Experts testify in Terpening case
Community center, airport highlighted
0-16 team becomes postseason runners-up
See Story on Page 13
See Editorial on Page 4
See Story on Page 15
THE HASTINGS
VOLUME 159, No. 29
BANNER Devoted to the Interests of Barry County Since 1856
PRICE 75¢
Thursday, July 19, 2012
Board walks delicate path to animal control resolution NEWS BRIEFS Thornapple Manor open as cooling center Thornapple Manor, the Barry Countyowned long-term care facility, is again serving as a cooling station for seniors seeking relief from the heat this week. Tuesday, July 17, through Sunday, July 22, the facility will be open to seniors who do not have adequate air conditioning in their homes. The manor is at 2700 Nashville Road. For more information, call 269-9452407.
Pacific Lite to play at fountain Pacific Trio minus one equals Pacific Lite, the duo of local musicians Gene Englerth and Joe LaJoye, which performs a variety of music with an emphasis on jazz. Pacific Lite will perform at the July 20 Fridays at the Fountain concert series. All Fridays at the Fountain concerts start at noon and end at 1:30 p.m. and are held near the fountain on the Barry County Courthouse lawn. Pacific Lite, with Englerth on keyboards and vocals, and LaJoye playing brass and also providing vocals, has played venues ranging from ballroom dances to jazz festivals and summer festivals all over Michigan and the Midwest. Concert-goers are reminded to bring their own blankets or lawn chairs. In the event of rain, the concert will be in the community room of Hastings City Bank, 150 W. Center St.
Southeastern staff hosting garage sale to benefit students Staff members at Southeastern Elementary School in Hastings are busy cleaning out closets and rummaging through attics, basements and garages in search of treasures to sell at their upcoming garage sale., which will be from 9 a.m., to 5 p.m. Thursday, July 26, at 1300 S. East St., Hastings. The staff came up with the idea of a garage sale hoping to counteract the effects of this year’s slim budget on their students. Staff members said they see this sale as another opportunity for the community to support students and get some good deals on a large variety of items that are like new and in working condition. All proceeds will directly benefit student education. The free lunch program, for all children up to age 18, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Southeastern will be available that date, as usual.
by Doug VanderLaan Editor Though they took an important step in unanimously approving a recommendation for a new management structure of their animal control department, Barry County Commissioners found at their committee of the whole meeting Tuesday that there’s still some bark in the fight. The nearly two-year scrap over how animal control and shelter issues should be handled came closer to resolution with the presentation by Commission Chair Craig Stolsonburg of a plan to separate animal control enforcement and animal shelter functions. Enforcement under the proposed plan would remain with the sheriff’s department and one full-time animal control officer as well as an existing full-time clerical position. Shelter functions such as spaying, neutering, adoption, and euthanasia would be under the supervision of a new, full-time animal shelter director who would report to County Administrator Michael Brown. The new position would be funded, in part, by an existing animal control officer position which has been vacated and not replaced. Stolsonburg also presented a job description for the new animal shelter director position which, on the commission’s vote, is to be forwarded to Mark Nottley of Municipal Consulting Services, LLC, for a review of job classification placement and recommended salary. Tuesday’s bark, however, came when the commission was presented with an offer from the Barry County Humane Society to donate
$18,000 as a show of support for the proposed animal shelter operation. Attached to the offer, as presented by Humane Society Director Mary Fisher, were several conditions including input on the hiring of the new director, independence from the Animal Control Advisory Board, an onsite office for volunteers, and a commission commitment to return the operation to its original name, the Barry County Animal Shelter. “We want a seat at the table,” said Fisher, reminding commissioners that, after the humane society gave $30,000 to help build a new animal shelter with no requests attached 12 year ago, a new sheriff administration changed its position on the use of volunteers. “Now here we are, 12 years later, trying to get a place down there — we haven’t been welcome down there. “Why didn’t you request it when you gave the $30,000, Mary?” challenged Commissioner Don Nevins. “We should have, would have, could have,” replied Fisher. That’s why I’m here today. In hindsight, that’s what we should have done and I’m not here to play the heavy. $18,000 is a lot of money and we can help them run the shelter with volunteers but it has to be a buyin from the new person. That’s why we’d like to be a part of it, to be sure there’s going to be a relationship.” It was that relationship, though, that made some commissioners uneasy. “I would just like to say, before this all spins out of control, that the $18,000 is very commendable,” said Commission Joe Lyons. “I know you don’t mean it this way, but it
