26 minute read
www.newbuffalotimes.com THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2021www.newbuffalotimes.com
New Buffalo Times
THE OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF NEW BUFFALO • SINCE 1944 THE OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF NEW BUFFALO • SINCE 1942
Advertisement
news 50¢
CHICAGO • LONG BEACH • MICHIANA SHORES • GRAND BEACH • NEW BUFFALO • UNION PIER • THREE OAKS • LAKESIDE • HARBERT • SAWYER
issue 39, volume 80 www.newbuffalotimes.com Thursday, September 30, 2021
A night of opera under the stars during ‘Some Enchanted Evening’
Raiders outscore Beavers in shootout
Rainbow Bridge makes an appearance at this year’s ‘Remember Me Thursday’ PAGE 10
Avid cyclists return for annual ‘Apple Cider LET IT FLOW...
MUNICIPAL LEADERS, RESIDENTS CELEBRATE MAJOR UNION PIER IMPROVEMENTS
New Buffalo Times
LOCAL INTELLIGENCE — SINCE 1942 —
ETHICS
SOCIETY OF PROFESSIONAL JOURNALISM MICHIGAN PRESS ASSOCIATION MEMBER
PROPRIETOR
NEW BUFFALO TIMES, INC.
EDITOR
NEW BUFFALO TIMES INTELLIGENCE EDITORIAL BOARD
CREATIVE DIRECTOR
JOE DURK
REPORTERS/WRITERS
THERESE DONNELLY FRANCESCA SAGALA LAWRENCE VON EBELER KURT MARGGRAF ALEXANDER FATOUROS SOPHIA ROSE FATOUROS STAN MADDUX KRISTIN E. FATOUROS NEW BUFFALO TIMES INTELLIGENCE NEW BUFFALO TIMES POLITICS GUESTS
QUOTES
DINO N. FATOUROS
PROOFING
FRANCESCA SAGALA
BROADCAST/ADVERTISING
JANINE ADAMSKI (630) 370-0820 OR JANINEADAMSKI@GMAIL.COM SUGGESTIONS, CRITICISM, IDEAS MEDIA@NEWBUFFALOTIMES.COM
ADVERTISING
MEDIA@NEWBUFFALOTIMES.COM
CLASSIFIED ADS
CLASSIFIEDS@NEWBUFFALOTIMES.COM
SUBSCRIPTIONS
SUBSCRIPTIONS@NEWBUFFALOTIMES.COM
COMMUNICATE DIRECTLY WITH NEW BUFFALO TIMES
INFO@NEWBUFFALOTIMES.COM Periodical Postage paid in New Buffalo, MI. Postmaster, please send address changes to: NEW BUFFALO TIMES PO BOX 959, New Buffalo, MI 49117 ©2021 NEW BUFFALO TIMES, INC. PUBLICATION NUMBER 377960 CIRCULATION 5,000+ WEEKLY NEW BUFFALO TIMES distribution: Milda’s Corner Market • Customs Imports Sawyer Garden Center • The Whistle Stop David’s Delicatessen • Grand Variety Barney’s • Knoll Bros. • Stray Dog Infusco Coffee Roasters Black Currant Bakehouse The Marina Grand • Redamak’s Outpost Sports • Big C Lumber Between Casey’s and Nancy’s Sawyer Hardware • The Harbor Grand Froehlics . Three Oaks Journeyman Distillery . Three Oaks The Acorn Theater . Three Oaks The Lakeside Inn For the most convenient location, you can subscribe to get the NEW BUFFALO TIMES in your mailbox or inbox. Please email us for E-TIMES, info@newbuffalotimes.com. Members of the Berrien County Clerks Association say the Pledge of Allegiance in front of a flag that was supplied by Deputy Director Jeremy Coppnel and Captain Pete Fister during a recent meeting held at Woodbine Lodge in Riverview Park in St Joseph, Michigan. The association, which is comprised of village, city, and township clerks throughout Berrien County, holds quarterly meetings and training sessions put on by the Berrien County Clerks Office regarding elections and other duties that are part of the clerk’s job. The association includes chair Allyson Holm, Bridgman City clerk; vice-chair Judy Zabicki, New Buffalo Township clerk; secretary Karan Basham, Pipestone Township clerk; and Stacy Lohr-Porter, Lincoln Charter Township clerk.
