natural Resources is seeking to rezone a former residential development site on Blue Star Highway to make way for a new campground.
Planners will make a recommendation to the Township Board whether the 58-acre site should be rezoned from high-density residential to resource conservation, the same zoning used for floodplain areas, Hudson said.
State officials have not announced a timeline for development of the new campground, which is next to the Black River and the state's Kal-Haven Trail linear park.
The DNR bought the property for $830,000, and plans call for both primitive camp sites and full-service sites to be developed there, DNR officials said earlier.
The site has city water, sewer and electric service available, but the former owners never built any of the planned homes there. State officials said earlier they're interested in having the South Haven Area Recreation Authority manage the campground.
If the township approves the rezoning, then the planners would oversee and consider the site plan review process for the state, he said.
The Van Buren County Planning Commission would review the proposed rezoning before the Township Board would be able to approve it, Hudson added.
The other matter coming up Wednesday is consideration of a special use permit and planned unit development approval for an 84-site campground on 11 acres at 70544 Phoenix Road.
The site is zoned multi-familiy residential. The current zoning would allow property owner Dave Hill to build 86 apartments there if he wasn't pursing the campground idea as a planned unit development, Hudson noted.
A hand up, not a hand out
Ministry starts program to help jobless people find full-time work
By BECKY KARK
Editor and general manager
A human service ministry that serves people throughout the South Haven area received some good news.
We Care in the Name of Christ is one of 20 non-profit groups throughout the United States to receive a grant from the National Association of Independent Life Brokerage Agencies Charitable Foundation.
The local ministry received a $15,000 grant to set up its new Employment Services program to assist unemployed and underemployed area residents obtain a full-time job that will provide them with a living wage.
"I've wanted to do this for years," said Linda Olsen, executive director for We Care. "We received the $15,000 grant and a member of our finance development committee gave us another $10,000...so we're up to $25,000. We'd like to have a total of $30,000 and think that will become a reality soon."
Olsen and We Care staff came up with the idea for the program after analyzing what services other agencies in the area offer for unemployed or underemployed residents.
"Michigan Works for instance provides educational opportunities for interviewing skills and conducting job searches, but what we don't have is internships for on-the-job training programs," Olsen said.
The We Care program hopes to attract churches and businesses interested in providing 16-20 week training sessions where participants would work part-time for an employer learning entry level skills. We Care would pay for half the intern's salary and would like the employers to provide a mentor or supervisor to help the intern develop job skills.
"That's the first part of the program," Olsen said. The second part would occur after the program participants finish their 16-20 week internships.
"Then we would work with other agencies to help the interns find something permanent," she went on to say.
Olsen hopes to launch the new employment program by the end of the year and will be searching for businesses and churches interested in providing internships.
"This is just the first step," she said. "I hope next year hope to have 5-10 on-the-job experiences available to people."
A final push
Bloomingdale officials come closer to raising funds for new pavilion
By ANDREW LERSTEN
For the Tribune
BLOOMINGDALE - If all goes well, by the end of October Bloomingdale Village officials will have the last $10,000 in hand to construct a pavilion next to the Kal-Haven Trail.
The village has raised most of the funds needed to complete the project, but is partnering with the Michigan Economic Development Corp. to help complete the fundraising by Oct. 25.
The MEDC has agreed to match the village dollar for dollar if it can raise $5,000 in donations by Oct. 25, said Nate Pilon of the MEDC.
Donations are already coming in. The village is using the "crowd funding" website Patronicity.com to raise the funds. Already, the effort has generated more than $2,000 toward the $5,000 goal to be matched by the state, village officials said last week.
"The Kal-Haven Trail is an asset to the region, and this project will provide new recreation opportunities," MEDC President Michael Finney said.
Added Village Clerk Steve Strong: "We are excited to be participating in this campaign and look foward to the day the pavilion can be used. Residents have raised over $16,000 for this project, and we are making one final push to get the rmaining funding needed to enhance the midpoint park on the Kal-Haven Trail."
To donate, visit www.patronicity.com and use the arrows to pinpoint the Bloomingdale pavilion project information. New visitors to the site will have to type in a password in order to donate to the project, Pilon said.
Village officials have already prepared the site of the future pavilion at the village's Mitchell Park. Funds to date have been raised through donations, scrap metal drives and returnable bottle collections.
Strong said plans call for construction of the pavilion this fall.
The village council will rent out the pavilion free of charge for events like weddings, Strong said.
"We're looking at this as purely providing a public service. One of our objectives is to not rent it out (for money)," he added.
The village has been working on the project for about two years. The total project cost is estimated at $25,000 to $32,000, Strong said.
District hopes to boost athletic contest attendance
By ANDREW LERSTEN
For the Tribune
South Haven schools officials will try several ideas this school year to boost attendance at district athletic events.
Athletic Director Jamin Olds recently outlined the proposals to the school board, and without a vote the board authorized him to proceed.
One thing the district has already done is to allow students to buy $1 tickets in advance of events, instead of the $5 cost at the door, Olds said.
Other ideas include discounts for students who meet certain academic or behavioral criteria, reducing ticket prices from $5 to $3 at the door for students, and giving free season admission for all athletes who are in a sport during that season.
To bring in more adult spectators, the district plans to implement family deals, Olds said. So if a parent pays full price, a child will be admitted free. And if both parents pay full price, all their children will get in free, he said.
Also, the district will be developing package deals for adults, such as a one-year free pass and shirt for people who donate a certain level of money, Olds said.
Superintendent Robert Herrera noted the district has budgeted $45,000 for ticket revenues this school year. One advantage of boosting event attendance will be more concession sales, which in turn raises more money for the Athletic Boosters, he said.
In other matters, the board this month heard an update on the $28.8 million worth of high school improvements planned to be done with bond proceeds.
Jeff Hoag of project architects GMB, Holland, said the bid specifications are taking shape and should go out in February, with bids received by March. The work, then, would be done in the spring and summer of 2015, he said.
The high school was built in 1961. The improvements include a new roof; plumbing, electrical and mechanical upgrades; library, cafeteria, classroom renovations; and technology and security improvements.
Construction is expected to begin soon on more condominiums for Central Lofts, which is located in the former Central School in South Haven. The complex is now owned by Erie Properties LLC.
Renewed hope for local landmark
By BECKY KARK
Editor and general manager
Seven years ago developer Scott Bosgraaf of Holland breathed new life into an old South Haven school destined for the wrecking ball.
He converted the former Central School on Broadway Street into Central Lofts, an attractive condominium complex, complete with indoor pool, two theaters, an expansive outdoor patio and exercise rooms.
But the real-estate crash in 2009 dashed his dreams, forcing Bosgraaf to deal with foreclosure after defaulting on a bank loan obtained through Huntington Bank.
However, the future of the 110,000-square-foot Central Lofts looks promising. New owner, Erie Properties LLC, of Kalamazoo plans to finish and expand upon what Bosgraaf started.
The company purchased the property in 2012 and has spent the past two years sprucing up the grounds and reorganizing the Lofts' condominium association. Earlier this summer the company began construction of a new parking lot on the portion of the building facing Superior Street, and also began reconstruction of the exterior building walls that face Superior Street.
"There were many aspects of this project that were not finished," said Larry Hollenbeck, managing partner of Eric Properties, in reference to the parking lot and exterior walls.
Hollenbeck, a Kalamazoo real estate developer and a former NASCAR driver, has also been turning his attention to finding new owners for Lofts' empty condos.
"The north building (which faces Erie Street) was completed six years ago. Nine of the 23 units were sold, but then the economy took the project into foreclosure," he said.
Since acquiring Central Lofts, Erie Properties has sold nine more condos and has two sales pending, according to Hollenbeck.
Riding on the increased interest from buyers, Hollenbeck hopes to construct more condos at Central Lofts.
"The property is split into three phases. Phase 1 – the north side of the building – is fairly well completed," Hollenbeck said. Phase II, he went on to say, is the east side of the building (facing Broadway Street) and Phase III is the former vocational education building on Superior Street.
Erie Street Properties hopes to create 8-10 lofts on the third-story level of the East side of the building and convert the first two levels for commercial businesses or public institutions.
The company then hopes to convert the former vocational building into 8-10 condos that would have two to three bedrooms, each.
And then there's the grassy area of the complex that faces Central Street. When South Haven Public Schools owned the former Central School it leased the area to the city, which referred to it as Baer Park. But when the property was sold the park then belonged to Central Lofts.
Hollenbeck said he hopes to work out an arrangement with the city so that the area can once again become a public park, but he wants to make sure there's enough space for people to park their cars.
Site plans for phase II and III still need to be approved by the South Haven Planning Commission before work can proceed, according to Linda Anderson, city zoning administrator.
Citizens quiz council about police chief's retirement
By BECKY KARK
Editor and general manager
Who's next?
That's the question several Bangor city residents are asking city council members following the recent early retirements of Department of Public Works Director Steve Lowder and Police Chief Gary Baker.
Citizens packed into the small city council chamber, Monday, to voice their disapproval over the two personnel issues.
"I am deeply saddened by the recent early retirement of yet another longtime Bangor resident and Bangor employee," said former Bangor mayor Jennifer Carpio Zeller, regarding Baker's retirement on Sept. 2 and the hiring of Interim Police Chief Randall Pompey the following day.
"Most of you sitting up there, with the exception of Danny Fry, at some time have shared disparaging remarks about both men – Steve Lowder and Gary Baker – on the record. Now you have gotten your way and they are gone. So now what?"
Mike Hescott, owner of Freestone Pickles in Bangor, voiced similar concerns.
"I believe that this council has acted in a reprehensible manner regarding the retirement of chief Baker," he said. "I am of the distinct impression that certain members of this council have, for a number of years, had it in for our police department in general and Chief Gary Baker specifically... Even more disturbing is that one or two council members have manipulated and or bullied the rest of the council into believing that doing away with our police department will be for the good of the citizens of Bangor. I, for one, believe quite the opposite."
City council members and the city manager did not respond to the allegations during the meeting.
Afterwards, however, several of them did.
"That's not true," Mayor Pro Tem Lynne Farmer regarding allegations that council members directed City Manager Ryan Fellows to force both Lowder and Baker to retire. "Does the council have input? Yes, but it's the city manager's decision (to hire or fire employees. The city manager manages the city and the council's responsibility is to run the meetings and set policy."
She also refuted allegations that the council wants to get rid of the police department.
"Those are rumors," she said. "We just voted to spend money on a new police car and bullet-proof vests. We want our department to stay and we want them to function well."
But, city council member Danny Fry, who was elected in May, said he's not so sure that Fellows acted independently in his contract negotiations with Lowder and Baker.
"Why would Ryan be here four to five months and initiate that?" Fry asked. "There's been rumors going on for two to three years that they (some of the council members) wanted to get rid of the police chief and Steve Lowder...but Ryan will take the fall."
Both Mayor Nick Householder and council members Lucas Koenig and Jim Tanner have been critical of the police department in the past, regarding budgeting matters and the need for a new police building, but they did not return phone calls.
The controversy surrounding the city's department heads began in April when Lowder, a 40-year employee, tendered his retirement. At the time, Fellows said he wasn't aware of Lowder's intentions to retire until after he received his resignation letter.
When asked if he had reprimanded Lowder, Fellows said, "there's nothing in writing. People make choices. I thank Mr. Lowder for his years of service and appreciate his willingness for a smooth transition."
Then, earlier this month, Baker, who had been police chief for 18 years, submitted a retirement letter after a contract negotiation meeting with Fellows.
"He had been working without a contract for a half-year before I started," Fellows said in a previous interview. "After I started, it (negotiating a contract) was on my list of things to do. We talked about where he wanted to end up going. Was it retirement or what? He settled on retirement."
Lowder has not commented publicly why he retired, and Baker could not be reached for comment.
Fellows said after Monday's meeting that Baker chose to retire. City attorney Brian Knotek is currently putting together a retirement settlement package for Baker to review.
In other city council news:
• Council members were informed that wastewater from Bangor Post Office is ending up in the city's stormwater system. The situation has been occurring since the 1960s when the office's sewer system was improperly connected to the stormwater system, rather than a sanitary sewer line. Lately, the post office has experienced sewage backups. To rectify the matter, the office has been using a porta-potty for its staff until the drain can be connected properly. Some council members questioned whether the city should pay for the work, however, City Manager Ryan Fellows said it is the property owner's responsibility to pay the bill. "Per City Ordinances it is the property owner's responsibility to connect to the sanitary sewer, and it is unlawful to discharge wastewater to a natural water course," Fellows said after the meeting. City staff, however, will work with post office officials and the building owner to determine the best way for the sewer line to be connected properly.
• Council members approved purchase of two bullet-proof police vests for the police department at a cost of approximately $4,000.
• Council members approved the purchase of a new police cruiser for the police department to be purchased in 2015, pending approval of a federal grant that would pick up 40 percent of the cost. City officials estimate the new SUV will cost $25,000.
Aldi opens its door in South Haven
By BECKY KARK
Editor and general manager
When South Haven's newest discount grocery store opened Thursday, it didn't take long for its parking lot to fill up.
German-based Aldi celebrated its grand opening at 9 a.m. amidst a crowd of shoppers eager to get a first glance at the new 17,000-square-foot store on 73rd Street in South Haven Township.
"I want to get inside and see what it looks like," said South Haven resident Judy Beckwith, who was standing outside the store along with about 100 other shoppers waiting for the store to officially open. "I live in Maxwell Place senior apartments, nearby. This will definitely be good in the winter when it's hard to get around. It's conveniently located for me. It will be a blessing."
Glerea Ruth Lower of South Haven was also another shopper waiting to get in the store.
"I heard from friends they have really good sales," she said. "Other stores are expensive. Being on disability you have to live on a budget."
Aldi's has built a reputation for offering low-price grocery and household items. It does so by marketing its own brands of merchandise and limiting varieties of the same products. Customers also pack their own groceries and use their own bags.
But company officials stress the quality of its merchandise remains high.
"Ninety percent of Aldi brands are from the nation's leading producers," said Ryan Fritsch, the company's Webberville division vice president. "Customers can find a majority of their major shopping list at Aldi. We have fresh meats, 80 varieties of fresh produce, dairy products and many items you would find at a traditional deli that are pre-packaged in a container.
The store also offers "special weekly buys" of 20-30 non-food products that include toys, garden items and small appliances.
Aldi's, which will employ 20 people at its South Haven store, chose to locate here because it felt there is customer demand.
"We choose specific locations by population density and traffic patterns," Fritsch said. "We want to be conveniently based so shoppers get in and out and are satisfied with their shopping experience. The location we have in South Haven is good."
Aldi's, which has 1,300 locations throughout the United States, plans to open more stores in the future.
"In the next five years we plan to open 650 stores," Fritsch said.
Community leaders, who were at the grand opening, said they are pleased to see Aldi's open.
"It's another business coming to this community. It will create more jobs. It's good for the community," said Ross Stein, South Haven Township supervisor.
"I think they've got a good niche that caters to certain shoppers," said Kathy Wagaman, executive director of the South Haven Area Chamber of Commerce. "Anytime we can see growth and full-time jobs that's good. I've already heard some of their full-time employees want to move here and purchase homes"
State Rep. Aric Nesbitt is shwon in the foreground riding a bike along with other state legislators and their families after a regional tourism conference that took place this summer in South Haven.
South Haven officials hope bike-friendly streets, new trails will beckon more outdoor recreation visitors
By BECKY KARK
Editor and general manager
Motorists driving along South Haven's streets this summer more than likely noticed a growing number of bicyclists.
Not just athletes in training, but parents with children, couples, even older adults.
That's good news for the city, which has leveraged state grants and local dollars in the past three years to fund more than $2 million worth of amenities to make the town more accessible to pedestrians and bicyclists.
The improvements include the $1.6 million extension of Kal-Haven Trail into the city of South Haven; the $360,000 extension of the Van Buren Trail into the city limits, the establishment of bike path signage through the city's downtown and south side; and construction of a downtown bike staging area and restrooms at Huron and Kalamazoo streets.
But city officials want to ensure they made a good investment.
So earlier this summer they installed trail counters at the city entrances oto the Kal-Haven and Van Buren trails.
"We want to know how effective the trails are," said Assistant City Manager Paul VandenBosch. "Is it worth it to spend money on trails?"
The city has installed battery-operated infrared sensors at trail entrances on Elkenburg Street and Aylworth Avenue, which are entrances from the Van Buren Trail into the city, and on Dyckman Street, which is the Kal-Haven Trails entrance into the city.
According to data recorded from July 29-Aug. 21, an average of 67 pedestrians and bicyclists crossed the trails on a daily basis at Aylworth Avenue; 72 at Maple Street and 312 at Dyckman .
"I'm a little concerned about the counter on Dyckman," VandenBosch said. The reading shows very high numbers. It might be picking up cars on Dyckman Street."
Although the counters were just installed this summer, city officials and businesses that cater to bicyclists think the number of people using the trails and marked bike routes has increased in the past two years.
"I think it is up just by observation," VandenBosch said. "The most striking thing is the number of cars with bikes on top."
"You can see it (the increase of bicyclists)," said Scott Zoet, owner of Rock 'n Road Cycle, 315 Broadway St. "There seems to be an awakening for outdoor activity. It's occurring throughout the United States...I think the city is factoring into that by becoming more bicycle-friendly."
Lisa Shanley, executive director of the South Haven/Van Buren County Convention and Visitors Burea, said it's too soon to tell just what impact bicyclists have had on the tourism economy, but said interest shown on the bureau's website looks promising.
