 Dear Editor and community members,
On behalf of Fremont Area Community Foundation, I am writing to express our support of the 911 surcharge proposal appearing on Newaygo County ballots this Election Day. The Community Foundation feels strongly that we must ensure Newaygo County’s Central Dispatch has the updated technology it needs to continue providing all of us with safe, efficient 911 services. Our local 911 dispatchers provide 24-7 lifesaving operations that all of us rely on. In 2017, local dispatchers placed or received 71,835 calls and dispatched 34,581 incidents. And we ask them to do all of this on a system built in 2002 and running on a Windows 2000 server. Think for a moment of how many times you’ve replaced and updated your own personal technology like computers, laptops, or cell phones in the last 16 years. The primary source of funding for technology updates—like the ones our dispatchers so desperately need—is the 911 surcharge on land lines and contracted cell phones/devices. In 2003, Newaygo County voters approved a surcharge of up to $3 per month. But even with this support, the surcharge requires approval from the Michigan Public Service Commission. In 2008, they reduced the surcharge, causing revenues to significantly decrease over the last 10 years. Currently, the surcharge is $1.95 per month. On November 6, Newaygo County voters will be asked to reinstate the $3 surcharge. The total increase would be just $1.05 month—less than four cents per day! Funding will be used exclusively for supporting 911 equipment and services in Newaygo County. Over the next 10 years it will cover the costs of purchasing a main computer system for 911 communications and documentation, a telephone system, dispatch radio consoles, and more lifesaving technology. The Community Foundation is proud to join the Police and Fire Chiefs Associations in supporting this proposal. As an organization committed to improving the quality of life for everyone in Newaygo County, we feel that it is our responsibility to support the lifesaving work of Newaygo County 911 Central Dispatch. Best regards, Carla A. Roberts, President and CEO Fremont Area Community Foundation  Newaygo School Board candidates answer questions
With an octet of contenders vying for three positions on the Newaygo School Board we at N3 thought it might be a good idea to give voters a little glimpse at the candidates and perhaps provide a forum for prospective board members to share their views. We polled some of the local citizenry on what they would like to know about those who are running and came up with 14 questions. These were sent to each of the candidates and these are their replies. This is a lengthy read to be sure, but we believe a worthy one. And please take time to vote on Tuesday. -Near North Now Phil Ottinger What motivates you to run for the board? My motivation to run for school board is a lifelong passion to help young people achieve their highest potential in life. Being involved in youth sports for parts of five decades proves this passion is heart felt. How long have you in the district? What school activities have you been involved in? I have been in the School District my entire life. I have been primarily involved in youth athletics. I believe athletics is a tool of education and I used athletics to teach young people the lessons of life What skills to you bring to the board? Leadership Patrol Leader in Combat USMC. Ability to make tough decisions. Discipline. Hard Work. Problem solving. Working for a fortune 500 Company in a leadership capacity I had to make cost effective and efficiency decisions every day. That is what I would do on School Board try to give out kids the best education in the most cost efficient way. What is your own experience with public education? As a student at Newaygo. As a parent of three children and two Grandchildren at Newaygo. As a School Bus Driver at Newaygo. And as a coach of youth at Newaygo. I believe seeing the landscape of Newaygo education from all the different angles gives a great view to make informed decisions that go to the heart of the community and kids. What do you see as your responsibilities as a board member? Be a team player on School Board. Having my own voice and views but unite with the consensus of views to go forward with the decisions that must be made for the best interests of our community and children. What do you see as the priorities for the coming years? To make sure that we are giving our children the best education with the greatest cost efficiency with for our community. I have a wealth of experience in efficiency and cost. Everything we do must be looked at through the lens of what is best for the kids and subscribe to the Motto of Whatever it takes. What do you see as strengths in the school district? Our whole community is a strength. Our School board, our teachers, our business leaders, and most of all our unity as I have seen throughout my life we reach out to others in time of crisis like a big family. What do you see as the primary challenges ahead? Costs will always be a challenge in the future. We can not give the children what they need if we do not address the costs of getting what they need. We must be proactive and forward thinking on a priority basis of where we have to be in 10 years and what we need to do to get there. What is your vision for NPS? My vision for NPS has no limits. To be the shining light on the hill that all public schools would be trying to measure up to in education. Efficiency, quality of teachers, quality of leaders. That we would produce the most educated, motivated, well mannered and behaved young people on Graduation night, so they could achieve the goals and dreams. How should teacher performance be measured? Teacher performance should be measured like I was in a Fortune 500 Company and like the students they teach. Performance is not guesswork it is setting a standard for our teachers and making sure they hit that standard. Describe your experience with conflict resolution and consensus building. This is perhaps where I have my greatest experience because this has been my life, from USMC, elder in my church, Union leader and Supervisor in Fortune 500 Company. I have been on all side of the spectrum and found consensus and unity in moving the ball forward towards the goal. This is a skill that you must have to be a good school board member. As a board member making key decisions who might you seek advice from? I would seek people who had been there before. Former educators, school board members, Superintendents principles. I would also include parents because I believe they have great views that could be very helpful. I don’t view a school board as its us and them. It is all of us together can make the best decisions. At some point schools may need to go to the community and ask for additional resources i.e. bond, millage. How would you help enlist support in the community for an initiative like this? The most important thing to get support is to be upfront with information to community that the need is really a need. If you do that Newaygo has always been supportive because this community wants what is best for their kids. If we look at the updates recently the school board has done this and the support was there. What book you’ve read has influenced you the most? The Bible. The teachings and principles in the Bible are what guides my life. Jefferson, Lincoln, Washington and most of our countries great leaders claimed this book as a great influence to them. I subscribe to their thinking and know from experience that it works. Artemisia Clark What motivates you to run for the board? Primarily my deep interest in keeping Newaygo an attractive place for families to raise their children. A strong school system is a key attractor for families. The more families that are attracted to our great town the better economic structure for our business and services. My hope is that my daughter grows up to love Newaygo as much as I do and that love can be fostered through a good school experience. How long have you in the district? What school activities have you been involved in? I have lived in Newaygo School District most of my life. I am a K-12 Newaygo alumni. I moved away in my 20’s for a few years but returned home. I’m a very involved member of the NPS school system, my involvement includes:
What skills to you bring to the board? Due to my professional experience I have extensive experience in change management, process collaboration, purchasing optimization, staffing, union contract negotiations, policy and procedure implementation, continuous improvement methodologies, public relations & communication, and benchmarking initiatives. From a personal experience perspective I have served on government boards for the township, worked with at risk youth through the YMCA, been a middle school and high school coach and a middle school drug prevention specialist. I have gotten to know many of the staff at Newaygo Public Schools due to my involvement and have built great relationships with many in our district. I’m actively involved in our community and have a large and diverse network throughout Newaygo allowing me to gain perspective across many varied social and economic groups of people. What is your own experience with public education? I am a K-12 Newaygo Public Schools graduate as is my husband. Our daughter is a 5th grader at Newaygo Middle School. My mom is a retired teacher and my dad in his retirement became the Transportation Supervisor for Newaygo Public Schools. I also was a substitute teacher for 3 years while finishing my college degree. My experience with public schools gives me a unique perspective because I have an understanding for what teachers go through in a day, what administration faces and what students need. However, as a professional for a large public company I bring perspective from a business mindset. What do you see as your responsibilities as a board member? A school board should oversee policies and procedures that protect students, staff and administration in order to be fiscally responsible and legally protected. The school board should make sure that the expectations of the staff and administration are clear and in compliance with state and federal regulations. I also would like to see the school board take it a step beyond to make sure that Newaygo Public Schools has procedures in place that foster an attractive learning environment that is innovative, inclusive and exciting for all students regardless of their talents. What do you see as the priorities for the coming years? My number one priority is to ensure that NPS has very clear policies and procedures. This includes the School Board having basic operating principles. The School Board should clearly establish what and how they oversee in the district and what they expect the leaders to be responsible for. What do you see as strengths in the school district? I truly believe the employees of NPS are awesome! With limited resources I see many of them go above and beyond. Each of us have opportunities for improvement and growth, but at the core of what we have is some amazing people doing all they can to educate our kids. What do you see as the primary challenges ahead? In a small community with limited financial resources and the same regulations and expectations as bigger and more funded districts we still have to find a way to reach the changing needs of our student body. We need to think creatively to educate & provide services for our students especially through all the budget constraints and mandated regulations. It is difficult to change with new generations and their learning styles, but if we don’t figure out how to adapt and utilize the resources we do have we risk losing students to other ways of being educated. What is your vision for NPS? I would love to see a school system where our kids are serviced regardless of their needs. Special education, main stream and gifted students receive what they need to be successful. Individual talents at NPS recognized and not asking all students to be and think in the “standard” box would be an amazing outcome. My hope is that we solve how to keep our students at NPS instead of choosing to go to private, charter or online schools. How should teacher performance be measured? Although there are mandated metrics for staff and administration, I would like for NPS to be more inline with other professional evaluation methods. I think it is important to get peer and customer feedback. It is essential for one’s growth to understand what perceptions are out there so that you can work to improve or capitalize on what is working. Sharing best practices due to feedback will improve the school as a whole. Describe your experience with conflict resolution and consensus building. As a Process Pillar Lead for General Mills my core responsibilities are both conflict resolution and consensus building. The foundation of conflict resolution is in fact consensus building. Helping people understand that not every outcome is going to be 100% in everyone’s favor helps build trust that the resolution is for a greater purpose. Helping people understand their role in the resolution is key. As a board member making key decisions who might you seek advice from? In order to have a good solution you need to gain perspective from not only those that work for the school system but the customers of the school system. It is important to seek input from many in order to be able to represent those that have elected you. At some point schools may need to go to the community and ask for additional resources i.e. bond, millage. How would you help enlist support in the community for an initiative like this? I would enlist support by working with my local network of the Newaygo community. I have proven this effective through my work with the most recent bond issue and the network we built to drive and market that initiative. Communication channels that I have used are social media, community forums, mailers and newspapers to communicate. What book you’ve read has influenced you the most. As cliché as this might seem I would say the book Eat, Pray, Love was a turning point for me personally. This book really initiated my desire to be comfortable with who I am. Learning to embrace my own needs and flaws and work on those actively and daily while staying true to myself was sparked by a book where a broken woman had to search the world to discover her authentic self. I think it is important to define and discover who you are daily and stay true to your ethics and beliefs even when people don’t agree. Morgan Heinzman What motivates you to run for the board? I’ve been to couple of the school board meetings, and with having 20 yrs of being involved in board government, I feel that I can offer some help. I also want to learn the ins and outs of the education school system. How long have you in the district? What school activities have you been involved in? I moved into the school district in 1978 when I was in the eighth grade. What skills to you bring to the board? I have been part of board government for 20 years. I have been to many classes on how a board is supposed to function. What is your own experience with public education? I am a product of public education and all three of My children have been through public education, and also my wife is a public educator. What do you see as your responsibilities as a board member? To oversee the quality of education provided by the school system to make sure there is a healthy and safe learning environment; And to make sure the public has input into all aspects of the school system. What do you see as the priorities for the coming years? What do you see as strengths in the school district? What do you see as the primary challenges ahead? These three questions go together...the primary challenges for any school