10.14.19

One of the hills used for sledding at Baer Park is shown to the right. The Central Lofts II homeowners association has reached an agreement with the City of South Haven to once again allow the general public to use the park for recreational purposes. A fenced will be installed along the southeast section of the park to separate the green space from the condominium association's buildings and grounds.

Yes, Virginia, you can now sled at Baer Park

City, homeowners association work out deal to open green space to the public once again

By BECKY KARK

Editor and general manager

Many South Haven residents have fond memories of sledding down the hill at Baer Park during the winter months. Soon, their children will be able to gather similar memories when the park re-opens for public use.

The public's use of the park is being made possible courtesy of an agreement reached between South Haven city officials and the Central Lofts II homeowners association, which owns the property.

“This is something city staff has worked on for years,” City Manager Brian Dissette said. “For us we're excited to potentially cross the finish line to return Baer Park to the community.”

Baer Park is a rectangular green space located in a bowl-shaped area on Center Street behind the former Central School. The park was named for the late Dave Baer, who served as a teacher and award-winning football and baseball coach for South Haven Public Schools during the early 1900s.

But when South Haven Public Schools closed Central School during the early 2000s and sold the buildings to be redeveloped into condominium lofts, Baer Park was part of the sale and kids had to go elsewhere for sledding.

However, that is now changing. City council members, Monday, approved an agreement with the homeowners association that will create a “perpetual” easement on a large portion of the green space. A four-foot fence will be erected near the condos to separate the homes from the public space and the sledding hill.

Hammering out an agreement with the condo association to allow Baer Park to be used by the public has been one of city council's priorities this year. With its close proximity to downtown, the council felt it was important to try to create as many public green spaces as possible.

“We've talked about this for years,” Mayor Scott Smith said. “To have that space available to the public is wonderful.”

Although the green space has been referred to for years as Baer Park, it's never been included in the city's park system and still won't be. However, the city's park rules will still apply, according to Dissette.

“Anyone can walk their dog, play football, go sledding, those are now options available to the public,” Dissette said.

The agreement the city reached with the homeowner's association also stipulates that the land will be maintained predominately in its natural and open condition and that structures will not be constructed on the property without the city's and association's approval.

Van Buren commissioner changes mind on closing SH courthouse

By ROD SMITH

For the Tribune

PAW PAW — A Van Buren County commissioner who had originally favored closing the South Haven courthouse said he now agrees with a commissioner who wants to keep it open.

"I just want you to know I'm taking what you said to heart," Commissioner Randall Peat told Commissioner Gail Patterson-Gladney, who represents the South Haven area.

Peat last month came out in favor of a tentative plan to close that office plus sell the Paw Paw Administration and Land Management Building across from the historic courthouse and construct a new office building in the parking lot east of the courthouse. Peat said at the time: "I just want to do it once, do it right, spend what we need to spend, and move on."

However, Commissioner Gail Patterson-Gladney, who represents that area, was firmly opposed to closing the South Haven courthouse. Peat said during Tuesday's meeting he took her arguments into consideration in changing his mind.

"Gail has provided some additional input on that and she has talked to some of the leaders over that and, as you might expect, they are not in favor of closing the South Haven facility," Peat said.

Peat said he has no problem leaving such a decision up to a future board but still favors a Paw Paw building that can accommodate South Haven staff if such a decision is made.

"As long as the design incorporates those capabilities then I'm cool with not making a decision on South Haven," Peat said.

Patterson-Gladney responded with, "I always think it's good to have possibilities for future development."

The discussion's purpose at the last meeting was to generate a direction for a long-range facilities plan to expand office space and comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Its goals would include enhancing citizen access to services, improving safety and security, and moving employees out of basements. Basement offices include Friend of the Court, specialty courts and the State Probation/Parole office.

The closing the two buildings and constructing another next to the historic courthouse was one of four options examined. The other options were keeping both those buildings but still constructing a new building, keep the South Haven courthouse but sell the administration building plus construct a building next to the Paw Paw courthouse plus incorporate the offices in the Administration building. The last option was to do none of these.

Cost estimates ran up to $35 million. No decisions were made and the subject will be on future agendas.

In other matters, Court Administrator Frank Hardester told commissioners the county had been awarded a three-year, $750,000 grant for the Mental Health Court Program.

"This will dramatically expand the services," Hardester told commissioners.

The money is coming from the U.S. Department of Justice under the Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Program.





10.7.19

Thomas Valles, a former member of the McFarland, Calif. cross-country team that won a state championship in 1987, speaks to South Haven High School and Baseline Middle School students, Friday, Sept. 27 during a school assembly. The McFarland team's accomplishment was the subject of the 2015 Disney movie, "McFarland USA." Baseline Middle School students and a number of high schoolers watched the movie before attending the assembly.

The real runners from "McFarland' speak to South Haven students

By BECKY KARK

Editor and general manager

Two years ago a group of South Haven High School's cross-country runners got the opportunity to meet two former members of McFarland, Calif.'s cross team – a team made famous in the 2015 Disney movie, “McFarland USA,” for winning a state championship in 1987.

On Sept. 27, all of South Haven High School's students, plus ones from Baseline Middle School, got the chance to hear McFarland alums Thomas Valles and Johnny Samaniego speak.

The two men visited South Haven as part of a tour of seven schools throughout Southwest Michigan, including Kalamazoo Central, Bellevue, Holland and Zeeland.

“These guys are so well received at the schools,” said Rene Rodriguez of Studio One Creative, which coordinated the motivational speeches. “They came from migrant backgrounds. Many students in Southwest Michigan have migrant backgrounds. Their (Valles and Samaniego's) message resonates with students.”

Throughout the hour-long programs South Haven students in grades 6-12 remained quiet and attentive as they heard Valles and Samaniego recount growing up in McFarland and going on to earn a state title in cross-country – something the team wasn't expected to do back then.

“We were all underdogs,” Samaniego said about the McFarland Mustangs' cross team, a group of athletes made up of Hispanics.

But the two stand-out athletes from McFarland didn't come to South Haven to brag about how a team of migrant athletes that bucked the odds and won a state championship.

Rather, they talked about Jim White, the coach who helped them get there and the influence he had on their lives.

“Mr White was a father figure to us,” Samaniego said. When White wasn't coaching and encouraging his young runners, he took them out to eat, bowling, the movies, even the ocean.

“For most of us that was the first time we had ever done those things,” Samaniego said. “He opened up the world to us.”

Valles, whose parents divorced when he was in junior high – the year White became his gym teacher and coach, agreed. “I had a coach who took me in,” he said. “He was my second dad, my team was my second family.”

Valles and Samaniego's team practiced and competed during a very troubling time for McFarland.

During the mid and late '80s tragedy after tragedy seemed to strike the small town of 5,000.

Retired Bakersfield Californian newspaper photographer John Harte recounted those times on his blogsite.

“I don’t know if any city as small as McFarland has endured as much heartbreak and despair involving their children as this town did in the mid and late 1980s,” he wrote. During that time period farm children were dying from a cancer outbreak. A Valentine's Day crash claimed the lives of six teens. Two months prior to that tragedy, two members of the McFarland girls cross-country team lost their lives after being struck by a vehicle during a practice run.

Members of the boys cross country team felt those losses deeply, but they also dealt, everyday with the harsh reality of their existence as migrants.

“We struggled,” Samaniego said. “My grandparents, who lived with us, raised us. My parents worked early in the morning and did not come back home until late, ate dinner, and went to bed.”

Valles grew up in a similar manner, discussing how easily he could have been drawn into gang life and how he struggled academically in school, due in part to being dyslexic.

But even though the two teens grew up in poverty, their parents wanted a better life for them.

“My parents had very little education,” Valles said. “They always talked about how important an education was and encouraged us to go to school.”

Both Valles and Samaniego did end up not only earning high school diplomas but college degrees, as well.

Valles obtained a bachelor's degree in criminal justice and served 22 years as a corrections officer before retiring. He now serves as the varsity girls cross-country coach at McFarland.

Samaniego earned a bachelor's degree in teaching and is employed as the middle school gym teacher at McFarland, the very same job his favorite coach, Jim White, had. Samaniego also coaches the girls varsity basketball team at McFarland – a team that earlier this year earned runner-up honors at the Division 3 state finals in Sacramento.

“Hard work and setting goals will get you where you want to go,” Samaniego said. “Life isn't easy...always rowing, never drifting.”

Prior to the motivational program, Baseline Middle School students all watched “McFarland USA,” and according to their teachers enjoyed the movie.

“I got positive feedback from my students,” said art teacher Sarah Rydecki.

Several students who were interviewed said they indeed liked the movie.

“I liked the part where they went to the ocean,” said one student referring to the scene in the movie where White took the cross-country team to the beach and the Pacific Ocean – a first-time trip for many of the team members.

Eighth-grader Kyle Bos said he liked the movie for several reasons. “I liked how they (the teammates) learned to respect each other...how they ended up over time becoming friends.”

SH city council candidates featured at forum

Voters who live in the city of South Haven will have the opportunity this month to hear the viewpoints of South Haven City Council candidates seeking election in November when a local group hosts a candidate forum.

The candidate forum, organized by the South Haven American Association of University Women will take place from 7-8 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 15 at Lake Michigan College's South Haven campus, 125 Veterans Blvd.

Only candidates in contested races will be at the forum. Those candidates are newcomers Jeff Arnold and Nadine in Ward 2 and newcomer Liji Hanny and incumbent Steve Schlack in Ward 3.

The other city council candidates that are running unopposed are Mayor Scott Smith and council member Letitia Wilkins in Ward 1.

“AAUW of South Haven has presented candidate forums for over forty years as a community service to our residents,” said Liz Smith, an AAUW member. “The forum is a nonpartisan event, providing citizens the opportunity to meet, listen to and submit questions to the candidates.”

Melinda Gruber, CEO of Caring Circle and vice president of Continued Care for Lakeland Hospital, will moderate the question and answer period.

Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. Candidates will be available at 6:45 p.m. to talk informally with people and will be available after the forum.



9.30.19

The exterior entrance to what will be the new Bronson South Haven Hospital is shown. During the course of the project, more than 40 building trades companies and 1,000-plus individual tradespeople will be involved in building the hospital. The 52,000-square-foot facility is scheduled to open in December of 2020.

Bronson breaks ground on new $22 million hospital in South Haven

By BECKY KARK

Editor and general manager

With land being cleared for the new Bronson South Haven Hospital, it's hard to imagine what the $22 million facility will look like when completed.

Area residents will get the opportunity to find out when Bronson hosts a community reception next week. The event will take place from 4-6 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 3, at Bronson Wellness Center, 950 S. Bailey Ave. Bronson officials and construction partners will be on hand to discuss the project and will share architectural drawings of the design and layout of the new hospital.

Contractors have spent the past several weeks getting the site prepped for construction of the 52,000-square-foot facility.

“We're a month ahead of schedule right now,” said Kirk Richardson, chief operating officer of Bronson South Haven.

Even though contractors are ahead of the curve, Richardson said the two-story acility will most likely be finished on time in December 2020.

“It (the new hospital) is not only an investment in building better health for our patients, it is an investment in the vitality of our region,” Richardson said. “This state-of-the-art facility will enable Bronson South Haven to contemporize care to meet current health trends, and will help attract new providers and staff to serve our community for decades to come.”

Elzinga & Volkers Inc. of Holland has been hired to design and construct the hospital.

The award-winning company is no stranger to building medical facilities.

“Our team of professionals excels in building complex healthcare environments,” said Joe Novakoski, vice president of operations for Elzinga & Volkers.

The new Bronson South Haven hospital will offer the same services the hospital currently offers for acute, emergency, primary and specialty care, according to Richardson, with the exception of the wound care unit which is expected to be housed in a new building that will be built as part of the overall hospital construction project.

The new hospital will feature 8 in-patient beds and 14 beds in the emergency department.

“We will have a larger emergency department,” Richardson said.

The hospital's exterior design will be similar in appearance to Bronson Wellness Center. The building will be made of stone porcelain tile and brick and will feature expanses of tinted glass windows and metal details. The interior colors will be blue and green to reflect South Haven's outdoor environment, which includes Lake Michigan, beach grass, sand and trees.

The new hospital, which can be accessed from both Blue Star Highway and Bailey Avenue, will be environmentally friendly, as well. Hospital officials say it is expected to exceed minimum energy code building requirements through use of energy-efficient LED lighting, high performance, low E-coated glass, indoor air quality improvements and building material resource conservation. Contractors are also using low volatile organic compound (VOC) materials and materials with high recyclable content.

After the new hospital opens, Bronson plans to tear down the current facility at 955 S. Bailey Ave.

“It would have cost $40-$60 million to fix the current facility,” Richardson said. “That why it was decided to build a new building.” It wasn't just the expense but the age of the current building, which has infrastructure that dates back to the 1940s to mid-1960s.

Labor shortage taking a toll

Small business owners hit hardest

By TONY WITTKOWSKI
HP Staff Writer

BENTON HARBOR — According to a recent survey, a labor shortage has begun to hit U.S. companies as job growth has slowed in 2019.
A monthly survey by the National Federation of Independent Businesses revealed a record percentage of small business owners reported having difficulties finding qualified workers in August.
It’s been highlighted as the biggest problem in the survey since January 2018.
Fifty-seven percent of the survey’s respondents, including 89 percent of those “hiring or trying to hire,” found “few or no qualified applicants for the positions they were trying to fill.”
Paul Brohman, business account manager at Michigan Works Berrien, Cass, Van Buren, said the organization has started to introduce different ideas and solutions to help stem the shortage of qualified workers in Southwest Michigan.
Brohman said one solution is a team effort between the agency’s Talent and Business teams.
“We have revamped our monthly hiring events as a method for companies to educate and attract job seekers,” he said. “We are putting the onus on the company to pitch their ‘why’ to the job seeker. This ‘Shark Tank’ method of information sharing eliminates the awkwardness that attending job seekers have traditionally faced (at) hiring events.”
Michigan Works holds these events on the second and fourth Tuesday each month.
According to the NFIB survey, the construction industry had the highest share of owners reporting hiring difficulties, at 68 percent. Manufacturing was second, coming in at 59 percent.
With the unemployment rate near a 50-year low and a record 157.9 million Americans employed, there are simply fewer workers available.
In addition, the average monthly job growth as reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics has slowed, from 223,000 last year to 158,000 so far this year.
Some experts have pointed to the decline as evidence that the longest economic recovery on record is losing steam.
Brohman said the three biggest factors that employers are dealing with in the tri-county region are a stagnating population, lower educational attainment levels and an aging workforce.
“Being youth-focused is another way to provide solutions to the companies of all size in our region,” he said. “We have launched Manufacturing Day and Career Exploration events across the region by partnering with Berrien RESA and local employers.”
Brohman said they are always looking for creative, innovative ways to address the biggest three employment problems in Southwest Michigan.
“We refuse to accept the fact that with a 5.2 percent unemployment rate, you just can’t find a qualified worker, but instead we are committed to inspiring positive economic change, one person, one business, one community at a time,” Brohman said.

9.23.19

The architectural rendering above shows proposed expansion of the Michigan Maritime Museum campus.

A huge expansion

Maritime Museum embarks on an $8 million project; Purchases Jensen property

By BECKY KARK

Editor and general manager

From the late 1800s through the mid-1900s, South Haven lured in many commercial fishermen. Those days have all but been forgotten, the only reminder being two old warehouse buildings on the Black River built by the Jensen family for their fishing enterprises.

But that will change when the Michigan Maritime Museum undertakes an ambitious $8 million expansion next year.

“We're close to half way (to the fundraising goal),” said Patti Montgomery, executive director of the museum.

The expansion will include a permanent commercial fishing exhibit located in a waterfront building once used by the Jensens.

“This (an expansion of the museum and its grounds) has been a long time coming,” Montgomery said.

The expansion is being made possible by the museum's purchase of prime waterfront property located right next to the Dyckman Avenue drawbridge. The property has belonged to the Jensen family for years and contains two metal two-story buildings once used for their fishing business.

“Those two marina buildings are historic, put up in the 1940s,” Montgomery said. The museum intends to restore the structures. One will house a permanent display focusing on South Haven's commercial fishing days, while the other will be refurbished into a one-story facility to house the museum's historic small craft collection.

“It's a beautiful collection but we have no place right now to display it,” Montgomery said.

A third building on the site the family used for its charter boat business will be torn down to make way for a new two-story building and observation point that will give people a prime view of the city's harbor.

“It will be a multi-functional building,” Montgomery said. The first floor will contain restrooms, a catering kitchen and space for the museum's excursion ship captains to use during the summer months, while the second floor can be used for conferences or other gatherings for up to 80 people. The second floor will also have outdoor viewing areas.

The Jensen property also has docks on the city's harbor. Those finger docks will be removed and replaced with one long dock parallel to the riverfront that can be used for the display of older, wooden boats.

“We've asked people to imagine a view of the river from the bridge if you take away the old finger piers and replace them with historic craft,” said Brian Bosgraaf, a member of the museum's board and chair of its capital and building campaigns. “I think it (the former Jensen property) will become an iconic view.”

Montgomery agreed.

“We're doing our part to keep this part of the harbor as authentic as possible,” she said. “The changes will open the harbor in areas that you can't see right now.”

Purchase of the Jensen property will nearly double the size of the museum grounds, nearly quadruple its water frontage and allow the museum to undertake even more improvement projects.

The biggest of those changes will be construction of a new two-story museum to replace the current, small, one-story structure.

“We've maximized this space to its highest capacity,” Montgomery said. “We have 50,000 people who go through the museum May through September. We've just run out of space.”

The new museum will house a much larger exhibit area on the first floor, a two-story atrium with more exhibit space, an indoor and outdoor learning center for students, restrooms and a larger souvenir shop. The second floor will house a large room that can be used for exhibit space or for gatherings of 200-300 people, a catering kitchen, conference rooms and offices.

“The main museum building allows for flexibility of use,” Montgomery said. “First and foremost we're a museum, but we can also use some of the space for conferences, educational uses or reunions. It gives us the opportunity to generate additional revenue to help keep our admission prices affordable and for better quality exhibits.

Other improvements include:

• Replacing the Jensen parking lot with grass for outdoor events and workshops

• Constructing two new docks for longer ships that visit the museum, such as tall ships

• Constructing an outdoor patio that will include a large, three-season tent for outdoor events

• Improving the museum grounds by making them more easily accessible for walking to the museum's other historic boat buildings and its excursion boats.

Former Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm speaks to a nearly full house at Listiak Auditorium, Thursday, Sept. 19, as part of the South Haven Speakers Series.

Granholm: Embrace technology or be left behind

By BECKY KARK

Editor and general manager

As a former two-term Michigan governor and now a CNN senior contributor, Jennifer Granholm keeps a close watch on state and national politics. But as the guest speaker at Thursday's South Haven Speakers Series, Granholm discussed something she has become very passionate about – the future of America's workforce and the nation's economy.

“Seventy thousand factories closed in the United States in the first 17 years of this century,” she told an audience of 350 people at South Haven High School's Listiak Auditorium. “Those factories sat on the main streets of America. You wonder how Donald Trump was elected. It was because of this.”

Granholm has been quite busy since she left office as Michigan's Democratic governor in 2011 after serving for 8 years. She now resides in California and serves on the faculty at the University of California Berkeley teaching courses in law and public policy, is a senior research fellow at the Center for Information Technology Research in the Interest of Society and is chair of the America Jobs Project, a university initiative focused on policies to create jobs in clean energy. The initiative also researches artificial intelligence, employment and automation.

With the research she has taken part in, Granholm told the audience that Americans need to embrace technology or be left behind.

She pointed to the auto industry's growing investment in autonomous vehicles – vehicles which will one day replace drivers. Those drivers however, would more than likely be able to gain employment in the transportation industry, but in a different capacity, she said.

“Will autonomous vehicles take away our jobs? Since ATMs became popular are there fewer bank tellers?” she asked the audience. “Since 2000, full-time tellers increased 2 percent per year. Tellers now do more complex computer work in more branches...Employment grows faster in jobs that use technology.”

Granholm, however, acknowledged that training is necessary for workers, especially older ones, to acquire the increasing number of jobs that involve technology. She suggested that government policy makers become more creative in providing economic incentives for workers to embrace taking courses and gaining certifications to upgrade their skills.

“In this country, employees assume people will show up trained. Why not have a good subsidization program (to provide training)?” she said.

Although she didn't focus her speech on politics, Granholm took a few minutes prior to her speech to be interviewed about issues facing Michigan and the nation.

When asked what is stopping Michigan's legislature and Gov. Gretchen Whitmer from reaching an agreement on increasing funding for roads, Granholm blamed it on gerrymandering.

“I do think gerrymandering was poison,” she said regarding the redistricting of legislative seats in 2012. “You would think infrastructure is apolitical as you can get. If it's not gas taxes to fix roads, what will it be?”

Some people have speculated that Whitmer will end up losing the battle on increasing gas taxes to make long-term improvements to Michigan's roads. But Granholm remains optimistic.

“She (Whitmer) campaigned on that issue and was sent by voters to Lansing on that issue.”

On the issue of whether the Democratic-controlled House of Representatives should initiate impeachment proceedings against President Donald Trump, Granholm said, “If the House is going to do this, than do it. But don't drag it out. They should send the message, 'this is not acceptable.'”

Even if Trump doesn't face impeachment, Granholm thinks he will face an uphill battle to get re-elected in 2020.

“He hasn't kept his promises,” she said.





9.16.19

A group of bicyclists waves to onlookers at South Haven's South Beach, Friday morning, before dipping the rear wheels of their bikes into Lake Michigan to signal the start of their 270-mile ride across the state on Michigan's newest recreational path, the Great Lake-to-Lake Trail No. 1. The trail is the first of five that are being envisioned for the state by the Michigan Trails and Greenways Alliance.

State's longest bike trail between South Haven and Port Huron opens

By BECKY KARK

Editor and general manager

A decade ago retired inventor and philanthropist Mike Levine of Lakeland, Mich. envisioned a bicycle trail stretching from Lake Michigan to Lake Huron.

“My son said, 'dad, you're trying to do the impossible,'” Levine recalled.

But Friday, Levine's dream finally came true with the official opening of Michigan's first Great Lake-to-Lake Trail.

Made possible in part with a pledge of $5 million Levine made in 2016, the 270-mile trail stretches from the Kal-Haven Trail in South Haven to the Bridge to Bay Trail in Port Huron. It travels through nine counties, 34 towns and links 16 existing trails.

“It is the state's longest destination trail,” said Bob Wilson, executive director of the Michigan Trails and Greenways Alliance, who gave Levine a lot of credit for helping to bring state, regional and local governmental officials as well as trail coordinators together to create a contiguous trail across the state.

“Mike is the biggest single benefactor,” Wilson said. “He's given millions to create this trail.”

Levine, who was at the dedication ceremony for the trail on Friday in South Haven, remained modest about his contributions.

“Don't think of me as a philanthropist but rather a problem solver,” he quipped. “Michigan has the largest number of trails, but they're not connected. What I contributed was to get everyone on the same page and guess what? We did it.”

Levine, along with approximately 70 other bicyclists came to South Haven Friday for the inaugural ride and a dedication ceremony at the Kal-Haven trailhead.

First, the bicyclists went to South Beach to dip their rear tires into Lake Michigan and then biked to the nearby Kal-Haven Trail for a dedication ceremony before beginning their six-day journey to Port Huron where they will dip their wheels into Lake Huron.

During the dedication ceremony, a large cast iron buoy was unveiled to mark the entrance to the trailhead, which will also be known as the Great Lake-to-Lake Trail No. 1 trailhead. Another identical buoy will be placed at the trailhead in Port Huron to mark that entrance.

Don and Dee Wellwood of Whitmoor Lake, Mich., were two of the cyclists taking part in the dedication ceremony and ride. Veteran bicyclists of 14 years, the Wellwoods have rode on trails and byways in South Dakota, Pennsylvania, Washington D.C. and New York.

“We're rode a lot of trails,” Don said. “Now that there's a trail that goes across the state we wanted to ride it.”

Al Lawland, a bicyclist of 30 years and member of the St. Clare County Trail Committee in Southeast Michigan, was also taking part in the inaugural ride.

“I got involved in putting the trail together,” he said. “When they announced the ride, I could not help but go.”

Seventy percent of Trail No. 1 consists of existing recreation trails, while the remainder of the trail travels along rural roads that are marked with signage. The hope is that one day the trail will consist of 100 percent recreational paths.

The Great Lake-to-Lake Trail between South Haven and Port Huron is the first of five Great Lake to Lake Trails envisioned for Michigan by the Michigan Trails and Greenways Alliance.

Three are located in the Lower Peninsula and the other two in the Upper Peninsula.

“The Bay City to Muskegon and Charlevoix to Mackinaw City trails are almost done,” Wilson said.

A bright future

Economic developer predicts good times ahead for Van Buren County's economy

By ROD SMITH

For the Tribune

PAW PAW — Van Buren County is positioned to experience substantial economic development over the coming years.

That's according to a report by Zachary Morris, executive director of Market Van Buren and Kinexus.

Tuesday Morris gave both an oral and a 35-page written background report, dubbed the Economic Development Improvement Plan, on what the two organizations have been doing, plus things that are in the pipeline for the future, such as millions of dollars of investment, producing hundreds of jobs.

Economic development, according to Morris, is "the connection between talent, business and community."

"If these three are not in balance they start to fall apart from each other," Morris told Van Buren County commissioners.

Although often described as rural, Van Buren County actually has a diversified economy with both large and small industries. The top industry is retail trade, representing 14.8 percent of the work force, followed by health care at 11.4 percent, manufacturing at 11.1 percent, arts and entertainment at 10.6 percent and accommodation and food services at 9.8 percent.

Twenty-six businesses responded to a recent survey and 11 of them said their main impediment to growth is finding labor. Eight reported that competition was their largest problem and three cited government regulations.

"The majority of business (13)," the report said, "stated that it has been somewhat difficult to attract new, qualified employees. An additional five firms said it was extremely difficult."

As of July, Van Buren County had an unemployment rate of 2.6 percent. This implies, the report said, "there is a substantial shortage of labor in the county." According to federal statistics, the county "is operating well above full employment."

The county has a number of competitive advantages, including proximity to markets, highways and railroads. There's also space. Kalamazoo, Morris told commissioners, is built-out. "That's good news for us," Morris said.

Among the downsides, the pending closure of the Palisades nuclear plant with the resulting layoffs.

The Economic Development Improvement Plan has four major recommendations. They are:

• Identifying and retaining qualified workforce talent.

• Expanding the freight rail system.

• Improving the county's housing stock.

• Seeking grants to improve internet service to rural areas.

In other matters, commissioners formally adopted the 2019-20 general fund budget, which begins Oct. 1.

Revenues and expenditures are balanced at $24,049,140 with a projected fund balance of $6,532,980 at the end of the fiscal year.





9.9.19

Photos by Tom Renner
In the photo above, volunteers grills hamburgers and hots for the picnic served during the Back to School Community Fun Day at Elkenburg Park. In the e photo below, Fun Day participants get acquainted with a K9 officer from the South Haven Police Department.

Back to School Fun Day attracts a crowd

By BECKY KARK

Editor and general manager

More than 100 South Haven area youth started the school year with a brand new backpack full of supplies thanks to the Back to School Community Fun Day / Book Bag Giveaway at Elkenburg Park.

Now in its 20th year, the event occurred two weeks prior to the start of school to give kids one more chance to have some last-minute summer fun and gear up for school at the same time.

“We had around 150 students and adults attend this year,” said Pastor Joe Wilkins of Resurrection Life Ministries. Wilkins, his wife Letitia and the South Haven Police Department, under the direction of Chief Natalie Thompson, all played key roles in organizing the annual event.

In addition to giving away backpacks, organizers and sponsors also set up games, and prepared hot dogs, hamburgers, chips, cookies, ice cream, snow cones and drinks for participants to enjoy.

Organizers also raffled off six bikes, four Visa Cards, and a children's lounge chair, all donated by local businesses.

Over the years, Wilkins and Resurrection Life Ministries have played a key role in ensuring the Back to School Fun Day takes place.

“The first event was held in August 1999,” said Wilkins, who's been involved with the fun day since its inception.

Wilkins takes pride in how many backpacks have been given away over the years at the fun day — 2,700.

The event wouldn't be possible, he said, without the support of businesses, organizations and volunteers, notably Palisades Nuclear Power Plant and South Haven Police Department. Other sponsors this year included A&D One Stop, Clementine's restaurant, Country House Furniture, Do-It Corp., Don Woodhams Ford, Filbrandt Family Funeral Home, Sherman's Dairy Bar, South Haven Insurance, South Haven McDonald's, South Haven Walmart and Wilt Sicard Car Company.

More improvements mean higher slip fees at Black River Park marina

By BECKY KARK

Editor and general manager

If you want to dock your boat for the 2020 summer season at Black River Park, expect to pay more to do so.

For the first time since 2015, South Haven will be increasing seasonal rates for the 24- and 30-foot docks. City council did so, Monday, after receiving a recommendation from the Harbor Commission.

“In the past two years, many projects have been completed at Black River Park such as the restroom renovation project, 5 new skid/launch piers, new fish cleaning station, and new landscaping,” Harbor Master and Assistant City Manager Kate Hosier explained in a memo to city council members. “There are more improvements needed at this facility and an increase in the slip fees will help fund those projects as well as any unforeseen repairs due to high water.”

Seasonal rates for 24-foot docks will increase in 2020 from $1,690 to $1,872 for a $182 hike, while 30-foot dock rates will go up from $1,910 to $2,250 for a $340 increase.

Transient docking fees are also expected to increase at the city's North and South Side marinas, the Michigan Maritime Museum marina and Black River Park marina. However, those rates first have to be set and approved through the Michigan Waterways Commission.

“The rates were to be considered at the August meeting of the Waterways Commission however the meeting was cancelled,” Hosier explained. “It is anticipated that the rates will be changing.”

The harbor commission recommended the increase in transient slip fees for the same reason as it did for seasonal slips.

The city, Hosier noted, has steadily added amenities and services at those marinas, including upgraded electric facilities, free WiFi service and staff training.

In addition to increasing seasonal docking fees at Black River Park, council members approved a resolution that requires all seasonal slip renters at all of the city-owned marina sign a new contract that stipulates rules they must follow. Seasonal boat owners must now make deposits by Oct. 15 and pay the balance by Jan. 15 rather than Nov. 15 and Feb. 15.

Other changes include electrical checkups and inspections to determine whether boats are leaking any amperage, the use of marine-grade electric cords and adaptors and ensuring vessels are seaworthy and operational under their own power.

Granholm set to speak in South Haven

As part of the 2019 Speaker Series of South Haven, former Governor Jennifer Granholm will speak on “Top Trends Affecting Michigan.” The program will begin at 7:30 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 19 at Listiak Auditorium in South Haven High School at 600 Le Grange Street. Due to the anticipated high number of attendees, the usual reception preceding the talk will not be held.

Admission is $10 with students, educators, and clergy admitted free. Tickets will be available at the door.

Since leaving office in 2011 Granholm has been involved a number of projects such job growth in clean energy, information technology, sustainability, climate change, and the development of public policy. Paired with her eight years experience as governor and four as attorney general, Granholm’s perspective will pose a compelling look at Michigan’s future.

She currently serves on the faculty at UC Berkeley teaching courses in law and public policy, and is a Senior Research Fellow at the Center for Information Technology Research in the Interest of Society, and the California Institute on Energy and the Environment. She is chair of the American Jobs Project, a multi-university research initiative focused on state-based policies to create jobs in clean energy, and does research in the subjects of artificial intelligence, employment and automation. She also serves as a senior contributor to CNN.

Granholm is also the Managing Partner for the Sustainability Group of Ridge-Lane, LLC, is the CEO of Granholm Mulhern Associates, and serves on several boards of companies and nonprofits. A senior contributor to CNN, she is also the co-author of the political bestseller, “A Governor’s Story: The Fight for Jobs and America’s Economic Future.”

Governor of Michigan from 2003 to 2011, Granholm pioneered clean energy innovation, economic development, and led the state through the national crisis in the turn-around of the American automotive and manufacturing sectors. During her terms, the state attracted almost 4,000 companies and Site Selection magazine repeatedly named Michigan as one of the top three states in the nation for business locations or expansions. Under her leadership, Michigan was twice recognized by The Pew Center on the States as one of the best-managed states in the nation. 

For its final 2019 event the Speaker Series will host Social Psychologist David Meyer, Oct. 17, at Listiak Auditorium. His topic “Smart Thinking in A Post Truth Age” will address dealing with false beliefs and fake news.





9.3.19

Ripening Gala apples are shown on an apple tree near Paw Paw. The Gala harvest is expected to peak in mid-September. (Photo courtesy of Mark Longstroth)

Late bloom, late harvest

Cold, wet spring delays apple harvest a week

By BECKY KARK

Editor and general manager

“About average.”

That's how Michigan apple crop is being described this year.

“The Michigan crop should be around 26 million bushels,” said Mark Longstroth, fruit educator for Van Buren County MSU Extension in Paw Paw.

He's not far off the mark. Last week the United States Department of Agriculture released its official outlook for the apple harvest and pegged Michigan's at 25.25 million bushels, on par with the state's average of 25.2 million harvested bushels.

“July was the hottest month this summer, and paired with the cool, rainy spring, both seasons provided favorable weather conditions for growing apples,” said Diane Smith, executive director of the Michigan Apple Committee. “Good quality, size, and the anticipation of a full crop point to numerous retail opportunities this year.”

In Michigan, there are more than 11.3 million apple trees in commercial production, covering 35,500 acres on 825 family-run farms in Michigan.

Closer to home in Southwest Michigan 7,300 acres of apples are grown on 196 farms, according to Longstroth.

“The apple acreage in Southwest Michigan has been shrinking as is the apple acreage in all Michigan,” Longstroth said, however, he went on to say, “yields have increased so that the total production of apples has been maintained.”

Over 2,000 acres of Red Delicious apples are grown in Southwest Michigan, making it the most popular one with growers, followed by Golden Delicious, 1,500 acres; Jonathan, 915 acres; Gala, 900 acres; Rome, 490 acres; Empire, 436; acres and Honeycrisp, 415 acres.

“Many of the apples in Southwest Michigan are grown for processing uses in juice, apple sauce and apple slices,” Longstroth said.

If you're hoping to find fresh, picked apples in stores and at farmer markets this month, it looks like you'll have to wait a little longer.

“We had a wet cold spring and a late bloom,” Longstroth said. “The apple harvest will be about a week later than normal.”

Harvesting of the first varieties is expected to begin around Sept. 20.

