Rules of the parks and rec game debated by county board

City council needshistory lessonSee Editorial on Page 4

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Precious seconds leadto Saxon heartbreak

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Medieval combattakes place at park

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VOLUME 159, No. 35 Thursday, September 6, 2012 PRICE 75¢

by Doug VanderLaanEditor

Parks and recreation lost a bit of its playfulintent during Tuesday’s committee of thewhole meeting of the Barry County Board ofCommissioners.

A political tussle over the rules of eligibili-ty for the county’s parks and recreation boardhad all but a penalty flag and a referee’s whis-tle in the discussion mix before the board’sfinal call.

“We can find a compromise that will workfor all of us,” mediated Michelle Skedgell,chair of the Barry County Parks andRecreation Committee, who had submitted aproposal to commissioners that a new “stake-holder” group be added to the county’s parksand recreation board.

The group, as introduced by Skedgell, isthe Maple Valley Greenways Committee, agroup of community volunteers and leaderswho have guided efforts to build and maintainrecreational trails, one of which traversesNashville and Vermontville with planned con-nections to the Paul Henry Thornapple Trailthrough Middleville and Irving Township andto the Riverwalk in Hastings.

Tuesday’s stumbling block for commis-sioners was the Maple Valley GreenwaysCommittee’s request that it be represented onthe parks and rec board by it chair, Blair J.Miller, a resident of Vermontville Townshipin Eaton County.

Commissioner Robert Houtman opened thevolleying with questions about the parks andrec bylaws which provide the possibility thatnon-voting stakeholders might someday —by parks and rec board appointment — securea voting board position from which taxingdecisions could be made.

“Ultimately, this gentleman could become

a voting stakeholder even though he lives inEaton County,” maintained Houtman. “I havea problem with people who reside in othercounties spending Barry County tax dollars— or ultimately being able to spend BarryCounty tax dollars.”

Skedgell downplayed that possibility,pointing out that the list of current non-votingstakeholders includes several who live out-side the county and that their expertise andinfluence are qualities to be valued by thecounty.

Skedgell was supported in that perspectiveby Rick Moore, vice chair of the parks and recboard and a founding member of theThornapple Trail Association, who spokefrom the audience in favor of Miller, specifi-cally.

“He’s an engineer and a grant writer who,

so far, has generated over $500,000 in grantmoney for the trail,” said Moore. “He wouldbe an extremely valuable addition.

“This is just another group that is affiliatedwith the Thornapple Trail Association as partof a multi-jurisdictional park which is leadingthe way in government to show cooperation,”added Moore. “This is our effort to get EatonCounty Parks to realize the benefits of volun-teerism and to get involved with the trail.”

Commissioner Dan Parker added his con-cern that the county not miss an opportunityto gain a fundraising partner.

“I also see where gaining more dollars maycome in to help Barry County Parks and Recand trails because of the other people beingthere and getting grants,” said Parker.“Some of the monies from there might behelpful to our trail because it will provide aneconomic welfare for us if that trail could becompleted ... if they feel you don’t trust them,why would they write grants then to benefitBarry County?”

“That’s not the point, Dan,” interjectedCommission Chair Craig Stolsonburg. “Iwould like to see [the proposal] come backwith some type of amendment to the bylawsstating that a non-Barry County resident can-not be a voting member.”

Skedgell agreed and promised to providethe board’s feedback to the parks and recboard.

In other business, the committee of thewhole recommended the following items beconsidered for official action at its boardmeeting Tuesday, Sept. 11:

• An $18,000 bid from Lloyd JarmanBuilders of Hastings for housing quality stan-dard home rehabilitation of a home at 233 E.Thorn St., Hastings, as part of the MichiganState Housing Development Authority

HOME Grant program.• Amendments to the Barry County Parks

Regulation Ordinance as presented by Parksand Rec Board member Warren Wheeler toreflect the current state of Barry Countyparks. “They’re basic things,” said Wheelerof the amendments that included changing thename to the Parks and Rec “Board,” from theformer “Commission.”

“We’ve beaten this thing to pieces over thepast couple of years, and it’s pretty straight-forward, so we’re looking for the board topass it on to commissioners,” said Wheeler.

“These rules are just too draconian,” saidaudience member Moore, who was the onlyparks and rec board member to vote againstthe ordinance changes. “A $500 fine and/or90 days in jail (for violation of ordinance reg-ulations) just scares the bejeebers out of me ...we’ve spent a lot of money building theseparks, why are we spending so much timekeeping people out of them?”

A motion to recommend the amendmentsto next week’s full board was approved 7-1,with Commissioner Don Nevins casting thelone negative vote.

• Approval of the 2013 Title IV-DCooperative Reimbursement Program appli-cation for the Barry County Prosecutor’sOffice to the Michigan Department of HumanServices. The three-year contract will providethe county $112,324 in reimbursement fundsthrough fiscal year 2015.

• Approval of the 2013 Title IV-DCooperative Reimbursement Program appli-cation for the Barry County Friend of theCourt to the Michigan Department of HumanServices. The three-year contract will providethe county $1,998,958 in reimbursement

by Sandra PonsettoStaff Writer

Three years after the first site plan pro-posed for a small plaza including a Walgreensand other businesses at the intersection ofWest State Street and North Broadway wasapproved, the Hastings Planning Commissionseems unable to decide whether to approve anew site plan for a stand-alone Walgreensstore.

Because only six of the nine voting mem-bers of the commission were present andDavid Jasperse, owner of Bosley Pharmacyabstained, all five remaining commissionershad to approve the site plan in order for it tomove forward. When commissioner LoisBowers expressed concerns about some of thearchitectural features of the proposedWalgreens and how it would blend with theexisting downtown businesses cast a dissent-ing vote, the plan stalled. Because the site plandid not receive a majority vote does not meanit was denied, only that it was not approved;Walgreens has the option of resubmitting thesite plan for approval at a later date.

Commissioner Elizabeth Forbes askedHastings Community Development DirectorJohn Hart if he still had the site plansapproved by the planning commission threeyears ago.

The contractors and developers fromWalgreens said the company basically has one

design for its buildings, although some slightvariations can be made. They also said they areunsure why the last plans did not come tofruition but said it likely had something to dowith economics and costs associated with meet-ing the requirements and restrictions placed onthe site by the planning commission.

With regard to the current site plan present-ed to the commission, Hart said Walgreenshad already made a number of changes to thecompany’s basic prototype.

“When we first received this I think it wasalmost an all-white building, exposed aggre-gate, concrete block. It might’ve even been ablue overhang,” he said. “So, we’ve come along ways, actually, to get it into the palettethat we have. It seems to me that it is accept-able.”

Forbes said she did not like the blank wallon the north and west side of the building andsuggested decorative cornices to help thebuilding blend with the historic downtownarea and provide and better transition to thebusiness district.

“If we mess up that corner, we might as

well give up,” said Forbes. “I think we haveworked too darned hard to come up with stan-dards and a look and feel for something, andto mess it up on that corner would be shame-ful. I love Walgreens, and there are somethings that I can see would work; but there’s awhole lot of bad.”

Hastings City Manager and planning com-mission secretary Jeff Mansfield said he feltthe site plan presented, with the modificationssuggested by the commissioners, would cre-ate a acceptable transition between the twobusiness areas.

“The one thing we need to remind our-selves is, we need to decide if we are okaywith an orange, or a lemon, when we want anapple,” said planning commission memberAlan Klein. “They are all great fruit, just arewe willing to change.”

During public comment, Loraine Bush,who owns the property that houses the used-auto sales, spoke in favor of approving thesite plan.

Hastings Planning Commission mulls new Walgreens site plan

The proposed Walgreens would replace the used-auto dealership, FelpauschExpress and other existing businesses located at the corner of West State Street andNorth Broadway.

These architectural renderings show the building Walgreens hopes to construct at the intersection of West State Street andNorth Broadway in Hastings.

See SITE PLAN, page 4

See PARKS, page 5

“I also see where gaining moredollars may come in to helpBarry County Parks and Recand trails because of the otherpeople being there and gettinggrants. Some of the moniesfrom there might be helpful toour trail because it will providean economic welfare for us ifthat trail could be completed ...if they feel you don’t trust them,why would they write grantsthen to benefit Barry County?”

Commissioner Dan Parker

Monthlylegislative talksresume Monday

The Barry County Chamber ofCommerce will begin its monthly leg-islative coffee in September. The firstcoffee is scheduled at 8 a.m. Monday,Sept. 10, at the County Seat Lounge inHastings. State Rep. Mike Callton isexpected to be in attendance.

The gatherings are free and open tothe public. Discussions provide aninformal opportunity for state and fed-eral governmental officials to keep thepublic informed on issues affectingBarry County.

Over-50 groupgathering againin Freeport

Area residents past the half-centurymark are invited to join the FreeportOver 50 group when they resumemeeting Wednesday, Sept. 12, for anoon potluck and music at the commu-nity building in Freeport.

Thornapple Valley Strings will pro-vide the music. The group includesOrville Harrington on Dobro, KenMoore, lead sing and rhythm guitar,Bob Burghdoff of fiddle and TomFreridge on bass guitar.

Attendees should bring a dish topass and their own table service,including serving utensil, if necessary.Coffee will be furnished.

The community building is at thewest end of Main Street, behind thefire barn.

For more information, call GerryAllen, 616-765-8331, or MargeBarcroft, 269-945-2687.

Arts councilorganizing threebus tours toArtPrize

For the third year in a row, theThornapple Arts Council of BarryCounty is organizing bus tours ofArtPrize competition departing fromHastings. The organization hopes tomake access to this international artcompetition as easy and inexpensiveas possible for residents of BarryCounty

Three four-hour Saturday trips arescheduled, Sept. 22 and 29 and Oct. 6,departing from Hastings and willinclude some of the competition’smost popular entries of 2012.

The tour will offer viewing from thecomfort of a bus, as well as stoppingtwo to three times to allow participantsto get a closer look at some of thisyear’s entries, including a few piecesby Barry County residents.

Seating is limited to 28 participantsand the arts council expects to sell outall three trips. Tickets are $15 each andmust be purchased in advance atwww.thornapplearts.org or through thearts council office, 269-945-2002.

Each tour will be departing from theBarry Community Enrichment Center(former First Presbyterian Church) inHastings at noon and returning around4 p.m.

Page 2 — Thursday, September 6, 2012 — The Hastings Banner

by David DeDeckerStaff Writer

“Be without fear in the face of your ene-mies. Safeguard the helpless. Never lie, evenif it leads to your death; that is your oath.Now, rise a knight,” said Godrey of Ibelin.

The oath of a knight, chivalrous and true, isone of one of deep commitment and sacrificefor the good of others. Many members in theSociety of Creative Anachronism adhere tosuch oaths for a day, a week, or a lifetime —even though many today would label suchphilosophy archaic.

The SCA came to Charlton Park overLabor Day Weekend, bringing with it thesounds of sword on shield, the squeak ofleather, and clink of the original chain mail.Havoc in Hastings, hosted by the Ionia chap-ter of the Society for Creative Anachronism,brought medieval Europe back to life.Knights, damsels and assorted SCA royaltypopulated the pavilions and tournamentgrounds near Thornapple Lake.

The SCA is an international organizationdedicated to researching and re-creating thearts, skills, and traditions of Europe from 600to 1600 A.D. Members of the SCA study andtake part in a variety of activities, includingcombat, archery, equestrian tournaments, cos-tuming, cooking, metalworking, woodwork-ing, music, dance, calligraphy, fiber arts andmore.

Oaths taken and knights’ honor tested at Charlton Park

Children suit up with provided equipment and are taught how to combat with foamswords and shields, under the watch of trained adults.

“Maria” is a merchant of silver andpewter in the Havoc marketplace. Whennot portraying her SCA character, CindyHeinsen is a flower shop owner inNashville.

Many archers, with various styles of bows, test their skills at the shooting range.

A newcomer to the art of fencing, this Havoc participant learns the prime lesson offencing: put the pointy end into the other person.

Warriors in full combat gear swingwooden swords at full speed. The weldedsteel helmets can weigh 10 to 15 pounds,metal shields another 10 pounds, andother heavy pieces of armor tax a fight-er’s resolve in the heat of summer.

At left: “Edward Aelredson” is a visitingnobleman enacted by Ed Roehre. Thenoble wore out his previous armor and iscrafting a new set of knee armor with hisapprentice “Daniel.”

Under the watchful eye of an adult, teenagers learn how to get the correct rotation on a thrown hatchet in order to lodge the edgein a log. Participants also were able to throw spears at bales of straw.

John and Kathleen MacKenzie serve as Havoc’s royalty and are a baron andbaroness in the SCA. Visiting royalty included Master Rocco Sansotta (left).

Photos byDavid DeDecker

The Hastings Banner — Thursday, September 6, 2012 — Page 3

Thursday, September 13, 6:00 to 7:30 p.m.Hastings City Bank Trust and Investment Group is partnering withLarry Phillips, CPA, MST and Kyle McKeown, CPA of McKeown, Kraaiand Phillips, PLC to provide information on recent changes in Michiganand Federal tax codes. Information covered will include:

• Michigan tax changes overview• Federal tax update• Timeline for "The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act"• Entity Selection• Succession Planning

This seminar will take place in the community room of the HastingsBranch, 150 West Court St. Attendance is free to the community. Pleasereserve a seat by calling 269-948-5579. Refreshments will be served.

Income Tax Seminar

77570863

Jim JensenMemorialTourneybrings 17teams toTyden Park

Above right: Relatives of Jim Jensentraveled to Hastings to take in some ofthe action during the Jim JensenMemorial 3-on-3 Basketball Tournamentat Tyden Park during Summerfest. Thegroup included (from left) Jim's brother-in-law, Jim Karslake; father, CarrollJensen; sister, Christine Karslake, andhis nephew, Jimmy Karslake. (Photo byPerry Hardin)

His Team of (from left) Brice Hasselback, John Morrison, Nick Jones and RyanSchroder take the championship in the 18- to 25-year-old division at the Jim JensenMemorial 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament in Hastings. (Photo by Brett Bremer)

The Red Cheebs team of (from left) Alex Cherry, Maxwell Clark, Peter Beck andAaron Bronson take the championship in the 15- to 17-year-old division at the JimJensen Memorial 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament in Hastings. (Photo by Brett Bremer)

The Ford Boyz team of (from left) Garrett Coltson, Travin France, Ty Sinclair andJordin France take the championship in the 12- to 14-year-old division at the JimJensen Memorial 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament in Hastings. (Photo by Brett Bremer)

State News RoundupReforms expectedto secure schoolretirement system

Gov. Rick Snyder signed legislationTuesday reforming the Michigan PublicSchool Employees Retirement System,resolving the giant retirement cost burdensfacing Michigan schools. Public Act 300 willshrink the long-term unfunded liabilities fac-ing the system by more than $15 billion.

“Resolving this tremendous debt and finan-cial burden helps our schools, our children,the taxpayers of Michigan and ultimately ourschool employees by ensuring their retire-ment benefits are funded,” Snyder said. “Iappreciate all the hard work by theLegislature to get this done.”

MPSERS provides the retirement servicesand benefits for 551 school districts, 70 pub-lic school academies, seven universities, 28community colleges, 57 intermediate schooldistricts and 11 libraries. The system servesmore than 440,000 members.

The rate schools pay in employee retire-ment costs has doubled since 2002, and wasslated to grow to a staggering 35 percent ofpayroll costs by 2016 had no action beentaken, according to a press release fromSnyder’s office. The new law makes severalsubstantial changes, including increasingemployee contributions as well as prefundingretiree health care beginning in fiscal year2012-13. The state will now be setting asidemoney to meet the debt when it comes due inthe future.

New school employees will now receive$2,000 deposited into a health reimbursementaccount once eligibility criteria are met, aswell as receive up to 2 percent in matchingcontributions into a 401(k) account that canbe used toward the purchase of retiree healthcare or for any other purpose. This replacesfully subsidized retiree health care premiums.

Visit www.legislature.mi.gov for moreinformation on the bill.

Allegan Countyopens legalassistance center

Residents of Allegan County who areunable to afford an attorney now have a newplace to go for assistance: the Allegan CountyLegal Assistance Center. Located on theground level of the Allegan CountyCourthouse, the legal center is staffed by acoordinator and community and student vol-unteers who can help patrons access the courtsystem and gain information about how torepresent themselves in simple civil legalmatters.

Specifically, the Allegan County LegalAssistance Center is a grant- and donation-funded initiative. The main goal of the centeris to minimize the impact on justice involvingchildren, victims of crime, and people withdisabilities caused by inadequate paperwork,

untimely filings, or confusion about serviceand notice requirements. By providing legalassistance to self-represented litigants tofacilitate access to the court system, theCenter will afford the residents of AlleganCounty, specifically targeting low-incomefamilies, access to justice in civil proceedingsincluding divorce, child custody, parentingtime, personal protection orders, landlord-tenant disputes, guardianships, and manyother non-criminal matters.

Open three days a week, The AlleganCounty Legal Assistance Center is part of apilot project overseen by the Solutions onSelf-Help Task Force. The Task Force wasestablished in 2010 by (then) MichiganSupreme Court Chief Justice Marilyn Kelly toimprove and coordinate resources for self-represented persons.

The center makes use of the free legalinformation website Michigan Legal Help,and the center can be accessed online atwww.allegan.michiganlegalhelp.org. In addi-tion to the website, Center volunteers will beavailable to help visitors find what they needon the website, answer questions about courtpractices and processes, and answer simplequestions about forms that are available onthe website. Volunteers cannot give legaladvice. Assistance is provided on a walk-inbasis only. No appointments are taken.

Statewide eventshighlight Michiganaviation

September has been proclaimed MichiganAviation Month by Gov. Rick Snyder, andmore than 20 events across the state will high-light aviation’s value. The MichiganDepartment of Transportation Office ofAeronautics supports aviation by developingand preserving a safe, high-quality statewideair transportation system.

The governor’s proclamation notes thataviation-related activities contribute morethan $10 billion annually to Michigan’s econ-omy. The state is home to 235 public use air-ports, 6,800 registered aircraft, 16,000licensed pilots, 225 licensed aircraft dealers,70 licensed flight schools and five aircraftmanufacturers.

Aviation events in September include:• The Michigan Air Tour, where a group of

pilots will fly to airports in Detroit, Marshall,Adrian, Battle Creek, Cadillac and Alpenafrom Sept. 21 to 23 to highlight each airport’sservices and economic importance. The pub-lic is invited to learn about general aviation.

• The Western Michigan UniversityCollege of Aviation fly-in pancake breakfastSept. 15 at W.K. Kellogg Airport in BattleCreek. This fundraiser supports various stu-dent aviation organizations, and includestours of the WMU College of Aviation.

• Dreams and Wings Fly Day Sept. 29 atDupont Lapeer Airport in Lapeer, wherepilots will give rides to children with disabil-ities.

For a complete list, visit

www.michigan.gov/aero/0,4533,7-145--285131--,00.html

Survey shows fiscalstress easing forMichigan’s localgovernments

Only one-third of the local governments inMichigan say they are somewhat or signifi-cantly less able to meet their fiscal needs thisyear — a big drop from last year when nearlyhalf reported having such difficulties, accord-ing to a University of Michigan survey.

Other findings in the poll by the U-M’sFord School of Public Policy point to a trendof easing in fiscal stress for local govern-ments overall in the state, though many arestill suffering ongoing declines.

The improved expectations for fiscal healthare likely driven by growing optimism aboutwhere the economy is headed, according tothe study by the Ford School’s Center forLocal, State and Urban Policy.

The poll, part of the Michigan PublicPolicy Survey series, reports that:

• 33 percent of the jurisdictions reportbeing somewhat or significantly less able tomeet their fiscal needs this year compared tolast year. A year ago, 48 percent reported suchdifficulty, and 61 percent did in 2010.

• 24 percent of the jurisdictions say they aresomewhat or significantly better able to meettheir fiscal needs this year, compared to 16percent that said the same in 2011 and 9 per-cent in 2010.

• For the first time in the past four years,more local officials (27 percent) predict goodtimes rather than bad times (22 percent) in thecoming year.

• Home foreclosures are trending in a posi-tive direction, with 41 percent of the jurisdic-tions reporting increasing numbers, downfrom 56 percent in 2011.

Despite the growing optimism, local gov-ernments still face several serious challenges,the survey says. Nearly two-thirds (64 per-cent) reported declines in revenue from prop-erty taxes. Almost half of the jurisdictions (46percent) were affected by declining state aid.And increasing demands for services alongwith rising health care costs continue to causefiscal stress.

The study was conducted April 9 to June18. For more information, visitwww.umich.edu/news.

Right: The Next Level team of (fromleft) Ryan Mead, Kenny Quick, JimHirneiss and Dustin Mead (not pictured)take the championship in the 26-and-updivision at the Jim Jensen Memorial 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament duringSummerfest. (Photo by Brett Bremer)

Call 945-9554to place your

ad in theHastings Banner

Worker on MichiganAvenue bridge recovering

Page 4 — Thursday, September 6, 2012 — The Hastings Banner

Do you know?

Did you see?

On an assessment rollDo you recognize these men? Do you know where or why the photo was taken. The house number is 319. One of the large

books the two men on the right are carrying appears to read “Assessment Roll” What can you tell us about this photo?

What looks like a dried up swamp atthe Otis Farm Sanctuary in RutlandTownship Sunday evening is actually atkettle hole that has had fluctuatingwater level for years, said Tom Funke,the sanctuary’s resident manager. Thetrees are red maple, which are watertolerant, to a point, said Funke. Theydied two years ago, probably becausestanding water remained for a longertime than they could tolerate, he said.The trees are now habitat for wood-peckers and other cavity-dwelling crit-ters.

Water-loggedLast week I attended a special session

of the Hastings City Council meeting in aworkshop session to discuss a tentativeplan to save the Riverside Cemetery frombeing assumed by the State of Michigan.

The threat of the cemetery permanentlyclosing and the devastating ramificationsit would have on our community are dueto the severe financial problems experi-enced by the cemetery corporation. Lastyear, the cemetery board announcedfinancial problems due to the increasingcost of maintenance, along with decliningincome from the increasing costs of itsperpetual care fund.

After that story appeared in the Banner,a number of concerned citizens came for-ward to offer their time along with theirimmediate financial support to keep thecemetery operating until a formal plancould be put together.

For months now, the RiversideCemetery Advisory Group, of which I’m amember, has been meeting to come upwith a plan for the perpetual care of thecemetery. Key to the request for the Cityof Hastings is a plan for the city to takeover the cemetery along with selecting anadvisory group to establish an endowmentfund with the Barry CommunityFoundation by using the existing perpetu-al care fund as seed money. All the fundsfrom the sale of cemetery lots and urn carewill be used to offset the cost of operation.

Also requested is that the city approvean up-to 1-mill, 20-year millage for main-tenance and improvements, levied untilthe endowment fund grows large enoughto operate the cemetery. The plan alsoincludes a seven-member advisory boardwith the express responsibility of over-sight along with future fundraising effortsthrough fund drives and estate planning.

Though the council eventually approvedthe request on a 6-1 vote, Mayor Pro-temBrenda McNabb-Stange cast the dissentingvote.

“We’re only allowed as a city to levy 20mills, tops, and we levy 16.2 mills now,”protested McNabb-Stange. “If we add thismill, we’ll be up to 17.2 mills, and I don’tknow if we might need that 1 mill in thenext 20 years.

She went on to tell those in attendancethat the city needs more money for policeand fire protection along with the depart-ment’s desire to build a new fire barn. Shesaid we have these immediate needs but,due to recent financial strains, the city hashad to cut budgets.

Mayor Pro-tem McNabb-Stange andthe council are either uninformed or don’trealize where some of the city’s financialproblems stem from.

It began back in 1998 when the City ofHastings and Rutland Charter Townshipwere in litigation over extending sewerand water services to the township.Walmart Corp. was looking to build in thetownship, but needed the necessary serv-ices to make it happen. After months ofhaggling over the issue, then-JudgeRichard Shaw came up with a proposal tosolve the problem. The city turned it downafter months of negotiation, making iteven more difficult to get the necessaryservices outside the city. That put a holdon development for years.