system today is to be able to keep up with technology and being able to teach it as fast as it develops. that has to be the primary goal . The strength of Newaygo school system lies within its teachers, its facilities, and it’s extracurricular activities. What is your vision for NPS? To keep Newaygo Public Schools a small community school. How should teacher performance be measured? I do not believe the evaluation of a teacher’s performance is the job of the school board. I believe that is the job of the superintendent, and the school board’s job is to hold the superintendent accountable to make sure that it’s done. Describe your experience with conflict resolution and consensus building. As part of several different boards throughout the community over the years, I’ve had to deal with both conflicts and consensus building in many circumstances As a board member making key decisions who might you seek advice from? I would seek input from everybody and anybody I could depending on what the decision is. At some point schools may need to go to the community and ask for additional resources i.e. bond, millage. How would you help enlist support in the community for an initiative like this? This is what I would never do,I would never hold a series of 12 meetings with the public to try to make a decision on something and then after meeting 10, go to a backdoor room and make that decision and never asked the public how they felt. If I was on the school board, I would make sure something like this never happens in Newaygo again. The Newaygo school board will be faced with public decisions in the very near future as to what happens with some of its old buildings when it’s done with it and the community involvement in this has to be taken very seriously. What book you’ve read has influenced you the most? The Art of the Deal by Donald Trump Tom Frisbie What motivates you to run for the board? My motivations for running for the board include being more involved in my community and bringing a new perspective and fresh ideas. How long have you in the district? What school activities have you been involved in? I have lived in the district for over 25 years. Youth athletic coaching, elementary field trips, helping with band performances, and a high school football volunteer are just a few activities I have been involved with over the years. What skills to you bring to the board? As a board member, some of my skills will include; making sound business and financial decisions, communicating with others, working well as a team, an advocate for students and understanding community relations. Also, I having experience serving as a board member on other organizations within the community. What is your own experience with public education? I am a proud parent of two Newaygo graduates and a current NHS Junior. My wife is a 1991 graduate of Newaygo High School. Both of our graduates attend Northern Michigan University. Our son will be graduating in December with a secondary education degree and plans to work in the public school system. What do you see as your responsibilities as a board member? To work with the superintendent, administration, facility and the community to provide a high quality educational environment for all students. What do you see as the priorities for the coming years? 1. Making sure we are filling staff vacancies with quality personnel. 2. Being fiscally responsible in keeping up with our changing economy and funding. 3. Making sure our students are prepared for employment. What do you see as strengths in the school district? I believe our school has a strong foundation, good community support, and most of all, a caring and devoted administration and faculty. What do you see as the primary challenges ahead? A few challenges I see for the district include; * providing funding and staffing for our at risk students and special education programs * retaining students * accessibility to vocational and skills training. What is your vision for NPS? My vision for NPS is to bond community and school together for the best interest of the students, faculty and community while promoting innovation and maintaining high standards for all. How should teacher performance be measured? Teacher performances should be accessed at the district level in conjunction with the PA 173. With this said, I am open to learning/researching evaluation techniques that fit our district's needs, which would support understanding the differences in teacher's methods and student learning. Describe your experience with conflict resolution and consensus building. My day to day experiences in a sales and service industry provides me with daily problem solving skills and working with a variety of people within our community. I am committed to resolving problems quickly, calmly and establishing common goals for all involved. As a board member making key decisions who might you seek advice from? When making key decisions, I would first seek advice from the parties involved and then from individuals with experience with the decision at hand. At some point schools may need to go to the community and ask for additional resources i.e. bond, millage. How would you help enlist support in the community for an initiative like this? No bond or millage should be presented without first listing the benefits to students and community. Full transparency and honesty is how I would enlist community support. What book you’ve read has influenced you the most. The Bible. Jami Schultz What motivates you to run for the board? I am motivated to run because I graduated from Newaygo Public as did my husband, we have two kids that will soon enter the Newaygo Public School system and I think it’s a great time for me to serve on our school board. How long have you in the district? What school activities have you been involved in? I have lived in the district for more than 20 years. I was involved with the school bond mileage, I have also volunteered to help with athletic events. What skills to you bring to the board? I bring a positive attitude, I have the communication and interpersonal skills necessary to build relationships with the administration and fellow Board members as well as the community. I have a willingness to learn, I won’t pretend that I know all the ins and outs of the school system, that is why we have the excellent staff in place to run the school on a day to day basis, but I am willing to learn all that I need to do the best job I possibly can as a board member to serve the kids at NPS and the community. I am aware that my role as a board member is to maintain an environment that discourages micromanagement or undermining of the superintendent, but instead be a voice for the community. What is your own experience with public education? Aside from attending public schools from 9th – 12th grades, my mother was the Business Manager for Newaygo Public for 20 years, my aunt was the High School Principal for many years. I have many family members and friends that are employed within the school system, this allows me an understanding of just how important a strong school system is for our community. I feel it also gives me insights at all levels in the school system. What do you see as your responsibilities as a board member? The responsibilities of a school board member are to set goals for the district, develop and establish policy, evaluate the Superintendent, review the budget, approve, review and evaluate curriculum, participate in contract negotiations, determine facility needs. My role is not always to make others believe what I believe but to listen to the people we serve and represent their opinions. As a board member, it would be my responsibility to ensure that directives are in the best interest of the entire board and district and to also support the Superintendent. What do you see as the priorities for the coming years? I feel that Newaygo has a strong school system, in the coming years I feel we