December 1, 2022

PHOTO

HealthLinc expanding in Michigan City

BY STAN MADDUX

Aground breaking was held Monday, Nov. 28, in Michigan City on a new HealthLinc medical clinic that will be more than three times larger than the current facility serving the community.

Construction of the 39,000 square foot outpatient clinic is in response to growing demand for affordable medical care from uninsured and underinsured people, said Beth Wrobel, chief executive officer of HealthLinc.

HealthLinc has four other clinics for low to moderate income people in Lake, Porter, Starke and St. Joseph counties.

Wrobel said the Michigan City clinic serves uninsured and underinsured residents from the New Buffalo area.

Wrobel said the plan is to move the existing 12,000 square foot clinic at 7th and Franklin streets to the new facility behind Ivy Tech Community College during the first quarter of 2024.

“We’ve outgrown it,” she said.

Wrobel said the new $15 million facility at 200 Alfred Ave. just north of U.S. 20 will have space to treat more individuals and provide new services in optometry, expanded prenatal care

services and an in-house pharmacy for convenience.

Services at the current facility already include medical, dental, podiatry, chiropractic and addiction services.

Patients at the current HealthLinc location established in 2008 used to have nearby Fagan Pharmacy available to fill prescriptions at a much lower cost.

Fagan Pharmacy closed over a year ago, though.

Patients now go to CVS and Walgreens to have their prescriptions filled at a significant discount.

Ivy Tech medical students will also be given access to the facility to gain experience in health care treatment as part of their studies.

The new building will contain three floors with services, initially, provided

on the first two levels.

The third level will be used if there’s a need for expansion in the future.

Wrobel said there were about 9,000 patients resulting in roughly 35,000 visits at HealthLinc in Michigan City last year.

In comparison, there were about 500 patients during the first six months after the clinic opened its doors.

“We’ve really grown,” she said.

Wrobel said HealthLinc is funded primarily with various grants and fees from patients whose cost is based on income.

Federal dollars make up about 10% of the operating budget, she said.

First District Congressman Frank Mrvan of Hammond said facilities such as HealthLinc make the communities they serve stronger by giving people access to medical care they otherwise might not be able to afford.

Mrvan said affordable healthcare also plays a role in economic development.

“To say, hey, we have a quality health care provider that’s looking out for the most vulnerable, that’s something that helps brings in businesses. That’s something that brings in new residents,” he said.

Local Government Meetings New

Buffalo

CITY OF NEW BUFFALO JOHN HUMPHREY, MAYOR CITY COUNCIL

MARK ROBERTSON, ROGER LIJESKI, JOHN HUMPHREY, BRIAN FLANAGAN, VANCE PRICE

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

FRANK MAGRO, LISA WERNER, HEATHER BLACK, DENISE CHURCHILL, BRADLEY BURNER, VANESSA THUN

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 Meets on the 3rd Wednesday of each month at 7PM MARY ROBERTSON, CLERK DEBORAH LINDLEY, BLAKE O’HALLORAN, JAMES BRACEWELL, PETER DOERR, PAUL LEONARD, JR. MICHIANA

VILLAGE OF MICHIANA COUNCIL Meets on the 2nd Friday of each month at 1PM

City’s increase in water, sewer rates discussed at town hall

BY FRANCESCA SAGALA

Concerns over the city of New Buffalo’s increasing water and sewer rates were hashed out during a town hall at city hall Tuesday, Nov. 22.

The Galien River Sanitary District (GRSD) Sewer Authority serves the communities of New Buffalo City, New Buffalo Township, Lake Township, Chikaming Township, City of Bridgman, and Weesaw Township.

New Buffalo Mayor John Humphrey said that the plant located on Kruger Road in New Buffalo Township has “costs to operate.”

“We are responsible for those costs and those costs go to you folks as your sewer bill,” he said.

Humphrey said there’s two numbers on customers’ bills: sewer usage (SU) and the Sewer ready to serve(SR). The SR, which is the cost of physically bringing a sewer pipe to residents’ homes to collect sewage and the system that brings it to the plant, has gone up due to the amount never having been “historically correctly updated at least as far back as we can go to 2003,” Humphrey said.

He said the costs of the plant continue to escalate due to the GRSD’s annual inflationary increase but those fixed costs the plant charges were “never properly increased.”

For a long time, the plant had an “economic model” that was how much material was sent to the plant.

“We were billed on that because that amount of material sent to the plant and the billing for that was always enough to cover the entire cost of the operation of the plant,” Humphrey said.

The city tried to lower the cost by taking all the lake water out of the city’s system.

Humphrey said that, at one point, 57% of

the city’s flow was lake water.

“We spent all that time cleaning that up and then all of a sudden, with our infiltration down, we have record low flows to the plant,” he said.

Soon, everyone’s flows weren’t paying the “actual cost of this giant plant to operate.”

‘So, we had a discussion on changing the economic model on how we can fix the plant and that made us address our long historical inaccuracies in keeping up to date with the cost we were billing everybody for our sewer fund,” Humphrey said.

The city council received a water and sewer rate study at a special meeting in April to “ensure sufficient rates to satisfy the financial obligations of the systems,” city manager Darwin Watson said. Rates charged for services vary based on the customers’ meter size. All customers pay the same rate for water and sewer usage.

In accordance with the city’s code of ordinances, the rates were set by the council in June and became effective Aug. 1, 2022.

