Hastings Banner

City seeks opinions on smoking in parks

County’s health is in crisis mode

Viking boys, DK’s Wandell return to golf finals

See Story on Page 3

See Editorial on Page 4

See Story on Page 17

THE HASTINGS

VOLUME 159, No. 24

NEWS BRIEFS Author Gary Schmidt to speak in Hastings Friday evening, June 15, award-winning author Gary D. Schmidt will speak at the Barry Enrichment Center at 7 p.m.

His visit is the culmination of the Hastings Public Library’s fifth anniversary celebration. The event is free.

Schmidt is the author of a number of nonfiction books and young adult novels.

In 2005, he won a Newbery Honor and Printz Honor for Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy. In 2008, he won the Newbery Honor for The Wednesday Wars, which is in large part autobiographical. He is currently a professor of English at Calvin College and lives on a farm in Alto with his wife and six children.

Attendees are encouraged to pick up tickets ahead of time so staff can estimate attendance.

Father’s Day car show is Sunday More than 1,000 vehicles are expected to be exhibited at the 31st annual Father’s Day Car Show at Historic Charlton Park in Hastings, Sunday, June 17.

The event is sponsored by the Southern Michigan Street Rod Association, featuring door prizes, cash prizes, and 42 other awards. The show also will include music, festival food and a swap meet with more than 100 vendors.

Show hours will be 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., rain or shine. The awards ceremony begins at 3 p.m., and participants must be present to win.

Additional information can be found online at www.charltonpark.org or by calling 269-945-3775.

The recreation area will be closed that day.

South Charlton Park Road, from M-79 to River Road, will be closed from 5:30 a.m. to 10 a.m., except to residential and event traffic. Residents and event visitors may proceed northbound only on Charlton Park Road.

BANNER Devoted to the Interests of Barry County Since 1856

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Thursday, June 14, 2012

County veterans affairs director on leave following investigation

by Doug VanderLaan Editor Almost like waking from the same bad dream, Barry County Commissioners learned at their meeting Tuesday that, for the third time in four years, they may again be victims of employee fraud.

“We have evidence and admission that it has occurred,” County Administrator Michael Brown commented to commissioners in describing four discovered instances of improper use of funds by the administrator of the Veterans Affairs Committee, a three-member, county-appointed board that hires its own administrator to distribute federal, state, and county fund money to honorably discharged and indigent veterans.

Though Brown informed county commis-

sioners that the administrator had been placed on unpaid leave Friday morning, he did not identify the employee in his public remarks.

Commissioner Robert Houtman confirmed after the meeting that the employee in question is Holly Steiner who is listed in the Barry County Directory as the authorized agent for the Veterans Counsel/Trust Committee and Soldiers Relief Commission.

Steiner declined comment after a call was placed to her home on Wednesday afternoon.

Though an investigative audit will be ongoing, Brown said the funds in question total $1,966, used improperly on four occasions, dating as far back as late 2010.

The timing of the allegations made Tuesday’s public announcement even more uncomfortable. Just three weeks ago, the

board received a stellar audit report from its accountant Rehman Robson of Grand Rapids.

In his remarks at that meeting May 22, Stephen Blann, principal of government/nonprofit services for Rehman, termed the county’s record keeping as “clean and unqualified, the highest level of assurance that we can give during an external audit.” “[County Clerk] Pam Jarvis got a tip on Thursday,” related Brown, “and we spent that afternoon and evening investigating it. On Friday morning, we notified the sheriff’s department and the prosecutor’s office. On Friday, I also met with the administrator who admitted to the four instances identified.

“We then engaged the Walker Fluke and Sheldon company to do an internal audit of the program to see if we need to look back

See INVESTIGATION, pg. 13

Consultant unveils plan to balance school budget Cuts proposed for coming school year

by Sandra Ponsetto Staff Writer “Nip it in the bud.”

That is the advice financial consultant Don Sovey repeatedly gave the Hastings Area Schools Board of Education during a budget overview he presented at the board’s monthly work session Tuesday evening. According to Sovey, the district will end its 2011-12 fiscal year with a $875,861 shortfall in revenues, leaving the district $535,081 in the red as of June 30.

“The point here is [the $535,081 deficit] starts increasing geometrically if you don’t nip it in the bud early,” he said. “So, how can we nip it early on to give you two to three years of financial peace? Correct it in the 2012-13 year; [the next two] years will fall into place.”

Sovey presented long-range projections indicating that, without a deficit-reduction plan, the deficit would continue to increase until the districted ended its 2014 -15 fiscal year with a $2,178,005 shortfall resulting in a $3,697,292 deficit. However, Sovey said if the district “nips it in the bud the first year” by establishing a deficit-elimination program, the district could end the 2014-15 fiscal year with a positive balance of more than $1.1 million despite a projected $578,005 shortfall

in revenues.

The deficit-elimination plan calls for a $1.6 million budget reduction during the 2012-13 fiscal year. Proposed reductions include: Turning lunch/breakfast supervision over to food service, $77,784; reducing general elementary paraprofessionals, $71,000; reducing compensation at all levels, $23,625; reducing middle school band repairs, $1,000; eliminating middle school department budgets, $2,500; reducing contracting services for band by eliminating seasonal instruction, $15,000; reducing repairs to high school band equipment, $1,000; reducing alternative education supplies, $4,000; reducing the purchase of alternative education equipment, $1,000; middle school special education service to other district due to student returning to district, $22,000; data director moved to Title II grant, $11,250; licensing high school alternative education moved to At Risk grant, $17,575; reducing miscellaneous equipment repairs, $20,000; eliminating Business Industry and Education meeting costs to be assumed by community partners, $2,000; reducing miscellaneous expenses for executive administration, $600; reducing secretary overtime, $9,275; reducing repairs to equipment, $2,000; limiting high school athletics to one-way transportation, $7,000; eliminating

new cameras for buses, $46,000; reducing technology coordinator repairs to equipment, $3,635; reducing technology coordinator miscellaneous supplies, $1,000; absorbing two elementary school teaching positions through attrition, $130,000; moving athletic trainer and coaches to Professional Education Service Group, $16,000; reducing cell phones for maintenance and transportation, $2,000; eliminating special maintenance position, $58,000; eliminating central receiving position, $62,000; reducing all building budgets by 25 percent, $95,976; reducing compensation or position, $1.6 million, for a total reducing $2,303,220.

Sovey said that many of the reductions did not mean the elimination of services or personnel but rather funding from alternative sources, such as grants, or being moved to areas of the budget.

Hastings Area Schools Interim Superintendent Michelle Falcon said some reductions are already in the works. As of July 1, all Community Recreation and Education Center and child care staff would also be PESG, which would eliminate retirement costs for those employees, consolidating food service with a neighboring school district, and more.

Larry Cook, director of the district’s maintenance department, and Robin Girrbach, one of two long-time maintenance employees being laid off by the district, during the pub-

Deadline nearing for Country Showdown Monday, July 2, at 5 p.m. is the deadline to submit contestant entry forms to WBCH, 119 W. State St. in Hastings, for this summer’s Texaco Country Showdown coming to the Barry County Fair July 16 and 17.

An official contestant entry form is required, available at Bosley Pharmacy, Walker Music and Textile Co., Thornapple Valley Community Credit Union in Hastings or Delton, and at Family Fireworks.

All contestants should also go to www.wbch.com and click Country Showdown for local information and rules.

Preliminary competition will take place at 7 p.m. Monday, July 16. Up to a dozen acts performing Monday evening will be invited back the next evening to compete in the local final.

One act will be judged the winner and will go on to compete in the state final at the Ingham County Fair, where the prize for the winning act is $1,000 and the right to go on to one of five regional contests to determine who will win an allexpense-paid trip to the national final in Nashville, Tenn., where the grand prize is $100,000.

further. The sheriff’s department, on its own, will be doing a criminal investigation.”

