Current Prosecutor one of 4 Governor appointees LANSING,MI -Today, Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced the appointments of Susan Metzger to the Van Buren County Probate Court, Amanda Pollard to Eaton County Probate Court, Ellsworth Stay to the 78th District Court (Newaygo and Lake Counties), and Michael Ekdahl to the 89th District Court (Presque Isle and Cheboygan Counties). “Today, I am proud to appoint Susan, Amanda, Ellsworth, and Michael to Michigan’s bench,” said Governor Whitmer. “Each of these new judges are experienced legal minds who are dedicated to serving their community with humility, compassion, and respect for the rule of law. They each bring a wealth of experience to their service and I am confident they will serve with distinction and inspire confidence in the integrity and professionalism of our courts.” Ellsworth Stay, Jr. is the elected prosecuting attorney for Newaygo County, a position he has held since 2017. He has served the people of Newaygo County in various capacities for over twenty years including as Trial Court Director/Friend of the Court and as Chief Assistant Prosecuting Attorney. He serves on the Board of Directors of the Prosecuting Attorneys Association of Michigan. Ellsworth received his Bachelor of Arts in American Government from the University of Virginia and his Juris Doctor from Indiana University Maurer School of Law. “I am thankful and honored to receive this appointment from Governor Whitmer,” Stay stated. “I look forward to continuing to serve the citizens of the 78th District with dedication and professionalism. I will seek to make decisions that are impartial and just while treating those who come before the court with fairness and respect”. This appointment was made to fill a partial term following the resignation of Judge Kevin Drake. Mr. Stay’s term will commence on April 1, 2024, and expire at twelve o’clock noon on January 1, 2025.
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Company Cites Electric Grid Upgrades ; More Work on the Way This Year
Consumers Energy announced that nearly 9 in 10 customers who lost power in 2023 were restored in less than 24 hours -- the result of the company’s major upgrades to strengthen Michigan’s electric grid. Michigan’s largest energy provider last year unveiled its Reliability Roadmap – a long-term commitment to improve reliability and restore all customers in less than 24 hours, even after severe storms. Consumers Energy put that plan into action, reducing the length of the average customer outage last year during normal weather to 176 minutes, or under three hours – a 20-minute improvement over the average for the previous five years. “We are trimming trees, using technology and burying more power lines to build a power grid that is reliable in all weather,” said Greg Salisbury, Consumers Energy’s vice president of electric distribution engineering. “We all saw the threat from severe weather, in the form of intense back-to-back storms just last month, where we restored power to most customers in less than 24 hours, which makes us even more determined to make outages as infrequent and as short as possible.” “Michiganders are expecting us to provide energy even more dependably than ever, and our performance last year shows we’re able to follow through on our plan,” said Chris Laird, Consumers Energy’s vice president of electric operations. “We’re going to continue following our Reliability Roadmap to ensure the power stays on for homes and businesses that count on us.” Consumers Energy operates close to 100,000 miles of electric lines and serves nearly 2 million homes and businesses. In the past year, Consumers Energy continued to innovate with new technology and upgrades to its electric system across the entire Lower Peninsula. That work included:
Promise Zone Extends Application Deadline to April 15
The Newaygo County Area Promise Zone Board of Directors has announced an extension of the 2024 scholarship application deadline to April 15. Originally scheduled for March 1, this extension comes in response to recent modifications to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The decision to extend the deadline was prompted by updates to the FAFSA, launched by Federal Student Aid on December 30, 2023. These changes aim to expand eligibility for student aid while providing a more user-friendly experience. Given these recent changes to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), which is a prerequisite for eligibility for the Promise Zone scholarship, the Board recognized the importance of granting students and families additional time to familiarize themselves with the updated FAFSA form. Therefore, the decision to extend the scholarship application deadline was made to help accommodate this need. "The recent adjustments to the FAFSA form underscored the importance of ensuring that students and families have ample time to navigate the application process effectively. Our decision to extend the scholarship application deadline reflects our commitment to supporting students as they pursue their educational aspirations,” shared Blake Prewitt, Board Chair, Newaygo County Area Promise Zone. The Newaygo County Area Promise Zone remains dedicated to its mission of empowering students to pursue their post-secondary aspirations without the burden of financial constraints. By easing the financial strains that frequently impede educational pursuits, the Promise Zone is actively helping to change the cultural perception that college is too expensive and out of reach. Through the availability of the Promise Scholarship, many students are now embracing the belief that higher education is attainable and are proactively preparing for their future. Promise Scholar, Jean, recently shared that, “The Promise Scholarship means a lot to me, because it allows me to seek higher education and make my family proud.” In addition to extending the application deadline, the Board of Directors recently approved a significant eligibility criterion change. Beginning with the Class of 2024, Newaygo County high school graduates with a 2.5 unweighted GPA or higher will be eligible for the Promise Scholarship. This adjustment aims to broaden opportunities for determined students to achieve their post-secondary goals. Since its inception in 2017, the Promise Zone has disbursed more than $2.7 million in tuition support, benefiting over 330 motivated Newaygo County students who have chosen to pursue their post-secondary aspirations. The Promise Zone is a forward-looking initiative committed to breaking down financial barriers for local students. By providing tuition assistance and fostering educational opportunities, the Promise Zone empowers students to realize their full potential and contribute meaningfully to their communities. For more information about the Newaygo County Area Promise Zone visit www.promise.zone, email apply@promise.zone or call 231-924-8888. Four young women from White Cloud once again rise to the occasion
