4.16.18

State invests $5.2 million for final cleanup of former Belgravia factory site

By BECKY KARK

Editor and general manager

For nearly a decade, the City of South Haven and Michigan Department of Environmental Quality have undertaken methods, totaling $3 million, to remove underground contamination at the former Belgravia factory site. But despite their efforts, contamination continues to persist in the soil, prompting DEQ officials to come up with a plan to get rid of the contamination once and for all.

The lengthy $5.2 million thermal resistive heating operation is now underway and could take up to two years to complete, according to Assistant City Manager Kate Hosier.

“This is necessary to do,” Hosier said. “There is a plume of TCE (Trichloroethylene) that needs to be remediated. This plume can come up through the ground and give off bad vapors.” The expensive undertaking will be paid for by the State of Michigan and marks one of the more costly projects to remove underground contamination, according to Ray Spaulding, the DEQ's project manager for the Belgravia site. “You don’t see a ton of these,” he said. “It depends on soil type. This is on the more expensive end of the scale.”

The former Belgravia factory, built in 1916, is located at 125 Elkenburg St. Over the years various manufacturing operations occurred there, including assemblage of pipe organs, construction of picture frames, and cyanide-based metal plating. During the 1970s plating and solvent wastes at the site were discharged to a septic tank and drain field to the rear of the building via floor drains in a former plating room. The plating company filed for bankruptcy in 1979, idling the three-story structure until 1997 when a developer converted the building into a fitness center and condominiums.

Shortly afterwards, however, studies revealed contamination in the soil underneath and around the 2.1-acre factory site. Although residents who live by the former factory use municipal water, city and state officials began to institute a series of methods to remove the contaminants from the ground.

In 2000 and 2001 the city cleared the site, installed fencing and relocated part of the storm sewer to which the drainage system had discharged. In addition, the septic tank was removed along with about 200 yards of contaminated soil.

However, more testing revealed “significant amounts” of TCE and xylene in monitoring wells to the rear of the building, according to a report compiled in 2007 by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry.

The fitness center, which was located next to the condos, was later torn down, and although air samples conducted regularly by the condominium association revealed no adverse findings, DEQ officials remained concerned about the amount to contaminants in the ground and whether it would spread to adjacent homes or possibly contaminate the ground water leading to nearby Lake Michigan.

After several years of looking for funding sources, the DEQ now is ready to move ahead with its $5 million plan to remove the contaminants from the plume, which is located 25 feet below the ground surface to the north of the building.

To remove the contaminants from the clay soil, the DEQ plans to drill 168, 35-foot long holes in the ground where double-stacked electrodes will be installed. Wells to extract the contamination will also be put in place. After that, a concrete cap will be poured onto the electrodes and extraction pipes to prevent any contaminated vapors from escaping into the air.

The system will work in the following way, according to Spaulding. As an electrical current travels through the electrodes, the contaminated soil will be heated in place. When the contaminants become vaporized from the heat they will be removed with vacuum extraction wells and transferred above ground to a treatment system. Granular activated carbon will then be used to absorb any remaining contamination prior to their re-injection into the ground.

Global Remediation Technologies, which has been contracted by the DEQ to perform the remediation, are completing the process of drilling the holes for the electrodes and installing the extraction pipes. Once that is done, Global Remediation Technologies plans to pour the concrete cap, install the electric wiring and piping and conduct tests to insure the reliability of the components..

The actual extraction process isn't expected to occur until January of 2019 and will take approximately 6-7 months to complete. Afterwards, the site will be restored to look as it did prior to the start of the cleanup.

Until that occurs, the Van Buren bike trail, which is located next to the Belgravia site, will be rerouted around the construction project.

4.9.18

Children's author and illustrator Wendy Halperin of South Haven leads a drawing exercise at Hollywood Elementary School in March.

SH author's drawing programs have reached over 50,000 students

By NANCY ALBRIGHT

For the Tribune

Twelve years ago children’s book illustrator and author Wendy Anderson Halperin of South Haven wondered if she could develop an art program to help young children strengthen their reading, writing and cognition skills.

She did.

In the span of 12 years, her Drawing Into Children Reading program and accompanying Drawn to Discover program have reached 50,000 students in the United States, Canada, Australia and India.

And it all started with 44 students from Maple Grove Elementary School in South Haven.

In 2006 Halperin heard a story on the radio about a project where Alzheimer’s patients were taught knitting skills to develop fine motor connections to the brain. She wondered, “What would happen if fine motor skills could be developed on a weekly basis and how would that affect children’s brains?”

To put her idea into practice, Halperin arranged to teach one 60-minute lesson a week throughout the school year to kindergartners at Maple Grove Elementary School. Her goal at that time was to see if students could improve their writing skills by correctly learning how to use a pencil while drawing different shapes. The lessons focused on proper pencil grip, pressure skills using crayons, and how to create an organized work space.

“It isn’t always easy to hold the attention of young children for an hour,” Halperin recalled about those first classes at Maple Grove. But she found that teaching a series of brief lessons during each class kept the children engaged.

“They (were) always eager for the next lesson.” she said.

The success of the Maple Grove program prompted Halperin to develop more curriculum instructors could use to teach their young students such drawing skills as shading and shadowing to complement lessons taught in classes like math and social studies.

By 2014, Halperin began a research study with grades K-2 at Willow School in Homewood, Ill. to track the effectiveness of Drawing Children Into Reading. She taught 187 kindergartners once a week for 60 minutes throughout the school year, and followed the same group of students through their first- and second-grade years.

The principal at Willow School was quite impressed with the results.

“One of the biggest things I noticed right off the bat is comprehension,” Principal Mary Ann Savage said. “When they drew the objects they were talking about it really cemented in their minds. When they’re drawing and learning, they get better at retaining information, and bottom-line comprehension improves.”

During the 2016-2017 school year Halperin and Willow School educators went a step further and created The Genre Writing Project as part of the Drawing Children into Reading program. The project combined art lessons (created by Halperin) with math, social studies, science and language arts curriculum. Halperin even developed art lessons to help children think about the role peace can play in the world and in their own lives.

By the end of first grade, the 187 students had learned how to draw the White House and spent an hour writing an answer to the question, “If you were President what would you do?”

Learning to draw the White House and then spending an hour writing might seem like a long time to most students, especially young ones, but the pupils that took part in the Genre Writing Project appeared to enjoy the results of their handiwork.

“When they are able to take those portfolios home and share with their parents there is a great sense of pride and joy,” Savage said. “If kids go home happy we have taken a big step in educating. We want them to enjoy learning.”

The themes that emerged in the children’s writing were not what one would necessarily attribute to first graders: compassion toward human beings and animals, beauty in nature, preserving the environment, hunger, homelessness, discrimination, violence, war and peace.

The thoughts students expressed during the Genre Writing Project are highlighted in a book Halperin wrote titled, “Change: Perspectives of 187 First Graders.”

Suspect leaves shoe, motorcycle behind

By JULIE SWIDWA

HP Staff Writer

PAW PAW — Police are looking for the owner of a shoe that was left behind by someone who police say fled from officers after a chase and crash.

It happened just after 1 a.m. Sunday, April 1 as Van Buren County sheriff’s deputies tried to stop a motorcycle for an alleged speed violation.

The driver led deputies on a short chase, on County Road 665, then County Road 358 in Paw Paw Township. According to Sgt. Casey Davis, deputies quickly ended their pursuit due to high speed. A short time later the deputies found the same motorcycle abandoned after having crashed at the intersection of County Road 358 and 70th Avenue in a corn field.

Police also found the shoe that had been left behind by the fleeing man. A tracking dog was called in but could not find the man. The unknown man is wanted on charges of fleeing and eluding police and leaving the scene of an accident. The shoe is black with red markings and the motorcycle is a mostly red 1993 Kawasaki.

Van Buren County sheriff’s deputies were assisted by Lawton police and Decatur police. Anyone with information is asked to call the Van Buren County Sheriff’s Office at 657-3101, Crime Stoppers at 800-342-STOP, Silent Observer at 269-3432100 or their local police department.

Mobile phone users and online users can provide anonymous crime tips to the Van Buren County Sheriff’s Office by sending a text message to “CRIMES”(274637) with the keyword VBCTIP from a mobile phone. To submit an online tip, go to www.vbcsheriff.com and follow the directions at the top of the home page.



3.26.18

Mark Smith, owner of The Green Door medical marijuana provisioning center, 126 W. Monroe St., Bangor, stands at the counter of the retail portion of the business where cannabis-related products are sold to licensed patients. (Photo by Becky Kark)



Bangor opens the door to area's first marijuana grow operation

By BECKY KARK

Editor and general manager

BANGOR — Twelve years ago, Mark and Beth Smith discovered a cure for their daughter's persistent seizures – cannabis.

Now, cannabis could lead the way to economic prosperity for the Smiths

They are joining a growing group of entrepreneurs throughout the state who hope to get in on the ground floor of the state's fledgling medical marijuana industry.

Smith opened The Green Door medical marijuana provisioning center in downtown Bangor in December and plans to break ground March 27^th on a marijuana grow facility in the city's industrial park.

“Our building materials will be delivered April 15,” Smith said. “We hope to be operational by August.”

Smith, who lives in Sawyer, and his business partner, Rick Taylor, bought 10 acres of land in Bangor's industrial park last year and are investing $1.4 million to construct a 30,000-square-foot facility to grow up to 1,500 marijuana plants for medical marijuana patients.

PM Growers, as the facility will be named, plans to employ 24-30 workers initially. “It's a three-phase plan,” said Smith, who has 38 years of experience in industrial manufacturing distribution and management at such companies as Weil-McLain Corp. in Michigan City, Ind., and Getman Corp., in Bangor.

“We're going to start small with 500 plants,” he went on to say. Within three years, PM Growers hopes to produce 1,500 plants, which is the maximum amount the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs will allow grow facilities to produce.

“Our business plan is to open provisioning centers in other locations and feed those stores with our own product,” Smith said.

If The Green Door is any indication, there appears to be a market for medical marijuana.

In three month's time, The Green Door has grown to eight employees and has amassed a registry of 1,000 customers who come from a 125-mile radius of Bangor.

Smith hopes to open a provisioning center in South Haven, but city officials, there, haven't yet decided whether to adopt state requirements that regulate the establishment of medical marijuana facilities.

South Haven isn't the only municipality in Southwestern Michigan weighing the pros and cons of allowing medical marijuana facilities. In fact, few local governments have made a decision to opt out or opt in. As of this month, only eight communities in Southwestern Michigan made a decision about medical marijuana facilities, according to the Cannabis Legal Group.

Based in the Detroit suburb of Royal Oak, the legal group's website indicates that in Southwest Michigan, The City of Hartford, City of Bangor, Benton Harbor, Buchanan, Niles and Village of Eau Claire have all agreed to allow medical marijuana facilities, while Galien Township is drafting an ordinance and South Haven Township has chosen to opt out.

Bangor, which was the first municipality in Van Buren County to allow regulated medical marijuana facilities to exist, paved the way for Smith's enterprises.

Unlike other communities that worry about negative connotations associated with medical marijuana – increased crime, seedy looking “head” shops, and drug addiction — Bangor chose to embrace the state's intent to regulate the medical marijuana industry, and apparently doesn't regret it.

“It's kind of funny but there has been hardly any reaction,” Bangor City Manager Regina Hoover said regarding the opening of The Green Door in the heart of the downtown business district. “They opened their business and it was like they had always been a part of the downtown. They run a quiet, clean business. It is also great to see the building occupied and looking so nice. It had sat empty for several years and was shabby.”

Hoover also thinks PM Growers will prove to be an asset for the town, once it's up and running.

The property Smith and Taylor purchased had been owned by the city's Economic Development Commission and was tax exempt. Now it will be placed back on the tax rolls.

“Properties on tax roll help produce more revenue for the city, which is sorely needed,” Hoover said.

She also said the company will create new jobs, which in turn could lead to more people relocating to Bangor and spending money at local retail establishments.

State leaders are anticipating the medical marijuana industry will provide a boost to the economy and to the government's coffers, as well.

According to the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, the regulated medical marijuana market in Michigan, which had 200,000 registered patients according to 2016 figures, could gross $711.4 million, annually in sales. LARA came up with that figure by making comparisons to Colorado's regulated medical marijuana businesses. Colorado found that the average patient there spent nearly $3,500 each year on medical marijuana.

Michigan's medical marijuana industry is also expected to create an estimated 10,000 new jobs and $44 million-$63 million, annually, in tax revenue for the state, according to LARA estimates and Gary Wolfram, director of economics at Hillsdale College.

In a report titled, “The Economic Impact of a Strong Regulatory Framework for Medical Marijuana in Michigan,” Wolfram wrote, “In light of the potential for growth in patient use and business and commercial activity, medical marijuana under a strong regulatory framework should have a robust impact on Michigan's economy in the near future and long term.”

Smith hopes the industry will be favorable for him, however, his two ventures, The Green Door and PM Growers, have one more hurdle to clear – state licensing.

According to LARA's recently enacted regulations, marijuana facilities located in communities that allow for them to exist, had until Feb. 15 to apply for state licenses, and the fee to do so wasn't cheap. “I had to pay $6,000 for each one.” he said.

The state is reviewing applications and plans to start issuing licenses in April, according to the LARA website. If applicants don't receive a license by June 15, they have to immediately stop doing business.

Smith said he's confident he will obtain the licenses.

“There's nothing (criminal) in our background to stop this,” Smith said. “We have the finances, the land, the business plan and the support of the town.”

Although it's expensive to apply for state licenses and comply with rules regarding the manufacture and distribution of medical marijuana, Smith said he thinks the industry needs to be regulated.

“What has been done (with medical marijuana patients and caregivers) is set up a black market for marijuana sales,” Smith said. “We need the industry to be regulated and tracked from seed to sale.”

Pictures like this one near the Bangor American Legion, have been springing up all around town generating a lot of conversation. An anonymous artist has been “art bombing” the city hoping to raise awareness of art and inspiring kindness. (Photo by Kim Ingalls)

Artist 'bombs' for a good cause in Bangor

By KIM INGALLS

For the Tribune

BANGOR — Quirky little works of art have been popping up in all sorts of unlikely places in Bangor and people are taking notice.

“They are colorful and fun and I love going out for walks during my lunch break and finding new pieces I haven't seen before,” said Laura Roe, Bangor city clerk. “We just never know where a new one will pop up.”

What is going on in town is known as “art bombing,” a type of street art or graffiti that can vary greatly in style, aesthetics and meaning. The big difference between art bombing and graffiti, however, is the artist's purpose for doing so.

“The paintings around town are done by an anonymous artist who is art bombing the city with mini murals,” Bangor Arts Council member Naima Abdul-Haqq said. “Her focus is raising art awareness and hoping to start conversations when the paintings are noticed by the passerby. So far there are almost two dozen mini murals around the city of Bangor, and when Spring hits... there will be more paintings for hanging.”

Thanks to support from the arts council and others, there are plenty more paintings in the works.

The artist, who wishes to remain anonymous, said she is pleased for the arts council's support. “I did receive a small grant from the Bangor Arts Council for supplies, which I was extremely grateful for,” the artist said. “I have also been lucky to have another anonymous community group help with costs of wood and paint.  I find creating these paintings very therapeutic for my soul. I truly enjoy the creative process and it is great practice for my craft as well. I do not claim to be an accomplished artist, but I do consider myself to be blessed with a creative spirit. I hope to continue doing this for as long as possible.”

Kids, she said, get really excited when they spot a painting which are mostly of animals, flowers, Milagros, empowerment and reminders to be kind.  

“I also know that the youth in our community do not have access to many art galleries and museums and I thought this would be a way to broaden their horizons, maybe start some conversations and raise some awareness on art in our community.”

She got the idea, she said, after seeing the huge metal sculptures, purchased from Arlington Trading Post, springing up throughout town. She thought it would be fun to do something with paintings.

“I love the thought that people are going around town and looking for the paintings,” she said. “I am not a big time knitter or crocheter, but I have always been an appreciator of art in all forms.”



3.19.18

Covert High School seniors Anahi Vargas Gallegos (right) and Jennifer Fabian, who are enrolled in the Early Childhood  Careers and Education at the Van Buren Technology Center, are working to raise awareness of human trafficking as part of a school service project. 

Covert teens raise awareness about human trafficking

By KIM INGALLS

For the Tribune

Human trafficking is the fastest growing crime in Michigan after drug trafficking, and two Covert High School students are hoping they can slow down its rise.

Seniors Anahi Vargas Gallegos and Jennifer Fabian, both students at the Van Buren Intermediate School District Technology Center, chose to address the issue as part of their leadership program community service requirement.

“Human trafficking is a subject that isn't really talked about,” Fabian said. “Teens are more at risk to become victims of human trafficking.  We wanted to make our community more aware because most people know nothing about it.”

The two, who are enrolled in the Early Childhood Careers and Education program, undertook human trafficking awareness and prevention as part of their Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA), community service project, according to their instructor Susan Yerrick.

“One of the components of their project was that they hosted a movie event at the VBISD Conference Center,” she said. “This movie event was to promote awareness of human trafficking in this area. The movie is called ‘Break the Chain’ and is a documentary in regard to human trafficking awareness and prevention.”

Another component of the two girls' project was raising almost $1,500 for a billboard on Interstate-94 to draw attention to the problem of human trafficking.

“We are hoping the billboards will be up for the entire summer,” Vargas said. “ We have submitted two possible ideas for the billboards.”

They hope the billboard will help spread the word.

“Billboards get more attention and a lot of people see them every day.” Fabian said. “Brochures are generally not read or are thrown away.”  

Human trafficking cases reported in Michigan doubled between 2012 and 2015, according the National Human Trafficking Resource Center. Close to 90 precent of the victims were female while one-third were children. The increase in human trafficking resulted in a special task force created by Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette, to prosecute traffickers.

The two classmates will compete at the FCCLA State Leadership Conference this spring, and hope their project will score high enough points so they can attend the FCCLA National Leadership Conference in the summer.

GSA Club considered for SH high school

By BECKY KARK

Editor and general manager

South Haven High School could soon join a growing number of school districts in Michigan that sponsor student-led clubs that discourage homophobia and transphobia.

Katie Hillyard, South Haven High School's choir director, made a proposal, Wednesday, at the South Haven Board of Education meeting, to form a Genders & Sexualities Alliance (GSA) club at the high school.

The club's purpose would be to provide a safe place for students to meet, support each other and talk about issues related to sexual orientation and gender identity expression.

.“The goal is to create alliances (among all students),” Hillyard said.

Hillyard told board members she came up with the idea to start such a club after several students discussed it with her.

“I've had a handful of students approach me about starting a club,” said Hillyard. “I know there's other students interested.”

If such a club is formed at South Haven High School, Hillyard offered to oversee the group as its faculty advisor.

If formed, the club would be linked to the GSA Network, which was founded in California in 1998 to empower youth to start GSA clubs to fight homophobia and transphobia in schools. In 2005 the network expanded nationwide and is now known as the National Association of GSA Networks. In Michigan, the national group is represented through the Michigan Organization on Adolescent Sexual Health, or MOASH.

“Forty states have (GSA) clubs,” Hillyard told school board members. “There are 4,000 clubs nationwide. You can get support from a national group,” she said. “It's good to have a well organized national network.”

If the GSA group is formed at the high school, its members could focus on organizing the club as a social group, a support group or an activist group. Club members would decide the direction the group would take.

The ultimate goal of the club is to “create a safe, inclusive environment for students,” Hillyard said.

Other GSA clubs currently exist at schools in Southwest Michigan, including St. Joseph High School, Holland High School, Bloomingdale High School, Coloma High School, Gobles High School, Mattawan High School and Niles High School, according to the Michigan GSA Directory.

For the South Haven club to become a reality, school board members would have to approve its formation, which could happen at the April board meeting, according to Superintendent Bob Herrera.



3.12.18

A youngster gets ready to touch the mermaid tail worn by Mermaid Sadie Johnson during the Smooth Sunset Weekend in September 2017 in South Haven. Johnson is one of the organizers of the new Mermaid Megafest.

New festival could be one for the books

Mermaid Megafest hopes to attract hundreds of mermaids while promoting protection of the Great Lakes

By BECKY KARK

Editor and general manager

Yes Virginia, there are mermaids...and mermen.

Lot of them. And they plan to converge in South Haven Memorial Day weekend for the town's first-ever Mermaid Megafest.

No, you won't see the mythical half-human, half-fish creatures written about in ancient folklore, but rather, men, women, even children, who enjoy dressing up for what's become a popular craze in America – 'merfolk' gatherings.

“We're hoping we can break the Guinness Book of World Records for the largest gathering of merfolk.” said Brad Carrier, owner of Channel Wine Bar in South Haven and one of the festival's organizers. “Our goal is to beat the current record which was set in Bexhill, England last year.”

Bexhill's “Festival of the Sea,” attracted approximately 325 merfolk who gathered on a beach as part of the festival's events.

Although Mermaid Megafest isn't scheduled until Friday-Sunday, May 25-27, merfolk are taking an interest in it already. The festival's Facebook site shows that more than 300 plan to attend.

“We've had interest from around the world,” said Sadie Johnson, one of the festival's organizers, who also happens to be a professional mermaid.

The prospect of seeing a bunch of men and women dressed in mer attire may seem a bit silly, but organizers of Mermaid Megafest say the festival's overall intent is to promote preservation of the Great Lakes ecosystem, while also having some fun.

Along with the tongue-in-cheek-named “Nauti Prows Flotilla” boat parade, “Sirens' Ball” dance,”Pirate Street Faire” and “Search for Atlantis” treasure hunt, festival organizers plan to include workshops and an art show promoting aquatic fresh water preservation.

The art show will take place at the South Haven Center for the Arts and will feature works of aquatic mythology and fantasy that embed themes of ecology and preservation of the Great Lakes aquatic ecosystems, while the Mermaid Eco-Action Conference is scheduled at Lake Michigan College.

“The organization of this festival has definitely been very much a team effort,” Johnson said.

Not only is the art center and college involved, representatives from the Michigan Maritime Museum, South Haven Yacht Club, South Haven Area Chamber of Commerce and South Haven/Van Buren County Convention and Visitors Bureau are also helping to organize festival events.

The idea for a mermaid festival came about in a somewhat unusual way.

Thea Grigsby, executive director of the art center, wanted to feature a mermaid-theme exhibition. She talked with Carrier's wife, Sandee, who turned to her staff at Tipsy Brush Studio for ideas to promote such an exhibit.

It just so happened one of the employees, Kaitlyn Bloomfield, is an avid mermaid and creates mermaid tails. Another worker, Megan Cannon is a cosplay performer in her spare time, who likes to dress as aquatic creatures.

When Bloomfield announced plans to test out one of her mermaid tails, the South Haven/Van Buren County Visitors Bureau recruited her to do so as a surprise event during the Smooth Sunset Weekend festival.

Bloomfield, along with 11 other mermaids, swam together in Lake Michigan, sat with youngsters and adults on the beach and became an instant crowd pleaser.

The appeal of the small mermaid gathering sparked the idea for a mermaid festival, not just one for fun, but rather an event to promote protection of the Great Lakes.

“'Protect our Water Wonderland' is the festival's theme,” Brad Carrier said. “With South Haven's location on the sandy shore of Lake Michigan, the festival is positioned to promote public awareness of the challenges our Great Lakes ecosystem face.”

The festival will also be the the first of its kind in the Great Lakes region. According to Johnson, mermaid festivals usually take place on the West or East coasts of America.

“The closest one I'm aware of is in Florida this year,” she said.

For more information about the festival, visit mermaidmegafest.com

Something's brewing

Third microbrewery plans to locate in South Haven

By BECKY KARK

Editor and general manager

It appears good things come in threes in South Haven, that is if you're a craft beer connoisseur.

By the end of July, Harbor Light Brewing plans to join the existing South Haven Brewpub and proposed Three Blondes Brewing in producing beer and cider.

South Haven Brewpub opened last year, while Three Blondes expects to open in mid-June.

“We've been trying to start a brewery in South Haven for the past three years,” said Tom Feeney of Grand Rapids, who along with Bill Simaz of Grand Haven, will own the new microbrewery. “One of the challenges was finding the right building.”

Feeney and Simaz finally did — the former Quiznos restaurant, 516 Phoenix St., downtown.

The building, along with the former Macdonald Drugs, located next door, are owned by Randy Locker of South Haven, who purchased the structures a year ago to redevelop into commercial ventures on the first floors, and apartments on the second floors.

South Haven city council members gave the green light, Monday, for Harbor Light Brewing to seek a license from the Michigan Liquor Control Commission to produce beer and cider.

“The business intends to create 24 jobs in the summer season and 8 jobs in the shoulder season,” said South Haven City Manager Brian Dissette. “An initial capital investment of $200,000 for equipment and renovation of the building is planned.”

Neither Feeney nor Simaz have owned previous commercial microbreweries, however, they both have been involved with craft brewing on their own for a number of years.

“Bill has been brewing 25 years. I've been involved in the past five years,” said Feeney, who, along with his family, has spent summers boating in South Haven for the past 25 years.

Feeney and Simaz are currently hard at work overseeing building renovations and purchasing brewing equipment and furnishings. When the microbrewery opens it will have a tasting area and indoor seating for 50-60 customers, as well as outdoor seating at the rear of the building for approximately 12-16 people.

Beer and cider will be produced with a five-barrel brewing system that will be installed at the microbrewery. “We can produce 310 gallons per batch,” Simaz said. He anticipates the microbrewery will make up to three batches a week during summer months, and scale back to one batch a week during winter months.

Simaz said Harbor Light should complement South Brewpub, located downtown, and Three Blondes Brewing, located a mile east of downtown.

“People make destination trips to visit more than one brewery,” he said.