“McIntosh, Gala and Honeycrisp are the first major apple varieties harvested,” Longstroth said.

The wet spring Southwest Michigan experienced did cause some disease issues for growers, but they're dealing with it.

“We have disease problems due to the wet spring, but the growers have done a good job and the crop looks good and quality looks good,” said Longstroth, who routinely visits farms throughout the region. “The cool weather forecast will lead to good color development.”

Reverse

Nude murals will remain after all in Van Buren County courthouse

By ROD SMITH

For the Tribune

PAW PAW — It was standing room only as a crowd watched Van Buren County commissioners Tuesday vote 6-1 to reject a resolution to cover up two paintings in the county courthouse.

Two weeks ago commissioners had agreed to cover the paintings, which show bare-breasted women, after courthouse judges requested they be removed or covered.

But Tuesday, people came forward and demanded the paintings remain in public view for reasons of art and history.

Tina Streich, of Paw Paw, told commissioners she had a petition with 1,440 signatures asking the paintings be left alone. "We're very passionate about preserving our history here in Paw Paw," Streich said.

She read several comments from the petition that said art should not be censored and asking for a referendum on the question.

The painting in the courthouse stairwell is thought to depict the Athena, the Greek goddess of wisdom and war, bare-breasted, with a sword in front of her. In Greek legend, Athena sprang from the God Zeus's head. The Athena painting was created by Paw Paw-born artist Frank Lewis Van Ness (1865-1944).

The other painting in the courtroom shows a bare-breasted woman and a bent over man in shackles bowing to a God-like person holding a sword.

Chief Judge Kathleen Brickley, who opposed keeping the paintings uncovered, said they could further traumatize people in court proceedings who are victims of domestic violence or child sexual assault.

"Depictions of violence such as beheadings and spearing risk traumatizing them," Brickley said.

The nudity may also be a trigger since child sexual assault victims are often sexualized. "None of us should underestimate the power of trauma and the danger of trauma triggers," Brickley said.

The judges' suggestions was to move them elsewhere.

However, at the last meeting County Administrator John Faul said the paintings can't be moved without destroying them.

Retired county clerk and current Hamilton Township Clerk Tina Leary said she had worked in the courthouse for 33 years. Not a week, she said, would go by without someone commenting on the beauty of the courthouse. They considered other courthouses sterile-looking.

"Not once in many years at the county was there a complaint or concern expressed to me about the inappropriateness of the murals," Leary said.

Ryan Gilbert, secretary of the Van Buren County Republican Party, said the local party voted against the idea of covering the murals since they were from a different time and not intended to offend. Covering them would be a from of censorship.

"This artwork has been a part of our courthouse for over a century," Gilbert said, adding the original artist still has family in the area.

Most of the other citizens who spoke favored leaving the murals as is.

When commissioners began discussing the resolution most of them said all or most of the constituents they had spoken to about the murals were in favor of leaving them uncovered.

The lone exception was Commissioner Gail Patterson-Gladney, who had the opposite experience. All but one woman agreed with the judges.

"They respected what the judges' point of view was," Patterson-Gladney said.

"I respect art, too," Patterson-Gladney said, "but I would say that this situation has two sides and I respect both sides, but I would, from my constituents, have to vote for the covering of them."

Patterson-Gladney was the only commissioner that voted in support of the resolution to cover the murals.



Grant benefits Scott Club's building project

Thanks to a local company and its foundation, the Scott Club will come one step closer to restoring the exterior of its historic landmark building in South Haven.

Albemarle Corp. has recently presented a $3,000 grant to the cultural organization for its exterior repair and painting project, which is scheduled to begin in the fall.

“This project is one of two major building-related initiatives for 2019 for the Scott Club and the funds from Albemarle are a major factor in being able to progress this project,” said Carol Kunze, a member of the club's grant committee. “The exterior painted surfaces of the building are literally peeling and this work will improve the appearance of the building and more importantly, protect the interior after associated repairs are completed.”

The Scott Club, which has been in existence since the late 1800s, owns and maintains its historic building at the corner of Pearl and Phoenix streets. Built in 1893, the building is a designated Michigan Historic Site and is well known for its two large stained-glass windows that show images of literary greats Sir Walter Scott and Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.

“The organization is committed to preserving this Michigan Historic Site as an important part of South Haven history and a beautiful venue for the community to enjoy,” Kunze said.

The Scott Club provides approximately 20 educational and entertainment program each year and hosts community-focused events including a soup luncheon and breakfast with Santa.





8.26.19

Bob Filbrandt of South Haven begins the process of cleaning fish at South Haven's new fish-cleaning station in Black River Park. (Photo by Tom Renner)

Plenty of room at the fish cleaning station

New $300,000 station opens at Black River Park

By BECKY KARK

Editor and general manager

It took several years, but South Haven finally has a new fish-cleaning station at Black River Park.

The station, which cost $300,000 to build, is now open to anglers.

“With its several miles on the Black River and direct access to the Lake Michigan fishery, the City of South Haven has a long history of supporting recreational opportunities for anglers,” stated Kate Hosier, assistant city manager and harbormaster. “This project creates not only one of the nicest fish cleaning facilities along the shores of Lake Michigan, but one that is free to use by both our residents and visitors alike.”

The station, which is modeled after a similar one in St. Joseph, has eight cleaning tables, two of which are ADA accessible. It is built of masonry and steel to allow for easy movement around the tables and a flow of air through the station to alleviate potential smells. All water lines will feed from the ceiling allowing easier use and control of spray, and each of the main tables is equipped with large sewer grinders to grind fish scales and other remains directly into the city's sewage system. There's also power cords for knives that feed each table from above, a fish scaler and a cooler-cleaning station.

The previous fish-cleaning station was located in a section of the park where people have to pay to park in order to access the public boat launch. However, the new station can be accessed from a no-fee parking area.

The city secured a $150,000 grant from the Great Lakes Fishery Trust Fund earlier this year to offset the cost of the project. Several years ago, the city tried to land a $250,000 grant for a fish-cleaning station, but was unable to do so. Last year, city officials scaled back the project a bit and were successful in obtaining the $150,000 grant.

The city's match will be paid for from the city's parks and marina funds, which are funded through user fees.

The fish cleaning station is part of several improvements that have either taken place or are envisioned for Black River Park, which is located on the city's north side along Dunkley Avenue.

“Beginning four years ago, master planning work began for the development of a long-term vision for Black River Park,” Hosier said. “Over the past few years the city has made improvements to increase access to the local fishery for people of all abilities,” Hosier said.

Those Improvements include new skid piers, a universally accessible kayak/canoe launch and a fully accessible shoreline fishing platform.

SH principal named superintendent of Iron Mountain Schools

By BECKY KARK

Editor and general manager

The start of a new school year will bring some administrative changes for South Haven Public Schools.

After five years as principal at South Haven High School, Jerry Sardina will be returning to the Upper Peninsula to become superintendent of Iron Mountain Public Schools, while Lincoln Elementary Principal Bennett Tyler has accepted a principal's position at Wayne-Westland Public Schools in the Detroit metro area.

Both administrators are moving to be closer to their families, according to South Haven Schools Superintendent Kevin Schooley.

“I am happy for Jerry. There's a lot of family for them in the Iron Mountain area. Again, with Bennett, that (southeast Michigan) is where he and his wife are from and with four youngsters, they are looking to be near their family as well.”

South Haven Board of Education President Laura Bos agreed.

“We will very much miss Jerry. But we know this is a good career move for him.”

Schooley posted Sardina's position Wednesday and expects to make a decision for choosing an interim principal by the end of this week.

“We do have our assistant principal (Ryan Williamson) and dean of students (Doug Thorne) still in place and Jerry will remain here for at least a couple of weeks,” Schooley said.

Sardina said he has enjoyed his time being principal at South Haven High School.

“I am very thankful for South Haven Public Schools. South Haven came at a perfect time for me professionally and for my family on a personal level.  I have been very fortunate to have the opportunity to work with two very supportive superintendents. To simply say thank you to both Dr. Herrera and Kevin Schooley seems silly because it doesn't even begin to express the gratitude I have to both of these people for the influence they have had in my career, but I would like for them to know they not only made a difference in students lives, they made a difference in mine and helped me get to this next step in my career. 

“Lastly, I would like to thank the high school community. The past 5 years have been a great experience and together we moved the building forward and have raised the bar for our students and families we serve. We have implemented a lot of change over the years, and the teachers and staff have responded in an excellent way. I feel the high school is at a great spot for the transitioning in of a new building leader. I have the utmost respect for this group, will never forget my time with them, and thank them for their support along the way.”

Tyler resigned earlier this month. District officials will accept resumes for his position until Friday and then being scheduling interviews.

Iron Mountain's Board of Education, Monday, unanimously voted to select Sardina as superintendent.

According to the Iron Mountain Daily News, school board members chose Sardina from 17 candidates. During Monday's meeting, the board interviewed Sardina and one other finalist, Bruce Tapio, former North Central Schools superintendent.

Prior to coming to South Haven, Sardina had been principal and athletic director at Stephenson Middle/High School in Menominee County four years, and assistant principal there three years before that.

He has a master's degree in education administration and supervision from Northern Michigan University, and worked in law enforcement for 13 years before switching to education. He and his wife have three children.

Tyler also spent five years in South Haven as Lincoln School's principal. Prior to coming to South Haven, Tyler taught fourth grade for seven years at West Bloomfield's Sheiko Elementary School, and before that taught in Northville and Livonia. He has a master's degree in educational leadership from the University of Michigan.

Coming soon

MDOT gives green light for BL-196 lane diet to proceed

By BECKY KARK

Editor and general manager

It looks like a portion of Business Loop I-196 will be going on a diet after all.

City officials announced this week that the Michigan Department of Transportation has OK'd reducing the number of lanes on sections of Broadway and Lagrange streets from five to three lanes.

Officials expect work to begin sometime in September.

“I anticipate it will be complete by Oct. 16,” Department of Public Works Director Bill Hunter said.

When restriping of the roadway is finished from Phoenix to Aylworth streets, there will be three lanes, bicycle paths on each side and more markings and signage for pedestrian crossings.

The intent of the lane diet is to make the roadway safer for bicyclists and for pedestrians to cross, especially South Haven High School students and other city residents who live east of the business loop.

“This project is all about trying to ensure young people have the safest route possible,” City Manager Brian Dissette said in a previous interview. “Having three lanes of traffic is safer than having five lanes.”

City officials had hoped to begin the lane diet earlier this year, but had to wait for MDOT, which owns the roadway, to give final approval.

In July, officials worried MDOT would turn down the proposed diet plan. As it turns out MDOT wanted assurances that a majority of property owners along the business loop favored the idea.

“Part of the holdup was our open house,” Hunter said referring to the open house the city held in October 2018 to gather input from property owners. Even though city officials told MDOT there were no objections expressed during the open house, state officials weren't convinced.

“They wanted proof and minutes of the open house,” Hunter said. However, because the open house wasn't an official government meeting, minutes weren't kept.

“They did accept us putting together editorial,” Hunter went on to say.

The road diet along the business loop will be the second one in South Haven.

In 2008, MDOT approved a reduction of lanes on the M-43 corridor from four to three and the creation of bike paths along either side.



8.19.19

Bishop Dorothy Sherrod is shown with several boards that tell the history of prominent blacks that once lived in South Haven and the contributions they made over the years to the community. Sherrod and several other people from the Black History Leadership Society have compiled biographical information about South Haven area blacks into a book that will be on display at the Community Picnic, Aug. 25.

Making a difference

Community picnic focuses on contributions local blacks have made to South Haven

By BECKY KARK

Editor and general manager

Bev Brown didn't know what to expect last year when South Haven's Ward 1 Community Action Committee decided to host a community picnic at Elkenburg Park.

“I thought we'd be lucky if we got 40 people. We ended up with 400,” she recalled, laughing.

The success of last year's event spurred the committee to turn the picnic into an annual event, which they hope will be bigger and better than last year.

The 2^nd annual Community Picnic is scheduled from 6 p.m.-8 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 25, at Elkenburg Park, corner of Elkenburg and Kalamazoo streets. The rain date will be Tuesday, Aug. 27 at the same time.

“Over 15 groups are helping to provide fun, food and pride in our diverse heritage,” Brown said.

“The meat is provided and all are asked to bring a dish to pass and a lawn chair. But all are invited even if you don't feel like cooking.”

This year's event will include activities for children and musical entertainment, but it will be slightly different in that the history and contributions of South Haven's black community will be included as part of the city's 150^th anniversary celebration.

“It (the picnic) will highlight the positive impact African Americans have made in the community,”Brown said. “There will be displays, photographs and memorabilia collected from private citizens, the black churches and the Black Leadership Society.”

Blacks began settling in the South Haven area following the Civil War. However, very little historical information about the contributions they have made has been compiled. Until now.

Bishop Dorothy Sherrod and several other longtime South Haven residents have been busy compiling information into a book that recounts the lives of prominent blacks from South Haven and the organizations they have formed over the years.

The book will be on display at the picnic.

“This has been years and years in the making,” Sherrod said referring to the book that chronicles the lives of blacks in the South Haven area who have been honored over the years by the Black Leadership Society. Sherrod, Myrna Llorens, and Beth Keithly all gathered information for the biographies. They also received assistance from the Historical Association of South Haven.

Some of the people included in the book are the late William Roscoe Pearson Sr., who in 1969 became the first black person to be named to the South Haven City Council. He, along with Kenneth Holland and Horace Arrington played an instrumental role in the creation of Elkenburg Park. Another person included in the book, Virginia Allison, became the first black nurse to work in the operating room at South Haven Community Hospital, while Mae Howell ran a successful women's apparel store, Mae's Dress Shoppe in Chicago for 23 years before moving to South Haven to open another dress shop that thrived for 11 years until she retired due to health reasons.

“Mae dressed the first black Miss South Haven,” Sherrod recalled.

The book also includes blacks who served in World War II and pastors who started churches in South Haven and the surrounding area, including Ray and Hulda Brown, who started the first black church in South Haven, Church of the Living God, in 1923. It now has become Emmanuel Community Church. The book also recounts the accomplishments of black school principals, business owners, doctors, musicians, political activists and community leaders.

“These are stories about the black community that need to be told and haven't,” Sherrod said. “South Haven's history is rich with the contributions of numerous African-Americans. The photographs and narratives included in the book highlight a small but meaningful representation of these prominent members of our community.”

While people peruse the black history display and eat their picnic dinner, several groups will be offering activities for picnickers to enjoy.

Youth Development Corp. and the Boys and Girls Club will offer games for children, while the South Haven Center for the Arts and Liberty Hyde Bailey Museum will coordinate art projects. Foundry Hall cultural arts organization will lead the musical entertainment, while in a flashback to the past, South Haven Area Emergency Services will demonstrate a “bucket brigade.”

Larry King is shown with Sarah Jelsomeno at University of Michigan Medical Center in Ann Arbor where he underwent a kidney transplant after Jelsomeno agreed to donate one of hers. 

After all, what are friends for?

Bloomingdale woman donates kidney to South Haven man

By KIM INGALLS

For the Tribune

When Sarah Jelsomeno learned through social media that long-time acquaintance Larry King of South Haven needed a kidney transplant, she made a decision that would change King’s life.

She decided to become a donor.

Jelsomeno, who lives in Bloomingdale, met Larry King and his wife Trish through mutual friends while working in South Haven seven years ago.

She was surprised to hear of Larry's plight.

“I first learned of Larry’s issues via social media, Facebook with Trish’s updates on his illness, and I saw the previous (South Haven Tribune) article written about him.”

Larry was diagnosed with kidney disease about eight years ago and earlier this year was put on the transplant list. At the time, he did not need dialysis, but it looked like he was headed that way.

“We are not at the dialysis point yet but the port has been placed and the home inspection has been done so we are prepared when this day comes,” said Trish, in the Tribune article that ran in January. “Thankfully he qualified to be at home and can do this at night as he sleeps. They prefer for his sake that we try to find a match before the dialysis has to happen.” 

The average waiting time for an individual’s first kidney transplant can be over three years, according to the National Kidney Foundation, so when the couple received the good news that a live donor had been found, you can imagine how happy they were.

"There were several people working through the U of M protocols," Larry explained. "They had either seen the Tribune article or read the Facebook post about my condition. U of M works four potential donors at a time via a team totally independent of the patient team. So the only way I knew anything was when a donor would share that information."

If it weren’t for Trish’s updates on his condition, Larry might still be waiting.

“When I learned of Larry’s need, I began inquiring how to become his potential donor,”Jelsomeno said.  “My family wasn’t really surprised at my decision to do this, they supported me fully and encouraged me throughout the entire process.”

“Sarah was great about sharing her status as she worked through the program,” Larry said. “Those updates always left me feeling upbeat and hopeful. She knew about a week before I received the call from U of M so it was exciting to get the news from her.”

Once the Kings got confirmation, it was a matter of scheduling leave from work, applying for short term disability, planning for upkeep of the house and dog, booking lodging before the surgery and finding a place for Trish to stay during his recovery.

On Wednesday, June 24, King's wait was over - it was time for surgery and to receive the ultimate gift - a new kidney.

"We had to be there ( U of M) at 5:30 in the morning and were able to have prep areas right next to each other," King recalled. "That made for a lot of giggles. My surgery was just over five hours and then four hours in post-op. I don’t remember much until late that night and the next day. They had me up walking the next day. The more you walk the quicker the body begins to recover."

The road to recovery for King will take a few months, but, he's already noticed a difference in how he feels.

"I won’t fully recover from the surgery until December," he said. "Until then I have weight lifting restrictions and am waiting for anemia from the kidney disease to clear. Lifelong, I will take anti -rejection medication that brings about its own challenges. There are food restrictions against grapefruit, mango, pomegranate and pomelo. I have to be extra cautious around people with colds or flu. I’m encouraged not to eat salads out, from buffet bars, raw oysters, undercooked meats or vegetables and fruits that haven’t been properly washed. That being said I started feeling better within 24 hours of surgery and feel great today. "

While Sarah’s road to recuperation will be quicker, it hasn’t been easy.

“My recovery has been a lot more daunting that I imagined,” she said. “ I’ve always bounced back quickly from surgeries and expected this one to be the same. It was not, it humbled me and it hurt. I still ache and really have to pace myself, which I’m not good at, at all, and have to remind myself to be patient with myself. I’m still caring for a stubborn part of my incision that is slow to heal, as well.” But she added, “I would do it again in a heartbeat.”

Together the two now have a life-long bond that Larry will forever be thankful for.

“I am grateful and amazed everyday for Sarah’s generous and life-saving donation,” King said. “ I had no idea how sick I really was until after the transplant. Live donation not only saves lives it helps people lead happy, healthy and productive lives. It’s also far less expensive than a life of dialysis and disability. I would strongly encourage people to consider it. Knowing what I know today I would be a live donor and if I should pass and have suitable organs, I am a deceased donor.”



Conservancy takes steps to protect preserve

By TRIBUNE STAFF

GLENN — Preserving a preserve is no easy task.

Just ask Mitch Lettow, stewardship director for the Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy.

Lettow and his staff have been studying the diverse landscape at the 365-acre Wau-Ke-Na Preserve in Glenn to determine the best way to ensure the long-term health of its forests and fields.

What they're discovering is that some of the trees that have been planted over the years are being threatened by invasive species, such as the Emerald ash-borer.

“In the next several years, we will begin changes to Wau-Ke-Na's forests and fields that are part of a forward-looking, practical and multi-faceted approach to forest management,” Lettow said.

“This spectacular property was donated by the late William Erby Smith, whose intent was to keep the ecosystems on the preserve healthy for wildlife and for visitors for future generations.”

Over the years, Wau-Ke-Na and the land surrounding it have experienced many changes as a result of logging, farming, invasive species, tree diseases,and human settlement, in general, according to Lettow.

In the 1800s, land surveyor notes indicate that Wau-Ke-Na had many ash trees, along with other species like American elm, American beech and Eastern hemlock. After European settlement, logging occurred, land was farmed and developed, orchards dotted the lakeshore, and tree diversity in the region changed as certain species were favored over others for harvest and for clearing. Ash trees took over much of the newly-cleared landscape.

But those trees are under siege by the invasive ash borer.

“Fast-forward 150 years to the present day and the introduction of the invasive Emerald ash-borer, and the landscape around Wau-Ke-Na, filled with mature ash trees, is a veritable all-you-can-eat buffet for these tiny beetles,” Lettow said. “As a result, Wau-Ke-Na has lost all of its mature ash trees over the last several years. Similarly, 50 years ago, a wave of tree mortality in the form of Dutch elm disease destroyed most American elm trees in the region.”

Looking forward, yet another invasive forest pest, Hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA), is poised to move into the area from its current epicenter in Ottawa and Muskegon counties, threatening the hemlock forests that characterize parts of the lakeshore landscape around Wau-Ke-Na.

To protect the health of Wau-Ke-Na's landscape, the land conservancy plans to take a three-pronged approach.

• To avoid devastation that occurs when an invasive species wipes out a native species that dominates the preserve, the conservancy wants to have as much species diversity as possible when restoring a habitat so that if one species is lost, many others will be there to take its place.

• The conservancy is taking steps to make sure it is prepared for the Hemlock wooly adelgid and beech bark disease. The conservancy is taking pre-emptive action by conducting preventative injections into Wau-Ke-Na's hemlock trees and monitoring them.

• Knowing which tree species have been largely lost, and which ones are likely to face future invasive species challenges, the conservancy is selecting a variety of tree species to replant in Wau-Ke-Na’s forests that will have the best chance of surviving future conditions. On the south tract, the conservancy will replant former ash forests with a diversity of native tree species, along with removing some of the overgrown non-native “Christmas trees” in grassland restoration areas. On the north tract, the conservancy will plant new forests from the ground up near the parking and entrance areas to find a long-term replacement for the diseased and dying Douglas firs, which are better suited to the Pacific Northwest than the Lake Michigan shoreline.

“All of this work to preserve and restore Wau-Ke-Na’s forests is part of managing an evolving preserve under changing conditions,” Lettow said. “We are excited to employ all of these approaches simultaneously to help ensure that the diverse landscape at Wau-Ke-Na remains healthy for generations to come.”





8.13.19

The American Legion Post 49's Veterans Memorial Wall can be seen on Water Street in South Haven. (Photo by Becky Kark)

American Legion pays off $360,000 debt for Veterans Memorial Wall

By BECKY KARK

Editor and general manager

It used to be common for homeowners to celebrate paying off their home mortgages by throwing a mortgage-burning ceremony.

That tradition will be re-lived in a big way, Sunday, Aug. 18, when the American Legion Post 49 throws a party to celebrate paying off a $360,000 debt for construction of its outdoor Veterans Memorial Wall.

The event will begin at 1 p.m. at the Legion, 129 Michigan Ave. The mortgage burning ceremony will then follow at 1:30 p.m. with keynote remarks by former Sen. Tonya Schuitmaker. Musical entertainment and food will then be offered.

The stone retaining wall, spans two blocks along Water Street, and serves as a protection for the legion hall and property that sits atop a hill on Michigan Avenue, overlooking South Haven's harbor.

The Veterans Memorial Wall is an attractive part of the landscape that people can view while on their way to and from South Beach, but, it came at a steep price for the Legion, who had to take out a mortgage on their hall and property to help finance the project, initially.

It took legion members eight years to pay off the debt for the wall, according to Linda Teeter, who began chairing the Legion's fund raising committee in 2018.

“The saying 'It Takes a Village' fits for the Post,” she said. “Everyone worked together with the sole purpose to retire the debt so that they could provide more services to veterans and their families.”

By 2018, Post members had whittled the debt down to $130,000 through a donor program and with a series of fundraisers, pizza nights, and other special meals.

The City of South Haven, this year, kicked in $18,000 for public improvements made to the property and then, the icing on the cake, so to speak, came through in the form of an $85,000 state grant sponsored in 2018 by then Sen. Tonya Schuitmaker.

A retaining wall had always been in place on the Legion's property, however, by 2010 it became obvious it needed to be replaced.

“The entire embankment collapsed in late 2010,” Teeter said.

South Haven salutes veterans and first responders

By KIM INGALLS

For the Tribune

A weekend full of activities is in store for area veterans during South Haven's 8th annual Salute to Veterans and First Responders.

The event will start on Friday, Aug. 16 with a Veterans Service at 6 p.m. at the Star of the Lake Masonic Lodge, 321 Center St. Admission is free and casual attire is encouraged. The lodge will be open to the public during the service.

On Saturday, South Haven Steelheaders will team up with Operation Injured Soldiers to take veterans out onto Lake Michigan for a morning of fishing. When that is done, they will gather at 11:45 a.m. at the pier heads for a noon boat parade up the channel. Members of the U.S. Coast Guard, the Michigan Maritime Museum and the South Haven High School marching band will all be on hand to greet the veterans. As the veterans move along the channel toward the harbor, they will receive a 21-gun salute by the American Legion Post 49 and a fly-over by the Hooligan's Flight Team. 

“There will be 66 veterans and four first responders going out on 32 boats,” said Bruce Thatcher, co-organizer of the event. “It will be mostly Steelheaders, including members of the Battle Creek chapter and their boats, along with some charter boats.”

Seven-time American Legion Post 49 commander Stan Wakild will serve as grand marshal. Wakild, according to Thatcher, has served in the U.S Army, Air Force and Coast Guard. He also was a South Haven Police Officer, South Haven Fire Department chief and worked as a part-time Van Buren County Sheriff's Department deputy.

The public is encouraged to bring flags and line the north and south piers to greet parade participants.

New this year is a vendor fair in Riverfront Park. Veteran-owned businesses, along with non-profits like the American Red Cross, will have booths set up all day Saturday, starting at 10 a.m.

Sunday's activities will start at the American Legion Post 49 for a breakfast that is open to the public. Cost is $9. Then at 1 p.m., the legion will celebrate paying off its mortgage with a mortgage-burning ceremony. Food and music will be available. 

All weekend, the Michigan Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall at the legion will be open to the public from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.  The 26-foot-long wall honors the 2,665 Michigan soldiers who died while serving in the Vietnam War.



8.9.19

SH voters to decide whether to allow cannabis businesses in town

By BECKY KARK

Editor and general manager

Let the voters decide.

That's the consensus of South Haven City Council members who have decided to let local residents determine whether to ban recreational marijuana businesses within the city limits.

Council voted 6-1, Monday, to put a citizen-initiated ordinance on the November ballot. If approved no recreational cannabis retail shops, grow operations, processing and distribution facilities, or testing plants would be allowed to locate in South Haven.

The proposed ordinance made it to the council's hands, Monday, courtesy of the group, Concerned Citizens of South Haven, who gathered enough signatures -128 - on a petition to put the proposed ordinance in front of city council for its consideration.

Council members had several options — approve the ordinance, reject it, or send it to the voters.

The majority of council members thought the third option best.

“For us to say we will accept the petition and not go to the public, I think that's wrong,” said council member Joe Reeser. “So far, 128 people signed a petition. There's over 1,000 voting residents in this town. We would only be representing those 128 people if we were to vote on it tonight.”

Council members also pointed out the planning commission has spent the last six months crafting an ordinance designating which medical and recreational cannabis-related businesses can locate in town and where they can set up shop.

The proposed ordinance developed by the planners is now in front of the city council, who had planned to consider it either this month or in September.

Now however, it looks like they'll be waiting to see what voters will do in November.

One business owner who would like to start a cannabis testing lab in town, expressed his frustration regarding the petition and the city council's decision in February to opt out of the new state law legalizing recreational marijuana businesses, while studying whether to allow them or not.

“You've already hindered us from expanding,” Scott Wall, president of New Age Laboratories told the council. New Age Laboratories currently tests agricultural products throughout Southwest Michigan. Wall wants to add cannabis testing by obtaining a safety compliance license from the state, but can't because the city has temporarily banned recreational marijuana businesses.

“The fact we have delayed this has cost me a significant amount of money,” Wall said. “It's stopped me from being able to apply for a safety compliance license.”

Even though the city has a temporary ban on medical and recreational pot businesses, and is now letting voters determine whether to allow them or not, there may be a ray of hope for Wall.

“It is my hope we get the laboratory piece approved. Sooner rather than later,” Mayor Scott Smith said regarding the five types of cannabis-related businesses that could potentially locate in South Haven. “You're a business losing revenue.”

Municipalities throughout Michigan have until the end of this year to decide whether they want to allow or ban recreational marijuana businesses. Those who don't make a decision will automatically opt in to the new law.

If South Haven city voters turn down the proposed ordinance, city council could conceivably lift the temporary ban and allow businesses to locate in town. However, if voters approve the ordinance, the city would have to wait at least a year before determining whether to revisit the issue of whether to allow marijuana facilities, according to City Attorney Nick Curcio.

“If passed the ordinance would have to be in place for at least a year, per city charter,” he said.

Another interesting caveat is that the citizen-led proposed ordinance only addresses recreational marijuana businesses, not medical marijuana businesses.

Free is good

South Haven Schools makes meals available, free of charge, to all students for 2019-20 school year

By BECKY KARK

Editor and general manager

South Haven Public Schools students who forget their lunch money, won't have to worry about going hungry for the day.

Starting this fall, all students in the school district can eat lunch and breakfast free of charge.

The school district can do so because more students now qualify for free meals under the National School Lunch Program's Community Eligibility Provision (CEP).

The provision is a non-pricing meal service option offered for school districts in low-income areas.

The government reimburses schools for breakfasts and lunches using a formula based on the percentage of students that qualify for free meals.

“The data is provided to us by Michigan Department of Education as an averaged percentage for each school, which then allows us to evaluate if it is a viable option for our schools, explained South Haven Public Schools Food Service Director June Altom. “School meals are reimbursed using that calculated percentage, which for South Haven will mean that 860-870 meals out of 1000, will be reimbursed at the free rate - $3.37 for lunch and $1.97 for breakfast - and the remaining 130-140 meals will be reimbursed at the paid rate, which is 31 cents for breakfast and 37 cents for lunch.”

The program became available for schools nationwide during the 2014-15 school year. South Haven implemented the program in 2015 with a limited number of schools.

The first schools were Lincoln, Maple Grove and North Shore elementary schools. Last year, the Board of Education decided to add Baseline Middle School and the South Haven Alliance campus. Earlier this month, the board members voted to extend the program to the high school, effectively ensuring that all students can eat meals for free for the 2019-20 school year.

“With more students able to get a free meal, we should see an increase in participation at the high school, which in turn will increase our reimbursements,” Altom said. “(We) are required to be self-supporting so that we are not using funds from the school district that should be going into the classroom to support student achievement, so the financial health of the department is a major consideration. As always, we will monitor our financials to ensure that we remain financially sound, while offering this benefit to our families.”



7.30.19

And now the rest of the name

Workers get ready to finish painting the name "South Haven" on the recently painted 1 million-gallon water tower at the corner of Lovejoy and Kalamazoo streets. Repainting the tower was complicated by the fact that the original lead paint surface had to first be removed. (Photo by Tom Renner)

Two towns - same age

South Haven will share notes with Portland as part of Mayor's Exchange Day

By BECKY KARK

Editor and general manager

When South Haven city officials travel to Portland Aug. 16 for the annual Mayor's Exchange Day, they'll travel to a mid-Michigan town that has more in common with this lakeshore town than one might think.

Both cities are relatively the same size, with a similar population. Both have large downtown pavilions, waterfront access, recreational trails, and as it turns out, both are celebrating their 150th anniversaries this year.

“We haven’t done this for probably five years,” said Deb Davidson, communications director for South Haven, regarding the Mayor's Exchange Day.

The exchange day, sponsored by the Michigan Association of Mayors and Michigan Municipal League, is a voluntary annual event in which officials from similar size municipalities can visit with one another and see how each town serves its residents.

Because Portland just happens to be celebrating its Sesquicentennial, South Haven officials thought it might be a good idea this year to take part in the exchange.

“They reached out to us,” Davidson said.

“We are excited to host the City of South Haven in Portland on Friday, Aug. 16,” said Portland Clerk Nikki Miller.

Portland, located in Ionia County, has earned the names, “Cool City” and “Michigan Main Street Community,” in recent years from the Michigan Economic Development Corp and Pure Michigan. The town is situated at the confluence of the Grand and Looking Glass rivers, and is often referred to as “The City of Two Rivers.” Its highlights include a large downtown pavilion that can be enclosed during inclement weather and 10 miles of paved trails through and around town.

Portland officials have already put together an itinerary for South Haven city officials when they visit.

“They will visit Portland’s District Library, the hydroelectric dam and electric facility, the Red Mill Pavilion and Portland’s extensive Rivertrail Linear Park system, via golf carts,” Miller said. “We will also visit other Portland city facilities along with recent and ongoing development projects.”

South Haven officials will get the chance to roll out the welcome mat to Portland officials on Friday, Aug. 2.

While in town, Portland officials will tour the South Haven lighthouse, visit the Michigan Maritime Museum, sail on the Friends Good Will tall ship, each lunch at the North Side Marina and tour the city to visit the downtown, industrial parks, and municipal facilities, including the water filtration plant on South Beach.

South Haven Schools extends free breakfasts, lunches to all students for 2019-20 school year

By BECKY KARK

Editor and general manager

South Haven Public Schools students who forget their lunch money, won't have to worry about going hungry for the day.

Starting this fall, all students in the school district can eat lunch and breakfast free of charge.

The school district can do so because more students now qualify for free meals under the National School Lunch Program's Community Eligibility Provision (CEP).

The provision is a non-pricing meal service option offered for school districts in low-income areas.

The government reimburses schools for breakfasts and lunches using a formula based on the percentage of students that qualify for free meals.

“The data is provided to us by Michigan Department of Education as an averaged percentage for each school, which then allows us to evaluate if it is a viable option for our schools, explained South Haven Public Schools Food Service Director June Altom. “School meals are reimbursed using that calculated percentage, which for South Haven will mean that 860-870 meals out of 1000, will be reimbursed at the free rate - $3.37 for lunch and $1.97 for breakfast - and the remaining 130-140 meals will be reimbursed at the paid rate, which is 31 cents for breakfast and 37 cents for lunch.”

The program became available for schools nationwide during the 2014-15 school year. South Haven implemented the program in 2015 with a limited number of schools.

The first schools were Lincoln, Maple Grove and North Shore elementary schools. Last year, the Board of Education decided to add Baseline Middle School and the South Haven Alliance campus. Earlier this month, the board members voted to extend the program to the high school, effectively ensuring that all students can eat meals for free for the 2019-20 school year.

