8.19.19

UPDATE: The Van Buren County Sheriff's Department has reported that Charles Hazard has been found and is safe.

84-year-old Grand Junction man reported missing

Police are seeking the public's help in locating an elderly man from Grand Junction who went missing over the weekend. Charles Hazard, 84, was last seen around the Hastings area in Barry County on Saturday

According to a news release from the Van Buren County Sheriff's Department, Hazard has dementia and was lost in Hastings, trying to find his way home to Grand Junction. He is approximately 6 feet tall, 190 pounds, with balding grey hair and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing a red shirt, black ball cap and glasses. He drives a 2011 red Ford Fusion with American flags on both front windows. The license plate number is ECQ4591. He often visits the South Haven area.

Anyone with information as to Hazard's whereabouts is urged to contact Van Buren County Central Dispatch at 269-657-3101.

8.12.19

Photo courtesy of South Haven Emergency Services.
A motorist suffered serious injuries after his car slammed into the side of Maple Grove Grill and Bar at 10:15 p.m. Sunday night. South Haven Area Emergency Services had to extricate the motorist from his vehicle. The restaurant had just closed for the evening. Owner Todd Capps and employees were inside cleaning up when the accident happened, but were not injured.

Man seriously injured after his car smashes into the side of popular South Haven area restaurant

By BECKY KARK
Editor and general manager

Ever since Michigan Department of Transportation constructed a round-about on M-43 Highway, Maple Grove Grill and Bar owner Todd Capps dreaded the day a vehicle would careen over the round-about's traffic island and smack into his family-run restaurant.
That day came Sunday, Aug. 11, when a car smashed into the side of the eatery, located at the intersection of M-43 Highway and 72nd Street.
The restaurant had just closed shortly before the accident occurred at 10:15 p.m.
“We normally close at 9:30 p.m.,” Capps said. “But we had a full house. We had eaters here until 10 p.m.”
Shortly after closing for the evening, Capps and his staff began the nightly task of cleaning up the bar area and restaurant.
“I was in the kitchen cleaning dishes when it happened,” Capps said. He didn't see the accident but he definitely heard it.
“He crashed through the restaurant right behind the wall of my kitchen,” Capps said.
The wall was lined with plates and pans, which rained down on Capps.
“Two pans hit me in the head. Plates fell and smashed on the floor,” he said.
Neither Capps nor his employees suffered injuries, but the man whose car slammed into the side of the building did. He had to be extricated from his vehicle, according to a news release from South Haven Area Emergency Services and was taken to Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo.
The man, whose name is not being released by South Haven Police yet, was traveling west on M-43 when his vehicle came up on the round-about.
After striking the cement traffic island in the middle of the round-about, the man's vehicle and destroyed a yield sign, causing the car to go airborne where it then crashed into the restaurant wall.
“There were no tracks on the grass,” said Capps.
Monday morning, Capps began assessing the damage.
“The vehicle broke the bottom of the chimney and buckled the wall,” he said. “The chimney's going to have to come down.”
The bright blue building, considered a landmark along M-43 between Bangor and South Haven, was built in the 1930s, according to Capps. His family opened the restaurant in 1980 and has operated it ever since.
Its burgers, smoked chicken, soups and sandwiches are a hit with locals and visitors alike, as are the "The Grove's" fall and winter Euchre tournaments.
But just when the restaurant will re-open hasn't been determined yet.
“I really can't say at this point,” said Capps, who estimated the damage at “thousands of dollars.”
Monday he was consulting with his insurance company to get estimates of the damage.
Despite the heartbreak of having to temporarily close the restaurant, Capps remains upbeat.
“Of all the places the car hit it was the best place it could have,” said Capps, explaining that the room is used primarily as a storage area for cleaning supplies, and that luckily, no one was in the room when the accident occurred.
“It is what it is,” Capps said. “I'm glad the driver's alive. I'm glad that none of us were injured.”
This isn't the first time a car has hit the restaurant, which is located close to the roadway and now even closer since the roundabout was built.
In 1986, years before the roundabout was constructed, a driver smashed into the front portion of the restaurant. Several years after the roundabout was put in place, a car ruined one of Maple Grove's outdoor smokers.

8.9.19

Safety officials in towns up and down the Lake Michigan shoreline have become increasingly concerned about beachgoers swimming in Lake Michigan when red flag warnings have been issued.  In the photo, above, people are shown in Lake Michigan near South Beach on July 19, ignoring the red flag warnings. This photo was taken shortly before two swimmers had to be rescued after becoming exhausted fighting the waves. Due in part to high water levels, drownings this year in Lake Michigan have more than doubled over last year, according to Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project.

SH council hears pitch to bring back lifeguards

By BECKY KARK

Editor and general manager

Should South Haven add lifeguards once again to patrol its city beaches? Some people think so, and hope city leaders will consider doing so.

“Beach safety is a key concern of mine,” said Kameron Daugherty. In the wake of the July 13^th drowning of a 13-year-old boy visiting South Haven from Ann Arbor, Daugherty started an online petition asking people whether lifeguards should return to South Haven beaches.

The response was an overwhelming yes.

“I expected a few hundred (yes votes),” Daugherty said. “At this point the petition has reached 16,000.” Responders hail from not only Southwest Michigan but throughout the United States and internationally.

Daugherty has personally seen lifeguards at work when she was a teenager whose family resided near North Beach in South Haven.

“Because most of my friends were lifeguards I was able to witness the effectiveness of lifeguards in not only rescuing swimmers but preventing drownings,” Daugherty said.

Shawn Russell a retired U.S. Air Force pilot, was a lifeguard at South Haven beaches as a teenager during the late 1980s.

“I had many rescues,” he said. “The bottom line, I know guards made a huge difference.”

Life guards had a variety of tasks to perform at South and North beaches in South Haven, according to Russell.

They monitored the water, monitored and changed the beach warning flags, positioned water buoys, searched for missing persons, saved people from drowning, kept people from jumping off the pier, watched for disorderly behavior and kept in contact with police and fire units.

“We were in constant direct contact with the sheriff's marine patrol. We were the eyes and ears of the police department on the beaches,” he said.

Both Daugherty and Russell attended South Haven City Council meeting, Monday, to present a program on the need for lifeguards and requested that council members form a committee to determine the feasibility of adding guards to the beaches.

“We believe enough time has lapsed since the last review and now that new conclusions could be formed,” Daugherty said.

South Haven, along with many lakeshore communities up and down the Lake Michigan shoreline disbanded life guard programs in the early 2000s. Several years ago, following several drownings, the city instituted a flag weather warning system at North and South beaches and installed signs warning people of the dangers of rip currents in Lake Michigan. South Haven Area Emergency Services and South Haven Police have also invested money to purchase life-saving equipment and provide training to first responders to improve their effectiveness in water rescues on Lake Michigan and in the Black River harbor.

“We take safety seriously at all levels,” Mayor Scott Smith said. “We've had the hottest July on record and the most drownings ever in Lake Michigan,” he said. “We have higher lake water levels this year. There has been a hundred water rescues this summer, eight in Ludington alone. We closed our beach (following two water rescues on July 19) and still people were getting in the water. It's a problem.”

Smith stopped short of telling Daugherty and Russell that the council will form a committee immediately, but said, “Dialogue is relevant. I think the council is interested in hearing more about what the community says.”



7.30.19

Group wants SH voters to decide whether to allow recreational marijuana businesses

By BECKY KARK

Editor and general manager

A group of citizens that vowed earlier this year to let South Haven voters – not city hall - decide whether to ban recreational marijuana establishments is making good on its word.

The Concerned Citizens of South Haven gathered enough signatures on a petition that asks City Council to adopt an ordinance prohibiting all recreational marijuana businesses within city limits.

that if approved would prevent recreational pot businesses from operating in the city limits. Individuals who violate the ordinance would be subject to a civil fine ranging from $100-$500.

The group needed to gather at least 105 signatures to put the petition in front of council members for their consideration, according to City Clerk Travis Sullivan.

“The petition collected 142 signatures,” Sullivan said. Some of the signatures though were from residents living outside the city limits, while others needed further examination to determine their validity. Even so, the group will now be able to legally proceed with the petition.

“Excluding the questionable signatures, the group still had 128 valid signatures, thus moving the proposed ordinance to city council,” Sullivan said.

The city council's next scheduled meeting is Monday, Aug. 5.

“Because the petitioners have collected the required number of signatures, the city council must now make a decision on the proposed ordinance,” Sullivan said. “The council has the option to adopt the full ordinance, as written, or reject the ordinance, and adopt a resolution sending the question to the November ballot for the city's voters to decide.”

City officials voted in February to temporarily opt out of the state's new recreational marijuana law that allows cannabis businesses to locate in town. They did so to spend more time determining whether to let establishments open for business and which types to allow.

Michigan voters made the recreational marijuana act a reality when they overwhelmingly passed a ballot issue in 2018 legalizing pot. In South Haven, 52 percent of the city's residents who voted in the election, OK'd the ballot issue.

Despite that fact, the Concerned Citizens of South Haven, a small but vocal group of residents, has attended city council and planning commission meetings opposing passage of an ordinance to allow and regulate cannabis businesses in the city.

Rachel Sankofski is one of the Concerned Citizens' members. She said the group intended to issue a formal statement soon.

The Planning Commission has been working since February to develop an ordinance to regulate both medical and recreational marijuana establishments in the city and to determine where they should be located. The proposed ordinance though has not yet been approved by the city council.

Although the recreational marijuana law allows individuals to consume cannabis privately, each municipality has to make the decision whether to allow or ban cannabis businesses. If a municipality decides to allow the establishments, citizens also have the right, under the law, to force a ballot issue to let their local voters decide whether to let the businesses locate in their town.

7.24.19

Health officials warn of food illness in SW Michigan

Cases of cyclosporiasis confirmed; officials search for source

By TRIBUNE STAFF

LANSING — State and local health officials are investigating reports of multiple cases of cyclosporiasis in Southwest Michigan.

Cyclosporiasis is a gastrointestinal illness caused by a microscopic parasite. People can become infected by consuming contaminated food or water.

Outbreaks in the United States have been linked to contaminated fresh produce.

There have been eight lab-confirmed cyclosporiasis cases since late June, according to a news release from the Van Buren/Cass District Health Department. At least 14 other individuals are also being investigated as possible cases associated with this cluster. People affected have been reporting dining at restaurants in Southwest Michigan since mid-June 2019.

