5.21.18

Front row from left are Three North Shore Elementary School students whose pet photos were chosen as winners in the Pizza Hut Literacy Project Fundraiser. The students are Keira Alfieri, Morgan Tomsa and Gwenyth Meyer. Back row from left are Mike Harris, manager of South Haven Pizza Hut; North Shore Principal Carey Frost and Caitlyn Peters, manager of Coloma Pizza Hut.

Pizza Hut delivers

South Haven, Coloma eateries donate $2,200 to North Shore Elementary

An elementary school in South Haven now has nearly $2,200 to spend on purchasing library books, thanks to Pizza Hut.

North Shore Elementary School Principal Carey Frost recently received a check for $2,168 from Mike Harris, manager of South Haven Pizza Hut, and Caitlyn Peters, Coloma Pizza Hut's manager.

Both eateries spent the past several months raising funds for the school as part of the national restaurant chain's Literacy Project.

“Pizza Hut does an annual fundraiser to promote literacy among students in local communities,” Harris said. “In the areas that Pizza Hut serves, schools can sign up to be a recipient of the funds raised by local restaurants. For the South Haven and Coloma Pizza Huts, North Shore Elementary School was chosen as our beneficiary.”

Both restaurants came up with a variety of fundraisers to raise money for the Literacy Project.

The South Haven Pizza Hut organized a cutest pet contest where students from North Shore were photographed with their pets and then voted on which ones were the cutest. The finalists were then posted at Pizza Hut where customers then chose their favorite ones by giving a donation to indicate their vote.

At the Coloma restaurant, customers took part in several raffles.

South Haven woman bound over for lake crash death

SH woman bound over for lake crash death

By HP STAFF

A South Haven woman will go to trial in Van Buren County Circuit Court in connection with the drowning death of a Bangor man in December.

Tara Smith, 21, was bound over for trial Wednesday in South Haven District Court by Judge Arthur Clarke, according to a Seventh District Court clerk.

She is accused of driving the car that plunged into School Section Lake in in Bangor Township on Dec. 22, resulting in the death of her boyfriend, Jezreel Wallace, 22.

Smith is charged with two counts of operating under the influence causing death, one for alcohol and one for marijuana, according to court records.

Smith is in the Van Buren County jail on a $50,000 cash/surety bond. A next court date has not been set yet.





5.14.18

Members of Bangor Branch Library's Lego Club are shown in the photo, above. This year marks the 60th anniversary of the famous Lego brick. Interest in the plastic brick has resulted in a slew of Lego-building opportunities at many of the local libraries including the Lego Club at the Bangor Branch Library.

Never letting go of those Legos

The little plastic bricks remain popular with young and old for 60 years

By KIM INGALLS

For the Tribune

This year marks the 60th anniversary of the iconic Legos - those brightly colored plastic bricks that kids love to build with and adults hate to step on.

Derived from the abbreviation of two Danish words,“leg godt”- meaning “play well” in English - Lego was the brainchild of Ole Kirk Kristiansen who came up with the idea of putting tubes in plastic bricks while in his carpenter workshop.

His company, Lego Group, began producing the first version of the toy brick in 1949, but it wasn’t until 1958 that the Lego brick, as we know it, was born. The iconic design hasn’t changed significantly since then ensuring that two Lego bricks produced 60 years apart can still fit together.

“Lego play is powered by imagination and curiosity, and the Lego brick is at the very heart of it  with imagination as your only limit,” said Julia Goldin, chief marketing officer for the Lego Group.

“This helps young minds to stay open, keep exploring and develop skills such as creativity, collaboration and problem solving.” 

Interest in the building blocks has not waned over the years, in fact, it's on the upswing in North America, fueled somewhat by the popularity of The Lego Movie.

Lego clubs have sprung up across the country including several in Van Buren County.

“Our lego club is called ‘Brick Builders,” said Gail Patterson, South Haven Memorial Library’s children librarian. “We meet during the summer and have a theme each week.”

An orientation will be announced soon for those interested in participating, she said. During the meeting, decisions will be made on what day and what time to meet. The club is open to anyone ages five years to 14.

Thanks to a grant from Meijer and donations from the community, the library has quite a collection of bricks to build with.

“Sometimes, we do ask for kids to bring baseplates because we are short on them,” Patterson said.

Several Van Buren District Library branches also offer opportunities for kids to get creative and build with Legos. In Bangor, the library hosts a Lego Club every Thursday from 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Builders of all skill levels are welcome to drop in anytime during those hours. The library has plenty of bricks for everyone to use and at the end of the session, the brick creations are put on display in a showcase.

The Bloomingdale Branch Library is another place kids can go to for some Lego fun.  Librarian Marianne Sipka says the library doesn't have a formal club, but kids are welcome anytime on Fridays year round.

At the Covert Branch Library, a “free build” is on Thursdays starting at 3:30 p.m. Librarian Lois Brigham says kids “can build whatever they want to do.” No sign-up is needed.

Casco Township unveils new rules to govern short-term rentals

By BECKY KARK

Editor and general manager

While South Haven city officials revisit their two-year-old short-term rental ordinance, Casco Township is ready to roll out its own rules for vacation homes.

Starting Tuesday, lakeshore homeowners in Casco will face a new set of requirements if they want to rent their dwellings to summer guests.

The requirements are part of the township's new short-term rental regulatory ordinance, which among other things, orders vacation rental home owners to register their homes for a fee of $200 or face a $750 fine. The ordinance also establishes the following:

• Limits the number of guests that can stay in a vacation rental

• Requires guests to follow the township's noise ordinance

• Sets up a home inspection program

• Requires homeowners to have smoke and carbon monoxide detectors throughout their dwelling

• Sets up a 24-hour hotline for short-term rental complaints

Allan Overhiser, township supervisor, is pleased with the township's decision to offer the 24-hour hotline.