“With more students able to get a free meal, we should see an increase in participation at the high school, which in turn will increase our reimbursements,” Altom said. “(We) are required to be self-supporting so that we are not using funds from the school district that should be going into the classroom to support student achievement, so the financial health of the department is a major consideration. As always, we will monitor our financials to ensure that we remain financially sound, while offering this benefit to our families.”





7.24.19

First responders from South Haven Police Department and South Haven Area Emergency Services work together to pull a 21-year-old Plainwell man out of the water near South Pier, shortly after noon on Friday. The man had become exhausted dealing with the waves of Lake Michigan. (Photo by Tom Renner)

Two swimmers rescued from Lake Michigan

SH emergency personnel urge swimmers to abide by warning flags

By BECKY KARK

Editor and general manager

South Haven Police and South Haven Area Emergency Services have a strong word of advice for beachgoers who want to venture out into the waves of Lake Michigan when red flag warnings are up — stay out of the water.

Police closed off a portion of South Beach Friday afternoon after two people had to be rescued, averting what could have been two more drownings at the beach in less than a week.

The first incident occurred shortly after noon when South Haven Police and South Haven Area Emergency Services were called to the crowded beach in response to a call of a distressed 21-year-old swimmer by the South Pier who was not able to make it back to shore.

“He was out a little too far. He was dealing in big waves and got exhausted,” said Ron Wise, fire chief for SHAES. “Bystanders tried to throw life rings to him but he was out too far.”

With their life vests on, Wise and three South Haven Police officers took on the task of saving the Plainwell man. Wise jumped in the water with a life ring and rope. He swam out to the man, got ahold of him and then officers, Mike Knizewski, Kyle Griffith and Kevin VanBrussel pulled Wise and the swimmer back to the pier.

The second call of a distressed swimmer happened less than an hour later when a woman tried to rescue her three children from the water. The children were able to get out of the water, but A beach-goer nearby had to help the woman out.

Elizabeth Zwick of Jackson told first responders that she had been playing with her 3-year-old on the playground equipment at the beach when shes saw a person in distriess. Zwick said she went to her car and grabbed a life jacket. She swam out to the person in distress and got her to shore as emergency responders were arriving.

The woman who was rescued was suffering from exhaustion from fighting the waves and currents. “She had become exhausted,” Wise said. First responders took the woman to Bronson South Haven for treatment.

After the two rescues, police and SHAES cordoned off one large section of the beach next to the water as a warning to swimmers to stay out of the water. Police continued to keep up a strong presence at the beach throughout the afternoon.

“This is where the strongest currents are,” South Haven Police Chief Natalie Thompson said yesterday, regarding the area that was closed to swimmers.

Despite relief that the swimmers were able to be rescued, Wise said he gets frustrated when swimmers ignore the weather condition flags that are prominently displayed at South and North Beaches.

SHAES changed the flag colors from yellow to red at 9 a.m., Friday. Red means stay out of the water, yellow means use caution, and green means swimming conditions are OK.

“I told him (the swimmer from Plainwell) 'we hope you have a better understanding of red flags. You almost died,'” Wise said. “He was crying for help. He was just about to go under.”

Wise said he is a strong proponent of the beach flags.

“The success stories people don't see are the the people who do pay attention to the flags and stay out of the water,” he said.

Thompson agreed. “It's about respecting the water. I think the flags keep people out of the water, but as you can there's still people in it,” she said, gesturing to the swimming areas outside of the section of the beach police and fire units roped off.

A year ago, after SHAES and the police responded to a series of water rescues in which swimmers went into the water when they weren't supposed to, South Haven City Council passed an ordinance allowing SHAES to bill people up to $500 for expenses the two departments incur in rescuing them.

The Plainwell man who had to be rescued Friday by police and fire units will be receiving a $500 bill, according to Wise.

“It's frustrating putting rescuers lives on the line like that. If they're not taking heed to the red flag they will pay.”



7.8.19

HTS-Direct LLC's North American division is investing $2 million to purchase and renovate the former Allied Engineering building at 1310 Kalamazoo St.

Tax break anticipated for new South Haven business

By BECKY KARK

Editor and general manager

A company investing $2 million in upgrades to a building it recently purchased will soon be rewarded for its efforts.

South Haven City Council plans to issue a tax break to HTS Direct LLC at its July 15 meeting. The council decided to do so after holding a public hearing, July 1. By receiving the industrial facilities tax exemption, the company is expected to save $228,200 in property taxes over the next 12 years.

HTS-Direct is a supplier of cranes, hydraulic jacks, and machine moving skates for the

heavy-load-moving industry. The German-based company is moving its North American division from Grand Rapids to South Haven to the former Allied Engineering building at 1310 Kalamazoo St.

The company intends to create 20 new jobs, and retain 10 existing jobs, at the South Haven facility in the next two years.

“The building has been largely vacant for a number of years,” City Manager Brian Dissette said.

“We saw the building for sale and it fit what we wanted,” said Will Rogers, director of HTS Direct's North American division, in May shortly after the company purchased the 19,000-square-foot building.

But the building needed a lot of work.

“It was quite a project,” Rogers said. “The first thing we did was put a brand new roof on. The company also is installing six new overhead doors, constructing a new parking lot in the front of the building, adding a freight driveway to the south of the building and installing a loading dock to the rear.

When the work is complete, HTS plans to occupy 3,000 square feet and rent out the remainder of the building which contains office and warehouse space. The company plans to unveil the improvements it has made during a grand opening, from 4-8 p.m. Monday, July 29.

HTS, which began in Germany in the 1970s, manufactures moving skates and hydraulic toe jacks.

Oftentimes, companies use forklifts to move machinery or equipment, according to Rogers. But some machinery is very heavy and cumbersome to move, necessitating use of the equipment that HTS manufactures.

The company also has locations in the United Kingdom, Switzerland and Italy. It opened its North American division in 2016.

'Road diet' may not fly

South Haven still waiting for MDOT's blessing

By BECKY KARK

Editor and general manager

Two years ago, South Haven city officials made plans to create a lane diet on the Interstate 196 Business Loop along Broadway and LaGrange avenues.

But whether the road diet occurs remains to be seen.

“We may may not get lane diet done,” City Manager Brian Dissette informed city council members Monday. “It's not our road.”

Michigan Department of Transportation owns and maintains the I-196 Business Loop that winds through South Haven. Any plans to make changes along the roadway must be OK'd by the state agency, according to Dissette.

“I never envisioned we would be this far in and say, 'I can't say with certainly we'll get the lane diet approved,'” Dissette told council members. “My fear is we'll go another year and not be any closer.”

South Haven has developed a plan to reduce the number of lanes on Broadway and LaGrange from five to three and install bicycle lanes and other markings to help make the roadway safer for bicyclists and for pedestrians to cross, especially South Haven High School students and other city residents who live east of the business loop.

“This project is all about trying to ensure young people have the safest route possible,” Dissette said. “Having three lanes of traffic is safer than having five lanes.”

MDOT is not adverse to the idea of a road diet along sections of the Business Loop in South Haven. In fact, in 2008, the Department reduced the lanes on the M-43 corridor from four to three and created bike paths along either side.

“MDOT has done many lane diets,” said Department of Public Works Director Bill Hunter. “It's this particular one (the proposal for Broadway and LaGrange) they would like changes to.”

State traffic officials don't favor the type of lighted pedestrian signs the city is proposing to install. The signs work in the following way. When someone wants to use a crosswalk to get across the road, they can push a button that would illuminate the sign. MDOT however, favors a sign with a flasher that goes off all the time. The city thinks the signs it's proposing would be more noticeable to motorists. “People get used to that, (a sign with an overhead light that continually flashes).”
MDOT also has concerns about the use of dedicated right lanes on portions of the road diet near several intersections.

“We're using dedicated turn-off lanes at intersections not only for pedestrian safety but to accommodate as much traffic as we can so we can have a balance,” Hunter said, adding that a number of businesses along the proposed road diet favor the dedicated right lanes.

Although council members voted to approve a maintenance agreement, Monday, with MDOT, that stipulates the city will pay for all costs associated with the road diet, neither Dissette nor Hunter are confident the city's design for the street will be OK'd. MDOT will still have to approve the design.

“One of my fears is MDOT coming back and saying this is not the project we want you to do,” Hunter said. If that were to be the case, Hunter said it would only be fair to run MDOT's changes by home and business owners along the route to gather their opinions.

“I do believe if we change anything we should get public input,” Hunter said.

Which led Dissette to ask council members, Monday, whether they would favor installation of a traffic signal at the busy intersection of Broadway and Superior streets. One used to be there, but MDOT took it down after Central School closed, citing less of a need for it.

But local residents have complained ever since that it is nearly impossible to cross the road during summer months.

“We can get a traffic signal permitted more quickly,” Dissette said, noting the cost for a traffic signal would be $200,000, roughly the same as for converting the business loop from five to three lanes and creating bike lanes and other safety measures for pedestrians.

But council members weren't receptive to the alternative solution.

“I think the lane diet much is a better option,” Council member George Sleeper said. “I'm not going to forego that option because it might be a little easier to get a traffic signal.”

Mayor Pro Tem Clark Gruber admitted that a traffic signal at Superior and Broadway would be nice.

“That's been tough trying to cross the road, there,” he said. “I think it's a good thing to happen but not for the greater good of the road, overall. The only safe place on that road is Phoenix Street (where a traffic signal exists) and next to Woodhams, (where the other one is located). The rest you're taking your life in your hands. I think we should continue on.”

“We should stick to or guns..hold the cards tight,” Mayor Scott Smith said. “If we get a flat-out no, (from MDOT) I'll be the first to agree to alternatives.”



7.1.19

Boaters are shown in South Haven's harbor viewing the Light up the Lake 4th of July holiday fireworks show in 2018. High water levels on Lake Michigan are causing waves to wash over the North and South piers continually, and could force cancellation of this year's display. (File photo by Kelly Weber)

High lake levels could force cancellation of fireworks in South Haven

By BECKY KARK

Editor and general manager

“Cross your fingers.”

That's the advice South Haven City Manager Brian Dissette suggests for people wondering whether Lake Michigan's high water level will cancel the popular Light up the Lake fireworks display, July 3.

City officials have been checking the water levels each day along the Black River channel piers, where water continues to wash over on a regular basis.

Normally, the fireworks are shot off from the North Pier, but if the water continues to wash over the piers, the pyrotechnic display will be canceled.

“It won't be a viable site for the mortars (which are the holders fireworks are shot from),” Dissette said.

Another high-water issue affecting this year's show is the erosion that has occurred along city beaches. beaches. Both North and South beaches, where many people watch the show, are a fraction of what they have been in recent years.

Light up the Lake attracts an estimated 40,000-60,000 local residents and visitors each Fourth of July holiday, who come downtown to enjoy approximately a musically choreographed fireworks show over Lake Michigan. One year, it was voted by WWMT TV viewers as the best fireworks display in West Michigan.

This year's 15-minute display is expected to begin at 10:30 p.m., weather permitting. Because the town experiences a lot of boat and vehicle traffic the evening of the display, the Dyckman Avenue drawbridge will close to boats at 9:30 p.m., and reopen at 11:30 p.m. to let the vessels through, a process that takes about 30 minutes, according to Dissette.

So far, $30,000 has been raised to fund the event.

“The total show costs $34,000, so we are hoping to see additional donations over the coming days,” Dissette said.

He's also hoping the water levels will recede.

“A day in advance we will announce whether the show will happen,” Dissette said. “We want to give as much notice as possible to the police and provide crowd control.”

Man faces homicide charges for 1986 murder

LEXANDRA NEWMAN
HP Staff Writer

 Homicide charges have been filed against another man in the 1986 death of Wilda Wilkinson in Bangor.
Van Buren County court records show Robert James Waite, 49, is facing one felony count of homicide-open murder in South Haven District Court.
He has not been arraigned and no court dates have been scheduled in the case, as he is awaiting extradition to Michigan from Florida.
Det. Lt. Shane Criger of the Michigan State Police said he couldn’t confirm the name because according to MSP policy he can’t until suspects are arraigned. However, he did confirm that someone has been arrested in the case and it was in part because of DNA evidence.
Charges against a California man arrested for murder and brought to Michigan earlier this year were dismissed in May because of the new DNA information.
According to the Associated Press, Michigan State Police told WOOD-TV out of Grand Rapids that they matched partial DNA found on Wilkinson’s clothes to Waite. Detectives say Waite confessed to killing Wilkinson when they interviewed him in April. Authorities say Waite knew specific details about the slaying, AP reported.
State police detectives re-opened the cold case in 2010 and then stepped up efforts last year to investigate the unsolved murder.
It was Wilkinson’s daughter who found her strangled mother in 1986. A nurse’s aide at South Haven Community Hospital at the time, Wilkinson, 59, was divorced and lived alone in Bangor. When she failed to report to work, hospital officials called her daughter to check on her mom.
Waite has been in a Florida prison since 2008 on an unrelated kidnapping and sexual battery conviction, according to Florida Department of Corrections online records. He is set to be released on those charges in 2034.
Criger said he does not know how long it will take for an arraignment to take place so that they can release more information.

6.24.19

River Ridge Retirement Community resident Margaret Powers, 96, has crocheted more than 1,000 hats over the last five years. She donates them to a Shoebox ministry located in Hillsdale. (Photo by Kim Ingalls)

Crocheting for a

good cause

Over the past five years, woman crochets 1,000 hats for children

By KIM INGALLS

For the Tribune

At 96 years old, Margaret Powers’ hands may not be as flexible as they use to be, but that doesn’t keep her from what she loves.

The River Ridge resident crochets 200 children's hats every year. Created in just about every color combination you can imagine, Margaret makes the hats and donates them to her church’s Shoebox Ministry.

“A couple of ladies in church asked if I could help them make hats for these boxes,” she explained. “I had crocheted fancier work before, but now all I do is minor things.”

She may consider her work “minor,” but her hats have made quite an impact when you consider that she has crocheted 1,000 of them over the last five years. 

In other words, there are a lot of kids with warm, dry heads thanks to Margaret.

Shoebox Ministry is part of the Operation Christmas Child non-profit. The ministry coordinates the collection of items - mostly hygienic, and distributes them to individuals experiencing homelessness and domestic violence, and others in need.

Originally from the Hillsdale area, Margaret moved to River Ridge in July of 2018 so she could be closer to her daughter, Robin. For more than 30 years, she and her first husband operated a small convenience store near Hillsdale College.

“It was a mom and pop grocery store,” she recalled as she sat in her chair crocheting. “We were the only employees.”

The store was sold after they found out he had cancer.

Even though she is now in South Haven, that hasn’t stopped Margaret from fulfilling her commitment to crochet hats for her church - College Baptist in Hillsdale.

“I can’t get out like I use to,” she admits, “so my daughter picks up the yarn. She asks me what colors I like and I tell her put something together I like.”

She does have one complaint though - the hats can’t have tassels.

“I never did see why I couldn’t put on tassels,” she said, smiling. “It’s not a hat without one.”

New shuttle service eases downtown parking challenges

By BECKY KARK

Editor and general manager

Finding a parking space in downtown South Haven during the height of the summer tourism season can be difficult at best.

Realizing the dilemma motorists face, a local tourism group has come up with a solution.

The South Haven/Van Buren County Convention & Visitors Bureau is offering a weekend shuttle service.

The visitors bureau teamed up with Van Buren Public Transit to create the first-ever South Haven Summer Downtown Parking Loop.

The free service begins Saturday, June 29 and continues on Saturdays and Sundays through Aug. 18.

“We know from past years that summer weekends provide a particularly difficult challenge for parking and traffic flow,” said Scott Reinert, executive director of the visitors bureau. “Over the spring, we’ve been working with the Public Transit team, in addition to city resources, Downtown Development Authority officials and the Chamber of Commerce, to develop a simple plan to help alleviate parking and traffic congestion during the peak summer weekends.”

The loop will work in a similar manner to shuttle services offered during the National Blueberry Festival. Motorists will park their car in the front circular drive parking lot of South Haven High School, 600 Elkenburg Street. A bus will run continuous loops each half hour making three stops downtown — the corner of Eagle and Kalamazoo streets, the Warren Senior Center parking lot at 540 Williams Street and at the rear parking lot of South Haven City Hall, on Quaker Street. The service will run from 7 a.m.-midnight on Saturdays, and 7 a.m.-5 p.m. on Sundays.

Signs will be placed at each of the four stops and informational brochures about the free shuttle service will be available at the stops, lodging properties and downtown businesses.

then take people downtown to three different stops

“We hope that our visitors, as well as residents and downtown employees, will take advantage of this free service,” Reinert said.





6.17.19

Residents living on Dunkley Avenue found the going rough when trying to get to and from their homes last week, due to flooding. Thursday, the City of South Haven issued a notice that the roadway will remain closed until the water rescinds. (Photo by Tom Renner)

Colder-than-normal temps, rain deal another blow to lakeshore; causes flooding of roadway

By TRIBUNE STAFF

Flooding along Dunkley Avenue in South Haven continues to be a problem this week, with city officials once again closing down the road to traffic.

City officials first issued a notice for temporary closure of the T-shaped roadway Monday and then reissued it again Thursday, after the area suffered another bout of heavy, continuous rainfall.

The sections that were closed were from Black River Park to Dyckman Avenue and from Dunkley Avenue to the Black River Park overflow parking entrance.

The roadway will remain closed until water levels rescind, according to a news release issued Thursday by the city's Department of Public Works.

Over the past two years, the city spent several million to make significant upgrades to lift stations and sanitary and storm sewer lines near Dunkley. However the record-high water levels along Lake Michigan and the Black River are causing the flooding to occur once again on Dunkley.

“The flooding is caused by the high water levels,” said DPW Director Bill Hunter. “Lake Michigan is at its highest level ever and that is affecting drainage.”

The high water levels have all but covered South Beach, leaving very little room for sun bathing or use of the playground equipment. On Thursday, water and waves from the Big Lake continually crashed over both the North and South piers; at times it was difficult to distinguish portions of the pier from the angry waters of the Black River channel.

The only people on the beach and in the water were a group of kite boarders who frequently practice their sport. But although the kite boarders are used to rough weather conditions and wear safety gear, South Haven Area Emergency Services Fire Chief Ron Wise still was concerned when asked about the weather conditions on Thursday, brought on by the cold front that moved in and brought heavy rainfall during the morning and early afternoon.

“We highly advise people to stay away from the lake today especially the piers,” he said.

Planners OK Bronson South Haven site plan

By BECKY KARK

Editor and general manager

Will it be a hospital or a suite of medical offices?

That's the question on the mind of some South Haven area residents who wonder what types of services will be offered when Bronson Healthcare Group opens its new, smaller hospital in South Haven at the end of next year.

“One of the first things they did was close the surgical unit,” said South Haven resident Don Bemis, regarding Bronson's decision a year ago to end surgical services at its current South Haven hospital and send patients to other Bronson facilities in Paw Paw and Kalamazoo. “I'd like to know what else is going to be moved that requires people to go out of town.”

Bemis made his remarks during a public hearing held by South Haven's Planning Commission to determine whether to approve a site plan and special use permit for the new hospital.

Commissioner Clark Gruber posed a similar question to Bronson officials.

“Is this a hospital or a medical building?” he asked.

Turns out, the new $20 million hospital will be both.

“It is licensed as a hospital, not just a medical office,” said Jake Smith, facilities manager at Bronson. “The main hospital will be on the first floor. The medical facility will be on the second floor. All services that are in the current building will be offered in the new building.”

The new two-story, 35,600-square-foot hospital and medical facility will be located on 4 acres of land on Blue Star Highway, just north of 8^th Avenue in South Haven, according to Tracy Hutchinson, an engineer for Driesenga & Associates of Holland, who developed the site plan.

Bronson owns the site already. It is located northeast of the current hospital. Once the facility is built, it will house 8 in-patient beds, a larger emergency room with 14 beds, labs for medical services and medical offices.

It will replace the sprawling hospital that fronts S. Bailey Avenue. Built in 1941 and added onto seven times over the years, the current hospital will be eventually torn down along with an attached medical office building.

“There's a lot of infrastructure from 1941 that is failing more and more,” Smith said. “We did a significant study several years ago (to determine whether to update the entire structure)...It would cost $40-$50 million to rehab it...a much more significant expense.”

Once the new hospital is completed, Bronson plans to tear down the current buildings used by the hospital.

“If we do expand we would expand there,” Smith said. For now, however, the surface area will be used as green space.

“Nothing concrete has been decided yet,” Smith went on to say. The hospital, however, may use the property for an outdoor park for rehabilitation patients.

Planners ended up approving Bronson's special use application and site plan, but not before having a discussion on whether to stipulate that Bronson agree to maintain and expand the services it now offers in South Haven.

Planner Michael Neiss argued the city's master plan indicates that approval for special uses in the medical district should be based on businesses that “promote and expand” the district.

“My concern in making the agreement (for approving the site plan and special use permit) is no loss of services,” he said.

Other planners disagreed saying that Bronson is a privately run healthcare business, whose services will ultimately be dictated by whether people use them or not.

“It's up to the residents of the area to determine what happens in the future,” Planner Larry Heinig said, giving as an example the closure of Bronson South Haven's surgical services last year. “We lost surgery because only 11 percent of the residents were using surgery that was available here. It's economic. I don't think we can blame hospital management.”



6.10.19

The Hale block, a conglomeration of buildings that contain 11 retail spaces, is shown above. The buildings were recently purchased by South Haven developer Randy Locker. The block of buildings is located in downtown South Haven on Center Street, between Phoenix and Quaker streets.

Developer purchases Hale block; Plans to redevelop its buildings

By BECKY KARK

Editor and general manager

Randy Locker is a busy man these days.

The South Haven-based developer just finished renovating two historic downtown buildings that now house three new businesses and is in the midst of converting the former Save-a-Lot grocery store on Broadway Avenue into a strip mall.

In the midst of all of that, he's probably tackling the biggest project he's undertaken yet – redevelopment of the Hale block, a conglomeration of older buildings that occupy Center Street, from Quaker to Phoenix streets, in downtown South Haven.

Locker purchased the buildings earlier this year from the Hale family, who ran one of Michigan's oldest independently ran department stores for 154 years at 257 Center Street before closing it in 2009. The three store fronts Hale's occupied on the Hale block have remained empty ever since, while the space occupied by eight other businesses along the block need upgrades.

A number of people in town have referred to the block as “an eyesore.” But Locker viewed it differently.

“There is so much opportunity here,” he said.

The Hale block is anchored by a historic three-story brick building at the corner of Center and Quaker streets. To the south of the building are a series of one and two-story buildings that are home to eight retail shops that include a jewelry store, pet boutique and clothing stores.

The three-story building caught Locker's attention immediately.

“I just fell in love with it,” he said, pointing to the second and third stories that at one time served as apartments. “The upper levels have high ceilings, tall windows, great views.”

Locker plans to restore the building, which was built at the turn of the 19^th century. The improvements will include cleaning the brick exterior, putting up new facades for the stores, installing new windows, and creating either apartments or condominiums on the second and third floors.

His other plans for the block involve tearing down the three Hale store fronts, which occupy the center of the block, and improving the rest of the buildings that are located on Center and a small portion of Phoenix.

“There's been a lot of neglect over the years,” he said. “It (improvements) will take time and money. But I think over the next 24 months there will be a big change for the better.”

Locker is no stranger to retail development projects in South Haven.

Several decades ago he purchased a historic two-story building on Quaker Street and restored it. He then turned his attention to building Locker Plaza on Phoenix Road and Veterans Boulevard. Next he purchased the former police and fire department building at the corner of Broadway and Quaker Street, tore down the structure and built a new strip mall.

His latest endeavor downtown entailed purchase of two historic buildings on Phoenix Street, downtown, that housed the former Macdonald Drug Store and Quiznos sub shop. He created three retail spaces on the first floor that are now occupied by Harbor Light Brewery, Mi Coast apparel shop and Gravity Wine Tasting Room. The upstairs, when finished, will be home to four apartments.

Two blocks away at 237 Broadway, Locker is in the midst of converting the former Save-a-Lot store into five commercial units. He hopes to have that project completed by the end of this year.

SH Schools offers a different path toward graduation

By BECKY KARK

Editor and general manager

When Kevin Schooley took over as superintendent of South Haven Public Schools earlier this year he thought there had to be a better way to reach students who were turned off with the traditional high school setting.

Yes, the high school offered on-line courses at its Alliance Campus at Lake Michigan College's South Haven campus, but Schooley didn't think the program measured up in terms of encouraging non-traditional students to obtain their diploma.

“It was not providing the results we expected,” he said.

So, the district is trying a different approach; one that will provide more interaction between students and instructors, yet one that gives students the freedom to do their on-line coursework at home or at LMC.

The program is called Widening Advancements for Youth, or WAY, for short. It was founded in 2009 in Belleville, Mich. as a non-profit agency that provides a personalized learning experience for students. Seven school districts in Michigan offer the program, including Niles and Watervliet, in Berrien County.

Simply put, WAY provides an alternative path to graduation through a project-based, interactive, online educational environment, according to Schooley, who implemented the program in 2011 at Watervliet Public Schools, where he served as superintendent at the time before coming to South Haven.

“I’ve seen the WAY program firsthand and have watched students that are not buying into the traditional high school experience re-engage in their education with the project-based model,” he said. “Typical high school isn’t for everyone and to be able to meet the needs of the kids looking for something different and get them on track to graduation and future success is extremely rewarding.”

Since WAY was offered at Watervliet in 2011, 100 students have gone on to earn their diploma.

“WAY graduates go to LMC, Western Michigan University, they go to Michigan State University, they enter the workforce,” Schooley said.

But if students think the program will be easier than traditional high school courses, they need to think again, Schooley stressed.

“It's not an easier way, but a different way. It's structured in such a way that you begin to own your education.”

Unlike South Haven Alliance Campus's Career Academy, where instruction is primarily online based, students who take part in the new WAY program will be able to interact with four instructors from South Haven, who will be at the classroom/lab at LMC. Students can also utilize the help of online instructors as well, when they aren't in the lab. A director will soon be hired to lead the program so that it can begin with the 2019-20 school year in the fall.

“The kids there (at the Alliance Campus) deserve a quality education,” Schooley said. “Face-to-face interaction is a huge part of this program.”

The WAY program works in the following way: Students will take part in project-based courses that align to state education standards. As students successfully complete their projects they will earn credits toward their diploma. After mastering projects that they are signed when starting the WAY program, students will be given the opportunity to develop and complete their own projects.

The intent of the personalized projects is to allow students to blend their learning with their interests, according to the WAY program website.

While the WAY program will now be the primary program targeted for non-traditional students, the Career Academy curriculum will still be available to older students who have enrolled in it and wish to continue finishing their graduation requirements.

South Haven Public Schools plans to limit enrollment in the WAY program to 50 South Haven High School students and school of choice students. High school students who are interested in the program need to fill out an online application that is on the school district's website. They then will go through an interview process for acceptance into the program. More information about WAY is also on the district website.

Nearly 50 years of fighting fires

Longtime SH deputy fire chief retires

By TRIBUNE STAFF

As the fire alarm sounded, 10-year-old Tony Marsala was quick to get into the car with his dad, Robert, who was responding as a member of the Covert Township Fire Department.

Now, nearly 50 years later, including 34 years with South Haven Area Emergency Services, Deputy Chief and Fire Marshall Tony Marsala is about to answer his last call as a professional firefighter. His final day on duty is Friday, June 7.

It has been a career of dedicated service by a man who decided he wanted to be first responder at a young age. He became an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) as a teenager and began training for the fire service right after graduating from Covert High School.

Early in his career he worked for the former South Haven Township ambulance service and was a paid-on-call member with the Covert Fire Department.  He was a field medic and safety officer with Bechtel Power before becoming a fulltime member of the Covert department in 1984. He also worked part-time in the emergency room at South Haven Community Hospital.

He joined the South Haven Fire Department, now SHAES, fulltime in 1985. He was promoted to Captain in 2008 and has served as Deputy Chief/Fire Inspector since 2010.

His qualifications have covered a broad spectrum including inspector, investigator, vehicle maintenance certified, diver certification, and firefighting training instructor. He is also a member of the Coast Guard Auxiliary and is one of SHAES’ fireboat operators.

In 1989 he was chosen the department’s Firefighter of the Year.

“Tony has been such a great asset to our department,” said Chief Ron Wise.  “He was always kind and compassionate with patient care, professional and courteous during fire inspections and a mentor for our county’s fire academy students and new recruits.  Tony will be truly missed around the department.”

“I have been truly blessed with a wonderful career,” said Marsala, “I am grateful for the support of the SHAES Board, my colleagues within the department and especially from the community.”

Marsala and his wife Pam are in the final stages of returning to where it all began for Tony with the construction of a new home on the family homestead in Covert. The Marsalas have two children, Tony Jr. and Stacy.



6.3.19

Pilot Bill Gottschalk, 73, (left) receives the Federal Aviation Administration’s Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award from FAA’s Samuel Heiter for flying 50 years without an accident or blemish on his record.

Flying safely for 50 years

Pilot honored by FAA during ceremony at South Haven airport

By KIM INGALLS

For the Tribune

A comment made at a Plainwell restaurant led to a Kalamazoo pilot receiving the Federal Aviation Administration’s most prestigious award.

Bill Gottschalk, 73, received the Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award during a recent ceremony at the South Haven Regional Airport.

The award is the highest award the FAA issues and recognizes those who have exhibited professionalism, skill, and aviation expertise for at least 50 years while piloting aircraft as “Master Pilots.”

“I feel so good about this. You get to this age and there’s not a lot of accomplishments,” Gottschalk said, laughing.

The retired American Airlines pilot was swapping stories with fellow pilots at a restaurant called the Fly Inn (located next to Plainwell's airport) when an FAA inspector showed up to do “ramp” checks. While looking at the pilots’ licenses and credentials to make sure they were up-to-date, Gottschalk started a conversation.

“I happened to mention that I had been flying for 50 years and had no accidents or blemishes,” he said.

The official didn’t say anything at the time, but an FAA officer called him later and that started the ball rolling.

Flying since he was 13,  Gottschalk became interested in planes while he lived with his parents right by the  Oakland/Pontiac Airport now called the Oakland County International Airport.

“My parents owned a bar by the airport,” he recalls. “There was no control tower then and I would look through the chain link fence and watch the planes fly in and out.”

During one of those times, he saw a man working on a plane nearby. The man asked him if he wanted to go for a ride.

The answer was yes. What followed was a mentoring that resulted in a 50-year-and-counting career as a pilot.

“His name was Floyd Dandison and he took me under his wing,” Gottschalk said. “He advised me to go to aviation school, fly in the military to get some experience and then get with an airline.”

Gottschalk did just that. He logged his first solo flight at the age of 16 when he got his license and later attended Western Michigan University’s School of Aviation. After graduating, he enlisted in the Navy for 7 1/2 years, the Coast Guard for 8 years and then 20 years with American Airlines. He also spent time in the Coast Guard Reserves to qualify for his military retirement.

“I flew 13 years with American Airlines as a captain flying domestic flights to Canada, Mexico and the United States,” he said about the Boeing 727-800 he piloted.

Now-a-days, he’s downsized and is in the captain’s seat of a Remos GX which he keeps at the South Haven airport. When he’s not in the sky, he’s at the airport filling gas tanks and talking shop with the other pilots.

“I’ve known Dave (Johnson, airport manager) for 11 years,” Gottschalk said. “Dave gave me a ‘hobby job’ of pumping gas. He’s ran that airport for years and has done a great job.”

Having the award ceremony in South Haven was a big deal for the airport too.

“On behalf of the South Haven Area Regional Airport Authority, we are pleased to host the ceremony for this prestigious award, Bill is an avid pilot based at our airport,” Johnson said.

5.28.19

Photo by Becky Kark
Charles "Art" Bennett, who served with the U.S. Marines during World War II, is shown with some of his momentos from serving in the Pacific Theater during the war.

'The few, The proud'

One of area's oldest WWII vets recounts serving in the Pacific

By BECKY KARK

Editor and general manager

Few World War II veterans remain these days in Southwest Michigan.

Charles “Art” Bennett is one of them.

At 97, Bennett remains active and sharp as a tack.

Prior to being interviewed, Wednesday, at his rural South Haven area home, Bennett had just finished mowing the lawn.

“There was one part I couldn't get to because it was too wet,” he groused.

Bennett vividly recalls the day he decided to enlist in the U.S. Marines.

“I enlisted in September of 1942,” he said. “They were drafting everyone anyway. A week later my mother told me I had received my draft notice in the mail.”

Bennett spent the next three years as a gunner serving in the Pacific Theater. He and his fellow Marines were involved in a series of campaigns to capture islands held by the Japanese, including the battles that took place in 1944-45 on the Island of Bouganville on the Solomon Sea and finally the invasion of Okinawa.

The 82-day battle on the Island of Okinawa began in April of 1945 with the American military finally gaining control of the island. Bennett remembered the intensity of the fighting.

“The Japanese sent 300 fighter planes at one time,” he recalled. Bouganville was equally as dangerous. “They (Japanese) bombed us every night.”

The grimness of war was tinged at times with humor.

Bennett's daughter Carol, who was visiting her dad during his interview, Wednesday, sorted through some of her father's World War II photos and finally found the one she was looking for.

It showed Bennett and a fellow marine, each clad in nothing but a leaf.

“I don't know what kind of tree they were from but they were big leaves,” Bennett said.

Indeed they were. Each leaf covered the front of the men from waist to knee.

Along with his photos, Marine cap, tie, and dog tags saved from the war, Bennett has retained a spoon that he used then.

“We ate with spoons,” he explained. “I always like that one.”

Bennett served a total of 39 months with the Marines, earning his honorable discharge in December of 1945.

He still recalls the day he returned to South Haven.

“I came home and nobody was home,” he laughed, explaining that his family didn't know of his exact arrival because at that time few rural residents had telephone service.

After the war, Bennett married and went to work for the former Everett Piano Co. “I worked there 39 years,” he said. He and his wife, Mary had two children, Carol and Robert. After “retiring” Bennett, who had grown up on a farm, decided to farm part-time.

His wife died in 2011, but he continues to live at home, visit with friends and family, and as usual, keeps busy. Something Carol thinks has led to her dad's longevity.

“He raked hay last fall,” she said. “He has a garden too.”

The garden is now primarily tended to by grandchildren, but Bennett looks after it from time to time.

“They tend to forget to hoe it,” he said.

Business Loop roa diet delayed for now

By BECKY KARK

Editor and general manager

South Haven city officials had hoped by now to reduce the number of lanes on a portion of Interstate 196 Business Loop that runs through town, but state officials say they need more information about the plan before granting approval.