3.5.18

Youngsters enjoy playing at South Haven Ice Rink. As part of the city's new 5-year parks plan, upgrades are anticipated for the ice rink. (Photo by Kelly Weber)

New 5-year plan developed for area parks

By BECKY KARK

Editor and general manager

In the past 45 years South Haven area municipalities have managed to land $4.2 million in state grants for park and marina amenities. They hope to keep the funds flowing with adoption of a new regional parks and recreation plan.

South Haven city officials, Wednesday, submitted the 2018-2022 parks and recreation plan to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. Officials did so after the plan was approved earlier in February by South Haven City Council, South Haven Township Board and South Haven Area Recreation Authority.

“By submitting this plan we will be able to apply for grant funding starting in April,” South Haven City Manager Brian Dissette said.

Two of the first grant requests will be for improvements to the youth soccer fields adjacent to South Haven High School and upgrades to Elkenburg Park, according to Dissette.

Those two projects are among a long list of improvements the city, township and SHARA board hope to undertake to improve recreational opportunities in the South Haven area within the coming years.

Since 2003, the city and surrounding governments, have presented recreation plans to the state that are updated every five years.

“The joint plan should help to secure additional state and federal funds for recreation projects,” Dissette said. “I believe that the joint plan does a better job of illustrating the community needs and amenities than three individual plans.”

Before adopting the latest five-year plan, government officials sought input from the community by hosting public hearings, posting a draft plan on the city's website and conducting an online survey.

“We had a great deal of public input on this. We received over 200 responses to the survey,” said Tony McGee, vice president of development services for Abonmarche Consultants, who helped develop the five-year plan for the local municipalities.

More than 80 percent of the respondents were either full-time residents of the City of South Haven or South Haven Township. The remaining ones were either part-time residents or visitors.

After reviewing the proposed five-year plan, the majority of respondents considered protection of water resources and upgrading existing parks as their highest priorities.. They also outlined a wish list of amenities they hope will be developed sometime in the future:

• Improved playground equipment and other amenities, such as new picnic tables, benches and restrooms at parks and beaches

• Further development of the Optimist Tot Lot and Hartman Park on the east side of the city

• Improvements to youth athletic fields

• More amenities at Stanley Johnston Park, including the possibility of an outdoor pool and a band shell

• Development of a dog park

• Development of an indoor community center

Some of the respondent's wish lists are included in the new five-year parks and recreation plan, while others, such as an indoor community center, could be considered for future plans.

5-year plan detailed

Each year, the City of South Haven budgets approximately $2 million for maintenance and improvements to city parks, beaches, greenspaces, trails and marinas. Three-quarters of the revenue comes from user fees at city marinas and from beach parking fees, while the remaining $500,000 comes from the general fund budget. SHARA receives its funds from a $2 per capita assessment from the City of South Haven and South Haven Township and a recreation millage, all totaling $39,000 plus any state grants it receives; while South Haven Township budgets for park improvements from its general fund and any grants it receives for specific projects. Below are highlights of the 5-year parks and recreation plan. Smaller projects, such as parking lot upgrades or replacement of benches and picnic tables come from the parks budget, while grants will be sought for larger projects. (For a complete list of capital improvements projects included in the new parks and recreation plan, visit www.south-haven.com)

City of South Haven plan

• Cable Street Tot Lot: improve playground surfaces; add playground equipment; update benches and seating

• Dyckman Park: Replace ice rink chiller and grid system and improve picnic tables

• Elkenburg Park: Upgrade and add additional playground equipment

• Hartman Park: Install sidewalks leading to existing benches, picnic tables, grill and trash receptacles

• Kal-Haven Trail: Work toward further regional cooperation to develop formal maintenance strategy for the trail

• Kids Corner Park: Replace existing wooden playground equipment and add new equipment to meet National Playground Safety Institute Standards; Install fencing to provide safe barrier between the park and the street; improve baseball field; replace wood benches, tables and trash receptacles; improve playground surfaces; rehab/replace existing bathrooms

• Optimist Tot Lot: Replace and add additional playground equipment; install fencing; improve baseball field; assess possibility of creating a nature-based playground.

• Phoenix Trail Extension: Continue construction of a pedestrian pathway from the intersection of 73^rd Street and Phoenix Avenue east to Veterans Boulevard, north on Veterans Boulevard to 2^nd Avenue, east on 2^nd Avenue to 71-1/2 Street and then north to connect to the Kal-Haven Trail.

• Riverfront Park: Construct a splash pad

• Stanley Johnston Park: Replace existing playground structures and add new ones; upgrade water and sewer utilities and parking; increase bathroom facilities; repair concrete stairs

• Blue Stairs Beach: Repair benches and wooden planks

• Dyckman Beach: Resurface parking lot; repair wooden fencing; maintain dune grass, trees and shoreline stabilization efforts; add kayak launch

• Monroe Bluff Park: Restore plant material on slope and acquire land for public use

• Oak Street Beach: Crackseal parking lot; replace stairs and sidewalks and install handrails

• North Beach: Replace concession stand and restrooms

• Packard Park Beach: Install sidewalk and reconstruct retaining wall and steps leading to restroom; Add handicap accessible walkway to beach; reconstruct parking lot; upgrade utilities

• South Beach: Build concession stand; update restroom facilities; update pavilion; replace picnic tables and add ADA accessible tables

• Woodman Beach: Reconstruct parking lot and improve lighting

• Harborwalk: Improve the walkway from North Shore Drive to South Street and enhance trail markers

• Black River Park marina: Replace fish cleaning station; install new skid piers; new boater restroom facility; rebuild parking lot; add new security cameras, fencing and upgraded lighting and landscaping on east end of park

• SHOUT Park: Add gazebo and additional walkways; improve landscaping

• Miscellaneous goals: Create outdoor pickle ball courts at an existing park location; build public restroom for skate park and pump track; create watering system for city trees; develop a beach nourishment and maintenance program; create a new playground on the east side of the city; create a blossoming tree park; acquire land near Superior Street and Center Street (known informally as Baer Park) for use as a recreation area.

South Haven Township

• Evergreen Bluff Park: Construct stairway

• M-140 Nature Sanctuary and Van Buren Trail parking: Make improvements for bicycle users and create a plan to develop the sanctuary

South Haven Area Recreation Authority

• South Haven Area Recreation Park: Complete land purchase for park, develop site plan for ball fields, restrooms, pathways and landscaping, and seek grant funds

• Pilgrim Haven Natural Area: Work with Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy to add outdoor recreational amenities for park users

• Community recreation fields near South Haven High School: Collaborate with South Haven Public Schools to improve soccer fields, tennis courts, baseball fields and other recreation facilities adjacent to South Haven High School.

• Install signs along U.S. Bicycle Route 35 to bring public awareness to the route.

2.26.18

A section of 67th Street, just south of M-43 Highway in Bangor Township, washed out Tuesday afternoon due to heavy rainfall that caused flooding. (Photo courtesy of Van Buren County Road Commission)

Flooding takes its toll on roads, bridges in Van Buren County

By BECKY KARK

Editor and general manager

Usually when heavy rainfall occurs in Van Buren County it soaks into the ground rather quickly. But the nearly four inches of rain that fell in a 36-hour period last Monday and Tuesday had nowhere to go, causing some of the worst wintertime flooding situations that Van Buren County Road Commission has dealt with in years.

Not only did heavy rainfall cause flooding of roadways, it also forced road closures along streets that had been completely or partially washed out. As a result, several school districts closed Wednesday, due to flooding and damaged roadways.

“I've been here 25 years,” Larry Hummel, engineer manager for the road commission said Wednesday. “In terms of winter flooding events, there has been nothing to this extent that I recall.”

The heavy rainfall began Monday and continued through Tuesday. By Tuesday evening, road commission staff had closed more than a dozen sections of roads throughout the county.

The collapse of a section of 34^th Avenue near 76^th Street in Covert Township was one of the worst problems the flooding created, according to Hummel. That section of roadway was scheduled to be repaired this year due to a problem with drainage pipe below it. But Monday and Tuesday's heavy rainfall caused the road to give way.

“We got a lot of rain in a short amount of time,” he said. At the road commission's Bloomingdale facility, a rain gauge showed that nearly 4 inches of rain had fallen by Wednesday morning.

It wasn't the amount of rainfall so much that caused the flooding, but rather the frozen ground.

Even though temperatures soared into the 60s on Tuesday, it did little to thaw the ground.

“We still had frost in the ground just about everywhere,” Hummel said.

With flood warnings in effect through last Thursday in Van Buren County and rain and snow showers predicted for the end of last week, Hummel predicted road crews wouldn't be able to repair roads until sometime this week.

“Until the water recedes we won't know,” Hummel said. He hoped road crews would be able to assess the extent of the damage by the end of last week and then proceed with plans for repairs.

“There's definitely a lot of work to be completed,” he said. “If the forecast holds out (for this week) hopefully we'll see drying out and get basic repairs done.”

Some of the roads that have been washed out can be filled in temporarily with sand and gravel.

“We'll have to go back in the late spring or early summer and do full repairs,” Hummel said.

Other sections of roadways that collapsed, such as the one on 34^th Avenue in Covert Township, will most likely remain closed for awhile because of the extent of damage that occurred. But Hummel said he couldn't predict yet when roads that suffered the most damage will be repaired and reopened.

“At this point, it will be about a week out before we have a good handle (on the extent of damage that was done and cost estimates).”

State House eyes more money for roads

Roads in Van Buren and Kalamazoo counties could benefit from legislation approved by the Michigan House of Representatives.

The $175 million bill, which passed the House last week, provides additional money for road maintenance and construction across Michigan as early as this summer.

“People are sick and tired of dodging potholes every time they drive,” said Beth Griffin, R-Mattawan. “Investing more in our roads and bridges is consistently near the top of the priority list when I talk to people in the district. We have money available to give our road repairs a boost right now, and we can’t afford to miss this opportunity.”

In addition to state projects, the bill includes money for county, city and village roads throughout Michigan. Estimated local allocations include Van Buren County ($669,434), Kalamazoo County ($1.45 million), Bangor ($16,859), Bloomingdale ($5,438), Breedsville ($3,181), Decatur ($15,706), Gobles ($7,365), Hartford ($20,464), Parchment ($13,490), South Haven ($41,315), Lawrence ($10,275), Lawton ($17,276), Mattawan ($20,619) and Paw Paw ($26,487), among others.

The money is left over from a previous state government budget cycle and is already available, meaning no budget cuts or additional fees or taxes are required for the investment. The money included in the bill approved today comes in addition to previous changes providing more funding for road and bridge projects across the state.

House Bill 4321 advances to the Senate for further consideration.



2.19.18

Bangor Fire Chief Derek Babcock gets ready to five into an ice-filled pool as part of the 2018 Kalhounazoo Special Olympics Polar Plunge. Babcock and other members of the Bangor Community Fire Department and its board, raised $1,200 and received the Best Splash award.

Thrill of the chill

Bangor firefighters take the polar plunge

By KIM INGALLS

For the Tribune

BANGOR — Seven brave Bangor Community firefighters and one fire board member took an icy plunge recently to raise money for those with disabilities.

Bangor Community Fire Chief Derek Babcock along with crew members  Brandon Brown, Sean Davis, Hannah Hiatt, Lauren Kimbler,  Alex Vader Galien, Levi Warren, and board member Greg Myrkle joined other volunteers as they dove into an ice-filled pool at Bell’s Eccentric Cafe in Kalamazoo during the 2018 Kalhounazoo Special Olympics Polar Plunge, Feb. 10.

This is the first year that the Bangor group has participated. They raised $1,200 and also received a huge white stuffed Polar Bear after being chosen for Best Splash.

“It was a great experience for a good cause,” said Myrkle, who wore a colorful tee shirt and shorts outfit decorated with red and orange flames, He even had knee socks to match.

Funds raised during the 28 Polar Plunges scheduled around the state from January to March go toward  providing year-round sports training and athletic competition for children and adults with intellectual disabilities.

Preserving history

Owners of two historic downtown buildings hope to land facade restoration grants

By BECKY KARK

Editor and general manager

Two downtown South Haven building owners who want to improve their historic properties may end up receiving nearly $200,000 in state funds to do so.

David Cooper, owner of the two-story building at 413 Phoenix St. that houses Crescent Moon boutique; and Star of the Lake Masonic Lodge, which owns the three-story Masonic Temple at 321 Center St., are both applying for Community Development Block Grant funds to make improvements to their building facades.

Both property owners plan to preserve, and in some cases reconstruct their historical facades; replace decorative windows and repair masonry. Cooper is applying for a $34,850 grant for his $69,840 project, while the Masons are seeking $159,234 for their $318,468 project.

If the Michigan Economic Development Corp., which oversees the facade grant program, approves the funds, the property owners will have to match the grant awards, according to South Haven City Manager Brian Dissette.

“The state has expressed a high degree of interest in their applications,” Dissette said. “If property owners commit (to paying 50 percent of the project costs) and the city goes through a public process, it's highly likely they'll get approved.”

No city funds will be used to help pay for the projects, however, the city will administer the state funding and will oversee completion of the facade improvements. As a result, the city is required to hold a hearing, 7 p.m., Monday, Feb. 19 at the city council meeting to seek public comment regarding the two grant applications.

During the hearing, the two projects will be explained.

According to Downtown Development Authority Director Deb Davidson, city staff have conducted several meetings over the past year to explain the Community Development Block Grant facade improvement program to downtown property owners interested in taking part. To obtain funding, applicants have to restore their facades to their original appearance, rather than make renovations.



2.12.18

A horse-drawn Amish buggy is seen traveling on County Road 388 in Bloomingdale Township several years ago. Amish have settled in the Bloomingdale area and are now locating in the Bangor area. (Tribune file photo)

Making way for the Amish

Bangor newest place for Amish to settle

By Kim Ingalls

For the Tribune

BANGOR - Some unfamiliar roadway signs have been popping up along the roads around Bangor.

The yellow signs warn motorists to watch for horses and buggies.

Several Amish families have moved into the area, according to city officials prompting the Bangor Community Fire Department to post a notice on social media asking motorists to use extra caution when buggies are on the road.

Bangor Fire Chief Derek Babcock explains, “ There have not been any accidents in our area. We are just trying to raise the awareness for drivers since there are more and more Amish families moving to our community which is Bangor-Arlington area.”

A number of Amish families already live in Bloomingdale and other parts of northeastern Van Buren County, but while Bangor city officials don’t have an exact count of how many are living here, how to prepare for the old world style of traveling has resulted in some discussions.

”The council brought up the need for providing parking for the buggies,” said  Regina Hoover, Bangor City manager. “From what I've heard, Lander's and Harding's will be having a hitching post installed. The new city lot may be where we decide to offer space. The Amish have offered to install the hitching posts if we provide the space and they will take care of the horse droppings so we wouldn't have to be concerned with that.”

Ridden, herded animals and animal-drawn vehicles are considered traffic under Michigan law, and according to the vehicle code, they are treated like vehicles. Courtesy and common sense are called for by all parties, but, understandably, the burden for caution rests a little more heavily on the shoulders of the motorist. In Michigan and many other states, the rules about orange safety triangles apply to the Amish, whose horse-and-buggy conveyances are a common site in some parts of the country.

With the likelihood that more Amish families will be moving into the area, Bangor officials are committed to rolling out the welcome mats.

“The Bangor Police Department works to ensure that everyone is able to travel safely on our roadways,” Bangor Police Chief Tommy Simpson said. “The city has had discussions about the growing Amish community, how to accommodate them, and how to educate the public. We welcome them to our wonderful community and look forward to Bangor's continued growth.”

2018 housing sales get off to a slow start

After the 2017 banner year in which home sales in Southwestern Michigan surpassed records set in 2006 – the last banner year for home sales – this year is starting a little slower, according to the Southwest Michigan Association of Realtors.

After two peak years throughout SWMI, the January 2018 housing market took a step backward,” said Alan Jeffries, association executive at the Southwestern Michigan Association of Realtors.

”It is not unusual for the month of January to be least productive month of any given year. For a variety of reasons buyers and sellers push to close in December before year end. This year for example home sales in January were 30 percent below sales in December 2017, 190 versus. 272.”

Comparing year-to-year, January 2018 home sales fell 6 percent behind January 2017, 190 versus 203, according to Jeffries However, looking at sales year-over-year in January back to 2006, the number of houses sold in January 2018 was the third highest.

“While there was no one factor that can be accountable for fewer home sales, the leading factor could be the continuing decline in the number of houses for sale,” Jeffries said.

From December 2017, the inventory dropped from 1,365 to 1,292 in Berrien, Cass and the westerly two-thirds of Van Buren counties. In January 2018, the inventory dropped 12 percent from January 2017 (1,292 vs.1,465) giving buyers just a 4.2-months supply of houses. This level of inventory was the lowest recorded not only in January but any month in the past 13 years.

Overall in Southwestern Michigan, the mortgage rate increased to 4.241 from 4.075 percent in December. Last year in January, the rate was 4.329. Nationally, the Freddie Mac mortgage rate in January was 4.15 versus 3.99 in December for a 30-year conventional mortgage.

South Haven market

In January, the number of single family home sales dropped 27 percent when compared to January 2017 (11 vs. 15).

The average selling price for single family houses in January plummeted 23 percent to
$282,118 from $365,406 in January 2017. The median selling price for single family houses increased 37 percent to $205,000 compared to $149,900 in January 2017.

There was just 1 condo sold in January compared to 3 in January 2017.

The average condo selling price jumped 13 percent in January 2018 to $270,000 from $238,157 in January 2017.

In January, there were 2 bank-owned or foreclosed single family homes included in the closed transactions in South Haven. There were no foreclosed condos in January 2017.

For comparison the number of bank-owned or foreclosed homes as a percentage of all transactions was 10.5 percent in January; just slightly above December 2017 (10 percent). The previous lowest percentage in January was 11 percent in 2017. The highest percentage in January was 57 percent in 2009.

The average selling price decreased just slightly less than 2 percent to $210,936 in January 2018 from $214,278 in January 2017.

The bright spot in the January 2018 housing market was that the median selling price was up 6 percent from January 2017 ($150,000 vs. $142,000).

This data reflects home sales across Berrien, Cass and the westerly 2/3 of Van Buren counties and should not be used to determine the market value of any individual property.



2.5.18

Nikolas Abbott, left, sits with his attorney, Scott Wagenaar, Tuesday,  as he is sentenced in Seventh District Court West in South Haven. (Photo by Alexandra Newman of the Herald-Palladium


Nikolas Abbott sentenced to a year in jail

By ALEXANDRA NEWMAN

HP Staff Writer

The man accused of supplying the gun in the February shooting death of Eddie “E.J.” Holland Jr. in a Bangor park will spend the next year in the Berrien County jail. 

Nikolas Abbott, 23, of Bangor appeared Tuesday morning in Van Buren County District Court in South Haven to be sentenced on one count of accessory after the fact of a felony, one count of receiving and concealing a stolen firearm, and one count of operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated causing serious injury.

Abbott entered a guilty plea in November in the three separate cases with the recommendation that he serve one year in the county jail and three years of probation upon release.

Berrien County Trial Court Judge Scott Schofield sat in as judge for the cases because Abbott is the son of Van Buren County Sheriff Daniel Abbott.

Schofield took the jail and probation recommendation and ordered Abbott to serve his probation in the Swift and Sure Sanctions Probation Program, attend the Courage to Change class while in jail, and pay $900 in fines and $3,234 in costs. 

For the accessory charge Abbott admitted to supplying a gun to Thurman Fletcher on Feb. 3, 2017, which Fletcher then used to shoot Holland. Abbott said he got the gun back from Fletcher the next day and then got rid of it by selling it to someone else.

Fletcher was sentenced in October to 9-15 years in prison for voluntary manslaughter and felony firearm.

For the receiving a stolen firearm charge, Abbott admitted to getting a separate gun from someone in exchange for money owed to him, knowing the gun was stolen.

The third charge is for getting in a crash last November while having Xanax in his system. He doesn’t have a prescription for Xanax. The driver of the other vehicle in the crash, Shelly McCarty, suffered a wrist injury and couldn’t work for several weeks.

When Schofield asked if any victims of the crimes, or their families, would like to speak, he said there was no limit to the number allowed. 

“There has been enough publicity about victim impact statements over the last couple of weeks, and as with the judge in Ingham County (in the Larry Nassar sex abuse case), I set no limit to the amount that want to come up and speak with me. I know it’s very important. All I have is time,” he said. 

McCarty spoke about how her life has changed since the crash. 

“The broken bones healed, the bruises healed, however the fear of driving at night is still constant,” she said. “I still pull over when I have to drive at night. Sometimes I have panic attacks. I have to schedule driving to see my mother an hour away so I can return home before dark. My business has suffered. I’m doing 37 percent less business because I have to turn down clients that can only meet after dark.”

She said she would like to see Abbott lose his license. Schofield said that would be decided by the Secretary of State’s office.

The father of Holland, Eddie Holland Sr., spoke. He said for the last year he and his family have suffered quite a bit. 

“The only reason my son is dead is because people failed (Abbott),” he said. “They failed the community too. There are no excuses for his actions, but he was allowed to stay out of jail and commit more crimes after he had been charged. I’m talking about the parents, the police, the prosecutors and judges also.”

Holland claimed Abbott has not taken responsibility for his actions and he has not been held accountable. 

“We need people to be held accountable if we’re ever going to have a decent community,” he said. “He’s going to leave here today knowing he has a second chance. For me, the man owes me a life. What did I purchase with the death of my son? We’re going to find out.” 

Schofield told Abbott that when he sentences people and looks at their background, sometimes people just never had a chance. 

“That’s not you. For people in your position, whose life is afforded quite a bit of blessing and opportunities, this is what I say to them: you were born on second base and you didn’t even have to hit a double,” Schofield said. “And you have so far squandered those opportunities, and that makes me not only sad, but angry, because I think of those young people who didn’t have a chance. And when you get out of jail you’ll still be on second base.”

Schofield further ordered Abbott to not have contact with 13 people involved in his crimes, including Holland, McCarty and Fletcher, when he gets out of prison.

Schofield said Abbott also had a separate case against him involving two misdemeanor domestic violence charges that were dismissed. 

The judge said he’d schedule a restitution hearing to discuss the amount of restitution Abbott should have to pay to McCarty for the car crash. 

South Haven doctor placed on leave

By BECKY KARK

Editor and general manager

Police and hospital officials are remaining tight-lipped about a drug-related investigation involving a well-liked South Haven doctor.

As of Friday, officers from the Southwest Enforcement Team and Bronson Healthcare officials have not released any further information about the investigation of Dr. Matthew Small, whose office was raided by police, Thursday.

Police said in a news release they obtained a warrant to search Small's office after conducting a “lengthy investigation.” They seized documents, including some patient records, to support the ongoing investigation that normal prescription practices involving opioids were not being followed.

Detectives from the Southwest Enforcement Team, federal Drug Enforcement Agency, the Michigan State Police computer crimes unit and the Internal Revenue Service were all involved in the search, according to a news release issued from SWET, Thursday. Although Small's office was searched, he has not been arrested.

“The seized documentation is under review by the DEA Diversion Unit and Southwest Enforcement Team detectives,” Thursday's news release stated.

But SWET is not releasing any further information at this time, according to Lt. Timothy Blanksvard, team leader of SWET. “I have nothing additional to add at this time,” he said in an email Friday.

Bronson Healthcare, which issued a statement Thursday, indicating that Small was placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation, also did not release any further information, Friday.

Bronson's brief news release indicated that hospital officials are being “fully” cooperative with investigators.

Small has been practicing medicine in South Haven since 2004. No formal complaints have been filed against him, nor has any disciplinary action been taken against him, according to the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs office, which oversees the licensing of physicians.

Small appears to be a well-liked South Haven doctor. He received high marks in a 2017 Bronson Healthcare survey. The survey, conducted by Press Ganey, was sent randomly to Bronson patients after they had an appointment with a Bronson physician in an outpatient practice setting. In a rating from 1 to 5, with 5 being the highest, Small received an overall score of 4.8 from 120 patient satisfaction surveys.

Survey questions included, “Did this provider listen carefully to you?” “Did this provider spend enough time with you,” and “Did this provider seem to know the important information about your medical history?”



1.29.18

Edward and Terese Gorenz

'A shock to all of us'

Covert Twp. couple's murder-suicide leaves family, friends and community stunned

By BECKY KARK

Editor and general manager

COVERT TWP. — When describing Edward and Terese Gorenz, friends and family use such terms as “sweethearts, “great people” and “loving.

But something went wrong last week when Covert Township Police found the couple, both 60 years old, dead in their home at 72201 County Road 376 from an apparent murder suicide that occurred Thursday, Jan. 18.

“We're 99 percent certain it was a murder suicide,” said Covert Police Chief Jay Allen, whose department spent several days investigating the couple's death. The cause of the couple's death was announced this past Monday, after Covert Township Police reviewed evidence with the Van Buren County Sheriff's Department and obtained results from autopsies that were performed this past Friday.

Both of the Gorenzes were shot with a .12-gauge shotgun.

“She (Terese Gorenz) was shot in the back of the head. He took his own life and left a suicide note,” Allen said.

“He (Edward) made it sound like it was mutual but it wasn't.” However, Allen went on to say that it still hasn't been determined for sure if Terese was a willing participant.

“We are ruling it murder suicide because she was shot in the back of the head and he took his own life,” Allen said.

Just what caused the tragedy is not clear at this time, according to Allen. “We don't have a real motive,” he said. “We had no reason to think there was a problem. This is a shock to all of us.”

“This is horrible,” said Heidi Oliver, one of the couple's four grown children, in a phone interview, Monday. “They were wonderful people, loved by everyone. My mom was very friendly. My dad a little more quiet. It's hard to see them in this light. Nobody would ever have seen this coming. It's so hard to tell people. I don't even know what to say. Nothing about it is normal.”

Police were alerted about the shooting incident Thursday, Jan. 18 after a phone call was made to a Covert Township firefighter.