Most commissioners are familiar with the routine.

In July, 2008, deputy county clerks Jamie J. Holtman and Elizabeth Lapekes were sentenced to jail, probation and restitution payment after embezzling from a jury fund administered by the county clerk’s office.

Though the two were required to pay a combined $26,000 in restitution, a local accounting firm determined that more than $64,000 had been taken from the fund over a period of years.

In April, 2010, Hastings Airport Manager Jason Blair was arraigned on charges of

Michigan Avenue Bridge begins to take shape The eight 100,000-pound concrete box beams placed throughout the day Friday help the new Michigan Avenue Bridge in Hastings begin to take shape. Construction of the bridge deck is expected to take two weeks. (For more photos, see page 20.

lic comment portion of the meeting, expressed their dissatisfaction with the cuts to their department.

However, the proposed cut that garnered the most discussion was the limited one-way transportation for high school athletes. The cost-reduction measure would mean buses would transport athletes and coaches to events in neighboring districts, but it would be up to the coaches, students and staff to provide or find their own transportation home from the event.

Board Trustee Gene Haas said that every year he reads about students who are killed or injured returning from school sporting events and would rather put the $7,000 back into the budget to ensure the safety of student athletes.

Despite the need to cut the budget, Sovey said the district will still have to spend money in certain areas, such updating its computer file servers.

Technology Director Brian Osterink said the district’s servers are 8 years old.

“We have one more hard drive to go and we won’t have a server,” said Osterink, who added that the district would borrow money to update the server over the summer. “It will take our current infrastructure from its current 1G back to about 10G, which will mean a lot more speed and services to the school.”

Osterink said a quote for the update was $630,00 but is now down to $350,000.

“This is something that could be helped by additional funding; but, of course you don’t have additional funding right now and this is the only way to keep that going,” said Sovey.

The transportation department will lease five new buses to replace those that were redflagged during a recent inspection. The department also will receive software that will help the district save money by streamlining busing schedules. Falcon said every district that uses the software has been able to save money by eliminating at least two bus runs.

“It pays for itself in the first year,” she said.

Sovey closed his presentation recommending the following planning considerations: Develop a strategic plan for the district, conduct a facilities feasibility study, employ best business practices and hire a strong financial manager. He recommended the district look for a financial manager with CPA credentials and strong managerial skills.

In other business, the board also approved a bid from Abraham and Gaffney for a threeyear auditing contract. The St. Johns firm entered the low bid, ranging from $18,900 for the 2012-13 fiscal year to $19,900 for the 2014-15 fiscal year, beating out the $25,820 for each of the next three fiscal years from Norman and Paulsen of Sturgis, which has had an auditing contract with the district for several years.

The board will hold a public hearing on the proposed 2012-13 budget during its regular meeting at 7:30 p.m. Monday, June 18, in the multi-purpose room of Hastings Middle School. All Michigan school districts are required to pass a balanced budget before July 1.

During Monday’s meeting, the board will discuss or take action on the following: The final amendment to the 2011-12 fiscal year budget; a transition plan in the wake of Falcon’s resignation (see June 7 Banner), policy committee tasks, personnel committee tasks and financing for improvements for the district’s technology infrastructure.

Page 2 — Thursday, June 14, 2012 — The Hastings Banner

‘Excellence’ a keystone for Delton Kellogg Class of 2012

by David DeDecker Staff Writer Delton Kellogg Schools celebrated the graduation of 97 students Sunday, June 10, in the high school gymnasium. The class of 2012 was congratulated for its pursuit of excellence which culminated in more than $1.1 million awarded in scholarships this year.

Graduates entered the gymnasium in traditional cap and gowns, marching to the sounds of “Pomp and Circumstance” played by the high school symphonic band, minus its senior members.

High School Principal Stewart Schofield told the audience, “Parents should be proud of this group of seniors, many of whom started as kindergartners in Delton Kellogg Schools, and have had many great successes. I am told by our counselors that this group in many ways set a record for the amount of money they have received in scholarships. I want to thank these class members for what they have done for Delton Kellogg High School.”

Senior Michael Bassett stepped to the podium and began speaking of “dorky clothes and name tags” and other wonders of elementary school. Naps, according to Bassett, are needed more as seniors than as kindergartners.

Megan Boulter spoke of awkward adventures in middle school. She remembered one teacher’s love of the Beatles and “Number 9,” and another teacher distracted by questions about baseball. Boulter also talked about the class trip to Chicago, Shedd Aquarium, malls, and a very slow Ferris wheel. She spoke about middle school dances with girls going one way and boys going the other.

High school remembrances were Sarah Eddy’s topic for the day. She said in their four high school years, the track team won three Kalamazoo Valley Association championships, volleyball claimed four KVA championships, and the boys basketball team brought home a KVA title for the first time in 30 years. Eddy said the class has contributed 17 titles on the athletic banners hanging in the high school gym. The high school band also won many awards, she said, including a first place at the Smoky Mountain Music Festival in Tennessee. The DK Theatre Arts Company was nominated for nine awards for its productions. Eddy mentioned many more events that she said have left their mark on the community. She also remembered a member of their class who died earlier this year.

Hannah Smith provided the class poem.

She spoke of success, determination and opportunities.

“I have two wishes for my class,” said Smith. “That no matter how hard life gets, no matter how hard it fights you, fight back.

Never give up on life and all it has to offer.

With that, you will find success and happiness. No matter what road you are on, hill you climb or path you take, I hope you always end up in the same place — learning.”

Valedictorian Ryan Watson served as senior class treasurer this year and made the presentation of the class of 2012’s gift to the school. The class will replace the highly worn gymnasium letters that say “Welcome to

Salutatorian Brian Wilder receives his diploma from Superintendent Paul Blacken.

The Delton Kellogg Class of 2012 collectively celebrates graduation by flinging caps into the gym’s rafters Sunday afternoon.

Delton, Home of the Panthers.”

Tyler Vining picked up the microphone and walked to the front of the stage. He sang a moving rendition of “This is Not Goodbye” by the Sidewalk Prophets.

Salutatorian Brian Wilder spoke about the role teachers, families and friends have played in the success of the class. He told a story of a teacher and her two daughters. The moral, said Wilder, was “to always be yourself no matter the outside pressures and influence.” He said many of his classmates will be on their own for the first time and must remember to stay true to themselves.

Wilder offered this quote from Harvey Fierstein, “Never be bullied into silence.

Never allow yourself to be made a victim.

Accept no one’s definition of your life; define yourself.”

As valedictorian, Watson returned to the podium and started by jokingly apologizing to all the kids whose homework he copied.

Class of 2012 Valedictorian and Treasurer Ryan Watson presents the class gift to the school — new “Welcome to Delton, Home of the Panthers” letters for the gymnasium.

Members of the Delton Kellogg Class of 2012 stand to receive their diplomas.

“I would not have graduated without you,” he said.

Watson said the biggest lesson he learned in high school was how to manage his time in order to accomplish so much, and the value of friendship. He thanked his classmates for making such a huge impact on his life and told them he knows they will accomplish great things.

He also thanked his family, teachers and coaches for helping him keep his head up when he was sick of school and had no motivation.

Watson also had a message for the board of education, saying it was very difficult to concentrate when other schools’ seniors had already graduated and there was still two weeks left for Delton Kellogg students.

The DKHS Symphonic Band welcomed its seniors back one more time for the playing of “Nettleton” arranged by Johnnie Vinson.

Superintendent Paul Blacken addressed seniors one last time.

“People ask me sometimes, ‘How do you attend all these events?’ and I tell them, ‘It’s an expectation of the job. But, more importantly, it’s because of these guys,’” he said, pointing to the graduates. “It is because of the excellence I see. When I go to plays, band concerts, basketball games or volleyball and softball games, it’s because I enjoy it, and I enjoy it because our student body gives it everything they’ve got. It is a true joy to go to events when we see excellence.