“We're disappointed we're not installing it right now,” said City Manager Brian Dissette. “We respect it's their (Michigan Department of Transportation's) road. We have to make sure our plans are acceptable to MDOT. We've got additional design work tied to permitting that we'll need to do.”

The state highway department built the business loop in 1967. The five-lane roadway extends along LaGrange and Broadway avenues from Phoenix Street to Aylworth Avenue.

The reduction of lanes along a roadway is often referred to as a “road diet.”

South Haven is joining a number of municipalities throughout the state who want to reduce the number of lanes along state business loops in an effort to make the roadways more attractive and safer for bicyclists and pedestrians.

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

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

South Haven city officials had hoped to have the road diet finished this spring, but don't expect to receive MDOT's blessing until the fall, according to Dissette.



5.20.19

PFAS contamination hits home in Van Buren County

By ROD SMITH

For The Tribune

PAW PAW — After hearing a report about PFAS contamination in Hartford, Van Buren County commissioners are beginning to wonder if there's PFAS contamination in Bangor.

Earlier this month, state and county officials held a public meeting in Hartford in which they reported PFAS had been found in groundwater near the site of the former Du-Wel plant at 520 Heywood St. Du-Wel also had plants in other towns in Van Buren County, including Bangor.

PFAS is short for perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl and is used for fire extinguishing foam, nonstick products, food packing, cleaning products, paints, and water repellents.

The discovery at the former Du-Wel site was made as a part of the State of Michigan’s efforts to track down PFAS contamination, said Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy officials. Because federal guidelines previously required the use of PFAS during the chrome plating process, plating facilities, such as ones owned by Du-Wel, have become a common source of PFAS contamination.

The Hartford contamination came to light two weeks ago when officials with DEGLE received test results from 12 monitoring wells. Testing showed groundwater contamination as high as 8,690 parts per trillion (ppt) on grounds at the former plant, and as high as 285 ppt near the plant. The results are well above the current level of acceptable exposure of 70 ppt, according federal guidelines.

A news release from the Van Buren/Cass District Health Department further outlined the scope of the investigation. “There are 50 residential drinking water wells northwest of the Du-Wel site north of 60th Avenue and following 65th Street north past Red Arrow Highway that are currently being monitored for volatile organic compounds,” the release stated.

PFAS has been linked to birth defects, reduced immune response in children, cancers and infertility. Federal guidelines set the acceptable level of exposure at 70 parts per trillion (ppt). The 12 monitoring wells near the Du-Wel site showed groundwater contamination as high as 8,690 ppt.

Test results from the 50 private wells that have been sampled in Hartford are expected to be released this week.

“Decisions about testing private wells beyond this initial area will be made based on results from the initial round of testing,” health department officials stated.

When the City of Hartford's municipal water system was checked in 2018 for PFAS, none were found. No PFAS were found in the school district's water supply either.

Chappell said state officials began checking for PFAS near Du-Wel a few weeks ago as part of an ongoing investigation into contamination caused by Du-Wel's operations. The area around the former Du-Wel plant has been monitored for other substances for quite awhile, because of an underground plume that has been discovered.

"It's following a dry underground river bed," Chappell said.

Because of the earlier testing, five-to-seven homes nearby are using bottled drinking water, Chappell said.

Besides its Hartford location, Du-Wel operated plants in Bangor, South Haven and Dowagiac. The Bangor plant dumped contaminants into the Black River Mill Pond, a fact that prompted commissioners to wonder if PFAS will be found there.

Bangor City Manager Regina Hoover, hopes no PFAS will be discovered if the state decides to conduct tests.

Bangor's municipal wells were recently tested for PFAS and found to be safe, according to Hoover.

“The water here has been tested by the DEQ (now called the Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy) and we are fine as far as the wells go,” Hoover said. “If there is a concern in the future, we will follow DEQ recommendations.”

Whether the state will conduct further tests in Bangor remains to be seen. According to David Harn, with the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy, no testing has been done yet at the Bangor Du-Wel site because it's not near any residential wells.

When it was operating in Bangor, Du-Wel was following government standards when it came to discharging waste that made its way to the Mill Pond, according to County Commissioner Kurt Doroh.

"The discharge that they did," Doroh said, "was allowed by government standards. They just didn't know how much damage it would do."

The Bangor plant was a plating operation employing about 250 people. It closed in December 1993. Four years later, the plant's owner, Inverness Castings Group, of Cleveland, Ohio, agreed to pay $926,000 toward cleanup. The state paid the remainder. Total was around $4.3 million.

It took seven years from start to finish to clean up the contamination. The actual removal of sediments ran from Nov. 26, 2002, to Jan. 13, 2004. The project was delayed by low water levels, an early winter and the discovery of underwater stumps.

All in all, 27,000 tons of gunk were removed. Then-City Manager Larry Nielsen calculated that if the muck had been put in milk jugs and then the jugs lined up, they would stretch from Bangor to New York City, or 742 miles.

The polluted area mostly consisted of a butterfly-shaped area of four-to-five acres that was underwater. Tests showed up to 29,000 parts per million (ppm) of chromium, a heavy metal considered harmful, in amounts above 110 ppm, and up to 3.8 ppm of PCBs or polychlorinated biphenyls. Any detectable amount of PCBs is considered too much.

At one time Du-Wel was one of Van Buren County's largest employers.  It started in Bangor in 1946 as a die-casting plant for furniture, electronics and appliances and eventually moved into die-casting for automobile companies.

Charges dropped; Bangor murder case goes cold again

By ALEXANDRA NEWMAN

HP Staff Writer

PAW PAW — A month ago, law enforcement officials thought they had solved a cold case murder, but now it appears they're back to square one.

Van Buren County authorities say they are still investigating the 1986 strangulation death of Wilda Wilkinson in Bangor. 

Chief Assistant Prosecutor Keith Robinson said that the first-degree murder charge against Michael Leon Curry was dismissed at the end of April, “based on new information to allow for further investigation.”

“Part of that further information was DNA analysis,” he said.

Robinson said he wouldn’t go into further detail because it is still an open homicide investigation.

Curry, 51, had been held in the Van Buren County Jail on the charge for about a month and a half before the charges against him were dismissed without prejudice by the prosecution. 

He had been arrested in California in March and brought back to Van Buren County. 

Police suspected at the time of Wilkinson’s death 33 years ago that the then 18-year-old Curry, who lived close by in Bangor, may have been involved. There were several people of interest that police interviewed following Wilkinson’s death, but the case eventually went cold.

In 2010, however, Michigan State Police detectives re-opened the case and then stepped up efforts last year to investigate the unsolved murder, and Curry re-emerged last year as a suspect.

Curry made provocative statements last year on Facebook that caught the attention of Michigan State Police investigators, who had by that time renewed their interest in Curry.

It was Wilkinson’s daughter who found her strangled mother, according to a Herald-Palladium article published shortly after the murder.

A nurse’s aide at South Haven Community Hospital at the time, Wilkinson was divorced and lived alone. When she failed to report to work, hospital officials called her daughter to check on her mom. 



4.29.19

Medical marijuana card holders from throughout the region wait in line at the 420 Festival to take advantage of The Green Door dispensary’s 10 percent off sale. The festival donated $6,000 to the City of Bangor that will be used to purchase new bulletproof vests for the police force. (Photo by Nancy Albright)

Bangor's 420 Festival a big hit with marijuana users

By NANCY ALBRIGHT

For The Tribune

Bangor's first-ever 420 Festival turned out to be a bit hit, as hundreds of people flocked to downtown to light up and celebrate cannabis.

The Green Door medical marijuana dispensary, 126 W. Monroe St., hosted the festival, which occurred April 20, a day that has become known throughout the country by marijuana users as a day to celebrate cannabis.

Bangor is the first community in Southwest Michigan to host such an event since marijuana was legalized by state voters in November of 2018.

Live music played throughout the day and guest speakers spoke of the benefits of cannabis. Vendors offering food, wares and cannabis care information lined Main Street and a tent designated as the smoking area was available for those with medical marijuana cards.

“I was sitting here earlier with a stranger having a conversation and smoking pot legally in public,” said Jeanice Cooper of Bangor. “I’ve lived here since the '70s and this is a long time coming.”

Frank LaFond of St. Joseph said that he would rather see people smoking weed than drinking, and that in his experience marijuana helps with sleep.

Green Door owner Mark Smith said that the message of the day was to educate people about the benefits of marijuana consumption.

“This isn’t about High Times or a Hash Bash,” he said. “It’s about educating people to use cannabis responsibly and move the industry forward in a professional manner, the more education people get the better informed they will be.”

Smith also owns PM Growers, Bangor’s $1.5 million state-of-the-art medical marijuana grow facility. “The operation is just like a factory that produces goods for public consumption. We have shipping, receiving, purchasing, inventory control and the staff to make it all run,” Smith said. “I’m proud that we’re bringing good jobs to the area. We have 28 people working at the factory now. Pay starts at $15 an hour and some of the management positions may reach six figures going forward.”

The Green Door sells only to medical marijuana card holders and the line for the dispensary stretched down the block for most of the day.

Former law enforcement officer Valarie Kissinger of Buchanan, who suffers from chronic hip pain, waited in line for an hour-and-a-half to take advantage of the dispensary’s 10 percent off sale on Saturday.

“I was tired of being in constant pain and prescription drugs were making me feel sick,” she said. “Medical marijuana just goes straight to the area of pain and relieves it.”

Kissinger said she no longer takes prescribed painkillers. She also said that she puts a drop of CBD oil, which contains no THC – the substance in marijuana which provides the high – to her yellow lab, who suffers from hip dysplasia, and says she can tell that her dog feels better.

420 event coordinator Justin Dominique stressed that the festival was not only the work of The Green Door.

“The City of Bangor, the police department, local businesses and volunteers have all worked hard for the last three months to bring this together. People just came out of the woodwork to welcome us and offer their support.”

Bangor City Manager Regina Hoover said she was impressed with what a great job the group did.

“It was a resounding success and good for local businesses,” Hoover said. “The Bangor Tavern was packed with customers, Cognito ran out of several types of beer and the new Smoke Shop had many customers checking out their products. The food vendors also did very well. I spoke with the kettle corn couple and they stated they were having trouble keeping up and having their best day ever.”

The Green Door donated a portion of their proceeds from Saturday’s sales to the city and each vendor agreed to donate 5 percent of their profits. So far, the tally is $6,000 and climbing. The money is earmarked to purchase new tactical vests for the Bangor Police Department.

“It’s our way of giving back to the community for their support,” said Smith.

Bangor Chief of Police Tommy Simpson reported no complaints as of 9 p.m. “It was a peaceful event and people have been very respectful all day. The voters spoke in November and we respect that.”

Hoover also noted how peaceful the event was.

“When the crowds left, there was no trash in the streets or on the sidewalks,” Hoover said. “Overall, it was a very organized, well-attended event and I am certain that there will be a 2nd annual 420 Festival.”



Post office pays tribute to South Haven's

150th anniversary

By BECKY KARK

Editor and general manager

Postage stamps often pay tribute to famous people and events that helped shape our country. 

Next month, South Haven will gets it share of postal tribute when the U.S. Postal Service issues a pictorial cancellation to commemorate the town's 150th anniversary.

Anna Krajecki, a sales and service associate at the South Haven Post Office and a member of the 150th Anniversary committee, came up with the idea for the cancellation stamp. “It's an ideal way to commemorate the 150th anniversary,” Krajecki said.

Krajecki went to Postmaster Melissa Filip for  permission to proceed.  Filip liked the idea immediately.

“Anna is very community-minded,” Filip said. “She asked if we could do a special cancellation and I said  OK, make it happen, and she did.”

Post offices use cancellation postmarks as they're referred, to “cancel” a postage stamp so that the stamp cannot be used again once it is mailed and processed through the post office.

South Haven's pictorial postmark, designed by Jen Sistrunk, depicts the 150th anniversary logo which shows images of the South Haven lighthouse, blueberries, which the town is known for, the Friends Good Will tall ship and a sunset. The logo is similar to one that was created by South Haven resident and retired pharmacist Jerry Gruber for the town's 100th anniversary celebration in 1969.

“Any post office can apply for one,” Filip said. “We thought it would be nice to apply for one to commemorate South Haven's Sesquicentennial.” The approval process for issuance of a pictorial postmark isn't easy.  “The process was very entailed,” Krajecki said. “First it goes to our District for preliminary approval. Then it goes to Washington DC for final approval. It took a month.”

South Haven area residents will get a chance to have their letters and postcards postmarked at the Sesquicentennial community picnic celebration, 4-7 p.m., Friday, May 10 at Stanley Johnston Park. There, the post office plans to set up a tent where they will hand-stamp letters, postcards and parcels with the pictorial postmark.

As part of the celebration, the Visitors Bureau plans to distribute free postcards that can be postmarked. After the picnic, people can go to the post office for a month afterwards to have their mail postmarked with the pictorial cancellation stamp.

After 30 days the cancellation will be retired and quite possibly sought out by postage stamp collectors to add to their collection.

It's not extremely rare for a local post office to issue a pictorial postmark, according to Filip and Krajecki.

“But, it's special,” Krajecki said.



4.23.19

When the staff of the South Haven Area Chamber of Commerce heard about the town turning 150 years of old this year, they went out and purchased gowns reminiscent of ones that South Haven residents wore a century-and-a-half ago.  Modeling the dresses from left are Brandy Key, community liaison; Susan Diepen, assistant director; and Kathy Wagaman, executive director. The photo was taken at the home of Linda LaRocque, who resides in a historic South Haven home. (Photo by Tom Renner)

Proud of our heritage

South Haven kicks off Sesquicentennial events in May with a community picnic

By BECKY KARK

Editor and general manager

South Haven may be a small town, but it's got big plans for this year's Sesquicentennial.

To give people an idea of how serious celebration organizers are in promoting the town's 150^th anniversary, take a drive along Interstate 94. There, at the Napier Avenue exit stands a colorful billboard raising awareness about South Haven's landmark anniversary. But it's not just any old billboard. It's a tall, double-decker billboard.

Then there's the website the South Haven Visitors Bureau put together to promote the year-long celebration. The site not only contains an online cursory schedule of events, but also a comprehensive timeline chronicling 150 years of South Haven history, unique photos capturing famous moment's in local history, and a blog site detailing the city's history.

And to promote the celebration even more, South Haven residents who may not know about the Sesquicentennial – much less how to pronounce the name - will soon be getting an invitation in the mail requesting their presence at the anniversary kick-off event in May.

“We want everyone in the city to take part in the 150^th anniversary celebration,” said Scott Reinert, executive director of the South Haven Visitors Bureau.

Nearly 50 people representing local businesses and organizations in town have quietly been working behind the scenes to put together the 150^th anniversary events.

Tom Renner, a longtime South Haven resident and retired Hope College administrator, is one of them. Renner, who has a background in journalism and public relations, played a key role in gathering information for the timeline.

Renner and his wife, Carol, came to town as newlyweds in the mid 1960s. Although South Haven has changed quite a bit from that time, it still continues to have a small-town feel to it, Renner thinks.

“South Haven is still very much small-town America. That's what we like about it...There may be a danger in calling too much attention to us,” he said laughing.

But, Rosalie Plechaty, another committee member who's planning the Sesquicentennial kick-off celebration, Friday, May 10th, says, “Bring it on. This is 150 years of South Haven history.”

The May 10^th outdoor kick-off celebration at Stanley Johnston Park is being billed as a “community picnic,” or as Plechaty says, “a great big block party.” Organizers are planning for 500 people, but expect more will end up coming.

Picnic organizers decided to kick off the Sesquicentennial celebration with a picnic, because outdoor picnics were at one time a favorite past-time for Americans. With its pavilions and tall trees that provide plenty of shade, and its view of the city's harbor, Stanley Johnston Park seemed the perfect spot for a community picnic, complete with entertainment, old-fashioned children's games, and food, of course.

Some of the food, entertainment, and even the park will serve as reminders to South Haven's past.

For instance, organizers plan to serve blueberry and peach flavored ice cream locally produced by Sherman's Dairy.

They're doing so not only as an acknowledgement to the Sherman family, but also to the family of the man for whom the park is named — Stanley Johnston, a South Haven horticulturist who played a key role in the development of different types of peaches and blueberries that could be successfully grown in Michigan.

Another reminder from the past will be the sight of the Bark Peelers, an old-fashioned baseball team from South Haven that is named for the actual Bark Peelers, a 19^th century baseball team that once existed in South Haven.

Plechaty suspects other people at the picnic will be decked out in old-fashioned clothing as well to celebrate the town's birth as a village on May 10^th, 1869.

To help make the picnic and other sesquicentennial events a reality, a fund-raising committee has been busy at work raising money. “We're two-thirds of the way to the $19,000 goal,” Renner said.

While plans for the picnic gel, other events are beginning to fall into place, too. Some of the events are unique to the 150^th anniversary itself while other activities will be incorporated into festivals and celebrations that occur annually in South Haven, such as the Fourth of July Parade.

Some of the events that are being planned follow:

• Walking tour of historic South Haven buildings, such as the Scott Club, Masonic Temple and the Williams Block, which is now home to Clementine's Saloon and Restaurant.

• South Haven Center for the Arts exhibit highlighting Sesquicentennial artwork created by South Haven art students to reflect the theme, “Honoring the Past, Focused on the Present, Imagining the Future.” The exhibit includes an online competition where people can choose their favorite entries. The finalists' works will then be unveiled at the Community Picnic and exhibited at the art center.

• Guided tour of Lakeview Cemetery's grave sites, where famous South Haven residents and military veterans are buries.

• Old-fashioned Ice Cream Social with music by the Casco Band. Organized in 1928, the group is one of the oldest continuously performing community bands in Michigan.

• Guided tour of historic resorts once located along the north side of South Haven.

• “Researching House Histories,” a program sponsored by the Historical Association of South Haven, to help owners of historic homes learn about the people who once resided in those dwellings.

For updates on 150^th anniversary events, visit www.southhaven.org/150-events

Covert Schools braces for reduced revenue

By KIM INGALLS

For the Tribune

COVERT — The recent decision by Van Buren County's Equalization Department to reduce Palisades Nuclear Power plant's taxable value by 25 percent for the next two years will have an effect on Covert Public Schools.

Superintendent Bobbi Morehead told the school board Monday night the district’s finances will be OK for this year, but school officials need to look at ways to start cutting about $1 million from future budgets.

“It’s doable,” she assured the board, “but we are going to keep it away from the classrooms because that is where the teaching takes place.”

Morehead went on to say that if that means staff are going to have to wear more than one hat, that is what will happen.

The substantial decrease in Palisades’ taxes is due to its upcoming closure. Property taxes are based on half of the assessed property value and while the plant is still operating at full capacity, it is slated to close in 2022. When that happens, the property could become less valuable to buyers.

The district had been anticipating the reduction in revenue after the plant closing was announced. 

In other matters:

• The board voted to allow the 2019 Bulldog Alumni reunion to occur at the school grounds from 10 a.m.-7 p.m., Saturday, June 22.

• The board approved a one-year contract with Lawn Boys of Bangor for spring/summer lawn care at a

• Were told that Perceptive Service and Operations will begin repairs on the district’s lift station. The repairs will include fixing a pump motor, replacing a pump motor and redoing station housing at a cost of $31,700.



4.15.19

Photo courtesy of Bugwood.org
A man is shown taking note of the location and extent of Knotweed in New York as part of that state's  Invasive Species Information program. Michigan now has a similar program.

Attack of the invasives

Conservation district joins forces with road commission, others to identify and control invasive species

By BECKY KARK

Editor and general manager

While Marvel comic book characters confront evil invaders on the big screen, a group of Southwest Michigan agencies is battling its own group of nasty intruders.

But unlike the bad Marvel characters we've come to know — Viper, Lady Deathstrike and Ultron — the invasive species threatening to ruin Southwest Michigan's landscape have names most people have never heard of; Names like Hemlock Woolly Adelgid, Japanese Knotweed and one of the most invasive ones of all – Kudzu.

“Kudzu is referred to as the vine that ate the South,” said Van Buren Conservation District Director A.J. Brucks. “If you travel through Tennessee, you'll see the damage.”

While considered a beneficial herb in the Far East, Kudzu's fast-growing vines can quickly take over valuable farmland.

Japanese Knotweed can be as equally devastating.

“Knotweed is a nasty plant,” Brucks said. “If you cut it, any little piece can sprout roots and regrow. It can break through concrete and asphalt.”

The threat invasive species pose to Southwest Michigan troubles the Conservation District, which is now part of a group of Southwest Michigan agencies devoting time, money and other resources to control and hopefully eradicate invasive species who are threatening to destroy native trees, plants and insects – even roadbeds and building foundations.

The SW x SW Corner Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area program, or CISMA for short, formed in 2016 and covers Berrien, Cass and Van Buren counties. A neighboring CISMA, called West Michigan Conservation Network, includes Allegan County. Other CISMA programs exist in the state, as well, and are funded in part through the Michigan Invasive Species Grant Program, which is managed by the Department of Natural Resources, Department of Environmental Quality and the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.

Eleanor Serocki serves as the coordinator for the CISMA program is Southwest Michigan.

“The CISMA's original goal was to help the people of southwest Michigan, including homeowners, municipalities, and land managers, better understand the threat of invasive species and how to manage the issue,” Serocki said. “We try to be a resource for folks struggling to understand what the problem is, but also try to provide information on how to solve the problem. Dealing with invasives can be frustrating. They are hard to kill or fight back, they often sprout back up from root fragments or produce thousands of seeds, and they almost always take multiple year of treatment to completely control.”

But the groups who belong to the Southwest Michigan CISMA - Berrien Conservation District, Cass Conservation District, Chikaming Open Lands, Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy, The Stewardship Network and Van Buren Conservation District - don't want people to give up and let invasives take over.

"As an individual, it can be at best disheartening and at worst impossible to get rid of invasives on your property. That's where the CISMA can come in to provide information and help start a long term plan to get rid of the problem,” Serocki said. “There's a lot of confusion and misinformation on what invasive species are, how to identify them, and which  issues they cause. Invasive species are those that are not native to our area and are causing a problem, be that to our environment, our economy, or to our health. The CISMA serves as a resource to answer those questions, be it a new pest at a farm, a weed taking over someone's yard, or something impacting our roads.”

More than 60 types of invasive species have so far been reported in Van Buren County alone. Of those, a dozen are listed on the Van Buren Conservation District's “most wanted” list of invasives to deal with.

The district deals with those invasives by working with governmental units, property owners and even the road commission.

“We've been partnering with the Van Buren Road Commission since 2017 to help map and treat invasive Phragmites and Japanese knotweed in the right of way — two species that can impact road safety and infrastructure,” Serocki said. “Neither of these species should be mowed, since this can spread them further, so the CISMA attends the Road Commission's all-staff safety meetings to train on how to identify, map, and avoid these species while doing shoulder work. These maps are then used to guide fall chemical treatments as part of their brush control program, which is the best way to take care of these two species in particular.”

Closer to South Haven, the Conservation District and CISMA is working with the city's parks department to host a free boat wash and demonstration at Black River Park, and has worked with the Department of Public Works to provide signs and mapping data for the management of Japanese Knotweed that has been found in town.

The Conservation District also conducts “home visits” for residents who are concerned about whether they are dealing with invasive species on their properties.

“We're happy to help residents in whatever way works best for them,” Serocki said. “We can schedule home visits to come out and look at their property, meetings with homeowner or lake associations for larger issues, or identify species from emailed photos. We can then provide them with the best known information on how to treat the species, how to prevent new introductions, and help to draw up a long-term plan that the homeowner can use to manage the species for the next 3-5 years.”

One of the invasive species the Conservation District is targeting this year is the Hemlock Wooly Adelgid, a small insect that can kill Hemlock trees.

“It's a small insect that's caused big problems out East and is now established in four counties in Michigan, including Allegan,” Serocki said.

Brucks compared the insect to the Emerald ash borer infestation that destroyed Ash trees throughout the region several years ago. “Hemlocks are important to this region,” Brucks said. “People think it's just an insect, but, here, we see no Ash trees.”

The Conservation District is encouraging landowners who think they have an infestation of Wooly Adelgids or any other invasives, to contact them.

“Invasive species are much, much easier to take care of when they are just small patches. It takes much less time to get rid of one bush in your yard than 100 in the forest,” Serocki said. “Identifying and removing invasive species earlier is the next best thing to keeping them out in the first place. It's also important to remove invasive species, even from our urban properties, because they very rarely stay in one place. The barberry in your front yard may not look like it is spreading, but the seeds are a favorite with birds, and your one bush could serve as the seed source for big problems in forests like Warren Woods (State Park).”

4.8.19

Photo by Don Campbell of the Herald-Palladium

Bangor breaks the mold: Hosts 420 Festival

By KIM INGALLS

For the Tribune

BANGOR - The city may be best known for its Apple Festival, but there is a new celebration that its backers hope will turn out to be just as popular – the first-ever 420 Festival.

Not surprisingly, the event will be held on Saturday, April 20 - the day considered by many as an international counterculture holiday where people gather to celebrate and consume cannabis.

Hosted by The Green Door marijuana provisioning center, the 420 Festival will feature vendors, crafters, live music and informational discussions.

“We’re expecting about 3,000 people,” said Justin Dominique, store manager at The Green Door. “There are 28 vendors signed up, live glass-blowing demonstrations and music.”

In addition, there will be presentations by Big Green Tomato, Cannabis Cares and legal experts on subjects such as growing techniques and marijuana legality issues.

“We believe that this will be the first festival of its kind in Southwest Michigan,” said Samantha Smith, marketing and communications manager at the Green Door.

Activities will begin at 10:30 a.m. and continue until 10:30 p.m. A section of Michigan 43 Highway, which travels through the heart of the city's downtown, will be closed for the festival, from Division to Walnut streets. Vendors and the music will be situated along the section of roadway that will be closed, while the use of marijuana products will be allowed to take place at Green Door's property.

Bangor has developed an ordinance to allow medical marijuana establishments to exist. It has not yet put together one for recreational cannabis-related businesses.

“Of course, the state has legalized recreational marijuana, but that doesn't mean you can just use it anywhere you want to,” said Bangor City Manager Regina Hoover. “There will be no  use on public property at the festival. The festival is focused on medical marijuana and they plan on having educational speakers in attendance.”

Smith underscored that the use of cannabis can only take place on the establishment's property.

“The Green Door will be the only establishment that will be selling cannabis and a person must have a valid medical marijuana card to come into and purchase products from the provisioning center,” Smith said. “None of the outdoor vendors will be selling cannabis. However, there will be a small area blocked off outdoors where those who have a medical marijuana card can partake.”

Dominique said city staff has been supportive of the celebration by helping organizers plan where to put events and by providing security.

“The city has been 100 percent on board to making this event a success,” Dominique said.

Having local vendors and crafters has also been priority.

“We’re really trying to give back to our community by involving local food vendors and crafters,” he said.

There will be plenty of giveaways during the festival. Over $10,000 in growing equipment will be given to guests to help them get started growing their own marijuana, Dominique said.

420 comes from the urban lore about a group of California high school students that met after school at 4:20 p.m. to search for  an abandoned cannabis crop they had learned about. After many failed attempts to find the crop, the group eventually shortened their phase to 4:20 which evolved into a code word the teens used to mean smoking cannabis.

To attend the 420 festival, guests must be over the age of 21. Local police will be carding those who look underage, Dominique said. Consuming pot will only be allowed under the three tents that will be erected on the store’s private property where it is legal to consume. 

“Pending bad weather, this should be a great event,” Dominique said. “Even then we have tents. Truth be told, I’m excited. I’ve been to tons of these events and there’s a lot of great people. I’ve never seen a fight and I’ve never seen it trashed out afterwards.”

Rash of stolen vehicles, larcenies reported

PAW PAW — Warmer weather is apparently bringing about a rash of vehicle thefts and break-ins in Van Buren County.

For the past several weeks, an uptick of stolen vehicles, car larcenies and suspicious activity has been reported to Van Buren County sheriff's deputies, prompting Sheriff Daniel Abbott to warn residents to lock their vehicles and homes.

“Several stolen vehicles and car larcenies have been reported lately county wide,” Abbott said. “Make sure you are locking your homes and cars to help deter this criminal activity. Keep an exterior light on and report any suspicious people and vehicles in your neighborhood.”

The complaints about larcenies and stolen vehicles have been reported county-wide, according to the sheriff, and are occurring in the early morning hours.

One of the latest incidents occurred shortly before 2 a.m., Monday in the Paw Paw-Mattawan area where two men were video taped trying to gain entry to a vehicle.

“Lawrence, Paw Paw, and Mattawan areas have been hit the most,” Abbott said. “Subdivisions and cities/villages have been targeted the most which is not uncommon as the suspects can hit multiple places and vehicles without having to drive around. The incidents are mostly happening after dark as well.”

Along with the larcenies from vehicles, there have been several stolen.

“Two from Paw Paw and one from Lawrence were stolen,” Abbott said.

Deputies were able to recover two vehicles that were stolen from Kalamazoo and Berrien County.



4.1.19

South Haven Area Emergency Services firefighters Brian Montgomery (left) and Shawn Smith are shown with one of the large-diameter hoses that will be used to pump water from the Black River during an upcoming fire drill that will take place in downtown South Haven in April. Both Montgomery and Smith have been overseeing the planning for the drill. Although the fire department has conducted large-scale drills at old industrial sites and in rural areas in recent years, it hasn't had one downtown since the 1980s.

Fire department plans large-scale fire drill in downtown South Haven

By BECKY KARK

Editor and general manager

Even though it's been 40 years since South Haven firefighters have battled a large-scale blaze, downtown, they still want to be prepared in case one ever occurs again. So they're planning to do something they haven't done in years – a large-scale fire training drill.

The five-alarm drill will take place Sunday morning, April 14 between 7 a.m.-11 a.m. in a triangular area bordered by Center, Quaker and Williams streets, downtown. While it occurs, the streets will be closed to traffic so that firefighters can properly train.

“We have not done one of these large-scale drills in the downtown for many years,” said South Haven Area Emergency Services Director Ron Wise. “We want to verify how much water we could pump if ever needed.  We know how much water the fire hydrant system is supposed to supply, but putting it into reality helps our staff understand the potential and limitations for large fires.”

The drill will consist of firefighters testing how much water can be used from the fire hydrant system and pumped from the Black River to put out large-scale fires.

“We want to have a minimal impact on the city that morning,” Wise said. “We chose the Center Street area to keep Phoenix Street (downtown's main street) mostly open. When we lay our large fire hoses towards the river, we will disrupt traffic in the area for a few hours at the most.”

Even though drivers and pedestrians may be a little inconvenienced by not being able to use sections of Center, Williams and Quaker during the drill, the fire department thinks it's necessary to conduct a real-life drill from time to time.

“We have done large fire drills at tabletop exercises where we use aerial maps in class room training, now we can put them into practical use,” Wise said. “Practicing for large fires makes it much easier for our staff to really see how to properly place apparatus, how much hose it really takes to pump from the river to the downtown and the amount of personnel needed to handle a large fire in the downtown.”

When the drill occurs several thousand gallons of water will actually be pumped from the river and from the hydrants.

“We will be flowing large amount of water from the hydrant system and from the river, the water will flow into the street storm sewer and back into the river,” Wise said. “We want to verify how much water we could potentially pump into the downtown area in case we ever have a large-scale fire in the downtown.

“The current fire hydrant system can handle most fires in the downtown as long as the fire is contained to a certain business or section. If a fire for some reason spreads to multiple buildings, it would require massive amounts of water for extinguishment.

In South Haven's case, the likeliest source for extra water would come from the Black River.

“When you have a large fire spreading in a downtown area, the fire flow needed may require several thousand gallons per minute to control the fire,” Wise said. “When you see large fire ladder trucks spraying water on a fire, each truck can spray one-thousand gallons per minute. If we put up three ladder trucks on a large fire, and still want to flow water through fire hoses, we may need to flow up to four thousand gallons of water per minute.  That would require us to truck the water into the fire scene or pump it from the river.”

Firefighters from SHAES won't be the only first responders taking part in the large-scale drill.

Fire and law enforcement department in Van Buren and Allegan counties will be assisting as well as Van Buren County Emergency Preparedness Office.

“Any time a community has a large fire, they utilize mutual aid agreements to have other fire departments assist,” Wise explained. So far, departments from Bangor, Hartford, Columbia, Ganges, Watervliet, Lawrence, Saugatuck, Lee and Bloomingdale plan to be a part of the drill.

The last time South Haven firefighters dealt with a large-scale building fire downtown occurred in 1978 when a blaze broke out at N&R Store. Prior to that a large fire destroyed the Michigan Shore Lumber Company along the Black River in 1969. A year before the lumber company blaze, a fire destroyed Holly's restaurant on Center Street.



SH veterans invited for 'Laying of the Wreath' ceremony in Washington DC

By KIM INGALLS

For The Tribune

A bus load of Southwestern Michigan veterans and their families, including Medal of Honor recipient Jim McCloughan of South Haven, will travel to Washington DC to take part in the “Laying of the Wreath” ceremony  April 4 at Arlington National Cemetery.

McCloughan, along with South Haven American Legion post commander Stan Wakild, will have the honor of representing Post 49 during the ceremony that will take place at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Participation in the Laying of the Wreath ceremony is by invitation only.

“About 42 people will be going,” said Art Roderick who organized the trip. “We will also be going to various tourist attractions like the Smithsonian, and Lincoln, Vietnam and Korean memorials while we are there.”

The group will leave South Haven on April 3 and return April 7. Even though Roderick, who is a retired chartered bus driver, won’t be driving this trip, he is very familiar with the area.

“I was a tour bus driver for many years,” he explained. “I’ve made over 100 trips to Washington DC so the legion asked me to put this trip together.”

While not everyone on the trip is from South Haven, they do have one thing in common - Post 49.

“There are four going from South Haven, six from Buchanan and a family of three from Chicago,” explained Roderick. “They all signed up at the American Legion.”

Participation in the Laying of the Wreath ceremony is by invitation only.



3.25.19

The nine commercial storefronts that comprise the "Hale block" on Center Street are shown above. What isn't shown is the sanitary sewer line that runs underneath the buildings. When the city reconstructs Center Street, it plans to replace the line with a new one that will be located underneath the street. The buildings along the Hale block are for sale, and it is anticipated a new owner will renovate the buildings, but such a project won't be able to take place until the sewer line is relocated.

Huge undertaking

South Haven eyes $4.5 million reconstruction of Center Sreet

By BECKY KARK

Editor and general manager

Nearly a decade ago South Haven city officials oversaw reconstruction of Williams Street, downtown. Several years later, it was Phoenix Street's turn for a complete rebuild. Now city officials are turning their attention to upgrading another main link to the central business district – Center Street.