One potential development was aMeijer store, west of the city near Flexfab,which would employ well over 100 peo-ple and spur other development in thearea.

The next failed development opportu-nity that comes to mind is when the cityturned down a proposal from Gavin Fordto build a new dealership on the corner ofWoodlawn and North Broadway. BillGavin purchased the dealership from BillRenner in 1996, in hopes of moving to abetter location.

At the time, most of the major car man-ufacturers were putting pressure on dealersto maintain certain company facilityrequirements. Looking for the right loca-tion, Gavin decided to investigate the for-mer Peace Community Church propertywhere, at the time, the estimated summerand winter taxes for the seven acres wasestimated at over $11,000.

After months of wrangling with cityzoning officials, Gavin gave up his plansto build a new dealership and service cen-ter estimated at over $2 million, so theowner of the property sold it to the coun-ty. The county then remodeled the churchfor the Commission on Aging and built anew county health department, taking theproperty off the tax rolls forever.

A few years later, due to economic con-ditions throughout the state, Gavin closedthe dealership. With the expanded facili-ties would Gavin had been able to weatherthe storm? That’s a question we’ll neverhave answered due to the shortsightednessof the city.

In 2009, Walgreens abandoned a multi-million dollar development project on thecorner of North Broadway and State

Street in downtown Hastings. Aftermonths of negotiations over size and thefootprint for the project, Walgreens offi-cials walked away from the Hastings storeand built a new store in Lowell. On thefront page of this week’s publication,Walgreens is again looking at Hastings,with a much-downsized version, butTuesday again met with opposition at cityhall.

And, recently, the City of Hastings lostanother major project, when Walters-Dimmick turned down plans to build anew Shell superstore on the corner ofGreen Street and Michigan Avenue wherethe present station exists. The station wasoriginally built back in the 1940s and hasbeen remodeled several times over theyears. In recent years, Walters-Dimmickpurchased two houses and tore them downin preparation for the new store, but nixedtheir plans when they couldn’t get anagreement with the city.

It’s projects like these that cost city cof-fers millions in tax revenue, not takinginto consideration the employment possi-bilities such developments would bring.

The problem with some bureaucrats isthat they find it easy to make demands onbusinesses with little or no regard todevelopment costs. So what often happensis that companies abandon a location andmove to other municipalities that areeager and willing to negotiate.

For example, just last week, when thecity approved the first step toward allow-ing urban services to Rutland Township,McNabb-Stange said of the new hotelproject planned in Rutland Township,“I’m against the bailout of a private cor-poration by the city.”

This is an outrageous way to look at aproject that most people in the countywould support. For years now, economicdevelopment proponents in the countyhave heard of the need for a new and larg-er hotel facility in or near the city. So, forMcNabb-Stange to question a long-dreamed-of project begs the question,should she be mayor pro-tem in line tobecome mayor?

In 1998, when McDonalds was tearingdown their old building to make way for anew restaurant, I mentioned to one of thecity officials that they should purchase thegolden arches and put them on the sewerplant. He questioned why, and I respond-ed because the city should consider sewerand water as moneymaking operations, afranchise of sorts, bringing in badly need-ed revenue to the city. Now, here we arenearly 15 years later, and the city’s rev-enues are in decline, I wonder if theywished they had worked harder years agoto make these projects a reality.

During last week’s meeting, I feltuneasy the way the council overlooked thefact that a number of city supporters werepresent for the special workshop — someof them very generous by supporting com-munity projects over the past five years.Here they were again, ready to offer thecity their support for the cemetery becausethey felt a community obligation to theirancestors and the friends and familymembers interred there.

McNabb-Stange and council membersdidn’t need to preach to them, becausemost of them have already done so muchfor our community and are still willing toaccept the responsibility for the cemeteryproject.

It’s important that our elected officialscontinually work to build a tax base forour growing community — which is whateconomic development is all about.

If the city wants good roads, sidewalks,police and fire protection and more, itsneed to be more flexible with the compa-nies that are willing to choose Hastings.We don’t want to gain a reputation as ananti-business city.

It’s a good example of how citizenbureaucrats with little or no business oradministrative background view projects.To be a successful community, we needpeople who understand business becausethese leaders could impact Hastings forgenerations.

Fred Jacobs, vice president,J-Ad Graphics

Hastings Mayor Pro-tem andcouncil need a history lesson

The Banner archives have numerous pho-tographs from the middle of the past centurythat have no date, names or other informa-tion. We’re hoping readers can help us iden-tify the people in the photos and provide a

little more information about the event toreunite the photos with their original clip-pings or identify photos that may never havebeen used. If you’re able to help tell this pho-tograph’s story, we want to hear from you.

Mail information to Attn: NewsroomHastings Banner, 1351 N. M-43 Highway,Hastings, MI 49058; email news@j-adgraphics.com; or call 269-945-9554.

“I’ll tell you straight up, what exists therenow, consider that the next 10 years — peri-od,” she said. “We don’t have the resources toaffect the change ... I would like to appeal toyou folks to reconsider, enabling them tomove forward. Don’t table this any longer. Iknow definitively they’re not going to investany more man hours; they’re done. They’vebeen down this road with us before.”

After the vote, Hart spoke to the contrac-tors, architects and developers working withWalgreens on the site plan and told the com-missioners that they were interested in sched-uling a special meeting with the entire plan-ning commission as soon as possible.

Hart said that during that meeting the con-tractors and developers would present the siteplan with revisions requested by the commis-sioners which include seeking a variance forsetback in the business district from theHastings Zoning Board of Appeals, movingthe driveway on Park Street, adding a decora-tive cornice to the top of the building andmore.

At press time, no date had been set for thespecial meeting. However, Mansfield saidthat the meeting will be posted online and atHastings City Hall 18 hours before its sched-uled time, in accordance with the OpenMeeting Act.

SITE PLAN, continuedfrom page 1

It’s important thatour elected officials

continually workto build a tax base

for our growingcommunity — which

is what economicdevelopmentis all about.

Just before noon Friday, Aug. 31, a con-struction worker fell into the ThornappleRiver while painting under the new MichiganAvenue bridge in Hastings.

The hip waders worn by Miguel Romarez,57, from Lansing, apparently filled withwater, and he was pulled underwater anddownstream. His lifeless was pulled out of thewater about 100 feet downstream after beingcompletely submerged for at least five min-utes, said Hastings Police Chief Jerry Sarver.

Emergency life support was performed on

Romarez for about 20 minutes at the sceneprior to being transported to a landing zone atHastings Middle School, where an emergencymedical helicopter flew him to the hospital.Prior to take off, Romarez was reported to bebreathing on his own. Romarez was breathingon his own while being loaded into a medicalhelicopter, said Sarver.

Wednesday evening, the police departmentissued a press release saying Romarez’ con-dition had been upgraded from critical to sta-ble condition.

A bridge painter is loaded into a medical helicopter behind the Hastings MiddleSchool early Friday afternoon. The middle school ground is the approved landing sitefor helicopters within city limits.

To the editor:Horizontal hydraulic fracturing (fracking)

for gas and oil is also known by the industrynow as shale gas drilling. You may have seenexpensive television ads by the gas and oilindustry where this term is now used. Itinvolves withdrawing huge amounts of fresh-water which is then mixed with a brew oftoxic chemicals and sand and injected underhigh pressure deep into the ground verticallyand then horizontally up to two miles. Thiscauses the shale to break up and release natu-ral gas.

I have been working on the petition driveto get fracking on the 2014 ballot so the peo-ple of Michigan can vote whether to allowthis new and risky method of drilling for gasand oil in Michigan.

Please sign the petition from theCommittee to Ban Fracking in Michigan toamend the state constitution to ban frackingstatewide. You can find the petition to sign atThornapple Floral, Above & Beyond HairSalon or Hart Animal Hospital all on M-37 inMiddleville. In Hastings, you can sign thepetition at the Jefferson Street Gallery, 205 S.Jefferson St., Tuesdays through Saturdaysfrom noon to 6 p.m.

You can learn more about this at websitessuch as www.banmichiganfracking.org andletsbanfracking.org or www.banmichigan-frackinginfo.com.

A public pressure that petition that asks theMichigan Department of Natural Resourcesnot to auction off more state land in October isalso available to sign online atwww.change.org/petitions/director-keith-creagh-end-mdnr-s-oil-gas-lease-auctions-of-p u b l i c - l a n d ?utm_campaign=friend_inviter_modal&utm_medium=facebook&utm_source=share_peti-tion&utm_term=8777056.

Often, when signatures are being gatheredfor the petition, people ask me what more

they can do to prevent the industrialization ofour water rich public land. I urge them, andyou, to let our legislators know how you feelabout fracking here in Michigan.

Please call or write to your state senatorand representative as well as Gov. RickSnyder and let them know you support astatewide ban on horizontal hydraulic fractur-ing and the storage of contaminated water andother waste in Michigan.

Vermont is the first state to do this, andmany other cities are in the process of ban-ning fracking in states where it has alreadyled to contaminated wells, earthquakes andother accidents.

Responding to public pressure, severalcountries around the world have banned orsuspended fracking for health and environ-mental reasons. For your convenience here isthe contact information for your state legisla-tors. They need to hear from all of us.

Gov. Rick Snyder, PO Box 30013, LansingMI 48909; 517- 373-3400.

State Sen. Rick Jones, Michigan StateSenate, State Capitol, PO Box 30036,Lansing MI 48909-7538; 517-373-3447; fax517 373-5849;senrjones@senate.michigan.gov.

State Rep. Mike Callton, Michigan Houseof Representatives, N-1191 House OfficeBuilding, Lansing MI 48933; 517-373-0842;mikecallton@house.mi.gov

At the Barry County Fair this year, we weretold by Rep. Mike Callton and his aides thatif 51 percent of the respondents in a robo callsurvey his office is planning to conduct inearly September say they are opposed to hor-izontal hydraulic fracturing, he has promisedto introduce legislation to ban fracking inMichigan. Our legislators are listening, andwe all need to speak out on this issue.

Cindy Dill,Delton

Public can share views on fracking

The Hastings Banner — Thursday, September 6, 2012 — Page 5

Last week’s question:

Larger and more aggressive muteswans are depriving Michigan’s nativetrumpeter swans of nesting areas atalarming rates. Should Barry Countyassist the DNR in the removal of all muteswans from Barry County waters?

78% Yes22% No

Here’s your chance to take part in an interactive public opinion poll. Vote on the ques-tion posed each week by accessing our website, www.HastingsBanner.com. Results willbe tabulated and reported the following week, along with a new question.

What do you think?For this week:

With just 27 games left in the MajorLeague Baseball season, the DetroitTigers trail the first place White Soxby one game. Who’s going to win theCentral Division?

q Detroit Tigersq Chicago White Sox

The Hastings BannerDevoted to the interests of Barry County since 1856

Published by... Hastings Banner, Inc.A Division of J-Ad Graphics Inc.

1351 N. M-43 Highway • Phone: (269) 945-9554 • Fax: (269) 945-5192Newsroom email: news@j-adgraphics.com • Advertising email: j-ads@choiceonemail.com

Subscription Rates: $35 per year in Barry County$40 per year in adjoining counties

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POSTMASTER: Send address changes to:P.O. Box B

Hastings, MI 49058-0602Second Class Postage Paid

at Hastings, MI 49058

• NEWSROOM •Doug Vanderlaan (Editor)

Kathy Maurer (Copy Editor)

• ADVERTISING DEPARTMENT •Classified ads accepted Monday through Friday,

8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

John JacobsPresident

Frederic JacobsVice President

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Scott OmmenJennie Yonker

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Fran FavermanSandra Ponsetto

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The Hastings Banner welcomes letters to the editor from readers, butthere are a few conditions that must be met before they will be published.

The requirements are:• All letters must be signed by the writer, with address and phone

number provided for verification. All that will be printed is the writer’sname and community of residence. We do not publish anonymousletters, and names will be withheld at the editor’s discretion forcompelling reasons only.

• Letters that contain statements that are libelous or slanderous will notbe published.

• All letters are subject to editing for style, grammar and sense.• Letters that serve as testimonials for or criticisms of businesses will not

be accepted.• Letters serving the function of “cards of thanks” will not be accepted

unless there is a compelling public interest, which will be determined bythe editor.

• Letters that include attacks of a personal nature will not be publishedor will be edited heavily.

• “Crossfire” letters between the same two people on one issue will belimited to one for each writer.

• In an effort to keep opinions varied, there is a limit of one letter per per-son per month.

• We prefer letters to be printed legibly or typed, double-spaced.

Write Us A Letter:

Michigan LegislatureGovernor Rick Snyder, Republican, P.O. Box 30013, Lansing, Mich. 48909. Phone

(517) 373-3400.State Senator Rick Jones, Republican, 24th District (Allegan, Barry and Eaton coun-

ties). Michigan State Senate, State Capitol, Farnum Building Room 915, 125 WestAllegan Street, Lansing, MI 48909-7536. Send mail to P. O. Box 30036, Lansing, MI,48909. Phone: (517) 373-3447. E-mail: senrjones@senate.michigan.gov

State Representative Mike Callton, Republican, 87th District (All of Barry County),Michigan House of Representatives, N-1191 House Office Building, Lansing, MI48933. Phone (517) 373-0842. e-mail: mikecallton@house.mi.gov

U.S. CongressJustin Amash, Republican, 3rd District (All of Barry County), 1714 Longworth House

Office Building, Washington, D.C. 20515-2203, phone (202) 225-3831, fax (202) 225-5144. District office: Room 166, Federal Building, Grand Rapids, Mich. 49503, phone(616) 451-8383.

U.S. SenateDebbie Stabenow, Democrat, 702 Hart Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C.

20510, phone (202) 224-4822.Carl Levin, Democrat, Russell Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C. 20510,

phone (202) 224-6221. District office: 110 Michigan Ave., Federal Building, Room 134,Grand Rapids, Mich. 49503, phone (616) 456-2531.

President’s comment line: 1-202-456-1111. Capitol Information line for Congressand the Senate: 1-202-224-3121.

Know Your Legislators:

HASTINGSPUBLIC

LIBRARYSCHEDULE

Hastings Public Library scheduleThursday, Sept. 6 — Movie Memories

presents cute kids in “Anne of GreenGables,” 5 to 8 p.m.

Friday, Sept. 7 — preschool story timegets ready for Kathy Wargin’s Moose, 10:30to 11 a.m.

Saturday, Sept. 8 — Lego Club has aback-to-school party and designs its owntheme, 1 to 3 p.m.

Monday, Sept. 10 — computer class takeson advanced techniques using MS Word, 6 to7:30 p.m.

Tuesday, Sept. 11 — toddler story timeenjoys the stories of Valeri Gorbachev;Young chess tutoring class, 4:30 to 5:30p.m.; open chess club, 6 to 8 p.m.

Wednesday, Sept. 12 — Royal Readers(kids from fourth through seventh grades)begin The Hysterical History of the TrojanWar, 4:30 to 5:30 p.m.; Friends of theLibrary fall meeting, 6:30 to 8 p.m.

Call the Hastings Public Library for moreinformation, 269-945-4263.

To the editor:This letter is in regard to Jeff Van Nortwick

as a person of diligence and wisdom who hasrepresented me for the past six years as 7thDistrict Barry County Commissioner.

He’s a commissioner who believes intransparency of all government institutionsand offices. He is a person of honesty andintegrity who works for the people of Barry

County and who sincerely cares for the futureof “Barry County the Beautiful” for genera-tions to come.

I wholeheartedly endorse Jeff VanNortwick as a write-in candidate for theNovember election ballot.

Kathleen Doyle,Bellevue

Keep commissioner as a write-in

According to the Michigan Department ofResources, more Barry County state land maybe offered for mineral rights leasing.

The DNR anticipates approval at the Sept.13 Natural Resources Commission meeting.Once the DNR director gives approval, a cat-

alog of oil and gas rights being offered inBarry County for the Oct. 24 auction will belisted at www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,4570,7-153-10368_11800-169044--,00.html.

A public notice of the auction is currentlyposted at the website.

More oil and gas leasespossible in Barry County

The Michigan State Police reportedTuesday, Sept. 4, that preliminary reportsindicate six people lost their lives in sixseparate traffic crashes during the LaborDay holiday weekend. In comparison, 12people died in traffic crashes over the sameweekend in 2011.

One of the six victims was known tohave used restraints, and alcohol was aknown factor in one of the six fatal crash-es.

“These numbers are preliminary andonly reflect those fatalities reported to theMSP as of noon, Tuesday,” said Capt. KariKusmierz, commander of the MSPTraining Division. “The preliminary num-bers show a decrease in fatalities from thissame holiday period last year. The MSPcontinue to urge motorists to not drink anddrive, to always use proper restraints, andto drive safely at all times.”

The 2012 Labor Day holiday weekendran from 6 p.m. Friday, Aug. 31, throughmidnight Monday, Sept. 3.

Trafficfatalitiesdown overLabor Dayweekend

PARKS, continued from page 1funds through fiscal year 2015.

• Approval of a retiree health funding vehi-cle trust fund with an initial deposit of a$1,041,302 transfer from the 100 percent taxpayment fund. By establishing the RHFV, thecounty will be able to reduce its annualrequired funding of the Barry County retireehealth plan by approximately $100,000 annu-ally and will be able to take advantage ofincreased investment earnings that are notavailable to funds not being invested in aqualified RHFV Trust.

• Agreement to distribute the proposed2013 fiscal year budget to county depart-ments for review and for opportunity toappeal suggested allocations.

The next meeting of the board will beTuesday, Sept. 11, at 9 a.m. in the meetingchambers at the county courthouse.

(In a clarification of last week’s commis-sion account, Kathy Wiggins should havebeen identified as chair of the Barry CountyAnimal Shelter Advisory Board.)

Page 6 — Thursday, September 6, 2012 — The Hastings Banner

Area Obituaries

Ray L. GirrbachOwner/Director

328 S. Broadway, Hastings, MI 49058 • 269-945-3252Serving Hastings, Barry County and Surrounding Communities for 45 years

•Traditional and Cremation Services

•Pre-Planning Services

•Large Parking Lot - Handicap Accessible•Serving All Faiths

•Pre-arrangement Transfers Accepted

Family Owned and Operated

www.girrbachfuneralhome.net

102 CookHastings

945-4700

118 S. JeffersonHastings945-3429

Lauer Family Funeral Homes

1401 N. Broadway

Hastings

945-2471

1351 North M-43 Hwy.

Hastings

945-9554

770 Cook Rd.Hastings945-9541

This information on worship service isprovided by The Hastings Banner, thechurches and these local businesses:

GRACE COMMUNITYCHURCH

8950 E. M-79 Highway, Nashville,MI 49073. Pastor Don Roscoe,(517) 852-9228. MorningCelebration 9 a.m. & 10:30 a.m.Fellowship Time before the service.Nursery, children’s ministry, youthgroup, adult small group ministry,leadership training.

SOLID ROCK BIBLE CHURCHOF DELTON

7025 Milo Rd., P.O. Box 408, (cor-ner of Milo Rd. & S. M-43), Delton,MI 49046. Pastor Roger Claypool,(517) 204-9390. Sunday WorshipService 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.,Nursery and Children’s Ministry.Thursday night Bible study andprayer time 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

CHURCH OF THE NAZARENE1716 North Broadway. Rev. TimmOyer, Pastor. Sunday School 9:45a.m. Morning Worship Service10:45 a.m.; Evening Service 6 p.m.;Wednesday Evening Service 7 p.m.

FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH309 E. Woodlawn, Hastings. DanCurrie, Sr. Pastor; Josh Maurer,Youth Pastor. Sunday Services: 9:15a.m. Sunday School for allages,10:30 a.m. Worship Service; 6p.m. Evening Service: Jr. YouthGroup 5-7 p.m. & Sr. High YouthGroup 7-9 p.m.. Wednesday,Family Night 6:30 p.m., Awana,Bible Study, Praise and Prayer. CallChurch Office 948-8004 for infor-mation on MOPS, Children’s Choir,Sports Ministries.

WOODLAND UNITEDMETHODIST CHURCH

203 N. Main, Woodland, MI 48897• (269) 367-4061. Pastor GarySimmons. Sunday Worship 9:15a.m.

PLEASANTVIEWFAMILY CHURCH

2601 Lacey Road, Dowling, MI49050. Pastor, Steve Olmstead.(616) 758-3021 church phone.Sunday Service: 9:30 a.m.; SundaySchool 11 a.m.; Sunday EveningService 6 p.m.; Bible Study &Prayer Time Wednesday nights 6:30p.m.

WELCOME CORNERSUNITED METHODIST CHURCH

3185 N. Broadway, Hastings, MI49058. Pastor Susan D. Olsen.Phone 945-2654. Worship Services:Sunday, 9:45 a.m.; Sunday School,10:45 a.m.

ST. ROSECATHOLIC CHURCH

805 S. Jefferson. Rev. RichardAltine, Pastor. Saturday Mass 4:30p.m.; Sunday Masses 8 a.m. and 11a.m.; Confession Saturday 3:30-4:15p.m.

ST. CYRIL’SCATHOLIC CHURCH

Nashville. Rev. Richard Altine,Pastor. A mission of St. RoseCatholic Church, Hastings. MassSunday at 9:30 a.m..

WOODGROVE BRETHREN CHRISTIAN PARISH

4887 Coats Grove Rd. PastorRandall Bertrand. Wheelchairaccessible and elevator. SundaySchool 9:30 a.m. Worship Time10:30 a.m. Youth activities: call forinformation.

QUIMBY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

M-79 East. P.O. Box 63, Hastings,MI 49058. Pastor Rev. BryceFeighner. (616) 945-9392. SundayWorship 11:15 a.m.

GRACE BRETHREN BIBLECHURCH

600 Powell Road, Hastings. PastorBob Wilson. Church Phone 269-948-2330. Pastor’s Home 269-945-4356. bjw1633@sbcglobal.net.Sunday School 9:45 a.m.; WorshipService 10:45 a.m.; Sunday Evening6 p.m. Wednesday 7 p.m.

NEW BEGINNINGSCHURCH OF GOD

502 E. Bond St., Hastings. PastorJ.C. Crank cordially invites you tocome worship with us each Sundayat 10:30 a.m. and Tuesday eveningBible study 6 p.m. with Rev. CalvonKidder. Interested in knowing moreabout our church? Please feel wel-come to call one of these numbers.Pastor Crank 269-979-8618; (313)610-5730 or; Ed Blankenship(Local) 269-945-3327.

COUNTRY CHAPEL UNITEDMETHODIST CHURCH

9275 S. M-37 Hwy., Dowling, MI49050. Rev. Ryan Wieland. Sun-days - 9:30 a.m. TraditionalWorship Service; 11 a.m. Contem-porary Service; Sunday School andNursery available during both serv-ices (Summer Schedule - AdultSunday School: 9 a.m., Worship &Children’s Programs 10 a.m.) YouthGroup, Covenant Prayer, Choir,Chimes, Praise Band, QuiltingGroup, Community Breakfasts andmore! Call the church office at(269) 721-8077 (M/W/F 9 a.m.-12p.m.), e-mail office@mei.net orvisit www.countrychapelumc.org<http://www.countrychapelumc.org/>for more information

SAINTS ANDREW &MATTHIAS INDEPENDENT

ANGLICAN CHURCH2415 McCann Rd. (in Irving).Sunday services each week: 9:15a.m. Morning Prayer (HolyCommunion the 2nd Sunday of eachmonth at this service), 10 a.m. HolyCommunion (each week). TheRector of Ss. Andrew & Matthias isRt. Rev. David T. Hustwick. Thechurch phone number is 269-795-2370 and the rectory number is 269-948-9327. Our church website ishttp://trax.to/andrewmatthias. Weare part of the Diocese of the GreatLakes which is in communion withThe United Episcopal Church ofNorth America and use the 1928Book of Common Prayer at all ourservices.

