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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2021
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CHICAGO • LONG BEACH • MICHIANA SHORES • GRAND BEACH • NEW BUFFALO • UNION PIER • THREE OAKS • LAKESIDE • HARBERT • SAWYER issue 38, volume 80
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Thursday, September 23, 2021
New Buffalo Planning Commission rejects two proposals proposing restrictions on shortterm rentals PAGE 6 Chamber commences mixer season at New Buffalo Railroad Museum PAGE 7
Raiders top 80 points in football victory PAGE 9 Open house highlights potential Harbert improvements PAGE 10
STAY WILD & EXPLORE...
COL’s ‘Barn Benefit Lite’ benefits local land conservation PAGES 12-13
LONGTIME OUTPOST SPORTS OWNER JV PEACOCK HAS NO PLANS TO SLOW DOWN DURING RETIREMENT — PAGE 18 —
PHOTO OF OUTPOST SPORTS OWNER JV PEACOCK STANDING BESIDE THE FAMOUS GORILLA BY FRANCESA SAGALA
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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2021
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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2021
Members of New Buffalo Township Board approve public safety items
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BY FRANCESCA SAGALA
he Tribal Police have made the move into the New Buffalo Township Public Safety Building located on U.S. Highway 12, fire chief Jamie Flick said at the New Buffalo Township Board’s Monday, Sept. 20, meeting. Flick said that they’re still waiting on the sheriff’s office to move in there and that they have some IT issues that they’re trying to work out. In other public safety news, Flick said that several trainings are in store for the upcoming year. Two high school students are in the high school training program in Berrien Springs, Andrew Flick and Nick Peters. The class is being paid for by New Buffalo, but the fire department will be paying them reimbursement for traveling back and forth. In the adult class is Steven Margaritas, who will begin attending class Oct. 9 until May. Flick said they’ll reimburse him for his traveling at the end of the school year as well. Board members approved Firefighter I and II training for $250 for Margaritas. Board members also approved a Driver Operator Pumper Course for four firefighters at a cost of $200 per person, plus books and training wages. Flick said the class teaches how to operate the pump better on the trucks and two of the firefighters who will be attending are his “primary engineers.”
The firefighters will be going back and forth to Benton Harbor on Tuesdays and Thursdays to “sharpen their skills” as well as to “bring back information and knowledge to the rest of the department.” Board members approved the application for a service contract with Breathing Air Systems (or Flick said the SCBA system) for maintenance of the breathing air system at the public safety building for a cost of $1,126.14 per year. Flick said they have one for Station One on Clay Street with that system.
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he National Railroad Passenger Corporation Agreement for the sewer lift station project upgrades. New Buffalo Township Supervisor Michelle Heit said this was regarding Amtrak and for an easement for that water sewer project. Board member Patty Iazzetto, who also serves on the Planning Commission, said the Commission approved the township’s zoning ordinance and it now goes on to the county’s Planning Commission. Adding that the process has been a “long, long road,” Heit said that she hopes the township board will be approving the ordinance in November. Marina manager Julie Flick said Pleasure Isle Marina closes Oct. 15 and all boats need to be out by then. She added that Wi Fi work is scheduled to be completed this week.
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HIKERS TO HEAR HISTORY OF CHIKAMING PRESERVE BIKE TRAIL CONSTRUCTION
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n a special evening hike beginning at 5 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 30, the Hikers will walk the 1.5-mile first loop of the Chikaming Township Mountain Bike Trails at the Chikaming Township Park and Preserve. President Pat Fisher and board member Janet Schrader will share the history of the trail and how it was built and will show off some trail-building tools. The 263-acre preserve is a popular destination for birding, hiking, biking, dog-walking, fishing, and gardening. It contains eight different ecosystems and extensive walking trails. All are invited to join the hike. Hikers are advised to wear long pants, a sun hat, sturdy shoes or boots and insect repellent, and to bring plenty of water. For more information about the hike and the Harbor Country Hikers, visit www. harborcountryhikers.com. — STAFF REPORTS
Happy the man who has been able to learn the causes of things. — Virgil
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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2021
Local Government Meetings New Buffalo Times
Democracy Requires Transparency
CITY OF NEW BUFFALO JOHN HUMPHREY, MAYOR CITY COUNCIL LOU O’DONNELL, IV. MARK ROBERTSON, JOHN HUMPHREY, ROGER LIJESKI, BRIAN FLANAGAN City Council meets on the 3rd Monday of each month at 6:30PM CITY OF NEW BUFFALO PLANNING COMMISSION MEETINGS to be determined NEW BUFFALO TOWNSHIP BOARD PETE RAHM, MICHELLE HEIT, JUDY H. ZABICKI, PATTY IAZZETTO, JACK ROGERS Board meets on the 3rd Monday of each month at 7PM NEW BUFFALO TOWNSHIP PLANNING COMMISSION Meets on the 1st Tuesday of each month at 6:30PM NEW BUFFALO AREA SCHOOLS BOARD CHUCK HEIT, PRESIDENT HEATHER BLACK, VICE PRESIDENT JOHN HASKINS, TREASURER LISA WERNER, SECRETARY JOYCE LANTZ, TRUSTEE FRANK MARGRO, TRUSTEE PATRICIA NEWSTON, TRUSTEE CHIKAMING TOWNSHIP CHIKAMING TOWNSHIP BOARD DAVID BUNTE, PAULA DUDIAK, LIZ RETTIG, RICHARD SULLIVAN, BILL MARSKE Chikaming Board meets on the 2nd Thursday of each month at 6:30PM CHIKAMING TOWNSHIP PLANNING COMMISSION Meets on the 1st Wednesday of each month at 6:30PM THREE OAKS THREE OAKS TOWNSHIP BOARD Meets on the 2nd Monday of each month at 7PM VILLAGE OF THREE OAKS BOARD Meets on the 2nd Wednesday of each month at 7PM GRAND BEACH VILLAGE OF GRAND BEACH COUNCIL Meets on the 3rd Wednesday of each month at 7PM MICHIANA VILLAGE OF MICHIANA COUNCIL Meets on the 2nd Friday of each month at 1PM
LaSata votes for balanced fiscal year 2022 state budget
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tate Sen. Kim LaSata on Tuesday voted to approve a balanced fiscal year 2022 budget plan that increases investments in important state priorities. “This budget outlines and funds many of the state’s most important priorities and does so without raising taxes on hardworking Michigan families,” said LaSata, R-Coloma. “Building on the record K-12 funding passed earlier this summer, we’re working to continue emerging from the pandemic, getting people back to work and improving government efficiency.” The Senate approved Senate Bill 82, which is a general omnibus budget. Among other things, SB 82 includes: • $1.4 billion to lower rates and recruit more childcare workers, • $190 million to repair or replace local bridges, • $414.5 million to permanently increase wages for direct care workers, • $40 million for the Going Pro program to support employee training, • $55 million for the Michigan Reconnect program to provide tuitionfree community college and training, • $40 million for the Pure Michigan tourism campaign, • $33 million to train new state police troopers and corrections officers, • $14.5 million to local governments to remove PFAS from the water, and • $19 million to repair or replace local dams. The plan also deposits $500 million in the state’s savings account and $150 million in the unemployment trust fund to assist with record caseloads experienced
during COVID-19. Also included are a number of projects specific to the 21st Senate District, including a $5 million investment in an 800 MHz frequency tower that will assist local first responders in carrying out their duties and keeping residents safe. “This tower will help fill signal gaps in Berrien County, especially in the south-central portion of the county,” LaSata said. “This project will provide a tremendous benefit to the approximately 156,000 residents of Berrien County and more than 50 public safety and service agencies in the region.” Funding to complete a permanent police and fire location at the Berrien County Youth Fair and support the St. Joseph County United Way’s suicide prevention programming also was included. On Wednesday, the Senate is also expected to approve House Bill 4400, which includes increases for community colleges and public universities and $86 million to reduce university MPSERS obligations — which would build on the $140 million in the already signed K-12 budget to reduce school unfunded liabilities. “I am proud of what we were able to get included in this budget,” LaSata said. “The final product is a bipartisan effort between the Senate, House and governor’s office that addresses the most important needs and issues facing our state — from roads and bridges, to education and workforce development to public safety.” With the governor’s signature on SB 82 and HB 4400, the 2022 state budget will be complete.