Photos by Lil De Laat Story by Ken DeLaat For the second year in a row a team of White Cloud Middle School students have won a national NASA STEM competition known as the TechRise Student Challenge. Brynlee Plouff, Lily Ulmen, Gianna Fessenden, and Addison Boomgaard are the foursome who have not only made the cut for inclusion into the project last year but pulled off a repeat by being accepted for the second straight year. TechRise, in its third year, is a STEM challenge for 6th -- 12th graders that offers students the invaluable opportunity to design and test their own innovative solutions for space exploration and the study of Earth while getting hands-on insight into the payload design and flight test process. This inspires a deeper understanding of space exploration, Earth observation, coding, electronics, and the value of test data. This year’s challenge was to design a science or technology experiment that could be tested on either a NASA-sponsored high-altitude balloon flight or rocket-powered lander. The White Cloud Middle School students’ experiment, titled Rocket Fusion, will be tested on a rocket-powered lander. The students will now work through the remainder of the school year building out their experiments with the support of professional engineers. The four young women from Ms. Sherry Claflin’s science class will once again be working with NASA officials through the rest of the school year to create their project in preparation for a flight test this summer. Last year their model was used to test Co2 levels in the atmosphere while going over land forms.They showed me the project that was sent to NASA to be used on one of their balloons and reported they ended up receiving over 350 pages of data from the project. Brynlee Plouff drew up the schematic of what the project would look like, Lily Ulmen had the idea for the CO2 part, Gianna Fesseden’s task was coming up with why the experiment was important and Addison Boomgard put together how this was going to be done and how the data was to be collected. “We started out with an empty little plastic box and they had to put it together and make it work.,” said Ms. Claflin, “They wired it, soldered it, checked connections and coded it. It took a lot of research because they had to come up with it on their own. “The girls spent the semester meeting weekly with a NASA scientist and engineer. They spent extra time with Tyler Hurt, our NASA engineer last year and the four showed some serious dedication to the process as they needed to give up a lot of extra time including giving up lunch time and after school time to put this together. “Then we found out in January that the same team had won again.” The four students have been practicing their teamwork beyond the classroom. Each is involved in a sport or two and have absorbed the power of collaboration. “We learned the importance of teamwork and how to come together and problem solve. If someone struggles then we’re going to all work through it together,” said Addison. We asked if the experience had influenced what they might want to do later in life. Gianna was caught up in the engineering aspect of the project and could see herself pursuing it as a field while Lily thought she might want to look into being part of the Space Force.Brynlee has enjoyed the projects, however she has a yen to someday work with animals and Addison could see herself going into teaching to follow a desire to work with kids. In the meantime the quartet will once again have a lot on their plate as they pursue the end product of their second trip into space. I asked them a bit about their school. “I think it’s cool that we were chosen. We’re just a small town and there might be people who don’t think a lot about White Cloud but we’re the only school in the state to get this,” said Addison. And do you four like this school? “We love it!:” they said in unison. I also asked about their teacher. “We wouldn’t be here right now in this project if not for her,” said Gianna. I also asked for one word to describe their teacher. “Hardworking, helpful, outgoing, amazing.” The four seem destined to achieve whatever goals they have set for themselves. They have learned the power of teamwork, the payoff of perseverance and the magic of mentoring. And gained a good deal of appreciation for the challenge Ms. Claflin has gifted them with. Well done Ms. C. And well done Brynlee, Lily, Gianna and Addison. You certainly inspire hope for the future. Consumers Energy Issuing Request for Proposals This Month for 13 Michigan Hydroelectric Dams
JACKSON, Mich., Feb. 2, 2024 – Consumers Energy announced today it will issue a Request For Proposals (RFP) this month to identify potential buyers for its 13 Michigan hydroelectric dams. This step comes after the energy provider has listened to the communities surrounding the facilities and examined options for the dams’ future that align with customers’ and communities’ interests. “We are grateful for the meaningful input we’ve received over the last two years from communities and others who care deeply about the future of our dams,” said Norm Kapala, Consumers Energy’s vice president of generation operations. “Issuing an RFP for these historic facilities will provide even more opportunities for people to offer ideas to preserve the dams and their reservoirs, while also enabling Consumers Energy to reduce costs for all of our customers.” Consumers Energy has retained the services of Clear Energy Brokerage & Consulting, LLC, a Grand Rapids-based firm, to design and manage the RFP process. The RFP will open Feb. 15, with participants moving through a two-stage evaluation and bidding process that should finish by the end of 2024. Federal operating licenses for the 13 dams, which sit on five rivers, will begin to expire in a decade. Potential options for each dam’s future include renewing operating licenses for 30 more years, transferring ownership, replacement or removal. Entities interested in participating can immediately register their interest and submit initial bids by March 15. For more information and to register, contact Ryan Cook of Clear Energy Brokerage & Consulting LLC at ryan.cook@clearenergybrokerage.com or 616-528-4682. For more information from Consumers Energy, visit ConsumersEnergy.com/hydrofuture. EGLE Grant will cover the project at no cost to residents