Watson said water and sanitary sewer funds are considered enterprise funds that are used to account for operations that are financed and operated like private business enterprises, where “the intent is that the cost of providing goods and services to the general public on a continual basis be financed or recovered primarily through the user charges.”

“Water and sewer rates are based on the real cost of treating, delivering and removing water to and away from customers,” Watson said.

Andy Campbell, director of Baker Tilly,

which worked with the city to determine the water rates, said the GRSD system has been planning for a multiple capital improvement project and the GRSD’s rate structure change in 2023, with Baker Tilly helping the city “plan for that with the city’s rates.”

He added that the city has had meter issues with the GRSD. The GRSD tries to “meter the amount of sewage that comes from each community, which is very difficult because the pipes aren’t under pressure so you can’t really meter that very well.”

The GRSD ran into this issue with the city in 2017; however, Campbell said he hopes it was cleaned up and that there are “some bad meters” on the GRSD side that he believes have since been addressed.

“A lot of that came into question about what was actually happening with the city’s system…We were kind of waiting for answers from the GRSD from the city, trying to get that all cleaned up because the numbers were just going all over the place over what was being paid to the GRSD and what was not being paid,” he said.

It’s now believed that the city has the correct numbers with regards to planning for the GRSD’s expenses, the city’s expenses and for capital improvements “on both sides.”

Campbell said all of this “gives us the best direction going forward with how to operate the fund in a self-sustaining manner.”

“The goal for the city because these are enterprise funds is to keep the money within the fund, so the rates go into each respective fund – you’re trying to run the fund so it’s self-supporting and not having to pull taxes or any other funds in to run the system,” he said.

Art is meaning. — Dino N. Fatouros

Humphrey said the city has been subsidizing the sewer fund with the city’s monies from the general fund.

Moving forward, he said a healthy enterprise fund should allow the city to be more able “to absorb future fluctuations in rates without having to raise your sewer bill.”

Resident and business owner Marc Danesi asked why the rate increase couldn’t be spread out, such as by having it be raised 25% one year or 10% another, to allow a “chance for people to absorb it.”’

Humphrey said the city was advised “multiple times to raise the rates but the city council for whatever reason, decided not to do it.”

“It’s the unfortunate reality of being able to maintain and secure our cost of the plant – we got ourselves in a lot of trouble up there over the last situation where we were accused of not being able to pay our bills and we have to make sure our city is fiduciary responsible and we have a long record here of fuduciary irresponsibility in the management of our sewer fund and unfortunately as tax payers, we all have to pay for that now,” he said.

Campbell, who said that he recommended a large increase in 2017 after the city was awarded a SAW grant to do an inventory of the system and gather asset management plans for the sanitary and stormwater systems, said that there have been a “lot of changes at GRSD that have accumulated in those past five years.”

The city’s flow to the GRSD spiked in 2019 with the highwater table.

“Whatever amount of flow each of the five member communities sent to GRSD, they were charged a rate per 1,000 gallons and that was sent to the five communities and the rate was adjusted as the flow was adjusted,” he said.

“If all five communities raised or lowered their usage the same proportionally, everyone’s bills would be the same proportionally…The problem was the high-water table affected the city more than the four other communities so New Buffalo City’s bills proportionally

regards to the other four communities went up,” Campbell added.

There was a dispute with the metering so the city ran a credit with GRSD, which “put it on the fact” that the city couldn’t afford to pay them was what was being billed.

“The problem now is you cannot wait any longer… The fund has been run to a point where if no rate increase was implemented, the fund was going to run to almost $0 at the end of this fiscal year,” Campbell said, adding that it was running a negative cash flow of $300,000.

Robert Kemper, who owns two properties in the city and said he’s paying 10% of the total cost increase, said other municipalities subsidize sewer funds through their general funds.

“We’d been doing that for two years –it was a choice made by the city council to agree to increase this by $900,000 a year instead of continuing to subsidize it through the general fund…It’s a choice to use some of the general funds to say, ‘We have to ease into this, we cannot drop this bomb to the property owners in the city of New Buffalo,” he said.

Kemper questioned how much the tax collection has gone up in the last two to three years, and that the property values have gone up significantly.

“So, the city general fund has also grown during that same time period,” Kemper said.

Campbell said that, since the Headlee Rollback and Proposal A “work against each other,” the city’s general fund isn’t “realizing that increase in taxes more than inflation every year.”

Watson said that, from 2017 to 2022, property tax increased from $2.3 million to $2.6 million.

“If we continue to subsidize, we’re now talking about laying off a police officer because a police officer cost us about $100,000 annually - it comes out of the general fund,” he said.

He added that, due to Headlee and Proposal A, “you’re going to have to start looking at your costs in other ways to subsidize your enterprise funds, which should basically fund itself.”

Free coats are available at New Troy Community Center

TThanks to the Friends of New Troy’s annual winter coat drive, which has caused a lot of generous people to open their closets and bring gently used coats to the New Troy Community Center, the center now has a wide selection of coats available.

Anyone in need is invited to stop by the community center and select something. Items are located on a rack just outside the center entrance, which is accessible any time of day or night. Proof of income or residency is not required.

If you have coats, boots, hats or mittens to donate, please place them on the rack.

Center hours are from 4-6 p.m. Monday through Wednesday 10 a.m. to noon and Friday through Saturday.

The New Troy Community Center is located at 13372 California Road in New Troy (across from the post office).

For more information, please call the center at 269-426-3909. — STAFF REPORTS

New Buffalo library to present ‘Prairies: Past, Present and Future’

Ryan Postema, executive director of Chikaming Open Lands, will present a program on native prairies at the New Buffalo Township Library at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 6, in the library’s Pokagon Room.