There's no time frame set up yet for the $4.5 million project - which would include a complete overhaul of Center from Williams Street to Michigan Avenue - but that's not stopping city officials from trying to line up funds to pay for it.

“This is one of those moments where some things are working well downtown,” City Manager Brian Dissette said, referring in part to the construction of a new $4 million three-story residential and retail establishment at Center and Huron streets, and a possible reconstruction of a conglomeration of retail establishments on the northern end of Center, known as the “Hale block.” The buildings along the block have been for sale for several years and it appears a buyer may purchase the block.

“There appears to be major progress toward the private sale of the Hale development, which is almost a block of Center Street (from Phoenix to Quaker streets), Dissette said.

If the block is to be redeveloped it would most likely consist of a mix of retail and residential establishments, which is why the city wants to replace the aging sewer and water mains, some of which, believe it or not, are situated underneath the Hale buildings.

“Some people ask, 'why rebuild Center Street?' It's simple,” Dissette said. “Our sanitary sewer main is not underneath the street, its underneath the Hale building. If we are to see the Hale development being redeveloped, we're going to have to deal with that sanitary sewer. With redevelopment of any of the properties along Center, we need to ensure the city has proper access to sanitary sewers.”

Just how the sewer main landed up underneath the Hale buildings remains a mystery.

“It's something I've scratched my head over for quite a few years,” Dissette said. “You're talking about (early) 1900s construction.”

The sanitary sewer isn't the only infrastructure that would be replaced along the five-block section of Center Street. So would the water and storm sewer mains.

“Storm sewer management is important downtown,” Dissette said. “Water runoff has impacted some of the properties along Center. Whatever (development) happens on Center Street, it will likely include multi-family development. Making sure they have good water pressure is important.”

Aside from infrastructure upgrades, the reconstruction project would include resurfacing of Center Street and sidewalk and landscaping improvements.

Luckily, the city has received a tentative commitment to receive up to $800,000 from the Michigan Economic Development Commission for infrastructure upgrades. The city also intends to apply for a $250,000 grant from the Michigan Department of Transportation, and a $250,000 grant from the United States Department of Agriculture's rural infrastructure program. City staff also anticipates seeking loans from the Michigan Revolving Loan Fund and the Michigan Drinking Water Revolving Loan Fund to help finance the Center Street reconstruction project.

The start-up date for the reconstruction of Center Street will depend on funding, Dissette said.

“There's a lot of balls in the air that have to be addressed, first,” he said.

Team Ramageddon off to a good start

After earning a third-place finish at the first District competition of the season, South Haven's Team 4855 robotics team will be gearing up for the second one, scheduled March 29-30 at East Kentwood High School, in Kentwood.

Team Ramageddon not only finished third out of 38 teams at the District contest, March 16, at Gull Lake, they also won the Autonomous Award for excellence in computer programming of their robot.

If South Haven does well at its second District competition, the team will head to the state contest in April.

So far, the prospect of a trip to the state contest looks promising for Team Ramageddon. Currently, they are ranked 46^th in the state out of 542 teams. The top 160 teams will advance to the state championship.

Last year, South Haven finished 80^th in the state and qualified for the world competition in Detroit.

3.18.19

Contributed photo
The South Haven Lighthouse Keepers Home, now owned by the Michigan Maritime Museum, is the subject of a new book, Michigan's Haunted Lighthouses, that recounts stories of lighthouses and lighthouse keepers dwellings that are rumored to be haunted. The 144-page book, part of The History Press “Haunted America” series, is now available for purchase online at MiHauntedLighthouses.com

Ghostly history

Book on Michigan's haunted lighthouses contains chapter

about South Haven's lighthouse keeper's home

By BECKY KARK

Editor and general manager

The next time you walk by the South Haven Lightkeeper's House, you may want to cross the street or perhaps, if you're brave enough, peek inside one of its window — but only if you dare.

Turns out the tall, two-story house at 91 Michigan St. is haunted, at least that's what author Dianna Stampfler recounts in a new book that tells the stories of lighthouse dwellings, such as the one in South Haven, rumored to be haunted.

Released last week, Michigan's Haunted Lighthouses is a 144-page book that is part of The History Press's “Haunted America” series. Stampfler, who has been researching, writing and presenting programs about Michigan's lighthouses and their keepers for 20 years, was asked by the publishing house to write the book. Founded in 2004, The History Press publishes local and regional history and culture from throughout the United States.

Michigan, according to Stampfler has more lighthouses than any other state – 117, with the first beacon built in the 1820s and the latest constructed in 2006.

“I am honored that The History Press contacted me asking if I was interested in writing a book for them,” Stampfler said. “I know many of these stories intimately, but I’ve been digging in even more to find photos, historical records, newspaper clippings and other details that shed light on the history of these beacons. I have even uncovered some facts that contradict what I previously believed about some of the keepers, which is exciting to me and hopefully to my readers.”

Michigan is home to more lighthouses than any other state and some 30 of those are rumored to be haunted by the spirits of former keepers, mariners and others with ties to these historic beacons, according to Stampfler.

The South Haven Lightkeepers home is one of them.

The ghostly story about the South Haven Lightkeepers House involves Civil War Capt. James Donahue, who manned the lighthouse for 35 years before retiring in 1910.

“South Haven and Keeper James S Donahue are featured in the first chapter (of Haunted Lighthouses),” Stampfler said. Patti (Reinert) and her team at the Michigan Maritime Museum were most helpful in digging up information, news clips and photographs for that chapter.”

Capt. Donahue was arguably the most well-known lighthouse keeper South Haven had. He served as keeper from 1874-1909. Prior to becoming a lighthouse keeper, Donahue served in the U.S. Army during the Civil War where he rose to the rank of captain. During the Battle of the Wilderness he was wounded and his leg was amputated at the thigh, forcing him to wear crutches for the rest of his life.

Even though he only had use of one leg, Donahue saved 15 lives as South Haven's lighthouse keeper, according to Lighthouse Digest. His actions earned him a silver life-saving medal from the U.S. Government.

After he died, rumors developed that his ghost still lingered in the lightkeepers dwelling, which is now used as the Maritime Museum's Marialyce Canonie Research Library.

“Staff, researchers and volunteers have long shared accounts of mysterious goings-on inside the home, from the creaking of floor boards upstairs when no one was there to opening and closing of doors,” Stampfler said. “However, the ghost is more of a presence than a nuisance. Donahue, like many of the other spirits that linger at Michigan lights, simply feels more comfortable inside the protective walls of his one-time home.”

Stampfler has been professionally writing and broadcasting since high school. She holds a bachelor’s degree in English with emphasis in community journalism and communications with emphasis in radio broadcasting from Western Michigan University. She is a member of the Great Lakes Lighthouse Keepers Association, Great Lakes Maritime Museum, Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society, Historical Society of Michigan, Michigan Maritime Museum, National Museum of the Great Lakes and West Michigan Tourist Association. Stampfler was born and raised in Plainwell but currently lives in Walloon Lake, near Traverse City.

SHAES contract extended for another 25 years

By TRIBUNE STAFF

Municipalities throughout the South Haven area apparently like the way a regional authority meets local residents' fire protection and emergency medical services needs.

Over the past several weeks, the governing boards of the City of South Haven and townships of Casco, Geneva and South Haven have each agreed to extend their contract with South Haven Area Emergency Services for another 25 years.

voted regional fire protection and emergency medical services authority pA regional approach for providing fire protection and emergency medical services to South Haven area residents and property owners has been extended for another 25 years, through 2044.

The pact received final approval from South Haven Area Emergency Services (SHAES) Authority at their March 7 meeting.

In 1994 the city was facing financial challenges in the operation of ambulance (EMS) service through its fire department. The city was providing fire and EMS services on a contractual basis to South Haven township and the western half of Geneva Township. Casco township operated its own fire department.

A task force consisting of residents and officials from each of the four government agencies was formed and came to the conclusion that an "emergency services authority" be established. In 1995 it became the first such authority to be created in Michigan with funding based on the taxable property value for fire protection and population for ambulance service.

"SHAES has been a huge success and has raised the bar as an example of regional cooperation," said South Haven Township Supervisor Ross Stein who is also Chair of the SHAES Authority Board.

Today the department has 16 fulltime and 30 paid-on-call staff operating from three stations. The department responded to more than 2,000 calls for service in 2018, according to Executive Director Ron Wise.

 "We continue to receive several requests each year from fire departments and communities across the state inquiring on the formula to share costs on a consistent basis taking life and property into account," Wise asid

The SHAES budget in 2018 was just under $2.7 million. The Authority derives its income from each of the governmental units, the Van Buren County ambulance millage and ambulance user fees.

The city of South Haven in 2018 funded 22 percent of the budget followed by Casco township 17 percent, South Haven township 11 percent and Geneva township 9 percent. The Van Buren County ambulance millage and user fees each provided 20 percent of the budget.



10.14.19

South Haven developer Randy Locker stands in front of the three-story building at 253 Center Street that he plans to renovate into a mixed-use development with retail space on the first story and 12 apartments on the top two floors.

Residential living, downtown style

South Haven developer plans

$3.8 million investment to renovate historic buildings and create

19 apartments

By BECKY KARK

Editor and general manager

Get ready for more construction along Center Street in downtown South Haven when the historic Hale block undergoes a $2.7 million renovation project that will result in the creation of 10 new apartments, renovated retail space and demolition of several dilapidated retail buildings that will eventually result in construction of new ones.

The project is expected to get underway in November and be completed by November 2020, according to Randy Locker of Locker & Locker Properties LLC, developer and owner of the Hale block buildings.

To help jumpstart the project, South Haven City Council members voted Monday in favor of granting Locker & Locker a 10-year commercial rehabilitation tax break that will exclude the development from paying property taxes on the $2.7 million investment, but not the taxes currently being charged.

“We have a unique situation occurring downtown,” City Manager Brian Dissette said. “We are reconstructing Center Street at the same time a local developer and his team are looking to rebuild up to a block of that same section of street. This is really rare.”

The Hale block consists of a historic three-story building and several other one and two-story buildings on Center Street between Quaker and Phoenix streets. Locker intends to create the apartments on the second and third floors of the 15,000 square-foot three-story building and renovate commercial space on the first floor. He also plans to tear down the old buildings south of the three-story building with the exception of the one that houses Johnny's Jewelry at the corner of Center and Phoenix.

Locker purchased the property and buildings earlier this year, which pleased city officials greatly.

“Just a couple of years ago we were planning demolition (of the buildings),” Dissette said. “Now we're talking about making it grow...City staff has been working for 10 years to try to fill large vacancies on Center and spur development downtown.”

Locker and his contractor, Randy Timmer, are not only planning to renovate the Hale block, they're also planning to create apartments in the upper levels of three commercial downtown buildings in the 500 block of Phoenix Street. The buildings currently house MI Coast, Gravity Winery and Harbor Light Brewery. By November 2020 the second story of those buildings will house six one-bedroom apartments and a two-bedroom unit. City council members, Monday, also granted a 10-year tax abatement for that $1.1 million investment.

Creating more affordable housing options has been a goal of the city council over the past year, but one council member questioned whether the new apartments being constructed by Locker and Locker will actually be affordable.

Locker said the apartments will cost renters $900-$1,200 per month.

“It should be affordable compared to market rates out there,” he said.

But council member Letitia Wilkins disagreed, saying she knows young adults she works with at South Haven Public Schools, including teachers, who cannot afford to pay $900 a month for rent.

“The average college student cannot afford $900,” she said. “Are we trying to bring the missing middle from somewhere else or accommodate the missing middle in South Haven?”

But other council members disagreed with her.

“I have three adult children who would gladly pay that,” said Mayor Pro Tem Clark Gruber, adding that his children live and work in other towns in West Michigan. “That's what we're seeing as the norm.”

“For downtown that's a great rate,” said council member Chris Campbell, who owns a retail shop downtown. “For the last 10 years I've seen apartments (downtown) going for $800 to $900. It's a prime location.”

Market rate vs. affordable rate

Dissette told council members city staff is keenly aware the creation of affordable housing is one of the council's biggest priorities, but he also said the city not only needs affordable, work-force housing but market rate housing.

“Does this (the apartments Locker intends to create) address affordable concerns? Probably not,” Dissette said. “Does it address market-rate concerns? Yes.”

Dissette went on to say that a housing study the city commissioned a year ago shows a need for more market-rate housing in South Haven.

“There's a need for 100 market rate apartments in the downtown area,” he said, pointing out that new market-rate apartments being constructed at a three-story mixed-use building now under construction at 335 Center Street are being rented at a considerably higher rate than what Locker intends to charge.

“The new apartments are going up to $1,700 a month and they're spoken for,” he said. “He's (Locker) renting at below that. That will force pressure and should create more affordable housing.”

Randy Timmer, who is the contractor for Locker's downtown renovation projects, said it would be cost prohibitive to charge less than $900 a month considering the renovations that are being made to the Hale block and the Phoenix Street parcels.

“We're trying to create as affordable of housing as we can,” he said. “We're completely rehabbing buildings. It's a huge cost.”

The housing study also indicated a need for work-force housing, which Dissette said, the city is working on with consulting company, Housing Next.

The creation of more affordable housing will most likely involve a partnership with a public entity such as the South Haven Housing Commission, Dissette said.

The city recently developed a partnership with the housing commission and South Haven Township to find suitable locations and encourage the development of affordable housing options in the greater South Haven area.

“One way to have affordable housing is to manage it as a public project. Something the city hasn't done for three decades,” Dissette said.

Bangor branch library provides social work services

By KIM INGALLS

For the Tribune

BANGOR — Do you have questions about educational opportunities, employment assistance, social programs or other issues but don’t know where to go for information?

Starting Saturday, Oct.  19, the Bangor Branch of the Van Buren District Library will offer a new program that connects library patrons to a social worker.

“During their time at the library, the social work intern will assemble a list of local support resources such as faith-based charities, local non-profits, and places where state and federal assistance may be accessed,” explained Dan Hutchins, Van Buren District Library director. “The main thing I think they will bring to the library is expertise in accessing the web for free and subsidized resources offered by the many non-profits and various layers of government, such as assistance accessing unemployment benefits and other forms of cash government assistance, help finding shelter, food resources, or substance abuse counseling, to name a few.”

Social Workers in Rural and Small Libraries is a grant-funded partnership between Niles District Library and six other libraries in the region,” explained Tiffany Russell, the social worker who oversees the project. “Our goals are to connect patrons with resources and information about services in their community and to develop collaborative relationships with local social service agencies.”

This is a three-year grant project funded through the Library of Michigan and the Institute of Museum and Library Services, she added.

The project is intended to expand both the libraries' ability to serve patrons and the library community's understanding of how social workers can help small and rural libraries impact patrons’ lives.

“We first tried the program at the Covert branch,” Hutchins said. After trying it there for a year, we thought that perhaps the people who needed the service most had difficulty getting to the branch library, as Covert doesn’t have a downtown area and transportation may be difficult for some to come by. We decided to change the location to the Bangor branch for the second year. The Bangor branch is located within a downtown area, surrounded by a large neighborhood, and would be within walking distance of many more people.”

An intern who is working on her master’s degree in social work from Western Michigan University will be available to talk to patrons one-on-one every Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Bangor. Appointments are encouraged but not necessary. All information will be kept private.

“In terms of confidentiality, the Bangor branch has a community room the social work intern and their clients may use when privacy is needed,” Hutchins explained. “Additionally, the library doesn’t have access to the social work intern’s records, and the social work intern does not have access to any of the library’s patron records, which are protected by Michigan's Library Privacy Act.” 

Social work intern queries and library business transactions are entirely separate, he added.

“Before becoming a public library director, I worked for many years as a front-line reference librarian,” said Hutchins. “People would often ask me for help accessing government or non-profit assistance, and while librarians are expert in finding accurate information of all kinds, knowing what resources are available to help people in need is a complex, multi-faceted domain all its own. The social work intern specializes in this realm, and it’s hoped their expertise in this area will be of benefit to those who need it.”

For more information or to schedule an appointment, call the Niles library at 269-683-8545 ext 111.



10.7.19

Charles Collins of South Haven spent Monday afternoon sorting through a pile of old bricks that once lined Center Street in downtown South Haven. When contractors removed the asphalt surface from Center Street two weeks ago as part of a $2.8 million reconstruction of the road, they unveiled the bricks, which city officials are letting residents have either for home improvement projects or as souvenirs.

New life for old bricks

The price is right for residents hauling away century-old bricks

By BECKY KARK

Editor and general manager

South Haven residents are getting an unexpected windfall from the Center Street reconstruction project – bricks.

And they're not the typical bricks contractors use these days. They're the original bricks that lined South Haven's downtown streets more than 100 years ago.

“It appears the bricks were placed in approximately 1903,” said City Manager Brian Dissette.

That's the year workers finished laying bricks on Center and Phoenix streets.

“They're larger than current standards,” Dissette noted. “They are also quite dense and heavy.”

When workers from Kalin Construction began removing the asphalt surface from Center Street two weeks ago, they unveiled the bricks, a number of which were still intact.

Rather than haul the historic material away to a landfill, contractors transported it to a large parking lot at Black River Park to allow local residents to take whatever ones they wanted.

Word of the available bricks got around quickly.

Monday, about a half-dozen people could be seen sorting through the large piles of bricks and dirt to find usable ones for use around their homes.

Charles Collins of South Haven said he planned to use ones he gathered to make a patio, while Collin Raczynski was gathering bricks to give to his aunt.

“My aunt is going to make something with them,” he said. “I don't even know yet. I'm just the laborer.”

This isn't the first time city officials have let residents take home old bricks that once lined downtown streets.

“We provided a similar service with the Phoenix Street project” in 2014, Dissette said.

Area residents who don't get the opportunity to obtain bricks from Center Street's reconstruction, don't need to worry. When the second phase of the project begins later this fall, workers intend to remove the old bricks underneath the asphalt surface south of Phoenix Street.

“We kind of figure the public paid for them originally, we might as well return them to the public,” Dissette said.

VB seeks road commission director

New residency guideline built into position

By BECKY KARK

Editor and general manager

LAWRENCE — After nearly five months without a full-time director, Van Buren County Road Commission is now seeking a new one to replace long-time administrator Larry Hummel, whose position was terminated in April.

The commission announced Monday an official search is now underway to hire a managing director. Applications will be accepted through Oct. 24. The Road Commission board will then begin reviewing the applications, narrow the field of candidates and then start interviews. In announcing the search, the Road Commission also made it clear the successful candidate must live within a 20-mile radius of Van Buren County.

One of the reasons several commissioners voted to let Hummel go in April was the distance he traveled for his job. Hummel lives in Carson City and would stay in Van Buren County during the week and return home on weekends.

The new director's duties will also be somewhat different from Hummel's. Hummel served as both manager and engineer for the commission.

“It was a decision by the board that the manager of the Road Commission did not also need to have an engineering degree,” said Jill Brien, administrative assistant for the Road Commission. “The selected candidate could be an engineer, but it was not a requirement of the position to be an engineer. It widens up the playing field, not to mention that we already have a very capable, competent engineering department.”

Since Hummel left, Barry Anttila, who is highway engineer for the commission, has taken charge of the department. “Additionally, we will utilize a contract with professional engineering company, as needed,” Brien said.

Until a new manager is hired, the three other department heads will continue dividing their time to take on tasks that had been performed by the director.

Officials stress need for safety at railroad crossings

By KIM INGALLS

For the Tribune

BANGOR — City officials, local law enforcement officers and volunteers from  Michigan Operation Lifesaver joined together last week to stress the need for safety at railroad crossing tracks.

Mayor Darren William, along with MOL member Rick Burns, Bangor Police Chief Tommy Simpson and several government officials participated in a special ceremony at the train depot as they greeted the Chicago-bound Amtrak coming from Grand Rapids.

This was the first time the event, which was part of Rail Safety Week, has been held in Bangor.

“Rick Burn, an authorized volunteer with Operation Lifesaver, contacted us several weeks ago to ask about having the event at the depot here in Bangor,” explained Regina Hoover, Bangor city manager. “The main concern is safety around railroad tracks, particularly drivers not following rail crossing signals and trespassers.”

Last year in Michigan, there was 44 vehicle-train crashes at highway rail crossings while 12 pedestrians were injured or killed walking on or near railroad tracks.

The non-profit rail safety organization conducted a week-long campaign across the state during Rail Safety Week Sept. 22-28 to save lives by alerting pedestrians and drivers to the dangers of being inattentive at highway-rail grade crossings and along train tracks.

"While the number of highway-rail crossing crashes, deaths, and injuries has dropped over the past five decades, it's still a startling fact that about every three hours in the U.S. a person or vehicle is hit by a train," said Sam Crowl, Michigan Operation Lifesaver coordinator.   

He went on to say that the group is especially focusing on people trespassing on property owned by the railroad.

“Our concentrated effort right now is trespassers,” he told the Bangor audience. “They are on privately owned property. A lot of them walk along the rails and even wear ear buds.”

That is a problem the Bangor Police Department is already dealing with.

“We really do strict enforcing on trespassers around here,” Simpson replied.

Public service announcements, billboard campaigns, and other activities were part of the campaign.

"The goal of Railroad Safety Week is to raise awareness of the need for rail safety education and empower Michigan residents to keep themselves safe near highway-rail grade crossings and railroad property," said Tim Hoeffner, Michigan Department of Transportation Office of Rail director. "We fully support Operation Lifesaver and Railroad Safety Week's goal: educating our citizens to automatically expect a train on any track or at any crossing, and to take appropriate precautions."





9.30.19

A group of young volunteers spent their SERVE SoHa day helping to clear the nature trail at Maple Grove Elementary School.

Let someone else eat cake

SERVE SoHa work day attracts 180 volunteers

By BECKY KARK

Editor and general manager

It's customary to celebrate birthdays with cake and ice cream.

But members of LifeBridge Church decided to celebrate the congregation's sixth birthday by rolling up their sleeves and helping people throughout the South Haven community.

As Pastor Milan Bittenbender summed it up: “I didn't expect cupcakes at my birthday. I brought cupcakes. This is a similar thing that we're doing on our birthday.”

LifeBridge called its birthday workday, SERVE SoHa.

Throughout the day on Sept. 22, volunteers cleared brush and spruced up green spaces and flower beds at local schools, churches and senior housing complexes, collected personal care items at local retailers to donate to We Care INC's personal care pantry, visited with residents at three assisted living and nursing homes. Some even went to a laundromat in South Haven and gave quarters to patrons to use for their laundry.

“We had a great day,” Bittenbender said. “About 180 people registered and worked in some way or another. We had people working all over the community.”

Although it rained off and on throughout the day, volunteers were able to get most of their tasks completed. However, several of the more ambitious outdoor projects had to be rescheduled, including one at the baseball fields at South Haven High School.

“We did have to postpone a couple of the projects because they involved mostly painting and the weather just didn't permit,” Bittenbender said. “A very large team will be doing basic clean up, maintenance and painting at the high school baseball fields.”

Another team, who spruced up the front yard and building at Trinity Baptist Church in Covert, will also have to return to finish the work there.

Bittenbender came up with the idea for SERVE SoHa earlier this year as a way to build a spirit of giving in the South Haven area.

“Our long-term vision is that this will not be exclusively a LifeBridge thing, but that it will become a way to connect other community groups who are doing great things, with people and organizations who need help,” Bittenbender said. “This is not about a church. We just hope to be a catalyst to bring people together to make our community a better place to live. This concept is actually where LifeBridge gets its name. Our goal is to tear down walls and build bridges to a better life.

Van Buren commissioners broach the subject of closing South Haven courthouse

By ROD SMITH

For the Tribune

PAW PAW — Van Buren County commissioners are once again discussing whether to close Seventh District Court in South Haven, but not if a commissioner who represents South Haven has anything to say about it.

Gail Patterson-Gladney said she has talked to a number of local officials who are opposed to such a move, including South Haven Mayor Scott Smith, South Haven City Manager Brian Dissette, South Haven City Assistant Manager Kate Hosier and Seventh District Court Judge Arthur Clarke.

Commissioners, Tuesday, talked about possibly selling the courthouse and the county administration building in Paw Paw as part of a long-range facilities plan to enhance citizen access to services, improve safety and security and moving employees who currently work in the basements of buildings owned by the county. Basement offices include Friend of the Court, specialty courts and the state Probation/Parole office.

"We don't have extra space," County Administrator John Faul told commissioners. "That's why they're crammed in basements."

Commissioners and county staff talked about what options could be considered for long-range facility planning.

Options include:

• Closing and selling the South Haven district court building and the Paw Paw Administration and Land Management Building across from the historic courthouse and constructing a new office building in the parking lot east of the courthouse. Cost estimate is $35 million. County officials expect to get $1.8 million from the sale of the two buildings.

• Keeping both buildings but still constructing a new building to get county staff out of basements. Money would also be spent to address safety and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) concerns in the administration building. Cost estimate is $27 million.

• Keep the South Haven courthouse but sell the administration building and construct a building next to the Paw Paw courthouse for the basement dwellers, plus incorporate the offices in the Administration building. Expected cost is $30 million.

• The last option is to do none of the above, but just improve compliance with ADA regulations. That would run $5 million.

In the beginning of the discussion Commissioner Randall Peat favored the first option of selling the two buildings, saying if done right the new building could last 100 years. He said the money spent just on repairs would not be recoverable. "I just want to do it once, do it right, spend what we need to spend, and move on," Peat told commissioners.

However, Patterson-Gladney cited local residents' opposition to closing the South Haven courthouse.

There was no decision after nearly an hour of discussion but commissioners appeared to be leaning more toward the second and third options, under both of which the South Haven courthouse would stay open.

There's also the question of paying for the project, whichever way it goes. In May 2017 commissioners asked for 0.7 mills for 20 years for a different construction project and it was shot down 4,792 to 1,884. However, there's another option: A Headlee millage restoration election. Headlee regulations reduce millage to keep revenues from rising faster than the rate of inflation. The county's operating millage has been reduced by 0.6-mill over the years. If voters approve, it could be restored to the former level

Among others, Peat was in favor of the Headlee idea, saying the money could be socked away for a few years before the project began. "You save so much in interest," Peat said, apparently referring to the cost of bonding. "My God. It's unbelievable."

Commissioners expect to take up the matter again at the next meeting in two weeks.



9.23.19

Photo courtesy of WebMD
Michigan is suffering one of its worst outbreaks of Eastern equine encephalitis in decades.

EEE outbreak strikes Southwest Michigan

Fatal cases reported in Van Buren, Cass and K'zoo counties

By ALEXANDRA NEWMAN

HP Staff Writer

Michigan is suffering its worst outbreak of the Eastern equine encephalitis disease in decades with fatal cases reported in the Southwest part of the state, including Van Buren County.

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services reported last week that there have been two fatal cases of Eastern equine encephalitis in Van Buren and Cass counties.

The report came with the announcement of four additional confirmed cases of the disease, expanding the geographic area affected by human EEE cases to include Barry, Cass and Van Buren counties, along with previously identified cases in Kalamazoo and Berrien counties.

The Van Buren/Cass District Health Department has information about EEE on its website, vbcassdhd.org.

The mosquito-borne disease has now resulted in seven confirmed human cases of EEE in Michigan with onset dates in July. There have now been three fatal cases – the earliest from Kalamazoo County.

“Michigan is currently experiencing its worst Eastern Equine Encephalitis outbreak in more than a decade,” Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, MDHHS chief medical executive and chief deputy for health, said in a news release. “The ongoing cases reported in humans and animals and the severity of this disease illustrate the importance of taking precautions against mosquito bites.”

The MDHHS is encouraging officials in the five counties that have been affected by human EEE cases, plus the three counties that have had animal EEE cases – St. Joseph, Genesee and Lapeer counties – to consider postponing, rescheduling or canceling outdoor activities occurring at or after dusk, particularly activities that involve children.

This would include events such as late evening sports practices or games or outdoor music practices. The MDHHS reports that its recommendation is being made out of an abundance of caution to protect the public health and it applies until the first hard frost of the year.

EEE is one of the most dangerous mosquito-borne diseases in the United States, with a 33 percent fatality rate in people who become ill. People can be infected with EEE from the bite of a mosquito carrying the viruses. People younger than age 15 and over age 50 are at greatest risk of severe disease following infection.

Signs of EEE include the sudden onset of fever, chills, body and joint aches that can progress to a severe encephalitis, resulting in headache, disorientation, tremors, seizures and paralysis. Permanent brain damage, coma and death may also occur. Anyone experiencing these symptoms should seek immediate medical attention.

The MDHHS recommends the public follows these steps to avoid mosquito bites:

• Apply insect repellents that contain the active ingredient DEET, or other U.S. Environmental Protection Agency-registered product to exposed skin or clothing, and always follow the manufacturer’s directions for use.

• Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants when outdoors. Apply insect repellent to clothing to help prevent bites.

• Maintain window and door screening to help keep mosquitoes outside.

• Empty water from mosquito breeding sites around the home, such as buckets, unused kiddie pools, old tires or similar sites where mosquitoes may lay eggs.

• Use nets and/or fans over outdoor eating areas.

In addition to the human cases, as of Sept. 16, nine cases of EEE in horses had been confirmed in Barry, Kalamazoo, Lapeer and St. Joseph counties. None of the horses were vaccinated against EEE and all animals have died. There is an EEE vaccine available for horses, but not for people.

Also, five deer, in Barry, Cass, Genesee, Kalamazoo, and Van Buren counties, have been confirmed with EEE infection and were euthanized due to the severity of their disease symptoms.

Bid for BL-196 road diet awarded to SH company

By BECKY KARK

Editor and general manager

A local company with strong ties to South Haven will be taking charge of making the “lane diet” along a section of Business Loop 196 a reality.

City Council members, Monday, voted unanimously to award the contract to Compton Inc. Compton was the low bidder for the project, according to Department of Public Works Director Bill Hunter

Consulting firm Abonmarche had originally estimated the project would cost $141,000.

“A low bid of $138,455.00 was received by Compton, Inc.,” Hunter noted. The other bidder was J. Ranck Electric Inc. of Mt. Pleasant, who bid $174,523.

DPW staff still need to meet with staff from Compton to determine the start date for the project, but Hunter said previously he hopes the road diet will be finished sometime in October, or possibly November if need be.

The road diet along the Business Loop that between Phoenix Street and Aylworth Avenue will entail reduction of the five-lane roadway to three lanes with bicycle lanes on either side.

The intent of the lane diet is to make the roadway safer for bicyclists and for pedestrians to cross, especially South Haven High School students and other city residents who live east of the business loop.

Creating a three-lane roadway will not involve roadway reconstruction, but rather restriping of it, according to Hunter.

He referred to the restriping as the “trial phase” to determine how well the road diet will work for motorists, pedestrians and bicyclists.

“It is worth underscoring this first phase is a planned trial phase to ensure the

proposed road diet functions as anticipated and will simply entail restriping the road,” he said. “No permanent changes will be made to the existing infrastructure until after the trial period is over and the functionality of the street can be evaluated and additional public comment solicited.”

Hunter said the trial phase is expected to last two years.

Lack of space

Lakeview Cemetery rates increase significantly for non-residents

By BECKY KARK

Editor and general manager

With the completion of $300,000 worth of improvements to Lakeview Cemetery this year, it shouldn't come as a surprise that the City of South Haven now wants to raise cemetery fees. However, that's not the main reason rates will be increasing, especially for non-residents.

City council members, Monday, voted to increase burial rates for local residents by 2.5 percent, while upping non-resident burial fees to four times the amount of what residents pay.

It's not a matter of making non-residents who want to be buried in Lakeview Cemetery feel unwanted, it's a matter of land limitation, according to Department of Public Works Director Bill Hunter.

“With every year, the City of South Haven loses capacity within our cemetery with each sale of a

lot,” Hunter said. “There is logic to the four times cost increase to non-resident buyers. The increase would discourage non-residents from purchasing lots, saving those lots for future residents.”

The city council voted in 2017 to raise cemetery rates. After the fees were increased, it cost residents $537 to purchase a lot, $479 for a full burial and $111 for a cremation burial. Non-resident fees were roughly double or even triple what residents paid, depending on what they purchased. A lot in 2017 cost non-residents $1,610, a burial, $961 and a cremation $222.

Now their burial costs will quadruple across the board.

Non-residents will pay $2,204 for a lot, $1,965 for a burial and $455 for a cremation burial, while residents will pay $551 for a lot, $491 for a burial and $114 for a cremation burial.

The city began the process of determining whether to raise cemetery rates earlier this year when the cemetery board asked city staff to compare South Haven's fees to other communities.

“City staff reached out to many communities but only received input from the City of Grand Haven,” Hunter said. “Grand Haven's fees are comparable to the city's except the non-resident fees. Grand Haven's non-resident fees are four times that of their resident fees.”

In May, staff discussed the possibility of raising the rates with the Parks Commission.

“We provided the Parks Commission with two options,” Hunter said. “Option one was to raise the existing fees by 2.5 percent. Option two was to raise the resident fees by 2.5 percent, and also, increase the non-resident fees by four times the amount of residential fees.”

The Parks Commission chose to go with the second option and made a recommendation to city council to go ahead and make the increases happen.

In addition to trying to conserve land in the cemetery, Hunter also acknowledged that the cemetery is funded solely from general fund dollars. It does not receive funding from other sources.

The improvements made at the cemetery earlier this year included restoration of the stone wall at the cemetery's entrance on Bailey Avenue, construction of a staircase on the western side of the cemetery, a new main entrance sign on Blue Star Highway, new yard hydrants, demolition of an old office building and landscaping work.





9.16.19

As part of the five-block reconstruction of Center Street, in downtown South Haven, city officials are stressing that businesses along Center Street will remain open during the construction project. Sidewalks will remain in place throughout the project and will be removed and replaced as soon as possible to allow access to businesses.

Major downtown street project gets underway

Five blocks of Center Street to be totally reconstructed by May 2020

By BECKY KARK

Editor and general manager

One of the South Haven's largest downtown construction projects is expected to get underway this week when reconstruction of five blocks of Center Street, from Williams to Michigan streets, begins.

“It's a big project,” commented Department of Public Works Director Bill Hunter in regard to the $2.8 million undertaking “Once this is complete it's going to be a new downtown.”

Center Street's rebuild, which is expected to be finished in May of 2020, will be done in phases and includes new water and sewer mains, new concrete streets, curbs, gutters and sidewalks, landscaping, free wifi and a vertical garden of colorful flowers that will be planted on the east walls of the Chemical Bank building.

But with any major street project comes concerns from local business owners who wonder how quickly construction will progress and more importantly, how customers and clients will get to their stores and offices.