“We think we are the first township or municipality in southwest Michigan to take this approach,” Overhiser said.

The township has contracted with Host Compliance, a San Francisco-based company that monitors and enforces short-term rental ordinances for municipalities.

“They have systems that monitor rental activity,” Overhiser said. “This will help us to get compliance from people that aren't registering”

Neighbors of short-term rentals can report ordinance violations by calling 435-787-4357. Host Compliance will then contact the short-term rental owners, their agents or township officials to resolve the matter quickly.

“The hotline, coupled with strong regulatory and noise ordinances is designed to maintain our quiet neighborhood settings while supporting the economic development that short-term rentals bring to the community,” Overhiser said.

Like other lakeshore communities, Casco has been spending the past several years grappling with the growth of homes being used for short-term vacation rentals.

The issue came to a head in 2016 when Allegan Circuit Court Judge Kevin Cronin ruled that short-term rentals were forbidden in a private subdivision in Casco as well as the rest of the township. The matter became more complicated when the Michigan Appellate Court upheld the decision ruling that short-term rentals violate the township's zoning ordinance which prohibits vacation rentals in 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,”Township Planning Commission chair Diane Liepe said in an earlier interview. “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 officials also began to worry about the possibility of lawsuits being filed by owners of homes that had been used for vacation rentals for years.

“It (the court rulings) created uncertainty about renting in the township, because we've always been a community that has a lot of seasonal homes along the lakeshore that are rented,” Overhiser said.

Shortly after Cronin's decision in 2016, the township board and planning commission began to re-examine the short-term rental issue.

“The Township Board and Planning Commission spent a year-and-a-half studying the issue,” Overhiser said.

The result was a decision by the planning commission and township board in January to amend the township's zoning ordinance to allow short-term rentals. The board also passed a new ordinance to regulate vacation homes.

However, opponents of short-term rentals gathered enough signatures to force a referendum on the revised zoning ordinance, which if approved by voters at the Aug. 7 primary, will once again prohibit short-term rentals.

If the referendum passes, the township board will be back to the drawing board for allowing short-term rentals, which worries Overhiser.

“There's lots of things that could come into play. It will create a lot of uncertainty. There's the issue of grandfathering,” he said referring to the number of people who have rented their homes to vacationers for years. On the flip side of the coin there are homeowners who could sue the township for not upholding its ordinance.

Until the referendum vote occurs the township board has OK'd a moratorium on enforcement of its current zoning ordinance.

So, for the 2018 rental season, vacation homes will have to abide by the new ordinance that regulates the dwellings.

“The (regulatory) ordinance is something that is not subject to referendum,” Overhiser said. “All dwellings used for short-term rentals must be registered before renting occurs or advertising to rent takes place.”



Van Buren County puts 4 millage proposals on August ballot

By ROD SMITH

For the Tribune

PAW PAW — Van Buren County Commissioners Tuesday adopted the fourth and final millage proposal that will be placed on the Aug. 7 primary ballot.

That proposal asks for renewal of the 75 cents, per month, per device surcharge for 4 years to be used for 911 services and equipment.

The language reads "Shall Van Buren County be authorized to assess a county 911 emergency services charge on monthly billings to each service user located within Van Buren County at a rate not to exceed $0.75 each month, (renewing the current surcharge) subject to annual approval by the Van Buren County Board of Commissioners for the period of July 1, 2019, through June 30, 2023, to be used exclusively for the funding of 911 emergency telephone call answering and dispatch services within Van Buren County, including facilities equipment and operations."

That 75 cents is the local tax for 911 and was approved by voters in 2014. The state also charges $1.17 per device per month.

"We're at $1.92," Commission Chair Richard Godfrey told commissioners. Since the state allows a total surcharge of up to $3 per device per month, Van Buren County actually is $1.08 below the maximum.

The 2014 surcharge will be expiring June 30 of next year after which commissioners hope the renewal will kick in.

The 911 surcharge renewal request will be the second proposal on the primary ballot. The first will be the public safety millage renewal. The current millage is expiring and the renewal is a request for 0.5332-mill for four years for drug enforcement and road patrol.

Similarly, the ambulance millage is expiring. The renewal request will be 0.9402-mill for four years. That's the third proposal.

The fourth proposal is a new millage requested by the Road Commission. That's for 3 mills for 12 years to improve county roads, with some going to cities plus local authorities — downtown development, tax increment financing, brownfield, and local development financing.

The Road Commission maintains 1,055 miles of roadway. Of that, county officials deem 202 miles "good" with the remainder "fair" to "poor." There isn't enough money to fix them, according to officials.

A mill is $1 of tax for every $1,000 of taxable valuation of a property.

In other matters, commissioners formally voted to hire a contractor to tear down the old infirmary at the county fairgrounds between Hartford and Lawrence.

The successful bidder is Krohn Excavating, of Bangor, for $36,800 to demolish the structure. "This is the hospital over at the old county poor farm," Godfrey said at a previous discussion meeting.

Commissioners have talked about tearing it down for some years with Commissioner Donald Hanson describing it as "pretty much demolished" already.

The Van Buren County Historical Society maintains a museum in the old residence hall on Red Arrow Highway. This is not the same building as the infirmary.

The fairground, at the corner of Red Arrow Highway and County Road 681 between Lawrence and Hartford, was previously the site of the 1884 county poor farm. There is also believed to be a lost cemetery somewhere on the property. In 2015 anthropology students expressed interest in trying to locate it, but the idea never materialized.