Postema will review the history of native prairies in the Midwest and discuss their importance and efforts underway to restore and protect prairie communities. He will also share examples of nearby preserves that demonstrate prairie diversity. Postema’s deep knowledge of the area’s local environments and the plants and animals that populate them offers a terrific insight into the natural wonders of Southwest Michigan.

Like all programs in the Friends of the New Buffalo Library’s Community Forum series, this presentation is free and open to all.

The New Buffalo Township Library is located at 33 N. Thompson Street in downtown New Buffalo. — STAFF REPORTS

LETTERS TO THE NEW BUFFALO TIMES: TOWN SQUARE

THE VIEWS HERE DO NOT REPRESENT THE VIEWS OF THE NEW BUFFALO TIMES. THE NEW BUFFALO TIMES ASKS THAT YOUR LETTER TO THE NEW BUFFALO TIMES, BE UNIQUE, KIND AND BASED ON REASONED FACTS. THE NEW BUFFALO TIMES RESERVES THE RIGHT TO NOT PUBLISH ANY CORRESPONDENCE FOR ANY REASON. PLEASE KEEP YOUR LETTERS TO 300 WORDS OR FEWER. PLEASE INCLUDE YOUR NAME, PHONE NUMBER AND YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS. PLEASE EMAIL YOUR LETTER TO INFO@NEWBUFFALOTIMES.COM. THANK YOU.

New Buffalo Times

LOCAL INTELLIGENCE — SINCE 1942 —

MANY THANKS...

Blessings in a Backpack would like to thank Barbara and Conrad Rieckhoff and the Sunset Shores Homeowner’s for their kindness and generosity in supporting Blessings in a Backpack in New Buffalo.

The Homeowner’s Association held another successful food drive in Sunset Shores on November 12 and provided over 1,600 individual food items to be distributed to the children in the Blessings in a Backpack program at New Buffalo Elementary School.

Blessings in a Backpack currently serves 88,900 students in 1,118 schools in 45 states. Last year Blessings in a Backpack provided 3,183,295 hunger free weekends to students across the United States.

We send food home every Friday with children who might not have enough food to eat on the weekends.

This ministry is made possible through generous donations from the community and many volunteer hours.

Thank you to all of the donors from our community for your support and generosity. It is greatly appreciated.

If you would like to make a monetary donation or would like more information about Blessings in a Backpack, please contact Mary Robertson at mrobertson58@comcast. net.

— MARY ROBERTSON, WATER’S EDGE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH, BLESSINGS IN A BACKPACK

John Hancock returns to Three Oaks

A ‘PRANCER’ HOMECOMING

BY FRANCESCA SAGALA

Even though he lives only a few miles away – 17 minutes away, to be exact – John Hancock’s visit to Three Oaks Saturday, Nov. 26, was a homecoming of sorts for him.

After all, that’s where he chose to direct the film “Prancer,” the Christmas gem that caused Hollywood to descend upon the small southwestern Michigan town as well as northern Indiana in the winters of 1988-1989.

“I grew up here, so it has that kind of resonance – it has the lakes, it has the hills and (it’s) flat,” Hancock, who currently lives near Hesston, Indiana, said.

In honor of The Region of Three Oaks Museum’s unveiling of Prancer Village in Heritage Hall, Hancock was paying a visit to the hall to sign autographs as well as well to talk to fans about his film.

The next day, he popped into The Acorn Center for the Performing Arts, where there was a special screening of the film to benefit River Valley Mustang Foundation, which supports River Valley Schools.

“Prancer Village” depicts the main street of the village as it appeared in the movie, complete with retro touches like older cars, a Christmas tree lot and snow. It was built by Don Bowman who had worked for the Federal Aviation Administration creating miniatures of airports around the country and retired to LaPorte. After it was featured in the movie, the model sat in the attic of the Three Oaks Township Library for many years until Nick Bogert and Randy Miller, members of The Region of Three Oaks Museum Board of Directors, restored the main three sections in 2020. Last year, Liz Thomas and Chuck Garasic added lights to illuminate it.

Per a poster hanging by the display, in the days before computer imagery and drones, the model was needed

because the sweeping aerial sequence taken at the end of the film also needed to include “Antler Ridge,” the fictional spot from which Prancer takes off and flies to join Santa and his reindeer.

Some “Antler Ridge” scenes were filmed at Starved Rock State Park in Illinois.

What adds to the natural charm of the area, Hancock said, is that it’s a “virgin territory.”

“People really get excited and help you…In Los Angeles, you try to get a house to shoot in and they want $10,0000 – here, they say, ‘You can use it and I’ll stay in a hotel, and I won’t bother you,’” he said.

As a feature film director, Hancock’s credits include “Bang the Drum Slowly,” starring Robert De Niro and Michael Moriarty.

He said he had such a good time shooting “Prancer” in Three Oaks, though, that he returned to the area to shoot four more pictures there: “Girls of Summer” (which is available on Netflix), “A Piece of Eden,” “The Looking Glass” and “Suspended Animation.”

Hancock was happy to divulge insider information from the movie at Heritage Hall as well as The Acorn.

To get the reindeer to look toward the camera and one of the leading characters, Jessica Riggs (played by Rebecca Harrell), three or four other reindeer were hidden behind big pieces of black velvet before being unveiled.

