 Russell Parrish (with award) is flanked by sister Jade Wiersma, Dad Brad Wiersma, and Mom Carole Wiersma on the left and Veterans Service Officer Steven Cain on the right. “We hope this encourages other people who are seeking volunteer opportunities to consider helping local disabled veterans,” said Cain. Veterans Office recognizes Russell Parrish for his volunteerism
By Ken DeLaat Kindness is defined as the quality of being friendly, generous, and considerate. Volunteerism is kindness in action. At this week’s regular meeting of the Newaygo County Board of Commissioners Russell Parrish of Grant was awarded the Outstanding Student Volunteer award by the Newaygo County Veterans Affairs Committee and the BOC. A student at Grant High, Russell reached out to the Veterans Affairs office last summer to see if any Veterans needed help with their yard work. The local VA office connected him with a local veteran who had a severe back injury from their time in the service. They were no longer able to mow the lawn, do hedges outside because of this injury and did not have the funds to hire a landscaper. Russell helped this veteran with the yard work that summer. Then he returned in the fall to rake leaves. When winter arrived he was back again, this time to shovel the driveway. Russell’s family and this veteran have now connected and have a good friendship as a result of the volunteer work he has done and continues to do. This is a young man who exemplifies the concept of service to others. Of doing more than just taking the time to perform a task. Many people talk about doing things for others yet seldom follow through. Some people lend a hand but are quick to ensure that everyone knows of their largesse. Others, like Mr. Parrish, quietly go out and perform acts of kindness. Silently, willfully, and selflessly helping someone in need. Simply because they are in need.  Traveling? Well, should you choose to head to Cabo for a little late winter vaca, or maybe take that trip to Ireland you’ve been promising yourself or even if your next road trip involves a little swing over into our friendly neighbor to the north you are going to need a passport these days. Of course, beyond travel a passport is just the ticket for identification purposes should you find yourself in need. But how does one obtain a passport? Is it complicated? Is it expensive? We asked Newaygo County Register of Deeds Stewart Sanders to shed a little light on the process. The Newaygo County Register of Deeds took over the role of a Passport Acceptance Facility in 2011. We are a full service Acceptance Facility in that we accept Passport Applications and provide Passport Pictures. We process applications from the hours of 8am to 4pm Monday through Friday with no appointment necessary. To submit an application you must have an original birth certificate and driver’s license. All applications must be completed in Black Ink. You do not a passport to travel in the U.S. If your passport has expired within the last 5 years you may renew it online going through the U.S. Department of State website. If you are seeking a passport for the first time you must do so in person at a U.S. Passport Acceptance Facility. U.S. Citizenship is obtained by birth or Naturalization. The fees for submitting each application are as follows: Passport Book Minor (under age 16) $80.00 good for 5 years. Adults (16 years of age and older) $110.00 good for 10 years. Passport Cards Minor $15.00 Adult $30.00 Passport Processing Fee: $35.00 Passport Books allow travel on land, sea, and air. Passport Cards allow travel on land and sea. It is recommended by the U.S. Department of State when planning to travel abroad that you submit your Passport Applications in plenty of time. The normal processing time is between 3 to 6 weeks. When your application is processed, you will receive your original birth certificate in a separate mailing from your passport. The Newaygo County Register of Deeds Office is located at 1087 E. Newell Street White Cloud. The office is in the Administration Building which has a red roof and looks out over the North Parking Lot facing the Post office. “A passport, as I'm sure you know, is a document that one shows to government officials whenever one reaches a border between two countries, so that the official can learn who you are, where you were born, and how you look when photographed unflatteringly.”-Lemony Snicket  Newaygo County Register of Deeds Stewart Sanders  Headway Coalition Announces Three Year, $150,000 CARA Grant