need to build on what we have, focusing on developing the whole child, safety and overall welfare. Doing what we can for all students so that they are safe and in an environment where learning is the number one priority for them. An example would be the third-grade reading law, while NPS was already incorporating many of the law’s requirements this has helped to increase focus on early literacy. What do you see as strengths in the school district? The dedicated staff at NPS, from bus drivers to the Superintendent, NPS staff truly believes that kids are worth whatever it takes. I can say that I have seen it with my own eyes that this is a special place for children to learn, grow and reach their fullest potential. Being a part of the Promise Zone, Kickstart to Career, access to technical training, the initiate of K-12 implementing PBIS, these are all strengths of our district. Community support is also a huge strength in our school district. What do you see as the primary challenges ahead? Safety is a constant concern not only for parents but also for our school district. Continuing to do all we can in the district and the community to ensure we are keeping kids safe. The education environment is an ever changing one, keeping up with those changes is something that is a constant challenge. Finding a balance between what is required from state and national levels and doing what is right for our kids and this area. I feel that NPS does a great job at being fiscally conservative but I think that finances are always a challenge in public education. What is your vision for NPS? A strong school system is the heart of a community, and we have one at NPS. My vision is that this continues for many years to come and that we continue to make not only student achievement but also development of the whole child the priority. How should teacher performance be measured? Teacher performance should be measured by not only state testing assessments, but also should include whole child development as well as assessment data throughout the school year determined by state regulations, administration and staff. Describe your experience with conflict resolution and consensus building. I have worked in Customer Service for almost 20 years, I am currently the supervisor of the Call Center at Great Lakes Energy, on a regular basis I deal with conflict resolution. I think it’s important to hear all sides, get all the facts when working on a resolution. It is important that people feel they are heard, it may not always be a decision someone likes but it is important to get their opinions about it. As a board member making key decisions who might you seek advice from? I would seek advice from the Superintendent, administrators, teachers, support staff and from people that have retired from the school system but who hold a great deal of knowledge and understanding regarding it. The decisions that the board makes directly impacts all levels in the school system, most importantly students, I think it’s important to be fully informed and to gather opinions before making key decisions. At some point schools may need to go to the community and ask for additional resources i.e. bond, millage. How would you help enlist support in the community for an initiative like this? I would be fully informed about what we are asking for and why. I would welcome questions and concerns from the community so that they are fully informed as well. I think that, as was done with the last bond proposal, having open regular meetings that people can get the facts are very important. I think on issues like these it is important to be very transparent to the community, after all it is their tax dollars we are asking for. What book you’ve read has influenced you the most. A book I have recently read and has had an impact for me is ‘Spark’ by Angie Morgan, Courtney Lynch & Sean Lynch. Jim Badgero What motivates you to run for the board? I have 2 kids currently enrolled in Newaygo Public Schools and I want to do all I can to make sure they (and all the other students enrolled) receive the best education and have a safe environment to learn as possible. How long have you in the district? What school activities have you been involved in? I moved to the area in May of 2000. I have been on the School Board since 2009 and have been involved with Bond passage, goal setting, facility assessment, hiring a Superintendent as well as classroom Finance presentations, chaperoning field trips, and helping with sporting events. What skills to you bring to the board? I have been on the board for 10 years and have served on the Finance and Personal Committees for many of these years. I have been part of the teacher contract negotiations process. I feel that experience and history is invaluable to this process as many times you need to know where you have been to know where you are going. What is your own experience with public education? My wife and I are both graduates of the Michigan public school system. My two boys are enrolled in NPS and we never considered anything different. I feel public schools are the best place for children to be. What do you see as your responsibilities as a board member? I feel that as a board member we set policies, budget, school mission/goals, hiring and evaluating our superintendent and facility needs all based on input from the community. What do you see as the priorities for the coming years? I feel that we need to find a way to market our schools to attract families to move into our district to stop the declining enrollment that we have been experiencing. Also finding and recruiting staff to provide the best education for our students is getting harder and more competitive as we have staff retire. What do you see as strengths in the school district? I feel that our staff is our greatest asset. We have so many employees that go above and beyond to take care of our kids. What do you see as the primary challenges ahead? Funding and budget are always a battle. As well as making sure our students get the most out of their education. What is your vision for NPS? To be the school of choice in our community, I take pride of our schools and will always be and advocate for NPS! How should teacher performance be measured? I feel that student achievement is what is the most utilized in measuring performance. But there are so many other issues that arise in a teacher’s day to day routine as well as turnover in the student population that it is nearly impossible to solely base it on test scores alone. Describe your experience with conflict resolution and consensus building. I am very open minded, and level headed. I will always take the time to hear both sides of an issue and make my decision based on all I take in. I always try to be positive and respectful of all opinions. As a board member making key decisions who might you seek advice from? I rely on getting input from our school administration, professional staff and community members before I make a decision. At some point schools may need to go to the community and ask for additional resources i.e. bond, millage. How would you help enlist support in the community for an initiative like this? I would help make sure the facts are supplied to the community in the most transparent and positive way. I would attend forums, go door to door and be available to discuss any concerns anyone might have. What book you’ve read has influenced you the most. I can’t say any one book has influenced me most, but I have read many autobiographies on successful business leaders and athletes. Reading how someone has risen to the top of their field and motivate others to be the best they can be is what I take away from these books. John Goodin What motivates you to run for the board? I was appointed to the board several months ago, and would like to stay active in our school community and continue to contribute to some things we’ve already started in order to stay accountable to