— PHOTO PROVIDED BY JUDY ZABICKI
The body ought to be treated Frugally, so that it might not be unruly to the soul. — Dino N. Fatouros
APOLOGY
New Buffalo Times would like to thank the many readers who pointed out what should have been obvious: An adult male in a position of power (in this case, a 61-year-old coach) making predatory sexual advances on a 16-yearold student is in no way considered a “crush.”
The article we are referencing was published in the September 23, 2021 issue of the New Buffalo Times, written by Stan Maddux.
We are listening, and appreciate all of you who took the time to write to express your concerns.
The correct headline for that article should have been: Coach to face criminal charges.
People are able to heal from trauma when others offer support, empathy and truth.
Local Government Meetings
SPECTRUM HEALTH LAKELAND IS AT CAPCITY
BY FRANCESCA SAGALA
New Buffalo Times Democracy Requires Transparency Berrien County has continued to experience sustained high transmission of Covid cases, with 216.4 new cases being reported CITY OF NEW BUFFALO per 100,000 residents over the sevenJOHN HUMPHREY, MAYOR CITY COUNCIL day period from Sept. 16-22 and the
LOU O’DONNELL, IV. MARK ROBERTSON, JOHN HUMPHREY, ROGER LIJESKI, BRIAN FLANAGAN percent of positive tests over that period being 11.8 percent.
City Council meets on the 3rd Monday of each month at 6:30PM “Like the entire state of Michigan, CITY OF NEW BUFFALO PLANNING Berrien County is still experiencing
COMMISSION MEETINGS sustained high transmission, but we to be determined didn’t see any new increases to our NEW BUFFALO TOWNSHIP BOARD PETE RAHM, MICHELLE HEIT, case rate this week, suggesting that
JUDY H. ZABICKI, PATTY IAZZETTO, JACK ROGERS Board meets on the 3rd Monday locally, we may be at a plateau after our late summer surge of cases,” the of each month at 7PM Berrien County Health Department
NEW BUFFALO TOWNSHIP PLANNING COMMISSION (BCHD) stated on Facebook Friday, Meets on the 1st Tuesday Sept. 24.of each month at 6:30PM Courtney Davis, interim health
NEW BUFFALO AREA SCHOOLS officer for the health department, BOARD CHUCK HEIT, PRESIDENT HEATHER BLACK, VICE PRESIDENT said that there’s good news regarding schools, as there’s been a “noticeable
JOHN HASKINS, TREASURER LISA WERNER, SECRETARY correlation between fewer cases and
JOYCE LANTZ, TRUSTEE FRANK MARGRO, TRUSTEE quarantines in our school settings”
PATRICIA NEWSTON, TRUSTEE since the health department’s public CHIKAMING TOWNSHIP health order for masking in indoor
CHIKAMING TOWNSHIP BOARD DAVID BUNTE, PAULA DUDIAK, K-12 school settings went into effect at LIZ RETTIG, RICHARD SULLIVAN, BILL MARSKE Chikaming Board meets on the 2nd the beginning of September. “From the first week of school (the Thursday of each month at 6:30PM week of Aug. 30), when we did not
CHIKAMING TOWNSHIP PLANNING COMMISSION have that, and then two weeks prior,
Meets on the 1st Wednesday of each month at 6:30PM we’ve seen an over 50 percent decrease in cases in students and staff as well
THREE OAKS THREE OAKS TOWNSHIP BOARD as subsequent quarantines,” she said Meets on the 2nd Monday of each month at 7PM during the Facebook live update with Spectrum Health Lakeland (SHL)
VILLAGE OF THREE OAKS BOARD Meets on the 2nd Wednesday Wednesday, Sept. 22. of each month at 7PM “That’s pretty huge that we can 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 see that over 50 percent decrease in numbers from that added layer of prevention and mitigation,” Davis said.