HOPE UNITEDMETHODIST CHURCH

M-37 South at M-79, Rev. RichardMoore, Pastor. Church phone 269-945-4995. Church Website: www.hopeum.org. Church Fax No.: 269-818-0007. Church Secretary-Treasurer, Linda Belson. Officehours, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thurs-day 9 am to 2 pm. Sunday Morn-ing: 9:30 am Sunday School; 10:45am Morning Worship; Sr. Hi. Youth5 to 7 p.m.; Sunday evening service6 pm; SonShine Preschool (ages 3& 4) (September thru May),Tues., Thurs. from 9-11:30 am,12-2:30 pm; Tuesday 9 am Men’sBible Study at the church.Wednesday 6 pm - Pioneers (mealserved) (October thru May).Wednesday 6 pm - Jr. High Youth(meal served) (October thru May).Wednesday 7 pm - Prayer Meeting.Thursday 9:30 am - Women’s BibleStudy.

COMMUNITY BAPTISTCHURCH

502 East Grand, Hastings; FloydHughes, Pastor; Myron Huebner,Music. Sunday Services: 10 a.m.,Sunday School (all ages); 11 a.m.Worship Service; 6 p.m. EveningService; 7 p.m. Thursday, BibleStudy and Prayer. Call 269-948-2673for additional information.

ABUNDANT LIFEFELLOWSHIP MINISTRIES

A Spirit-filled church. Meeting atthe Maple Leaf Grange, Hwy. M-66south of Assyria Rd., Nashville,Mich. 49073. Sun. Praise &Worship 10:30 a.m., 6 p.m.; Wed.6:30 p.m. Jesus Club for boys &girls ages 4-12. Pastors David andRose MacDonald. An oasis of God’slove. “Where Everyone is SomeoneSpecial.” For information call 616-731-5194 .

CHURCH OF CHRIST541 N. Michigan Ave., Hastings.Pastor Collin Pinkston. Phone 269-945-2938. Sunday School 10 a.m.;Worship 11 a.m. Wednesday NightBible Study 7 p.m.

HASTINGS FIRST UNITEDMETHODIST CHURCH

209 W. Green Street, Hastings, MI49058. Pastor Don Spachman. OfficePhone (269) 945-9574. Office hoursare Monday-Thursday 9 a.m.-3 p.m.;Friday 9 a.m. to noon. Sunday morn-ing worship hours: 8:45 a.m.Traditional Worship; 10 a.m.Refreshments; 10:45 a.m.Contemporary Worship. 5th SundayWorship at 10 a.m. Sunday Schoolfor PreK-5th and Nursery Care(infants through age 4) is availableduring both worship services. Sharethe Light Soup Kitchen serves a freemeal every Tuesday from 5 to 6 p.m.

HASTINGS FREEMETHODIST CHURCH

2635 North M-43 Highway,Hastings. Telephone 269-945-9121.Pastor Daniel Graybill, Pastor BrianTeed, and Youth Pastor EricGillespie. Sunday: Nursery and tod-dler (birth through age 3) care pro-vided. Sunday School: 9:30 a.m. forchildren and youth, and a variety ofclasses for adults. Worship Service:10:30 a.m. Children’s Junior Church,4 years through 4th grade dismissedprior to offering. Junior and SeniorHigh Youth Group 6:00 p.m. , andseveral adult small group opportuni-ties. Wednesday Mid-WeekPioneers at 6:30 p.m.: PioneerClub, 4 years through 5th grade.Adults: Marriage Enrichment class,Women’s Prayer Group and a Men’sBible Study. Thursday: SeniorAdult (50+) Bible Study at 10 a.m.and lunch at Wendy’s, 11:30 a.m.Third Thursday Brunch at 9:30 a.m.

LIFEGATE COMMUNITYCHURCH

301 E. State Rd., P.O. Box 273,Hastings, MI 49058. Pastor ScottPrice. Phone: 269-948-0900.Website: www.lifegatecc.com. Sun-day Worship 10 a.m. WednesdayLife Group 6:30 p.m.

GRACE LUTHERANCHURCH

Discover God’s Grace with us!Holy Communion Every Sunday!

Sunday, September 9 - WinterHours Begin. Worship Service 8 and10:45 a.m. Sunday School 9:30 a.m.September 9 - Noisy Offering forLove, Inc.; Men’s AlcoholicsAnonymous 7 p.m. September 10 -Adventurers Bible Study 7 p.m.;Spiritual AA 7:30 p.m. September11 -Youth Committee 6 p.m.;Brothers of Grace 7 p.m. September12 - Wordwatchers Bible Study 10a.m. Location: 239 E. North St.,Hastings, 269-945-9414 or 945-2645, fax 269-945-2698. Pastor AmyLuckey. http://www.discover-grace.org

FIRST PRESBYTERIANCHURCH

405 N. M-37, Hastings, MI 49058.(269) 945-5463. Rev. Dr. JeffGarrison, Pastor. Sunday Services:8:55 a.m. Traditional WorshipService; 11 a.m. ContemporaryWorship Service. Nursery andChildren’s Worship available duringboth services. Visit us online atwww.firstchurchhastings.org and ourweb log for sermons at: http://hast-ingspresbyterian.blogspot.com.Friday - 9 a.m. Golfer’s GroupMeets; 9 a.m. Pickleball. Saturday -10:30 a.m. Praise Team. Monday - 4p.m. Pickleball; 7 p.m. Knit Wits.Wednesday - 4 p.m. Pickleball.

Worship Together…...at the church of your choice ~ Weekly schedules

of Hastings area churches available for your convenience...

77570713

Fiberglass

Products

DELTON, MI - Marvin J. Harrington, ofDelton, passed away August 31, 2012, at hishome with his family at his bedside.

Marvin was born June 17, 1925, in Delton,the son of John and Helen (Underhill)Harrington. A 1943 graduate of DeltonKellogg High School, Marvin was active inplaying basketball, baseball and runningtrack. Following graduation, Marvin enlistedin the US Navy, where he served his countryin WWII.

He was a long time member of FaithUnited Methodist Church, Delton and a lifemember of V.F.W. Post 422 in Delton.

Marvin enjoyed fly fishing and was a pargolfer, obtaining three holes-in-one. Marvinfollowed Delton sports his entire life and heand Joyce were grand marshals of the DeltonFounders Day Parade.

On June 13, 1945, he married the love ofhis life Joyce Leinaar, who survives.

Marvin is also survived by a son, Dennis(Gloria) Harrington of Delton; a daughter,Diane (James) Adams of Richland; grandchil-dren, Jennifer and Brian Harrington, RobertAdams and Keith Saggio; five great grand-children, and several nieces and nephews.

Marvin was preceded in death by his par-ents and a sister, Margaret Pennock.

A funeral service was conducted Tuesday,September 4, 2012, at Faith United MethodistChurch in Delton, Pastor Brian Bunch offici-ating. Private interment took place in EastHickory Corners Cemetery. Memorial contributions to Faith UnitedMethodist Church will be appreciated. Pleasevisit www.williams-goresfuneral.com to viewMarvin's online guest book or to leave a con-dolence message for the family.

Arrangements were made by Williams-Gores Funeral Home in Delton.

Marvin J. Harrington

DELTON, MI - Harry M. Phelps, ofDelton, passed away September 1, 2012.

Harry was born January 15, 1926 inDenver, CO, the oldest son of Harry Sr. andLenna (Burghart) Phelps.

A veteran, Harry proudly served his coun-try in WWII in the Pacific Theater as MarineGround support for Nightfighter Squadronunder Lt. Col. Black Mac Macgruder,Marshall Islands, Okinawa, China. Harry washonorably discharged as a corporal.

Harry worked all of his life, and with onlya 10th grade education, he earned his way toplant manager for KVP Sutherland/Brown/Georgia Pacific/Multi-Color (Cincinnati).After retirement, Harry did maintenancework for the Delton laundrymat and carwash.

Harry was a member of VFW Post 422,Delton, American Legion Post 484, HickoryCorners, and Amvets Post 1988, Baldwin.

Harry met the love of his life, Ilene Ritchiethrough his brother Jerry and they were mar-ried in 1947, and she preceded him in deathin 2006.

Harry is survived by his children, Patricia(Phil) Lazarus, Michael (Sue) Phelps andBrenda Phelps, nine grand children, MichelleChatell, Kevin Phelps, Tony (Amanda)Lazarus, Brandy (Jon) Cornwell, Charles

Harry M. Phelps

BATTLE CREEK, MI - Donald “Don”Miller, age 63, of Battle Creek, died August31, 2012 at home.

He was born December 13,1948, the son ofCharles and Betty (Clark) Miller inHaysprings, NE.

Don graduated from Hastings High Schooland served in the U.S. Army during theVietnam War. He returned to the area andworked as a machinist in Hastings and GrandRapids and then worked as a registered nurseat the V.A. Medical Center for 16 years, retir-ing in 2009.

He is survived by his wife, Valerie “Val”Miller of Battle Creek; daughter, Angela(Michael) Stehr of Columbia, SC; son, Bret(Heidi) Miller of Hastings; six grandchildren;brothers, Ron (Lorna) Miller of Hastings,Dale (Cindy) Miller of Bellevue, Gerald(Linda) Miller of Hastings and sister,Charlene (Danny) Cheney of Hastings.

He was preceded in death by his parentsand brother, Bob Miller.

Don was a lifetime member of the AugustaV.F.W. and was active with animal rescue.He loved horses, being outdoors, gardeningand camping. He also enjoyed woodwork-ing, garage sales, going antiquing, listeningto music, traveling to Disneyworld in Floridaand his outdoor pool.

Services took place Wednesday, September5, 2012 at St. Thomas Episcopal Church withThe Rev. Brian R. Coleman officiating.Inurnment, Augusta Cemetery.

Memorial donations may go to CalhounCounty Animal Shelter.

The family is being served by ShawFuneral Home. www.shawfuneralhome.com

Donald Don Miller

(Jennifer) Emerson, Brian (Kristin) Reed,Suzanne (Nate) Foster, Paul Phelps andMichael Phelps; 12 great grandchildren, andseveral nieces and nephews.

Harry was preceded in death by his parentsand three brothers, Charles Phelps, JerryPhelps and William Phelps.

Harry's family will receive friendsThursday, September 6, from 2 to 4 and 6 to8 p.m. at the Williams-Gores Funeral Home,Delton.

A graveside service will be conductedFriday, September 7, 2012 at Fort CusterNational Cemetery, at 2 p.m. Pastor GeraldGallaway, officiating. Please meet at thecortege assembly area at 1:50 p.m.

Memorial contributions to VFW Post 422will be appreciated. Please visitwww.williams-goresfuneral.com to viewHarry's online guest book or to leave a con-dolence message for the family.

Call 269-945-9554anytime for Hastings

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MIDDLEVILLE, MI - Charles ElmerCollins Sr., age 83, of Middleville, diedpeacefully at 9:30 p.m. on Labor Day,Monday, September 3, 2012 after suffering astroke.

The youngest of three children, Charlie wasborn at home in Linden, on July 3, 1929, toWilliam and Opal Collins. At age four, hewent to live with his Aunt Lula and UncleGerald Thompson in Blissfield, and remainedthere for several years while his own motherwas confined to a tuberculosis sanatorium.

As a young teenager, Charlie was involvedin a tractor accident that caused him to spendalmost a year in the hospital and ultimatelyhave his leg amputated. This set back, howev-er, did not deter him from playing basketballin high school or learning to water ski. Henever considered himself disabled. He did,nevertheless, deeply regret that he was unableto serve his country in World War II.

He met his first wife, Rosella JuneMitchell, while doing pipeline work inKansas and they were wed on February 15,1950. They had five children: Charles ElmerII, (married to Renée Beduhn), ChristineElaine (married to Edward “Jerry”Zimmerman), William Bryant (married toCarol Hager), Susanne Marie (married toHarley “Cecil” Pelfrey) and Cynthia Kathleen(married to David Preston.)

The couple settled in Linden, where Charlieand Rosie were active in the Eastern Star andCharlie was a Boy Scout Master. In 1964,Charlie's new job with HastingsManufacturing Company brought the familyto Hastings.

In the late 1960s, Charlie was bitten by theracing bug, and eventually bought a sportyyellow car (a 1970 Oldsmobile Cutlass Rally350) and began drag racing on weekends. Hewon every stock car race he was in, but even-tually came to his senses (perhaps helpedalong a bit by his wife) and went on to other,safer pursuits - golfing, acting in plays, andserving his church. He became active in localpolitics and in 1980, had the honor of being amember of the Electoral College as a delegatefor Ronald Reagan.

After Rosie’s death (due to cancer) in 1999,Charlie became deeply involved in a veteran’soral history project, interviewing and record-ing the stories of men and women who havespent time serving our country.

As a devoted member of Masonic organiza-tions for 53 years, he served as WorshipfulMaster, Worthy Patron, Thrice IllustriousMaster, and High Priest. In 2010, he receivedthe Meritorious Award Jewel from the GrandChapter Royal Arch Masons of Michigan.His fund raising ability helped many lodgesaround the state thrive. Charlie was also aShriner, a Rotarian, a Deacon of the FirstPresbyterian Church, and spent much of histime volunteering for various organizations.

Charlie is survived by his wife of 12 years,Carol Collins (nee: Kidder); his brother, Paulof Bend, Oregon; his sister, Grace EllenVickroy of Linden; his five children; 13grandchildren; five great-grandchildren and ahost of nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held at the FirstPresbyterian Church in Hastings, on Saturday,September 8, 2012 at 11 a.m., followed by aluncheon at the Middleville Masonic Temple.

The family asks that friends consider donat-ing to the Middleville Masonic LodgeNumber 231, 123 East Main Street,Middleville, MI, 49333.

Charles Elmer Collins Sr.

GET ALL THE LOCAL NEWS!Subscribe to the Hastings Banner.Call 945-9554 for more information.

The Hastings Banner — Thursday, September 6, 2012 — Page 7

Newborn Babies

MarriageLicenses

Rhilan B., born at Pennock Hospital on Aug.16, 2012 at 12:08 a.m. to Sarah Frame ofHastings. Weighing 6 lbs. 15 ozs. and 19 inch-es long.

*****A’myah Lorraine, born at Pennock Hospitalon Aug. 16, 2012 at 1:33 p.m. to DiamondRoyal and Derrick McCaley of Grand Rapids.Weighing 6 lbs. 13 ozs. and 18.5 inches long.

*****Liberty Grace, born at Pennock Hospital onAug. 16, 2012 at 2:11 a.m. to Cort and LisaCollison of Lake Odessa. Weighing 5 lbs. 10ozs. and 17 1/2 inches long.

*****Brenden Jace, born at Pennock Hospital onAug. 18, 2012 at 6:37 a.m. to Luke and ReneeHaywood of Hastings. 6 lbs. 6 oz. and 19 1/2inches long.

*****Adriana, born at Pennock Hospital on Aug.21, 2012 at 7:51 a.m. to Nina Lira and CharlesFoust of Lake Odessa. Weighing 10 lbs. 3 1/2ozs. and 21 inches long.

*****Sophie Kathleen, born at Pennock Hospitalon Aug. 21, 2012 at 5:52 p.m. to Holly and BJDonnini of Hastings. Weighing 6 lbs. 2 ozs.and 18 inches long.

*****Keegan Wayne, born at Pennock Hospital onAug. 25, 2012 at 3:35 a.m. to Keri and LeeGould of Nashville. Weighing 7 lbs. 10 ozs.and 21 inches long.

*****Gannon Edward, born at Pennock Hospitalon Aug. 24, 2012 at 7:55 a.m. to Kimberlyand Matthew Markwart of Woodland.Weighing 8 lbs. 3 ozs. and 20 inches long.

*****Celia Marie, born at Pennock Hospital onAug. 26, 2012 at 3:36 a.m. to JessicaKauffman and Herb Seidelman of Woodland/Lake Odessa. Weighing 6 lbs. 15 1/2 ozs. and19 1/2 inches long.

*****Kingston Scott, born at Pennock Hospital onAug. 26, 2012 at 4:34 p.m. to DanielleAnderson of Hastings. Weighing 8 lbs. 3 ozs.and 20 inches long.

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Jared Scott Branham, Hastings and JenniferLea Mott, Hastings.

Timothy Scott-James Cross, Hastings andHeather Sue Quada, Hastings.

Clinton James Stoneburner, Plainwell andTarah Michelle Keim, Plainwell.

Brian Lee Wierenga, Middleville and TeraLynn Olds, Middleville.

Michael Dean Sherer, Middleville andKaren Suzanne Phillips, Holland.

Aaron Jay Lambert, Hastings and TTeraLee Britten, Hastings.

Benjamin David Wisner, Wayland andWhitney Rae Wilson, Wayland.

Russell Allan Osburn, Hastings andTheresa Lynn Henning, Hastings.

Chad Alan Reil, Middleville and LindseyMarie Deruiter, Grand Rapids.

Bart Christopher Bryan, Woodland andMary Lobeth Wilcox, Woodland.

Melinda Kay (Kornoely) Cole onSeptember 1, 2012 lost her 12 year battlewith cancer at Rose Arbor Hospice inKalamazoo. Throughout her fight, Mindimodeled how strong, brave and resilient anindividual can be when faced with hardshipand suffering.

She was born on April 29, 1970 to Merlin(Dutch) Kornoely and Judith (Dykstra)Kornoely. Raised in Gaines Township; sheattended Byron Center High School. Shegraduated in 1988 and then earned her bach-elor’s degree in psychology from GrandValley State University. She later earned amaster’s degree in early childhood develop-ment from Western Michigan University.

Mindi’s passion and legacy was workingwith and educating young children. Shedevoted herself to early childhood educationand was instrumental in developing highquality programming for young children.

Mindi began her life’s work as a supervi-sor and then director of Room to Bloomchildcare in Byron Center. She later took aposition at Kent Regional 4C ensuring thatarea childcare centers met required program-ming regulations. Mindi then establishedand became the director of the Hastings AreaSchool System Community Childcare. Sheworked hard to ensure that every child in hercare was given a positive environment inwhich to thrive. Mindi will be rememberedby hundreds of children and their families forher work.

Mindi married Mike Cole on May 18,2001.

She is survived by her husband; son Lucas;daughter, Makenna; father, Merlin Kornoely;brothers, David (Brenda), Dennis (Cate),Michael (Kristina) and Jason (Erin)Kornoely; mother-in-law, Sharon Cole; sis-ters-in-law, Tammy (Scott) Ewbanks, Lisa(Steve) Orchard; brother-in-law, Craig(Marie) Cole; several nieces and nephews.

Preceding her in and waiting for her inheaven are her mother, Judith (Dykstra)Kornoely and father-in-law, Gary Cole.

Mindi was a devoted and loving wife,mother, daughter, sister and aunt. Every dayof her battle with cancer was to have anotherday with her family. Mindi delighted inplaying board games with her children andtaking them on ‘adventures’ such as tubing,skiing or traveling. Her courageous and self-less battle will never be forgotten by thosewho loved her. Her passion for life and won-derful sense of humor will be missed byeveryone who knew her.

Visitation will be held on Thursday,September 6, 2012 from 4-6 p.m. at HillsideCommunity Church, 1440 68th St., GrandRapids, and the service will be immediatelyfollowing a 6 p.m. at Hillside Church.

Memorial contributions may be made toGilda’s Club, 1806 Bridge Street NW, GrandRapids, MI 49504 or Rose Arbor Hospice,5473 Croyden Avenue, Kalamazoo, MI49009.

Melinda Kay (Kornoely) Cole

Call 269-945-9554 any time forHastings Banner classified ads

Hastings Mutual vice president announces retirement

Lake Odessaby Elaine Garlock

The county genealogy society will meetthis Saturday, Sept. 8, at 1 p.m. at the FreightHouse. Shirley Hodges of Albion will be thespeaker with her topic “Tiptoe through theCemetery.”

The First Families committee is at work onthe 2012 applicants’ information. The Boardof directors and the first families committeenow meet in the forenoon of secondSaturdays to save driving, letting one trip toLake Odessa serve for two meetings, commit-tee meetings and also monthly member meet-ings.

Next week, Sept. 13, the Bowne CenterUnited Methodist Church will hold the firstof its winter series of meals open to the pub-lic.

After a very dry summer, gardens are work-ing overtime to produce their annual crops ofmelons, zucchini, tomatoes, corn, green beansand more. Those who do canning are havingto work overtime to keep up with the abun-dance.

The Woodland Homecoming, with manyevents over Labor Day weekend, was wellattended. The Lions even ran out of ice creamfor late diners. The take-out dinners wereserved near the street outside the municipalbuildings.

In August, Ula Miller of Sun City, Ariz.,and her daughter visited her local cousins Artand Marcia Raffler and Laurel Garlinger.

Sunday, Ruth Bylsma of Grand Rapids wasthe guest soloist at Central United MethodistChurch with her flute accompaniment. She isa member of the Grand Rapids Symphony. AtCentral, the schedule will be back on its usualpattern with classes starting at 9 a.m. eachSunday. Worship hours is 10:30 from nowuntil the end of May. Choir rehearsal startsthis week and United Methodist Women cir-cles will meet in September and October, aswill the Alethians.

Matthew Schasser of Lake Odessa waspictured in the State Journal giving com-mands to his llama in an article aboutLlamafest, which was held at MSU last week.

Hastings Mutual Insurance CompanyFriday announced the retirement of VicePresident of Insurance Operations KeithJandahl.

Jandahl, originally from Langford, S.D.,and graduate of Northern State College,served as VP of insurance operations atHastings Mutual for more than 13 years. Hewill retire at the end of 2012 after a 35-yearcareer in the insurance industry.

“It has been a privilege to work with theemployees at Hastings Mutual and with ourindependent agency partners during the past13 years,” said Jandahl. “Over the years,Hastings Mutual has grown from a smallmutual company, to a regional company thathas gained national attention. HastingsMutual continues to be successful because ofour people. The employees here are hardworking, professional and loyal.”

During his time at Hastings Mutual, thecompany doubled its direct written premiumfrom $179 million to a projected $359 millionby year-end 2012, with commercial lineswritten premium increasing from $56 millionto approximately $146 million. UnderJandahl’s direction, the company alsoexpanded its products to include light manu-facturing, church, vintners and greenhouseprograms, along with being one of the first

carriers to offer pollution coverage for farmsand automatically include equipment break-down coverage in the company’s farm pro-gram.

While Jandahl has experience in nearlyevery area of the insurance industry spread

across several Midwestern carriers, he beganhis early career as a business educationinstructor at Lake Preston and Milbank highschools, both in South Dakota. He continuedhis passion for education throughout hiscareer by teaching various insurance educa-tion seminars. He has served on the board ofdirectors for the National IndependentStatistical Service and American WestInsurance Company, and has also served onthe ISO Commercial Lines Panel and theNAMIC Commercial Lines EducationalCommittee.

Jandahl will be succeeded by WilliamGregor, who is currently serving as the assis-tant vice president of personal and farm lines.Gregor will officially assume the role of vicepresident of insurance operations Dec. 1, afterJandahl’s last day at Hastings Mutual. Gregorjoined Hastings Mutual in 1985 and has morethan 35 years of industry experience.

“Because of Hastings Mutual’s history offinancial strength and stability, the companyis in an excellent position to grow in futureyears,” said Jandahl. “I am confident thatunder Bill’s leadership in the area of insur-ance operations, we will continue our recordof underwriting discipline while innovatingon products and coverages that separate usfrom our competition in the marketplace.”

Keith Jandahl

Area Locations to purchase the Hastings Banner!