Illness typically results in watery diarrhea, and can include loss of appetite, weight loss, stomach cramps, bloating, nausea and fatigue. Symptoms generally appear 1-2 weeks after ingestion of the contaminated product. If untreated, symptoms often last for weeks and can return one or more times. Infection is not transmitted directly from person to person and usually is not life-threatening.

“Cyclospora contamination often occurs prior to the food arriving at food distribution centers and restaurants,” said Tim Slawinski, Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Food and Dairy Division director. “This type of contamination is not easily removed by standard produce rinsing.”

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS), Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) and Van Buren/Cass District Health Department are working together to investigate the illnesses.

Interviews with all people with confirmed symptoms are ongoing to determine if there are commonalities in where they dined and what food they may have consumed.

Preliminary information suggests an exposure to food products prepared at or distributed by Taste restaurant in South Haven, according to the Van Buren/Cass District Health Department.

“There is no indication that the illnesses are related to poor food handling or preparation at this establishment,” said Richard Conway, food service supervisor for the health department. Conway explained that cyclosporiasis has been discovered in a pre-washed food product the restaurant was using. “It's not required to wash it. It's ready to eat,” he said. If the product is mixed with spices or greens that are not on heated items that are served then the parasite will not die.

State and local investigators are reviewing food histories and invoices from suppliers to the restaurant to identify specific food products that may have caused the illnesses and determine the extent to which those products may have been distributed in Michigan.

Conway stressed that Taste has been fully cooperative with the health department in its investigation.

“He (the restaurant owner) did do everything right. Would I eat there? Most definitely.”

The problem with cyclosporiasis isn't just limited to establishments in Southwest Michigan.

“In Michigan the CDC has identified 30 different clusters of the same outbreak,” Conway said. “There have been 321 confirmed cases and 300 more that are being investigated. So it's not isolated to South Haven. It's actually a national issue.”

"We are working diligently with the restaurant, MDARD, and our local health department colleagues to investigate these cases," said Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, chief medical executive and chief deputy director for health at MDHHS. "We are asking that anyone who has symptoms like watery diarrhea and stomach cramps contact their doctor because this illness can be effectively treated with antibiotics."

Medical care providers should promptly report cases so MDHHS or local health departments can investigate potential sources of infections. More information about cyclosporiasis is available through the CDC at: https://www.cdc.gov/parasites/cyclosporiasis/index.html.

7.12.19

Kayakers rescued

from Lake Michigan

First responders from South Haven Area Emergency Services provide first aid to two women (shown right) after their kayak capsized in Lake Michigan's waves Thursday afternoon. The women, ages 18 & 19 from out-of-state, had entered the lake near South Haven's South Beach. A shoreline homeowner witnessed them in distress about 200 yards off-short and called 911 at 3:45 p.m. The kayakers were found about half-a-mile south where waves were pushing them against rocks as they were trying to get their kayak out of the water. One of the women suffered abrasions, but did not require medical attention. Neither person was wearing a life jacket. Yellow warning flags were flying at the South beach with waves building to three-four feet. (Photo courtesy of South Haven Area Emergency Services)

7.11.19

A tribute to the past

The historical marker the Michigan Historical Society presented to South Haven in honor of its 150th anniversary is now on display at South Haven city hall, 539 Phoenix St. The Society presented the marker to South Haven Mayor Scott Smith during the 150th anniversary picnic and celebration in May at Stanley Johnston Park. (Photo by Tom Renner)

7.8.19

Accident on Baseline Road claims man's life

A 53-year-old Decatur area man died Sunday night after his vehicle went out of control on Baseline Road, struck a bridge and flipped over into a wooded area. The accident occurred near 59^th Street, near the border between Casco and Lee townships. Passersby noticed the overturned vehicle at 9:40 p.m. and called 911. When first responders arrived they found the lone occupant who was pronounced dead at the scene by the medical examiner, according to a report from South Haven Area Emergency Services. The vehicle appeared to have been going westbound on Baseline when it went out of control, struck the side of a bridge and became airborne. The vehicle landed upside down several hundred feet from the bridge. SHAES staff used its Jaws of Life to extricate the victim, whose name has not been released yet. (Photo courtesy of South Haven Area Emergency Services)

7.2.19

Light up the Lake fireworks display back on in South Haven

By BECKY KARK

Editor and general manager

SOUTH HAVEN — It looks like fireworks will light up the sky Wednesday over this lakeshore community after all.

City officials cautioned last week the popular Light up the Lake show could face cancellation due to high water levels on Lake Michigan washing over the North Pier where the fireworks are ignited.

But late Monday afternoon, officials gave the green light for the show to proceed.

“We reviewed the weather forecast,” City Manager Brian Dissette said. “Our biggest concern was the potential for high winds, specifically a northwest wind pushing water over the pier. But, based on the weather forecast, it appears conditions will be favorable. There is a chance for rain and thunderstorms during the day and then in the evening, clear weather.”

The $34,000 show will begin at approximately 10:30 p.m., and last 20 minutes. Because the fireworks are shot over the lake, the best viewing areas are North and South Beach, public access beaches along North Shore Drive and Kids Corner playground on Monroe Boulevard on the city's south side.

For folks who don't want to deal with the hassle of finding a parking space, the city has a solution - WWMT's CW7 channel plans to broadcast the display, live.

Because many boaters enjoy viewing the show either in the harbor or on Lake Michigan, rules will be put into place concerning the Dyckman Avenue drawbridge. City officials say the bridge will operate on its regular schedule until 11:30 p.m., tonight, when it will then close to vehicles and pedestrian traffic to allow boat traffic on the Black River to pass. The bridge will remain raised in the upright position until the last boat goes through.

Over the years, Light up the Lake fireworks display has become one of the most popular events of its kind in Southwest Michigan, drawing an estimated 40,000-60,000 people. Due to the traffic congestion that ensues after the parade, South Haven Police will be directing traffic at various intersections. Motorists are urged to follow their directions.

Police also are reminding people that alcoholic beverages and animals are prohibited on public beaches and city-owned property.

Fourth of July holiday activities continue in South Haven Thursday with the 170^th annual Fourth of July parade. This year's parade celebrates the city's 150^th anniversary and will feature 75 entries. The parade steps off at 11 a.m. at South Haven High School parking lot. It will proceed on Elkenburg Street, turn north on Kalamazoo Street toward downtown and then turn east on Phoenix Street, south on Broadway Avenue, west on Michigan Avenue and finally, south on Center Street back to the high school.

Vehicle owners are urged not to park along the parade route from 9 a.m.-noon, Thursday. Vehicles that are parked on the route during that time will be towed.

7.1.19

Soggy spring and summer takes its toll on corn crops

By KIM INGALLS

For the Tribune

“Rain, rain go away” is what a lot of area farmers are wishing as this spring’s wet weather has forced them to make a choice - risk a late crop or file an insurance claim.

“We are on track for June to be the fourth ‘wetter-than-normal’ month in a row this spring,” wrote MSU Extension Field Crop Educator Bruce MacKellar in a recent crop report.

Hundreds of saturated acres may go unplanted resulting in Gov. Gretchen Whitmer sending a letter to U.S. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue requesting a USDA Secretarial Disaster Designation for Michigan. The letter asked for added flexibility under the Federal Crop Insurance Program and the recent disaster legislation passed by Congress.

“Michigan farmers are in a state of crisis right now because of extraordinary weather conditions, from historic rainfall, extreme cold, excessive snow, flash flooding, and tornadoes,” said Whitmer. “Michigan has a rich history in agriculture, and on behalf of our farmers, our families, and our economy, we need to take action now. I’m ready and eager to partner with the federal government to make sure Michigan farmers have the support they need during this difficult time.” 

Whitmer's plea as well as ones from state and federal legislators led to the USDA decision earlier this month to allow farmer to use their unplanted land to plant cover crops and use them for livestock grazing, hay or silage starting Sept. 1 and still maintain eligibility for crop insurance. Normally, they are not allowed to do so until after Nov. 1.

Michigan is currently in the midst of the third wettest year in state history, with 37.9 inches of rain between May 1, 2018 and April 30, 2019, according to Whitmer’s office. The weather has delayed and prevented farmers from planting their crops as usual, with 64 out of Michigan’s 83 counties requesting disaster designations from the USDA.

“As of June 9. Michigan has about 63 percent of corn planted,” MacKellar reported. “It’s behind every other state except Pennsylvania and not far ahead of Indiana.”

MacKellar went on to say about half of those acres planted in corn have sprouted and most of those crops looks fair to overall good.

Soybean planting, he said, is expected to be delayed even more due to heavier soils. Some fields may have poor results because they are being planted in wet conditions.

While some farmers may take a chance on a late-planted crop that could yield a fraction of a typical harvest, many will turn to crop insurance that pays out when farmers are unable to plant by a preset deadline.

Farmers also are weighing the promise of another multibillion-dollar trade USDA  rescue package  and potential funding from federal disaster recovery legislation. 

The American Farm Bureau Federation estimates that 10 million acres of unplanted corn would subtract more than 2 billion bushels of corn production in the U.S., meaning the drenched spring’s impact on grain prices and farmers’ income could linger.

The wet weather and delayed planting is also pushing up crop prices. After hitting their lowest point in a year in mid-May, corn prices climbed 24 percent through the rest of the month. Soybean prices gained 11percent in the same time period. That isn’t expected to trickle down to higher food prices for consumers right away because huge stores of crops have piled up recently due to bumper harvests and trade disputes in recent years.

Even if farmers get a late crop in the ground, corn may not fully mature by the time the fall’s first frost hits, producing yields one-fifth or more below the norm, according to agricultural economists.

Perdue said recently that the agency is evaluating whether a planned $16 billion bailout package for farmers facing lower crop prices because of tariffs also could be used to provide relief to weather-stricken farmers.

6.28.19

Man in critical condition

after falling from boat

SOUTH HAVEN — An Indiana man was listed in critical condition earlier today after falling from a boat into the Black River, Thursday.

South Haven Police and South Haven Area Emergency Services responded to the incident after receiving a medical call about a man who had possibly suffered a heart attack after being pulled out of the Black River.

The man, along with several other people, were on a boat docked at the Southside Municipal Marina when he fell into the water, according to witnesses. People who were close by pulled him out and called 911.

Police officers were on the scene within three minutes and began administering CPR to the 61-year-old man and continued to assist in rescue efforts when SHAES responders arrived, according to a police news release.

