 By Ken DeLaat Well it looks like we have a new Parks guy in place as Asa Vermeulen takes the reins at the burgeoning array of recreational options that is Newaygo County Parks. Good timing. The ever popular campgrounds are about to be inundated with all those people who make it a point to travel to our county for a short stay in this wonderful slice of our bi-peninsular paradise. Always makes me think about the times spent travelling to one of those really cool places, the locales that make you ponder, “I wonder what it’s like to live here full time?” And here we are. Smack dab in a destination spot for the droves of fun lovers seeking to enjoy what our natural resources offer. Beyond campers there are the cyclists and hikers who are drawn to the magic of The Dragon, the fishing fanatics who will soon see a new marina the county is resurrecting on the site of an old one, the kayakers and tubers who fill the river on weekends, and now a new birding trail to draw the rather amazing amount of birders (It is estimated there are over 2 million in the state) to our prime birding sites (nearly 40). And so, welcome to our county Asa Vermeulen. I believe you’ll find the folks here in the Near North to be a friendly bunch, always eager to help. And nearly all the answers to questions you might have can be found at any one of those long tables filled with coffee drinking men that pop up around mid morning at several local restaurants. Pickleballers can relax a bit now that the Fremont Rec Center has been gifted with 10 years of support after the recent millage was approved for continuation. Kudos to the city and the 2 townships that came through this time around. The Rec Center has established themselves as a vital entity in the community and will likely continue to thrive, particularly if pickleball continues its meteoric rise in popularity. It seems that the Medicaid cuts that have been banged around by politicians and the media who cover them are looking to be more and more inevitable. I truly hope not. The cuts being bantered about would have a devastating effect on our county in ways that would reach much deeper than simply reducing medical coverage. The ripple effect would touch everyone in one way or another. Stoking anecdotal references to how the money is misused is designed to tap into old attitudes about welfare. Like others who have spent many years working in human service agencies there is an awareness of how vital the services provided are and how far reaching the effects can be. It is time to show some compassion for the less fortunate. Cutting medical coverage to an already vulnerable population is unconscionable. If you agree, call Rep Moolenaar’s office and let him know. If you don’t agree? Be prepared for the profound changes on the horizon that are likely to negatively impact the quality of life for far more of us than just those who lose their insurance coverage.
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Police Week Newaygo May 11 - 17, 2025
A Resolution adopted by the City of Newaygo City Council on May 13, 2019, declares every calendar week in which May 15th falls as "Police Week Newaygo" In 1962, President John F. Kennedy proclaimed May 15th as National Peace Officer Memorial Day and the calendar week in which May 15th falls as National Police Week. National Policy Week pays special recognition to those law enforcement officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty for the safety and protection of others. In 2004 the City of Newaygo established Marshall Memorial Park to memorize Trooper Kevin Marshall. In 2019 Headstones were placed in the Marshall Memorial Park honoring and memorizing all fallen Police Officer from Newaygo County: Village Marshal Benjamin Carpenter; end of watch July 23, 1963, Deputy Gerald Kandler; end of watch June 12, 1998, Trooper Kevin Marshall end of watch July 7, 2003, Trooper Paul Butterfield; end of watch September 9, 2013. Since 1776, there have been 26,959 know line of duty deaths in the United States of America, including 672 in Michigan and 4 in Newaygo County. Michigan's and specifically Newaygo County's fallen officers will never be forgotten, nor their service to their respective communities. By choosing to commit themselves to law enforcement, these brave individuals answered the call for service and willingly put their lives in jeopardy. We commend them for recognizing law enforcement as a noble career, and protecting the public safety, and also of those who are currently serving for the safety and security of their communities. We publicly salute the service of law enforcement officers in our Newaygo County community as well as those of our State and Nation. Keep Safe and Be Blessed Mayor Ed Fedell City of Newaygo  Julie Tatko By Julie Tatko, CEO, Family Health Care At Family Health Care, we are deeply concerned about the proposed cuts to the Medicaid program. We are particularly concerned about our patients, 46 percent of whom receive their health insurance through Medicaid. Patients qualify for Medicaid coverage for various reasons, including being a child, in foster care, working at a minimum-wage job, employed in a job that doesn’t offer insurance, being disabled and unable to work, or being a student. People insured by Medicaid are our neighbors, and they deserve quality healthcare. Our members of Congress have promised that there will be no cuts to the program, and people in need of Medicaid will continue to receive it. At the same time, they are expressing an openness to work requirements. Based on experiences in other states that have work requirements, we are concerned for our patients that our legislators are considering this