As individuals, we will be judged in our lives by the totality of our actions. Not one thing will stand out. And I think that’s how we get judged by our colleagues and that’s how we get judged by the good lord. — Rahm Emanuel
STORIES OF ELM STREET TO BE HIGHLIGHTED THIS WEEKEND
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lm Street has been Three Oaks’ main thoroughfare for about 170 years, and several its storefronts have great stories behind them. Hear those stories and see the past unfold Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 25-26. TROTOM Board Member Nick Bogert, drawing on two years of research, has put together two Power Point programs on the history of Elm Street. You’ll hear about: • The African-American who was one of the village’s first residents (was he enslaved?) • Robbers who blew open a safe in1880 and the business that installed gun ports in its counters in the 1930’s. • The pioneering female merchant whose store burned down… twice! • The local tavern that was rebuilt, to scale, on a movie soundstage. • Why 116 people clambered into a single hay wagon to come downtown in 1910. • Who played the music at silent movies shown in Three Oaks, and how they knew what and when to play. The program starts at 4 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday at the Heritage Hall (the former Township Hall at 8 E. Linden Street). We’ll cover the history of South Elm Street businesses there, then walk up the street to the Three Oaks Library, where we’ll tell the stories of North Elm. Masks will be required for those not vaccinated while we’re indoors. A donation to the museum will be collected: $12 for members, $15 for non-members. — STAFF REPORTS
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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2021
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City Council continues short-term rental discussion DOES FIRST READING OF AMENDMENT TO ZONING ORDINANCE REGARDING LONG-TERM RENTALS any attending the New Buffalo City Council’s Monday, Sept. 20, regular meeting came to voice their opinions on short-term rentals in the city. In May 2020, the Council adopted a temporary moratorium on new short-term rentals while it considered ordinance amendments and enforcement. In August, the Council voted to extend that moratorium to Nov. 1, 2021, leaving the city council and Planning Commission just over two months to make hard decisions. Several residents spoke to the Council regarding the short-term rental moratorium, with opinions varying from support to opposition to appeals for compromise. While some residents said they have dealt with noisy renters past 4 a.m. and that they feel the rentals negatively impacts neighborhoods and local businesses, others argued that the local economy relies heavily on tourism and forcing out the short-term renters will not be enough to encourage year-round residents without job opportunities or other incentives. Some property owners said they rely on short-term rental income to afford to live in their homes the rest of the year. Members of the council also had differing opinions on their next step. Following the advice of the city attorney, the Council discussed a motion to provide the Planning Commission with two ordinances to consider at their Sept. 21 special meeting. The first would prohibit short-term rentals in R-1 zones, while the second would prohibit short-term rentals in R-1, R-2 and R-3 zones. Mayor John Humphrey said the Planning Commission had tabled a decision on the ordinance at its last meeting on the recommendation of
BY THERESE DONNELLY
city legal counsel, but the Commission must make a recommendation in order for the city to move forward. Councilmember Lou O’Donnell motioned to instead deny the instruction and instead direct the Commission to cancel the scheduled meeting. He explained to his fellow councilmembers that he did not believe they had enough information about the results of the moratorium to make a decision. “I think this is an incredibly bad idea,” he told the Council. He further stated that there had been short-term rentals in the city for at least 30 years with no ordinances in place until recently and enforcement had only been possible this summer. O’Donnell said he would like to see data regarding the nature and location of complaints and enforcement. While acknowledging the City could not keep a moratorium permanently, he said he would prefer to take a few more months to look at new data. He suggested capping the number of rental permits for now and studying the results of enforcement. Humphrey said capping registration is not permitted by law. He further explained the city’s attorneys had recommended the course of action in light of federal lawsuits. He pointed out the city currently does not even have a legal definition of short-term rentals, which technically makes all rentals outside of commercial-use zones illegal. The amendment would allow the city to protect itself when lifting the moratorium. “In the truest essence of the letter of the law, short-term rentals can’t exist,” City Manager Darwin Watson stated regarding the city’s current ordinances. Humphrey further noted the city currently does not make any money directly from the rentals, as it cannot
levy use-tax. The proposed increased licensing fees would cover the city’s enforcement costs, he said, without placing the burden on all taxpayers. O’Donnell said he did not agree with the proposed resolution referring to “extensive study” when he did not feel enough study had been done. Humprey said the zoning decisions have to be made in order for the city to move forward and the Council can make future adjustments to whichever recommendation the Commission makes. O’Donnell’s motion was defeated 1-4. A second motion, to make the instruction to the Planning Commission, passed 4-1, with O’Donnell dissenting. In a separate agenda item, the Council had a first reading of an amendment to Chapter 23 of the zoning ordinance, focusing on longterm rentals. The city currently does not have an ordinance regarding long-term rentals. Humphrey said this amendment will address rentals in poor repair.