Newaygo County Regional Educational Service Agency (NC RESA) has announced that the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) and the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration (SAMHSA) has awarded a three-year CARA community enhancement grant to Headway Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition. The CARA grant program was created by the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act of 2016. The goal of this program is to prevent and reduce the abuse of opioids or methamphetamines and the abuse of prescription medications among youth ages 12-18 in communities throughout the United States. Headway Coalition is one of two CARA grants awarded in the State of Michigan and fifty across the country. The coalition aims to prevent youth substance abuse and help implement comprehensive strategies throughout Newaygo County. Headway Coalition engages key stakeholders including: Law Enforcement, Healthcare Personnel, Parents, Youth, Schools, Media, and many more. The CARA federal grant funds will increase the coalition’s ability to address the growing prescription drug and opioid crisis. Newaygo County Regional Educational Service Agency serves as the coalition’s fiduciary. For more information about the Headway Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition, please contact: Rachel Uganski, MBA Drug Free Communities Coordinator 231.652.3612 ruganski@ncresa.org http://www.headwaynewaygo.org  N3WH Staff with Jane Wolfsen of Kokx Strawberry Patch. She was assisted on this day by Aeja and Aurea DeKuiper. Some Friday food finds Story and photos by Ken DeLaat There is likely about one more week or so of strawberries and with my seasonal shortcake intake a bit shy of the desired level today (Friday) I scored a foursome of the beauties during a trip to the Kokx patch near the corner of Maple Island and 32nd street. Having been lured into an obsession with their sweet corn and pulled into pumpkin dependency by their prodigious fall harvest, it seems only right that a personal favorite among fruits would be added to the Kokx repertoire. This is my second go-round at the patch after securing an eight pack the previous week. LSC Lil makes a stunningly good shortcake that provides an agreeable and somewhat subtle contrast to the tartness of the fruit (we don’t add sugar). This delightful creation tends to soak up just the right amount of juice while remaining cake-like in texture. Yes, I’m a bit of a fan. And while setting ingredients on the counter before Lil gets home, may seem a bit desperate…. We only have one more week, right? The Newaygo Farmers Market was visited as well and two additions not encountered in previous years caught our attention. We met Julie Reyburn of Timbertown Coffee Co. In Newaygo. Yes we have our own maker of coffee. Ms. Reyburn and her assistants Camden and Ethan were setting up shop and plan on also being present at the Fremont market Saturdays. Having just scored a couple of pounds of a much favored French Roast at Gala Gourmet we decided to explore this further at a later date particularly due to our intrigue about the origin of the beans and our avid interest in coffee, a drink that goes exceptionally well with strawberry shortcake.  Julie Reyburn owner operator of Timbertown Coffee Co. along with associates (L-R) Camden and Ethan Reyburn Also on hand was Bruce Carpenter representing The Cheese People. No, not little folks made out of cheddar though one of their knotlike cheese sticks kind of looked like a guy I knew in junior high. These folks have some righteous looking cheeses with imaginative blends well worth exploring. I favored a basil infused monterey and have plans for the delicate looking wedge that will hopefully come to fruition tonight. Because if all goes well this particular cheese selection is going to be a comfortable culinary companion to… A little strawberry shortcake.  Bruce Carpenter of The Cheese People standing behind a sumptuous spread of textural treats.  Cameron Karnes honored, Cloud team excels again Story and photos by Stephanie Karnes On Wednesday, June 20th 2018 four high school seniors who competed in this season of WCMU Public Television’s Quiz Central were awarded textbook scholarships in the amount of $500 to Central Michigan University. Among the honorees was Cameron Karnes of White Cloud High School. White Cloud competed throughout the school year on Quiz Central winning each round of Blue Division competition to finish as division champions. They lost in the semi-finals of the Grand Championships by one question to Mt. Pleasant Sacred Heart Academy. As division champions, the White Cloud team netted an additional $28,000 in college scholarship money. Six players from White Cloud were awarded $4000 each to be used over the first two years at Central Michigan University for housing expenses. White Cloud began their winning streak by defeating the team from East Jordan 220-180 on the February 21st episode. They continued their winning ways against St. Louis on the April 25th episode with a score of 220-140. On the May 23rd episode, White Cloud defeated Traverse City St. Francis with a score of 330-190. They clinched the division title on the June 6th episode with a victory over Boyne City 240-230. All episodes can be viewed online at https://video.wcmu.org/show/quiz-central/.  