Bike Trip Brings Senator Peters To Newaygo

L-R Senator Gary Peters with Magna General Manager Brian Chadwell, and Assistant General Manager Dan Groszkiewicz

Bike Trip Brings Senator Peters To Newaygo
​By Ken DeLaat

Senator Gary Peters toured the state this past week and made a stop in Newaygo.

On his Harley.

Forsaking an automobile the Senator decided to take the two wheeled route as he and his team covered 26 counties with stops in a dozen including Newaygo where the first term Senator interacted with citizens, answered questions and...

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...had a little lunch at Cronk’s restaurant before heading to Magna where he was given a tour of the innovative parts supplying corporation, a major local employer at their seemingly ever-expanding facility located in the Industrial Park.

While at Cronk’s a question was posed regarding  Line 5, the six decade old pipeline currently transporting oil under the straits of Mackinac.

“I’m very concerned with this. The consequences from an oil spill at the straits would be devastating to the lakes,” he stated before speaking to a number of initiatives being undertaken to help protect our waters.

The Senator also spoke to the need for heightened cyber-security and the concern of European allies about the coming election.

“I just got back from a trip to Ukraine and Estonia and the people there are worried when Donald Trump says we don’t need NATO,” he stated. ”There are people dying in eastern Ukraine at the hands of the Russians and when a candidate expresses admiration for Putin the people in those countries that were once under Russian control get nervous and rightfully so.”

After lunch the entourage headed for Magna where the Senator met several members of the leadership team of the company before embarking on his tour, often stopping to ask questions and to speak to employees. Senator Peters talked about being impressed by the inventive production process as well as by the people working at the plant.

Before leaving, Quality Technician Jessica Twigg presented the Senator with a custom painted Harley Davidson gas tank signed by employees. The gift represented Newaygo County as the tank came from Sandy’s Harley Davidson in Fremont and the artwork was created by local custom paint artist D.J. Trussel.

​“This is just great,” he said admiring the sparkling accessory. “A beautiful piece of craftsmanship.”
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With his new gas tank well wrapped and given a ride in one of the automobiles Senator Peters strapped on his helmet, mounted his Harley and rode off to the next destination for the Ride Michigan motorcycle tour.