“The fireman received a text from Mrs. Gorenz saying they had been called home to God and to call 911,” Allen said. The text went on to read that the bodies from the home should be removed and that the door to the home would be left open for first responders.

Covert Police were the first to arrive at the home. They were assisted in processing the scene by the Van Buren County Sheriff's Department and Pokagon Tribal Police.

The Gorenzes had lived in Covert Township for several decades. They raised their children at their home on County Road 376. Ed had his own construction company at one time and then became a handyman, performing a variety of jobs for people in the community. Terese worked at Dollar General in Covert and Harding's Friendly Market in Coloma up until several months ago.

When Hardings' store employees heard word of the couple's death they were surprised.

“Everybody was in shock,” a store manager said.

One of the Hardings' employees, Mary Beth Creeden, posted on the couple's online obituary condolences, “I will truly miss this wonderful lady. I am sure I speak for many when I say she was a bright spot in my day. Her smile always welcoming and her laugh was contagious. She had a sense of humor that kept us all going, and she sincerely cared about all of us.”

1.22.18

A South Haven Department of Public Works employee uses a front end loader to remove piled up snow from the Huron Street parking lot earlier this month.  The snow was taken by trucks to an open area near Black River Park.

Tons of salt for tons of snow

South Haven already surpasses average year for salt use on city streets, sidewalks

By BECKY KARK

Editor and general manager

If you think you're tired of keeping your driveway and porch clear of snow, just ask a South Haven Department of Public Works employees how they feel about all the white stuff that has fallen for the past month and a half.

“I don't think we've had this kind of snow in 10 or so years,” said Ron Dotson, operations director for the DPW. “Not the way it's come down this year. We started plowing somewhere around Dec. 7. It seems like we've only had one or two days' break. Otherwise, it's been non-stop.”

The few days when it hasn't snowed, street workers have kept busy removing piled up snow from parking lots and hauling it to vacant land near Black River Park.

“We were running out of places to put it,” Dotson said.

To give people an idea how much snow has fallen in the city this winter and how often the street department has had to remove it from streets, Dotson pointed to the amount of salt workers have spread so far this winter season.

“This year we've used 850,000 pounds of salt. That's 450 tons, way more salt than in the past,” Dotson said. On average, the city uses approximately 300-350 tons of road salt for the entire year.

“We're way ahead of that,” Dotson said.

When snow falls overnight and streets have to be cleared, workers begin their duties at 4 a.m. They continue until main streets and local streets have been plowed.

“We always start with downtown and do the trunk lines and the emergency services building. Then we work really hard on trying to get the sidewalks open around school areas so we can keep kids out of the streets,” Dotson said. Next, snow plow drivers remove snow from side streets.

It takes 12 employees, five large dump trucks with plows, a pickup with a salt spreader for parking lots, snow blowers and several bobcat tractors equipped with plows to remove all the white mess.

And workers don't just remove snow from sidewalks by schools.

“There's about 30-35 miles of sidewalks that we try to keep clean,” Dotson said. “This year we worked hard on sidewalks. But with all of snow, sidewalks were secondary.”

So far this winter season, the city has spent 38 percent of its snow removal budget, according to Finance Director Wendy Hochstedler. “The city has budgeted $273,240 for this year and to date has spent $103,832,” she said.

Whether the city will use up its snow removal budget remains to be seen. The National Weather Service Climate Prediction Center estimates there's a 40 percent chance that temperatures in Michigan for the months of January-March will be colder than normal and a 40 percent chance of more precipitation than normal.

Senior Services seeks tax renewal, increase

By BECKY KARK

Editor and general manager

Senior Services of Van Buren County serves approximately 5,000 older adults, annually, but expects that number to increase as the Baby Boomer generation continues to age.

As a result, the agency plans to not only seek a millage renewal from voters this year, but a millage increase, as well.

“The senior population is growing so quickly,” said Annie Brown, a board of director for Senior Services. “The problem with the growth and the number of people we have assisted is that revenues have not kept up with the services we are providing.”

Brown, who made a presentation to South Haven City Council members, Monday, went on to say Senior Services has been operating with the same .25-mill tax levy for the past 22 years.

In August the organization hopes voters will approve two millage issues: One, a four-year .25-mill renewal and a four-year .25 mill increase.

If voters approve the millage increase it would generate an additional $400,000 annually for Senior Services.

The additional funds are needed primarily for Senior Services in-home care management program.

“We need more dollars to add more staff,” said Jennifer Carver, recently retired director of Senior Services, who is assisting interim director Diane Rigozzi for the next nine months until a permanent director is hired. “Right now we have two full-time and one part-time employee for the program. We need four or five full-time employees to do care management more intensely and keep up with the number of seniors who need it.”

The agency would also like to expand its meal program. Currently, meals are offered at a nominal fee at the agency's three senior centers in Paw Paw, South Haven and Hartford, however, Senior Services hopes one day to offer low-cost meals to homebound seniors, as well.

Senior Services currently employs 35 people and has an annual budget of $1.1 million which is used to operate three senior centers, the care management program and the Retired Senior Program. The agency also offers activities and informational programs at satellite locations throughout the county.

The millage Senior Services currently receives funds $400,000 of its $1.1 million budget. The remaining revenue comes from fundraisers, activity fees and grants.

But before Senior Services can seek its millage renewal and increase, it needs to ask the 20 municipalities in its service area to pass resolutions to put the two millage issues on the August ballot.

“We're not asking them to support it, we're just asking them to put it on the ballot so voters can decide,” Carver said.

So far, township boards in South Haven, Lawrence, Columbia and Decatur have agreed to put the millage issue on the ballot. Senior Services made its presentation to the South Haven City Council on Monday, but the council has not yet taken action to put the proposal on the ballot.

Senior Services representatives and board members began visiting municipal boards in December and hope to gain support from all 20 governmental units by March, according to Carver.

“For some it requires two visits, some don't,” Carver said. “We haven't had anyone not approve it at this point. We're just in the process (of visiting the governmental boards).”



1.15.18

Scott Smith is shown being sworn in as South Haven's new mayor during the Jan. 2 city council meeting.

New South Haven mayor outlines goals

By BECKY KARK

Editor and general manager

Diversify the economy.

Develop market rate housing.

Improve relationships with local residents.

Create more recreational activities for people of all ages.

Those are just some of the goals South Haven Mayor Scott Smith hopes the city council will accomplish in the next several years.

Smith was sworn in a week ago, but is wasting no time articulating his vision for South Haven.

“I ran for mayor because I want to see this community prosper,” he said. “I believe strongly that we need to diversify our economy. I want the residents to have a voice and feel comfortable approaching the (city) council with issues.”

Smith's list of goals are based partly on issues brought up when he ran for election in 2017 against opponent and former South Haven Assistant City Manager Paul VandenBosch.

Some of the issues voiced by local residents included lack of good-paying jobs in the community, lack of affordable housing, too much emphasis placed on tourism, and poor communication between city officials and residents.

“The goals were formulated after numerous meetings with individuals and groups as well as my years on city council,” Smith said. “Most of the issues were raised during the campaign or have been issues facing the city for years.  The issues I suggested tackling are part of a larger list of items I hope to tackle.”

Of all the issues Smith hopes to address as mayor, economic development tops the list. He envisions a four-pronged approach to developing and diversifying the area's economy.

“I plan to convene a meeting of business leaders in the first few months of 2018 to identify opportunities for growth,” he said. That discussion will also include identifying job and education skills that area residents may lack and that stand in the way of attracting new businesses or even retaining existing ones in the South Haven area.

Diversifying the economy will also depend on building partnerships with educational institutions such as Lake Michigan College and regional economic development groups such as Kinexus and Southwest Michigan First, Smith believes.

He also hopes the city will partner with Van Buren County, South Haven Township and Casco Township to take a regional approach toward working together to develop the economy.

“It is my hope that we can have a joint meeting with township leaders in 2018 to identify common areas of interest,” he said.

Smith's other objectives as mayor follow:

• Working to create more market-rate housing in the city and surrounding areas

• Reviewing the city's street improvement plan and the current road millage to identify a monetary amount needed on an annual basis to keep city streets in good repair

• Embracing tourism as an important industry in the South Haven area

• Partnering with the South Haven Harbor Commission to examine the economic role marine and maritime services provide for the city and ensure that long-range city marina and harbor needs are being addressed and fulfilled

• Asking the city's Planning Commission to schedule public meetings to review the city's short-term rental ordinance and determine whether to restrict amplified music at Riverfront Park. In regard to the rental ordinance, Smith said, “I believe it is imperative that the city hire an enforcement office so the public has a simple way to report issues and get a prompt response.”

He also elaborated on the sound issues at Riverfront Park and the complaints from neighboring residents who say they are tired of hearing loud concerts and are concerned about the growing number of events that occur at the municipal park. The complaints came to a head last year when the city discussed whether to construct a band shell at the park.

“I would like to see these issues – amplified sound, the number of events per year, and the time for events to end – addressed before we have further dialogue on the band shell concept,” Smith said.

• Partnering with South Haven Public Schools and examining the possibility of a recreation millage to build recreation fields for soccer, baseball, softball, tennis and pickleball, and provide better community access to existing recreational facilities, such as the high school pool.

• Hosting meetings in each of the city's wards to gather input from local residents and inviting the South Haven High School Student Council to a meeting to hear their concerns, as well.

'Moderately severe' flu season underway

More flu sufferers in Van Buren and Cass counties being hospitalized compared to last year

By KIM INGALLS

For the Tribune

With 49 states already showing high infection rates, this year’s flu season is looking to be one for the record books.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that 41,719 cases of flu have been reported nationwide - that’s close to three times as many as last year at this time. Some states, the CDC indicates, have even reported several deaths from the virus.

Luckily, there have been no flu-related deaths locally, but doctors are seeing plenty of sick people.

“There's definitely more cases of the flu than last year,” said Dr. Larry Wile, medical director for Van Buren/Cass Public Health District. “This year's flu is worse due to its symptoms. More people are being hospitalized for respiratory problems and dehydration. The biggest at-risk group are young children and older adults.”

The number of flu sufferers could increase even more as the flu season goes on, according to Tynsia Peters of Bronson Health System Prevention.

“The peak was a little bit later last year,” Peters said. “Last year it (the peak) was the end of February into March. It’s just the beginning (of the flu season), so we really don’t know how it will go.”

What doctors are seeing is that most of the local cases are predominately Influenza Type A, which isn’t good news for people who have received the flu vaccination.

“This year,  the vaccine is not as good a match but we still recommend you get one as it will reduce the severity of the symptoms,” Peters said.

Wile agreed.

“People think 30 percent effectiveness doesn't sound like much, but it does help prevent the spread of the flu,” he said.

Getting an annual flu vaccine is the first and best way to protect yourself and your family from the flu, according to the Wile. Flu vaccinations can reduce flu illnesses as well as prevent flu-related hospitalizations.

There are many different flu viruses and they are constantly changing, according to the CDC. The composition of U.S. flu vaccines is reviewed annually to match circulating flu viruses. Flu vaccines protect against the three or four viruses that research suggests will be most common. 

Seasonal flu can be deadly for adults as well as children, but a recent report showed some positive findings.

In 2017, a study in Pediatrics magazine was the first of its kind to show that flu vaccination significantly reduced a child’s risk of dying from influenza. That good news seems to be true this year as well. As of December, no pediatric influenza deaths had been reported by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. Nationally, 12 influenza-associated pediatric deaths have been reported thus far for the 2017-2018 flu season. 

Some people may experience flu-like symptoms despite getting vaccinated because they may have been exposed to a flu virus that is very different from the viruses the vaccine is designed to protect against, according to the CDC. There are many different flu viruses that spread and cause illness among people.

It’s not too late to  get a flu vaccine if you haven’t gotten one already this season, local health officials sau.  It’s best to get vaccinated before flu begins spreading in your community. It takes about two weeks after vaccination for antibodies to develop in the body that protect against flu.



1.8.18

Firefighters from Columbia and Bloomingdale township fire departments and volunteers help pull a mare from a frozen pond in Columbia Township. The mare, who had wandered away from her pasture, was rescued New Year's Day after being trapped in the water for an estimated 4-5 hours. She is now doing fine. (Photo courtesy of WWMT).

Horse recovers after being trapped in frozen lake

By BECKY KARK

Editor and general manager

GRAND JUNCTION — Few people can survive more than 15 minutes after falling through the ice on a frozen pond. But they're not Blacky.

Blacky is a black, Mustang mare that is recovering quite nicely after firefighters and volunteers pulled her from an ice-covered pond in Columbia Township, New Year's Day.

“She had to have been in the water four or five hours, maybe longer,” Blacky's owner Russell Green said Wednesday.

It took several hours for first responders and two of Green's farm workers to successfully pull the mare from the pond, which is located in the vicinity of 14th Avenue and 49th Street in Columbia Township.

“It was a long and sometimes ugly process of dragging her and pushing and pulling her,” Green said. “When they got her out we were able to isolate her and get her dried out. She's fine now. The day after it happened she was out with the other horses.”

Blacky is part of a group of six mares and two young foals that Green and his wife own at their home on 49th Street.

The Greens adopted six mares in February 2017 from a wild horse advocacy group in South Dakota and brought them back to their home and began putting up fences and building a pasture for them. In April two of the mares gave birth to two foals.

But on New Year's Day a tragic circumstance unfolded. A gate was accidentally left open and the horses wandered away.

Green noticed a problem at 2 p.m. when the herd was not in the pasture.

“We (Green and two workhands) went searching for them and found what we thought were all of them in the neighbor's field. We were able to draw them back to our property and pasture and then realized there were only six,” Green said. “One of the foals was very wet.”

And that's when Green and his workhands feared the worst – the two missing horses could have fallen through the ice on the neighbor's pond.

The two workhands went to the pond where they saw Blacky stuck in the icy water. They both tried to reach the horse but were unable to get her out. One worker even broke through the ice attempting to rescue the horse.

When neither men could help rescue Blacky they called 911, as well as Green, who was with his other horses.

First responders from Columbia and Bloomingdale Township fire departments and their rescue divers arrived and began the arduous process of getting Blacky out of the water, which was estimated to be 10 feet deep.

Green said he was very impressed with their efforts, especially given the 2-degree temperatures.

“They were actively involved the whole time. I can't say enough about the firemen,” Green said.

Chris Serdel, Bloomingdale's fire chief, said the two department's efforts were just part of their job, but admitted he's never encountered a situation where a horse had to be rescued from drowning in an icy pond.

“That was a first,” he said. “We all train for ice rescues involving human beings, but not horses.”

Serdel said when Bloomingdale arrived for assistance, Columbia Township's first responders had been able to get Blacky out of the water. But that was as far as they could get because Blacky was unable to get up because her legs were so cold.

Firefighters had to come up with several ways of getting Blacky's feet and legs warmed up, getting her to stand and then moving her 200 yards to a horse trailer.

“We tried to coax her by feeding her grain. Two guys were pushing from behind. I was in the front pulling. It was a team effort,” Serdel said.

Green were very grateful for the efforts rescue workers went to rescue his horse.

“The heroes were all the firemen and the two fellas working for me. They care as much about horses as I do,” Green said.

Unfortunately, the other horse was never located and as of Wednesday still was not to be found. It couldn't be determined if it had drowned in the pond or not.

“It's really a mixed bag of results,” Green said Wednesday. “One was saved through heroic efforts. One apparently is lost for good. I hold out no hope of locating the wandering horse.”

12.18.17

Baseline Middle School teacher Lynne Maxwell holds the first nutcracker she received in 1980. The figurine was made in Germany. Behind her is a portion of her nutcracker collection on display in her classroom.

A nutcracker suite

Teacher fills her home with nutcrakers and now her classroom, thanks to students

By BECKY KARK

Editor and general manager

Pssst...

If you want to present a Christmas gift to Baseline Middle School teacher Lynne Maxwell, don't give her an apple. Give her a nutcracker.

Over the years Maxwell has amassed a huge collection of holiday nutcracker memorabilia; 450 to be exact and they all came to her as gifts from family, friends, co-workers, even students.

“The only thing I've purchased is my coffee mug,” she said, displaying a cup with a nutcracker painted on it.

“The Nutcracker Ballet” and its music by composer Peter Tchaikovsky kindled Maxwell's interest in nutcrackers.

“I have always been a huge fan of the Nutcracker Ballet,” Maxwell said. “My mother noticed how much I liked it. She bought me an album of the London Symphony performing The Nutcracker Suite.”

But Maxwell didn't receive her first nutcracker statue until 1980.

“The first one was given to me as a Christmas present by my then boyfriend,” she said.

It didn't take long for others to figure out that all Maxwell wanted for Christmas was a nutcracker.

And she got them in all shapes and sizes. Some are the traditional ones designed to look like characters from the Nutcracker Ballet.

But her other Nutcracker figurines run the gamut in designs – from ones that look like Uncle Sam to others that resemble the characters from The Wizard of Oz. She even has a Star Wars' Darth Vader nutcracker.

“It's a family joke,” she said, referring to the Darth Vader nutcracker. “I've never seen those (Star War) movies. It's on my bucket list, though.”

Her other nutcrackers resemble sports players, Halloween characters, pirates, even a sock monkey.

But her collection of nutcrackers isn't just limited to figurines. Maxwell also has nutcracker themed plates, ornaments, aprons, cheese spreaders, salt and pepper shakers, baskets, tins, candles, cookie jars, notepads, even napkins.

She used to display all her nutcracker memorabilia at home during the holiday season. But, then she began decorating her classroom.

“Somehow students found out I liked nutcrackers,” she said. “They started giving them to me so I started displaying them at school.”

And the nutcrackers keep on coming.

The latest one – a wooden nutcracker designed as a pilgrim holding a turkey platter - was given to her this year by a student.

Surprisingly, none of Maxwell's nutcrackers have been damaged in her classroom.

“I love how respectful the students are,” she said. “They just look, they don't touch, unless it's the music boxes. They like those.”

But with all those nutcrackers, one has to wonder, do any of them actually crack nuts?

“There is one. My dad gave it to me,” said Maxwell, picking up a cast-iron nutcracker. “That's the only one I'd be brave enough to crack a nut with.”

12.11.17

'Road diet' eyed for part of I-196 Business Loop

By BECKY KARK

Editor and general manager

Sometime in 2018 a portion of Business Loop 196 in South Haven may be going on a diet, a road diet that is.

The “diet” will consist of reducing the number of lanes on the state trunkline to allow for safer pedestrian and bicycle use. If it becomes a reality, the road diet would take place on a two-year trial basis to determine its effectiveness.

“The primary benefits of a road diet include enhanced safety, mobility and access for all road users and a 'complete street' environment to accommodate a variety of transportation modes,” said South Haven Department of Public Works Director Bill Hunter. “An ever-increasing number of transportation agencies are implementing road diets. The Michigan Department of Transportation is undertaking road

diets on several state trunklines throughout West Michigan with more planned in the future.”

But if the road diet takes effect on a portion of Business Loop 196, it will take some getting used to, Hunter acknowledged.

“It will be a huge change,” he said.

The proposed road diet would extend along sections of Broadway, Phillips and LaGrange streets, from Broadway to Aylworth Avenue. Originally, the proposal called for the road diet to occur on the other section of Business Loop 196 located on Phoenix Street from Blue Star Highway to Broadway. However, MDOT determined that traffic volumes on that section of the business loop are too high, according to South Haven Mayor Bob Burr.

Currently, Broadway, Phillips and LaGrange have five lanes. If the road diet occurs, the lanes on the entire business loop would be reduced to two lanes plus a turn lane. The space used by the outside lanes would be utilized for bicycle and pedestrian use. To create the new lanes, the streets would be restriped, rather than reconstructed.

“Right now you have a road that is not designed for all users,” Hunter said. “It was designed for traffic volumes that don't exist.”

South Haven city officials began studying whether to implement a road diet on Business Loop 196 in 2012 after MDOT reduced the number of lanes on the M-43 corridor from Blue Star Highway to LaGrange Street.

They hired Progressive AE to study traffic volumes and peak-hour turning movements at major intersections on the business loop. The counts were done in July when the highest traffic volumes occur on the business loop, due to South Haven's summer tourism season.

Progressive AE staff found that even during July, the amount of traffic doesn't justify the number of lanes on the business loop, with the exception of the Phoenix-Broadway intersection leading to downtown.

“With Fourth of July traffic there's nothing you can do,” Hunter said regarding whether a road diet would create long traffic backups. But other than the Phoenix-Broadway intersection, traffic delays aren't anticipated with the road diet.

According to Progressive's traffic study, even when projecting almost 20 years into the future, waits at busy intersections are expected to only increase by 10 – 15 seconds during peak traffic volumes in July if a road diet were implemented

“You still will have a flow of traffic, but the road diet will make the business loop available for all users, not just vehicles,” Hunter said.

A road diet, according to the Federal Highway Administration, can actually reduce the number of accidents that occur on the business loop.

“Road Diets can make the roadway environment safer for all users,” the Federal Highway Administration indicates on its website. Case studies conducted by the administration show a 19 to 47 percent reduction in overall crashes when a Road Diet is installed on a previously four-lane undivided facility. For pedestrians, Road Diets result in fewer lanes to cross and provide an opportunity to install refuge islands that slow vehicles in the midblock crossing area, which is where 70 percent of pedestrian fatalities occur.

Before the city moves ahead with a road diet, it will need public support before the city council would consider voting on the measure.

To gather input, city officials and members of Abonmarche architectural and engineering firm have reached out to property owners and business owners along the business loop, including South Haven Public Schools, and have made presentations to various community groups, such as the South Haven Rotary Club and Progressives United for South Haven.

Presentations have also been made to several city commissions, including the Planning Commission and South Haven Downtown Development Authority.

Feedback generally has been positive, according to Hunter.

“Overall, people were supportive of the idea given the safety implications and resulting development of a complete street,” he said.

SH keeps July 3 date for fireworks

By BECKY KARK

Editor and general manager

South Haven’s annual Light up the Night fireworks display will occur on July 3 next year, but not all of the city council members are on board with the decision.

City council members voted 5-2 on Monday in favor of the July 3 date, with council members Clark Gruber and Vickiy Kozlik-Wall voting no.

Before casting her vote, Kozlik-Wall referred to a disturbance that occurred in 2016 in which an unruly group of people injured bystanders and police, eventually forcing an evacuation of North Beach prior to the start of the fireworks. She went on to say that prior to the 2017 July 3 fireworks display, Van Buren County Sheriff Dan Abbott recommended that South Haven’s fireworks display occur on July 4, because that’s the date that other surrounding communities host their own fireworks displays.

Although no major disturbances occurred at this year’s fireworks, Kozlik-Wall said her constituents feel the city spends too much money on police patrols for a display that attracts too many visitors and tourists who crowd into a small town that can’t support the vehicular traffic and beachfront crowds.

"I’m a little tired of catering to the needs of tourists. ... The bill for the 4th of July (activities) is outrageous. Why do we have to be the biggest and the best?”

Gruber stated the city should consider hosting the fireworks display on July 4 because it might stop tourists who are not visiting South Haven for the week to stay at home and view fireworks in their own towns.

South Haven has hosted the Light up the Lake fireworks display on July 3 for the past eight years. The date was chosen, according to Mayor Bob Burr, because the city wouldn’t have to pay overtime for patrol officers, and it could also obtain fireworks displays at a cheaper price.

South Haven Police Chief Natalie Thompson was in attendance and said that no matter what date the fireworks occur, her officers and others from surrounding communities stand ready to protect public safety.

“Regardless of what date is chosen we’ll keep our plan in place.” She said last year 109 officers from South Haven and surrounding communities helped to stop people from bringing alcohol into beaches and parks, and enforced traffic control before and after the fireworks.





11.27.17

Saying goodbye to Village Market

South Haven's last independent grocery chain to close Dec. 9

By BECKY KARK

Editor and general manager

Six years ago, Village Market President and General Manager Steve Murk predicted that the opening of a new Meijer store in South Haven would have a devastating effect on his business.

Apparently, his premonition proved correct. As of Dec. 9, Village Market, 08337 M-140 Hwy., will close its doors.

“Unfortunately, yes, it's true,” said Lisa Barnes-Lopez, office manager for Murk Management, owner of Village Market. But she declined to comment further.

Super market employees first heard of the closure, Monday, Nov. 20, when they received a letter signed by Steve Murk.

The letter, stated, “Effective Dec. 9, after servicing the South Haven market for over 40 years, Village Market Supermarket will be closing...I want to thank everyone for their years of support.”

Murk went on to say the company will try to relocate as many employees as possible to the neighboring Village Market Xpress convenience store in South Haven and to Village Markets and Murk Management's other convenience stores located in Decatur, Allegan, Gobles and Colon.

The loss of Village Market will be an economic blow to the South Haven community, community leaders said.

According to Buzzfile, a company that keeps track of corporate data for businesses throughout the United States, Village Market in South Haven generates approximately $4.6 million in annual gross revenue and employs approximately 80 full- and part-time employees.

“It's a loss of jobs,” said South Haven City manager Brian Dissette. “That's always something that is hard to hear about.”

Village Market also has been a large utility customer for the city in terms of its water and sewer usage, Dissette went on to say. The store's management and staff have also contributed to the community by sponsoring youth sports teams and donating funds and supplies to local charities, organizations and festivals.

South Haven Township, where the store is located, will also suffer a loss in tax revenue, according to Township Supervisor Ross Stein.

Stein said he does not exactly know how much revenue the township will lose at this point. “We'll see some (property tax) loss on the building. As far as personal property tax, we don't get as much of that as we used to because of changes in the tax laws,” he said.

The bigger tax revenue losers will be South Haven Public Schools and Van Buren County government. “They'll be hurt more,” Stein said.

The Village Market store in South Haven is located in a shopping center on M-140 Highway near Aylworth Avenue, that also houses Country House Furniture and Moore Family Pharmacy.

Those two businesses plan to remain open.