“They say today is a talent-driven society.

If that is true, society better watch out. This group has a lot of talent.”

Blacken said if he could boil down his advice for the class to one concept it would be “self-confidence,” which he says is the most important and most indispensable characteristic of success.

“It is the common characteristic of great leaders whose talents may have varied widely in most other aspects. Self-confidence — a quiet self-confidence,” he said. “Not cockiness. Not conceit or arrogance. It is the key to winning and excelling, no matter what you do in life. But, in my experience, it will not be enough to get you through a career, in a life that will thrill you and not scare you.

Senior Tyler Vining sings “This is Not Goodbye” by the Sidewalk Prophets.

“First you must resolve to grow intellectually, morally, technically and professionally — every day in your work and family life. Be absolutely paranoid about the currency of your knowledge and ask yourself every day ‘Am I really up to speed or am I stagnating intellectually, faking it, or falling behind? Am I still learning or just doing the same stuff day after day? Starting tomorrow, you will start growing on your own.

“Another way to build self-confidence is to seek out the toughest jobs. In these situations, your purpose is clearly before you when you wake up. There is nothing like survival to engage the mind. Difficult situations bring real purpose and resolve in decision-making.

Graduating Senior Michael Bassett begins the class history with memories of elementary school. Megan Boulter followed with middle school memories, and Sarah Eddy concluded with remembrances of high school.

“While there is nothing that builds confidence like winning against the odds, believe it or not, losing against great odds builds it as well. Most great companies love people who take big swings, even if they have to walk back to the dugout on a few occasions. Seek out the businesses, the technical challenges, the jobs and education that others are afraid to touch. The world will soon get to know you, and more important, you will get to know yourself. Seek a real purpose. Seek to make a difference.

“There is one final attribute of self-confidence. The one attribute you must not fail to make your own: You must achieve the confidence of knowing that you possess absolute, unbending, unimpeachable integrity.

Everyone must know that, above all else. It is integrity that defines your character. There may be a day in your career you are asked to go along with something ... when you are near the [ethical and moral] edge or line in the sand. You must have the confidence and courage to say ‘no.’ Then you can go home, look your family in the eye, and sleep like a baby. There is nothing more potent in any career than the ability to do that.

“This is the simplest and best advice I can offer you. Grow your self-confidence and move quickly to repair it when damaged by the setbacks, failures and mistakes. Continue to grow intellectually and listen to the little voice inside you. Tackle the toughest jobs and challenges. Watch yourself do more, and learn more than you ever dreamed possible. Know your strengths and weaknesses. Don’t go a day without moving forward and working on them. Understand, whatever else may fail you, whatever bad luck or failure may befall you. Your personal integrity is always in your own hands and can never be taken from you.”

Blacken and the board of education then congratulated the class of 2012 and distributed diplomas. Tassels were moved and caps thrown. The symphonic band played a recessional tune while graduates exited the gym.

The Delton Kellogg High School Symphonic Band welcomes seniors back for a final playing of “Nettleton.”

The Hastings Banner — Thursday, June 14, 2012 — Page 3

City council wants constituents’ opinion on smoking ban in city parks

by Sandra Ponsetto Staff Writer Should smoking be banned in all city parks? Hastings City Council members are hoping their constituents will answer that question before the next regular council meeting at 7 p.m. Monday, June 25. Council members said response to the question will determine how they vote on a request from the Barry County Tobacco Coalition to designate all Hastings city parks as smoke-free.

Members of the coalition attended the Monday, June 11, council meeting to give a presentation on smoking in Barry County and the smoke-free park initiative recently endorsed by Gov. Rick Snyder.

Eric Pessell, coalition member and environmental health director for the Barry-Eaton District Health Department, cited statistics from several government agencies and polls regarding the effects of smoking and secondhand smoke in regard to Barry County.

According to Pessell, cigarettes accounted for 68, or 14 percent, of the 487 preventable deaths in Barry County in 2009, more than AIDS, alcohol, automobile accidents, illegal drugs, murders and suicides combined. He also said that the same year, nine deaths were attributed to the effects of secondhand smoke.

Pessell said the Michigan Department of Community Health estimated that from 2007 to 2009 25.6 percent of residents in Barry County smoked while the state-wide adult smoking rate in 2010 was 18.9 percent. He added that in Barry County, 23.3 percent of pregnant women in 2009 reported smoking, compared to 18.2 percent statewide.

“This is why our coalition was formed and this is why we have some concerns,” said Pessell. “... last year’s survey, 21 percent of our 11th graders indicated they had smoked a cigarette in the last 30 days.”

Pessell said studies have shown that levels of secondhand smoke outdoors can reach the same levels attained indoors, depending on the direction and the amount of wind and the proximity of smokers.

“Tobacco use in outdoor areas where youth congregate sends a negative health message,” said Pessell. “What we’re really here for tonight is to focus on our youth — that 11th grade, 21 percent, is what really concerns us.

We know the folks that are older that are lifelong smokers, while they still can quit and it would benefit them healthwise, we know that they have been smoking and they are now addicted to that. But, if we can now just stop our youth from trying even one cigarette, we can lower that 21 percent. We can get it lowered and eventually lower our overall rate, which will make us a much healthier community ...”

Having smoke-free parks in Hastings, he said, would have three benefits: Protecting the public from exposure to secondhand smoke; protecting children from tobaccorelated litter, such as cigarette butts which can be toxic if ingested by small children; and modeling healthy behavior that the community wants young people to emulate.

“Are we looking to keep smoke out of our parks, or are we looking to keep people out of the parks who smoke?” asked council member Barry Wood. “I know the answer. But, with our action here, what are we pushing?”

Wood said that even if the city banned people from smoking on city sidewalks and streets, people would still smoke.

Council member Jeri DePue reminded fellow council members that last year they had told the management of Hastings Manufacturing that the city was not going to make its parks smoke-free.

Mayor pro-tem Brenda McNabb-Stange said that even with the statistics cited by Pessell regarding the concentration of secondhand smoke outdoors, it is still preferable than indoors, and she is afraid the next step would be individuals or organizations requesting a smoking ban on all city sidewalks, streets and public areas.

“We’re are looking for the balance of where our youth recreate and congregate ...” said Pessell. “You can’t go to a high school football game and smoke, but I went by Fish Hatchery Park and saw a little league game going on. There’s nothing stopping those people from smoking in those stands. There’s nothing stopping people from smoking with a child sitting right next to them and being exposed to this.”

“Isn’t that a parent issue?” asked council member Don Bowers; “smoking in front of their children?”

Pessell replied that even if the parents don’t smoke, they see other adults smoking in parks.

McNabb-Stange agreed with Bowers that teaching young people not to smoke is a parental duty.

“Just because my kid sees somebody else smoking doesn’t mean I shouldn’t talk to him about it and say, ‘That’s their choice, but it’s not a healthy thing to do...’” she said.

She added that while many health risks are associated with smoking, it is not for the city to impose restrictions on people.

Bowers said there should be a way to prevent children and others from being exposed to secondhand smoke, but keeping smokers out of the parks isn’t the way to do it.

DePue asked how the coalition would propose the city enforce a no-smoking policy in parks.

Hastings City Manager Jeff Mansfield said it would be voluntary. The city would post a sign stating that smoking is prohibited in city

parks, but it would be up to park visitors to police their own behavior.

Council member Bill Redman said that while he agrees with the coalition as an individual, as a council member, he does not.

“Me, as a council person, to tell you, or her, that she can’t smoke in city parks ain’t going to happen. Sorry,” he said. “... If we really want to be a community where people want to come and want to live and be as healthy a place as we can be, then having an ordinance that doesn’t encourage smoking in parks is really an important part.”