"Our research shows they (tourists) are definitely seeking more information about biking," Shanley said. " For example, we have seen a dramatic increase
in traffic on the bike routes section of our website, which shows an 80 percent increase."
Zoet and city officials think the economic benefits of bicycling and hiking trails will improve even more when the Michigan Department of Transportation extends a portion of the Van Buren Trail to Van Buren State Park and when the Department of Natural Resources works out an agreement with the city to develop a new state park and campground on Blue Star Highway next to the Kal-Haven Trail.
"Once the state park gets there that crowd (people who like to bicycle and camp) will come," Zoet said. "We'll see another boost to the economy and another type of person enjoying our community."
City officials have been told MDOT plans to start paving the Van Buren Trail spur to Van Buren State Park in November.
But development of the proposed state park on Blue Star Highway in South Haven Township will take more time.
"We would love to see it happen quickly but there's quite a bit of planning and design that needs to happen," VandenBosch said. "We have to get zoning and a site plan approved by the township," he said. "We also have to get a lease agreement with the state."
If a lease agreement for operation of the park is obtained, the city would need to decide whether it wants to operate the facility or whether the recreation authority that consists of officials from the city and township, will do so.
The DNR spent $830,000 earlier this year to purchase the site for the new state park, located on a 58-acre site next to the Black River. DNR officials are interested in the site because it marks the first time a state park will to be located next to a linear trail. The availability of city water, sewer and electric service also caught the DNR's attention.
"The property would be an asset to the state park system due to the close proximity of the Kal-Haven Trail leading to nearby South Haven, the Black River and the potential for full hook-up camping opportunities," Paul Yauk of the DNR stated in a letter to South Haven Township officials.
Sheriff picks new second in command
By ANDREW LERSTEN
For the Tribune
PAW PAW - Van Buren County Sheriff Dale Gribler has announced several promotions and job transfers triggered by the recent retirement of Undersheriff Gabrielle Rought.
The sheriff's department is getting a new undersheriff, a new lieutenant, two new sergeants and a new deputy. The changes will be in place no later than Sept. 29, the sheriff said.
Detective Lt. Bryan Stump has been promoted to undersheriff. He had previously been in charge of the narcotics division, and has 39 years of experience with the sheriff's department.
Before becoming undersheriff, Stump was a detective lieutenant. He's been with the department for 39 years and is the son of former Sheriff Richard Stump. H. Cal Rosema succeeded Sheriff Stump and Gribler, who had been Rosema's undersheriff, succeeded
"Bryan brings with him 39 years of service to the Van Buren County Sheriff's Office service as a Correctional Officer, Road Deputy, and Sergeant and most recently as a Detective Lieutenant supervising the narcotics unit," said Gribler. "Bryan's wealth of knowledge of the Sheriff's Office and expanse of experience will provide a seamless transition of responsibilities."
According to the employment contract, Stump's salary for 2014 is $75,359, which will be pro rated. Next year his salary will be
Rought had held the position for four years. Rought had been with the department for 17 years until her retirement in July.
Here are the other personnel changes at the sheriff's department:
Detective Lt. Mark McCulfor will succeed Stump in overseeing the narcotics division. He has been with the department since 1987.
Lt. Robert Kirk, who had been in charge of the uniform response division, will be assigned to the follow-up detective division as the detective lieutenant supervisor.
Sgt. David Walker is being promoted to lieutenant, overseeing the uniform response division. He is a 20-year veteran of the department.
Two deputies, Jim Charon and Ron Douglas, are being promoted to sergeants who will road patrol officers. Charon has been with the department since 2006, while Douglas had been a deputy since 2001.
Charity DeRoo is being promoted to deputy. She had been a correctional officer and also worked for the animal control division. She has been with the department for three years.
"Congratulations to everyone, and we look forward to this exciting transition," the sheriff said.
Workers' pay raise tied to budget surplus
By ANDREW LERSTEN
For the Tribune
No across-the-board pay raises are planned for South Haven schools' 32 union food service employees the next two years.
But under a new contract approved by the union and the school board recently, the workers may get a one-time bonus payment each of the two years - if the food service fund balance goes up by a certain amount.
The school board approved the new contract with the Service Employees International Union at its Sept. 3 meeting.
There is a pay freeze for both years of the contract, but the workers will get step pay increases if they're eligible.
Also, if the food service fund balance goes up $5,000 or more from the previous year, the workers will get 30 percent of that increase in a one-time payment at the end of the year, said Business Director Carol Stricklin.
In other matters, the board voted to approve contracts with two companies to provide services related to the district's $36 million bond issue approved in May.
The board approved a contract with Secant Technologies, to provide technology consulting services related to the bond projects; and a contract with Owen Ames Kimball, to provide construction management services. Both companies will be paid with a portion of bond proceeds.
More than three-quarters of the bond work will be improvements to the high school. About $28.8 million has been set aside for the high school projects.
The board also voted to approve the hiring of nine new teachers. They are: Beth Ayotte, technology teacher for Maple Grove and Lincoln schools; Andrea Bourque, first-grade teacher at Maple Grove; Anna DeVries, first-grade teacher at Lincoln; Josh Nicholson, middle school Spanish teacher; Danielle Hendry, instructional technology coach for grades 6-12; Amanda Rissley, high school special education teacher; Brian Milliron, high school social studies teacher; Loretta Vaara, Career and Early College Academy math teacher; and Josh Starbuck, part-time middle school language arts teacher.
Contractors install siding on the new ALDI food market on 73rd Street in South Haven Township.
ALDI gets set to open its doors in South Haven Township
By BECKY KARK
Editor and general manager
South Haven area residents will have one more grocery store to choose from when ALDI's opens later this month.
The new store, at 04353 73rd St., in South Haven Township, plans to host a grand opening celebration, beginning at 9 a.m., Thursday, Sept. 18. The event will include tours of the store, samples of ALDI brand products and an on-site sweepstakes for ALDI gift certificates.
The German-based discount chain now joins Village Market, Walmart, Meijer and Save-A-Lot as the area's newest grocery store.
"We are pleased to bring our first store to South Haven to help customers get high-quality products at everyday low prices," said Ryan Fritsch, a vice president for ALDI, which has 1,300 stores throughout the United States, and an additional 2,700 throughout the world.
Company officials say ALDI is able to offer lower prices due to several strategies.
• It sells approximately 1,400 of the most commonly purchased grocery and household products in the most common size.
• It is only open from 9 a.m.-8 p.m., seven days a week, rather than 24 hours a day, to save money on operational costs.
• Customers pack their own groceries and are encouraged to bring their own reusable bags.
• Customers pay a 25-cent deposit for grocery carts, which is refunded when the cart is returned, thus saving the company money that would be spent on employees retrieving carts from the parking lot.
• ALDI only focuses on selling groceries and household goods, rather than offering such amenities as a pharmacy, bakery, or deli.
• ALDI markets its own brands of merchandise
ALDI originally began in 1914 when Anna Albrecht opened a small food store in Essen, Germany. By 1948, her two sons, Karl and Theo Albrecht, took over the business and expanded to four locations.
By 1967 the two brothers had opened 200 stores and changed the name to ALDI (Albrecht Discount). The privately held company opened its first store in the United States in southeastern Iowa in 1976, and then began expanding throughout the world.
Bangor Police Chief retires
By BECKY KARK
Editor and general manager
BANGOR — After serving as police chief in Bangor for nearly two decades, Gary Baker has retired.
Baker's retirement was announced at the city council meeting, Tuesday, along with the introduction of interim police chief Randall Pompey.
Baker, who has been without a contract for nearly a year, submitted his retirement letter on Tuesday, to City Manager Ryan Fellows.
"He had been working without a contract for a half-year before I started," Fellows said. "After I started, it (negotiating a contract) was on my list of things to do. We talked about where he wanted to end up going. Was it retirement or what? He settled on retirement."
Baker, whose retirement was effective Tuesday, could not be reached for comment.
His brief retirement letter stated in part, "I understand that his retirement will be treated as an amicable separation. I further understand that a severance agreement will be worked out, and I keep all of my legal rights."
Until the severance agreement is worked out, Baker will remain on paid administrative leave, according to Fellows.
When asked whether Baker was in a position of losing his job, Fellows said, "We talked about where things were going and what he wanted to do and different options, I said I think there's an opportunity to transition in a calm and collected way and amicably. He was interested in an amicable transition."
Baker served as police chief in Bangor since 1996. Prior to that he retired as a deputy sheriff from Oscoda County in northern Michigan. He also served as a police chief in Bloomingdale prior to that.
Bangor's new interim police chief, Randall Pompey, started his first day Wednesday. Pompey currently serves as police chief for Coloma Charter Township. He's no stranger to wearing two hats, so to speak. Three years ago he agreed to be an interim police chief for the Village of Paw Paw, according to Fellows.
"Randall has a wealth of experience...25 years," Fellows said. Over the years, Pompey has served with the Michigan State Police as the head of a narcotics team in South Haven; he spent two years as an investigator for the state attorney general's office, 2-1/2 years as deputy police chief in Benton Harbor and five years as Coloma city's police chief.
Pompey, who will generally spend a half day in Bangor and a half day in Coloma Township, will be paid the same hourly rate that Baker was being paid, according to Fellows.
Pompey said he's looking forward to his new job with Bangor.
"I worked in South Haven and am familiar with the area," Pompey said. "I'm familiar with the police chiefs up here."
He went on to say, "You've got good police officers here. My job is to help smooth the transition. I have an open door policy. My door is always open and my phone always on. When the taxpayers are paying your salary you are working for them."
Fellows anticipates Pompey will be working as interim police chief for thee to four months until a full-time police chief is hired.
In the past several years, Bangor City Council members have discussed whether to dissolve the local police department and contract with Van Buren County Sheriff's Department, but, according to Fellows, the city remains committed to financing its own police department.
"The City of Bangor has been working on re-invigorating the Police Department to better protect and serve the community," Fellows stated. "Within the last two months, the city council has authorized the purchase of new bulletproof vests and in-car cameras for the police cars. The City of Bangor is very supportive of continuing to have the City Police Department, and appreciate the hard work of the City's police officers. The safety of the public is our priority."
Never mind what other states do
Area parents prefer sending their youngsters to school after Labor Day
By BECKY KARK
Editor and general manager
Although states surrounding Michigan start school in mid- to late-August, public school students, here, continue to return to the classroom after Labor Day.
And the majority of people in the South Haven area think that's just fine.
"It helps the tourist businesses for those who employ school age children, and Labor Day is the last fling for summer fun," said Kathy Poindexter of South Haven.
When the Tribune asked its Facebook readers what they thought about a post Labor Day start for students, Poindexter and 27 of the 30 respondents gave a thumb's up to starting school in September.
Some of the Tribune's out-of-state Facebook respondents also think a post Labor Day start is better.
"(There's) no point of going to school for a week, then having a three-day weekend, then back to school. That throws the kids off," said Erika Mayse. "I went to school in South Haven and always started after (Labor Day). Now we live In Texas and they start the week before Labor Day."
Paul Kurrie, who resides in Illinois, agreed. "I grew up in Warren where it always started after Labor Day when I was a kid. I live in the Chicago suburbs now. My kids start the third week of August. I like it much better post Labor Day."
The sentiments expressed by Tribune Facebook readers echoes a survey released earlier this month by Mitchell Research & Communications.
The statewide poll found increased support for the Michigan law that requires public schools to open after Labor Day.
In the years since its passage nine years ago, voter support increased to 73 percent statewide, up from 63 percent in a poll taken in 2005 when the legislation was passed into law.
Total opposition to the law dropped from 22 percent in 2005 to 20 percent in this year's poll. Support among the most affected group of voters, parents of school-aged children, increased to 69 percent, up from 67 percent in 2005.
"These results prove once again the value of time together as a family," said Steve Yencich, President & CEO of the Michigan Lodging and Tourism Association (MLTA). "Parents in Michigan support the law that gives them more opportunities to create wonderful family vacation memories. It's no surprise that starting schools after Labor Day continues to be extremely popular."
Before the law went into effect in 2006, many school districts started school in mid-August. Most parents begin shopping for school clothes and supplies the week before the beginning of school. Michigan families had only the month of July and the first week or two of August if they wanted to vacation in-state during the warmer summer months, Yencich went on to say. Starting school after Labor Day has helped generate economic activity and created jobs during some lean economic years, he added.
But not everyone favors a post Labor Day school start.
"A three-month summer vacation is too long," said Jeffrey Dick of South Haven. "(We) need to shorten the time off. Children are not here to serve the business community. That is so wrong. There are enough folks not working let's put them to work and focus on educating our children effectively."
Several educators that were interviewed, also think starting school in August is more beneficial for children.
" I would rather start before Labor Day," said Dennis Paquette, superintendent of Bangor Public Schools. "The premise behind the after-Labor Day start was to stimulate end-of-the-summer tourism. I don't see that happening in our area."
Starting school after Labor Day also means that students end the school year anywhere from the first week in June to the second week in June, depending on snow days.
"I think kids start to shut down mentally after Memorial Day," Paquette said. "With the five extra days last year, it was difficult to keep students focused."
R. J. Peterson stands in front of one of the sidewalks and roads in the partially-completed Everett Park subdivision.
Property owner tries again to redevelop part of city's south side
By BECKY KARK
Editor and general manager
Could South Haven's old industrial sites someday become the town's newest hot spot for residential homes and small commercial businesses?
R.J. Peterson sure hopes so.
More than a decade ago, Peterson purchased 24 acres of land that once housed the former National Motors Co. and Everett Piano Co. Eight years ago he sold 10 acres to Illinois developer Larry Basil, who developed Everett Park housing subdivision, but when the housing market stalled in 2009, so did the project.
So now Peterson is looking for new developers, not only for Everett Park, but for the rest of the property that is bordered by Elkenburg Street, Indiana Avenue, St. Joseph Street and Aylworth Avenue on the city's south side.
"The neighborhood surrounding this area has improved a lot over the years. The stairway to the south end of South Beach is less than two blocks away," Peterson said. "I could walk away from this, but we've come so far."
Far indeed, and yet so far away.
Peterson originally purchased the Everett site in the late 1980s and used it for an "incubator" for small, fledgling businesses. By 2001, he had reached an informal agreement with the city's Local Development Finance Authority to work alongside the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality to tear down the National Motors buildings and clean the site.
In exchange for the estimated $2.3 million demolition and cleanup that involved multiple parties, the city's LDFA agreed to deed the National Motors property to Peterson, who then proposed an expansive residential and commercial site plan to develop both the Everett and National Motors properties. To make that possible, he tore down the Everett buildings to make room for the ambitious 26.5-acre project that included new streets, infrastructure, landscaping, condominiums, homes, commercial structures, even apartments for senior housing.
But, a decade later, only the Everett Park subdivision exists with only two homes and a clubhouse.
Yet, with the improvement in the housing market and economy, Peterson remains optimistic for the future.
Macatawa Bank has assumed ownership of the subdivision, while Peterson owns the remainder of the sprawling site.
He began marketing it again in March after granting the city an easement through the property for a paved bike trail that opened in June.
"Based on the fact the trail is right through this property and it's only a 10-minute walk to the beach, it's now up to us for redevelopment (of the site)," he said.
Improving the Everett site won't be as tricky as the National Motors site. Roads, utilities, sidewalks and landscaping are already in place in the Everett Park section, and the surface of the land is deemed suitable, environmentally, for development of residential or commercial structures.
However, before development can occur on the National Motors site, a layer of soil needs to placed on top of the property, in accordance with Michigan Department of Environmental Quality standards.
"The property is a 'brownfield site' and there is a balance of $750,000 that could be available from the Michigan economic Development Corporation," Peterson said.
South Haven plans to improve four roads this year
By ANDREW LERSTEN
For the Tribune
Expect to see a few more detour signs in South Haven when the city embarks on four road resurfacing projects in the next month or so.
The City Council last week voted to hire Michigan Paving & Materials Co. to do the work. It submitted the low bid of $313,309.
The projects will be on Monroe Boulevard, from Ayworth Avenue south to the city limits; Ravinia Street, from Elkenburg Street to Lyon Street; Lyon Street, from Ravinia Street to Center Street; and Francis Street, from Phillips Street to Green Street.
An asphalt mixture will be used to resurface the streets, and new sidewalk curb cuts will be installed to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act, senior civil engineer Steve Oosting said.
The contract calls for the work to be completed by Sept. 26.
In order to stay within the budget, improvements on parts of Park Avenue, Wells Street, Delaware Street, West Street and Chippewa Street were removed from the project scope, Oosting said.
The work will be funded by the city street fund, City Manager Brian Dissette said.
Dissette said the projects are determined by regular visual inspections of the roads by public works staff and other city staff, including himself.
He understands not all projects can be funded in any one year.
"You can never make everyone happy," he said.
Tom Peterson of Olsen Bros. measures wood to be used in the construction of the first story of this home being built att he corner of Cherry and Chambers streets in South Haven.
Small, but tall
Man takes unusual approach to building home
By BECKY KARK
Editor and general manager
What started out as a small cottage is slowly but surely turning into a three-level home that has caught the attention of a number of South Haven residents.
For the past two weeks, a cottage at the corner of Cherry and Chambers streets has been referred to by some as the "house on stilts."
It got that name from the rather unusual method contractors have used to turn the small house into a 1,000-square-foot home for owner Scott Kosiek.