When Moore Pharmacy owner Ryan Moore first heard news of Village Market's closure, he immediately sent a mass telephone communication to his customers letting them know the drug store will remain open.

Even still, as of Tuesday, some customers were worried, according to pharmacist Chris Harris.

“There's been some panic from people,” he said. “We've been trying to calm people down.”

Village Market first opened its doors at its M-140 Highway location 13 years ago, when Murk Management built the shopping center and Village Xpress convenience store.

At that time, its competition consisted of Walmart and Save-a-Lot grocery stores. When Grand Rapids-based Meijer announced plans to build a store on Phoenix Road near Interstate 196, Murk Management came about against the store and hired a consultant, who warned that the impact of another super store like Walmart would force smaller grocery stores, such as Village Market and Save-A-Lot to close.

When Meijer and Aldi opened in 2013, Save-a-Lot closed a year-and-a-half later, in January 2015.

11.20.17

Retired Van Buren County Administrator Doug Cultra stands at the top of the Syndicate Park sand dune to enjoy the view of Lake MIchigan. (Photo by Becky Kark)

Best of both worlds

Group's efforts help save a neighborhood while preserving a sand dune

By BECKY KARK

Editor and general manager

You can't stop a sand dune from moving, just ask South Haven Township resident Bruce Sirus.

Sirus and his neighbors in Syndicate Park subdivision live right next to 7.6 acres of dune land that hovers close to their homes. Two of the homes, in fact, were destroyed several years ago by the advancing mounds of sand.

“Mother Nature pushes this thing wherever it wants to go,” Sirus said.

But, a group has been doing some pushing of its own that has resulted in a coordinated governmental and subdivision effort to preserve the dune and the neighboring homes.

The group met earlier this month at the foot of the dune for a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the accomplishments that have been made so far to prevent the dune from encroaching further into the subdivision.

“We're not going to stop the dune from moving, but we can slow it down,” said Marcy Hamilton, senior planner for the Southwest Michigan Planning Commission, which helped to coordinate the project.

The restoration project included the elimination of 30 trails people accessed either on foot or by riding off-road vehicles to climb to the top of the dune and then down to Lake Michigan.

Now there is just one multi-use trail that has been widened to 10 feet with fencing on either side to create easier access to the top of the dune for ORVs. There is also two walking trails – one near the multi-use trail and the other one to the south.

By eliminating the informal trails that people once used, vegetation will now be able to grow again, Hamilton said. More vegetation has also been planted as part of the dune restoration project.

The restoration results are starting to show.

“People understand the importance of restoring the dune. There's very little traffic on that hill,,” Sirus said referring to the multi-use trail.

The dune is located along the lakeshore between Van Buren State Park and North Pointe Preserve. Efforts to restore the dune began in 2011 when Van Buren County officials asked the Southwest Michigan Planning Commission to undertake a study to determine the best way to stop the dune from destroying homes. The study recommended the county restore and stabilize the dune area.

But that was easier said than done. The county owned some of the dune land, but not all. So in 2014 it began the process of buying up sections of the dune land that was privately owned. Many of the parcels the county bought had been tax-reverted because nothing could be built on them.

While the county undertook the process of buying up private lots, the Southwest Michigan Planning Commission began applying for grants to restore the dune.

Grants, totaling $70,000 came from the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality's Coastal Zone Management Program and the Office of Great Lakes, while matching funds came from the county and the Van Buren Conservation District.

Van Buren County Board of Commission chairman Dick Godfrey was on hand Thursday for the ribbon-cutting ceremony, along with other county officials.

“I'd like to thank all the partners that worked on this project,” he said. “It's amazing we got this accomplished.”

But the Syndicate Park subdivision residents and governmental groups who helped make the restoration possible know that work still lies ahead to preserve the dune.

“We'd like to do some more plantings,” Hamilton said. The trails and fencing also will need to be maintained routinely. “We're going to try for some more grant funding,” she went on to say.

Sirus hopes the preservation efforts continue.

“We have to stay active or it will all go back to the way it was,” he said.

SH schools comes up with antidote for bullying - 'Be Nice'



By BECKY KARK

Editor and general manager

If you're teased or bullied at school, you usually don't want to admit it, much less talk about it to your friends and family.

But a new program being implemented at South Haven Public Schools urges students to do just the opposite.

The program is called “Be Nice.” It addresses two other words most people feel uncomfortable talking about – mental health.

“Mental health is an important part of child development and lifelong happiness,” said Danielle Hendry, K-12 director of curriculum for South Haven Public Schools. “We want to increase dialogue among both students and staff surrounding mental health.  This will help reduce bullying, prevent suicide, and promote mental health.”

The Mental Health Foundation of West Michigan created the Be Nice program in 2010 to provide a curriculum for school districts to use to help prevent bullying and suicide. The word “Nice” stands for Notice, Initiate, Challenge, Engage.

Foundation staff describe the program as the “stop, drop, and roll” of mental health education that teaches people to notice, invite, challenge, and empower themselves and others.

”How you treat someone can have a direct effect on how they think, act, and feel - their mental health,”

the Foundation writes on its website.

Hendry said South Haven Schools became interested in the program earlier this year when The David Braganini Be Nice Memorial Fund was created to help fund the Be Nice initiative at schools in Van Buren and Kalamazoo counties. The Braganini family created the memorial fund in memory of David Braganini, the former president of St. Julian Winery who died by suicide in July 2016.

“This grant funds half of the cost for five years for any school in Van Buren or Kalamazoo county,” Hendry said.

South Haven school officials could have chosen other anti-bullying programs but was intrigued with the Be Nice program because of its emphasis on the larger issue of creating an atmosphere that promotes student well-being at all grade levels.

“We like that this program serves students in both elementary and secondary schools by addressing age-appropriate topics and needs,” Hendry said. “Unlike other programs that simply focus on bullying or suicide prevention, this program focuses on mental health and supporting healthy children.”

The Be Nice initiative tailors its education programs to the elementary, middle school and high school levels.

“In our fourth- and fifth-grade building the teachers do a Be Nice lesson every week on our Be Nice Mondays,” Hendry said. “They also have monthly assemblies.” At Baseline Middle School, students also take part in a weekly lesson each Monday and in January will form a student leadership team that will develop additional ways to encourage classmates to treat each other with respect.

Meanwhile at South Haven High School, a group of students is coming up with their own strategies to address bullying and suicide prevention.

The group met last week with teacher Sandra VanderRoest to discuss their plans.

“We are very excited about this program and have around 30 students on the committee,” VanderRoest said.

Students said they think the Be Nice program is important to implement.

“A lot of us have been teased at one time or another or experienced someone else being teased,” said Olivia Price, a junior.

Another committee member agreed. “I'm sure everyone in this room has been affected by bullying,” junior Chloe Kinney said.

The committee plans to develop activities and events that encourage classmates to boost each others morale and to provide support when friends or other classmates are going through difficult situations.

The committee plans to host an assembly in March where former Michigan State University basketball player Anthony Ianni will share his story of dealing with bullying because he had autism.

“I think it's great he wants to come here,” VanderRoest said.

11.13.17

South Haven High School sophomore Kaiden Cole may be in a wheelchair, but that doesn't stop her from being active in sports and other school activities. Cole traveled this past Thursday to attend a weekend wheelchair basketball camp at the USA Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs. The camp offers handicap athletes the chance to train with U.S National Team coaching staff. (Herald-Palladium photo by Don Campbell)

SH teen sets her sights on playing basketball in the Paralympic Games

By KIM INGALLS

For the Tribune

Kaiden Cole,16, has a dream.

She hopes that one day she will be able to play wheelchair basketball in the Paralympic Games.

The South Haven High School sophomore, who was born with Spina Bifida and hydrocephalus, is one step closer to that goal after being chosen to attend the USA Developmental Camp at USA Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs.

The weekend camp provides handicapped athletes the opportunity to work with U.S. National Team coaching staff who provide training and instruction similar to that which is received by athletes on U.S. National Teams.

“I’m very excited,” said Cole who flew out to the training center Thursday. “This is the first time I’ve attended the camp.”

Confined to a wheelchair, Cole says her hindered mobility does not define who she is nor does it stop her from playing sports. During the winter, she plays wheelchair basketball with the Mary Free Bed Junior Pacers out of Grand Rapids.

“This is the third year I’ve played on the Mary Free Bed varsity team,” she said. “Usually I play guard but I do switch positions.”

When she’s not playing basketball, she’s in the water with the South Haven Rams girls varsity swim team.

“I like both sports but for different reasons,” she explained. “When I’m swimming, I get to hang around able-bodied people. Then at basketball, it’s cool to play with others who have disabilities.”

Kaiden hopes that her athletic experience will help her with another dream - to become a nurse.

“I dream of going to college to be a nurse and I am hoping to get a scholarship with my grades and my basketball,” she wrote on her Go Fund Me page. “With your help, I can be a role model, not only for other disabled kids but other girls in general.  I hope to utilize my sports to help me get the education I need to become a nurse and to help other kids like me.”

So far, $4,465 has been raised which will help with training camp expenses, allow her to attend practices, tournaments and camps across the country and obtain any equipment she needs.

Humbled by the number of people that have supported her dream, Kaiden is thankful as well for the support from her mother Michele, stepfather Chad Weemhoff, her siblings and father Chris Cole.

Cutting the curb

Phoenix Road transfer could give SH business a new driveway

By BECKY KARK

Editor and general manager

For the past 11 years, South Haven business owner Ray VanDerZee has looked out the window of his Kawasaki dealership remembering the day Van Buren County Road Commission refused to let him have an entryway on Phoenix Street. The commission even went so far as to physically block an entryway that VanDerZee attempted to make.

“There were cranes dropping cement blocks,” said VanDerZee, who was forced, like several neighboring motels on Phoenix Street, to use a service drive to the rear of his building as the entrance to his business.

That could soon be changing, however.

South Haven city officials announced Tuesday that the Van Buren County Road Commission has agreed to transfer a portion of Phoenix Street from 73rd Street to 71-1/2 Street to the City of South Haven.

City officials earlier said they'd like to take over jurisdiction of the half-mile stretch of Phoenix for a couple of reasons — to end confusion on the part of the public as to which municipality takes responsibility for snow plowing and to have more input on proposed developments, such as the new Three Blondes Brewing microbrewery, currently being built next to VanDerZee Motorplex, 1875 Phoenix Road.

“With this transfer agreement, our engineering department can readily review applications for curb cuts,” South Haven City Manager Brian Dissette said. “They will use best practices as well as engineering standards and make informed decisions on applications for curb cuts.”

If VanDerZee obtains a curb cut onto Phoenix, the driveway would be utilized by both his customers and the microbrewery's clientele.

But just because the city is taking over control of the half-mile strip of Phoenix Road, curb cuts aren't a guarantee for everyone.

Businesses who would like curb cuts will have to submit an application to the city's engineering staff, which then will decide whether to grant approval, according to Dissette.



11.7.17

Approximately 225 people gathered at the Portman Preserve, Oct. 21, for its grand opening to the public. (Photo by Nicole Portman)

Protecting a gem

South Haven couple helps spare biodiverse piece of land from development

By BECKY KARK

Editor and general manager

Several years ago, Jerry Portman recalled teetering at the top of a ladder nailing “No Trespassing” signs on posts and trees around his property – an annual chore he'd undertake each fall at the start of deer hunting season.

Then a good-natured neighbor stopped by and told him, “It only keeps the honest ones out.”

Portman, who now chuckles remembering the incident, no longer has to worry about unwanted people off his property.

His expansive 188-acre property has become Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy's latest acquisition.

Named for Jerry and his wife, Julie, the Portman Preserve near Paw Paw opened to the public two weeks ago. Located on 49th Avenue in Almena Township, the preserve is home to three lakes, prairie fens, hard-wood forests and is rich in plants and wildlife.

“The Portman Nature Preserve is an amazing mix of woods, meadows, and wetlands with frontage on three lakes, a creek, and hundreds of springs,” said Nate Fullar, the nature conservancy's conservation and stewardship director. “This place supports two federally endangered species, a long list of state-listed plants and animals, and every species of turtle found in southern Michigan. It seems hard to believe you can have such remarkable biodiversity in one place right here in southwest Michigan, just minutes away from Mattawan, Paw Paw and Kalamazoo.”

Jerry and his wife tend to agree.

“We had 33 years of wonderful summers there,” said Jerry, who owns Apogee Technologies in South Haven. “My father loved splitting logs. My grandchildren learned how to swim there, caught their first fish there. We taught them about nature and the woods. It (the property) was something we hoped it would be and more.”

Yet while the Portman family enjoyed their sanctuary they couldn't help but notice the housing and recreation developments going on around them.

“There's a golf course on one side, a 300-home development on the other and another 200-home development. You can't stop progress,” Jerry said. But after considerable thought, he and his wife realized they could at least preserve and protect their land in its current state.

Their realization came about after Fullar contacted them 10 years ago.

Fullar wanted to conduct a survey of the rare Mitchell’s satyr butterfly during its mating season.

“They knew about my land because scientists and biologists know it's a biodiversity hot spot and head waters for the Paw Paw Rivershed,” Jerry said. “I didn't even know what a Mitchell satyr was. I told him no. Next year he called again. He game me a year to think about it.”

Jerry, who was very protective of his land, thought about and finally decided to let Fullar and his staff conduct their survey – as long as he could accompany them.

“It became a learning experience for me,” Jerry said.

Intrigued with Fullar's research, Jerry allowed the conservancy to later conduct a natural resources survey of his property.

“They tracked everything,” Jerry said. “Wild orchids, birds, reptiles, every species of turtles in Southern Michigan.”

The researchers also discovered the property's oak-hickory forest, oak savanna and prairie fen habitats that are home to 23-state listed endangered species, in addition to the federally threatened Eastern massasauga rattlesnake and the federally endangered Mitchell's satyr butterfly.”

“The report was 130 pages long,” Jerry recalled.

By the time the researchers finished they concluded the Portman property ranked fourth in the state for its biodiversity and rare plant and wildlife species.

Impressed with the land conservancy's findings, the Portmans finally entertained the thought of allowing the conservancy to acquire their property and entered into negotiations.

It would take an estimated $2.2 million to purchase the land and make improvements to help preserve its diverse biodiversity.

It was the conservancy's largest and most ambitious project to date, according to conservancy President and Executive Director Peter Ter Louw

“The Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy purchased the property from Jerry and Julie for $1.5 million earlier this year and we just finished the overall fundraising campaign of $2.2 million to create public access, and support near term habitat and invasive species management and long term management of the preserve,” Ter Louw said.

“Ultimately, we envision a 188-acre nature preserve that protects and provides habitat for an incredible number of southwest Michigan’s rarest species, serves as an outdoor classroom for area students and a natural laboratory for local researchers, offers a natural space for the community to explore, exercise, discover, gather . . . to connect with nature and with each other.”

The Portmans were on hand Oct. 21 for the grand opening of the preserve to the public. They said they'll miss their special sanctuary yet they realized that if they passed away their children may have been divided on whether to keep the property or sell it.

“I will not have my children fighting,” Jerry said. “If the property were to be sold it would probably be divided up for executive homes. The habitat would be ruined. We know the land will be cared for and protected and I'm at peace with that.”

Julie agreed. “It isn't what you can get out of life, but what you can leave behind.”



10.30.17

Students at Bangor High School can design and build their own surfboards, skateboards and snowboards by hand in a new class, called Bangor’s Gone Boarding. Students Blake Mealer (left) and Madison McGuire work on a board they are creating. (Contributed photo)

It's not your father's wood shop

Bangor students build board sports projects while honing STEM skills

By KIM INGALLS

For the Tribune

BANGOR - Remember wood shop class where generations of students built cutting board and bookshelves?

Not anymore. 

A new class at Bangor High School has rocketed that old wood shop course into a 21st century class where students learn how to design and build surfboards, skateboards and snowboards.

“It’s a new class this year,” said teacher Mark Meyers, who teaches Bangor’s Gone Boarding. “It was created by Bill Curtis at Forest Hills Northern in Grand Rapids. They have had the class there for the last three years, so it is new to Bangor.”

A combination of STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) class and physical education, Gone Boarding students build their boards from scratch.

They also learn how to ride them.

“Students get to long board, surf and snow board two times a week during class, depending on the weather and the conditions, explained Meyers on the class’s GoFundMe page. “Several days a week they will be constructing their boards and a couple days a week they will be using them out on Lake Michigan or at Timber Ridge.  They will all have wet suits and practice boards to use in the fall out on the lake when the waves are big and the water is cold. We will travel to Timber Ridge when the snow flies.”

School officials liked the idea of adding “Gone Boarding” to the high school curriculum because it offers hands-on training and team-building skills and gives students exposure to other learning techniques.

“The class (Gone Boarding) was inspired by students,” said Forest Hills Central High School physical education teacher Bill Curtis. “My original teaching partner and I saw a real problem with student disengagement and wanted to do something about it. We started asking students how we could make school more relevant and frankly more fun. Gone Boarding was born out of this.”

The concept was so unique that it caught the attention of a former Bangor Public Schools administrator.

“Dennis Paquette introduced me to the class last year and asked if I wanted to teach it,” said Meyers. “ So it really came about because of Dennis and Bill. I am just implementing it. It definitely has STEM connections everywhere in the curriculum. It has many layers. It's an amazing concept. I wish I had thought of it. The kids love it!”

Students start with a square Styrofoam blank that they have to design, cut, sand, epoxy and fiberglass into a finished surfboard.  Working within a group, they pick the board’s size and shape. Daily lessons include watching videos produced by professional surfboard builders.

Also in the lesson plan is a special trip to Vermont.

“Bangor students get to work with and design a snowboard with the graphic designers at Burton Snowboard,” said Meyers. “This is a unique connection between this class and industry. It's just another example of how amazing Bill Curtis and Gone Boarding is, and how lucky our students are to have a class like this.”

Fletcher gets 9-15 years in park shooting case

By ALEXANDRA NEWMAN

HP Staff Writer

PAW PAW — A Bangor man will spend the next 9-15 years in prison for the shooting death of a man in a park in Bangor in February.

Thurman Fletcher Jr., 20, was sentenced Tuesday in Van Buren County Circuit Court to seven years and two months to 15 years in prison for voluntary manslaughter and a consecutive sentence of two years for felony firearm. He was given 262 days credit for time served. He was ordered to pay $2,000 in restitution to the parents of the victim, Eddie “E.J.” Holland Jr., 29, of Hartford.

Fletcher had pleaded guilty to the two counts in September as part of a plea agreement that dropped an open murder charge.

Before handing down sentence, Judge Kathleen Brickley said sentencing at the top of the guidelines was fair considering the circumstances around Fletcher and the offense.

“You committed this offense while on probation for a domestic violence offense against the mother of your child, and despite being ordered to do so, you failed to attend the very treatment that could have prevented this incident from occurring – anger management treatment,” she said.

Fletcher apologized to the Holland family in court Tuesday.

“I’m 100 percent remorseful. Not just for the fact that I’m going to prison, but because they are without a loved one. I know how that feels. I hope that they can forgive me, no matter how much time that may take. I have been praying for them so they have the strength to get through this,” Fletcher said.

The shooting took place in Lions Park in Bangor on Feb. 3 when Fletcher met Holland to buy marijuana. Holland was shot twice, once in the chest and once in the groin, and Fletcher sustained a gunshot wound to the leg.

Holland lost consciousness within a few seconds and died within a few minutes, according to the pathologist who performed the autopsy.

“You chose a park, a place designated for play, for children, for a community. It’s not a place for drug deals and death,” Brickley said.

She said with Fletcher being young and the long prison sentence he will get rehabilitated.

“You have abundant opportunity and prospects that your victim does not,” Brickley said.

Holland’s father, Eddie Holland, spoke in court Tuesday.

“I’m alive, but I have a big empty hole in my chest and for the rest of my life that pain, that loss, will be unbearable,” he said. “You will get a second chance. My son does not have that second chance. He won’t be here after your sentence is over. The story of Eddie Holland Jr. comes to an end today and he deserved better.”

Holland’s father and mother, Karen Koch, will each get $1,000 in restitution. In the months since Holland’s death, Koch has had trouble sleeping and had to get counseling, she told Brickley. The judge found there was a serious psychological injury from the “violent and senseless nature” of Holland’s death.





10.24.17

Construction got underway in 2015 on this vacation rental home in South Haven before the city changed rules on short-term rental property. The owner and city settled a lawsuit surrounding the controversy. (File photo by Don Campbell of the HP)

In the nick of time

SH short-term rental survives, but so does city's ordinance

By BECKY KARK

Editor and general manager

All short-term vacation rental homes in South Haven must adhere to the recently enacted short-term rental ordinance, but one owner put the law to the test and ended up with a $575,000 settlement.

City Manager Brian Dissette confirmed last Tuesday the city reached a legal settlement with Linda Lamb in December 2016 in regard to a vacation-rental home she owns at 51 Cass St. The city will pay $75,000 to Lamb while its insurance carrier, Michigan Municipal Risk Management Authority, will pay the remainder plus fees associated with the mediation process.

Dissette said the city’s insurance premiums have not been increased as a result of the settlement.

Dissette explained why the city didn’t announce the settlement in a more timely manner.

He said the settlement called on both parties to not disclose terms unless required by the Freedom of Information Act, subpoena or court order.

“We announce (legal settlements) if information is requested,” Dissette said. “The typical practice would be to resolve the issue and move on.”

Lamb began building her seven-bedroom house at 51 Cass in late summer 2015. When neighbors learned how large it would be, and that it would be used as a vacation rental home, they appealed to the city to stop its construction.

Neighbors claimed it was not in character with the neighborhood, would lead to noise and traffic congestion and it would be used only for short-term rentals rather than full-time occupancy.

The concerns led to the City Council’s passage of a short-term rental ordinance in May 2016.

Lamb, who began building her home nearly a year earlier, argued that her dwelling should be exempt from the new ordinance’s restrictions on large-scale rentals – notably how many people could occupy rentals, how long homes could be rented to one party, and how many onsite parking spots had to be made available.

“She and her (legal) team argued that the city implemented those rules after she had started her project,” Dissette said. “As a result, she was making the claim she should not be bound by those rules.”

Miller Johnson law firm in Kalamazoo and Ringler Associates settlement firm in Grand Rapids, who both represented Lamb, filed an intent to sue the city shortly after council members passed the short-term rental ordinance.

“We knew the lawsuit was coming so we began court-appointed mediation,” Dissette said.

After several months, both sides hammered out the settlement in which Lamb and her legal representatives received $575,000, according to legal documents obtained through the Freedom of Information Act.

In return for the cash settlement, Lamb and her attorneys agreed her vacation rental home will adhere to provisions of the ordinance.

She can rent the Cass Street home only to groups not exceeding 12 renters, and she has to comply with all other ordinance provisions. She agreed to convert a fire pit at the house from wood burning to natural gas or propane.

Sandy Fenske, who lives along Cass Street, and who was aware of Lamb’s intent to sue, was unhappy with the settlement amount. Fenske said city officials didn’t tell residents about the settlement.

“We all knew there was a lawsuit,” she said regarding the Cass Street neighborhood. “We were very shocked it had been settled 10 months ago.”

Fenske said she learned about the settlement after an FOIA request.

“People need to know what’s going on at City Hall. You can’t help but wonder what else are they hiding?” she said.

When asked why the city agreed to the settlement, Dissette said it was the best option.

“If this had gone to court the city would have been faced with a potentially significant damages claim,” Dissette said. “Moreover it could have had the short-term rental ordinance invalidated. The real value of this agreement is that it puts to rest any (legal) challenge to the short-term rental ordinance.”

Mayor Bob Burr agreed.

“As in any settlement, insurance coverage and other factors were considered and agreement (was) reached on concerns most important to the respective properties,” Burr said.“This settlement avoids the uncertainties of potential litigation and provides assurance that this property would comply with our short-term rental ordinance.”

4.16.18

Worker fired after hidden camera found

Police say device discovered in Clementine’s employee bathroom

By BECKY KARK

Editor and general manager

South Haven Police are investigating an apparent camera spying incident that occurred at a popular local restaurant earlier this month.

Police Chief Natalie Thompson reported that police were called to Clementine’s restaurant Saturday, April 7, regarding a complaint that an employee had installed a surveillance camera inside an employee locker room in the basement of the eatery.

The employee told police a camera had been installed in a co-ed bathroom used by employees.

“Our officers seized the camera,” Thompson said during Monday night’s South Haven City Council meeting. “We quickly identified the suspect.”

Police have not named the male suspect, reported to be in his 20s.

The employee in question was terminated, Thompson went on to say, adding that the man has been cooperative with police, who took his computer.

Police are now analyzing the camera to determine what images are on it, Thompson said. She wasn’t sure Monday what charges the man may face.

“Just having a camera that’s in a place where a person expects to have privacy is a crime,” she said.

Police plan to analyze the digital media from the suspect this week, according to Sgt. Patrick Carlotto. The results of the investigation will then be submitted to the Van Buren County Prosecutor's office to review.

“The officers did a good job,” Thompson said. “It’s coming together pretty well.”

A manager at Clementine’s who was contacted Monday declined to comment about the matter, saying that it is under investigation by the police department.

SH school board member resigns

By BECKY KARK

Editor and general manager

South Haven Board of Education will be seeking a new member after hearing news of a resignation.

Crystal Davis submitted her resignation earlier this week, according to Board President Laura Bos.

“She said she was resigning for personal reasons,” Bos said.

Bos made the announcement about Davis's resignation at Wednesday's school board meeting. Davis was not at the meeting.

Davis dealt with a controversy shortly after being elected to the board. In 2017 she was charged with three felony counts of forgery and lying to a peace officer. In October of 2017 she pleaded in Seventh District Court West to a lesser misdemeanor charge of attempted lying to a peace officer and was sentenced to six months probation and fines and costs of $525, court magistrate James Becker said earlier.