the public – the approval of a comprehensive set of board policies is one example. How long have you lived in the district? What school activities have you been involved in? I’ve lived in the district my entire life and graduated from Newaygo Public Schools, as have my children. I’ve spent a lot of years being involved with kids in our community, where I helped grow the youth football program and build a strong connection with the high school program (through good management, were able to give back to the JV/Varsity program for allowing us to use their fields by purchasing new equipment for them, and we were largely responsible for construction of the concessions building at the HS football field that is now used by the NHS Band and other groups for their fundraising); I was very involved in Little League; coaching; MYWAY Wrestling; various youth fundraisers; had a key role in remodeling a spare room in the high school for use as a mat/wrestling room for students & teachers; and I worked on the AYSO soccer fields. Many of these things were accomplished with fellow candidate board Morgan Heinzman. I’m proud to have been able to support many kids & families over the years, and honored to have been chosen to receive the Newaygo I Care Award in 2016. What skills do you bring to the board? I'm not afraid to work hard and tackle the tough parts of a job (which I’ve done my whole life); I am skilled in negotiations and getting to the bottom of things to help drive improvement -- I do this every day at work; I feel I understand the heartbeat and needs of the community, and I already have some experience on this board, as well as on other boards and committees. What is your own experience with public education? I spent K-12 in Newaygo Public Schools, which I feel prepared me well for life. My father was a public school teacher, my in-laws were teachers, and my daughter is currently studying to be a teacher. I have always supported the role of public schools as an anchor in their communities throughout our state. I know first-hand how important they are. What do you see as your responsibilities as a board member? To be honest and transparent with the community and taxpayers; to work to be knowledgeable and have an understanding of our district so I can be an advocate for NPS and the kids and families of our district. What do you see as the priorities for the coming years? What do you see as the strengths in the district? What do you see as the primary challenges ahead? What is your vision for NPS? As a board member, I am one of seven. It’s important for the board to be open & honest and work together with our administration and community to identify these things and help move our district forward in a way that’s best for Newaygo. Describe your experience with conflict resolution and consensus building? As an agent on the executive board of the Teamsters, a national & international union, this is what I do every single day in my work. I was a UPS driver for many years and I worked my way up to a position on the executive board, so I have a lot of experience in seeing issues from many different perspectives and compromising to find the best solutions to benefit all involved. Jackie Malsom I’ve been a board member for a number of years. I love Newaygo schools that helped both of my children be successful adults. My goal as a board member would continue to make Newaygo schools help, educate, and embrace students to become the best that they can with their lives. Both of my children are college graduates, one a graduate of University of Chicago. Great teachers and staff that are dedicated to instill belief that kids can follow their dreams and be successful. By Ken DeLaat
Nearly there. In just over a week Election Day arrives and with it the end of the continual stream of political ads that have poured across my screen and infected the airwaves. Here’s the thing. I really like TV a lot. I recall a few decades ago when it seemed like folks I knew were having conversations about TVing that went something like.... “Oh, we hardly watch it at all,” someone would say. “We don’t even have one right now,” another would reply in that cooler than thou one-upmanship display that never ceases to puzzle me. “Really?” I’d say. “Because I watch it all the time. All I can. In fact when cable came around it felt like I’d arrived in Nirvana. Australian Rules Football at 2:30am and old sit-coms 24/7? Are you kidding? Life is great, man, truly great.” Ok, perhaps laid on a bit thick but, seriously, I not only watch it but truly revel in my viewing habits. Nowadays I hear people say there’s nothing on despite all the channels. I beg to disagree. Once you allow yourself beyond the boundaries of what you generally might watch (as well as the boundaries of good taste in some cases) there are tons of bizarre and outlandish shows that evidently appeal to a good sized crowd out there. Cruising through the channels one can find evidence of creatures that roam the wilderness, ghosts haunting various sites, and demon hunters who apparently refer their finds to the real life exorcism show. I try to catch them all. Why? Because no matter how strange and whacked out these shows might be I find it intriguing that someone out there (possibly way out there), actually a lot of someones out there, are watching it and buying into it. Which is likely why we are inundated with the poli-ads that tell the most outrageous and twisted half stories about the opposition while singing the praises of the heroes of the ads They work. Personally I am amazed at the number of people running for office who are going to, in one way or the other, doom the country or the state to apocalyptic disasters single handedly. These people must be evil incarnate to desire the death of the economy, the end of health care and the possible elimination of blue M&M’s. You can easily tell who the good person is because they appear in color while the evil wrongdoer opponent is generally in black and white and is frowning or has their mouth open. But what’s surprising is that in half of the ads these same folks appear to be knights in shining armor ready to defend us against the threat of whatever might be fashionable to fear at the time. With some of each it would seem they might cancel each other out and muddy the waters when it comes to making a selection based on TV ads. But nonetheless many of us must base our votes on these sales pitches since these crappy commercials cost a whole lot of money and there is not only no end in sight, they are more prolific than ever. Political season for television is probably like Bike Week in Sturgis SD where more money comes to the area in a few weeks than makes its way into town the whole rest of the year. Can you imagine what might be able to be done with that kind of cash in lieu of tossing it into cheesy, though obviously not so cheap, sales pitches aimed at getting you to buy by denigrating the competition? But that won’t happen and we’re left to ponder why folks are willing to raise and spend a boatload of money, to get a seat at the table in Lansing or D.C. where the salary is but a fraction of what’s spent to capture it. Hmmm. But that’s perhaps for another time. Me? I just want a break from having to hit the mute button over and over and once we’re past November 6…. It’s smooth sailing until the next election cycle begins to ramp up. Say, maybe mid-January or so? “It is important to bear in mind that political campaigns are designed by the same people who sell toothpaste and cars.”-Noam Chomsky  To The Editor:
In November 2003 Newaygo county voters overwhelmingly approved a 911 phone surcharge of $3.00 monthly. During a session in 2008, the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) decided to cut surcharges across the state of Michigan, reducing Newaygo County’s to $1.56 monthly. The rationale was that cell phones were becoming more popular, and with adding more devices to the system, the surcharge would generate the same revenue as previous. This was not the case, and Newaygo County Central Dispatch sustained a cut of over 40% in their annual revenue from 2008-2017. A class action lawsuit case was filed by 23 counties in Michigan in an attempt to bring surcharges back to the previous amounts approved by voters. This lawsuit lasted from 2008-2013 when the MPSC agreed to bring Newaygo County’s surcharge back to $1.95 monthly. Although this was better than $1.56, it was still 35% less than approved by voters in 2003. Restoring the voter approved 2003 level of $3.00 monthly will fund the replacement of the outdated radio consoles and make it possible to update and maintain critical public safety dispatching equipment. At this time Central Dispatch does not have any funding available to replace these vital technology pieces. Rumors have spread, which I would like to address: 1. This surcharge is a different way to get money for the Sheriff’s Office. This is untrue. They are two different departments in the county which have separate budgets. The Sheriff’s department uses services from Central Dispatch as does all of the city Police Departments, Michigan State Police, Fire Departments, Ambulance service, First Responders, DNR and sometimes the Road Commission, Forestry Service and others. This telephone surcharge exclusively funds Central Dispatch and it cannot be used for any outside purposes per state law. 2. This is a double dip with the state having passed some new legislation last year. Again, this is untrue. Senate Bill 400 provided funding to be used for 911 infrastructure at the state level to create a fiber network build out, supporting Next Generation 911 technology with some enhanced 911 services. There was about $4,150.00 that passed through to Newaygo County. If that stays the same in the future, we could replace our consoles in about a hundred and ninety years, if their price tag didn’t rise from its current figure of about $850,000.00. 3. This money will probably be wasted on employee salary. Some of that $3.00 will certainly be spent on employee salary, just as it is now. That salary is set contractually with the county and, just like all of the county employees, has not seen more than a three percent cost of living adjustment for many years. I hope that this lays to rest a few concerns and some misinformation that is out there. I know how important to me it is to have local people who are personally familiar with the emergency services in the county as well as the communities they live in, answering the emergency calls that come in. I will provide a recent example of this. August 28, 2018 when storms with 70 MPH winds came through Newaygo County, our Central Dispatch answered 320 call for service between 7PM-10PM and 600 total during the night. Neighboring counties had that same storm come through. I am so glad that we had our own Newaygo County people on hand that night handling those calls for service which included the city DPW’s, Emergency Service personnel and other volunteers. From January 1 – December 31, 2017 our dispatchers took 106,416 calls for service. This includes:
Bryan Kolk Fremont
Audio raises concerns, Huizenga camp offers explanation
A recent YouTube recording entitled ‘Huizenga Deadheads’ that has been circulating around and about apparently captures the voice of Representative Bill Huizenga addressing another group after Monday’s debate with Democratic challenger Dr. Rob Davidson. The audio has stirred up a bit of a hornet’s nest on local social media. We had a debate last night in Newaygo, the audio begins. And you all know who deadheads are, right? Deadheads are the folks that travel around following the Grateful Dead. Well we’ve got the political equivalent with my opponent. He’s got a group of folks who are traveling around with him everywhere he goes and last night we had somewhere like 5-600 people.They were by the way, complaining it wasn't big enough ..they wanted more. We had a few folks there, but about a tenth of what they had. They were loud they were raucous they were demanding....... It was quite shameful, really. They acted like third graders..no maybe third graders wouldn’t even act that way. The day after the debate we reported the following on the N3 Pulse page: “The crowd was likely leaning toward one of the candidates and their reaction to the answers given by the two definitely put this preference on display. However, outside of a few of what might very well be short spontaneous non-verbal reactions by some attendees (a bit of a groan here, maybe a snort or two there), the crowd remained polite, courteous and appeared to be genuinely interested in listening to what each candidate had to say. “ A comment on the article from reader Joann Delmar cites: I agree, "People listened to what the two had to say. They listened and afterwards they could be seen interacting with each other...talking about what they had just witnessed and what they had just heard." However, Rep. Huizenga shared with another audience that Newaygo participants were "Dead Heads" and "Third Graders". Any thoughts? N3 contacted the congressman’s office and Campaign Chair Jim Barry replied with the following: "Here's the story about Bill's comments that were not about Newaygo, or the people who were at the debate, or even all of our opponent's supporters. However, a small group of his supporters have a reputation that proceeds them. “Congressman Bill Huizenga was addressing an enthusiastic group of over 150 grassroots GOP activists Tuesday night at the Ottawa GOP Reagan Day Dinner. His comments about Deadheads was an analogy to fans of a rock group, The Grateful Dead who were famous for following their favorite band wherever they went. We recognize many of the same faces we've seen ever since our Democrat opponent launched his political campaign at an official Congressional Town Hall over a year ago. “Bill's comments about third grade behavior refers to a small group of our opponent's supporters who boo, hiss, give thumbs down, and have even booed an 8 year old Girl Scout being recognized at a Town Hall by Bill for her community service. "But don't take our word about their third grade behavior. Following Bill's Town Hall in Grand Haven last year, The Editorial Board of the Grand Haven Tribune published an editorial on March 9, 2017 headlined 'Rudeness Has No Place in Grand Haven'. They went on that 'what occurred at the Lakeshore Middle School auditorium was disgraceful'. Adding 'Those who were rude, shouting, and cat-calling throughout the more than two hour forum, should be ashamed of themselves'. ** "This is the behavior Bill was referring to that we have seen throughout the campaign and is done by some our opponents supporters, some of whom don't even live in the district. "There's also an issue that it was a private meeting that was covertly and possibly illegally recorded and distributed. That is an issue that will be dealt with later, for now we're focused on turning out our base and supporting GOP candidates up and down the ticket.” **Note: Dr Davidson did not enter the race until June of 2017, 3 months after the editorial referenced appeared in the Grand Haven Tribune Our thoughts, Ms. Delmar? Each attendee Monday night may have experienced the event differently influenced either by their political views or possibly their seating selection. From our birds eye view there appeared to be an air of civility, a high level of interest and a crowd that seemed invested in listening.  