According to those students, the infirmary was the first hospital in the county. It may not be the original building since there was a fire that killed many people, according to those students. Those fire victims were buried in a mass grave that has not been located.

Commissioners also contracted with Krohn to demolish the old Red Arrow Bar in downtown Lawrence. Cost is $25,900. The county owns the building through the foreclosure process.

During that discussion meeting, Hanson said the county has put the building up for sale twice, but received no offer.



5.7.18

State Reps. Beth Griffin (black sweater) and Mary Whiteford (blue jacket) cut the ribbon to mark the opening of Al-Van Humane Society's new adoption center. The ceremony took place, Monday, April 30 and was attended by nearly 100 people.

A dream come true

Humane Society celebrates opening of pet adoption center

By BECKY KARK

Editor and general manager

The new surroundings at Al-Van Humane Society's new adoption center suits the cats and dogs staying there just fine.

“We've seen an immediate impact on the animals,” Al-Van Executive Director Jennifer Nuernberg said. “They're much more relaxed.”

Lisa Galdikas, president of Al-Van's board of directors agreed.

“We have cuts coming up to us that used to hide (in their cages),” she said.

The new 6,000-square-foot adoption and community education center was unveiled to the public this past Monday during a ribbon-cutting ceremony that included government and community leaders, Al-Van board members and donors who helped make the facility a reality.

“To see everyone from the community is wonderful,” Nuernberg said during the ceremony, which also commemorated Al-Van's 50th anniversary. “This is a really big day for our community and our animals.”

Al-Van's board and staff spent the past three years raising $500,000 to purchase the former Blue Star Glass building, 07591 Blue Star Hwy., and renovate it into a new adoption center.

“The dream of a no-kill shelter has been 50 years in the making,” Galdikas said. “Kudos to the board for their vision.”

Twice the size of the current pet shelter on 8th Avenue, the new adoption center features three cat rooms, an open play area for cats, separate small and large dog adoption rooms and a centrally located community room that can be used for workshops and seminars about pets. Other features include a separate “quiet” room for animals that are stressed, and rooms for families who want to become acquainted with potential adoptees. The center is also home to Al-Van's Rescued Treasures resale shop.

“It’s exciting,” Galdikas said in an earlier interview. “We’ve literally doubled our space and will be able to increase our intake.”

Al-Van plans to continue using its 8^th Avenue building as an intake facility for newly arrived dogs and cats that may need medical treatment before being housed with other animals at the adoption center.

South Haven High School students lead forum on school safety

By TRIBUNE STAFF

Student safety at South Haven Public Schools will be the focus of a conference hosted by the Ward 1 Community Action Committee.

“A Student-led Conversation – Are We Safe?” will take place from 9:30 a.m.-1 p.m., Saturday, May 12 at First Congregational Church, 651 Phoenix St.

The conference will feature three student speakers from South Haven High School - Kaitlyn Gill, junior and daughter of Janet Lynch; Jazmine Mahone, senior and daughter, Ebony Mahone, and Olivia Price, junior and daughter of Brian Price and Tamara Rigozzi.

Student safety has become a hot topic throughout the nation following the latest school mass shooting that occurred in February at Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla. The shooting prompted walkouts at high schools throughout the United States, including South Haven, where students commemorated the death of the students in Parkland, Fla., and demanded stricter state and federal gun laws.

Gill, Mahone and Price led efforts to organize the peaceful walkout at South Haven High School in March. During Saturday's conference, they will give brief speeches and respond to questions from the audience. Representatives of local police and government will also be present to offer their perspectives on the issue.

After the speeches, the audience and speakers will gather in smaller groups to develop responses to some of the challenges of public safety.

A light lunch will be served at noon, and will be followed by the annual meeting of the Ward 1 Community Action Committee. A drawing for door prizes will occur at the end of the program.

The Ward 1 Community Action Committee is a group of South Haven residents that addresses issues in the city's Ward 1 neighborhoods and in the city as a whole.

Area residents interested in attending the conference should make reservations by contacting Ward 1 Committee President Gail Patterson-Gladney, at gail_lpatterson@yahoo.com.

“They can also include questions they would like to see answered by the speakers,” Patterson-Gladney said.

South Haven history students qualify for national competition

By BECKY KARK

Editor and general manager

Nine South Haven History Club students have qualified for national competition after earning high marks at the Michigan History Day competition, last weekend, in Bay City.

“Out of the seven projects that we brought, five were awarded state awards and we walked away with two special awards we well,” History Club Advisor Julie Sheppard said. “All of our members did an exceptional job and many of the categories had no less than 20 entries.”

More than 475 Michigan elementary, middle and high school students took part in this year’s Michigan History Day competition, which is an educational program of the Historical Society of Michigan. The finalists in the junior and senior divisions will now move on to the National History Day competition in June in College Park, Md.

South Haven's History Club students from North Shore Elementary School, Baseline Middle School and South Haven High School competed in the state competition by preparing exhibits, documentaries and group performances that highlighted compelling historical figures and events in American history.

At this year's state competition, South Haven students tackled such subjects as the role nurses played during the Vietnam War; the Cuban Missile Crisis; the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory tragedy of 1911, considered the worst industry disaster in U.S. history; the development of the Central Intelligence Agency, and Fannie Lou Hamer, a leader in America's Civil Rights movement.

History Club students began researching and putting together their projects at the beginning of the school year, according to Sheppard, who is a teacher at North Shore Elementary School.

“These students begin this process at the end of October - some on their own even earlier - and continue revising and researching the rest of the year, even coming in on Sundays,” she said.

Even though youth division winners don't advance to the national competition, Sheppard said they deserve just as much recognition for their achievement as do older students.

“This (the state contest) is considered their national event,” she said.