The Team L-R front Breauna Lodden Jamia Tancock, Kiranna Franklin, Isabel Karnes, Janessa Shepard L-R back Brendan Lodden, Anthony Solis, Parker Karnes, Jennifer Shepard, Cameron Karnes, Delton Dowling The White Cloud team consisted of Seniors Cameron Karnes, Jennifer Shepard and Kiranna Franklin; Juniors Isabel Karnes, Jamia Tancock and Delton Dowling; Freshmen Parker Karnes and Janessa Shepard; and middle school students Anthony Solis, Brendan Lodden and Breauna Lodden. They are coached by Tony McHattie. Coach McHattie puts in countless hours with the students and often spends his own money so that the team can travel to State and National competitions. White Cloud has competed at the Michigan High School State Meet for 29 years. They have competed at the NAQT National Quiz Bowl Competition for 21 years. This year the team finished tied for 5th place at state and tied for 7th place at Nationals. In addition, they won the 2018 NAQT Small School Championship (Class B, C,D.) As a member of the White Cloud team, Cameron, along with many teammates, attended Ace Quiz Bowl Camp each year. In addition, the quiz bowl team practices 11 months out of the year. Most students have double practices at some point in the year when they are involved in other sports. Karnes ran cross country and track for 4 years. He also was a member of the White Cloud High School Marching Band. He graduated Top 10 of his class. He served as both Class President and President of the National Honor Society. “On quiz bowl you have to learn to stay cool under intense pressure. You also have to learn to make split second decisions. As captain, it is important to listen to the input from the other team members, but you must also be able to make final decisions, “stated Karnes. These skills have helped prepare him to continue to be a leader in other aspects of his life. Karnes was named to the All State Quiz Bowl Team for class C/D for the past two years. In addition, he was chosen for the CSAA All Conference Quiz Bowl Team for the last three years and narrowly missed being named to the All-American Team. Karnes will be attending CMU in the fall of 2018 to pursue a degree in computer engineering. He has earned a place in the prestigious Chippewa marching band playing mellophone and will be living in the college of science and engineering residential hall With his high school quiz bowl career at an end Cameron hopes to join or start a club level quiz bowl team to continue competing in quiz bowl.  Parker, Isabel, and Cameron Karnes each competed for a strong White Cloud team. Next year Parker and Isabel will continue while Cameron moves on to CMU.  ATTENTION: THIS HURTS THE PROGRAM! No. We Don't
Not Now, Not Then, Not Never Help Save Recycling In Newaygo County And Recycle Smart!  Two wolves on a winter trail from a previous wolf survey. Photo: Michigan Department of Natural Resources. DNR Upper Peninsula wolf survey shows healthy wolf population
Michigan Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Division officials said today the state’s wolf population has remained relatively stable over the past four wolf surveys, the most recent of which occurred this past winter. DNR wildlife biologists estimate there was a minimum of 662 wolves found among 139 packs across the Upper Peninsula this past winter. The 2016 minimum population estimate was 618 wolves. “Based on our latest minimum population estimate, it is clear wolf numbers in Michigan remain viable and robust,” said Russ Mason, chief of the DNR’s wildlife division. “A similar trend is apparent in Wisconsin and Minnesota. The western Great Lakes states’ wolf population is thriving and has recovered.” Fifteen more wolf packs were found during this past winter’s survey than in 2016, but pack size has decreased slightly and now averages less than five wolves. The survey was conducted from December through April, before wolves had produced pups, and when the population is at its lowest point in the annual cycle. “As the wolf population in the Upper Peninsula has grown and spread out across the region, packs are situated closer together,” said Dean Beyer, a DNR wildlife research biologist who organizes the sampling and generates the wolf population estimate for the biannual survey. “This makes it harder to determine which pack made the tracks that were observed in adjacent areas. “Movement information we collect from GPS-collared wolves helps us interpret the track count results, because these data allow us to identify territorial boundaries. The minimum population estimate we generate is a conservative estimate, which takes these factors into account.” The wolf survey is completed by DNR Wildlife Division and U.S. Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services staff who search specific survey areas for wolf tracks and other signs of wolf activity, such as territorial marking or indications of breeding. In 2017-2018, approximately 63 percent of the Upper Peninsula was surveyed. After wolves returned naturally to the U.P. through migration from Minnesota, Wisconsin and Ontario in the 1980s, the population rebounded remarkably over time. The pronounced long-term increase in wolf abundance is evident, despite human cause-specific mortality, such as poaching. However, over the past few years, Michigan’s minimum estimate has hovered between 600 and 700 wolves, which could be indicative of a stabilizing population. “Research suggests prey availability and the geographical area of the U.P. are the key limiting factors of wolf population expansion,” said Kevin Swanson, a wildlife management specialist with the DNR’s Bear and Wolf Program in Marquette. “This is proving to be true.” Since the winter of 1993-94, combined wolf numbers in Michigan and Wisconsin have surpassed 100, meeting federally established goals for population recovery. The Michigan recovery goal of a minimum sustainable population of 200 wolves for five consecutive years was achieved in 2004. Wolves in Michigan remain a federally-protected species which may only be killed legally in defense of human life. A Few Minutes With: Kelly Smith, Newaygo County Road Commission Manager
