1.18.21

Last year was a banner year for home sales in the South Haven area, in spite of the coronavirus pandemic. Due to low inventories home, sales happened quickly. The historic home shown above is located at the corner of Kalamazoo Street and Michigan Avenue.

A banner year for the housing market

December and the year-end housing market results in 2020 were very good in South Haven, according to statistics from the Southwestern Michigan Association of Realtors.

The 2020 number of houses and condos sold and selling prices surpassed all previous years’ results going back to 2014 with one exception – in 2016, condo sales totaled 55 compared to 52 in 2020.

All in all, however, the 2020 South Haven housing market has become the new benchmark or peak year for future comparisons, according to Alan Jeffries, the Realtors Association executive.

“We started reporting record-setting numbers and prices throughout all of the Southwest Michigan housing market in 2015,” Jeffries said. “We declared 2016 and 2017 to be the new peak years following a slow recovery from the 2008 economic crash. In the year-over-year comparison, 2006 was the previous peak year. The housing market pace continued to climb in in 2018 and 2019. Now, the 2020 Southwest Michigan housing market year has blown out all previous peak years to reign as the new peak market year.

A look at figures compiled for the South Haven market shows that at the end of the year, 298 houses sold compared to 244 houses in 2019 for a 22 percent increase. The average single-family selling price jumped 48 percent to $447,208 from $301,990 in 2019. The median selling price also increased 48 percent ($330,000 vs. $223,500).

Condo sales for the year totaled 52 in 2020 for a 27 percent increase over the 42 condos sold in 2019. The average condo selling price grew 5 percent to $320,644 from $304,834 in 2019. The median selling price rose 18 percent ($300,000 vs. $254,000).

December sales

Monthly totals for December show that sales of single-family houses in the South Haven housing market increased 71 percent above sales in December 2019 (29 vs. 17), while condo sales increased by 2 condos in December 2020 (5 vs. 3).

The average selling price for single-family houses in December 2020 at $519,691 was 23 percent higher than a year ago when the selling price was $423,786. The median selling price for single-family houses increased 31 percent to $399,000 compared to $305,000 in December 2019.

The average selling price for condos dropped 14 percent to $294,980 from $341,667 in December 2019. The median selling price for condos fell 12 percent to $280,000 from $320,000 in December 2019.

For all of 2020, there were four bank-owned or foreclosed single-family houses included as a part of closed transactions in South Haven 49090. There were no condos included in those transactions.

Bella steals the show

Most popular dog breeds, names for 2020 unveiled in VB County

PAW PAW — Van Buren County dog owners seem to be quite fond of naming their pooch, “Bella.”

For the second year in a row, “Bella” remains the most popular name for a dog.

That’s the consensus of the Van Buren County Treasurer’s office, which oversees the county’s dog licensing program.

County Treasurer Trisha Nesbitt, earlier this week, released the most popular dog names and dog breeds of 2020.

Perhaps the ongoing popularity of the name “Bella” has something to do with the county’s most popular dog breed – Chihuahua, which also won top honors for the second year in a row.

After Bella, Buddy, Lucy, Daisy and Sadie were most popular with dog owners, while the most common breeds were Chihuahua, Labrador Mix, German Shepherd, Pit Bull and Labrador Retriever.

The top names and breeds for Van Buren County dogs for 2020 was based on the more than 5,000 dog licenses that were issued.

In compiling the list of most popular breeds and monikers for dogs, the treasurer’s office was pleased with the number of pet owner who obtained licenses, in spite of the COVID-19 pandemic and restrictions associated with it.

“We’re glad to see people getting their dogs licensed in Van Buren County – after all, it is the law,” Nesbitt said. “Dog licenses provide owners with peace of mind knowing that if their pet is lost, he or she can easily be identified and returned home.”

People still have time to purchase dog licenses from the Van Buren County Treasurer’s office, 219 E. Paw Paw St., suite 101. One-year and three-year licenses are available for the following costs:

1-year license spayed/neutered: $10

3-year license spayed/neutered: $30

1-year unaltered: $20

3-year unaltered: $60

Licenses are also available for purchase at Van Buren County Animal Control, area veterinarian clinics and some township halls. For a complete list of locations and a license application, visit www.vbco.org/dog _license.asp or call the Van Buren County Treasurer’s office at (269) 657-8228.

State law requires dog licenses to be purchased by March 1, 2021. After that date, license fees increase.

VB County conservation efforts featured in National Geographic magazine

HARTFORD – If you look inside the National Geographic December 2020 issue you might see some familiar names.

In the summer of 2019, a writer and photographer visited Hartford to interview Van Buren Conservation District staff and several local farmers for an article on the Great Lakes, titled, “Saving the Great Lakes.”

“We were excited to be able to share some of the positive work we’re doing that benefits both farms and water quality,” said Conservation Technician Colleen Forestieri. “We’re working with the University of Notre Dame to research the effectiveness of farm conservation practices, and that caught National Geographic’s eye. The Great Lakes are under a lot of stress, but we were able to show that there’s a lot being done to protect our beautiful lakes.”

In the fall of 2020, the conservation district used grant funding from the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative to provide cost share to farmers to install more than 2,000 acres of cover crops in the Hartford area. Cover crops are plants grown on farm fields in the off-season to protect and improve the soil.

“We’re concentrating our efforts in a small watershed at the moment to see if we can see an effect on water quality if we really blanket the area with conservation practices,” Watershed Coordinator Erin Fuller said. “The statewide average for cover crops is somewhere around 6 percent, but with this program, we have about 50-60 percent of agricultural acres cover cropped in this small area.”

Cover crops, she went on say, reduce runoff and erosion in the off season – benefiting water quality – and also improve soil health and balance soil moisture which benefits the farmer.

“We’re really grateful we’ve had so many farmers work with us. It’s not easy to adopt new practices, but they have taken that leap of faith and are beginning to see the benefits to their operation,” Forestieri said. The conservation district has funding to cost share cover crops and other conservation practices in select areas for the next three years.





1.11.21

South Haven native named new assistant city manager

A young man who grew up in South Haven will be returning to town as the new assistant city manager.

Griffin Graham has accepted the position and will begin his new duties on Jan. 28, according to City Manager Kate Hosier. His starting annual salary has been set at $80,000.

Graham currently serves as Saugatuck Township manager, where he oversees budgeting, project management and staffing.

During his 1 1/2 year tenure there, Graham implemented new personnel, financial and administrative policies, and initiated long-term planning efforts and public improvement projects. Prior to being hired as manager of Saugatuck Township, he worked for Ottawa County and Meridian Township, and is a member of the International City/County Management Association and the Michigan Municipal Executives.

“Griffin’s experiences at Saugatuck Township closely mirror the priorities and challenges that he will be tackling here at the city, such as high water levels and erosion, water and wastewater issues, and capital improvement plans,” Hosier said. “We are excited to have him join our team and we know that he will serve our residents well.”

Graham graduated from South Haven High School and continued his education at Michigan State University, where he earned a bachelor of science degree in urban and regional planning and a bachelor of science degree in environmental science and management. Graham also holds a master of public affairs degree with concentrations in public management and local government management from Indiana University.

South Haven city council hires new clerk

A former intern for the City of Grand Haven has been chosen as the new city clerk for South Haven.

City Council members, Monday, formally approved hiring Nathan Slauer for the position. He takes the place of Travis Sullivan, who was recently chosen as the city’s new zoning administrator.

“He’s (Slauer) a fantastic candidate,” City Manager Kate Hosier said. “Nathan comes with experience and exposure to municipal government.”

Slauer was selected by city staff from a field of 12 other candidates who applied for the position, according to city Human Resources Director Kim Wise.

Normally city administrators interview and hire staff, however, according to the city charter, the clerk, treasurer and city assessor candidates must be formally approved by the city council.

Slauer comes to South Haven after serving as an intern in the City Manager’s office at the City of Grand Haven. He has also served as volunteer coordinator and resource development coordinator for AmeriCorps.”

He holds a bachelor of arts degree in political science, history and social studies from Calvin College and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in public administration from Grand Valley State University.

Slauer said he’s looking forward to his new job.

“I’m excited to be here,” he told council members Monday. “I got to meet some of the staff today and look forward to getting to know the rest of you at upcoming meetings.”



1.4.21

2020: An unforgettable year; One of resiliency

By BECKY KARK

Editor and general manager

Annually, as a new year dawns, the South Haven Tribune takes a look back at the preceding year to recap its highlights.

We scan through 52 editions of our weekly product to determine the top 10 stories. Some years, those articles jump out – the terrorist bombings of 9/11 2001, the historic election of the nation’s first Black president – Barack Obama – in 2008 and closer to home the passage of a $36 million bond proposal to pay for significant renovations and updates to South Haven High School.

Some years, though, we struggle somewhat to find a series of 10 articles that have significant impact on our community.

That wasn’t the case, however, with 2020.

This was the year of record-high water levels on Lake Michigan; subsequent drownings and dozens of rescues; significant erosion damage to homes, beaches and the city’s waterfront infrastructure; a demand for racial justice following the death of Minneapolis resident George Floyd at the hands of police officers; a contentious presidential election and a refusal of the sitting president to concede defeat; oh, and not to forget, the horrible worldwide COVID-19 pandemic that claimed the lives of 330,000 Americans, alone, including 70 in Van Buren County.

And yet, amid all of this bad news, there was a spirit of hope, inspiration and resiliency throughout the world, as well as the South Haven area.

When older adults, like South Haven residents Ben Johnson, couldn’t celebrate his 90th birthday with friends due to social distancing restrictions, neighbors and former co-workers rallied together to conduct a “drive-by” birthday parade. As he stood in front of his house and waved, they dropped off gifts and cards.

When We Care In the Name of Christ food pantries ran low on inventory, organizations, such as the South Haven Elks, South Haven Rotary, Downtown Association of South Haven, and South Haven Garden Club rallied to contribute more than $10,000 to make sure area residents, many laid off from their jobs due to COVID-19-related company cutbacks, would have food on their table.

When personal protection equipment – PPE – was in short supply at the beginning of the pandemic in March, companies like Barber Packaging in Bangor and Do-It Corp. in South Haven retooled their manufacturing lines to produce face shields, while a group of a dozen seamstresses from Simpson United Methodist Church in Bangor sewed together 10,000 cloth face masks for the community’s use.

When public school districts were forced to close to in-school instruction, schools provided for and transported thousands of breakfasts and meals to area school children.

And, when individuals, families, non-profit groups, churches and businesses were forced to stop meeting in person due to social distancing restrictions, they continued to meet socially and conduct business through face time, zoom meetings and texting.

If we have learned anything from what many refer to as the worst year ever in recent times, it is resiliency, and more importantly, hope for a better 2021.

Upgrades for South Beach concessions and restrooms unveiled

After seeking input from area residents, South Haven city officials have put their stamp of approval on a conceptual plan to upgrade the concessions and restroom area at South Beach.

City council members voted unanimously, in December, to approve the conceptual plan developed by Edgewater Resources of St. Joseph. They did so after receiving a recommendation from the Parks Commission to do so.

It’s not known if or when the restrooms/concessions project will get underway, but putting together a conceptual plan, based on public input, is the first step toward the possibility of obtaining grant funding from the state, according to City Manager Kate Hosier.

“We’ve reached out to the public and received feedback to help guide the design,” she said. “This is a conceptual plan to help focus our efforts when we seek grant funding.”

Edgewater Resources estimates improvements will cost between an estimated $940,000-$1.34 million, depending on the materials and furnishings used to complete the project.

The conceptual plan calls for renovation and expansion of the existing restroom building and construction of a new permanent concessions/beach shop building on the site of the existing pavilion which has limited seating.

The design and choice of improvements were based primarily on a public visioning session conducted in July and an online public survey administered by city staff in October.

• Some of the comments from those surveyed follow:
• More toilet stalls and changing area
• Hand wash stations near the concessions
• Need places to change, more restroom stalls, family restrooms, showers and feet washers
• A cafe with eating area would be great
• More picnic tables
• Changing rooms separate from bathroom stalls
• I would like to see a larger structure with a second story that could be rented for special events
• I go by this structure (pavilion) almost daily – it is rarely used. It’s dark and uninviting.

Over the years, the South Beach restroom facility has been described by users as dark, damp, poorly ventilated and too small for the amount of people who use it during summer months. If the project moves forward, the existing facility will be upgraded and six new family restrooms will be added to the east side of the building facing the splash pad.

The new concessions facility and beach shop will replace the two narrow angular ones that have been in use for the past several years.

Plans call for a 1,200-square-foot concessions facility and beach shop with counter service, patio seating, stairs leading to rooftop seating and cafe tables nearby.

Other proposed improvements to the restroom/concessions area include two new beach showers, new picnic tables, benches, bike racks, new drinking fountains, two new litter/recycling containers and free-standing changing booths. There will also be paving and bollards to mark the historic Black River Channel and reconfiguration of the donor pavers that helped pay for preservation of the South Haven Lighthouse in 2016.

South Beach underwent a number of improvements in 2012 as part of phase 1 of the South Beach Waterfront Park project. However, upgrades to the restrooms and concessions area, which were built in the early 2000s, were put on hold to keep costs down.

It’s not known if or when the restrooms/concessions project will get underway, but putting together a conceptual plan with cost estimates is the first step toward the possibility of obtaining grant funding from the state.



12.18.20

TCF merging with Huntington Bank

Less than two years after acquiring Chemical Bank, TCF Financial Corp. will now merge with Huntington Bancshares Inc., the parent company of The Huntington National Bank, to create one of the top 10 regional banks in the United States with dual headquarters in Detroit and Columbus, Ohio.

Earlier this week, the two companies announced the signing of an agreement under which the companies will combine in an all-stock merger with a total market value of approximately $22 billion.

Under the terms of the agreement, which was unanimously approved by the boards of directors of both companies, TCF will merge into Huntington, and the combined holding company and bank will operate under the Huntington name and brand following the closing of the transaction, which is expected in the second quarter of 2021, according to a news release issued by Huntington on Sunday.

TCF currently operates two banks in South Haven, its downtown branch and its suburban branch at the corner of Blue Star and M-43 highways, while Huntington has a branch location in Meijer. Whether any of the branches will be combined after the merger occurs remains to be seen, however, the TCF website stated the following: “We are in the process of reviewing both Huntington and TCF’s branch networks to determine a combined network that offers continued excellent customer service. Some banking centers will close, like those where there’s another Huntington or TCF bank close by. For now, keep banking as you normally do. You will receive prior notice of any changes to your banking center.”

In the meantime, TCF Bank will continue to operate separately until all regulatory and shareholder approvals are received and the companies are merged, the company indicated to customers on its website.

“This merger combines the best of both companies and provides the scale and resources to drive increased long-term shareholder value. Huntington is focused on accelerating digital investments to further enhance our award-winning people-first, digitally powered customer experience,” Stephen D. Steinour, president and CEO of Huntington said. “We look forward to welcoming the TCF Team Members. Together we will have a stronger company better able to support our customers and drive economic growth in the communities we serve.”

The headquarters for the Commercial Bank will be in Detroit where at least 800 employees of the combined company, nearly three times the number TCF had planned, will be housed in the downtown structure. Columbus will remain the headquarters for the holding company and the Consumer Bank.

“This partnership will provide us the opportunity for deeper investments in our communities, more jobs in Detroit, an increased commitment in Minneapolis and a better experience for our customers,” said Gary Torgow, who will serve as chairman of the bank’s board of directors. “We will be a top regional bank, with the scale to compete and the passion to serve. Merging with the Huntington platform will be a great benefit to all of our stakeholders and will drive significant opportunities for our team members.”

The pro forma combined company will have approximately $168 billion in assets, $117 billion in loans, and $134 billion in deposits.

As part of the merger Huntington will fund a $50 million donor-advised fund at the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan to serve the needs of communities in Detroit and across the footprint of the combined bank.

Making a splash

Foundation raises nearly $40,000 to help pay for cost of SH splash pad

The Greater South Haven Area Community Foundation has completed its Splash Pad matching grant fund drive after raising $38,620 toward construction of the South Haven Community Splash Pad.

The Foundation committed to match dollar-for-dollar contributions received from the public up to a maximum of $25,000. 

Total public contributions amounted to $19,310, which the foundation matched dollar for dollar, making the contribution of $38,620 the largest community monetary contribution toward the Splash Pad.

“The grand total amount represents 77 percent of the Foundation’s original target goal, an excellent showing of support by the community considering the impacts of COVID-19 during the fund drive,” said Roger Beglin, vice president of the Foundation.

The Greater South Haven Area Community Foundation awards grants to local non-profit organizations that are focused on the fields of art, culture, education, recreation, information and community health. To date, it has awarded more than $400,000 to local organizations. Grant funds are made available by donations made to the Foundation's endowment fund. In addition to grant distribution, the Foundation manages funds for a number of local non-profits through endowments. Those interested in starting an endowment fund or making donations to the funds can contact the Greater South Haven Area Community Foundation at execdirector@southhavencf.org or visit www.southhavencf.org for more information.

Lake Michigan water levels remain higher than average

Lake Superior and Lake Michigan-Huron water levels continue to decline, but are still well above average and the risk of high-water impacts remains, according to the U.S. Corps of Engineers.

Lake Superior outflows continue to be set in consideration of high levels upstream and downstream.

In November, Lake Superior declined 1.2 inches when on average it declines 2 inches in November.

Lake Michigan-Huron declined 2.4 inches over the course of the month, which is close to the average water level decline of 2 inches in November.

Both lakes are expected to continue their seasonal declines this month. However, there will continue to be an increased risk of shoreline erosion, lakeshore flooding and coastal damages over the next several weeks and potentially through the winter.

At the beginning of December, Lake Superior was 9.8 inches above average (1918 – 2019) and 3.2 inches below its level of a year ago.

Lake Michigan-Huron was 31.5 inches above average and 3.9 inches below the level at this time last year.

The International Lake Superior Board of Control (Board) advises all those that may be affected to prepare for potentially severe coastal impacts, especially during periods of strong winds and high waves.





12.14.20

We Care food pantry volunteer Linda Olson puts groceries into the back of a vehicle last Wednesday. Due to the pandemic, people wait in their vehicles while volunteers come out of the food pantry to provide them with bags of groceries. (Photo by Becky Kark)

Lining up for food

Requests for groceries from We Care’s food pantry triple this year

By BECKY KARK

Editor and general manager

The economic fall-out from the coronavirus pandemic can be clearly seen at food pantries across the nation, including We Care INC’s food pantry at First Congregational Church in South Haven.

In an average year the pantry provides food for approximately 35 families per week.

“We’ve probably tripled that number this year,” said food pantry volunteer Don Kitchin. “Now we’re over 100 a week.”

The pantry is open from 10 a.m.-noon, on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

This past Wednesday, a handful of cars began lining up before the pantry even opened.

“On Wednesdays, we’d normally serve 10 families. Today we’ll most likely serve around 40,” Kitchin said.

More families in need of groceries has put a strain on the food pantry, but individuals and groups in the community have stepped up over the past year to help donate food or provide monetary support.

“People in this community are very generous,” Kitchin said, even with the economic strain caused from the pandemic.

“People want to do something, they want to help,” Kitchin said.

Over the past month, the South Haven Garden Club donated $1,300 to the food pantry, while the South Haven Elks Lodge contributed $3,000. Downtown Association of South Haven also contributed $3,500 following its Paddle Auction. Earlier in the year the South Haven Rotary Club donated several thousand dollars to the pantry. South Haven area stores, such as Aldi, also provide fresh food products for the pantry.

The challenges of a pandemic

Retailers confront shortages of inventory, employees and in some cases, customers

To say the COVID-19 pandemic has created challenges for retailers would probably be an understatement at this point.

Michigan Department of Health and Human Services decision earlier this month to extend restrictions on indoor social gatherings and other group activities is just one more hurdle small business owners in South Haven have had to deal with this year.

News of the 12-day extension prompted a popular, downtown restaurant Captain Nemo's to close for the remainder of 2020 and re-open next year.

"We just decided it was no use staying open. There's not enough traffic," restaurant employee Sonny Garber said.

Captain Nemo's decision to temporarily close, came on the heels of another popular eatery's decision to do so. Six Chicks Scratch Kitchen closed its doors Dec. 3 and posted on its Facebook site, "We will be closed until the ban on indoor dining in Michigan is lifted."

Since Nov. 18th, restaurants have been banned from offering indoor dining, due to Michigan's COVID-19 restrictions. Other businesses have had to limit the number of customers in their stores, while entertainment venues, such as Michigan Theater and Lakeside Lanes in South Haven, remain closed - all in an effort to slow the spread of coronavirus, whose cases have been surging since early fall.

Business owners interviewed stated they understand the need to slow the spread of the deadly pandemic, but they feel like they've been swept through a whirlwind of changes this year making it difficult for them to adjust.

During the pandemic's first wave in March, businesses considered "non-essential" in Michigan were forced to close until June.

It was a blow to Renae Pallani, co-owner of Lakeshore Trends in downtown South Haven. The store had endured the nearly year-long reconstruction of Center Street and was looking forward to steady customer traffic again.

"They opened the road just when COVID happened," Pallani said. "I had all this spring inventory, I thought, 'what are we going to do with it?'"

Other stores dealt with inventory delays.

"I order a year in advance," said Erin Zoet, owner of Crescent Moon apparel shop. "Things shut down (overseas) last November. Things didn't get made." When she did receive orders, some were half filled. Others were delayed.

"I just got a shipment of shoes that I should have gotten in September," she said.

Once stores and restaurants were allowed to open June for indoor traffic, they had to adhere to a number of new health regulations.

"They had to realize, 'the store I closed in the spring can't be the same store I opened in June,'" said Meegan Holland, who retired earlier this month as vice president of communications and marketing for Michigan Retailers Association. "If you're not in retail you don't know how retailers had to rethink their stores," Holland told attendees at the South Haven Area Chamber of Commerce Business Summit, Dec. 4. "They had to reconfigure the layout (for social distancing), cleanliness, signage...They had to regain their customers' trust. They needed to make them feel safe."

The wearing of face masks was an issue all by itself.

"I've had retailers tell me they've had customers 'flip them the bird' when telling them they have to wear a face mask," Holland said. Worse, she went on to say, three people in Michigan were killed earlier this year when trying to enforce the state's mandated face mask restrictions.

Hiring employees also has proved to be a challenge this year.

"It (enforcement of face mask rules) has really caused a lot of stress for employees," Holland said. "Sometimes it has been hard to hire frontline workers."