South Haven History Club members who earned awards at the state competition follow:

Youth Division
• Tessa Hosier and Claire Newberry earned second place for their exhibit, “Vietnam War: Nurses Are Heroes Too.” The team also received an award for “Best Entry in Use of Arts and Music.”

Junior Division
• Sydney Bettis and Teagan Pleasant earned a national alternate award for their group performance, “This Little Light of Mine: The Legacy of Fannie Lou Hamer.”
• Caylin Jones and Mallory May earned a national alternate ward for their documentary, “Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Disaster: Security over Safety.”

• Nic Sheppard and Myles Daugherty came in first place for their exhibit, “The CIA – Rising From the Ashes of Conflict; Molded by Compromise.”

Senior Division

• Avery Daugherty, Jessee Ford and Maddox Uckele came in first place for their documentary, “DEFCON 2: The Cuban Missile Crisis.” They also earned an award for Best Entry in Naval or Maritime History.



4.23.18

Team Ramageddon's robot, Big Bad Judy, is shown at the FIRST state competition, April  14-16, at Saginaw Valley State University. 

Taking on the world

South Haven robotics team heads to world competition thanks to boost in funding from the community

By BECKY KARK

Editor and general manager

It looks like Big Bad Judy will be rocking, rolling and climbing once again when South Haven High School's robotics club heads to Detroit next weekend to compete in the FIRST Robotics World Championship.

Big Bad Judy — the offbeat name Team Ramageddon chose for its robot, and trusty programmer Joel Rummel, performed enough successful maneuvers at the state competition, April 14-16 in Saginaw, to earn a trip to the world finals.

South Haven's quarter-final finish at the state level and their qualification for the international contest mark the first time Team Ramageddon has achieved such accolades in its six-year history. More than 1,200 robotics teams from 50 countries throughout the world were expected to converge at sites in Detroit and Houston, Texas, for this year's world championship. The Houston contest took place April 18-21, while the Detroit event will be April 25-28.

“It's like a Cinderella story,” said Kim Wise, who coaches the team along with Kevin Dee, director of non-instructional services at South Haven Public Schools. “The first year our robot was put together with duct tape and a prayer,” she quipped.

That wasn't the case this year with Big Bad Judy.

“This is the first time we've had running pneumatics,” Dee said. Swerve drive modules also helped to make the team's robot more agile when undertaking difficult maneuvers. And the team has taken its technology skills to a higher level.

“Technology skills have become more advanced and the team has been able to adapt,” Dee said. Particularly the team's chief programmer, Joel Rummel, who has been involved with Team Ramageddon since he was in eighth grade at Baseline Middle School.

The team's marketing and fund-raising abilities also have improved over the years. When it first formed six years ago, Team Ramageddon had a dozen or so financial sponsors. Now, according to Wise, the team has more than tripled that amount.

The support from individuals and sponsors came through loud and clear when the team returned from Saginaw to find out it had qualified for the World Finals.

“After state, we had drained our account,” Wise said. “When we qualified for the World competition we thought, what do we do now? We don't have a huge corporate sponsor like some of the teams do.”

Turns out, Team Ramageddon didn't need one.

Team members and parent sponsors canvassed the community and within two days raised $13,000 to pay for the team's registration fees, lodging, meals and transportation expenses. The registration fee alone is $5,000.

“In 24 hours we got the money for the registration fee. By 48 hours we had the rest of the money. It blew us away,” Dee said. “We are so thankful to the community. We never expected it.”

The team members were equally in awe of the town's financial support.

“We didn't find out we had made it (to the world competition) until after we got home from state (Saturday, April 14),” team member Taylor Vincent said. “Immediately after we found out we posted on Facebook that we needed help. We knew people would be supportive, but not that much that fast.”

“It was awesome,” team member Sophie Goodnough remarked.

Funding structure set up to pay for library renovations

By BECKY KARK

Editor and general manager

Plans to renovate and expand South Haven Memorial Library are finally starting to roll along thanks to the formation of a governmental group that will play a key role in helping to finance the $2.3 million project.

The South Haven Joint Building Authority has been set up to issue bonds for the project, but before it can anything, the authority needs some members – a task that now has been completed.

South Haven City Council members voted Monday to name City Manager Brian Dissette, Assistant City Manager Kate Hosier and Department of Public Works Director Bill Hunter to the authority. The council's action came on the heels of South Haven Township's designation of Joe DeGrandchamp and Mark Odland to the group. The sixth member of the authority will be Library Director Jim France who will serve as an advisory member.

The joint building authority had to be created because the library's board of directors does not have the legal authority to seek municipal loans to finance construction projects, according to South Haven City Manager Brian Dissette.

“The library has the millage but without the ability to use public financing they won't be able to build this project,” Dissette said.

Vikke Andersen, a member of the library's board of directors, echoed Dissette's comments and said the board appreciates the creation of the joint authority.

“Without it, it (the library improvements) won't happen,” she said.

Because the library receives its annual operational millage from people in both South Haven and South Haven Township, governmental officials thought it would be best to set up a joint building authority, rather than rely on just one of the municipalities to shoulder the responsibility.

“We launched the joint building authority to equally share the debt,” Dissette said. “It opens the window for future projects between the city and township as that relationship continues to grow and improve.

The joint building authority's sole purpose will be to oversee the financial aspects of the project with funds it plans to borrows from the United States Department of Agriculture's Rural Development division.

“Since the library is not a taxing entity and does not have borrowing power, the collection of the millage and the

The rest of the responsibility for the renovation's completion will rest with the library board, which will be spending the next several months finalizing plans to begin the construction phase of the project.