Sheryl Lewis Blake, Pennock Hospital CEO

McNabb-Stange said that while she would support any reasonable campaign to stop smoking, she did not want to be the person to tell someone that he or she is not allowed to do something that is legal.

Pessell questioned why it is okay to tell people they could not drink alcohol in city parks but not to tell them they couldn’t smoke.

“So they don’t get drunk and attack you,” said Bowers.

“It’s a safety issue. Isn’t this a safety issue?” asked Pessell.

Bowers said that what the coalition was trying to do was get the government to regulate the behavior of people in the community.

“That is not the way to go about it,” he said. “Get to the parents and the children.

Evidently we are not doing a good job, or you wouldn’t be here.”

“We can assist parents ...” said Pessell.

Council member David Tossava said many of the people who use the city parks do abuse them and leave cigarette butts on the ground.

“But, can we regulate it? No,” he said.

Pessell asked the council if it would consider making just one park smoke-free.

“Should they be smoking down at Fish Hatchery Park during little league games?

They can’t smoke on the high school campus, or the elementary...” he said.

DePue said most people police their own smoking at baseball games.

“People don’t light up in the stand because everybody else would get mad,” she said.

“So, they go off and they smoke by the street.

Kids are still going to see them, but they are not breaking any rules standing by the street.

There is no way to police this.”

DePue said she is a smoker and she smokes on the front porch of her house.

“Soon it’s going to be you can’t smoke within 30 feet of a public sidewalk,” she said.

“We’re not asking for that,” said Pessell.

“Not today,” said Bowers.

Coalition member Sheryl Lewis Blake, the CEO of Pennock Hospital, said the hospital treats people who suffer from the effects of smoking and secondhand smoke, such as cancer, heart disease and other cardiac and pulmonary ailments, and a recent community health assessment, compiled with the help of 19 county agencies indicated that three key health issues face residents of Barry County — access to health care, obesity and tobacco cessation. She said the first logical step in addressing those issues is helping youths learn healthy behaviors.

“It’s not so much to make a statement that, ‘Oh, we don’t like smokers,’ and go against smokers’ rights,” she said. “But, if we really want to be a community where people want to come and want to live and be as healthy a place as we can be, then having an ordinance that doesn’t encourage smoking in parks is really an important part.”

Redman said that while the majority of council members may agree with Lewis Blake and Pessell, “We have the responsibility to the entire city and I think that you would find that we don’t feel that we have the right to tell people they can’t smoke. We can tell them that we think it is a dumb thing to do.

We can tell them that it’s bad for their health.

But, to tell them that they can’t do it. I think we are stepping over the lines of what our responsibility is.”

“Bill, I respectfully disagree with you, because you are each an elected official, and you need to represent the best of the future of the organization as our community entity, and being able to do the right thing isn’t always the most popular thing,” said Lewis Blake. “I think if you asked persons, I am actually an ex-smoker myself, you don’t want children to smoke ... There’s a huge difference between parks and sidewalks, guys — huge difference.”

Coalition member Don Werme said banning smoking in city parks would also have a beneficial economic impact for local employers because the health issues associated with smoking would decrease and could lead to lower health insurance premiums.

“If we have a healthy community, we have healthy employees that are productive,” said Werme.

Mayor Bob May said he believed that if the council were to vote that night, he would be the only member to vote in favor of the ban.

Redman suggested the council table the requested ban until its next regular meeting to allow members to talk to their constituents about the proposal and base the decision on what they learn from the public. The council unanimously approved the motion.

“There is a possibility that our constituents will go 100 percent behind this [smoking ban in city parks], and that’s what we need to find out,” said Redman. “That’s our responsibility.

We need to find out what’s going on out there.”

According to the coalition, municipalities and other governing agencies that have banned smoking in parks include Eaton County, Traverse City, Greenville and more.

In other business, the council: • Held a public hearing on and approved the final assessment roll for the 2012 downtown parking special assessment district. There was no public comment, and the motion to approve the assessment roll was passed unanimously.

The special assessment district funds a portion of the cost of maintenance of the downtown municipal parking lots.

• Adopted a Statement of Support for Guard and Reserve, which states the city values the skills and seeks to hire and employee members of the Nation Guard and the Reserves.

• Approved the construction of a new sixunit hangar at the Hastings City/Barry County Airport and an amendment the airport budget, increasing revenues by $80,000 to reflect funds received from a donor for the construction of the hangar and amended the budget, increasing expenditures by $206,550 to cover the cost of the low bid for the construction, which was awarded to Steadfast Construction, as requested by a request from the airport commission.

• Conducted a second reading and adopted an ordinance revising regulations for access ramps for individuals with physical disabilities. The motion to approve the ordinance passed by a 6-1 vote, with council member Dave Jasperse dissenting. The new ordinance rescinds the previous general law ordinance approved regulating the ramps and established new regulations within the zoning ordinances, which allows the zoning administrator to vary setback requirements as needed to allow the construction of the ramps.

• Held a first reading on a draft ordinance that would allow the keeping of up to four hen chickens in the R-S and R-1A (single family residential) areas within the city. The keeping of chickens is currently limited to rural residential zones. The council is slated to hold a second reading and make a determination on the ordinance during its June 25 meeting.

• Held a first reading on a draft ordinance regarding wall signs on accessory buildings in commercial and industrial zones. The city’s current ordinance only allows for signs on the principal buildings in those zones. The council will hold a second reading and make a determination on the proposed ordinance during its June 25 meeting.

• Appointed Mansfield as officer delegate and Hastings City Clerk/Treasurer Tom Emery as the alternate officer delegate for the annual Municipal Employees Retirement System conference.

• Awarded a bid to A-1 Asphalt in the amount of $69.10 per ton for top course and base course for an estimated total of $11,747 for the East Thorn Street water main project, as recommended by Hastings Department of Public Service Director Tim Girrbach.

• Authorized May and Emery to sign an amendment to the real estate agreement with Goodrich Quality Theaters for the purchase of the vacant lot east of Hastings 4 Cinema to allow construction of the proposed spray plaza to include the six-inch strip immediately adjacent to the east wall of the cinema; which was originally omitted from the agreement.

• Authorized May and Emery to sign a building exterior improvement program development agreement with Ricky and Cynthia Esther for Old Towne Tavern.

• Approved and authorized May and Emery to sign the annual contract for construction code administration and enforcement services with Tom Thompson and Glenn Stoneburner.

Barry County sheriff’s captain under investigation Capt. William Johnson of the Barry County Sheriff’s Department is now on administrative leave as a team of officials investigates what has been called a personnel, or conduct, issue. Johnson is in charge of the Barry County Jail and is a law enforcement veteran of 34 years.

No details were available from the Barry County Sheriff’s Department. Sheriff Dar Leaf was unavailable for comment while attending an out-of-town conference.

Undersheriff Bob Baker said he had “no comment.”

Fridays at the Fountain debuts for the summer More than 100 Fridays at the Fountain listeners gather on the Barry County Courthouse lawn to listen to bluegrass gospel, country and folk music from Sweet Grass June 8 — the first in the 2012 summer concert series sponsored by the Thornapple Arts Council and the City of Hastings. Upcoming free Friday performances at the fountain start at noon.

Hastings sculpture tour opens Friday

“El Fishbird” by Blissfield artist Kenneth M. Thompson stands on the corner of Church and State streets in downtown Hastings.

The City of Hastings, Hastings Downtown Development Authority and the Thornapple Arts Council are once again joining forces with the Midwest Sculpture Initiative to present a year-long sculpture exhibit in downtown Hastings featuring 23 works of art. The public is invited to attend the official opening of the exhibit from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, June 15.