That, coupled with generous unemployment relief packages, caused a shortage of retail and restaurant help this past summer, local business owners said.

When the lockdown of April and May occurred, a number of retail and restaurant workers were laid off. A federal relief package bolstered their unemployment checks by $600 each week. As a result, when retailers were allowed to reopen in June, employees weren't always so eager to come back.

Adjusting to the pandemic's aftermath

Even when health-related restrictions are lifted and people start receiving vaccines to prevent the spread of COVID-19, stores and restaurants will most likely be operating differently.

"The pandemic made brick-and-mortar stores realize they need web presence. It's got to be click-and-mortar," Holland said.

Stores and restaurants will also have to continue to make customers, leery from the effects of the pandemic, of entering their establishments.

"They need information first," she said. "No grand reopenings...The whole thing is serving the customer where they feel comfortable."



SH area recreational park in line for $300,000 grant

Sometime in the next two years, area residents may finally begin to see development of an outdoor recreational park on 14th Avenue in South Haven Township.

South Haven Area Recreational Authority (SHARA) is among 14 groups and municipalities throughout the state that the Department of Natural Resources is recommending for grants from its Land and Water Conservation Fund.

SHARA is in line for a $300,000 matching grant, according to Ross Stein, chairman of the SHARA Board of Directors.

“This is the first development grant we’ve received for the park,” Stein said. “We previously received two other development grants for Pilgrim Haven Nature Preserve. We’ve been blessed.”

The proposed grant would pay for construction of three soccer fields, a parking lot and handicap accessible walkways around the fields and leading to the parking lot.

The grant and the required $300,000 match from SHARA would pay for the first development phase for the proposed recreational park. Situated near the Van Buren Trail, the park consists of 40 acres of land, between Blue Star Highway and M-140.

Before the grant can be awarded, however, the state Legislature and governor will have to provide approval, along with the National Park Service, according to Joelle Regovich, grant administrator for Abonmarche.

“It’s an involved process (for approval) and takes time,” said Regovich, who wrote the grant application on behalf of SHARA. “We’ll be looking at the fall of 2021 for the design phase and then spring 2022 construction.”

If the recreation authority receives the grant, matching funds would come from assets the authority has on hand.

Once construction of the fields is complete, South Haven area soccer teams that belong to the American Youth Soccer Association as well as other soccer enthusiasts can use them, according to Stein.

“Pick-up games can be played on the fields and people can park in the parking lot and ride their bike on the Van Buren Trail,” Stein said.

The first development phase of the park would take up about 10 acres, according to Regovich.

SHARA had hoped to begin development of the recreational park a year ago, but grant funding was initially denied.

“This was our second attempt,” Regovich said.

This isn’t the first grant, however, that SHARA has received for the recreational park.

Two years ago, SHARA was awarded a $300,000 grant from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources toward purchase of the park land from the Lappo Family Trust, which owned the former Lappo Lumber Co. property.

Efforts to build a regional outdoor recreational park began in 2006 when a group then named South Haven Area Regional Park committee, formed because of the growing demand for outdoor fields for youth sports and recreation in general. The committee disbanded five years ago. Then the South Haven Area Recreation Authority formed to continue the mission of providing recreational opportunities.

 

12.7.20

Erin Zoet, owner of Crescent Moon apparel shop in downtown South Haven, is shown in front of her store window which is decorated with stuffed bears, mittens and stockings to reflect the winter theme of “The Mitten” storybook. Zoet and other downtown shop owners have decorated their store fronts to reflect storybook themes as part of Stroll Downtown for Haven Holidays, Dec. 12.

Shop early, shop often, shop local

Downtown South Haven businesses come up with innovative ways to lure holiday shoppers

By BECKY KARK

Editor and general manager

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to deal a serious blow to Americans’ physical and mental health it also has taken a toll on the nation’s economic health.

No more is that keenly felt than in downtown South Haven where business owners have been on a roller-coaster of sorts all year trying to stay open while following state-mandated orders to limit the amount of customers in their stores to slow the spread of the virus.

“Having a small business and trying to make it through this is a challenge,” said Erin Zoet, owner of Crescent Moon, a women and men’s apparel shop on Broadway Avenue.

At the pandemic’s start, businesses considered non-essential, such as Crescent Moon, were forced to close their doors to the public. They could only offer online, curbside or take-out services.

It was a grim time for small downtowns, like South Haven.

By June, however, state mandates were relaxed. People could once again eat in restaurants and shop indoors, and South Haven’s downtown businesses began to embrace a bustling tourism season, thanks to warm weather and sunny skies.

The prosperity continued into the start of the fall season, according to Kathy Wagaman, executive director of the South Haven Area Chamber of Commerce.

“Our area businesses reported the summer months were strong, but surprisingly, the fall season surpassed previous years’ revenue, even into November,” Wagaman said.

Buoyed by the uptick in business compared to the start of the year, the Downtown Association of South Haven began planning ways to promote stores and restaurants during the holiday season.

Stroll Downtown for Haven Holidays was to consist of three weekends of store and restaurant specials, giveaways, almond roasting at the downtown traffic island, live outdoor music, story-themed window displays, even live mannequins acting out storybook themes.

But nearly midway through November, due to the spike in coronavirus cases throughout the state, dine-in eating ended. Stores could remain open, but only at 30 percent customer capacity.

The semi-lockdown dashed the downtown merchants’ plans somewhat, but not their hope for a good holiday season.

“We had to scale back a bit,” Zoet said regarding the Haven Holidays weekend activities. The first one took place Nov. 14, while the second one occurred on Small Business Saturday, Nov. 28.

While outdoor activities were put on hold, shoppers still found plenty of specials, bargains and drawings for gift baskets.

Several retailers held storewide discounts ranging from 10-50 percent, while others gave free gift bags to the first set of customers entering their stores.

Some downtown shops even held drawings to give out gift baskets of merchandise valued between $100-$150.

The final Haven Holiday weekend is scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 12.

On that day, shoppers will be able to see story-book themed window displays at various shops and take advantage of special discounts

The turnout for the first two Haven Holiday weekends worked out well, especially at a time when people, such as the out-of-town visitors who come to South Haven during the holiday season, are being encouraged not to travel.

“They (the two shopping weekends) went pretty well,” Zoet said. “Our local community has come together and that helps a lot. I’m seeing more of them. Some thought we’re (downtown businesses) closed for the winter. That’s not true. We want people to know we’re open year-round.”

Area residents quietly celebrate Thanksgiving amid the pandemic

South Haven area residents apparently decided to heed health officials’ advice to spend Thanksgiving at home due to the recent spike in COVID-19 cases.

The Tribune asked people last week on its Facebook site how they celebrated the holiday. While a few people said they spent the day with “lots of family” or posted “same as we always do,” most celebrated quietly at home.

Here are what some respondents had to say:

Linda Young Williams: No gathering of family this year. Stayed home with my husband and dog and made way too much food.

Craig Richards: Stayed at home and made calls to family living in Colorado.

Bridget Fritz: Had a virtual Thanksgiving with family in South Haven. We shared our favorite recipes, cooked, then ate together on Facebook video chat. Family members from both families work in positions that compromise others. It was a nice solution to still feel like we were sharing our day together.

Melissa Blair: Stayed home. Cooked a huge dinner for our family of six. Missed our family and the two dinners we go to every year but it’s not always about what we want. This year is truly about others and keeping them safe.

Bryan Thayer: Spent it in Florida with family ... still here.

Linda VanderYacht Dokter: I went to my son’s house after they had Thanksgiving dinner. My son built a nice fire in his fire pit and my daughter-in-law warmed up a plate with turkey and all of the trimmings for me. We all bundled up and enjoyed some time together.

Jennifer Higley: Stayed home with my two sons instead of going to our family diner. The selfless act of wanting my family to be safe was a priority among all of us.



COVID changes the way people grieve the loss of loved ones

With the number of COVID-19-related deaths in Van Buren and Allegan counties on the rise this fall, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that the number of funerals has also gone up

Funeral homes normally see an increase each year in the number of services they conduct during late fall and throughout the winter months.

This fall is different, however.

Last year, between October and the first week in December, the South Haven Tribune published 39 obituaries, compared to 63 during the same time period this year. Most of the obituaries are placed by two local funeral homes – Filbrandt Family Funeral Home in South Haven and D.L. Miller Funeral Home in Bangor.

But local funeral home staff who were interviewed are somewhat reluctant to attribute the rise in funerals to the pandemic.

“It seems that we are serving more families this year, but that may or may not be related to COVID-related deaths,” said DyLan Ridley, a resident trainee at Filbrandt Family Funeral Home in South Haven.

Although funeral home staff who were interviewed couldn’t pinpoint exactly why the number of deaths they are dealing with this fall is going up, one thing is certain, – the pandemic has greatly changed the traditional way funeral homes can help families grieve the loss of their loved ones.

Prior to COVID-19-related health restrictions, family and friends would gather and mingle with one another during visitations, attend a funeral and then gather at the cemetery for graveside services to pay their respects to the loved one who has died. Afterwards, they attend the funeral or memorial service, and then meet afterwards at a cemetery for graveside services.

Much of that changed, however, when the pandemic first hit in the spring. Services could still be held but attendance was restricted due to social distancing requirements. Masks also had to be worn.

Now with increased state-mandated health restrictions on indoor gatherings, a number of people are opting to hold off on funeral services until a future date, while others are opting to hold private family services.

“It’s a fair observation to say that people have been holding private family services or scheduling memorial services for a later date due to COVID restrictions set by the State,” Ridley said.

And yet, families mourning the loss of loved ones are adapting to the social distancing mandates created by the pandemic.

“We have been fortunate to be in a community that is responsive and flexible to the evolving COVID situation and the restrictions that come with it,” Ridley said. “Families have embraced livestreaming funeral services through our website and other means to allow people to ‘come in’ to pay their respects, including hosting services or providing wait seating in our parking lot in the warmer months.”

Like families, funeral homes are also adapting to the changes brought on by the pandemic, while still performing their role of helping people cope with loss.

“The traditional view of the funeral service has temporarily changed, but we have not,” Ridley said. “We are still able to help families, we are still able to hold services in a limited fashion, and families can still lay their loved ones to rest with dignity and respect.”





11.27.20

Meals continue despite pandemic

Amid the coronavirus pandemic, meals offered to low-income residents and seniors still continue to be served at First Congregational Church and the United Methodist Church in South Haven. This year, however, the Open Door ministry at the Methodist Church and Phoenix Street Supper at the Congregational church are for take-out only due to health restrictions to slow the spread of COVID-19. Despite the change in delivery, the number of people requesting meals continues to be about the same. In the photo above, a South Haven Rotary Club members helps with the curbside delivery last week at the Phoenix Street Supper at the Congregational Church. Approximately 70 meals were picked up. Other organizations, such as the South Haven Kiwanis Club, youth groups and individuals in town help the two churches prepare and deliver the meals.

U.S. environmental politics topic of annual meeting

A political science professor from Western Michigan University has been invited to Two Rivers Coalition’s annual meeting to speak about the political climate surrounding U.S. environmental policies.

Denise Keele, will be the keynote speaker at the coalition’s annual meeting, 7 p.m., Wednesday, Dec. 2. The meeting will be conducted online in accordance with COVID-19 restrictions.

Keele’s topic will be, “The Big Picture of U.S. Environmental Politics.” During her program she will discuss what current political forces may shape America’s environmental policies in the coming years.

The program is free of charge but people must register to attend, by emailing tworiverscoalition @gmail.com. They will then receive an onlink link and/or phone number to listen to the speech.

Keele received her PhD in environmental politics from SUNY-ESF, Syracuse, NY. Her research and teaching focus on environmental policy and law, in particular the use of the courts to influence public policy. Since 2014, she has chaired the interdisciplinary WMU Climate Change Working Group. In 2018, she became the faculty co-chair of WeVote, WMU’s non-partisan committee focused on voter registration, education and turnout. Since 2019, she has led the Kalamazoo Climate Crisis Coalition.

Also at the annual meeting, The Coalition will provide a short presentation about projects it has been involved with this year. The presentation will include results of E. coli testing in both the Black and Paw Paw River watersheds, data from the seventh year of macroinvertebrate sampling and developments with the Paw Paw River Water Trail.

Two Rivers Coalition is a citizen-based group working to protect water quality and the overall environmental health of the Black River and Paw Paw River watersheds through conservation, education, and advocacy. For more information about its mission, activities and programs, visit www.TwoRivers Coalition.org or Facebook.



VB sheriff's dept. lands $127,680 in CARES Act funding

With the surge in COVID-19 cases and deaths in Van Buren County this fall, Van Buren County Sheriff's Department now has equipment and supplies to help health officials grapple with the recent surge in COVID-19 cases and deaths in Van Buren County.

Thanks to a $127,680 grant from the federal government's CARES Act (Coronavirus, Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act, the sheriff's department has been able to purchase two trailers, traffic cones, folding tables, chairs, a generator and an "EZ"-up tent to use for the set-up of mobile drive-up COVID-19 testing sites and future mobile vaccination sites.

The department also acquired updated in-car computers, laptops for its Emergency Operation Center and administration staff.

The computers will allow sheriff's staff to work from remote locations, such as mobile testing sites, and can be easily sanitized.

The supplies and equipment are coming at the right time, as COVID-19 cases and deaths are spiking throughout Van Buren County and the rest of the state.

As of Tuesday, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services recorded 2,357 cases of COVID-19 in Van Buren County and 30 deaths, up from 1,627 cases and 21 deaths two weeks ago.

Van Buren County Sheriff Daniel Abbott has been watching the COVID-19 numbers all along.

Shortly after the CARES Act was enacted in March, he said his staff began producing a list of items that would be needed to help health officials deal with mobile testing and eventually mobile vaccination sites.

"Our office worked closely with Ryan Post, director of the Finance Department for the county, in securing these funds," Abbott said. "This was huge not only for our office, but for the tax payers of the county. By securing these funds, no additional county tax payer dollars were used to purchase the equipment."



Longtime VB Civic Organization members honored

COVERT — Three women who have played an instrumental role with the Van Buren United Civic Organization were recently honored for their years of service.

Flozene King, Sweedie Mae Lucas and Frieda Brown received plaques for almost 50 years of combined service to the organization and its community-related activities.

King, who, moved to Covert from Milwaukee, Wis. in 1971, first got involved with the Civic Organization as a secretary/trustee on its executive board. She also represented the Civic Organization as vice president of its Advisory Board to We Care INC. She then became site manager for Senior Nutrition Services. She kept up her involvement with the Civic Organization, serving as program coordinator from 1987-1990. In that capacity she planned activities, published the newsletter and performed other tasks.

She resigned from the Civic Organization to work 20 years for Covert Public Schools, but still stayed linked to the group, while serving as coordinator for West Michigan Food Bank, Feeding America from 2013-19, and comes to the Civic Organization once a month to pass out food to families.

When not involved with the Civic Organization King has been active in the Covert community where she has served on the Covert Advisory Board, Parks Committee, Covert Veterans Memorial committee, Bronson Hospital Auxiliary, Van Buren County National Association of Advancement of Colored People as its president, Covert Pathfinders, Covert Investment Club and various boards of Lily of the Valley Church.

Currently she is a member of the Covert Public Schools Board of Education, a post she has held since 2016.

Lucas joined the Civic Organization in 1974. She attended classes at the University of Michigan to prepare one year later for her role as director of the Civic Center’s Senior Lifeline. As director she organized trips and other activities for seniors. In addition to her duties with the Civic Organization, Lucas served as a Covert Board of Education member for 16 years.

Brown served as president of the Civic Organization for 33 years. Under her leadership, the organization continued to promote the welfare of the Covert community and stimulated the social, moral and public affairs of the community and Van Buren County.

“She had the pleasure of working with some great volunteers who will always be a part of and her and she wants to give thanks to them for their services,” said longtime Covert resident and Civic Organization member Dorothy Holmes. “These women gave a lot of time to help the community to grow and kept the center open for all Van Buren County to appreciate.”





11.20.20

Maple Grove Elementary School PTO President Trish Barnes stands in a portion of the school library that contains hundreds of old and worn out books that have been removed from library shelves. The PTO wants to replace the books with new ones. The library is undergoing an upgrade, sparked by the PTO, that will include new furnishings and books. So far the PTO has raised $12,000 toward its $17,000 goal.

Reading matters to this group of parents

Maple Grove PTO raises funds to purchase new books, renovate elementary school library

By BECKY KARK

Editor and general manager

Books matter to Trish Barnes, and so do school libraries.

When Barnes, who is the president of Maple Grove Elementary School’s PTO, looked around at the school library last spring, she didn’t like what she saw.

“It has really old tables and books,” she said. “The book shelves are not user friendly for kids.”

Rather than complain, Barnes and Heather Vanlandingham, also a member of the PTO, decided to act.

They came up with an ambitious plan to raise money to purchase new furnishings and books in an effort to update the library, but more importantly, to make it more inviting and user-friendly for kids.

“We want kids to enjoy reading forever,” Barnes said.

Yet, like most projects this year, the COVID-19 pandemic curtailed the PTO’s efforts, but not their fundraising.

With help from the school’s library committee, the group canvassed organizations, foundations and businesses for donations.

“We wanted to see if we could get the financial resources first to see if this (updating the library) was relevant,” Barnes said.

The PTO and library committee were pleasantly surprised to find that many were willing to contribute to the $17,000 fundraising goal.

“We received grants from the South Haven Community Foundation, South Haven Public Schools Foundation, Albemarle’s foundation,” Barnes said.

Businesses, such as Filbrandt Family Funeral Home, and organizations, such as the South Haven Rotary Club, also contributed funding. Lakeshore Paint also agreed to donate paint for a mural that will be painted on one of the walls in the library.

To date the PTO has received more than $12,000, which allowed it to begin renovations and order new furnishings.

In the meantime, both Barnes, Vanlandingham and other volunteers have been spending hours in the library sorting through hundreds of books to determine which ones need to be replaced.

As of Wednesday, dozens of boxes of old books sat on the floor in one section of the library to be donated to the American Association of University Women for its annual book sale.

The PTO doesn’t anticipate that the library will be completely renovated until the start of the second semester in January.

At a time when school districts throughout the country have cut back on library budgets, the PTO and Maple Grove library committee think it’s important to stress the reading of books, especially for students who struggle with reading.

“We don’t want struggling readers to think choosing a library book is so difficult,” Barnes said. “We want to be very careful to pick out books and book sets to engage struggling readers.”

Maple Grove School, like many other schools, hasn’t had funding to provide for the purchase of new books in a number of years.

“We haven’t gotten new books in 12 years,” said Heather Chalupa, a junior kindergarten teacher at Maple Grove, who also is on the library committee and engaged in fundraising efforts.

Now that the PTO has raised most of the funding for the new furnishings and other renovations, they are turning their attention to raising an additional $4,500 for the purchase of even more new books.

They’ve developed a wish list of new books written for children, while others will be purchased to replace old book series that have become worn out.

Individuals, businesses or groups who are interested in purchasing and donating books to the library can visit the Maple Grove PTO Facebook page.

South Haven council approves more restrictions for golf carts

By BECKY KARK

Editor and general manager

When people dust off their golf carts next spring to ride on South Haven streets, they’ll have to adhere to stricter guidelines.

City Council members on Monday inked a new ordinance that, among other things, will require golf carts to be equipped with seat belts, mirrors, brakes, lights and turn signals. The ordinance also stipulates that golf cart owners insure their vehicles, register them with the South Haven Police Department, obtain city-issued vehicle plates and limit the number of people in carts to the numbers of seats contained in each vehicle.

For the past four years, city officials have allowed golf carts to be driven on city streets. Those who did so followed state guidelines, which include driving on streets with speed limits of 30 miles per hour or less, using hand signals when turning and be at least 16 years old with a valid driver’s license.

But since the ordinance was enacted in 2016, city officials have received complaints and concerns from citizens who observed underage drivers operating the carts, people driving while intoxicated, carts being driven after dark, carts with too many passengers and carts on roadways where speed limits are more than 30 miles per hour.

As a result, the city’s planning commission in November 2019 began to study ways to ensure safer operation of golf carts.

“This (the new ordinance) is the culmination of work by the Planning Commission to better address concerns with golf cart use in the city,” City Manager Kate Hosier said.

Rosalie Plechaty, who serves on the Planning Commission, attended Monday’s City Council meeting to thank members for approving the new safety guidelines.

“Everybody’s worked on this hard,” Plechaty said. “These aren’t easy decisions to make.”



LMC adapts to new state order

Lake Michigan College is increasing safety precautions in response to new state directives to slow the spread of COVID-19.

Non-essential employees are working remotely and additional in-person classes were moved to remote learning Wednesday, Nov. 18.

“We’ve been preparing for this possibility for many months,” said LMC President, Dr. Trevor Kubatzke. “Most of our classes this semester are already remote. Professors who teach on-campus designed their courses knowing this could happen. We’ve ordered extra laptops for students who need them. We’re ready to keep students on track safely and successfully.”

Some classes will remain in-person following strict safety protocols, including those that train critically needed law enforcement, correctional, medical or first responder personnel. All services for current and prospective students including financial aid and advising are available remotely. Registration for the Spring 2021 semester is now open and classes starting in January will be offered in a variety of flexible online, remote and in-person formats.

The campuses including the Mendel Center will be closed to the general public through Dec. 8 or until whenever the order is lifted.

Lake Michigan Vintners will be closed for tastings but will remain open for carryout and curbside delivery.

South Haven officials address beach safety

After 3 drownings this year, some residents want to bring back lifeguards

Three drownings in Lake Michigan this past summer along with more than a dozen water rescues has prompted City Council members to form a committee to examine whether changes need to be made to the current beach and water safety plan.

Members voted unanimously Monday to form the committee following ongoing requests by citizens for the city hire lifeguards, once again, to man North and South beaches, the two largest of the city’s seven beaches.

“South Haven (police and fire department personnel) has excellent response time for getting to the beach,” Dave Benjamin, executive director of public relations and project management for The Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project, told council members Monday. “But if a 911 call is not made in time, a person can easily drown.”

Carol Sandy of Troy, whose son, Jacob, drowned in 2019 while kayaking in Lake Michigan near Indiana Dunes National Park, also urged the city council to bring back lifeguards to South Haven beaches.

“I strongly support having lifeguards on public beaches,” she said. “Red flags and signs are not meant to be a substitute for lifeguards.”