The upgrades to the library are being made possible by voter approval in May of 2017 for a 40-year, quarter-mill tax levy.

The proposed improvements include making the entrance to the library handicap accessible, upgrading the heating and cooling system, updating the electrical system, insulating exterior walls, installing energy efficient lighting, updating public restrooms, installing new carpeting and furniture, expanding the space for community events and library programs, expanding the space for book collections and computer usage, expanding storage space and making better use of office space for library staff.

It is hoped construction can begin in the fall.

“If everything goes smoothly and according to plan, the construction will begin this fall, and could last up to a year,” France said.



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.





5.21.18

3 from South Haven sentenced in

bank fraud case

By TRIBUNE STAFF

GRAND RAPIDS — Eighteen defendants, including three from South Haven, will serve prison sentences for participating in a multi-state scheme to defraud Bank of America of hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Tirrell Perry Thomas, the Michigan leader of the scheme, was sentenced to 8.5 years in federal prison as part of the ongoing multi-state investigation that resulted in felony convictions for 18 participants, U.S. Attorney Andrew Birge announced Tuesday.

U.S. District Judge Paul L. Maloney sentenced Thomas and the other defendants for their involvement in the bank card fraud scheme, which sought to obtain more than $780,000 from Bank of America and resulted in losses totaling $455,709. This is Thomas’s third federal felony conviction. He was convicted of federal drug trafficking offenses in 1999 and 2007.

The other defendants, including co-conspirator Earl Lee Cobb IV of Chicago, were also sentenced for their roles in the fraud scheme.

The sentences follow a 28-count indictment that was returned by a grand jury in August 2017 alleging that 19 people participated in a conspiracy to defraud Bank of America in November and December 2015. The fraud was accomplished by using debit cards to withdraw funds from ATMs and
casinos in Michigan, which had been fraudulently deposited into the bank accounts in Illinois, by Chicago co-conspirator Earl Lee Cobb IV.  Eighteen defendants pled guilty to at least one count in the indictment and one defendant, an accountholder, was allowed to enter a period of pretrial
diversion, a form of probation without entry of a guilty plea.

Some of the defendants held Bank of America accounts or opened new ones to accept fraudulent check deposits and then made fraudulent withdrawals at banks and casinos, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Michigan. Others acted as recruiters who accompanied and directed accountholders on trips to open bank accounts and withdraw funds, while some of the suspects, such as Thomas, were leaders and organizers who collected and divided the fraud proceeds.

A list follows of the defendants who were sentenced follows:

• Tirrell Perry Thomas, Kalamazoo, 102 months in prison

• Earl Lee Cobb IV, Chicago, 78 months in prison

• Nickolas Maurice Fry, Kalamazoo, 41 months in prison, plus an additional 13 months in prison for a related federal supervised release violation

• Jerome Datra Perry, South Haven, 15 months in prison

• Josiah Nathan Preston, Wyoming, 14 months in prison

• Kyle Dwayne Mosley, Kalamazoo, 14 months in prison

• James Langford, South Haven, 12 months and one day in prison

• Darmesha Lakeya Gunn, Parchment, 11 months in prison

• Dwayne Edward Perry, Grand Rapids, 8 months in prison

• Tiffany Danielle Sanders, Sturgis, 4 months in prison

• Elnora Snipes, South Haven, 3 months in prison

• Desiree Analiese Winfield, Kalamazoo, 2 months in prison

• Antoine Naivon Younger, Kalamazoo, 1 month in prison

• Brenda Marie Davis, Kalamazoo, 1 day in prison

• Sean Allen Haney, Grand Rapids, 3 years of probation

• Kelsey Alice Thompson, Grand Rapids, 2 years of probation

• Kevin Lavelle Hunter II, Kalamazoo, 2 years of probation

• Crystal Kaye Pugh, Norton Shores, 2 years of probation

In addition to the prison and probation sentences, each defendant sentenced to prison will serve a period of supervised release after their custodial sentence, and each defendant was ordered to pay restitution to Bank of America ranging from $8,027 to $455,709, depending on the amount of actual
loss for which they were held responsible.

The Bank of America fraud case was investigated by the Detroit Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service in Chicago, with assistance from the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of Potawatomi Tribal Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kate Zell and Christopher O’Connor.

Not in this town

Group forms to inform SH residents about harmful effects of marijuana legalization

By BECKY KARK

Editor and general manager

The possibility that South Haven City Council members may allow medical marijuana facilities to locate in town worries a group of 20 local residents who have banded together to raise awareness of the harmful effects marijuana can cause, particularly to youth.

“Our group's focus is to inform citizens, especially youth, about the marijuana issue,” said Lucie Jerch, a member of Concerned Citizens of South Haven.

Despite medical marijuana concerns in South Haven and the the November election where Michigan voters will vote whether to legalize recreational use of pot, Concerned Citizens of South Haven does not want to be identified as a political group, Jerch said.

“We're not taking a political approach but rather an informative approach,” she said. “We want to give people an opportunity to make informed choices.”

Rachel Sankofski, another group member agreed.

“Our group is concerned about insuring South Haven is a healthy and safe community. We want to create awareness because this is an issue being discussed at the local government level...We certainly are sympathetic to people who need marijuana for medical purposes, however we are concerned about the harmful effects of THC (the main psychoactive compound in cannabis) on young minds.”

To back its mission, Concerned Citizens of South Haven plans to sponsor a forum in June to discuss the negative effects marijuana can have on youth and on communities, as a whole.

“Marijuana: The Other Side of Cannabis,” will take place from 6 p.m.-8 p.m., Tuesday, June 5 at Lake Michigan College's South Haven campus, 125 Veterans Blvd.