A few observations from a birds eye view of the event By Ken DeLaat They started filling the gym soon after the doors opened at 5pm. TV crews began to get their gear readied while tables and chairs created the setting that would serve the moderator and candidates delivering their message to an audience that would fill the gym like a Grant/Newaygo basketball game. The room was buzzing beforehand and when Dr. Rob Davidson walked in a large contingency of attendees tossed out a lengthy and enthusiastic cheer. Later a vocal, albeit noticeably smaller, group heralded the arrival of current U.S. Representative Bill Huizenga. It likely lacked the entrance drama associated with a heavyweight fight but for a political debate in a high school gym significantly smaller than a Las Vegas venue, it created a appreciable bit of excitement and anticipation. Moderator Rich Wheater did an outstanding job in his role. His introduction as to the guidelines of the event were delivered clearly and concisely as were the questions posed to the twosome while his ability to blend in a bit of well placed humor on occasion integrated nicely with the spirit of the evening. The setting was what one can expect given the limitations inherent in a multi-use facility with a huge focus on a couple of primary uses. The school did a great job getting ready and clearing the way for the contest and the co-sponsoring RC Chamber handled the infrastructure of the event very effectively. The crowd was likely leaning toward one of the candidates and their reaction to the answers given by the two definitely put this preference on display. However, outside of a few of what might very well be short spontaneous non-verbal reactions by some attendees (a bit of a groan here, maybe a snort or two there), the crowd remained polite, courteous and appeared to be genuinely interested in listening to what each candidate had to say. I was duly impressed by the number of young people in attendance who were interested in what was happening and/or assigned to go via Government class. As to the debate itself, despite enormous technological limitations on the part of this reporter N3 was able to livestream the event on our fb page and it is currently running there. The best way to determine who might have bested the other would be to view it for yourself and come to your own conclusions, but here is our opinion as to who won this debate. We did. The people of the 2nd Congressional District to be sure, but particularly for those of us who live in this area. To have candidates come to one of our high school gyms and field questions selected from emails sent in from district residents serves as a huge win. Too often we enter the ballot booth unaware of who the candidates might be much less what their stance is on key issues. Instead we are exposed to slanted television ads, social media posts with little regard for accuracy or integrity and colorful postcards that fill our mailbox every couple of years and none of these sources provide anything other than what the late musician Frank Zappa once called ‘cosmic debris’. This debate was democracy in action. Two of the likely leading candidates for a coveted job sitting through an interview with the employers/constituents who would eventually hand the job over to one of them for the next two years. Much is said about the divisiveness in this country, an estrangement encouraged by the questionable use of a variety of media and primarily, it seems, social media. And I cannot pretend that those in attendance Monday night might not be victims of that same dynamic. But on this night, in that town, and in one particular gymnasium? People listened to what the two had to say. They listened and afterwards they could be seen interacting with each other...talking about what they had just witnessed and what they had just heard. That speaks of hope. And a big, big win.  By Charles Chandler Part one: The voyage of discovery On Columbus Day afternoon a group of local fun-loving kayakers gathered along the White River at the Flowing Wells Park in White Cloud. This meetup was to celebrate and publicize a recently opened 30-mile water trail that kayakers can now access to paddle from White Cloud on down to Hesperia. This motley crew included Julie Burrell “Right Place” Business Development Coordinator for Newaygo County. Scott Rumsey, Hesperia businessman and President of Hesperia Chamber of Commerce, Lora Kalkofen City Manager for White Cloud, White Cloudian and kayaker Margie Green, Colleen Lynema, Executive Director of River Country Chamber of Commerce, Rick Lynema, sportsman and kayaker, Mark Heying, local sportsman and author, Dianne Taylor-Chandler, kayaker and Flyfisher person, Keith Payne, local, businessman, entrepreneur and adventurer, Darcy Payne, County employee, avid runner and sports person and the mildly hobbled N3 correspondent. These courageous paddlers were bound (weather and an supply of mosquito spray permitting) for another meetup and some celebratory refreshments at the Gazebo on the Island in the Hesperia Mill Pond. This event concluded one chapter in an unfinished story that began with an effort to brand and market White Cloud as a recreation destination. As those colorful banners displayed street side states, “White Cloud is a trail town with a trail for every season.” These trails include the North Country National Scenic and the White Cloud connector trails a pair of pristine pathways used by local and passing through hikers, winter snowshoers and cross-country skiers. In addition to foot trails, there is the Diamond 3 snowmobile trail and other routes for ATVs. The latest addition to the local trail system is a water trail on the White River that begins at the launch in White Cloud Rotary Park and continues for about four miles downriver to the takeout at Flowing Wells Park. After meeting some stiff requirements, that section of the river was recently designated as a State of Michigan blue water trail. http://www.michiganwatertrails.org/trail.asp?ait=cv&cid=360. This State designation created some online publicity and an uptick in paddlers on this beautiful stretch of the White. It also helped kayakers recognize and others to remember that there is another river between the big Muskegon and the world-renowned Pere Marquette. This State designation also brought a well-anticipated challenge. After paddlers have made the trip through this beautiful and feisty stretch or river running between the two White Cloud Parks they want more. As sportsmen, recreational fans or adrenalin junkies that have had a pleasant or screaming scared almost to death experience we want more. It is who we are. The problem had been that there was no more. The water trail and fun ends when you paddled under the snowmobile bridge and stopped at the take-out at Flowing Wells Park. If some brave or uninformed paddler continued past that take out they would go straight into the heart of paddling darkness and all who do so live to regret it. The personal horror stories are the same whether it is from old timers that tried it when they were young , robust Michiganders, recent area newcomers or the unaware. After you paddle under the Echo Drive bridge until you reach the N. Baldwin Ave bridge, about eight miles downstream, you would have spent more time out of your canoe or kayak than in it. You would have portaged around logs and other large woody debris dragging your watercraft up steep banks, through the muck, poison ivy, stinging nettles, briers, and leeches and back into the river. Then after a short paddle do it all over again. Adam and Audrey Rynberg, two experienced kayakers and riverside residents took the challenge and reported they made about 80 portages in those eight miles. Mark Heying a local Base Line Rd resident recalls that around midnight one night he heard voices on the river and had to rescue two unfortunate and very exhausted kayakers that had started late in the day and only made about four of the eight miles. He also mentioned that they did not have a flashlight. There has been growing pressure from a variety of sources to address this impassable section of the river. There were concerns for the safety of unaware kayakers that ventured past the take out at Flowing Wells, streamside landowners and kayakers like Mark Heying and the Rynbergs who wanted to be able to use the river that ran along their property. Given