South Haven ended up disbanding the lifeguard program in the 1990s. However, approximately 10 years following several drownings in Lake Michigan, city officials took steps to improve beach and water safety by establishing a flag system to warn beach-goers to stay out of the water when wave conditions are dangerous. Signs were also posted at beaches explaining how deadly rip currents can be for swimmers. In addition, water rescue equipment and training has been provided to first responders from the South Haven Police Department and South Haven Area Emergency Services.

“Compared to other communities I think you have a good program,” said Terry VanDoren, a member of the Michigan Municipal Risk Management Authority’s Parks & Recreation Risk Control Advisory Committee. City officials had asked VanDoren prior to Monday’s meeting to read through the current water and beach safety plan.

Officials then invited VanDoren to Monday night’s meeting to query him about the pros and cons and liability risks of increased measures to address beach and water safety at South Haven’s beaches.

Council members asked him whether bigger and better signage would work, whether gates or chains could be placed across the piers during inclement weather and if instituting a lifeguard program again is feasible.

“Any form of communication would drastically help,” VanDoren said regarding questions of what methods the city should undertake to communicate more effectively to people about swimming in Lake Michigan when weather conditions are dangerous.

But when it comes to trying to gate off the pier or institute a lifeguard program, VanDoren urged caution.

As it turns out, the piers in South Haven area are owned by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

“If you put a gate on the pier and open and close it, there’s a perception you are in control of access to the pier,” VanDoren said.

The city can try to work out an agreement with the corps to be able to install more signage or a gate, but, according to City Manager Kate Hosier, the process of gaining the corps’ approval takes time.

“It won’t be overnight,” she said.

In regard to lifeguards, it has been stated in the past that lifeguards could prove to be a liability for the city in the event of a drowning.

But VanDoren disagreed as long as they receive the proper training and water-rescue equipment.

“They need be rough-water trained, not trained in a pool,” he said. “If you can properly train and provide the right equipment, any person they save is a good thing. But, if they’re unable to perform the task, that worries me. You also have to spend the money for it (lifeguard program).”

Lifeguards also don’t have enforcement capability that law enforcement officials possess, according to VanDoren, Lifeguards, for example cannot force people from Lake Michigan. Some municipalities have devised a system where lifeguards will call police if there’s a safety issue at the beach, however, VanDoren cautioned the system can be cumbersome, time-consuming and not very effective.

“We wouldn’t want them (lifeguards) forcing people to get out of the water unless they have enforcement to back them up,” he said. “It sounds great in theory, but it’s hard to get them all out of the water. There are a handful of people who won’t leave. Lifeguards are not designed for that kind of enforcement.”

The city’s beach and water safety committee plans to meet over the next several months to study and gather more information. City staff has already begun canvassing other lakeshore towns to see what works best for them.

“There’s a variety of things we can do to enhance safety,” Hosier said.







11.2.20

A participant is shown flinging a fish during the Fish Fling contest at the 2019 Ice Breaker Festival. (File photo by Tom Renner)

COVID-19 restrictions forces cancellation of Ice Breaker Festival

By BECKY KARK

Editor and general manager

For the past year, South Haven Area Chamber of Commerce officials have watched most of their summertime and fall events canceled, one by one, due to COVID-19 restrictions.

It looks like that trend will continue this winter with the organization’s announcement that its popular wintertime festival, Ice Breaker, will be a no-go.

The festival, scheduled for Jan. 29-31, would have been entering its 28th year, but after examining data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and meeting with officials from Van Buren/Cass County Health Department, the city of South Haven and South Haven Area Emergency Services, the chamber made the decision to cancel the three-day event.

“We know this will come as an enormous disappointment, not only to local businesses, but to our area non-profit organizations, vendors and attendees,” said the chamber’s Executive Director Kathy Wagaman. “We have truly appreciated the generous support and participation we have received from local businesses for this event over the past 27 years and assure we are strongly committed to carrying on the tradition in the future as the effects of COVID-19 dissipate.”

Over the years under the chamber’s guidance, Ice Breaker has grown considerably in terms of events and attendance.

It’s debatable which Ice Breaker event draws the largest crowds – the chili cookoff, cardboard sled races, fish fling or ice sculpture – but one thing is for sure, locals and visitors view it as one of the town’s most popular festivals.

In the Best of South Haven 2019 contest, Ice Breaker earned runner-up honors as the most popular festival in South Haven.

The festival offers events found at most winter festivals, such as the chili cookoff, which last year attracted 27 eateries and organizations, and the ice sculpture competition, which features upwards of 60 carvings throughout the downtown. But it’s the more non-traditional events of recent years that have fueled the festival’s popularity.

Those include the cardboard sled race and frozen fish fling. Last year, there were about 80 cardboard sled entries, while 200 people came to Riverfront Park to take turns seeing how far they could throw frozen fish.

Those events, along with the ice skating rink activities and the popular pub crawl and food specials offered at local restaurants, bring an estimated 10,000 people to the downtown at a time when few visitors come to the area.

It’s a disappointment not lost on the chamber.

But, chamber officials also want to do their part to reduce the spread of COVID-19, especially at a time when cases are starting to go up. That is a trend that is expected to continue through the winter months.

“Our primary concern is always the responsibility we feel to protect our community, and those who would visit from the region and neighboring states,” Wagaman said. “We could never have predicted having to make such a decision as this one and we clearly understand this will impact the ability of local businesses to bring in critical revenue during an otherwise challenging month.”

SW Michigan economy fares better than state

By TONY WITTKOWSKI

HP Staff Writer

BENTON HARBOR — Job growth has rebounded faster in Southwest Michigan than what was forecasted over the summer.

During a media roundtable session Thursday, Kinexus Group representatives broke down some of the job sectors and unemployment numbers the region has seen, six months into the COVID-19 pandemic.

Jake Gustafson, Kinexus chief operating officer, said Michigan as a whole has been performing very well, compared to what was anticipated. He said Berrien, Cass and Van Buren counties have also done well in rebounding from an astronomical unemployment rate.

“We went from mid-13 percent unemployment to a high 9 percent unemployment,” Gustafson said in reference to Berrien County. Berrien posted a 9.9 percent unemployment rate in July, compared to a 5 percent rate in July 2019. However, this was a big rebound from when the county posted a 13.8 percent jobless rate in June.

Cass County had a 10 percent unemployment rate in July, a 3 percent drop from June, and Van Buren County posted a 8.8 percent jobless rate, a 3.8 percent reduction from June.

The Southwest Michigan region as a whole – combining all three counties – dipped below double-digits by posting a 9.6 percent unemployment rate.

Gustafson said this turnaround occurred sooner than expected.

“We thought we would be riding out double-digit unemployment through at least the end of 2020,” he said.

“If we were to put our crystal ball cap on, we believe we’ll have at least one more month of incremental growth or positive gains, and maybe sneak down to 8 percent (unemployment).”

Al Pscholka, Kinexus vice president of public relations and government affairs, said another positive to take away heading into the final leg of 2020 is that the local workforce hasn’t declined.

He said it can be harder on a region to climb out of an economic downturn if its workforce leaves. However, Kinexus has yet to see any of these indicators.

After October, Gustafson said there are still a few red flags to consider.

With the weather getting colder, he said Southwest Michigan is expected to see the usual job losses as seasonal jobs fade with the tourism season.

“This region had a great summer and a great end to Q3,” Gustafson said. “But there is still plenty of progress to go.”

Manufacturing and consumers

Strangely enough, Gustafson said there’s probably no better time to be entering the work force – especially if it’s in the manufacturing or hospitality sectors.

“The numbers are unusual there,” he said. “Manufacturing took a 10 percent hit on the labor force after COVID, and they’re still building back. But we think manufacturing is a really resilient field. What we have seen is manufacturers are starting to hire again.”

According to the Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget, manufacturing has been the second-hardest hit sector in Southwest Michigan in terms of total job declines – only behind leisure and hospitality.

Gustafson said consumer- spending trends were particularly eye-opening this summer, as the region saw a 20 percent growth in consumer spending across the leisure and hospitality sector.

“That’s great news. When we last spoke, we were concerned that if you looked at overall trends in previous years, we were down by about a third,” Gustafson said. “By the end of summer, that started to even out.”

Bumpy road ahead

Southwest Michigan didn’t experience a normal year of economic growth.

For this reason, Gustafson said when the slow part of the year, coming up, hits for most businesses, the lack of revenue from this past spring and early part of the summer will create a boomerang effect.

This effect will be felt hardest during the first quarter of 2021.

“Our suspicion is there will be a lot of small businesses in the retail and hospitality sector that are going to need (financial) assistance again,” he said. “This recent spike of activity is great and has helped keep them afloat as a viable business. But you can’t undo almost two quarters of no economic activity. For these folks that built up a cushion to take them through lean times, we’re going to see a second period of difficult operating times for small businesses.”





10.20.20

Ruben De Leon Torres traveled from Texas to South Haven earlier this month to recreate the photographic image of where his grandfather once stood on the South Pier during the 1950s to have his photo taken while working as a migrant laborer in Michigan. 

A photo is worth a thousand memories

Grandson travels travels to South Haven to recreate a moment lost in time

By BECKY KARK

Editor and general manager

While visiting his grandmother Rosa in Mexico, several months ago, Ruben De Leon Torres came upon a small sepia-toned photograph.

It showed his grandfather, the late Nicanor Torres Bernal, standing on a pier with a lighthouse in the back ground.

Intrigued, Torres asked his grandmother where the photo had been taken.

He got a one-word response – “Michigan.”

But where in Michigan?

After going through old family photos and talking with several Michigan lighthouse organizations, Torres finally got his answer – South Haven. A town he had never heard of nor had visited.

But, earlier this month, Torres and his family traveled from Texas to South Haven to pay tribute, if just in a small way, the grandfather, who during the 1950s worked as a migrant laborer so he could send money home to his wife and young child who lived more than one thousand miles away in Mexico.

Torres did so by having his photo taken in roughly the same spot on the South Pier as his grandfather had done many decades ago.

“To me, there is a little of him up there where he walked, slept, ate, lived or just worked away from his family to provide,” Torres said, referring to the time his grandfather was in South Haven.

Torres’ grandfather worked in Michigan on a seasonal basis during the 1950s.

“At the time, my grandmother was living almost 1,700 miles away in northern Mexico with my mom being just a child,” Torres said.

Torres’ grandfather returned to Mexico, full-time, to work in the construction business, building homes.

“He built my mother’s house in Monterrey, Mexico with his own hands,” Torres said. “Life was normal for us and all was well.”

But “life” is full of changes.

“One day my parents decided to move to Texas for a better life and our family moved to Humble, Texas,” Torres recalled. “One day, when I was at my first job as an 18 year old, my cousin came to my work to tell me my grandfather had been killed by a car in the small village where he is from while walking his horse. The untimely death of his grandfather occurred in 1994.

“At the time I was so young and immature to understand the situation. He passed and we moved on with our lives.”

But over the years, especially as his grandmother becomes older, Torres has thought often of his grandparents.

“He loved the L.A. Dodgers – strange, Cowboy stories, smoked cigarettes with no filters and loved bull fights. I loved my grandfather and it breaks me not being there when he died.”

Torres’ grandmother Rosa, however, is still alive and he wants to make the most of it.

“My grandma is still alive in her 80s and lives with family in Mexico,” he said. “I talk to her often and I know she is getting older. She has been like a mother to me and I love her dearly. I wanted to recreate the same picture that my grandfather took as a gift to her before it is too late.”



10.5.20

South Haven City Council names Hosier as city manager

By BECKY KARK

Editor and general manager

After serving as interim city manager, here, for the past four months, Kate Hosier will now be moving into the manager's position on a more permanent basis.

City Council members, last Monday, voted unanimously to hire Hosier to replace Brian Dissette, who left in July to become Berrien County administrator. Over the next week or so, Hosier will meet with South Haven Mayor Scott Smith and Human Resources Director Kim Wise to negotiate a contract.

“I've worked with Kate in different roles,” Smith said, shortly before the council voted to hire Hosier. “She's always an outstanding communicator, willing to go out and pound the pavement. She stepped into a role (interim manager) at a remarkably tough time. She did not run,” Smith went on to say regarding the COVID-19 pandemic and record-high water levels on Lake Michigan and the Black River. There's a lot going on right now. I think she passed our test.”

Originally, council members had intended, Monday, to interview Hosier and the other finalist, Timothy Wolff, manager of the Village of Lake Isabella, near Mt. Pleasant.

However, Monday morning, Wolff withdraw as a finalist, according to the city Human Resources Director Kim Wise, who oversaw the city manager search process.

“We've had a change,” Wise informed the city council Monday evening. “This weekend I heard from candidate Tim Wolff. He was unable to interview in person due to personal issues he was dealing with. I suggested an online interview, but this morning he said he was not able to and asked to withdraw from consideration due to personal issues.”

Council members interviewed Hosier for more than an hour before deciding whether to proceed with making a decision on whether to offer her the job.

After excusing Hosier from the council chamber, members discussed the dilemma of only having one finalist to interview. However, they thought Hosier was the right person for the job.

“I know Kim (Wise) did a good job getting the word out,” council member Jeff Arnold said regarding the search process. “Twenty-one applied. This group and others helped us weed the list down to seven who were vetted and then there were two finalists. Even though the one withdrew, we had two quality people.”

“In a perfect world, I'd like to interview different people,” council member Joe Reeser said. “I sat and listened to Kate. I think she's extremely smart, especially in complicated issues...I think we'd have a hard time finding anyone who is better.”

“There's a reason why Kate rose to the top,” council member George Sleeper said, regarding the search process. “I can see from this interview why that happened.”

Hosier has served as interim manager since June, in addition to serving as assistant city manager and harbor master, duties she's been tasked with since February of 2016. Prior to that she served as deputy city clerk for a year and the city's marina office manager for two years. A licensed attorney, Hosier holds a law degree from Thomas M. Cooley Law School and ran her own law firm in Lansing from 2009-2012 where she served a criminal defense attorney representing indigent clients, before returning to South Haven, where she grew up and graduated from high school. She also holds a bachelor of arts degree in history from Western Michigan University.

“I think public service is a calling,” Hosier told council members when asked, among other things, why she chose public administration as a career after serving as an attorney in Lansing. “Working with clients helped prepare me for this job. I come from a long line of family involved in public service. My father was fire marshal here for many years...I'm very honored to come back and live in my hometown. Serving the city is a very worthwhile venture. Everyday is different.”

South Haven police officers recognized for keeping the community safe

During a year when police departments throughout the country have been receiving backlash for their handling of arrests involving blacks that has resulted in a surge in the Black Lives Matter movement, the South Haven Police Department took time this week to honor several officers for going above and beyond to uphold the safety of individuals and the community.

South Haven Police Chief Natalie Thompson presented awards, Monday, at the South Haven City Council meeting to five employees who, over the past year, saved lives and helped solve crimes related to a drive-by shooting, drug trafficking and a criminal sexual assault of two young girls.

The following employees of the police department received awards:

Sgt. Patrick Carlotto – Life-saving Ribbon and Uniform Bar. Carlotto saved the life of a driver of a vehicle involved in an accident on Aug. 27 at the intersection of 73rd Street and Phoenix Road. “Upon his arrival he found a vehicle off the roadway surrounded by a group of people,” Police Chief Natalie Thompson said. Carlotto observed the driver was unresponsive and that all the doors of the vehicle, locked. He broke the window with his baton and after finding no pulse, pulled the driver from the car and began administering life-saving measures. After doing so he obtained a pulse. “He saved the life of an individual who received a second chance,” Thompson said.

Sgt. Adam DeBoer – Distinguished Service Medal with Neck Ribbon and Uniform Bar. On June 27, DeBoer responded to a 911 call of a drive-by shooting at a residence on M-140 Highway in South Haven Township. No one was hit in the incident but the family was very frightened. “Inside were family members including children,” Thompson said. “It was found several rounds were fired at the residence.” DeBoer observed a vehicle leaving the scene and pursued the vehicle. After stopping the driver he found two firearms that were determined to be used in the shooting. “Sgt. DeBoer’s quick actions led to the apprehension of a dangerous individual,” Thompson said.

Officer Kevin Wildey – Distinguished Service Medal with Neck Ribbon and Uniform Bar. Wildey received the awards for his involvement in helping to process the crime scene in the June 27th drive-by shooting.

Det. Ryan Myers – Distinguished Service Medal with Neck Ribbon and Uniform Bar. In July 2019, Meyers received a complaint regarding a criminal sexual conduct complaint involving two girls, ages 7 and 9. Through the course of the investigation, it was determined the suspect, the girls’ biological grandfather, had left Michigan to escape being arrested. He was later found in Virginia and extradited to Michigan where he was sentenced to “a lengthy prison sentence,” according to Thompson. “His (Myers) work prevent a predator from preying on other victims.”

Det. Lucas Keene – recognition for professional excellence. Keene, who is a member of the Van Buren County Narcotics Team, spent four months investigating a local drug dealer who had been selling heroin and fentanyl in the South Haven area. The suspect has since been arrested.



9.28.20

SH city manager search narrowed to two finalists

By BECKY KARK

Editor and general manager

If all goes well, South Haven city council members will be hiring a new city manager next month.

An interview panel conducted public interviews with seven candidates earlier this month and narrowed the list to two finalists — South Haven's Interim City Manager Kate Hosier and Timothy Wolff, village manager for Village of Lake Isabella, a municipality located near Mt. Pleasant.

The council will interview the two finalists beginning at 5:30 p.m., Monday, Sept. 28, during a special meeting, that will be online. The meeting can be accessed on the city's website.

“We had a great set of candidates, they all interviewed very well,” said South Haven Mayor Scott Smith, who was a member of the interview panel, along with Eddie Polk, senior technical instructor at Entergy; Stephanie Timmer, vice president of the Western Market for Sturgis Bank & Trust Co.; Ross Stein, South Haven Township supervisor; Claudia Maddox, former South Haven Board of Education member; and Bob Strait, retired administrator and director for the W.E. Upjohn Institute in Kalamazoo.

City council members plan within two weeks to interview the two finalists and then make a decision on which one to hire to replace Brian Dissette, who left the city at the end of June to become Berrien County's new administrator.

“We are hoping by the Oct. 19^th meeting to have council approve an agreement with a new city manager,” Kim Wise, South Haven's human resource director, told council members Monday.

Hosier has served as interim manager since June, in addition to serving as assistant city manager and harbor master, duties she's been undertaking since February of 2016. Prior to that she served as deputy city clerk for a year and the city's marina office manager for two years. A licensed attorney, Hosier holds a law degree from Thomas M. Cooley Law School and ran her own law firm in Lansing from 2009-2012 before returning to South Haven, where she grew up. She also holds a bachelor of arts degree in history from Western Michigan University.

Wolff has served as village manager of Lake Isabella since 2004. His other duties include that of deputy clerk, zoning administrator, streets administrator and chief code enforcement officer. Before that he was a village council member for the Village of Breckenridge for four years, while working as general manager for The Ridge Golf Course in Breckenridge and as sales manager for Rent-a-Center in Saginaw.

He obtained a bachelor of arts degree in political science and a master of science degree in administration from Central Michigan University.

Although city residents will not be able to see the finalists interviewed in-person, due to social distancing restrictions, Wise said people can contact her with questions, which can be reviewed and then asked of finalists during their interviews.

“In the past we've had members of the community come in and do a meet-and-greet with finalists. With COVID that's not really a reality,” she explained.

Former SH finance director sentenced for embezzlement

PAW PAW — A former finance director for the city of South Haven has been sentenced to a minimum of nine months in jail after pleading guilty in 36th Circuit Court to embezzlement of $100,00 or more from the city.

Circuit Judge Kathleen Brickley on Monday. Sept. 21, sentenced Wendy Hochstedler, 60, and Daniel Beck, 30, a member of her household at the time.

As part of her sentencing, Hochstedler was also ordered to serve three years probation concurrently with her jail sentence, while Beck was sentenced to a minimum of 30 days in jail and three years probation concurrently with his jail sentence. Both are ordered to pay a total of $155,754 in restitution to the city of South Haven, according to a circuit court clerk. The sentencing follows guilty pleas reached with Hochstedler and Beck in July.

The sentencing ends a year-long investigation conducted by Michigan State Police. After investigating the allegations, police forwarded the findings to the Van Buren County Prosecutor’s Office, which authorized arrest warrants in February.

Police first received word of the alleged embezzlement in November 2018 when South Haven city officials fired Hochstedler after city staff noticed a suspicious purchase on Hochstedler’s assigned credit card. City officials then paid to have a forensic audit completed. The audit showed other credit card accounts had also been improperly maintained and used by Hochstedler and Beck.

The forensic audit, which was handed over to state police, showed five credit cards assigned to former city of South Haven employees were kept active and used by Hochstedler and Beck to make more than $130,000 in fraudulent purchased, according to Special Lt. DuWayne Robinson, spokesperson for the state police’s Fifth District.

“The purchases began in July of 2015 and continued until she was suspended in November of 2018. The two purchased many items over the four years,” Robinson said in the previous release.

The 10-count lawsuit alleged that between August 2015 and November 2018, Hochstedler and Beck racked up $138,216 in personal purchases using the credit cards.



South Haven Police Officers honored

By BECKY KARK

Editor and general manager

During a year when police departments throughout the country have been receiving backlash for their handling of arrests involving blacks that has resulted in a surge in the Black Lives Matter movement, the South Haven Police Department took time this week to honor several officers for going above and beyond to uphold the safety of individuals and the community.

South Haven Police Chief Natalie Thompson presented awards, Monday, at the South Haven City Council meeting to five employees who, over the past year, saved lives and helped solve crimes related to a drive-by shooting, drug trafficking and a criminal sexual assault of two young girls.