Ed. Note: Ok, wrong color for the song whether your taste runs Eddie Cochran, Blue Cheer or Alan Jackson but you get the point. The season is upon us so we asked our friend Kelly Smith for a few words of inspiration to help us all get through (or detour around) the inevitable reactions that come with delays. It is that time of the year when the orange barrels are in full bloom, detour routes are plentiful and online interactive map sites are seeing more traffic than my wife’s Amazon Prime account. Now before everyone yells at me about the inconvenience of having to take alternate routes or sitting in a flagging operation for what seems like an eternity, I get it and I sympathize. Most who know me would agree patience is not my strong suit and sitting in a line of traffic waiting for the person holding the little paddle sign to release me so that I may go on merry way to whatever exciting adventure awaits me... well, it can have a tendency to raise my blood pressure a couple points. But, and here is where I plead for your patience, whether it be NCRC employees, contractors for NCRC, or any operation going on in the road system, that operation is being performed for you, our customers. You, the customers who pay for and deserve a road system that allows you, those trucks that deliver goods for you, the emergency service providers you may be in need of, the school buses that deliver your children to school and the countless other forms of transportation that traverse our roads to have as safe and as efficient a road system that we can provide. In order to do so we will at times be in your way. This is an unfortunate side effect of attempting to maintain, preserve and upgrade the system. A little over a year ago the funding increase that the legislature put into place started to arrive, and along with that funding increase of course comes a steady increase in work volume on a road system that is in desperate need of attention. Now this is where we become more of pain than we have been in the past because more construction equals more work zones and detours. So , until someone comes up with “ A New Road In Can” that we can just throw down in the middle of the night, ( My wife claims this is what she is looking for when online shopping) we will have to once again ask for your patience. The positive side is we are working towards a sustainable, safer and more efficient road system. The reality is we are dealing with many years of stagnant funding all the while seeing steady increases in costs of goods and services so it will take time, but, we are making steady progress even in the short time we have been receiving the new monies. On a final note, please be careful when within or approaching work zones. Those workers you see are someone’s loved ones and we need to do all we can to see that they make it home safe and sound. Please try and not be too distracted within these zones as there are many large piece of heavy machinery and lots of activities to watch. And most of all, have a safe fun filled summer and don’t be afraid to wave as you pass by our workers. We only ask that you have all 5 fingers visible. -Kelly  From left: Sherry Powell, wife of Spectrum Health Gerber Memorial registered nurse, Dan Powell, RN; DAISY Award recipient, Powell; Powell’s nominator and recent patient, Debbie Crawford of Croton; Crawford’s niece Hayley Sanderson; and Gerber Memorial Chief Nursing Officer Meleah Mariani. Gerber Memorial DAISY nursing award goes to veteran nurse for his outstanding care
FREMONT– Spectrum Health Gerber Memorial today awarded the DAISY award to Dan Powell, RN, who works the overnight shift in the intensive care unit for providing outstanding nursing care – and going an extra mile to help a patient be comfortable. The DAISY award is given each quarter and Gerber Memorial patients nominate nurses who provide exceptional care and service. Debbie Crawford of Croton praised her entire nursing team for being caring and efficient, saying “everyone was amazing” and singled out Powell as the nurse who “made the most difference” in her care. “Dan answered any questions I had in a manner that really made it easily understandable,” Crawford said in her nomination. “He was very prompt to answer my calls to the nurse’s station and always checked that I was comfortable before he left me. The most outstanding kindness Dan