Kosiek, of Detroit, originally purchased the cottage home from realtor Cindy Compton of South Haven and had it moved to property he purchased on Chambers Street.
"I was just going to put the cottage on top of a crawlspace," he said, "but one thing led to another,..."
So instead of putting the cottage on a foundation, Kosiek decided to make it the second story of his new house.
The trick was jacking up the cottage to construct the dwelling's main floor.
That was easily resolved by Laraway & Sons House Moving of Pullman, which brought in a crew to jack up the cottage high enough to allow construction workers from Olsen Bros. to build the first floor.
When asked if his company had ever constructed a home in such a manner, Scott Nash of Olsen Bros. admitted, "It's a little different." But, he said the job was no more difficult than other projects the South Haven company has undertaken.
"I'd say it was more difficult just jacking it up," he said referring to the cottage.
People who haven't gotten a chance to view the "stilt house" missed their opportunity to do so. This past Wednesday, workers finished the exterior of the first floor, providing a smooth connection between the second story and the basement.
Kosiek said he is looking forward to the completion of the housing project.
"The basement will be a finished basement with a suite, there'll be a half bath on the first floor and a full bath on the second.
"It will be small, but tall," he said of his new home, which he expects to finish by winter.
Logan Haverly (blue shirt) and Mike Kiefer of Great Lakes Boatbuilding Co., stand next to one of two boats they built for the upcoming Disney movie, "The Finest Hours."
A boatbuilder's dream
South Haven company constructs two boats for upcoming Disney movie
By BECKY KARK
Editor and general manager
When Disney calls, Mike Kiefer answers.
The movie studio's latest request?
Build two Coast Guard-style rescue boats in five weeks for the new film, "The Finest Hours."
"Two boats in five weeks. That's an impossible task," said Keieer, a veteran South Haven boatbuilder, "but these opportunities don't come about often."
"The Finest Hours," which is currently being filmed in Massachusetts, tells the true story of a daring Coast Guard rescue in February of 1952 off the coast of Cape Cod. Based on the 2009 international bestseller by Michael J. Tougias and Casey Sherman, the movie tells the story of two ill-fated oil tankers, the Pendleton and the Fort Mercer, that found themselves engulfed in a terrible storm in February. Not prepared to withstand the nor'easter, both tankers ended up splitting in two, leaving 84 men trapped at sea.
Kiefer was given the task of building two 22-foot long lifeboats for the movie that stars Chris Pine and Casey Affleck.
"They (the film crew) gave me parameters to work with," said Kiefer, who owns Great Lakes Boatbuilding Co. "The boats are a little deeper (than Coast Guard lifeboats). But for the general look of them, I went to the Michigan Maritime Museum and looked at their boats and then designed my own.
"First they said they wanted one boat, then they said they wanted two. I had to hire extra people, but when these things come along I try to keep them (Disney) happy."
Kiefer and his crew began building the two boats at the end of June and shipped them to Massachusetts this past week.
This isn't the first time Kiefer has built boats for Disney films. Several years ago he created boats for "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End" in 2007 and "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest" in 2006. He also constructed boats for Paramount Pictures' "Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events," in 2004.
Kiefer first began building boats at the young age of 16. In 1985 he opened his business, which also includes custom sign-making.
"The sign business is 15 percent of my income, but I love doing both," said Kiefer who has built and restored 300 vessels for customers throughout the United States.
"Hollywood found me on my website, so I must be doing something right," he said.
County asks residents to revote in November on 911 surcharge
By ROD SMITH
For the Tribune
PAW PAW — Although Van Buren County voters approved a 911 surcharge on their phone bills at the primary election earlier this month, county officials now say the election may have been illegal.
As a result, they're going to throw out the election results and put the issue once again on the November ballot.
Van Buren County Commission Chair Richard Godfrey said county officials had originally intended to put the question on the November ballot, but it had "inadvertently" been put on August's ballot.
"So we are attempting to rectify that error," Godfrey said.
County attorney Brian Knotek said he discovered the error when he went to vote on Aug. 5. He was concerned that the results could be legally challenged and the county would lose the approved 75-cent amonth surcharge.
"It was my contention that it should be reheard on the November ballot," Knotek said, calling it a "corrective measure."
Current state law gives counties the right to levy $1.17 per phone device per month for 911 services. Any amount above that requires voter approval, which is what the 75 cents was about. Voters OKd it 5,200 to 2,360.
The November ballot language OKd Tuesday, and given to the attending deputy county clerk less than 40 minutes before deadline, is similar to last week's but clarifies the relationship between the 75 cents and $1.17.
Under the old law, voters would have been asked to approve 100 percent of the surcharge. The last approval was for $1.50 per month, 33 cents less than the $1.17 base rate.
Since the $1.50 surcharge expired June 30, only the base rate is in effect. The county administrator said during previous discussions that would mean using the 911 program's reserves, since the 33-cent decrease represents $180,000.
Even if voters OK the 75 cents in November, that part of the surcharge can't be levied until July 1, 2015, meaning the surcharge will remain $1.17 until that time.
Commissioners have said they will use only as much of the 75 cents as they need each year. The proposed levy runs July 1, 2015, through June 30, 2019.
Board hires police officer for
South Haven school district
By ANDREW LERSTEN
For the Tribune
The presence of a police officer will return to South Haven schools this fall, after a four-year absence.
The school board last week voted to hire a full-time "school resource officer" for a period of two years, through the South Haven police department.
The officer's duties will include curbing juvenile delinquency, assist ing school officials in enforcing student conduct rules, and establishing links between the schools, students and social agencies.
"I'm excited about this opportunity," said Police Chief Tom Martin. "It's my hope we can build a very strong rapport with the students and faculty."
The school district will be responsible for the officer's salary and benefits during the school year, but not for the summer months, the police chief said.
Superintendent Bob Herrera said the officer will be at the high school two days a week, one to two days a week at the middle school, and spending the remainder of the week at elementary schools in South Haven.
The details of the contract, including the cost, have not yet been hammered out. But Superintendent Bob Herrera said up to $52,000 has been budgeted annually. The district will use state funds targeting at-risk students, he said.
Previously, the police department had an officer in the schools at no cost to the district. However, that arrangement gave the police department the flexibility to pull the officer out of the schools when needed, Martin noted.
In other matters, the board last week approved hiring three new teachers. They are Joseph Dubina, who will be a Baseline Middle School science teacher; Jennifer Enos, Baseline Middle School social studies teacher; and Stephanie Houser, second-grade teacher at Maple Grove Elementary School.
From left are Mike Martino, Joe Middendorf, MIke Snyder, Bill Arnold and Jim McCloughan.
Vietnam vets receive hero's welcome 45 years later
What a difference 45 years can make for Vietnam War veterans.
South Haven resident Jim McCloughan remembers the "welcome" he received when returning home from Vietnam — there wasn't one.
That changed, however, when McCloughan and three comrades got together for a mini-reunion in South Haven, earlier this month.
"People everywhere extended their arms and shook our hands while thanking us for our service...something that did not happen to us 45 years ago," McCloughan said.
Joining McCloughan for the reunion were Mike Martino of Pennsylvania, Joe Middendorf of Hazelwood, Mo., Mike Snyder of Pennsylvania and Bill Arnold of Ohio. All were stationed in Vietnam from 1969-1970, serving in the U.S. Army infantry.
"It's hard to put into words the feelings and emotions that raced through our minds as we saw each other and heard the stories of the post-war lives we have all experienced," said McCloughan, who was a medic while serving in Vietnam.
The four men share the common experience of surviving a major battle.
"We went into the battle in Tam Ky, Vietnam with 89 men and walked out 48 hours later with 37," McCloughan recalled. "We were sent in not knowing the number of enemy soldiers we wold be up against, nor the types of weapons they possessed. They were superior in both categories, with 1,500 North Vietnamese Army soldiers and 700 Viet Cong soldier, and much greater firepower than us."
But, while in South Haven, the foursome didn't dwell on the tragedies of war.
"The joy of our reunion was made special by the people and beauty of South Haven," McCloughan said. "Everywhere we went, and everyone we ran into brought out the respect, patriotism and gratitude of this Lake Michigan beach town."
While in South Haven the group went fishing, spent time at the American Legion, and visited stores and restaurants.
Interim principal named for Bangor High School
By BECKY KARK
Editor and general manager
BANGOR — A new Bangor High School administrator will find herself wearing two hats, pending the return of the school's longtime principal.
School board members, Monday, voted to hire Wendy Tremblay not only as assistant high school principal, but as interim principal, following Jeff Melvin's request for a 12-week family medical leave absence.
"He requested the leave to help care for his mother who has Alzheimer's disease," said Board of Education President Kurt Doroh.
Melvin has served as Bangor High School's principal since 1997. Prior to being named as assistant high school principal, Tremblay spent the past year as Bangor High Schools Dean of Academic Services and Curriculum Director. Prior to that she served as a counselor at the high school for three years. Before coming to Bangor, she worked as a social worker for Grant Public Schools in Newaygo County for nine years.
She received a bachelor of science degree in psychology from Central Michigan University, a master of social work degree from Grand Valley State University, a master's degree in school counseling from Grand Valley and is currently taking courses to become an education specialist in educational leadership through Walden University.
Athena Wheeler, Julianna Turner and Paige Gallagher compee in the 2012 blueberry pie eating contest. (Photo by Jody Warner)
40 years of pie eating
Contest still draws plenty of participants and spectators at National Blueberry Festival
By BECKY KARK
Editor and general manager
Sure, kids' faces and clothes get messy when they compete in the National Blueberry Festival pie-eating contest, but today's version of the event is quite a bit different from when it first began in the 1970s.
Theresa White, a veteran volunteer for the contest, remembers those early days well.
"It used to be in Baer Park (on Center Street). They would roll out long sheets of plastic on the ground. Kids had to run up with their hands behind their back, kneel down and eat. Baer Park had a lot of sand, so if you wanted to eat the pie, you'd also be eating sand with it...I didn't like blueberries so I didn't participate."
Today's version of the event, shall we say, is a little more civilized.
Instead of hunkering on the ground, youngsters hurriedly eat their pie at tables at picturesque Riverfront Park. The pies, too, have changed over the years. Young children eat five-inch pies, while the older ones consume eight-inch ones.
Golden Brown Bakery still makes and donates the pies for the contest, just as it did in 1974, when the pie-eating contest first began. The bakery makes about 300 pies for the event each year. Over the years, various blueberry farms have donated the berries. True Blue Farms has been donating about 300-400 berries for the contest for the past several years.
Not only is the pie-eating contest one of the oldest events that still occurs at the festival, it's also one of the most popular activities.
"It's pretty crowded," White said, regarding the number of participants and spectators who crowd around to watch.
Despite the chaotic atmosphere of kids scurrying to eat their pies and parents eagerly snapping photos, White still enjoys volunteering, a task she has done for the past 10 years.
""I do crowd control, pass out the pies and clean up the mess," she said with a laugh.
Palisades warned about low-level safety violations
By ANDREW LERSTEN
For the Tribune
COVERT - Federal regulators found a several violations during second-quarter inspections at the Palisades nuclear power plant - but all were considered to be of low safety significance.
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission released the inspection report last week.
All six findings were classified as "green," the lowest safety significance level used by the NRC.
Here's a summary of the non-cited violations described in the report:
• More than 20 percent of the questions on a plant operator re-qualification test were found to be flawed.
• Several protocols related to testing of employees were not followed, such as potentially allowing test subjects to inadvertently see information about the test in advance.
• The plant owners, Entergy, did not notify the NRC of a change in the medical status of a plant operator within 30 days, as required by the NRC.
• Plant staff failed to follow procedures related to the use of temporary scaffolding.
• Many discrepancies were found in records related to sealed radioactive sources on site, and to leak testing.
• A worker made an unauthorized entry into a high radiation area, and two others entered a high radiation area without required radiation monitoring equipment.
Lives lost beneath the waves
Museum exhibit chronicles plane, ships lost near South Haven
By KIM INGALLS
For the Tribune
Shipwrecks, underwater mysteries and the Edmund Fitzgerald are the subject of the Michigan Maritime Museum's latest exhibit "Mysteries Beneath the Waves: Wrecks of the Sunset Coast."
Littered on the bottom of the great lake are remains of more than 6,000 shipwrecks that went missing since the late 1600s. Just over twenty percent of those vessels have come to rest on the bottom of Lake Michigan, second only in quantity to Lake Huron. Mysteries Beneath the Waves focuses on several accidents that occurred near South Haven, including the Ann Arbor No. 5, the Verano, the Hennepin, the Rockaway and the Mystery Sloop.
"This exhibit is a result of working in the waters off of South Haven for the last 15 years searching for shipwrecks," explained Valerie Olson van Heest, exhibit curator and director of the Michigan Shipwreck Research Association. "The exhibit shows the discoveries that have been made near South Haven. Visitors can expect to see videos, artifacts and even a life-size replica of a shipwreck."
An award winning author and member of the Women Divers Hall of Fame, van Heest has been searching the Great Lakes for lost ships for over 25 years. Using modern technology, van Heest and her crew have located 14 shipwrecks within the last 15 years. Part of the exhibit deals with those wrecks that have never been found.
"There are multiple wrecks just waiting to be discovered, " she said. "For example, the 1895 Chicora just disappeared. Debris washed ashore in South Haven but the wreck has never turned up."
It's mysteries like those that propelled the museum to host the exhibit.
"Most everyone is captivated by mystery and intrigue," said Patti Montgomery Reinert, director of the Michigan Maritime Museum "The Michigan Shipwreck and Research Association has brought images to the museum that are truly breathtaking. When you go through this exhibit, you feel as though you are an underwater explorer. The stories discovered and the lessons to be learned are uncovered as you learn about so many of these shipwrecks."
Two companion pieces: "Fatal Crossing: The Mysterious Disappearance of Northwest Airlines Flight 2501," and "The Edmund Fitzgerald," are also part of the exhibit.
The plane, carrying more than 50 passengers and a crew, mysteriously disappeared in 1950 while flying over Lake Michigan near South Haven. None of the people on board were ever found, nor was the plane. At the time, it was the worst commercial aviation accident ever.
Van Heest's exhibit includes photographs of the people on board who died, several artifacts that were recovered from the crash, and displays recounting the plane's fateful journey.
"Shipwrecks discovered in our area were fascinating to me, but soon I learned that our beautiful lake held even more mystery," Montgomery Reinert said. "After I met with Valerie one morning at her home, talking for several hours around the dining room table, I knew immediately that the story of the disappearance of Northwest Flight 2501 was one I thought the museum should tell. Naturally, the unanswered questions of the disappearance is enough to draw most of us in, but when you add the human element to the story, giving the passengers names and faces, and Valerie's persistence in finding answers, and finding some type of closure for their loved ones... well to me it was something I knew that we would be proud to share with the public."
For more information, call 269.637.8078 or visit www.michiganmaritimemuseum.org.
Ice Cream rules during the month of July
By FARAH GREEN
For the Tribune
Ice cream is a delectable food adored by many and disliked by few, so it only seems fitting there be an entire month to pay homage to the delicious treat.
Ice cream is enjoyed by 90% of the United States' population, so in 1984, President Ronald Reagan noticed Americans' overwhelming enjoyment of the treat and designated July as National Ice Cream Month.
In the proclamation, President Reagan called for all people of the United States to observe these events with "appropriate ceremonies and activities," which we may take to mean "grab a double scoop as opposed to a single!"
The Ice cream industry in the United States is booming, with revenue generated at $10 billion in 2010. Take-home or store-bought ice cream represented the largest section of the ice cream market at 67.7 percent, with sales of $6.8 billion, according to MarketLine.
In addition, approximately 9 percent of all milk produced by U.S. dairy farmers is used to make ice cream, thus making the sweet treat a salient contributor to the dairy industry.
Ice cream contains at least 10 percent milk fat, as per federal regulations, and contains non-fat solids (usual sources are non-fat dry milk, skim and whole milk) which its nutritional value (calcium, protein, vitamins and minerals) is attributed to. Gourmet ice cream tends to have 12 percent milk fat or more, which contributes to its richer flavor and textures.
Fortunately for South Haven residents, one of the most coveted Ice cream producers in the area is located right on Phoenix Street. Every summer, thousands of people flock to the Sherman Dairy bar, to catch a glimpse of the famous Blue Moo Cow (which now includes a baby cow) and a taste of its delicious ice cream.
"We make about 150,000 gallons a year. We buy a ready-made according to our recipe, which is the mix of milk and crème, sugar and powder blended together. And then we go ahead and flavor it and freeze it," said Sherman Dairy owner, Bob Eisenman.
"A lot of people think that we just go to the strawberry patch and pick some strawberries and throw it in the ice cream, but we have to be very careful about that. Every ingredient that we use has been processed so we don't run into any type of bacterial issues. We buy from reputable companies – fruits and nuts, candies, fudges - and all of that has been processed before it comes to us, and then we go ahead and inject them into the ice cream."
Since Sherman's has been in the ice cream business since 1916, one may assume their flavors are the best in the business. Yet Eisenman remains humble.
"ur ice cream is creamier than most and heavier than most, and we try to load it up with whatever ingredient we're adding to it," he said.
"Vanilla is the number one flavor because it goes into everything, you know, sundaes and milkshakes, banana splits and what have you. After that the more popular flavors are butter pecan, and Blue Moon, Cookie Dough, Mackinac Island Fudge, Mint Chocolate Chip, Chocomania, and the list goes on."