In addition to an opportunity to view the sculptures, both old and new, six local music acts will perform at various downtown venues from 6 to 8 p.m.

The 11 sculptures leased from the MSI for display from June 2012 to May 2013 were selected by an advisory committee of more than 40 local residents, artists, art instructors and enthusiasts.

Twelve of the sculptures on this year’s tour have been donated to the Thornapple Arts Council and City of Hastings for permanent display.

The downtown sculpture exhibit began in 2009 when the Hastings DDA leased a sculpture from MSI for a six-month installation as part of the creation of a rest and reflection area behind Hastings City Hall. The sculpture was purchased by a member of the community and donated to the city to be put on permanent display downtown.

In 2010, the DDA expanded the outdoor exhibit to include 11 sculptures leased from

MSI. Before the 2010 exhibit was installed, additional sculptures, separate from those leased from MSI, were installed, bringing the total number of works of art on display to 17.

By the end of the 2010 exhibit, 10 more sculptures had been purchased and donated to the city for permanent display.

The 2011 exhibit featured 22 sculptures, including the 10 donated to the city and one donated to the Thornapple Arts Council and now on permanent display downtown as well as 11 new sculptures leased from MSI. This year’s exhibit features 23 sculptures, including one donated to the city in 1988 and installed next to the Arts Hatchery Building in Fish Hatchery Park.

Since 2009, the community has donated $92,000 in sculptures to the city. In addition, the city has earned $7,300 in commissions on the sales and purchase of the MSI sculptures on exhibit and received a $10,000 grant from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation to support the program. These numbers exceed the DDA’s initial investment of $15,000 for the three previous funding years. More than $20,00 in additional private donations were received during the 2011-12 fiscal year to assist with the development of a permanent sculpture plaza/planter area for the piece “Avian Ascent” and for the powder coating of “Radiolaia II.”

Page 4 — Thursday, June 14, 2012 — The Hastings Banner

Did you

see?

Photo snap This good-size snapping turtle was seen meandering along M-43 south of Delton last week. She (or he) stopped just long enough to smile for the camera before continuing on into the tall grass. (Photo by Bonnie Mattson) We’re dedicating this space to a photograph taken by readers or our staff members that represents Barry County. If you have a photo to share, please send it to Newsroom Hastings Banner, 1351 N. M-43 Highway, Hastings, MI 49058; or email news@j-adgraphics.com.

Do you

know?

Hot dog formality Do you recognize any of these people? The woman on the left is holding a purse with initials ‘R’ and possibly ‘I.’ The plates in the photo have hot dogs on them. The cups are paper. The clothcovered table is adorned with flowers, lighted candles — and at least one bottle of ketchup. The photo was by Spielmacher Photos in Grand Rapids, and the man on the far left was apparently cut out from another photo and taped into this one. Do you have any idea why this photo was taken? Where?

What can you tell us?

The Banner archives have numerous photographs from the middle of the past century that have no date, names or other information. We’re hoping readers can help us identify the people in the photos and provide a little more information about the event to reunite the photos with their original clippings or identify photos that may never have been used. If you’re able to help tell this photograph’s story, we want to hear from you. Mail information to Attn: Newsroom Hastings Banner, 1351 N. M-43 Highway, Hastings, 49058; email news@j-adgraphics.com; or call 269-945-9554.

Last week’s photo of a canoe, clothing and other items on display in the east gym at Hastings High School (now the middle school) was recognized by both Barb Smith and Harry Garrison, county residents and former 4-H members, as a 4-H achievement

Have you

day from the early 1950s. Although we cannot find a published copy of that same photo, an April 24, 1952, Banner headline noted, “695 entries viewed at the 4-H Spring Achievement Event.”

“The Hastings High gym Thursday afternoon was turned into a miniature furniture show, a gown salon that would have brought sighs of envy from Old Paris and a veritable wonderland of handicraft created through long hours of work during the past winter months.

“Entries totaling 695 were place for viewing Friday evening and Saturday morning and the gym — the largest exhibition hall in the county — was not big enough ...”

met?

Mike Evans works for the Hastings Public Library in circulation, but his main passion is community building.

Evans is a founding member of the Barry County Green Team, a collaboration of individuals, businesses and agencies interested in sustainability and the environment. The first project he worked on was recycling. The most recent project concerned oil and gas leases (and possible fracking) in Barry County and the informational meeting held at Pierce Cedar Creek Institute, which attracted more than 200 concerned citizens.

He works on the EPillar of Hometown Partners, which promotes entrepreneurship in Barry County. He strives to promote sustainability best practices within the business community, and positive growth.

Evans is also involved in the Arts and Eats project, which he said grew out of the Barry County Tourism Council. Evans said the group was interested in economic development but more interested in how grow and support a sustainable local economy to keep local dollars circulating locally. He and his family are also supportive of buying locally and seasonally.

favorite films was ‘The Matrix.’

Favorite music: The Grateful Dead.

Best advice: My wife is always telling me, “You can only do what you can do, and you will never please everybody.” Those are two things I have a real hard time learning and I am constantly relearning.

If you could give somebody one thing: A generous heart.

If you were president: I have always had this idea that if there is a minimum wage, there should also be a maximum wage. I have never played it completely out, but if we could somehow get a buttress on either end of that spectrum and keep everyone a little closer together as far as income and equality.

If you could have a super power: I always thought if I could be any animal in the world, I would be a flying squirrel.

Then I could have the best of both worlds. I could be fast and agile, but I could also fly.

Mike Evans Favorite book: Henry David Thoreau’s Walden and Mark Twain’s Huckleberry Finn.

Favorite movie: Recently, one of my

Each week, The Banner profiles a person from the community working behind the scenes, whose efforts may not make headlines, but whose dedication makes Barry County shine. We’ll provide a quick peek each week at some of the Barry County area’s stars. Do you know someone who should be featured?

Send information to Newsroom Hastings Banner, 1351 N. M-43 Highway, Hastings, MI 49058; or email news@jadgraphics.com.

Barry County’s health is in crisis mode Everywhere we turn, health tops the list as one of the most important issues facing our nation. As part of the national Health Reform Affordable Care Act, nonprofit hospitals like our local Pennock Hospital are now required to prepare local health assessments as part of their responsibility to maintain a nonprofit status with the IRS. As we continue to debate the possibilities of national health insurance, Congressional leaders are focused on the general health of the nation. And from all reports we have become a nation at risk.

In the 2008-10 Behavioral Risk Factor Survey released by the Barry-Eaton District Health Department, 26.6 percent of the county’s adults were estimated to be obese, and another 34.9 percent were overweight. The report confirmed that females were more likely to maintain a healthy weight than males, while younger adults were more likely to report a healthy weight than older adults.

Local health department officials warn that obesity can increase the risk of many diseases and health conditions, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, coronary heart disease, stroke, sleep apnea, arthritis, gall bladder disease, high cholesterol and some forms of cancer.

The National Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that 29.4 percent of Michigan adults are considered obese, while children came in 41st, at 12.4 percent childhood obesity rate.

A local health department report shows Barry County with a 36 percent body mass index, or BMI, compared to 32 percent statewide, while the national measurement is at 25 percent.

What is causing the rapid increase locally and statewide?

“When people don’t have the funds for a proper diet, what they tend to do is eat the wrong foods, which are the cheapest foods,” said James Trosko, MSU professor of pediatrics and human development.

But is it the lack of funds determining what people eat or is it the poor choices due to a lack of motivation and education on the consumer’s part?

Most experts agree that a number of issues are driving the increase in poor health. People are eating fewer fruits and vegetables, they’re snacking more, eating larger portion sizes and increasing the consumption of sweetened drinks — all while eating out more often and preparing processed and quick-to-serve meals.

Families are also spending more time watching television, playing video games and computers while getting less physical activity. So what are we do?