The MI Clean Water Plan grants through the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) and support from the federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) aim to help communities upgrade aging infrastructure, ensure healthy drinking water, and protect Michigan’s environment. EGLE DWSRF has announced that the City of White Cloud has received a $4,065,000 Drinking Water State Revolving Fund Grant to cover the cost of replacing water lines in the city. Frequently, in communities developed during the time period in which the City of White Cloud was developed, water service lines were made from lead or galvanized piping. This program will replace lead (and galvanized) water service lines with new copper piping from the main all the way into the homes and businesses. “We are thrilled to be a recipient of this funding.” said White Cloud City Manager April Storms.” This will allow the project to be completed in a relatively short amount of time and will have no effect on water rates to consumers. “The City’s water samples have been tested, resulting in no lead contaminants, however, this Lead and Copper Rule is mandatory statewide for municipalities with water systems.” The Michigan Lead and Copper Rule requires that all lead and galvanized (previously connected to lead) water service lines be replaced within the next 20 years (by January 2040) or at a minimum rate of 5% per year. Water service lines are scheduled to be replaced in White Cloud beginning in Fall of 2024 through Summer of 2025. The City will secure a properly experienced and insured contractor through a bid process to perform this work. “We have done an initial review to determine what water lines require investigation to determine service line material or what lines may need to be replaced,”added Storms. Of the 522 water services in the city, Storms estimates 420 of the lines will need to be investigated and/or replaced as a result of this project. The city will be sending out notification and an agreement for property owners who will be affected by this project. Middle School principal Kevin Akin named to interim post By Ken De Laat If Friday’s Special Meeting of the Grant School Board is any indication, the rift that has divided the town shows no sign of abetting anytime soon. The set of an upcoming play at the Fine Arts Center provided an eerie backdrop to the ongoing tension both within the board and between the board and a significant part of the community they serve. There are already recall elections coming in May when current Board Members Rachel Gort and Richard Vance will face opposition from Lindsay Mahlich and Mindy Conley. The meeting was called earlier in the week with the agenda to include accepting the resignation and release agreement of outgoing superintendent Brett Zuver and the appointment of an interim superintendent. The friction became apparent early as Board Member Rob Schuitema challenged the agenda with a motion to remove the appointment of the interim supe and replace it with engaging NC RESA, MASB, or MLI to find an interim. His motion received no support and the board voted to go into closed session. Upon return a motion was made and supported to accept the resignation and the release agreement. During discussion Schuitema related his displeasure with the action. “I just want to say that Brett Zuver is a good man, he was a good superintendent and I believe he has been unjustly treated and I feel the resignation was forced on him.” No further discussion was offered and the vote was 6-1 with Schuitema the lone dissenting vote. The next action was a motion and support to name Grant Middle School Principal Kevin Akin to the interim post. Again Schuitema challenged the move stating he had not been given time to digest the information having just heard about it. His motion to wait until there was an opportunity for the full board to interview Akin was not supported and the vote to install him as interim went 6-1 in favor with Schuitema, again, the lone dissenting vote Following some other business matters the meeting went to public comment Kelly Brown began by leveling criticism toward Superintendent Zuver white praising the recent efforts of the board. Following her were seventeen others who approached the podium to deliver comments. There was further support for the board’s actions from a couple of other sources but primarily speakers questioned the timing of announcing the meeting, the possibility of a conflict of interest with Interim Supe Akin’s involvement in Special Ed and the circumstances leading to Zuver’s departure. Most of the comments dealt more with concern over how the board operated in making these decisions rather than the outcome, though there were parents and students who expressed sadness and anger at the loss of Zuver. Tracy Hargreaves had praise for Akin but also questioned the Board’s decision making process. Megan Wirts admonished the Board for pushing out the former supe and called for the board to resign as did a couple of other commenters. Following comment and during board discussion Schuitema stated that the board has targeted people who have questioned them and spoke of the pressure that had been put on Zuver pointing to “the constant stress and strain and pressure from a board that is over- micromanaging and overreaching their authority.”
Schuitema reiterated his issues with not hearing about the meeting in a timely fashion as well as the move to install the interim. “I didn’t know about Kevin (Akin) until I got here tonight. And that has been standard operating procedure of this board. Yes, I have challenged this board and I have challenged our legal counsel and I’ve been stonewalled every single time.I have concerns about the well being of our students and staff. “I feel like every time I turn around we're like one step removed from a major lawsuit on top of what we have because this board seems to go rogue and once again, as it says on our nameplates, ‘it’s all about the kids’. But tell me, what has transpired in the last year and a half that put the kids' well-being first and foremost and personal agendas aside?” After applause and a few random supportive comments from the crowd Schuitema related he had had enough for one night and packed up and left the meeting, stating when asked that he would be back in February. Board President Thorne then commented on 2 items addressed in public comment. He stated the reason for the late notice of the meeting had to do with securing an appropriate location which did not occur until Wednesday. He also addressed the question of who would replace Akin as Middle School principal. “That decision will be Mr. Akin’s to make.” An official letter from the Board regarding the resignation of Superintendent Zuver will be available to the community on Monday. It is to be posted on the school’s website as well as the school’s social media sites. The next scheduled board meeting will be February 12th at 6pm. Fremont Area Community Foundation recently awarded $4 million in its final community grant round of 2023. In both 2023 community grant rounds, the Community Foundation awarded more than $6 million total. Grant support was awarded to a variety of organizations and programs serving Newaygo County residents, including programs centered on economic development, arts and culture, literacy, hunger prevention, and more. Most grants