The following employees of the police department received awards:

• Sgt. Patrick Carlotto - Life-saving Ribbon and Uniform Bar. Carlotto saved the life of a driver of a vehicle involved in an accident on Aug. 27 at the intersection of 73rd Street and Phoenix Road. “Upon his arrival he found a vehicle off the roadway surrounded by a group of people,” Police Chief Natalie Thompson said. Carlotto observed the driver was unresponsive and that all the doors of the vehicle, locked. He broke the window with his baton and after finding no pulse, pulled the driver from the car and began administering life-saving measures. After doing so he obtained a pulse. “He saved the life of an individual who received a second chance,” Thompson said.
• Sgt. Adam DeBoer - Distinguished Service Medal with Neck Ribbon and Uniform Bar. On June 27, DeBoer responded to a 911 call of a drive-by shooting at a residence on M-140 Highway in South Haven Township. No one was hit in the incident but the family was very frightened. “Inside were family members including children,” Thompson said. “It was found several rounds were fired at the residence.” DeBoer observed a vehicle leaving the scene and pursued the vehicle. After stopping the driver he found two firearms that were determined to be used in the shooting. “Sgt. DeBoer's quick actions led to the apprehension of a dangerous individual,” Thompson said.
• Officer Kevin Wildey - Distinguished Service Medal with Neck Ribbon and Uniform Bar. Wildey received the awards for his involvement in helping to process the crime scene in the June 27th drive-by shooting.
• Det. Ryan Myers - Distinguished Service Medal with Neck Ribbon and Uniform Bar. In July 2019, Meyers received a complaint regarding a criminal sexual conduct complaint involving two girls, ages 7 and 9. Through the course of the investigation, it was determined the suspect, the girls' biological grandfather, had left Michigan to escape being arrested. He was later found in Virginia and extradited to Michigan where he was sentenced to “a lengthy prison sentence,” according to Thompson. “His (Myers) work prevent a predator from preying on other victims.”
• Det. Lucas Keene - recognition for professional excellence. Keene, who is a member of the Van Buren County Narcotics Team, spent four months investigating a local drug dealer who had been selling heroin and fentanyl in the South Haven area. The suspect has since been arrested.



8.31.20

Former SH finance director pleads guilty to embezzlement

By BECKY KARK

Editor and general manager

PAW PAW — A former finance director for the City of South Haven has pleaded guilty in 36th Circuit Court to embezzlement of $100,000 or more.

Wendy Hochstedler, 60, and Daniel Beck, 30, a member of her household at the time, are expected to be sentenced Sept. 21, according to a news release issued today by Michigan State Police's Paw Paw post.

The plea deal follows a year-long investigation conducted by the state police. After investigating the allegations, police forwarded their findings to the Van Buren County Prosecutor's office which authorized arrest warrants in February. The plea deals were reached at the end of July.

When sentenced, Hochstedler could be facing up to a $50,000 fine, or three times the amount embezzled (whichever is greater) and up to 20 years in prison, or both; while Beck, who pleaded guilty to one count of illegal possession of a financial transaction device, could be facing up to four years in prison and or a fine up to $10,000 or three times the amount of funds withdrawn or transferred, whichever is greater.

Police first received word of the alleged embezzlement in November 2018 when South Haven city officials fired Hochstedler after city staff noticed a suspicious purchase on Hochstedler's assigned city credit card, City officials then paid to have a forensic audit completed. The audit, conducted by Vredeveld Haefner LLC of Grand Rapids, showed other accounts had also been improperly maintained and used by Hochstedler and Beck.

The forensic audit, which was handed over to Michigan State Police, showed five credit cards assigned to former city of South Haven employees were kept active and fraudulently utilized by Hochstedler and Beck to make more than $130,000 in fraudulent purchases, according to Special Lt. DuWayne Robinson, spokesperson for the state police's Fifth District.

“The purchases began in July of 2015 and continued until she was suspended in November of 2018. The two purchased many items over the four years,” Robinson said in a news release.

After investigating the allegations brought forward by the city and its auditing firm,  police forwarded their findings to the Van Buren County Prosecutor's office which authorized arrest warrants in February. Hochstedler and Beck then reached a plea agreement in circuit court in late July, according to the Michigan State Police news release.

In addition to the criminal charges Hochstedler and Beck face, the City of South Haven filed a civil lawsuit against the two individuals in February 2019.

The 10-count lawsuit alleges that between August 2015 and November 2018, Hochstedler and Beck racked up $138,216 in personal purchases using city credit cards that had been issued to former employees but which remained open for use. Some of the common purchases made were for gasoline, restaurants, Paypal, and supplies from Menards, in addition to a washer and dryer and an engagement ring that Beck was going to give to his former girlfriend, who was related to Hochstedler. Other purchases included furniture from Art Van, a Surface Pro 4 computer and repair of a four-wheeler.

According to the lawsuit, Beck made most of the purchases, as indicated in receipts that were reviewed by the city's auditing firm.

The lawsuit was settled in July with prejudice, according to Hosier, which means the court has made a final determination in the case and that t he city cannot re-file the suit based on the same grounds.

8.24.20

A salute to 'citizen heroes'

South Haven Area Emergency Services firefighters salute while the Hooligan Flight Team conducts a flyover by the American Legion in South Haven as part of the Salute to Citizen Heroes, Saturday, Aug. 15. Normally, the flight formation team comes to South Haven in August for the annual Salute to Veterans event, however, this year's event theme was change to salute first responders, health care workers and other frontline workers as well as all citizens who have respected others by following safety protocols to prevent the spread of COVID-19. As part of this years event, the South Haven Area Emergency Services aerial truck displayed a large American flag at the Legion post to greet the flight team. Honor guards from the American Legion and SHAES were present for a 21-gun salute and the playing of taps honored of fallen veterans during this COVID pandemic. (Photo by Tom Renner)

Rotary raises $11,000 during fundraiser

While the COVID-19 pandemic has kept organizations from their normal activities in recent months, it hasn’t deterred South Haven Rotarians from remaining active in the community, as evidenced by a successful virtual fundraiser on Aug 9.

For nearly 50 years, the Rotarians had sponsored a pancake breakfast at South Haven Area Regional Airport in conjunction with the National Blueberry Festival. That wasn’t possible this year because of COVID-19 and the absence of a traditional festival schedule.

So the Rotarians decided to go it alone, safely, according to a news release.

The Rotarians sponsored a virtual pancake breakfast fundraiser.

The event from the downtown pavilion was livestreamed on Facebook with a goal of raising $9,000 in 90 minutes.

Hundreds of donations, mostly online, totaled $11,000, according to the release Those who came to the pavilion to watch the production and make a donation received safely packaged Jiffy pancake mix and freshly picked blueberries from DeGrandchamp Farms in South Haven.

Co-chairs Rosalie Plechaty and Dan Thompson hosted the production that featured many of the organizations benefiting from Rotary contributions.

Over the last year, South Haven Rotarians have contributed $51,000 to local, regional and international nonprofits

South Haven teachers' contract approved

By BECKY KARK

Editor and general manager

After several months of negotiations, South Haven Public Schools administrators and the teachers union have hammered out a new contract.

Board of Education members approved the pact Tuesday at a special meeting after members of the South Haven Education Association ratified it Monday. The contract replaces the previous three-year pact, which expired June 30.

“Our negotiating team was pleased with the outcome of negotiations, and while it was a unique experience to negotiate virtually, we found the process to be a fair and positive experience,” said Andrea Jegier, president of the South Haven teachers union.

Board of Education President Laura Bos was also pleased with the outcome of the pact negotiations.

“The contract was approved unanimously by the board, as well as unanimously by the teachers. I’m glad we were able to reach an agreement everyone is pleased with.

The three-year contract calls for an increase in salaries for the first year, according to Bos. Level 1 teachers (those with the least seniority) will receive a 2 percent increase in salary; level 2 teachers, a 1.5 percent increase; and Level 3, a 1.25 percent increase.

“This is a one-year agreement on salary, but a three-year agreement on all other areas of the contract,” Bos said.

District Superintendent Kevin Schooley explained the reasoning behind the two-tiered pact.

“We have a wage agreement for 2020-2021 with a wage reopener in the spring and a 3-year agreement on language. This is not uncommon in difficult financial times,” he said.

The union was particularly pleased with the 1.25 percent increase for Level 3 instructors, according to Jegier.

“We were able to agree upon a .25 percent increase to the percentage applied to Level 3, making the multiplier 1.25 percent. This increase helps to encourage longevity within our district,” she said.

The contract calls for other incentives for teachers.

“We added language that states that teachers will be reimbursed up to $325 for any personal items broken should they experience a physical assault while at work,” Jegier said. “We also added a stipulation that teachers who develop and present professional development will be compensated for their time spent planning and presenting the professional development material.”

Other changes include modifications to the compensation for other positions.

“Our two negotiating teams (SHEA and administration) worked together at the 'virtual table' to build equity in pay among the coaching and arts positions,” Jegier said.



8.17.20

Virtual learning for now

SH Schools unveils plan for gradual transition to in-person instruction

By BECKY KARK

Editor and general manager

While some public school districts throughout Southwest Michigan plan to begin the school year with students and teachers returning to the classroom, South Haven Public Schools has made the decision to initially begin the 2020-21 year with online instruction.

District leaders announced the back-to-school plan Tuesday after conducting a survey last week of parents who were asked if they wanted their child to participate in in-person instruction and if their child would be using bus transportation.

After analyzing the responses and considering the Van Buren/Cass District Health Department's guidelines for safely having stuff and students return to the classroom, school officials decided it would be best to start the school year in a virtual setting and then gradually progress to in-person instruction.

“The safest way for students to engage in learning at this time is to begin the school year with a gradual transition to in-person instruction,” District Superintendent Kevin Schooley stated in a letter to parents. “This means we will start the school year in a 100-percent virtual setting with the intention to wisely and purposefully re-engage in-person instruction.”

School will resume for students Aug. 31 with virtual instructions lasting until at least Oct. 2.

“The District will make a decision by Sept. 21 about increasing our in-person instruction for students,” Schooley explained. “If feasible, increased in-person education would begin Oct. 5.”

If it isn't feasible, the online instruction will continue with a second assessment on Oct. 19 of whether to increase in-person instruction by Nov. 2. As the first semester progresses, further assessments for in-person instruction may occur, as well, depending on whether the number of COVID-19 cases and deaths increases or decreases. Parents who don't feel comfortable letting their child return to school will have the option of continuing online instruction throughout the year.

“While this isn’t the 'normal' we all had hoped for, it is the first step in transitioning back to our traditional school model,” Schooley said. “It will take patience and perseverance from our students, families and staff as we all adjust and learn how to navigate this unique year.”

When the school district announced its plans to initially start the school year online, most of the people who commented on the district's Facebook page approved of the decision, with such comments as

Fifty-five of 63 respondents “liked” the district's plan.

The South Haven Tribune also queried parents online to see how many favored sending their children back to school or keeping them home for online instruction. Of those who responded, the majority said they favored online learning, at least for now.

School systems throughout Michigan have until Friday to announce state-approved plans for re-opening their doors to students. Plans have to be based on the State of Michigan's mandated “roadmap” for curbing the spread of COVID-19.

The “roadmap” for reopening the state for normal in-person classroom instruction is based on five phases, depending on the severity of coronavirus cases and deaths.

Most of Michigan is now in phase 4 which allows for in-person education, but only under strict guidelines. Some of those guidelines include students and staff wearing face masks throughout the day, limitations of students in each classroom, continual cleaning of rooms, and lunch eaten only in classrooms. Phase 5 has fewer guidelines for in-person instruction, but just when that will occur remains an unknown, according to Schooley.

“The fact that Van Buren County is currently in phase 4 with no indication of being graduated to phase 5 by legislators in the foreseeable future, the discussion became how many students planned to attend in-person schooling and whether or not we could safely house those students in the building while adhering to all guidelines to keep students and staff safe,” Schooley said.

8.10.20

The photo above depicts what the Project Pathway mural on the exterior wall of Michigan Theater will look like when it is finished. The goal is to finish by mural by the end of November so that when students from the South Haven High School Class of 2020 return home from college, they can see it.

A tribute to the

Class of 2020

Mural/sculpture to honor South Haven's graduating class

By BECKY KARK

Editor and general manager

South Haven's Class of 2020 may consider their final year of high school as a lost one due to efforts to stop the spread of the coronavirus pandemic, but a group of other students is ensuring this year's senior class will not be forgotten.

The high school's Project Pathway organization is raising $20,000 to commission a combination mural/sculpture outdoor piece of art that pays tribute to not only South Haven High Schoo students in general, but mainly the Class of 2020.

The mural, to be painted by South Haven artist Kayla Wyszyinski and the sculpture pieces by South Haven artist Kathy Kreager, will be affixed to the exterior side of the Michigan Theater, facing Quaker Street.

When completed later this year it will depict the sun setting over South Haven's historic lighthouse and the city's harbor. Wyszyinski also plans to paint a large tree on the right-hand side of the mural. The sculpture portion of the commissioned piece will consist of 125 metals birds flying around the sunset, the large tree and lighthouse.

“It (the tree) will illustrate the tree of life that represents the family, schools and community from which we grew from into adults who will take flight and continue that spirit on our own paths,” said Taleah Lowe, an incoming senior and marketing chair of Project Pathway. “The 125 birds signify the 125 students in the class of 2020 taking off into their own paths as they grow up and leave the nest. The tree illustrates the roots that the class of 2020 has in this community and reminds them of where they come from. Finally, the light house is an homage to what South Haven is known for and the sunset will be in the colors purple and gold which represents the school colors.

“The 125 birds will not only be on the mural, but some will be around town to allow for an interactive aspect for the community,” Lowe continued to say.

Project Pathway students have raised half the money needed for the creation of the mural/sculpture.

'We need $10,000 more in order to make it a grand total of $20,000, Lowe said. “We are trying to accomplish this goal in the next 6 weeks.”

To help reach their goal, the group has established a fundraising drive and is now seeking donors. Businesses or groups that donate $150 will receive a bird sculpted by Kreager that they can display. Those who donate $300 will receive two birds, while ones who contribute $500 will receive a cluster of three birds.

“We also have a similar reward system with parents of the class of 2020,” Lowe said. “If they donate $100  they will receive a certificate with a picture of one of the birds on the mural that will have their child's name on it. If they donate $300 or more, Ms. Kreager will sculpt a bird for the graduate to keep as their own.”

This isn't the first time Project Pathway has conducted a philanthropic fundraising campaign.

The group's primary mission is to connect students to businesses throughout the community through a series of career expos while also helping students to polish up on resume writing and job interview skills.

But the group is also dedicated to giving back to the South Haven community.

“Each year Project Pathway has a philanthropy project that we decide on,” Lowe explained. “This project can be anything we members choose that assists the students coming up behind us in their understanding of how important philanthropy is when being a good business professional.”

For its most recent philanthropic project, students worked in collaboration with Lawn Boys Inc. to create a decorative outdoor landscaped area in front of the high school for placement of a large bronze ram statue, to signify the school's mascot. Project Pathway raised money to purchase the statue, while Lawn Boys provided landscaping services.

For more information about the mural/sculpture or to donate, contact Project Pathway Advisor Marla Bruemmer by email at marla@designevolutions.org, or by calling 269-639-1617.

Candidates file for November school board elections

By BECKY KARK

Editor and general manager

Expect some new faces on area school boards for the upcoming year.

Candidate filings compiled by the Van Buren County Clerk's office show that several current school board members in the South Haven, Bangor and Covert public schools districts have chosen not to seek-re-election in November, paving the way for new ones to take their place as well as the possibility for a few write-in elections.

South Haven

South Haven Public Schools has three four-year positions available, however, only one of the three incumbents has filed for re-election — Vice-president Doug Ransom. The other two board members, long-time Treasurer Joe DeGrandchamp and Trustee John Frost, chose not to re-file for their seats. Also on the ballot is newcomer, S. Grassflower, which could lead toward a write-in candidate for the third position that will be open.

Covert

Covert Public School's slate of board of education candidates also contains several newcomers.

There will be a handful of four-year and two-year positions available.

For several months, the board has had two openings after trustees Elizabeth DeRosa and Cheryl Edrington resigned at the end of March.

As a result, that has created more open seats for the November election because neither Secretary Shirley Kener nor Trustee Flozene King chose to file for re-election.

“As it stands right now, there are four 4-year terms on the ballot for this November 2020 election,” said Anthonette Cox, administrative assistant to Covert Public Schools Superintendent Yolanda Brunt..

Candidates who are seeking office are former school board member Cheryl McCray, incumbent Ella Rae Harrington and newcomer Geoffrey Rose.

That will leave one 4-year term open.

“The fourth candidate will have to be a write-in candidate at this juncture,” Cox said.

Only one candidate, Kayla Perry, filed for the partial two-year term position.

Bangor

Like Covert, Bangor will not have a full slate of candidates seeking to fill board positions.

The terms of four board members will expire at the end of this year. However, only three candidates have filed to run for election in November.

The board members whose terms are expiring are Vice-President Betsy Finch, Secretary Sarah Gray, Treasurer Jen Zordan and Trustee Joyce Adams, according to Melissa Quinn, administrative assistant to Superintendent Lynn Johnson.

However, only Zordan and Adams have filed to run for re-election. They will be joined on the ballot by Joyce Adams, leaving one four-year term available to write-in candidates.



8.3.20

Mask's on for a South Haven Tradition

Scaled-down National Blueberry Festival set to begin Friday

By BECKY KARK

Editor and general manager

Memorial Day parade — canceled.

Riverfront Concert Series — canceled

Festival of Cars — canceled.

Fourth of July parade — canceled.

Light up the Lake fireworks display — canceled

Summer Art Fair — canceled

Summer Performance Series — canceled

South Haven Theater Series — canceled

Van Buren Youth Fair — canceled

Michigan Flywheelers Antique Engine and Tractor Show — canceled

It seems every summer event that draw people to South Haven has been nixed this year due to fears of spreading the coronavirus.

So it shouldn't come as a surprise that a festival that draws upwards of 40,000 people to town would fall prey to the cancellation buzzer.

Not the National Blueberry Festival. South Haven's largest summertime event is still a go — just smaller.

“It's 92 percent less, but 100 percent delicious,” Festival Director Megan Cairns quipped.

So don't expect to cheer kids on during the blueberry pie eating contest, or listen to live outdoor concerts, or enjoy perusing the many booths of the craft fair or eating at the festival's many fundraising dinners and breakfasts.

Instead, you'll have to take part in some of the festival events virtually, while social distancing at “live” events.

“We worked long and hard to find a way to still have a festival this year,” said John Deschaine, chair of the Blueberry Festival board of directors. “And while this year's festival will be greatly reduced it did allow us to focus on what is important — blueberries and our community.”

To underscore the town's blueberry heritage, the festival will open Friday, Aug. 7 with Farm Day, where families can visit local growers for various blueberry products and U-Pick opportunities. A list of participating farms can be found on the festival's website. People who tour three farms will be able to get a free slice of blueberry pie, Saturday, Aug. 8, from the festival booth at the Huron Street pavilion, downtown, while supplies last.

The focus will continue on blueberry farmers on Saturday, Aug. 8 when they set up their booths at Blueberry Central Market at the Huron Street pavilion. From 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., people can purchase a variety of blueberry-related products.

Another outdoor “live” event will be the Kid's Scavenger's Hunt. From 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 8, families can obtain a Scavenger Hunt page at the Blueberry Festival booth at the Huron Street pavilion to answer clues that can be found within a four-block radius of South Haven. The kids who solve the most clues will receive a prize.

“This is something fun that families can do at their own pace and be socially distanced,” Cairns said.

The remainder of the festival events, most of which will be virtual, follow:

• Youth Pageant: Due to restrictions to prevent the spread of coronavirus, this year's pageant will not take place on stage. Instead, contestants will be interviewed separately on Aug. 8, and then winners announced afterwards. “It's difficult this year, but we want to make it fun,” Cairns said.

• Blueberry 5K run/walk: This event normally attracts about 1,000 runners who run together through downtown streets and along the lakeshore. This year's race will be done in a manner that encourages great social distancing, however. Runners and walkers interested in participating can register online, choose from a variety of routes and then complete the race on their own. There is a fee for the event, which is a fundraiser for the festival. Participants will receive a free T-shirt.

• Kids 1K Fun Run: Similar to the 5K run/walk, kids can enter online and then complete a 0.6-mile route that begins at Kids Corner playground. Each child who completes the fun run will receive a bag of prizes.

• Postcard Perfect Photo Contest: Participants have from Aug. 1-31 to capture their favorite photos focused either on blueberries or the festival. Photos can be loaded through Instagram, by tagging 2nbf_south_haven. The winner, who will be chosen Sept. 14^th, will receive 50 postcards of their photographic image to give to family and friends, as well as merchandise gift certificates for the 2021 Blueberry Festival.

• Fun blueberry-related videos for kids and adults: People can view several videos on the festival's Facebook site geared to both children and adults. One of the videos shows adults how to make various beverages that include blueberries. The children's video shows local Blossomtime queens, including Miss South Haven and Miss Bangor, reading children's books that feature blueberries.

3 Covert Twp. board positions contested

By BECKY KARK

Editor and general manager

COVERT TOWNSHIP — Three out of four of the township board's positions will be contested in the upcoming Aug. 4 primary.

Incumbent Supervisor Dennis Palgen is being challenged by incumbent Clerk Daywi Cook on the Democratic ticket with the winner facing Republican Tom DeRosa in the November general election.

In the other two contested races, incumbent treasurer Wednesday Pritchard will be challenged by Barbara Rose on the Democratic ticket, while in the trustee race, Democrat incumbent trustees Kenneth Harrington Sr. and Lonzey Taylor will square off against Democrat challenger Dawn Alspaugh.

The only position that remains uncontested in the Aug. 4 primary election is the clerk's position. Current deputy clerk Naomi Barnes, a Republican, is seeking that seat. All of the township board seats are for four-year terms.

This year's township board election could prove to be a pivotal one for Covert, which is inching closer and closer to the closure of the Palisades Nuclear Power Plant – the municipality's largest taxpayer — in May of 2022.

All of the candidates pointed out that the plant's closure is by far the biggest issue facing the township over the next several years.

Candidate information for the contested primary races follows (names for each position are in alphabetical order):

Supervisor's race

Cook, 35, has served as clerk since 2016. Prior to that she was deputy treasurer of the township for three years.

“Although my current role as clerk has been rewarding, I believe my time and resources would better serve the community of Covert in the role of supervisor,” she said. “We've accomplished so much since 2016, and yet there is so much more we can do. Our beautiful, vibrant community is being underserved and too many opportunities are being lost.”

The next four years will be tough for Covert, according to Cook.

“The closure of our biggest taxpayer in the spring of 2022 means we need to make some tough decisions now and still find a way to continue improving the services we provide to our residents. We can also take steps to qualify for state programs available to townships who are seeking funds for development, such as the “Redevelopment Ready Communities” Program offered by the MEDC, to help grow our tax base at a pace that makes sense for Covert. Seeking alternative funding for programs will need to be common practice to keep economic stability in our township.”

Outside of her job, Cook is a member of Market Van Buren economic development group, Safe Kids Coalition of Greater South Haven and Diversity Coalition 2.0.

Palgen, 78, has served as township supervisor since 2016. Prior to that he was clerk for 16 years.

“I am running for re-election to continue my 20 years of experience serving the residents of Covert Township with experience, individualized attention and resources in hopes of meeting the needs, concerns and expectations for our community,” Palgen said.