The forum will include viewing of the award-winning independent documentary, “The Other Side of Cannabis: Negative Effects of Marijuana on Our Youth.”

Produced and directed by Jody Belsher of San Luis Obispo, Calif., the film tells the stories of individuals who have suffered from marijuana use. “The Other Side of Cannabis” also includes interviews with researchers throughout the United States who have studied the harmful effects of cannabis.

“I found it to be the best 72 minutes I've spent watching a movie,” Sankofski said. “It's very compelling.”

Belsher, who created the movie after her son suffered from marijuana use, will travel to South Haven to be the keynote speaker at the local forum and will also take part in a panel discussion where she will be joined by Marc Sprague, a former medical marijuana dispensary owner who now oversees the Celebrate Recovery program at LifeBridge Church in South Haven; and Abby Oliver of Healthy and Productive Michigan, a Grand Rapids-based group opposed to legalization of recreational marijuana. Concerned Citizens of South Haven also plan to invite a representative from Van Buren County Substance Abuse Prevention Task Force to be part of the panel discussion.

The community forum isn't the only event on the Concerned Citizens of South Haven' plate. They also plan to organize a forum for youth in the community on Wednesday, June 6, at a location to be determined.



5.14.18

(Clockwise from bottom left) South Haven High School seniors Olivia Price, Jazmine Mahone and Kaitlyn Gill are shown with municipal clerks Travis Sullivan, City of South Haven; Kathy Stanton, Casco Township; Daywi Cook, Covert Township; and Debbie Burrows, Geneva and South Haven townships; at last week's voter registration day at the high school.

South Haven students ready to exercise their right to vote

By BECKY KARK

Editor and general manager

“My Vote, My Voice,” has become the mantra for several South Haven High School seniors who helped spearhead a voter registration session at their school this past week.

Olivia Price, Jazmine Mahone and Kaitlyn Gill want to send a message to governmental leaders that something needs to be done to stop the number of gun-related violence that occurs in schools throughout the country.

Following the latest mass shooting that resulted in the deaths of 23 students and adults at a high school in Parkland, Fla., in February, the trio organized a peaceful protest at South Haven High School where students discussed the need for better gun control laws.

It was at that protest where Price, Mahone and Gill, started to think about other ways young adults can make their voices heard regarding gun violence.

They approached retired teacher Julie Leavitt, who was at the protest, about their idea.

“They requested voter registration this year,” Leavitt said.

The students went to the right person. Leavitt is a member of the South Haven chapter of the American Association for University Women (AAUW).

In the past, AAUW has worked with municipal clerks from the South Haven area to go directly to South Haven High School and Lake Michigan College to register students.

After the girls made the request, AAUW members got to work.

Because of their efforts and the cooperation of clerks from South Haven and the townships of Geneva, South Haven, Casco and Covert, 54 South Haven High School students were registered to vote.

“Students who were 18 or would be 18 by Nov. 6 could register to vote,” Leavitt said. “Because they registered with a clerk, they will be able to use an absentee ballot if they are away from South Haven during the next election.”

South Haven AAUW plans to offer voter registration in the fall at the South Haven Campus of Lake Michigan College.  Candidate forums will also be held in October.

“AAUW is an advocate for nonpartisan voter education efforts and we promote citizen participation in our democratic society,” Leavitt said.

Pullman man dies after being hit by vehicle

By BECKY KARK

Editor and general manager

PULLMAN — A 34-year-old Pullman man, who was struck early last week by a vehicle while walking along a road, has died from his injuries, Allegan County Sheriff's Department reported Friday.

Guadalupe Garcia had spent much of the week in critical condition at Bronson Methodist Hospital after Monday's accident

The collision occurred at 5:50 a.m., at the intersection of 109th Avenue and 55th Street in Lee Township.

First responders tended to Garcia but he was unresponsive and had sustained severe injuries, according to the sheriff's report. He was airflighted to Bronson where he remained for the week before succumbing to his injuries.

Deputies found out about the accident when the driver of the vehicle called 911 to say she had struck a pedestrian who was walking in the roadway.

The 20-year-old female driver of the vehicle was traveling west on 109th Avenue when she saw the man in the roadway. She told deputies she tried to stop but wasn't able to and struck the pedestrian, who was wearing dark clothing.

The victim's family described him as “learning impaired,” and said he was known to leave his family's residence at various times for walks.

Neither speed nor alcohol are believed to have played a role in the crash. Allegan County investigators have not yet indicated what charges, if any, will be filed against the female driver.



South Haven puts 6-month moratorium on new short-term rentals

By BECKY KARK

Editor and general manager

South Haven homeowners who haven't registered their homes as short-term rentals will be out of luck in renting their dwellings - at least for this summer.

South Haven City Council members, Monday, voted to put a moratorium on new short-term rental registrations for six months to give planning commission members time to re-examine if changes need to be made to the existing short-term rental ordinance that was adopted in 2016.

The moratorium will affect homeowners who live in the city's Wards 1 and 2, only. Ward 3, where many short-term rentals have historically existed, will be exempt. In addition, any homeowner who is in the midst of building a new home or contractors involved in building units in a Planned Unit Development will be exempt from the moratorium, according to City Manager Brian Dissette.

“This does not affect any of the 406 registered short-term rentals,” Dissette said during Monday's city council meeting. Nor does the ordinance affect new dwellings currently being built that might be used for short-term rentals.

“The Council’s decision will maintain the status quo for the next six months while we have time to analyze and develop amendments to strengthen our current short-term rental ordinance,” said South Haven Mayor Scott Smith. “Over the past two years, we have been gathering data about what is working under our current ordinance and what needs improvement.”