targeted one of the Community Foundation’s three focus areas: community development, education, and poverty reduction. In the area of community development, grants were awarded to the City of White Cloud for a façade improvement program and to the Arts Center for Newaygo County to bring the Grand Rapids Ballet to our county in 2024. Other grants included general operating support for organizations like the Heritage Museum of Newaygo County, Newaygo County Council for the Arts, and Newaygo County Tourism Council. The Newaygo County Regional Educational Service Agency was awarded a $145,000 grant to increase access to and support services for post-secondary achievement. The Newaygo Conservation District also received a $75,200 grant for its Nature is Our Educator program. The award included $1,000 from a donor advised fund. The program is a partnership that includes Kropscott Farm Environmental Center and Observatory and five local public school districts. It will provide a coordinated approach to enhance STEAM curriculum and increase proficiency in math and science. Grants in the area of poverty reduction included support for housing services, hunger prevention, transportation, and more. Community Closet Charities was awarded a $14,000 grant that includes a matching grant of up to $4,000. The volunteer-run organization serves thousands of people each year by allowing customers to shop at no cost for clothing and household items. The Community Foundation accepts community grant applications online twice each year. The next deadline is March 1. For more information, visit facommunityfoundation.org/grants. By Coach Stephen Smith Venturing out into subzero temperatures and braving Michigan’s wintry wonderland, the White Cloud Varsity Quiz Bowl contingent contended against top tier opponents at the inaugural Mitten Cup Tournament. The invitational was held on Saturday, January 20, 2024, at Mount Pleasant High School under the direction of the Long Island Quiz Bowl Alliance. The field consisted of 36 teams with a dramatic range of strength, ability, and academic prowess. The reigning Class C-D state champion Indians (5-5) battled all day in preparation for conference, state, and national contests. In the preliminary rounds, the quizessential quartet experienced considerable success against tremendously talented teams. Undergoing an awakening in their first match, the fearsome foursome triumphed over Detroit Catholic Central D, a state powerhouse and national juggernaut program, with a result of 240-185. In the ensuing match, the exuberant ensemble dispatched Roscommon A 215-165. In their only loss of the morning, the contingent faltered 125-460 against Utica Academy for International Studies, an eventual finalist in the grand championship for the tournament. The valiant vanguard quickly rebounded, winning their next contest against Nouvel Catholic 190-85. In the final game of the early bracket, the squad prevailed over Traverse City Central B 200-115, earning a place in the afternoon championship rounds. Facing off against incredibly stiff competition in the championship bracket, the varsity players flexed their abilities defeating East Lansing A 235-195 in an excitingly close contest. Never wavering through adversity, the team continued to total up points against top notch Class A schools in their losses to Grosse Pointe South, Detroit Catholic Central B, Grand Ledge, and Utica Academy. The hardship of defeat will undoubtedly lead to more success in the future at state and national competitions. Nevertheless, White Cloud remained the highest rated Class C-D team in the invitational with a 9th place finish. Looking at the exploits of individual players, the sensational squad was led in scoring by senior Captain Brian Schaefer, who unloaded in a barrage of 365 points. Samuel Viher uncorked 140 points exhibiting yet another quality outing for himself. Wyatt Karnes popped off 110 points and Jarrett Warlick unbottled 90 points, demonstrating a laudable and celebratory team effort. Coach Stephen Smith and the team would like to specifically thank Coach Emeritus Tony McHattie, Assistant Coach Allison McPhall, Assistant Coach Arnie Baker, and Assistant Coach Dallas Dowling. In addition, the team would like to extend their gratitude to all the parents, teachers, staff, administrators, donors, and community members who support the team. Without you, none of the team’s success would be possible. Investigation underway
On Friday, January 12th deputies were dispatched to the 1000 block of S. Walnut Avenue in Everett Township for a shots fired complaint. When deputies arrived, they located a victim on the ground with a gunshot wound to the leg. A preliminary investigation revealed that two males at the residence got into an altercation which led to the shooting. The gunshot victim was a 30-year-old male from Newaygo. He was transported to Butterworth Hospital in Grand Rapids for treatment. A 38-year-old male from White Cloud was taken into custody at the scene and was charged with Felonious Assault and Felony Firearms. He was lodged in the Newaygo County Jail pending an arraignment. Newaygo County Prosecuting Attorney, Worth Stay, announced that Luke Isaac Terpstra, of Grant, was arraigned in the 78th District Court on one count of Explosives – Possession of Bombs with Unlawful Intent, a felony punishable by 15 years and/or $10,000. The charges arose out of an investigation and search of a residence in Grant where bomb and bomb making materials were found. A probable cause conference is set for January 18, 2024, at 9:30 am. A preliminary examination is set for January 25, 2024, at 1:30 pm. Both hearings are scheduled to be held at the 78th District Court in White Cloud, Michigan. A defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty. Anyone with information regarding this ongoing investigation is asked to please contact the Grant Police Department at 231-834-7212. Ice Mountain Environmental Stewardship Fund Awards Grants
