Bench dedicated to county veterans
Success can be tough but it starts with passion
Gus Macker swishes through Hastings
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See Editorial on Page 4
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THE HASTINGS
VOLUME 159, No. 27
BANNER Devoted to the Interests of Barry County Since 1856
PRICE 75¢
Thursday, July 5, 2012
Hastings school district ends year in red NEWS
BRIEFS
Chuck Whiting and Rowdy Friends play at fountain Chuck Whiting and His Rowdy Friends will perform July 6, for the weekly concert series Fridays at The Fountain. Although this trio of instrumentalist is new to the series in downtown Hastings, they are familiar faces to folks in the Barry County area. The band is made up of leader Chuck Whiting, who provides rhythm guitar and vocals for the group. Lead guitar is provided by Nick Lancaster, and upright bass is held down by Andrew Whiting. The group brings its special brand of original music, which can be described as Texas swing, to each performance. Whiting will even be heard throwing in some yodeling. Fridays at the Fountain concerts are held every week from noon to 1:30 p.m. on the Barry County Courthouse lawn. In the event of rain, concerts will be moved to the community room in the Hastings City Bank, 150 W. Center St. As an added bonus this year, the Seasonal Grille is on hand to take lunch orders for concert patrons.
Art in the Park is Saturday Art in the Park, Lake Odessa’s oneday event, will draws hundreds of shoppers to the village park Saturday, July 7. Along with arts, crafts and food vendors, local musicians will take the stage to entertain shoppers and visitors throughout the day. This year’s talent includes Lakewood Area Choral Society Glee Club, Jonathan Cross, Bert Jones and Friends, Coldwater Brass Quintet, Tim Yates and Miss Figg. The event runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Shenanigans the Clown will entertain youngsters from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. throughout the park.
Democrats to meet July 14 The Barry County Democrats will hold their monthly meeting Saturday, July 14, at 9 a.m. at the Thomas Jefferson Hall in downtown Hastings. All interested citizens of Barry County are welcome. For further information, call 269-9458832 or go to www.facebook.com/barrycountydemocrats.
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by Sandra Ponsetto Staff Writer When all was said and done and the board of education made its final amendments to the 2011-12 fiscal year budget, the Hastings Area School System’s fund balance was $430,797 in the red — and that was good news. According to Hastings Area Schools Interim Superintendent Michelle Falcon, Don Sovey the financial consultant hired by the district to help with its budgeting process, had estimated Hastings schools would finish the year with a $535,000 fund balance deficit. Sandy Graybill, an accountant associate for the district, said the difference was due to recalculations of accruals and summer pay for Hastings Education Association members and the resulting adjustments of salary accounts. Board President Kevin Beck said that because the board has approved a deficit budget, it now has 30 days to submit paperwork relating to a deficit-reduction plan to the Michigan Department of Education. “I just don’t want to be here next year approving a deficit budget, in any way, shape or form,” said Trustee Dan Patton. The board approved the amendment unanimously, with trustees Gene Haas and Jon Hart absent. In other business, the board: • Unanimously voted to adopt the 2012-13 tax levy resolution which included a levy of 17.9262 mills on non-homestead property for general operating expenses, a debt retirement tax of 4.25 mills and a state education tax if 6.0 mills as required by state law. • Adopted a resolution to borrow up to $6.5 million to meet cash flow for the 2012-13 fiscal year. • Approved financing $396,000 at a 1.99 percent interest rate from Chemical Bank for improvements to the district’s technology infrastructure, including upgrades to the servers and fiberoptic communications for all buildings. • Approved the low bid of $12,300 from Dean Boiler Inc. to replace the condensation pipe in the tunnel between Central Elementary and the middle school. • Authorized the superintendent to execute facility use agreements with the Barry Intermediate School District for the use of one classroom at Star Elementary and one at Southeastern Elementary for its special-needs programs, and with the HEA for one classroom at Hastings Middle School for office space. • Accepted a donation of $7,500 from Larry and Earlene Baum to purchase supplies for the musicals and film class. • Accepted the personnel report which contained notice of the following: Retirements — Robert Glasgow, districtwide specialized maintenance. Recall from layoff — Sandra Chewning, Andrea Schmidt, Shanna Tietz and Tanya Woern, health care I paraprofessionals. Appointments — Todd Bates, high school girls dive coach; Mike Beker, co-assistant JV football coach; Dustin Bowman, co-assistant JV football coach; Steve Collins, high school boys and girls cross country coach; Pat Coltson, assistant varsity football coach; Benjamin Conklin, varsity boys soccer coach; Brian Donnini, head JV football coach; Michael Engle, JV girls basketball coach; Marshall Evans, head freshman football coach; Stephanie Hokanson, eighth grade volleyball coach; Emily Hoke, freshman cheerleading coach; Amy Hubbell, varsity sideline and competitive cheerleading coach; Diane Jager, JV cheerleading coach; Jeff Keller, assistant freshman football coach; Stan Kirkendall, girls JV golf coach; Bruce Krueger, girls golf coach; James Murphy, assistant varsity football coach; Fred Rademacher, varsity football coach; Carl Schoessel, girls swim coach, high school; Timothy Schoessel, JV boys soccer coach; Angelia Sixberry, seventh grade volleyball; and, Ed von der Hoff, boys tennis coach. • Approved the continuing employment of the following non-contract employees for the 2012-13 fiscal year: Erin Blakely, Darla Cady, Larry Cook, Lisa Gebhardt, Sandy Graybill, Timothy Kietzman, Sandra Mikolajczyk, Brian Osterink, Mary Robinson, Elizabeth Rowse, James Vreugde and Jeff Wilbur. • Issued contracts for July 1 through June 30, 2013, for administrators Christopher Cooley, Michael Goggins, Stephen Hoke, Judith Johnson, Michael Schneiderhan and Amy Tebo.