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he Council also had a first reading of an amendment to Chapter 16, which identifies who is responsible for different portions of the city sewer system. Watson said current language in the ordinance conflicts with the intent and the amendment will correct this. The Council approved the use of Houseal Lavigne for zoning ordinance review and community engagement services totaling $5,150. Part of this service will include stakeholder interviews, focus groups and a community open house. Watson said this was a routine governmental action to keep city ordinances current. He said the review had not been done
since 2013. Humphrey added this would be an opportunity for the public to voice their opinions on city ordinances. Continuing business from previous meetings, the Council voted to appoint two representatives to the New Buffalo Area Recreational Authority, a cooperative of the City, New Buffalo Township and New Buffalo Area Schools that aims in part to help create grant opportunities for the three groups. Humphrey said he liked applicants Jack Kennedy and Nora Howe, but the three entities are each appointing one paid employee (in the city’s case Watson) as a representative. At Watson’s recommendation, the council appointed Kennedy to the Authority, with Humphrey stating he will recommend Howe as the seventh member-at-large. Kennedy is a previous mayor of New Buffalo and has served in positions with the city, township and school. Howe has been active with the Parks Board and Downtown Development Authority and the city’s lifeguard committee. The Council also approved payment to L&M Fabrication in the amount of $17,400 for routine inspection and cleaning to the water plant intake. The inspection report stated the intake and pipeline are in good condition. In council comments prior to adjournment, Humphrey said there was misinformation on both sides of the short-term rental issue. He stated that, besides notice of upcoming meetings, he has not made any social media posts regarding short-term rentals since January 2021. He also said someone claiming to be his son has made statements, but Humphrey only has daughters.
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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2021
New Buffalo Planning Commission rejects two proposals proposing restrictions on short-term rentals
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BY STAN MADDUX AND FRANCESCA SAGALA
embers of the City of went into closed session to discuss a New Buffalo Planning confidential attorney-client privilege Commission opposed memorandum. two proposals with In a 5-0 vote, the planners opposed the regards to placing first proposal. The planners opposed the restrictions on short-term rentals at a second proposal in a 1-4 vote (planner special meeting Tuesday, Sept. 21. Bill McCollum was the “yes” vote). A public hearing was held Sept. 16 on a Chair Paul Billingslea said that proposed zoning ordinance amendment he’s “challenged” by the city’s current that would prohibit new short-term moratorium on the issuance of new rentals in the R-1, R-2, and R-3 zoning short-term rental licenses to Nov. 1 that districts. has “left people hanging.” The Planning Commission did not vote “There has to be a better alternative on the measure Sept. 16, which limits than this,” he said, adding that they the number of short-term can come up with one rentals in residential to recommend to the At the City Council neighborhoods to the council. meeting Sept. amount existed and were “I would recommend we 20 (see page 5), registered with the city vote this down, and we try councilmembers before the end of October. to craft something that’s adopted a Other stipulations not far off from this but resolution that of the measure include it’s a little more equitable, directed the short term rental owners at least in the meantime… planners to having to conform with It’s just unfair, it’s just “consider a motion regulations governing use completely unfair in my to recommend and having to renew their mind,” he said, which adoption of permit within 12 months was met with applause by the proposed after expiration to keep audience members that ordinance.” If the the permit. filled City Hall. motion “does not New owners would also Billingslea said he carry, the Planning have to obtain a renewal understands the “problem Commission is of the permit to keep with short-term rentals,” further directed to operating their newly adding that “just saying consider a motion acquired property as a it’s okay to have shortto recommend short-term rental. term rentals is not the adoption of the At the City Council answer – by any means.” modified proposal,” meeting Sept. 20 (see “It’s not just about which would page 5), councilmembers enforcing rules, it’s about “prohibit new shortadopted a resolution that the density of it - it’s not term rentals in the directed the planners to about the total number, R-1 district, but not “consider a motion to it’s about where those in the R-2 or R-3 recommend adoption of specific rentals are,” he districts.” the proposed ordinance.” added. If the motion “does not carry, the It was revealed that there are Planning Commission is further directed approximately 78 applications on the to consider a motion to recommend short-term rental waiting list, 45 of adoption of the modified proposal,” which are in R-1. which would “prohibit new short-term Billingslea proposed that the 78 rentals in the R-1 district, but not in the applications that are out there would be R-2 or R-3 districts.” processed, and then there’d be a cap on Before voting Sept. 21, the planners short-term rentals for a period of one
year “at that level” in R-1. “So, there would be no additional R-1 short-term rentals for a year beyond the 45 we would add by processing the 78,” he said. At the end of the year, the situation could be evaluated, and it would be determined if there could be more shortterm rentals in R-1. Numbers would be drawn in a lottery to determine who would get a permit. Planner Don Stoneburner said he needs more data before he can “make determination,” such as through a community survey. “I agree, we need to do more restrictions on short-term rentals, I just don’t think we’re going through the process correctly,” he said. Several audience members expressed gratitude for the planners’ decision. Gerry Gajos said he knows “you guys are listening to us.” “Work with us, contact us, we’ll be more than glad to give you the information what we’ve been doing for the last – myself 15 years - with never a problem,” he said. The Sept. 16 meeting drew a large, fired up crowd alleging such restrictions would do great harm to the local economy.
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aren Doughty told the Planning Commission Sept. 16 that she and other small business owners in the downtown are struggling already without a permanent cap on what brings a lot of visitors to the community. She said 80 percent of sales at her Designer Cottage Scapes of Harbor County gift store at 112 N. Whittaker Street are from people outside the area and many of them probably stay in short term rentals. “You’re getting ready to put a nail in the coffin for all of the small businesses downtown,” she said. Billingslea, who pounded his gavel several times to quiet the vocal crowd,
said he was not ready to cast a vote. “I’m trying to come up with a solution that works for everybody and that’s not easy. Some place in the middle is where we got to be,” he said. Over 100 people showed up for the meeting with some being forced to go outside and look through windows to watch because of social distancing of chairs in response to the upsurge in coronavirus cases. Several people against the proposed restrictions expressed anger with Mayor John Humphrey, who’s also a member of the City Council. He and other city officials are concerned about complaints of unrest in neighborhoods from parties, noise, traffic, and litter generated at some of the vacation homes. Many opponents of the proposal questioned whether there’s been a lot of complaints and felt there’s no longer not enough meat and potatoes jobs in areas like manufacturing to support the mayor’s vision. “The city is business owners, second homeowners, short rental owners, restaurant and beachgoers. Shop, winery, and brewery visitors. It is not just long-term residents. All of us make up this city and contribute to it in some way,” said Diane Gajos, a vacation homeowner. Jason Milovich, owner of Blue Fish Vacation Rentals, said the local tourism economy once vibrant just during the summer is now a strong heartbeat in the fall. “This is our identity. Period,” he said. Heather Gradowski said tourism is also a pulse now virtually year-round because of events and other attractions that draw visitors during the off-season. Gradowski said she supports “reasonable regulation” of shortterm rentals, but the ones currently proposed “slowly assures their death” and will also “assure a slow and painful death to this small city. I think we can do better than that.”