The Ice Mountain Environmental Stewardship Fund at Fremont Area Community Foundation recently awarded grants to projects dedicated to improving the health of the Muskegon River and its watershed. This year marks the twenty-first consecutive year the IMESF has supported watershed improvement organizations. Five projects received funding in the 2023 grant cycle, with a total of $59,800 awarded. The IMESF was established at Fremont Area Community Foundation in 2002 through the generosity of BlueTriton Brands and is an endowed fund of the Community Foundation, which means it is a permanent, ever-growing resource. More than $800,000 has been awarded to 25 organizations since the inception of the Fund. “We are grateful for the generosity of BlueTriton Brands and are proud to partner in support of so many outstanding organizations and projects working to conserve and protect the Muskegon River watershed,” said Shelly Kasprzycki, President and CEO of Fremont Area Community Foundation. “We are excited to see the great things that will be accomplished by this year’s grant recipients.” Organizations receiving funding in 2023 include the County of Newaygo, Grant Public Schools, Mecosta Conservation District, and Muskegon Conservation District. A grant to the County of Newaygo will support trail and bridge construction costs on Michigan’s Dragon at Hardy Dam. Remaining grant funds will be used for trail feature work and maintenance. The Dragon will be a 47-mile adventure trail for world-class biking, hiking, running, and outdoor recreation. Twenty-nine miles have been completed so far. Said Nick Smith, Newaygo County Parks and Recreation Director, "Newaygo County is excited to continue our Ice Mountain Environmental Stewardship Fund partnership. The county has leveraged these funds over the past years to continue developing and improving the Dragon Trail. This project has drawn over 68,000 trail users to the region in the past 15 months, which generated over $2 million in economic impact for our local businesses and residents. The trail is sustainably designed for visitors to experience the beautiful bluffs, wetlands, ravines, wildlife, trees, and parks around Hardy Pond. By providing a destination trail system highlighting our impressive natural resources, we hope to give visitors and residents a deeper connection and appreciation for the natural environment around them.” Grant Public Schools received a grant for students to plant a rain garden at Ed Henning County Park, which is located just outside of the city of Newaygo and is a popular recreation spot. Through the project, students will increase habitat for pollinators, decrease the amount of stormwater runoff entering the river, and be exposed to environmental careers. Students will also research ways to create eco-protective buffer zones along waterways. This is the second year Grant Public Schools was selected for project funding to help with an ongoing restoration and enhancement project. Said Brett Zuver, Superintendent of Grant Public Schools, “Environmental projects, like the Henning Park Rain Garden, present unique opportunities for young students to learn ways to protect waterways, prevent erosion and pollution from impacting them, and take an active role in the work. The IMESF support is greatly appreciated and necessary for Grant Public Schools to enable students to have this valuable experience.” A grant beneficiary since 2020, Mecosta Conservation District received funding this year to continue its program of hazardous waste collection free of charge for residents of Lake, Osceola, and Mecosta counties; it is the sole hazardous waste disposal option for the area. Residents can safely dispose of pesticides, fertilizers, and other materials that can be toxic to waterways. More than 39,000 pounds of hazardous waste from Mecosta, Osceola, and Lake county residents were collected this year. "Offering a household hazardous waste collection to our residents at no charge has been an important staple in our program to encourage proper disposal that protects the health of our community members and environment, “said Brook Baumann, District Administrator for Mecosta Conservation District. “Properly disposing of household hazardous waste requires licensed contractors and significant financial resources as disposal prices continue to escalate. The Ice Mountain Environmental Stewardship Fund support contributes significantly to offsetting these costs and is a key factor in why this program has been successful for many years." Muskegon Conservation District was awarded grants for two projects. One will fund tree planting for bank stabilization along a stretch of the Muskegon River in the Muskegon Creek Game Area adjacent to Mosquito Creek. The project is being undertaken in concert with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. The second grant will fund an ecology study of wood turtles, with a goal of identifying nesting areas and habitat. Wood turtles are considered a threatened species in Michigan and their presence is a key bioindicator of a healthy watershed. The project is being conducted in partnership with the Michigan Department of Natural Sources Wildlife Division, Michigan Natural Features Inventory, John Ball Zoo, and Grand Valley State University. Said Arlene Anderson-Vincent, Natural Resources Manager for Ice Mountain® 100% Natural Spring Water, and member of the Ice Mountain Environmental Stewardship Fund Advisory Committee, “This year’s Ice Mountain Environmental Stewardship Fund investments represent the diversity of the Muskegon River and the organizations throughout the watershed that work tirelessly to protect, enhance, and improve it. From conservation and preservation to education, this year’s projects will make a difference not only to the watershed’s vitality but also to build a foundation of environmental stewardship in our younger generations.” Grant applications for the Ice Mountain Environmental Stewardship Fund are accepted online each year from June 1 until July 15. Individuals and organizations interested in supporting the health of the watershed are also invited to contribute to the Fund at any time. More information on the Fund, how to donate, and how to apply for a grant can be found at facommunityfoundation.org/icemountain. Lori Schultz receives Art Wunsch Award
Art Wunsch was a dedicated Board Member at Newaygo County Mental Health from 1986-2007. During that time, he was a strong advocate for serving the client, reducing stigma and developing programs that met their individualized needs. As a recognition of Art’s dedicated service, in 2010 Newaygo CMH created the Art Wunsch award. The Annual award recognizes people in the community who exemplify endless passion and dedication in the promotion of client involvement, empowerment, and the reduction of stigma for those who have developmental disabilities, mental illness and/or substance use disorder. Previous recipients of the award include Art Wunsch, Dr. Robert Gunnell, Gabrielle Blackwell, Ada Linderman, Senator Geoff Hansen, Tyler Slaughter, Gerard Deschaine, Cheryl Parker, Michael Geoghan, Adele Hansen, Kathe Scott and Colleen Quick. The 2023 recipient of the Art Wunsch award is Lori Schultz, former Newaygo County DHHS director. Ms. Schultz retired in February, 2023 after 35 years of service to the County. Newaygo CMH Execituve Director Carol Mills: “Lori has always been a tremendous advocate for children and meeting their needs. She worked tirelessly to improve their lives through counseling, food, shelter and safe parents. Lori never hesitated to implement programs that helped families in Newaygo County. We at Newaygo CMH hope she enjoys a fulfilling well-earned retirement.” During a brief ceremony on December 16th, 2023, Dr. Erich Schafer, of Fremont, was sworn-in as a Lieutenant Commander in the United States Navy Reserve by Captain Henry Vegter (Retired) of Newaygo. Dr. Schafer is currently employed at Corewell Health Gerber Hospital as a General Surgeon where he serves as the Department Chair of Surgery. He has been assigned to Red Rover Medical Headquarters and will be attending drill at NRC Battle Creek. During the ceremony at the Fremont Area District Library Community Room, friends and family were in attendance. The event was led by close friend and advisor, Scott Swinehart, who served 18 years in the Army and Marine Corps. Pastor Nate Kooistra of Reeman Christian Reformed Church provided the invocation and benediction. A special thank you goes to Newaygo VFW Airman Knowles who presented the colors for the Ceremony. Promise Zone to receive $125,000 over 5 years