• Accepted the resignation of Southeastern Elementary fourth grade teacher Joshua Reynolds. • Went into closed session to discuss con-
tract negotiations. No action was taken when the board returned to open session. • Announced the annual organizational meeting of the board of education will be at
7:30 p.m. Monday, July 23, in the multi-purpose room of Hastings Middle School, 232 W. Grand St.
Hastings baby ‘gavels in’ official adoption order At the request of District Judge Michael Schipper, new parents Terry and Sally Sedlar of Hastings returned to the courtroom this week to make the adoption of daughter Tori official. Though the formal decree was issued by Schipper eight months ago, the judge asked for a reappearance so he could provide a gift to Tori — a miniature gavel made by his father, Earl (standing, back). “She was my first adoption,” notes Schipper, “and, because Tori was entranced by my gavel then, I wanted to provide her and the family a meaningful gift.” Friday’s ceremony was touching to the Sedlars and to the Schippers. Earl adopted the judge and his siblings, and the judge, in turn, has adopted his own son.
County commissioners may be out of dog house on Animal Control issue by Doug VanderLaan Editor After two years of it nipping at their heels, Barry County Commissioners may have tamed the Animal Control and shelter issue at its committee of the whole meeting Tuesday. The pesky problem took a strident tone last week when the board locked up at its official board of commissioners meeting on a 4-4 vote to reassign Animal Control from the sheriff’s department to a newly created department that would also provide shelter services with its own director. That vote and preceding discussion brought out frank discord from citizens in attendance, some of whom chastised the board for attempting to move forward on the new department without facts and reliable financial forecasting. Tuesday’s meeting, however, produced unanimity, helped by a proposal from Commission Chair Craig Stolsonburg that attracted on 8-0 vote of approval. Stolsonburg’s motion — still to be more carefully considered at the July 17 committee of the whole meeting — proposes separating Animal Control and animal shelter responsibilities. Jurisdiction for Animal Control would remain with the sheriff’s department and one Animal Control officer. Duties for animal shelter and care — including licensing, adoption and euthanasia — would be designated to a newly created department to be led by a director whose salary and benefits package would come from a current frozen Animal Control officer’s position at the sheriff’s department.
“In talking with the administrator [County Administrator Michael Brown], if that person doesn’t have the animal enforcement function under them, it won’t carry as high a pay scale,” reported Stolsonburg, who estimated that the new director position — which he also said could be termed “supervisor” — would be priced closer to $40,000. That, apparently, was a far different and a far more acceptable figure to commissioners who had argued last week that an estimated $70,000 compensation package would be irresponsible in light of coming budget discussions and possible deficits. “It makes sense and it’s very workable for all of us,” said Commissioner Robert Houtman, who had proposed last week’s plan that would have combined Animal Control responsibilities and shelter operations. “I think that person [the director] should be narrowly deputized to enforce the Michigan Dog Law so that if there are vacations for Dar’s [Sheriff Dar Leaf] Animal Control officer, sickness, backup or whatever’s needed that also becomes their responsibility.” The plan was workable enough that Commissioner Dan Parker elected not to make a prepared motion that the board establish a temporary study committee to report back to the board within 60 days on a recommended strategy for addressing the issue. “The thing I want to be sure we’re focusing on is increasing the adoption rate,” said Parker. “It’s going to be really important you hire the right person who’s got the experience and familiarity and with working with volunteers.
“I believe the volunteers can make a very big difference in this whole thing — getting dogs and cats out there to get adopted,” added Parker. “From what I’ve seen at other places, that builds up even more volunteers, it gets more donations coming in, they’ll have more fees for spaying and neutering, and it could become self-sufficient. I’d like to see that happen with that idea in mind.” Commissioner Don Nevins added his own concern that volunteers who serve on the county’s Animal Control/Shelter Advisory Board would still be held intact and of value under Stolsonburg’s plan. In addition to Houtman’s and Stolsonburg’s assent, two members of the advisory board in attendance Tuesday were able to provide their own. “It sounds like what we’re looking for,” Mary Fisher, who’s also president of the Barry County Humane Society, told commissioners. Kathy Wiggins added a personal thanks. “I just want to compliment you,” said Wiggins. “I feel this is very workable, and I want to thank you very much.” In other business, the commission: • Approved a $3,000 expenditure to hire a space consultant for analysis of future security improvements to the courts and law building and courthouse. Additional discussion regarding the proposed purchase of two magnetometers, one for each building, served as an opening for future discussions regarding staffing costs and possible recommendations
See ANIMAL CONTROL, pg. 8