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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2021
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Chamber commences mixer season at New Buffalo Railroad Museum
Museum co-founder Nadra Kissman speaks to the crowd
The crowd enjoyed appetizers from Brewster’s in New Buffalo
Katha Kissman offers Barb Price a cake pop
Board president Vanessa Holecek Thun welcomes everyone to the museum
Chamber executive director Kimberlee Wendt welcomes everyone to the first mixer in nine months
Alissa Johns, Val Freyenberger, Ashlie Cordova, Aimee Freyenberger, and Tammy Koziel
Chamber members stand on the balcony at the museum
Museum co-founder Nadra Kissman stands by her scarves
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BY FRANCESCA SAGALA
embers of the Harbor Country Chamber of Commerce returned to its roots for the first chamber mixer that was held in nine months when they gathered at the New Buffalo Railroad Museum (NBRRM) Thursday, Sept. 16. “The Harbor Country Chamber of Commerce celebrates its 40th anniversary this year and it’s fitting to gather here for the first member mixer at this location - for many years, the museum was the official Harbor Country Chamber location before we moved to the Three Oaks Road (location) so it’s really great we could return back to our own history in this building,” Kimberlee Wendt, chamber executive director, said. Vennessa Holecek Thun, president of the NBRRM Board of Directors, said that 2020 had been a challenging year for the museum. Along with being closed for the entire season, the museum also had a major flood in its basement. “We had very serious damage and we had put off long overdue maintenance and repairs,” Thun said. Despite the challenges though, the “little museum that could” kept chugging along thanks to some outside help. “In addition to our hundreds of individual donors, we want to thank The Pokagon Fund and the Berrien Community Foundation for their sustainability funding in 2019-2020 and 2021,” she said. Recently, an authentic C & O Caboose 904126 that was donated by CSX transportation joined the museum’s other railroad cars, the Chessie Box Car and Pullman World War II Troop Car. A new veteran’s display located inside of the C & O Chessie Boxcar, “Hundreds of Histories, One Shared Community: New Buffalo Area Military Veterans (1861 – Present),” was created by Marg Zientarski Putzke and Jim Smitchger. Founded in 1989 by Nadra and Al Kissman and Ron and Rol Oselka, the
New Buffalo Railroad Museum is a nonprofit and is open free-of-charge. It’s located at 530 S. Whittaker Street in New Buffalo and open Saturday and Sundays from noon to 5 p.m. until Oct. 31. Nadra, who said she’s pleased her daughter, Katha Kissman, who serves on the board along with her sister, Karla Madison, has now taken the reins. In her retirement, she sews scarves. “If you want to make a donation to museum, whatever it is, I’ll give you a scarf - and I’ll get busy and crochet some more,” she said.
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n chamber news, Wendt said she’s been pleased at the new businesses that have been popping up in the area, adding that she’s performed several ribbon-cuttings this summer. The economic committee that’s comprised of municipal planners, nonprofit heads, health professionals and financial managers has begun “to tackle the issues and began discussing impactful solutions and initiatives to try to solve some of the things we grapple with” in the area. To combat the area’s struggle to maintain a labor force, which has only been exacerbated by the pandemic, Wendt said that a Harbor Country Hires Coalition has been formed. The coalition has encouraged businesses to “band together and to promote the wonderful job opportunities we have to offer in a united effort.” A job fair conducted in June and provided by The Pokagon Fund and will be held on an annual basis in late spring. Those who are interested in signing up for the fair and the coalition can visit its webpage at www.harborcountry.org. The marketing committee has also been discussing short- and long-term term programs “to promote tourism, especially in the winter, and to encourage yearround residency,” Wendt said. “They’re planning some fun and interactive ways for members to get involved this year,” she said.
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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2021
Grand Beach Village Council directs Planning Commission to work on short-term rental ordinance
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BY FRANCESCA SAGALA
embers of the Grand Beach because he believes they were “intimidated Village Council approved by the number of residents who have rented directing members of the their homes for generations and took Planning Commission to offense at what they perceived the council work on their draft shortto be doing to take away from them their term rental ordinance at their Wednesday, right to sell their property, to make some Sept. 15, meeting. money off it, to support themselves in their Members of the Planning Commission retirement.” will then bring the ordinance back to council He added that there are residents who’ve members for their review. been renting properties for generation and Harry Welder and Robert Keagan, aren’t causing problems. members of the Planning “We don’t need to talk Commission, had created to them, we don’t need to The current the ordinance last fall, have an ordinance that deals short-term rental modeling it after the one in with their property – it’s resolution states the the Village of Michiana. only the people who are village “primarily The current short-term not responsible, who don’t relies upon citizen rental resolution states the explain to their renters what complaints to village “primarily relies they’re expected to do in the investigate and upon citizen complaints to village,” he said. prosecute rental investigate and prosecute At the June meeting, violations when rental violations when it was revealed that appropriate” and appropriate” and that the the village has been that the village village zoning ordinance accumulating complaints zoning ordinance “provides that short-term regarding short-term “provides that rentals (less than one rentals and is getting closer short-term rentals year) are only permitted to having an SLU hearing. (less than one year) as a special land use in our are only permitted “As long as we don’t strictly residential zoning as a special land get complaints, there’s no districts.” use in our strictly reason for the council to Council president residential zoning intervene, there’s no reason Deborah Lindley said districts.” to establish a specific shortthat she wanted the term rental ordinance, councilmembers to give but we’re on the cusp – we have so many the planners some “clear direction” on if rental properties in the village, that if this they want to village to follow the current continues to be a problem, we may be driven resolution or to do an ordinance. The into having to do something,” Leonard said. planners will work on the draft ordinance at Councilmember James Bracewell said their Thursday, Sept. 23, meeting. that if there is an ordinance, it means there’d Councilmembers put off making any have to be inspections at the properties on decisions this summer due to the pending specifics such as number of bedrooms, on Michigan House Bill 4722 and Senate Bill smoke alarms, and on parking spaces. 446, which state that short-term rentals Councilmember Blake O’Halloran said aren’t commercial but are a residential use. Councilmember Paul Leonard said that no that in municipalities that are commercially action had been taken by councilmembers zoned, an SLU is given for that specific
LOCAL INTELLIGENCE
commercial zone and only so many are allowed in each one. “I don’t see that working for Grand Beach,” he said, adding that he’s “not afraid of an ordinance.” Planner Laurie Roche said that they aren’t dealing with the “old Grand Beach,” which was “families that have homes they’re renting to their family members.” “These people are coming up for the weekend to party, they’re destroying the family life that exists here in Grand Beach… Today, I’m in favor of a tough ordinance – we’re government, we have to establish the rules and regulations here,” she said. Lindley said that the closing for the 42 Acres was postponed, as Mario Ortega from McKenna needed to submit more forms to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources that weren’t included in the acquisition guide. She added that Grand Beach Land Development (GBLD) had suggested some more changes to the agreement and it’s now with village attorney Sara Senica. When the village gets the agreement, Ortega will submit it to the DNR. Councilmembers adopted a resolution authorizing clerk Mary Robertson in addition to Lindley to sign the purchase agreement and all other closing documents to facilitate the purchase of the property. In a 4-1 vote (Bracewell voted “nay”), councilmembers approved purchasing a generator from Northwest Indiana Generators for $58,900, with the prepayment of $35,000 required at the time of signing of the contract, for the clubhouse. The proposal is valid for 30 days from the original consultation and the proposal date. The village has to pay 10% of the DNR grant toward the 42 Acres acquisition upfront, which Lindley said is similar to an escrow account. She said that once they’ve closed on the property and the state goes
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through with everything, the village will get the money back; however, until then, things will be a “little tight” money wise. The proposal is dated Sept. 9, which Lindley said means the village has until Oct. 9 “for this price” on the generator. Along with the motion, councilmembers approved Superintendent Bob Dabbs asking if the $35,000 down payment can be pushed to Nov. 1.
