N I R E R V A I E E Y W A
2020
SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT TO THE
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2020 YEAR IN REVIEW
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Community comes together to support Paris boy in his journey to recovery #OwenStrong grabs national attention Pioneer Staff Reports Editor’s note: A lot of negativity surrounded 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic. To shift gears and focus on the positives, the Pioneer is looking back at some stories from 2020 that showed encouragement, strength, and positivity. Stories have been edited for length. BIG RAPIDS — On July 7, the Strickler family was dealt a blow that most families would have never thought possible. While with his friend in Hersey, then-11-year-old Owen Strickler was involved in an accident and needed to be air-lifted to the Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital in Grand Rapids. Despite breaking his right leg and shattering his left hip, along with his pelvis, Owen never lost consciousness and remained aware of his surroundings during the event. In the more than three weeks that have followed, the Stricklers, including Owen’s mother and father, Andi and Shane, along with his two siblings — Wil and Brooke — received a number of texts, calls, prayers, thoughts, well-wishes, letters, and words of sympathy and encouragement from an array of sources in the community. The beginning of a journey: Setting a goal The diagnosis was not the one anyone wanted to hear. Owen temporarily lost his ability to walk and needed to endure a lengthy rehabilitation and physical therapy process. Doctors were in agreement he will make a full recovery after rehabilitation and physical therapy programs. Shane said his son was prepared to take on the challenge, regardless of how long it might take or stressful it may be. Aside from his passion for hunting, Owen is also an avid fisherman, to go along with golf, baseball and football as his other preferred sports, all of which Shane expects Owen will be able
to eventually engage in once again. “Owen is still with us,” Strickler said. “Everything is going to be OK.” #OwenStrong: An outpouring of support from Big Rapids and beyond In the immediate aftermath of the accident, Strickler said he and his wife received so many text messages, they decided to create a public Facebook page to update anyone concerned with and wanting updated information regarding their son’s recovery process. Not long after the Facebook page went live, the followers and support grew exponentially. It didn’t take long for it to pick up steam, as it is now seen all over town, while staying on the collective mind of the community. But before any of this came to fruition, Owen’s travel-baseball teammates created #OwenStrong to pay tribute to their injured friend. “His (travel baseball) teammates were some of the first ones to be doing the #OwenStrong stuff,” Strickler said. “When they’d go up to bat, they would draw his name in the dirt.” One of Owen’s friends and baseball teammates, Levi Hatchew, went the extra mile, and said he would smack a home run for him. He followed up by doing exactly that while wearing Owen’s jersey. “That was very emotional for Owen, myself and Andi,” Strickler said. “For an 11-year-old kid to say that — most 11-year-olds can’t even hit home runs — and do it. That was beautiful.” During the three-plus weeks since the afternoon of the accident, Owen and the entire Strickler clan received an outpouring of support from a wide array of sources. Some of those are close friends and extended family, while others are relative unknowns wanting to show Owen they are on his side and in their minds. On most days since he has been in the hospital, Owen dedicated a portion of his time opening a plethora of getwell-soon cards and letters of warm
The flow of traffic along Michigan Avenue eased for just a few moments on Thursday, Aug. 27 as a group of Owen Strickler’s supporters welcomed him home. Owen was escorted through downtown Big Rapids as his friends and family waved and shouted their welcomes from the sidewalk. Owen was involved in an unfortunate accident in July and has since been at a Grand Rapids area hospital recovering. (Pioneer file photo)
wishes. Shane said Owen’s hospital room received roughly 300-350 letters, and he read every single one of them that comes his way. “The support from the community is something that blows us away — it just makes us feel good and smile,” Strickler said. “When we’re down and not feeling good, or Owen’s having a rough day, we kind of use those on days that we need to get pumped up and feeling good.” Smiles from strangers The many kind words of love, support and encouragement have given Owen and his family a positive boost, and some of those messages have arrived from supportive, yet unknown sources. It seems as if each passing day brings the Stricklers another anonymous pat on the back or a hug from afar. “He’s a huge Green Bay Packers fan,” Strickler said. “He’s gotten a signed (Devonte) Adams jersey, a Brett Favre
signed helmet, and yesterday he got a signed Aaron Rodgers photograph.” Packers’ head coach Matt LaFleur even penned Owen a personal get-well letter. Professional golfer Ricky Fowler also caught wind of the story and signed a few items for Owen as well. At first Owen thought the wave of gifts were from people that might’ve known him or one of his family members personally or vice versa, but Shane explained to his youngest boy that there are simply just people out there in the world that want to make him smile. Owen said those people, wherever they’re from, succeeded in providing plenty of smiles. “It’s unbelievable. It’s really unbelievable,” Strickler said. Welcome home On Aug. 27, Owen was escorted through downtown Big Rapids as his friends and family waved and shouted their welcomes from the sidewalk along Michigan Avenue.