77566089

Hastings:One Stop Shop (BP)

(M-43 North)Tom’s MarketSuperetteFamily FareOne Stop Food (BP)

(M-37 South)Hastings Speedy Mart (Shell)BosleyAdmiral Penn-Nook Gift ShopP.B. Gas Station (W. State St.)BP Gas Station (M-37 West)Xpress MartFamily Fare Gas StationWoody’s General Store

Middleville:SpeedwayMiddleville MarketplaceGreg’s Get-It-N-GoShell

Gun Lake:Sam’s Gourmet FoodsGun Lake AmocoGun Lake Shell

Orangeville:Orangeville Fast Stop

Pine Lake:Pine Lake Grocery

Prairieville:Prairieville Fast Stop

Cloverdale:Cloverdale GeneralBrown’s Cedar Creek Grocery

Delton:FelpauschMichigan Short StopShell

Banfield:Banfield General Store

Lacey:Clyde’s Sportsman Post

Dowling:GoldsworthysDowling General Store

Woodland:Woodland Express

Nashville:Trading PostLittle’s Country StoreShellMV PharmacyNashville C StoreCarl’s

Lake Odessa:Lake-O-ExpressLake-O-MartShellCarl’s

Freeport:L & J’sFreeport Milling

Shelbyville:Weick’s Food TownThe Store at Southshore

Page 8 — Thursday, September 6, 2012 — The Hastings Banner

Financial FOCUSFurnished by Mark D. Christensen of EDWARD JONES

by Dr. E. Kirsten PetersWe live in very partisan times. Red versus

blue factions dominate public discussions,showing little room made for agreement inthe middle. Beyond the political parties, anumber of other groups participate in publicdecision-making. A given bill beforeCongress or a proposed regulation from afederal agency can attract a wide variety ofconcerns from different factions.

One thing is for sure: it’s not easy to getenvironmental groups to agree on a policythat industry endorses. And if you addorganized labor, consumer groups and thestate of California to the mix, you mightthink agreement on one particular course ofaction would be impossible.

But the impossible has now happened. Allthe groups just mentioned have endorsed anew plan to make vehicles significantlymore fuel-efficient over time. The Obamaadministration recently announced that bymodel year 2025, cars and light-duty trucksshould get the equivalent of 54.5 miles pergallon. That’s a goal farther down the roadthan what we already had, which was gettingthe fleet of new cars to 34.5 mpg by 2016.

That’s surely a new world for some of us.Not so long ago, I gave away my 1983 pick-up truck, but its V-8 engine typically reachedrespectable mileage figures only when I hada strong tail wind or when my trip was most-ly downhill. (During the “cash for clunkers”program, I considered turning that truck in,but nostalgia prevented me from makingwhat I’m sure would have been a wise finan-cial decision.)

The new standards have attracted atten-tion from many different points of view.

The Washington Post quoted GregMartin, General Motor’s director for com-munications, with a largely positive state-ment about the new regulations.

“Customers want higher fuel efficiency intheir cars and trucks, and GM is going togive it to them,” Martin said. “We expect therules to be tough, but we have a strong his-tory of innovations, and we’ll do our best tomeet them.”

The overall efficiency of the American carfleet in recent years has been rising. That’strue in part because “regular” cars are get-ting more efficient, and because hybrid andelectric vehicles help raise the miles-per-gallon figures for the fleet.

To be sure, we can expect costs associat-ed with the new standard. Auto dealers

warned that making the changes required toachieve the new fuel efficiency goals willtotal about $3,000 per vehicle. That figurecould mean some families can’t afford a newcar.

But at the same time, some of the eco-nomics of the new standards are positive forconsumers. Cars and light trucks that aremore miserly with gasoline require lessmoney to run each week. Estimates are thatAmerican consumers as a group will spend$1.7 trillion less at the gas pump because ofefficiency changes to the fleet.

As a geologist, the thing that mostimpresses me when discussions of gasolinecome up is where we get the petroleum fromwhich we make gasoline and diesel fuel. Nomatter how you slice it, if we can use lesspetroleum our dependence on foreign oilcould decline. Wherever you stand on thepolitical spectrum, a decreasing dependenceon oil from unstable parts of the world is agood thing. That aspect of the new regula-tions is a positive from several points ofview.

While it’s impressive that an agreementrelating to many different groups has beensuccessfully forged, not everyone is pleasedby what’s been accomplished. Republicanpresidential candidate Mitt Romney opposesthe new standards. According to theWashington Post, he has pledged to overturnthem, if elected. In a speech in February,Romney again stated his opposition toincreasingly stringent regulations. Amongother points, he said such rules “hurt domes-tic automakers and provided a benefit tosome of the foreign automakers.”

Beyond that, there’s a deeper philosophi-cal divide between Romney and some othersin the public square. The Republican presi-dential candidate doesn’t want the U.S.Environmental Protection Agency involvedin efforts “to manage carbon dioxide emis-sions from automobiles and trucks.” Thatissue relates to climate change and carbonpolicies, a very big sticky wicket.

Stay tuned.

Dr. E. Kirsten Peters, a native of the ruralNorthwest, was trained as a geologist atPrinceton and Harvard universities. Followher online at rockdoc.wsu.edu and onTwitter @RockDocWSU. This column is aservice of the College of Agricultural,Human and Natural Resource Sciences atWashington State University.

Get more out of each gallon of gasoline

Consider these financial gifts for your grandchildren National Grandparents Day is celebrated on

September 9. If you’re a grandparent your-self, you already know the pleasures of hav-ing grandchildren in your life. So you maywant to take this occasion to think of waysyou can help those grandchildren get the mostout of their lives.

Perhaps the most valuable thing you couldgive to your grandkids is the gift of education.Consider this: Over a lifetime, college gradu-ates earn, on average, about $1 million morethan those without a degree according to theCensus Bureau. So, putting money towardyour grandchildren’s college education isprobably a pretty good investment.

Furthermore, your grandchildren may wellneed the help, because college is expensiveand costs continue to rise. Consequently, youmay want to contribute to a 529 plan. Youhave several options for how the money canbe invested and contribution limits are quitehigh. All withdrawals are free from federalincome taxes, provided the money is used forqualified college expenses. (Keep in mind,though, that non-qualified withdrawals willbe taxable and possibly subject to penalties.)Plus, if you invest in your own state’s 529plan, your contributions may be deductible onyour state income taxes.

If you name one grandchild as a beneficiaryof a 529 plan and that grandchild decides notto go to college, you can switch the account toanother grandchild — in other words, youmaintain control of the money for the life ofthe account.

Of course, despite its economic benefits,college is not for everyone. So if you wanted

to provide financial help to a grandchild whoseems likely to choose a different route in life,what could you do?

One possibility is to set up a custodialaccount, often known as an UGMA (UniformGift to Minors Act) or UTMA (UniformTransfer to Minors Act). You can fund a cus-todial account with many different types ofinvestments, but the use of the money isentirely up to your grandchildren when theyreach the age of termination in whatever statein which they live. But if your reason forfunding a custodial account is simply to pro-vide a gift, then you might not be concernedwith how the money is used.

On the other hand, if you want to give yourgrandchildren a financial gift with greatercontrol, you may want to speak to your attor-ney about your options. One possibility is toset up an irrevocable trust. You can fund thistrust with either cash or securities and specifyat the time the trust is created when the fundscan be used. So For example, you can providethat the trust pay your grandchild a certainamount of money at one age, with anotherinstallment coming several years later. Keepin mind, though, that trusts are complexinstruments and may have tax considerations,so in addition to consulting with an attorney,you’ll want to discuss your plans with yourtax advisor.

Whichever option is right for your family,use Grandparents Day as an opportunity toconsider the ways in which you can givesomething to the grandchildren who give somuch to you.

This article was written by Edward Jones

for use by your local Edward Jones FinancialAdvisor. If you have any questions, contactMark D. Christensen at 269-945-3553.

Orangeville Township Board Hosts Educational Meetingon Hydro Fracking in Oil/Gas Exploration

Invited: The residents and interested persons of Orangeville Townshipand adjoining Townships

Come to a public meeting on September 19th at 7:00 pm at the OrangevilleTownship Community Center, 7350 Lindsey Road, Plainwell, MI 49080.

Hearing addresses concerns of oil/gas exploration procedures (Fracking).

A presentation will address facts, law, and range of actions includingresolutions, ordinances, contesting of leases and issuance of permits under

certain circumstances. Presentation is by individuals & attorneys inenvironmental protection.

All individuals interested in attending are requested to RSVP to secure seating.Please contact either Supervisor Thomas Rook - 616-299-6019,

or Clerk Jennifer Goy - 269-664-4522.77570869

STOCKSThe following prices are from the closeof business last Tuesday. Reportedchanges are from the previous week.Altria Group 34.40 -.11AT&T 36.81 +.17BP PLC 41.63 -.55CMS Energy Corp 23.25 +.28Coca-Cola Co 37.28 -.72Eaton 44.22 -1.42Family Dollar Stores 62.99 +1.45Fifth Third Bancorp 15.05 +.12Flowserve CP 127.42 -.16Ford Motor Co. 9.41 +.07General Mills 39.33 -.11General Motors 21.31 +.37Intel Corp. 24.42 -.58Kellogg Co. 50.65 -1.01McDonald’s Corp 89.05 -.09Pfizer Inc. 23.78 -.07Ralcorp 71.72 +.91Sears Holding 53.14 -1.82Spartan Motors 5.01 +.01Spartan Stores 14.89 -.51Stryker 53.82 +.10TCF Financial 11.30 +.30Walmart Stores 73.51 +1.10Gold $1,695.95 +29.25Silver $32.35 +1.47Dow Jones Average 13,035 -67Volume on NYSE 598M +119M

SOCIALSECURITYCOLUMN

by Vonda VanTilSocial Security Public Affairs Specialist

These days it is more common than everfor a person to travel across the globe —either for vacation or to live in another coun-try permanently. If you are one of these peo-ple, Social Security offers a special website:“Social Security Payments Outside theUnited States.” The website features all youneed to know about Social Security while liv-ing abroad. You can find it at www.socialse-curity.gov/international/payments.html.

If you’re in the planning stages of movingto another country, you may want to checkout our Payments Abroad Screening Tool. Itwill ask you a few short questions and will letyou know whether your payments can con-tinue. It may make a difference in your deci-sion to live abroad.

The page also offers links to publications,such as “Your Payments While You AreOutside the United States,” which explainshow your benefits may be affected and otherimportant information you need to knowabout receiving Social Security benefitswhile outside the country.

In the top, right corner of the page, you’llfind information on how to contact SocialSecurity while abroad — to ask questions,make requests, or report events and changesthat may affect payments.

Whether stateside or abroad, you’ll want topay a visit to www.socialsecurity.gov/inter-national/payments.html.

Vonda VanTil is the public affairs special-ist for West Michigan. You may write her c/oSocial Security Administration, 3045 KnappSt. NE, Grand Rapids MI 49525 or via emailto vonda.vantil@ssa.gov.

Receivingpayments whileliving abroad

See us for color copies, one-hour digitaland 35 mm photo processing, business cards,

invitations and all your printing needs.J-Ad Graphics’ PRINTING PLUS

1351 N. M-43 Hwy.- north of Hastings city limits

Dealer: South

Vulnerable: North/South

Lead: 3M

North East South WestPass 1M

Dbl 2M 3M Pass3NT Pass Pass Pass

In today’s column, we will take a final look at bidding, planning, and playing a no trump con-tract, but unlike the past few weeks, this hand will illustrate what happens when the opponentsenter the bidding and make life difficult for the North/South team. Let’s see what happened ina recent game at the club.

As dealer, South had inadequate points for an opening bid, but looking at her distribution andgood points in three of the suits, South certainly hoped that her partner could enter the bidding.South had a nice hand to respond to the partnership.

West entered the bidding with a rather weak hand, but this is the way bridge is played thesedays. With only 11 high card points and one point for length in the five-card heart suit, West didwhat most competitive players would have done, and she opened a 1M bid. Those hearts werenothing to write home about, but there were five of them and a few points to spare with twoaces in other suits.

North, with a strong hand and with shortness in both hearts and spades, elected to use theTakeout Double for his bid. With 17 high card points, shortness in two suits, and length in theminors, North was hoping to make something happen for his team. His double demanded thathis partner bid if East did not bid and for his partner to name her best suit.

East, with a meager hand of two high card points, supported her partner with a 2M bid. Eastknew that there was not much there, but she did know that their partnership had at least ninehearts between them and a golden fit in the heart suit. Again, this is modern bridge bidding. Bidand bid some more!

At this point, South reevaluated her hand and used a cue bid, bidding the opponents’ suit andpromised with that bid a limit raise of 10-11 points. This was an extremely accurate bid, plus itwas rather intimidating to the opponents to have their suit bid and raised. They sometimes donot know what to do, and this can allow the bidding to falter or stop because of the cue bid.

West duly passed the cue bid, and North evaluated the bidding, and promptly bid 3NT, a mostaccurate and courageous bid, considering the heart bid by East-West and his meager holdingsin spades. But the big reminder here is to remember to trust your partner. Partner must have hadsomething to have bid the cue bid of 3M.

The final contract was 3NT by North, and East tabled the 3M, the fourth down of her part-ner’s suit, and the entire table knew that East-West had nine hearts between them.Unfortunately, for East/West, the hearts were stopped by the AM in North’s hand and the KM inSouth’s hand.

North thanked his partner as usual for a good bid and a good dummy, and he took the time tocount the immediate winners as we have been practicing the last few weeks: two heart tricks,four diamond tricks, and no certain winners in spades or clubs. North-South had six certaintricks to start. Where would the other three tricks come from?

North certainly liked the dummy and his own hand and how they fit together. With stoppersin hearts, the plan was to knock out the AK and run the good clubs for four or more extra tricks.North started that plan immediately, taking the AM, and then led the KK. North was virtuallysure that West had the AK because of her opening bid. West can duck the trick, but that wouldbe only a short-term solution. Instead, West took the AK, and led back the 2M. This was wonby South with the 10M, and the rest of the tricks were claimed by North, taking 12 tricks alto-gether. East-West lost their AN because West did not take the ace when she could have.

Did North-South miss out on a small slam in no trump on this hand? They did not miss asmall slam. East-West held two aces, the AN and the AK With both aces in one hand, it is agood bet that when West got in, she would have led the setting trick at once. North-South weretipped off by West’s opening bid of one heart. While not enough for slam, game was a real pos-sibility, and North-South bid it and made it, despite competition from the opponents. Well done,North-South.

Answer to last week’s bridge question: What other slam could have been bid and madedespite the fact that there was a Moysian fit? Hearts can make a small slam, and indeed that wasbid and made at the Regional Tournament. The Moysian fit suggests a 4-3 fit in the trump suit,a situation most bridge players try to avoid. In this case, the misfit was even worse: all 6 trumpswere in the declarer’s hand with none in the dummy; his only plan was to draw trumps with theA© and K©, and then give up a heart trick, regain the lead, draw the last trump and claim therest, making a small slam in hearts.

*****(Gerald Stein, an Accredited Bridge Teacher for the American Contract Bridge League,

teaches bridge classes at local schools and bridge clubs. You can visit his bridge blog at:http://betterbridgeinbarrycountymichigan.blogspot.com)

WEST

N: A 10 9 4M: Q J 7 6 2L: 10 7K: A 5

EAST

N: Q 7 6 2M: 9 5 4 3L: 6 3 2K: 7 6

BETTER BRIDGE INBARRY COUNTY

by Gerald Stein

NORTH

N: J 3M: AL: A Q 9 8 4K: K Q J 9 8

SOUTH:

N: K 8 5M: K 10 8L: K J 5K: 10 4 3 2

The Hastings Banner — Thursday, September 6, 2012 — Page 9

Grandma Remembers:The Big Old Kitchen Table, part I“Although I do not remember the occasion,

but on a blizzardly night Dec. 10, 1917, I,Dorothy Louise Lathrop Kelsey, made myappearance on planet earth.” That’s howDorothy Kelsey began her short memoir,“The Big Old Kitchen Table” in 2001. At 83,she wanted to record her childhood memoriesfor her grandchildren and their children, saidJean Long of Delton, one of two daughters ofDorothy and the late Kenneth Kelsey.Dorothy, who raised her own children inCoats Grove, now has four grandchildren andnine great-grandchildren.

She sat down to write about the memoriescreated around her family’s big kitchen table,but she would get sidetracked sharing littlesnippets of her life from the 1920s. She firstdescribes the table on Page 5, but then does-n’t refer to it again until Page 9: “Wonderfulmemories,” she writes, “but I meant to tellyou about our big old square table.” She getsback to the table, its significance in her child-hood and all of the family memories, choresand decisions that took place around that spe-cial piece of furniture — mixing in extended,related memories.

Now 94, Dorothy resides at ThornappleManor, where she is known to visit the rehabarea, looking for new patients willing to joinher in a game of euchre.

She was the fourth child and only daughterof Egbert Hamilton Kelsey and Rhoda AnnBoone. The oldest child, Vernor, died whenhe was 9 months old. The Lathrop farmDorothy and her brothers, Hubert and Ferris,grew up on consisted of 80 acres in Section31 of Castleton Township, in what was thenBarryville. The farm was at the base of thehill near the present-day Peace UnitedMethodist Church and Barryville Cemetery.The family home was up the hill on MorganRoad. M-79 was later installed and then redi-rected, eventually curving and cuttingthrough the property. Her family already hadlived there for decades by the time Dorothymade her appearance. Her great-grandfatherMalitiah Lathrop, according to the 1880History of Allegan and Barry Counties,“removed from Marshall in 1860 and pur-chased 80 acres of land, embracing the water-power on Highbank Creek.”This is the first of several segments fromDorothy’s memoirs:

*****Hubert, being seven years older than me,

was always my protector. In all my life, I donot ever remember him ever saying a crossword to me. To some, he might have appeareda little gruff and quick to retort, but to me, hewas always kind. Now Ferris was different.He [being nearly three years older) was mymentor and nemesis all in one. ...

Our yard was a beautiful big yard withmaple trees all around the sides and one bigone in the middle. They were planted byGreat-Grandfather Malitiah Lathrop andtended by Grandfather Henry. They gave usmany happy cooling hours in the summertimeand lots of leaves to play in when fall came.

Also in the front yard was a big square postthat a trumpet vine grew around. It was hugein a child’s eye. That was my private hidingand thinking place. I had a very simple imag-inative mind — Mother called it day dream-ing — but for hours I could lay in the yardunder the shade of those beautiful trees andwonder and think: What’s beyond the sky?What’s beyond space? Why would God cre-ate man just to live and die? One day, I askedFerris (who always had the answer) “What’sbeyond space? “Why more space, youdummy.” Another time we were musing(that’s a word no one seems to know what itmeans any more) and I asked him, “If mymother had not met my father, who would Ihave been?” And his quick reply was: “Youwouldn’t have been, you dummy. “ But Iknew in my heart that God had created meand I always would be me, no matter what,and I believe that today.

One thing that was very important to meand, as I think on it, was a vital influence andcertain stability in my life. The old squaredining table that was in our old large farmkitchen. Sitting around the table, the five ofus found safety, peace and comfort. The “oldsquare table times” taught us much. We neverstarted to eat until all were seated and theblessing was given. We had good conversa-tions, never scolding or belittling while at thetable, and we all stayed until all were finishedeating. With one exception that I remember

clearly, I was being my “bratty” self and forsome reason I was mad at my mother, threw ashoe spoon at her, missed, and hit the glassfruit dish and broke it. How I happened tohave a shoe spoon in my hand I don’t know,but Papa got up immediately and got the razorstrap and took me in the hallway. I don’tremember it hurting, but I remember thehumiliation of it.

It was about this age that I experiencedanother frightening time when we were on ayearly shopping trip to Battle Creek. All fiveof us would pile ourselves in the Model T andtake off early one morning and buzz our way(actually it was more of a putt, putt) over tothe “Big City” (only took a good hour). Mostof our clothes were purchased at that time forthe year– long underwear, socks, shoes, over-alls and most necessities. Boys at that timewore knee pants with long black socks, andthe pants buckled at the knee. After boysstarted wearing ankle-length pants, Hubertstill had to wear his knee pants because theystill had “good wear” in them yet. I rememberhow he hated them. Being a girl, I receivedthe long underwear and long cotton stock-ings. Mother was a very fine seamstress, andI never had a “store bought” dress or coatuntil I went to high school. My clothes werefar better than the stoure-bought ones but my,how I longed for the pretty dresses in theSears and Roebuck catalog. Being busy find-ing the best bargains, Mother and Papa tooktheir eyes off of me and I, thinking I musthurry and catch them, went out of the storedown the street as fast as I could because Ihadn’t been able to find them in the store.They soon missed me, and one of them (Idon’t remember which one) caught me just intime. It was funny because there was no panicon my part, but I know it frightened my par-ents.

We always ate at the dime store on littlehigh stools. The choices were soup or sand-wiches and drinks. Papa and I always hadroot beer, we liked that best. In fact Papa sentaway one time for a home made root beerrecipe and we had our mouths all set for allthe root beer we could drink and then Motherread the recipe (which called for yeast) andshe put a definite halt to that.

Later I thought I’ll make my own ginger aleand mixed a concoction (without yeast) most-ly ginger and water and drank it, I was nevermore sick in my life, and for years I could notbear to think of ginger, and to this day use itsparingly.

Mother made a fine tailored suit for Ferriswhen he was about 5 or 6 and it was from oneof her wedding dresses, a fine wool. After shehad worked so hard and almost had it fin-ished, she caught Ferris cutting buttonholes init with the buttonhole scissors. Of course,they were not in the proper places. ButMother could mend and it was hardly notice-able after she got through mending anything.

I remember the cape mother made me whenI probably was 12. It was made long, and Icould keep my hands inside, even carry mydinner pail inside. It was almost waterproof.However, it left a space just above my high-top shoes of about an inch or two that thewind and rain would get to and, oh, the spoton the back of my legs would get so chappedand sore. My, those high-top shoes were apain. It took some time behind that old heat-ing stove to get dressed in the morning.

By the time you were roused out of a soundsleep, ran downstairs through the icy roomsand to the stove, one side of you nearest thestove was hot but the backside was cold, soyou kept turning. First, your long one-pieceunderwear (yes, they had button-up dropseats) then came long stockings. You mustloop the underwear around your ankle so theywere smooth then pull up the stockings. ByThursday and Friday, the underwear was sostretched out it was a chore. Then a garter beltto hold up the hosiery, then a cotton slip ortwo then your dress. Monday throughWednesday, an apron was worn over thedress. On Thursday and Friday, oh joy, noapron. Finally came the high-top shoes,which had to be laced. They came up toalmost mid-calf. Sometimes the shoestringsbroke, so you tied a knot and after a whilethere were so many knots the laces were tooshort.

We had a mile and a half to walk to school,so Mother didn’t send me until I was almost7. I remember that morning the first day, shewas crying seeing me go – I was crying for an

RUTLAND CHARTER TOWNSHIP

2012 TAX ALLOCATIONNOTICE

The Rutland Charter Township Board will discuss for approvalthe 2012 tax allocation rate proposed to be levied for the year2012 at its regular board meeting to be held on Wednesday,September 12, 2012, at 7:30 p.m. at the Rutland CharterTownship Hall, 2461 Heath Road, Hastings, Michigan.

This notice is posted in compliance with PA 267 of 1976 asamended (Open Meetings Act), MCLA 41.72a(2) (3) and theAmericans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

The Rutland Charter Township Board will provide necessary rea-sonable auxiliary aids and services, such as signers for the hear-ing impaired and audiotapes of printed materials being consid-ered at the meeting, to individuals with disabilities at the meet-ing/hearing upon seven (7) days notice to the Rutland CharterTownship Clerk. Individuals with disabilities requiring auxiliaryaids or services should contact the Clerk at the address or tele-phone number listed below.

Robin J Hawthorne, ClerkRutland Charter Township2461 Heath RoadHastings, MI 49058(269) 948-2194 77570710

HASTINGS CHARTER TOWNSHIPCHANGE OF MEETING

LOCATIONNotice is hereby given that the regular Sept.11, 2012 meeting at 7 p.m. of the Board of

Hastings Charter Township will be held at theHistoric Township Hall in Charlton Park.

77570843

City of HastingsNOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARINGNotice is hereby given that the Zoning Board of Appealsof the City of Hastings will hold a Special Meeting onTuesday, September 25, 2012 at 7:00 p.m. in the CityHall Council Chambers, 201 East State Street,Hastings, Michigan 49058.The purpose of the Public Hearing is for the ZoningBoard of Appeals to hear comments and make a deter-mination on a variance request by owner, HenryYarbrough, 117 East Walnut Street, Hastings, Michigan49058.The applicant has requested a variance from Section90-774 (13) of the City of Hastings Code of Ordinances,that if granted, will allow that a private garage does nothave to be built in conjunction with the construction ofa dwelling unit.Legal description of said property is:

CITY OF HASTINGS S 2/3 LOT 897 AND E 10 FT. OFS 2/3 LOT 898.