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ouncilmembers approved selling the village’s fleet of 14 golf carts (13 electric carts with chargers and one gas cart) to Carts on 12 for $32,100 and to have a cashier’s check one week prior to owner Ed Arnold picking them up.
Last month, councilmembers approved leasing 20 carts from EZ-Go for 66 months at an annual cost of $20,419.20. On Sept. 15, they agreed to amend the lease to an annual cost of $20,586, which would be $166.80 more per year. O’Halloran said that this would allow sand buckets to be added to the driver’s side of the carts. The hiring of Jayson Powell for $20 an hour with six months’ probation as a maintenance department employee was approved. Councilmembers approved giving the deputy clerk a week off next month for vacation time. Council members approved changing the effective date of Electrical Inspection Ordinance No. 2021-102, which turns over authority for electrical permits and inspections to the state, from Sept 1 to Nov. 15. Robertson said that the inspector for the village’s area has resigned, and it should take the new one two months to get trained. Council members approved filing the village’s assumed name certificates and paying the fee of $10 for each name identified.
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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2021
SPORTS From the Bleachers COLUMN BY KURT MARGGRAF IN CHICAGO
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he Chicago Bears will be, at the very least, tied for first place after the results of the second week of the season are complete. An exciting game with the Cincinnati Bengals brought the Bears their first victory. What appeared to be a minor injury to Bear quarterback Andy Dalton gave rookie Justin Fields his first extended opportunity, and he, along with a defense that created three straight turnovers on interceptions, pulled out a thrilling 20-17 victory. Next week, the Bears will face the more formidable Cleveland Browns, and it will be quite interesting to see who starts at quarterback. The Sunday night football game between Kansas City and Baltimore was a real barn burner. Many of the games so far this season have been really exciting with the outcomes being in doubt until the last minutes of the game. Most teams appear to be good enough to win on any given Sunday, and the race to see who will be able to reach the playoffs looks like it will be intense. This could be THE year for a team or two that haven’t been to the Super Bowl for a while to get another opportunity. The Bears haven’t won the Super Bowl since 1986, and many of the players from that team are still Chicago heroes. Last week, we discovered that one of those heroes has been stricken with ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease. It got me thinking about our struggles with diseases. Cancer, diabetes, heart, and many other maladies rage on, while
just this week some regular civilians took off to circle the earth for three days and returned successfully. The progress being made in so many areas often astounds me. So very much progress has been made on so many medical fronts, but the eradication of some diseases continues to elude us. Back to the ex-Bear with ALS. Steve McMichael, affectionately known as “Mongo,” was a key member of the Bears defense when they last won the championship. He was as tough as nails, and his personality was that of a big kid, who at times seemed like a bully, and at other times, seemed like a teddy bear. On the field, he was as tough as anyone who ever wore a uniform. He was married to a beautiful woman, and together they were often in the spotlight. One of my favorite memories of “Mongo” was when he sang the Seventh-inning stretch at a Cub game. He called out the umpire, and ended up being ejected from the ballpark. His hijinks on the sports segment of the news after Bears games was legendary. It’s not a surprise that “Mongo” received the first ALS Courage Award. He was a Bear with the heart of a lion, and I wish him comfort as he continues his courageous battle. Katherine Wolf said, “Perhaps some detours aren’t detours at all. Perhaps they are actually the path.” Refuse hate. Talk to you next week. Peace, love, and happiness.
9
Raiders top 80 points in football victory
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BY STAN MADDUX
he Red Arrow Raiders notched their first victory in the high school football season in a big way. The team comprised of students from New Buffalo and River Valley defeated the Twin City Sharks 82-12 at Lake Michigan Catholic High School Saturday, Sept. 18. Head Coach Matt Johnson gave some of the credit for the lopsided victory to correcting mistakes in execution during a hard fought loss the previous week to Tri-Unity Christian. “We spent a lot of time on that and the kids were hungry to win,” he said. Johnson said he was surprised at the margin of victory because of the level of talent the Sharks have in key positions, like quarterback. The Sharks also defeated TriUnity Christian earlier in the season. “They had some really good athletes,” he said. The Twin City squad consists of students from Lake Michigan Catholic, Michigan Lutheran and Countryside Academy. Leading the Raiders on offense was quarterback Michael Bombin, who completed seven of his 11 passes for 144 yards. Bombin also ran for another 101 yards on six carries and scored five touchdowns. Eli Thomas ran for 107 yards on seven carries and caught
three passes for 37 yards with six touchdowns. Bombin was also a major contributor on defense with eight tackles and two interceptions. Ben Coffeen added 47 yards on seven rushes. He also ran 52 yards for a touchdown after recovering a fumble. Johnson also gave credit to his defense line for consistently pressuring the quarterback and offense line for protecting the quarterback. The Sharks were able to gain just 46 rushing yards on 17 carries and 152 passing yards on 32 pass attempts. “Everybody contributed,” Johnson said.
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he Raiders (1-2) play again Friday, Sept. 24, at Eau Claire. “Eau Claire’s got some kids that can play. They’ve got a pretty good defense. Their quarterback is elusive. They got a running back that is really good. We have to be ready for a battle,” he said. Johnson said his team is still not where he wants it to be. However, he believes the victory over the Sharks was a step in the right direction toward what can be a solid season. “We’re always striving for perfection so that’s what we’re going to do. We’re going to keep working to try and be perfect and be better this week than we were last week,” he said.
I didn’t come this far to only come this far, so we’ve still got further to go. — Tom Brady
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10 THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2021
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Open house highlights potential Harbert improvements BY FRANCESCA SAGALA
embers of the public gave their input on Harbert’s future in terms of its overall aesthetic at an open house at Harbert Community Park Wednesday, Sept. 15. Eric Neagu, principal at Antero Group, said that the “look and feel” of Harbert was being looked into in the “context of three different projects that are going to be interrelated”: the nonmotorized path that’s part of the Berrien County Road Department’s current project to reconstruct Red Arrow Highway from Main Drive to Sawyer Road, which will be on the lake side of the highway and will end at Harbert Community Park (grading for the path will continue to Sawyer Road so it can be put in there in the future); the Park Board’s work on redesigning Harbert Community Park; and the streetscape of Harbert. “We want these all to feed off one another as we progress,” Neagu said. Neagu said the streetscape will create a “real feel for Harbert - one that’s very appropriate for Harbert that captures the existing character and values of it but also projecting a new sensibility to Harbert.” After input from members of the Park Board, elected officials and some residents, Neagu said Antero Group came up with three design concepts. After gaining feedback on each concept, Neagu said they’ll come back with a more detailed design, which will address where furniture and lighting will be located as well as parking. Neagu added that he also hopes to incorporate some of Harbert’s interesting history into the streetscape, maybe with historic interpretive signage. Neagu, who sits on the Harbor Country Chamber Board of Directors, said he also hopes the redesign will prompt more economic growth in the region and turn it into an “active four-season community instead of just a summer community.” Neagu said lots of federal funding is coming out – which, for the first time, is being earmarked toward tourism and the service industry. “Historically, the federal government didn’t see that as viable industry, but I think since we lost so much staffing and restaurants they said, ‘Wait a second, our country really does need that service industry to be supported…’ We’re optimistic that with some strategies that we got, we’ll be able to identify some funding sources that we’ll be able to help realize this,” he said.