At the recent quarterly board meeting on November 21, the Newaygo County Area Promise Zone Board of Directors celebrated a significant milestone with the reception of a generous $25,000 donation from Nestle Gerber Products Company. This marks the beginning of a commendable five-year commitment from Nestle Gerber Products Company, culminating in a substantial $125,000 pledge. Earlier this year, the Promise Zone announced a vital change to its eligibility criteria effective for the Class of 2024. Newaygo County high school graduates with a 2.5 unweighted GPA or higher will now qualify for the Promise Scholarship. This adjustment expands the scope of opportunities for determined students, facilitating their access to post-secondary goals and opportunities. The modification of the GPA criteria underscores the Promise Zone's commitment to ensuring that an even larger number of aspiring students can benefit from its invaluable support and resources. Teaming up with Nestle Gerber Products Company enables the Promise Zone to extend its impact, offering more opportunities for economic growth and contributing to the development of a robust workforce in Newaygo County. “For almost 100 years, the Gerber Product Company has been an integral partner with the City of Fremont and Newaygo County community,” shared Paul Dudek, Senior Site Controller at Nestle Gerber Products Company. “We believe strongly in the value of supporting local young people in their pursuit of higher education. Gerber Products is excited to continue partnering with our local community in the investments of our next generation.” The Newaygo County Area Promise Zone remains dedicated to its mission of empowering students to pursue their post-secondary aspirations without the burden of financial constraints. By easing the financial barriers that frequently impede educational pursuits, the Promise Zone is actively helping to change the cultural perception that college is too expensive and out of reach. Through the availability of the Promise Scholarship, many students are now embracing the belief that higher education is attainable and are proactively preparing for their future. A current Promise Scholar shared, “The Promise Scholarship gives me an opportunity to start my career path without setting me back in college debt. It will help me complete my associate degree for free so that I can transfer and continue my college journey.” Since its inception in 2017, the Promise Zone has disbursed more than $2.5 million in tuition support, benefiting over 300 motivated Newaygo County students who have chosen to pursue their post-secondary aspirations. The Promise Zone is a forward-looking initiative committed to breaking down financial barriers for local students. By providing tuition assistance and fostering educational opportunities, the Promise Zone empowers students to realize their full potential and contribute meaningfully to their communities. For more information about the Newaygo County Area Promise Zone visit www.promise.zone, email apply@promise.zone or call 231-924-8888. Proceed with caution says AG
LANSING – Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel wants Michigan residents to be aware of home air duct cleaning companies that are perpetuating scams in Michigan. Michigan residents should be aware of fraudsters waiting to take advantage of them using deceptive practices. Some fraudulent companies will launch pop-up ads on social media groups and neighborhood platforms suggesting someone in their neighborhood has used its services. But this is sometimes a lie to hook unsuspecting homeowners. Deceitful air duct cleaning companies, referred to as “blow-and-go” establishments, lure consumers in with rock bottom prices, then add on unnecessary services like costly repairs or mold-removal that cost a great deal more than the initially quoted price. Some of these companies, if they complete the work, do an inferior job or leave the consumer worse off than before, with dirt and contaminants blown from their HVAC systems onto drapes, carpets and furniture. “Everyone wants to ensure that their home is healthy and safe for their family,” Nessel said. “However, it’s important to verify that you are dealing with an honest, reputable company in all home maintenance matters. Beware of predatory business practices and research potential service providers before paying or signing a contract.” Amplifying the tips provided by the National Air Duct Cleaners Association (NADCA), Nessel says red flags you should watch out for are social media posts that:
For information about other home improvement scams, you can review the Department’s Building and Remodeling Advice for Homeowners alert. Michigan consumers who suspect they are the victims of illegal or predatory business practices are encouraged to contact the Department of Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Team: Consumer Protection Team P.O. Box 30213 Lansing, MI 48909 517-335-7599 Fax: 517-241-3771 Toll-free: 877-765-8388 Online complaint form Collaborative effort bringing 8 new houses to the city
Story and photos by Charles Chandler Smiles, handshakes, coffee and donuts, dignitaries and big yellow dirt diggers. My goodness what was going on at the corners of South Lester and Pine Hill streets in White Cloud? Progress for sure and soon maybe new White Cloud residents. Around 10:00 AM on Wednesday, December 6th at 17 South Lester Avenue a bunch of folks gathered in White Cloud to celebrate a ribbon cutting and ground breaking for eight new single-family homes. A celebration indeed. White Cloud, like many rural cities and villages in Michigan, has limited and dated housing inventories. This lack of housing is a concrete limitation for attracting new business, as well as professional and skilled workers to our area. These eight houses are special because they fall in that “Workforce Housing" category. The generally accepted definition of workforce housing is housing that is affordable for those earning between 80% and 120% of area median income, or AMI. Households in workforce housing typically earn too much to qualify for programs under HUD. This