Written comments will be received on the aboverequest at Hastings City Hall, 201 East State Street,Hastings, Michigan 49058. Requests for informationand/or minutes of said hearing should be directed tothe Hastings City Clerk at the same address.The City will provide necessary reasonable aids andservices upon five days notice to Hastings City Clerk(telephone number 269-945-2468) or TDD call relayservices 1-800-649-3777.

Thomas E. EmeryCity Clerk

77570847

City of HastingsNOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARINGNotice is hereby given that the Zoning Board ofAppeals of the City of Hastings will hold a SpecialMeeting on Tuesday, September 25, 2012 at 7:00 p.m.in the City Hall Council Chambers, 201 East StateStreet, Hastings, Michigan 49058.The purpose of the Public Hearing is for the ZoningBoard of Appeals to hear comments and make a deter-mination on several variance requests by GeenenDeKock Group, LLC, 12 West 8th Street, Suite 250,Holland, Michigan 49423.The applicant has requested a variance from Section90-923 (4) (b) of the City of Hastings Code ofOrdinances, that if granted, will allow a driveway toexceed the maximum width of 36 feet; Section 90-504(2) (3) of the City of Hastings Code of Ordinances, thatif granted, will allow the front yard set back from StateStreet to be greater than twenty feet; and Section 90-506 (4) (b) of the City of Hastings Code of Ordinances,that if granted, will allow more than one wall sign on acommercial establishment per street frontage andallow the maximum size of a wall sign to exceed 50square feet.Legal description of said property is:

08-55-001-193-00 301 W. State StreetLOT 568 & S 4’ LOT 567 EX ALL THAT OF LOT 568DESC BEG SE COR LOT 568 TH WLY AL S LI LOT568, 15’ TH NELY PT ON E LI LOT 568 WH IS NLY15’ FR SE COR TH SLY AL E LI 15’ TO POB, OFTHE ORIG PLAN OF THE VILLAGE (NOW CITY) OFHASTINGS.08-55-001-163-00 126 N. BroadwayORIGINAL PLAT LOTS 501-502-503-504-505. 566& 567 EX S 4 FT. OF 567.

Written comments will be received on the aboverequest at Hastings City Hall, 201 East State Street,Hastings, Michigan 49058. Requests for informationand/or minutes of said hearing should be directed tothe Hastings City Clerk at the same address.The City will provide necessary reasonable aids andservices upon five days notice to Hastings City Clerk(telephone number 269-945-2468) or TDD call relayservices 1-800-649-3777.

Thomas E. EmeryCity Clerk

77570849

CITY OF HASTINGSREQUEST FOR BIDS

The City of Hastings, Michigan is soliciting bids forthe provision of trees to be planted in the streetrights-of-way throughout the City. Specificationsare available from the Office of the City Clerk.The City of Hastings reserves the right to reject anyand all bids, to waive any irregularities in the bidproposals, and to award the bid as deemed to be inthe City’s best interest, price and other factors con-sidered.Bids will be received at the Office of the CityClerk/Treasurer, 201 East State Street, Hastings,Michigan 49058 until 9:00 AM, on Tuesday,September 25, 2012 at which time they will beopened and publicly read aloud. Bids must be clear-ly marked on the outside of the submittal package –“SEALED BID 2012 STREET TREES”.

Tim GirrbachDirector of Public Services

77570851

entirely different reason – I had long hair, andevery morning Mother combed and brushedmy hair into long ringlets. My head was sotender, and I was a brat. It got to be a cryingritual every morning.

I was sent off first, then about 10 minuteslater Ferris, then Hubert, last and the boyswould catch up with me and push me up thehill some times. We had the Barryville hill,which was steep before they put in the newgraded road. The school was a one-roomschool with teacher’s desk in front, then therecitation bench; the desks in four rows,smaller to larger in back. The big old stove inthe corner had galvanized tin all around it. Abig dictionary was on the sidewall. Dinnerpails were on shelves on one side of the entryhall and water pail and washbasin on the otherside of the entryway. The bell that was rungseveral times a day was in the entryway.Everyone drank out of the same water dipper.

The biggest boys pumped the water from theoutside pump when it was needed.

The toilets were outside – one for boys andone for girls. If you needed to use them, youraised two fingers and waited for the teacherto nod. Two people could not go at the sametime. If you wanted to whisper to someoneaway from your seat, you raised one finger.You were either granted the request orrefused. This kept silence in the room, whichwas good – you could always hear what wasbeing recited at the front of the room and youwere learning the grades ahead of you withoutbeing aware of it.

If you needed to study on something ofyour own, you soon learned to concentrateand shut out the other. I’m glad I had countryschool training, although it was a scary shockto go to the city for high school. I lovedschool, every phase of it, except the countyfinal exams we were required to take for both

seventh and eighth grades. They were an all-day test given at the high school. If you canimagine the country nerds not knowing whereto go, being stared at and feeling very “coun-try” and scared silly having to write an exam.I remember worrying “What if I broke thelead in my pencil.” (There were always theteeth to bite away the wood – it had workedbefore.) After exams, weeks later, you weresent your marks to know whether you passedor not.

After you had been in high school for atime, you soon realized you had received asgood or better of an education than the “citykids.” However, we country kids were some-what “clicky,” we felt more comfortable withthe ones of like interest. I loved everymoment of high school and had many goodfriends, some of whom are still good friendstoday.

(To be continued)

Two utility projects slated to start this fall in Middlevilleby Julie Makarewicz

Staff WriterContracts for the first two projects to be

completed with village bond funds wereawarded at Tuesday’s village council meet-ing.

B & R Excavating of Wayland won bothbids for the Cardinal Court water mainupgrade and the north block utility improve-ments.

The village received five bids for eachproject with B & R offering the low bid foreach. Their bid for the Cardinal Court watermain project was $50,930.

The project includes upgrading a watermain on Cardinal Court from a 4-inch line toan 8-inch line. This will improve water pres-sures in the area and allow for adequate serv-ice as the area continues to develop.

The second project is the North block util-ity improvements. B & R’s low bid was$77,300. The project will replace water andsewer lines in the alley behind the buildingson Main Street. Easements from propertyowners have been obtained with the exceptionof one that is expected to be finalized thisweek.

Both projects are expected to start after the

village’s Heritage Day celebration, Sept. 8.Work is expected to take between two andthree weeks for both projects.

Village officials sold bonds for $700,000for the first phase projects.

In other business:• Council continues working on obtaining

a sound system for the meeting hall. Villagemanager Rebecca Fleury told members shepriced components on the Internet and foundit will cost about $3,000 for microphones ateach commissioner seat, at the village manag-er table, and at the guest podium. There willalso be an equalizer and four speakers.Council members also want Fleury to investi-gate costs of wireless systems. Council mem-bers will review costs at their September vil-lage council meeting.

• A street light for the intersection of TownCenter Drive and M-37 was approved. Costwill be shared with Visser Brothers. The vil-lage portion will be about $600.

• Council members were told the outdoorwarning system has been installed, but is notyet connected and functioning. The warningsystem was placed on a 50-foot pole near theold fire barn where officials say they will getthe best coverage for the village.

• Department of Public Works directorDuane Weeks said the village has reached anagreement with Crystal Flash. The villagewill be obtaining their own fuel storage tanks.By partnering with Thornapple KelloggSchools for fuel delivery, the village andschools will receive a lower rate for the fuel.Crystal Flash is a bulk distributor out ofLowell.

• Jim Brown, supervisor of HastingsTownship, told council members he is work-ing with Grand Valley State University whichwas contracted to conduct a study of recy-cling habits and services within BarryCounty. The study will assess recycling prac-tices and make recommendations on what thecounty can do to make improvements.

• Council member Sue Reyff commentedon the success of the kayakers on theThornapple River recently. She said business-es in the village turned out to welcome thekayakers.

• Council member Ed Schellinger com-mented that he was impressed to see villagemanager Rebecca Fleury involved in theFriday night concert series and being part ofthe events.

Page 10 — Thursday, September 6, 2012 — The Hastings Banner

LEGAL NOTICES

Notice Of Mortgage Foreclosure SaleTHIS FIRM IS A DEBT COLLECTOR ATTEMPT-ING TO COLLECT A DEBT. ANY INFORMATIONWE OBTAIN WILL BE USED FOR THAT PUR-POSE. PLEASE CONTACT OUR OFFICE AT

THE NUMBER BELOW IF YOU ARE IN ACTIVEMILITARY DUTY.

ATTN PURCHASERS: This sale may berescinded by the foreclosing mortgagee. In

that event, your damages, if any, shall be limit-ed solely to the return of the bid amount ten-

dered at sale, plus interest.MORTGAGE SALE - Default has been made in

the conditions of a mortgage made by TonyAstuccio a single man, original mortgagor(s), toABN AMRO Mortgage Group, Inc., Mortgagee,dated October 3, 2002, and recorded on November7, 2002 in instrument 1091196, in Barry countyrecords, Michigan, on which mortgage there isclaimed to be due at the date hereof the sum ofSixty-Six Thousand Nine Hundred Twelve and79/100 Dollars ($66,912.79).

Under the power of sale contained in said mort-gage and the statute in such case made and pro-vided, notice is hereby given that said mortgage willbe foreclosed by a sale of the mortgaged premises,or some part of them, at public vendue, at the placeof holding the circuit court within Barry County, at1:00 PM, on September 13, 2012.

Said premises are situated in Township ofThornapple, Barry County, Michigan, and aredescribed as: Lot 17, Hilltop Estates, according tothe recorded plat thereof as recorded in Lbier 5 ofPlats Page 74, Barry County Records

The redemption period shall be 6 months fromthe date of such sale, unless determined aban-doned in accordance with MCLA 600.3241a, inwhich case the redemption period shall be 30 daysfrom the date of such sale.

If the property is sold at foreclosure sale underChapter 32 of the Revised Judicature Act of 1961,pursuant to MCL 600.3278 the borrower will be heldresponsible to the person who buys the property atthe mortgage foreclosure sale or to the mortgageholder for damaging the property during theredemption period.Dated: August 16, 2012For more information, please call:FC C (248) 593-1301Trott & Trott, P.C.Attorneys For Servicer31440 Northwestern Highway, Suite 200Farmington Hills, Michigan 48334-2525File #392640F01(08-16)(09-06) 77570194

Notice Of Mortgage Foreclosure SaleTHIS FIRM IS A DEBT COLLECTOR ATTEMPT-ING TO COLLECT A DEBT. ANY INFORMATIONWE OBTAIN WILL BE USED FOR THAT PUR-POSE. PLEASE CONTACT OUR OFFICE AT

THE NUMBER BELOW IF YOU ARE IN ACTIVEMILITARY DUTY.

ATTN PURCHASERS: This sale may berescinded by the foreclosing mortgagee. In

that event, your damages, if any, shall be limit-ed solely to the return of the bid amount ten-

dered at sale, plus interest.MORTGAGE SALE - Default has been made in

the conditions of a mortgage made by Laura M.Davis, an unmarried woman, original mortgagor(s),to PHH Mortgage Services, Mortgagee, dated April30, 2003, and recorded on May 21, 2003 in instru-ment 1104892, in Barry county records, Michigan,on which mortgage there is claimed to be due at thedate hereof the sum of Eighty-One ThousandEleven and 69/100 Dollars ($81,011.69).

Under the power of sale contained in said mort-gage and the statute in such case made and pro-vided, notice is hereby given that said mortgage willbe foreclosed by a sale of the mortgaged premises,or some part of them, at public vendue, at the placeof holding the circuit court within Barry County, at1:00 PM, on September 13, 2012.

Said premises are situated in Village ofMiddleville, Barry County, Michigan, and aredescribed as: Being known and designated as aparcel of land in the Southwest 1/4 of section 8,Town 3 North, Range 10 West, Yankee SpringsTWP., Barry County, MI, described as: Beginning ata point in the center of road which lies 1467.40 feetdue North and North 75 degrees West 782.07 feetfrom the South 1/4 post of section 8; thence South6 Degrees 6 feet West 158 feet; thence North 83degrees 14 feet West 82.50 feet; thence North 6degrees 6 feet East 158 feet; thence South 83degrees 14 feet East 82.50 feet to the place ofbeginning.

The redemption period shall be 6 months fromthe date of such sale, unless determined aban-doned in accordance with MCLA 600.3241a, inwhich case the redemption period shall be 30 daysfrom the date of such sale.

If the property is sold at foreclosure sale underChapter 32 of the Revised Judicature Act of 1961,pursuant to MCL 600.3278 the borrower will be heldresponsible to the person who buys the property atthe mortgage foreclosure sale or to the mortgageholder for damaging the property during theredemption period.Dated: August 16, 2012For more information, please call:FC F (248) 593-1313Trott & Trott, P.C.Attorneys For Servicer31440 Northwestern Highway, Suite 200Farmington Hills, Michigan 48334-2525File #410611F01(08-16)(09-06) 77570218

SCHNEIDERMAN & SHERMAN, P.C., ISATTEMPTING TO COLLECT A DEBT, ANY INFOR-MATION WE OBTAIN WILL BE USED FOR THATPURPOSE. PLEASE CONTACT OUR OFFICE AT(248)539-7400 IF YOU ARE IN ACTIVE MILITARYDUTY. MORTGAGE SALE – Default has beenmade in the conditions of a mortgage made byJACK C. GREEN, MARRIED and SUSANNE E.GREEN, MARRIED, to Mortgage ElectronicRegistration Systems, Inc. ("MERS"), solely asnominee for lender and lender's successors andassigns, Mortgagee, dated January 26, 2005, andrecorded on February 14, 2005, in Document No.1141418, and assigned by said mortgagee toJPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association, asassigned, Barry County Records, Michigan, onwhich mortgage there is claimed to be due at thedate hereof the sum of One Hundred ThousandEight Hundred Thirty-Three Dollars and Thirty-Three Cents ($100,833.33), including interest at6.375% per annum. Under the power of sale con-tained in said mortgage and the statute in such casemade and provided, notice is hereby given that saidmortgage will be foreclosed by a sale of the mort-gaged premises, or some part of them, at publicvenue, At the East doors of the Barry CountyCourthouse in Hastings, Michigan. at 01:00 PMo'clock, on September 20, 2012 Said premises arelocated in Barry County, Michigan and are describedas: LOT 5 AND THE EAST ONE-HALF OF LOT 6OF BUR-MAR ESTATES PLAT NUMBER 1, HAST-INGS TOWNSHIP, BARRY COUNTY, MICHIGANBEING PART OF THE SOUTHEAST ONE-QUAR-TER OF SECTION 20, TOWN 3 NORTH, RANGE 6WEST, BARRY COUNTY, MICHIGAN, ACCORD-ING TO THE RECORDED PLAT THEREOF,BARRY COUNTY RECORDS. The redemption peri-od shall be 6 months from the date of such saleunless determined abandoned in accordance with1948CL 600.3241a, in which case the redemptionperiod shall be 30 days from the date of such sale.If the above referenced property is sold at a foreclo-sure sale under Chapter 600 of the MichiganCompiled Laws, under MCL 600.3278, the borrowerwill be held responsible to the person who buys theproperty at the mortgage foreclosure sale or to themortgage holder for damaging the property duringthe redemption period. JPMorgan Chase Bank,National Association Mortgagee/AssigneeSchneiderman & Sherman, P.C. 23938 ResearchDrive, Suite 300 Farmington Hills, MI 48335JPMC.000724 FNMA (08-23)(09-13) 77570500

FORECLOSURE NOTICE This firm is a debt collector attempting to collect adebt. Any information obtained will be used for thispurpose. If you are in the Military, please contactour office at the number listed below. MORTGAGESALE – Default has been made in the conditions ofa certain mortgage made by: Bernice Boocher andJohn E. Boocher, wife and husband to MortgageElectronic Registration Systems, Inc. as nomineefor Countrywide Home Loans Inc. dba America'sWholesale Lender its successors and assigns,Mortgagee, dated May 18, 2007 and recorded July10, 2007 in Instrument # 1182792 Barry CountyRecords, Michigan Said mortgage was assigned to:Bank of America, N.A., successor by merger toBAC Home Loans Servicing, LP fka CountrywideHome Loans Servicing, LP, by assignment datedFebruary 21, 2012 and recorded March 1, 2012 inInstrument # 201203010002131 on which mort-gage there is claimed to be due at the date hereofthe sum of Ninety-One Thousand Nine HundredFifty-Nine Dollars and Thirty-Two Cents($91,959.32) including interest 7.25% per annum.Under the power of sale contained in said mortgageand the statute in such case made and provided,notice is hereby given that said mortgage will beforeclosed by a sale of the mortgaged premises, orsome part of them, at public vendue, Circuit Courtof Barry County at 1:00PM on September 27, 2012Said premises are situated in City of Hastings,Barry County, Michigan, and are described as: Lot32 of Aben Johnson's First Addition to the City ofHastings, according to the recorded plat thereof, asrecorded in Liber 3 of Plats on Page 46. Commonlyknown as 330 E Francis St, Hastings MI 49058 Theredemption period shall be 6 months from the dateof such sale, unless determined abandoned inaccordance with MCL 600.3241 or MCL 600.3241a,in which case the redemption period shall be 30days from the date of such sale, or upon the expi-ration of the notice required by MCL 600.3241a(c),whichever is later; or unless MCL 600.3240(17)applies. If the property is sold at foreclosure saleunder Chapter 32 of the Revised Judicature Act of1961, under MCL 600.3278, the borrower will beheld responsible to the person who buys the prop-erty at the mortgage foreclosure sale or to the mort-gage holder for damaging the property during theredemption period. Dated: 8/30/2012 Bank ofAmerica, N.A., successor by merger to BAC HomeLoans Servicing, LP fka Countrywide Home LoansServicing, LP, Assignee of Mortgagee Attorneys:Potestivo & Associates, P.C. 811 South Blvd. Suite100 Rochester Hills, MI 48307 (248) 844-5123 OurFile No: 12-67089 (08-30)(09-20) 77570689

FORECLOSURE NOTICE This firm is a debt collector attempting to collect adebt. Any information obtained will be used for thispurpose. If you are in the Military, please contactour office at the number listed below. MORTGAGESALE – Default has been made in the conditions ofa certain mortgage made by: Stuart Buckley andLoretta Buckley, Husband and Wife to Member FirstMortgage, LLC, Mortgagee, dated December 18,2002 and recorded December 26, 2002 inInstrument # 1094438 Barry County Records,Michigan on which mortgage there is claimed to bedue at the date hereof the sum of Fifty ThousandSeven Hundred Thirty-Two Dollars and Ninety-FourCents ($50,732.94) including interest 6.25% perannum. Under the power of sale contained in saidmortgage and the statute in such case made andprovided, notice is hereby given that said mortgagewill be foreclosed by a sale of the mortgaged prem-ises, or some part of them, at public vendue, CircuitCourt of Barry County at 1:00PM on September 27,2012 Said premises are situated in City of Hastings,Barry County, Michigan, and are described as: TheSouth one half of Lots 4 and 5, Block 10, DanielStrikers Addition to the City, formerly village ofHastings, according to the recorded plat thereof inLiber 1 of Plats, page 11. Commonly known as 719N. Hanover, Hastings MI 49058 The redemptionperiod shall be 6 months from the date of such sale,unless determined abandoned in accordance withMCL 600.3241 or MCL 600.3241a, in which casethe redemption period shall be 30 days from thedate of such sale, or upon the expiration of thenotice required by MCL 600.3241a(c), whichever islater; or unless MCL 600.3240(17) applies. If theproperty is sold at foreclosure sale under Chapter32 of the Revised Judicature Act of 1961, underMCL 600.3278, the borrower will be held responsi-ble to the person who buys the property at the mort-gage foreclosure sale or to the mortgage holder fordamaging the property during the redemption peri-od. Dated: 8/30/2012 Member First Mortgage, LLCMortgagee Attorneys: Potestivo & Associates, P.C.811 South Blvd. Suite 100 Rochester Hills, MI48307 (248) 844-5123 Our File No: 12-67461 (08-30)(09-20) 77570694

Notice Of Mortgage Foreclosure SaleTHIS FIRM IS A DEBT COLLECTOR ATTEMPT-ING TO COLLECT A DEBT. ANY INFORMATIONWE OBTAIN WILL BE USED FOR THAT PUR-POSE. PLEASE CONTACT OUR OFFICE AT

THE NUMBER BELOW IF YOU ARE IN ACTIVEMILITARY DUTY.

ATTN PURCHASERS: This sale may berescinded by the foreclosing mortgagee. In

that event, your damages, if any, shall be limit-ed solely to the return of the bid amount ten-

dered at sale, plus interest.MORTGAGE SALE - Default has been made in

the conditions of a mortgage made by John L.Buffinga, an unmarried man, original mortgagor(s),to Comerica Mortgage Corporation, Mortgagee,dated August 18, 1992, and recorded on August 24,1992 in Liber 552 on Page 607, and assigned bymesne assignments to Wells Fargo Bank, NA asassignee as documented by an assignment, inBarry county records, Michigan, on which mortgagethere is claimed to be due at the date hereof thesum of Twenty-Four Thousand One Hundred Fifty-Two and 56/100 Dollars ($24,152.56).

Under the power of sale contained in said mort-gage and the statute in such case made and pro-vided, notice is hereby given that said mortgage willbe foreclosed by a sale of the mortgaged premises,or some part of them, at public vendue, at the placeof holding the circuit court within Barry County, at1:00 PM, on September 27, 2012.

Said premises are situated in Township ofJohnstown, Barry County, Michigan, and aredescribed as: Commencing at a point 1364.82 feetSouth of North 1/4 Post, Section 28, Town 1 North,Range 8 West, thence South 224.46 feet, thenceWest 400 feet, thence North 224.46 feet, thenceEast 400 feet to the point of beginning.

The redemption period shall be 6 months fromthe date of such sale, unless determined aban-doned in accordance with MCLA 600.3241a, inwhich case the redemption period shall be 30 daysfrom the date of such sale.

If the property is sold at foreclosure sale underChapter 32 of the Revised Judicature Act of 1961,pursuant to MCL 600.3278 the borrower will be heldresponsible to the person who buys the property atthe mortgage foreclosure sale or to the mortgageholder for damaging the property during theredemption period.Dated: August 30, 2012For more information, please call:FC D (248) 593-1309Trott & Trott, P.C.Attorneys For Servicer31440 Northwestern Highway, Suite 200Farmington Hills, Michigan 48334-2525File #392761F02(08-30)(09-20) 77570705

STATE OF MICHIGAN

PROBATE COURT

COUNTY OF BARRY

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Decedent’s Estate

FILE NO. 12-26183-DE

Estate of Warren James Williams. Date of birth:10/21/1921.

TO ALL CREDITORS:NOTICE TO CREDITORS: The decedent,

Warren James Williams, who lived at 305 SouthChurch Street, Hastings, Michigan died03/02/2012.

Creditors of the decedent are notified that allclaims against the estate will be forever barredunless presented to Albert Lewis Torres, namedpersonal representative or proposed personal rep-resentative, or to both the probate court at 206West Court Street, Hastings, MI 49058 and thenamed/proposed personal representative within 4months after the date of publication of this notice.Date: 08/23/2012Michael J. McPhillips (P33715)121 West Apple Street, Suite 201Hastings, MI 49058(269) 945-3512Albert Lewis Torres7581 Noffke DriveCaledonia, Michigan 49316(616) 862-4811 77570716

Notice Of Mortgage Foreclosure SaleTHIS FIRM IS A DEBT COLLECTOR ATTEMPT-ING TO COLLECT A DEBT. ANY INFORMATIONWE OBTAIN WILL BE USED FOR THAT PUR-POSE. PLEASE CONTACT OUR OFFICE AT

THE NUMBER BELOW IF YOU ARE IN ACTIVEMILITARY DUTY.