Liz Dafoe of Upland Design (which is working with Antero on the project) said that all three concepts “incorporate all natural earth tone colors” with some variations. Concept A “plays off” the woodland and the greens from the trees and utilizes wood or recycled lumber in the site furniture. Concept B focuses more on the rivers and lake, incorporating some cobblestones and natural rocks as well as dark black metals with some gray pavers and black accents. Concept C has a more modern touch, with Corten steel (some of it being used in the lighting) and copper and pops of color. The survey and concepts can be viewed at www.chikamingtownship.org.
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eagu said the streetscape will be focused on the east side of the highway and will connect the township facilities to the park and businesses along the way, with crosswalks and potentially nodes on the other side of the road and possibly lighting to “create some symmetries.” Neagu said that sustainability may also be incorporated into the design, such as rain gardens and permeable pavers. The Road Department just reconstructed the highway during the Red Arrow Highway/Union Pier Corridor Improvement Project, with a new streetscape being introduced to downtown Union Pier. Chikaming Township Supervisor David Bunte said that the streetscape in Harbert will have some similarities to Union Pier while still retaining its uniqueness. He added that downtown Sawyer is up next for a redesign. “We want to try to do a bit of consistency – it may be in branding, it may be in signage, which may be in a certain element that it’s all Chikaming Township, but we want each one to have its own character because they all have their own character,” he said. The Road Department will be tackling a part of the highway in Lakeside next year. “That’s what we’re trying to do: Improve our infrastructure, take advantage of the funding that may be available and take advantage of what’s going on with the Road Department and what they’re doing with Red Arrow Highway and make it a benefit for us as opposed to a negative,” he said.
Chikaming Township Supervisor David Bunte passes out surveys to guests
Members of the public view the design concepts at Harbert Community Park
Eric Neagu of Antero Group speaks to the crowd as Liz Dafoe looks on
Members of the public view the charettes at Harbert Community Park
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12 THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2021
COL’s ‘Barn Benefit Lite’ benefits local land conservation
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BY FRANCESCA SAGALA
mong the many life lessons that Covid-19 has taught humans throughout the nearly two-year pandemic, David Eblen, president of the board of directors for Chikaming Open Lands (COL), said, is the importance of stopping to enjoy nature. “Covid has also showed us Mother Nature is our wonderful resource - it was the one place over the last 18 months where everyone was saying, ‘You can get out and enjoy, take a hike, take a walk…. It’s a wonderful place to resurrect, to regenerate and we’re very fortunate,” Eblen said during COL’s Backyard Fete, or Barn Benefit Lite, Saturday, Sept. 18. Having been put on hold last year, the benefit made its return this year in the beautiful backyard of Deborah Hall-Kayler and her husband, Allan Kayler, in Harbert. Guests could bid on items donated by local businesses and organizations in an online auction until the evening was over. The evening meal was provided by Classic Catering and Events in Bridgman. Mixed drinks were provided by Iron Shoe Distillery and wine was donated by Whistle Stop in Union Pier. Bryan Lubeck provided the live entertainment for the evening. Tickets were limited to 60 guests. “It may be a little smaller in scale but the passion for what we do, what you all help us do, is still burning brightly,” Eblen said. Eblen said that COL is also
celebrating its 21st birthday, which makes it “of age” now. He said that the organization’s mission is “two-fold:” to acquire properties donated or purchased through easements and to do stewardship work – “the management so that these properties will be available in perpetuity - forever - for future generations on high to enjoy.” “Stewardship is an area we probably haven’t focused on much in recent years, but you’ll see us now trying to raise the profile of our stewardship work,” Eblen said. That work, Eblen said, is “ongoing.” “There’s perpetual needs for taking care of trails, adding new trails, taking care of those darn invasives that are out there, making sure the trees that fall over the trails are taken care of, providing access – public parking so you can easily access the preserves - so stewardship is a very important part of our work and there is no closure with that,” he said.
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ll proceeds from the night benefited COL. Ryan Postema, executive director of COL, updated what the non-profit conservation organization has been up to thanks to the public’s ongoing support. Earlier this year, COL acquired the 40-acre Sugarwood Forest adjacent to Warren Woods State Park through a fundraising campaign. A parking lot is being worked on to access the preserve and trails will be created over the winter and next spring.
Deborah Hall-Kayler and Allan Kayler are pleased to welcome everyone to their home
Jean and Ken Schiffer
The crowd mixes and mingles
Margaret Dickerson with Rachael and Robert Fliegelman
Barb and Louis Price
Bryan Lubeck and Nate Lacny provided the entertainment
COL Executive Director Ryan Postema with Laura and Fred Jolly
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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2021 13
Bob Parsons talks with Casey Strueker, COL education and outreach coordinator
COL Executive Director Ryan Postema reads a list of updates on COL projects
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he closing on the 14acre Harbert Road Woods should take place this week. In terms of stewardship Postema said new parking lots are going in at the Edward and Elizbeth Leonard Wildlife Preserve located at Lakeside and Warren Woods roads in Chikaming Township. The parking lot at the Chris Thompson Memorial Preserve on Warren Woods Road will be expanding, Trails have also been added to the Merritt Younger Family Preserves off Mydra Road in Chikaming Township. Education and outreach
COL Board President David Eblen thanks the crowd for their ongoing support
programs have also continued. The Mighty Acorns, an environmental education program for elementary children, is starting up again this fall in local schools after being on hiatus. “And all of the education outreach programs we’ve been doing through the summer have been very successful and that really is all because of our supporters and the volunteers on the board - It really is because of everyone who’s involved in the organization that we’re able to be so successful,” Postema said. For more on COL, visit www. chikamingopenlands.org/.
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14 THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2021
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16 THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2021
HOR0SCOPE SEPTEMBER 23-29, 2021
AS INTERPRETED BY SANDY “STAR” BENDT ARIES MARCH 21—APRIL 19
There is a flow of energy hitting your friends and close partnership sectors. Let this vibe shine so that the right friendships solidify, without interference and personal expectations. Be aware that your value system is undergoing some changes and what you thought was important isn’t now.