He echoed Cook's concerns about the township's economic future.

“The biggest challenge facing Covert Township is the up-and-coming closure of Entergy/Palisades in the Spring 2022 and the continued tax revenue losses from the township's largest taxpayer over the past two years and the upcoming years,” Palgen said. “However, the current Township Board proudly met that challenge head on and has approved a balanced budget for fiscal year 2020-2021. I plan to continue working with the Township Board to prepare for the future of Covert Township, the same way…head on.”

In addition to serving as supervisor, Palgen is a member of the We Care In the Name of Christ's Covert Advisory Board, Covert Veterans Memorial Committee, Covert Senior Advisory Committee, Covert Township Lions Club and he is chairperson of the South Haven-Bronson Advisory Committee.

Treasurer's race

Pritchard, 48, has been serving as treasurer for the past year after the township board appointed her to the position when long-time Treasurer Marilyn Rendell retired. Before that, she served as deputy treasurer for 2-1/2 years.

“Since taking office, I have gained a wealth of knowledge, and learn more with each passing week,” Pritchard said. “I truly enjoy the position and duties of being treasurer, and have many ideas for growth and financial planning I hope to present to the board in the near future...I enjoy the challenge of spearheading the creation of the annual budget,  considering the large cuts to our future tax revenues.”

Although Palisades isn't closing until 2022 the township, Pritchard, said the township board is already taking steps to deal with the economic impact.

“By working with the department heads and township board, monitoring our budget, and encouraging responsible and thoughtful spending of taxpayer dollars, we as a township can and will adjust to the reduced tax revenue in the future,” Pritchard said. “We have been exploring other, more lucrative options for the township investments as well.”

Rose, 72, who previously served as township supervisor from 2008-2016, is running for treasurer “to serve and utilize the experiences that I have acquired.”

As supervisor she oversaw the township's dispute with the Michigan Tax Tribunal over the reduction in property taxes sought by Covert Generating plant.

“Covert has two power plants, with one closing in a year,” she said. “Our community will be facing critical issues that must be identified and planned for our survival...The biggest challenge will be to critically identify the needs of our community while developing an accurate budget and capital outlay plan that addresses the township's future.

“The community will be facing cuts from Entergy's closure, and potential reductions in property taxes from Covert Generating that must be addressed effectively for our community's growth.”

Rose, who is retired, is a member of the Van Buren County Planning Commission, We Care human service ministry's outreach program for Covert residents, Senior Services of Van Buren County, The Governor's Sustainable Development Commission and  MSU Extension and AgBioResearch State Advisory Council member.

Trustees race

Alspaugh, 55, is seeking a first term as township trustee.

“I am running for the position to bring more positive thinking and look forward to making our community great, a place people want to live and raise their kids and to attract more business,” she said.

Alspaugh, who is office manager for Jack's Excavating & Trucking LLC, said the closing of Palisades power plant poses the biggest challenge for the township.

“I believe our biggest challenge as a township is the closing of Palisades, but if I win the seat, I look forward to working with the board to try to attract business and residents to come to our community to live and raise a family. I will strive hard to make Covert great and help it grow.”

In addition to her job as office manager, Alspaugh is a member of the township's Board of Review and the Covert Housing Commission. She also is active with the Van Buren Youth Fair.

Harrington, 57, has served as a township board trustee for the past 12 years.

“I am running for re-election because  we have much more to accomplish,” he said. “As a  12-year board member,  I am well-equipped to help the board make informed decisions to help the township continue to grow and become a better place to live and do business. I am committed to serving the tax payers through transparency and the proper use of our tax dollars.”

Like other candidates, Harrington said the township will need to come up with new ways to generate revenue that will be lost when Palisades closes.

“The CR 378 corridor from Interstate 196 remain underutilized,” he said. “The potential for commercial/industrial development in the 378 corridor is waiting to happen. We may provide tax incentives for current and future business owners, and seek out potential grant enhancement opportunities. We must remain fiscally conservative ensuring that the decisions we make are in the best interest of our tax payers. We must maintain a balanced budget and continue to identify opportunities that capitalize on our resources while maintaining high quality services for our residence.”

Harrington, who is employed full-time as an investigator for the Michigan Department of Corrections, is a member of the Michigan Corrections Organization and the Michigan Township Association.

Taylor, 62, hopes to win a second four-year term as township trustee.

He said he wants to continue to “be a voice for the township residents.”

He, too, thinks the township will face tough economic times over the next several years.

“The biggest challenge will be the reduction in our tax base due to Palisades plant closing,” he said.

Taylor, who has worked at Palisades for the past 44 years, is currently a lead repairman there. He also has served as a volunteer for the Covert Township Fire Department and has an EMT license. However, he is currently on a leave of absence due to serving as a township board member.



7.28.20

South Haven High School's graduating class of 2020 gets ready to turn their tassels from the right side of their cap to the left to signify that they are now high school graduates. The commencement  took place Saturday, July 19, outdoors  at South Haven High School. Students wore face masks during most of the ceremony until the time they walked across the stage to receive their diploma and have their photo taken without their mask on. As a result, most students at the conclusion of the ceremony were not wearing a mask. However, they were socially distanced. (Photo courtesy of TPC Technologies Ind.)

SH seniors finally get to graduate

After a nearly two-month delay, students take part in in-person, outdoor ceremony

By BECKY KARK

Editor and general manager

The coronavirus pandemic stopped many high school seniors from playing spring sports, singing in their annual spring musical, taking a date to the prom or just hanging out together at school.

But the virus didn't prevent South Haven High School from holding an in-person graduation ceremony.

Albeit different from ceremonies of the past, the graduation took place, outdoors, Sunday, July, 19 at the high school parking lot.

Originally, school officials had planned to hold the ceremony at Ratcliffe Field, the traditional site for commencement. Students would sit together, but six feet apart. Parents and other loved ones would be able to watch the ceremony but would have to also sit apart and the number of all participants would be limited to 500 or less. But when coronavirus cases began to go up in the state earlier this month, school officials were forced to change plans because outdoor spectator viewing would be limited to 100 per Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's latest executive order.

As a result, the venue changed to the high school where graduating seniors were still able to sit together as a class, but they had to wear face masks and sit six feet apart. Parents watched the ceremony on big video screens while sitting in their vehicles where they heard the ceremony via radio.

Students who spoke during the ceremony, admitted the cancellation of indoor classes, extracurricular activities and sports in March, April, May and June made for a difficult senior year. Yet, they remained upbeat.

“Who would have thought we'd have our graduation in July with face masks on, sitting six feet apart, our parents watching from afar in their vehicles,” said senior class president Holli Dannenberg. But, she went on to say, “Although this is not the senior year we expected, we made it...All these experiences we have faced have made us stronger.”

Class Valedictorian Elise Postma voiced similar comments.

“We can look back and think how COVID ruined our senior year, or that we had a graduation like no other...If COVID taught me anything, it is live in the moment. Tomorrow isn't guaranteed so live your life in the present. The world is yours to explore.”

“I think we've proven to be a pretty resilient group,” class Salutatorian Opal Eddy said. “Never let anyone tell you you can't, because you can.”

District Superintendent Kevin Schooley admitted to students they endured a senior year much different from graduating senior classes of the past.

“It's been unique,” he told the students, yet he also felt the class of 2020 to be unique from previous graduating classes.

“You're going to have a unique bond,” Schooley said. “Graduates (of 2020) around the world share what you've gone through. You might have a unique perspective on loss. At some point your son or daughter will come home from school and say, 'mom, my trip got canceled.' I think you're going to be the person to sit down and share your story of the spring of 2020. That's just part of your story. Let's not forget the goals and accomplishments you've achieved this year.

“Our world needs your optimism, your desire to succeed, your understanding, strength and flexibility.”

Van Buren Latinos hit hard by coronavirus

By ALEXANDRA NEWMAN
HP Staff Writer

HARTFORD — The Hispanic/ Latino communities of Van Buren County have been hit disproportionately by COVID-19.
Although Hispanics make up only 11 percent of the population in Van Buren County, as of July 14, they account for more than half (56 percent) of all positive COVID-19 cases, the Van Buren Cass District Health Department (VBCDHD) reported in a news release.
The percentage of overall cases identified as Hispanic/ Latino ethnicity in the state is 8 percent.
“In response to the exposed disparity, VBCDHD is employing additional focused strategies to increase prevention awareness, testing availability and accessibility, and connect communities of color to other resources that support basic needs like food and housing,” the news release stated.
Public health research has long proven that the conditions in which people live, learn, work and play contribute to their health, according to the release. These conditions, over time, lead to different levels of health risks, needs, and outcomes among some people in racial and ethnic minority groups. Factors such as living conditions, work circumstances, underlying health conditions and lower access to care can impact health outcomes and are often exacerbated during public health emergencies.
The VBCDHD noted that even though nearly 40 percent of COVID-19 positive cases are occurring among primarily white, non-Hispanic individuals, it’s important that all community members take the necessary precautions to help prevent transmission of COVID-19 to themselves and others.
“This is truly a prevention effort that requires the collective effort of all,” the release said. The VBCHD recommends physical distancing, whenever possible, wearing a face covering when in public, washing your hands regularly with soap, sanitizing high touch surfaces and if you’re sick, stay home.
As of last Wednesday, there were 279 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Van Buren County and 8 deaths. More than 10,000 COVID-19 tests have been conducted in the county so far.  Over the past several months, Currently there are no patients at Bronson South Haven being treated as in-patients. Allegan County has recorded 392 cases and 7 deaths as of last Wednesday, with more than 13,000 tests being conducted. More hygiene tips for families and workplaces are available on the health department’s website, www. vbcassdhd.org/covid-19/.



7.20.20

Comet NEOWISE pays a visit

A very rare occurrence happened over the skies of Southwest Michigan last week in the form of Comet NEOWISE. The comet was discovered in March by the Neowise spacecraft, hence its name. Southwest Michigan residents who looked up to the northwest portion of the sky at approximately 11 p.m. on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday of last week were able to get a glimpse of the comet. South Haven photographer Kelly Weber was one of the lucky ones. She took the photo, above, on Tuesday as the comet streaked across the sky over Lake Michigan and South Haven's piers. Those who weren't able to see the comet will have to wait a very long time to do so. NEOWISE, which measures three miles across, according to space.com, isn't expected to return for another 6,800 years. (Photo by Kelly Weber)

1.18.21

Bronson South Haven opens COVID vaccination clinic for people 65 years of age and older

Bronson Healthcare has opened its first COVID-19 vaccination clinics by appointment only for people 65 and older. Vaccinations began Saturday, Jan. 16 at Bronson sites in South Haven, Battle Creek, Portage and Mattawan. A red alert box on bronsonhealth.com will indicate when appointments are available and when they are filled.

All appointments are being scheduled through Bronson MyChart. A scheduling process is currently being developed for those who may require special assistance or have difficulty with MyChart.

As the demand is high and supply is limited, the appointments are expected to fill up quickly. Additional appointment days and times will be opened as more doses are received from Pfizer and Moderna.

Vaccines will be administered by appointment only at these sites:

• Bronson Fieldstone Center, 165 N Washington Ave., Battle Creek
• Bronson Vaccination Clinic, 6901 Portage Rd., Portage
• Bronson Vaccination Clinic, 52375 N. Main St., Mattawan
• Bronson Wellness Center, 950 S. Bailey Ave., South Haven

Walk-ins will not be accepted due to vaccine supply limitations.

The photo above shows one of Northpoint Conservation Area’s dunes that overlooks Lake Michigan.

DNR, Van Buren County expand state park by 17 acres

By TRIBUNE STAFF

Van Buren State Park will be larger thanks to an agreement hammered out between the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Van Buren County Board of Commissioners.

Van Buren County officials have approved a 25-year lease with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources to expand Van Buren State Park’s footprint to include the Northpoint Conservation Area located in South Haven Township, according to a West Michigan Tourist Association news release.

The 17-acre parcel, just north of the state park in South Haven Township, has been owned and maintained by the county for the past several years.

Northpoint, which is largely wooded, contains a number of hiking trails that lead from the preserve’s entrance to Lake Michigan. The trails are popular for bird watchers and are open year-round.

The new arrangement will place day-to-day management with the DNR.

“We’re excited to formally connect both parcels of public land through this unique partnership with the DNR,” said Richard Godfrey, chairman of the Van Buren County Board of Commissioners, in the release. “Because the DNR already manages the adjoining land, we determined that establishing common management would best ensure that the fragile, critical dune land is preserved and remains accessible to the public.”

By acquiring Northpoint, the state park’s mile-long shoreline along Lake Michigan will expand by 340 feet.

The state park is home to high dune formations, a modern campground, woodland trails and a day-use area. The park’s most prominent natural features are its sandy beach, forested dunes, interdunal wetlands and diverse vegetation.

“This is a great opportunity to partner with Van Buren County,” said Matt Metzger, supervisor for Van Buren State Park. “We look forward to playing an active role in management of such a unique piece of land and helping make it a special place for visitors to enjoy for years to come.”

While much will remain the same, visitors can expect to see new site signage, revised hours of operation, and more consistency among land use rules and the requirement for the Recreation Passport between both parcels. Parking along Ruggles Road will now require a Recreation Passport.

Elderly Lawton couple scammed out of $12,000

PAW PAW — Michigan State Police troopers are warning citizens about an uptick in scams targeted at grandparents living in Southwest Michigan.

The latest incident involved an older couple from Lawton who are now out $12,000.

The scam began earlier this month when the couple received a phone call from someone who they thought was their granddaughter, according to a news release from Special Lt. Duwayne Robinson, public information officer for Michigan State Police’s Fifth District.

The female caller, later determined to be impersonating the couple’s granddaughter, claimed she had been arrested following a traffic accident. The caller told the couple they needed to contact her friend’s father, who was a lawyer. They contacted the “lawyer,” who told him their granddaughter was in serious trouble and they would need $12,000 to bail her out of jail. After agreeing to pay the money in cash, the lawyer said he would send a courier to their home to pick up the money.

The next day the “so-called lawyer” called the couple back and said there was an issue and that they would need to pay an additional $14,000 to help their granddaughter. But that attempt was thwarted once their actual granddaughter stopped by their house, and it was realized the couple had been scammed.

“She randomly stopped by unannounced,” Robinson said.

Michigan State Police are continuing to investigate the scam. Recent similar “grandparent” scams have been reported in Sault Ste. Marie and the Grand Rapids area, prompting the following advice from state police troopers at the Paw Paw post:

“Michigan State Police would like to remind citizens to contact law enforcement prior to acting on or sending any money if you ever feel you are being scammed either by phone, email or other methods,” Robinson said. “Additionally, if you believe you are being targeted please remember to record as much of the caller’s information as possible.”

Police are also warning of other scams out there that people need to be aware of.

“If you receive phone calls, emails or some other form of communication in which the caller is claiming they are from the Treasury Department and/or who is offering COVID stimulus payments or some form of a grant in exchange for your personal information or they require you to purchase gift cards to obtain money, consider this a scam and hang up and report it to law enforcement or the FBI at www.ic3.gov,” Robinson said.

All suspected fraudulent activity can also be reported to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) online at www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0208-phone-scams.

People who have lost money to a phone scam or have information about the company or scammer who called, can report it to ftc.gov/complaint. People who have not lost money, but who want to report a scam, can do so on the FTC’s streamlined reporting form at donotcall.gov.



1.11.21

South Haven's last remaining video store to close its doors

By BECKY KARK

Editor and general manager

Over the past couple of decades video stores began to close one by one in South Haven, however, one could always be counted on to remain open – Family Video.

That’s about to change, though.

Highland Ventures Ltd., the parent company of the Family Video chain, announced Tuesday that it plans to shutter all of its stores, nationwide. Michigan, alone, is home to 58 stores, including ones in South Haven, Allegan and Niles.

In a letter to Family Video employees and customers, company President Keith Hoogland stated, “I have to make the difficult announcement that we are closing all Family Video locations. The impact of COVID-19 not only in foot traffic but also in the lack of movie releases, pushed us to the end of an era.”

Family Video began 42 years ago. What began as a handful of 500-square-foot video rental locations grew to 800 locations with up to 7,000 square feet of video rental and retail.

“Surviving 10 years longer than the big three – Blockbuster, Movie Gallery and Hollywood Video – we were among the few that started with Beta, moved on to VHS and remained a part of the DVD and Blu-Ray era,” Hoogland said.

The South Haven store opened several decades ago. On Wednesday, its parking lot was filled – something that had not been happening as of late.

Customers who entered inside were not able to rent movies, but they could buy them at discount prices as part of the company’s effort to downsize all of its inventory before closing stores.

Lea and Summer Torres of Bangor were among dozens of customers who stood in line with hands and arms full of videos, patiently waiting their turn to make their purchases at the front counter

After they finished shopping, mother and daughter walked outside to their vehicle with plastic bags full of movies.

“She was able to get all eight seasons of American Horror Story,” Lea said of her daughter. Mother and daughter also purchased the Annabelle series, several Star Trek movies, and even some oldies but goodies like Roger and Hammerstein’s musical, Oklahoma.

Both the Torres’s commented about the many bargains available to shoppers.

“Some were two for five,” Summer said.

It didn’t take long for word to get around about the sale going on at Family Video in South Haven

Former South Haven resident Jason Wesseldyk had stopped to see his parents when he heard about it.

Standing in the store parking lot ready to go inside he said, “I came to visit my parents and thought I’ll stop in and see if there’s anything we’d be interested in.”

Jenifer Eltzroth of South Haven also heard about the sale.

After seeing a post on Facebook she decided to check out the store’s inventory.

“I’ll miss it,” she said regarding the Family Video store. “The Red Box will take their (the store employees) jobs.”

Although Family Video store locations will no longer rent videos, the company will continue to do so on its website. Videos and other Family Video products can also be purchased online.

SH city officials say they are taking steps to increase hiring minorities

When Kim Wise was hired 1 1/2 years ago as the City of South Haven’s human resource director she knew she faced a big problem.

“Historically there has been a disparity in hiring minority candidates for full-time positions,” she told city council members earlier this week. “I saw this immediately and wanted to do something to fix it.”

In presenting to council a detailed report of changes that have been implemented to increase diversity and create a culture of inclusiveness among the city’s departments, Wise said she is starting to see some progress.

But for members of the Black community who listened to her report, the efforts so far aren’t enough.

South Haven resident Joe Wilkins alleged over the summer the city’s HR department had the opportunity to hire what he called “a very qualified black lady” for a job opening, but didn’t do so.

“I am extremely concerned about the HR Report and what appears to be a problem with hiring people of color, particularly blacks when there is a full time job opening especially within City Hall," Wilkins said.

“I keep hearing your policies are OK.  But what I found out by studies, that policies can be right, but the culture wrong.”
You’re not hearing concerns expressed by the community. The black community is tired.”

Another South Haven resident agreed.

“The city has grown but it hasn’t grown equally,” Freddy Sanders said. “We have a diverse set of people and our city doesn’t show it. There’s a lot of nepotism in the system. It’s not fair to our community. We would appreciate if we were more included in this community. We live here, spend money here.”

Several city council members agreed with sentiments expressed by members of the public.

“It’s one thing for HR and the council to think we’re doing as much as we can, but what does the community think?” Council member Joe Reeser said. “That’s where we have a real divide. We have to do a better job of listening to minorities, in particular, Blacks”

Employment data that Wise has been collecting underscores the need for a more diversified workforce.

Data from 2013 to the end of 2020 shows that of the 198 current and previous full-time, part-time and seasonal employees the city hired during that time period, 87 percent were white. The remaining workers were either Latino, Black, native American or of two or more races.

A graph of just the full-time employees paints an even more stark picture of the city staff’s lack of diversity. Of 107 current or former employees counted during the same time period, 94 percent are white.

The numbers not only bother minorities who’d like to work for the city, they also bother Wise who in June of 2020 implemented “blind hiring” practices in which the Human Resources department removes the name and street address of candidates from job applications prior to sending the forms to department managers.

“This was implemented in an effort to reduce/eliminate unconscious bias,” Wise said. Other efforts to ensure objectivity include assigning numbers to each application instead of a candidate’s name. Hiring managers must also use a list of pre-determined questions to ensure they do not ask candidates personal questions.

“We’ve also added a diversity-related question for all interviews,” Wise said.

The strategies appear to be paying off.

Employment data collected from 2013 to Sept. of 2019 shows that 91 percent of full- and part-time workers hired during that time period were white workers. However the percentage of all new hires after Sept. 2, 2019 shows that the percentage of white employees decreased to 70 percent.

The number of full-time white hires also dipped. Those hired prior to Sept. 2, 2019 stood at 95 percent, while the percentage of white employees hired after Sept. 2, 2019 dipped to 89 percent.

More work needs to be done to improve the city’s diversity and inclusiveness practices, Wise stressed, but it won’t happen overnight.

“While many initiatives have been put into place, we have other ideas that we wish to implement once COVID restrictions are lifted,” Wise said. “However, city leadership cannot make all of these changes on our own; this must be a community effort. We must work with our community partners to educate our community members on employment opportunities and make sure that our community members have the skills necessary to be successful in an ever-changing workforce.”

Some of Wise’s initiatives proposed for 2021 include:

Creation of an Equal Employment Opportunity Plan

Active recruiting of diverse candidates rather than passively waiting for them to apply

Budget for internship opportunities that are geared toward minorities

Do a better job of communicating diversity initiatives to the city council and the community

Several members of the public who commented about the city’s need to have a more diverse employment base voiced some of their own suggestions.

Wilkins asked the city manager and council to consider hiring an independent party to perform an Equity Assessment of the City’s EEOC documents as well as an Equity Assessment of the overall organization in order to help the City Manager and Council figure out how you can have an effective policy that renders the same results.

Gail Patterson-Gladney suggested city leaders schedule a meeting to gather input from the community to develop strategies that promote diversity and inclusion.

“The whole (hiring) process need to be looked at,” Gladney said. “Kim (Wise) and Kate (Hosier – city manager) don’t do the hiring of different employees. It’s department heads. We need to look how department heads are accountable for hiring processes. We need to see something different.”



1.4.21

Wendy Hernandez of Simpson United Methodist Church in Bangor holds up a notebook denoting the 10,000th face mask created by a dozen women from the church. The women first began making the masks in March and reached their goal of 10,000 earlier this month. The masks have been distributed to individuals, non-profits, first responders and schools throughout the area and beyond. (Photo by Kim Roe-Kester)

From a dozen seamstresses come 10,000 face masks

By BECKY KARK

Editor and general manager

BANGOR — Like many church pastors, Rev. Dr. Mona Joslyn of Simpson United Methodist Church, regularly visits congregants staying in hospitals and nursing homes.