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2020 YEAR IN REVIEW
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Morley teen surprised by generosity from her community American Legion comes together to support Ellie Kinnee Pioneer Staff Reports Editor’s note: A lot of negativity surrounded 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic. To shift gears and focus on the positives, the Pioneer is looking back at some stories from 2020 that showed encouragement, strength, and positivity. Stories have been edited for length. MORLEY — When 17-year-old Ellie Kinnee woke up one morning in late June she expected a normal day at the horse ranch in Canadian Lakes where she worked. But, what followed was anything but ordinary. While tending to a 5-month-old foal, Kinnee was kicked in the head and chest and had to be transported to the hospital for a minor concussion. Although sent home after evaluation, Kinnee said her condition did not improve after a couple of days. She decided it was time to return to the hospital, and while there, the prognosis took a turn for the worst. “I went back a few days later because I wasn’t getting any better, and they did a CT scan and took an x-ray of my chest, and the CT scan found a mass,” Kinnee explained. “Then I went to Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital and they discovered it was a tumor.” Despite the diagnosis, Kinnee has been braving her circumstances, along with the support of her family, friends and neighbors. Since the initial hospital visit, Kinnee has completed six weeks of radiation therapy to treat the tumor, and is expected to continue regular visits to receive MRIs to ensure the mass does not grow back. Although necessary to ensure Kinnee can live a long and happy life, with
treatment and preventative measures comes increasingly high doctor bills. However, members of the community have come together to try to lessen the weight of these bills. On Oct. 26, Kinnee and her mother, Tara, were presented with a donation of more than $4,000 from the Sons of the American Legion Post No. 554 in Morley. Danny Peacock, commander of the post, said the organization hosted a spaghetti dinner in October after hearing about the situation the Kinnee family was facing. “We knew it was going to be a financial strain on the family to pay that much, so we felt that we could help them out,” Peacock said. “That’s kind of what we are here for. We try to help the community in any way we can.” Along with the spaghetti dinner at the American Legion in Morley, attendees could participate in a silent auction, gun or firewood raffle or a 50/50 raffle. Overall, the event raised $4,229. Peacock said he was pleased to see so many members of the community come out to the event and donate different items for the silent auction. “The Sons of the American Legion organized the event and put it on, and we paid for all the expenses for the dinner ourselves so all the proceeds could go directly to the family,” he said. Kinnee said she has no words for how thankful she is to everyone who offered her support and encouragement throughout everything. “I didn’t know that many people knew me or knew what happened,” she said. “Thank you for the support and the help.” See KINNEE on page 5
The Sons of the American Legion Post No. 554 in Morley raised more than $4,000 to help offset medical expenses for Ellie Kinnee. Kinnee said she is grateful to everyone who hosted and attended the event and who have shown her support and encouragement. (Pioneer file photo)
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2020 YEAR IN REVIEW
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Kermit and Jean Hainley (center) are pictured with their daughters and grandchildren. (Courtesy photo)
Kermit Hainley remembered for caring personality Eagle Village founder passes after battle with cancer Pioneer Staff Reports Editor’s note: A lot of negativity surrounded 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic. To shift gears and focus on the positives, the Pioneer is looking back at some stories from 2020 that showed encouragement, strength, and positivity. Stories have been edited for length. BIG RAPIDS – Always thinking of ways to engage and motivate people, Kermit Hainley was known by loved ones as a man with a vision, and a kind heart. Hainley, the founder of Eagle Village in Hersey, died May 16 after a long battle with cancer.
Eagle Village has served at-risk youth and families through residential treatment, adoption and foster care, short-term interventions and specialized summer camps. Before the village, however, Hainley was a man who looked for ways to help those in need, in the most effective way possible, his wife, Jean Hainley, said. “He was always a visionary. He was always two years ahead,” she said. “God gave him a vision of where to be in advance.” Born in the mountains of Pennsylvania to a coal miner, Hainley grew up and was often seen as one of the “different” kids. “He didn’t feel he had anything to
offer,” his wife said. “He really had to overcome a lot of life circumstances,” Hainley’s daughter, Cathey Prudhomme, said. Having to overcome targeted bullying, as well as other struggles, Kermit Hainley grew up with a strong determination to help kids, no matter the circumstance they found themselves in. Kermit often said, “If you had the chance to change a child’s life, would you?” From a child to a man looking to give back, Kermit Hainley began working at a juvenile detention center at the heart of San Francisco. As Kermit Hainley continued to help children in need, he began noticing
some flaws in the system, something that frustrated him and made him question what to do next. “He was very determined in a very compassionate way,” Prudhomme said. “He always wanted to better the system, not be part of a broken system.” What began as helping and fostering four kids, soon became 12, which became 16 – and Eagle Village was born. “We have just grown from there,” Jean Hainley said. Now, a 681-acre campus with 50 buildings and 200 staff members, Eagle Village continues to serve abused and neglected youth. See HAINLEY on page 5
2020 YEAR IN REVIEW
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Grandma helps grandson HAINLEY ‘pop the question’ Continued from page 4
“We are thankful for Kermit’s vision and the thriving legacy he created,” a statement from Eagle Village read. “He was a leader who developed a culture, core values and a unique method to go above and beyond. “He was tireless, strong and definite in purpose, with a thoughtful, caring, genuine manner that had a lasting impact on the many lives he worked so hard to transform.” Kermit was honored for planting lasting seeds in each child, finding the talents in each child, and for making each child his top priority. “Kermit Hainley’s life and legacy has had a powerful impact on more than 10,000 Eagle Village kids and many of these youth as adults are making a similar mark on all those that they touch – this combination of valuing others, inspiring hope and genuine care has impacted several generations,” the statement continued.