the growing popularity of kayaking others began to see the recreational opportunity and economic benefits of developing a new water trail between White Cloud and Hesperia. And then there are the visionaries, the entrepreneurs and dreamers who suggested “Why stop at Hesperia? Why can’t we paddle from White Cloud to Whitehall? The river runs all the way to Lake Michigan, doesn’t it?” The answer is yes but first things first. When the old-timers and local residents were asked if developing a water trail down to Hesperia had been tried before the answers were all over the place starting with “not that I ever heard of, are you nuts, too much work,” and “don’t do it you will ruin everything.” Some said that the White will become a party river like the Muskegon, or that the landowners won’t let you, or it can’t be done because the White is a Federal river. Most of these comments and opinions were based on inaccurate information and will be addressed in the next two parts of this series. The short answer is yes, you can develop a water trail for kayak paddlers between White Cloud and Hesperia. It was done over this past summer by the White River Kayaker Coalition, an informal group of committed people that included Rick Lynema, Adam Rynberg, Mark Heying, Mike Anderson, Perry Anderson, and this N3 Correspondent. Rick, Mark, and Adam did the heavy lifting on this project and their efforts were truly appreciated. The afternoon voyage of discovery from Fitzgerald Ave to Hesperia was rewarding and informative to those that had not paddled this section. The weather was perfect and the mosquito repellant held out. Darcy Payne and Near North Now Editor Ken DeLaat were waiting at the Island in the Hesperia Mill Pond as all paddle in. After photo ops, Darcy provided refreshing cold apple cider and delicious greasy cake donuts for the Motley crew. Perfect fare for hungry paddlers. Stay tuned for additional commentary and the next chapter of the story about the White, Newaygo County’s forgotten river.   Dear Newaygo Public School District Voters,
My name is Artemisia Clark. I am known by many names, Missy Clark, Missy Anderson, Larry & Tish’s daughter, John’s wife and most importantly Chloe’s mom. I take pride in each of those names. However, legally I am Artemisia Clark, therefore on November 6th that will be the name that is on the ballot for Newaygo Public School Board. I am asking for your support and would be honored to represent our community and families as a member of the School Board. I am a K-12 Newaygo alumni and a proud wife to a lifelong Newaygo Lion and local business owner. I’m a mom to a 5thgrader and future graduate of NPS. I believe strong schools make strong communities and I want my daughter to be as proud of Newaygo as I am. Therefore, I have been a very involved parent in our schools. I have volunteered an average of 25 hours per school year in elementary classrooms. I have attended countless field trips, school board, bond proposal, and Dynamic Planning for NPS meetings. I am actively involved in the continuous improvement of our schools through partnerships with teachers and administration. I am also a daughter of retired State Police Trooper turned Newaygo Bus Garage Supervisor & a stay at home mom turned Teacher. Growing up with those parents has given me perspective of what our teachers and staff go through as well as what administration is responsible for. I shop our local businesses, attend many local events, use our walking trails and paths and spend my extra time on the boat on Croton pond. I am an active member of the Newaygo community. I am a huge advocate for a better school for all and looking for creative solutions to today’s issues to service all our kids regardless of talents or needs. I am a supporter of our school athletics, because sports are important for teaching children life lessons not necessarily being the best athlete and because those athletic events can bring a community together. I can’t say enough for the amazing talents that are displayed through our arts programs inclusive of the band, dance club and things like an Art Prize entry. I believe having several diverse opportunities that inspire kids to participate in school is important to foster future success. I am a 14-year employee of General Mills with experience in Human Resources and Supply Chain initiatives. I have experience on local government boards in Big Prairie township. I have been a cheer & gymnastics coach, substitute teacher, YMCA Teen Program Manager and Middle School Drug Prevention Specialist. I would be honored to add the title of Newaygo Public School Board member and work for our community and schools in this role. Please consider casting your vote on November 6th for me, Artemisia Clark, to represent our community on the Newaygo Public School Board. Candidates for U.S. House to meet at NHS
U.S. Representative Bill Huizenga and Challenger Dr. Rob Davidson will face off in a debate to be held at Newaygo High School on Monday October 15th beginning at 6pm. The discourse will pit the incumbent who has served in the Capitol since 2011 following a 6 year run in Lansing as a state representative against the emergency room physician making his first run at political office. Tickets are free but limited to the first 900 requests. For more information please go to: https://www.rivercountrychamber.com/events/details/debate-u-s-rep-bill-huizenga-dr-rob-davidson-30894  An open letter to the voters of the Second Congressional District and the news media:
Congressman Bill Huizenga has finally emerged from avoiding his constituents in West Michigan since his last in-person town hall more than a year ago. He has recently been knocking on doors and handing out fliers that are full of misinformation and half-truths. Huizenga is spreading lies because he thinks he can fool voters with phony but nice-sounding words. His record is the exact opposite of what he claims and we must set the record straight. Huizenga claims he opposes “out-of-control spending.” False. Huizenga voted for a massive tax handout to Wall Street billionaires that is adding trillions of dollars to the national deficit. He then voted to pay for this “out-of-control” spending that he supports by cutting Medicare and Social Security. Huizenga claims he is standing up to “special interests in Washington.” False. Huizenga has taken millions of dollars from corporate special interests. His largest donors are from the insurance industry, which has given him more than $660,000 to date. His second largest donors: Wall Street banks, more than $500,000. Huizenga has voted more than 60 times to raise healthcare costs for people with preexisting conditions, putting more money in the pockets of insurance companies. Huizenga claims he is working for “safer schools.” Not true. Huizenga has refused to support common-sense gun safety regulations, such as universal background checks on all gun sales. In fact, one of his first votes in the current Congress was to let mentally ill people buy guns, reversing a common sense safeguard. These are just some of the demonstrably untrue clams Huizenga makes in his handout. Huizenga is telling these whoppers because he hopes people won’t pay attention. They are. Voters deserve real representation in Congress, not someone who hides from constituents and goes golfing instead. West Michigan families demand a member of Congress with the courage to fight for them against Big Insurance and Big Banks. ER doctor Rob Davidson will be a far better, more courageous member of Congress than Bill Huizenga. Davidson is the one who will truly stand up for West Michigan families. Signed: Mary Schumaker, Pentwater Dena Arner, Holland Martha Beattie, Holland Lori Lundy, Kentwood Nathan Leduc, Kentwood Heather Alexander, Kentwood Virginia Pastoor, North Muskegon ACCOMPANYING VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U2bxUcjWrhc |
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