Since March, however, she hasn’t been able to do so, due to restrictions to slow the spread of COVID-19 at those institutions.

Not being able to tend to hospital patients and nursing home residents frustrated her but it also gave her an idea – form a group at church to make face masks.

“She wanted to do something with this new pandemic,” said Kim Roe-Kester, one of the group’s members. “She knew how to sew, so she and a few of the parishioners started sewing at home. They would hang the finished masks outside the entryway to the church so that anyone that needed them could get them, free of charge.”

That was in March, by mid-April, most of the masks were gone.

“The masks were flying off the clips, almost faster than they could hang them out,” Kester said.

Recognizing the shortage of available face masks in the community, Joslyn expanded the group to include more seamstresses.

“The word got out and others started helping with making them,” Kester said. “On April 27th we started sewing in the community room of the church ... There are about 12 of us in the group, 10 regularly come and work in the community room, and 2 work from home and bring masks in weekly.”

Earlier this month, the group of seamstresses reached a milestone by producing their 10,000th mask.

“We make several styles & sizes from children’s up to X-large,” Kester said. “The ones we have the hardest time with are the men’s masks. They’re not too keen on the brighter colors. We were ecstatic with this last donation of fabric when we saw the dark-colored fabric that was included.”

When they first began making face masks, the seamstresses donated their own supplies. But as face mask requests increased, donations of fabric, elastic, thread, and even money started flowing in.

“We just had a donation from a woman in Casco Township for several big bags of fabric. She and her husband are retiring to their home in Florida and she was downsizing,” Kester said. “Others just leave what they can near where we make masks, or make arrangements to drop off fabric during times when we are there. We even had a box of fabric shipped from Wisconsin from a family member of one of the ladies.”

The seamstresses have donated masks to not only individuals but schools, businesses and non-profits that request them.

“The bigger organizations asked if we would be able to do masks for them, some heard by word of mouth, some of the others through an article that was done in a newsletter that was through the Methodist Church,” Kester said.

So far, the hand-sewn masks have been donated to Intercare of Bangor, Covert Senior Center, Hartford Food Pantry, HOPE Parent Resource Center in South Haven, Senior Services of Van Buren County, Bangor and Bloomingdale Public Schools and Bangor police and fire departments. Some also were delivered to migrant workers and to Bangor businesses.

Still others have made it to the MoTown Mission in Detroit and missionaries in Africa.

With greater availability of personal protection equipment in stores, demand for the homemade face masks has slowed somewhat over the past several months.

“When we started, we were sewing 6 days a week,” Kester said. “We’re all retired, and once the demand slowed down some, we cut our days down gradually to Tuesdays and Thursdays, and that seems to work for us right now.”



12.18.20

The outdoor dining area at Taste Restaurant in downtown South Haven now has two heaters to provide warmth, as diners are forced outdoors. (Photo by Tom Renner)

Let there be heat

South Haven leaders allow outdoor heaters at downtown restaurants

By BECKY KARK

Editor and general manager

If you’ve walked by Taste restaurant in downtown South Haven lately you’ve probably noticed the pair of tall decorative heaters on the patio.

It’s all part of local restaurant owners’ efforts to provide the most comfortable seating for diners who can no longer eat inside restaurants due to restrictions to stop the spread of coronavirus.

Taste is among four downtown restaurants that can now add heaters and fans to their outdoor dining areas, after the South Haven City Council voted earlier this month to allow it. The other eateries are Black River Tavern, Su Casa Restaurante and the proposed New Holland Brewing Company.

“Since dining occupancy is being pushed to outdoors, this (allowing for use of heaters and fans) will be more comfortable for people,” City Manager Kate Hosier said.

Previously, the city’s outdoor dining agreements with downtown restaurants, did not allow heaters and fans to be used. However, with the hardships dining establishments have faced this year because of COVID-19 restrictions, the city’s Downtown Development Authority recommended that appliances be allowed, as long as they comply with safety requirements.

“Outdoor heaters and fans must be approved by the fire marshal and the licensees must adhere to all guidelines and restrictions placed on that approval,” Hosier said.

While downtown restaurant owners will now be allowed to use outside heaters, a brewery on the eastern edge of South Haven has developed even more ambitious plans.

Three Blondes Brewing offers a variety of outdoor dining options on its large, spacious patio at the corner of Phoenix Road and 71 1/2 Street.

The brewery features two geodesic domes, also known as igloos, and a 10-foot by 17-foot enclosed car port with a high-top table. There are also picnic tables with heaters, along with several fire pits.

Although Three Blondes began using the igloos and other structures last year, they have come in quite handy to cope with this year’s restrictions on indoor dining.

Grants available to area small businesses impacted by pandemic

More help could be on the way for South Haven area small businesses disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 virus, according to a state agency.

Businesses will be able to apply for grants of up to $15,000 through the Pure Michigan Small Business Relief Initiative, according to a news release from the Michigan Economic Development Corp.

The program will utilize $10 million in federal U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) CARES Act funding to provide economic assistance to small businesses across Michigan.

Grants will be awarded in the amount of up to $15,000 per eligible business on a “first-in” basis. Information on how to apply – including application questions and instructions and a video tutorial on the application process – as well as eligibility criteria and program guidelines are available at www.michiganbusiness.org/relief.

“The Pure Michigan Small Business Relief Initiative puts federal funding to work for many of the small businesses in Michigan hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic,” Gov. Gretchen Whitmer stated in a news release. “My administration will continue working to support our small businesses and their employees as they continue to navigate and persevere through this pandemic, through the Pure Michigan Small Business Relief Initiative and all of the COVID-19 business relief efforts MEDC has implemented this year. As we head into the holiday season, I also want to remind Michiganders to support your favorite local businesses by shopping small. And as always, mask up, practice social distancing, and wash your hands frequently.”

Approved by the Michigan Strategic Fund on Nov. 30, the Pure Michigan Small Business Relief Initiative will provide support to Michigan’s small businesses that have experienced a loss of income as a result of both the COVID-19 crisis and the recent Department of Health and Human Services epidemic orders, which were recently extended to Dec. 20.

The program is intended to meet the urgent need of Michigan businesses including restaurants and bars, lodging providers, live event venues and movie theaters, conference and meeting facilities, indoor recreation facilities, and gyms and fitness centers. The grants under the program will support those businesses facing drastic reductions in cash flow and the continued support of their workforce and may be used for working capital to support payroll expenses, rent, mortgage payments, or utility expenses.

MEDC has selected the Michigan Municipal League (MML) Foundation as the single, statewide grant administrator for the Pure Michigan Small Business Relief Initiative. MML Foundation will review submitted applications from all 10 prosperity regions across the state.

In total, the MEDC has now launched 20 COVID-19 relief and recovery programs that have supported more than 18,500 businesses in the state and helped to retain nearly 147,000 jobs across all 83 counties, according to agency officials.



12.14.20

Sophia Cochran, a member of Scouts BSA Troop 188G in South Haven, hands a bag full of holiday gift wrap and decorations to a South Haven area man Wednesday as part of her Eagle Scout project. She plans to distribute more than 100 of the holiday bags by the end of the week to people seeking assistance at the food pantry at First Congregational Church.



Quite an achievement

SH teen to be among the first female Eagle Scouts in the country

By BECKY KARK

Editor and general manager

Trustworthy.

Courteous.

Helpful.

Brave.

Reverent.

Those are just some of the attributes 17-year-old Sophia Cochran of South Haven strives to live by each day.

Those attributes are what attracted Cochran to be among the first female teens to join Scouts BSA, the Boy Scouts of America's new name for the leadership program it offers for older male and female teens.

Now, she is set to achieve another first — the rank of Eagle Scout, Scouting's highest honor.

"She will be in the first group of female Scouts in the country to earn this rank, and may be the first one in Van Buren County," said Rev. Jeffrey Dick, pastor of First Congregational Church, sponsor of Troop 188.

"Boy Scouts of America allowed girls to join Scouts in February of 2019," Dick went on to say. "Our church applied to charter a new Troop — Troop 188 G. Girls and boys are in separate troops. They can do things together, but a separate organization for now...Sophia is a charter member (of Troop 188G)."

Cochran, who is a senior at South Haven High School, joined the troop nearly two years ago when the Boy Scouts of America decided to include girls into Scouting programs geared for youth, 11-17.

"I've been a Girl Scout since I was 7," she said. But, when the Boy Scouts of America opened Scouting to girls in 2018, Cochran decided to be a member of both groups.

"My family belongs to First Congregational Church," she said. "I noticed this troop (Troop 188) is really involved. They do a lot for this community. I wanted to be a part of it."

She also wanted to be among the first group of female Scouts in America to earn the rank of Eagle Scout.

Cochran had her work cut out for her.

She had to earn at least 23 badges in two years.

"To meet the minimum requirements is an accomplishment," she admitted.

She also had to complete one final task — undertake a project to benefit the community.

The many boxes and bags of holiday decorations and gift wrap that stores had donated to the church over the years gave her an idea.

"All of it was stored in the basement. My pastor wanted me to figure out what to do with it," Cochran said.

With the help of friends, family and other Scouts, she began sorting through and organizing all of the items with the intention of packaging them in separate bags to give to people in need.

"There was at least 1,000 items," she said.

But as it turned out, it wasn't enough. She wanted to ensure that each bag contained tissue paper, wrap, tape, and an assortment of decorations. She also wanted to fill at least 100 bags.

To do so, though, she had to seek more donations and raise money to purchase additional holiday wrap and decor.

With the help of more than 100 donors, Cochran and approximately 25 other volunteers was able to fill 106 holiday bags.

This week she began distributing them to people seeking food at the food pantry at First Congregational Church.

"Hopefully it will bring joy to them during the holiday season," she said.

Judging from the smiles and thank you's Cochran received during Wednesday's distribution, she did.

Holiday Lights Contest announced

At a time of year darkened by the coronavirus pandemic, a South Haven business is trying to make the Christmas season bright.

Filbrandt Family Funeral Home has announced its first-ever Filbrandt Family Holiday Lights Contest.

Area residents can nominate their own home’s lighted displays, their neighbors, or their favorite home in the City of South Haven.

First prize is $200, second prize is a gift certificate to Clementine’s restaurant, while third prize is a gift certificate to Captain Nemo’s restaurant.

Nominations are due by Sunday, Dec 20, by emailing Annie Brown at ab49746@gmail.com or by leaving a message at 637-6499. Include the homeowner’s name, address, and phone number if you have it. The winners will be announced on Christmas Day.



12.7.20

Holiday Model Train Show

South Haven area residents will be able to see a variety of model train sets on display this month, courtesy of courtesy of several businesses and organizations in partnership with We Care INC human service ministry. The display, which is being set up in the South Haven Center building, 335 Center Street, will be available for viewing Wednesdays-Sundays through Dec. 20. Viewing times will be from 4-7 p.m. on weekdays and noon-5 p.m. on weekends. Hot cocoa will be available. The dispay will be free of charge to view, however, donations to We Care's programs would be appreciated.

A stern warning

Van Buren health officials urge people to follow guidelines to slow the spread of the disease

By BECKY KARK

Editor and general manager

With the number of positive COVID-19 cases and deaths continuing to rise, the Van Buren/Cass District Health Department is urging people to follow restrictions to slow the spread of the virus.

In November, the number of positive coronavirus cases in Van Buren County increased by 1,800, while deaths nearly doubled from 17 to 45 within the one-month period of time.

In a news release issued this past week, the health department stated, “Over the past month the number of positive COVID-19 cases has increased significantly. Recent cases have reported numerous close contacts making contact tracing efforts difficult to sustain.”

As a result, health department officials are reiterating their decision in November to focus efforts on containing potential outbreaks by:

Continuing case investigation and contact tracing in nursing homes, hospitals and schools as well as clusters identified as a priority by the health department, such as high-risk congregate settings

Assisting businesses with COVID-related issues

“The Centers for Disease Control and Michigan Department of Health and Human Services guidance have not changed – wearing masks and social distancing are imperative if we are going to eliminate coronavirus,” said Dr. Larry Wile, medical director of the Van Buren/Cass District Health Department. “Stay home if you are sick and stay away from social gatherings, especially with people outside of your household and if masking and social distancing is not happening.”

Health officials continue to urge people to self-quarantine for at least 10-14 days if they suspect they have the virus or have been exposed to someone with it. But, officials also caution that receiving a negative COVID-19 test result after exposure does not mean you will not develop symptoms or test positive at a future time within your quarantine period.

“We are counting on our entire community to help stop the spread and slow the infection until we can access other tools for prevention, like a vaccine,” Wile said. “We ask everyone be ready to take actions on their own if they test positive for COVID-19. Isolating and notifying your close contacts are critical to containing the spread within our community.”

Over the past week the number of positive cases and deaths in Van Buren County has increased in a pattern similar to what began occurring at the beginning of November. As of Tuesday, Dec. 2, there were 2,800 confirmed positive cases and 45 deaths in Van Buren, up from the 2,357 cases and 30 deaths reported the previous week.

The rise in COVID-19 cases throughout Southwest Michigan is being felt by hospital staff at Bronson Health Care.

As of Dec. 2 Bronson Health Care staff were treating 84 patients who had tested positive for the virus at its five hospitals, including South Haven Bronson. The majority of those patients were at Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo and Bronson Battle Creek, while three of the patients were being treated at Bronson South Haven.

Since it began offering testing earlier this year, Bronson Health Care has recorded 8,882 positive cases of COVID-19 and 91,033 negative ones.

As of Dec. 2, 130 people had died from the virus at Bronson’s hospitals, while 815 had recovered. At Bronson South Haven, there has been one death and 14 recoveries as of Dec. 2.

Feeling the pinch

We Care receives more requests for holidays meals, children’s gifts this year

With the number of COVID-19 cases rising this fall throughout Van Buren and Allegan counties and the economic future unknown, the holiday season won’t be so merry and bright for people struggling to make ends meet.

But a local non-profit is offering a way for area residents and businesses to help make the holidays a little happier for those in need.

We Care INC human service ministry is now accepting donations of Christmas meals and children’s gifts through its annual Holiday Blessings Campaign.

This year, due to the pandemic, the need for food and gift donations is even greater, according to Erika Morrison, executive director of We Care.

“We don’t normally fill up (meal and gift requests) until the beginning of December,” she said. “This year, we were almost full in November. We have few slots left for the second night of gift distributions and some meal baskets.”

Due to restrictions to control the spread of coronavirus, meals and gifts will be distributed differently this holiday season.

“For the pantries and churches that are giving out baskets, it is a drive-through option for meals, and individual donors are bringing the baskets into the We Care office,” Morrison explained. “The families will then come to us to pick up their basket.”

Christmas gifts for youth will still be distributed through Project Christmas Hope at First Assembly of God in South Haven and Santa’s Workshop at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Bangor, however, gifts will have to be picked out by one family at a time.

The Holiday Blessing Campaign is one of We Care’s biggest undertakings of the year.

The non-profit receives requests for approximately 350 Thanksgiving and Christmas meals and provides gifts for 750 children up to the age of 16.

The task couldn’t be completed without the generosity of area residents, organizations and businesses, according to Morrison.

“We can’t do what we do without the support of our community,” she said. “There are a lot of people who have turned to us because of the pandemic and loss of jobs and funds...The compassion and empathy that we have witnessed has been incredible and humbling.”

Families in the South Haven, Covert, Glenn or Bloomingdale areas who would like to request a holiday meal or gifts have until noon on Wednesday, Dec. 9 to do so by calling the We Care office at 269-637-4342. Families in Bangor, Lacota, Grand Junction and Breedsville should call We Care’s Bangor office at 269-427-9581.

People who would like to donate holiday meals can visit We Care’s website for a list of food items. Meal baskets must contain only pre-made and packaged items, no home-made goods. Meal baskets can be dropped off to the We Care offices in South Haven and Bangor by Dec. 21. Gifts can be dropped off by Dec. 13 at the following locations:

South Haven: VFW post 667, American Legion post 49, Bronson Wellness Center, South Haven City Hall, Core Nutrition, Dollar General, Clementine’s restaurant, Captain Nemo’s restaurant, Family Dollar, First Congregational Church, Fifth Third Bank, Maria’s Taste of Italy, Masters Chiropractic, McFadden’s Friendly Motors, Menards, Oh My Darlings, St. Basil Catholic Church, Taste restaurant, TCF Bank, Three Blondes Brewing, Twisted Twin, We Care office and Woodhams Ford Lincoln.

Bangor: We Care office, Harding’s Market and Dollar General.





11.27.20

‘A spectacular gift of conservation’

Officials applaud final purchase of Porter Legacy Dunes near South Haven

By TRIBUNE STAFF

A large portion of lakeshore property just south of South Haven will soon be open for public use.

The Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy has announced that the purchase of the Porter Legacy Dunes, located next to Pilgrim Haven Natural Area, has been completed.

“The DNR Natural Resources Trust Fund grant was deposited into the escrow account along with funds we raised and the purchase of the Porter Legacy Dunes property was completed,” said Peter Ter Louw, president and executive director of the Conservancy. “The South Haven Area Recreation Authority now owns 48 acres of forested dune on Lake Michigan which the Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy will oversee the preserve’s habitat and public use in concert with the adjacent Pilgrim Haven Natural Area.”

The two natural areas together conserve more than 70 contiguous acres and almost 2,000 feet of frontage on Lake Michigan along a 2-mile corridor between the Van Buren State Park and Pilgrim Haven, which is now almost entirely publicly owned, according to Ter Louw.

“A spectacular gift of conservation,” he said. “Conserving the Porter property and creating a natural area park on Lake Michigan is a tremendous benefit for the residents of this area,” stated SHARA’s Chairman and South Haven Charter Township Supervisor Ross Stein. “When you can increase the public’s access to Lake Michigan you are making a difference.”

Located on the Lake Michigan shoreline, directly south of Pilgrim Haven Natural Area, Porter Legacy Dunes contains 48 acres of healthy, mature backdune forest, one-quarter mile of winding Dyckman Creek, 1,100 feet of shoreline, and a 12-story dune that offers unparalleled views of Lake Michigan.

This winter, SHARA and the conservancy plan to create a trail system allowing people to cross the creek, enjoy carpets of wildflowers, and view Lake Michigan without damaging the sensitive dune habitat. In the spring SHARA plans to hold a celebration to officially open Porter Dunes.

To purchase the property, the conservancy and SHARA raised $3.4 million to buy the land and become stewards of the property. Part of the funds came courtesy of $2.26 million grant from the Department of Natural Resources.

With Pilgrim Haven’s parking and other visitor amenities located nearby, the Porter Legacy Dunes will remain mostly natural and SWMLC has entered into a memorandum of understanding with SHARA that defines SWMLC’s role in managing the preserve’s natural habitats.

The Porter Family owned the property for over 130 years, until Catherine Porter Arini passed away a few years ago and left it to her fiancé, Scott Royle. Living far across the country, Royle searched for the property’s next guardian.

“One of the key ingredients in the project’s success is Scott Royle, who graciously made a significant reduction in the property’s purchase price,” Ter Louw said. “Scott’s commitment to creating this Lake Michigan natural area is a testament to his love for Catherine, and respect for her family and the land.”

It's a sellers market

October home sales surge, along with prices 

By TRIBUNE STAFF

It may be late fall, but it hasn’t slowed the housing market.

Sales of single-family houses surged in the South Haven area in October, according to the Southwestern Michigan Association of Realtors.

The single-family market in the 49090 zip code increased 87 percent over October 2019 (43 vs.23). Condo sales, however stayed steady compared to a year ago with seven sold.

October’s huge rise in the percentage of homes sold in the South Haven area continues the overall increase in home sales this year.

Year-to-date, single-family house sales were up 18 percent (245 vs. 207). In August, year-to-date single-family home sales were up just 1 percent (155 vs. 153), and in September, sales grew to 10 percent (202 vs. 184).

Year-to-date, condo sales have increased by 27 percent (43 vs. 34).

The sharp increase in sales this year has also brought higher sale prices as available housing stock continues to dwindle.

The average selling price for single-family houses in October 2020 at $527,564 was 71 percent higher than a year ago when the selling price was $307,635.

The median selling price for single-family houses soared 65 percent to $355,000 compared to $215,000 in October 2019.

The average selling price for condos, however, decreased 9 percent to $385,029 from $421,429 in October 2019.

The median selling price for condos slipped 1 percent to $345,000 from $350,000 in October 2019.

For the eighth straight month, in October. there were no bank-owned or foreclosed single-family houses or condos included as a part of closed transactions in South Haven 49090. There have been only two single-family houses included this year. No condos have been included this year.

Southwestern Michigan housing marketLike the South Haven market, home sales in the regional market served by the Southwestern Michigan Association of Realtors continues to roll.

“Overall, since June, we have used many descriptive words to describe the Southwest Michigan housing market,” said Alan Jeffries, the Association’s executive. “In June, we said after a disappointing slow start, the market lifted back up. In July, it was astonishing. In August, it was continued frantic pace, and in September, it was jaw-dropping. October’s numbers crushed it. The number of houses sold, selling prices, and total dollar volume rolled over results set in October 2019. October 2020 became the new peak month in our year-over-year comparison dating back to 2006.”

While not able to match September’s all-time record of 518 number of houses sold, 477 houses were sold in October, keeping sales above 450 for four straight months. In October, sales were 38 percent higher than in October 2019 (345). Year-to-date, the number of houses sold was up to 3,198 from 3,076 sold in October 2019.

Home prices also continued to climb in October. The average selling price at $358,144 was 36 percent higher than the $262,720 average selling price in October 2019. The year-to-date, average selling price increased 24 percent ($297,786 vs. $240,229).

The median selling price jumped to $245,660 from $190,000 in October 2019 for a 30 percent increase. Year-to-date, the median selling price rose 19 percent ($215,000 vs. $179,950).

Compared to September selling prices, the October average selling price was 13 percent higher ($358,144 vs. $316,525), and the median selling price was 12 percent higher ($245,660 vs. $220,000).

The inventory of houses for sale has dropped over 30 percent each month for the last three months. At the end of October, the local market had 1,034 houses for sale, which was a 38 percent decline from 1,675 houses in October 2019. This gave the market a 4.3-months supply of houses for potential homebuyers.

For comparison, in October 2010, there were 3,385 houses for sale. The number of listings for sale includes homes for sale across Allegan, Berrien, Cass, and the westerly two-third of Van Buren counties.