LEO JULY 23—AUGUST 22
A kinder, gentler approach will be felt this week and your ability to stabilize a situation or facilitate a mediation between opposing sides will be accentuated. Use this energy to its fullest by connecting people with the right help or resources. Even though there is an instability factor, harmony will be achieved.
SAGITTARIUS NOVEMBER 22—DECEMBER 21
TAURUS APRIL 20—MAY 20
This is a great time to smooth over any difficulties you may have had with friends over the past year. You are in better position now to hear uncomfortable information and in turn, will be able to say things in a more delicate manner, causing a more stable dialogue and a deeper connection.
The vibe coming your way this week is all about surrendering to the hard work, keeping a tight schedule and getting the job done. Use it to its fullest by loosening your grip on relationships and doing things on your own. When time allows, let loose with friends. Otherwise, stay focused.
VIRGO AUGUST 23—SEPTEMBER 22
The vibe coming your way this week is all about investing your resources into something that will last or has a greater return value. Don’t get thrown off base by the way people talk or how they present themselves. Use your keen sense of judgement to see through any smokescreens.
CAPRICORN DECEMBER 22—JANUARY 19
GEMINI MAY 21—JUNE 21
Whether you are ready or not, it’s launch time. Even if you don’t think projects or ideas are ready for primetime, you may be put on the spot to perform or show your goods. It’s time to pull things out of hiding and go for it. Put your best foot forward and rest will follow.
LIBRA SEPTEMBER 23—OCTOBER 22 The energy coming your way this week will make you feel more energized and help you express your feelings and ideas more effectively. Use this vibe to its fullest by realigning situations at work or changing the flow of your daily routines. Get more serious about taking care of yourself at work.
AQUARIUS JANUARY 20—FEBRUARY 18
CANCER JUNE 22—JULY 22
SCORPIO OCTOBER 23—NOVEMBER 21
PISCES FEBRUARY 19—MARCH 20
The energy coming your way will help you get more committed to making changes at home and allocating resources so things will be done to your liking. Now is the time to be more expressive about what you like and dislike. Take the time to show people what you want, this week.
This is the time to pull back and get reconnected with what grounds you. Let go of having to chase after things or making it happen. Stand still and let what is meant to come your way do its thing. Take a breather for the next couple weeks. Clear the schedule when you can and actively sleep.
When it comes to your career and the need for more money, sometimes it can be a delicate balance. You may not be comfortable with asking for more money or hours but perhaps, it’s time. Use the positive vibe you have built over the years with higherups to comfortably ask for more. The vibe coming your way this week will help you get it together and get in the flow of working with others and handling unusual situations or personality types. You may not be able to take control of the situation in your usual manner and will easily change things up now.
What people say won’t be as important as what they do. This is the time to pull back and read between the lines. There are some commitment issues that need to be addressed or some inside information that must come through before you can securely get fully involved with anyone now.
Every next act matters most. — Dino
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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2021 17
Former LaPorte coach with crush on student charged
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BY STAN MADDUX
e was a coach in La Porte when he allegedly couldn’t keep his hands sexually off one of his students. Lorenzo Medrano is charged in La Porte Circuit Court with child seduction after Judge Tom Alevizos on Sept. 13 ruled evidence in the case presented by police was sufficient enough for the suspect to face criminal allegations. According to court documents, Medrano was a coach for the color guard and winter guard program at La Porte High School in 2019 when he began sexually touching a 16-year-old female member of the squad. The girl told police his hands were placed strictly on the outside of her clothing and it happened often before and after practice when nobody was around during the 2019 season.
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The investigation also found a then 61-year-old Medrano would have the girl after leaving the gym with him try on several low-cut V neck outfits and told her things like “you’re hot.” The girl told police he also asked her out to the movies and invited her to take a shower in his motel room when traveling out of state for tournaments, according to court documents. According to police, the girl said she turned down his requests for a movie and using the shower in his motel room. The investigation shows Medrano was fired by the school corporation in March of last year. He commuted to his coaching job from his home in Chicago, police said. Medrano could face anywhere from a six month to two and a half year sentence on the Level 6 felony charge.
Girl pronounced dead after car accident
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Michigan City girl was fatally run over by a motor vehicle outside her residence. 22-month-old Emersyn Woods was pronounced dead in the emergency room at Franciscan Health shortly after the accident Sept. 11, said La Porte County Coroner Lynn Swanson. According to authorities, she was helping her family put away groceries and outside when a relative not knowing the girl was behind her started backing up in a sport utility vehicle in the area of
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Detroit and Cedar streets. Swanson said the toddler apparently was run over by one of the tires and the driver after stopping discovered the badly injured girl. Two days later, Swanson said an autopsy was performed. The findings revealed the girl suffered complex skull fractures, massive hemorrhaging of the brain and other injuries, she said. “Very unfortunate,” Swanson said. A Go Fund Me page created for the family has raised just over $2,000.
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18 THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2021
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Longtime Outpost Sports owner Peacock has no plans to slow down during retirement
is whole life, JV Peacock has been what he refers to as a true “outdoor guy.” “If I’m not outdoors every day doing something, I don’t function correctly,” he said. Seeing as how he’s retiring from being the owner of Outpost Sports, which has spent 38 years in New Buffalo, Peacock said he hopes that he’ll now be able to enjoy being outside even more. Peacock said the store will officially be closed Oct. 3. While Peacock himself is leaving, Outpost Sports will, hopefully, still have a presence in New Buffalo. Peacock said while he plans to sell the business, it’ll still be maintained as Outpost Sports to “keep the name going.” “People are sad I’m closing, and I say, ‘Don’t be too sad hopefully we’ll be here with a different owner next year,”’ he said. The business was originally located on the corner near the light in New Buffalo when it opened in 1983. Peacock said he was visiting in the dead of winter when he saw the building (which was a bait shop) and got the phone number of the person who was renting it. “I called them, and they told me how much rent he wanted, and I thought it was per month and he said, ‘No, that’s per year.’ And I said, ‘We’ll take it,’” he said. It stood at that location for five years. It moved to Hurley’s Garage next door in 1988, where it stood for 21 years. In 2009, it opened in its present location at 105 W.
BY FRANCESCA SAGALA
Outpost Sports owner JV Peacock stands beside the famous gorilla that makes an appearance every spring at the store’s opening
Buffalo Street, which was originally Eggert’s Garage. The very first store was in Fort Collins, Colorado, in 1972 (Peacock attended Colorado State University). Back when Outpost first opened, the “beach scene” – beach clothing, surfboarding, and wind surfing – was picking up speed. “I’d just returned from the National Sporting Goods show in Chicago at McCormick Place and I’d seen all these booths with all these new companies I’d never heard of selling that stuff… It was really fun when we started because it was so new and we didn’t know what we were doing – but year by year, we figured out a formula
for what people around here wanted,” he said. Eight years later, Peacock decided to open a store in St. Joseph. Another one in South Haven soon followed. Soon, they had a “string of beach stores up and down the coast.” Peacock said he had the Mishawaka store, which always sold items catering to outdoor sports – kayaking, canoeing, backpacking, camping, skiing, and snowboarding. “We were what’s called an outdoor store, so it was just the natural progression,” he said. Peacock said he can’t say enough about his “phenomenal” clientele, with many having been with him since the beginning.