Dr. Loren Hamel, SHL president, said Sept. 22 that the inpatient Covid census has been “pretty stable” over the last few weeks at 20 to 25 inpatients, with about a quarter or so in the ICU.
He said that about 87 percent of the admissions over the last six months were people that were unvaccinated. There have been a lot of younger patients who are unvaccinated who are being admitted to the hospital, Hamel said.
He added that there have been some vaccinated admissions, as he’s been seeing immunity waning six months or so after people have gotten the vaccination, particularly in older individuals.
Currently, Hamel said that SHL is “utterly at capacity.”
“The emergency departments are packed, the hospital is full, staffing is challenging…We just don’t have extra room,” he said.
Hamel said that the hospital can take care of the 20 to 25 Covid patients but it’s “very, very tight.”
“We haven’t had to cancel elective surgeries yet, we’ve have had to go on diversion a few times - but really, diversion isn’t solution, because every hospital is in the same circumstance,” he said.
Hamel said that it’s important for everyone to take care of their “routine needs,” ensuring that they’re medications are getting refilled and that they’re seeing their physician. If you have something that “can’t wait,” the physician’s office or the urgent care center is the best place to start, he said; however, for something more serious, a trip to the emergency room is in order, where Hamel said, “we will take care of you.”
Recently, the CDC approved Pfizer booster shots at least six months after the second dose of Pfizer vaccine for specific populations: people 65 years and older and residents in long-term care settings and people aged 50 to 64 with certain underlying medical conditions. The following individuals may receive the booster: people 18 to 49 who are at high risk for severe COVID-19 due to certain underlying medical conditions, based on their individual benefits and risks and people aged 18-64 years who are at increased risk for COVID-19 exposure and transmission because of occupational or institutional setting. People who qualify can make an appointment to receive their Pfizer booster vaccine at an upcoming BCHD clinic by visiting www.bchdmi. org/1745/COVID-19-VaccineInformation.
When we show our respect for other living things,
they respond with respect for us. — Arapaho
The Berrien County Health Department is being forced to rescind the Sept. 1 public health order requiring the use of face masks by individuals in pre-kindergarten through grade 12 indoor educational settings – or Aface loss of nearly $1.5 million in budget.
The order is rescinded as of 11:59 p.m. tonight. The decision comes Wednesday on the heels of Gov. Whitmer signing the 2022 state budget to avoid a loss of funding for essential local public health services threatened in language included in Senate Bill 82; House Bill 4400. According to boilerplate language included in these bills, any health department that has issued an emergency order in attempt to combat COVID-19, including enacting or enforcing an order requiring masks by anyone in a school setting, will be negatively impacted financially. Although Gov. Whitmer stated today that this language was “unconstitutional”, Berrien County legal counselors have advised it stands until proven otherwise in a court of law.
The Berrien County Health Department cannot risk losing these essential dollars, which fund vital community programs and services such as immunizations, infectious disease control, sexually transmitted disease control and prevention, hearing screening, vision services, food protection, public water supply, private groundwater supply and on-site sewage management.
While local health departments are unable to enact public health orders to protect against COVID-19 without jeopardizing funding, mask orders can be enacted by to local school districts and individual schools.
“It is appalling that local health departments in Michigan must choose between safeguarding school children from the threat of COVID-19 and the future funding for our essential public health programs,” said Courtney Davis, acting BCHD health officer. “Our hands are tied. We make this decision citing grave concerns over the health of our community.”
Davis continued, “We strongly urge all local school
Berrien County Health Department forced to rescind public health order requiring masks in educational settings or face defunding boards of education and school leaders to continue to align with sound public health practice and to immediately enact a requirement for universal masking within their districts and institutions to continue protecting their students and staff from the ongoing risk of COVID-19.” Under the Michigan Public Health Code, local public health officers are authorized to “take actions and make determinations necessary or appropriate to carry out the local health department’s functions to protect the public health and prevent disease.” Berrien County has experienced ongoing, sustained high transmission of COVID-19 since mid-August and continues to urge all people to be wearing a mask when in indoor public spaces. Peg Kohring, Berrien County Board of Health chairwoman said, “When this unconstitutional language is deemed as illegal in a court of law, and if the data still supports the need for a public health order requiring masks in pre-K through grade 12 settings because of ongoing high transmission, the Board of Health fully supports the local health officer to reinstate this order to keep students and teachers in the classroom.”