ATTN PURCHASERS: This sale may berescinded by the foreclosing mortgagee. In

that event, your damages, if any, shall be limit-ed solely to the return of the bid amount ten-

dered at sale, plus interest.MORTGAGE SALE - Default has been made in

the conditions of a mortgage made by RosemaryAnn Davis, a married woman and Joel C. Davis, asto homestead rights only, original mortgagor(s), toMortgage Electronic Registration Systems, Inc.,Mortgagee, dated August 9, 2007, and recorded onAugust 20, 2007 in instrument 20070820-0001071,and assigned by said Mortgagee to Chemical Bankas assignee as documented by an assignment, inBarry county records, Michigan, on which mortgagethere is claimed to be due at the date hereof thesum of One Hundred Eleven Thousand FiveHundred Thirty-Two and 08/100 Dollars($111,532.08).

Under the power of sale contained in said mort-gage and the statute in such case made and pro-vided, notice is hereby given that said mortgage willbe foreclosed by a sale of the mortgaged premises,or some part of them, at public vendue, at the placeof holding the circuit court within Barry County, at1:00 PM, on October 4, 2012.

Said premises are situated in Village ofMiddleville, Barry County, Michigan, and aredescribed as: Lot 11, Plat of Thornton Addition,Village of Middleville, Barry County, Michigan, asrecorded in Liber 3 of Plats, Page 72.

The redemption period shall be 6 months fromthe date of such sale, unless determined aban-doned in accordance with MCLA 600.3241a, inwhich case the redemption period shall be 30 daysfrom the date of such sale.

If the property is sold at foreclosure sale underChapter 32 of the Revised Judicature Act of 1961,pursuant to MCL 600.3278 the borrower will be heldresponsible to the person who buys the property atthe mortgage foreclosure sale or to the mortgageholder for damaging the property during theredemption period.Dated: September 6, 2012For more information, please call:FC J (248) 593-1311Trott & Trott, P.C.Attorneys For Servicer31440 Northwestern Highway, Suite 200Farmington Hills, Michigan 48334-2525File #396291F03(09-06)(09-27) 77570733

Notice Of Mortgage Foreclosure Sale

THIS FIRM IS A DEBT COLLECTOR ATTEMPT-

ING TO COLLECT A DEBT. ANY INFORMATION

WE OBTAIN WILL BE USED FOR THAT PUR-

POSE. PLEASE CONTACT OUR OFFICE AT

THE NUMBER BELOW IF YOU ARE IN ACTIVE

MILITARY DUTY.

ATTN PURCHASERS: This sale may be

rescinded by the foreclosing mortgagee. In

that event, your damages, if any, shall be limit-

ed solely to the return of the bid amount ten-

dered at sale, plus interest.

MORTGAGE SALE - Default has been made inthe conditions of a mortgage made by JamesHoward Nanninga and Julie A Nanninga husbandand wife, original mortgagor(s), to ChaseManhattan Mortgage Corporation, Mortgagee,dated May 23, 2001, as evidenced by Affidavit OfLost Document dated October 20, 2008, andrecorded on October 21, 2008 in instrument20081021-0010338, in Barry county records,Michigan, on which mortgage there is claimed to bedue at the date hereof the sum of Sixty-ThreeThousand Six Hundred and 73/100 Dollars($63,600.73).

Under the power of sale contained in said mort-gage and the statute in such case made and pro-vided, notice is hereby given that said mortgage willbe foreclosed by a sale of the mortgaged premises,or some part of them, at public vendue, at the placeof holding the circuit court within Barry County, at1:00 PM, on October 4, 2012.

Said premises are situated in Township ofAssyria, Barry County, Michigan, and are describedas: The South 5 Acres of the East 1/2 of the East1/2 of the Southeast 1/4 of Section 34, Town 1North Range 7 West, except the West 100 feet ofthe South 200 feet thereof, Assyria Township, BarryCounty, Michigan, according to the recorded platthereof.

The redemption period shall be 6 months fromthe date of such sale, unless determined aban-doned in accordance with MCLA 600.3241a, inwhich case the redemption period shall be 30 daysfrom the date of such sale.

If the property is sold at foreclosure sale underChapter 32 of the Revised Judicature Act of 1961,pursuant to MCL 600.3278 the borrower will be heldresponsible to the person who buys the property atthe mortgage foreclosure sale or to the mortgageholder for damaging the property during theredemption period.Dated: September 6, 2012For more information, please call:FC S (248) 593-1304Trott & Trott, P.C.Attorneys For Servicer31440 Northwestern Highway, Suite 200Farmington Hills, Michigan 48334-2525File #224790F02(09-06)(09-27) 77570784

SYNOPSISPRAIRIEVILLE TOWNSHIP

Regular Meeting August 8, 2012

Supervisor J. Stoneburner called the meeting toorder at 7:00 p.m.

Present: Supervisor J. Stoneburner, Treasurer K.McGuire, Trustee Grundy and Trustee R. Goebel

Absent: noneAlso present were 11 guest.Pledge of allegiance and a moment of silence for

our troops. Agenda was approved with changes.Minutes were presented to the Board and

approved.Correspondence was read.Barry County Commissioner report was given.Public Comment was received.Parks Report was given.Fire Departments report was placed on file.Approved to place Lt. Charles Ford on Medical

leave.Police Department report was placed on file.Authorized hiring Christopher Bailey as Reserve

Officer.Approved Chief Thompson to immediately begin

the process of purchasing a new Police vehicle.Supervisor’s Report was received.Treasurer’s Report was received.Clerk’s Report was received.Approved to change the Farmers Market Policy

to state there will be no charge to farmers whocome in as a vendor.

Approved to pay Township bills for $24,547.24.Adopted the Resolution RE: Gull Lake Sanitary

Sewer Charges.Approved the Parks & Recreation By-Laws

revised 2/29/2012.Authorized Prairieview Dairy to be put on

Automatic Pay list.No run sheet provided from Hickory Corners Fire

Department.Discussion on Firearms Policy.Reluctantly accepted the resignation of Clerk Jill

Owens, effective October 14, 2012.Appointed Ted DeVries as Prairieville Township

Clerk, effective October 15, 2012.Authorized hiring an office staff at a rate of

$10.00 up to 24 hours per week, effective 8/9/2012.Public comments were received.Board comments were received.Meeting adjourned at 8:44 p.m.

Submitted by:Jill Owens, ClerkAttested to by:Jim Stoneburner, Supervisor 77570818

STATE OF MICHIGAN

PROBATE COURT

COUNTY OF BARRY

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Decedent’s Estate

FILE NO. 12-26182-DE

Estate of VIOLET DEAL. Date of birth:12/30/1921.

TO ALL CREDITORS:NOTICE TO CREDITORS: The decedent, Violet

Deal, died 06/09/2006.Creditors of the decedent are notified that all

claims against the estate will be forever barredunless presented to Randy Deal, named personalrepresentative or proposed personal representa-tive, or to both the probate court at 206 W. CourtSt., Suite 302, Hastings and the named/proposedpersonal representative within 4 months after thedate of publication of this notice.Date: August 29, 2012William D. Renner, II P29832116 East Chicago StreetColdwater, MI 49036(517) 278-5614Randy Deal1241 East State RoadHastings, MI 49058(269) 945-3428 77570824

STATE OF MICHIGAN

PROBATE COURT

COUNTY OF BARRY

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Decedent’s Estate

FILE NO. 12-26184-DE

Estate of Betty Lou Koster, deceased. Date ofbirth: 02/11/1931.

TO ALL CREDITORS:NOTICE TO CREDITORS: The decedent, Betty

Lou Koster, who lived at 4304 East Blue LagoonRoad, Shelbyville, Michigan 49344, died07/24/2012.

Creditors of the decedent are notified that allclaims against the estate will be forever barredunless presented to Ruth Fredricks, named person-al representative or proposed personal representa-tive, or to both the probate court at 206 West CourtStreet, Suite 302, Hastings, MI 49058 and thenamed/proposed personal representative within 4months after the date of publication of this notice.Date: 8/30/2012James K. Schepers P424656617 Crossings Drive, SEGrand Rapids, MI 49508(616) 554-2900Ruth Fredricks3034 Windcrest Way, NEGrand Rapids, MI 49525(616) 554-5800 77570827

NOTICE TO THE RESIDENTS OF

BARRY COUNTY

Notice is hereby given that the Barry County

Planning Commission will

conduct a public hearing for the following:

Case Number SP-6-2012 - Dennis & Deborah

Hutchings, (property owners)

Location: A vacant parcel on the North side ofHolden Road near the intersection of North Avenuein Section 13 of Johnstown Township

Purpose: Requesting a special use permit for anursing home per Section 2353 in the RR (RuralResidential) zoning district.

Case Number SP-7-2012 - Dan & Jennifer

Lundquist, (property owners)

Location: 4644 South M-66 Highway in Section2 of Maple Grove Township

Purpose: Requesting a special use permit for aDay Care, Group per Section 2324 in the A(Agricultural) zoning district.

MEETING DATE: September 24,

2012. TIME: 7:00 PM

PLACE: Community Room, Courts & LawBuilding at 206 West Court St, Hastings MI

Site inspections of the above described proper-ties will be completed by the Planning Commissionmembers before the day of the hearing.

Interested persons desiring to present their viewsupon an appeal either verbally or in writing will begiven the opportunity to be heard at the above men-tioned time and place. Any written response maybe mailed to the address listed below, faxed to(269) 948-4820 or emailed to jmcmanus@bar-rycounty.org.

The special use applications are available forpublic inspection at the Barry County PlanningOffice, 220 West State Street, Hastings Michigan49058 during the hours of 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (closedbetween 12-1 p.m.); Monday thru Friday. Pleasecall the Planning Office at (269) 945-1290 for fur-ther information.

The County of Barry will provide necessary aux-iliary aids and services, such as signers for thehearing impaired and audio tapes of printed materi-als being considered at the meeting to individualswith disabilities at the meeting/hearing upon ten(10) days notice to the County of Barry. Individualswith disabilities requiring auxiliary aids or servicesshould contact the County of Barry by writing orcalling the following: Michael Brown, CountyAdministrator, 220 West State Street, Hastings MI49058, (269) 945-1284.Pamela A. Jarvis, Barry County Clerk 7757929

STATE OF MICHIGAN

PROBATE COURT

COUNTY OF BARRY

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Decedent’s Estate

FILE NO. 12-26163-DE

Estate of Thomas Walter Atkinson. Date of birth:09/07/1942.

TO ALL CREDITORS:NOTICE TO CREDITORS: The decedent,

Thomas Walter Atkinson, who lived at 1875 LandonRd., Hastings, Michigan died 07/01/2012.

Creditors of the decedent are notified that allclaims against the estate will be forever barredunless presented to John Wesley Jones, namedpersonal representative or proposed personal rep-resentative, or to both the probate court at 206West Court St., Suite 302, Hastings, and thenamed/proposed personal representative within 4months after the date of publication of this notice.Date: 08/29/2012Julie A. Nakfoor Pratt P41242202 S. BroadwayHastings, MI 49058(269) 945-4200John Wesley Jones135 Saint John St.Freeport, MI 49325(616) 299-6572 77570833

FOR PUBLICATION ONLY

NOTICE PURSUANT TO MCL 600.3205e

15591 S M-37 HWY.

BATTLE CREEK, MI 49017

THIS FIRM IS A DEBT COLLECTORATTEMPTING TO COLLECT A DEBT. ANY

INFORMATION WE OBTAIN WILL BE USED FORTHAT PURPOSE. PLEASE CONTACT OUR

OFFICE AT THE NUMBER BELOW IF YOU AREIN ACTIVE MILITARY DUTY.

NOTICE is hereby provided to the borrower(s)and/or mortgagors (hereinafter “Borrower”) regard-ing the property located at 15591 S M-37 Hwy.,Battle Creek, MI 49017.

The Borrower has the right to request a meetingwith the mortgage holder or mortgage servicer. Theagent designated by the Mortgage Servicer and/orMortgage Holder to contact and that has authorityto make agreements under MCL sections600.3205b and 600.3205c is: Mark D. Hofstee,Bolhouse, Baar & Lefere, P.C., 3996 Chicago DriveSW, Grandville, MI 49418, (616) 531-7711,markh@bolhouselaw.com.

The Borrower may contact a housing counselorby visiting the Michigan State HousingDevelopment Authority’s website or by calling theMichigan State Housing Development Authority athttp:www.michigan.gov/mshda or at (866) 946-7432.

If the Borrower requests a meeting with the agentdesignated above by contacting an approved hous-ing counselor within 30 days from September 4,2012, foreclosure proceedings will not be com-menced until 90 days after September 4, 2012.

If the Borrower and the agent designated abovereach an agreement to modify the mortgage loan,the mortgage will not be foreclosed if the Borrowerabides by the terms of the agreement.

The Borrower has the right to contact an attor-ney. The telephone number of the State Bar ofMichigan’s Lawyer Referral Service is (800) 968-0738.

For more information, please call

Mark D. Hofstee (P66001)Bolhouse, Baar & Lefere, P.C.

Attorneys for Kellogg Community Federal CreditUnion

3996 Chicago Drive SWGrandville, MI 49418

(616) 531-7711markh@bolhouselaw.com

IF YOU ARE CURRENTLY IN BANKRUPTCY ORHAVE RECEIVED A DISCHARGE IN BANK-

RUPTCY AS TO THIS OBLIGATION, THIS COM-MUNICATION IS INTENDED FOR

INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY AND ISNOT AN ATTEMPT TO COLLECT A DEBT IN

VIOLATION OF THE AUTOMATIC STAY OR THEDISCHARGE INJUNCTION. IN SUCH

CASE, PLEASE DISREGARD ANY PART OFTHIS COMMUNICATION WHICH IS

INCONSISTENT WITH THE FOREGOING.OTHERWISE, FEDERAL LAW REQUIRES US

TO ADVISE YOU THAT COMMUNICATIONFROM OUR OFFICE COULD BE INTERPRETED

AS AN ATTEMPT TO COLLECT A DEBTAND THAT ANY INFORMATION OBTAINED MAY

BE USED FOR THAT PURPOSE.IF YOU ARE NOW ON ACTIVE MILITARY DUTY

OR HAVE BEEN IN THE PRIOR NINEMONTHS, PLEASE CONTACT OUR OFFICE AS

YOU MAY BE ENTITLED TO THEBENEFITS OF THE SERVICEMEMBERS' CIVIL

RELIEF ACT.MORTGAGE SALE - Default has been made in

the conditions of a mortgage made by Charles W.Mead, a married man and Janice M. Mead, his wife,to Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems, Inc.,as nominee for lender and lender's successorsand/or assigns, Mortgagee, dated June 30, 2003and recorded July 7, 2003 in Instrument Number1108007, Barry County Records, Michigan. Saidmortgage is now held by Wells Fargo Bank, NA byassignment. There is claimed to be due at the datehereof the sum of Eighty-Five Thousand NineHundred Nine and 94/100 Dollars ($85,909.94)including interest at 5.875% per annum.

Under the power of sale contained in said mort-gage and the statute in such case made and pro-vided, notice is hereby given that said mortgage willbe foreclosed by a sale of the mortgaged premises,or some part of them, at public vendue at the BarryCounty Circuit Courthouse in Hastings, Michigan inBarry County, Michigan at 1:00 p.m. on 10/04/2012Said premises are located in the Township ofCarlton, Barry County, Michigan, and are describedas:

Beginning at a point on the East and West 1/4line of Section 27, Town 4 North, Range 8 West,Carlton Township, Barry County, Michigan, DistantEast 765 feet from the West 1/4 corner of saidSection 27; thence East 220 feet along said 1/4line; thence South 231 feet at right angles with said1/4 line; thence West 220 feet; thence North 231feet to the point of beginning.

The redemption period shall be 6 months fromthe date of such sale, unless determined aban-doned in accordance with MCLA §600.3241a, inwhich case the redemption period shall be 30 daysfrom the date of such sale. TO ALL PUR-CHASERS: The foreclosing mortgagee can rescindthe sale. In that event, your damages, if any, arelimited solely to the return of the bid amount ten-dered at sale, plus interest.

If the property is sold at foreclosure sale, pur-suant to MCL 600.3278, the borrower will be heldresponsible to the person who buys the property atthe mortgage foreclosure sale or to the mortgageholder for damage to the property during theredemption period.

If you are a tenant in the property, please contactour office as you may have certain rights.Dated: September 6, 2012Orlans Associates, P.C.Attorneys for ServicerP.O. Box 5041Troy, MI 48007-5041File No. 326.9682(09-06)(09-27) 77570878

IF YOU ARE CURRENTLY IN BANKRUPTCY OR

HAVE RECEIVED A DISCHARGE IN BANK-

RUPTCY AS TO THIS OBLIGATION, THIS COM-

MUNICATION IS INTENDED FOR

INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY AND IS

NOT AN ATTEMPT TO COLLECT A DEBT IN

VIOLATION OF THE AUTOMATIC STAY OR THE

DISCHARGE INJUNCTION. IN SUCH CASE,

PLEASE DISREGARD ANY PART OF THIS

COMMUNICATION WHICH IS

INCONSISTENT WITH THE FOREGOING.

OTHERWISE, FEDERAL LAW REQUIRES US

TO ADVISE YOU THAT COMMUNICATION

FROM OUR OFFICE COULD BE INTERPRETED

AS AN ATTEMPT TO COLLECT A DEBT AND

THAT ANY INFORMATION OBTAINED MAY BE

USED FOR THAT PURPOSE.

IF YOU ARE NOW ON ACTIVE MILITARY DUTY

OR HAVE BEEN IN THE PRIOR NINE

MONTHS, PLEASE CONTACT OUR OFFICE AS

YOU MAY BE ENTITLED TO THE

BENEFITS OF THE SERVICEMEMBERS' CIVIL

RELIEF ACT.

MORTGAGE SALE - Default has been made inthe conditions of a mortgage made by Ronald W.Stasch and Gertrude A. Stasch, Husband and Wifeas tenants by the entireties., to GreenfieldMortgage, Inc., Mortgagee, dated August 13, 2003and recorded September 5, 2003 in InstrumentNumber 1112574, and Assignment of mortgagerecorded on06/14/07 Document No. 1181740,Barry County Records, Michigan. Said mortgage isnow held by GMAC Mortgage, LLC successor bymerger to GMAC Mortgage Corp. by assignment.There is claimed to be due at the date hereof thesum of Sixty-Six Thousand Four Hundred Forty-One and 98/100 Dollars ($66,441.98) includinginterest at 6.5% per annum.

Under the power of sale contained in said mort-gage and the statute in such case made and pro-vided, notice is hereby given that said mortgage willbe foreclosed by a sale of the mortgaged premises,or some part of them, at public vendue at the BarryCounty Circuit Courthouse in Hastings, Michigan inBarry County, Michigan at 1:00 p.m. on 10/04/2012Said premises are located in the Township ofCarlton, Barry County, Michigan, and are describedas:

Lot 6 of Balm-Meer Plat according to the record-ed plat thereof as recorded in Liber 5 of Plats onpage 30, Section 33, Carlton Township, BarryCounty, Michigan.

The redemption period shall be 6 months fromthe date of such sale, unless determined aban-doned in accordance with MCLA 600.3241a, inwhich case the redemption period shall be 30 daysfrom the date of such sale. TO ALL PUR-CHASERS: The foreclosing mortgagee can rescindthe sale. In that event, your damages, if any, arelimited solely to the return of the bid amount ten-dered at sale, plus interest.

If the property is sold at foreclosure sale, pur-suant to MCL 600.3278, the borrower will be heldresponsible to the person who buys the property atthe mortgage foreclosure sale or to the mortgageholder for damage to the property during theredemption period.If you are a tenant in the property, please contactour office as you may have certain rights.Dated: September 6, 2012Orlans Associates, P.C.Attorneys for ServicerP.O. Box 5041Troy, MI 48007-5041File No. 618.8419(09-06)(09-27) 77570883

The Hastings Banner — Thursday, September 6, 2012 — Page 11

LEGAL NOTICESNotice Of Mortgage Foreclosure Sale

THIS FIRM IS A DEBT COLLECTOR ATTEMPT-ING TO COLLECT A DEBT. ANY INFORMATIONWE OBTAIN WILL BE USED FOR THAT PUR-POSE. PLEASE CONTACT OUR OFFICE AT

THE NUMBER BELOW IF YOU ARE IN ACTIVEMILITARY DUTY.

ATTN PURCHASERS: This sale may berescinded by the foreclosing mortgagee. In

that event, your damages, if any, shall be limit-ed solely to the return of the bid amount ten-

dered at sale, plus interest.MORTGAGE SALE - Default has been made in

the conditions of a mortgage made by Mark R.Storey and Julie Ann Storey, husband and wife,original mortgagor(s), to Mortgage ElectronicRegistration Systems, Inc., Mortgagee, dated June25, 2004, and recorded on July 8, 2004 in instru-ment 1130551, and assigned by said Mortgagee toTHE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON FKA THEBANK OF NEW YORK AS TRUSTEE FOR THECERTIFICATEHOLDERS OF THE CWABS, INC.,ASSET-BACKED CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2004-10 as assignee as documented by an assignment,in Barry county records, Michigan, on which mort-gage there is claimed to be due at the date hereofthe sum of Ninety-Nine Thousand Four and 37/100Dollars ($99,004.37).

Under the power of sale contained in said mort-gage and the statute in such case made and pro-vided, notice is hereby given that said mortgage willbe foreclosed by a sale of the mortgaged premises,or some part of them, at public vendue, at the placeof holding the circuit court within Barry County, at1:00 PM, on September 13, 2012.

Said premises are situated in City of Hastings,Barry County, Michigan, and are described as:Commencing At The Northeast Corner Of LotEleven Hundred And Fifty Six Of Said Plat, ThenceNorth 4 Rods, Thence West 8 Rods, Thence South4 Rods, Thence East To Place Of Beginning, BeingA Part Of This Southwest One Quarter Of Section17, Town 3 North, Range 8 West.

The redemption period shall be 6 months fromthe date of such sale, unless determined aban-doned in accordance with MCLA 600.3241a, inwhich case the redemption period shall be 30 daysfrom the date of such sale.