Recently the mayor of New York, Michael Bloomberg, proposed a ban on large-size sugary beverages in his city.

“If you eat more than your body burns, you will get fatter,” Bloomberg said.

That’s why he’s asked the New York Health Board to approve a ban on soft drinks larger that 17 ounces. Was he really serious about the ban, or was he focused on making an impact with his proposal? Bloomberg is a businessman — I think he used the idea to draw attention to a serious problem. Following his announcement, the mayor became a guest on late-night television shows and was interviewed by many national television commentators.

The ability to purchase large drinks was on the lips of every New Yorker, some questioning, “Who does he think he is?”

Was he overstepping his authority or was the mayor more interested in getting the attention of consumers over an issue impacting his city and state? Some even viewed the issue as the mayor overstepping his authority by taking away their freedom to choose.

According to our local health depart-

What do you

Last week’s question: New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg has proposed a ban on sugary soft drinks or over 16 ounces in size to reduce obesity rates and increase public health. Are you in favor of such a ban?

Yes No

“When people don’t have the funds for a proper diet, what they tend to do is eat the wrong foods, which are the cheapest foods.”

James Trosko, MSU professor

The statistics speak for themselves. If Barry County expects to see any dramatic changes in the overall health of its citizens, then it must prepare a plan of action to reduce the population of obese adults — young and old alike.

According to the eighth annual “F as in Fat: How Obesity Threatens America’s Future 2011,” a report released from the Trust for America’s Health, Michigan is the 10th most obese state in the nation.

The report said, “Adult obesity rates increased in 16 states in the past year and did not decline in any state.”

In Gov. Rick Snyder’s state of the state address, he warned legislators about Michigan’s increasing health issues, and announced a public-private partnership to help parents, doctors and communities learn more about nutrition. To show his support, he pledged to lose at least 10 pounds.

Snyder and Bloomberg realize if they expect to see any significant changes in their calls to better health, they must stick their own necks out to lead the change.

Otherwise, issues impacting poor health will continue to stall any growth in the coming months.

It’s all about leadership, education and accountability. If we expect to see change, then we must promote every individual’s responsibility for their own personal health.

As the nation focuses on the debate over a national health care plan, we have to carefully consider its cost.

Mayor Bloomberg and Gov. Snyder, as well many congressional leaders, are concerned with who is going to foot the bill.

I believe, that as agencies across the country report their individual findings, we will realize that we are a nation with risky health habits. If we expect a national health program to work, then all of us must focus on personal health — especially if our poor health habits add exorbitant costs. The additional burden will prove the taxes we pay into the system cannot cover the health services we need.

If our country expects to provide a national health system, then it must develop a plan to make Americans healthy, or we will bankrupt a system already drowning in debt.

Last week’s Reminder included an advertisement for a free community health fair at the Gun Lake Medical Center.

They’re offering health information, medication review, blood pressure checks and more. If you need help, ask for it and in most cases, you’ll find it.

In the end, it’s up to each of us to be on guard, exercise, eat right and get the necessary amount of sleep needed each day.

Fred Jacobs, vice president, J-Ad Graphics

think?

Here’s your chance to take part in an interactive public opinion poll. Vote on the question posed each week by accessing our website, www.HastingsBanner.com. Results will be tabulated and reported the following week. Feel free to leave an opinion or comment.

20% 80%

ment report, Barry County is ranked 70th among Michigan’s 83 counties for poor health behaviors. We’re 57th in clinical care, 32nd in health factors, and 25th for health outcomes.

For this week: Some municipalities, including the cities of Detroit and Zeeland, have outlawed the sale of synthetic drugs, most commonly known as Spice and K2, because chemical properties contained in them can cause mindaltering episodes and also lead to harmful physical effects. Should these synthetic drugs, sold over the counter throughout Barry County, be banned locally? q q

Yes No

The Hastings Banner — Thursday, June 14, 2012 — Page 5

IURP RXU UHDGHUV Sheriff showing lack of cooperation To the editor: What’s up with Sheriff Dar Leaf?

Isn’t he supposed to serve the people who elected him?

It’s time to use a little common sense. When a volunteer group, the Animal Shelter 2000 Committee, raised $150,000 toward a new animal shelter as it did a few years ago on land donated by a concerned citizen, you can bet the group didn’t do this to provide a nice place to kill unwanted or abandoned pets.

They did so to give the Barry County Humane Society the wherewithal to allow innocent animals a chance to join loving families and live out their lives in joy and happiness.

The sheriff is on the wrong side of this debate, and it’s making him and his department look uncooperative and mean-spirited.

John E. Mantle, Hastings

Shelter stands; but promises are broken To the editor: The Barry County Board of Commissioners is taking the issue of saving the lives of adoptable pets at the county animal shelter seriously. Help is desperately needed as an intervention to fix what is obviously not working.

The citizens of Barry County have not seen results, and promises are still being broken. It is absolutely not acceptable for the county, as some have suggested, to “stay out of the adoption business,” and to continue to needlessly kill 70 percent of the pets that enter the shelter each year.

According to the Michigan Pet Fund Alliance, four cats and dogs are euthanized at the shelter on average every day — and 46 percent of those are puppies and kittens under 6 months of age. How — and why — does the county shelter kill seven out of 10 animals it takes in?

Members of the Barry County Animal Shelter Advisory Board are frustrated and have witnessed constant refusal by the sheriff, his representative and staff under his direction to communicate, cooperate, include, return respect and abide by state and federal laws ... The list of failures is long and has been witnessed by citizens, organizations within the humane community, members of the press and commissioners.

The facility was built on a foundation of community caring and donated dollars — with the promise of inclusion and accounta-

bility. Operational costs for the Barry County Animal Shelter are funded through tax dollars, and citizens also donate thousands each year through in-kind contributions and donations to the Barry County Animal Control Donation Fund, the purpose of which is to improve the quality of life of animals in the shelter.

It is simply unacceptable to keep the shelter in the past with a fossilized management plan that didn’t work then and certainly doesn’t work now. Change is long overdue, and it is time for a qualified director under the direction of the board of commissioners to deliver results to the community.

Citizens and humane messengers have found themselves continually being shut out and shut down, but the animals are the real victims here. Lost, abandoned and homeless pets need community involvement to make that change for them and do what is right so they can be adopted into homes.

If you want to see change and save the lives of adoptable pets, please attend the board of commissioners meeting at 9 a.m. Tuesday, June 19, at the courthouse located at 220 W. State St., Hastings. Your attendance of support will be the voice of reason for the animals who cannot speak for themselves.

Julie Baker Richland Animal Rescue Barry County Advisory Board Member

Write Us A Letter: The Hastings Banner welcomes letters to the editor from readers, but there are a few conditions that must be met before they will be published.

The requirements are: • All letters must be signed by the writer, with address and phone number provided for verification. All that will be printed is the writer’s name and community of residence. We do not publish anonymous letters, and names will be withheld at the editor’s discretion for compelling reasons only.

• Letters that contain statements that are libelous or slanderous will not be published.

• All letters are subject to editing for style, grammar and sense.

• Letters that serve as testimonials for or criticisms of businesses will not be accepted.

• Letters serving the function of “cards of thanks” will not be accepted unless there is a compelling public interest, which will be determined by the editor.

• Letters that include attacks of a personal nature will not be published or will be edited heavily.

• “Crossfire” letters between the same two people on one issue will be limited to one for each writer.

• In an effort to keep opinions varied, there is a limit of one letter per person per month.

• We prefer letters to be printed legibly or typed, double-spaced.

Know Your Legislators: Michigan Legislature Governor Rick Snyder, Republican, P.O. Box 30013, Lansing, Mich. 48909. Phone (517) 373-3400.