Lots of times, a reindeer was called upon to eat a pie or Christmas cookies, which all had to be made from apples because they wouldn’t eat anything else.

“So, they eat healthy,” Janet Davies, a board member of The Acorn who was onstage with Hancock said, with Hancock confirming that the reindeers do “eat healthy.”

Hancock credits Riggs’ acting chops as being one of the reasons that the film has stood the test of time in terms of its popularity.

“Maybe it’s a little less sugary than many Christmas films…It has a slight rust belty following that goes with this area, I don’t know,” he said.

Bowman said he met Hancock at the mayor’s ball in LaPorte and gave him his business card.

“He wanted to see what I had done so I showed him slides of models I’d built, probably 500 or 600 at that time, for developer’s architects and attorneys,” Bowman, a landscape architect who’s also done scale models, said.

Bowman said Hancock asked him if he could “start tomorrow” to which he said “yes.”

He said it took weeks to build although he’s unsure of the exact hours.

“I’m surprised that it’s survived – it’s good to see it being refurbished,” he said.

Julie Sittig, a member of TROTOM Board of Directors, remembers being in the beginning of the movie – when the Prancer takes its fateful fall from the Christmas decoration hanging above the downtown in front of the lumber company.

“I’m the one in the pink jacket and pink hat and in the background, you can hear, ‘Oh my God, someone must be hurt’ – that’s me,” she said.

She remembers being herded into the “Cattle Call,” which was the site of the former The Royal Blue Grocery Store, where extras in the movie hung out in between takes as well as eating dinner with Sam Elliott, Ave Vigoda and Michael Constantine.

“The whole town was a part in the making of the movie – they’d be walking in the background, they’d be sitting in church, they’d be strolling and shopping…It was a very fun time,” Sittig said.

A view of Prancer Village

John Hancock and Janet Davies chat before the screening of Prancer at The Acorn John Hancock signs autographs at Heritage Hall.

Guests congregated at Heritage Hall by Prancer Village

Shawn and Greta Friedman chat with John Hancock

TICKETS STILL AVAILABLE FOR SYMPHONY CHRISTMAS CONCERT

Tickets are still available for a Christmas concert by the LaPorte County Symphony Orchestra.

The 28th annual Holiday at the Pops is scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 10, at the historic LaPorte Civic Auditorium.

The concert under thousands of twinkling holiday lights and other decorations will also feature the LaPorte High School Mixed Chorale singing Christmas songs like Irving Berlin’s “White Christmas.”

A choral group called “Illumination” will also perform “Spirit of Christmas” and Christmas carols.

According to LPSO officials, the concert will conclude with a rousing Tran-Siberian Orchestra arrangement of “Carol of the Bells” followed by the performance of “Silent Night” by the orchestra with help from the audience. Table seating on the floor is sold out but tickets for seating in the balcony are still available, LSCO officials said.

Tickets at $15 for adults and $5 for children under age 12 can be purchased by visiting “HOLIDAY AT THE POPS” at www.lcso.net.

They can also be purchased at Roxy Music in LaPorte and the Civic Auditorium.

The concert is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. — STAN MADDUX

SCHOLASTICS

New Buffalo school board accepts resignation of board trustee Magro

BY FRANCESCA SAGALA

Members of the New Buffalo Area Schools Board of Education accepted the resignation of board trustee Frank Magro effective Nov. 18, 2022, at their Monday, Nov. 28, meeting.

“I have enjoyed serving the people of this community,” Magro said in his resignation letter, dated Nov. 11.

Interim superintendent Dr. Michael Lindley said that board policy has required them to advertise for the position and that anyone who’s interested in filling the board vacancy should turn in a letter of interest to the board secretary by noon Dec. 7. Board members may hold interviews at their Dec. 12 meeting, although Lindley sad they’re not required to interview everyone. If board members do want to interview everyone and they have three or more people, than they may have to hold a special meeting.

Board members have until Dec. 18 to complete the process. While he feels it’s “unlikely,” Lindley said that if, for some reason, they can’t fill the vacancy by then, the Berrien RESA Board of Education will step in, during which they’ll “call and talk to us and pick our brain.”

Board members approved the appointment of Brooke Kaufman as a secondary special education teacher, pending background

check.

A New Buffalo alumna with 10 years of experience, Lindley said that Kauffman is working out the details of when she’ll begin at New Buffalo, as she’d liked to finish out the semester at Niles Community Schools. As a result, she’ll probably start either around Jan. 9 or 23.

Board members approved adding dance to the high school curriculum for the third trimester as a pilot.

Lindley said art teacher Ashley Jager will teach dance and that they were in the process of seeing how many students are interested. If there’s enough, then there’d be a pilot and then they’d see how many students there’d be next year. At that point, Lindley said he’d bring the matter back to the board for a recommendation.

He added that he thinks dance would be able to fill a physical education or art credit.

Board members approved the employment of the following individuals, pending background approval: Elizabeth Hattam - BASE administrative assistant, Ron (Scott) Baileyfourth and fifth grade BASE lead and sixth grade boys’ basketball coach, Billy Breen - third and fourth grade girls’ basketball coach, Jason Berquist - fifth and sixth grade girls basketball coach,

Melody McManus - third and fourth grade boys basketball coach and Marc Ogilvie - fifth grade boys basketball coach.

Lindley said the New Buffalo High School Class of 2023 Commencement Ceremony will be at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, June 3, at the multiplex field, with a rain date scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Sunday, June 4, at the field.