The man was taken to Bronson South Haven Hospital and then to a Kalamazoo area hospital where he was still listed in critical condition as of Friday afternoon.

South Haven Police did not release any further information about the incident but said they are continuing to investigate to determine factors that contributed to the accident and would provide an update later.

South Beach swimming advisory lifted

South Beach is once again open to swimmers after the Van Buren/Cass District Health Department lifted an advisory that E. coli bacteria levels were elevated and that people should stay away from the water.

The health department issued the advisory Tuesday. It then took water samples again Thursday and said the bacteria count no longer exceeded the state's water quality standards.

The health department's environmental health division conducts water samples at baching beaches on a weekly basis.



6.24.19

Fewer hours, days for lighting off fireworks

South Haven aligns with Michigan's fireworks laws

By BECKY KARK

Editor and general manager

With the 4th of July holiday coming up in less than two weeks, city officials here are taking steps to tighten regulations for the use of fireworks.

The council, Monday, unanimously approved updating the city's fireworks ordinance to comply with the state's recently updated Fireworks Safety Act.

“We're trying to help give police and residents greater teeth to deal with complaints about fireworks being blown up all through the night,” City Manager Brian Dissette said.

Since 2011, the State of Michigan has allowed consumer fireworks to be shot off by the general public on or around national holidays, such as the 4th of July and New Year's Eve. But in December of 2018, the state legislature amended the Fireworks Safety Act by limiting the dates and times which fireworks can be shot off and increasing the fines for people who violate the act.

“For the last several years, the (state) Act has provided that a municipal ordinance must allow consumer fireworks until 1 a.m. on the day of, the day before, and the day after each national holiday,” Dissette said. “The city’s firework ordinance generally prohibits the use of consumer fireworks in the city except during these specified times.”

However, the updated state fireworks law places limits on the times consumer fireworks can be ignited and the number of national holidays where pyrotechnics are allowed to be used. In addition, people who are caught violating the fireworks act will be fined $1,000 for their first offense. Right now the city only charges $115 for an initial infraction.

“The Legislature appears to have concluded that the prior version of the Act was both too permissive and too restrictive in some respects,” Dissette said.

Key provisions of the state's amended fireworks safety act include the following:

• Municipalities no longer have to allow consumer fireworks on and around national holidays that are not traditionally celebrated with fireworks, such as Christmas, Thanksgiving, President's Day, Martin Luther King Jr. holiday and Columbus Day.

• Municipalities may prohibit fireworks after 11:45 p.m. on and around Memorial Day, July 4th holiday and Labor Day, and after 1 a.m. on New Year's Day.

• Fireworks displays will mostly be limited to weekends with the exception of the 4th of July holiday.

• Fines for violations of municipal fireworks ordinances are now set at $1,000 per violation.

Key provisions to South Haven's amended fireworks ordinance follow:

• Fireworks will be limited to the national holidays of New Year's Eve, Memorial Day, 4th of July and Labor Day.

• Specific dates and times for the holidays follow: New Year's Eve — 11 a.m., Dec. 31-1 a.m., Jan. 1; Memorial Day — 11 a.m.-11:45 p.m. on the Saturday and Sunday immediately preceding the holiday; 4th of July holiday — 11 a.m.-11:45 p.m., June 29-July 4 and 11 a.m.-11:45 p.m. July 5 if that date is a Friday or Saturday) Labor Day — 11 a.m.-11:45 on the Saturday and Sunday immediately preceding the holiday.

• Fines for violators will increase from $115 to $1,000.

“I think this is a step in the right direction,” South Haven Police Chief Natalie Thompson said, regarding the updated fireworks ordinance adopted Monday by the city council.

Enforcement of fireworks rules is tricky at best, she went on to say.

“We have to catch a person literally with fireworks or standing there lighting them off. Which we have done,” Thompson said. However, timing has a lot to do with it.

Often officers are told fireworks have been let off in the general vicinity of a person's home but often the person doesn't know exactly who is lighting off the pyrotechnics.

The steeper fine that could be handed down to violators just may be the ticket for reducing the instances of fireworks being shot off late at night when people are trying to sleep, according to Dissette.

“I'm still not in love with this rule that commercial fireworks are permitted,” he said. “but we're trying to give the very best tools for police. This won't be the silver bullet. We'll still get complaints, but it's step in the right direction.”

6.17.19

Under normal conditions, owners of smaller boats, such as the one shown above, can guide their vessel underneath the Dyckman Avenue Drawbridge without waiting for it to open. However, record-high water levels on Lake Michigan and the Black River are forcing low-profile boats to wait for the drawbridge to open before continuing downriver toward Lake Michigan. (Photo by Becky Kark)

High-water headaches

South Haven expects more bridge openings; marinas worried about stray voltage

By BECKY KARK

Editor and general manager

A little less than a month after this harbor town experienced an apparent seiche, higher-than-normal water levels on Lake Michigan and the Black River are bringing more problems for not only boaters but maritime-related services offered by the city.

“High water levels, that's the new normal,” City Manager Brian Dissette remarked.

City officials had hoped to begin an electrical upgrade project at Southside Municipal Marina this spring, but were forced to postpone it due to the dangers workers would face in installing the underwater upgrades.

“The water is too high on the docks around the marina,” Dissette said. “We've had the power off for three weeks. Some boaters are still using the marina. Some have their own batteries or generators for power. We're giving boaters discounts if they want to use the marina. Will this hurt business? Absolutely.”

Up-river from the Southside Marina awaits another high-water related issue for the city and the many boaters that travel along the Black River and South Haven harbor.

The Dyckman Drawbridge opens every half hour during the peak tourism season to let boats with masts travel from one side of the river to the other.

But with the high water level creeping up the walls of the bridge, smaller boats will soon be waiting in line for the bridge to open – possibly creating more delays for motorists waiting for the bridge to lower.

“If you've got an antenna or a top on your boat you might not be able to go under the bridge,” Dissette said.

Bridge tender Pete Bergen, who was in charge of operating the bridge, Tuesday, agreed.

“Lower-profile boats that made it under the bridge last year, aren't going to make it this year,” he said.

Right now boaters have a clearance of about 7 feet due to the high water levels, according to the City's Streets Department Director Ron Dotson.

“We started in April with a 9-foot clearance,” he said. “Now we're at 7.25 feet.

With close to 1,100 boat slips on the Black River, weekend traffic on the waterway and on the roadway above the river can get bottled up regularly during the summer months. The high water level is expected to cause even more congestion, particularly during the city's annual 4th of July holiday fireworks display.

Dissette said he doesn't know how long delays might be for motorists when the bridge goes up at its intervals each half-hour, but he urged motorists to have patience.

Boaters on the Black River have to know what time the bridge opens and adjust their schedule accordingly. But boaters can't stop their craft on a dime.

“Boats don't have brakes,” Dissette said. “That's why they have the right-of-way” (when it comes to bridge traffic).

The third high-water related issue facing both the municipal marinas and private ones is the increased threat of electric shock drowning or ESD.

ESD can occur from stray electrical current primarily near marinas and docks. The stray currents originate from the wiring of the dock or marina, or from boats that are connected to the dock's power supply, according to the ESD Prevention Association, which warns people not to jump or swim in water near docks and marinas.

Because of the high water level, electrical service lines leading from boats to a dock's electrical service outlets can very easily end up being submerged.

“Some marinas' electric lines are run under the docks and the water levels are now approaching those connections,” explained Steve Schlack, owner of 1st Choice Marine in South Haven.

Schlack said he has urged several home associations that have private docks to turn off their electricity until water levels go down.

“In the late '80s the water level was slightly higher and people tell me stories of down by the River Bend Boat Club there was a few inches of water over their yard and fish where seen passing through the yard. We are within an inch or two of that level now when we have an up cycle.”

Staying out of the river is the smartest thing people can do, plus, there's a city ordinance against people swimming in the river.

“If you go in a boat or go near the river, it's so important to stay out of the water,” Dissette said. “The potential of stray voltage in the water is there. It's like being tased.”

Worse, people can drown from ESD, which can cause skeletal muscular paralysis, preventing the victim from be able to help themselves out of the water.

With the Harborfest dragon boat races scheduled for Saturday, Dissette said they will still continue because the Southshore Marina, where the race are staged, won't be running any electricity.

The city owns three marinas on the Black River and is taking steps to develop a plan to address ESD-related issues at their marinas. City officials are also encouraging private marina operators to do so as well.

6.10.19

Wisconsin-based actor Randy Otto plans to perform "Winston Churchill: Man of the Century" Saturday June 22 in South Haven.

To commemorate D-Day,

SH theater series features Churchill performance

With America's attention focused this month on the 75th anniversary of D-Day, the South Haven Theater Series will present a show about a man who played a pivotal role in planning the invasion that helped end World War II – British Prime Minister Winston Churchill.

“Winston Churchill: Man of the Century” is scheduled to be performed at 7:30 p.m., Saturday, June 22 at First United Methodist Church, 429 Michigan Ave.

The show will be played by Randy Otto, an alumnus of the Milwaukee Repertory Theatre who has studied Churchill's life for four decades, and has developed a one-man show focusing on pivotal roles Churchill played during the war.

His performances apparently capture the persona of Churchill.

Churchill's great-grandson Jonathan Sandys has been quoted as saying, ““I have heard many people attempt to play the role of my great-grandfather, but without hesitation, Randy Otto takes the role to a whole new level. Randy does not attempt to be Winston Churchill, Randy is Winston Churchill.”

John Ross Truman, grand-nephew of President Harry S. Truman, also was impressed with Otto's impersonating Churchill.

“An evening spent with Randy Otto is as close as you will come to an evening with the colossus of the age: Winston Churchill.”

Otto first toyed with the idea of portraying Churchill in 1972 when he attended the University of Wisconsin.

“My British history professor happened upon me attempting to impress my classmates by impersonating Winston Churchill just outside of his lecture hall,” Otto recalled. “Dr. Schoenfeld sternly ushered me into his office. Expecting the worst, you can imagine my surprise when the professor's scowl turned into a radian smile: 'That wasn't bad, Mr. Otto.'”

Otto, who resides in Lake Mills, Wis., performs his one-man show mainly in Wisconsin, but has also traveled to other Midwestern States to do so, including Michigan.

Admission to “Winston Churchill: Man of the Century,” is $10. Students are admitted free of charge.

Two other shows remain on the Theater Series schedule.