State Senator Rick Jones, Republican, 24th District (Allegan, Barry and Eaton counties). Michigan State Senate, State Capitol, Farnum Building Room 915, 125 West Allegan Street, Lansing, MI 48909-7536. Send mail to P. O. Box 30036, Lansing, MI, 48909. Phone: (517) 373-3447. E-mail: senrjones@senate.michigan.gov State Representative Mike Callton, Republican, 87th District (All of Barry County), Michigan House of Representatives, N-1191 House Office Building, Lansing, MI 48933. Phone (517) 373-0842. e-mail: mikecallton@house.mi.gov U.S. Congress Justin Amash, Republican, 3rd District (All of Barry County), 1714 Longworth House Office Building, Washington, D.C. 20515-2203, phone (202) 225-3831, fax (202) 2255144. District office: Room 166, Federal Building, Grand Rapids, Mich. 49503, phone (616) 451-8383.

U.S. Senate Debbie Stabenow, Democrat, 702 Hart Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C. 20510, phone (202) 224-4822.

Carl Levin, Democrat, Russell Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C. 20510, phone (202) 224-6221. District office: 110 Michigan Ave., Federal Building, Room 134, Grand Rapids, Mich. 49503, phone (616) 456-2531.

President’s comment line: 1-202-456-1111. Capitol Information line for Congress and the Senate: 1-202-224-3121.

Changes needed Parade is no place for campaigning at Animal Control To the editor: I am writing this letter to ask the county commissioners and the community to change our present Animal Control facility to a more compassionate animal shelter, where animals have at least a fighting chance of being adopted. It is now controlled by Barry County Sheriff Dar Leaf, and he has said time and time again that he is there to control animals, not to adopt them out.

Well, the time has come where this must change. The sheriff has shown an unwillingness to work with animal advocates for the past few years, and so now the time has come to hire a director who will not only handle animal control and enforce the dog laws, but will also allow volunteers to help with the adoption of the animals that are not claimed by their owners by calling rescue groups, taking good pictures to put on Petfinder and creating inventive ways to adopt out these animals to good homes. We need to reduce the euthanasia rate and increase the rescue rate of adoptable pets – plain and simple.

The new animal shelter was built in the year 2000, with donated money from the Barry County Humane Society to the tune of $30,000-plus. The county forked over another $150,000 toward the total cost of $300,000, so many dedicated volunteers, including then Barry County Sheriff Steve DeBoer, spent countless hours collecting the other $120,000.

The land was donated, too, so for a total sum of $150,000, the county got a building and property valued at approximately $400,000.

When these volunteers collected this money, the donors were promised not only a new and nicer facility in which to house the homeless animals, but also that more emphasis would be placed on the adoption of animals. This has not happened and the killing numbers are very high compared to the rest of the counties in the state.

So, we have not only let down the animals that are unlucky to go into this “shelter” but we have also let down the generous donors, as well.

Everyone who cares about what happens to these animals that cannot speak for themselves should get to the commissioner’s meeting in the courthouse at 9 a.m. Tuesday, June 19, to show support for a change at Animal Control. Citizens also should call their county commissioner and urge them to vote for the much-needed change.

Anneliese Brown, Hastings

SOCIAL SECURITY COLUMN Blockbuster stars ride into retirement sunset

by Vonda VanTil Social Security Public Affairs Specialist Summertime is here, and that means blockbuster movies are in season. This summer — and throughout the end of the year — moviegoers can catch some of the usual heroes on the silver screen.

Take Batman. He’ll be back on the big screen in another surefire blockbuster. The superhero first gained fans in the comics back in 1939. He could be taking advantage of delayed retirement credits — the power to receive bigger payments for delaying retirement benefits beyond full retirement age. The credit could be worth as much as 8 percent a year until age 70. Learn more about this super power available to anyone at www.socialsecurity.gov/retire2/delayret.htm.

Then there are the marvelous superheroes of the silver age of comics, several of whom are appearing in “The Avengers.” Captain America was born in 1941, making him not only fit for leading but also ripe for retiring.

The Hulk and Thor both came onto the scene in 1962; Iron Man and Nick Fury joined them in 1963. They, along with 1962’s Spiderman (also enjoying a movie reboot this year) don’t qualify for retirement benefits yet, but they might want to plan ahead by taking a look at the online Retirement Estimator at www.socialsecurity.gov/estimator, where they can get an instant, personalized estimate of future retirement benefits.

From Batman to Spiderman, Captain America to The Hulk, making a decision to retire does not mean hanging up your costume. Today’s retirees are more active than ever, even as they collect benefits.

If you’d like to learn more about your own future retirement benefits, take a break from the big screen and take a look at your computer screen.

Visit www.socialsecurity.gov/estimator to receive a picture of your own future retirement.

Vonda VanTil is the public affairs specialist for West Michigan. You may write her c/o Social Security Administration, 3045 Knapp St. NE, Grand Rapids MI 49525 or via email to vonda.vantil@ssa.gov.

To the editor: I always thought and celebrated Memorial Day as the day our country honored our loved ones who gave the ultimate sacrifice for our country. It is the time when we praise those who served in our armed forces. This Memorial Day weekend, I visited some friends in the Hickory Corners area and attended the parade their in honor of this special day. It disturbed me when Tom Evans, the current prosecutor of Barry County was actually there campaigning for his re-election to the office of prosecutor.

Where was his patriotism on this special day? Evans was more interested in himself than those who have served our country with honor and pride. How dare he take away from the moment that our thoughts should be of those who really deserve the attention on that special day? From what I have read in the Banner in the past, Evans should be voted out of the office of prosecutor due to his lack of leadership, knowledge, compassion and

integrity.

At no other parade or gathering did I hear of political candidates being part of the parade or even campaigning during these precious times and gatherings. If this is the type of person who is seeking re-election to the office of prosecutor, then Evans would not be my choice for that office, to serve the people of Barry County.

Julie Nakfoor-Pratt served in the past as prosecutor of Barry County, along with serving in Allegan County as an assistant prosecutor. She did so with honor, integrity, knowledge, caring, wisdom and fairness. The August primary is when the citizens of Barry County will have their say in what direction our county is headed as to the peace and safety of its citizens. I would encourage all registered voters in Barry County to cast their votes for Julie Nakfoor Pratt in August.

Anne Lockman, Middleville

Animal Control battles mar county’s image To the editor: In a recent Banner, Fred Jacob’s opinion was headlined, “For the good of animals, sheriff should give up shelter management.” I would suggest that, for the good of the whole community, the sheriff should relinquish control of a job responsibility about which he is obviously ambivalent.

The constant brouhaha surrounding Animal Control is terrible for the reputation of Barry County. A business thinking of locating in Hastings or elsewhere in the county considers many aspects, among which is whether people work together for the common good. In the matter of Animal Control, it’s constant dissension.

In my view, it’s a moral imperative that we treat kindly the weak and vulnerable – human or animal. Surely in the case of Animal

Control that means a robust effort toward more adoptions and less euthanasia, a policy that appears to be completely opposite the sheriff’s goals.

Why he clings to a part of his job that causes him so much trouble is mystifying. It would seem that he would be eager to part with it and cooperate with an amicable transition. With all due respect, Animal Control is not his strong suit.

The June 19 county board meeting (9 a.m. at the courthouse), when we are told the commissioners will be considering alternatives, is an ideal opportunity for him to put personal considerations aside and act in the best interest of the people who elect him.

Dorothy Flint, Hastings

Bill for county taxpayers is growing To the editor: The May 24 issue of the Banner, under the headline “Motion for Terpening case to be dismissed is denied” there are two details that should be of great interest to every resident of Barry County.

First, Michigan state Assistant Attorney General Angela Povilaitis was in the courtroom – representing Barry County.

Second, the defense’s dismissal motion on the grounds of due process stemmed from allegations of witness tampering, specifically, by the Barry County Prosecutor’s Office.