Over the next six months, City staff and attorneys will be working to evaluate and produce amendment language that will be brought to the Planning Commission for review later this summer. If approved, the measures will then be reviewed and discussed in an open meeting with the full City Council that allows for public input, according to Dissette.

South Haven staff have identified six proposals for consideration, including:

• Increasing short-term rental fees to offset City expense, including establishing an annual fee and increasing fines and penalties for owners who fail to comply

• Regulating attached condo units under the same rules, since the current regulation doesn’t cover condos as short-term rentals

• Prohibiting short-term rentals in newly constructed homes or increased occupancy after renovations

• Prohibiting or capping the number of new short-term rentals in certain areas of the City to preserve the residential character of neighborhoods and to maintain affordable housing options

• Regulating the abandonment of short-term rentals in certain areas

• Addressing the relationship between short-term rentals and the personal residence exemption

 “We are looking to neighboring municipalities along the lakeshore to share best practices and solutions with us,” Mayor Smith explained. “We are also looking to our residents and to those who visit our community to share their issues and concerns. Our goal is to develop a regulatory framework that will be respectful of the rights of our long-term residents with those of our short-term visitors.”

 The proliferation of short-term rentals in South Haven has continued to be an issue even though the City Council in 2016 passed an ordinance regulating them. The ordinance created a registration fee, a mechanism for inspecting the homes, occupancy permits and safety measures.

However, a number of city residents have continued to voice concerns that the large number of short-term rental homes is adversely affecting the town's economy in that South Haven is being viewed solely as a tourism town, rather than a city that can attract good-paying businesses that can employ residents year-round. In addition, some residents feel that the growth of the second-home market and homes used for short-term rentals has escalated home values along the lakeshore and throughout town, preventing middle-class people from buying homes in the city.

“This has been an issue that has been reoccurring since January,” Dissette said, regarding concerns expressed by city council members, which ultimately led to a workshop Monday, prior to the city council meeting, where the issue was discussed in detail. Afterwards, council members decided to vote during their regularly scheduled city council meeting to adopt the moratorium.

During Monday's meeting, Smith pointed to other lakeshore towns such as Holland, St. Joseph and Grand Haven and noted that they all have less than 100 registered short-term rentals.

“At some point in time we have to take a look at what is happening,” Smith said.

Mayor Pro Tem Clark Gruber agreed. “This (the moratorium) is giving the planning commission six months to examine the short-term rental ordinance.”



5.7.18

New SH school board member chosen

By BECKY KARK

Editor and general manager

After serving for nearly 30 years in the banking industry, Lynn Kerber is taking on a new role as a South Haven Public Schools Board of Education member.

Board members, at a special meeting Tuesday, chose Kerber to replace Crystal Davis, who resigned in April for personal reasons. Kerber will complete Davis's term which ends in December.

“Her resume was very impressive, she was super thoughtful with her answers to our questions,” school board vice president Doug Ransom said.

“She understands the board's governing role,” board member Bryan Lewis said.

Board members also cited Kerber's years of experience in the banking industry as a plus, due to the board's role in overseeing the district's $19.8 million budget.

Kerber retired last year after working for Chemical Bank for 27 years. While at Chemical she served in a variety of roles with the latest being executive vice president, chief risk officer. Prior to that she was regional president of the South and West Michigan regions of Chemical Financial Corp. She also served as the founder and president of the Chemical Bank Foundation.

Kerber has resided in South Haven since 1990 and has been active in community and governmental groups throughout western and southwestern Michigan, including the South Haven Local Finance Development and Brownfield authorities, South Haven Hospital Foundation, Cornerstone Alliance and Michigan's Great Southwest Leadership Council.

“I want to see our kids excel,” Kerber said, when asked what are the most pressing challenges facing the school district. “The goal for the schools is to make them successful. In order to be successful you have to be motivated to achieve.”

Kerber was chosen from a list of five candidates who applied for the open board seat. The other ones were Dubelsa Mata-Garcia, business developer at the Women's Business Center of Cornerstone Alliance in Benton Harbor; Candice Zuckerman, who owns three businesses in South Haven, along with her husband; Kyle Henrickson, a regional senior sales representative for Grifols healthcare company; and Shawn Olney, a South Haven police officer.

After spending nearly two hours interviewing the candidates, school board members remarked that they faced a difficult decision in choosing just one.

“So we can't have an 11-member board?” President Laura Bos quipped before members discussed the attributes of each candidate, whittled down their choices and took a vote.

“They were all qualified and would have done a good job,” board member John Frost said.

Michigan port towns focus of study

By TRIBUNE STAFF

The economic impact that harbors have on lakeshore communities such as South Haven will be the focus of a new study being conducted by the Michigan Port Collaborative this month

Beginning May 10 and continuing through May 18, a dozen ports along Lake Michigan and their nearby communities will be studied by Vincent Magnini, executive director of the Institute for Service Research in Virginia Beach, Va., and Bil Boil, a consultant, who was formerly with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.

Researchers will visit South Haven May 11^th. Other port communities that will be studied include St. Joseph, Saugatuck, Douglas, Grand Haven, Manistee, Onekama, Traverse City, Elk Rapids, Marquette, Sault Ste. Marie, Cedarville, Rogers City, Alpena, East Tawas and Detroit.

The economic impact study will be the first of its kind for port cities represented by the Michigan Port Collaborative, according to Felicia Fairchild, chair of the organization's board of directors.

The Collaborative's members have become concerned in recent years that less and less state and federal funding is being allocated to protect ports and the boating industry.

“We have been involved in representing the ports of Michigan for over a decade on issues that are critical to the economic success of all port communities,” said Fairchild who went on to say that when lake levels dropped drastically in 2009, concern regarding the economic viability of many Michigan ports began to wane at the state and federal levels. The dredging and infrastructure challenges caused by low-water levels created a trend in thinking that harbors are an economic liability.