On July 27th, Edgar Allen Poe's tormented life will be featured when actor Lucien Douglas performs “A Shadow Among Strangers: Performing the Life and Works of Edgar Allen Poe.

Douglas has performed both on Broadway and Off-Broadway at New York's Roundabout Theatre, as well as at various regional theaters. Douglas is currently professor of theater and dance at the University of Texas, Austin.

The Pulitzer Prize-winning play, “Driving Miss Daisy,” will conclude this year's Theater Series on Aug. 17.

Written by Alfred Uhry in 1987, the play was later presented as a film version, starring Morgan Freeman and Jessica Tandy. It went on to win the Oscar for Best Picture in 1990.

Master Arts Theater of Grand Rapids will present the production in South Haven.

The performances will take place at First United Methodist Church.



6.3.19

File photo by Don Campbell of the Herald-Palladium.
Traffic heads down M-43 between Le Grange Street and Blue Star Highway in South Haven. MDOT is planning to spend $400,000 in concrete pavement repairs on the M-43 corridor. The City of South Haven will contribute $150,000 toward the total cost.

Road repairs on the way for M-43 corridor

By BECKY KARK

Editor and general manager

Motorists can expect a few traffic delays and detours this month on the M-43 Highway corridor in South Haven.

Starting this week, the Michigan Department of Transportation plans to replace patches of concrete along the heavily used road leading into town.

The repairs will take place on the Phillips Street section of the road, between LeGrange Avenue and Bronson South Haven Hospital. MDOT plans to finish the project by the end of the month.

“We anticipate periodic lane closures during the project,” South Haven Department of Public Works Director Bill Hunter said.

MDOT plans to spend $250,000 on repairs, while the City of South Haven will contribute $150,000.

It's somewhat unusual for the city to help pay for major repairs to a road that is owned by the state, but M-43 is a main corridor into the city and has been in bad shape for years, according to City Manager Brian Dissette.

“We're out patching it everyday,” Dissette said in an earlier interview when the city decided to help fund the repairs. “We can continue putting on cold patch or tag team with MDOT and do full concrete replacement.”

MDOT began replacing sections of concrete on the M-43 corridor two years ago. The roadway was the subject of complaints by motorists because of its poor condition and many pot holes.

The Phillips Street portionMDOT will repair this month is the final section that requires road work.



5.29.19

Harbor Walk postponed

Due to incelement weather, the Historic Harbor Walk that was scheduled for Thursday evening, May 30, has been postponed. Sponsored through the Michigan Maritime Museum, the guided maritime tour is part of South Haven's year-long 150th Anniversary Celebration. The walk will be rescheduled later this summer, museum officials say.

5.28.19

Photo by Kate Hosier

The docks at the South Side Municipal Marina in South Haven are nearly covered with water Wednesday morning after an apparent seiche occurred on Lake Michigan causing the already high water level on the Big Lake to rise even more.

Sheesh! It appears a seiche occurred in South Haven

By BECKY KARK

Editor and general manager

Earlier this month the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers issued a report that Lake Michigan water levels will continue rising over the next six months, contribution to erosion and potential flooding.

That prediction is becoming a reality in South Haven where South Beach is now a fraction of what it was at the start of spring, and marina owners wonder if their docks will disappear.

The rising water level became very noticeable Monday morning, May 20, when most of South Beach lay under water. Upriver from the channel, water had risen to the top of docks lining the city's harbor, prompting some to wonder if the lake had experienced a seiche.

I believe we did,” said the city's Harbormaster Kate Hosier.

Hosier has been steadily watching the rising water levels on the Black River where the city operates three marinas.

Wednesday at 8 a.m. she took photos of the docks of the South Side marina where water had reached the tops of the docks. “Within a half an hour the water had lowered 4-6 inches,” Hosier said. A similar situation occurred at South Beach where Hosier also snapped photos. Her photos on Wednesday showed a beach under water. However, by Thursday afternoon, some of the beach could be seen again.

Seiches occur in enclosed bodies of water, like the Great Lakes, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Seiches are most often caused when strong winds and rapid changes in atmospheric pressure push water from one end of a lake to the other. When the wind stops, the water rebounds to the other side. The water can oscillate back and forth for hours or even days.

It's not 100 percent sure whether a seiche occurred on Lake Michigan by the city's harbor, but according to Andrew Dixon, service hydrologist for the National Weather Service in Grand Rapids, there's a strong possibility one did.

“Since the time period from high water to low water was a few hours, it is hard to pinpoint whether it was the line of thunderstorms that crossed Lake Michigan Wednesday morning that caused this, or whether it was a general wind shift that got the lake sloshing a little bit,” he said. “The Lake is always responding to changes in the weather and wind patterns, and small seiches are not uncommon.”

South Haven has experienced seiches in the past. One that occurred in 1909 was said to have caused an eight-foot wave that crashed into the city's harbor damaging boats and some cottages. Other seiches that have happened over the years on the Great Lakes proved deadly, sweeping people off piers and boats.

Another seiche could happen in South Haven with the weather the area has been experiencing, according to Dixon.

“We've been, and are still in a weather pattern where lots of fast-moving storms are crossing right over Lower Michigan, so it's entirely possible more sloshing waves/seiches like this will be observed over the next week or so” he said.

And that prediction is causing concern for marina operators and boat owners.

“It is problematic for many boaters. Besides the erosion, high water causes, many boaters are needing steps to get into their boats, many have their docks under water, power lines under water, water lines under water, etc.,” Hosier said.

Hosier warned that the higher-than-normal water levels could lead to instances of electric shock drowning, or ESD.

“Boaters and people near docks need to be aware that there is always a danger for electric shock drowning,” Hosier said. “No one should enter the water near docks where there is electric power.”



5.20.19

Sherman's Dairy Bar to remain open

By BECKY KARK

Editor and general manager

Contrary to social media posts that Sherman's Dairy Bar will close, company officials say that is not the case.

However, what is true is that South Haven's popular ice cream maker will no longer produce or distribute its wholesale product.

The rumors about the company began circulating last week when businesses that sell Sherman's ice cream received a letter indicating the company would not be producing ice cream at its facility on Phoenix Road.

From there people began speculating Sherman's would close at the end of this season.

Yesterday, a company manager, who did not want to be named, said “Sherman Dairy Bar will be open for the season.”

When asked what would happen next year, the manager said, “Right now we're getting through, season by season.”

Although Sherman's won't be making its own ice cream on site, its dairy bar will remain open to the local residents and visitors who patiently stand in line each summer to enjoy a cool treat. Sherman's has ice cream stored away in deep freezers. If it runs out of some of the varieties they will be produced elsewhere.

A number of issues, including production issues, have led the company to stop making ice cream onsite, according to the manager.

Sherman's has been a fixture in South Haven for many years.

The company can trace its roots back to 1916 when the Sherman family started delivering milk house to house.  The company started making ice cream in the late 1940s and has produced more than 50 flavors over the years, with many of the recipes created by owner Bob Eisenman.

5.15.19

Summer is getting closer

The staff of South Haven Area Emergency Services has started its program of flying safety weather flags at city beaches for the summer months. Lauren Kimbler, an intern for SHAES, is shown standing next to one of the flags. Lake Michigan conditions as determined by the National Weather Service are monitored by SHAES personnel. Beach warning flags are placed at the city's seven public beaches every day between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. The flags are changed throughout the day if lake conditions change. The flags are either green, yellow or red based on weather conditions. A numbering system for the nearby beach flag poles and pier safety boxes has been developed to assist during a time of emergency as a point of reference. The status of the flags is also posted on the internet at

http://www.shaes.org/dokuwiki/doku.php?id=public:weather#beach_conditions

 (Photo courtesy of South Haven Area Emergency Services)

More roadwork planned

for M-43 starting next week

BANGOR — More roadwork is slated to take place this spring and summer on Michigan 43 Highway in Van Buren County.

The latest project will entail the resurfacing of 13.5 miles of M-43 from Bangor to the Waverly Township line, according to a news release from the Michigan Department of Transportation. The $2.3 million project includes curb and gutters, sidewalk ramps and pavement markings.

Construction is expected to begin Monday, May 20 and be completed by Friday, June 28. While construction is going on one lane of the highway will remain open in each direction.

The newest road project comes on the heels of one currently underway on M-43 near South Haven.

Workers are now improving a .3-mile portion of the highway between County Road 384 at the roundabout and 69^th Street. In addition to repaving the roadway, MDOT also plans to make the 16^th Avenue intersection safer by adding a paved shoulder to allow traffic to pass vehicles turning left onto 16^th Avenue from M-43.



4.29.19

The Michigan Maritime Museum's Friends Good Will takes visitors on daily excursions on Lake Michigan throughout the summer months, helping to contribute to South Haven's water-based tourism. (Photo courtesy of Michigan Maritime Museum)

Port packs a punch

Study: South Haven's port generated

$145.8 million in economic activity in 2017

By BECKY KARK

Editor and general manager

South Haven's recreational port attracts many onlookers who enjoy standing atop Water Street to enjoy the view stretching from the city's harbor to the channel and finally to Lake Michigan.

But there's more to the view than just the scenery. There's money.

A new study released last week by the Michigan Port Collaborative indicates that South Haven's water-based tourism and recreation activities generated $145.8 million in economic activity in 2017.

The study examined the economic impact of ports throughout Michigan, including ones in Muskegon, St. Joseph, Detroit, and Traverse City and concluded that the total economic impact of Michigan's ports and harbors was approximately $19.7 billion in 2017 – four times higher than any previous statewide port and harbor economic impact study. It also estimated that 151 thousand full time equivalent jobs were supported by the economic activity associated with Michigan’s ports and harbors during the period evaluated.

The results of the study didn't surprise Felicia Fairchild, president of the Michigan Port Collaborative (MPC) and former executive director of the Saugatuck/Douglas Visitors Bureau.

“While a number of economic impact studies have been conducted over the years, those studies focused on traditional maritime measurements,” she said. “We devised this "full spectrum” study to also include economic drivers for individual ports that add economic values which have not been included in previous studies such as port specific businesses, port specific tourism and port specific recreation. We had a hunch the economic value of our ports and harbors was far greater then previously reported.”

The study was commissioned by the MPC in November 2017 and conducted by Vincent Magnini, executive director of the Institute for Service Research in Virginia Beach, Va.

Bill Boik, a consultant who is retired from the State of Michigan Department of Natural Resources, also contributed to the study and participated in the nine-day tour of port and harbor communities who helped finance the project. In addition, John Crotts of Charleston, SC served on the research team.