City officials got a taste of those types of concerns in 2012 and 2014 when two other major downtown streets – Williams and Phoenix – underwent reconstruction.

They devised a plan to keep business owners up to date on construction progress and tried to minimize detours by keeping sections of sidewalks and streets open to the public so they could get to shops, restaurants and offices.

A similar approach will take place with the Center Street project.

“The Downtown Development Authority Director will communicate to the downtown merchants using the same methods as the Phoenix Street improvement project — newsletter, email, city Facebook, city website and personal visits,” Hunter said. “We're also working with the Chamber of Commerce and the Visitors Bureau and the merchant group to spread the word that downtown is open for business.”

In addition, DPW staff and contractors will conduct “tailgate meetings” at 10 a.m. each Thursday at Abonmarche architectural firm, 503 Quaker Street to allow business owners the opportunity to receive updates about the project and ask questions.

“We encourage everybody to go to the tailgate meetings,” Hunter said.

Reconstruction is expected to begin Sept. 17, subject to contracts being signed and approved.

To try to minimize interruptions for businesses, the project will be done in two phases.

“The project will start at the north end. This will be from Williams Street to the north side of Phoenix Street,” Hunter said. “We will not be going into Phoenix Street with this project. Phase one has a tentative schedule to be substantially completed on Nov. 20. Phase two, which consists of the south half of the project, is from the south side of Phoenix Street to Michigan Avenue. This phase is tentatively scheduled to start Nov. 4 and be completed on May 5, 2020. These dates can change some due to the weather.”

As phases of the project get underway, vehicular traffic will be detoured following a route from Erie Street to Kalamazoo Street and then to Williams Street. Sidewalks will remain in place throughout the project and will be removed and replaced as soon as possible to allow access to businesses, according to Hunter.

As each phase gets underway, the first task for contractors will be grinding up the street to install sanitary and storm sewers and water mains.

“These items (for phase one) will happen from mid-September to mid-October,” Hunter explained. “The street work, sidewalks, pavers and general surface work will be completed in late October to mid-November and the live wall will be completed in April or May.

Street removal and sewer and water main work in the second phase will occur in November and early December.

“Road reconstruction will start in late December,” Hunter said. Once the worst of the winter weather ends, sidewalk, irrigation, paver, planting and paving projects will occur from March to early May.

Foundation's goal: Put more books in classrooms

By BECKY KARK

Editor and general manager

At a time when it seems schools favor teaching students with online computer programs rather than books, a local foundation is making sure books continue to play a prominent role in K-12 education.

The South Haven Public Schools Foundation is establishing a $2,500 challenge grant to purchase books to place in classrooms throughout the school district. They hope other groups will come forward to contribute funding to match the grant.

“Books are and have been a major part of our school system, ust as technology has not replaced teachers, but supplements programming and does not replace time-tested tools,” said Dr. Jeffrey Postma, a member of the Education Foundation.

“Our Education Foundation’s mission is to support teacher’s efforts to strengthen the success of all students,” Postma went on to say. “The importance of literacy is at the forefront at the local and state level.  Improving literacy is consistent with South Haven’s Strategic Plan, School Improvement Plan and the state’sTop 10 in 10 Years Initiative.”

The foundation plans to purchase books for classrooms, rather than school building libraries, to encourage students to continue using books to enhance their education. Each school in the district has libraries staffed primarily by para-pros, but students often have limited access to the libraries, due to their class schedules.

“This (the purchase of books for classrooms) will allow immediate and instant access of high-interest books at appropriate reading levels for all students in a classroom,” said Dene Hadden, a member of the Education Foundation and retired South Haven High School principal. “The books will be selected by teachers by grade levels for individual classrooms.  Students will be able to use these books at any time and not have to wait for library days or other opportunities to secure reading material.”

Organizations, businesses and individuals interested in supporting the foundation's project can contact the Office of the Superintendent or any of the members of the foundation, whose website address is http://shpublicschoolsfoundation.org





9.9.19

A new restroom and bench are among improvements recently made at Pilgrim Haven Natural Area. Contributed photo

Pilgrim Haven plans workday to help showcase improvements

Over the past several months, Pilgrim Haven Natural Area has undergone a series of improvements to attract a growing number of South Haven area nature lovers.

Saturday, Sept. 14, the Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy, which owns the property in South Haven Township, is hosting a “Plant a Lake Michigan Rain Garden” workday as a way to show off the improvements and create even more.

The workday is scheduled from 9 a.m.-noon.

”We are asking volunteers to come out and help plant hundreds of native plants that will provide food for pollinators, soak up runoff, prevent flooding, filter pollutants, and look great, too!” stated Stewardship Director Mitch Lettow. “Volunteers of all ages are invited to join SWMLC in creating this special garden that will not only beautify the preserve, and provide functional water recharge and filtration, but will also create essential wildlife habitat for native and migrating pollinators such as Monarch butterflies.”

Over the past several years, SWMLC, in collaboration with the South Haven Area Recreation Authority, (SHARA) and with support from the Department of Natural Resources Trust Fund, South Haven Township Recreation Millage, Entergy Corporation – Palisades, the South Haven Rotary Club, and many private donors, has implemented universal access at Pilgrim Haven. Amenities include a new parking area, lighting, electric gate, trailhead, benches and a barrier-free walkway down to the beach so that people of all ages and abilities have a natural place where they can go to experience Lake Michigan firsthand.

This summer, SHARA, with assistance from SWMLC added pit toilets, a kayak/paddleboard rack, a new trail that connects the barrier-free walkway and the bridge, asphalt paving of the previously-gravel parking lot, and incorporation of a space for a rain garden in the center of the parking area.

“We are extremely pleased with this summer’s improvements and the overall work that has gone into creating the Pilgrim Haven Natural Area”, stated Ross Stein, SHARA Board Chair and South Haven Township Supervisor. “On most days the parking lot is full and people are enjoying the beach and walking the preserve. It is a great open space addition to the South Haven area.”

Pilgrim Haven Natural Area is managed and maintained by the South Haven Area Recreation Authority (SHARA). Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy owns the property and cares for its natural areas and wildlife. To find out more about the “Plant a Lake Michigan Rain Garden” Workday or for directions, please visit the SWMLC event page at https://swmlc.org/volunteer-workday-rain-garden/. To learn more about SWMLC, go to their website at swmlc.org or SWMLC’s Facebook page.

SH officials revisit medical pot issue

Council may allow marijuana safety testing businesses

By BECKY KARK

Editor and general manager

For more than a year, New Age Laboratories owner Scott Wall has wanted to provide testing services to ensure whether medical marijuana products are safely made.

But his plans are in a holding pattern because South Haven city officials have yet to approve an ordinance to allow marijuana-related businesses to exist.

Wall's wait, however, may soon be over.

City council members voted 5-1, Monday, to ask the planning commission to consider revising a proposed marijuana ordinance so that it only allows medical marijuana safety compliance facilities, such as New Age Laboratories, within the city limits.

“I think it's something we should look at,” said Mayor Pro Tem Clark Gruber. “He's set up for it (testing). There isn't any manufacture or sale.”

Council member Joe Reeser agreed. “I'm all for helping this business,” he said. “It doesn't mean we're going to make, ship or sell it (medical marijuana) here.”

The proposed marijuana ordinance has been gathering dust over the past several months, due to a citizen-led campaign that has led to a November ballot issue asking voters whether they want to allow recreational marijuana businesses in town. However, the ballot issue only addresses recreational marijuana facilities; meaning that council members could conceivably scale back the proposed ordinance to address only medical marijuana establishments.

But, council made it clear Monday, it's only interested in allowing medical marijuana testing facilities because a local business, who has already applied for state permits to test cannabis, could suffer financial consequences.

“We are trying to be clear to the public we are not intending to defraud the November ballot,” City Manager Brian Dissette said. “It's a little bit of a tricky balance trying to help a local business but trying to be very respectful of the fact we have a citizen's petition that is coming in November for the overall community to decide how we move forward with recreational marijuana.”

Council member George Sleeper was the only councilor to vote no on asking planners to consider whether to revise the proposed marijuana ordinance.

He argued that planners should address whether to allow all five medical-marijuana facilities to exist, not just one type.

“I share other people's concerns,” he said, “but I also wonder about other businesses that could be affiliated with medical marijuana. We should also have the planning commission look at those.”

Mayor Scott Smith differed.

“I've been a proponent of this man doing this testing,” he said. “This (testing medical marijuana) is a safety issue. It's small samples. It's an existing business. If we can allow him to get going with his business it's going to help him immediately. Others will have to come after that.”



9.3.19

Joe Lauzen of Illinois (left) shows his wedding ring that John Dudley of Grand Junction (right) found in Lake Michigan near South Haven. Lauzen had lost the ring while swimming with his children. Two days later, Dudley was able to find the ring two days later and return it to a surprised Lauzen and his wife, Jennifer.

He's got that magic touch

Grand Junction magician helps visitor find wedding ring in Lake Michigan

By KIM INGALLS

For the Tribune

Lost your wedding ring? Don’t worry - a local magician has a habit of making lost jewels reappear.

John Dudley has found a lot of rings during the 20 years he has been metal detecting - some finds have even caught the attention of national news media outlets.

The trend continued this month when he came to the rescue of a distraught Illinois couple who were visiting South Haven.

“I know this is a long shot, but my husband’s wedding ring fell off in the lake two days ago,” Jennifer Hallgren Lauzen posted. “There were a lot of waves that day, but he was not super deep...We realize this is like looking for a needle in a haystack, but if it ever washes onto the shore, we want to make sure someone could contact us.”

Dudley, who was out of the state at the time, heard about the couple's plight via social media.

“My wife, Nicole, and I were in South Bend and I kept getting tagged on Facebook and messaged about someone who had posted about a lost ring,” remembers Dudley, who also happens to be president of West Michigan Metal Detector Club. “So, I called them and got a few details. I said the soonest I could get there was about an hour and a half because of where we were.”

Joe Lauzen had lost the ring while playing in Lake Michigan with his kids. He knew approximately the location where it had come off, but with the waves, the ring had apparently moved, according to his wife Jennifer. “He kept diving to feel the bottom of the lake where it fell off for a few days. We even bought our own metal detector and found out the hard way we weren't very good at it.” The detector, she explained, couldn't be used in deeper water.

Armed with his high-tech metal detector and ear phones, Dudley braved the chest-high water where the ring had fallen off Lauzen's finger and started searching.

“I turned on the machine and started into the water,” Dudley recalled. “Holy cow, was it cold! I found out later it was 65 degrees. I had searched about an hour and 15 minutes and kept finding large, long sharp pieces of metal. In the water, all metal sounds the same. I had taken about all of the cold water I could, and decided to do one more sweep and then come back when the water warmed up.”

It was during that final search that he hit pay dirt.

“On my last sweep, I hear another signal and dug it up. We use a long handled scoop with a sieve like attachment that lets the sand fall through. I raised the scoop and saw his platinum ring inside. I slipped it on my pointer finger and yelled at him ‘Hey, look.’ His eyes got so big and he yelled, ‘No way!’

When the two got back, they were met with one happy wife.

“When we got to the house, his wife saw us coming and came out to see if we had any luck,” said Dudley. “The husband held up his hand and showed her. She yelled ‘Oh, my God, you found it.’ She gave me a huge hug and started getting teary-eyed.”

“What are the chances?” Jennifer said. “I thought, 'who is this guy?'”

Just a few weeks before finding the Lauzen's wedding ring,, Dudley, who is a professional magician, made another couple happy during a magic convention they all were attending in Colon, Mich., which bills itself as the Magic Capital of the World.”

Two years ago magician Mark Holstein and his wife were visiting Colon when he lost his wedding band in a friend's yard.

“We tried to find it, and then again last year, but no luck,” Holstein said. “Recently, I saw on Facebook that my old friend and fellow Magic Get Together attendee John Dudley was an expert at metal detection. I asked him if he would be willing to take a crack at finding the ring. He enthusiastically agreed. Honestly, after two years, it was the proverbial needle in the haystack.”

Dudley met Mark’s wife Sue at the house and within 15 minutes, had recovered the ring. Being the comic magician that he is, Dudley had another trick up his sleeve.

The two didn’t tell Holstein that the ring had been found. During the comedy magic show that was held at Colon High School, Holstein, who was stage manager, was called onto the stage.

“At the very end of the show, fellow magician Stephen Barga did a routine involving a gumball machine,” Holstein recalled. “At the end of the routine, he dragged me out onto the stage and asked me to put a quarter in the machine. The little capsule came out containing my lost wedding band. So, in front of 800 people, I was reunited with my ring. Unbeknownst to me, John had been successful in finding the ring. That was real magic.”

Besides reuniting lost rings with their owners, Dudley has dug up quite a slew of interesting pieces of metal.

“My most unusual things might have been two badges from the Grand Army of the Republic (Civil War Veterans group), dated 1865, “said Dudley. “I found them at an old homesite that had been tore down.”

Dudley’s expertise at metal detecting has resulted in Kalamazoo Valley Community College asking him to teach a Metal Detecting 101 class.

“That’s kind of cool,” he admits.

Van Buren offers workshop focusing on the value of fathers

By HP STAFF

PAW PAW — The Van Buren County Friend of the Court is helping fathers get the skills they need to be involved in their children’s lives through National Fatherhood Initiative’s 24/7 Dad program.
Beginning Sept. 4 in Paw Paw, the Friend of the Court will host a free, 12-session workshop designed to give fathers the parenting, relationship and communication skills they need to be involved, responsible, and committed fathers. The program will be facilitated by Aaron Rosecrans and Abel Muñoz of Van Buren County’s Friend of the Court Office.
Developed by fathering and parenting experts, 24/7 Dad focuses on the characteristics that men need to be involved fathers 24 hours a day, seven days a week. This community-based program helps men develop the attitudes, knowledge and skills they need to get, and stay, involved with their children. The program focuses on key fathering characteristics such as responsibility, discipline and work/ family balance.
Van Buren County Friend of the Court has been presenting the program since January 2018. The educational program also has been implemented at the Van Buren County Jail thanks to the collaboration and support of Sheriff Dan Abbott and Lt. Manuel DeLaRosa. To date, more than 200 children have benefitted from their fathers’ participation in the program, court officials said.
The first session will be 6-8 p.m. Sept. 4 at the Community Mental Health Building, 801 Hazen St., Paw Paw. The program is open to new, experienced, and expecting fathers of all ages and will run for 12 weeks. Food will be provided, and transportation assistance may be available.
For more information call 657-7734 or send an email to foc@vbco.org. For additional program information or to register visit https://vb247dad.eventbrite.com.

8.26.19

Portions of Dunkley Avenue on South Haven's north side have been flooded for much of the summer due to the nearly record-high water levels on Lake Michigan and the Black River. This photo shows the roadway between E. Wells Street and Dyckman Avenue, which is lined with a condominium complex and mobile home park.  City officials hope to remedy the situation by installing sand bags and a pumping system at a cost of $20,000.

High water woes

SH addresses Dunkley St. flooding with sand bags and pumping system

By BECKY KARK

Editor and general manager

When Dunkley Avenue resident Alan Silverman walks out to his garage and looks out at his street, he sees nothing but water.

“The issue isn't just water, but that the water has been standing there for close to two months,” he said. “Sludge has accumulated under the water. People have fallen trying to cross the street. Frankly, the water smells awful.”

Since June, South Haven city officials have kept an eye on flooded roadways along Dunkley and E. Wells Street that lead to Black River Park and two residential areas. At various times they've put up road closure barriers and detour signs and have taken them down when the flooding recedes only to go out again after a storm and put the barriers in place.

“It surges multiple times a day,” Department of Public Works Director Bill Hunter said Monday, during the City Council meeting. “Right now it's flooded. When you get rain like we had yesterday (Sunday) I'm sure it went up quite a bit.”

That's expected to change soon.

Council members voted to spend $20,000 for sand bags and a pumping system to control the flooding. They did so after considering four options provided by Edgewater Resources, a marina architecture and planning company based in St. Joseph.

With the nearly record-high water levels on the Great Lakes and inland rivers this year, Edgewater Resources has become quite busy trying to help lakeshore municipalities resolve flooding issues, according to Hunter.

“Edgewater informed me they were doing this all throughout state,” Hunter said. “Many communities are struggling and wondering, 'what are our options?'”

In South Haven's case, council members chose to go with one of the less expensive options suggested by Edgewater Resources.

The biggest problem with the flooded area is its close proximity to the Black River.

“The water in the streets is at the same level as the Black River,” Daryl Veldman of Edgewater Resources noted in a report. “We are all aware of the high-water levels currently being experienced along the shoreline of Lake Michigan and according to NOAA the trend for these high waters will continue thru 2019. The water level has continued to rise since its low in 2013 due to a large amount of rainfall as well as the capacity for the lake water could not evaporate due to large amounts of winter ice cover. The lake levels are now approaching record levels.”

The sand bag and pump system the city is choosing will provide a quick fix to deal with the flooding, whereas other more expensive options suggested would involve raising the level of the street, or installing new storm sewers and other water control measures. The city also would have to obtain permits from the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy, a task that could take more time.

“You're looking at $300,00 and $400,000, (for the other options)” Hunter said. “I'm recommending $20,000 and wait out the storm so to speak.” Hunter also said a more expensive option may not be necessary if the water level on Lake Michigan and the Black River recede as they have in the past.

The sand bag and pumping solution isn't expected to get rid of all the flooded areas, Hunter stressed.

“This will get the water off road now,” he said. “We anticipate drying up Dunkley. We'll still have some detours. But it will open up the street for people coming off Dyckman Avenue.”

Silverman and surrounding neighbors who attended Monday's council meeting expressed relief for the measures the city is taking.

“This is something we need to give immediate attention to,” Silverman said.

“Thanks for addressing this issue,” Fred Meyer said.

But he still expressed some concern that the pumping may not work during cold months.

“What happens when cold weather gets here?” Meyer asked. “That's a pond that will turn to ice.”

Another resident who lives on the city's south side isn't so sure lake levels will recede anytime soon and suggested the city consider a permanent fix for the flooding situation.

“We keep assuming this is a 10 year ebb and flow,” said Pat Gaston, who lives on Superior Street. “I'm not sure we can assume that anymore. I think the planet is changing...I think you have to look at a long-term solution if the lake doesn't go down.”

Municipalities get serious about creating more affordable housing

By BECKY KARK

Editor and general manager

“I'd like to live in South Haven but I can't afford it.”

It's a common lament people express about housing options in this lakeshore community.

City officials are well aware of it and earlier this year vowed to develop a plan to promote the development of housing for workforce and middle-class residents.

Now officials are taking action.

In September they, along with officials from South Haven Township Board and the South Haven Housing Commission, plan to meet with a housing development expert to address affordable housing options for the South Haven area.

The joint session is scheduled for 7 p.m., Sept. 9 at South Haven High School's integrated learning center and will be led by Ryan Kilpatrick. A certified planner and economic development finance professional, Kilpatrick is also executive director of Ottawa County Housing Next, a non-profit based in Holland that works with government and private businesses to create affordable housing in Ottawa County.

“We sought someone who is an expert in housing,” City Manager Brian Dissette said.

Kilpatrick will be paid up to $15,000 for his services over the next 90-120 days.

Earlier this year, he was invited to present a program on affordable housing as part of the South Haven Speakers Series.

“It was an excellent presentation,” South Haven Mayor Scott Smith said.

Dissette said he's glad to see the township, city and Housing Commission working together to address housing needs in the greater South Haven area.

“We're truly going into it with a spirit of partnership,” Dissette said. “The Housing Commission and township have both offered to help fund bringing in an expert.”

Kilpatrick and governmental leaders will be tasked with determining the housing needs of people in the South Haven area, specifically employees and what the economic market can bear in terms of new housing construction.

“There is sometimes a disconnect between the expressed preferences of community neighbors, housing advocates and public officials. Oftentimes, there is also a disconnect between market reality and community preferences,” Kilpatrick wrote in his proposal to the city.

He plans to take a two-pronged approach in assessing the housing needs of the South Haven area.

First, he and governmental leaders will determine whether the former Overton factory site on Indiana and Elkenburg streets can be redeveloped for residential purposes.

“That's six acres the city owns,” Dissette said in reference to the Overton site.

While assessing the Overton site in the city limits, Kilpatrick will also be working with governmental leaders to determine what types of affordable housing may be lacking throughout the South Haven area. Once it is determined what types of housing can be developed, Kilpatrick will provide conceptual designs for residential developments.

“This is not something that will be done in one night,” Dissette said.

In terms of the Overton site, for example, it will first need to be determined whether residential homes can be constructed on the property, which was once home to the S. E. Overton company, which manufactured wood products, including gun stocks during World War II.

“Utilizing available information on file at the City of South Haven, Van Buren County and State of

Michigan, we will clearly define, assemble and consolidate all known constraints associated with the

property pertaining to environmental contaminants, required due care, soil conditions, availability of

public and/or private utilities, property boundaries, etc.,” Kilpatrick wrote in his proposal.



8.19.19

Members of South Haven Area Emergency Services mount Rural Gig's internet equipment onto a pole at the station on 66th Street in Casco Township. The company offered free wifi to the station to serve the emergency responders and to more easily reach the Rural Gig customers in the surrounding area whose connection to the company's main tower was blocked by trees.

Casco internet provider expands to other area townships

By BECKY KARK

Editor and general manager

Like most residents who live in rural settings outside South Haven, Julie Cowie wasn't very satisfied with her high-speed internet service.

“My family of 4 has four iPhones, two iPads, one windows laptop and one Mac,” Cowie said. In an attempt to get faster service she, like a growing number of rural residents, used a computer tablet as a wifi hotspot in her home office.

But one month, it ended up being a very expensive decision.

“I received a huge bill — $454 — in Feb of 2018 and I was so fed up,” Cowie recalled. “It was data overage charges simply because both IOS and Windows had updates that month.”

So the Casco Township resident and her husband, Will Hart, decided to do something about it.

They, along with John Sokel, a software engineer residing in Casco, formed their own internet provider company.

The trio formed Rural Gig in the fall of 2018 and it has become a popular alternative for rural residents who often have to resort to wifi hotspots or satellite service for their internet needs.

Rural Gig in a wireless internet service provider that offers customers 10 Mpbs of unlimited data for $85 a month. The company transmits service from towers to receivers mounted on customers' home roofs or to a nearby pole.

“Our unlimited data means people can stream and even game without worrying about data limits,” Cowie said. “10 Mpbs is enough to stream without any buffering.  We do not slow people down after they churn through a certain number of gigabytes.  We handle customer service calls ourselves and people know who they're dealing with!  This means people can work from home, participate in webinars, watch videos, and use the internet without concern for data use.”

Some may consider $85 a month to expensive, but Cowie said rural residents often pay that or more for internet service that has data limits.

“Currently a few areas along the lakeshore (in Casco Township) are served by cable,” she said. “Some have DSL from Frontier.  A few use i2k (Internet-2000), which is wireless, offering speeds of 1-3 Mpbs.  Many of us have options limited to either a wifi hotspot or satellite, both of which have data limits.”

At first, Rural Gig only served people and businesses in Casco Township. The company had been using a tower at 111th and 62nd Street to beam its line-of-sight internet signals to customers. But in July, the company worked out agreements with governmental units and businesses in South Haven and Ganges Township to use their towers.

“In the past two weeks we expanded to Scenic View Dairy on 62nd Street and are now able to serve customers in Ganges Township and western Clyde Township,” Cowie said. “The expansion onto the South Haven water tower near Walmart allows us to serve areas of southern Casco Township, South Haven Township and Geneva Township.  We have many folks on our list who have been waiting for better options — namely, unlimited data.”

The South Haven Area Water Sewer Authority made it possible for Rural Gig to install internet transmitting equipment on its water tower near Walmart.

“We are happy to collaborate so local Township residents can access better internet,” said Bill Hunter, South Haven's Department of Public Works director.

“We really appreciate local governments who recognize we are seeking to solve rural broadband issues,” Cowie said. “Casco Township, Ganges Township, Clyde Township and the South Haven Water Sewer Authority have all understood what we are trying to do and have helped us secure permissions and permits needed to provide service to the area.”

There's a cover-up at the courthouse

Murals depicting bare-breasted women offend judicial sensibilities

By ROD SMITH

For the Tribune

PAW PAW — There will be no more paintings of topless women visible in the Van Buren County courthouse.

Tuesday the Van Buren County Board of Commissioners agreed to the request of four judges to cover two murals in the historic courthouse. In a memo, Chief Circuit Court Judge Kathleen Brickley requested that the paintings be covered with paint or a tapestry or moved elsewhere, such as a museum.

The paintings, one in the courthouse stairwell which may be the Greek Goddess Athena and the other directly above the judge's bench in the main circuit court courtroom, don't support the court's dignity, solemnity or professionalism, according to Brickley. "To the contrary," Brickley wrote, "they depict justice being metered out with swords and spears through beheading and through a humiliation marked by naked begging on bended knee."

"To have paintings of bare-breasted women in a courthouse display a lack of respect for women and for men who respect women," Brickley wrote.

The murals were painted by Paw Paw-born artist Frank Lewis Van Ness (1865-1944). The Village of Paw Paw accepted the paintings in 1908, making them 111 years old.

A Van Ness painting was also featured in the 1956 movie "Giant," starring Elizabeth Taylor, Rock Hudson and James Dean. It now hangs in the Wenger Hotel in San Antonio, Texas.

Brickley wrote that she recognizes that many people view the courthouse paintings as historically significant. "To that end," Brickley wrote, "I would suggest exploring the feasibility of moving the pieces to a museum. While there was a time when depictions such as these might have seemed suitable in a historic courthouse, sensibilities have changed. This is reflected in other significant events in recent history where statues, flags, or other potentially offensive items have been removed."

Brickley added that there are people who aren't offended by the images. "The judiciary, however, is a place to dispense justice, not controversy or provocation. If the images are offensive to even a few, they should be removed from the courthouse," Brickley wrote.

The paintings will be covered. The stairwell mural will be hidden by a banner of the Van Buren County seal, costing $360, and the courtroom mural will be covered by fabric matching the ceiling, cost is $1,233.

In this manner the paintings will be preserved but not visible. County Administrator John Faul said it's not possible to move them elsewhere, such as to a museum.  "One's painted on the wall and one is glued to the wall," Faul said.

Besides Brickley, the request was signed by Circuit Judge David DiStefano and district judges Michael McKay and Arthur Clarke III.





8.13.19

Ron and Suzanne Klein, owners of Windshadow Goat & Dairy Farm, are shown with their herd of goats. The couple won Farmer of the Year honors. (HP photo by Don Campbell)

Bangor couple receives Farmer of the Year award

By TRIBUNE STAFF

PAW PAW — A Bangor area couple who raises goats and produces cheese from their milk, has received the Farmer of the Year award from the Van Buren Conservation District.

Ron and Soo Klein of Windshadow Farm and Dairy in Bangor received the award at the conservation districts's annual summer picnic, recently held at the Paw Paw Conservation Club in Paw Paw.

“Ron and Soo are giant advocates for safe farming practices and have participated in several programs with the Conservation District,” said A.J. Brucks, executive director of the Van Buren Conservation District.

The Kleins took the time to become verified in the Farmstead, Cropping, and Livestock systems of MAEAP (Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program). They also are certified Wildlife Friendly, the first to do so in Michigan, and are Certified Animal Welfare Approved.

“The Verification in MAEAP shows that Ron and Soo care about the environment, while the Wildlife Friendly certification and the Animal Welfare certification shows they are also concerned about the health and happiness of not only their herd of goats, but also the animals that live in the environment that their farm operates in,” said Kyle Mead, MAEAP Technician at the Van Buren Conservation District.

The Kleins raise approximately 150 goats on their 46-acre farm on County Road 681, just north of Bangor.

Their farming practices include intense grazing on organic crops, a holistic management of herd health and a rotational grazing system. The milk from their goats is used to produce cheese at the farm's commercial cheese plant, which opened in 2017. Windshadow's cheeses can be found in restaurants and food shops in Chicago, Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo.

Locally, Windshadow Farm Artisan cheese varieties are available at The Inn at Harbor Shores in St. Joseph; David's Delicatessen & Coffee and Bentwood Tavern in New Buffalo; Patellie's in Three Oaks; Whistle Stop Grocery in Union Pier; and The Peasant’s Pantry and Sawyer Home & Garden Center in Sawyer.

The conservation district also presented another award at its annual picnic. Buster Turner of Lawton received the Conservationist of the Year award for supporting the conservation district and its programs.

“Buster helps with the Tree Seedling Sale every April and with a twist of the arm he and his daughter Laura have put on an amazing spread for the last nine years of summer picnics,” Brucks said. “Buster is a dedicated resident with love and commitment to his community and is a truly genuine soul and friends of the Van Buren Conservation District.

8.9.19

Historical markers installed along 34-mile Kal-Haven Trail

By TRIBUNE STAFF

Hikers and bikers traveling along the Kal-Haven Trail can now learn about the history of the towns they travel to on the 34-mile recreational path.

Three historical markers are in the process of being placed on the trail giving people a glimpse into the past.

A series of the markers were unveiled Saturday, Aug. 3 at the trailheads in South Haven and Oshtemo Township as part of the Kal-Haven Heritage Trail open house.

The marker in South Haven is labeled “From Nik-O-Nong to South Haven” and tells the story of how Algonquin Indians once stayed in South Haven before it was settled by white people.

“The project was spearheaded by Dan Spegel at the Michigan History Center,” said Jeff Green, vice president of the Friends of the Kal-Haven Trail. “He held a meeting around three years ago in Bloomingdale, which I attended, as I was new to the area and wanted to learn more. This is not a project the Friends came up with but it is one they wholeheartedly embraced.”

The 30 markers tell the history of towns – some which no longer exist – that the trail, a former railroad bed, travels through. Other markers tell about the agricultural products grown in areas near the trail, including mint, which was once grown in the now-forgotten town of Mentha and blueberries that Grand Junction is known for.

Landmarks also are highlighted on the markers, including information about the inland resorts that once dotted lakes around Grand Junction, glacial landscapes around the eastern end of the trail near Kalamazoo and bridges along the trail.

Gathering information for the signs was a task assigned to Friends members Sue Hodapp, Dick Godfrey and Green.

“Dozens of people from several states and tribal nations contributed their knowledge to make this thing happen and working with the DNR staff both at the Kal-Haven State Park and the Michigan History Center has been nothing short of remarkable,” Green said. “While some people were more deeply involved than others, there were no minor participants since any information, no matter how small, played a role in the overall project and made it more complete. It's those little tidbits of remembrances people think aren't important that can change everything once placed in context and we have scores of examples of such.”

The heritage project that has taken place for the Kal-Haven Trail is a first of its kind in the state for the state's network of linear trails.

One-hundred-and-fifty years ago the Kalamazoo & South Haven Railroad line became a reality and existed as an active train route until 1971.

In 1973, people expressed interest in using the abandoned rail bed as a trail. They approached the Michigan Department of Natural Resources for assistance. The DNR liked the idea and developed the first trail plan in 1975. But the trail wasn't dedicated until 1989, and became the first linear trail of its kind in Michigan.

Rev. Ray Bartels, pastor emeritus of Peace Lutheran Church in South Haven shows a blueberry pie he recently made. Bartels has been baking pies for years. He is the subject of a new Peace Lutheran cookbook titled, "The Pastor's Pies."

The pastor of many pies

Ray Bartels' baking hobby chronicled in new cookbook

By KIM INGALLS

For the Tribune

BANGOR — Even though pastor emeritus Ray Bartels shed his clerical attire years ago, the 97 year old is still taking care of his flock, only this time he's wearing an apron and using a mixing bowl.

Bartels is the subject of a new cookbook titled, "The Pastor's Pies," that is filled with his favorite recipes for the hundreds of pies, cookies, and breads that he gives to family, friends and even people he doesn't know.

"At Christmas time, I make 60 loaves of fruitcake, load them in my car and go down the street door to door giving them away," he said.

Bartels is best known for his pies though. He's a common sight at senior lunches, church events, funerals and even farmer's markets as he carries in his baked goods giving them away to young and old.

"After my wife, Fern died, my son Randy suggested I go to the senior lunches at Peace Lutheran," he remembers. "I took a pecan pie the first time. A lady there asked me how I knew how to make pies. I told her. She told me, 'next time bring a lemon meringue.' I did."

From there, his pie-making hobby mushroomed, he said.

Bartels served as pastor of Peace Lutheran Church for 27 years before his retirement in 1988. Born Sept. 6, 1921 in Homer, Neb., Bartels was one of eight boys. He preached in churches in Nebraska and Colorado before landing in Michigan.

While attending Western Theological emissary in Fremont, Neb., the 18 year old worked his way through college by cooking three meals a day, five days a week for eight boys in a nearby seminary.

"When I told my mom what I was going to do and I needed to cook something good," he remembers, "she told me to get here in the kitchen because we were going to make lemon meringue pie. I still remember her words, 'When you put the pie in the oven, get it out in five minutes or it will burn."

That advice has stayed with Bartels over the years who has honed his pie making skills and collected over 30 different pie recipes. And just about every recipe has a story to go with it.

One of those is vinegar pie. Printed in the Kalamazoo Gazette, Bartels saved the recipe and made two for a senior luncheon. A couple at the lunch tried it for the first time. The wife remembered her grandmother making the pie so the husband asked Bartels for the recipe which he just happened to have with him.

The book is filled copies of recipes that he typed on his Olympia manual typewriter and kept in a three-ring binder. Along with ones like zucchini and gooseberry pie, there are recipes for other dishes like Green Tomato Dill Pickles and turkey burgers.

Throughout the book, the recipes contain notes telling how he came across the recipes, and where they came from. Some came out of magazines, many came from friends or family, and others were passed down from relatives.

He has made hundreds of pies, dozens of cookies and  pecan rolls for family, friends and even strangers. It's not unusual for him to get unexpected donations to keep the tradition going.

"My doorbell rang while I was eating breakfast one day," he remembers. "A neighbor was there with a sack of zucchini."

Jan Jessup, a long-time member of Peace Lutheran Church, was instrumental in getting Bartels' recipes in book form. She told him that he really needed to get these recipes in print.

"When you're at a funeral or a potluck, there's his pies," she said. "He just bakes away."

 Of all the pies that he makes - does he have a favorite?

"Pecan Deluxe," he replies quickly. "I add four ounces of baking chocolate."

Proceeds from book sales are donated to the senior activities at Peace Lutheran Church. The cook book, which is in its third printing, is available at the church office.

LMC expands English as Second Language program

Registration is now open for non-credit English as a Second Language (ESL) classes at Lake Michigan College.