Other great places in South Haven to celebrate National Ice Cream month include Captain Nemo's, Dairy Queen, The Chocolate Café, and North Side Memories (featuring Sherman Dairy's ice cream).
"Ice cream goes with everything,-- any kind of celebration, be it a birthday party or anniversary, or graduation. Ice cream is just a really fun food. And it makes people happy, so when we get complimented, it spurs us on," Eisenman said.
Yachts are tied together at South Haven Yacht Club following the conclusion of the 2012 Queen's Cup that began in Milwaukee and ended in South Haven.
Queen's Cup returns to South Haven in 2015
By BECKY KARK
Editor and general manager
It's official. South Haven's harbor will once again serve as the finish for one the oldest yacht races on Lake Michigan.
South Haven Yacht Club plans to host the 77th annual Queen's Cup race in June of 2015, according to Pete Engel, Queen's Cup Committee chairman.
"There was little debate about bringing the race back to South Haven in 2015," he said. "The 2012 Queen's Cup finish (in South Haven) was one of the most memorable race finish locations in recent memory."
The Queen's Cup remains one of the oldest yachting races on the Great Lakes. It began in 1938 at the South Shore Yacht Club in Milwaukee and finished in Spring Lake near Grand Haven. For many years, its finish alternated between Grand Haven and Muskegon. However, in 2012 the committee canvassed other Michigan ports and chose South Haven for the race's finish.
"Based on feedback from the sailors we began to consider other Michigan ports that could host the finish for the race," Engel said. "In 2012 South Haven was selected. Suitability of the harbor to accommodate a large number of boats, on-shore activities and the enthusiasm of the city and yacht club were all factors in our decision."
After the 2012 race, Ludington and Muskegon were chosen for the 2013 and 2014 race finishes, respectively.
South Haven Mayor Bob Burr was pleased to hear the South Shore Yacht Club wants to end the race once again in South Haven.
"It's fantastic," he said. "We'll get to showcase the community again."
The race in 2015 will take place on June 26. It is expected to attract 150-175 sailboats and approximately 1,000 sailors.
"It's a historic race, and the second largest sailboat race on Lake Michigan," said Vince Norton, a South Haven Yacht Club member who served on the marketing committee when the race first came to South Haven in 2012.
8 vie for seats on South Haven school board
By ANDREW LERSTEN
For the Tribune
An eight-way race for four South Haven school board terms is on the way this fall.
Based on Van Buren County school board candidates filing for the district nonpartisan November election last week, it's the only formal contested race in the works for the county.
In South Haven, Mike Rainey has decided not to seek a new four-year term.
The other three South Haven board members whose terms are up are seeking reelection. They are Bryan Lewis, Corey Davis and Stuart Price.
There are five challengers — Laura Bos, Holly Boyd, Tyler Dotson, Edward Morse and Joe Wilkins.
Meanwhile, in neighboring Covert, not enough candidates have filed to fill all the available board seats.
The Covert incumbents who filed are Mike Dambrowski, Maria Luisa Gallegos and Cheryl McCray, seeking 4-year terms; and Diana Parrigin, seeking one of the two available 2-year terms.
No one filed for the other available 2-year term.
Here's a look at some other Van Buren district filings:
Board members Kurt Doroh and Doug Watkins are not seeking new terms. Board members Susan Bray and Ruth Fuentes are seeking the available 4-year terms. Newcomers Derek Babcock and Elizabeth Finch are unopposed in seeking, respectively, a 4-year term and a 2-year term.
There will not be a formally contested race in Bloomingdale. Filing for the 4-year terms were James Greene Jr. and Tim Remington. Seeking the 6-year terms are Mark J. Harris and Mark Parsley.
Wood School
Peggy Harden and Sharon Myrkle are unoposed in seeking new 4-year Wood School board terms in Bangor Township.
Attorney leases former state police post
By ANDREW LERSTEN
For the Tribune
The former Michigan state police post at 720 LaGrange St. is going to become a law office.
The city of South Haven inherited the vacant post after the state police closed it a few years ago, and it reverted under provisions of a deed dating back to the 1930s, City Manager Brian Dissette said.
The City Council last week voted to approve a one-year lease with lawyer John Frost to rent the building for his law practice.
He'll pay $800 per month, and the city will pay for the utilities, Dissette said.
In other matters, the council last week voted to set a public hearing for Aug. 4 during its 7 p.m. meeting for a tax break request from Riveer.
The company is seeking a 12-year, 50 percent tax break on $75,783 for construction costs and new personal property at the plant at 233 Veterans Blvd., the city manager said. The tax break is valued at $9,906.
The company plans to add 15 new jobs and retain 34 jobs as a result of the project. The council could approve the tax break after the hearing on Aug. 4.
County takes issue with Supreme Court ruling
By ROD SMITH
For the Tribune
PAW PAW — Fearing a Michigan Supreme Court ruling will cost $710,000 in the next year, Van Buren County officials are turning to the Michigan legislature for help.
County Administrator Douglas Cultra told commissioners Tuesday
that the court had forbidden the years-long practice of charging
for court costs.
"We're talking about serious money just with the sleight-of-the-hand of the state supreme court," Cultra said. The money in question is $710,063.
The court sided with West Michigan resident Frederick Cunningham, who had brought suit against the practice of court costs. According to a memorandum from Cultra, Cunningham pleaded guilty to obtaining a controlled substance and was sentenced both to jail and to pay costs.
Those costs included $200 in state costs and crime victim's assessment costs, plus another $1,000 in unspecified court costs, according to the memo.
But, in overturning an appeals court decision, the supreme court
found there was no law that allows charging for court costs. "It was the lack of statutory authority," Cultra said.
The decision means money to counties. "Just our small county alone is estimated to be $710,000," Cultra said.
If the county wants to obtain the authority to charge for courts costs, legislators will have to approve a law. Because of that, commissioners decided to sign on to a letter asking legislators to support passage of such a statute.
The letter is from administrators of Berrien, St. Joseph,
Branch, Calhoun, Cass, Allegan, Barry and Kalamazoo counties.
Tuesday marked the second meeting this month where the loss of a large amount of revenue was a topic for Van Buren commissioners. Earlier they decided to join in hiring an assessment expert in their appeal against the reassessment of the New Covert Generating plant.
The Michigan Tax Tribunal last year accepted the arguments of the natural gas plant's owner, Tenaska Capital Management, of Nebraska, that the plant was overassessed. The Tribunal then reduced its value by 60 percent.
Cultra has estimated that the loss for the county's preliminary 2014-15 budget was somewhere between $565,000 and $700,000.
Since the Tribunal handed down its decision the affected local units of government have appealed to the Michigan Court of Appeals. The other units include the Van Buren District Library, Van Buren Intermediate School District and Lake Michigan College.
If the Tribunal's decision is upheld, it will permanently mean less revenue for the affected local governments. It could also mean millions of dollars in refunded taxes.
In other matters, commissioners learned that the effort to quiet title to lots in the Syndicate Park subdivision is nearly completed.
"They have two lots left," Cultra said.
Two years ago the county hired an attorney to quiet title on 41 county-owned lots at the Syndicate Park plat. The subdivision is located just north of the Northpoint Preserve, which itself is just north of Van Buren State Park.
The county owns 87 lots of the 264 parcels in 83 acres along the shoreline and has been considering selling them.
Cultra's comments came during a discussion of purchasing six additional lots in the subdivision for a total of $5,000.
None are buildable. "Some are underwater and some are under sand," Cultra said. But the state, he said, is committed to helping restore them and improving the area around the sand dune.
"It is absolutely a special place," Cultra said.
Buying is cheaper than trying to quiet title them, he said. The current owner has no use for them.
Commissioners informally gave their consent for the purchase.
From left: State Sen. Tonya Schuitmaker, Glenn Higgs, Doug Till and State Rep. Aric Nesbitt are shown after Higgs received an honorary high school diploma and a legislative tribute.
Classmates pay tribute to Vietnam War veteran
By BECKY KARK
Editor and general manager
Class reunions normally aren't made for people who drop out of high school.
But that sentiment isn't shared by Glenn Higgs' classmates.
While Higgs' entered basic training to fight in the jungles of Vietnam in 1968, his classmates looked forward to graduating from South Haven High School.
They received their diplomas, Higgs got his legs blown off.
One classmate, Doug Till, never forgot Higgs' heroism. So when he planned this year's reunion for the Class of '68, he suggested the members present Higgs with an honorary diploma. They all agreed.
"He doesn't think he's special, but we disagree," Till said. "He's always been one of us."
Standing on his two prosthetic legs at last week's reunion, Higgs received not only an honorary diploma, but a legislative tribute from State Rep. Aric Nesbitt and State Sen. Tonya Schuitmaker.
"It's an honor to present this tribute," Schuitmaker said.
Throughout the brief ceremony at River Bend Boat Club, Higgs remained humble.
"I'm not one for publicity," he said.
Yet, he remembers vividly the fateful day when his life changed forever.
"The Tet offensive had just started and things were getting nasty," recalled Higgs, who served with the U.S. Marines for less than three months before being severely injured. "There were 21 of us who were going to be reinforcements north of Da Nang. When we got there I stepped on a mine. When we were down after the explosion that set off another one. Out of 21 people, 11 were wounded and two died. I was fortunate."
Fortunate, maybe, but disabled, nonetheless.
"I was strapped together with braces," said Higgs, of his early years of recuperation.
"He was in agony, his braces didn't fit right," Till said.
Higgs repeatedly had to return to the Veterans Administration hospitals near Detroit.
"I was told I could stay in a wheelchair, but that wasn't going to happen," Higgs said. "In the early years, dealing with the VA was tough. They were dealing with a lot of World War II and Korean War veterans, too."
But over the past 45 years, advancements in prosthetics has enabled him to walk more easily, and to enjoy life.
"I've lived here all my life. I got married and have a son and a daughter," he said. "South Haven is my town. They've done a lot for me, especially the American Legion."
His teen years, however, posed problems for Higgs.
"I dropped out of school and volunteered to go into the Marine Corps in 1968."
He admits the death of a fellow high school student influenced his decision.
"Bob Meuller, who was a year ahead of us, went over to Vietnam and died in November 1967."
Affected by the loss of a fellow student, Higgs enlisted.
"Being young, you want to do the right thing," he said. "I don't regret it. I've got good memories and bad memories."
South Haven school board hires new principal
By ANDREW LERSTEN
For the Tribune
An Upper Peninsula secondary school principal will be the next South Haven High School principal.
The school board Wednesday night voted to hire Jerome Sardina to succeed Craig McCrumb as the new principal.
McCrumb left to become superintendent at Durand Area Schools near Lansing.
Sardina has been principal and athletic director at Stephenson Middle/High School in Menominee County since 2010, and was assistant principal there for three years before that.
He has a master's degree in education administration and supervision from Northern Michigan University, and worked in law enforcement for 13 years before switching to education, Superintendent Bob Herrera said.
In his notes to the school board, Herrera said Sardina was instrumental in leading a team responsible for a dramatic improvement in student achievement at the Stephenson school in only one year.
"Jerry's law enforcement and education backgrounds helped him positively affect the school's culture and climate," Herrera said.
Sardina will start his new duties next month, and his annual salary was set at $92,400, Herrera said.
Board President Bryan Lewis thanked Herrera for his assistance in the search process.
"Hiring the right people makes a huge difference," Lewis said.
Bangor superintendent begins duties Aug. 4
By BECKY KARK
Editor and general manager
BANGOR — Bangor Board of Education members inked a contract this past Monday with new Superintendent Dennis Paquette.
Paquette's three-year pact will begin Aug. 4. He will be paid $103,000 his first year, plus benefits, according to Ron Parker, who will retire from his role as school chief, Aug. 22.
"I will be working with Dennis and the board in a consulting and transition role during that period of time," Parker said.
Parker had originally intended to retire by Oct 10, however, school board members voted to step up the retirement date after finalizing Paquette's contract.
Paquette, 49, was offered the superintendent's job in June from a field of four internal candidates.
The incoming school chief earned a bachelor's degree from Northern Michigan University in 1987 and a master's degree from Western Michigan University in 2001. In 2013 he participated in the Michigan Leadership Institute's Superintendents Academy.
Over the years, Paquette has become a familiar face at Bangor Schools. He first hired in as a physical education and health teacher at the high school in 1990.
Afterwards, he taught social studies and math at the high school, alternative education at the middle school and physical education and health at South Walnut Elementary School. In 2010 he was promoted to dean of students at the high school and this year was named assistant principal at the high school.
MDOT embarks on ambitious sign replacement project
By BECKY KARK
Editor and general manager
If traffic signs along M-43 Highway and Phoenix Road look a little brighter these days, there's a reason for it.
Michigan Department of Transportation workers are replacing 3,100 signs in Van Buren County and an additional 2,300 along portions of Interstate 94 in Berrien and Van Buren counties.
"Altogether we'll spend about $4.1 million for the two projects," said Nick Schirripa, communications representative for MDOT's Southwest Michigan region. "It's being paid for with federal funds (through the U.S. Department of Transportation)."
At a time when many people voice concerns about the condition of Michigan's roads, sign maintenance is important, too, Schirripa said.
"You and I may not see anything wrong with signs we drive by, but they can fade with age and new standards are implemented to improve driver safety."
MDOT replaces traffic signs every 15-20 years throughout various area of the state. This year, it's Van Buren's turn.
"We're replacing non-freeway signs on six state routes in Van Buren County — M-40 highway, M-43 highway, M-51 highway, M-140 highway, M-152 Highway and the business loop of Interstate 196 (in South Haven)," Schirripa said.
Additionally, new traffic signs and new wooden posts along I-94 in Berrien County and most of Van Buren County will be installed.
"It's all about reflectivity," Schirripa said, referring to the new signs, which are geared specifically to motorists driving at night.
According to MDOT, only one-quarter of all travel occurs at night, but nearly half of all traffic fatalities occur after dark. And older adults typically have more difficulty driving in the evening than younger people.
"By 2030, one in five drivers will be 65 or older. A 65-year-old needs eight times the amount of light a 25-year-old does."
The new signage uses small glass beads or microprismatic reflectors that return light from a vehicle's headlights back to the driver's eyes, according to the American Traffic Safety Services Association. The brighter the sign, the sooner a driver can see and read it.
However, the materials used in retroreflective traffic signs deteriorate over time. So unless they're replaced on a regular basis they become difficult to see and read at night.
Peter Fritz of Brookside Farms and South Haven Mayor Bob Burr hold a box of fresh-picked early harvest blueberries. To the right of Burr are Bob Hawk, president and CEO of Michigan Blueberry Growers, and Carly Fritz Parsley of Brookside Farms.
First blueberries of the season now
being harvested
Expect to see more and more blueberries ripening throughout southwest Michigan as harvesting of the blue fruit gets into full swing.
South Haven Mayor Bob Burr helped kick off the local harvest this past week by visiting the Fritz family of Brookside Farms, along with Archie Armino of Walmart and Bob Hawk, president & CEO of MBG Marketing, a grower-owned cooperative and a founding partner of Naturipe Farms, who manages the sales, marketing and distribution of the co-op's blueberries.
"This is a crucial time of year for our local family farmers," Burr said. "Our local and regional economies rely on a successful harvest season and it is a source of Michigan pride when we start to see our blueberries ripen and prepared to be shipped throughout the country."
Third-generation blueberry growers, cousins Peter Fritz and Carly Fritz Parsley, gave a tour of their home farm in Bloomingdale, which was started nearly 60 years ago by their grandfather George Fritz, Sr., who started the farm with just five acres. Today, Peter and Carly are an example of Michigan's next generation of producers as they continue the family tradition of farming.
When asked about the status of this year's crop, Peter shared that the unseasonably cold winter was thought to pose a significant negative effect on this year's crop, however the plants have been able to rebound and the crop is looking strong for the year. "Certain varieties fared better than others," Hawk explained. "However we are pleased with how the bushes have bounced back this spring and are looking forward to another great year."
To assist in promoting the health and taste of blueberries, MBG Marketing and Naturipe Farms is continuing their work with the Michigan Ag Council to sponsor the Pure Michigan program.
"The locally grown movement has made tremendous strides to highlight the importance of supporting our local agricultural sector and the positive impact it has on our economy," Hawk said. "We are especially pleased to be working with local retail customers, including Walmart, who highlight the heritage, traditions and contributions made by the family farms in Michigan"
Market Manager for Walmart in the South Haven area, Archie Armino, also joined in on the First Pick celebration. Walmart plans to double the sales of locally sourced produce in the United States and has partnered with MBG Marketing to feature 11 of their family farms with in-store signage throughout Michigan Walmarts this summer.
"Walmart is committed to the farmers who grow our food and supports the in-season locally grown products such as these healthy, flavorful Michigan blueberries," said Armino.
Michigan is the number one state in high-bush blueberry production with growers producing over 100 million pounds of blueberries every year for fresh and frozen markets.
Deputies step up efforts to stop drunken boating
Local marine deputies stopped nearly 75 boats recently as part of a national program to reduce the number of people driving boats while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
"The Van Buren County Sheriff's Office Marine Division participated in Operation Dry Water, along with hundreds of other agencies nationwide, in an effort to reduce the number of accident and fatalities we see due to boaters consuming alcohol on the water," Sheriff Dale R. Gribler said. "Our goal is to educate boaters as well as remove impaired operators from the water in order to keep all other boaters safe."