The MPC commissioned the study in 2017 because of a growing concern that less and less state and federal dollars were being allocated to protect ports and the boating industry.

When lake levels dropped drastically in 2009, concern regarding the economic viability of many Michigan ports began to wane at the state and federal levels, according to the MPC. The dredging and infrastructure challenges caused by low water levels created a trend in thinking, among some state officials, that ports and harbors were an economic liability.

“We represent the ports of Michigan and we wanted to challenge that trend in thinking,” said Don Gilmet, vice president of the MPC. “Michigan Harbors are the front doors to our communities."

For South Haven, the study showed that visitors traveling to and from the local port spent $15 million in lodging, $8.4 million at restaurants, $4 million on gasoline and $2.9 million in groceries in 2017. South Haven's water-based tourism also generated 1,158 full-time equivalent jobs around Michigan, equating to roughly $54.9 million in labor income. In terms of taxes, water-based economic activity in South Haven generated $10.3 million in state and local tax revenues and $12.2 million in federal tax revenues, while the local contribution to the state’s Gross Domestic Product in value-added effects was estimated at $81.7 million for 2017.

4.23.19

Kinexus predicts 16,000 high-skill job openings in

SW Michigan by 2030

By BECKY KARK

Editor and general manager

By 2030 an estimated 16,000 career and technical education-related jobs will need to be filled in Southwest Michigan, according Economic Modeling, a company that tracks data for educational institutions and private companies throughout the United States.

That's great news for Tri-County region's economy. But with good news often comes bad news — there may not be enough trained workers to fill those posts, according to Kinexus, an economic, workforce and community development organization serving Berrien, Cass and Van Buren counties.

“We face issues that are troubling to our region,” said Todd Gustafson, president and CEO of Kinexus. “I like to call them 'The Big 3' — an aging population, a declining population, and a declining number of people achieving educational attainment.”

Over the past couple of years, Kinexus has been sifting through and analyzing data that paints a picture of the Southwest Michigan economy. Monday, officials released some of their findings to regional news media.

Some of the information Kinexus has gleaned might give the impression the organization is all “gloom and doom,” joked Jake Gustafson, chief operating officer of Kinexus.

But the organization takes its data seriously and wants to inform as many individuals, educators, companies and governmental officials in the Tri-County region as they can.

“If we continue to sweep 'The Big 3' issues under the rug we will fall behind other regions of the state in attracting jobs,” Todd Gustafson said.

Some of the obstacles facing the region follow:

• While Michigan's population increased 1 percent in the last eight years, the Tri-County population decreased 2 percent, according to U.S. Census Bureau estimates.

• Michigan's median age increased from 37.5 to 38.7 from 2010-2017, while the overall median age of the Tri-County region increased from 41 to 42.6.

• 11.6 percent of the working-age population in the Tri-County region does not have a high school diploma or equivalent compared to 10 percent for the state, according to the 2018 American Community Survey.

Access to public transportation and a lack of affordable housing are two other big issues confronting employers who grapple with retaining and expanding the region's workforce.

“We have some long-term structural issues that are preventing us from growing,” said Al Pscholka, vice president of public relations and government affairs for Kinexus.

Through a partnership with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, Kinexus formed the Business Resource Center three years ago to help companies struggling with employee retention.

“They (the employees) faced a lot of issues – lack of transportation, food insecurity, housing, health care and being able to pay utilities,” Pscholka said.

With the help of “success coaches” who met with employees, Kinexus was able to address 900 barriers workers faced in keeping their employment. The result was that of the 3,500 employees Kinexus worked with 82 percent were able to keep their jobs.

“It's (the Business Resource Center) been tremendously successful, but is shows us lots of issues going on in the market that need to be addressed,” Pscholka said.

Grappling with the issues of public transportation, affordable housing, educational attainment, and the increasing cost of health care, will take the cooperation of government, private sector and education leaders, Kinexus thinks.

“It has to be a coordinated approach customized to each county in the Tri-County area,” Todd Gustafson said.

But not all is gloom and doom for Southwest Michigan.

Local residents may not realize it, but the region is one of the leaders in the state for manufacturing employment.

The region's 18,432 manufacturing jobs account for 17.5 percent of the workforce.

“Our three counties are ahead of Flint, Saginaw and Jackson for the total number of manufacturing jobs,” Todd Gustafson said.

In the future, more employees will be needed to fill those manufacturing positions.

According to projections from Economic Modeling, there will be 1,409 vacancies in the next 10 years that will have to be filled in the manufacturing sector in Southwest Michigan.

But healthcare is anticipated to be the fastest growing industry in the Tri-County area where nearly 6,000 openings will be available, including entry-level jobs for nursing assistants, personal care aides and home health aides.

The remaining 6,500 available jobs in 2030 in the Tri-County area are also expected to be career and technical education related, such as automotive technicians, contractors, agriculturists, chefs, foresters and engineers.

4.15.19

Corps of Engineers plans to dredge South Haven's harbor; Replenish beach

Starting this week, the United States Army Corps of Engineers will begin dredging South Haven's harbor, as part of a plan to shore up South Beach.

Holland-based King Company has been hired to dredge the Black River west of the Dyckman drawbridge and downriver past the channel and North Pier.

The dredged material will then be released south of the South Pier, according to a city news release. The dredging operation is expected to last two weeks, depending on the weather.

"At this point, the dredge materials will be released in the water and not directly on the beach.The materials would be carried on shore by wave action," Harbormaster and Assistant City Manager Kate Hosier said.
Boaters this week should expect to see 10 sections of 1,000-foot dredge pipe that will be staged at the South Side Municipal Marina. Once connected, the dredge pipe will extend from the dredge operation out to Lake Michigan where the material will be deposited 1,900 feet west of the South Pier.

During the dredging operation, the dredge pipe will be located on the south part of the river. City officials say there will be adequate space for boat traffic in the river, however, they are urging boaters to use caution when passing near the floating pipe and stay to the north of it.

4.8.19

Police: Texting,

driving don't mix

Law enforcement officials on the lookout for distracted drivers this week

By BECKY KARK

Editor and general manager

If you're talking on your cell phone while driving this week, you might end up with a ticket.

As part of Distracted Driving Awareness Month, area law enforcement agencies are joining others throughout the state by participating in a nationwide crackdown on districted driving. Officers will be on the lookout for distracted drivers April 11-15 to raise awareness of the harm that can occur when motorists text, eat or do other things that take their eyes off the road.

“There is a huge disconnect between the actual and the perceived dangers of driving and it is our hope that through this awareness effort, we can refocus drivers on the task at hand to make everyone’s commute safer,” said Insp. Dale R. Hinz, assistant commander for the Michigan State Police Fifth District.

Michigan saw a 57 percent increase in distracted driving crashes and a 67 percent increase in fatalities from those crashes from 2016 to 2017, according to the Michigan State Police (MSP) Criminal Justice Information Center. That’s why law enforcement agencies around the state are participating in the five-day crackdown.

According to the MSP, there were 20,115 crashes in Michigan in 2017 that involved distracted driving, and resulted in 72 fatalities. In 2016, there were 12,788 distracted driving crashes resulting in 43 fatalities.

“This is a noteworthy increase in crashes and nearly 30 more fatalities. We have to do everything possible to get those numbers trending in the opposite direction,” said Michael L. Prince, director Michigan's Office of Highway Safety Planning.

The proliferation of the use of cell phones while driving is one of the biggest distractions facing motorists.

“When you are behind the wheel, keep your phone out of reach,” Prince said. “Studies show that texting while driving takes your attention off the road more than any other activity.”

Hinz agreed.

“Distracted driving comes in many forms as most motorists have witnessed first-hand.  Eating, reading, and personal grooming while driving are some of the more common distractions of the past; however, since the advent of the cellphone and particularly the smart phone, we’ve seen an exponential increase in distracted driving related crashes,” Hinz said. “The majority of these crashes are directly related to our addiction to cell phones and our unwillingness to set them aside while driving.”

Over the years, millennials have become some of the biggest texting-while-driving offenders, also using their cell phones to talk and to scroll though social media while behind the wheel.

In 2017, “drivers under the age of 20 accounted for 20 percent of all motor vehicle crashes where a cell phone was being used,” said Van Buren County Sheriff Daniel Abbott.

And it isn't just motorists who are guilty of causing accidents while using a cell phone.

“Twenty five pedestrians and 9 bicyclists were reported to be using a cell phone at the time of a crash in Michigan in 2017,” Abbott said. “Of those, 3 pedestrians were killed.”

Motorists may or may not realize it, but texting while driving is illegal in Michigan. First-time offenders can be fined $100, while subsequent offenses cost $200, according to Michigan State Police.

And while other distractions, like drinking coffee or eating behind the wheel aren't addressed in Michigan's Motor Vehicle Code, the law, according to Hinz, does require drivers to operate their vehicles in a safe manner at all times.

A section of the vehicle code defines careless driving as a person who drives a vehicle in a “careless or negligent manner,” but not in a “wanton or reckless way.” So if an officer thinks a motorist is driving carelessly, they could potentially be ticketed.

“This section of law is typically used to enforce violations of distracted driving when a person’s driving is deemed careless or negligent and a cellphone is not involved,” Hinz said.

— John Matuszak of the Herald-Palladium contributed to this article.

4.1.19

Dyckman Bridge temporarily closed today

It's not an April fool's joke. Dyckman Avenue drawbridge will be temporarily closed to traffic today to allow for testing of repairs made last week to the bridge.

South Haven city staff will close the bridge at North Shore Drive and Dyckman Avenue at Wells street to detour traffic to Baseline Road to allow the testing to take place.

The bridge needed to be repaired due to the high water levels and freezing temperatures this winter that damaged the conduit that operates the bridge. Water seeped into the old broken concrete and split the conduit, according to city officials.

Strain Electric was hired to make the repairs and reported last Friday that all the conduit has been installed on both east and west sides of the bridge.

3.25.19

Cold case heats up

Man arraigned for murder of Bangor woman 33 years ago

By BECKY KARK

Editor and general manager

A 51-year-old man could spend life behind bars for a murder that occurred 33 years ago in Bangor.

Michael Leon Curry faces one-count of first-degree murder for the death of 58-year-old Wilda Wilkinson, who was found strangled in her home, July 29, 1986.