If the property is sold at foreclosure sale underChapter 32 of the Revised Judicature Act of 1961,pursuant to MCL 600.3278 the borrower will be heldresponsible to the person who buys the property atthe mortgage foreclosure sale or to the mortgageholder for damaging the property during theredemption period.Dated: August 16, 2012For more information, please call:FC X (248) 593-1302Trott & Trott, P.C.Attorneys For Servicer31440 Northwestern Highway, Suite 200Farmington Hills, Michigan 48334-2525File #407981F01(08-16)(09-06) 77570154

AS A DEBT COLLECTOR, WE ARE ATTEMPTINGTO COLLECT A DEBT AND ANY INFORMATIONOBTAINED WILL BE USED FOR THAT PURPOSE.NOTIFY US AT THE NUMBER BELOW IF YOUARE IN ACTIVE MILITARY DUTY. MORTGAGESALE - Default having been made in the terms andconditions of a certain mortgage made by Ronald P.Armour , , Mortgagors, to Mortgage ElectronicRegistration Systems, Inc. as nominee for PolarisHome Funding Corp., Mortgagee, dated the 27thday of February, 2007 and recorded in the office ofthe Register of Deeds, for The County of Barry andState of Michigan, on the 2nd day of March, 2007 inLiber Instrument#1176993 of Barry CountyRecords, page , said Mortgage having beenassigned to Green Tree Servicing LLC on whichmortgage there is claimed to be due, at the date ofthis notice, the sum of Eighty One Thousand TwoHundred Fifty Nine & 62/100 ($81259.62), and nosuit or proceeding at law or in equity having beeninstituted to recover the debt secured by said mort-gage or any part thereof. Now, therefore, by virtueof the power of sale contained in said mortgage,and pursuant to statute of the State of Michigan insuch case made and provided, notice is herebygiven that on the 13th day of September, 2012 at1:00 PM o’clock Local Time, said mortgage will beforeclosed by a sale at public auction, to the high-est bidder, at the Barry County Courthouse inHastings, MI (that being the building where theCircuit Court for the County of Barry is held), of thepremises described in said mortgage, or so muchthereof as may be necessary to pay the amountdue, as aforesaid on said mortgage, with interestthereon at 7.75% per annum and all legal costs,charges, and expenses, including the attorney feesallowed by law, and also any sum or sums whichmay be paid by the undersigned, necessary to pro-tect its interest in the premises. Which said premis-es are described as follows: All that certain piece orparcel of land, including any and all structures, andhomes, manufactured or otherwise, located there-on, situated in the Township of Baltimore, County ofBarry, State of Michigan, and described as follows,to wit: A PARCEL OF LAND IN THE SOUTHWEST1/4 OF THE SOUTHEAST 1/4 OF SECTION 35,TOWN 2 NORTH, RANGE 8 WEST, DESCRIBEDAS: COMMENCING AT THE SOUTH 1/4 POST OFSAID SECTION 35 AND RUNNING THENCENORTH 00 DEGREES 08 MINUTES WEST 426.4FEET TO A POINT IN THE CENTER OF BIRDROAD, WHICH IS THE TRUE POINT OF BEGIN-NING, THENCE NORTHEASTERLY 212.9 FEETALONG THE CENTER OF BIRD ROAD ON THEARC OF A CURVE TO THE RIGHT OF RADIUS284.78 FEET, THE CHORD OF WHICH BEARSNORTH 19 DEGREES 33 MINUTES EAST 207.97FEET, THENCE NORTH 40 DEGREES 58 MIN-UTES EAST, 41.1 FEET, THENCE SOUTH 60DEGREES 18 MINUTES EAST 203 FEET,THENCE SOUTH 10 DEGREES 04 MINUTESWEST 120 FEET, THENCE SOUTH 88 DEGREES07 MINUTES WEST 252 FEET TO THE POINT OFBEGINNING. During the six (6) months immediate-ly following the sale, the property may beredeemed, except that in the event that the proper-ty is determined to be abandoned pursuant toMCLA 600.3241a, the property may be redeemedduring 30 days immediately following the sale.Pursuant to MCLA 600.3278, the mortgagor(s) willbe held responsible to the person who buys theproperty at the foreclosure sale or to the mortgageholder for damaging the property during theredemption period. Dated: 8/16/2012 Green TreeServicing LLC Mortgagee FABRIZIO & BROOK, P.C. Attorney for Green TreeServicing LLC 888 W. Big Beaver, Suite 800 Troy,Ml 48084 248-362-2600 GTSD FNMA ArmourRon(08-16)(09-06) 77570199

Notice Of Mortgage Foreclosure Sale

THIS FIRM IS A DEBT COLLECTOR ATTEMPT-

ING TO COLLECT A DEBT. ANY INFORMATION

WE OBTAIN WILL BE USED FOR THAT PUR-

POSE. PLEASE CONTACT OUR OFFICE AT

THE NUMBER BELOW IF YOU ARE IN ACTIVE

MILITARY DUTY.

ATTN PURCHASERS: This sale may be

rescinded by the foreclosing mortgagee. In

that event, your damages, if any, shall be limit-

ed solely to the return of the bid amount ten-

dered at sale, plus interest.

MORTGAGE SALE - Default has been made inthe conditions of a mortgage made by Michael S.Lutes, A Married Man and Suzette A. Lutes, AMarried Woman as Joint Tenants, original mort-gagor(s), to Mortgage Electronic RegistrationSystems, Inc., Mortgagee, dated July 28, 2003, andrecorded on August 4, 2003 in instrument 1110155,and assigned by said Mortgagee to Bank ofAmerica, N.A., successor by merger to BAC HomeLoans Servicing, L.P. fka Countrywide Home LoansServicing, L.P. as assignee as documented by anassignment, in Barry county records, Michigan, onwhich mortgage there is claimed to be due at thedate hereof the sum of Two Hundred FifteenThousand Two Hundred Twenty-Eight and 07/100Dollars ($215,228.07).

Under the power of sale contained in said mort-gage and the statute in such case made and pro-vided, notice is hereby given that said mortgage willbe foreclosed by a sale of the mortgaged premises,or some part of them, at public vendue, at the placeof holding the circuit court within Barry County, at1:00 PM, on September 20, 2012.

Said premises are situated in Township ofYankee Springs, Barry County, Michigan, and aredescribed as: Lot 29, Mastenbrook's Subdivision,Yankee Springs Township, Barry County, Michigan,as recorded in Liber 2 of Plats, Page 39.

The redemption period shall be 6 months fromthe date of such sale, unless determined aban-doned in accordance with MCLA 600.3241a, inwhich case the redemption period shall be 30 daysfrom the date of such sale.

If the property is sold at foreclosure sale underChapter 32 of the Revised Judicature Act of 1961,pursuant to MCL 600.3278 the borrower will be heldresponsible to the person who buys the property atthe mortgage foreclosure sale or to the mortgageholder for damaging the property during theredemption period.Dated: August 23, 2012For more information, please call:FC X (248) 593-1302Trott & Trott, P.C.Attorneys For Servicer31440 Northwestern Highway, Suite 200Farmington Hills, Michigan 48334-2525File #389949F02(08-23)(09-13) 77570254

NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE OF MORTGAGECHARLES J. HIEMSTRA IS A DEBT COLLEC-

TOR ATTEMPTING TO COLLECT A DEBT. ANYINFORMATION OBTAINED WILL BE USED FOR

THAT PURPOSE. IF YOU ARE IN THE MILI-TARY, PLEASE CONTACT OUR OFFICE AT THE

NUMBER LISTED BELOW.Default has occurred in the conditions of a

Mortgage (“Mortgage”) made by Timothy K. Marlin,a/k/a Timothy Marlin and Kimberly S. Marlin, hus-band and wife, of 2710 Pine Trail Drive, Middleville,Michigan 49333, Mortgagor, to Lake MichiganCredit Union, a state chartered credit union, havingits principal office at 4027 Lake Drive SE, Suite 110,Grand Rapids, Michigan 49546, which Mortgagewas dated July 13, 2007, and recorded in the officeof the Register of Deeds for Barry County, Michiganon August 15, 2007 at Instrument Number20070815-0000958. By reason of this default, theMortgagee hereby declares the entire unpaidamount of said Mortgage due and payable immedi-ately. As of the date of this Notice there is claimedto be due for principal and interest on this Mortgagethe sum of Two Hundred Twenty-nine ThousandFour Hundred Forty-five and 41/100 Dollars($229,445.41). No suit or proceeding at law hasbeen instituted to recover the debt secured by thisMortgage or any part thereof.

Notice is hereby given that by virtue of the Powerof Sale contained in this Mortgage and the statutein such case made and provided, this Mortgage willbe foreclosed by sale of the mortgaged premises,or some part thereof, at public auction to the high-est bidder at the East Steps of the Barry CountyCourthouse, 220 W. State Street, Hastings,Michigan 49058 that being the place of holdingCircuit Court in said County, on Thursday, the 27thday of September, 2012, at 1:00 p.m.

The premises covered by this Mortgage arelocated in the Township of Irving, County of Barry,State of Michigan and described as follows:

EXHIBIT ALegal Description of

2710 Pine Trail Drive, Middleville, MI 49333Parcel 2:That part of the Northeast 1/4 of Section 32,

Town 4 North, Range 9 West, Irving Township,Barry County, Michigan, described as:Commencing at the North 1/4 corner of said sec-tion; thence South 89 degrees 37 minutes 52 sec-onds East 974.70 feet along the North line of saidNortheast 1/4; thence South 00 degrees 44 minutes14 seconds West 1187.69 feet along the East line ofthe West 60 acres of said Northeast 1/4 to the cen-terline of State Road; thence North 72 degrees 31minutes 34 seconds West 172.30 feet along saidcenterline; thence south 00 degrees 44 minutes 14seconds West 287.34 feet to the place of beginning;thence South 00 degrees 44 minutes 14 secondsWest 140.00 feet; thence South 79 degrees 26 min-utes 39 seconds West 412.61 feet; thence North 00degrees 44 minutes 14 seconds East 300.00 feet;thence South 78 degrees 11 minutes 16 secondsEast 412.30 feet to the place of beginning.

Parcel 3That part of the Northeast 1/4 of Section 32,

Town 4 North, Range 9 West, Irving Township,Barry County, Michigan described as: Commencingat the North 1/4 corner of said section; thenceSouth 89 degrees 37 minutes 52 seconds East974.70 feet along the North line of said Northeast1/4; thence South 00 degrees 44 minutes 14 sec-onds West 1187.69 feet along the East line of theWest 60 acres of said Northeast 1/4 to the center-line of State Road; thence North 72 degrees 31minutes 34 seconds West 172.30 feet along saidcenterline; thence South 0 degrees 44 minutes 14seconds West 427.34 feet to the place of beginning;thence South 00 degrees 44 minutes 14 secondsWest 220.00 feet; thence South 79 degrees 26 min-utes 39 seconds West 412.61 feet; thence North 00degrees 44 minutes 14 seconds East 220.00 feet;thence North 79 degrees 26 minutes 39 secondsEast 412.61 feet to the place of beginning.

Parcel 4That part of the Northeast 1/4 of Section 32,

Town 4 North, Range 9 West, described as:Commencing at the North 1/4 corner of said sec-tion; thence South 89 degrees 37 minutes 52 sec-onds East 974.70 feet along the North line of saidNortheast 1/4; thence South 00 degrees 44 minutes14 seconds West 1187.69 feet along the East line ofthe West 60 acres of said Northeast 1/4 to the cen-terline of State Road; thence South 00 degrees 44minutes 14 seconds West 264.0 feet to the place ofbeginning; thence South 00 degrees 44 minutes 14seconds West 300.77 feet; thence South 79degrees 26 minutes 39 seconds West 168.26 feet;thence North 00 degrees 44 minutes 14 secondsEast 333.72 feet; thence South 89 degrees 15 min-utes 46 seconds East 165.0 feet to the place ofbeginning.

Subject to and together with an easement foringress, egress and utility purposes over a 66 footwide strip of land, the Easterly line of which isdescribed as: That part of the East 1/2 of Section32, Town 4 North, Range 9 West, described as:Commencing at the North 1/4 corner of said sec-tion; thence South 00 degrees 44 minutes 14 sec-onds West 888.32 feet along the North-South 1/4line of said section to the centerline of State Road;thence South 72 degrees 31 minutes 34 secondsEast 441.0 feet along said centerline to the place ofbeginning of the East line of said 66 foot wide ease-ment; thence South 01 degree 13 minutes 25 sec-onds West 960.59 feet to the place of ending of saideasement.

Tax Parcel No. 08-08-032-025-05Notice is further given that the length of the

redemption period will be six (6) months from thedate of sale unless determined to be abandoned inaccordance with MCLA 600.3241a, in which casethe redemption period will be as provided by MCLA600.3241a.

If this property is sold at a foreclosure sale byadvertisement, during the period of redemption,borrower/mortgagor will be responsible to the pur-chaser or to the mortgage holder for physical injuryto the property beyond wear and tear resulting fromthe normal use of the property if the physical injuryis caused by or at the direction of theborrower/mortgagor.Dated: August 16, 2012LAKE MICHIGAN CREDIT UNION MORTGAGEETHIS INSTRUMENT PREPARED BY:______________________________Charles J. Hiemstra (P-24332)Attorney for Mortgagee125 Ottawa Ave., NW, Suite 310Grand Rapids, MI 49503(616) 235-3100 77570341

IF YOU ARE CURRENTLY IN BANKRUPTCY ORHAVE RECEIVED A DISCHARGE IN BANK-

RUPTCY AS TO THIS OBLIGATION, THIS COM-MUNICATION IS INTENDED FOR

INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY AND ISNOT AN ATTEMPT TO COLLECT A DEBT IN

VIOLATION OF THE AUTOMATIC STAY OR THEDISCHARGE INJUNCTION. IN SUCH

CASE, PLEASE DISREGARD ANY PART OFTHIS COMMUNICATION WHICH IS

INCONSISTENT WITH THE FOREGOING.OTHERWISE, FEDERAL LAW REQUIRES US

TO ADVISE YOU THAT COMMUNICATIONFROM OUR OFFICE COULD BE INTERPRETED

AS AN ATTEMPT TO COLLECT A DEBTAND THAT ANY INFORMATION OBTAINED MAY

BE USED FOR THAT PURPOSE.IF YOU ARE NOW ON ACTIVE MILITARY DUTY

OR HAVE BEEN IN THE PRIOR NINEMONTHS, PLEASE CONTACT OUR OFFICE AS

YOU MAY BE ENTITLED TO THEBENEFITS OF THE SERVICEMEMBERS' CIVIL

RELIEF ACT.MORTGAGE SALE - Default has been made in

the conditions of a mortgage made by Jason A.Hobbs, aka Jason Hobbs, an unmarried man, toFifth Third Mortgage- MI, LLC, Mortgagee, datedJuly 11, 2006 and recorded July 20, 2006 inInstrument Number 1167398, Barry CountyRecords, Michigan. Said mortgage is now held byFifth Third Mortgage Company by assignment.There is claimed to be due at the date hereof thesum of One Hundred Ten Thousand Two HundredThirteen and 47/100 Dollars ($110,213.47) includ-ing interest at 6.75% per annum.

Under the power of sale contained in said mort-gage and the statute in such case made and pro-vided, notice is hereby given that said mortgage willbe foreclosed by a sale of the mortgaged premises,or some part of them, at public vendue at the BarryCounty Circuit Courthouse in Hastings, Michigan inBarry County, Michigan at 1:00 p.m. on 09/20/2012Said premises are located in the Township of Barry,Barry County, Michigan, and are described as:

Property situated in the Township of Barry,County of Barry and State of Michigan, describedas follows:

A parcel of land in the East 1/2 of the Northwest1/4 of Section 28, Town 1 North, Range 9 West,described as beginning 777 feet North of the centerof said Section 28, for place of beginning, thenceWest 198 feet, thence North 95 feet, thence East198 feet, thence South 95 feet to the place of begin-ning, Barry Township, Barry County, Michigan.

The redemption period shall be 6 months fromthe date of such sale, unless determined aban-doned in accordance with MCA §600.3241a, inwhich case the redemption period shall be 30 daysfrom the date of such sale. TO ALL PUR-CHASERS: The foreclosing mortgagee can rescindthe sale. In that event, your damages, if any, arelimited solely to the return of the bid amount ten-dered at sale, plus interest.

If the property is sold at foreclosure sale, pur-suant to MCL 600.3278, the borrower will be heldresponsible to the person who buys the property atthe mortgage foreclosure sale or to the mortgageholder for damage to the property during theredemption period.

If you are a tenant in the property, please contactour office as you may have certain rights.Dated: August 23, 2012Orlans Associates, P.C.Attorneys for ServicerP.O. Box 5041Troy, MI 48007-5041File No. 200.9322(08-23)(09-13) 77570362

IF YOU ARE CURRENTLY IN BANKRUPTCY ORHAVE RECEIVED A DISCHARGE IN BANK-

RUPTCY AS TO THIS OBLIGATION, THIS COM-MUNICATION IS INTENDED FOR

INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY AND ISNOT AN ATTEMPT TO COLLECT A DEBT IN

VIOLATION OF THE AUTOMATIC STAY OR THEDISCHARGE INJUNCTION. IN SUCH

CASE, PLEASE DISREGARD ANY PART OFTHIS COMMUNICATION WHICH IS

INCONSISTENT WITH THE FOREGOING.OTHERWISE, FEDERAL LAW REQUIRES US

TO ADVISE YOU THAT COMMUNICATIONFROM OUR OFFICE COULD BE INTERPRETED

AS AN ATTEMPT TO COLLECT A DEBTAND THAT ANY INFORMATION OBTAINED MAY

BE USED FOR THAT PURPOSE.IF YOU ARE NOW ON ACTIVE MILITARY DUTY

OR HAVE BEEN IN THE PRIOR NINEMONTHS, PLEASE CONTACT OUR OFFICE AS

YOU MAY BE ENTITLED TO THEBENEFITS OF THE SERVICEMEMBERS' CIVIL

RELIEF ACT.MORTGAGE SALE - Default has been made in

the conditions of a mortgage made by Stacy Jones,a single woman, to Mortgage ElectronicRegistration Systems, Inc., as nominee for PolarisHome Funding Corporation, its successors orassigns, Mortgagee, dated August 17, 2007 andrecorded August 27, 2007 in Instrument Number20070827-0001341, Barry County Records,Michigan. Said mortgage is now held by JPMorganChase Bank, National Association by assignment.There is claimed to be due at the date hereof thesum of Seventy-Six Thousand Nine HundredSeventy and 12/100 Dollars ($76,970.12) includinginterest at 6.5% per annum.

Under the power of sale contained in said mort-gage and the statute in such case made and pro-vided, notice is hereby given that said mortgage willbe foreclosed by a sale of the mortgaged premises,or some part of them, at public vendue at the BarryCounty Circuit Courthouse in Hastings, Michigan inBarry County, Michigan at 1:00 p.m. on 09/20/2012Said premises are located in the Township ofPrairieville, Barry County, Michigan, and aredescribed as:

Lot 47 of Supervisor's Plat of the Village ofPrairieville, according to the Plat thereof recorded inLiber 2 of Plats, Page 74, Barry County Records,being part of the Northeast 1/4 of Section 2, Town 1North, Range 10 West, excepting therefrom theEast 127 feet thereof.

The redemption period shall be 6 months fromthe date of such sale, unless determined aban-doned in accordance with MCA §600.3241a, inwhich case the redemption period shall be 30 daysfrom the date of such sale. TO ALL PUR-CHASERS: The foreclosing mortgagee can rescindthe sale. In that event, your damages, if any, arelimited solely to the return of the bid amount ten-dered at sale, plus interest.

If the property is sold at foreclosure sale, pur-suant to MCL 600.3278, the borrower will be heldresponsible to the person who buys the property atthe mortgage foreclosure sale or to the mortgageholder for damage to the property during theredemption period.

If you are a tenant in the property, please contactour office as you may have certain rights.Dated: August 23, 2012Orlans Associates, P.C.Attorneys for ServicerP.O. Box 5041Troy, MI 48007-50412485021600 File No. 682.1523(08-23)(09-13) 77570476

FORECLOSURE NOTICE

This firm is a debt collector attempting to collect adebt. Any information obtained will be used for thispurpose. If you are in the Military, please contactour office at the number listed below. MORTGAGESALE – Default has been made in the conditions ofa certain mortgage made by: Loretta Pezet, ASingle Woman to Argent Mortgage Company, LLC,Mortgagee, dated July 29, 2005 and recordedAugust 22, 2005 in Instrument # 1151447 BarryCounty Records, Michigan Said mortgage wasassigned to: Deutsche Bank National TrustCompany, as Trustee for Argent Securities Inc.,Asset-Backed Pass-Through Certificates, Series2005-W2, by assignment dated August 13, 2012and recorded August 15, 2012 in instrument #2012-003287 and by assignment dated October 28,2010 and recorded November 2, 2010 in instrument# 201011020010188 and by assignment datedNovember 19, 2010 and recorded November 30,2010 in instrument # 201011300011133 on whichmortgage there is claimed to be due at the datehereof the sum of One Hundred Nine ThousandThree Hundred Twenty-Four Dollars and Forty-SixCents ($109,324.46) including interest 2% perannum. Under the power of sale contained in saidmortgage and the statute in such case made andprovided, notice is hereby given that said mortgagewill be foreclosed by a sale of the mortgaged prem-ises, or some part of them, at public vendue, CircuitCourt of Barry County at 1:00PM on September 20,2012 Said premises are situated in Village ofFreeport, Barry County, Michigan, and aredescribed as: Lot 4 of Block 1 of the Village ofFreeport, according to the recorded plat thereof,Subject to easements, reservations, restrictions,and limitations of record, if any Commonly knownas 157 Maple St, Freeport MI 49325 The redemp-tion period shall be 6 months from the date of suchsale, unless determined abandoned in accordancewith MCL 600.3241 or MCL 600.3241a, in whichcase the redemption period shall be 30 days fromthe date of such sale, or upon the expiration of thenotice required by MCL 600.3241a(c), whichever islater; or unless MCL 600.3240(17) applies. If theproperty is sold at foreclosure sale under Chapter32 of the Revised Judicature Act of 1961, underMCL 600.3278, the borrower will be held responsi-ble to the person who buys the property at the mort-gage foreclosure sale or to the mortgage holder fordamaging the property during the redemption peri-od. Dated: 8/23/2012 Deutsche Bank National TrustCompany, as Trustee for Argent Securities Inc.,Asset-Backed Pass-Through Certificates, Series2005-W2, Assignee of Mortgagee Attorneys:Potestivo & Associates, P.C. 811 South Blvd. Suite100 Rochester Hills, MI 48307 (248) 844-5123 OurFile No: 12-63071 (08-23)(09-13) 77570489

Page 12 — Thursday, September 6, 2012 — The Hastings Banner

LEGALNOTICES

IF YOU ARE CURRENTLY IN BANKRUPTCY OR

HAVE RECEIVED A DISCHARGE IN BANK-

RUPTCY AS TO THIS OBLIGATION, THIS COM-

MUNICATION IS INTENDED FOR

INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY AND IS

NOT AN ATTEMPT TO COLLECT A DEBT IN

VIOLATION OF THE AUTOMATIC STAY OR THE

DISCHARGE INJUNCTION. IN SUCH

CASE, PLEASE DISREGARD ANY PART OF

THIS COMMUNICATION WHICH IS

INCONSISTENT WITH THE FOREGOING.

OTHERWISE, FEDERAL LAW REQUIRES US

TO ADVISE YOU THAT COMMUNICATION

FROM OUR OFFICE COULD BE INTERPRETED

AS AN ATTEMPT TO COLLECT A DEBT

AND THAT ANY INFORMATION OBTAINED MAY

BE USED FOR THAT PURPOSE.

IF YOU ARE NOW ON ACTIVE MILITARY DUTY

OR HAVE BEEN IN THE PRIOR NINE

MONTHS, PLEASE CONTACT OUR OFFICE AS

YOU MAY BE ENTITLED TO THE

BENEFITS OF THE SERVICEMEMBERS' CIVIL

RELIEF ACT.

MORTGAGE SALE - Default has been made inthe conditions of a mortgage made by MarciaBowman and Rodney Bowman, husband and wife,to Nationstar Mortgage, LLC f/k/a Centex HomeEquity Company, LLC, Mortgagee, dated August18, 2003 and recorded August 26, 2003 inInstrument Number 1111920, Barry CountyRecords, Michigan. There is claimed to be due atthe date hereof the sum of One Hundred Thirty-Seven Thousand Six Hundred Thirty-Four and9/100 Dollars ($137,634.09) including interest at4.079% per annum.

Under the power of sale contained in said mort-gage and the statute in such case made and pro-vided, notice is hereby given that said mortgage willbe foreclosed by a sale of the mortgaged premises,or some part of them, at public vendue at the BarryCounty Circuit Courthouse in Hastings, Michigan inBarry County, Michigan at 1:00 p.m. on 09/13/2012Said premises are located in the Township ofHastings, Barry County, Michigan, and aredescribed as:

The following described premises situated in theTownship of Hastings, County of Barry and State ofMichigan, to wit:

Lots 5 and 6, Todd's Acres Subdivision, accord-ing to the recorded plat thereof, as recorded in Liber4 of Plats, on Page 21, Barry County Records.

The redemption period shall be 6 months fromthe date of such sale, unless determined aban-doned in accordance with MCLA §600.3241a, inwhich case the redemption period shall be 30 daysfrom the date of such sale. TO ALL PUR-CHASERS: The foreclosing mortgagee can rescindthe sale. In that event, your damages, if any, arelimited solely to the return of the bid amount ten-dered at sale, plus interest.

If the property is sold at foreclosure sale, pur-suant to MCL 600.3278, the borrower will be heldresponsible to the person who buys the property atthe mortgage foreclosure sale or to the mortgageholder for damage to the property during theredemption period.