The dedication for the STEAM building across the street from the middle/high school is scheduled for 5 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 20. Lindley said he’s hoping the floors will be sealed by the end of the week or early next week, leaving about 10 days to get equipment in place for demonstrations during the dedication.

“We’re looking forward to it –just hoping for sooner rather than later so we can get everything in there,” he said.

Lindley said he was meeting for a second time Tuesday with the support staff with regards to negotiating their contract, which ends at the end of this academic year. Noting that the first meeting was “very cordial and respectful,” Lindley said he wouldn’t be surprised if they settled either at Tuesday’s meeting or another one and that they’ll have that contract done effective July 1, 2023.

Board members approved cancelling the board meeting for Monday, Dec. 26.

SPORTS

From the Bleachers

COLUMN BY KURT MARGGRAF IN CHICAGO

As usual, a lot has been happening in the wide world of sports.

College football had the University of Michigan destroying the Ohio State University in the rivalry game, 45-23. Michigans coach, Jim Harbaugh, led the Wolverines to their second straight victory over the Buckeyes, something that hasn’t happened since the 1999-2000 seasons. Sometime after the game ended, Ohio States coach joined Alabama’s coach in lobbying to be considered for the playoffs. Personally, I’m glad other teams get an opportunity.

Chicago’s professional sports teams all had some disappointing moments last week. The Bears, with their second string quarterback, got smoked by the New York Jets. While watching the Blackhawks jump to a 4-1 lead with just about ten minutes left in the game against Dallas, I was very impressed. Watching the Stars score five goals in ten minutes to beat the Hawks 6-4, not so much. The Bulls had a nice little run and appeared to be going in the right direction after knocking off two of the best, Boston and Milwaukee. Then, they played the mediocre Oklahoma City Thunder, and fell in overtime. Consistency is not yet a strength of the Bulls, and if they are going to make the playoffs, they better start playing up to their potential, consistently.

Speaking of disappointing moments, Chicago’s baseball teams are leading the pack. While I know that there is still plenty of time before the season begins, both teams are bothering me by seemingly sitting on their hands and watching the world go by.

The White Sox who had such a disappointing season last year got a new manager but need to make some moves to light a fire under the team.

The Cubs, who basically promised that they would be very active in the free agent market, have also made but one move, hiring a new hitting coach.

While neither team has to break the bank, it would be nice for the fans if they made some moves, even minor ones. Both teams really must make some improvements before the season begins.

Fans scream from the beginning to the end of soccer matches. Players fall all over the place, pretending to be fouled. Games end in ties. There is very little scoring. For those reasons, I’m not much of a soccer fan. When the World Cup started last week, I didn’t really care. Then, after a couple of games, the United States needs to win a game on Monday versus Iran or they’re finished. My patriotism has kicked in and if the United States wins, I’ll follow the competition to the end.

Finally, I saw a story about a bowler who rolled a perfect, 300 game. While perfect games are rare, what made this one notable was that the bowler was 90 years old. Maybe if I start practicing now…

Confucius said, “Old age… is a good and pleasant thing. It is true that you are gently shouldered off the stage, but then you are given such a comfortable front stall as spectator.”

Be kind to one another. Make good choices. Keep smiling. Talk to you next week. Peace, love, and happiness.

Rebuilding Bison hopeful in basketball

BY STAN MADDUX

It’s almost a total rebuilding year for the New Buffalo High School boys’ varsity basketball team but head coach Nate Tripp has his sights set on another district title.

With no returning starters from last year’s highly successful team, Tripp said he expects the road to be bumpy at least early on.

His focus, though, is more on the team improving enough to compete in the post season.

Already, he’s encouraged by wins in all three recent scrimmage games against Gobles, Delton and Bloomingdale.

“It’s just going to be a matter of maturity and going through those growing pains,” he said.

In a near story book season, last year’s squad made it to the regional championship game and entered the post season ranked No. 1 in Class D.

The 2021-22 team averaged more than 80 points a game during the regular season with a fast paced offense and solid three point shooting to go with a pressing defense forcing a lot of turnovers.

Tripp said the current squad will likely play a patient half court style offense and move quickly with the ball when opportunity arises.

He feels the success of this year’s team will depend largely on how quickly his young players grasp what needs to be done on the court and the performance of junior Cameron Forker.

Forker is expected to be a scoring and rebounding threat underneath the rim

and a presence setting screens with his solid 6’3”, 280 pound frame.

Tripp said he wants to keep Forker in games for as many minutes as possible.

“We got to keep him out of foul trouble,” Tripp said.

Tripp said another key player will

be Andres Beccera, a slender 5’10” junior expected to begin playing after Christmas break.

“He’s a phenomenal talent,” he said. Guards with jumping ability, like sophomore M’Nason Smothers, will be heavily relied on for rebounding to make up for the team’s lack of size.

“If our guards understand they got to help us on the boards and help us inside, we should be able to hold our own,” he said.

Tripp said he expects to start one or two of his three freshmen, who are James Shaw, Nick Haskins and Sam Tripp.

The program has won three district titles in the last four seasons.

Tripp said whatever his players might be lacking in talent and experience to repeat as district champions will be made up by effort no matter what the score.

Eau Claire and River Valley with more returning starters are expected to be strong again this season.

“You can expect to see a scrappy team that’s extremely hard working. Very, very young but also very hungry,” he said.

Fire truck owner turns heads in Santa Parade

BY STAN MADDUX

AMichiana Shores man was behind the wheel of his own fire truck in the Santa Parade in LaPorte Saturday, Nov. 26.