“We represent the ports of Michigan and we want to change that thinking… Michigan Harbors are the front doors to our communities,” Fairchild said.

Several economic impact studies already exist, but most do not include all ports, nor do they include economic drivers for individual ports other than traditional maritime measurements, according to a news release from the Port Collaborative Many ports also attract tourists and ancillary businesses because of special attributes unique to their port communities. However, tourism dollars and additional factors that add economic value to individual ports have not been included in previous studies.

“We will use the results of this study to educate our legislators and state officials regarding our monetary value as port communities,” said Don Gilmet, vice chair of the Michigan Port Collaborative.

The Collaborative, Gilmet went on to say, believes that the results of the “full spectrum” study will verify that the economic value of Michigan ports is far greater than previously thought.

The grant is being funding by the Michigan Waterways Commission in cooperation with the City of Alpena.



4.23.18

Wild cherry tree buds in Geneva Township are shown encased in ice following a blast of snow and sleet that covered the South Haven area, the morning of April 15. (Photo by Kelly Weber)

April's cold temperatures suit fruit crops just fine, for now

By KIM INGALLS

For the Tribune

There could be a bright side to our cold, spring weather — the possibility of a bumper crop of fruit.

Unseasonable cold, icy weather blew over much of Michigan the past few two weeks, with temperatures hovering just above freezing on many days.

As a result, fruit trees haven't even begun to bud in most areas, but that's OK.

A slow start to the growing season means delayed bud growth, which reduces the risk of a damaging freeze in early spring, according to MSU Extension Senior Educator Bill Shane. Usually, most fruit crops are in the swollen bud or bud-burst stage this time of year which can cause significant damage if the temperature drops below 20 degrees. 

“Current low temperatures are not low enough to cause fruit bud damage because the buds are still nearly dormant,” Shane said. “Snow and rain is making field work difficult, but the delay of season so far is good. Fruit crops tend to have a better chance of survival if bloom is not too early.”

In examining fields throughout the state, Shane reported there is a potential for good fruit crops this ”The major production areas on the west side of Michigan are still in very good shape,” he said. “The apple and tart cherry crop potential is still excellent.”

But a late start to the season means farmers will be working hard to keep up the pace once temperatures get warmer.

“The weather has slowed us down,” admitted Ginny Mitchell, co-owner of Jeffries Blueberry Farm northeast of Bangor.  “We just finished the pruning. The buds have not started yet and due to weather might be a little late. It is also very wet due to all the snow and rain.”

April's weather in Southwest Michigan has set records, according to area meterologists. The high of 34 on April 17 in Grand Rapids was the coldest high temperature on that date since the 1800s, according to WOOD-TV meteorologist Bill Steffan. For Muskegon, it was not only the coldest high for that day, it was the coldest high temperature this late in the season.

But the weather will slowly start improving. According to the National Weather Service, temperatures this week in the South Haven area will be warming up to the 50s and 60s.



Ready for new digs

Al-Van Humane Society raises $500,000 to create larger shelter

By KIM INGALLS

For the Tribune

This year marks the 50th anniversary since Al-Van Humane Society opened its doors in 1968 offering shelter for homeless pets.

The non-profit is also celebrating another milestone this year — the opening of its new animal shelter.

Three years ago, Al-Van Board of Directors set out to raise $500,000 through its CARES capital improvement campaign (Community And Resources Enhance Shelter) to create a new adoption and community education center by the year 2020. 

Thanks to 350 individuals, businesses, grant sources, and anonymous monetary donations, Al-Van will be moving into its new Adoption and Community Education Center two years ahead of schedule.

Area residents can see the facility for themselves during a grand opening ceremony Monday, April 30. Housed in the former Blue Star Glass, the new shelter is at 07591 Blue Star Hwy. Local government and business leaders and community members will take part in a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 11 a.m.

The grand opening will also be held in conjunction with national “Adopt a Shelter Pet Day.” 

Purchased in 2015 by Al-Van, the 6,000 square-foot building on Blue Star Highway required a complete renovation, according to Lisa Galdikas, president of Al-Van's board of director. Twice the size of the current pet shelter on 8^th Avenue, the new center features three cat rooms, an open play area for cats, separate small and large dog adoption rooms and a centrally located community room that can be used for community workshops and seminars about pets. Other features include a separate “quiet” room for animals that are stressed, and rooms for families who want to become acquainted with potential adoptees.

“It’s exciting,” Galdikas said. “We’ve literally doubled our space and will be able to increase our intake.”

Al-Van's Executive Director Jennifer Nuernberg added, “This space is something we are lacking at our current shelter. The lobby area is cramped, with only a couple offices for meet and greets or volunteer training. When the weather is bad, our ability to work on enrichment and training for our animals is also very limited. Having a large enough indoor space to do this will have an immediate impact on their adoptability, which is the reason for it all. We cannot wait to increase adoptions, educate our community, and reduce the number of homeless and needy pets.”

Another advantage to the new shelter, is that it is now in the same building as the shelter’s Rescued Treasures resale shop. The store offers new and gently used goods with the proceeds going to the shelter.

Volunteers and employees will start moving the cats and dogs from the current shelter to the new building a few days ahead of the grand opening so that the animals, and staff, have time to get use to their new surroundings.

The shelter on 8^th Avenue, which is located near the new adoption center, will be used for intake and animals that need isolation for medical purposes. In some cases, Galdikas said, such as when a stray is brought in, it is not known if the animal has had all of its shots so pet shelter staff don’t put those kinds of animals with the rest that will be at the new shelter.



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.