The felony charges originally charged against Davis stem from allegations that she did not follow through with submitting more than $600 in donations to the small animal market auction at the Van Buren Youth Fair in 2016, her lawyer John Frost said earlier.

Davis was first elected in 2016 to fill a partial two-year term on the school board. Her term would have expired at the end of this year.

The school board has 30 days to appoint a new member, according to Bos. School district residents interested in applying for the position have until 4 p.m., April 23 to do so. Applicants should submit a resume and letter explaining their qualifications as a prospective board member to Becca Teunissen, Administrative Secretary to the Board of Education, South Haven Public Schools, 554 Green St., South Haven, MI 49090 or bteunissen@shps.org. Applications may also be submitted online at www.shps.org. Depending on the number of applicants, the Board will determine a meeting date to hold interviews.



4.9.18

Former state reps. to square off in bid for state senate seat

By HP STAFF

LAWTON — Former state Rep. Aric Nesbitt is challenging Bob Genetski for the Republican nomination for the 26th District state Senate seat.

The Lawton resident announced Tuesday he will seek the post held by the term-limited Tonya Schuitmaker, also of Lawton. The district covers Van Buren and Allegan county and Gaines Township and Kentwood in Kent County.

“Lansing needs conservative, West Michigan values, and as our next state senator, I will work to strengthen our economy, limit government, lower our auto insurance rates, balance the budget, pay down government debt and defend our Constitutional rights,” Nesbitt said in a statement.

Nesbitt grew up on a family farm near Lawton and earned a degree in economics from Hillsdale College and has a master’s degree in international business.

He served three terms

representing Van Buren County in the state House until being term-limited in 2016. Gov. Rick Snyder last year appointed him state lottery commissioner.

Nesbitt in his announcement cited his House budget efforts and reducing regulations.

“Turning our principles and common-sense solutions into a reality has always been my focus.” Nesbitt stated.

Genetski of Saugatuck served three terms in the state House and is now Allegan County clerk. Genetski was a high school teacher for at-risk students in 2008 when he was first elected to the Michigan House. He was re-elected in 2010 and again in 2012 – despite being convicted that year for drunk driving in East Lansing. He was elected Allegan County Clerk and Register of Deeds in 2016.

Democrat Garnet Lewis of Saugatuck is running as Democrat and Erwin Haas of Kentwood is running as a Libertarian.

The primary election is Aug. 7.

South Haven organization plans to start professional theater series

By BECKY KARK

Editor and general manager

A non-profit group that started a successful performing arts series and a speakers series in South Haven several years ago, now hopes to bring professional theater to town.

SHOUT for South Haven, a non-profit group dedicated to community improvement projects, is spearheading the effort to start an annual series of four theatrical productions.

Members of SHOUT and a dozen community leaders and local residents met Tuesday to discuss the idea.

“A number of people have expressed an interest in bringing professional theater productions here,” said Bob Copping, president of SHOUT. “We're aiming at high-quality theater, whether that means Equity actors or young adults (such as college students majoring in theater) who want to make a start in theater.”

SHOUT is willing to donate $3,000 in seed money to get the series off the ground. It also intends to apply for a grant from the South Haven Community Foundation, and will tap into monetary support from financial donors.

“SHOUT has pledged money to get the speakers and performing arts series organized and those are successful,” Copping said. “We're willing to help start this up.”

Don Hixson, treasurer for SHOUT, agreed. “We have been an incubator in getting cultural things started,” he said. “The whole thing will work based on several of you stepping forward to help.”

Local residents and community leaders in attendance at Tuesday's meeting indicated a willingness to take Hixson up on his offer..

“We are ready for this (professional theater),” said Tracey Davis, who is active with Our Town Players community theater group.

Our Town Players has been in existence in South Haven for several decades. Its volunteer board has produced both adult and children plays and musicals. But for the past several years, the group has experienced difficulty in attracting volunteer actors and stage hands for its theater productions involving adults and as a result has concentrated more on children's plays.

“We're having a drop off in volunteers and attendance,” Davis said.

SHOUT hopes to get the theater series off the ground this year and would like productions to start small, initially.

“We're looking at trunk shows,” Hixson said, referring to performances involving one or two people. The group hopes $8,000 can be raised to start the first season. “We'd like a minimum budget of $8,000, $13,000 would be ideal,” Copping said.

SHOUT and the group's next step involves contacting regional and Midwestern theater groups, actors and college theater departments to begin the process of lining up the first year's performances. Members will meet next in April. For more information about getting involved with the theater series, call 269-637-1370.



3.26.18

Four medical marijuana ventures eye South Haven; City officials remain cautious

By BECKY KARK

Editor and general manager

Four companies interested in establishing medical marijuana facilities that could generate tax revenue and jobs in South Haven will have to wait a little longer to determine if they will be able to do so, if at all.

South Haven city council members met Monday to determine whether to go ahead with a City Planning Commission recommendation to proceed with developing an ordinance to allow medical marijuana facilities, but after public comment, city council members decided to proceed slowly.

“We're all thinking the next step is worrisome,” council member Joe Reeser said, referring to the possibility of a November ballot issue that could be facing state voters to determine whether marijuana should be legalized as a recreational drug.

A month ago, the city's planning commission recommended that an ordinance allowing five types of medical marijuana facilities be drafted. Those facilities would include growing operations, processing plants, provisioning centers, transporters and safety compliance companies.

But after hearing public comment Monday, council members directed city staff to take steps to draft an ordinance just dealing with companies that would like to establish plants for growing, processing and safety compliance of medical marijuana.

“We'll work to develop a draft ordinance (for growing, processing and safety compliance of medical marijuana),” City Manager Brian Dissette said. “If we get through that we can circle back to provisioning and transport.”

Council members gave city staff that direction after hearing a number of local residents express concerns about dispensaries that distribute medical marijuana to patients, and the establishment of medical marijuana facilities in general in the city.

Some residents, like Jan Haglund, who along with her husband, owns a downtown business in South Haven, worried about odors emanating from dispensaries, and a possible increase in crime.

Even though South Haven's planning commission doesn't recommend that dispensaries be located downtown, residents still expressed concern.

The four businesses that would like to locate medical marijuana facilities in South Haven include

Bloom City Club of Ann Arbor, which owns several upscale dispensaries; Greenhouse Group LLC of Illinois, which operates medical marijuana dispensaries in the Chicago area; The Green Door, which has a dispensary in Bangor and plans to break ground later this month on a processing plant in Bangor's industrial park; and Demeter Group LLC, who in a proposal to the city, states it has a signed purchase agreement in the vicinity of Kalamazoo and Aylworth streets.

Whether the city will take any grow operation seriously remains to be seen. Council members indicated they are not ready to opt out of allowing such facilities, but remain cautious.

“It's a controversial issue,” Mayor Scott Smith said. When city attorneys draft an ordinance to allow growing, processing and safety compliance of medical marijuana, the planning commission will examine it and take public comments before forwarding a recommendation to the city council, which also will take public comment before any action is taken.

Covert school board appoints new member

By KIM INGALLS

For the Tribune

COVERT — Steve Mackey attended his first Covert School Board meeting Monday night, but it was not without controversy.

Mackey was appointed by the board to fill the seat vacated by Valerie Bury who resigned in February after posting a comment on Twitter that no one died during the Sandy Hook school shooting in 2012.

Several in attendance at Monday's meeting, including one board member, claimed the school board did not follow Michigan Association of School Board's recommendations on filling vacancies.

“I think the process was unfair and unjust,” said Geoffrey Rose, who was in attendance. “It was a poor example of democracy. They used the MASB guidelines for questions, but did not vote by ballot.”

Rose, who is a retired Covert Schools facilities employee, further stated that he had no problem with Mackey, it was more how the seat was filled.

Board trustee Shirley Kener had similar concerns.

“I didn’t vote against the candidate,” she said, “I voted against the practice.”

Superintendent Dr. Bobbi Morehead, however, disagreed with assertions the school board did something wrong in appointing Mackey.

“MASB has recommended guidelines. Recommended being the key term,” Morehead said. “This board conducted business legally. Interviews were conducted and a person was voted on and appointed to fill the vacancy during an open meeting.”

The special meeting where school board candidates were interviewed occurred Thursday, March 15.

“The board interviewed six candidates,” Morehead said. “After the interviews, a board member made a motion to appoint Steve Mackey to the vacant seat. The motion passed 4 to 2. Steve Mackey was sworn into office last Friday (March 16). He will be a great addition to the Covert Board of Education.”

Mackey has served on the We Care In the Name of Christ board of directors for six years with the last three as president. He is also a member of the Van Buren Civic Organization.

In other business, trustee Elizabeth DeRosa was elected as board secretary to replace Bury who had served in that role while on the school board.

Zip line, new skate park envisioned for Bangor parks system

By KIM INGALLS

For the Tribune

BANGOR — A new skate park, zip line and security cameras are just a few of the improvements on tap for the city’s parks within the next few years.

The State of Michigan stamped its approval of Bangor's new five-year Parks and Recreation plan, which now allows city officials to apply for grants from the state's Department of Natural Resources to help fund the proposed improvements.

“We did the project (plan) in-house except for the maps,” explained Bangor City Manager Regina Hoover. “We got those from Johnson and Anderson, an engineering firm out of Muskegon.”

The remainder of the plan - the editing, tables, data and photos was done by the Parks and Recreation committee.

“We needed to do the project as cost effectively as possible due to the lack of funds,” Hoover said. “It turned out real good and even the DNR rep stated, ‘Nice job to you and your crew.’ We worked on it for about a year.”

Other improvements and additions include walking trails in almost all the parks, installing BBQ grills and upgrading play equipment in Lions Park, adding a zip line and disc golf in Kiwanis Park and new bleachers, netting, and upgrading the concession stand in Don Mora Park.

A recent survey conducted by the committee resulted in one common comment from local residents - safety.

“Security cameras was on the old plan and we have kept it on the new plan,” Hoover said. “Responses to our survey indicated that almost 58 percent didn't feel safe in the parks.”

City officials are hoping that the .35 mil park millage will help them secure matching grants.

Copies of the plan are available at city hall.



3.19.18

An edge of 67th Street, south of Baseline Road, in Geneva Township, was washed out in February from flooding that occurred throughout Southwest Michigan.

Road woes

VB County Road Commission: Millions ofdollars needed to bring county roads up to snuff

By ROD SMITH

For the Tribune

PAW PAW — Three millage issues may be facing Van Buren County voters in August.

This past week, Van Buren County Board of Commissioners listened to information about the three millage issues, which would be placed on the Aug. 7 Primary ballot if the board decides to include them.

The issues are a renewal of both county public safety and ambulance millages as well as a new request for money to improve roads.

Van Buren County Road Commission Engineer-Manager Lawrence Hummel told commissioners, Tuesday, the Road Commission doesn't have the money to make all the needed repairs to roads, culverts and bridges.

"Things are falling apart faster than you're fixing them," Hummel said. State funding isn't keeping up with repairs and upgrades that need to be made, he went on to say.

To bring all county roads up to snuff would cost nearly $119 million, according to printed material from the Road Commission.

The county has about 350 miles of primary roads — those roads marked "County Road" plus Blue Star and Red Arrow highways. There are another 980 miles of township (local) roads, those marked "street" and "avenue." Of the 350 miles of primary roads, about 55 miles are considered good. Another 58 miles are considered fair, and 235 miles are considered poor.

In the local road category, 147 miles are good, 231 are fair and 327 are poor. The figures do not include gravel roads.

Also, there are about 30 to 50 culverts that need to be replaced. "And everytime you get the big flood there's another 20," Hummel said, referring to the recent flooding.

The 3-mill request for 12 years is expected to generate $10.3 million the first year. The plan is to use $7.2 million of that levy every year to improve county roads. The remaining money goes to cities and local authorities — downtown development, tax increment financing, brownfield, and local development financing.

If passed, in the first four years Red Arrow Highway, Blue Star Memorial Highway and County Road 388 will all be improved from end-to-end. Those three plus other road projects will total 135 miles of improvements through Year 4, according to the Road Commission.

A mill is $1 of tax for every $1,000 of taxable valuation of a property. The owner of a property with a taxable valuation of $25,000 would pay $75 annually if the measure passes.

Also at the Tuesday meeting, commissioners tentatively OKd an Aug. 7 ballot request for the renewal of 0.5332-mill for public safety for four years for drug enforcement and road patrol. It's expected to bring in $1.7 million, based on last year's countywide taxable value.

Similarly, the ambulance millage is expiring. The renewal request will be 0.9402-mill for four years. The initial estimate is $2.9 million the first year.

Commissioners will make formal decisions on putting the requests on the ballot after language and finances are finalized.

Housing needs, economy top city's priorities

By BECKY KARK

Editor and general manager

Affordable housing, economic development, and road improvements top the list for South Haven City Council's 2018-19 priorities.

Council members met earlier this week in a workshop to discuss goals for the upcoming year and developed a list of nine priorities they anticipate approving at Monday's council meeting.

“The action being sought at Monday's meeting is to formally adopt the priorities as written,” South Haven City Manager Brian Dissette said. “We had a one-and-a-half-hour discussion at the workshop. Based on the council's feedback we developed a list of nine priorities.”

Affordable housing topped the list. It's an issue that has come up repeatedly in the past several years.

“That's very important to council members,” Dissette said.

In the past 30 years, South Haven has become a haven for construction of high-end homes and condominiums along the lakeshore. It has gotten to the point where the median price for a home in South Haven is $50,000 higher than Van Buren County as whole, according to 2015 U.S. Census figures.

City officials hope to create an atmosphere for construction of affordable housing by creating zoning districts that provide for what has become known as “missing middle housing,” which is characterized as affordable homes geared toward young families, millennials and older adults, who don't want to live in apartments. Some examples of these types of homes are carriage houses, duplexes, triplexes or small multi-unit complexes that are constructed to blend in with single-family home neighborhoods located near downtowns or on the edge of commercial areas.

The council's number two priority is to increase the city's economic development efforts. Earlier this year, council members began taking turns meeting each week with local industries to determine if there are ways the city can help them improve their bottom line. The council plans to continue meeting with business leaders and to strengthen ties with regional economic development groups, such as Kinexus and Southwest Michigan First.

Road and infrastructure improvements are third on the council's list of priorities, and city staff are already paving the way for that goal to be accomplished.

“The upcoming fiscal year is about wrapping up road and infrastructure projects we have going and moving into a whole lot of maintenance projects,” Dissette said.

The city's Department of Public Works has developed a long list of improvements for 2018-19 that include repaving portions of 13 streets, including Superior Street, Kalamazoo Street, Hubbard Street, Michigan Avenue and Elkenburg Street; constructing a sidewalk on Aylworth Avenue near South Haven High School; and totally reconstructing sections of Hubbard, Michigan, Cherry and Cook streets where a new water main needs to be installed.

The other six city council priorities for 2018-19 follow:

• Improve, maintain and seek funds for city parks and public places

• Analyze the short-term rental ordinance to see if it needs to be refined

• Seek to improve the city's Maritime District, which borders the city's harbor

• Seek to improve the city's customer service and communication with local residents, businesses and visitors

• Seek to improve the central business district to ensure that downtown remains a desirable place

• Seek to continue efforts to provide training for elected officials and city staff



3.12.18

Several South Haven High School students hold signs during the school-wide walkout to commemorate students in Florida shot in a mass shooting Feb. 14.

Making a point

in 17 minutes

By BECKY KARK

Editor and general manager

It's been nearly a month since 17 people were killed by a teenage gunman at a high school in Parkland, Fla., but South Haven High School students want to make sure the Feb. 14^th shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School will forever be etched in the public's mind.

More than 300 South Haven high schoolers conducted a peaceful 17-minute walkout Tuesday afternoon to commemorate the Parkland, Fla. students and staff who died in the shooting and to draw attention to the growing concern that schools are no longer safe havens for students to attend.

Bearing signs that read, “enough is enough,” “gun control now” and “is our school next?” the students stood quietly for a moment of silence for the shooting victims. They also held hands in prayer and made brief speeches about why they think school safety should be uppermost in the minds of lawmakers who students think can do more to stop mass gun violence from occurring.

“This (walkout) is only for 17 minutes,” said junior Olivia Price. “We have the rest of our lives to make sure this (a mass shooting in a public place) doesn't happen again.”

Price, along with senior Jazmine Mahone, organized the peaceful demonstration, which occurred in front of the high school.

“Olivia and I felt our classmates were concerned about gun violence,” said Mahone, who approached school officials to see whether a walkout could occur without fear of suspensions or unexcused absences.

After meeting with high school Principal Jerry Sardina and other school officials, the students were given permission to conduct the peaceful walkout.

“Other schools around us were having walkouts,” Price said. “We wanted to make a statement. We're sick of seeing our peers get murdered. Our lawmakers need to take action.”

Students weren't the only ones at the walkout. Approximately 25 adults, including Fr. Michael Ryan of Church of the Epiphany, attended to show their support for what the pupils were doing.

“For over 20 years there have been school slaughters and nothing gets done. No one steps up,” said Theresa Soloma, a South Haven area parent who attended. Soloma went on to say she is unhappy with backlash teens have received from some people who think high school students should not be allowed to conduct walkouts that could end up being disruptive.

“I'm appalled people would be bashing these students for trying to do something about these mass shootings, said Soloma, who held a sign that read, “We are proud of you.”

Another adult, 82-year-old Brigitte Krummel, said she too, is proud of the students' efforts.

Holding a sign that read, “The grandmas have your backs!” Krummel said, “I think the kids have the right idea. If we don't to as adults what needs to be done (curb gun violence) then they will.”

High School Principal Jerry Sardina said he was pleased with the outcome of the walkout.

“We’d like to thank our students for the way they handled themselves, and for their coordinated efforts in working with school administration so their civic voices could be heard,” he said.

Providing a safe environment for students is uppermost in the minds of South Haven school officials, especially in the wake of the Parkland, Fla. Shooting, Sardina went on to say.

“We have new secure entrances and measures in place to ensure the safety of students. We've been working with the South Haven Police Department and an outside security firm to go through our crisis responses and procedures.”

During a brief student assembly that took place the walkout, Sardina outlined some of the safety measures the school district takes to protect students from mass shootings. He also stressed the need for students to follow rules that are made to protect them.

Some students, for instance, will text their friends to let them in rear building doors that students are not supposed to enter. Or students place wedges in doors to keep them open — actions that could result in a person, armed with a weapon, entering the school building.

“We need students to cooperate with our safety procedures,” Sardina said.

Police plan to increase presence at area schools

By BECKY KARK

Editor and general manager

With school safety in the news lately, area law enforcement agencies are stepping up efforts to have a greater presence in their local school districts.

Officials from both the Allegan County Sheriff's Department and South Haven Police Department say they intend to be seen more regularly at schools within their jurisdictions.

“You will begin seeing an increased presence of deputies in Allegan County schools,” Allegan County Sheriff Frank Baker stated in a news release. “The Sheriff’s Office Command Staff has been meeting with schools about this important community safety topic.”

Baker went on to say the intent of the plan is to allow deputies to be in school buildings interacting with students and staff; as well as patrol cars being in and around school parking lots.

“We hope the increased law enforcement presence will create a safer environment and help relieve some of the concerns parents might be having regarding school safety,” Baker said. “We don’t want the first thought a parent has upon seeing a patrol car or deputy at a school to be 'what’s wrong or what’s happening?' We want the presence of our patrol cars and deputies to be a common sight and the new 'normal.'”

South Haven Police Department intends to take similar action, according to Police Chief Natalie Thompson.

Thompson discussed increased police presence at South Haven Schools during the School Safety Community Forum, Thursday, at South Haven High School. She said her department is developing a plan where officers would spend more time at schools interacting with students, teachers and administrators.

The police department is also working with school district leaders to fine-tune school district safety plans, not just for the possibility of a shooting event, but for other situations that could negatively impact students and staff, including fires, tornadoes, chemical spills, or contagious disease outbreaks.

However, increased police presence alone will not curb the possibility of a violent attack occurring at a school district, according to South Haven Schools Superintendent Bob Herrera.

“We try to foster and encourage a positive school culture,” Herrera said during the School Safety Community Forum.

The district also has installed new, secure entrances, locks, and key mechanisms at all of its school buildings and new video cameras.



Enough already

Neighborhood residents want fewer concerts at Riverfront Park

By BECKY KARK

Editor and general manager

Many local residents and visitors come to Riverfront Park in South Haven every summer to hear outdoor concerts, but just how many concerts should the park host?

That's the question facing South Haven city officials who have been hearing an earful of comments over the past year from local residents opposed to the live performances.

“It's saturated,” said South Haven resident Bill Fries, regarding the number of festivals and concerts that take place at Riverfront Park, a scenic, open green area on Water Street that overlooks the city's harbor and Lake Michigan.

Fries, along with other residents who live near Riverfront Park, spoke up at a city council meeting earlier this week to voice opposition to the Worship on the Riverwalk concert series.

Organizers of the series came to the city council meeting seeking the city council's OK to allow the concerts to take place on four consecutive Sundays in July.

Soon after the series was introduced in July of 2017, it drew the ire of local residents, particularly ones living on Eagle Street, which overlooks the park. They complained the afternoon sound checks lasted too long as did the evening concerts.

Eagle Street resident Laura Jager said she initially attended one of the concerts and enjoyed it. However, as the series continued she became concerned. “It felt invasive by the fourth week,” she said. “I'm not opposed to what the churches are doing. But we are neighbors.”

Rev. Steve Smallegan, pastor of Hope Church, which coordinates the outdoor concert series, said he is aware of the neighborhood concerns. During Monday's council meeting, he offered several concessions – sound checks will only last one hour from 5-6 p.m., the concerts will last from 60-75 minutes, rather than 90 minutes, and the number of performances will be reduced from four to three to occur at 7 p.m., July 15, 22 and 29.

Council members liked the concessions and voted 4-1 to approve the concert series, but agreed they need to take a hard look at the growing use of Riverfront Park as the city's main concert and festival venue.

“We need policies so we don't have to go through this again,” said council member Steve Schlack, who cast the no vote.

“We're at the point of saturation,” Mayor Scott Smith said. “We need to make a plan...rotate the festivals (to other city parks)...decide whether to amplify concerts or not.”

City manager Brian Dissette said the matter will now be referred to the parks commission to craft a policy that deals with the most appropriate venues for outdoor concerts and festivals. The parks commission will meet April 10 to discuss the issue.

Schlack hopes the parks commission will move quickly.

“I would hope the parks commission can get policies laid out in the very near future,” he said.

More than 40 outdoor concerts take place each summer at Riverfront Park, including the weekly Riverfront Concert Series on Thursdays; Harborfest Festival entertainment in June; Worship on the Riverwalk concert series in July; National Blueberry Festival entertainment in August; and Rhythm on the River, a day-long music festival in September.

In the past year, festival organizers became aware of of growing neighborhood concerns regarding noise and the number of events that take place at Riverfront Park. Festival organizers recently met with city and police officials and agreed to make some changes. Nighttime musical entertainment will end at 10 p.m., rather than 11 or even 11:30 p.m. Several festival organizers also indicated a willingness to have decibel readings conducted during performances to ensure the city's noise ordinance is not being violated.

But council members and other city officials think more needs to be done to deal with the issue of how many festivals and concerts should take place at the park.

“We have been talking with other Lakeshore communities – Holland, St. Joseph, Grand Haven, Traverse City,” South Haven City Manager Brian Dissette said. “They all voice similar frustrations but don't have good solutions.”

A group of South Haven residents last September suggested that a band shell be constructed at Riverfront Park to focus sound toward the water, rather than at local residences, but a number of citizens who live near the park think a band shell should be placed elsewhere in the city, possibly Stanley Johnston Park.



3.5.18

Proposed recreation park stands to benefit from land sale

By BECKY KARK

Editor and general manager

Plans for development of a 40-acre recreation park in South Haven Township are moving ahead with the City of South Haven's intent to contribute $420,000 to the South Haven Area Recreation Authority (SHARA).

The anticipated funds will come from the sale of property in Casco Township that was originally envisioned for construction of the park.

The city, which owns the 96-acre parcel at the corner of 103rd Avenue and 71st Street, began accepting bids on the property eight weeks ago, according to City Manager Brian Dissette.

“We advertised it in the newspaper and our website and notified a variety of folks to get the word out,” Dissette said.

City staff received one bid for $420,000 from Jim DeWitt of Hamilton, who plans to continue utilizing the property for agricultural purposes, according to a proposed sale agreement that Dissette presented to SHARA's board, Tuesday.

“(We) were hoping to get closer to $450,000,” Dissette said. “But given today's climate, there's a fair amount of agricultural land available.”

Dissette was referring to a large amount of leased agricultural land that is being marketed in Southwest Michigan by Hamilton-based CHS, which purchased land from the Decatur-based Stamp Farms bankruptcy that occurred several years ago.

"CHS is the new owner of 14,000 acres of land they're trying to peddle," Dissette said.

The availability of farmland in Allegan and Van Buren counties has made the real estate market tough for sale of the Casco Township site.

SHARA members agreed with Dissette and voted Tuesday to recommend that the city proceed with the sale of the property.

But, before SHARA can receive proceeds from the sale, South Haven City Council members will have to decide whether to transfer the $420,000 to SHARA.

"If this board says to proceed with the sale the council will take that decision seriously," said Dissette, who plans to present the transfer proposal to the council in March.

SHARA, which consists of representatives from the City of South Haven, South Haven Township and South Haven Public Schools, intends to use the Casco Township property  real estate proceeds to finalize development plans for the park and use some of the money to match funds for state grants authority members hope to obtain.

Ross Stein, who is chairman of SHARA and South Haven Township Supervisor, is hopeful DNR grants will be obtained to develop the park.

"I think we stand a good chance to get funds to develop it," he said.The proposed recreation park is located on 14th Avenue, between M-140 Highway and Blue Star Highway.