shouldn’t be held over anybody’s head to get your means. We need a director, we put them in place, and they’re in charge, they do what they think is best.” Commissioner Dan Parker agreed. “We’ve got to be careful that we don’t get the cart before the horse,” said Parker. “The new director cannot feel like they’re being micromanaged. If we get the director going, then I think that’s when the (humane society offer) ought to be done. It will be more palatable for them because they’ll feel like there’s this special interest group that’s going to be pushing my buttons. You don’t want that, they don’t want that, and we don’t want that.” Prior to the vote to recommend the new management structure and the evaluation of the animal shelter director job description by the classification consultant, Commissioner Robert Houtman offered a clarification to the board. “Now this will be evaluated,” he said in reference to the job description. “Assuming it’s approved, then we begin the recruitment process at which point we determine who the interview group is and any potential involvement of the humane society.” Fisher provided agreement and an offer for the board to reconsider. “I agree, we should wait, summed up Fisher. “We’ll come back and you can always say no and then it’s off the table, but we just wanted to make the offer.” In other business, the board recommended approval of the following items at the Board of Commissioners meeting on July 24: • A $1,647 annual increase in the county’s
contribution toward the salary of the district court judge to align it with the compensation provided the probate and circuit judges under the Barry County Unified Trial Court arrangement. • The purchase of 16 tasers, 30 holsters, 200 training cartridges, and 100 duty cartridges for road patrol officers at a total cost of $26,282. Tasers currently being used are more than 10 years old and are becoming inoperable. • The purchase of 16 data sheet printers for road patrol vehicles at a total cost of $18,595. Printers currently being used are approaching lifetime maximums and do not interface with the e-ticket program in place at the courts. • A contractual agreement with Eaton County to provide Level IV equalization services as required by Michigan law. The retirement of Equalization Director Karen Scarbrough left Barry County without equalization services and a lack of qualified Level IV candidates has created a critical void. Funding for the contract will be provided through existing money set aside for the county’s use of Level III equalization services. • Assent for a conceptual layout plan for the relocation of the MSU Extension Service from the courts and law building to the former library building. Commissioners also provided input on relocating a handicap access ramp to the front of the building. The board asked Robert VanPutten of the Landmark Design Group to return with a more detailed plan integrating the changes suggested and to begin work on a similar space study for the Courts & Law building.
Three days left to take in the Barry County Fair Area residents and guests, too, have three more days to visit the 160th Barry County Fair, which runs through Saturday, July 21. The fair board is doing its best to keep visitors cool. Misting hoses are set up and running throughout the fairgrounds. Fans are running at top speed throughout the barns and exhibit areas. Some organizations are giving away bottled water or water by the cup and a cooling tent is set up to give visitors a break from the heat. Courtesy golf carts help fair-goers get from one end of the grounds to the other. Parking is free every day. Admission for children ages 12 and younger also is free every day. Adult daily admission is $5 per day or $15 for a weekly pass. There’s something for everyone at the fair — from livestock shows to grandstand auto shows and races, musical entertainment, mid-
way rides and games and lots of food. Nightly grandstand activities include autocross tonight, motocross Friday, and demolition derby Saturday. The birthing tent has been busy, too. From Tuesday evening to Wednesday morning, two litters of pigs, two lambs and one calf were born in the Miracle of Birth Tent. Chicks hatch daily, and several ducklings waddle about. More lambs and calves are expected to make their entrance to the world at the Barry County Fair. The community tent is a source of free entertainment. Karaoke starts at 7 p.m. tonight. Friday night will bring the Country Music Jamboree at 7 p.m., featuring some local favorites, including Bushwacker and Friends, Bert Jones and Co., Dan and Dee Country Roots, and the Williams Family
Workshop designed to help smokers kick habit A workshop to help people quit smoking is planned for Thursday, July 26, from noon to 2 p.m. at the Barry-Eaton District Health Department, 330 W. Woodlawn Ave., Hastings. Heather Sanders, health educator for the health department, said this free program is a no-pressure, one-time workshop that shows individuals how they can be smoke-free. Included in the program are ways to make quitting easier with tips, information on medications, strategies and resources. RSVP by calling 517-5412691 or emailing hsanders@bedhd.org.
Anderson Collins, 3, and Parker Knoop, 5, from Caledonia enjoy some frozen treats Wednesday at the Barry County Fair. Their grandmother brought the two cousins to the fair for the afternoon.
Sage Winters (left) and Melia McCausey, both 8 years old from Hastings, enjoy a ride at the midway of Barry County Fair Wednesday.
Bluegrass band. Saturday evening brings the Taste of Barry County, followed by the 4-H dance to close out the week. Youngsters have been busy with 4-H projects, livestock shows and contests. The dairy and dairy feeder shows are today, along with the small animal auction. The large animal livestock sale is Friday, and the show of champions is Saturday morning. The Great 4-H Race returns for the second year Saturday afternoon.
4-H horse show competitions take place daily throughout the week. New this year is the Great Lakes Timber Show with three daily programs located across from the Farm Bureau Tent. Returning favorites will be the bingo tent, Barnyard Express, Miracle of Birth tent, Taste of Barry County and the antique tractor club displays, demonstrations and competitions.
See FAIR, page 16