Over the three-day weekend, June 27-29, marine deputies made contact with 296 recreational boaters by stopping 72 boats. Deputies issued 9 citations, gave 84 verbal warnings and made one boating under the influence arrest.
Nationally, more than 550 local, state and federal law enforcement agencies from all 56 states and U.S. territories participated in the Operation Dry Water three-day weekend. National results are still being collected and compiled for 2014. In 2013, nationwide 6,219 law enforcement officers from 513 agencies and USCG units participated in Operation Dry Water. Officers made contact with 144,044 boaters, issues 17,159 citations and safety warning, and made 290 arrests for boating under the influence.
Alcohol use is the leading known contributing factor in recreational boater deaths. Since 2009, the year Operation Dry Water launched, there has been a 37 percent drop in the number of boater deaths where alcohol use was the known primary contributing factor, according to the 2013 U.S. Coast Guard Recreational Boating Statistics.
Allegan County Board questions whether to support portion of new trail
By ROD SMITH
For the Tribune
Proponents of the Blue Star bicycle trail envision a 20-mile path leading from South Haven to Laketown Township, however they hit a bump in the road this past week when Allegan County Commissioners held off on maintaining a portion of the project.
Friends of the Blue Star Trail asked commissioners to take care of a 1.8-mile section of the proposed trail between Baseline Road and Beverly Hills subdivision. If the county agrees to do so it would help the Friends group obtain a $680,000 state grant next year to pave that part of the bike path. The total cost to create the 20-mile off-road trail along Blue Star Highway will cost $6.1 million.
""We believe it'll have many, many benefits to the people of Allegan County," said Jeanne Van Zoeren, a member of the Friends of the Blue Star Trail. Benefits would include increased tourism, reduction in obesity rates and an uptick in home purchases along the trail.
Commissioners, however, held off on making a decision until they study the matter further. Their concerns include the cost of maintaining a section of the trail and whether easements should be used for construction of the trail, which would be located on the west side of Blue Star Highway.
"I can't go one way or another until I know more," said Commissioner Max Thiele.
Commissioner Jim Storey voiced another concern.
"It doesn't seem like a system to me. It seems like a patchwork," he said referring to the Friends' approach of constructing the trail in phases and then asking various municipalities to own and maintain various sections.
Van Zoeren told commissioners the Friends of the Blue Star Trail is trying to complete the trail as quickly as possible with funds it has raised and with grants, but municipality support is necessary to obtain state or federal funds.
"We're trying to do this as rapidly as possible," she said, explaining the Friends hopes to finish the trail by 2020.
The Friends has divided the proposed trail into sections, known as "phases."
Phase I is nearly complete. It includes the City of Douglas and a portion of Saugatuck Township that connects to the Beeline Trail at 64th Street.
Phase 2 funding and maintenance is still being negotiated with Allegan County. Phase 2 is between Baseline Road and Beverly Hills Subdivision. A .3-mile portion of Phase 2 that goes from Baseline to North Shore Drive is complete.
Phases 3-6, which travels south from Douglas to Beverly Shore Subdivision in Casco Township have not been started. Municipalities in those sections, which include Ganges, Casco and Allegan County will be asked to assume ownership so that grants can be obtained. Phase 3 is a 4.5-mile section from exit 36 interchange to 1294h Avenue; Phase 4 is a 4.5 mile section from Beverly Shores subdivision north to 118th Avenue; and phases 5-6 are a 6.5-mile chunk from 118th Avenue north to 124th Avenue.
Leadership changes
South Haven school officials appoint new administrators
By ANDREW LERSTEN
For the Tribune
The administrative reshuffling continues at South Haven schools.
Lincoln Elementary School Principal Carey Frost has been named the district's new director of instructional services.
Meanwhile, the school board Wednesday night voted to hire Bennett Tyler, a teacher from West Bloomfield Township, Mich., to succeed Frost at Lincoln Elementary.
Frost had been principal for seven years. Her new duties include oversight of curriculum, assessment, special education and state and federal programs. She will also be in charge of the Career and Early College Academy.
The board did not need to act on Frost's hiring because it is considered an internal administrative reassignment by the superintendent, board President Bryan Lewis said.
Tyler has taught fourth-grade for seven years at West Bloomfield's Sheiko Elementary School, and before that taught in Northville and Livonia. He has a master's degree in educational leadership from the University of Michigan.
"He has a lot of good people skills, and we believe he's a good fit with the Lincoln staff," South Haven Superintendent Bob Herrera said.
Tyler will start in early August, and his annual salary will be about $72,000.
The district will need to also hire a new high school principal this summer. Craig McCrumb recently left to take a superintendent's job in another district.
Nuke plant doing better, but NRC still plans to keep close watch
By ANDREW LERSTEN
For the Tribune
Federal regulators will continue to keep an eye on the Palisades nuclear power plant this year, despite the plant's good performance record last year.
That was the message Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff gave to officials of the Entergy Corp.-owned plant in Covert Township at the NRC's annual performance review Thursday night. The meeting was open to the public and held in South Haven Township.
While the plant operated safely during 2013, NRC officials still want to monitor the plant's security department for evidence that the company is improving what was identified as a "chilled work environment."
Specifically, there were allegations that employees were reluctant to come forward with plant safety concerns due to fear of retribution, the NRC said earlier.
When the allegations were first raised by the NRC late last year, it ordered the plant to develop a corrective action plan.
But the NRC followed up on the issue and determined the Palisades management staff "did not demonstrate a strong commitment" to tackling the problem, and steps it was taking were not sufficient to solve it, according to the NRC.
"The NRC takes this matter seriously," said the NRC's Eric Duncan, branch chief for reactor projects.
Palisades now has a consultant on site who is interviewing security department staff and is expected to talk to 40 or 45 percent of the department staff during his 10 days at the plant, plant officials said.
NRC officials said while the plant has improved its safety culture overall, it still needs to work on the problems identified in the security department.
Otto Gustafson, Palisades' director of regulatory and performance improvement, agreed with that assessment. He said the problem in security department was caused by a "loss of trust in security leadership due to erosion of communication within the department."
Palisades Site Vice President Tony Vitale added, "We need to understand, what did we miss?"
At the end of the performance review, the public was allowed to ask the NRC questions. Some expressed safety concerns about nuclear energy, and the ability of the NRC to effectively police the nuclear industry.
Bangor plods along to eliminate deficit
By BECKY KARK
Editor and general manager
BANGOR — Bangor Public Schools continues to operate in the red, but the financially strapped district is still on target for eliminating its general fund budget deficit by 2017, officials say.
School board members, Wednesday, adopted a new budget for the 2014-15 school year that pegs revenues at $12.2 million and expenditures at $12.1 million. However, the district's bottom line will still show a deficit of $695,500, business manager Deb Pobuda reported.
"We'll continue to show negative numbers for the next couple of years, but we are on target for our deficit elimination plan that we filed with the state two years ago," she said.
Bangor first went into the red in the 2012-13 school year when it was forced to liquidate its fund balance, despite making nearly $1 million in budget cuts.
The district ended that year $812,000 in the hole and was forced to file a deficit elimination plan with the Michigan Department of Education. The plan actually called for the debt to increase to $980,000 at the start of the 2014-15 school year, however, school officials have trimmed it to an anticipated $695,000.
That's good news for the district, but bad news, in a way, because the state Department of Education indicated in a report earlier this month that Bangor's deficit increased from $375,000 last year to $695,000 this year.
District officials explained, however, that they anticipated it would increase and that the increase was included in the five-year deficit elimination plan they had submitted to the state two years ago.
The deficit went up for several reasons, according to Pobuda. Two Spanish instructors were hired and the district decided to hire two assistant principals to fill in for the elimination of the middle school principal's position. There were several unplanned expenditures as well, which drove up costs. An assistant internet technician was hired to assist with technology upgrades; the district installed a new phone system; snow plowing costs went up due to the harsh winter; and water and sewer rates increased.
By 2016, district officials hope to reduce the debt further to $596,200 and by the end of 2018, eliminate the deficit altogether.
Pobuda cautioned the plan is aggressive.
"The assumptions we're making are very aggressive," she said. The district anticipates spending less for instructional staff, administration, transportation and operational costs in the next several years.
Covert makes progress on reducing debt
By ANDREW LERSTEN
For the Tribune
COVERT - Covert schools' financial situation continues to improve, with the districts fund reserve expected to grow over the next year.
The school board last week voted to approve the 2014-15 fiscal year budget, which calls for $6.79 million in spending and $7.47 million in revenues.
Based on the new budget, the fund reserve would increase by $682,727, to $2.1 million on June 30, 2015.
Superintendent Bobbi Morehead noted the new budget has funds to allow the district to reopen its swimming pool.
In other district news, the board at a special meeting on June 20 voted 4-3 to make some changes to the superintendent's contract.
Morehead's contract was extended through June 30, 2019, and her car allowance was increased from $2,500 per year to $6,000 per year. Her salary will remain at $110,000 per year, however.
Voting to approve the changes were Board President Marivel Bautista, Vice President Diana Parrigin, Treasuerer Dana Getman and Trustee Maria Gallegos.
Secretary Maxine Jeffries and Trustees Cheryl McCray and Michael Dambrowski voted against the motion.
McCray said she thought it was premature to extend Morehead's contract because she's only been on the job for about a year. She also said she didn't learn of the proposed changes until she came to the special meeting.
"It was the wrong process," she said.
Mary Ann Frazier, Lakeview Cemetery sexton, kneels next to Wiliam H. Wilcox's original gravestone (far left) and the new one that has been installed that indicates he was a Medal of Honor recipient during the Civil War.
A surprise from the grave
Organization ensures local Civil War Medal of Honor recipient receives recognition
By BECKY KARK
Editor and general manager
Congressional Medal of Honor recipients are a rare breed.
For many years, the community of South Haven was believed to be home to one such individual — Duane E. Dewey, who nearly lost his life when he jumped on a grenade to save fellow Marines during the Korean War.
But, the town is also home to another Medal of Honor recipient; one, who for many years, has remained forgotten — Civil War veteran William H. Wilcox.
A group of Civil War descendents, however, wants to make sure people know of Wilcox and the bravery he exhibited during one of the bloodiest battles of the War Between the States, the Battle of Spotsylvania courthouse, in Virginia, in 1864.
"There was never any indication on his (original) grave stone that he had been awarded the Medal of Honor, so very few people are aware of it," said Gary Swain, senior vice commander for one of the Michigan divisions of the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War. "Our organization worked with the Medal of Honor Historical Society of the United States to place an appropriate Medal of Honor gravestone." A ceremony to commemorate the new gravestone will take place at 2 p.m., Saturday, June 28 at Lakeview Cemetery in South Haven.
"It is really awesome," said MaryAnn Frazier, cemetery sexton, regarding the new gravestone for Wilcox and the work the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War have done to spruce up other Civil War gravestones in the cemetery.
"They've repaired stones and cleaned others. It's a difficult process because the grave markers made back then are sandstone, so you have to be very careful with them."
Approximately 300 Civil War veterans are buried in Lakeview Cemetery. Many of their grave stones are quite small, while other markers, like the original one for Wilcox, are broken.
"The Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War is dedicated to preserving the history and legacy of veteran heroes who fought and worked to save the Union in the American Civil War," Swain said. "Part of that mission involves saving and protecting our nation's endangered memorials, graves, and monuments. These memorials are part of our national heritage and honor American soldiers who lost their lives in the preservation of freedom and union."
Wilcox earned his Medal of Honor while serving as a sergeant in the 9th New Hampshire Infantry.
"The 9th New Hampshire Infantry was a fighting regiment and was engaged in 19 battles during the war," Swain said. "They lost 409 men during service, but it was the battle of Spotsylvania, May 8-12, 1864 that proved to be their greatest trial and where they suffered the greatest losses with 62 soldiers and officers losing their lives."
As the battle unfolded on May 12 Wilcox was responsible for picket duty for his compan. As the regiment prepared to advance on the Confederate lines the pickets were assigned as skirmishers to lead the assault.
"When the Confederates opened fir, the skirmishers were the first to receive the volley," Swain said. "As the sergeant in Co. F stated, 212 men out of 500 in the regiment went down in the first five minutes."
Wilcox's company lost all of their field officers, forcing the regiment to fall back. But Wilcox rallied the remaining soldiers under his command and held the field until relief came. Later as the confusion of the battle forced soldiers to become separated, he asked permission to join another New Hampshire company and fought the remainder of the day with that group.
In all, 29,000 Confederate and Union soldiers lost their lives in the Spotsylvania battle, which is considered one of the deadliest conflicts of the Civil War.
As one soldier described the aftermath of the May 12th fighting in Gordon Rhea's book, "The Battles for Spotsylvania Court House and the Road to Yellow Tavern," "Nothing can describe the confusion, the savage, blood-curdling yells, the murderous faces, the awful curses, and the grisly horror of the melee."
Wilcox, and his younger brother, John, managed to make it alive from the Civil War. Both were discharged in 1865 and they headed from their home in New Hampshire for South Haven, where Wilcox purchased 80 acres of land in South Haven Township, cleared it and planted a large, successful farm, where he grew a variety of produce.
He married Edna "Belle" Raymond in 1874. As tourism became a draw in South Haven, the Wilcox's enlarged the size of their home and opened it to guests. Wilcox was a member of the Zach Chandler Post of the Grand Army of the Republic in South Haven. He died in 1913 at the age of 72.
Bangor hires private firm to manage Department of Public Works
By BECKY KARK
Editor and general manager
BANGOR — Rather than hire a new Department of Public Works director, Bangor City Council members plan to outsource the job to a management company.
Council members, Monday, authorized City Manager Ryan Fellows to sign a letter of intent to contract with Perceptive Controls Inc. of Plainwell. The city is doing so due to the retirement of DPW director Steve Lowder, whose last day will be June 30.
"The intent is for them to take over management of the DPW," Fellows said. If both parties agree to the contract, Perceptive Controls will be tasked with properly and efficiently spending the $681,500 the city earmarks annually for operations and maintenance of the city's public works functions. Those functions include taking care of mains water and sewer, major streets, parks, snowplowing, building maintenance and leaf pickup.
Perceptive Controls will be compensated if it spends less than the DPW's budget. However, city officials will negotiate a percentage of the savings to be earmarked for capital project improvements.
In other words, if Perceptive Controls manages to spend $581,500 of the DPW budget, it will not be pocketing the remaining $100,000 for itself, according to Fellows. "They will take a portion of that to reinvest into our infrastructure," he said. Lowder has been paid $47,000 for his annual salary.
Bangor city council members chose to outsource the management duties of the DPW after only receiving three applications after twice advertising the manager's position.
"None of them had water and sewer licenses," Fellows said.
At that point, the council came up with alternative plans including a shared service agreement with neighboring municipalities and contracting with private firms to manage the DPW, which consists of two full-time employees and two part-timers.
"We talked with South Haven, Hartford and the Village of Paw Paw," Fellows said. But officials from those governments were not able to share management staff, because they had too many obligations of their own to fulfill.
Fellows said he also talked with officials from the Village of Lawrence, which contracts with Wade Trim to manage its public works.
"I think we did a robust job of seeking all avenues," Fellows said. "I think what we're doing is not only the best option, I believe this will supply of with the quality of management we need. It will allow us to invest in more energy-efficient systems that will help the city in the long run."
Kayaks and paddleboard rentals now available on South Beach
By ANDREW LERSTEN
For the Tribune
South Haven's South Beach is getting a kayak and paddleboard rental business.
The City Council last week voted to approve a one-year license agreement to allow SoHa Surf Shop offer the rental service at the public beach.
This is not the first time the city has allowed a business to operate on public property.
The SoHa Surf Shop will also sell a variety of merchandise that could include sunscreen, towels, toys, T-shirts and other items.
The city will be paid the equivalent of 5 percent of the business' gross revenues, according to the lease agreement.
The city has had several other agreements in place in the past, and still does.
For example, it allowed a personal watercraft rental business to operate at the South Side Marina and allows a charter fishing boat to operate from that marina, as well. Also, the city has a commercial concessions lease in place for its North and South Beaches.
In other city news, city staff will review policies related to parades held on holidays and special events, to put in place standard requirements such as a uniform parade starting time, City Manager Brian Dissette said.
Councilwoman Vickiy Kozlik-Wall started the discussion at last week's meeting, by saying many downtown merchant do not like that some parades are held in the afternoon.
When that happens, sometimes cars are towed out of the downtown to make way for the parades, and that send the wrong message to tourists, she said.
Any changes to the policy will be effective starting next year, the city manager said.
Gary Horton, along with his brother, Roger Horton, Bob Hoppes, Joe Ashen and David Berkley break through a ribbon signifiying the official opening of a one-mile paved bike path that serves as a connecter between the Kal-Haven Trail and Van Buren Trail.
Cyclists help cut the ribbons for $6.5 million worth of improvements in SH
By BECKY KARK
Editor and general manager
It's not everyday that a group of bicyclists gets to lead a busload of state officials throughout South Haven, but that's exactly what happened June 6 when city leaders celebrated $6.5 million worth of improvements to the town in the past two years.
The improvements included the official opening of a one-mile bicycle path that connects the Van Buren Trail with the Kal-Haven Trail, and that's where the bicyclists got involved. Instead of standing next to their bikes and posing for a ribbon-cutting photo, they got on their bikes and led governmental officials on a three-mile trek that included stops at the renovated public safety building, downtown's recently completed Phoenix Street reconstruction project, and finally the bike path on the city's southside.