Indiana State Sen. Mike Bohacek said he purchased the 1980 fire engine from the Michiana Shores Volunteer Fire Department a few years ago.

He said the department was retiring the truck so he bought it to realize a childhood dream and contribute to the community.

“You always wanted to have a fire truck when you were a kid, right? Now, I have one,” he said.

Bohacek said he drives the fire engine strictly in parades and stores it at a friend’s warehouse at the Kingsbury Industrial Park about six miles south of LaPorte.

Turnout for the parade was the heaviest, perhaps, in recent memory along a new route this year.

The late afternoon parade went down State Street, Michigan Avenue and a short stretch of Lincolnway until ending at Plaza 618 at Lincolnway and Monroe Street.

Also new to the festivities this year was a choir, “The LaPorte Singing Company,” singing Christmas carols

before the inaugural tree lighting ceremony.

Mayor Tom Dermody and Santa Claus led the large crowd in a countdown to the lights on the tree being turned on as a long line of people a short distance away waited with their children to visit with Santa Claus inside his chalet.

The weather was ideal with temperatures in the ’40s along with sunny skies.

Brett Binversie, the city’s events and civic coordinator, said the turnout in response to the changes this year exceeded his expectations.

“Look at this crowd. I could not be happier with what we have going on,” he said.

Also new this year were food and beverage vendors under the lights above nearby Monroe Street north of Lincolnway.

Dermody was also thrilled at he called a “fantastic turnout.”

“I’m just excited to be a part of it. I think it’s the largest crowd that I’ve ever seen,” he said.

Among the other people in the parade was Paula Tanger, who led about two dozen people dressed as shepherds.

It was her 28th year of appearing with other people from different churches dressed as shepherds in costumes she makes by hand.

Tanger, who lives between LaPorte and the Michigan state line, said the first holiday parade her group appeared in was at New Buffalo.

She now has six children and more than 20 grandchildren.

Several members of her family join her now every year in holiday parades.

“I’ve made a lot of costumes,” she said.

Traditionally, the parade has ventured mostly down Lincolnway but safety concerns from being on a four lane highway were cited for moving the route to a much less congested two lane thoroughfare.

Christmas arrives in Three Oaks

BY FRANCESCA SAGALA

Horse drawn carriage rides, a choir singing Christmas carols and a parade that featured the Jolly Old Elf himself heralded in the Christmas season in Three Oaks during its annual Snowflake Stroll Saturday, Nov. 26.

Guests could hop aboard a buggy for a free ride (sponsored by Alapash, Poppy hill Vintage, Viola’s Café and Goods & Heroes) through the streets of Three Oaks throughout the afternoon. Animals also got into the action,

as a Clydesdale from Sandy Acres Clydesdales was hanging out in Carver Park. Three donkeys from Paws for Humanity were also stationed in Chamberlain Path. Everyone lined the streets for the main event that evening, as a parade with floats that had newly crowned Three Oaks royalty, local business owners, Buddy the Elf and Santa riding atop them made their way down Elm Street. Afterward, everyone warmed up with hot chocolate and caroling before visiting with Santa and watching the yearly lighting of the tree at Carver Park.

Taking

Paws for Humanity and their furry crew were ready to march in the parade

Buddy the Elf tries to grab the crowd’s attention at Carver Park

Enjoying hot chocolate at Carver Park Santa greets fans at Carver Park

The horse-drawn buggy (with Santa in tow) travels down Elm Street

The crowd enjoys the parade on Elm Street

The crowd watches the parade along Elm Street

The horse-drawn carriage (with Santa in tow) makes its way down Elm Street

selfies before the parade kicks off

Miss and Mr. Three Oaks and River Valley Elizabeth Lumley and Gabriel Pauff ride in the parade

Silas Motry has his turn with Santa at The Acorn

Little Miss Three Oaks and River Valley Hazel Boss (center) with first runner up Lilly Sokolowksi and second runner up Alyssa Williams Waving to Santa on Elm Street

The choir from Real Life Community Church sings Christmas carols at Carver Park

Harbor Country Rotary hands out free books for kids at Carver Park Santa greets his fans at Carver Park

The Journeyman Distillery car makes an appearance in the parade

Miss Teen and Little Miss Three Oaks and River Valley ride in the parade

A River Valley School District bus rides down Elm Street

Greta Gopel was excited to hang out with Santa at The Acorn

Members of the American Legion Post 204 march in the parade

Mrs. and Santa Clause pose with Acorn board members Janet Davies and Laura Madsen Jolly

Posing by one of the lit trees at Carver Park

An Alapash Mercantile float makes its way down Elm Street The crowd congregates at Carver Park

Reagan Willsey hangs out with Santa and Mrs. Clause at The Acorn

The crowd awaits the parade on Elm Street

Santa and Buddy the Elf wave to fans on Elm Street

The 2023 Three Oaks and River Valley Royal Court poses at Carver Park

HOROSCOPE

DECEMBER 1-7, 2022

AS INTERPRETED BY SANDY “STAR” BENDT

ARIES MARCH 21—APRIL 19

Interactions with others will feel very stressful and you will have a lot of nervousness surrounding any verbal interactions. It’s likely conversations could become quite charged. What’s behind this is your need to vent and get things off your chest.

TAURUS APRIL 20—MAY 20

It will feel like you have a lot to get done between chores, work, and social obligations, which could make you feel rushed and pressured to perform. Take the opportunity to get together with friends because that is where you will feel the most relaxed.