If you are a tenant in the property, please contactour office as you may have certain rights.Dated: August 16, 2012Orlans Associates, P.C.Attorneys for ServicerP.O. Box 5041Troy, MI 48007-5041File No. 426.3857(08-16)(09-06) 77570241

SYNOPSIS

PRAIRIEVILLE TOWNSHIP

Special Meeting

August 15, 2012

Supervisor J. Stoneburner called the meeting toorder at 2:00 p.m.

Present: Supervisor J. Stoneburner, ClerkOwens, Treasurer K. McGuire, and Trustee R.Goebel

Absent: Trustee GrundyAlso present were 4 guest.Pledge of allegiance. Agenda was approved.Minutes were not presented to the Board.Discussion of Farmers Hall of Fame Building.Approved PCI to do an inspection of the Barns,

not to exceed $200.00.Meeting adjourned at 4:00 p.m.

Submitted by:Jill Owens, ClerkAttested to by:Jim Stoneburner, Supervisor 77570821

S Y N O P S I SRUTLAND CHARTER TOWNSHIP

SPECIAL BOARD MEETINGAUGUST 22, 2012 -7:30 P.M.

Special meeting called to order and Pledge ofAllegiance.

Present: Greenfield, Bellmore, Hawthorne, Carr,Hanshaw, Flint

Absent: LeeApproved the Agenda as presented.Approved August 8, 2012 Minutes as printed.Finalized the boundaries of the Initial Urban

Services District by roll call vote.Set a Public Hearing to discuss the proposed

Rutland Charter Township-City of Hastings UrbanServices and Economic Development Agreement,to be held in conjunction with the September 12,2012 regular board meeting. Meeting Adjourned at 7:51p.m.

Respectfully submitted,Robin Hawthorne, ClerkAttested to by,Jim Carr, Supervisorwww.rutlandtownship.org 77570853

COURT NEWS COURT NEWS

Banner CLASSIFIEDSCALL... The Hastings BANNER • 945-9554

Archie Lawrence Leatherman, 44, ofHastings was sentenced Aug. 29 for operatingunder the influence of liquor, third offense.Leatherman was ordered to serve 60 days injail, with credit for two days served. He mustpay $1,698 in court assessments and serve 24months on probation. The last 30 days of hisjail sentence will be suspended pending suc-cessful completion of probation. He must pay$160 per month toward assessments.Leatherman’s driver’s license was suspended.Charges of operating with license suspended,revoked or denied and habitual offender, thirdoffense, were dropped.

On Aug. 29 Steven Scott Kane, 43, wassentenced for operating under the influence ofliquor, third offense. Kane, of Battle Creek,was ordered to serve 60 days in jail, withcredit for one day served. He must pay $1,698and serve 18 months on probation. The last 45days of his jail time will be suspended uponsuccess completion of probation. A work

release was granted. Kane must pay $160 amonth toward assessments. His driver’slicense is suspended and his vehicle immobi-lized. Charges dropped include operatingwhile intoxicated, third offense; operatingwith license suspended, revoked or denied;open container of alcohol in vehicle; andhabitual offender, second offense.

Russell William Kling, 46, of Bellevue wassentenced Aug. 29 for assault with a weapon.Kling was ordered to serve six months in jail,with credit for two days served. He must pay$1,198 in court assessments and serve 24months of probation. The last three months ofhis jail time will be suspended pending suc-cessful completion of probation. Kling mustpay $80 per month toward assessments. Hewas ordered to display no threatening,assaultive, harassing conduct toward the vic-tim. Charges of assault with dangerousweapon (felonious assault) and domestic vio-lence were dropped.

PUBLISHER’S NOTICE:All real estate advertising in this news-

paper is subject to the Fair Housing Actand the Michigan Civil Rights Actwhich collectively make it illegal toadvertise “any preference, limitation ordiscrimination based on race, color, reli-gion, sex, handicap, familial status,national origin, age or martial status, oran intention to make any such prefer-ence, limitation or discrimination.”Familial status includes children underthe age of 18 living with parents or legalcustodians, pregnant women and peoplesecuring custody of children under 18.

This newspaper will not knowinglyaccept any advertising for real estatewhich is in violation of the law. Ourreaders are hereby informed that alldwellings advertised in this newspaperare available on an equal opportunitybasis. To report discrimination call theFair Housing Center at 616-451-2980.The HUD toll-free telephone number forthe hearing impaired is 1-800-927-9275.

77564784

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RN/LPN PRIVATE DUTYNashville/Marshall/Springport/Jackson

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(including Albion, Homer,Three Rivers, Galesburg)

FT/PT – days/nights

Please send letter or resume to:recruiter@optimalstaffing.com

or fax to: 517-394-7716

77570855

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POLICE BEAT POLICE BEATMan chops his waythrough kitchen

Five deputies responded Aug. 13 to adomestic dispute involving a man with an axon South M-66. When deputies arrived atthe Bellevue residence, they were told theman had fled the location with what wasreportedly more of a hatchet. Witnesses alsosaid the man smashed some of the home’swindows and was bleeding. The homeownersaid he had asked the 23-year-old man andgirlfriend to move out of the residence earli-er in the day. When he came home fromwork, the man and girlfriend were not there.They did, however, return shortly, but theowner refused to let them enter the house.An argument erupted and a window wasbroken along with other items in the house.The suspect then reportedly entered thehome through a basement window. When hecame upstairs, he was said to be holding ahatchet. The man allegedly chopped at thekitchen cabinet with the hatchet, then left theresidence and smashed more windows. TheK9 Unit was dispatched to locate the sus-pect, but was unable to pick up a trail. Thesuspect’s cell phone was called with noanswer, and subsequently a message was leftto contact deputies. The Michigan StatePolice helicopter was contacted to help inthe search, but the weather grounded thechopper. There has been no contact from thesuspect. A report has been forwarded to theprosecutor’s office.

Midnight feedingleads to flyingcat food

Deputies responded to the PennockEmergency Room Aug. 25 in reference to adomestic assault. A 20-year-old Middlevillewoman said she was assaulted by herboyfriend, also 20. She had asked the man toget out of bed and feed their 1-month-oldbaby, since she had gotten up with the babytwice already. She told deputies the man gotout of bed, but allegedly punched her in theback as he rose. She became angry and fol-lowed the man from the bedroom into theliving room. The woman said when the manput the baby in a bassinet, she threw a can ofcat food at him from the kitchen. She saidthe man entered the kitchen, pushed her upagainst the cabinet and punched her twice inthe face. She told deputies she was alsoswinging back at the man. At that time, theboyfriend grabbed their baby and lockedhimself and the child in a basement bath-room. She told deputies when she startedpounding on the bathroom door, the mancame out with a paint roller and started hit-ting her. Photographs were taken of injuriesand the home. At the end of questioning,both individuals left the home and stayedwith family overnight. A report has beenforwarded to the prosecutor’s office.

Girlfriend respondsby throwing objects

Barry County deputies, speaking to a manat the front desk of the sheriff’s departmentAug. 22, were told the man had an argumentwith his girlfriend and she started throwingthings at him. He told deputies he did notwant the 39-year-old Hastings womanarrested, but did want the incident docu-mented. When questioned, the woman saidduring the argument the man started “push-ing her buttons” and being mean. Neither ofthe two sustained physical injuries. The managreed to spend the night at a friend’s houseuntil he and his girlfriend cooled down. Thereport was forwarded to the Barry CountyProsecutor for review on domestic violence.

Man imprisonswoman in meth lab

A man called 911 Aug. 25 to report that afriend was unable to make an emergencycall, but was extremely scared. According tothe caller, his friend said several people werein her backyard and she suspected they wereusing methamphetamines. Deputies contact-ed Barry Township Police on their way tothe East Dowling Road residence. Thedeputy stepped onto the house’s front porchand noticed a broken window. He could alsohear a man and woman arguing inside. Thedeputy knocked loudly, but no oneanswered. Eventually, a man came to thedoor and the deputy explained he would liketo come inside and check on the woman’swell-being. The man refused entry, andquickly shut the door. The couple reportedlyresumed arguing. When the deputy againknocked, the woman began yelling, “Letthem in. Let them in.” The deputy identifiedhimself and said if the man did not open thedoor, the deputy would enter the home toverify the well-being of the woman. The 46-year-old Dowling man let the deputy enter,leading him to the living room where thecrying woman was sitting in a chair, shak-ing. The Barry Township officer also enteredthe residence. The woman and the deputywent outside, and she said the man had not

allowed her to leave the house in two daysand allegedly threatened to put her in hand-cuffs to keep her inside. She told deputiesthe man and four of his friends had beensmoking methamphetamines in the back-yard. She said that as she was trying to call911, the suspect threw her on the kitchentable and started shaking her. During theconversation, the deputy noticed a two-burn-er electric hot plate with several blackenedMason jars, and recognized the situation aspossible methamphetamine production. Thedeputy went back inside and questioned theman about the alleged physical confronta-tion. The man denied it and began drinkinga beer. When the deputy asked if there wereweapons near him, the man said no, butaccording to the report looked directly at ametal container next to his beer. Uponrequest, the suspect showed the deputy thecontents of the container — a red metal mar-ijuana pipe. The man said he did not have amedical marijuana card. The deputy noticedanother silver container with a white residueon its lid and asked the man what was in thecontainer. The man responded, “Get a war-rant.” The man was arrested for domesticassault and a report was forwarded to theprosecutor’s office. A search warrant wasauthorized for controlled substances. Asearch of the residence revealed two sus-pected one-pot methamphetamine labs in aclosed cooler. The Michigan State PoliceMethamphetamine Response Team was con-tacted, and two troopers were dispatched tothe scene. Troopers said the contents of thecooler were consistent with methampheta-mine production. They said a clean-up teamwould be dispatched, the health departmentcontacted, and the scene locked down. Themethamphetamine report also was turnedover to the prosecutor’s office.

Dirt bike getsnew paint job

A Nashville man contacted Barry CountyDeputies Aug. 19 to report his dirt bike hadbeen stolen from his front yard on GreggsCrossing. He told deputies the yellow 2005Suzuki 125 was just purchased at a garagesale, and the previous night he and hisfriends had been riding until 4 a.m. The bikewas then parked in his driveway. The mansaid between 6 and 8 a.m. his dogs werebarking, but he assumed they were barkingat deer. When he went outside later in theday, the bike was missing. He called hisfriends, but nobody knew where the bikewas. One of the riders said he had seen atruck near the residence the following morn-ing. The following Monday, the ownercalled to say the bike had been found; it hadbeen repainted, but was identified andrecovered. A person of interest has also beenidentified, and the investigation remainsopen.

Thief knew ofhidden securitysystem

A woman called the sheriff’s departmentAug. 20 and spoke with a deputy about apossible home invasion and theft. Whendeputies arrived at the Marsh Road resi-dence, the woman took them to a closetwhere the home’s security system is located.She said someone removed the recordingdisk from the system, which contained thesurveillance information. The woman saidsomeone had been tampering with thehouse’s entry door and the cord attached tothe telephone. She said she had an expensivepainting stolen last year. The woman’s hus-band also said someone had recently stolen arifle. He described the rifle as a MarlinWestern Field Model 740-A-EMS, 30-30with a Bushnell scope. He told deputiesthere were no distinguishing marks on thegun. Deputies have a person of interest, andthe case remains open.

Sculptures stolenfrom yard

A Delton man called deputies Aug. 28 toreport $500 in lawn ornaments had beenstolen from his South Norris Road home.The caller said three metal dog sculpturesand a fire hydrant were missing from hisyard. The man provided photos of the sculp-tures. The case is closed with no suspects.

Pills and boozeend in barricade

Four deputies and two state troopers weredispatched to a possible domestic assaultAug. 23. The caller said she had kicked herboyfriend of two years out of her QuakezikStreet residence. The 32-year-old man hadreturned to the residence and barricadedhimself inside. The woman said the two hada history of unreported domestic violence.She said the man had been drinking andbecame angry. Allegedly, he had put her in achoke hold earlier, called her “fat, stupid and

lazy,” and made threats of harming himself.She also said he mentioned having a gun.Attempts were made to contact the man byphone, and he would not open the door forlaw enforcement. Permission was granted bythe woman for officers to enter the house.The man, who had been in bed, was hand-cuffed and read his rights. Photos were takenof the home’s entry door and the text mes-sages between the ex-couple. The man’ regis-tered .21 percent blood alcohol level andadmitted to taking two Vicodin pills for awrist injury. He also denied any physicalassault on the woman or threatening to doharm to himself. The report has been for-warded to the prosecutor’s office for review.

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Continued next column

POLICE BEAT, continuedfrom previous column

SAXON WEEKLY SPORTS SCHEDULEComplete online schedule at: www.hassk12.org

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 63:45 PM Girls Varsity Golf GR Cath. Central OK Gold A

Jam @ Catholic Central4:30 PM Boys Fresh. Football Forest Hills Northern H5:00 PM Boys JV Soccer Marshall HS H5:00 PM Girls Fresh. Volleyball South Christian HS A6:00 PM Girls JV Volleyball South Christian HS A6:30 PM Boys JV Football Forest Hills Northern H7:00 PM Girls Varsity Volleyball South Christian HS A

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 77:00 PM Boys Varsity Football Forest Hills Northern A

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 88:00 AM Girls Varsity Volleyball Penn. HS Cereal City Tourn A8:30 AM Boys Varsity Tennis Hamilton HS Hamilton Inv. A9:00 AM Girls JV Volleyball Lakewood JV Invite A11:30 AM Boys Varsity Soccer Loy Norrix Varsity Only A

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 103:45 PM Girls JV Golf Thorn.-Kell. HS A4:00 PM Boys Varsity Cross Co. Thorn.-Kell. HS MTK Inv. A4:00 PM Girls Varsity Cross Co. Thorn.-Kell. HS MTK Inv. A

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 113:30 PM Girls Varsity Golf Lakewood HS A3:30 PM Girls JV Golf Lakewood HS A5:00 PM Boys JV Soccer Wayland Union HS A6:00 PM Girls Varsity Swimming Unity Christian HS H6:45 PM Boys Varsity Soccer Wayland Union HS A

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 123:45 PM Girls JV Golf S. Christian/Ottawa Hills H4:00 PM Boys Varsity Tennis Wayland Union HS A5:00 PM Boys JV Soccer Kal. Hackett HS JV Only A

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 133:45 PM Girls Varsity Golf HHS OK Gold Jam @ HCC H4:30 PM Boys Fresh. Football Wayland Union HS H5:00 PM Boys Varsity Soccer Ottawa Hills HS Var. Only H5:00 PM Girls Fresh. Volleyball Wayland Union HS A6:00 PM Girls Varsity Swimming Calvin Christian HS H6:00 PM Girls JV Volleyball Wayland Union HS A6:30 PM Boys JV Football Wayland Union HS H7:00 PM Girls Varsity Volleyball Wayland Union HS A

HASTINGS ATHLETIC BOOSTERSContact Nancy 945-2742 or

hastingsathleticboosters@gmail.com to sponsor the schedule

Times and dates subject to change

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The start may have sputtered, but, by thetime the Maple Valley Lions found top gearThursday night in their home opener, the foot-ball machine was well oiled.

After spotting visiting Delton Kellogg afirst quarter touchdown, Maple Valley scoredthe game’s next three touchdowns on aneight-yard run by Beau Johnson, a one-yard

plunge by Austin Gonser, and a five-yardscamper by Garrett Miller to build an 18-7advantage from which the Panthers could notrecover.

As they worked to find their offensive legs,it was the Lion defense that kept Maple Valleywithin striking distance. Johnson andBrandon Erwin led the team with 13 and 11tackles, respectively. Tyler Hickey added sixmore and recorded the Lions’ only quarter-back sack.

When Delton’s Cole Ritchie found paydirton a one-yard power run with 9:36 remaining,it appeared that the 18-14 Maple Valley leadcould be in jeopardy.

However, Maple Valley put on the long-distance jets with touchdown runs of 45 yardsby Anthony Mahler and 30 yards by DylanKennedy. After failing to convert on point-after kicks in their first three scores, theLions went to two-point conversions, withsuccessful passes from Johnson to Mahler andto Gonser.

Maple Valley, which moves to 1-1 on theseason, outrushed the Panthers 313 to 215yards, with 136 yards coming from Hickey.Delton rushing was led by Zack Leinaar whoscored the final touchdown with 56 secondsremaining on a 36-yard scamper, part of a 93-yard rushing night.

Leinaar made 18 passing attempts, con-necting six times and being intercepted threetimes.

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The Hastings Banner — Thursday, September 6, 2012 — Page 13

Lions find the gas, speed to34-20 win in home opener

Austin Gonser (10) runs by Delton's (5)Brady Mills on this kick return in secondquarter.

In the heat of a late August afternoon, theHastings Saxons boys tennis team took it toMarshall, winning seven of the eight matches.

“We almost got a shut-out,” said new coachEd von der Hoff. “I thought we did reallywell, and we are getting better.”

Junior Connor von der Hoff took twostraight sets, 6-4 and 6-2, against Marshall’sAdam Dimoff at first singles. Second singles’Chris Doxtader came back after losing thefirst set to win the next two 6-4 and 6-0. DrewWhite, at third singles, won his match 6-3, 6-0. At fourth singles, Ryan Thornburgh won inthree sets 1-6, 6-0, 6-4.

In doubles, the Saxon teams of Calvin Caseand Jaeleel Richardson won at first, ScottGarber and Adam Shaeffer at second, plusJames Isola and Mack Clisso at third.Hastings fourth doubles team of BenAnderson and Brad Smith fought on, but tooka tough loss at 6-4, 5-7 and 6-2.

The Hastings team will journey west Sept.8 for an invitational with Greenville, Waylandand host Hamilton.

“We hope to improve our standing in thetournament,” said coach von der Hoff. “We

have taken third in the past and are workingtoward a second or better in this tournament.”

Hastings tennis teamnearly sweeps Marshall

Hastings’ Chris Doxtader returns a hard ball as Marshall’s Ryan Carrel readies him-self during a three-set match Thursday night.

Saxon Connor von der Hoff punches an overhead in his win over Marshall’s AdamDimoff during the Aug. 29 match.

BOWLINGSCORES

Tuesday TriosClassic Trio 4-0; Look Insurance 3-1; Team

Turkey 3-1; Coleman Insurance 2-2; CBS 2-2; Roll A Rama 2-2; Blair Landscaping 2-2;SA-M 1-3; Lu’s Team 1-3; Ghost Team 0-4.

High Series - T. Thompson 209; R.Brummel 172; T. Daniels 170; L. Potter 170.

High Series - T. Thompson 520; R.Brummel 473; T. Daniels 469.

Editor’s note: Readers will likely noticewith this week’s coverage that our papersare temporarily without the services ofsports editor Brett Bremer, who is recover-ing from eye surgery and is expected toreturn to his place on the sidelines soon.

In his absence, fellow staff members,with welcomed help from coaches, athleticdirectors and parents, are attempting toprovide sports coverage as close as possi-ble to the quality that our “team captain”furnishes each week. Thank you for yourunderstanding.

Valley's (11) Ryan Nisse tries to reach the edge on this stretch play, but is meetthere by DK's (22) Josh Arkwright

Tyler Hickey (9), uses a stiff arm to hold off Austin Smith (40) to gain a few extrayards.

Delton's (30) Zach Leinaar gets bowled over by Garrett Miller (21) on this runningplay up the middle.

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1351 N. M-43 Hwy.- north of Hastings city limits

Photos by Perry Hardin

If they’d somehow been able to stash awaysome points from their explosive season-opening win just six days earlier, the HastingsSaxons may have felt a little differently aboutlast Thursday’s 16-12 loss to Hopkins atJohnson Field.

A few more points — and a few less sec-onds on the game clock — would have keptthe Saxons undefeated going into Friday’sthird game of the season at Forest HillsNorthern.

Those game-expiring seconds, which manySaxon fans felt never should have been on theclock, proved to be the crucial factor in givingHopkins a last-play touchdown to take away a12-10 Hastings lead and the game.

“They had a good game plan against us andplayed physical, disciplined football,” saidSaxon Coach Fred Rademacher. “They madefew mistakes and they made plays.”

The Saxons had gone up, 12-8, late in thefourth quarter on an 80-yard touchdown runby senior Kenny Cross, then conceded anintentional two-point safety to reduce theadvantage to 12-10 and to allow a free kickthat pinned the Vikings on their own 29-yardline with less than two minutes and no timeouts remaining.

After mounting a 70-yard drive, Hopkinsappeared to have stalled on the Saxon one-yard line with the final seconds of the gameclock ticking to conclusion. However, offi-cials ruled that Hastings defensive playerswere intentionally slow in returning to theline for a final Hopkins play and stopped theclock.

Though Hastings’ faithful protested that,because only a penalty flag could havestopped the clock and none was thrown, thegame clock should have been allowed toexpire and provide a Hastings win.

Instead, Hopkins senior Blake Kraft

plunged in for his second touchdown of thegame and for the Viking win.

The last-gasp play was especially disap-pointing for a Saxon defense that had gone sixstraight quarters without allowing a scorebefore Thursday’s second half. Cross, who

shared offensive rushing honors with juniorStephen Shaffer at 110 yards each, also ledthe defensive effort with 11 tackles and aninterception. Shaffer scored the other Saxontouchdown on a three-yard dive.

“We’ve played very well defensively, butstill have a lot of room for improvement,”summed up Rademacher. “We do a good jobof playing physical and fast. We get a lot ofpeople to the ball.”

Maybe Lakewood soccer coach JamesLeVeque needs an alarm clock for his team.

For the third straight game, the Vikingsallowed an opponent to score the game’s firstgoal before charging back for a win in onegame last week and a tie in another.

“Our offense again failed to capitalize on

chances for the first 60 minutes,” saidLeVeque following Lakewood’s 2-1 winnerover Charlotte Tuesday, Aug. 28. “That’ssomething that has been hampering us thisseason.”

The slow start scenario played out again thispast Tuesday when Ionia scored on a reboundjust five minutes into the start of the game. TheVikings salvaged a 1-1 tie on a goal with just15 seconds remaining following the injurydeparture of Ionia goalie Alex Lee.

The Vikings now carry a 3-2-1 seasonrecord into this week’s matches at homeagainst today and, on Monday, against GrandRiver Prep.

“The last 20 minutes of the game, weplayed with a purpose and showed that wewere the better team,” said LeVeque of theAug. 28 win over Charlotte. He saw the sameencouraging revival when the Vikings “camealive” against Ionia with several opportunitiesagainst goalkeeper Lee only to be denied.

Kalib McKinney and Nate Kauffmanscored the two goals against Charlotte withDylan Durkee assisting on each. GoalkeeperBrady Forman recorded six saves on sevenOriole shots.

McKinney was also the goal scorer againstIonia in a game in which Forman made sevensaves on eight Bulldog shots.

Page 14 — Thursday, September 6, 2012 — The Hastings Banner

• Kenneth S. Merriman, M.D. • Eric S. Leep, D.O. • James L. Horton, Jr., D.O. • David J. Heeringa, D.O.• Maria Benit, PA-C • Christopher Born, PA-C

From left to right: James L. Horton, Jr., D.O., Orthopedic Surgeon; David J. Heeringa,

D.O., Orthopedic Surgeon; Eric S. Leep, D.O., Physical Medicine; Kenneth S. Merriman, M.D.,

Orthopedic Surgeon.

For more information onHastings Orthopedic Clinicor to learn about all ofour services, pleasevisit us online atwww.hoc-mi.com, scanour QR code below withyour mobile device, orcontact us directly at(269) 945-9520.

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Stephen Shaffer (31) who, with Kenny Cross rushed for 110 yards, also scores athree-yard power touchdown run. (Photo by Dan Goggins)

Senior Eric Hart (55) goes over the top in pursuit of a shaky Viking possession. Hart had eight tackles on the night. (Photo byDan Goggins)

Ken Cross (24) leads another Saxon defensive effort with this interception and 11tackles to go with it, backed up here by Zach McMahon. (Photo by Dan Goggins)

Precious seconds lead to heartbreaker Saxon loss

Viking kickers startslow but finish strong

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