"Don't go too fast," bicyclist Gary Horton cautioned the Van Buren Transit bus driver. The driver didn't need to worry. Horton and his friends, who are all in their 60s, sped off after the first ribbon-cutting at the public safety building and took off on Blue Star Highway toward downtown and then proceeded to Elkenburg Street where they finished their "race" by breaking through a ribbon held by state legislators Tonya Schuitmaker and Aric Nesbitt.
The ribbon-cuttings began at the city's public safety complex which underwent $2.7 million in upgrades this past year, including a new maintenance addition, security enhancements, an enlarged training room for firefighters, new sleeping quarters for firefighters, new police office space and an improved evidence and holding room for the police department.
"People don't realize we've been in this building for 22 years," said Ron Wise, executive director for South Haven Area Emergency Services. "We needed these improvements. We had 21 people when we came here, now we're up to 50."
The upgrades to the public safety building came primarily from a $3 million loan the city obtained through the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Rural Development office. The 40-year loan will be paid back through the cost savings from the closure of the 911 emergency dispatch call center and through lease payments from South Haven Area Emergency Services.
"USDA's investments in rural communities supports the rural way of life that stands as the backbone of our American values," said James J. Turner, Michigan's Rural Development State Director. "Since I came to this office five years ago, we have distributed $5.6 billion (in loans) in Michigan, $68 million of that in Van Buren County."
The state and federal officials then went downtown to view the $3.4 million worth of improvements to South Haven's main drag – Phoenix Street. Those upgrades include new storm and water mains, a new concrete street and sidewalks, free wi-fi, space for outdoor cafes and art sculptures, bike racks, pedestrian gathering areas, and outdoor seating. That project was paid for through a $750,000 grant from the Michigan Economic Development Corp. and the rest from the city's Downtown Development Authority.
The third ribbon-cutting ceremony signified the completion of the 1.1 mile paved bicycle path that will allow bicyclists to travel from the Kal-Haven Trail into downtown South Haven and then continue further along the Van Buren Trail that leads to Hartford. A spur will also allow bicyclists next year to go south to Van Buren State Park in South Haven Township.
The $360,000 trail extension project was paid for through a $267,000 grant from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources Trust Fund grant. The remaining $145,000 will be paid for by the city of South Haven.
State film wheels roll into town for Waterfront Film Festival
By BECKY KARK and
Does South Haven have the capability to become a film-making destination?
It very well could, according to the executive director of the Michigan Film Office.
"This is a beautiful town," said Margaret Riley, who was in South Haven Friday along with members of the Michigan Film Office Advisory Council. "The fact that the city is hosting the Waterfront Film Festival is a very good start. It attracts people from the film industry."
Quite a few actors, directors and producers, in fact, have come to South Haven to promote and discuss their films that were shown at the festival that started Thursday and ends today.
Filmmakers include Jason Ritter (Parenthood TV show), Melanie Lynskey (Two-and-a-half Men TV show) Eddie Jamison (Ocean's Eleven), Blake Robbins (The Office), David Lascher (Sabrina the Teenage Witch, Blossom), and Christine Elise (Child's Play 2, ER).
A number of filmmakers, as well as members of the Film Office Advisory Council have commented on the attractiveness of South Haven and its welcoming environment.
But it takes money to produce a film, let alone a film festival.
"We couldn't do this without our sponsors," said Hopwood DePree, co-founder of the Waterfront Film Festival and a member of the film office advisory council.
"Sixteen years ago we started with a handful of volunteers. It has grown to attract thousands of people and makes a significant economic impact."
Movies made in Michigan also impact the state's economy, Riley said.
So far this yer, the film office has approved $43 million in funding for nine movie productions — including "Batman vs. Superman," and "Into the Storm."
"Those dollars represent $228 million in private investment," Riley said. More than 1,000 jobs also have been created through this year's film projects, although the jobs end when the film productions conclude.
The film office will continue to offer incentives for filmmakers to come to Michigan. Riley announced that for the third consecutive year the state will budget $50 million for the film office.
The office is also pledging to give more support for movie makers who shoot their films in Michigan and reside in Michigan.
Grand Rapids filmmaker Joel Potrykus, whose film "Ape" was shown at the Waterfront Film Festival in South Haven last year, is one of those homegrown filmmakers.
Potrykus spoke to the film office advisory council Friday and discussed his film projects.
"We're Michigan produces who are fighting the call of LA," Potrykus said, regarding many Wolverine filmmakers who choose to relocate to California because they think more opportunities for success exist there. "We want to stay here."
He suggested the film office provide more incentives to Michigan filmmakers.
"I'm just here to put a face to the little guy,' Potrykus said.
Eighty percent of projects it provides incentives to are for small, independent filmmakers, Riley said.
However, several film office advisory council members think the film office should do more to promote Michigan as a state for filmmakers to reside in.
"I think it's important to promote the culture of filmmaking in Michigan," said Joel Vos. Both Vos and DePree serve on a council subcommittee that is looking at ways to make it easier for filmmakers to gain access to the state incentives.
"Our goal with the Waterfront Film Festival is to promote West Michigan and strive to bring in films and filmmakers," DePree said.
Covert on the lookout for new fire chief
By BECKY KARK
Editor and general manager
COVERT — It looks like Covert Township Board once again will look for someone to lead the fire department.
Less than a year after taking the job, Covert Fire Chief Mark Cleveland has submitted his resignation to become fire chief of Egelston Township, near Muskegon. Township board members accepted his resignation, Tuesday.
"It is with great sorrow and excitement at the same time, that I am writing this letter of resignation," Cleveleand wrote to the township board. "This position comes with a significant increase in salary and benefits. Financially this is what is best for me and my family."
Cleveland, who began his new duties Monday, had been with Covert's fire department for 11 months and made $52,000 annually. According to Township Supervisor Barbara Rose, he will make at least $6,000 more at Egelston and will receive more benefits.
"I offered to match his salary, but we couldn't match the benefits," she said in an interview after the township board meeting.
Several township board members said they will miss Cleveland.
"Mark was a fantastic fire chief," said Marilyn Rendell. "Over the last 14 years we've had problems with the fire department. Mark pulled everyone together."
Rendell and Township Clerk Dennis Palgen said the township supervisor should have gotten township board members involved in trying to negotiate with Cleveland, who had submitted his resignation letter two weeks ago.
"It put us at a disadvantage not being able to negotiate. We need to have advance notice so we can prepare and respond," Palgen said.
Rose, who was Cleveland's supervisor, acknowledged Palgen's comments and said in the future she would communicate more quickly with board members regarding resignations.
"It hurt me very dearly for Mark to leave," Rose said, "because I knew what he could have done to help our community."
Cleveland has offered to help township officials select a new fire chief, however, he has not submitted a proposal yet in writing. Rose said she would request a formal proposal from him.
In the meantime, the township has begun soliciting resumes and according to Palgen, "quite a few" have been received as of Tuesday. To help ensure stability at the fire department in the absence of a fire chief, township board members promoted firefighter Tom Wolters to the position of captain. He will join two other captains in running the department.
"I think having a captain for each shift will provide continuity," Rendell said.
Wolters will be paid an additional $2,300 per year.
Petra Norman and her son Gavin are shown with three South Haven Health System nurses.
Hospital's OB staff delivers their last baby
By BECKY KARK
Editor and general manager
A baby's birth marks a beginning, but for South Haven Health System, Gavin Norman's birth marked an end.
Little Gavin was born May 23 and became the last baby to be born in the hospital's birthing center.
After 100-plus years of delivering babies to thousands of parents throughout southwest Michigan, South Haven Health System's obstetrical department closed the same day Gavin's mother gave birth to her son.
"It was a bittersweet day," remarked hospital President and CEO Joanne Urbanski. "We officially closed the OB department at midnight. I was here with a handful of the OB staff and we walked out together. It was a very special moment that I will always remember."
Three months ago, the health system's Board of Trustees voted to close the OB department due to decreasing birth rates and the financial losses the service experienced due to less-than-favorable insurance reimbursement.
"For over a century, generations of South Haven and surrounding community residents were born at South Haven Health System," Urbanski. said. "However, over the past five years, only 47 percent of the child-bearing females in our service area used South Haven Health System for their obstetrical care, and the volume of deliveries has been decreasing."
To make matters financially worse, many of the OB department's patients relied on Medicaid for their insurance.
"Seventy-one percent of the hospital's obstetrical business (was) from the Medicaid program," Urbanski said. However, Medicaid reimbursement was less than the cost to provide the services, she went on to say.
Across the country, health care industry trends have caused a number of hospitals to discontinue obstetrical services while centralizing those services in specialty hospitals, South Haven Health System officials said earlier. "The number of rural area hospitals providing obstetrical services has been declining for several years, due, in part, to parents-to-be bypassing their smaller rural hospital to utilize the services in a larger facility with high-risk infant services and neo-natal specialists. South Haven Health System was one of the smallest hospitals in Michigan still providing an obstetrics department.
South Haven hospital officials estimated they'll save $1 million, annually, by closing the OB department, but doing so meant the layoff of 21 employees.
To help those employees secure employment elsewhere or within other South Haven Health System departments, hospital officials did the following:
• The hospital asked Michigan Works to assist employees with their job hunt;
• A grief counselor was brought in to help employees deal with the OB department's closure;
• Employees who worked 24 hours a week or more were given severance packags based on their years of employment;
• The hospital put up a display case honoring the OB department;
Of the 21 staff who were laid off 18 have either been reassigned at the hospital, secured employment elsewhere, retired, went back to school, or chose different career paths.
Although the OB department is now closed, the hospital will continue to offer women's health care services at Shoreline Women's Center. "Dr. Denise Kazmierczak, gynecologist ,and Carmen Plott, nurse practitioner, will remain with Shoreline Women's Center caring for women of all ages for women's health services excluding obstetrics," Urbanski said.
"On behalf of the Board of Trustees and Administrative team, I want to thank the dedicated nurses, doctors, midwives and patient care technicians of the Birthing Center for the compassionate care they gave to all the moms that came to South Haven Health System over the years," Urbanski said. "We will miss them dearly."
Sheriff called onto the carpet, again
By ROD SMITH
For the Tribune
PAW PAW — Van Buren County Sheriff Dale Gribler is in hot water again with the County Board of Commissioners. And, according to the sheriff's attorney, he's not very happy about it.
The county board, earlier this week, alleged Gribler took Lawrence High School baseball players to Georgia in a county-owned vehicle. As a result, the board now forbids Gribler from using the car after work hours and wants him to reimburse the county for the mileage that it took to transport the players, out-of-state.
Commissioners adopted both a letter of reprimand for the trip and another one that demands the sheriff's pay for suits he allegedly purchased on a county credit card in August 2013.
Although the reprimand letter does not say precisely where Gribler went to Georgia in April, it does estimate the trip was 1,200 miles. At 56 cents per mile, the letter says Gribler must
reimburse the county $672 within a week of receipt.
"I had the letter delivered to him today," commission Chairman Richard Godfrey said Wednesday. An attempt to reach Gribler by phone Wednesday afternoon for comment was unsuccessful.
Had there been an accident, the letter alleges, the county could have been liable for vehicle damage and medical claims.
"The use of a county vehicle for this purpose is a gross violation of the Van Buren County Vehicle Policy and will not be ignored," the letter said. "You are formally reprimanded for
violating a county policy and for using such poor judgment."
"Effective immediately, the privilege of taking home your county provided vehicle is rescinded," the letter went on say.. "At the end of each business day, you will park the vehicle at the jail parking lot complex and use your own privately owned vehicle for transportation to your home."
But Gribler's attorney Michael Bingen of Kalamazoo, disputes the county's allegation that the sheriff's improperly used his vehicle.
"Thirty years before he became sheriff, the county purchased vehicles for the sheriff's use," Bingen said. "To suggest it is a violation of policy is wrong."
Bingen went on to say the sheriff may seek legal action against the county over this latest reprimand.
"We are considering all of our options," Bingen said.
A sheriff is an independently elected officials, on the same level as the county commissioners. This means they are not his supervisor and cannot discipline him.
"All we've done is just cited him for violating the county policy and using poor judgment," Godfrey said. The commission does, however, he said, control the purse strings.
This is the second time in three months the commission has criticized the sheriff.
In a scathing letter titled "Violation of Public Trust," commissioners told the sheriff in February they disagreed with the special prosecutor's decision not to prosecute him.
Although there is an allowance for uniforms, the February letter alleged that Gribler allegedly purchased four suits, including one for a son, and accessories using county credit cards. The
total was $1,372.
The matter was turned over to Michigan State Police who in turn sent it to Cass County Prosecutor Victor Fitz.
In his two-sentence letter, Fitz said the file "does not contain facts meriting criminal prosecution. Disputes, if any, regarding adherence to county policies and procedures can be addressed through the civil/administrative process."
Since then the commission has taken Gribler's county credit card away and Tuesday sent him a bill for the $1,372.
"Payment is due within one week upon receipt of this invoice," the letter said.
Gribler had been undersheriff under H. Cal Rosema for 16 years. When Rosema stepped down in 1996 Gribler was elected and has been re-elected ever since. Gribler also served as police chief in Lawrence.
For the vets
Poker Run raises $7,500 to help local veterans
By BECKY KARK
Editor and general manager
More than 300 motorcyclists trekked along the highways and byways of Southwestern Michigan this past week to raise $7,500 for area military veterans.
The 80-mile Poker Run for Veterans, May 24, was organized by Jimmy and Susie Pacwa, owners of Twisted Twin Custom Motorcycles in South Haven.
Cyclists revved up their engines at noon at the American Legion Post in South Haven and traveled through the towns of Coloma, Fennville, Pullman, Breedsville , Bangor, Hartford, Watervliet, Coloma and Covert before returning to the Veterans of Foreign Wars post in South Haven, where they took part in a celebration that included a silent auction, 50/50 drawing and raffle.
"The weather was picture perfect," Susie Pacwa said. "As I was rolling down the road all I could see in my mirror was bikes for miles."
The Pacwas got involved in the Poker Run benefit at the suggestion of a friend, Scott Grabner, who was a veteran that started the first loxL poker run eight years ago.
"After he relocated to Florida he passed the ride onto us," Susie Pacwa said. "Sadly, he passed away over a year ago, but I am pretty sure he is very proud of the outcome of what he started."
The Pacwas never served in the Armed Forces, but both have a connection to the military
"Neither one of us are veterans, but our fathers and grandfathers both were," Susie Pacwa said. "I am very active in the (American Legion) Ladies Auxiliary and truly just want to support our military and give back to them for the freedoms we enjoy today...I can't take all the credit though. I have a great support team of friends, customers, and community of South Haven to back us. We are very humble folks and want to make sure this ride is about veterans and supporting our military."
Proceeds from the poker run will go toward the "Christmas for Veterans" program that provides support to local military families in need during the holiday season. "We adopt military families in need, visit veterans in nursing facilities and purchase toys for Project Santa," Pacwa said.
South Haven High School Principal named superintendent for Durand Public Schools
By ANDREW LERSTEN
For the Tribune
It looks like more administrative changes are in store for South Haven High School.
Principal Craig McCrumb has announced he will be leaving at the end of June for a new job. The news comes on the heels of Jeremy Burleson's appointment as new assistant high school principal, following the retirement of Dave Gumpert.
McCrumb has been offered the superintendent's job in Durand Area Schools near Lansing.
The Durand school board voted May 15 to negotiate a contract with McCrumb. The school board originally interviewed six candidates and whittled the list to two before choosing McCrumb, according to an Argus-Press news article.
An educator with 21 years of experience, McCrumb has been South Haven's high school principal since August 2011. Prior to that he served as an assistant principal at Forest Hills Central High School in Ada and as a teacher at Grandville High School in Grandville. He earned his master's degree in educational leadership from Western Michigan University.
"I'm thankful that the district gave me an opportunity to try my hands as a principal," McCrumb said. "The best part about working in South Haven has been the kids I've had the opportunity to work with. That was definitely my favorite part of the job."
William Sledge Jr. (left) and Dekodey Merriweather put together some of the new playground equipment at Elkenburg Park.
Volunteers join together to build playground at Elkenburg Park
By BECKY KARK
Editor and general manager
Seventy-five volunteers rolled up their sleeves this past week to make sure youngsters at Elkenburg Park can enjoy $50,000 worth of new playground equipment.
The workers smoothed dirt, laid down mulch, and put each piece of equipment together just in time for the playground to open Saturday evening.
"It's been quite an experience to see this project from start to finish," said Teresa Cunningham, who organized the volunteers. "I can't thank the City of South Haven enough. They went above and beyond with equipment and people. To see the police chief and city manager working with other people in the community to build this playground is just great. The Assistant City Manager Paul VandenBosch was here from start to finish."
Employers and organizations that also volunteered workers for the project include South Haven Police Department, Palisades Nuclear Power Plant, System Components, Abonmarche, Resurrection Life Ministries, Albemarle, Trelleborg, South Haven Rotary, Bobby Walker Ministries, Youth Development Company/Police Activities League, South Haven Public Schools and South Haven Havoc minor league football team.
Cunningham estimated the volunteers saved the city $40,000 by assembling and installing the playground equipment.
The playground caps off $250,000 worth of improvements to Elkenburg Park over the past two years. Last year, new basketball courts, renovated restroom facilities, landscaping and fencing were completed. This year's improvements include the playground, new bleachers and improved security.