SHARA is in the process of purchasing the $400,000 parcel with the help of a $300,000 acquisition grant the Department of Natural Resources Trust Fund announced in December that SHARA will receive.

"The DNR awarded us an acquisition grant the first time we applied and the park is located close to the Van Buren Trail," Stein said in reference to his optimism that grant funds to develop the park may occur in the future.

Once due diligence is complete, SHARA anticipates purchasing the property from the Lappo Family Trust sometime this spring. The purchase will be paid for from a $300,000 acquisition grant SHARA is scheduled to receive from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, and from $100,000 that SHARA plans to contribute.

SHARA's revenues come from residents of South Haven and South Haven Township who pay an annual assessment of $2 per person for each resident who lives in the two municipalities. South Haven Public Schools is also a member of the SHARA board.

The park, to be named South Haven Area Recreation Park (SHARP), will be home to softball, baseball and soccer fields, walking paths, playground equipment and restrooms. It is not yet known how much it will cost to develop the park. However, SHARA board members feel they are now moving in the right direction to develop the park in South Haven Township, and plan to do so in phases.

2.26.18

Opt in or opt out?

South Haven city council mulls whether to allow medical marijuana facilities in town

By BECKY KARK

Editor and general manager

Even though state law allows medical marijuana facilities to exist, South Haven city has held out from allowing them in the city limits.

But that could change in the near future.

City council members, Monday, heard a presentation from City Attorney Nicolas Curcio about the new state law that legalizes medical marijuana facilities and the pros and cons of passing an ordinance to let those types of businesses locate in South Haven.

Curcio's presentation came on the heels of the city planning commission's recommendation a month ago to allow medical marijuana facilities to locate in South Haven. The commission made its recommendation after spending a year studying the issue. But city council and staff said they want more input from the public and more information about state medical marijuana regulations before proceeding forward.

“No formal action is being sought tonight,” City Manager Brian Dissette said. “This is strictly an information gathering session. We'd like to revisit this issue in March.”

If the city council were to adopt the planning commission's recommendation, five groups of medical marijuana businesses would be allowed to locate in certain sections of the city, as long as they receive state licenses to do so. Growers, processors, transporters and safety compliance facilities would be allowed to locate in industrial zoned areas, while provisioning centers (dispensaries) would be able to do business in outlying commercial areas of the city. Medical marijuana businesses would not be allowed to locate less than 600 feet from schools, childcare facilities, religious institutions and certain public parks.

Several other southwestern Michigan towns have passed ordinances to allow medical marijuana businesses, including Bangor.

Since the law passed at the end of 2016, there has been growing interest from entrepreneurs to start medical marijuana-related businesses in South Haven, according to Dissette.

“For the last three months it's almost a weekly phone call that we receive,” Dissette said.

Several people who attended Monday's city council meeting say they hope to open medical marijuana facilities in the city.

Fred Meyer stated that he and several other partners recently purchased the former Pyle's Porthole building on Quaker Street and hope to open a dispensary there. Another South Haven resident, Sean Russell, who owners the former Bohn industrial building on Aylworth Avenue, also said he is interested in developing some type of medical marijuana-related business.

But some people in the audience were wary of the city council passing an ordinance legalizing medical marijuana facilities within city limits.

“I wouldn't want to side against someone who really needs this drug," said Joe Wilkins. "But I've seen a lot of abuse over things that were legalized. There's a lot of pros and cons to this. I'm asking the board to have a lot more conservation about this before deciding what to do.I would not want to see a dispensary downtown like the one in Bangor."

“I have sympathy for people who need medical marijuana,” said Sandy Fenske. “But they can go to Bangor or elsewhere for it.”

Board member out after tweet denying Sandy Hook shooting deaths

By BECKY KARK

Editor and general manager

COVERT — A Board of Education member for Covert Public Schools has resigned after making a controversial comment on social media in the wake of the mass school shooting that occurred in Parkland, Fla., Feb. 14.

Board of Education Secretary Val Bury submitted a resignation letter Tuesday morning that was posted on the school district's Facebook page. It read, “"Dear Board Members, Covert Schools, Covert Community & Staff,

In lieu of my recent comment on Twitter, I apologize to all. As a board member representing children of this community I am sorry. I am resigning immediately. Valerie Bury.”

Bury's controversial Tweet was posted on CNN's twitter feed several hours after the Feb. 14th shooting when a CNN reporter interviewed Rep. Jim Himes of Connecticut. Himes told the reporter that he recalled the 2012 shooting massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary in which 26 people died. He compared the nation's response to that shooting with the one in Parkland, Fla., by stating, “People will wish everybody thoughts and prayers...and the Congress of the United States will do absolutely nothing.”

His Tweet prompted Bury, a member of the National Rifle Association and a Donald Trump supporter, to respond, “No one died at Sandy Hook!!”

A CNN Twitter follower in Seattle, Wash., read Bury's online comment several hours after she posted it and was shocked after reading her Twitter account profile, which listed her as a school board member.

“When I saw her denial of the Newton, Conn. shooting comment, I clicked on her profile and saw she was an elected official on a school board and thought it was disgusting,” said Craig L. Cummins, who contacted the HP about Bury's comment.

Upon learning about Bury's controversial Tweet, the HP tried to reach her by phone and email regarding what prompted her to make that remark, but she didn't respond.

She also did not respond to inquiries yesterday as to why she resigned.

Two school board members stated last week that Bury's remark was not representative of school board beliefs.

“The Sandy Hook incident is a day that caused America to grieve deeply because of the many loss of lives just as the Florida shooting,” said board president Maria Gallegos. “My prayers and thoughts of comfort are with each family member, all students and faculty of that school district.”

Vice President Mike Dambrowski said, “It's an unfortunate comment to make especially for a school board member. She doesn't speak for the Covert school board. She's welcome to her personal opinions, but I certainly don't agree with it.”

Bury has served on the school board since May of 2016 when she defeated School Board President Diana Parrigin who was recalled in the same election. Bury organized the recall effort after Parrigin refused to resign after being arrested for marijuana possession in 2015.

School board members will now have to accept applications from Covert school district residents interested in taking Bury's place. According to Anthonette Cox, administrative assistant to Covert Public Schools' superintendent, the school board has 30 days to fill the vacancy. Covert residents interested in applying should submit a letter of interest to the school district's business office. The school board will then interview candidates and then vote on a new member. The appointed candidate will serve through November.



2.19.18

Man faces sex charges after internet hook-up with 11-year-old girl

By BECKY KARK

Editor and general manager

BANGOR — A 34-year-old Gobles area man could face up to life in prison for allegedly having sex with an 11-year-old Bangor girl.

Seventh District Court Judge Art Clarke arraigned Clint Edward Arnet, Wednesday, on one count of first-degree criminal sexual conduct and two counts of second-degree criminal sexual conduct. If found guilty of first degree CSC, Arnet could spend the rest of his life in prison. The other two charges carry up to 15-year prison sentences. Clark set Arnet's bail at $500,000 and ordered him not to have any contact with the girl. His pre-exam conference is scheduled Feb. 21 in District Court in South Haven.

“I'm trying to take all this in,” said the girl's mother after Arnet's arraignment.

The mother, who did not want to give her name, said her daughter did not know Arnet, personally, prior to meeting him Tuesday evening.

The mother said when she went to bed at 9 p.m., Tuesday, her daughter was still up watching television. When the mother awoke at 2 a.m. she looked at her phone messages and saw a text from an acquaintance who said the daughter wanted to spend a couple of days at her home.

“I didn't realize she had left,” said the mother, who decided to call 911 to report that her daughter had run away from home.

“She (the girl) was in another community,” said Bangor Police Chief Tommy Simpson said. “They (the girl's family members) became suspicious how she got there.”

When Bangor Police arrived, they talked with the mother and began going through her daughter's online data to discover she had used a dating app. earlier that day.

Police picked up the daughter at the acquaintance's home, brought her home, and were able to piece together that Arnet picked her up in his vehicle and took her to his home. They then went to Lions Park in Bangor where the alleged sexual activity took place. Afterwards, Arnet dropped the girl off at the acquaintance's home.

After interviewing the girl, Bangor police found Arnet at his home and arrested him at 5:45 a.m., Wednesday.

“There was a seven-hour span from when the crime happened, the runaway was reported and then the arrest,” Simpson said.

According to Simpson, Arnet does not have a criminal history. “He's married and has a family,” Simpson said.

Two more charged in 2014 shooting death

By ALEXANDRA NEWMAN

HP Staff Writer

Two more people have been arrested and charged in connection with the 2014 death of a Bloomingdale Township man, police said Tuesday. 

James Robert Eakins, 40, and Brandon Trae Robertson, 32, both of Battle Creek, have each been charged with one count of open murder, two counts of armed robbery and two counts of weapons felony firearm and are being held in the Van Buren County jail without bond, according to a news release from the Van Buren County Sheriff’s Department. 

Eakins was arrested Feb. 5 and arraigned Feb. 6 in South Haven District Court. Robertson was arrested Feb. 9 and arraigned Monday. 

Amber Marie Roberts, 42, of Battle Creek was arrested and arraigned Jan. 30 on the same charges and is in jail without bond. 

The murder, robbery and firearms charges are in connection to the death of Scott M. Taylor Sr., 56, who was found dead of a gunshot wound to his chest Aug. 21, 2014, in his house along 45th Street near Great Bear Lake.

The Herald-Palladium reported a few days after the incident the sheriff’s department had a possible suspect, someone described only as an acquaintance of Taylor’s, but no other details about the possible suspect were released.



2.12.18

Upton to White House: Lay down the law on Russia

By JIM DALGLEISH

HP Assistant Local News Editor

The White House needs to impose the sanctions on Russia that Congress overwhelmingly passed last year to discourage that nation from meddling in U.S. elections, U.S. Rep. Fred Upton said Thursday.

“There is no reason for the administration to drag their feet on this,” Upton, R-St. Joseph, stated in an email. “Congress overwhelmingly passed these sanctions on a bipartisan basis to hold Russia accountable for interfering in our elections.

“I agreed with Mitt Romney in 2012 when he said that Russia was our greatest geopolitical foe. These threats have only become more grave. We should continue to work in a bipartisan way to ensure Russia is answering for their actions.”

However, Upton stopped short of U.S. Sen. Gary Peters’ statement on the Senate floor Thursday that President Donald Trump is putting Kremlin interests ahead of America’s.

“What kind of signal does that send to Vladimir Putin when the administration puts the Kremlin and Russian plutocrats ahead of the United States Capitol and duly elected members of Congress?” the Michigan Democrat asked. 

Congress approved the sanctions bill in July by a 517-5 total.

“It can be difficult to get over 500 members of Congress to agree on anything, but imposing sanctions on Vladimir Putin’s cronies and those that do business with them is a no-brainer,” Peters told the chamber. “... The administration should use the power provided by Congress to punish Vladimir Putin, his inner circle, and those who do business with them and enrich Putin’s regime.”

However, Peters said, “just last week, we learned that the Trump administration is choosing not to enact these sanctions.”

The White House told Congress that the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act is “serving as a deterrent,” and there’s no need to implement penalties.

On that same day, Peters noted, “President Trump’s own CIA director (Mike Pompeo) said that Russia will continue to attack our democracy, saying ... ‘This threat is not going to go away. The Russians have been at this a long time and I fully expect they’ll continue to be at it.’”

Peters noted that Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said Russia is already trying to affect the 2018 U.S. elections and that it will be difficult for the United States to stop it.

“It is clear that we have not done enough to deter Russia from interfering in our democracy,” Peters said.

Peters said Secretary of Defense James Mattis recently addressed the Senate Armed Services Committee, of which Peters is a member, and said Russia is seeking to discredit and subvert democratic processes around the world and shatter the NATO alliance.

Congress passed CAATSA after 17 intelligence agencies concluded that Russia used a variety of methods to meddle in the 2016 U.S. presidential election. The objective was to get Trump elected president.

Trump has called the intelligence community’s conclusion a “made-up story.”

The Washington Post reported last week that Congress has few options for forcing Trump to impose sanctions “other than incredibly confrontational ones such as suing or impeaching him.”

“I wouldn’t necessarily say Congress is out of options,” Cornell law professor Josh Chafetz told The Post. “I would say that, with Republicans controlling both chambers, it’s less likely to utilize certain options.”

South Haven lays out strategies for economic growth

By BECKY KARK

Editor and general manager

With its close proximity to the lakeshore, sandy beaches, spacious parks and bike trails, South Haven attracts many tourists each year.

But, these days, city officials want to attract more good-paying jobs.

“What I've heard from the mayor and other council members is economic development needs to be one of our top priorities,” said City Manager Brian Dissette.

To that end, the city has developed a closer relationship with Benton Harbor-based Kinexus, whose staff spend two days a week at city hall offering assistance to local businesses.

Now the city is increasing its partnership with Kalamazoo-based Southwest Michigan First to strengthen economic development services even more.

Jill Bland, managing partner for Southwest Michigan First, spent part of Monday's city council meeting discussing the South Haven area's strengths and weaknesses and a strategy for improving the town's economic climate.

Bland told council members that on several occasions over the past two years, Southwest Michigan First has invited site consultants to South Haven to showcase the community to businesses interested in relocating to Southwest Michigan.

“One of the key outcomes of the program was to change the perception that the community was purely a tourist destination and to share the diverse manufacturing base the community enjoys,” Bland said. “While this was accomplished and has resulted in several direct inquiries, some of the

questions that repeatedly come up are around talent and where will we find the talent in the

current economy? What challenges and skills gaps do your existing employers face and what

are the community's current initiatives to address those challenges?”

Working with Kinexus and Southwest Michigan First, city officials plan to address those issues over the next year, according to Dissette.

Several initiatives are already underway.

• Kinexus has increased its presence in South Haven over the past month. In addition to offering consultations to local businesses at city hall every Tuesday and Thursday, Kinexus is now offering assistance to job seekers at South Haven Memorial Library every other Wednesday and it is organizing job fairs every other month at Lake Michigan College's South Haven campus.

• Each Friday, Mayor Scott Smith, city staff administrators and various council members visit area businesses to address issues they area dealing with and their needs for the future “We will be doing this throughout the year,” Dissette told council members. “At the end of the year all of you can say you've visited every local business.”

Southwest Michigan First wants to build upon those initiatives.

Over the next several months, Southwest Michigan First staff plan to host 3 focus meetings with local businesses and industry leaders to gather input on business needs and discuss opportunities for future growth with an emphasis on talent needs. Information gathered will then be shared with a group of representatives from local government, non-profit business groups, and workforce and education leaders to develop a strategy for retaining existing businesses and attracting new ones. The strategy developed from the focus meetings will then be presented to the South Haven city council and potentially neighboring township leaders.

“We believe by doing economic development, retaining what we have, bringing new jobs and growing what we already have, that's the best answer – a good-paying job for everyone,” Bland said.

South Haven has had its own in-house economic developer in the past. Jack McCloughan served as economic development liaison for 12 years before retiring in 2017.

Dissette said city leaders have chosen not to fill McCloughan's post because the city council consists of four new members and the mayor.

Sometime this year, Dissette said he expects the council will decide either to hire an economic development director or contract for services from a regional economic development entity.

“We will have a priority setting meeting in March. That will be one of the discussion topics,” Dissette said.





2.5.18

Gov. Rick Snyder traveled to South Haven, Wednesday, to announce the creation of a regional partnership of states and Canadian provinces that surround the Great Lakes who will work together to stop Asian Carp from entering the Great Lakes.

Snyder unveils plan to battle Asian carp

Governor comes to South Haven to launch effort

By BECKY KARK

Editor and general manager

February's cold temperatures and snow don't stop anglers and boaters from thinking about summer days when they can fish on Southwest Michigan's rivers and lakes. But over the past few years there's an aquatic threat that keeps gnawing away at their pleasant thoughts – Asian carp.

“Asian carp entering the Great Lakes are a huge threat,” said Dennis Eade, executive director of the Michigan Steelhead & Salmon Fishermen's Association. “The fish are so prolific and eat so much plankton they could out-populate all of the other fish species in the Great Lakes.”

Eade was in South Haven, Wednesday, along with members of Steelheader chapters throughout Southwest Michigan, to hear Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder unveil a new plan to prevent Asian carp from entering Lake Michigan and other Great Lakes.

“Michigan is stepping up to take a leadership role due to the urgency of this situation,” said Snyder, who announced the plan during a news conference at the American Legion,, 129 Michigan Ave., South Haven. “There's been too much talk and not much action.”

Because of his concern for the harm that Asian carp could create for the state's $38 billion tourism industry as well as the Great Lakes eco-system, Snyder has taken a lead role in creating the new Great Lakes Basin Partnership to Block Asian Carp. Founded by governmental leaders from Michigan, Ontario, Ohio and Wisconsin, the recently created partnership plans to provide political and financial resources to support the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' $275 million tentative plan to reduce the risk of invasive carp from entering the Great Lakes.

The Corps of Engineers is tentatively proposing to create a series of barriers on the Illinois River's Brandon Road Lock and Dam in Joliet, Ill. to ward off Asian carp that try to swim northward from the Mississippi River to Lake Michigan.

Electronic barriers exist at the T.J. O'Brien Lock and Dam in Chicago, however, this past summer, the Asian Carp Regional Coordinating Committee announced that an 8-pound, 28-inch-long silver carp (one of four species of Asian carp considered dangerous to the Great Lakes)) was caught by gill net below the dam, nine miles from Lake Michigan. It marked the second time that an Asian Carp has been discovered beyond the electric barriers operated by the Corps of Engineers.

“We will stop Asian carp from invading the Great Lakes. Now is the time for action,” said Bill O'Neill, deputy director of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, who also was at Wednesday's news conference.

But, taking action will take some time, Snyder cautioned.

“This is not a fast solution,” he said.

The Corps of Engineers' plan first has to be presented to and approved by Congress. Shipping companies that use the Brandon Locks argue the tentative plan to prevent Asian carp from getting past the lock will slow down their ships and cause economic hardship for their businesses.

A plan to pay for the creation of the barriers and annual operation and maintenance fees also has to be finalized.

The Army Corps proposes to begin construction of its $275 million federally funded invasive carp barrier improvement project in 2022 with the system becoming operational by 2025. The plan incorporates a suite of technologies, including an engineered approach channel that could serve as a national test model for invasive species monitoring and control, water jets to sweep out fish caught between barges, a flushing lock to eliminate fish eggs, larvae or floaters from going upstream toward the Great Lakes Basin, complex noise systems to keep fish out of the channel, and state-of-the-art electric barriers at the lock’s entrances.

“The Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago will be helping to make federal advanced funds available for construction of the project, but the operating costs will be about $8 million a year,” Snyder said.

That's where the Great Lakes Basin Partnership to Block Asian Carp partnership will come into play, according to Snyder who is directing the DNR to review potential opportunities for supporting the first five years of operating and maintenance costs with each of the eight Great Lakes States (Michigan, Wisconsin, New York, Ohio, Minnesota, Illinois, Pennsylvania and Indiana) and two Canadian provinces (Ontario and Quebec). The goal also will include identifying opportunities to secure more long-term and sustainable sources of funding for continued operation.

Four types of carp that originated in Asia were imported into the United states during the 1970s according to the DNR. Bighead and silver carp were imported into the southeastern United States in the 1970s to remove algae and suspended matter out of catfish farm ponds and wastewater treatment ponds, according to the DNR. Similarly, grass carp were imported to manage weeds in farm ponds, and black carp were likely imported with shipments of bighead, silver or grass carp.

Some Asian carp can weigh as much as 90-100 pounds. They can consume up to 40 percent of their weight per day, while some female species can produce up to one million eggs.

Scientists still debate exactly how the invasive carp got into rivers and streams along the Mississippi River, but it is believed during large flood events in the mid-1990s, some of the farm ponds overflowed their banks and invasive carp were released into local waterways in the Mississippi River Basin.

Eade of the Michigan Steelheaders said not only do Asian carp threaten Lake Michigan, the invasive fish also could destroy the eco-system of rivers that flow into the Big Lake.

“Rivers from Grand Haven south, like the St. Joseph and Black rivers would be perfect breeding grounds for Asian carp,” he said.

Congressional Medal of Honor recipient Jim McCloughan (left) is shown with U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow who invited him as her guest to President Donald Trump's first State of the Union Address, Tuesday, Jan. 30 in Washington D.C. (Contributed photo)

Medal of Honor recipient attends Trump's State of the Union address

By BECKY KARK

Editor and general manager

Few South Haven residents get the opportunity to see an American president in person.

But, they're not Jim McCloughan.

The Congressional Medal of Honor recipient traveled to Washington D.C. last week to watch President Donald Trump's first State of the Union Address. It marked the second time in less than a year that McCloughan, a retired South Haven High School teacher and coach, has gone to the nation's Capitol to see Trump. The first visit occurred in July 2017 when McCloughan received the Medal of Honor from Trump to commemorate the bravery he displayed after saving 10 soldiers while serving as a U.S. Army medic during the Vietnam War.

“It's unbelievable,” McCloughan said regarding the opportunity to watch the president's State of the Union speech in person.

The opportunity came about courtesy of U.S. Sen Debbie Stabenow, D-Michigan, who invited McCloughan to be her guest for the event.

“I'm really proud to invite Jim,” Stabenow said. “Not only for his military record, which speaks for itself in terms of heroism, but his role as a teacher and coach; somebody who has given back to his community and has made a difference in people's lives.”

Stabenow became acquainted with McCloughan after the U.S. Department of Defense recommended in 2016 that he be awarded the Medal of Honor. But, because of a stipulation that the medal be awarded within five years of a heroic deed, McCloughan wasn't eligible to receive it. That is until Stabenow, U.S. Sen. Gary Peters and U.S. Rep. Fred Upton stepped in to draft legislation to allow McCloughan to receive the award. Congress then passed the legislation, which was part of a defense spending bill that was signed by President Barack Obama in December 2016.

McCloughan said he was was honored to be invited to the State of the Union address, this past Tuesday, as Stabenow's guest.

“It really makes me feel humble and proud to be invited by Debbie,” McCloughan said. “ It's really gratifying to have someone like Debbie as our senator, who is doing what needs to be done.”

Stabenow wasted no time letting the president know her thoughts about goals he outlined during his State of the Union address.

She sent a letter to him ahead of time expressing her concerns that Michigan's infrastructure needs be addressed.

Prior to the president's address, she said in a phone interview, “I know the president is talking about putting together a major infrastructure bill. I wanted to make sure he knew the infrastructure improvements needed in Michigan.”

Stabenow pointed to the critical needs of Michigan’s roads and bridges, water and sewer systems, broadband network, harbor dredging on the Great Lakes and upgrades to the Soo Locks to improve navigation for large ships. She also underscored that projects funded through any upcoming infrastructure proposal should follow Buy American requirements and include protections for American workers.

Another commercial shipping lock needs to be added to the Soo Locks or the shipping industry will be very negatively impacted, according to Stabenow. “We're on borrowed time,” she said, regarding the needed for the additional lock. “The other big thing for me is rural broadband. About a third of people in our state live in a spot that doesn't have high-speed internet. It (availability of reliable high-speed internet) affects everybody.”





1.29.18

Historical Association of South Haven President Amanda Creeden wraps a World War I uniform that belonged to former longtime South Haven Public Schools Superintendent L. C. Mohr. Mohr’s son David recently donated the artifact to the organization. (Photo by Kim Ingalls)

Family's prized possession finds a new home at South Haven museum

By KIM INGALLS

For the Tribune

A century-old relic from World War I has made its way back to South Haven and brings back memories of one of the town's favorite sons.

The uniform belonged to the late Lloyd C. Mohr, a longtime, popular South Haven Public Schools superintendent, who received the distinction of having the high school named for him.

Mohr's son, David, recently decided to donate his father's uniform to the Historical Association of South Haven.

In pristine condition, the hand-and-machine-stitched uniform had been packed away along with mementos of Mohr’s time in service.

“‭I have had it since the death of my father in 1978,” said David, who lives in Benton Harbor. “It had been stored in a tied-up yellow trash bag in my basement.”‬

The decision to donate the uniform came about after a conversation David had with former historical association president Jim Ollgaard.

“A few years back I talked over the uniform donation with Jim Ollgaard.  I had thought of making ‭a sale of it to a collector of that type of World War I collectables.  But nothing at that time ever came of ‬ ‭it. But it turned up again when I was looking up photos for (historical association employee) Sue Hale of houses in South Haven, and it seemed a good time to give it to the historical association, if they would accept it, and they did.“‬

The historical association was thrilled to receive the war souvenir.

“It does get you very excited about what is available, what is out there and what can be found,” historical association president Amanda Creeden said.

 A 1916 graduate of Adrian College and Blissfield native, Mohr made South Haven his home after he earned his degree. He joined the school faculty in 1916 teaching chemistry and coaching multiple sports, including football. However, After only a year serving as a teacher he enlisted in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. 

“‭In the fall of 1917, he enlisted in an army program for college graduates that allowed them to enter the Army as a private, complete boot camp, and then be guaranteed entry into an Officer Candidate School,” David said. “‭He was commissioned as a second lieutenant.  He was sent immediately to France, probably just after the first of the year in 1918.  He spent over six months in France.‬”

One job the Corps of Engineers performed was transporting soldier infantry replacements from their ships to the front fighting lines.

‬“My father was based at an Engineers site in Angers, France.  My father pronounced it 'On-Jay,' emphasis on the second syllable.  He worked with another lieutenant as a team,” David explaind. “They would pick up a group of soldiers, take them to the front, and then return for some time off in Angers.  It depressed him greatly knowing that they would be cannon fodder at the front line.”  

After the war, L.C. Mohr returned to South Haven in the spring of 1919 to resume his career in education. Mohr went on to become the high school's first athletic director and finally rose to the rank of superintendent, overseeing the construction of several school buildings, Arkins field house, athletic fields and a bus garage.

The community honored its extraordinary chief for his 38 years of dedication by naming the high school building after him upon its completion in 1961.