showed was when I asked for a fan. Dan searched everywhere and eventually was successful. Hallelujah! That air movement made a huge difference in my comfortable stay! Dan is my hero!” “It’s my honor to serve and care for our patients,” Powell said. “I love what I do and my goal is to enhance our patients’ stay at Gerber Memorial in every way possible.” A Fremont resident and active in the Newaygo County community, Powell has worked at Gerber Memorial since 1998. In addition to Crawford, Powell’s family and colleagues surprised him with the award early in the morning. Part of a national program, the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses is part of the DAISY Foundation's program to recognize the super-human efforts nurses perform every day. Nomination forms are available at nursing stations throughout the hospital and patients can submit those forms either by placing them in gray boxes near those forms or by handing them to a nurse or other hospital staff. The forms will be available at nursing stations in the intensive care unit; medical/surgery; birth center; outpatient surgery; emergency department; and the specialty clinic in the basement of the Multispecialty Clinic. Nominating forms will also be available at the hospital’s main lobby, as well as included in admission packets. The not-for-profit DAISY Foundation is based in Glen Ellen, Calif., and was established by family members in memory of J. Patrick Barnes. Barnes died at the age of 33 in 1999 from complications of Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP), a little known but not uncommon auto-immune disease. The care Barnes and his family received from nurses while he was ill inspired this unique means of thanking nurses for making a profound difference in the lives of their patients and patient families. Nurses may be nominated by patients, families and colleagues, and they are chosen by a committee of nurses at Gerber Memorial to receive the award. Each honoree receives a certificate commending her or him for being an “Extraordinary Nurse.” The certificate reads: “In deep appreciation of all you do, who you are, and the incredibly meaningful difference you make in the lives of so many people.” The honoree also receives a beautiful sculpture called A Healer’s Touch, hand-carved from serpentine stone by artists of the Shona tribe in southern Africa.  By Ken DeLaat Ok deep breath now. That bit of construction that repaved the road between Newaygo and Grant a bit before Memorial Day? Just practice I’m afraid. Beginning next week if you plan on going through Grant? You’re not. From the DOT MI Drive site: TOTAL CLOSURE From : 06/11/2018, 12:00 AM To: 08/27/2018, 12:00 AM When: Continuously Location: On northbound M-37 from 128th Avenue north to 112th Avenue in Newaygo County. Description: Work will include pavement reconstruction and upgraded storm sewer system. M-37 will be closed to Northbound traffic. Southbound traffic will be maintained along M-37. Detour: Northbound M-37 traffic will be detoured east onto 128th Avenue, north onto Willow Avenue, then local traffic will be detoured west on 120th Avenue while thru traffic will be detoured west on 128th Avenue. Some Suggested Guidelines: N3 World Headquarters is on Hess Lake and during the last construction our semi-quiet road became a major thoroughfare, so for those around the detour area, prepare for an uptick in traffic, particularly large slow moving vehicles with triangles on the back. Plan accordingly. If you’re a local you know at least a dozen routes to get south without encountering Grant so use them wisely. If you are a bit, uh, challenged by directions (as in ‘don’t tell me west or east tell me right or left’) and will follow the detour remember to snare a bit of extra time because chances are the going looks to be slower than usual. Use Pandora to sooth the nerves and stay away from talk radio. Friday afternoon? It’s already a madhouse once you get past the roundabout on Fridays and Sunday nights but this will clog stuff up a little more. Attempts to turn off or onto ‘37 might be dicier than usual with traffic coming in clumps as folks figure out the detours. And lastly it’s time to reach inside and grab a little patience Near Northians. Why? Because lot of those weekend travelers who might have been taken by surprise with regard to the detour are going to be exhibiting a little less composure having been tossed from their schedule.and all. Be kind, be forgiving, and above all, don’t wave back in the same manner that might be incoming from time to time. For more info on road construction throughout the state go to: https://mdotjboss.state.mi.us/MiDriveRest/public/page/construction  Deadline for Legislative action passes