Courses will be offered Sept. 23 through Nov. 14 on LMC’s Benton Harbor, Niles and South Haven campuses.

Students will learn about U.S. culture and American English language through instruction in speaking, listening, reading and writing, as well as take field trips throughout Berrien County. At the end of a class, students will be prepared to use their new language skills socially, in the workplace or to prepare for further study at LMC.

Beginner-, intermediate- and advanced-level classes are available in the evening and day. Non-native English speakers over the age of 18 are welcome regardless of visa status or previous language training. Course instructors have credentials in Teaching English as a Second Language (TESOL) and at least five years of experience teaching English to adults.

“In comparison to last fall, we’re pleased to offer a wider variety of classes this September that meet the demands of non-native English speakers in the Berrien County area, said ESL Program Administrator Daniela Ortiz. “Friends and relatives from abroad who are visiting family can benefit from our Conversation and Culture classes. Newly hired employees or temporary workers in business can benefit from our Email Writing class to help them better communicate in the work place. Those looking to apply to colleges and universities in Michigan, Indiana and Illinois as an international student can work on completing their applications by taking our TOEFL iBT Test Preparation class. And most important of all – we’ll be able to offer beginner- and low-intermediate-level classes for those in the early stages of language learning.”

Most classes are eight weeks long with two class sessions per week. Classes are scheduled either Mondays and Wednesdays, or Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6-8 p.m. or in the morning, depending on which class a student takes.

For more information and registration, visit www.lakemichigancollege.edu/esl-ce or contact esl@lakemichigancollege.edu or (269) 927-4557. Students who successfully complete the course will receive a certificate of completion from LMC. The registration deadline is Thursday, Sept. 12.





7.30.19

Former Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm to speak in South Haven

The 2019 Speaker Series of South Haven will continue in September with two presentations on current issues and ideas. Speaking on Sept. 18 is former Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm who will explore Top Trends Affecting Michigan. Then on Oct. 17 the Series will conclude with author and social psychologist David Meyers speaking on Smart Thinking in A Post Truth Age.

Both presentations will be at 7:30 p.m., in Listiak Auditorium of South Haven High School, 600 Elkenburg St. Admission is $10 with students, educators and clergy admitted free.

Since leaving office in 2011, Granholm has been involved in a variety of professional roles, such as developing sustainability practices, teaching Public Policy at the University of California-Berkeley and providing political analysis for CNN television.

As governor she led efforts to promote clean energy, fostered economic development, and led Michigan through the turn-around of the American automotive and manufacturing sectors.

In a confusing era of alternative facts, fake news and civic leaders imposing fictions on reality, Myers will present his insights in a presentation that offers examples of popular and potent false beliefs and will explain how they develop. He will also examine possible biases — and successful remedies —within his own field of psychological science. 

A long-time professor of psychology at Hope College, Myers is one of the foremost communicators of psychological science to the general public. He is the author of 17 books and he has had articles published in four dozen magazines and journals.

7.24.19

South Haven police officers receives life-saving award

By TRIBUNE STAFF

A South Haven police officer has been honored for helping to save a man's life in June.

Officer Kevin VanBrussel received the department's Life Saving ribbon, Monday, during a ceremony at the city council meeting.

“Officer VanBrussel represents our police department well,” Police Chief Natalie Thompson said. “His exceptional professionalism, skills, and dedication to serving and protecting the community are to be recognized.”

On June 27, first responders from the police department were dispatched at 11:30 p.m. to the South Side Municipal Marina regarding a 61-year-old Indiana man who had possibly suffered a heart attack.

“Officer VanBrussel had just gone off duty, however, when he heard the call he responded from his residence, still in his patrol vehicle, to the scene. He arrived within three minutes of the dispatch,” Thompson said.

When VanBrussel arrived he began CPR and continued to do so until responders arrived from South Haven Area Emergency Services.

“With a cardiac medical emergency, every second counts,” Thompson said. “The victim was transported to the hospital for further treatment and has survived.”

The Life Saving award VanBrussel received marks the fifth such award that has been given to South Haven police officers in the past year, according to Thompson, who commended her staff's efforts to save people's lives.

Good news

Center Street reconstruction bids come in lower than expected

By BECKY KARK

Editor and general manager

South Haven city officials are beginning to anticipate the many headaches associated with the post-Labor Day reconstruction of downtown's Center Street. But, one pleasant surprise has emerged. The project may not be as expensive as originally projected.

“Bids came in significantly below the engineer's estimate,” City Manager Brian Dissette said.

Engineers tapped the cost of roadway, utility and streetscape improvements along Center Street between Michigan Avenue and Williams Street at $3.5 million.

However, all six bids came in below that, with the lowest one — $2.7 million — from Kalin Construction, based in Sodus.

“The low bid was 22.1 percent below the engineer’s estimate,” said Corey Kandow of Abonmarche, which is overseeing the Center Street project for the city.

Not only are city officials happy with the low bid, they also have had a good working relationship with Kalin in the past.

“Kalin is someone we have ample experience working with,” Dissette said. “They did the reconstruction of Monroe and Kalamazoo streets. Kalin is very much a known entity.”

South Haven City Council plans to award the contract to Kalin, but so far has only given tentative approval.

“This tentative contract will be confirmed upon the completion of the application process for the low interest loans through EGLE (Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy, formerly the Department of Environmental Quality),” Kandow explained.

The city is currently applying for a $1.2 million loan from the state's Drinking Water Revolving Fund and a $425,000 loan from Michigan's State Revolving Loan (SRL) program to help pay for the installation of new sewer and water lines.

If approved for the 20-year, State Revolving Loan, the city may not have to pay all of it back.

“The SRF includes principal loan forgiveness, essentially a grant,” Dissette said. “We're planning to borrow $425,000 through principal forgiveness. We anticipate 75 percent will be forgiven at the time of completion.”

Other funding sources for the Center Street reconstruction project are coming from a $100,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and a $870,000 grant through the Michigan Economic Development Corp., which will be matched with funds from the city's Downtown Development Authority.

The Center Street project took a big step forward last week when South Haven Planning Commission approved its site plan.

Once completed by Memorial Day of next year, Center Street is expected to look much similar to the improvements that took place on Phoenix and Williams streets several years ago.

The project includes not only new sewer and water mains, a new street, sidewalks and landscaping, but also four more parking spaces, wireless internet access, exposed aggregate sidewalks, and new furnishings.

One of the more interesting aspects of the project will be the creation of two “live walls” on the east, exterior facades of the Chemical Bank building.

Live, or green walls have become more popular in urban spaces in recent years. The walls consist of living plants that are planted on surfaces that are then affixed to the walls of buildings. Some of the walls consist primarily of one shade of green, while others contain a variety of different color plantings that are arranged to form designs.

In South Haven's case the live plants will be colorful.

The intent of the current design is to install three different colors of annual flowers in a pattern that resembles an abstract 'wave,'” said Bill Hunter, Department of Public Works director. “The efficiency of pot removal and replacement allows for redesign of pattern, colors, and textures every year if the City choses to do so.”



7.8.19

The first of 30 historical markers was recently installed along the Kal-Haven Trail as part of the  state's new Trail Heritage Project. The marker is located near the trail's covered bridge that spans the south branch of the Black River in South Haven Township. Shown from left are Dan Spegel, Heritage Trail Program coordinator for the Michigan Department of Natural Resources Michigan History Center; Jeff Green, Friends of the Kal-Haven Trail board member and Sue Hodapp, master gardener and Kal-Haven Trail wildflower specialist.

Kal-Haven Trail paves the way

for new state program

By KIM INGALLS

For the Tribune

Kal-Haven Trail is making history as the 34-mile path is the first in the state to be part of a new project that mixes heritage with recreation.

More than two dozen signs denoting historic facts about the trail, which was a former railroad bed, will be erected for people to view.

“There will be roughly 30 panels (signs) spread along the 34 miles of the Kal-Haven that are generally focused on the laying of the (railroad) line, the communities that sprang up along it — those that are no longer, and the physical geography/geology of this part part of Michigan,” said Jeff Green, Friends of Kal-Haven Trail Vice president.

The first of those signs was installed recently just east of the covered bridge spanning the south branch of the Black River in South Haven Township.

The remainder of the signs are expected to be in place by August.

Members of the Friends of the Kal-Haven Trail worked closely with Michigan History Center staff for over three years developing the project. 

“This is a remarkable project that gives breadth and depth for visitors to the Kal-Haven,” Green said. “It was a pilot project whose success, even before installation, is now being duplicated on three other trails in the state.”

Dedicated in 1989, the Kal-Haven Trail is the cornerstone of Michigan's network of linear trails, according to the Michigan History Center.  At that time, Michigan Department of Natural Resources planners described the trail as a "demonstration project" and a "pioneering effort, " because the conversion of rail corridors to trails was a relatively new concept.

Just as the development of the Kal-Haven Trail helped lay the groundwork for the state’s trail system, it is now the pilot heritage project for other trails.

“The project was spearheaded by Dan Spegel at the Michigan History Center,” Green said. “He held a meeting around three years ago in Bloomingdale, which I attended, as I was new to the area and wanted to learn more. This is not a project the Friends came up with but it is one they wholeheartedly embraced.”

Friends members Sue Hodapp, Dick Godfrey and Green were active in gathering information and research for the project. 

The goal was to install interpretive signs along the trail, develop native plant gardens, create a multi-sensory natural display at Mentha, and roll out an innovative mobile app designed for increased accessibility. Other heritage interpretation methods will be implemented in the future.

“Last year, at the suggestion of Master Gardener Sue Hodapp, we planted a raised bed of mint, ‘Todd's Black Mitchem,’ which was developed by Albert M. Todd when he ran the farm that produced the world's largest supply of mint oil at Mentha, a ghost town today,” Green explained. “An earlier variety of mint had been wiped out by a blight. We've included a watering can so that during dry times visitors could use the nearby hand-pump and give our mint a little refreshment. While we weren't sure if the mint would come back after the winter it has - and nicely at that. It is an attraction that people who traverse that section of the trail often comment on.”

An official ribbon cutting is tentatively scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 3. 

“Dozens of people from several states and tribal nations contributed their knowledge to make this thing happen and working with the DNR staff both at the Kal-Haven State Park and the Michigan History Center has been nothing short of remarkable,” Green said. “While some people were more deeply involved than others, there were no minor participants since any information, no matter how small, played a role in the overall project and made it more complete. It's those little tidbits of remembrances people think aren't important that can change everything once placed in context and we have scores of examples of such.”

7.1.19

The photo shows Jerry Gruber and Bev Smith, dressed in Civil War-era clothing for South Haven's 150th anniversary picnic in May. Gruber, who helped organize the town's Centennial celebration in 1969, has been chosen as the grand marshal for this year's Fourth of July parade. (File photo by Tom Renner)

4th of July Parade pays tribute to city's Sesquicentennial

Jerry Gruber named grand marshal

By BECKY KARK

Editor and general manager

Jerry Gruber fondly remembers South Haven's Centennial celebration in 1969. He and a dozen other business leaders spearheaded the month-long event that culminated with the town's annual Fourth of July parade and Blueberry Festival.

“A bunch of us guys got together and they (the city) gave us a stipend to get started. From there things just spearheaded into a joyous celebration,” he recalled. “The whole community got involved. It was amazing.”

Gruber will get the opportunity to relive those memories and create some new ones when he serves as grand marshal for this year's parade. The parade will be a special one, because it commemorates the town's year-long Sesquicentennial celebration.

“I'm awfully humbled to be asked,” Gruber said after being invited to be the grand marshal for Thursday's parade.

Gruber has been a long-standing fixture in the South Haven community. Most people remember him as pharmacist and owner of the former Macdonald Drug Store.

“I came here in 1958. I did my internship at Macdonald Drug Store.” Gruber liked South Haven and asked his girlfriend at the time, Sondra, if she'd like to live in South Haven. She ended up working at Holly's, a popular downtown restaurant at the time.

Gruber and Sondra married and he landed a full-time job as a pharmacist at Macdonald Drug Store. “I was there 43 years,” he said. As the Grubers began raising their three children, Jerry decided to purchase the drug store with its popular soda fountain. “I bought the store in 1971 with a partner, Vern Ollgaard. We were partners for 15 years.” When Ollgaard's health began to fail, Gruber bought him out, and eventually sold the drug store in 1999 and retired.

Sondra unfortunately died 23 years ago from cancer. Thirteen years ago Gruber remarried his current wife, Ann.

Over the years, Gruber has been quite active in the South Haven community.

He served on committee that was formed to raise funds to preserve the South Haven catwalk, he was an adult leader for Boy Scout Troop 188, served on the First Congregational Church's board, and the former South Haven Jaycees and Optimists clubs. He even held the distinction of being the first male president of Lincoln Elementary School's PTA.

Another longtime fixture in South Haven – Tony Marsala - will also be recognized in the parade as honorary grand marshal.

Marsala retired earlier this month as deputy fire chief for South Haven Area Emergency Services.

Marsala spent nearly 50 years as a professional firefighter. Thirty-four of those years were with SHAES.

Early in his career he worked for the former South Haven Township ambulance service and was a paid-on-call member with Covert Fire Department.  He was a field medic and safety officer with Bechtel Power before becoming a fulltime member of the Covert department in 1984. He also worked part-time in the emergency room at South Haven Community Hospital.

He joined the South Haven Fire Department, now SHAES, fulltime in 1985. He was promoted to captain in 2008 and has served as deputy chief and fire inspector since 2010.

Marsala will be easy to spot in the parade.

“He will be leading the SHAES entry in the parade driving the department's vintage 1946 American LaFrance fire truck,” said Tom Renner, a member of the Fourth of July parade committee and a former firefighter for SHAES.



New SH finance officers begin duties this week

By BECKY KARK

Editor and general manager

After seven months without a full-time finance director, the City of South Haven now has one.

Michelle Argue will begin her new duties July 1, after serving as the department's interim director. Her annual salary has been set at $83,000.

Argue is no stranger to the city. She served as deputy finance director since 2015 and assessor since 2017, according to City Manager Brian Dissette. Prior to that position, she worked as a fiscal accountant for Kinexus.

“Twenty-six applied for the position,” Dissette said. “Michele has proven time and again that she will work as long as needed to get reports and other items completed on time. She is committed to her department and the city administration.”

Argue obtained her bachelor degree in business administration from Western Michigan University, majoring in accountancy and minoring in management and general business. She is also a Michigan Advanced Assessing Officer.

When she's not at work, Argue volunteers at the Berrien County Youth Fair and serves as treasurer for Cub Scout Pack 663.

Argue replaces Wendy Hochstedler, who was fired in November of 2018 for alleged embezzlement.

In February, the city filed a lawsuit in Van Buren Circuit Court against her and Daniel J. Beck.

The 10-count lawsuit alleges that between August 2015 and November 2018, Hochstedler and Beck, who resided at Hochstedler's home, racked up $138,216 in personal purchases using city-issued credit cards. Hochstedler is also being accused of taking a city-owned conference table with two base legs from her office when she was terminated from the city in November 2018.

Results of the lawsuit are still pending. On June 5, a pretrial conference took place, where Judge David DiStefano asked the two parties to come up with possible court dates for the next hearing, according to Circuit Court records.

“The city continues to work toward the completion of this lawsuit,” Dissette said.

In another finance department-related move, the city has hired Carol Stricklin as assistant finance director.

Stricklin began her job part-time earlier this month and will become full-time in July after retiring as South Haven Public Schools, where sh serves as lead accountant. Prior to that, she worked as the school district's business office supervisor from 2008-2017. She has an associate's degree in applied business from Lake Michigan College, where she majored in accounting.

Stricklin is very active in the community and has served with the South Haven Rams Booster Club, Shoreline Breakers Soccer Club and American Youth Soccer Organization.



6.24.19

Palisades' leading official plans to retire

General manager of operations to succeed Charlie Arnone

By TRIBUNE STAFF

COVERT — A new leader will soon be taking the helm at Palisades Power Plant.

After nearly 43-years of a distinguished career in the nuclear industry, Charlie Arnone, site vice president at and Entergy’s top official at the site, is retiring.

Darrell Corbin, currently the general manager of plant operations at Palisades, will take on the assignment of site vice president, effective Aug. 5.

Throughout his career, Arnone has held various positions in the nuclear industry, beginning with eight years in the US Navy Nuclear Power program, according to Palisades Spokesperson Val Gent. Prior to becoming site vice president at Palisades, Arnone served the entire Entergy nuclear fleet as general manager operations support and then as interim vice president, operations support, as well as the director of nuclear safety assurance at Palisades.

“My congratulations to Charlie Arnone for nearly 43 years of stellar results and outstanding leadership in the nuclear industry, and for doing an excellent job as site vice president at Palisades for the past three years,” said Entergy Chief Nuclear Officer Chris Bakken. “Charlie is a visionary leader who constantly strives for excellence, and always puts the needs of his team first. While we will miss Charlie as a key leader in our fleet, we wish him and his family all the best as he retires.”

“Darrell has been a member of the Palisades team for more than 20 years and has done an excellent job as plant general manager,” said Arnone. “I am confident that he and the team will continue achieving excellence and remain focused on safe, secure and reliable operations.”

Corbin began his nuclear career 33 years ago, after serving a decade in the U.S. Navy Nuclear Power program. He first joined the Palisades team in 1996 as a nuclear plant operator. Throughout his career, Corbin has held various positions across many disciplines in the nuclear industry, developing extensive experience, includes serving the entire Entergy nuclear fleet as general manager fleet operations support.

“I look forward to leading the plant with a continued focus on operating at the highest levels of safety and reliability. I am proud to have the opportunity to fill this role and continue to work with the nuclear professionals of Palisades,” said Corbin.

Corbin also holds a reactor license and senior reactor operator license, both achieved at Palisades. He also completed Eckerd College’s Leadership Development Program and the Institute of Nuclear Power Operators’ Senior Nuclear Plant Management Course.

Corbin has lived in Coloma with his wife, Lisa, for more than 20 years. They have two daughters and one granddaughter, all who reside in the area.

Dale Lucy, assistant general manager, plant operations will assume the role of general manager, plant operations at Palisades, reporting to Corbin. Lucy also began his nuclear career in the United States Navy. In 1997, he became a nuclear plant operator at Palisades and over the past 22 years, has held various positions across many disciplines at the plant.

PHOTO: Top photo, Charlie Arnone, bottom photo, Darrell Corbin

Deal reached

Synagogue, developer reach agreement over restaurant liquor license

By BECKY KARK

Editor and general manager

Several years ago South Haven developer Randy Locker pitched the idea of renovating the former Save-a-Lot grocery store near downtown into a brewpub. But one hurdle stood in his way – a neighboring house of worship exercised its right to oppose the issuance of a Class C liquor license.

Time has passed however, and now, the First Hebrew Congregation, which is located right next to the Save-a-Lot property at 237 Broadway Avenue, has decided not to oppose a restaurant from applying for a license to serve alcohol.

The owner of Los Ranchos, LLC hopes to open a restaurant in the former grocery store, currently being redeveloped by Locker & Locker LLC into a strip mall with space for up to five retail and office establishments.

Los Ranchos operates two El Rancho Mexican Restaurants in Holland and wants to open a third restaurant in South Haven.

The restaurant owner's hopes may have been dashed, but with the help of South Haven city officials, an agreement has been reached between the developer and the synagogue.

Council members, Monday, unanimously passed the proposed agreement that will allow either Locker or the restaurant to apply for a permit from the Michigan Liquor Control Commission to serve alcohol at the restaurant.

“We will likely have a redevelopment liquor license sought by Randy (Locker), allowing Los Ranchos to operate under that license,” City Manager Brian Dissette said. “Previous developers looking to redevelop the site had been doing so with the assumption they could get a Class C liquor license. But in initial conversations with the synagogue, for whatever reason they couldn't get their blessing.”

Typically, the Michigan Liquor Control Commission will not issue a Class C liquor license to an establishment if it is within 500 feet of a church or school. However, if the church or school does not object the commission can consider granting a waiver.

According to Steve Tolen, a member of the synagogue's board, the synagogue had been opposed to the idea of being right next door to an establishment selling liquor because it had dealt with problems in the past.

“The synagogue had previously experienced disturbance to our services with noise and trash due to an unrestricted approval,” he said.

Dissette gave credit to developer Randy Locker for meeting right away with synagogue leaders to see if an agreement could be reached.

“Ultimately Randy and his team made a variety of concessions on outdoor music, noise and signage,” Dissette said. In exchange, the synagogue won't oppose the liquor license.

“We would have opposed supporting the license if the new business had unrestricted approval,” Tolen said. “We strongly support the community and the development of South Haven.  We worked with Randy Locker to reach an agreement that meets both our needs.  We are confident the agreement among the synagogue, Locker, Los Ranchos, and the city will work for all.”

The city, which has to agree to allow the Class C liquor license, helped in brokering the deal by having the four parties sign a formal agreement outlining the concessions each party would make.

“It's great to see everyone sit down and talk and hammer this out,” Mayor Pro Tem Clark Gruber said. “It's great to see neighbors talking.”

“It's nice to see that property improving after so many years,” Mayor Scott Smith said.

The former Save-a-Lot building has sat vacant since 2015. Locker purchased the building and pitched several ideas for redevelopment. At one point he proposed building a three-story commercial and residential complex on the site, but scrapped the idea because of oppositions from neighboring homeowners. His latest plan to renovate the existing building has met with no formal opposition. He hopes to have the renovations completely finished by June 1, 2020.

More upgrades on the way for Pilgrim Haven

By BECKY KARK

Editor and general manager

Thanks to a grant from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and funding from two organizations, a second round of improvements will soon begin at Pilgrim Haven Natural Area.

The $140,000 project is expected to begin July 1 and includes paving of the existing gravel parking lot, installation of two new toilets, new walkways and benches, creation of a rain garden and installation of a kayak rack to serve individuals who want to kayak on the Lake Michigan Water Trail that runs adjacent to Pilgrim Haven.

“The work is scheduled to be completed the first week of August,” said Tony McGhee, vice president of development services for Abonmarche, an engineering and architectural company in South Haven that is helping to coordinate the project.

The upgrades are being paid for from a $100,000 grant and $40,000 in funds from the Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy and the South Haven Area Recreation Authority.

Located off of 77th Street in South Haven Charter Township, Pilgrim Haven encompasses 27 acres of woods, dune grass prairies and 800 feet of shoreline along Lake Michigan. The property is bisected by a scenic creek and is home to a wide range of plant life, according to Peter Ter Louw, executive director of the Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy, which acquired Pilgrim Haven several years ago. The natural area is managed and maintained by the South Haven Area Recreation Authority which is made up of representatives from South Haven Public Schools, the City of South Haven and South Haven Charter Township.

“I’m pleased to see the second phase of improvements occurring at the Pilgrim Haven Natural Area,” said Ross Stein, chair of the South Haven Area Recreation Authority and supervisor of South Haven Charter Township. “This site is a gem and offers residents and visitors a wonderful opportunity to enjoy Lake Michigan in different ways.”

Previous improvements to the Pilgrim Haven Natural Area have included the creation of a fully accessible walkway to the shore of Lake Michigan, the development of a parking lot, informational signage and fencing and access constructed on the property.







6.17.19

Mermaids participating in the Mermaid Megafest in South haven pose for a photo in a specially made swim tank designed and built by Brian deBest of deBest Landscaping and Lake Arvesta Farms. The tank, which can be transported, can hold 7,800 gallons of water. (Photo by Tom Renner)

Mermaids enjoy their megatank; thought to be the largest of its kind

By KIM INGALLS

For the Tribune

What would a Mermaid Megafest be without a mermaid megatank?

That was the question a South Haven business owner was confronted with and solved much to the amazement of people who came to the festival this past weekend to see mermaids perform their acrobatics while submerged in a huge portable tank.

Brian deBest created the 7,800 gallon tank; a tank that he was told is the largest one of its kind in North America.

Designed and built by deBest who owns deBest Landscaping and Lake Arvesta Farms, the tank sat along the Black River channel on South Beach and was available for viewing during Harborfest and Mermaid Megafest.

“It (was) there until Saturday,” explained deBest. “Then it is moving to Lake Arvesta.”

After the festival, deBest plans to make the tank available for rental. Constructed of two-inch Lexicon glass, the tank also has a heat and filtration system.

“We started building this about a month ago,” he said. “The glass came out of Chicago and because it cannot be cut or drilled, a Detroit-based business water-jetted it to cut openings.”

Steel Center Supply of South Haven also got in on the build, said deBest, helping to complete the project.

Van Buren prosecutor plans to retire in 2020

By ROD SMITH

For the Tribune

PAW PAW — It took two times Tuesday for Van Buren County Commissioners to approve the retirement for Prosecutor Michael Bedford, but in the end they agreed to let him do so by the end of next year.

Bedford attempted to get his retirement ducks in a row, at Tuesday's county board meeting, but his first proposal was rejected by the county commission. Board members, however, approved the second proposal unanimously.

The prosecutor's retirement proposals were complicated due to a personnel incident that occurred when Bedford was serving as an assistant prosecutor for then prosecutor Juris Kaps. Kaps ended up firing Bedford over a disagreement, according to Bedford, after which he ran against Kaps in a general election and defeated him.

That firing complicated Bedford's retirement benefits, since, he said, he lost a year of employment and used his benefits to support his family. He asked the commission to allow him to purchase one year's worth of service time for $4,000 with the county putting in $23,000 due to the unusual circumstances of his departure. Bedford said the $4,000 figure would have been his 5 percent contribution from his $80,000 salary, had he received it.

Bedford plans to retire Dec. 9, 2020.  His term ends 22 days later.

Commissioners turned down Bedford's first request 3-3 with Commissioner Randall Peat absent. A tie vote means the matter is rejected. Following that, Bedford asked if he could purchase seven months of time. "I would pay the full fare," he told commissioners. He noted that in the past some employees had purchased five year's worth.

Commissioners unanimously OKd that request.

Bedford recounted the story of Kaps firing him in December 2011.

"I was fired because of who I was supporting and my political party that I chose to support," Bedford told commissioners. He and Kaps were on opposite sides of a proposal to eliminate one circuit judgeship in the county after Judge William Buhl retired.

Bedford said that when things came to a head and Kaps fired him, Kaps told him "I can't trust you anymore because of who your friends are."

After that he ran for Kaps' seat and beat him better than 2-to-1 in the Republican primary election. Kaps had been prosecutor for over 30 years.

Kaps had said publicly at the time that the firing hadn't been over Bedford's friends but largely because Bedford had said he would run against Kaps, plus Kaps felt that Bedford was undermining him on the judgeship issue. Kaps was in favor of eliminating one circuit judgeship, Bedford was opposed.

In other matters, commissioners voted to allow sheriff's Deputy Jason Stasienko to purchase his canine partner TICO.

TICO has served with the sheriff's department since 2014 but is now experiencing health issues and is retiring. Stasienko is TICO's partner.

South Haven biding its time on pot regulation

By BECKY KARK

Editor and general manager

Four months ago, South Haven City Council members asked the Planning Commission to come up with an ordinance to allow regulate medical and recreational marijuana businesses in town. Now the decision of whether to allow the businesses rests with the council.

Earlier this month planners voted 6-1 to recommend zoning ordinance amendments that if approved by the city council will allow cannabis-related businesses to locate in three sections of town, east of Blue Star Highway and south of Aylworth Avenue.

But don't expect any quick decision from the city council.

“I've said for the last two years this has got to be a slow walk,” City Manager Brian Dissette said in regard to whether the city should allow pot-related establishments. “We have to make every effort to allow the public to be aware and engaged and to have ample opportunity to speak with the council about it.”

The council's first step will be to host a meeting with the planners to go over their recommendations.

“We'd like to have the planners explain why they did what they did before council takes any action,” Dissette said.

Next city staff will work with the council to determine when they'd like to publicly discuss the recommendations.

“Do we want to make this July-August or September-October,” Dissette said.

The proposed zoning ordinance amendments allow for six different types of cannabis establishments to locate on city property east of Blue Star Highway and south of Aylworth Avenue in districts that are zoned either industrial or business.

The first area includes commercial areas on Phoenix Road, east of Blue Star and the Interstate-196 Business Park and property along 73rd Street and 2nd Avenue, east of Blue Star. The second area is on the southern limits of the city bordered by Blue Star, 8th Avenue, M-43 Highway and I-196, while the third is an industrial section of the city south of Aylworth to the city limits along Kalamazoo and Lovejoy streets.

The six types of businesses would include growing operations, processors, medical marijuana provisioning centers, recreational marijuana retailers, safety compliance labs and secure transporters.

The proposed ordinance also stipulates businesses must be located at least 200 feet from churches, schools and parks.

Planners originally considered an ordinance that would have allowed various types of marijuana businesses to locate throughout town, with the exception of the central business district, downtown. But, after several meetings and input from the public, commissioner Larry Heinig proposed the overlay zone in an area of the city that has very few residences.

“I think it's easier to describe, easier to enforce, it makes a smaller footprint,” he said at the June 6 planning commission meeting. In recommending the proposed cannabis ordinance, planners also passed an amendment that would require processors and growers to take measures to control odor emanating from their facilities.

Planning Chairman Tim Stegeman was the only planner to cast a no vote on the proposed ordinance amendments, after questioning if limiting marijuana establishments to one section of town was a good idea. He even suggested that planners send three recommendations to the city council – a proposed ordinance that would allow marijuana establishments to locate throughout town depending on what type of operation they are; a proposed ordinance allowing them to only locate east of Blue Star Highway; and a recommendation to opt out of the state's new recreational marijuana law that makes such businesses legal.

"Give them all three and let them have a public hearing, receive more citizen input and then make a decision," Stegeman said. "Let them delve into what options they think are best."

But other planners disagreed with his suggestion.

“They (the city council) didn't ask us to make three recommendations," Heinig said. "'We were asked to give a recommendation. I think that's what we should do.”

Janice Varney agreed. “We can present our recommendation, that doesn't necessarily mean they (the city council) have to follow our recommendation.”

Planner Bill Neiss stated, “We've spent a lot of time studying this. Never was opt-out suggested until tonight. The public has had plenty of time to talk with us before we reached this point. I'm comfortable with a compromise. I think the overlay still allows fair opportunity for businesses to investigate whether it's feasible for them.”







6.10.19

South Haven Garden Club President Dan Williamson works in South Haven’s new community garden at 408 Huron St. The dual-purpose garden has a section for mini-farmer plots and will incorporate a pollinator garden, butterfly garden, composting and rainwater collection systems, community seating, and walking paths constructed of bricks from the original streets of South Haven. 

Community pitches into to create garden, downtown

By NANCY ALBRIGHT

For the Tribune

Walk past 408 Huron St. in South Haven this summer and you will see the shoots of a sustainable community garden.

For the past two months, members of the South Haven Garden Club and a troop of volunteers have created a garden with raised beds for flowers and organic vegetables, and plan to incorporate a pollinator garden, butterfly garden, and composting and rainwater collection systems.

The dual garden space will offer a section for mini-farmer plots, a fire pit, seating for the community and public art created by local artists. The space already has a reproduction of “Irises and Calla Lilies” by Maria Oakey Dewing –– part of a seasonal program called Inside|Out sponsored by the Detroit Institute of Arts and the South Haven Center for the Arts.

Going forward, the group also plans to install a hydroponic system, a library box, and a building where coffee will be served.

A nutritionist from Bronson Wellness Center has offered to lead workshops on the benefits of eating farm-to-table as part of future outdoor classes designed to teach kids about nature and healthy eating. And South Haven Garden Club President and Liberty Hyde Bailey Museum board member Dan Williamson plans to donate benches that can be sold as memorial/dedications, with all proceeds going to the garden fund.

The idea germinated with Garden Club Vice President Michele Blackmon, who was active in community gardens in Los Angeles and Florence, Italy.

“I am passionate about the benefits of a community garden and the project has received a lot of support from the community,” she said. “The benefits are unlimited and immeasurable: promoting a healthier diet; providing affordable organic food; reducing obesity; promoting physical activity and relaxation; reducing negative environmental impact; reducing community crime by giving a sense of pride; and bringing people together.”

Scott Whiteford of Whiteford Wealth Management donated the site, construction materials, solar lighting in and around the garden, and bricks from the original streets of South Haven for pathways and seating areas.

Doug Landers of Ace (Wolverine) Hardware donated a storage shed, and Coastal Landscaping donated soil, VeggieDoo and Soil Pro.

“Since this will be a sustainable garden, donations and re-use of items is the way to go,” Blackmon said.

Baseline Middle School contributed six existing raised beds, and residents have donated milkweed and seed pods for the butterfly garden, and herbs for potential use by local restaurants.

Volunteers will design signage to identify plot owners and reminders to respect the garden.

“An enthusiastic group of volunteers has donated their time to plan the garden and have donated over 40 hours of labor,” Blackmon explained. “Larry Brown and Patrick Perfitt have been extremely active and passionate about the project and purchased the first two private plots.”

Williamson has tapped his knowledge and resources since the inception of the project.

“Part of the plan is to bring the spirit of the museum to Huron Street with some of the Bailey plantings,” he explained.

The South Haven Memorial Library has a seed bank that gardeners can access, and a Michigan planting schedule will be available to help gardeners decide what they would like to plant in order to take full advantage of the planting and harvest season.

The group would like to donate the vegetable harvest to local soup kitchens and churches, and flowers to the garden club, which arranges bouquets for delivery to local hospice patients.

“The garden is a way of supporting a healthy community,” Blackmon said. “Every community garden is a case study which reflects the needs of each community, so there is no set model. Our hope is that that the community takes advantage of this amazing gift.”

Three quarters of the beds will be for purchase by the public at $10 per bed; the remaining beds are available for sponsorship by local businesses at a cost of $100 per bed. Currently, the Liberty Hyde Bailey Museum and Jaqua Realty are sponsoring plots, with interest from Bronson Wellness Center. Sponsors will be recognized on a donor wall.

For more information about the garden, volunteer opportunities and donations contact Michele Blackmon, (310) 906-5896, mblackmon@jaquarealators.com, and visit the South Haven Community Garden Facebook page.

City eyes post-Labor Day start for $4.5 million Center Street reconstruction project

By BECKY KARK

Editor and general manager

It appears a multi-million dollar plan to reconstruct a portion of Center Street in downtown South Haven is now on the fast track.

“We are advancing on the reconstruction of Center Street,” City Manager Brian Dissette said. “The intent is to begin construction after Labor Day.”

The $4.5 million project will include a complete overhaul of Center from Williams Street to Michigan Avenue. Improvements will include new water and sewer mains, resurfacing of the street, new sidewalks and landscaping improvements. When finished, Center will look very similar to Williams and Phoenix streets, which were reconstructed within the past decade

Funding to finance the project is now starting to fall into place, according to Dissette. .