He was arraigned Monday, March 18^th, in Seventh District Court in South Haven. Judge Arthur Clarke denied bond. Curry's next court date is scheduled March 27 for a probable cause hearing.

Police thought at the time of Wilkinson's death that Curry, who lived close by, may have had something to do with it.

“He was a person of interest in the initial investigation,” Det. Lt. Shane Criger of the Michigan State State Police said.

There were several people of interest that police interviewed following Wilkinson's death, but the case ended up going cold.

In 2010, however, Michigan state police detectives re-opened the cold case and then stepped up their efforts last year to pursue the unsolved murder full-time. With the mounting number of interviews and physical evidence that they gathered, Curry emerged as the lead suspect.

“We were never able to clear him,” Criger said. “As we continued the investigation it pointed more and more to him.”

A week ago, state police obtained an arrest warrant and arrested Curry in California, where he waived extradition and was brought back to Van Buren County to wait arraignment.

It was Wilkinson's daughter who found her strangled mother, according to a Herald-Palladium article that was published shortly after the murder. A nurse's aide at South Haven Community Hospital at the time, Wilkinson was divorced and lived alone. When she failed to report to work, hospital officials called her daughter to check on her mom, according to former Bangor Police Lt. Tim Wydick, who was interviewed for the article. Initially, the exact cause of Wilkinson's death was not known, however, further tests completed by Dr. Daniel Glaser, a Kalamazoo pathologist at the time, determined the cause of death was strangulation.

Wilkinson is survived by her two daughters and two sons, who police say were in continuous contact with investigators throughout the investigation.

This is not the first time Curry has faced serious criminal charges.

In 1990 he was sentenced to prison for assault with intent to commit murder for a crime that occurred in 1989 in Van Buren County, according to the Michigan Department of Corrections website. Curry was released in July of 2017.

Prior to that incident, he was sentenced in Van Buren Circuit Court in 1987 for an unarmed robbery that occurred in 1985.



3.18.19

Petitions available for SH city council hopefuls

South Haven city residents interested in running for city council have until Tuesday, April 23 to file petitions to do so.

Three council positions and the mayor's seat will be available this year. Council members whose terms will be expiring at the end of this year are Letitia Wilkins, Ward 1; Clark Gruber, Ward 2 and Steve Schlack, Ward 3. The two-year mayoral term of Scott Smith also expires. The only incumbent who cannot seek re-election is Gruber, who will be term-limited in December and not eligible to run for office, according to the city's charter.

Candidates interested in being included on the November ballot must gather 6-20 signatures, according to City Clerk Travis Sullivan. For council ward seats, candidates must obtain signatures from registered voters who reside in their ward. Mayoral candidates can collect signatures from any registered voter in the city.

Prospective council members must reside within their particular ward. The mayor, who is considered an at-large candidate, does not have to reside in a particular ward to seek office. All candidates must reside in the city for at least one year before seeking office

Petitions are available at city hall, 539 Phoenix St., and must be returned by 4 p.m., Tuesday, April 23 to be included on the general election ballot in November. If there are more than two candidates for the available council and mayor seats, there will first be a primary election in August.

3.11.19

The City of South Haven cruise ship unloads passengers from Chicago to South Haven at the Dunkley Williams dock in this photo taken  in the late 1800s. The former dock is now the site of Old Harbor Village on Williams Street. (Photo courtesy of the Appleyard Collection)

South Haven ready to turn 150 years old

Year-long celebration is in the planning stages

By TRIBUNE STAFF

Get ready to take a step back in history this year when South Haven celebrates its Sesquicentennial.

One-and-fifty-years of the town's history will be commemorated throughout the rest of this year through a series of events that are now being planned by a committee consisting of two dozen organizations and businesses.

But, the committee doesn't want to only tout the town's rich history, it also wants to put the spotlight on South Haven's current accomplishments and imagine its future.

“This celebration will be a great opportunity to honor our past and celebrate our future,” South Haven Mayor Scott Smith. “We have wonderful people, natural resources in our beaches, parks and rails and so much more. I hope everyone is able to take some time to celebrate our history and become part of our future.”

The idea to mark the town's 150^th anniversary came about from a couple of local residents who helped organize South Haven centennial celebration 50 years ago.

“The city's centennial year in 1969 was cause for a great community celebration,” Tom Renner recalled. “Several of us fondly remember that time so we approached city leaders about the possibility of celebrating the Sesquicentennial year. The response from the mayor and City Manager Brian Dissette and his staff has been overwhelmingly encouraging.”

Unlike the Centennial when the celebration centered around a single week, the Sesquicentennial committee has decided to schedule events throughout the year. Some will be stand-alone activities, like the kick-off in May, while others will be incorporated into annual events.

“South Haven is blessed with many outstanding established events for residents and visitors alike,” said Scott Reinert, executive director of the South Haven Visitors Bureau. “We want to capitalize on these great traditional events by adding the Sesquicentennial identity to them.”

For example, the Fourth of July Parade, a South Haven tradition that goes back to 1849, will adopt a Sesquicentennial theme, according to Becky Kark, editor of the South Haven Tribune, which sponsors the event along with the South Haven Rotary and Kiwanis clubs.

“The awards will be focused on entries that follow this year's parade theme, 'South Haven: Honoring our Past, Focused on the Present, Imagining our Future,” Kark said. “So, guys, you might want to start growing those pioneer-style beards and mustaches, because there's an award for that, too.”

The South Haven Post Office is even getting involved with the Sesquicentennial celebration by creating a commemorative postal cancellation that will be created in honor of the town's 150^th anniversary.

The Sesquicentennial celebration will officially begin Friday, May 10 with a community-wide picnic in Stanley Johnston Park, which overlooks the Black River and city's harbor. The park was once the site where Potawatomi Indians congregated long before white settlers came to South Haven. They called the area “Nik-o-nong,” which means “beautiful sunset,” according to an account written by the late Simon Pokagon, a Potawatomi Chief, who wrote the book, “Algonquin Legends of South Haven.” The date chosen for the picnic is also historically significant because it was the date, 150 years ago, when South Haven was chartered as a village.

“The picnic is in the planning stages and will be very family oriented,” said Rosalie Plechaty, kickoff event chairperson.

Other 150^th anniversary events will follow the picnic throughout 2019 and are now being organized by a number of groups, including the Historical Association of South Haven, Michigan Maritime Museum, Liberty Hyde Bailey Museum, South Haven Arts Center and the historic Scott Club. SHOUT for South Haven also plans to focus its annual Cottage Walk on historic homes located throughout South Haven.

Community groups, businesses and individuals who want to become a part of the Sesquicentennial celebration can contact City Manager Brian Dissette by email at bdissette@south-haven.com. People can go to the website, for updates about Sesquicentennial events. The website was created by Amanda Owens of the South Haven Visitors Bureau, while the 150^th anniversary logo was designed by Jen Sistrunk, a member of the 150^th anniversary marketing committee.

3.4.19

Getting acquainted

New school chief: State of the District report provides an opportunity to meet with parents

By BECKY KARK

Editor and general manager

South Haven area residents will have a chance to meet South Haven Public Schools' new superintendent Kevin Schooley this month when he presents a State of the District report at South Haven Memorial Library, 314 Broadway Ave.

School district residents will have three different opportunities to hear the report. The first presentation will be at 6:30 p.m., Wednesday, March 6; the second at 10 a.m., Thursday, March 7; and the third at 4 p.m., Tuesday, March 12.

“I wanted to try to accommodate various schedules for folks in the community, so we came up with three different slots,” said Schooley, who began his new job in January.

During his presentation, Schooley said he will update parents and other area residents about school district happenings, but he also wants to give the community an opportunity to become better acquainted with him.

“While I've lived here for 27 years, I am just getting to know the families in South Haven who now have children in school,” said Schooley, who has three children, two who graduated from South Haven, and a third who is currently a senior. “Because of the ages of my children, I do know some high school parents, but for many people with younger children, I am like someone who just moved to the area as they have no idea who I am.”

Schooley came to South Haven with his wife Lori (who is now a South Haven elementary school teacher) in the early 1990s. He worked as a special education teacher in the former Central Elementary School for five years before becoming an elementary school principal in Watervliet in 1998. In 2010 he was named superintendent of Watervliet Public Schools, a position he held before South Haven Board of Education hired him to lead South Haven Public Schools.

“The connection between the school leader and kids and parents is important to me. I want folks to realize who I am, that I am accessible, and I am an active member of the school community,” Schooley said.

District residents who want to attend the State of the District report do not have to pre-register, according to Schooley.

“People do not have to sign up to attend and they do not have to show up at the start time if they are busy,” he said. “If they just want to pop in and put a face with a name, I'm happy with that as well.”

2.25.19

Robotics team ready to roll

Members of South Haven High School's robotics team are shown receiving a $1,000 donation from the South Haven Kiwanis Club after presenting a program about the robot they created for the upcoming FIRST robotics competitions. Team Ramageddon will unveil its new robot during an open house at 6:30 p.m., March 7 at the high school, 600 Elkenburg St. Last year, the team qualified to compete at the state and international FIRST robotics competitions. Also shown in the photo with the team is Team Ramageddon co-advisor Kim Wise and South Haven Kiwanis Club President Steve Mall (kneeling from left) and Team Ramageddon co-advisor Kevin Dee (standing, left).

2.18.19

When South Haven's new splash pad is complete sometime this fall its design will resemble the Michigan Maritime Museum's tall ship, Friends Good Will. South Haven Parks Commission has approved a preliminary design. The design (which is shown above) was created by Abonmarche.

New splash pad to resemble Friends Good Will tall ship

Youngsters weigh in on design

By BECKY KARK

Editor and general manager

When Friends Good Will passengers cruise down the city's harbor toward Lake Michigan this fall they'll see something that looks oddly familiar.

It will be South Haven's new splash pad.

Plans call for the $568,500 development to resemble the Michigan Maritime Museum's tall ship, Friends Good Will, a replica of an 1800s sailing schooner that was used during the War of 1812.

South Haven Parks Commission approved the design Tuesday over another one that would have consisted of a variety of surface water jets that youngsters could run through.

Commissioners chose the Friends Good Will design after receiving input from community groups and feedback from local residents during an open house in January and even from youngsters who attend Lincoln and Maple Grove elementary schools.

The students overwhelmingly favored the Friends Good Will design which was originally suggested a year ago, as a way to reflect South Haven's maritime history.