‭While the historical association has not decided yet how the decorated uniform will be showcased, the olive drab artifact with its button fly and ornamental insignia is being carefully stored along with leather leggings and mess kit. ‬

It is missing a couple of things though.

“Two items  ‭have gotten away from me down through the years,” said David. “One, the metal combat helmet. I think it ‬ ‭may have been used as a costume in some play and never got back to me, and two, the canteen that belongs in the group of equipment. I believe that the children in this household liked to play with it, for summer drinks, etc., and it got lost.‬”

SHAES caps 2017 with   $1 million worth of new equipment

The acquisition of more than $1 million worth of equipment highlighted 2017, according to the Annual Report for South Haven Area Emergency Services (SHAES).

SHAES serves the city of South Haven and the townships of Casco, Geneva and South Haven from three stations.

“Our department continues to be blessed by a supportive community support that allows us to provide a very high level of service,” said Chief Ronald Wise.

During 2017, the department put into service a new Spencer 75-foot ladder truck, 73 self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) in partnership with Bangor Community Fire Department and acquired a Road Rescue 4-wheel drive ambulance. SHAES also partnered with Allegan County in the acquisition of new 800mhz radios, purchased a drone for search and rescue operations, replaced an air compressor and cascade bottles for re-filling the new SCBAs and acquired new sophisticated EMS training equipment.

For the fifth consecutive year the department responded to more than 2,000 calls. The 2,169 responses in 2017 were the fourth highest in department history. The record was 2,276 in 2016.

A breakdown of 2017's numbers, shows that SHAES responded to 611 fire alarms and 1,558 medical calls in 2017. There were 997 responses in the city of South Haven, followed by 447 in South Haven township, 414 in Geneva township and 251 in Casco township. SHAES provided mutual aid to other departments on 60 occasions and received assistance 25 times.

Property losses from fire totaled $316,500 compared to $187,745 in 2016. Fire loss in the city of South Haven was $166,000, followed by South Haven and Casco townships at $65,000 each and $20,500 in Geneva township.

There were no civilian fire-related injuries or injuries in 2017. There was one incident in which a firefighter was injured in a training exercise.

The department is comprised of 15 full-time staff and 37 paid-on-call firefighters. During 2017 the department added a full-time assistant fire inspector to facilitate an expanded community-wide pre-planning and inspection program.

In addition to its emergency response duties, SHAES continued its active public education programs in 2017 with safety presentations to nearly 1,900 people at schools, senior living facilities, businesses and to civic groups. More than 500 children and adults attended the annual Fire Safety Fun Night in October. SHAES also partnered with the Historical Association of South Haven in designing and installing a state-of-the-art fire detection system at the the association's museum in the historic former Hartman School.



1.22.18

MLK would be proud

Approximately 150 volunteers packaged 2 tons of rice for local food pantries, Jan. 15, in honor of  Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday. The Day of Service took place at South Haven High School.Jules Stuckum (left) and Kyla Toney of the high school's Key Club are shown packaging rice. The Day of Service was sponsored by the South Haven Diversity Coalition and the high school's Diversity Club

Adding diversity

New South Haven council member selected for Ward 1

By BECKY KARK

Editor and general manager

South Haven City Council consisted of six men until this past Monday when members unanimously voted to appoint Letitia Wilkins to the Ward 1 seat that was vacated when Scott Smith became mayor.

Council members chose Wilkins from three other applicants – Charles Grigg, chief executive manager of Control Innovation in South Haven; Stephen Runkle, a retired construction worker and truck driver; and Randy Van Wynen, retired executive director of South Haven Area Emergency Services. But, just prior to Monday's meeting, Grigg dropped out of the running.

During Monday's meeting, council member interviewed the three remaining candidates about pressing issues facing the city and strengths they could bring to the council if chosen.

Council members then chose which council member they thought was best and submitted their votes in writing to City Clerk Travis Sullivan, who then counted the votes and said that Wilkins received the most votes. The council then took a vote and unanimously chose Wilkins.

Sullivan said after the meeting that five of the council members wrote down Wilkins' name while one wrote down Van Wynen's.

Wilkins, who graduated from South Haven High School in 1987 and now serves as a business and language arts teacher at her alma mater, told council members she has a “dream for our young people to succeed.

“I've seen and heard the hardships our community deals with,” she continued to say. “It's increasingly hard to advocate for students to stay here after they graduate. There's no affordable housing for them or good jobs.”

Wilkins said the city needs to work hard on retaining its current businesses and attracting new ones, and thinks the city should hire an economic development manager to help bolster job growth. She also thinks the city needs to continue focusing on infrastructure improvements.

Council members said it wasn't easy choosing a new member.

“It's nice to have three qualified people to go through this process,” council member Steve Schlaack said.

“I want to thank all three people,” council member Joe Reeser said. “You all had a sincere desire to help this community. We're at a tipping point. We need to create more economic growth. She (Wilkins) will bring a lot of experience and education to the council.”

Some people after the meeting questioned the legality of the council's decision to choose their favorite candidate by secret ballot.

Michigan Open Meetings Act prohibits municipalities from using a voting procedure at a public meeting that prevents citizens from knowing how members of a public body have voted.

But according to City Manager Brian Dissette, there was no formal vote taken when the council members took part in the secret ballot process.

The paper preference methodology was chosen to avoid embarrassment to any applicant,” Dissette said. “In this situation, council members expressed their preference on paper, signed that paper, and submitted it to the clerk.  The clerk simply reported which applicant had the most support on those preference papers. The appointment was then made by a motion that was unanimously approved.”



1.15.18

South Haven High School varsity basketball players practice Thursday on the hardwood parquet gym floor that was installed last summer. Since installation, school officials have noticed that some of the boards on the floor are starting to raise up slightly. Repairs have been made by the company that installed the floor, but school officials want the whole floor to be replaced.(Photo by Becky Kark)

South Haven High School's new gym floor to be replaced

By BECKY KARK

Editor and general manager

Playing basketball on a hardwood parquet floor seems to work just fine for the Boston Celtics, but South Haven school officials aren't too thrilled with their new parquet floor.

The floor was installed this past summer as part of the school's $27 million renovation project, however, school officials plan to replace it.

“Our staff has concerns of movement on the floor,” South Haven Public Schools Director of Non-instructional Services Kevin Dee told Board of Education members Wednesday. “We have observed tiles delaminating (lifting).”

No students have been injured from playing on the gym floor, however, school officials still want the problem addressed.

Staff noticed the problem shortly after school started and notified the construction manager at Owen-Ames-Kimball Co., the district's architect at GMB Architecture and Engineering and the floor contractor, according to Dee.

“We've been working with the architect and contractor and they've made repairs, but the floor does need to be replaced,” he said.

South Haven Public Schools Superintendent Bob Herrera agreed.

“The safety of our students and athletes is always our top priority,” Herrera said. “Therefore we are committed to the continuous monitoring of the current gym floor and look forward to the replacement being installed this summer.”

School officials said they have come to an agreement with the flooring contractor to replace the $115,000 floor at the contractor's expense.

“They are committed to replacing the floor,” Dee said.

But in the meantime, school officials plan to do some homework to determine whether a parquet floor is the best surface for a gym and plan to visit other schools that have parquet floors. They then will make a recommendation to the school board which type of flooring is best.

“The old floor lasted a long time,” said South Haven Board of Education member Bryan Lewis. “Maybe the old method (tongue and groove wood structure) isn't so bad.”

“The (parquet) floor should last 50-60 years,” Dee said. “It's supposed to be a much more stable flooring.”

If school officials decide they don't want a new parquet floor installed, Dee cautioned the district would have to pay for the installation and materials for a new floor.

“If we change products we would be on the hook,” Dee said.

There is still approximately $550,000 left in the district's bond contingency fund. That money is designated for repairs or other building improvements associated with the district's 2014 bond issue projects.

Some of the money is scheduled to be used for new carpeting at Lincoln School and a new outdoor sign at the high school. School officials are also planning to install sound-deadening materials in the new gym.

“We've had complaints of how loud it is in the new gym,” Dee said. “That's good for the home-court advantage but maybe too loud for the spectators.”

The cost for the carpeting, sign and sound-deadening materials is expected to be finalized within the next several months for the school board's approval.

South Haven school board chooses president for 2018

By BECKY KARK

Editor and general manager

After 8 years with Bryan Lewis at the helm, a new person will be leading South Haven Public Schools Board of Education.

Board members, Wednesday, chose Laura Bos to be the board's new president. Lewis announced at the start of the board meeting that he wanted to step down from his leadership role.

“It's been one of the greatest honors of my life to serve as president of this school board,” Lewis said. “I never intended to be president for 8 years, but it's time for a transition.”

As president, Lewis oversaw the hiring of two superintendents and passage of a $34.7 million bond issue that led to a $27 million renovation of South Haven High School and improvement to the district's other schools in the past two years.

“You've done an excellent job,” board secretary Corey Davis told Lewis during Wednesday's meeting.

Board treasurer Joe DeGrandchamp, who has served on the board for the past 10 years, echoed Davis's sentiments.

“There were rocky, difficult times we dealt with and Bryan did a great job of focusing us and creating cohesiveness,” DeGrandchamp said.

Bos, who previously served as vice president of the school board, said she's looking forward to her new role as president.

“We have wrapped up the bond projects, so finally, the physical things to our buildings are done,” she said. “We have a great opportunity coming up with programming and curriculum. We're ready to have a uniform K-12 curriculum ahead of us. It's the first time we've ever had that.”

During Wednesday's meeting, other school board officers were elected as well. Doug Ransom will serve as vice president, while DeGrandchamp and Davis were re-elected as treasurer and secretary, respectively.



1.8.18

Shoveling snow last week from the sidewalk surrounding Taste restaurant seemed like a never-ending chore for Mark Russell and others like him who were trying to keep walkways clear. Approximately two feet of snow fell in South Haven last week, with temperatures hovering in the low teens.

Cold blast of winter weather takes its toll on residents, businesses

By KIM INGALLS

For the Tribune

Winter storms, bitter cold, and poor driving conditions over the holidays has taken its toll on South Haven area residents and businesses.

Wintery blasts over Christmas and New Year's holidays have piled up nearly two feet of snow the along the lakeshore with the latest storm on Wednesday and Thursday dumping close to a foot of the white stuff.

Many parents, whose kids were on Christmas break last week, felt the “lake effect” in more ways than one.

"Thank you Lord for the Internet and video games," said Terri Gill, mother of two pre-teen boys, in an interview last week. "I had plans to do some fun things like visit the Grand Rapids Museum, but I'm scared to drive on the highway."

Poor driving conditions caused some businesses, like the Curve Inn in South Haven Township, to adjust its hours.

“I closed completely for several days and closed early most days,” owner Pat Clausen said. “My staff had to drive through that mess.”

For others, the harsh winter weather has been hard on their body.

"My lumbar is hurting from pushing my shopping cart through the slush at Walmart," South Haven resident Vikki Doffing Hollis said.

Even though it was colder here last week than in parts of Alaska, cheer up. The weather forecast for Southwest Michigan calls for temperatures to rise above the freezing mark this week, according to the National Weather Service.

Parvo outbreak forces temporary closure of VB animal shelter

By BECKY KARK

Editor and general manager

HARTFORD — Southwest Michigan residents who want to adopt a pet from Van Buren County Animal Control's pet shelter won't be able to do so for at least a week due to an outbreak of Parvovirus.

The shelter, 58040 County Road 681, closed Tuesday, Jan. 2, according to the Friends of the Van Buren County Animal Shelter Facebook site.

“Until further notice, our kennels are closed to the public,” the Facebook post read. “One of our recent intakes has brought in the deadly virus Parvo, and as we battle to contain it and nurse those that are sick, please pray for them.”

Parvo is a highly contagious virus, according to the American Kennel Club. It causes an infectious gastrointestinal (GI) illness in puppies and young dogs, and without treatment, it is potentially deadly. Symptoms include severe diarrhea, lethargy, fever, vomiting, weight loss, weakness and dehydration.

The outbreak at the animal shelter occurred a couple of weeks ago when a homeless dog was brought to the shelter, according to Lt. Jim Charon of the Van Buren County Sheriff's Department.

One dog has died and another that had already been adopted, has also died, according to Charon. “Six dogs at the shelter have been exposed (to the virus) Charon said. “Only one dog is showing symptoms and is being treated.”

The dogs that were exposed to the virus are now being quarantined for the next two weeks, but in the meantime, the shelter will remain closed to the public. Humans cannot contract the virus, however, ones who have come into contact with an infected dog can spread Parvo, just as canines do.

It is not uncommon for animal shelters to deal with a Parvo outbreak, according to Charon.

“It happens quite frequently with shelters because they take in stray animals that haven't been vaccinated,” Charon said. “We've dealt with it before.”

Parvo, for the most part, is a preventable disease, according to the American Kennel Club. Vaccines for the parvovirus are recommended for all puppies and are usually given in a series of three shots when the pup is between 6-to-8 weeks old, again at 10-to-12 weeks, and at 14-to-16 weeks. A booster shot is administered one year later and every 3 years after that.

The Friends of the Van Buren County Animal Shelter underscored the importance of vaccinations on its Facebook page. “Please vaccinate your pets. Not only are they at risk, but this awful Domino effect puts so many others at risk,” the post read.



12.18.17

Store owner defends actions after being robbed

By BECKY KARK

Editor and general manager

LAWTON — Carl Trumbla and his wife have owned Country Lakes General Store for 15 years. Known for its pizza, salads, wings and calzones, the store is popular with locals and other people who visit inland lakes near Lawton and Marcellus.

But these days, Trumbla is worried about being sued and facing criminal charges for chasing and apprehending a shoplifter who had a machete hid in his pants.

“People are telling me I'm wrong for catching him,” Trumbla, 55, said regarding the incident that occurred Monday morning at 83269 M-40 Hwy., three miles south of Lawton. “I had no intention of hurting anyone. I was just trying to apprehend him. I have to wait until I find out if I'm going to be sued,” Trumbla said in phone interview Tuesday. “I'm worried I'll face charges. That's America nowadays.”

To Trumbla, the story of his decision to chase after and catch a 26-year-old Paw Paw man who came into his store and ran off with $120 worth of Lottery tickets and an energy drink is simple.

“I got robbed,” Trumbla said. “He fled. I chased him.”

But Trumbla's decision to chase the man and his method of apprehending him has raised a few eyebrows.

But, whether charges will be filed against Trumbla will depend on the prosecutor's office, according to Van Buren County Sheriff Daniel Abbott. A report about the incident was sent to the prosecutor's office last week for their review, according to Abbott.

“They will decide the outcome from there,” Abbott said. “If they feel he should be charged, then they will.”

The incident involving Trumbla and the retail fraud suspect, unfolded Monday when the Van Buren County Sheriff's office responded to an armed robbery complaint at the store. A news release from the Van Buren County Sheriff's Department stated that after the suspect left the store, Trumbla got in his pickup truck and went after the man. He then hit the man with his snow plow, causing him to fall into a ditch. When the suspect got up to run, Trumbla tackled him and held him down until police could arrive. A Life EMS ambulance transported the suspect to a local hospital for possible broken bones and internal injuries.

Trumbla, however, has taken issue with some of the statements in the sheriff's department's news release.

According to Trumbla, the suspect entered the store wearing black clothing and a black mask. He said he had a winning lottery ticket. Trumbla proceeded to process $120 worth of new lottery tickets for the man, who then handed him the bogus ticket. When Trumbla turned to scan the ticket to see if it indeed was a winner, the man grabbed the tickets and drink and left.

“He ran about 1,000 feet. I got in my truck and went after him,” Trumbla said. “The kid turned right onto County Road 352. I turned the corner and I tapped him with the right corner of the snow plow. It was the “eyebrow” (rubber top of the plow). I wasn't doing over 5 miles an hour. I hit him hard enough to knock him down. As soon as he was knocked down I stopped. He jumped up and took off running. He wasn't injured. I tackled him and the whole time on the ground he continued to fight me.”

Trumbla also took issue with the report which stated that the suspect was forced into a ditch from the impact of the snow plow. Trumbla said being hit by the snow plow caused the man to fall, but it wasn't until he was tackled that he landed in the ditch.

Also troubling to Trumbla is the machete that he said Lawton police found down the suspect's pants after they arrived on scene to investigate the incident.

“The officer asked him, 'why did you have this?' and he said, 'just in case I needed to use it,” Trumbla said.

But the suspect didn't pull the machete out when taking the lottery tickets from the store.

“He didn't threaten us with it,” Trumbla said.

Because the suspect didn't pull the machete out at the time of the shoplifting incident, the sheriff's department arrested him for the misdemeanor charge of third degree retail fraud, instead of armed robbery.

Lake Michigan College President Trevor Kubatzke is shown speaking with the Herald-Palladium editorial board this past week. (Photo by Don Campbell of the Herald-Palladium)

New LMC president lays out his vision

By ALEXANDRA NEWMAN

HP Staff Writer

ST. JOSEPH — When Trevor Kubatzke considered becomingthe new president of Lake Michigan College, he wanted to make sure the college would have a positive impact on the community it serves. 

“That has turned out to be true,” he told The Herald-Palladium’s editorial board Tuesday. “Everyone has been very open and welcoming. No matter what town I’m in in the district, they see the college as an important part of their lives, the community’s lives and the success of the southwest region. That’s a great place to come in to.”

Kubatzke started his tenure as LMC president in April. He brings more than 30 years of experience in higher education with him to the position. His last post was as vice president of student services at Milwaukee Area Technical College. Kubatzke took the LMC reins after a hectic period in the college’s history. He succeeds Bob Harrison.

One of Kubatzke’s initial projects was working with staff to develop a set of goals for the next 12-18 months, as the college prepares for an accreditation visit next year, he said. Those three main goals are laid out on a 4-by-6 inch card. 

“I’ve done strategic plans that are in 80-page binders and no one ever looks at it,” Kubatzke said. “We wanted to put a representation of our goals that every employee sees every day and, more importantly, can see themselves in. We asked everyone, ‘Can you see yourself impacting something on this card?’ And if anyone said no, we worked to make sure they could.”

The goals include academic excellence and student success. Kubatzke said it’s important students are prepared to excel academically and professionally. 

“If we’re not providing a quality pipeline to maintain or grow our industries around here, we’re not doing our job,” he said. “And once our students come to us, we want to make sure they’re successful at college and can meet their educational goals.”

The third goal, community impact, is aimed at making the area a desirable place for families to live. 

“That’s where things like the Mendel Center Mainstage, the Economic Club and other programming beyond educational opportunities come in,” Kubatzke said. “Employers like Whirlpool, who are drawing a lot of engineers and high-level folks that are beyond our training, can only draw them if the community is an inviting place.”

LMC is working on a number of capital improvement projects as well to make its campuses more inviting and a state of the art place for students to learn.

A bond issue approved by voters last November will pay for a portion of the $33 million in renovations and additions coming to the college. Part of the funds will come from private donors and the rest, about $7.5 million, will come from state House and Senate appropriations bills that were expected to pass last week. 

The renovations will include a new health occupation wing, doubling the culinary program space, additional art spaces, a wine center with two classrooms and office space, improvements to two lecture halls and 50 classrooms, and air and heating upgrades.

LMC also has been working toward other improvements, not just physical ones, such as better methods to connect students with financial aid resources, adding online classes to help with create class schedules that are flexible for students, plus helping students learn more about certificate programs and short-term training that could help connect them with jobs after college. 

LMC also has worked to expand its early college programs. 

“LMC has evolved over the years to meet the needs as we have them, and there is a need for our students to get a start on college in a cost-effective way,” Kubatzke said. “So we respond and develop programs that we need to to make sure we do that.”

He said he has not encountered many surprises since coming on board. 

“The college is in sound fiscal shape, even when enrollment this fall wasn’t where we wanted it to be,” Kubatzke said. “We made some hard decisions in the fall, but we’re thrilled that our numbers bounced back up for the spring. It’s all due to the hard work of everyone at the college. There wasn’t anyone not concentrated on keeping the students we have and finding more students to bring in.”



12.11.17

Youth Development Company mentors are shown with Sr. Site Supervisor Kariann Johnson (right) in front of the new Blessing Box at Covert Public Schools. From left are Danell Smith, Monday Taylor, Jessica Sullins, Eric Jones, Carla Broady and Kariann Johnson.

Holiday cheer, year-round

Students, volunteers pack 'Blessing Boxes' year-round with food, personal care items

By KIM INGALLS

For the Tribune

Sometimes people need a little extra help especially when it comes to having enough food to eat.

Thanks to an effort by local churches, a school and a youth program, Blessing Boxes have been installed throughout the community that can help ease the need, not only during the holiday season, but year-round.

“Some people just need a meal to get through until their check arrives,” said Barb Guthrie about the Blessing Box that was put up recently at Maple Grove Elementary. “The items in the box tend to go together to make a meal.”

Filled with non-perishable foods and personal care items, Blessing Boxes are like miniature pantries that are available 24 hours a day for anyone who may be struggling and can use the items to make ends meet. 

Maple Grove Elementary, South Haven Community Church and the Community Church of Douglas partnered together to build the South Haven box. A similar one is at the Douglas church. South Haven Community Church will keep the box stocked at Maple Grove Elementary, but Guthrie said anyone who would like to add to the collection is free to do so.

“Right now, there’s more people putting things in,” she said. “It’s pretty cool that people want to help.”

The blessings are added up in Covert as well where Youth Development Company/Police Athletic League (YDC/PAL) Mentoring program has placed a Blessings Box at the school.

“You always wonder if you’re doing enough to help those in need and look for ways to empower youth to do for others,” said YDC Executive Director, Brook Blanchard. “If children are motivated by kindness and a giving heart, they have a better chance of being more compassionate adults.” 

One of two community service projects, the Covert Blessing Box provides an opportunity for the mentoring program students to give to their community.

“They (the students) looked at what would make the biggest impact,” explained Blanchard. “Sometimes it’s tough to provide the small things like toothpaste and diapers. This will help throughout the year instead of just one time.”

Covert eighth grader Ciera Frazier says, “I think the Blessing Box can help people get what they need if they don’t have enough money. If they need diapers, baby wipes, some food or fresh water, the Blessing Box can bless anyone that has that need.”

A dedication ceremony will be held at 3:30 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 14 at the school. 

"Everybody in the district is excited about the great outreach of YDC as it relates to the Blessing Box,” said Covert Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Bobbi Morehead. “It is heartwarming to see people rise to the occasion and give a person that has fallen on hard times a hand up. I’m sure the small acts of kindness will create a rippling effect not just in Covert but the surrounding communities, showing people how something as simple as Pampers and baby wipes can make a difference in a family's day-to-day needs and decisions. A gift given and received in love will have lifelong impacts.”

SH, Kinexus join forces to promote economic development

By BECKY KARK

Editor and general manager

An organization that provides economic development services in Berrien, Cass and Van Buren counties will be expanding its footprint in Van Buren County.

Kinexus plans to utilize office space at South Haven city hall twice a week for its staff members to work on economic development projects in Van Buren County.

The City of South Haven has made arrangements to provide office space for Kinexus staff members to maintain a presence two days a week. The office space will be at South Haven City Hall, 539 Phoenix St., in downtown South Haven.

“We're giving them space at no charge,” said South Haven City Manager Brian Dissette. “In exchange they're not charging anything additionally to provide services.”

“The City of South Haven is happy to partner with Van Buren County and Kinexus to offer greater economic development services to the South Haven community,” said South Haven Mayor Bob Burr. “We expect great results will follow from this partnership.”

While in South Haven and their office in Paw Paw, Kinexus staff will work to provide Van Buren County businesses and governmental units access to a variety of state and local tax advantages, business incentives, transportation assets, workforce development programs and infrastructure grants.

Kinexus has been providing economic development services on behalf of Van Buren County for two years, according to Mary Morphey, manager of corporate communications for Kinexus, which is based in Benton Harbor.

The partnership with Van Buren County started with Kinexus administering the Revolving Loan Fund, which produced 4 loans to local businesses, creating an economic impact of $500,000. The partnership has now grown to Kinexus providing a full suite of economic development services on behalf of the county, resulting in 66 jobs being created, 90 jobs retained, and over an $11 million economic impact since its inception.

Morphey went on to say Kinexus provides workforce development services in Van Buren County. The organization was recently able to secure $147,602 in training funds for three employers in South Haven, which will result in 168 people being trained in 2018.

“We’re looking forward to continuing our work with the city of South Haven to foster economic growth in the area,” said Todd Gustafson, CEO of Kinexus.

The partnership between South Haven and Kinexus came about partly with the departure of the city's part-time economic development liaison Jack McCloughan, who retired earlier this year.

“We've kept the position vacant and the office,” Dissette said, explaining that in January of 2018 a new mayor and three new city council members will be sworn in after winning the November city election.

“I anticipate in 2018 the new city council will want to put their fingerprint on economic development services,” he said. “For right now we're partnering with Kinexus.”



11.27.17

Thanksgiving tragedy

Paul Hapke Jr., 63, of Pullman, died Thanksgiving evening from injuries he suffered after his pickup truck collided at 9:35 p.m. with an SUV that failed to stop at the intersection of 109th Avenue and 66th Street, in Casco Township. The SUV was driven by a 20-year-old woman from South Haven, who was traveling south on 66th Street. The woman told Allegan County sheriff's deputies she was unable to stop. The force of the crash caused the pickup truck to roll over into an adjacent field. Hapke died at the scene of the accident. The South Haven woman suffered minor injuries. The crash remains under investigation to determine if criminal charges will be filed.

Medical marijuana entrepreneurs eye Bangor

By BECKY KARK

Editor and general manager

BANGOR — City Council members are giving their new medical marijuana ordinance a workout.

Council members earlier this week approved site plans and special use permits for three prospective businesses interested in developing indoor growing and manufacturing facilities for medical marijuana in Bangor Industrial Park. They also OK'd special use permits for two medical marijuana dispensaries, downtown.