Since the order was put into effect on Sept. 6, the Health Department noted an over 50% decrease in the numbers of new cases and quarantines experienced in school settings among students and staff despite ongoing increased transmission within the community. After the rescission of this order, schools that do not require universal masking will risk greater numbers of COVID-19 cases and will need to adhere to an extended 6-foot quarantine radius, as well as lose options for reduced or modified quarantine for students and staff. BCHD Medical Director Dr. Rex Cabaltica said: “The science is clear: masks are an effective layer of protection to mitigate against the spread of COVID-19, especially when indoors in a congregate setting, like our schools.” — STAFF REPORTS
Hefty pay hike sought by mayor
A close to 50 percent increase in pay is being sought for the mayor in Michigan City.
A similar raise in salary is also being requested for members of his administration.
The odds of such hefty pay hikes being approved seem like a longshot judging by early reaction from several city council members.
If approved, the salary for the mayor would go up from about $80,000 to more than $118,000 annually.
Councilman Don Pryzbylinski said other proposed salary hikes, like the one being sought for the administrative assistant to the mayor, are also concerning.
Pay for that position would go from $50,000 to $75,000.
“That’s as much as the chief of police makes or the fire chief makes,” he said.
The salary hike request comes several months after the city council asked Mayor Duane Parry to resign.
The council deemed Parry unfit to hold office in response to his recorded remarks labeling African American members of the clergy as attention seeking “black guys.”
Councilman Sean Fitzpatrick, who’s African American, said he still has no confidence in Parry’s ability to lead the city.
“I would never, never support an increase like this for him,” he said.
Pryzbylinski also questioned whether Parry has done a good enough job to earn such a hefty increase in pay.
He also felt such a wage would be way out of line considering most local residents make far less.
“Fifty percent of the citizens that live here are either at or below the poverty level,” Pryzbylinski said.
Fitzpatrick said the pay hike request for the mayor and other positions in the city reflects the figures contained in a study of salaries in other municipalities.
No action was taken on the salary increase proposals.
A vote by the council could be taken prior to the end of October. — STAN MADDUX
A night of opera under the stars during ‘Some Enchanted Evening’
BY FRANCESCA SAGALA
Notes from world-
renowned operatic tunes drifted through the air, which was tinged SAM’s Future Fund endowment campaign, with proceeds matched by the Michiana Arts Foundation. According to Garth Taylor, with an early-fall chill, during the first “Some Enchanted Evening,” which was held at the Spring Creek Stage at the School of American Music (SAM) in Dewey Cannon Park Saturday, Sept. 25. Martha Cares (an internationally renowned opera singer and longtime member of the cast of “Phantom of the Opera” in New York City) and tenor Matthew Daniel (a veteran member of the chorus of the Lyric Opera of Chicago, who is well-known for his work in operatic productions ranging from “La Boheme” to “Madama Butterfly”), both of whom sang their way through musical vignettes from musicals “Guys and Dolls,” “Les Misérables” and “South Pacific,” in addition to highlights from popular operas.
Guests were encouraged to bring their own lawn setups (the fancier the better), including their own lawn chairs, food, beverages, and picnic blankets.
Organized by Marco Chavarry, a member of SAM’s board of directors, the event benefitted founder of SAM, 140 people bought tickets to the event, raising $14,000 for the campaign. SAM will be celebrating its 10th anniversary in January 2022.
Garth said
that the school began with one
Garth Taylor thanks the student in a “lonely, crowd for supporting the kind of unheated School of American Music room” in Three Oaks
Township Library. A volunteer band raised funds to put the heat on. Today, the school offers lessons offers private, one-onone lessons at its studios on the second floor of the library and at the Three Oaks Arts and Education Building for children and adults at beginning, intermediate and advanced levels of proficiency. Musical styles taught include contemporary, classical, jazz, blues, gospel. bluegrass, and rock-n-roll. “We’ve come a long way,” said Taylor. For more information, visit www.schoolofamericanmusic. com.