“The input from the kids of South Haven was the primary reason why the Friends Goodwill design was selected,” said Jim Ellis of the Parks Commission. “The parks commission and city council wanted the local kids to have a voice in this decision and we selected the design that they preferred.”

Now that the preliminary design, created by Abonmarche, has been approved, city staff can proceed with final design elements. Once the final design is approved, construction bids can be sought. Construction is tentatively slated to begin right after Labor Day and should be completed sometime in the fall, according to Hunter.

The new mini water park, which will be located near South Beach,'s concession stands, will have a capacity for approximately 100 people who can run under fountains and other devices to cool off during hot days at the beach.

Splash pads are becoming more popular in shoreline communities along Lake Michigan where rip currents and high waves can make swimming conditions dangerous.

The splash pad's costs will be paid for from a $300,000 grant the city received from the Department of Natural Resources Trust Fund. The city's match will come through several funding sources, including beach parking fees, the Downtown Development Authority, capital projects fund and possibly private donations, according to City Manager Brian Dissette.



2.11.19

A Casco Township woman was rushed to Bronson Burn and Wound Center in Kalamazoo, Sunday, after the home she was in caught fire, according to a news release from South Haven Area Emergency Services. Fire investigators suspect a propane gas explosion started the fire. The incident was reported at 12:30 p.m. at a home at 6016 104^th Ave. The woman was the only occupant at the residence. The specific cause of the fire is still under investigation. South Haven Area Emergency Services was assisted by firefighters from Clyde, Columbia, Ganges and Lee townships. (Photo courtesy of South Haven Area Emergency Services)

2.4.19

Before...

A snow sculpture of a bathing beauty is shown downtown, Saturday, as part of the Ice Breaker festival. The sculpture was created in front of Oh My Darlings children's shop. But the weekend temperatures, which soared into the 40s after plummeting to -20 degrees several days beforehand, caused the sculpture to melt by Sunday (the after effects can be seen in the photo below) - photos by Tom Renner



...and after

1.30.19

The Tribune office will be closed Wednesday due to extreme weather conditions.

1.28.19

Storm forces school closures; Motorists urged to stay off the roads

Schools throughout Van Buren County, including South Haven, Bangor, Covert and Bloomingdale are closed today due to the winter snow storm that is expected to drop 6-10 inches throughout the day. Snow began falling early this morning and is still continuing as snowplow crews work hard to keep streets open for traffic.

In addition to school closures, South Haven city officials announed that city hall will be closing at 3 p.m. today, due to the inclement weather. Van Buren County offices and courts closed at noon.

Motorists are being urged to stay off roads. The National Weather Service issued the following hazardous weather warning for the the South Haven area:

"The snowstorm is on track with widespread accumulations of 8-12 inches (6-10 inches for Van Buren County) expected except south and east of I-69 where 3-6” of snow is expected. Travel will be dangerous and is not recommended today. Snow removal efforts will be difficult with prolonged recovery times. The heaviest snow is expected to taper this afternoon; however, lake effect snow is expected to impact portions of Van Buren, Allegan, and Kalamazoo county after dark leading to a prolonged recovery time."

The winter storm warning is expected to last until 7  a.m. Tuesday. The weather won't get any better, however. The National Weather Service predicts dangerously cold wind chills Tuesday through Thursday of 25 to 35 below zero along with lake effect snow showers that will result in hazardous travel conditions.

1.21.19

It's red all right!

Kelly Weber, a photographer from South Haven, stayed up late Sunday evening to capture the super blood wolf moon of 2019. The total lunar eclipse began at about 10:30 p.m. with the moon edging into Earth's shadow. The complete darkening of the moon took over an hour to occur. The "blood moon" could be viewed for an hour. According to Space.com, another total lunar eclipse will not occur until May 2021.

1.14.19

United Ways announce merger plans

By BECKY KARK

Editor and general manager

PAW PAW — As of Thursday, United Way became a little more united in Southwest Michigan.

Van Buren County United Way is joining forces this month with United Way of Southwest Michigan as part of a merger that will become fully effective in July.

The Van Buren merger means that United Way of Southwest Michigan will now be serving the entire tri-county region of Van Buren, Berrien and Cass counties.

“By joining forces, we're increasing the power of the community to support our nonprofits,” said Vera Sebree, Van Buren County United Way executive director.

The idea to merge has been broached a number of times, according to Anna Murphy, CEO of United Way of Southwest Michigan.

“We've been having this conversation for a couple of years,” she said. “(Vera) presented ideas to our board on how we could do more partnering to reduce duplication and create efficiencies.”

The merger will occur in a series of stages. For the first part of 2019 the two organizations will consolidate back office operations.

“There's no need for two payroll systems, for instance,” Murphy said.

Although office operations for both organizations will be consolidated, Sebree and fundraising campaign manager Kyle Tanier will continue to work at the Paw Paw office, where Van Buren County United Way has operated for several decades.

According to Murphy, Sebree will assist United Way of Southwest Michigan to create fundraising campaign strategies and meet with key stakeholders.

“We will continue to honor donor intent,” Murphy said. “Money raised in the Van Buren campaign will continue to serve local communities.”

While all of the details of the merger have not been ironed out yet, money raised from Van Buren County United Way's 2018 campaign will be distributed in April, as is normally done, to non-profit organizations that were approved for funding. Going forward, new funding will begin in July and will be effective for a two-year funding period to allow for alignment with Southwest Michigan United Way's funding process. Southwest Michigan United Way will also continue to rely on community volunteers to decide how the money raised will be allocated.

1.12.19

Palisades back online following shut down

By HP STAFF

COVERT — Palisades nuclear power reopened today after it shut down, Jan. 9, when operators manually shut down the reactor.
"The shutdown occurred while a test of the system designed to automatically shut down the reactor was under way.," said Val Gent, Palisades spokesperson. "This system inadvertently activated while testing was in progress."
The plant had synchronized to the grid on January 5 following a different maintenance outage that began January 3.
Gent said all systems responded as expected during the shutdown.
Gent said the plant is currently in a safe and stable condition and at no time was the health and safety of the public or plant challenged.
A detailed analysis of the cause and subsequent repair plan took place when the problem occurred.
Palisades returned to service Dec. 28 after a scheduled refueling and maintenance outage that began on Oct. 28. Only one more planned outage is scheduled before the plant is closed in spring of 2022.

1.7.19

Palisades plants shuts down for repairs

By ALEXANDRA NEWMAN

HP Staff Writer

COVERT — Palisades nuclear power plant operators manually shut down the reactor Thursday after fluctuations of a turbine governor valve.

“These types of valves control the flow of steam to the turbine,” Palisades spokeswoman Val Gent said.

The event happened just before midnight Thursday and was classified as a non-emergency.

Gent said all systems responded as expected during the shutdown.

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission reported that “all full-length control rods inserted fully. Auxiliary Feedwater System actuated as designed in response to low steam generator water levels.”

Gent said the plant is currently in a safe and stable condition and at no time was the health and safety of the public or plant challenged.

A detailed analysis of the cause and subsequent repair plan is underway.

Palisades returned to service Dec. 28 after a scheduled refueling and maintenance outage that began on Oct. 28. Only one more planned outage is scheduled before the plant is closed in spring of 2022.





The 2019 Miss and Mr. South Haven court is shown above. Front row from left: Miss Entrepreneur Elysiah Moore, first runner-up Chloe Kinney, Miss South Haven Elizabeth Johnson and Grace Lyons. Back row from left: Mr. South Haven first runner-up Jaylin Fox and Mr. South Haven Joe Nelson.

Miss and Mr. South Haven court crowned

By BECKY KARK

Editor and general manager

Elizabeth Johnson one day aspires to be a pediatrician, but for now the South Haven High School junior will be representing her town as Miss South Haven 2019.

Johnson was crowned Saturday afternoon, along with the rest of her court, including Mr. South Haven, Joe Nelson.

“I promise I won't let you down,” said Johnson to the crowded audience that came to see the scholarship pageant at Listiak Auditorium.

The other members of the court who were crowned include Chloe Kinney, first runner-up and Miss Congeniality, Jaylin Fox, Mr. South Haven runner-up; and court members Elysiah Moore and Grace Lyons. Normally, a second runner-up to the queen is made in the pageant, but this year, that was not done because there were only four candidates for queen.

Johnson, the daughter of Laura Adkin and Matthew Redsicker, wore a beaded, straight-fit purple gown for the pageant. She is dual enrolled at South Haven High School and Lake Michigan College, and is quite active in the school and community. She has earned a Board of Education award for outstanding academic achievement, is a member of the South Haven High School Chorale, the dramatic arts department, the varsity softball team and the equestrian team. She also has earned awards through the American Quarter Horse and Michigan Quarter Horse associations. She plans to attend the University of Michigan or the University of Colorado Boulder to pursue a degree in pediatric medicine.

Kinney, a senior at South Haven High School, is the daughter of Cathy Pyle and Michael Kinney. She wore a silver, strapless, mermaid-cut gown with embroidered patterns from top to bottom for the pageant. She is dual-enrolled at South Haven High School and Lake Michigan College and after graduation plans to continue her education at LMC to major in health sciences. She is class president, and a member of the National Honor Society, the Be Nice program, Youth Advisory Committee, robotics team, drama department and softball team.

Nelson is a senior at South Haven High School and the son of Michael and Nancy Nelson. The Eagle Scout candidate is quite active in school and the community. He holds a 4.0-plus grade point average, was a state qualifier on the swim and track teams; voted most valuable runner for the cross-country team in 2018, and is this year's swim team captain. He also is a member of the Science Olympiad team, Quiz Bowl team, National Honor Society, student council, Be Nice program, orchestra and band. After graduation he plans to attend Michigan State University to pursue a degree in mechanical engineering.

The theme for this year's pageant was “Ohio: The Birthplace of Aviation.”

Three judges chose the pageant court: Pam Kublick of Best Home Financial Services and a senior makeup consultant for Mary Kay; Anna Krajecki, a U.S. Postal service employee who is very active as a volunteer for the Miss Blueberry Festival Pageant; and Lou Price, a teacher and actor, who has performed in plays throughout Southwestern Michigan.

Paul Layendecker, operations/program director for Midwest Family Broadcasting, emceed the pageant. Brandie Rainey is the pageant coordinator.

 12.31.18

Palisades returns to service after outage

$87 million worth of work performed since Oct. 28

By ALEXANDRA NEWMAN

HP Staff Writer

COVERT — Only one more planned outage remains between now and the closure of Palisades nuclear power plant in spring of 2022.