GEMINI MAY 21—JUNE 21

Getting your creative ideas worked into group projects could be a source of strain or stress this week. It’s important that you advocate more and push for your ideas, rather than going with the flow and letting your good ideas be swept to the side.

CANCER JUNE 22—JULY 22

Managing household responsibilities could get tough now. You’re more inclined to creative, philosophical projects than to boring, tedious tasks like folding laundry or organizing the pantry. Start each day with some stretching to help you manage stress levels.

LEO JULY 23—AUGUST

22

Group dynamics could become verbally charged this week, and it will become evident you are an interloper of sorts. You may find that you just don’t seem to fit in with the usual crowd now. Let this be your chance to get free and create your own sense of belonging.

VIRGO AUGUST 23—SEPTEMBER 22

Work obligations will put a damper on your good time this week. It’s not a lack of resources but a lack of time. You will have to spend more time doing management type tasks which may cut into your free time. Business and career obligations will even override domestic duties this week.

LIBRA SEPTEMBER 23—OCTOBER 22

You are particularly willful this week and that may not jive to well with your people pleasing side. Don’t be afraid to pull some strings to get the things you want. You are seeing more of the big picture than partners are, and you may have to explain why you are being so adamant.

SCORPIO OCTOBER 23—NOVEMBER 21

There is a part of you that just doesn’t want to get going this week.

There are things you just don’t want to deal with now. Namely, financial issues that are wrapped up with other people. If you don’t want to be in charge of the financials this time, just say so.

SAGITTARIUS NOVEMBER 22—DECEMBER 21

Creative ideas may be highjacked by associates or absorbed into a group effort, where you may lose some of the recognition or control over these ideas. The saving grace is others will actually appreciate your work more because you work so well in group settings.

CAPRICORN DECEMBER 22—JANUARY 19

Having to be tough and focused on the material side of issues will be hard for you this week. As much as you would like to nurture and protect others, you are going to have to stand firm and let others make their way, on their own. Vent your worries to friends.

AQUARIUS

JANUARY 20—FEBRUARY 18

There will be a distinct difference between what you are communicating and what you are feeling this week. Whether you are trying to argue more productively or being more sensitive, you will try to hide what you truly think from others.

PISCES

FEBRUARY 19—MARCH 20

Financial obligations or the perception of dwindling resources will be a source of stress or strain. Harsh words could be spoke as a result. Fortunately, this is only a passing problem. You are entering a very optimistic period which will increase your sense of wealth and well-being.

Near maximum sentence for child abuse death

BY STAN MADDUX

ALaPorte County man who beat and tortured his 4-year-old son to death could spend the rest of his life behind bars.

Alan Morgan was given 70 years in prison Tuesday, Nov. 29, for murder, battery and resisting law enforcement.

The defense asked for a no more than 55-year sentence because Morgan had no prior criminal record and pleaded guilty to the death.

Feelings of remorse were also cited by the defense.

However, LaPorte Circuit Court Judge Tom Alevizos said the 29-year-old defendant blamed others for his actions then later admitted to the killing only after learning his brutality was captured on the video surveillance system inside the family’s residence.

“He has not shown one shred of remorse. I hope someday he is remorseful and carries that remorse to his grave,” he said. Alevizos also noted the pathologist

who conducted the autopsy described the injuries from the abuse as the worst he had ever seen on a child in his 28-year career.

The cause of death was hemorrhaging in the brain and the vital organs around his stomach.

His son, Judah, was found dead in his bedroom in October 2021.

His death came after four consecutive days of being hit, kicked and strangled at the family’s home in the 3100 block of E. 875 South.

According to authorities, the abuse stemmed from Morgan becoming angry at the boy for having problems wetting his bed.

Prior to sentencing, LaPorte County Police Detective Jacob Koch testified the video showed things like Morgan punching the boy as much as 15 or more times in a single day.

Koch said there were also multiple images of Morgan picking the boy up off the floor by the neck and throwing him

against a wall.

The video revealed the boy was sometimes limping or stumbling when viciously attacked by his father, he said.

According to authorities, the boy was also forced to lay on the basement floor while bound in duct tape without enough to eat for hours or days at a time.

Judah was an infant when taken away from Morgan and his mother because of possible drug use and other problems at the home.

For three years, he lived with his cousin Jenna Hullett. He was then returned to his parents months prior to his death.

Hullett said she wanted to maintain custody of the boy, whose life and tragic death is always on the minds of her and her family.

“He was a beautiful, bright, happy and very loving boy,” she said.

Morgan pleaded guilty in exchange for prosecutors not seeking a life sentence

without parole.

The boy’s mother, Mary Yoder, is charged with neglect of a dependent resulting in death for allegedly not going to the authorities despite knowing about the abuse.

She could face anywhere from a 20 to 40 year sentence.

Largest Amish Dealer in SW Michigan

PUBLIC NOTICES

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING AND SPECIAL ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS MEETING

In accordance with the Michigan Open Meetings Act, Public Act 267 of 1976, MCL 15.261, et. seq., the Zoning Board of Appeals will hold a public hearing at a special meeting on Thursday, December 15, 2022 at 5:00 PM*.

The purpose of this meeting is for variance requests by the owners listed below:

• Mike Linane, owner of 117 W. Mechanic Street, New Buffalo, MI 49117. The applicant requests variances for the following: reduction in required side setback to 6 feet; reduction in required rear setback to 23 feet; reduction in required front setback to 7 feet; increase required lot coverage to 38%.