Guests enjoy an elegant meal at the park
Garth Taylor accompanies Martha Cares on the guitar Martha Cares takes the stage
The crowd enjoys opera at Dewey Cannon Park
Even though a ribboncutting took place in May, a celebration was still necessary for the Union Pier/Red Arrow Highway Corridor Improvement Project at the trailhead on Townline Avenue Friday, Sept. 24.
“I’m so excited to look around and finally see all of our hard work we’ve envisioned for so long finally come to fruition,” New Buffalo Township Supervisor Michelle Heit said.
The 1.3-mile corridor’s transformation includes new sidewalks, a 10-foot non-motorized path, and roadway reconstruction that converts Red Arrow Highway from Community Hall to Berrien Street into a three-lane road with a dedicated center left-turn lane. The intersection of Red Arrow Highway and Union Pier Road features streetscape elements, and an activated pedestrian crossing system will aid walkers, runners, and bicyclists traveling east and west across Red Arrow Highway.
The project was made possible by The Pokagon Fund, Chikaming Township, New Buffalo Township, Berrien County Road Department, and USDA Rural Development funding. It was managed by the Road Department.
New Buffalo Township received $75,000 for the trailhead as well as $950,000 from The Fund for the improvement project, while Chikaming Township received $100,000.
Since November 2019, The Pokagon Fund has awarded grants totaling over $1 million to New Buffalo and Chikaming townships for the project.
A water feature designed and installed by Steve Nesci of Nesci Landscaping in honor of The Fund for its major contribution was unveiled near the trailhead.
“This is just one of many great investments they’ve made in Harbor Country – Union Pier is safer and more pleasing place now because of funding from The Pokagon Fund and the nonmotorized path, trailhead, parking lot and street amenities are such a great addition to this area,” Heit said.
She said that John Krsul, who was once interim executive director of the Fund and passed away last summer, was “truly excited about this project and would love to see it completed.”
The two townships will have a plaque for Krsul in the future.
Heit said current executive director, Dan Petersen, came “onboard” midway through the project and has been a “great partner.” She thanked the following individuals for their part in the major project: Chikaming Township Supervisor David Bunte; Kevin Stack, engineering supervisor at the Berrien County Road Department; the county commission (which let the townships “piggyback our streetscape project onto our road project”); Eric Neagu of Antero Group; Wightman & Associates, particularly engineer Melanie Stanage and Ben Baker, the landscape architect; Heit’s son, David, who designed the logo for the Union Pier banners; Archie Barkman, township utilities supervisor; township board members Judith Zabicki, Patti Iazzetto, Pete Rahm, and Jack Rogers; and Chikaming Township Board members Paula Dudiak, Rich Sullivan, Bill Marske, and Liz Rettig.
She also thanked Union Pier business owners.
“Thank you for meeting with us and giving input - I hope you’ve found this to be a benefit for your business and it turned out the way you hoped – we couldn’t have done it without you,” she said.
Bunte said he’s grateful for the partnership that’s formed between New Buffalo and Chikaming townships.
“We’ve been able to accomplish something people locally here locally thought could never be accomplished… Partnerships with your local municipalities get things done,” he said.
He’s pleased to see how everyone’s been enjoying the finished product.
“Everyone we’ve talked to that’s walking, riding and in strollers and everything on the path here in town seems to be thrilled.”
Petersen said that one of The Fund’s funding priorities is “to award grants for projects that promote community vitality.”
“Under this funding area, the foundation awards grants to municipalities for innovative projects that develop new facilities that contribute to recreational or economic development that, in turn, create more vibrant communities in Southwest Berrien County,” he said, adding that “this project does exactly that.”
He added that Berrien County was recently awarded a matching grant of $90,000 from the United States Department of Agriculture to “fund the design of a trail that will connect New Buffalo to Union Pier.”