Locally, the mortgage rate in October stood at was 3.021 percent, down slightly from 3.113 in September. Last year in October, the rate was 3.871. Nationally, the Freddie Mac mortgage rate in October was 2.81 down from 2.88 in September for a 30-year conventional mortgage.



11.20.20

Retired mail carrier Nila Dubas is shown in her kitchen gearing up to respond to letters to Santa from South Haven-area youngsters. She said the first letter arrived earlier this week.

Santa's little helper delivers

Retired mail carrier still makes sure Santa's letters are answered

By BECKY KARK

Editor and general manager

For the past 35 years Nila Dubas worked at the South Haven Post  Office as a mail carrier.

She decided to retire last October but vows to continue one task that she performed at the post office for two decades — answering children's letters to Santa.

About 10 years or so into her job at the post office, she said she noticed an employee answering the letters.

"I said, 'I'd like to help' and she handed me the stack."

Dubas has been responding to the letters ever since.

At first, she only dealt with a handful or so of letters to Santa, but over the years, the number has grown significantly.

"Last year I had 400 letters," she said. The letters were sent either to the post office or came from local elementary school teachers who collected them from their students.

Clementine's restaurant has even gotten involved by setting up a box for people to drop off their children's and grandchildren's letters.

But along with the larger influx of letters to Santa comes an increased cost to Dubas for doing so.

"The postage alone is over $300 a year," she said. Dubas also spends her own money making sure each letter contains decorative holiday stickers and other little trinkets for children to enjoy.

"I probably spend about $1,000," she estimated. "As soon as Christmas is over, I take advantage of the 50 percent off sales."

Some may wonder why Dubas spends her own money to answer Santa letters.

"I just like making the kids happy," she said. "That's what makes me happy."

Over the years, she's received some memorable letters.

One came several years ago from an older woman living in Casco Township.

"There was a letter from an 84-year-old lady who wrote that she knew it was dumb for asking, but she was really lonely and would like him to bring her a Chihuahua or small dog for Christmas," Dubas said during an interview by the Tribune in 2015. "It just broke my heart."

After a number of phone calls plus some help from a relative, Dubas made sure Ann Upton got her wish when Santa arrived at her house with a 7-year old Chihuahua named Ladybug.

Another memorable letter came from an adult handicap man who wrote to say he had accidentally broken his mother's Christmas CD and wondered whether Santa could replace it.

"I found an identical one at the store and sent it to him," Dubas said. "I don't normally buy gifts, but there's certain things that tug at my heart."

Because she is now retired from the post office, Dubas said she'll have to gather her letters differently this year. Like many post offices throughout the country, South Haven's post office now sends Santa letters to a facility in New York which handles them.

"They receive thousands of letters, but there's kids who don't get a letter back," Dubas said. "If they send a letter to me at least they'll get a letter back."

This year she thinks is especially important for children who want to send letters to Santa.

"With this pandemic they need something in their lives that's normal," Dubas said.

People who want to send letters to Santa or monetary contributions to help offset the yearly costs Dubas incurs for stamps and little holiday novelties can send them to the following address:

Santa, C/O 73100 County Road 388, Lot 95, South Haven, MI 49090

Letters can also be dropped off at Clementine's at the corner of Center and Phoenix streets, downtown South Haven.

People are shown enjoying South Haven's ice rink during the winter of 2018. This year, due to the coronvirus pandemic, the rink will not be allowed to open until after Dec. 8. (File photo by Tom Renner)

South Haven ice rink's opening delayed

For nearly 20 decades it has been a tradition for the South Haven Ice Rink to open in time for Thanksgiving break.

That won't be the case this year, however.

To prevent the further spread of the coronavirus pandemic, the Michigan Department of Human Health and Safety has ordered ice rinks, and other venues that attract crowds, be closed until after Dec. 8 to slow the spread of the virus.

When and if the rink re-opens at all this year, a familiar face will be no longer there.

Longtime ice rink manager Spencer Hodgman has decided to sit this year out.

"With the shutdown and the threat of the virus, for my family, staff, other businesses and the community, I have decided not to be a part of the ice rink this season," Hodgman posted on the ice rink's Facebook site. " I felt this was the best decision for us. We love the rink and all of the people that attend or have attended over the years.

Because Hodgman will not be managing the rink this year, city staff will do so, according to City Manager Kate Hosier.

"If the restrictions do allow for ice rinks to open after that date (Dec.8 ), the city will have staff to oversee use of the rink this winter," Hosier said.

However, there will be some changes at the rink.

"We will not be renting out skates or selling any other concessions," Hosier said, due to coronavirus restrictions.



11.2.20

Man, accused to killing wife, bound over to circuit court

By BECKY KARK

Editor and general manager

A South Haven man accused of killing his wife in August will now be headed to 36th Circuit Court next month.

eventh District Court Judge Art Clarke ruled during a preliminary exam Thursday that there is enough probable cause to send 36-year-old Randy Halstead Jr. to the higher court for the felony charge of open murder in the death of Halstead’s wife, Kimberly Halstead. Randy Halstead will appear in circuit court, Nov. 16th, for the arraignment.

Clarke stated he made his decision to bind over Randy Halstead to the higher court based on an autopsy indicating 48-year-old Kimberly Halstead had sustained numerous injuries. The autopsy also indicated she had suffered from blunt force trauma, asphyxiation and strangulation. Clarke went on to say he also was basing his decision on the testimony of two witnesses who told the court Thursday that Randy Halstead had come to their home the evening of Kimberly Healstead’s death to say he thought he had killed his wife.

The incidents leading up to Randy Halstead’s arrest Aug. 20, began at approximately 11 p.m., Aug. 19 when he called 911 to report that his wife was unconscious.

During Wednesday’s preliminary exam, South Haven Police Sgt. Zachary Hathaway testified that when he got to the Halstead’s upstairs apartment on Pearl Street, he found Kimberly Halstead laying at the bottom of steps that led from the back bedroom to a laundry room below.

“I immediately observed dark bruising around her neck and body. She was bleeding from her nose and ear and not breathing,” Hathaway told the court.

He also testified that paramedics from South Haven Area Emergency Services estimated that Kimberly Halstead had died a couple of hours prior to Randy Halstead’s 911 call at 11 p.m.

“I was told by paramedics the patient had been deceased for a couple of hours,” Hathaway said.

When asked by Van Buren County Assistant Prosecutor Jay Blair what Randy Halstead’s demeanor was like when first responders arrived to the apartment, Hathaway stated, “he appeared to be somewhat frantic.” Yet, when Randy Halstead was informed his wife was deceased, Hathaway told the court, “he didn’t have any concern.”

Two other witnesses, John Fagler and Mallory Zink, testified that Randy Halstead, whom they had only met once before, had come over to their home earlier that evening at approximately 7:30 p.m.

“He came in really stressed out. He was shaking and emotional and said, ‘I think I just killed my wife,” Fagler said. Fagler’s girlfriend, Zink, said she heard Randy Halstead say that as well.

She testified the couple didn’t immediately call 911 or police because they didn’t think Randy Halstead was serious.

“It was like some little fight you have with your spouse,” Zink said. “He (Randy Halstead) said she stopped breathing but after 20 minutes she started talking. We were quiet afterwards. We didn’t know what to say. Who would just walk in and say, “I think I killed my wife’ after you’ve only met him twice.”

Attorney Caleb Grimes, who was representing Randy Halstead, argued that much of the evidence presented at the preliminary exam was circumstantial. He questioned whether there was DNA evidence from the crime scene to directly link Randy Halstead to his wife’s death.

“There are only two witnesses saying he thought he did it,” Grimes stated. “I don’t know with the scant testimony what links Mr. Halstead to killing his wife.”

Water, sewer rates expected to increase in South Haven area

By BECKY KARK

Editor and general manager

Water and sewer rates are expected to go up for South Haven area residents following a decision Tuesday by the South Haven Area Water and Sewer Authority (SHAWSA) to do so.

The authority voted to increase water rates by 6.5 percent starting in January of 2021 and sewer rates by 9.9 percent beginning in July of 2021.

The authority did so after hiring an independent firm, Utility Financial Solutions LLC, to study the rates being currently charged compared to operating expenses and the capital improvement projects that need to be undertaken to adequately serve users of the water and sewer system that serves residents in the City of South Haven and townships of Casco, Covert and South Haven townships.

“The longer we wait the more expensive things will cost,” SHAWSA board member Al Dubuisson said.

The rate increases are necessary to deal with paying operating expenses, paying off bond issues and for financing future capital improvement projects. In addition, the city will have to spend an estimated $650,000 a year to replace old lead service pipes per new state requirements resulting from the Flint water crisis.

Since the late 1970s, the city has stopped installing lead fixtures when it connects water services, but plenty of galvanized pipes with lead gooseneck connectors were installed prior to that and are still in use.

“There are 2,000 galvanized services within the system,” Department of Public Works Director Bill Hunter said in a previous interview. “All of the galvanized services installed during that period have a lead gooseneck, which by Michigan Department of Environment Great Lakes and Energy definition are now lead services.”

Getting rid of the older pipes carries a hefty price tag.

“We’re estimating the cost will be $24 million,” Hunter said.

One of the biggest capital improvement projects facing the authority is the replacement of the aging standpipe in South Haven.

“The standpipe was built in 1927. It is in poor condition and needs to be replaced,” Hunter said.

The standpipe, along with two other water towers, supplies water to SHAWSA’s customers who reside in the City of South Haven, and surrounding townships of South Haven, Covert and Casco.

The standpipe stores most of SHAWSA’s water supply at 1.5 million gallons, while the elevated water tower in the I-196 Business Park holds 500,000 gallons and the one on Kalamazoo Street, 1 million.

The condition of the standpipe has been a concern for SHAWSA for a number of years. Although it has been maintained, its outer concrete structure is developing serious cracks.

Replacement of the standpipe, located on Blue Star Highway near Phoenix Road, is estimated to cost nearly $6.9 million. Although SHAWSA plans to apply for federal grant funding through the Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration, it most likely will have to apply for a loan from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s rural development division to finance the project as part of a 40-year loan at 1.5 percent.

The process of replacing the standpipe will take approximately 7 years. It will be replaced by a new, steel elevated water tower that will be located near the Department of Public Works building on Blue Star Highway. SHAWSA also plans to install a pumping station near Wells Street to ensure good water pressure for that area of the city.

More capital improvement projects were projected to occur over the next several years, but were scaled back, according to Hunter. But replacement of the aging standpipe remains a priority to help ensure an adequate water source for the city and surrounding areas.

The study by Utility Financial Solutions determined that if SHAWSA doesn’t increase water rates, it will face a $775,900 operating cash deficit by 2023. It sewer rates aren’t increased, the budget’s cash balance would decrease to a negative $1.4 million by 2025.

This isn’t the first time that rate increases have been sought for the water and sewer system that serves the South Haven area. SHAWSA member Bill Roberts pointed out at Wednesday’s meeting that in 2017 the previous board that oversaw the water and sewer system passed a resolution to increase sewer rates by 9 percent each year for a period of five years.

“I just want it to be known we’ve been increasing the rates,” he said.

Opting to bond for improvements isn’t the best solution versus raising rates, according to Hunter.

“I’m more to the point where we don’t want to keep bonding for improvements,” Hunter said. “So we’re going to have rate increases. It’s not going to end for a few years.”

The new rates will go into effect as follows:

The 6.5 water rate increase will occur in January of 2021. It will then continue once the 2021-22 fiscal year starts in July of 2021. The sewer rates will increase starting in July of 2021 and will be renewed in July of 2022.

SHAWSA plans to re-visit the rate structures over the next several years to determine if changes need to be made.



10.20.20

Hartford Twp. caretaker charged in man's death

SOUTH HAVEN — A Hartford Township woman faces felony murder charges in the investigation of a Hartford man’s death dating back to Feb. 16, 2019.

Frances Collins, 71, was arraigned Wednesday in Seventh District Court on felony murder charges, related to vulnerable adult abuse, in the death of Donald Collins, according to a news release issued by Detective Lt. Greg Pentland of the Van Buren County Sheriff’s Department.

Her arrest and arraignment follows a lengthy criminal investigation, according to Pentland.

Donald Collins died at an assisted living facility after being transferred from the caretaker’s home to a local hospital. He had been previously in the care of the suspect, Frances Collins.

“The suspect was a caretaker in her home, with no relation to the victim,” Pentland said. “They share a last name but are not related through any circumstance.

“The investigation was related to vulnerable adult abuse due to the care he received from the suspect, Frances Collins, which in turn resulted in his death days after being transferred to the hospital and assisted living facility,” Pentland went on to say. “The cause of death was listed sepsis as a result of his care while in the suspect’s home.”

Frances Collins was issued a $25,000 cash/surety bond. She will be due next in court on Oct. 28 for a probable cause conference.

Home sales continue to soar in South Haven area

While some industries have been suffering economically during the coronavirus pandemic, the housing market in South Haven continues to surge, according to latest statistics from the Southwestern Michigan Association of Realtors.

The single-family market increased 52 percent over September 2019 (47 vs. 31), and condo sales were up 100 percent (8 vs. 4).

Year-to-date, single-family house sales were up 10 percent (202 vs. 184). In August, year-to-date single-family home sales were up just 1 percent (155 vs. 153).

Condo sales continued to skyrocket to 8 condos from 4 condos in September 2019. Year-to-date, condo sales have increased by 33 percent (36 vs. 27).

The average selling price for single-family houses in September 2020 at $459,462 was 37 percent higher than a year ago when the selling price was $ 336,127.

The average selling price for condos increased 3 percent to $225,813 from $220,000 in September 2019.

For the seventh straight month of 2020, in September there were no bank-owned or foreclosed single-family houses or condos included as a part of closed transactions in South Haven 49090. There have been only two single-family houses included this year. No condos have been included this year.

Regional sales

Overall the September 2020 Southwestern Michigan housing market results were history-making, according to the Southwestern Michigan Association of Realtors. First and foremost, 518 houses were sold and closed, which was the highest number in local history in any month going back to January 2005. Previously in peak years, the number of sales reached the low 400 sales range. This year July (479), August (455), and September sales were off the charts, bringing year-to-date sales back to within 1 percent of 2019 after three months of shutdown earlier in the year.

The number of houses sold in September was 49 percent higher than in September 2019 (518 vs. 48). Year-to-date, the number of houses sold was down to 2721 from 2731 sold in September 2019.

Average, median, and year-to-date selling prices powered escalated to new record prices in the region’s year-over-year comparison for September prices.

The average selling price at $316,525 was 31 percent higher than the $241,620 average selling price in September 2019. The year-to-date, average selling price increased 21 percent ($287,218 vs. $237,390).

With the record-setting number of sales and selling prices, the total dollar volume sky-rocketed 95 percent in September ($163,960,120 vs. $84,083,825). The year-to-date total dollar volume increased 21 percent ($781,521,082 vs. $648,313,723).

The inventory of houses for sale, however, took a big hit, dropping 31 percent or 664 houses from a year ago (1,156 vs. 1,820). The market at the end of September had a 5-months supply of houses for sale. For comparison, in September 2010, there were 3,574 houses for sale. The number of listings for sale includes homes for sale across Allegan, Berrien, Cass, and the western two-thirds of Van Buren counties.



10.5.20

Michigan State Police Trooper J.D. Olney hands a donation to Kamden Johnson, during a bake sale organized by a handful of students from Baseline Middle School and St. Basil School. Also shown in the photo from left are Keaton Durden, Kaya Durden and Kaelan Johnson. Proceeds from the bake sale were later donated to South Haven Area Emergency Services. 

'K Kids' baking efforts pay off

By BECKY KARK

Editor and general manager

At a time when fundraising for worthy causes seems so difficult, a group of middle school students from South Haven recently came up with a way to raise money for a worthy group.

They did something tried and true – they held a bake sale. And, thanks to their efforts and the generosity of customers, South Haven Area Emergency Services is the recipient of the $1,450 donation.

The students, who attend Baseline Middle School and St. Basil Catholic School, along with their parents, organized the bake sale late last month at the home of Adam and Lisa Johnson.

Kaelan Johnson, 11, came up with the idea.

“I did it (a bake sale) when I was with my mom and we raised $2,000 for the Nationwide Children’s Hospital,” she said.

Impressed with her efforts, her friends and family members decided to try it again, and chose SHAES as the recipient.

“We wanted to help the community,” Keaton Durden said.

To get ready for the bake sale, the students spent three evenings baking products along with their parents.

On Saturday, Sept. 19, they displayed all of their baked products on tables set up in front of the lawn of Lisa and Adam Johnson’s home. With face masks on and all of the products individually wrapped, due to coronavirus restrictions they waited.

It didn’t take long for people to stop by.

One of the customers was J.D. Olney, a Michigan State Police trooper, who was conducting his rounds.

“I just wanted to stop by and support everybody,” he said.

With restrictions regarding the coronavirus pandemic, the young teens and their parents weren’t sure how successful their fundraiser would be.

“We hope to raise at least $100,” said Kamden Johnson. When several parents prompted him to raise the bar, he said, “we hope to raise $1,000.”

This past Monday, the students presented their proceeds – $1,450 – to a very grateful SHAES staff.

From left, the 2020 Miss Blossomtime Court, First Runner Up, Katherine Schooley, Queen Faith Kittleson, and Second Runner Up, Jada Willis, pose for pictures, Saturday, Seot, 26m at the Golf Club at Harbor Shores. (Photo by Don Campbell of the Herald-Palladium)

Keeping the faith

Faith Kittleson crowned Miss Blossomtime, Katie Schooley of South Haven named runner-up

By LOUISE WREGE

HP Staff Writer

BENTON HARBOR — It was a Blossomtime pageant like no other Saturday, Sept. 26th, when Miss Berrien Springs Faith Kittleson was crowned as 2020 Miss Blossomtime.

“It feels amazing to have closure,” Kittleson said when she was announced as one of the six finalists.

She said that if she was named Miss Blossomtime, she wanted to inspire children.

“I think reaching them is the most important,” she said. “They’re the ones that look up to us.”

After she was crowned Miss Blossomtime, Kittleson thanked all of her supporters.

Kittleson, from Berrien Springs High School, is the daughter of Eden Partlo and Cary Kittleson.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the pageant was delayed six months and held outdoors under a tent at the Golf Club at Harbor Shores in Benton Harbor.

Joining her were first runner-up Miss South Haven Katherine Schooley and second runner-up Miss Benton Harbor Jada Willis.

Schooley, from South Haven High School, is the daughter of Lori and Kevin Schooley. Willis, who attends Berrien Springs High School, is the daughter of Alberlena Adams and Jermaine Willis.

It was unknown until about three weeks ago if there would even be a pageant, said Blossomtime President Anna Abdelnour. The pageant was initially called off due to the pandemic in March three days before it was to be held at Lake Michigan College.

But when the contestants said they wanted one during a recent charm bracelet ceremony, she said her team decided to make it happen.

The Miss Congeniality title, which is usually voted on by the contestants, was not given out this year because the contestants didn’t spend enough time together.

Even though many things were shortened, Abdelnour said it was still the Greatest Show on Earth, in keeping with the year’s theme.

The Mr. Blossomtime contest was held a few hours before the Miss Blossomtime Pageant, rather than on the day before, which is the normal tradition.

One notable absence from the pageant was 2019 Miss Blossomtime Olivia Grace Ellis of South Haven. Abdelnour said Ellis, who is now attending Grand Valley State University, was quarantined Friday, Sept. 25th.

Host Roxie Elliott, Miss Blossomtime from 2014 and a journalist at ABC57, read a letter from Ellis, in which she said she was doing her part to slow down the spread of the virus by staying in her “cozy apartment in Allendale.”



9.28.20

Fundraising for the mural honoring South Haven High School's Class of 2020 kicked off this past week. The mural, created by artist Kayla Wyszynski, is expected to be completed later this month. It will be enhanced by sculptures of birds, created by artist Kathy Kreager, representing the 125 graduating seniors in the Class of 2020. From left are Marla Bruemmer of Project Pathway; Taleah Lowe, high school senior and member of Project Pathway; South Haven Public Schools Superintendent Kevin Schooley; Michael Teekamp, Project Pathway advisor; Daisy Solis, high school senior and member of Project Pathway; Interim City Manager Kate Hosier;  Kreager and Wyszynski.

Mural honoring Class of 2020 nears completion

By BECKY KARK

Editor and general manager

A large mural on the south wall of the Michigan Theater, dedicated to South Haven High School's Class of 2020, is beginning to take shape.

“We are very excited to see this mural begin,” said Martha Bruemmer, co-advisor for the high school's Project Pathway, which is undertaking the project.

“We would like to encourage everyone to see the artist, Kayla Wyszynski Ridley, in action over the next few weeks as she creates this beautiful piece.

When completed the sculpture will depict the sun setting over South Haven's historic lighthouse and the city's harbor. Wyszynski is also painting a large tree on the right-hand side of the mural. After completing the mural, artist Kathy Kreager will install 125 metal bird sculptures around the sunset, large tree and lighthouse to represent the 125 graduates of the Class of 2020, whose final year of high school was disrupted due to efforts to curb the spread of coronavirus.

“The girls (Project Pathway members Taleah Lowe, Daisy Solis and Sophia Cochran) came up with the idea for the mural,” Bruemmer said.

Project Pathway members and advisors, along with representatives from the City of South Haven and South Haven Public Schools, kicked off fundraising for the mural last week.

This isn't the first time Project Pathway has conducted a philanthropic fundraising campaign.

The group's primary mission is to connect students to businesses throughout the community through a series of career expos while also helping students to polish up on resume writing and job interview skills.

But the group is also dedicated to giving back to the South Haven community.

The fundraising goal is $20,000. The group has already raised $12,000.

As part of fundraising efforts, businesses, organizations or individuals can purchase metal bird sculptures created by Kreager to display in their windows or on shelves.

The sculptures will be installed by Kreager and Beyer Construction.

People who donate $150 will receive a bird sculpted by Kreager that they can display. Those who donate $300 will receive two birds, while ones who contribute $500 will receive a cluster of three birds.

Glik's apparel shop downtown is also helping with fundraising efforts by donating 10 percent of its sales on Oct. 6.

To make a donation or purchase a bird sculpture, contact Marla Bruemmer at marla.projectpathway.org or use paypal on the website projectpathway.org for a direct deposit. 

Committee formed to address number of booths, products allowed at Farm Market

By BECKY KARK

Editor and general manager

How much is too much?

That's an issue a new committee will be grappling over the next few months in regard to the number of vendors at South Haven's Farmers Market.