Wi-Fi improvements coming to South Haven downtown and city marinas
By ANDREW LERSTEN
For the Tribune
Now that Phoenix Street has reopened to downtown motorists, city officials are turning their attention to providing free wi-fi service to central business direct and city marinas.
Part of the extensive Phoenix road improvement involved installation of conduit for fiber optic lines that will allow the city to upgrade the wi-fi service. With the conduits in place, the wi-fi work can proceed.
"The plan is to have this thing up and running by the middle of June. It's a pretty quick turnaround," said City Manager Brian Dissette, regarding the $170,000 project.
The City Council last week voted to approve bids for the work, and related actions.
The Downtown Development Authority will fund 55 percent of the costs, with the marina fund picking up the balance, Dissette said. No general fund money will be used for the project.
The upgrades will allow for more reliable and consistent wi-fi service downtown and at the marinas.
"We had some complaints the last couple of years that the service wasn't fast enough," Dissette said. "It wasn't really reliable. There just wasn't enough band width available."
Boaters, who stay at the city marinas during the summer, reported that weekends were very challenging for using internet devices due to the many wi-fi users streaming movies and video.
Search begins for new Bangor school chief
By BECKY KARK
Editor and general manager
BANGOR — Board of Education members, here, plan to look within to find a replacement for Superintendent Ronald Parker.
At Monday's school board meeting, members accepted Parker's plans to retire by Oct. 10, and then went in to closed session to review applications they had received from internal candidates.
When the session ended, school board members emerged with a list of four people to interview — Bangor High School Principal Jeff Melvin, Bangor High School Assistant Principal Dennis Paquette, South Walnut Elementary School Principal Jeremy Davidson, and South Walnut Assistant Principal Karen Bitzer. Interviews will begin at 5 p.m., Monday, May 19 at Bangor High School library.
"We could have hired a firm to help us look for candidates," said school board President Kurt Doroh, "but in the past we either have gotten candidates with no experience or out-of-state candidates that really aren't familiar with the area."
Parker came to Bangor in 2009 as an interim superintendent, following the retirement of Ron Davis.
"I originally came to Bangor intending to fill a four-month interim position while they replaced their previous superintendent," Parker said. "That four months turned into five years, and now it is time to go back into retirement."
There were a number of reasons the school board extended Parker's employment.
"From the school (board's) perspective, there was a declining enrollment problem coupled with lost revenue, both state and federal," Parker said. "There was also a dire need for a facilities improvement bond. There was no quick fix for any of these problems, but the Board, staff, and community members dug in their heels, and committed themselves to overcoming these obstacles. It wasn't easy, and involved a lot of sacrifice and cooperation from everyone, but I think we are on our way to accomplishing these goals."
Since Parker took the helm of the school district, an $8.9 million bond issue for building and athletic improvements was approved by voters, enrollment has increased and the district's finances have improved.
Prior to his employment with Bangor Public Schools, Parker had served as superintendent of Lakeview Community Schools.
South Haven featured in new Pure Michigan ad
By BECKY KARK
Editor and general manager
Radio listeners in Lansing, Cincinnati and Fort Wayne are starting to hear a lot about South Haven these days, thanks to a $160,000 Pure Michigan ad campaign that began airing this past week.
Actor Tim Allen, the voice of Pure Michigan advertisements, likens South Haven to "a good book" in the 60-second radio script that the South Haven/Van Buren County Convention and Visitors Bureau unveiled at its annual meeting, Monday..
The ad highlights South Haven's close proximity to Lake Michigan, the town's beaches, farm market, lighthouse, bike trails restaurants and wineries. It ends with "Like any good book, a visit here is one we can't wait to start, but hate when it's over. So let's dive into the story of South Haven."
After the guests at the meeting heard the ad, visitors bureau Executive Director Lisa Shanley, asked, "Does that capture what we're about in 60 seconds or less?"
The round of applause appeared to provide the answer.
The visitor's bureau decided to partner with Pure Michigan to create the advertising campaign as a way to increase tourism throughout Van Buren County, especially South Haven.
"We have to differentiate South Haven as a destination," said Lou Adamson, president of the visitor's bureau board of directors. "There's a lot of lakeshore communities. What makes us different is what we continue to strive for."
The visitor's bureau made the decision this past year to form a partnership with Pure Michigan, the promotional arm of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation. To do so, the bureau had to spend $80,000 that was matched by Pure Michigan, which then worked with bureau staff to create the radio ad and enhance South Haven's presence on the Pure Michigan website.
"For South Haven it is a natural fit to be a part of the enormously successful Pure Michigan campaign," Shanley said. "So much of what is promoted in the Pure Michigan campaign is right here in our own back yard. From beautiful beaches to and award-winning wineries, from championship golf courses to fabulous farmer's markets; we have it all, and this is the opportunity we've been waiting for to broadcast that message to a wider audience."
The funding for the marketing campaign comes mainly from an increase in the state-mandated assessment that Van Buren County lodging establishments pay to the visitor's bureau. The bureau lobbied for the increase because neighboring convention and visitors bureaus had already done so and were stepping up efforts to market their regions. With the approval of the majority of local lodging businesses, the bureau increased the assessments from 2 to 5 percent, starting this year.
"Nothing can be a success without money," said Adamson, who thinks the commercials will draw visitors from untapped markets.
"This is going to bring more people to South Haven," he said. "That will transition to all aspects of the town."
United Way raises nearly $400,000 in annual campaign
Area businesses that contributed to Van Buren County United Way's annual campaign were honored during the agency's annual meeting, this past week.
The campaign raised nearly $400,000 that will be distributed to non-profit agencies throughout southwest Michigan.
Community supporters and representatives from more than 30 service agencies, corporate and individual supporters, and volunteers attended the event.
The theme of this year's event was "Service Never Takes a Vacation," in honor of the year-round service given by United Way, its Partner Agencies, and their many employees and volunteers.
"Poverty never takes a vacation," stated Vera E. Tanier-Sebree, United Way executive director. "We are so fortunate that our local service agencies and their employees and volunteers don't either."
United Way recognized volunteers who performed more than 60,000 hours of service in 2013, as well as the local employees and companies who participated in its 2013-14 campaign.
"We are so grateful for all of their generosity, and the time and enthusiasm of those who coordinated the worksite pledge drives," said Tanier-Sebree, "We could not continue our work without their support."
Awards follow
• Bronze Award ($4,000-9,999): Chemical Bank, Consumers Energy, PNC Bank and UPS.
• Silver Award ($10,000-19,999): Bronson Lakeview Hospital, Coca-Cola Refreshments, Fifth Third Bank / Fifth Third Foundation, Mol-Son, Inc., Van Buren Intermediate School District, Van Buren Community Mental Health Authority, and Western Diversified Plastics
• Platinum Award ($30,000-49,999): MPI Research
• Diamond Leadership Award ($50,000-plus): Palisades/Entergy
• Over the Edge Award (presented to campaigns that increased to the next level of giving): Fifth Third Bank / Fifth Third Foundation
• The Campaign Fun Award: Mol-Son and Western Diversified Plastics for their fun and creative fundraising events.
• The On-Time Campaign Award: campaign coordinator Kathy Everett of Paw Paw Wine Distributors.
• Beacon Award: Mol-Son, for a campaign that included 61-percent employee participation.
• Shining Star traveling trophy: Hartford Public Schools for for 18-percent employee participation in the United Way campaign. The Van Buren ISD was honored as Shining Star Runner Up with 9-percent participation.
Campaign Coordinator of the Year: hirley Smith-Torp of Entergy/Palisades.
Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) volunteers were honored for their thousands of hours of service, Girl Scouts Heart of Michigan was recognized for their continued support of the United Way Stuff the Bus Food Pantry Drive, and Karen and Carrie Klimp were recognized for their year-round volunteerism at the United Way office.
United Way also honored VITA Tax volunteer Jim Vettese as its Volunteer of the Year, for "Outstanding Service, Dedication of Time, and Excellence in Auditing throughout the 2013-2014 VITA Tax Season." And retiring United Way Board member Sally Berglin received recognition for her service.
South Haven voters OK school upgrades
By ANDREW LERSTEN
For the Tribune
Third time's the charm proved to be the magic formula South Haven Public Schools needed to gain voter approval for millions of dollars in building improvements..
Twice in the past six years, voters turned down funding for renovations, but Tuesday, they had a change of heart, approving $36.74 million to upgrade school and athletic facilities.
According to election results, 61 percent of voters favored the 30-year bond proposal. A total of 1,319 electors voted yes, while 843 nixed the idea.
"The results show this was the right proposal for the schools as well as the community," South Haven School Board President Bryan Lewis said. "It also shows the community has confidence that we are moving in the right direction."
Superintendent Bob Herrera thanked the voters and the bond campaign committee for making the effort a success last week.
"Without their efforts this campaign would not have been a success," Herrera said of the committee. "The members of the committee are truly advocates for our children and our community."
Most of the bond request — $28.87 million — will be used for improvements to South Haven High School, including a new roof; plumbing, electrical and mechanical upgrades; science labs, new locker rooms; a learning information center; cafeteria renovations, new furnishings, technology upgrades and an enhanced security system.
Improvements to other facilities follow:
North Shore Elementary School: enhanced security system, technology upgrades
Baseline Middle School: enhanced security system; technology upgrades; a new roof; upgrades to mechanical and plumbing systems; and classroom improvements
Lincoln Elementary School: enhanced security system; technology upgrades; window upgrades; mechanical and plumbing system upgrades; and classroom improvements
Maple Grove Elementary School: enhanced security system and technology upgrades
Ratcliffe Field: Roofing for the field house and lighting improvements for the field
Now that the bond proposal has been approved, property tax bills will soon go up. The owner of a home valued at $100,000, will pay an additional $78 annually; the owner of a $150,00 home will pay an extra $117 each year; while those with homes valued at $200,000, will pay $155 more in taxes.
The district currently levies 3.25 mills for debt payments related to the district's 1991 and 2003 school improvement bond projects. The new bond issue will require another 1.55 mills.
It was the third bond proposal in the district in six years.
Other proposals failed in both 2008 and in 2011.
Former coach takes plea deal; Sentencing set
By BECKY KARK
Editor and general manager
ALLEGAN — Sentencing has been scheduled for a former high school basketball coach who pleaded guilty to having sex with a teenager from the Pullman area last year.
Adrian Ledesma, 23, of Grand Junction will be sentenced June 30 in Allegan Circuit Court, according to circuit court clerk.
His trial had been scheduled May 6, however, he took a plea deal in April and agreed to plead guilty to two counts of third-degree criminal sexual conduct, one count of second-degree criminal sexual conduct and one count of accosting children for immoral purposes.
Originally Ledesma faced eight charges including two counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct and one count of second-degree criminal sexual conduct, the clerk said.
Both Adrian Ledesma and his cousin Jaime Ledesma, 24, were arrested by Michigan State Police troopers in July of 2013. The arrests came after police received a complaint from parents of a 14-year-old girl. The parents told police their daughter had received text messages of a sexual nature. Police examined the victim's cell phone and discovered text messages between her and Adrian Ledesma. The sexual activity allegedly occurred between December 2012 and June 2013, according to Trooper Investigator O.J. Hamilton of the Paw Paw state police post.
The girl had become acquainted with Adrian Ledesma when he was employed as a boy's junior varsity basketball coach for Bloomingdale High School. Further investigation led to the arrest of Jaime Ledesma, who was sentenced in March to 15 years in prison after he pleaded guilty to third-degree criminal sexual conduct.
Write-in candidate wins election in Bangor
By BECKY KARK
Editor and general manager
BANGOR — Three last-minute, write-in candidates ended up having an effect on Bangor's city council election.
Tuesday's election was originally uncontested. Harold Bator and Lucas Koenig had sought two full-term seats, while Jim Tanner settled for the partial-term seat.
However, only two of the three were elected, according to unofficial results.
Bator and Tanner will take their seats on the council, while write-in candidate Daniel Fry, will fill the other full-term seat. The full terms will be for three years. The partial term seat will last until May of 2016.
Official results follow:
Full-term seats: Harold Bator, 84; Daniel Fry, 83; Greg Moench, 64; Lucas Koenig, 50.
Partial-term seat: Jim Tanner, 88; Robert Freislinger, 53.
Twelve percent of the city's 1,317 registered voters cast ballots in Tuesday's election.
New assistant principal chosen at South Haven High School
By ANDREW LERSTEN
For the Tribune
South Haven Public Schools officials looked within their own ranks to choose a new administrator to replace one who is retiring.
The school board last week voted to hire Jeremy Burleson to succeed South Haven High School Assistant Principal Dave Gumpert
Burleson is currently director of the district's new Career & Early College Academy, located at the South Haven campus of Lake Michigan College. He also teaches social studies and art at the academy, which opened in the fall of 2013.
Burleson has been a district teacher for 10 years. He has a master's degree in history from Fort Hays State University in Kansas, a bachelor's degree from Western Michigan University in social studies, and a bachelor's degree from Central Michigan University in history and art.
Superintendent Bob Herrera said Burleson's leadership skills and enthusiasm made him the top choice of the interview committee.
While Trustee Annie Brown wasn't at last week's meeting, Board President Bryan Lewis read a statement from her in support of Burleson as the new assistant principal.
"He has been a dedicated, hard-working member of our staff for years," she said in her statement.
Pedestrians walk along the new sidewalks on Phoenix Street. The street is scheduled to reopen May 15.
Phoenix Street rising
By ANDREW LERSTEN
For the Tribune
Say good-bye to "Dig So-Ha" and hello to "Phoenix Rising."
South Haven's downtown merchants have been eagerly anticipating the mid-May completion of the Phoenix Street Road project, which was dubbed Dig So-Ha (as in Dig South Haven).
Now that the project is nearly complete a party is being planned to celebrate.
The City Council has voted to approve a special event permit to allow the Downtown Association of South Haven to hold the "Phoenix Rising" event in the city's Dyckman Park from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday, May 10.
While the Phoenix road and utility project is not technically scheduled for completion until May 15, City Manager Brian Dissette said he is confident the project will at least be substantially finished by May 10.
Phoenix Rising will include several live musical performances in the park, and many downtown shops are planning special sales and events to tie in to the event, organizers said.
a $750,000 Michigan Economic Development Corporation grant is helping to fund the $3.4 million road improvement project.
In other matters, the council last week voted to approve the hiring of Donna Jordan as a seasonal parks maintenance employee.
Council action was required under the city charter, because Jordan is the sister of Councilwoman Vickiy Kozlik Wall. Kozlik Wall abstained from voting.
The council last week also voted to approve a license agreement to allow the owners of the new Bahama Mama store at 513 Phoenix St., formerly the site of Ducy's General Store, to install an awning that will extend over the public sidewalk. Ducy's had a similar agreement in place for its awning.
Making do with less
Covert eliminates administrator's job to save money
By ANDREW LERSTEN
For the Tribune
COVERT - Due to a tight budget, Covert schools will go without a K-12 administrator starting in the fall.
Former district teacher Tyrone Brown has been serving as the administrator this school year. He plans to retire by the end of the school year.
Due to his pending retirement, the school board recently voted to eliminate the K-12 administrator's job, due to financial reasons. The move will save the district about $115,000.
Brown is paid $72,000 per year, but the district spends an additional $43,000 or so on benefits and retirement costs for the position.
Superintendent Bobbi Morehead said teacher leaders will help pick up the extra administrative duties in the coming school year.
"We're just restructuring. We're building a very strong leadership team," she said.
In other news, the board voted to lease the district's former day care program space in the elementary school to YDC Professional Learning Center, to be operated by Youth Development Company of South Haven.
The new day care program is expected to be in place in the fall. There will be before- and after-school components and the center will serve students up to grade 8.
The lease is for one year and the district will be paid $1,000 a month for the space, Morehead said. The district has not operated its day car program for several years.
The board also voted to sell some of the day care program furnishings to the center.
In other recent district news, the board has appointed Michael Dambrowski to serve in the position vacated by the death of Trustee Michael Perry. Dambrowski will serve through the end of the year, but he could seek a new term in the November election.
The public is invited to attend the district's "Bulldog Carnival," to be held at the schools May 15 from 5-8 p.m. There will be games and hot dogs, the superintendent said.
Van Buren County Board rejects countywide senior citizen tax millage
By ROD SMITH
For the Tribune
PAW PAW — It looks like Van Buren County voters will decide at the
local level whether they want to support a .25 mill for services to senior citizens.
This past Tuesday, Van Buren County commissioners voted 4-3 to reject putting a countywide senior services millage request on the August ballot.
Commissioner John "Mike" Henry brought in sample ballot language recommended by the county's Administrative Affairs Committee that asked for a quarter-mill for four years. "Essentially a tax shift," Henry said, referring to the fact the same amount has been levied by townships, villages and cities in Van Buren County for the last four years.
But several commissioners think local governments should decide. Two of the four commissioners who voted against the proposal said their local townships were against collecting the tax at the county level.
Several people in the audience asked the county board to reconsider its decision.
"There is efficiency in this becoming a countywide millage," said Jennifer Carver, executive director of Senior Services of Van Buren County, which provides most senior programs in the county.
Carver said some townships may drop out of the program, which would mean that people in those townships would be refused service.
"We did this to keep everything intact countywide," Carver said.
Ann Edwards, of Almena Township, said the decision showed mixed priorities.
"I've seen the senior services do wonderful things the last four years," Edwards said.