“This project is indeed a catalyst for future community placemaking projects,” Petersen said.
And there’s more to come.
Stack said plans are for improvements to be made further north and south on the Red Arrow Highway corridor.
Currently, road improvements are being made in Harbert, where a nonmotorized trail will go and a section of the road will transition to three lanes (like in Union Pier).
“From here, you’ll see it move a lot quicker – now, we have a template we refer to,” he said, alluding to Union Pier.
Echoing Petersen, Stack said the county has grants coming for the design of the nonmotorized path, which will be a “true gateway through Berrien County from Chicago” once it’s completed.
Stack said that the Road Department received an award for “interoperability for different government agencies” for the project from the Michigan County Road Association, adding that around nine different entities were involved.
BY FRANCESCA SAGALA
Raiders outscore Beavers in shootout
BY STAN MADDUX
The Red Arrow Raiders are hoping to extend their winning streak in high school football offense on the field, Eau Claire cut into the lead with help from dazzling runs by their quarterback but posed no real threat to the outcome of the after beating Eau Claire in an offensive shootout.
The Raiders (2-2) defeated the Beavers 58-44 Friday, Sept. 24.
“I think, overall, we’re moving in the right direction,” said Raiders Head Coach Matt Johnson.
Raiders quarterback Michael Bombin scored four touchdowns while gaining 230 yards rushing on 32 carries.
Eli Thomas ran for 138 yards on 21 carries and scored one touchdown.
Ben Coffeen scored three touchdowns while racking up 113 yards rushing on 14 carries.
The Raiders struck first on a three yard run into the end zone by Bombin on a quarterback keeper.
Eau Claire on the next series of downs tied the game but the Raiders, after recapturing the lead, went into halftime ahead 32-22.
The Raiders were up by as much as four touchdowns until the fourth quarter, when second string players on defense began seeing quality playing time.
Keeping their first-string game. “They’d pulled to within two scores then we’d go up by three scores,” Johnson said. Each team racked up more than 500 yards of total offense. The Raiders, comprised of players from New Buffalo and River Valley high schools, beat the Twin City Sharks 82-12 the previous week.
They play Maple Valley High School from Vermontville at New Buffalo High School Friday, Oct. 1, during homecoming.
Johnson said he likes his team’s chances as long as his players keep working to reduce mental mistakes on the field
“They’ll be a tough team but it should be a good game, hopefully,” Johnson said.
Johnson said his players still have difficulty maintaining their focus, which has led to big gains at times from blown coverages and missed tackles on defense.
“In the eight-man game if one guy doesn’t do his job defensively, that can have some disastrous affects,” he said.
SPORTS
From the Bleachers
COLUMN BY KURT MARGGRAF IN CHICAGO
Have you ever been in
a situation where you desperately wanted to do something so well that everyone would think that you were really good at what you did, only to fall short of your goal?
So many variables get in the way and before you know it, you’re in over your head.
Chicago Bears coach Matt Nagy, and many others I suppose, must feel that way tonight. Nagy seems to be a good man, and most of his players seem to love him, but as a head coach of a professional football team, Nagy appears to be in over his head.
Coach Nagy stood up like a man and accepted the blame for the team’s poor performance, rather than blaming others, which is an admirable trait, but in reality the coach had failed to put the team in a position to win.
Rookie quarterback Justin Fields, the teams hope for the future, never had a chance. Poor play calling left the rookie running for his life against a Cleveland defense that seemed to know what play the Bears were running even before they ran it. Everyone deserves some blame for the Bears wretched play. The GM, Ryan Pace, seems to have forgotten that you need an offensive line. The assistant coaches have an obligation to prepare their players and to help out the head coach when he is obviously struggling, and the players need to give their best effort on every play, in every game.
The statistic that is so bad it’s unbelievable is the Bears net passing yards for the game. For some perspective, the Browns had 203, Lions 192, Vikings 313, Packers 253, and the Bears…one.
As a Chicago sports fan, I’ve witnessed a lot of ineptitude, but the Bears game today was probably the worst game I’ve ever witnessed. Oh yes, the Bears were beaten 26-6.