“Their next step will be to receive licenses from the state,” City Manager Regina Hoover said. “The state expects to begin that process Dec. 5. If they don't get a license they won't move forward.”

The grow and manufacturing facilities are being proposed by MJA Enterprises of Grand Junction, JMR Enterprises of Geneva Township and Civica Engineering of Portage.

If the businesses receive licenses from the state to develop their facilities they will do so on three lots the city's Economic Development Corporation will lease to them.

According to Hoover, the three businesses plan to work together rather than compete with one another.

“There will be 1,500-plant grow buildings and they're also interested in manufacturing (medical marijuana),” she said. “One of the groups said they will have transportation facilities (for the transport of medical marijuana to approved businesses).”

The proposed downtown dispensaries where medical marijuana patients can purchase cannabis products, will be located in buildings at 133 and 126 W. Monroe St. JMR Enterprises plans to lease the building at 133 W. Monroe, while Alan Silverman of South Haven plans to buy the building at 126 W. Monroe, and lease it for a dispensary.

City residents appear to welcome the idea of medical marijuana businesses setting up facilities on the three industrial park lots, which have sat vacant for a number of years. There was very little comment about the facilities during a Bangor Planning Commission Public Hearing, Nov. 16. Most people who did comment were glad of the prospect of new businesses in town, according to Hoover.

However, concern has been expressed by some people who don't want dispensaries in the downtown area.

“They were worried that the downtown will become the 'Wild West,' or that the drug Cartels will be moving in,” Hoover said.

Residents' concerns prompted City Council member Danny Fry to suggest the city put a moratorium on dispensaries downtown, however, city council members voted down his motion, 5-2, during Monday's city council meeting.

The approval of medical marijuana facilities in Bangor was made possible earlier this fall when city council members approved a new ordinance that follows state mandates for establishing medical marijuana facilities that meet guidelines established by the Michigan Licensing and Regulatory Agency (LARA)

There are five licenses that LARA will issue to medical marijuana business, provided the owners meet LARA standards, which include passing a background check, and presenting a business plan for their proposed enterprise.

• Grower licenses will be issued for three categories – Class A,(up to 500 marijuana plants), Class B, (up to 1,000 plants) and Class C (up to 1,500 plants). Growers must locate their operations in areas zoned for agricultural or industrial uses.

• Secure transporter license holders will be able to store and transport marijuana and money from the sale or purchase of cannabis. Transporters will move cannabis-related items to and from marijuana facilities. They must have a Michigan-issued chauffeur's and driver's license. Any route they travel will be placed in a tracking system overseen by the state. Vehicles have to operate as a two-person crew with one person remaining in the unmarked vehicle at all times. In addition, police officers can inspect the vehicles at any time.

• Processor licenses will be issued for businesses that want to refine a growing facility's marijuana into concentrate or edibles that will be sold to a provisioning center.

• Safety compliance licenses will be issued to businesses that will test medicinal cannabis samples to make sure they are safe for use. According to LARA, safety compliance businesses have to be accredited and must also be staffed by employees with advanced medical or laboratory science degrees.

• Provisioning center licenses will be issued to dispensaries that receive marijuana products from growers and processors and then sell them to medical marijuana patients. They can only sell products to a registered patient.





11.20.17

Van Buren County District Judge Art Clarke presides over the first hearing of the nw "Sobriety Court." (Contributed photo)

A first for the region

Van Buren County introduces 'Sobriety Court'

By ALEXANDRA NEWMAN

HP Staff Writer

Van Buren County Specialty Courts has implemented a new program in an effort to better treat offenders caught operating a vehicle while intoxicated.

The program – sobriety court – is aimed at helping non-violent OWI offenders who have been diagnosed with a substance use disorder. 

The court is a post-conviction program, so all participants must have pleaded guilty or been found guilty after a trial to a misdemeanor or felony OWI charge. Enrolled participants are subject to frequent and random drug testing, case management appointments, bi-weekly court hearings, unannounced home checks, and substance use disorder and mental health treatment. 

“I am looking forward to presiding over the Van Buren County Sobriety Court. Our efforts are to assist and provide help to those that need it, allowing them to take their lives back into their own control. The proceedings will be held in South Haven to further utilize this facility,” said Judge Arthur Clarke, who will preside over the cases.

There are about 30 sobriety courts in Michigan and they have excellent recidivism rates, said Rachel Lindley, specialty courts administrator, in a news release about the program. Only 10 percent of program graduates have any new conviction within four years of admission.

Berrien and Cass counties do not have sobriety court programs. It is Van Buren County’s seventh specialty court. 

Sobriety court is also a cost-saving effort, Lindley said. Incarceration costs taxpayers approximately $30,000 per person per year, while sobriety court costs approximately $2,500 per person per year. 

The court program has been in the works for about a year. Representatives from the Van Buren County Prosecutor’s Office, the Michigan Department of Corrections, Van Buren County Board of Commissioner’s Office, Van Buren County Defense Bar, Van Buren Community Mental Health, Van Buren County Sheriff’s Department and other law enforcement agencies discussed and planned out the court program together.

Lindley said the first meeting of sobriety court in October showed a lot of promise. 

“We look forward to seeing the difference sobriety court can make in someone’s life and the county in the coming days,” she stated in the release. 

Casco Township grapples with short-term rentals

By BECKY KARK

Editor and general manager

Why get rid of a good thing?

That's how Casco Townsip resident Priscilla Massie and her neighbors feel about the township's zoning ordinance, which prohibits short-term vacation rentals in low-density residential areas.

“Rentals are considered commercial...These people need to accept the rules of Casco Township zoning or move,” said Massie, who along with her husband, Larry, spends summers in their second home in a subdivision west of Blue Star Highway.

“Larry and I have owned a cottage there since 1985 and have enjoyed escaping the mosquitoes in the Allegan Forest (where the couple resides during the rest of the year) and spending summers with our family along the coast of Allegan County,” Massie said.

Massie and a group of residents who live in the lakeshore subdivisions of Sunset Shores, Mt. Pleasant, Highfields, Miami Park and Boardwalk have been attending township board and planning commission meetings for nearly the past two years to advocate for an end to short-term vacation rentals in their neighborhoods; rentals they say shouldn't be allowed because they are intended for commercial uses and violate the township's zoning ordinance.

“Many short term renters simply have no stake in preserving the neighborhood,” Massie said. “They litter the roads and beach, hold late night drunken and loud parties and don’t even have the decency to extinguish bonfires that continue to smudge throughout the night and have caused residents' smoke alarms to go off in the early morning hours.”

But even though the township zoning ordinance doesn't allow for short-term rentals, township officials are beginning to have second thoughts about their zoning ordinance that prohibits homes from being rented to vacationers.

In 2002, the township board adopted a zoning ordinance and master plan that strictly limits where commercial establishments can locate within the township. Furthermore, if a land use isn't addressed in the ordinance – such as short-term vacation rentals – it is forbidden.

“Unless you say something is permitted it's not permitted,” said Diane Liepe, chair of the township planning commission. “To me it seems backwards. It should be permitted unless it specifically says no.”

The issue about the validity of the township's zoning ordinance was further complicated in April of 2016 when Allegan Circuit Court Judge Kevin Cronin ruled in favor of homeowners who sued to end short-term vacation rentals in the private subdivision of Sunset Shores, which did not allow for vacation rentals. Additionally, the judge ruled that short-term rental activity violated the township's zoning ordinance, saying the defendant homeowners treated their properties “like hotels for guests.” and were therefore using them for financial gain – something prohibited in Casco's low-density residential areas.

Property owners who had been renting their homes for years to vacationers – despite the zoning ordinance's provisions - weren't happy with the judge's ruling.

“Some of the areas (where homes are rented) are platted in small non-conforming lots. Those were meant for cottages,” Liepe said. “This (using cottages for short-term rentals) has been part of their heritage. It wasn't a part of our zoning ordinance when it should have been included (as an acceptable land use).”

Township Supervisor Allan Overhiser agreed. “There have been rentals for quite some time,” he said. “We had a good neighbors policy and volunteer registrations.”

But fearing the possibility of lawsuits from home owners who had been renting their homes for years to vacationers, township officials consulted with the township's attorney.

“We were advised by our attorney to look at our zoning ordinance,” Overhiser said.

As a result, nine months ago township board members voted to put a moratorium on the zoning ordinance's prohibition against short-term rentals so they could study the issue of whether to allow them or not.

“The township needs to do something – prohibit them or allow them with regulations,” Overhiser said.

According to Liepe, the planning commission has held workshops since January to determine what's best for the township. The next workshop is Nov. 29.

“We've been spending an awful lot of time on this,” she said. “We have heard from both sides at every workshop. People are very passionate about this issue on both sides. We've spent a lot of time to make sure we've heard from all sides.”

The planning commission has also been working with a planner since March to help them determine the best course of action.

“I think we've come quite a long way,” Liepe said.

But time is of the essence because the moratorium that allowed for short-term rentals ended Oct. 20.

Overhiser said the vast majority of short-term rentals occur during the warmer months, but he hopes the planners will make a recommendation soon.

And according to Liepe, it appears the planners are leaning toward creating a short-term rental ordinance.

“We're creating a new ordinance for short-term rentals to regulate land use,” Liepe said. “Once we agree on a proposed zoning ordinance, we'll then schedule public hearings. Once those are held we need to vote to send it on to township board.”

In the meantime, the township board is working on provisions to regulate short-term rentals in terms of how many people can occupy dwellings, noise levels, and developing a registry of homes.

“One thing we're looking at is coordinating with a monitoring company,” Overhiser said. “There would be a 24-7 hotline where people can call in if there's an issue. More important it would give us better information on what homes are being rented out and where they are.”



11.13.17

Students in Joana Livieratos’ Bangor Career Academy class watch videos on aquarium setup and read about Chinook salmon as they learn about the life cycle of salmon  as part of the state DNR’s “Salmon in the Classroom” program. The students will be spending this year raising young salmon. They recently received about 200 eggs from the Wolf Lake Fish Hatchery for the project.

Taking stock of salmon

Bangor students plan to raise young salmon to release later into the Black River

By KIM INGALLS

For the Tribune

BANGOR - There’s something a little fishy about Joanna Livieratos’ classroom.

From eggs with eyeballs to fish with fins, her Bangor Career Academy students are learning about the life cycle of salmon as they raise the fish in their classroom as part of the state DNR’s “Salmon in the Classroom” program.

“We got involved in this program as a way to bring hands-on, experiential learning into our classrooms here at the Career Academy, particularly about Michigan's Great Lakes ecosystem and the fishing industry that is such an important part of Michigan's heritage,” Livieratos said. “Many of our students are avid salmon fishers, and so are very excited to be hatching salmon eggs right here in the classroom.”

Livieratos’ class is one of about 200 throughout Michigan that are participating in the program in which teachers receive fertilized salmon eggs from a DNR fish hatchery in the fall, hatch them out, feed and raise the fry through spring, and then release the young salmon into a local river. The”hands-on" learning experience is the centerpiece of the program which includes an entire curriculum. The program teaches students about everything from the life history of fish to the importance of the Great Lakes and fishing to Michigan's culture and economy. 

It also requires schools to purchase about $1,200 worth of equipment that may be a hurdle for some schools. Fortunately, the Career Academy had some help.

“We have some pretty specialized equipment that includes a 60-gallon aquarium with a custom-built chiller designed to keep the water at 47 degrees F, which was funded by a generous grant from the Bangor Alumni Foundation,” Livieratos said.

Watching the transformation of salmon from eggs to a young fingerling is even a learning experience for students like Gabe Barber who is an old hand at casting a line.

“This project can greatly benefit the class and the students that don’t know too much about salmon or their life cycle,” said Barber, 15. “For me, since I know a lot about the salmon already, I can learn how the fish goes from a tiny, simple little egg, to a notoriously monstrous fish known to be one of the hardest fighters in freshwater and saltwater.”

He even sees the benefit to his community.

“I know the DNR’s main job is to help sustain a well-functioning and balanced ecosystem throughout Michigan's forests and waterways. This will benefit the community because we will be releasing the salmon, which will help stimulate a better population. This is good because in recent years, salmon fishing has been quite slow and fishing is a big part of the community, whether it be for recreation or for sustenance."

A new role

SH official hired as Fennville's city administrator

By TRIBUNE STAFF

A South Haven city official will soon be heading north to Fennville to become the town's new city administrator.

Fennville City Commission members voted earlier this week to hire Amanda Morgan for the new position.

“She has great experience with day-to-day activities in running a city office,” said Mayor Tom Pantelleria. “She could start in that office running.”

Commissioners still need to negotiate a contract with Morgan, who is expected to receive an annual salary between $45,000-$55,000.

“I'm very excited about the job,” Morgan said. “The community is eager to grow.”

Morgan has been employed with the City of South Haven for the past 18 years. She originally served as administrative assistant to the city manager, then as city clerk, and most recently as customer service manager. She obtained a bachelors degree in business administration – management, from Western Michigan University.

“Being with the city has given me wonderful opportunities,” Morgan said. “I was a long-time clerk, got to work directly with the city manager and I've been customer service manager for four years.”

Fennville city commissioners interviewed three candidates for the city administrator position. The other two candidates were James L. Tatum, a former research assistant at Eastern Michigan University, and Mark Gilbert, an intern for the city manager of Clarkston.



11.7.17

From left, sisters Amanda Johnson, Carrie Trover and Megan Zernicke, more commonly known in South Haven by their maiden name, VanDerZee, stand on the site of what will become Three Blondes Brewing. The microbrewery is expected to open in late spring or early summer of 2018. It will be located adjacent to VanDerZee Motorplex, 1875 Phoenix St., which is owned by the sisters' parents, Ray and Linda VanDerZee.

Three sisters ready to tap into the craft brewing industry

Three Blondes Brewing to open in spring of 2018

By BECKY KARK

Editor and general manager

People in South Haven often lament the number of young adults that move elsewhere after graduation. But three sisters who grew up in South Haven are staying put. What's more, they're planning to open a new business.

Megan Zernicke, Carrie Trover and Amanda Johnson, along with their husbands, broke ground last week at the site of the future Three Blondes Brewing.

Named for the sisters, who all sport blond hair, the proposed 7,000-square-foot, 100-seat brewery is expected to open in late spring or early summer of 2018 next to VanDerZee Motorplex, 1875 Phoenix Road.

“Right now we're going with the spring of 2018, but that's dependent on a mild winter,” Carrie said.

When Three Blondes opens, the microbrewery will feature 12 beers on tap as well as a full restaurant menu.

“We'll have our Signature Blonde, of course,” Carrie said, “but we'll have a wide variety to appeal to everyone – like IPA, Belgian, Stout, and we'll have cider and wine for those that don't like beer.”

The restaurant menu is still being developed.

“We're thinking the theme will be American Eclectic,” Carrie said. “We're definitely trying to use locally sourced food and come up with unique dishes.”

Better known by their maiden name, VanDerZee, Carrie, Megan and Amanda - with their husbands, Matthew Zernicke, Adam Troyer and Joe Johnson - began kicking around the idea for developing a brewery about a year-and-a-half ago.

“It was born out of our love for our hometown and our love of the craft brewing industry,” Carrie said. “Those two things came together and Three Blondes was born.”

But the three couples knew starting a new business wouldn't be easy. They had to develop a business plan, get financial backing, obtain permits and licenses to brew craft beers and purchase equipment.

“When we were planning this, there were no breweries in the area,” Carrie said. “There's Ballock's (in downtown South Haven) now, but along I-196 (from St. Joe to Saugatuck) there's a big void on the map. We knew there was a need.”

While developing their plans, the three couples visited other breweries and talked with their owners.

“The craft-brewing industry is very unique,” Carrie said. “We met a lot of brewery owners and everyone has been so helpful. Other businesses are very competitive with each other. That (the sharing of ideas) is the awesome thing about this business.”

The three couples envision a microbrewery with a capacity of brewing up to 10,000 barrels from a 15-barrel system. They hope to employ 22 people initially, with the goal of hiring 32 workers.

Brews will be available onsite and offsite, according to Carrie.

“We would like to start distributing locally and then eventually work up to distributing in other parts of Michigan.”

The Miss and Mr. Bangor court for 2018 is shown from left: Madison Kueny, first runner-up; Regan Slone, Miss Bangor; Quentin Walantyn, Mr. Bangor; and Samantha Zordan, second runner-up and Miss Congeniality. (Photo by Kim Ingalls)

A crowning moment in Bangor

Regan Slone chosen as

Miss Bangor 2018

By KIM INGALLS

For the Tribune

BANGOR — Bangor High School senior Regan Slone will reign as Miss Bangor 2018. Slone received her crown during the Miss Bangor Pageant, Sunday, Oct. 29 at Bangor High School.

The daughter of Hope Sloan and Randy Slone, Slone is a National Honors Society member, captain of the varsity cross country team, a varsity track team member and volunteers at Red Cross Blood drives.

After graduation, she plans to attend college to obtain a master's degree in social work.

Slone also earned the Miss Entrepreneur title in the pageant.

For the pageant, she wore a strapless, white floor-length satin gown accented with gold sequins.

Winning the first runner-up title was Madison Kueny, the daughter of Tara Moore and Keith Kueny. The Bangor High School senior is secretary of the National Honors Society, a member of the varsity track team and participates in school plays and the Quiz Bowl.

After graduation, she plans to go to college to become an athletic trainer.

Receiving dual crowns was Samantha Zordan who won the second runner-up title as well as Miss Congeniality. Zordan is the daughter of Jen and Mike Zordan and is a senior at Bangor High School.

A National and Academic Honors student, the dual-enrolled student plays soccer and is on the school’s varsity football team as a kicker. She has received numerous sports awards.

Quentin Walantyn will represent the city as the new Mr. Bangor. A senior at Bangor High School, he is an honor roll student and class president in the marketing class at the Van Buren Technology Center.

Walantyn is the son of Melissa and Daniel Walantyn.

Le’onna Wallace was named Miss Teen Bangor. The Bangor High School junior is the daughter of Tisha Kennedy and Calvin Wallace.

A member of the varsity softball and cheer teams, Wallace plans to become a music teacher after attending college.

For the pageant, she wore a black floor length gown highlighted with silver rhinestones.

Emily Underwood, the daughter of Jessica and Chris Smith, and Josh and Vandy Underwood, was chosen as first runner up and Miss Entrepreneur.

Second runner up is Erika Villegas, the daughter of Teresa and Trinidad Villegas.

Competing in the contest as well were Hannah Householder and Laisha Ramirez.

Crowned as Miss Junior Teen was Serenity Dempsey, a fifth-grade student at Bangor Middle School. She is the daughter of Tisha Kennedy. 

Dempsey is a member of band, softball team and Girls on the Run.

Theme for the pageant was “Rolling out the red carpet for the best of Bangor.” Emcees for the afternoon were Jeff Melvin and his daughter, Hayley.

South Haven Police Department hires fifth sergeant

By BECKY KARK

Editor and general manager

South Haven Police Department has created a new sergeant position and in doing so will actually save taxpayers money.

Zach Hathaway, who has been a South Haven police officer for five years, started his duties last week as the department's fifth sergeant. It's part of the department's restructuring efforts, according to Police Chief Natalie Thompson.

“We used to have a deputy chief,” said Thompson who started as police chief in January. “Since I was hired we haven't had one.” The department also did not replace an administrative assistant who resigned over a year ago.

The reduction in the two positions has created a lot more paperwork for Thompson to handle.

“I do my own typing, pay bills and I'm also the chief,” Thompson said. “I'm reaching my limit.”

The deputy chief was paid an annual salary and benefits that totaled $108,000, while Hathaway's promotion will only cost the department an additional $8,000.

“This is a no brainer,” Thompson said regarding the decision to add a fifth sergeant rather than pay a deputy chief's salary.

Hathaway has worked for South Haven Police Department since 2012. He first worked as a patrol officer until his assignment the narcotics unit with the South West Enforcement Team (SWET) two years ago. He also has served as field training officer and a police mountain bike instructor for the department.

At his new job, Hathaway will supervise one of the two night squads.

Hathaway graduated from Kalamazoo Valley Community College Police Academy and attended Western Michigan University where he received his bachelor’s degree in criminal justice. Most recently obtained a master's degree from Northern Michigan University. He also served four years with the U.S. Coast Guard.

Prior to his law enforcement career, he served as a volunteer firefighter, emergency medical technician and substitute teacher while living in Ohio.

Thompson said there are no plans at this time to hire a new officer to replace Hathaway.





10.30.17

From left are Wendy Dubuisson and Debbie Foune of South Haven Women Who Care, Lisa Galdikas, Al-Van Humane Society Board president (holding Beatrice, a shelter cat), and Lisa Kozicki, Al-Van vice president. (Contributed photo) 

Al-Van inches closer to fundraising goal for new animal adoption center

Al-Van Humane Society has received a $7,900 boost in funding for its renovations to its new adoption center on Blue Star Highway.

The funds came from South Haven Women Who Care, a group of women who present grants each quarter to a non-profit group in the South Haven area.

Galdikas noted that after a 2-year capital campaign, the shelter has raised $400,000 of the $500,000 necessary to complete this renovating the adoption center for pets.

“With continued community support, we feel confident we can move our adoptable animals into the Blue Star Highway building in time for our 50th anniversary in 2018,” Galdikas said.

Founded in 1968, Al-Van Humane Society is a no-kill non-profit animal welfare organization dedicated to providing emergency food and shelter for homeless pets. It is an independent and private, 501c3 non-profit organization. In 2012, the Michigan Pet Fund Alliance awarded the society the Most Improved Open Admission Shelter. For information on Al-Van’s C.A.R.E.S. Capital Campaign and ways to donate, visit their website www.al-van.org. 

South Haven Women Who Care has approximately 80 members and hopes to increase its membership to 100, so that each quarter, they will be able to support local nonprofits with a $10,000 donation.  If you are interested in supporting local nonprofits in this way, email Laura Hayward at lhayward@dbccpa.com. The next meeting for South Haven Women Who Care is Nov. 1 at 5:30pm at the South Haven Yacht Club. All are welcome to attend.

String of arsons solved

A Hartford man faces criminal charges for setting fire to abandoned residences and buildings in the Hartford, Keeler and Bangor area.

Kyle David Norden, 40, was arraigned, Monday, in Seventh District Court on six counts of arson, according to Van Buren County Sheriff Daniel Abbott. The judge set his bond at $100,000.

Norden is accused of starting at least seven fires in Van Buren and Berrien counties over the past month. The fires were started between 11:30 p.m. and 3 a.m. in the following locations: 41000 block of 66th Street in Bangor Township; the 9000 block of Hagar Shore Road in Watervliet Township; the 46000 block of 60th Street in Hartford Township; the 70000 block of 62nd Street in Hartford Township; the 86000 block of County Road 581 in Keeler Township; and the 65000 block of 77th Avenue in Keeler Township.

Norden may have allegedly set more suspicious fires, said Lt. James Charon of the sheriff's department.

“We're looking at a couple of others that seem similar,” Charon said.

The sheriff's department became aware of the alleged arsonist after several fire chiefs reported arson fires occurring in their jurisdictions.

“These fires all seemed suspicious in nature,” Abbott stated in a news release.

Last week, Abbott set up a task force to investigate the fires and enlisted help from K9 Ritzey from Kent County Sheriff's Office, who is trained to sniff for the presence of accelerants used to set fires.

In the course of its investigation, the sheriff's department also received a tip that Norden had ignited the fires.

When deputies interviewed Norden, he confessed to starting five fires in Van Buren County and two more in Berrien County.

“I am proud of this organization and the way all the deputies put in the extra effort to quickly bring this investigation to a close,” Abbott said. “The sheriff’s office worked well with local fire departments and organizations to protect the citizens of Van Buren before someone was hurt.”



10.24.17

Sandy Rose, (right) instructor for Laughter Yoga at Van Buren County Senior Services, takes part in a laughter skit with class participant Marva Wisser. (Photo by Kim Ingalls)

A laugh a day keeps the weight away

Experts say laughter yoga can help participants lose weight

By KIM INGALLS

For the Tribune

They stand in a circle stretching arms up to the ceiling and down to the floor. 

The room is quiet save for the sounds of gentle and deep breathing.

Then suddenly, there’s a burst of laughter, and soon after, the entire room is loud with merriment.

Welcome to Laughter Yoga.

The newest class offered at Senior City on 76th Street, Laughter Yoga is based on the belief that voluntary laughter provides the same physiological and psychological benefits as spontaneous laughter. Done in groups, the class focuses on eye contact, silly skits and play acting.

Developed in the mid 1990s by Indian physician Madan Katariaw, who writes about the practice in his 2002 book Laugh For No Reason, Laughter Yoga is considered a form of exercise and is thought to help people lose weight.

“It’s as good as being on a rowing machine for 20 minutes,” believes Sandy Rose, Senior Services Laughter Yoga instructor.

If those gasping for breath after participating in a laughing exercise is any indication, it does seems to be quite a workout.

“It’s actually exhausting,” Rose said.

Web MD explains, “We change physiologically when we laugh. We stretch muscles throughout our face and body, our pulse and blood pressure go up, and we breathe faster, sending more oxygen to our tissues.”  

A researcher from Vanderbilt University conducted a small study in which he measured the amount of calories expended in laughing. It turned out that 10 to 15 minutes of laughter burned 50 calories.

“The nice thing about Laughter Yoga is it can be done in places like nursing homes,” Rose said. “Everyone can laugh.” 

The half-hour class is filled with “skits.” Participants play-act scenarios such as laughing while holding an invisible cell phone or pretending it's funny when there is no money in their pockets.

To help participants calm down after all the giggling, chuckles and belly laughs, calming exercises are done at the end of the class to soothe and lower heart rates.

Laughter Yoga takes place at Senior City, 1635 76^th St., from 2:30 p.m.-3 p.m.. There is no cost or registration required.