• Zoning District: R-3 (High Density Residential)

• Said property is located at 117 W. Mechanic Street, New Buffalo, MI 49117. Property Tax Code is 1162-0340-0132-01-7.

The city’s Zoning Ordinance is available online at cityofnewbuffalo.org and City Hall.

Written Comments concerning this request will be received at the City Clerk’s Office. (See address below).

Per the Americans with Disabilities Act, individuals with disabilities requiring auxiliary aids should contact the city in writing or by calling the following: City Clerk’s Office 224 W. Buffalo Street New Buffalo, MI 49117 (269) 469-1500 afidler@cityofnewbuffalo.org

AMY FIDLER CITY CLERK

*This is an in-person meeting only with no virtual participation available. The public is welcome to attend the meeting in the City Council chambers located at 224 W. Buffalo Street, New Buffalo, MI 49117

OBITUARIES

Helen Ainsworth Shannon

1957-2022

Helen Ainsworth Shannon, born December 19, 1957, died peacefully on November 23, 2022 in the arms of her loving husband, Michael David Shannon. Helen was preceded in death by her parents, Albert and Lydia Ainsworth, to whom she was a devoted daughter. Beloved niece, sister-in law, aunt, great-aunt, friend, and colleague.

She graduated from New Buffalo High School in 1975 and continued her education at Saint

Mary’s College in Indiana and spent her career as a successful businesswoman. Helen resided in both New Buffalo, MI and Chicago, IL. A lover of fashion, the Kentucky Derby, animals, Mackinac Island, and Notre Dame. She will be missed by all who knew her. In the words of her love, Mike, “it was an enchanting walk through life with this beautiful woman.”

Visitation was held Wednesday, November 30 from 9-10:45am with funeral mass following at 11am (Eastern time) at St Mary of the Lake Church, 718 W Buffalo St., New Buffalo, MI. Internment at Pine Grove Cemetery, 36 S Clinton St., New Buffalo, MI. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Old Friends (home for retired thoroughbreds), 1841 Paynes Depot Rd., Georgetown, KY 40324 and New Buffalo Public Library, 33 N Thompson St New Buffalo, MI 49117. Arrangements have been entrusted to Sommerfeld Chapel, www. sommerfeldchapel.com.

DEATH NOTICES

Carol D. Christopher, age 91, of Greenfield, Wisconsin,

2022. Arrangements are pending

formerly of Three Oaks, died Thursday, November 24,

at Wagner Family Funerals Pobocik Chapel, Three Oaks.

CLASSIFIED ADS

Please submit your classified ad via email at classifieds@newbuffalotimes.com. New Buffalo Times can now accept online payments with a credit card or paypal. Go to our website, www.newbuffalotimes.com, and submit $14 per week for a classified ad of up to 160 characters. Deadline is Friday 5PM before the following week’s publication.

FOR RENT

NEW BUFFALO RETAIL

US 12 high-visibility rental & pop-up spaces next to popular yoga studio. Great parking. 700-2,000 SF. Call to view/rates @ 312-259-4011.

NEW BUFFALO

Rent Year Round in New Buffalo. 1 or 2 bedroom apartments starting at $800 per month. Quiet living—no pets. For more information call 269-469-1364.

HELP WANTED LOVE WORKING OUTDOORS AND IN THE TREES?

Awesome, outdoor, low covid exposure, summer work. C&A Arborists, your local tree care professionals, are looking for help!! Drivers license required, CDL preferred. Please call 269-756-2571, mail jamietreephilosophy@gmail.com.

FULL TIME COOK POSITION IN LAPORTE

1 Year Experience. Call Oak Woods Manor for more details. 219-362-6600.

CONSTRUCTION WORKERS

EXPERIENCE PREFERRED

Carpentry drywall flooring tile setting windows doors and decking. Must be 18 years or older with valid drivers license. Heavy lifting involved. 219-808-1329. johnrtaylor1953@gmail.com.

SERVICES

FISH FOR STOCKING

Most Varieties Pond and Lakes. Laggis Fish Farm 269-628-2056 Days 269-624-6215 Evenings.

ELDERLY CARE NEEDED?

Compassionate help available to care for your loved ones. Experienced and Dependable. Call Diane 219-344-2265.

8 kids a day are accidentally killed or injured by FAMILY FIRE.

FAMILY FIRE is a shooting involving an improperly stored gun, often found in the home.

HIKERS TO SCREEN FILM ABOUT THE GRAND KANKAKEE MARSH

The Hikers will head indoors at noon Saturday, Dec. 10, for an award-winning documentary on the Grand Kankakee Marsh at the New Buffalo Township Library.

The Grand Kankakee Marsh once covered 1,500 square miles across Indiana, from South Bend into eastern Illinois. Known as the “Everglades of the North,” the marsh was a hunter’s paradise. Presidents Teddy Roosevelt and Benjamin Harrison both hunted in the marsh, as did Prince Albert Edward and, later, King Edward VII of the United Kingdom. Prominent Hoosiers and Chicagoans also visited the marsh, and ducks and geese shot there made it to the tables of restaurants in New York.

But in the 1920s, the meandering Kankakee River, which created the marsh, was straightened and dredged to improve navigation, and the marsh was drained for farmland. Except for a few protected areas, the Grand Kankakee Marsh is no more.

The film runs about an hour and will be followed by discussion.

This event is free and open to all. The New Buffalo Township Library is located at 33 N. Thompson Street in downtown New Buffalo. — STAFF REPORTS