Many years ago I heard Bernadette Peters sing a song on the Muppet Show. The moral of the song was if one whole person believes in you, another might see your worth, making it two. And if two, why not four, or more. Soon everyone will see the good in you. I’m sure someone still believes in Coach Nagy. Let’s hope he can turn the team around and keep his job.
The Blackhawks, with Jonathan Toews, opened training camp this week full of optimism. The Bulls have their first practice tomorrow, and with a lot of new additions, fans are looking forward to the season more than they have in years.
The baseball regular season is drawing to a close. The White Sox are going to the playoffs as one of the best teams in either league, and the Cubs, well the Cubs are preparing to wait until next year.
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow said, “Every man has his secret sorrows which the world knows not; and often times we call a man cold when he is only sad.”
Refuse hate. Talk to you next week. Peace, love, and happiness.
Bison stung by Bees in soccer
BY STAN MADDUX
The New Buffalo High School soccer team was soundly defeated at home by Bridgman Monday, Sept. 27.
The Bees led 4-0 at halftime.
No goals were scored by either team in Riley recorded his final save in the final 35 seconds of the match. New Buffalo Head Coach Erik Beers said changes on defense also worked to keep the Bees scoreless in the second half. the second half.
John Riley, the goalie for the Bison, helped keep the Bees from scoring again with numerous saves at the net.
Two of the saves were from Riley catching line drives from hard kicks by the opponents within a few minutes of each other after halftime.
During the entire game, the Bees had little difficulty moving the ball, Meanwhile, the Bison, from lack of penetration by the offense, managed just one kick toward the net.
A ball kicked by Juan Hernandez close to the net went wide to the right, with less than 10 minutes left in the game. The loss for New Buffalo (2-7) followed two consecutive wins the previous week against Lake Michigan Catholic and Lawrence. Beers said his team’s struggles are from being young and some players not having much prior experience in the sport. “You’re learning during the game, which isn’t always optimal, but that’s what you got
to do,” he said.
He said the team is still improving, though, and should be competitive in the upcoming district tournament.
“We’ll give whoever we get in the draw a game for sure,” Beers said.
Lady Bison winless in Tournament
BY STAN MADDUX
The New Buffalo High School girls’ volleyball team is showing promise despite losing nearly every player from last year’s district championship squad.
The still competitive team with just two returning players came away from the River Valley High School Invitational without a victory.
The Lady Bison (7-9-2) lost Saturday, Sept. 25, to Bridgman, Cassopolis and Sturgis.
The losses followed victories over Lawrence at home and on the road against Howardsville Christian.
New Buffalo Head Coach Bruce Molineaux said the young team is still pretty solid, with a chance of winning another district title if the players start making fewer mistakes and develop more of a killer instinct to close out games.
He blamed mistakes on losses against Michigan Lutheran and White Pigeon.
“Very easily, we could have a winning record,” he said.
One of the bright spots has been the play of freshman Jane Funk, who came here from the Chicago area.
“She’s going to be a nice player for us,” he said.
Molineaux also spoke highly about the performance of players like junior Amanda Jones.
This year’s squad was hoping to make it back to the regionals following an undefeated regular season and district championship.
Last year’s head coach Kevin Labaj with a baby on the way and new job requiring a longer commute unexpectedly resigned.
Returning all-conference players Ava Mullen and Kelsey Corkran transferred to other schools.
Molineaux, who was hired after spending the past seven seasons as head coach at Michigan Lutheran, has just two players from last season.
He said the team no longer with power hitters quickly racking up points must limit mistakes and play tough defense to outscore their opponents.
The district tournament at Eau Claire begins Oct. 30.
He said Michigan Lutheran will probably be the favorite with River Valley and New Buffalo with a chance of taking the title.
The Lady Bison have good reason to be optimistic because they’re undefeated in conference games within their division.
Molineaux also won four district titles as coach at Michigan Lutheran.
“We could wind up with a winning record this year. We’re just not quite good enough to beat the bigger schools,” he said.