KINNEE Continued from page 3
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Tara Kinnee said she too has felt overwhelmed by the amount of kindness the area has shown her daughter and their family. She explained that along with the American Legion, Ellie’s work and the organization she races horses at in Cedar Springs also hosted fundraisers to offset the treatment costs. Tara said it was wonderful being able to attend the dinner in Morley and see how much everyone cared. “Being here and being around everyone was more personal. It was hard that day, being here,” she said. “It’s
been overwhelming with our community. People I had no clue would send you a check or people have brought us dinners or offered to take her (to the hospital).” Although they don’t have anything else planned currently, the American Legion hopes to be able to host another fundraiser for the Kinnee family. “We certainly do intend to reach out more,” he said. As Ellie Kinnee continues to stay positive, she said she hopes to one day have a career working with horses in the fields of equine massage therapy or dentistry.
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With COVID-19 restrictions only allowing guests to visit residents through the window, Stenberg was able to surprise Curnett by holding up
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Betty Stenberg held up the pictured sign during a recent marriage proposal in August at the Reed City Spectrum Health Rehab and Nursing Center. The proposal took place there during a visit with her grandson, Josh Chupp and new fiancee, Nicole Curnett. (Courtesy photo)
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REED CITY — Nicole Curnett did not expect to leave Spectrum Health Reed City Hospital engaged after a visit with her significant other’s grandmother in August 2020. “I was so surprised,” Curnett said. “We (hadn’t) seen Grandma in a while and we were in the area not doing much so his mom suggested we stop by and say, ‘Hi.’ I thought it was just that. I was happy to see her.” However, this was not just an ordinary visit. Josh Chupp, who was dating Curnett for four years, took her to the hospital’s rehabilitation and nursing center, where his grandmother, Betty Stenberg, lives, to ask a very important question. “I think she was excited. Nicole had no idea,” Chupp said. While there, Chupp devised a plan with Stenberg, as well as Reed City nurses, to ask for Curnett’s hand in marriage.
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Editor’s note: A lot of negativity surrounded 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic. To shift gears and focus on the positives, the Pioneer is looking back at some stories from 2020 that showed encouragement, strength, and positivity. Stories have been edited for length.
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Pioneer Staff Reports
As well as inspiring those who came to their door many years ago, Kermit Hainley impacted the lives of his family – people who still continue to fight against the broken system and look to fulfill their father’s legacy. Kermit Hainley received the Northern Lights Lifetime Achievement Award from the Mecosta Community Foundation in 2019. In 1992, Eagle Village was accredited by the Council on Accreditation for Children and Family Services (COA) and continues to be reaccredited every 3 years by meeting or exceeding their national standards of excellence. Eagle Village was also awarded the Innovative Program of the Year Award by the Michigan Federation of Private Child and Family Agencies for the Family Support Program in 1987 and was the first facility in the state of Michigan to build an indoor climbing arena and provide year-round training. “The village was his heart,” Jean Hainley said.
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2020 YEAR IN REVIEW
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Bette Hartig named Artworks’ Patron of the Arts Pioneer Staff Reports Editor’s note: A lot of negativity surrounded 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic. To shift gears and focus on the positives, the Pioneer is looking back at some stories from 2020 that showed encouragement, strength, and positivity. Stories have been edited for length. BIG RAPIDS — Bette Hartig picked up her first tools to try her hand at woodcarving nearly two decades ago, and this year, she was honored for her commitment to the arts and the Big Rapids area community. In March, Artworks board members chose to recognize Hartig as this year's Patron of the Arts recipient for her contributions to the arts and humanities. Hartig celebrated the recognition during Artworks' week-long virtual gala with a celebratory brunch on Sept. 27. Hartig was excited to learn the Artworks board chose her as this year's award recipient.