But Dorothy Appleyard of South Haven supported commissioners' decision, saying
it would not destroy services.
"I think going to a countywide millage adds another layer of government into the process," Appleyard said, adding there would be less-efficient oversight and handling of finances.
In other matters, the board voted to put a public service and ambulance millage on the August ballot.
The 0.9402-mill ambulance millage renewal request for four years had been decided earlier in the month, but Tuesday commissioners approved language for both a public service renewal request and a 75 cent surcharge on 911.
The public service millage will pay for 17.75 uniformed sheriff's officers. The renewal would run 0.5351-mill for four years. It's expected to bring in $1.6 million the first year.
The 75-cent monthly surcharge would be levied on any phone device that can call 911. When the four-year levy goes into effect July 1, 2015, some portion of that 75 cents will be added to the $1.17 per month that all counties can levy by default. Right now the 911 surcharge is $1.50 per month.
In other matters, commissioners extended County Administrator Douglas Cultra's contract by three years, starting immediately.
Cultra's current salary is $103,600. In 2015 it'll rise to $108,800, $114,200 the second year and $119,900 the third year. The contract expires April 21, 2017.
Bangor council agrees to make clerk's job full-time
By BECKY KARK
Editor and general manager
BANGOR — It's official.
City Clerk Kim Schmitz can call herself a full-time employee.
Bangor City Council members voted Monday to upgrade her position from part-time to full-time. Her salary will go from $11.50 an hour to $30,000 a year. The previous full-time clerk, who resigned in November of 2013, made $42,000 annually.
But not all members favored the decision. While Mayor Pro Tem Rosemary Insidioso, Lynn Farmer, Alice Kriesten and Fred Hicks voted yes, Mayor Nick Householder, Renee Doroh and David Bournay cast no votes.
"I think we need a full-time clerk, but I'm not sure we can justify the expense," Doroh said.
City Manager Ryan Fellows responded he thinks the city's general fund can do so without going into the red.
"For the general fund there is adequate revenue for her position to be full-time," Fellows said.
At the beginning of the fiscal year, which began in July 2013, the city had allocated $43,597 for the clerk's budget. So far, 55 percent of that budget has been spent. The current fiscal year will end June 30.
Council members now plan to set a special meeting to amend the general fund budget to reflect the clerk's new full-time position.
The decision of whether to return the clerk's status to full-time arose after the city council voted in December to make the job part-time to save some money.
They chose to hire Schmitz, in February, to work up to 20 hours a week, and hire a part-time counter clerk to assist her.
However, soon after being hired in February, it became apparent that the clerk's duties necessitated more hours, according to Fellows. As a result, he recommended earlier this month that the position be full-time. Council members held off doing so at the April 7 meeting, saying city staff needed to clearly justify whether there was enough money in the general fund budget to do so.
Easter egg hunt
Rev. Jeffrey Dick (right) helps a youngster load eggs into a bag during the Easter Egg Hunt, Saturday, at Kid's Korner park in South Haven. Volunteers from three churches filled 5,000 plastic eggs with candy for children to find. The churches that sponsored the event were Greater Assembly Christian Fellowship, First United Methodist Church and First Congregational Church.
South Haven Schools inches closer to bond vote
By ANDREW LERSTEN
For the Tribune
Secant Technologies will help South Haven schools with technology upgrades if voters approve a $36.74 million bond issue, May 6..
The school board last week voted to approve a letter of understanding with the Kalamazoo company, stipulating the work will be contingent on approval of the bond resolution.
The company is being asked to help analyze technology needs, develop bid specifications and oversee the bidding process for that portion of the bond work, Superintendent Bob Herrera said.
"I just think it's a very wise investment to bring their technical skills in," Herrera said.
Action was recommended by the Finance Committee.
The company would be paid from bond proceeds, but would not add to the overall bond costs because less work would be required of the architects and construction manager, officials said earlier.
The bond issue's main focus is $28.87 million worth of improvements to the 53-year-old high school, including a new roof and plumbing, electrical and mechanical upgrades; classroom renovations, new technology and security improvements.
Here's a breakdown of estimated costs of bond work at other schools in the district: Baseline Middle School, $2.94 million; Lincoln Elementary, $2.09 million; Maple Grove Elementary, $856,126; North Shore Elementary, $545,779; and district-wide technology and new buses, $860,993.
The district currently levies 3.25 mills for debt payments related to the district's 1991 and 2003 school improvement bond projects. The bond issue would require another 1.55 mills. If approved a homeowner with a $100,000 home would pay an additional $78 annually, a homeowner with a $150,000 home would pay $177 annually, while a homeowner with a $200,000 home would pay $155 annually.
Voters will head to the polls on May 6 to decide the proposal's fate.
In other matters, the board last week heard about a new partnership between the school district and the Michigan Maritime Museum in which the museum will try to tie its exhibits and programs to the district's curriculum.
The collaboration was sparked by the addition of district teacher Tracy Spaulding to the museum board's Education Committee. The museum will focus on finding ways to educate students in the areas of science, technology, engineering and math.
Bangor DDA wants input on future of city's downtown
By BECKY KARK
Editor and general manager
What do you see when you look at downtown Bangor?
That's the question Bangor Downtown Development Authority members are posing to local residents this week at a visioning workshop. The workshop will take place at 6 p.m., Tuesday at the Bangor Conference Center, 61899 M-43 Hwy.
"We are in a geographical situation where the traffic that comes through here is tremendous," said Jim Tanner, DDA president, in reference to Bangor's location on M-43 Highway, between Kalamazoo and South Haven. "Bangor has never tried to capitalize on that. We're sitting in the ideal situation to take advantage of this."
But before carving out its own plan to make the town more inviting and prosperous, the DDA wants the public's input.
"With the community's hep, the DDA will create its vision and mission statement and identify project goals for the downtown," said Debra Patzer, Bangor DDA's new director. "The result will be an updated downtown development plan that will guide the future of the downtown."
When passing through Bangor along M-43 Highway, many motorists see most of the town's businesses and often assume that's all there is. But, DDA members stress there's more to the city than that.
They point out Lions Park, the Bangor/South Haven Heritage Water Trail, the historic train depot, and the town's seasonal farm market. But, DDA members think Bangor could offer even more amenities by capitalizing on its close proximity to the Black River and creating more attractive areas for people to relax and enjoy themselves. By doing so, DDA members think more businesses will ultimately choose Bangor as their home.
"We want to bring more business to bangor, increase our tax base and we want to create the types of businesses that will draw people to stop here," Tanner said.
The DDA gets its revenues from property taxes it receives from businesses that reside within its tax increment finance district. Property taxes are normally disbursed to the city, county, library and other units of government, but in the downtown district, the taxes are "captured" and given to the DDA to make improvements. Those improvements can include creating more parking areas, demolishing old buildings, improving sidewalks and streets, and distributing grants to businesses to improve their establishments. This year, the DDA expects revenues of $95,450.
City steps up efforts to sell former Bohn factory site
By ANDREW LERSTEN
For the Tribune
South Haven officials hope to sell the 17-acre former Bohn Piston plant site on Aylworth Avenue – and there has been some interest.
The city's Local Development Finance Authority, which owns the property, is trying to sell the industrial site for $750,000. The property was purchased for $1.3 million in 2013.
Two real estate companies, Bradley Co. of South Bend and Berkshire Hathaway Home Services of South Haven, are both working to sell the property.
"There is some interest in it," said Cindi Compton of Berkshire Hathaway. "We have a lot of concepts going around. But it takes time."
Assistant City Manager Paul VandenBosch said the city doesn't have a "hot buyer, but we do have some interested people looking at industrial uses for it. At least two of the potential buyers need the entire site."
The three buildings take up only 2 or 3 acres of the site, VandenBosch said.
The low price relative to what the city paid for the property reflects the costs that a new owner would have to invest to make the property viable for industrial uses, he said.
City officials chose to market the site as a single parcel, but city officials could split it into two or more if necessary, he said.
In 2010, the property was appraised at $1.5 million, VandenBosch said.
The city bought the site as part of a legal settlement with former owner Steve Larsen and his company South Haven Redevelopment LLC. Under the agreement, Larsen dropped his lawsuit that sought more than $100 million from the city related to his unsuccessful efforts to redevelop the former Bohn plant over the years.
The site has been idle since the Bohn plant closed in 1996.
About $500,000 of the Aylworth property purchase price came from the city's general fund, with the rest coming from the LDFA.
Larsen's suit alleged city officials blocked his efforts to redevelop the Bohn plant site between 1999 and 2011. It alleged a "consistent and continuous pattern of bad faith and misconduct," resulting in economic losses.
This is the second time the city has purchased a vacant Bohn site to encourage economic development. In 2005, the city demolished an old Bohn factory building at the corner of Huron and Kalamazoo streets, downtown. The city later sold half the site for the Verano Place condominium and storefront project, and used the other half of the property for a new public parking lot.
Hospital's utility building plan but on hold
By ANDREW LERSTEN
For the Tribune
A planned utility building for South Haven hospital has some neighbors concerned about generator noise.
While the hospital is on Bailey Avenue in the city, the proposed site is just south of the hospital in South Haven Township.
The hospital wants to erect a brick building to house a new boiler, and a generator to provide backup power to the boiler, township Zoning Administrator Patrick Hudson said.
The township Planning Commission earlier this month held a public hearing on the proposed site plan, and several neighbors expressed concerns about the plan, both in person and in letters, Hudson said.
Based on the concerns, the planners tabled action on site plan approval.
"The planning commission asked hospital representatives and their engineers to come up with a better plan," Hudson said.
Specifically, the planners asked to see if there could be some noise reduction plans put into place, and whether the building could be located further away from neighboring homes, he said.
A revised plan may not be ready for the planners' next meeting on May 7, he said.
By BECKY KARK
Editor and general manager
BANGOR — When asking Jeff Melvin what played the biggest role in his success as an educator, he sums it up in one phrase — growing up on a farm.
"I went to work everyday," Melvin said. "That influenced by work ethic. Farmers don't have sick days. You can't call a sub."
Melvin, 57, will close the books on nearly 33 years in the education field at the end of this month.
He has served as Bangor High School principal for 17 of those years, and is currently on family medical leave to care for his mother who is under the care of Hospice.
His retirement may have come as a surprise to people, but Melvin said he had been thinking about doing so for the past two years.
""I've done a lot of soul-searching," he said. "My mom is very ill. Both my parents are 80. They've been together for almost 60 years."
Many students who graduate from college pursue careers in other towns, but Melvin always stayed close to home.
He grew up on a sprawling 300-acre farm just outside of Bloomingdale.
"I was lucky I never had to leave home," he said. After graduating from Bloomingdale High School, Melvin entered Kalamazoo Valley Community College with the intention of pursuing a career as a professional baseball player, while studying for a career.
When he wasn't at college he was home helping with farm chores.
The dream of playing baseball professionally didn't pan out for Melvin, who credits his years at KVCC for helping to mold him as an eventual educator.
"Starting out at a community college was by far the best thing for me," he said. "When baseball didn't happen I became a pro at something else."
After graduating with an education degree from Grand Valley State University, Melvin was hired as an elementary gym teacher for Bloomingdale Public Schools.
But his mind was still geared toward helping out at home.
"I stayed at home until I got married," he said. "In the morning I'd get up, do chores, take a showed and then to go work."
After teaching gym for three years Melvin became the school district's athletic director at the age of 25. He also coached the JV and varsity baseball teams, while pursuing a master's degree in educational leadership from Western Michigan University. A year later he added the title of assistant middle school/ high school principal and obtained his master's degree.
In 1990, he became Bangor Middle School principal.
"During the seven years I was there, we transitioned from grades 4-7 to 5-8 and finally to 6-8," Melvin said.
Finally, in 1997, following a retirement, Melvin was chosen as Bangor High School principal.
"It was a great career," he said.
But one that involved many changes over the years.
"The loss of local control in school districts has changed," he said. "Before the district, the school board and parents got to decide what was best for the community. Now all of the students are taking the same subjects. I think we've lost the ability to help all children.," he went on to say referring to the state-mandated Michigan Merit Curriculum for high school students.
"Schools have had to cut electives to make sure students take all the required subjects...the old middle school concept was about exploring to see what you would like to be. A lot of jobs don't require chemistry. Only 5 percent of jobs require more math than Algebra I."
Yet Melvin see bright spots in curriculum development in the new millennium.
"The STEM initiative (combining science, technology, engineering and math into one curriculum) is great. There's a lot of room there for imagination and creativity."
He also sees a positive future for Bangor Public Schools.
"We've promoted celebrating diversity and getting along," Melvin said, regarding the district's mix of white, Latino and black students. "We believe in having student work together with people different from themselves. You don't know who you're going to be working with when you enter the 'real' world."
To comment on any of these stories, send an email to the South Haven Tribune.
Jeff Melvin, who will retire as Bangor High School principal at the end of this month, is shown with his dad Ra Melvin.
Strong work ethic pays off
Principal credits time spent on family farm for his successful career
By BECKY KARK
Editor and general manager
BANGOR — When asking Jeff Melvin what played the biggest role in his success as an educator, he sums it up in one phrase — growing up on a farm.
"I went to work everyday," Melvin said. "That influenced by work ethic. Farmers don't have sick days. You can't call a sub."
Melvin, 57, will close the books on nearly 33 years in the education field at the end of this month.
He has served as Bangor High School principal for 17 of those years, and is currently on family medical leave to care for his mother who is under the care of Hospice.
His retirement may have come as a surprise to people, but Melvin said he had been thinking about doing so for the past two years.
""I've done a lot of soul-searching," he said. "My mom is very ill. Both my parents are 80. They've been together for almost 60 years."
Many students who graduate from college pursue careers in other towns, but Melvin always stayed close to home.
He grew up on a sprawling 300-acre farm just outside of Bloomingdale.
"I was lucky I never had to leave home," he said. After graduating from Bloomingdale High School, Melvin entered Kalamazoo Valley Community College with the intention of pursuing a career as a professional baseball player, while studying for a career.
When he wasn't at college he was home helping with farm chores.
The dream of playing baseball professionally didn't pan out for Melvin, who credits his years at KVCC for helping to mold him as an eventual educator.
"Starting out at a community college was by far the best thing for me," he said. "When baseball didn't happen I became a pro at something else."
After graduating with an education degree from Grand Valley State University, Melvin was hired as an elementary gym teacher for Bloomingdale Public Schools.
But his mind was still geared toward helping out at home.
"I stayed at home until I got married," he said. "In the morning I'd get up, do chores, take a showed and then to go work."
After teaching gym for three years Melvin became the school district's athletic director at the age of 25. He also coached the JV and varsity baseball teams, while pursuing a master's degree in educational leadership from Western Michigan University. A year later he added the title of assistant middle school/ high school principal and obtained his master's degree.
In 1990, he became Bangor Middle School principal.
"During the seven years I was there, we transitioned from grades 4-7 to 5-8 and finally to 6-8," Melvin said.
Finally, in 1997, following a retirement, Melvin was chosen as Bangor High School principal.
"It was a great career," he said.
But one that involved many changes over the years.
"The loss of local control in school districts has changed," he said. "Before the district, the school board and parents got to decide what was best for the community. Now all of the students are taking the same subjects. I think we've lost the ability to help all children.," he went on to say referring to the state-mandated Michigan Merit Curriculum for high school students.
"Schools have had to cut electives to make sure students take all the required subjects...the old middle school concept was about exploring to see what you would like to be. A lot of jobs don't require chemistry. Only 5 percent of jobs require more math than Algebra I."
Yet Melvin see bright spots in curriculum development in the new millennium.
"The STEM initiative (combining science, technology, engineering and math into one curriculum) is great. There's a lot of room there for imagination and creativity."
He also sees a positive future for Bangor Public Schools.
"We've promoted celebrating diversity and getting along," Melvin said, regarding the district's mix of white, Latino and black students. "We believe in having student work together with people different from themselves. You don't know who you're going to be working with when you enter the 'real' world."
Planners reschedule hearing after state officials don't arrive
By ANDREW LERSTEN
For the Tribune
A large crowd came to the South Haven Township Planning Commission meeting last week, ready to voice their opinions about a proposed state campground along the Kal-Haven Trail.
But no state officials showed up to answer questions.
So planners decided to wait until next month to hold a public hearing and take up up the state's request for rezoning the 58-acre site east of Blue Star Highway.
The state Department of Natural Resources wants to rezone the site, along the Black River, from high-density residential to resource conservation, the same zoning used for floodplain areas.
State officials have not announced a timeline for development of the new campground, which is next to the Black River and the state's Kal-Haven Trail linear park.
The DNR bought the property for $830,000, after developers of the Riverwoods condominiums there went bankrupt. Plans call for both primitive camp sites and full-service sites to be developed there, DNR officials said earlier.
The site has city water, sewer and electric service available, but the former owners never built any of the planned homes there.
If the township approves the rezoning, then the planners would oversee and consider the site plan review process for the state.
The rezoning would have to be approved before the state could submit a site plan and special use permit request for the campground plan to move ahead.
In other matters, the commission last week voted to recommend Township Board approval of a special use permit and planned unit development approval for an 84-site campground on 11 acres at 70544 Phoenix Road, as requested by by owner Dave Hill.
The site is zoned multi-family residential.
Several neighbors raised concerns ranging from increased traffic and noise, to possible lower property values. Others said they wanted stronger buffers and screening.
In response, Hill said he will build larger fences around parts of the property.
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