Despite what appeared to be enough support in the Senate to move forward with a Recreational Marijuana bill and prevent the current initiative from reaching the ballot in November the House failed to get the traction needed to ensure passage. This means the ballot proposal summarized in our article from Monday will be headed for a vote come this fall. https://www.nearnorthnow.com/the-pulse/legislature-to-consider-leapfrogging-ballot-proposal Many legislators found themselves in the unenviable position of looking at supporting the proposed legalization of recreational use in hopes of having the ability to make some changes to the current initiative. In the end without the votes needed in the House the effort fell apart. N3 contacted State Representative Scott VanSingel for his take on the issue. “While I am personally strongly opposed to the legalization of marijuana for a variety of reasons such as workforce development and increased access for minors, many House members were willing to approve the ballot proposal in hopes of amending it later with a simple majority,” said State Representative Scott VanSingel. “If approved by the voters, a super majority is required to amend.” “The proposal is very poorly written including a provision that $40 million must be sent to an out of state researcher for a study that is already essentially complete and the ability to use marijuana in a vehicle.” With a dispensary in White Cloud set to open, at least two more dispensaries heading for Brooks Township and grow facilities planned for White Cloud and Newaygo medical marijuana is on the cusp of becoming a significant player in local economics. The recreational use approval has posted strong polling numbers and its passage would likely mean further changes ahead for Newaygo County. Ans to what those changes might be? Time will tell.  Teams vie for room and board scholarships to CMU Mount Pleasant, Mich. — White Cloud and Boyne City compete Wednesday, June 6 at 7:30 p.m. on WCMU Public Television’s Division Semi-Finals of Quiz Central. Quiz Central is an educational and entertaining academic quiz show. Teams from 48 Michigan high schools compete in four divisions based on school size. White Cloud is coached by Tony McHattie and team members include Captain Cameron Karnes, Jennifer Shepherd, Kiranna Franklin and Delton Dowling. Their alternates are Janessa Shepard, Parker Karnes and Brendan Lodden Boyne City is coached by Nik McLane & Jeanne Heath and team members Captain Madison Bates, Elizabeth Dickinson, Lorin Burch and Andrew May. Their alternates are Ethan Hewitt, Lauren Viol and Eleri Giem. Teams compete in elimination rounds as they vie for the championship in their division. The four starters and three alternates of the division championship teams will each receive a two year, $4,000 room and board scholarship from Central Michigan University Residence Life. The division champions then face off to determine the overall season winner. In addition, four lucky Quiz Central seniors will receive textbook scholarships from the CMU Bookstore. Now in its 13th season, Quiz Central is locally produced by WCMU Public Television. Readers who do not get WCMU can view Quiz Central on the PBS website. Here is the link: https://www.pbs.org/show/quiz-central/  Newaygo Fire Department seeking community members who want to give back NEWAYGO– Have you always wanted to do something that would make a difference in the City of Newaygo and surrounding areas? The Newaygo Fire Department (NFD) could be the right place for you! The department is currently seeking to fill three to four on-call firefighter positions. NFD is seeking individuals who have a passion for making a difference in the community and protecting the lives of their family, friends and neighbors. Often times this leads to fighting a structure or wildland fire, pulling someone from a car wreck or saving a complete stranger from the waters of the mighty Muskegon River. It also provides an opportunity to interact with children at the local schools, expand your knowledge and interact with the community at public events. “The volunteer/on-call fire service has seen a decline nationally over the past few years,” said Travis Kroll, Lieutenant for Newaygo Fire Department. “Today we seem to have more activities that fill schedules and longer commutes to work, leaving little time for many to physically give back to their communities. While the initial training can be time consuming, the rewards and benefits of this profession far exceed a few hours missed at home.” Those seeking employment will have to complete a written aptitude test, physical agility test and oral interview. The right candidate will be at least 18 years old, possess a high school diploma or GED, live or work within the Newaygo Fire District, maintain a valid Michigan driver’s license and have no felony or gross misdemeanor convictions. Candidates who are interested can stop by the department’s recruitment open house on Saturday, June 23, from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at 177 Cooperative Center Drive in Newaygo. This is a great opportunity to talk with firefighters about the job, tour the station and more. To apply visit newaygofire.com, or pick up an application at the fire department, City of Newaygo offices, Brooks Township Hall or the River Country Chamber of Commerce. The application period closes on June 30, 2018.  |
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