"I was surprised, grateful, humbled and honored," she said. "Artworks and Big Rapids is a great place to be." Originally from Alma, Hartig spent several years teaching high school physical education before making the move to Big Rapids, where she started as a housemother at Ferris State College. More than 20 years later, she retired from Ferris as the former director of the now University Center and coordinator of student activities. The annual event is a gathering of hundreds of woodcarvers and teachers from around the country, and it was during this event that Hartig got the bug for carving and creating. "(At the Evart Round-up) I met a middle school teacher from Big Rapids who was carving there and she got me interested," Hartig said. "The rest is history. She and I started the Woodwackers Carving Club in Big Rapids, which still exists today." Hartig said her father motivated her to find a creative outlet. See HARTIG on page 7
Bette Hartig, one of the founders of the Woodwackers Carving Club, was selected as this year’s Patron of the Arts recipient. (Courtesy photo)
GRANDMA Continued from page 5
Engaged couple Josh Chupp and Nicole Curnett pose with the sign held up by Chupp’s grandmother during their marriage proposal. Chupp asked his grandmother to be a part of the proposal in August after realizing COVID-19 restrictions would prevent her from attending their wedding. (Courtesy photo)
Betty Stenberg held up the pictured sign during a recent marriage proposal at the Reed City Spectrum Health Rehab and Nursing Center. The proposal took place there during a visit with her grandson, Josh Chupp and new fiancee, Nicole Curnett. (Courtesy photo)
a sign through the window that said, “Nicole, will you marry my grandson?” Curnett said, “Yes.” “Through the window, the nurse asked Grandma if she wanted to show us the picture she made,” Curnett said. “I was thinking they had arts and crafts day. They held it up and it took a minute to register and I turned around to see Josh. It was so surprising and awesome.” Chupp said he got the idea to include his grandmother after not having much interaction with her through the pandemic. However, having spent a lot of time with his grandmother as a child,
Chupp said he wanted to include her in any way he could as she will not be able to go to the wedding. “With the coronavirus, Grandma isn’t able to be at the wedding,” Chupp said. “I just wanted her to be part of it.” He also noted Stenberg’s excitement about being able to participate. Chupp said it has always been important to her that the couple gets married, so when asked, Stenberg was more than happy to get involved in the proposal. “My grandma was always asking when we were going to get married,” Chupp said.
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Mecosta, Osceola counties send off Class of 2020
Friday, June 5, 2020, was a memorable night. Communities joined together to host a 2020 Senior Cruise. Graduating seniors from Reed City High School, Big Rapids High School, Big Rapids Virtual School, Crossroads Charter Academy and Morley Stanwood High School were honored throughout a nearly two-hour parade that stretched between two counties. (Pioneer file photos)
HARTIG Continued from page 6
"My father was my greatest inspiration. He could build anything in wood, metal or cement. I was my father's girl and tried to do everything he did," she said. "I love trees and the smell of wood, so carving was the obvious creative outlet for me."
After starting the Woodwackers Carving Club, Hartig became even more involved in the local arts scene, including volunteering her time with Artworks. "I'm enamored with Artworks. It offers so many opportunities to enjoy and learn about the arts. Participants of all ages and ability levels can exper-
iment or grow with different art forms as well as enjoy the work of others," she said. "It has become the perfect creative home for me where I can volunteer and help others learn about carving by providing artist demonstrations." Hartig said as she continues to carve and work with Artworks, she hopes ev-
erybody will find a way to be creative. "I firmly believe if one is exposed to working with your hands and your mind — be it painting, carving, knitting, reading, writing — one can never be alone, bored or idle," she said. "Artworks helps to make that little nudge we all need from time to time. So join us and take a class."
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I don’t know wh ere to find the w ords to say how I feel. Our com th munity showed up and lifted up ankful Brian and our weary spirit 2020 didn’t care s. how much you love what you d care about mem o. This year didn ories or dedicati ’t on or how hard work. It didn’t ca y ou were willing re one bit abou to t anything but u pheaval. This year was d edicated to des troy anything it the little guy. could, especiall y A community d ecides what it w ants and no ma a person is, the tter how dedica community wil ted l either open yo by. ur door or walk on Thank you for your laughter, make your gift letting us wrap baskets. Thank your gifts and you for letting u Knowing your tr s do what we lo ee had a wrapp ve to do. ed gift from our it, is humbling store sitting und and exciting for erneath us. You opened ou r door and walk memories were ed in and once made. again more holi day We love our litt for letting us sta le spot at 118 North Michigan y here. Avenue, Thank You May you and y our family be co place that reach mforted in kno es out and help wing you live in s people in need a . We are looking forward to a brighter new yea r for all.
Brian and Carlleen Rose 118 N MICHIGAN BIG RAPIDS, MI 49307
231-796-2502