Palisades went back online Friday morning after a scheduled refueling and maintenance outage that began on Oct. 28, according to a news release.

Workers replaced about one-third of the fuel in the reactor and inspected and upgraded hundreds of pipes, pumps, electrical components and other equipment. This was the 26th refueling in the plant’s history.

“Around 1,900 professionals, including nearly 1,300 specialist contractors, performed hundreds of activities that can only occur while the plant is offl ine,” said Charlie Arnone, Charlie Arnone, site vice president and Entergy’s top official at Palisades.

The only hiccup was in November when a throughwall leak was found during a visual inspection of the reactor head, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission reported at the time.

The non-emergency leak, as well as another control rod drive nozzle that showed similar ultrasonic characteristics, but did not exhibit evidence of through-wall leakage, were fixed before the plant went back online.

Arnone said Entergy continues to make the investments needed for the plant, 

as evidenced by the $87 million of work performed during this outage.

“We are committed to continuing to provide safe, secure and reliable electricity to area families and businesses through the plant’s permanent closure in 2022,” Arnone said.

This August, Entergy announced that it agreed to sell the subsidiaries that own Palisades to a subsidiary of U.S.-based Holtec International for accelerated decommissioning after the shutdown and reactor defueling.

Palisades employs about 600 workers and has been a part of the community since it began generating electricity in 1971. The plant generates 811 megawatts of virtually carbon-free electricity, enough to power more than 800,000 homes.





12.24.18

Photo by Becky Kark
South Haven softball team members Olivia Ellis (left) and Jordyn Holland pack groceries for Walmart customer Rose Segalo, Friday afternoon. The team surprised Segalo at the checkout lane by paying for her groceries.

Softball Santas

South Haven softball team surprises shoppers at Walmart

By BECKY KARK

Editor and general manager

South Haven's Class B state runner-up softball team is used to racking up hits to win games.

But Friday, they put aside their bats to spread some holiday cheer.

The girls went to Walmart along with coaches Mike Sweet and Dave Gumpert where they acted as Secret Santas, randomly choosing to pay for customers' groceries and Christmas gifts at the checkout lanes.

“We had so much community support going to the state finals, we wanted to give back and what better time than at Christmas?” Sweet said.

The team managed to raise a little over $2,000 over the past several months and went to Walmart Friday afternoon, randomly selecting shoppers.

“We were watching to see who we thought needed the most help,” Rams softball player Grace Lyons said.

One of the shoppers was Judy Roggow, a grandmother of 16, who was shopping with her daughter Danielle Roggow and several grandchildren. They were not only shopping for Christmas gifts but groceries for both families.

“We saw she had grandkids and a lot to pay for, so wanted to help,” Lyons said.

By the time Roggow and her daughter finished shopping, they had several carts of groceries and gifts that were paid for courtesy of the Lady Rams.

“I saw them (team members) walking around us when we were shopping but I didn't have a clue,” Judy Roggow said. “When they told me they wanted to pay for everything I thought, 'absolutely no way.' You don't think it's going to happen to you.”

Ronnie Brown, and his fiancee' Susan Dozier, who were shopping for gifts for grandchildren, were equally as shocked.

“Thank the Lord,” Dozier said. “We are so happy and thankful.”

It didn't take long for the girls to spend the $2,000 they had raised.

“I thought we'd be here for an hour or so,” Sweet said. “It was just a half hour.”

One family's purchases, mainly spent on Christmas gifts, totaled close to $450.

“They were pretty happy,” Sweet said.

And so was Rose Segalo, a South Haven resident who lives in senior housing at River Terrace Apartment complex.

She had just stopped at Walmart to buy groceries.

“I was so surprised,” she said, when several of the softball players stepped in at the checkout counter to pay for her items.

The girls and their coaches may have only been at Walmart for a half hour and paid for groceries and Christmas gifts for a dozen people, but they all left with smiles on their faces.

“It's a whole lot more fun to give than receive,” Gumpert said.

12.17.18

(Photo by South Haven Area Emergency Services)
A South Haven Area Emergency Services firefighter tries to keep a horse calm after it became trapped in a septic tank access hole early Monday morning.  The horse was freed from the hole but later had to be euthanized because its heart was too weak to survive.

Despite heroic rescue efforts, horse euthanized after falling into a septic tank access hole

By BECKY KARK

Editor and general manager

Emergency workers spent nearly two hours working diligently to rescue a horse trapped in an abandoned septic tank access hole, but despite their lifesaving efforts, the 32-year-old Arabian horse was unable to survive and had to be euthanized.

South Haven Area Emergency Services was dispatched at 4 a.m., Monday, to rescue the horse, named Tea Cup, who had become trapped up to its head in what appeared at first to be a sinkhole.

When firefighters arrived they saw the horse had fallen into an old septic tank access hole and couldn't move. Digging around the tank, firefighters discovered Tea Cup was trapped in a large square cement casing that prevented him from getting out of the hole.

“The homeowners had just moved into the home in November,” South Haven Area Emergency Services Director Ron Wise said. The new homeowners said they were not aware a septic tank was located in the pasture where the horse had been at before falling into the hole. In fact, the homeowners didn't realize there was anything wrong with Tea Cup until their other animals – a dog and a donkey – began to make a ruckus that them up.

To free the horse, firefighters called for a backhoe from South Haven Department of Public Works and assistance from Harbor Towing Company.

“This was our first rescue of a horse from a septic tank,” Wise said. “Last year, Columbia Township Fire Department rescued a horse from an icy pond that had deep mud. Rescues with large animals usually take considerable time to complete and they aer a high safety issue due to the animal's size and weight.”

It took emergency responders and DPW workers an hour and forty-five minutes to free Tea Cup. They then spent an additional hour and a half warming the animal with portable heaters and tarps, while a veterinarian was called to evaluate the animal.

Unfortunately, after three hours of observation, the vet determined that the horse's heart was too weak for him to survive. As a result, Tea Cup had to be put to sleep.

“These call are very stressful for first responders because they love animals and know that the animal is a family member to most owners,” Wise said. “We love for all calls to have a happy ending but sometimes we do our best to limit suffering and to give comfort to the animal and their family.”

Police identify body found last week near I-94

LAWRENCE — A body found near Interstate 94 last week has been identified as a man from Lansing who had been missing for more than a year.

Michigan State Police say the skeletal remains are those of Jerome Ezell, 28, who went missing Nov. 7, 2017.

Western Michigan School of Medicine worked with Michigan State Police Anthropology Unit to make a correct identification and did so through DNA tests.

Police do not yet know the cause of Ezell's death and are conducting an autopsy. But at this point they are considering Ezell's death as a homicide, according to a news release issued by the State Police Paw Paw post.

Ezell's body was discovered, Dec. 12, when an employee at a business on Crandall Parkway in Lawrence discovered it after walking in a wooded area near their place of employment. The employee immediately notified authorities.

Ezell was last seen in the morning hours of Nov. 7 in Lansing, according to the Lansing State Journal. That evening his girlfriend found his vehicle. Ezell was not inside of it, however, their 5-month-old son was. He was taken to a hospital and determined to be in good condition. At the time, police said they found no signs of foul play.

The investigation into Ezell's death is now being conducted by the Michigan State Police First District Headquarters Special Investigation Unit. Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective 1st Lt. Thomas DeClercq, 517-322-1912.



12.10.18

South Haven puts skids on pot businesses

By BECKY KARK

Editor and general manager

Entrepreneurs who want to open marijuana-related businesses in South Haven will have to hold off on their plans – at least for now.

South Haven City Council members, Monday, voted in favor of a resolution prohibiting such establishments until the city planning commission has more time to study the ramifications of a new law that Michigan voters passed in November legalizing recreational use of marijuana.

“Specifically, this ordinance 'opts out' of all (recreational marijuana) establishment types, while simultaneously directing the Planning Commission to study the issue and deliver a recommendation to the City Council by the end of 2019,” South Haven City Manager Brian Dissette said.

The city is choosing the December 2019 date because that is the deadline that has been given for the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) to begin issuing licenses for recreational marijuana-related businesses.

Between now and the end of 2019, municipalities throughout the state will need to determine whether they want to “opt in” to allowing pot-related businesses or refusing to let them operate in their towns. If municipalities take no action then the businesses can exist.

“Because marijuana regulation is complex, many communities are adopting opt-out ordinances to essentially serve as placeholders while their planning commissions and staff can fully explore the issue,” Dissette said.

Neighboring St. Joseph is one town who has done just that. A week ago, city commissioners there voted to “opt out,” but may revisit whether to allow recreational pot businesses in the future.

“We’re in a holding pattern,” St. Joseph Mayor Mike Garey told the Herald-Palladium., until there is a final resolution from the state. Once the rules are set, Garey said commissioners expect to talk to residents about how to go forward.

On the surface, provisions of the new law appear to be cut and dried.

People 21 and older in Michigan can possess up to 2.5 ounces of marijuana in public, and up to 10 ounces of marijuana and up to 12 pot plants in their home. Marijuana can be consumed at homes but not in public places. People can also give up to 2.5 ounces of pot to another person as long as no compensation is received.

But from there the law becomes more complex – mainly because few states in America allow people to use marijuana for recreational use.

Michigan is the 11th state in the Union to legalize pot for non-medical uses and the only state in the Midwest to now allow it.

In a presentation to city council members in November, South Haven City Attorney Nick Curcio outlined several issues facing state and local officials with voter approval of Proposal 1 in November.

• Marijuana sales will still be illegal under state law unless the person making the sale has a state license to do so.

• It is not yet clear how the new law fits together with the state's medical marijuana laws.

• It appears municipalities can regulate marijuana establishments through zoning ordinances, however the new law does not expressly refer to zoning.

• Municipalities that choose to place restrictions on marijuana-related businesses, but the stipulations cannot be “unreasonably impractical.”

• The new law contains a provision that allows voter-initiated ordinances to determine whether to allow recreational marijuana businesses in their communities. However the process of doing so could differ from voter-initiated ordinance provisions contained in a town's municipal charter.

• Employers can fire workers who are found to be under the influence of marijuana.

“Court cases and administrative rules may clarify aspects of the (law),” Curcio said.



The South Haven Tribune is a total market coverage newspaper in southwestern Michigan, delivered weekly to 13,500 homes and businesses in northwestern Van Buren County and southwestern Allegan County. The Tribune is owned by Paxton Media Group and is affiliated with The Herald-Palladium.