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hrough the years, Peacock said Outpost has sold “high quality, useable beach gear,” from beach umbrellas to beach toys to “thousands” of paddleballs to thousands of beach chairs and umbrellas to wind surfers (which were then replaced by kayaks). Along with Peacock, his staff has always shared a love of the great outdoors – which made them more than fitting for the job. “It was an easy formula – once we figured it out,” he said. Peacock said he’s since closed the Outpost in St. Joseph, selling the building two years ago. He’s hoping to sell the
South Haven location. The Mishawaka location closed last November; however, Peacock plans to “do something with that space” since he now has the time to focus on it. “Eventually, something will happen there,” he said. Peacock has other plans for his retirement as well: He and his wife will be traveling to Mexico, Europe, and out west (“We’re not Florida people,” he said), with skiing – his “passion” - being on the agenda for their trips to Europe and out west. “Last year, I skied 61 days - I tried skiing my age (71), so I was 10 days short,” he said. At home in Sawyer, Michigan, Peacock hopes to ride his bike more, play pickleball and spend more time “playing on the beach.” “I won’t stand still,” he said. He also plans to remain active with local trail efforts, such as the Bike Michiana Coalition (of which he’s a founding member) and the Marquette Greenway (a nonmotorized trail that will stretch from Chicago to New Buffalo). The best part of his job, Peacock said, has been passing on his lifelong love of the outdoors to whoever walked through Outpost’s doors. “I have through the years generated enthusiasm for every sport that we would sell, but I did it from a passion not from a business standpoint – everything we’ve done, I really get involved in, I get people excited about it, I get them active in it,” he said. “If you listen to my voicemail – ‘Get outside, get some fresh air’ – that’s always been my mantra…It’s been a fun business, that’s all I can say.”
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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2021 19
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20 THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2021 B:11.5” T:11.5” S:11.5”
Clock ticking on landmark water tower
T Discover the unsearchable T:21”
S:21”
Find a trail near you at DiscoverTheForest.org
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BY STAN MADDUX
he clock is ticking on what’s been a symbol of a Northwest Indiana town for generations. A contract for $28,600 has been approved for tearing down the old water tower in Westville. The steel water tower and tank was erected in 1930 by the Chicago Bridge and Iron Company, according to LandmarkHunter.com. The decision by the town council was unanimous even though many residents would like the water tower to stay. “If there’s any way to keep it, we should keep it,” said Ron Stallings, a former member of the town council and Commander of the Westville American Legion Post 21. The cost of repainting the tank and tower and upgrading the steel was estimated at more than $300,000, officials said. Councilman Mike Albert said he understands the well over 100 foot high tower in the heart of the community means something to people here. He also feels the tank, which can be seen for miles, adds character to the town. However, Albert said he can’t justify the current high cost and future expense of upkeep since the tower is no longer used. He said water is now stored inside a much larger tank installed when the water treatment plant was put in about 20 years ago on the north end of the town of about 5,000 residents. “It’s something I grew up seeing. It’s something my mother grew up seeing. It’s a landmark but, financially, it’s cost prohibitive to keep it,” he said. Stallings said images of the iconic water tower are used to promote the town along with community events. He also said it’s often the first thing
people see while entering and leaving the community. Stallings said he would agree with the council’s decision if there was no other way to reduce or spread the cost of the maintenance work over a several year period.
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e also suggested holding off on the demolition until making sure all cost friendly options have been explored. Albert said an increase in water rates would be a way to generate funds to pay for future maintenance of the tower. He doubted if a rate increase is something most residents would support. “There’s been some grumbling. If they want to come up with the monies to pay for it we’d be happy to consider their offers,” Albert said. Right now, demolition is expected to begin in about six weeks, officials said.
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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2021 21
Powerboat race shatters record for attendance
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BY STAN MADDUX
record quarter million people attended the power boat racing and other related events last month in Michigan City. “We were expecting good attendance and we didn’t get disappointed,” said Jack Arnett, executive director of the LaPorte County Convention and Visitors Bureau. Total attendance was 249,400 for the Great Lakes Grand Prix events from Aug. 4-8, according to Certec, Inc., a marketing analysis group out of Lexington, Kentucky. The previous attendance record of 212,600 was set in 2019. l There was no race last year because of COVID-19. According to Certec, Inc., the Great Lakes Grand Prix this year also generated $17.7 million for LaPorte tCounty’s economy, breaking the record of $13.6 million also set in 2019. The Certec, Inc. report also revealed about 60 percent of the economic impact was from dollars spent on things like food, beverages, shopping, and transportation by people from outside the community. “The impact that this event has on our economy is huge, but equally important is the social impact. Michigan City comes together and shows what an incredible community this really is,” said Mayor Duane Parry.
Arnett said he believes people eager to get out after the COVID restrictions were lifted had something to do with the record turnout. He feels professional jet-ski racing added to the competition in 2019 and staging races for two days instead of one that same year also helped draw more people. Arnett said he wasn’t surprised by this year’s record attendance judging by the amount of people he saw at the lakefront for the racing and during the boat parade and Taste of Michigan City downtown.
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e said another indicator was running out of available parking at the lakefront well before noon on both days of
the racing. A lot of people had to park on side streets or took shuttle buses at Ames Field to and from the lakefront. Arnett said talks with the city have already begun to try and expand designated parking for next year’s race. “It’s a great problem to have,” he said. Arnett said he believes another record could be broken for attendance next year if several race teams from overseas return. Those teams were unable to make it this year because of COVID-19 restrictions on international travel.
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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2021 23
The CHOSEN Season 1 Bible Study • Thurs 7pm Find Us On search: Calvary Chapel New Buffalo
T.269.358.8159
Visit calvarychapelnb.org for current updates, weekly bulletin & bible study information.
1615 East Buffalo St • Pastor Len Pera • 269-548-9980
BIRD MIGRATIONS TAKE THE STAGE AT NEW BUFFALO LIBRARY FORUM
Best live music in Harbor country
N
aturalist Wendy Jones, director of environmental education at the Bubolz Preserve in Appleton, Wisconsin, and a popular speaker at the New Buffalo Library’s Community Forum programs, will discuss fall bird migration in a presentation at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 28, in the New Buffalo Township Library’s Pokagon Room. “While birds catch our attention at their busiest during the summer nesting season, there is much going on in the bird world in the fall,” Jones said. “Summer residents are departing, migrants from northern habitats are passing through Michiana on their way farther south, and winter residents are arriving.” In her presentation, Jones will share information about which species to watch for during this transition and give tips to gear up for the winter-feeding season. New Buffalo Township Library is located at 33 N. Thompson Street in New Buffalo. — STAFF
REPORTS
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Journeyman Tribute to Eric Clapton
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24 THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2021
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