City Council members, Monday, voted to create the Farmers Market Stakeholder committee, a group consisting of downtown merchants, farm market vendors and local government and community leaders.

“We've got to look into how we're running our farm market,” Mayor Scott Smith said.

Over the years, South Haven's Farmers Market has grown considerably, so much so, that when it opens each Wednesday and Saturday it ends up being a focal point for shoppers who peruse dozens of stands showcasing anything from fresh asparagus to women's apparel.

But some people — downtown merchants in particular — eye the opening of the market each summer warily. They say farm market shoppers take up too many parking spaces, cause congestion downtown and take business away from brick-and-mortar shops.

“We've had concerns that the farmers market is growing larger than it was originally anticipated to be,” Interim City Manager Kate Hosier said.

Located downtown at the Huron Street Pavilion, the market runs from 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturdays from May to October and Wednesdays June to August.

It first began operating in 2003 at the Huron Street Pavilion with just a couple of booths; however, it has exponentially grown from a few vendors to an “outdoor social event” of many vendors, according to Hosier.

“In 2019, the market had 61 vendors utilizing the entire Huron Street Pavilion area with an overflow into Dyckman Park,” she said. “With the expanded growth came increasing concerns regarding vendor space, parking, potential competition to the downtown merchants, and eventually the coronavirus epidemic.” The heavy foot traffic in the park also ended up damaging its lawn.

Due to social distancing restrictions to curb the spread of the virus, this year's farmers market limited its number of booths and catered only to agricultural vendors.

“During the onslaught of COVID-19 pandemic, the South Haven Farmers Market followed Gov. Whitmer’s executive order restrictions and advice from the local health department,” Hosier said. “Ultimately, the Farmers Market modified its operations by drastically scaling down the number of vendors in order to ensure shoppers have access to healthy, and locally grown food while being committed to the safety of all shoppers and the products they purchase.”

The farmers who had booths at the market noticed a significant slowdown in customers.

“I hope we have a better farm market next year than we had this year,” said Anna Super, who has been a market vendor for the past three years.

But if and when the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions are lifted and market operations can resume at full capacity, city leaders think now is a good time to address concerns and set up a committee.

“I think it's real important we protect merchants,” said City Council member Jeff Arnold. “I don't like to see a lot of out-of-town vendors competing with brick-and-mortar shopkeepers.”

On the other-hand, Arnold said he does favor allowing some non-agricultural vendors sell their wares at the market if they have the intention to eventually open a business downtown.

“I'd certainly like to see the market work as an incubator in addition to supporting farmers,” he said.

Vendors at the market, who gave public comment during the city council meeting, expressed mixed viewpoints about its possible negative impact on downtown businesses, including agricultural-related businesses.

“I'm an agricultural grower,” Cheryl Overholser said. “It is primarily a farm market.”

Super though thinks the market, with its variety of items, attracts people to downtown shops. She said she sees farm market customers holding bags of merchandise they purchased from downtown shops.

“We are not infringing on people in business in downtown South Haven,” Super said. “We bring people in who spend money at other stores.”





8.31.20

South Haven man accused of killing his wife

By TRIBUNE STAFF

A 36-year-old South Haven man is facing homicide charges in the death of his wife.

Randy Halstead Jr. was arraigned Friday, Aug. 21, in Seventh District Court for homicide and for being a habitual offender. He remains in jail with no bond, according to a news release issued by the South Haven Police Department. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Wednesday, Sept. 2, according to court records.

Police say they responded at 11 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 19, to a residence on Pearl Street regarding an unconscious female. Officers determined the woman, Halstead's 48-year-old wife, Kimberly Halstead, was deceased and that foul play was involved. On Thursday, Aug. 20, they arrested Halstead.

Police are not yet saying how Kimberly Halstead died and have released very little else about the investigation, which is also being coordinated with Van Buren County Sheriff's Department.

Family and friends who knew Randy and Kimberly Halstead expressed shock at news of the alleged homicide.

Randy Halstead's sister, Melissa, posted on Facebook that the couple, who lived in Muncie, Ind., before moving to South Haven several years ago, had been married for 19 years.

8.24.20

BLM mural proposed for South Haven

City leaders receptive to idea; Details need to be worked on

By BECKY KARK

Editor and general manager

While brightly painted yellow Black Lives Matter murals are now being painted in such towns as Benton Harbor, one being proposed for South Haven probably won't become a reality until sometime next year.

“We know a mural is being planned for South Haven, but we don't yet know where or when,” said Monique Crowley, a local resident who is spearheading the project.

Crowley planted the seeds for the project, this past Monday, by introducing a proposal to South Haven City Council members to allow for the painting of a Black Lives Matter mural, downtown, in the westbound lane of Phoenix Street, in front of city hall.

“The design will not cover more than the width of the northern lane of westbound traffic, and will not span pass the length of City Hall,” Crowley wrote in her proposal to the council. “Our dedicated team will need approximately 72 hours to complete the entire project. We will be seeking funding from other organizers and supporters. No funds will be needed directly from the City of South Haven or its affiliates.”

Council members and city staff were receptive to the concept for a Black Lives Matter mural, however, concern was expressed about the downtown location in an area that is highly trafficked with vehicles, bicycles and pedestrians.

“There's a number of concerns about painting travel lanes,” Interim City Manager Kate Hosier said.

Department of Public Works Director Bill Hunter explained those concerns.

“You can't have murals painted over crosswalks or center lanes,” he said, referring to the two crosswalks on Phoenix where the mural is being proposed.

Hunter also said the mural itself may detract from signs and street markings that are in place to keep motorists and pedestrians safe.

The issue of painting the street also was brought up by staff and council members.

“The life of paint on a street is generally one year,” Hunter said. “I've got five-ton dump trucks plowing down the street every winter. It (the mural wording) will be gone by the end of winter.”

Yet, council members emphasized interest in having some type of mural or artwork to signify their desire for equality and justice for the black community.

“I clearly support Black Lives Matter as well as all minorities,” said Council member Joe Reeser. “It should be noted that Black Lives Matter is a social movement not a political one. But I feel we need more input from the community. Then we can vote on it.”

“We're just not ready to vote on it tonight,” Mayor Pro Tem Jeff Arnold said.

The council's response hasn't deterred Crowley.

“We were simply submitting a proposal for the mural,” she said, Tuesday, following the meeting.

“We're waiting for further input from the city and businesses.”

There is support in the South Haven area for a Black Lives Matter mural, according to Crowley, who in May organized a peaceful Black Lives Matter protest and march following the death of Minneapolis resident George Floyd, after a white police officer had his knee on the man's neck for nearly 8 minutes. “People have stepped up. The amount of support is strong,” she said.

Several local residents took time to show their support during the city council meeting on Monday.

“I think it (a mural) would be a great welcoming gesture for the community to send,” said David Veenstra.

Wendi Onuki commented that if a mural isn't agreed upon the city should show support for the black community in some way.

Crowley said she is already incorporating some of the council's concerns and suggestions into her proposal. For one, she said, the mural will not resemble ones that people have become familiar with seeing on city streets throughout America.

“It will not just be 'Black Lives Matter' painted in yellow,” she said. “It's going to be a piece of art.”

To that end, the mural may not even be painted on a street.

“We don't want it trafficked over,” she said. As a result, there exists the possibility of having the mural painted on a billboard leading to the city or the side of a building, downtown.

“We may spend the rest of the year just planning it,” Crowley said. “We want it to look nice when it's finished.”

Bangor, Covert school districts plan to offer in-person learning when school starts Aug. 31

By BECKY KARK

Editor and general manager

COVERT — Two of Van Buren County's smaller school districts will begin the school year Aug 31 by offering both in-person and online instruction.

Covert and Bangor public school district officials said they made the decision to do so after surveying parents and determining the best way to teach students while controlling the spread of coronavirus.

Unlike a number of larger school districts in Michigan which are opting for virtual instruction for the fall during the coronavirus pandemic, Covert, which is a Class D school district, plans to open its school doors for in-person classes for younger grades while older students will learn online, at home.

“Students in grades Pre-K through 9 will return for in-person learning,” District Superintendent Yolanda Brunt explained. “Grades 10, 11, and 12 will be virtual.”

Parents who worry about a possible uptick in coronavirus cases when their children return to school will be accommodated, Brunt assured.

“Although we are bringing students back Pre-K through 9th grade, parents of those students do have the option to do virtual learning instead,” she said.

Bangor is also offering a variety of learning plans for students and parents.

The Class C school district plans to offer two enrollment options.

The first one is being referred to as a “hybrid model” where students will attend school two days per week and three days online.

In an effort to limit the number of students in school buildings, the district is separating students into two groups, designated as “red” and “white,” according to the district's return-to-school plan.

At South Walnut Elementary School for instance, students in the red group will attend class on Monday and Tuesday, while the white group will be in class on Thursday and Friday. Middle and high school students in the red and white groups will follow the same schedule.

As the fall months unfold, district leaders will monitor how the combination in-person/remote learning plan is working.

“The hybrid model will be re-evaluated at the end of the first marking period,” the return-to-learning plan stated.

For parents who feel uneasy about their children being in the classroom, the district is offering a second option —100-percent online virtual learning. However, families who choose that option will have to do so for at least one semester.

SH superintendent forgoes pay raise

By BECKY KARK

Editor and general manager

South Haven Board of Education members have given thumbs up to Superintendent Kevin Schooley's job performance by extending his contract three years, but they stopped short of giving him a raise.

“The board and Mr. Schooley decided jointly that a raise at this time, with funding uncertainty, wouldn’t be a good idea,” school board President Laura Bos said, referring to anticipated reductions in the state's School Aid fund for the 2020-21 school year.

As a result of the board decision, Schooley's annual salary will remain at $135,000, a figure the board settled on when hiring him in 2018.

School board members voted to extend Schooley's contract earlier this month after evaluating his performance over the past year.

“The board performed an evaluation earlier in the summer and has been pleased with Mr. Schooley’s performance,” Bos said.

Schooley, like school superintendents throughout the country, has been saddled with determining the best way to begin the school year amid the coronavirus pandemic.

“We're still in the midst of a serious health crisis,” Schooley told members of the South Haven Kiwanis Club, where he was invited Monday to give an update on the district's back-to-school plans. “There's no playbook for dealing with this pandemic...It's a new normal for kids, parents, teachers, bus drivers, everyone.”

South Haven district officials announced last week school will begin online this year starting Aug. 31, based on feedback they have received from staff and parents.

“We will begin our transition to in-person learning gradually,” Schooley said. “We've consistently surveyed parents and teachers throughout the summer...The No. 1 topic for everyone is safety. That pointed to us that a balanced approach to doing this (re-opening school) is what's prudent. I'd love to come back, but we have to be prudent.”

Panel to interview city manager candidates

By BECKY KARK

Editor and general manager

With applications starting to trickle in to fill the city manager position, officials are taking the next step in the hiring process by selecting a committee to interview candidates.

The search for a manager to replace Brian Dissette, who left his position to become Berrien County administrator, began in July. With the application deadline approaching, the city council approved the selection of an interview panel, consisting of community leaders and the mayor to sift through applications and select candidates to be interviewed.

“We've posted the position with regional publications, the Michigan Municipal League and 30 different colleges,” said city Human Resources Director Kim Wise, who is overseeing the search process. “We expect to see a sizable number of applicants. Currently we have nine.”

City council members voted Monday to select Eddie Polk, a senior technical instructor for Entergy Nuclear Operations Inc., who lives in South Haven; Stephanie Timmer, South Haven resident who is vice president of the Western Market at Sturgis Bank & Trust Co. in South Haven; Bob Straits, a South Haven resident, who retired as the administrator and director of the W.E. Upton Institute for Employment Research; Ross Stein, South Haven Township supervisor and chair of the South Haven Area Recreational Authority; and Mayor Scott Smith. Other nominees included Claudia Maddox, former longtime South Haven Board of Education member and Joe Aleman of South Haven who is retired from General Telephone Co.;

The interview panel members were chosen from a list of nominees provided by the search committee, according to Wise. Other nominees included Claudia Maddox, former longtime South Haven Board of Education member and Joe Aleman of South Haven who is retired from General Telephone Co.

Council member Steve Schlack questioned why the search committee wanted to limit the interview panel to five people.

“If you have more than five, it can be too cumbersome,” Wise said.

Now that the panel has been appointed it will sift through applications, select candidates and then conduct the first round of interviews in September. A second round of interviews will take place late September with the goal of selecting finalists who will be interviewed by the city council.

“Both rounds of interviews will be in a public setting,” Wise said. The finalists interviews will also be conducted in public.

The search committee hopes that a new city manager will be hired by the end of October.

One person who has expressed interest in the job is interim city manager Kate Hosier, according to Mayor Smith.







8.17.20

South Haven library re-opens; reduces hours, days of operation

South Haven Memorial Library is once again allowing patrons to enter the building – however, it will be on a limited basis.

“We will allow people in the library for reduced hours twice a week,” said Library Director Jim France.

Hours and days will be 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Tuesdays, and 2 p.m.-6 p.m., Thursdays.

Patrons will be required to wear facial coverings to enter the library. Computers will be allowed to be used, however, the number of devices will be limited and patrons can use computers for only 30-minute sessions. Copy and fax services will also be available, however the community room will not be open for use.

People will enter the library from the east side doors facing Broadway Avenue, while the west side doors facing the pavilion will be designated as an exit.

“We are asking that patrons limit their time in the building to 45 minutes,” France said. “Overall conditions will dictate the addition of more hours as we slowly head toward normal operations.”

The library will continue to offer curbside service and has been doing so since June 22. Curbside hours follow:

Requests for materials can be made Mondays, Wednesday and Fridays from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. either by email at shml@shmlibrary.org, or by calling 637-2403. Requests will be limited to five items or less. Items than can be picked up from 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Tuesdays, 2 p.m.-6 p.m., Thursdays or 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Saturdays.

Pullman man charged with homicide

PULLMAN — A 62-year-old man from Lee Township faces homicide charges in the alleged shooting death of a 50-year-old South Haven area man.

Robert Williams Eakins Jr. was arraigned Tuesday on two felony charges — homicide and felony firearm, according to a Allegan County Sheriff's Department news release.

The criminal charges stem from the Aug. 8 death of Daniel Lee Banaszak at a residence in the 500 block of 55th Street in Lee Township.

Deputies responded at 6:15 p.m., to a shooting that was reported at the residence. When they arrived they found the shooting victim. Eakins was still at the residence and was taken into custody.



8.10.20

South Haven Rotary Club president Dan Thompson (center) and treasurer Bop Straits are pictured presenting a donation to Erika Morrison, executive director of We Care.

We Care gets $17,750 boost in funding

The coronavirus pandemic has negatively impacted a number of non-profits that rely on financial contributions to continue offering services to help the public.

But one South Haven service organization is making sure a local human service ministry can continue helping people.

Members of the Rotary Club of South Haven has provided $17,750 over the last several months to We Care in the Name of Christ.

The contributions have been made possible through donations from individual Rotarians, the club through its local fundraising initiatives, Rotary District 6360 Foundation and Rotary International Foundation.

The most recent contribution of $3,750 has been designated for the We Care personal care pantry.

Earlier this year, the Rotary's financial donations we re designated for We Care's utility assistance program and food pantries. The Rotarians were also the leading organization in donating laundry detergent during the South Haven Diversity Coalition's Martin Luther King Jr. Day community service event in January.

During the Rotary fiscal year ending June 30, the club's donations to more than 40 local, regional and international non-profit organizations surpassed $51,000.

Rose defeats incumbent for treasurer's seat in Covert Twp.

By BECKY KARK

Editor and general manager

COVERT — It looks like former Covert Township Supervisor Barbara Rose will be seated once again on the township board but in a different capacity.

Rose defeated incumbent treasurer Wednesday Pritchard, 180-143, in Tuesday's Democratic primary race for treasurer. There were no Republican candidates for the treasurer's position, which means that Rose will be running unopposed in November's general election, unless challenged by a write-in candidate, and will most likely begin her new duties as treasurer in January.

Rose, 72, served two terms as township supervisor from 2008-2016.

As supervisor she oversaw the township's dispute with the Michigan Tax Tribunal over the reduction in property taxes sought by Covert Generating plant.

In another key Covert Township board race, incumbent Supervisor Dennis Palgen held off a challenge from incumbent Clerk Daywi Cook, 185-134, in the Democratic primary. He will now go on to face former township trustee Tom DeRosa in November. DeRosa, who was running unopposed in Tuesday's Republican primary, garnered 85 votes.

In the other contested township race, incumbent trustees Kenneth Harrington and Lonzey Taylor defeated newcomer Dawn Alspaugh. All were running on the Democratic ticket. Taylor received 193 votes, Harrington, 190, and Alspaugh 115.

Only the clerk's position remained uncontested in Tuesday's primary. Democrat Naomi Barnes, who currently serves as deputy clerk, received 274 votes.

Millage renewal passes

Voters in the Covert Public School District approved a six-year renewal of 18 mils on non-homestead residences and businesses.

The proposal passed by a margin of 239-179.

The funds generated through the millage represent an estimated $7 million for the district, or about 80 percent of the district's total operating budget, according to District Superintendent Yolanda Brunt.
The non-homestead millage does not affect homeowners who use their homes as primary residences.

911 service charge approved by voters

PAW PAW — Van Buren County's emergency dispatch center will be getting some badly needed upgrades thanks to voter approval of a proposal to raise the monthly 911 surcharge from $1.92 to $3.

The ballot issue easily passed 9,517-4,316 in Tuesday's primary election, which drew approximately 32 percent of registered voters.

The current 911 system has reliability, transmission and reception problems, according to 911 Director Tim McGee. To build a modern system would run up to $2.25 million, he said in an earlier interview, and would include upgrading central dispatch equipment and replacing three or four towers. The field equipment would not need to be replaced.

Voter approval for the increased surcharge will bring in about $750,000 more than now, totaling $2.1 million when pooled with state money.

SH Twp. voters approve millage proposals

Voters in South Haven Township put their stamp of approval, Tuesday, on two ballot proposals.

The 0.25 recreational millage renewal passed 492-327, while a new 1.0 millage to help fund South Haven Memorial Library won, 467-354. Both proposals will last for four years.

The recreational millage will generate $40,000 annually to help pay for maintenance and improvement of township parks, nature preserves and for possibly purchasing property for future recreational purposes.

The library millage will boost the township's annual allocation to the library to $164,000 and will replace the township's current .4297 millage levy.

Nearly 32 percent of the township's registered voters cast ballots in Tuesday's primary.







8.3.20

Yvette Solomon-Hamilton has been hired as the new librarian for the Bangor Branch of the Van Buren District Library system. (Contributed photo)

New librarian chosen for Bangor Branch

BANGOR — A woman who grew up as a migrant with dreams of one day becoming a librarian, has reached her goal.

Yvette Salomon-Hamilton has been named new librarian of Van Buren District Library's Bangor Branch. She succeeds Bobbi Martindale, who retired recently after 32 years with the district library system.

Assuming the leadership role in Bangor is a dream fulfilled for Salomon-Hamilton, who previously was the assistant library at the Bangor branch. “When I was eight years old, I visited the old Bangor Library. They were playing ‘The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe’ on a TV. I checked out the book, read it and was hooked on libraries from then on.”

Salomon-Hamilton comes from a strong family of migrant workers, who settled in Bangor more than 40 years ago. 

“When I went to Decatur (where the district library system is headquarters) to interview for this position, I drove past the migrant camp where I stayed as a little girl. And now, through hard work and patience, I reached my goal of being the Bangor Branch librarian.”

Salomon-Hamilton, who brings a background in business management and retail to the branch, believes that close collaboration with the schools and local businesses will help build the role of the library as the heart of the community.

“I know we’re kind of on pause right now,” Salomon-Hamilton says, “but great things are coming. We just know it.”

South Haven Memorial Library gets ready for renovations

By BECKY KARK

Editor and general manager

After nearly two years of negotiations to secure a piece of property to make way for $2.3 million worth of improvements to South Haven Memorial Library, officials are ready to proceed.

“A call for bids is out right now for interested contractors, and those will be due in August, with the winning bid to be awarded Sept. 15,” Library Director Jim France said, estimating construction will begin in October and be completed in June of 2021. depending on and construction to begin at the beginning of October.

“Final completion is set for June 1, but like so many things, that could change,” France said in regard to the changes brought about worldwide by the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

The renovations 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.

Once the renovations get underway, the library will move to temporary quarters in the lower level of South Haven City Hall, and its staff could be there for up to a year until all of the upgrades are complete.

Library officials had hoped to begin the expansion project in the spring of 2019, however, they were told the U.S. Postal Service, which operates a post office next to the library, owned a small portion of the property that the library had utilized for years. The property sits to the rear of the library at 314 Broadway Ave., and is home to the library's outdoor reading garden and approximately 4-5 feet of the library's interior space.

Nearly two years ago, when library officials were told the the post office owned the property, they had to begin negotiations to purchase it – something that took a long time due to the fact that the library was dealing with two federal agencies — the U.S. Postal Service and the United States Department of Agriculture, the agency that planned to loan the library the funds needed for renovations.

The dilemma left the library board exasperated.

“One chunk of the library sits on post office property and has since the library was built in 1958,” France said during an interview in November of 2018. “Nobody knows how it ended up that way. Our entire project hinges on that piece of property.”

But as it turns out, the library has owned the parcel all along.

“Two days before closing, the title insurance company found an unregistered deed from 1957 that showed that the library already owned the property, plus some,” France said in an interview on Monday. “Nobody else had a record of it. It is now registered and we are ready to go.”

The USDA loan will be paid back from a 40-year, quarter-mill tax levy that South Haven city and township voters approved in May of 2017. Because the library does not have borrowing power, city and township officials set up a joint building authority to oversee the collection of the millage and administration of the loan.

Covert Schools seeks renewal of non-homestead operating millage

COVERT — Covert Public Schools will be seeking a six-year renewal of the 18 mils it levies for non-homestead residences and businesses during Tuesday's primary election.

“The funds generated through this millage represent an estimated $7 millin for the district, or about 80 percent of the district's total operating budget,” said District Superintendent Yolanda Brunt. “So it is imperative that t he people vote on Aug. 4.”
The non-homestead millage does not affect homeowners who use their homes as primary residences. Polls will be open from 7 a.m.-8 p.m. or registered voters can vote by absentee ballot.

“The main two taxpayers that generate a large portion of this amount are Entergy Nuclear Palisades and New Covert Generating Company,” Brunt went on to say. “Failure to pass the millage renewal would result in a significant loss in operating revenue for the school district beginning in 2021.”