strategy. Work requirements are problematic for several reasons. First, most people who are insured through Medicaid are either working or are unable to work due to disability, caretaking responsibilities, significant illnesses, or pregnancy. Excluding those who are unable to work, 92 percent of Medicaid enrollees are already employed. Second, work requirements fail to keep people insured and create additional expenses for states. Work requirements were voluntarily implemented in Arkansas, New Hampshire, and Georgia. In each of these cases, they were highly successful in driving up the costs to states for implementation and pushing people out of Medicaid, leaving them uninsured and without access to healthcare. Additionally, work requirements impose significant paperwork burdens on patients themselves. Lastly, if there are significant reductions in Medicaid expenditures, it means people will lose coverage. The House of Representatives is currently pushing for $880 billion in spending cuts through the committee that oversees Medicaid and Medicare. The Congressional Budget Office has stated that the only way to achieve those kinds of savings from the budget is by making significant cuts to Medicaid. You can call it whatever you want, but work requirements are cuts to the Medicaid program. A cut by any other name is still a cut. Family Health Care serves approximately 23,000 unduplicated patients annually at clinics located in Baldwin, Big Rapids, Cadillac, Evart, Grant, McBain, Reed City, and White Cloud. The clinics offer access to affordable medical, dental, behavioral health, vision, laboratory, radiology, and pharmacy services. 
A Letter From the Editors
Is a protest rally news? When we posted a story on the recent Fremont rally we included photos of the event as well as comments from those in attendance. We knew that in an area where 7 of every 10 voters cast their ballots for the current administration the protest likely gave them pause and given the number of Trump signs that have remained in sight nearly 6 months beyond the election many may have found it distressing. But isn’t it worthy of reporting on? In recent weeks we have stopped allowing comments on our fb page’s news or public opinion pieces due to the inevitable dumpster fire of vitriolic squabbles hellbent on a futile quest for oneupmanship that never arrives. We do, of course, allow comments on our site but find it interesting that most would prefer to limit their opinions to attempts at cleverness on social media. If you look through the comment section of our Public Pulse section you’ll see some dialogue between people with differing opinions but it never gets to the nastiness that forced our hand in eliminating random fb commentary. We've been called biased, fake news and prejudicial and while we indeed strive to stay out of advancing the divisiveness we’re all forced to live with these days, there are news items we feel strongly about. We will not hesitate to call out elected officials when they may choose to evade accountability to their constituents, nor will we shy away from topics that remain contentious. Our purpose in existing is to enlighten, engage, and encourage dialogue. To let people know what’s going on in our area and bring the community a variety of viewpoints. We also welcome opinions via letters to the editor. This entails all opinions, so long as they are deemed appropriate and delivered with a way to contact the writer for verification. It has always been our hope to encourage productive discourse. True dialogue, not the churlish prattle that accompanies most social media reactions. Well thought out commentary is certainly more impactful than the timidity of a laughter emoji slapped onto posts one disagrees with. We hope to hear from you but if not, that’s ok as well. If we didn't piss people off from time to time we likely wouldn't be doing our job. Despite the likelihood that we have lost a few readers along the way our numbers have continued to grow and that gives us hope that the majority of the community isn’t afraid of hashing out a bit of controversy now and again. And apparently we’re not shy about delivering it. Alexis Mercer Editor Ken DeLaat Publisher  Indivisible Newaygo County (INC) is calling for community action around Food Security on Saturday, April 19. Gathering from 12noon to 2pm, the public is welcomed to meet in front of City Hall in downtown Newaygo before peacefully walking the sidewalks handing out information and collecting donations for local food services. The Rally for Food Security will bring attention to Federal cuts in funding for food and agricultural programs that are affecting local food pantries as well as farmers. INC members will collect donations of non-perishable food items that will be given to local food pantries, as well as funds that will go to NCRESA Great Start for their community garden projects. Funds collected will also be donated to Indivisible Newaygo County’s “Victory Garden Initiative.” This Garden Initiative encourages community members to grow vegetables that can help stretch food budgets, and provide families with fresh and healthy nutrition at their doorstep. This spring the USDA (US Department of Agriculture) was mandated to cut funding. This led to the cancellation of $1 billion in Federal funding for local food purchases through the Local Food for Schools and the Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement programs. Newaygo County’s local food pantries are feeling the pinch of decreased food and funds. Feeding America West Michigan states that more than half of the Temporary Emergency Food Assistance Program’s truckloads of food ordered from the USDA for