means these eight new homes will be available for lease to those professional and skilled workers that we need to attract new or grow existing area businesses. The local officials, important participants, and community members that attended the ribbon cutting event included White Cloud Municipal government, City Manager, April Storms, Clerk Kelli Arnold, and White Cloud Fellow Andrew Stafford. Also on hand were City Council members including Amy Barnhard, Lori Shears, Herm Becker, Damon Aunci and Current Mayor Brian Miller. Representing the Fremont Area Community Foundation were CEO and President Shelly Kasprzycki and Community Investment Officer Greg Pocher. Mr. Brian Farkas represented Allen Edwin Homes. Among the other participants and coffee drinkers were local contractor Tim Looy, members from the River Country Chamber of Commerce and a couple of guys from the local press. These new homes were made possible by Michigan’s Workforce Housing Laws enacted last year and a generous grant from the Fremont Area Community Foundation. Allen Edwin Homes from Portage, MI will build these eight homes. They will be of modern design, energies efficient, featuring 4 bedroom, 2.5-to-3- baths and 2 or 3 car attached garages. They are expected to be move-in ready by late summer of 2024. After the celebration and back in her City Hall office Manager April Storms provided some additional details about the project. Manager Storms is calm, soft spoken and not given to a lot of hyperbole or melodrama. This demeanor can often shade her quite competent ability to get things done in the messy world of City Governance. The backstory for this successful event begins early in 2022. Manager Storms saw an opportunity for the City and began working as an advocate for and participating in the discussions about Senate Bill 432 governing Workforce Housing. This Senate Bill would facilitate pilot agreements that would allow municipalities to work directly with housing developers. A representative from Allen Edwin Homes, also an advocate of the Bill had also signed in on the discussion. Later the representative contacted April and they began pre project discussions. In the interim the White Cloud City Council enacted a WorkForce Housing Pilot Ordinance that would support the project, the first city in the State of Michigan to do so. Once Senate Bill 432 passed, the City and Allen Edwin Homes developers had a project to build three homes ready to go. Next, the Fremont Area Community Foundation came forward and made a $150,000 contribution to offset infrastructure costs. This generous assistance helped the City and Developer grow the scope of the project from three homes to eight. Community collaboration at its best. This is a great two-million-dollar local development project with an aggressive timeline. You too can follow the progress with a build site drive by or on-line in almost real time. City Manager April Storms mentioned they would post time lapse project photos on the following site. https://www.cityofwhitecloud.org/ A big shout out to the City of White Cloud, The Fremont Area Community Foundation and Allen Edwin Homes for a job well done in meeting the housing needs of our community. North Country National Scenic Trail Granted Unit Status by National Park Service
December 7, 2023 (Lowell, Mich.) The North Country National Scenic Trail is now an official unit of the National Park Service. Unit status provides the North Country National Scenic Trail with official recognition within the National Park Service, and access to additional resources and funding opportunities. It also provides equal legal standing with the other trails and parks that the National Park Service administers. The North Country Trail is the longest of the 11 National Scenic Trails in the United States, stretching 4,800 miles from North Dakota to Vermont. Six of these 11 trails are administered by the National Park Service but at the time of their official National Scenic Trail designation, only three were identified as units: the Appalachian Trail, Natchez Trace Trail, and Potomac Heritage Trail. Unit status was missing, for no clear reason, from wording in the law for the remaining three: the North Country Trail, Ice Age Trail, and New England Trail. This means they were not recognized as units of the National Park Service, and thus, not promoted to the American public. “Now, when the National Park Service tells the story of the amazing scenic and recreational opportunities provided by the National Park System, it will tell our stories too - the stories of all the National Scenic Trails it administers in cooperation with other units of government, nonprofit organizations, volunteers, and private landowners,” reflected Tom Gilbert, former National Park Service Superintendent of the North Country National Scenic Trail. “The stewards of these three trails have called for equality for 30 years, so we’re thrilled by Director Sams’ decision,” said Andrea Ketchmark, Executive Director of the North Country Trail Association. “This is such a win for us, our partners, and our volunteers, who work so hard to build, maintain, and protect the trail.” The North Country Trail Association deeply thanks the U.S. Department of Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, National Park Service Director Chuck Sams, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisc.), and most importantly, the leadership, volunteers, and supporters of the North Country Trail Association, Ice Age Trail Alliance, Appalachian Mountain Club, and Connecticut Forest and Park Association, who have championed this issue for three decades. Without your voices, we would not be here today. Public Notice: The Family Health Care White Cloud Child and Adolescent Health Center (CAHC) Advisory Council will meet on Monday, December 11, 2023, from noon to 1 p.m. in the CAHC conference room at 555 E. Wilcox Ave. The meeting is open to the public and lunch will be provided. For more information, please call (231) 689-3268. Press conference with Upcycle Prez. reveals issues with EGLE