“We have tentative confirmation of grant money from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC),” Dissette said. That grant, if approved, would be for $870,000.

The next step in receiving the grant will occur June 17 when the city council hosts a public hearing at 7 p.m. at city hall to gather comment on the application.

The grant, if obtained, would come from the MEDC's Community Development Block Grant Program. The city's Downtown Development Authority would provide the required matching grant in the amount of $866,500.

City officials plan to use the grant money for the portion of the project that includes new sidewalks, landscaping, street furniture and other amenities to help attract not only vehicular traffic but pedestrians to Center Street.

Each year, Michigan receives approximately $30 million in federal CDBG funds, out of which various projects are funded through the state, according to Michigan State University Extension. Grants are designed to help municipalities, such as South Haven, improve their infrastructure and make their communities more desirable places to live.

The city also has received tentative approval for a $100,000 grant from the United States Department of Agriculture's rural infrastructure program.

More funds to pay for the Center Street infrastructure portion of the project are expected to come from $1.3 million worth of loans through the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy's State Revolving Loan Fund and Drinking Water Revolving Loan Fund. If the city qualifies, it could be eligible for up to a 75 percent forgiveness rate on the loans.

One of the key drivers in the city's ability to apply for and obtain grant funding and loans for Center Street improvements is the development of a new $4 million three-story residential and retail establishment at Center and Huron streets, and the reconstruction of a conglomeration of retail establishments on the northern end of Center, known as the “Hale block.”

The historic block of buildings, which extends from Quaker to Phoenix Street, has been purchased by South Haven developer Randy Locker of Locker & Locker Properties LLC. His company intends to redevelop the block, which contains a three-story building, for commercial and residential uses, according to Dissette.



6.3.19

South Haven names new human resources director

By BECKY KARK

Editor and general manager

A familiar face in the South Haven community will be leading the city's human resources department.

City officials have hired Kim Wise of South Haven as the department's new director. Wise, who will start her new duties June 3 replaces Deb Lull, who retired at the end of April. Wise's annual salary has been set at $70,000.

Eighteen candidates applied for the job, according to City Manager Brian Dissette.

“We had a lot of terrific applicants,” he said. “We were excited we had a number of local applicants. Kim's applicant stood out because she has a bachelor's degree and a master's degree and more than a decade of very relevant experience being a human resources director or working in that capacity.”

Wise is currently employed by Bronson Healthcare Group in Kalamazoo as its system employment and leave of absence supervisor, serving 9,000 employees. Prior to that, she worked as human resources, marketing and foundation director for South Haven Health System, which is now part of Bronson Healthcare Group.

Her bachelor's degree comes from Siena Heights University where she majored in business administration. Wise then went on to obtain a master of science in management degree with a concentration in human resources management from Indiana Wesleyan University.

While impressed with Wise's professional and educational credentials, the city's interview committee liked something else about her.

“The thing that stood out for me and the interview committee was her commitment to the community,” Dissette said.

For 10 years, Wise helped organize the annual National Blueberry Festival 5K race, an event that attracted more than 1,000 runners each year. More recently, Wise became involved with South Haven Public Schools' award-winning Robotics Club where she serves as co-advisor along with Kevin Dee, director of operations for the school district. She also is a member of South Haven Area Chamber of Commerce's board of directors.

We Care hires new executive director

By BECKY KARK

Editor and general manager

A human service ministry that serves South Haven, Bangor and Covert has a new executive director.

We Care INC's board of directors has chosen Erika Morrison to lead the ministry.

She will replace interim executive director Susan Trabucchi, who has served in that role for the past two years to help the non-profit ministry transition from longtime director Linda Olsen, who retired in 2017.

Morrison is no stranger to We Care. She has served as the non-profit's deputy director for the past six months and prior to that was an office manager and caseworker for the ministry.

“Erika's professional background and passion for We Care's mission have proven invaluable to us,” said Joe Guiltinan, president of We Care's board of directors. “In short order, Erika has taken on the management of staff and oversight of the We Care offices in South Haven and Bangor. She also has reorganized and strengthened the volunteer program, solidified relationships with the Bangor and Covert communities and advanced the organization's fundraising and communication efforts.”

Prior to being hired as We Care's deputy director, Morrison was volunteer coordinator for Caring Circle's Hospice at Home program. Before that she served as director of Christian education at Hope Church in South Haven and was employed four years as We Care's office manager and lead caseworker.

Morrison, who resides in South Haven, grew up in West Africa as the daughter of missionary parents. She received her bachelor's degree from the University of North Texas and is currently working on a master's degree in organizational leadership through Cornerstone University.

While complimenting Morrison for her accomplishments over the past six months, Guiltinan said the board also appreciated Trabucchi's efforts over the past two years.

“On behalf of the board, I want to thank Susan for the excellent work she has done to enhance We Care's internal operations, strengthen our external communications, develop strong relationships with our church ministry partners, and advance our mission to love and serve our neighbors. Her oversight during this important moment of transition for We Care has helped lay a strong foundation for the hiring of new a leader - and an exciting future.”

Trabucchi will still continue working for We Care temporarily.

“She has agreed to be retained for a few months to assist us in exploring the feasibility of an emerging vision for We Care's future,” Guiltinan said.

We Care has been in existence for the past 36 years and serves as a clearinghouse for people in need. The non-profit serves approximately 600 families annually by helping to provide them with food, baby items, personal care items, heating and other emergency assistance, school supplies, medical equipment loans and rides to medical appointments.



5.28.19

South Haven begins spring road projects

By BECKY KARK

Editor and general manager

Residents living along Pearl Street can expect to feel a smoother ride along their road this summer.

Pearl, from Erie to Church streets will be repaved as part of two improvement projects approved, Monday, by South Haven city council members. The other road slated for resurfacing is the driveway leading to the Department of Public Works complex on 8th Avenue.

Compton Inc. of South Haven expects to start the $432,600 project next week and plans to complete it by June 29.

“Typically, this work consists of removing and replacing the surface course to improve ride quality, installing barrier free ramps for compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, and performing other minor repairs,” city engineer Mike Dopp stated in a report submitted to the city council.

The improvements to Pearl Street and the DPW drive are part of the city's 2018-19 street resurfacing projects, which included upgrades to Apache Court and Elkenburg Street from Center Street to LeGrange Avenue. Apache and Elkenburg were resurfaced last fall.

More street repairs are on the way for the upcoming fiscal year, which begins July 1.

The city's proposed 2019-20 budget calls for the following upgrades:

• Repavement of Van Buren Street, from Indiana to Center streets

• Repavement of Kalamazoo Street from Clinton Street to Michigan Avenue

• Repavement of Florence Street

• Repavement of Hubbard Street from Superior to Phoenix streets

The city also plans to cape seal sections of three other streets. Cape seal differs from chip seal in that a heavier sealant is placed on top of the road surface, according to DPW Director Bill Hunter, director of the DPW.

The following streets are scheduled to be cape sealed:

• Monroe Boulevard from Aylworth Avenue to Erie Street

• Broadway Avenue from Phoenix Street to the Dyckman Avenue drawbridge

• 73^rd Street from 2^nd Avenue to Tractor Supply

Covert Schools eyes more budget cuts

By KIM INGALLS

For the Tribune

COVERT — The news was not good for Covert Public Schools this week as the Board of Education found out recently that district leaders will have to have to make deeper cuts to the budget.

During Monday night’s meeting, Superintendent Bobbi Morehead explained the district will now have to cut $1.8 million from its upcoming 2019-20 fiscal-year budget instead of the estimated $1 million that was discussed at April’s school board meeting.

The increase is due to one of six properties that is part of the Palisades Nuclear Power Plant being reclassified to school tax-exempt status. The plant is scheduled to close in 2022 and has been receiving reductions in property values from Van Buren County.

In April, Van Buren County Equalization Director Anthony Meyaard told county commissioners that he had reduced Palisades' plant's value by 25 percent this year and planned to reduce it another 25 percent next tax year, for a loss of $8-$10 million in property tax revenue to the county and other taxing units, such as Covert Public Schools.

Palisades is closing in 2022, at which time the current owner, Entergy, will leave and another company will take over to decommission the plant.

Meyaard said that the value of the property is dependent on what someone is willing to pay for it. With the pending closure, it becomes less valuable to investors. When Palisades actually closes, the nuclear plant will become in essence valueless.

The district had been anticipating the revenue reduction after the plant closing was announced, but Morehead said that large of an amount was not allocated for.

“We’re going have to cut even deeper and look at ways to do this safely,” she said. Staff retirements, job absorption and refinancing of existing bond debts will all be considered.

In other matters, the Board learned the high school gym which is in bad shape due to roof leaks and other problems is going to have to be replaced instead of refurbished as originally thought. Estimated cost is $153,00 to $168,630. An insurance claim has been filed but no decision has been made yet whether the claim will be accepted.





Ground broken for

large event building in South Haven

By BECKY KARK

Editor and general manager

Wedding planners and corporate retreat organizers who want to hold their events in South Haven often look elsewhere if they expect a crowd of more than 200.

But that is expected to change by the end of this year with the completion of a special events venue that can hold up to 400 people.

South Haven community leaders joined developers James Slott and his sister Nicole Slott in a ceremonial ground-breaking for Black River Barn, a large, rustic lodge-style event building that will be located on 13.5 acres of land on 73^rd Street near 8^th Avenue, in South Haven Township.

“South Haven is a beautiful town with a rich history and idyllic landscape,” Nicole Slott said. “We're thrilled to be part of the community. We're hoping to be open in November. Right now we're on track.”

When finished, the 11,000-square-foot building will include a 5,400-square-foot main hall for dining and dancing, indoor and outdoor space for various ceremonies, a caterer's kitchen, audio/visual system, and private bride and groom suites. Outside, the Barn's covered and open-air patios will include fire pits.

The Slotts, who are from Grand Rapids, had considered developing a special event venue there, but soon changed their minds, according to Nicole Slott.

“They already have quite a few so we began looking toward the lakeshore,” she said.

The Slotts were familiar with South Haven and began searching for suitable sites.

“In our research and planning, we identified a lack of locations in this area that can accommodate larger groups,” James Slott said.

The Slotts finally found the spot they were looking for in South Haven Township, purchased the property a year ago, and began clearing it this year after the township planning commission rezoned the site for a Planned Unit Development.

The Slotts are investing more than $3.8 million to develop the venue, according to South Haven Township Supervisor Ross Stein.

“I think this will be wonderful for the community,” Stein said. “We're not looking at borders (between the township and the city) anymore but the community as a whole.”

Other community leaders agreed the new venue will be a plus.

“We've had a need for a long, long time for a large venue to hold large gatherings,” said Kathy Wagaman, executive director of the South Haven Area Chamber of Commerce. “We get calls for reunions, weddings and corporate seminars and retreats and people end up having to go elsewhere.”

Wagaman also noted the trickle-down effect a venue, such as Black River Barn, can have for the South Haven area economy.

“Anytime there's an event there it will likely bring people overnight to our hotels and our downtown,” she said.

Because Black River Barn will be open year-round, it can help boost the town's local economy during the shoulder seasons and winter months, according to Deb Davidson, South Haven Downtown Development Authority director.

“Something like this (a venue for large-scale events) is absolutely critical to this area,” she said. “It will bring people here during the off-season which is what we strive for.”

Charges dropped; Bangor murder case goes cold again

By ALEXANDRA NEWMAN

HP Staff Writer

PAW PAW — A month ago, law enforcement officials thought they had solved a cold case murder, but now it appears they're back to square one.

Van Buren County authorities say they are still investigating the 1986 strangulation death of Wilda Wilkinson in Bangor. 

Chief Assistant Prosecutor Keith Robinson said that the first-degree murder charge against Michael Leon Curry was dismissed at the end of April, “based on new information to allow for further investigation.”

“Part of that further information was DNA analysis,” he said.

Robinson said he wouldn’t go into further detail because it is still an open homicide investigation.

Curry, 51, had been held in the Van Buren County Jail on the charge for about a month and a half before the charges against him were dismissed without prejudice by the prosecution. 

He had been arrested in California in March and brought back to Van Buren County. 

Police suspected at the time of Wilkinson’s death 33 years ago that the then 18-year-old Curry, who lived close by in Bangor, may have been involved. There were several people of interest that police interviewed following Wilkinson’s death, but the case eventually went cold.

In 2010, however, Michigan State Police detectives re-opened the case and then stepped up efforts last year to investigate the unsolved murder, and Curry re-emerged last year as a suspect.

Curry made provocative statements last year on Facebook that caught the attention of Michigan State Police investigators, who had by that time renewed their interest in Curry.

It was Wilkinson’s daughter who found her strangled mother, according to a Herald-Palladium article published shortly after the murder.

A nurse’s aide at South Haven Community Hospital at the time, Wilkinson was divorced and lived alone. When she failed to report to work, hospital officials called her daughter to check on her mom. 



More upgrades on the way for M-43 Highway

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

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

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

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

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



4.29.19

Eying a 2nd term

South Haven mayor seeks re-election

By BECKY KARK

Editor and general manager

South Haven Mayor Scott Smith will be seeking his second term of office, this time without competition.

Smith will be running unopposed in the upcoming November election, according to South Haven city clerk Travis Sullivan. Smith was first elected by voters in 2017 after defeating challenger Paul VandenBosch.

South Haven city residents had until Tuesday to submit candidate petitions for the offices of mayor and city council.

In addition to Smith, five other city residents filed petitions for three city council seats now occupied by Letitia Wilkins, Clark Gruber and Steve Schlack.

South Haven is divided into three wards. Two council members serve each of the three wards, and serve in staggered four-year terms.

In Ward 1, incumbent Letitia Wilkins, 811 Indiana Ave., will be seeking re-election and is running unopposed.

In Ward 2, Gruber is not seeking re-election due to term limits. Two other candidates will be competing for his seat: former city council member Jeff Arnold, 558 Bailey Ave., and newcomer Nadine Newman, 270 Itzen Ct.

In Ward 3, Schlack, 884 E. Wells St., will face newcomer Liji Hanny, 840 Wilson St., in November.

The candidates could have squared off sooner in the August primary, but not enough candidates turned in petitions, according to Sullivan.

“There will be no primary in August, as we do not have more than two candidates for any seat,” he said. “All candidates will be included on the November general election ballot.”

LMC's enrollment remains strong despite trend

By RALPH HEIBUTZKI

For The Tribune

BENTON TOWNSHIP — Student enrollments dropped at many community colleges last fall, but new figures show Lake Michigan College bucking the trend.

Figures for the fall 2018 semester showed LMC with 3,428 students, or up 2 percent from fall 2017 – when it had 3,368 students, said Doug Schaffer, vice president of enrollment and community partnerships.

“We were pleased obviously, with how it turned out,” he said.

President Trevor Kubatzke voiced similar satisfaction with them. “I would just attribute it (the result) to hard work. The college community, as a whole, has been looking across the board – not only, how we gather students, but how do we retain our students?” Kubatzke said.

LMC ranked second, behind Mott Community College, in Flint, which reported a 2.6 percent gain to the Michigan Association of College Registrars and Admissions Officers, for its weekly enrollment report, Schaffer said.

Next came Glen Oaks Community College, which was the only other institution to show a positive figure, at 0.67 percent, Schaffer said.

All other institutions reported enrollment decreases – ranging from negative 0.37 percent, for Kalamazoo Valley Community College; to 6.6 percent, for Lansing Community College; 8.8 percent, for Southwestern Michigan College; and 10.63 percent, for Oakland Community College, figures showed.

LMC’s performance proved all the more impressive, given the 3 percent decrease that it recorded in spring 2018, Schaffer told the board this week.

“We made a rally. A lot of that had to do with early college enrollment that doesn’t come in until the February or March time frame, based on some partner schools having trimesters,” Scahffer said. “That early college push helped us get back.”

Schaffer cited several factors for LMC’s enrollment success, such as its careful monitoring of trends such as College Decision nights, which many high schools host in the spring, he said.

“That helps us get an idea of where students are thinking,” Schaffer said. “We’ll have a little better understanding of whether we’re in the running or whether we’re at the top. That’ll guide us as we get to the finish line of fall 2019.”

Strong enrollment of recent high school graduations also played a role, as did LMC’s health sciences, manufacturing technology and apprenticeship programs, which are big draws for students, he added.

Schaffer also pointed to LMC’s Early’/Middle College program, where students earn college credits while they’re still in high school.

“We’re actively recruiting the graduates getting ready to graduate in a month or so, and our other programs are planning for and trying to maintain momentum,” he said.

LMC’s stepped up efforts to retain students, once they do attend, also played a part, Kubatzke said.

“The Title III grant we were awarded by the federal government is all focused around success, which keeps students here longer in their programs. Everyone has stepped up and seen their part, in how we retain – and attract – students to the institution,” he said.



4.23.19

King Company , a marine contractor from Holland, arrives, Tuesday, in South Haven to begin dredging the city's harbor and channel leading to Lake Michigan.

Corps plans to remove 44,500 cubic yards of material from South Haven's harbor and channel

By BECKY KARK

Editor and general manager

Boating season hasn't yet begun, but in anticipation of when it will, the United States Army Corps of Engineers has started dredging South Haven's harbor as part of a plan to keep the harbor navigable for boats and to shore up South Beach.

Holland-based King Company has been hired to dredge 44,500 cubic yards of material from the Black River west of the Dyckman drawbridge and downriver past the channel and North Pier.

Once the material is dredged it will then be released south of the South Pier, according to the Army Corps of Engineers. The $365,000 dredging operation is expected to last approximately two weeks, depending on the weather.

“A pipeline will be constructed so that as material is dredged up, it is moved through the pipe and released,” South Haven Harbormaster and Assistant City Manager Kate Hosier said. “The materials will be released at the same time as the dredging occurs.

Don't expect a huge pile of sand to be deposited directly onto the beach, however.

“At this point, the dredge materials will be released in the water and not directly on the beach,” Hosier said. “The materials would be carried on shore by wave action.”

Sometime this week, boaters should expect to see 10 sections of 1,000-foot dredge pipe that will be staged at the South Side Municipal Marina. Once connected, the dredge pipe will extend from the dredge operation out to Lake Michigan where the material will be deposited 1,900 feet west of the South Pier.

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

Although the water level in the harbor and channel is higher than several years ago, the harbor and channel needs to be maintained on a regular basis to insure safe navigation, according to Hosier.

“The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers incorporated funding in the fiscal year 2018 work plan for dredging the South Haven harbor,” she said. “Because recreational harbors usually do not receive federal funding for dredging...we appreciate the assistance of our state and federal leadership  in helping to secure the funding in the budget.”

The last time the harbor was dredged occurred in 2013, according to information from the Corps of Engineers. At that time, the Corps removed 27,625 cubic yards of material for use as beach nourishment.

South Haven school board hires curriculum director

By BECKY KARK

Editor and general manager

South Haven school district officials will soon be looking for a new North Shore Elementary principal after appointing Carey Frost to the role of curriculum director.

Board of Education members, Wednesday, voted to hire Frost to replace Danielle Hendry, who left the district in October of 2018 to become principal of MySchool@Kent, a high school for non-traditional students residing in the Kent Intermediate School District.

Superintendent Kevin Schooley said he is pleased the board hired Frost, whose salary is now being negotiated.

“This position is needed and encompasses more than managing the curriculum,” he said. “The state and federal program grants, which are huge, are attached to this role as is local assessment, state testing, school improvement and coordination of district-level professional development.”

Frost will continue her job as North Shore's principal and will remain in that role until the end of the school year in June.

“She is pulling a little double duty as we are spending time discussing curricular decisions impacting us now, and planning for the 2019-20 school year,” Schooley said.

In the meantime, school officials will be seeking candidates for the North Shore principal position.

“We will be reviewing resumes and selecting candidates to be interviewed,” School said. “I have tentatively scheduled interviews for May 7 and May 9.”

Frost has worn a number of administrative hats over the years for South Haven Public Schools.

She first served as principal at Lincoln Elementary School for seven years before being appointed as the school district's director of instruction in 2014. She then became principal at North Shore in 2016 after then-principal LaTonya Gill was named Baseline Middle School principal.

In July of 2018, Frost briefly served as the district's interim superintendents for two months after former Superintendent Robert Herrera resigned to become superintendent and CEO of Benton Harbor Public Schools. She returned to her principal's job at the start of the 2018-19 school year.



4.15.19

An honor

Four military veterans from the South Haven American Legion Post were given the honor of taking part in a Laying of the Wreath ceremony, April 4, at Arlington National Cemetery. The veterans were part of a group from Southwest Michigan that traveled to Washington DC to visit national monuments and memorials. From left are Tom Breen, Larry Girard, Stan Wakild and Congressional Medal of Honor recipient Jim McCloughan.

South Haven police officers honored for life-saving efforts

By BECKY KARK

Editor and general manager

South Haven Police Chief Natalie Thompson refers to officers Mike Knizewski and Ryan Rumler these days as her “dynamic duo.” And for good reason.

In the past two months both officers played key roles in saving the lives of two people who had overdosed on heroin.

For their heroic efforts, Thompson earlier this week awarded both Knizewski and Rumler, along with Officer Kevin VanBrussel with the department's life-saving medals.

She also gave credit to Naloxone kits and opioid training the department recently completed. The kits contain Naloxone, a type of nasal spray that can save the life of someone who has overdosed on opioids, such as heroin. Naloxone does so by reversing the effects of opioids.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, drug overdose mortality has more than tripled in the past 20 years, primarily from opioids.

“This (opioid-overdose rescue training) is new for our department,” Thompson explained to South Haven City Council members, Monday, when the officers were recognized. In addition to the life-saving medical kits, officers also have received training from Southwest Michigan Behavioral Health, in Kalamazoo, that has enabled them to better deal with people suffering from opioid addiction.

“We don't just assist in saving lives but also provide them with information and resources on how to get additional help,” Thompson said. “So far, it (the training and kits) have been very successful in just the past two months.”

It was two months ago that Knizewski and Rumler were dispatched to South Haven Township to deal with a man who had overdosed on heroin.

When the two officers at the scene they saw a woman squatting next to the man who was laying by the side of the road.

“The subject appeared to be deceased. He wasn't breathing. He was turning blue,” Thompson said. The two officers, who had arrived first on the scene prior to paramedics, immediately began administering CPR. “By the end of the third cycle of CPR, his pulse had been restored,” Thompson said. “Officer Knizewski continued rescue breaths until South Haven Area Emergency Services arrived. They administered drug-interaction medication to bring the victim out of the heroin overdose.”

When Thompson heard about the drug-interaction medication used by SHAES, she immediately decided that officers needed the rescue kits and training as well.

“That's really key, because the officers are there (a potential crime scene) 9 out of 10 times before SHAES,” Thompson said.

The rescue kits and training acquired by South Haven Police soon paid off.

“Less than two weeks after the first overdose three officers responded to another one,” Thompson said. “This time it was a female subject. Luckily she was still breathing.”

Responding quickly to a person who has overdosed is crucial in determining whether they will live or not.

“What happens is eventually breathing stops because it (the overdose) affects the respiratory system,” Thompson said.

Knizewski, who had just finished his rescue training, realized the signs of an opioid overdose and quickly administered the Naloxone.

“The victim came to immediately,” Thompson said. “These guys are saving lives.”

“It's amazing,” Mayor Scott Smith noted.

Some non-profits balk at city's new $150 special events fee

By BECKY KARK

Editor and general manager

When South Haven city officials made a decision this year to start charging groups a non-refundable $150 fee to hold special events on city property, they thought it was a good idea.

After all, a number of the events, such as the ones at Riverfront Park, take place over several days and involve the help of city employees who end up working overtime to provide custodial, maintenance or public safety-related services.

But, after several non-profit groups cried foul over the recently enacted fee, city officials decided to rethink their decision.

As a result, city council members have amended the special event policy to allow groups to apply for a waiver if they can prove their event involves very little if any use of city employees' time and resources.

The council made the decision to do so at Monday's meeting.

“Over the last year, the parks commission and city council worked on updates to the special events policy,” City Manager Brian Dissette said. “One of the intents was to recognize that some special events can get quite large. The fee was intended to offset some of the cost of bringing in staff to haul trash or set up barricades or have a larger police presence.”

But when non-profits, earlier this year, began applying for approval of their special events, some balked at the fee.

“We realized some events are quite small,” Dissette said. “A good example is a Memorial Day event where two veterans come to city hall to read off names of military men and women who have died in combat. That event has no cost to the city.”

Other events, however, do incur costs for the city, but they also bring a public benefit to the city in terms of extra revenue derived from visitors who spend money when attending the special events, be it for lodging, gasoline, food or other merchandise. Other events, which are large, raise a considerable amount of money that benefit a variety of non-profit groups in town.

“The intention of the charge was not to cover the entirety of the city's costs associated with special events, but rather to detour frivolous individual event applications,” Dissette said.

To sort out which events should be charged a fee and which ones shouldn't, the city is now allowing non-profits an opportunity to apply for a waiver.

In determining whether to grant the request, city officials will consider whether the event raises funds to supplement the city's budgeted services; whether it raises funds for programs normally funded by the city; whether it raises funds for elderly citizens, youth groups and non-profit groups that contribute to the community; and if the special event involves a national or state-affiliated group that provides programs for local youth.

“We're trying to have some flexibility,” Dissette said. “Some we will legitimately say no to. If staff has to come in at 3 a.m. to do cleanup, we shouldn't have to waive the fee.”





Van Buren man dies as car sinks in lake

MARCELLUS — A 59-year-old Lawton man died Tuesday after his vehicle sunk in an inland lake in Marcellus.

John Salvatore Catalino was pronounced dead after Lawton Fire Department personnel and a wrecker driver pulled him from a vehicle that was fully submerged in Cedar Lake, according to a news release from the Van Buren County Sheriff's Department.

Deputies were dispatched to the Cedar Lake public access at 4:40 p.m. An eyewitness who saw the vehicle sink, said it went into the lake backwards. The witness is the one who called 911.

When deputies arrived they found the Hyundai Elantra sunk about 20 yards from the shore with Catalino still inside.

Lawton firefighters and a driver from True's Towing commandeered a boat nearby and were able to remove the victim from the car prior to the county dive team's arrival.

The dive team assisted in hooking up the vehicle to remove it from the lake.

Van Buren County hires its first public defender

By ROD SMITH

For the Tribune

PAW PAW — The Van Buren County Board of Commissioners appointed its first public defender. He's Chad Catalino.

"I'm really humbled you've given me an opportunity to do something that I really believe in," Catalino told commissioners, at their March 27 meeting. Among the list of beliefs was the Constitution.

Catalino. who will be shared with Allegan County in the state's first joint public defender's office, will be the counterpart to the prosecutor. He or someone in his office will defend indigent persons charged with crimes.

Prosecutor Michael Bedford said he checked with Muskegon County, where Catalino is currently employed as the supervisor of the misdemeanor division of the public defender's office, and came away with a favorable impression.

"You're a fighter," Bedford told Catalino. "You're a litigator. You're also a problem-solver."

In response to people that wonder how someone can defend someone they know is guilty, Catalino said that he doesn't really know if someone is guilty or not but "what we're doing is protecting the integrity of the system."

Michigan, he said, had ranked 44th out of 50 states in the quality of indigent defense.

Van Buren County has traditionally hired local attorneys to defend indigent clients, which commissioners have said has worked well. But a suit challenging the state claimed that elsewhere there have been problems and so the state is now requiring public defenders, and is putting up most of the money.

Van Buren County and Allegan County agreed to form a joint public defender's office.

Plans are to open the office by late summer. Besides Catalino, there will be two assistant defenders, two administrative assistants and a part-time investigator.

The two counties will still be hiring local attorneys to defend people. "It's very possible their work will increase," County Administrator John Faul said.

Commissioner Randall Peat commented:  "And it does put oomph around the phrase 'Liberty and justice for all.' That's what it's all about."

There have been some bumps in the road in creating the office. The project was put on hold back in October over a dispute about the state funding agreement. At that time County Administrator Faul said the state law says the state will provide funding up front but the proffered agreement started out at 20 percent with reimbursements later.

Midland County filed a lawsuit over it.

Last month commissioners accepted $2,217,515 to fund the public defender's office covering both Van Buren and Allegan counties. Local share is $529,260, an amount that will be split between the two counties, for a total of $2.7 million.

Catalino graduated from the Michigan State University law school in 2003. After that he did public defender work under contract with Muskegon County. The past five years he's been working directly for that county.



4.1.19

South Haven High School senior John Ellis (left) is shown with freshman Damon Jackson. Ellis, who got to know Jackson, when both were playing football for the Rams in the fall, is organizing a basketball game fundraiser to help Jackson and his family, who lost their father a month ago to cancer.

An act of kindness

South Haven senior plans basketball fundraiser to benefit freshman's family

By BECKY KARK

Editor and general manager

South Haven High School senior John Ellis enjoys theater. So when he had to come up with an idea for his senior project it seemed like a no-brainer – he'd raise money to take a group of middle school students to their first-ever professional theatrical production.

But when high school freshman Damon Jackson lost his father, 39-year-old Carnell Jackson, to cancer a month ago, Ellis changed his mind.

“When I heard about what happened to Damon's family, I dropped my project and decided to put all the funds toward his family,” said Ellis. He plans to raise the money by organizing a charity basketball game featuring members of the girls and boys varsity basketball teams competing against high school and middle school teachers staff. The game is scheduled to begin at 5 p.m., Thursday, April 18 in the high school gym. Tickets are $5 each.

“We've got some good players lined up for the student team,” Ellis said.

The high school team consists of boys and girls varsity basketball players Kial Ferguson, Jaylin Fox, Graham Ruppert, Nathan Laskowski, Brenden Williamson, Andre Cobbs, Maddy Sardina, Grace Lyons and Jordyn Holland. While the staff team includes high school English teacher Jake Crow, high school social studies teacher Cory Salyer, Athletic Director Adam Verseput, high school special education teacher Jennifer Otto, high school social studies teacher Mark Eddy, high school math teacher Kelly Ludwig, high school special education teacher Jason Montgomery, Assistant High School Principal Ryan Williamson and Baseline Middle School behavior interventionist Isley West.

When Damon Jackson found out what Ellis was planning he was surprised.

“I was so happy. I couldn't put it into words,” he said.

Erin O'Neil, English teacher and theater director, who oversees Ellis's senior project, was also pleased with his decision to help Jackson's family.

“As the theatrical director I, of course, was thrilled with John's original project,” she said. “However I was not surprised in the least that John immediately changed his project to benefit a fellow Ram in need - that is simply indicative of the young man he is.”

The senior projects that are required by senior English teachers O'Neil and Jake Crow are referred to as “20 Time” projects. They were inspired by Google which allows their employees to use 20 percent of their time to work on any project of their choosing, O'Neil explained.

“20 Time projects allow students to also pursue their passions,” O'Neil said. “For these projects, seniors are given the task to create a project that will benefit others or the community. They can create any project they like, the only caveat is that they have to benefit someone other than themselves.”

Ellis got to know Damon Jackson earlier this year when both were playing football for the Rams teams. Ellis was playing varsity, while Jackson suited up for the freshman team.

Even though they differed in age, Ellis got to know Damon Jackson by the end of the fall season.

“I tried to reach out to the younger players. That's what the older players did for me,” Ellis said. “It's one big football family.”

When Damon Jackson's father died in February, Ellis said he felt he had to do something to help him.

“He is a good kid and his family doesn't deserve to go through what they have,” Ellis said. “I found myself in a situation where I had the ability to help someone, so I felt as though I was obligated.”

Carnell Jackson was a graduate of South Haven High School and well liked. He fought a battle against cancer for five years before passing away Feb. 27. He had been employed as a line cook at Clementine's restaurant in South Haven for 10 years before becoming too ill to work.

He also stayed active coaching Little Rams basketball.

Damon Jackson recounted that his father coached his team.

“We went undefeated for three years under my dad,” he said.

Damon said what he liked most about his dad was his involvement in his children's lives.

“He would always be there for me and help me with school and sports,” Damon said.

Housing expert discusses the possibilities of affordable housing in lakeshore communities

The first speaker for the 2019 South Haven Speaker Series may be able to provide some insight for city officials who are making the creation of affordable housing a leading priority this year.

Ryan Kilpatrick, an affordable housing expert, is scheduled to open the series Thursday, April 11. His presentation, “Affordable Housing: Obstacles and Solutions in Lakeshore Communities,” will begin at 7:30 p.m. in the Integrated Learning Center at South Haven High School, 600 Elkenburg St. A reception with the speaker will precede the program at 6:45 p.m. in the school cafeteria.

“Lakeshore communities and South Haven in particular have a huge stake in defining and developing affordable housing” said Mark Odland, Speakers Series chairman. “We believe Kilpatrick’s presentation will have a special appeal to impacted residents, employees, public officials, real estate folks, and others in the business community affected by housing and transportation issues.”

During his presentation, Kilpatrick plans to discuss ways in which 50 years of federal, state and local policy decisions have contributed to the shortage. He will then focus on a variety of local and regional solutions that could lead to a community's ability to create affordable housing opportunities.

Kilpatrick is executive director of Ottawa County Housing Next, a project in Ottawa County that

focuses on the development of housing, economic development, land use and transportation policy. Bridging the private and public sector, he is responsible for streamlining the development process to build more resilient communities in the county.

Prior to that he served as community assistance specialist with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation and as director of community and economic development for the City of Douglas. Throughout his career he has had hands-on experience in a variety of planning issues and projects such as transportation planning, sustainable land use, development rights and finance, preservation and green infrastructure, tax abatement programs, brownfield redevelopment as well as community engagement and visioning processes.

Kilpatrick earned a master's degree in Design from Kendall College of Art and Design with an emphasis on social innovation and community development. Working with other professionals from a variety of fields he co-created a new program at Kendall that focuses on the design process for solving systemic problems with in-depth exploration of social enterprise, design-thinking and models of innovation.

His presentation will be the first at the Integrated Learning Center in South Haven High School. The center is located on the east side of the building. Those unfamiliar with the high school should use the main entrance with the statue of the Ram in front.

“The series grew to an average of 170 attendees in 2018 with two programs exceeding 200,” Odland said. “We simply outgrew the available space at Lake Michigan College. We are grateful to the staff there for hosting our events during the first four years of the Speaker Series programming.”

For its second event the Speaker Series will host Great Lakes advocate and author Peter Annin on May 9 at the Integrated Learning Center. His subject is “The Great Lake Compact: A Decade of Lessons Learned.” A revision of his book, The Great Lakes Water Wars, was released in the fall of 2018..