April through July have been cancelled. That amounts to 32 semi-trailer loads of protein and fresh dairy that were planned for distribution to hundreds of communities in West Michigan and the Upper Peninsula. (Feeding American West Michigan, March 26, 2025). Sudden funding cuts are impacting local farmers as well. A USDA program that provided funds to purchase food for pantries from local farmers will end on Sept. 30. And several West Michigan farmers have lost funds that assisted with labor costs and farm improvements even after the farms met their obligations and spent their own money, leaving them with thousands of dollars of unintended debt. Farmers also fear that current and proposed tariffs will impact costs of fertilizer and agricultural equipment, and decrease or eliminate their sales of products such as soy beans to international markets. (Bridge Michigan, March 2025). The April 19 “Day of Action” was initiated by the 50501 organization, and encourages communities and organizations to come together in support of local needs and issues. Indivisible Newaygo County chose Food Insecurity as the focus of this event due to the number of families in Newaygo County that depend on food assistance through SNAP, school breakfast and lunch programs, and food pantries. To receive information about Indivisible Newaygo County events, email: [email protected].  The crowd at the Fremont Area District Library From Indivisible Newaygo County On March 26th an Empty Chair Town Hall, organized and hosted by Indivisible on the Lakeshore in partnership with Indivisible Newaygo County, was held at Fremont Area District Library. Indivisible is a nonpartisan group that welcomes people of diverse political beliefs, advocating for respectful dialogue, mutual support, and political action to ensure an effective and responsive government for all. The event was held to provide constituents in Michigan’s 2nd Congressional District with an opportunity to share concerns about government policies affecting their lives. Representative John Moolenaar, did not respond to his invitation or attend, according to Indivisible Newaygo County town hall coordinators. Moderated by a Newaygo resident and former Mayor or Grand Rapids George Heartwell, the event featured Michael Lynch, a Democrat who previously ran against Representative Moolenaar. Lynch provided context on how cuts to programs and departments that are occurring as directed by the Trump Administration and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), that are negatively impacting rural communities. However, Indivisible members noted that the most powerful moments came from community members who shared personal stories of hardship and uncertainty. The town hall focused on key topics such as Medicare and Medicaid cuts, reductions to Social Security benefits, funding for Veterans Affairs, Agriculture, and Public Education. The crowd of approximately 125 people expressed deep concern about these issues. One attendee, Doug Bonner, shared his anxiety about Social Security, stating, “The first thing I did this morning was check if my payment came through.” His words echoed the fears of many attendees concerned about financial instability. Concerns about Medicare and Medicaid cuts resonated strongly, particularly regarding their impact on rural communities like Newaygo County. Attendees discussed how reductions in funding could limit incentives for qualified medical professionals to serve these areas, disproportionately affecting the elderly and children by reducing access to nursing home care, adult foster care, and mental health services. A particularly powerful moment came when a veteran approached a cutout of Representative Moolenaar and asked, “How can you assure that your veterans are not being denied services? Because if you can’t back my brothers and sisters now, don’t expect us to back you later.” His words were met with the loudest applause of the evening, highlighting the deep frustration among constituents over potential cuts to VA services. The two-hour event began with the Pledge of Allegiance and concluded with closing remarks from Mr. Heartwell: “We have a lot of work ahead of us, but we are going to do it together.” He encouraged all attendees to join Indivisible Newaygo County or Indivisible on the Lakeshore to continue advocating for their community. Despite Representative Moolenaar’s absence, the town hall served as a vital platform for constituents to voice their concerns and rally together for action.  Former Grand Rapids Mayor George Heartwell (at podium) and U.S. 2nd District 2024 Democratic candidate Michael Lynch (seated) spoke at the meeting.  House poised to cancel planned limits on overdraft fees
Last week U.S. Representative John Moolenaar held a Town Meeting via zoom fielding questions from constituents. Here are a couple of items that didn't come up during the meeting. Perhaps voters may want to call his office if these are of concern. Phone: (202) 225-3561. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) finalized a rule in December that would limit overdraft charges at large banks and credit unions, a move that federal officials said could help save Americans billions in fees each year. The banking industry, of course, opposed it. The Senate voted last Thursday to strike down the rule that would cap most bank overdraft fees at $5. The vote went 52-48 along party lines with one Republican Senator voting against it. It will now move to the House. Senator Tim Scott was quoted as saying, ”Overturning the Biden CFPB’s overdraft fee structure is good for consumers.” Senator Scott, the chairman of the Senate Banking Committee, did not elaborate as to how taking the limit off overdraft fees would be helpful to consumers who pay them. Cuts at the USDA have stalled or cancelled 600,000 pounds of food going to Feeding America of West Michigan. The Emergency Food Assistance Program is on pause amid a federal review, and it’s unclear whether the canceled food shipments will be restored, according to media reports. FAWM is a large distributor of food to those in need in Newaygo County with deliveries at the White Cloud United Methodist Church on the 4th Tuesday of each month. By Ken DeLaat Given that I have transitioned somewhat less than gracefully into old age, it seems an appropriate time to embrace the inner curmudgeon with more enthusiasm. When I wore a younger man's clothes (thanks Billy Joel) few changes created conflict with my view of the world. Perhaps I adjusted more smoothly or just didn’t care but as I advance in birthdays there is considerably less patience with what is adjudged to be, well, stupid I guess. I’ve never liked the media grabbing a coach at halftime to ask about the game, but we all know it’s about the money so while it was clear to me and anyone who has coached at any level what a pain in the ass this must be, I understood. But of course this wasn't enough. No, we had to hear from them during timeouts as well. You know, when coaches are giving instructions and making changes in the middle of a game? And why leave out the players? Snatching a player in a close game as they headed for the lockerroom with their teammates and coach to work out what has occurred and what the plans would be for the second half became standard. To me this adds little to the game. Coaches and players just deliver coach-speak. “We just need to stay focused, improve on defense and yada yada yada.” In baseball it started with miking up the manager. While it is now commonplace I recall a game in the early 80’s when Don (The Gerbil) Zimmer was managing Texas and in a nationally broadcast game they had him miked. At one point I believe something happened to his substitute catcher and he said “Now where’s my F–ing 3rd catcher when I need him?”, then stared at the camera on him with a look of horror. Maybe that killed the experiment for a while but of course it has long since returned. Then last Thursday during the Tiger Dodger game they were interviewing one of the LA outfielders in the field while the game was going on. Really? Is this a thing now? Sure, baseball is a different kind of sport where there is time for reflection but they were chatting with him about the recent trip to Japan and the look of his shoes. It made my ongoing disdain for Joe (makes me want to stick an icepick in my ear) Buck crater even further. What’s next? Mike up a lineman during a Lions game? Talk about adding color to the game. These shenanigans are why I’ve taken to watching games with the sound off. Try it. My hunch is you’ll find, like me, you really don’t miss a thing besides babbling broadcasters and obscure stats. Ok That’s all for now. And in the meantime… Get off my lawn!  To the Editor: I am deeply concerned about the growing threats to essential public services funded by our tax dollars. Many friends and neighbors fear potential disruptions to their Social Security benefits. Recent college graduates who had hoped to intern or work for NOAA, the National Park Service, Wildlife and Fisheries, or museums now face uncertainty. Dedicated federal employees who took pride in serving the Constitution have had their lives thrown into chaos. While these issues may not affect everyone directly, there is one service that touches all Americans—the U.S. Postal Service. The USPS is under threat of privatization, a move that will disproportionately harm rural communities. Changes have already begun beneath the surface—mail delivery has slowed, and like a frog in a slowly boiling pot, we may not realize the full impact until it’s too late. The USPS is a vital part of our ability to communicate and receive essential goods. This is especially true in rural communities, where unreliable internet access makes traditional mail a critical means of staying informed and connected. Privatization threatens to dismantle this lifeline, leaving rural residents further disconnected. Historically, rural areas faced significant delays in postal access due to poor road conditions and the unprofitability of long-distance deliveries. If privatized, mail service will be dictated by corporate profit rather than public need. Rural residents will likely pay more while receiving less frequent mail service simply because serving them won’t be lucrative enough. By law, the USPS was never intended to be a profit-making entity. It was established as a taxpayer-funded public service to ensure reliable and affordable mail delivery for all Americans. Privatization would turn mail delivery into a privilege rather than a right, leaving millions without reliable access to this fundamental service. We must take action now. Tell Congress: Hands off our Postal Service. Michelle Petz, LCSW  Did you Attend? Looking for feedback
On Thursday March 27th Congressman John Moolenaar presented a Town Hall Meeting via Zoom to constituents of the 2nd District. During the hour-long meeting he fielded questions on a number of subjects including Social Security, DOGE and Elon Musk, the recent group chat on Signal, and the shutdown of USAID. Did you attend? If so, we would appreciate hearing your feedback. Please send your thoughts via our comment section. Comments must be accompanied by an email address. Near North Now reserves the right to selectivity of comments with regard to appropriateness. |
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