By Ken De Laat In a press conference held virtually Generate Upcycle President Bill Caesar spoke to the recent decision to shut down operations at the Fremont Regional Digester citing regulatory changes that have made by the Water Division of the Michigan Dept of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) “The liquid fertilizer we apply on fields known as digesting has been consistent since we began operating the site and there is no record that any digesting we have applied has ever contaminated groundwater,” said Caesar. “In Michigan we worked effectively with the solid waste division of EGLE for the first 5 years we operated the Digester. In 2021 however, we received a letter from the Water Resource Division of EGLE informing us they were taking over for the solid waste division. We actively engaged with the team from the Water Resource Division and provided them with an extraordinary amount of data on the composition of our digestate, where we apply it and the conditions under which we apply it. The biggest change in the approach taken by the water resource unit is that they have asserted that the liquid fertilizer we produce and apply on agricultural fields must be regulated like an industrial pollutant, not a nutrient rich fertilizer. Their assertion runs contrary to the approach taken by every other state, province and country where we operate.” Caesar stated that the new approach would require extensive changes in how, where and when digestate is applied. “Farmers who choose to use our liquid fertilizer on their fields would lose the ability to make their own agronomic decisions about when they plant what they plant and how they apply other fertilizers to their farms. The farmers who use our digestrate, a sustainable, organic fertilizer instead of synthetic chemical fertilizer will essentially be penalized by the state of Michigan. Not only are the proposed changes to our permit prohibitively expensive, because huge portions of the fields we currently use would be off limits, but these regulations are also operationally impossible for us to comply with. The Water Resource Division seems to be trying to fix something that isn’t broken. After months of discussion with EGLE we made the very difficult decision to cease operations at the end of December unless and until we can operate under a rational regulatory approach. “We do however think there’s a fix to this problem,” The company is asking the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) to replace the Water Resource Division of EGLE as the primary regulator for the digestate, ‘just as they are for all other fertilizers applied to farms in Michigan.’ “We would like to see MDARD EGLE and the Governor’s Office work together to build a durable regulatory structure for food waste based digesters that would not only enable us to make the incremental investments we currently have on hold.” Facility Manager Leon Scott gave some information about the Digester and spoke about its importance to the community, including the ability to power 3500 homes. He also referenced the workers at the digester including his wife ,daughter and son-in-law and described them as passionate about the work being done at the facility. Fremont City Manager Todd Blake also spoke to the benefits the FRD has provided to the community and the positive working relationship they have had with the city. Then came the questions for Caesar.. What has EGLE specifically said is their primary concern? “Primary concern is about groundwater contamination. They’re concerned about something getting into MI’s groundwater making it undrinkable. “There has been no issue with over application. We have worked under a framework that limits the amount we can put on any field at any given time. I don’t believe there has been any question about what we’ve done in the past. What EGLE is trying to do with the new regulations is to limit to an even greater extent the amount of digestate we can apply. We apply on about 5000 acres of land and we do it in two periods a year: the spring and fall.” Have any meetings been held with EGLE and/or MDARD as yet? “We have not had any formal meetings with MDARD. We have expressed our interest directly to EGLE in a letter that I wrote to EGLE Director Phil Rouse. We understand that EGLE and MDARD have had at least one conversation about this but we do not know what came out of that conversation.” EGLE says the digestate is primarily liquid waste not solid waste. “The Digestate we produce is and has been and always will be primarily a liquid product. It has not changed its composition. Regulation of it as an industrial pollutant as opposed to a nutrient rich fertilizer, to me, has nothing to do whether it is liquid or not. We have heard assertions from some people at EGLE that the material we take in today is different from the material we took in when we first opened the digester, that the digestate we produce today is fundamentally different than than the digestate we were producing originally. That is false. Absolutely patented false. We submit a report to EGLE with exactly what materials we brought into the facility and where we applied it. It’s no mystery to them what we've been doing.” Why was the decision made to close in December when EGLE has allowed the facility to continue operations until spring? “We received the letter in December of 2021 saying the Water Resource Division was taking over for the solid resource division. We are 23 months into this process. In July of this year fully 20 months after we started this process we received the first draft permit from EGLE. We responded in detail about why it would not work for us. “The EGLE team first arrived in Fremont to look at the site and to see the process of digesting application in September of this year. I cannot continue to run this site with the risk of the regulatory structure that they have proposed for us. We have been working on an extension since January of our original agricultural use authorization. They extended it once through June and again through December and offered to extend it again through March 21st. “ Let me tell you why March 21st is a very interesting date. We are allowed to land apply our digestate at certain times of year. For the next 3 months I would be building up digestate for application in the spring without any clarity of what regulatory regime I would be required to match that digestate in. To me that’s unacceptable. I don’t think we’re going to find a solution with the approach EGLE has propositioned us with. The fact that they want to treat this as an industrial pollutant doesn’t work at all for the material we’re producing. I could continue to take extensions but it won’t solve the problem and I would have an unbounded financial risk by doing that.” What explanation were you given as to why the regulation was moved to the Water Resource Group in the first place? I’m going to fight the urge to be a little flippant here. EGLE determined that our digestate, which has always been a liquid, was a liquid. And would be better managed by the Water Resource group than the Solid Waste group. I don’t have another explanation.” Asked about violations, Caesar stated they haven’t had any the last two years He stated in the 5 years previous they had a couple related to odors that were addressed by investing about a million dollars in creating covered lagoons to eliminate that problem. It seems the ball has landed in the State’s court on this issue. Whether EGLE and/or MDARD step forward and respond to the concerns laid out by the Upcycle folks or not will go a long way in determining the future of the FRD. |
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April 2024
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