We have never been given a credible explanation as to why the State took over this case.

The only enlightenment Prosecutor Tom Evans has put forth is that he or members of his staff might be called to testify in this court case. Of course, he and perhaps members of his staff will be called as witnesses if they are

coercing, threatening or manipulating a witness.

What will this farce cost Barry County taxpayers? A private defense attorney estimated the fees for this type of case typically runs between $50,000 and $75,000. That’s a lot of money, but the costs to Barry County likely will be even higher since there is the matter of litigation in the family court, which will require the services of another attorney, which we will have to pay for.

Ask your county commissioner to demand the prosecutor’s office give us a realistic cost estimate for this ridiculous situation. Unless AAG Angela Povilaitis and the family court attorney work for free; the taxpayers will be looking at a huge legal bill when this case is closed.

Ronald McCord, Delton

It’s time for a director at animal shelter To the editor: This letter is in response to what has been reported or printed in opinion pieces in regard to the Barry County Animal Shelter. Up front, I want to inform you that until recently I sat as a member at large on the committee.

I submitted my resignation, stating personal reasons. I left with regrets, since I felt that the committee is very much in favor of doing the best for the animals at the shelter and also with a very strong desire to be good stewards of the people’s funds.

A very wise woman once said that every animal that ends up at the shelter is there through no fault of its own. I sometimes think that we are licensing the wrong animal.

Perhaps it would be more effective if owners had to be licensed to have a pet. There are way too many examples of people who should never be allowed to have a pet. That is all over, not just Barry County. The examples are often reported in the media. Those are only the ones reported, and many authorities believe that there is a reasonable expectation of a very large number that are hidden and not reported.

I have seen numerous reports of a quote attributed to Albert Einstein, that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing, over and over, hoping for a different result. In my opinion, that applies to how we as a county are approaching management of our animal shelter. It really is time to change what we are

doing in regard to the management of the shelter and the manner in which we try to adopt animals into good home surroundings.

I believe that all of us as county citizens need to insist that we back up to the time that many good citizens got together and through fundraising and donations, a new shelter was built to replace the poor, pitiful excuse for a shelter we previously had.

Generous people in our community made it possible to build the new shelter, as well as the funding from the taxpayers.

To this date, donations are made to help operate the shelter, and also many kind souls request that at their death, memorial donations be made to the shelter. We need to respect the taxpayers and those donating, by changing the way we manage the shelter in a way that can produce more adoptions and much less euthanasia. I feel it is responsible to state that some animals turned in to the shelter or picked up by animal control cannot be adopted due to behavior or health problems. Regulations must be abided by in this regard.

I am stating my opinion, and that of others, that it is time for a qualified animal shelter director, under the direction of the county board, be found to bring our shelter forward with the goal of more adoption into homes.

William F. Norris, Dowling

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Area Obituaries Elizabeth V. “Betty” Worley

Worship Together…

Earl B. Eggleston

Richard “Dick” C. Quinn

77568642

...at the church of your choice ~ Weekly schedules of Hastings area churches available for your convenience...

GRACE COMMUNITY CHURCH 8950 E. M-79 Highway, Nashville, MI 49073. Pastor Don Roscoe, (517) 852-9228.

Morning Celebration 9 a.m. & 10:30 a.m.

Fellowship Time before the service.

Nursery, children’s ministry, youth group, adult small group ministry, leadership training.

SOLID ROCK BIBLE CHURCH OF DELTON 7025 Milo Rd., P.O. Box 408, (corner of Milo Rd. & S. M-43), Delton, MI 49046. Pastor Roger Claypool, (517) 204-9390. Sunday Worship Service 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., Nursery and Children’s Ministry.

Thursday night Bible study and prayer time 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

CHURCH OF THE NAZARENE 1716 North Broadway. Rev. Timm Oyer, Pastor. Sunday School 9:45 a.m. Morning Worship Service 10:45 a.m.; Evening Service 6 p.m.; Wednesday Evening Service 7 p.m.

FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH 309 E. Woodlawn, Hastings. Dan Currie, Sr. Pastor; Josh Maurer, Youth Pastor. Sunday Services: 9:15 a.m. Sunday School for all ages,10:30 a.m. Worship Service; 6 p.m. Evening Service: Jr. Youth Group 5-7 p.m. & Sr. High Youth Group 7-9 p.m.. Wednesday, Family Night 6:30 p.m., Awana, Bible Study, Praise and Prayer. Call Church Office 948-8004 for information on MOPS, Children’s Choir, Sports Ministries.

WOODLAND UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 203 N. Main, Woodland, MI 48897 • (269) 367-4061. Pastor Gary Simmons. Sunday Worship 9:15 a.m.

PLEASANTVIEW FAMILY CHURCH 2601 Lacey Road, Dowling, MI 49050. Pastor, Steve Olmstead.

(616) 758-3021 church phone.

Sunday Service: 9:30 a.m.; Sunday School 11 a.m.; Sunday Evening Service 6 p.m.; Bible Study & Prayer Time Wednesday nights 6:30 p.m.

WELCOME CORNERS UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 3185 N. Broadway, Hastings, MI 49058. Pastor Susan D. Olsen.

Phone 945-2654. Worship Services: Sunday, 9:45 a.m.; Sunday School, 10:45 a.m.

ST. ROSE CATHOLIC CHURCH 805 S. Jefferson. Rev. Richard Altine, Pastor. Saturday Mass 4:30 p.m.; Sunday Masses 8 a.m. and 11 a.m.; Confession Saturday 3:30-4:15 p.m.

ST. CYRIL’S CATHOLIC CHURCH Nashville. Rev. Richard Altine, Pastor. A mission of St. Rose Catholic Church, Hastings. Mass Sunday at 9:30 a.m.

CHURCH OF THE LIVING GOD A full gospel church. 1240 W. State Rd., Hastings. Pastor Doug Davis.

269-948-9740. Sunday School 10 a.m. Worship Service 11 a.m.

Sunday Evening Service 6 p.m.

Wednesday Bible Study 6 p.m.

Sunday School and Youth Group for all ages. Come and worship the Lord with us! .

WOODGROVE BRETHREN CHRISTIAN PARISH 4887 Coats Grove Rd. Pastor Randall Bertrand. Wheelchair accessible and elevator. Sunday School 9:30 a.m. Worship Time 10:30 a.m. Youth activities: call for information.

QUIMBY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH M-79 East. P.O. Box 63, Hastings, MI 49058. Pastor Rev. Bryce Feighner. (616) 945-9392. Sunday Worship 11:15 a.m.

GRACE BRETHREN BIBLE CHURCH 600 Powell Road, Hastings. Pastor Bob Wilson. Church Phone 269948-2330. Pastor’s Home 269-9454356. bjw1633@sbcglobal.net.

Sunday School 9:45 a.m.; Worship Service 10:45 a.m.; Sunday Evening 6 p.m. Wednesday 7 p.m.

ORANGEVILLE BAPTIST CHURCH 6921 Marsh Rd., 2 miles south of Gun Lake, Plainwell. Phone 269664-4377. OrangevilleBaptist.org.

Pastors Dan Bowman and Adam Parmenter. Sundays - 9:45-10:45 a.m. Sunday school classes for age 2 through adults; 11 a.m. Summer messages: “God’s Ten Words For a Vital Spiritual Life” (The Ten Commandments); 5:30 p.m. Teen Word of Life Club; 6 p.m. “Guard the Gospel” A study of 2 Timothy.

Wednesdays - 7 p.m. prayer; 8:30 p.m. Men’s Bible Study. MondayFriday - July 9-13 - 9:30 a.m.-noon, Vacation Bible School, age 5-7th grade with Uncle Al Torres - RBM Minstries. Sunday, July 15 - Guest speaker, Dr. Eldon Stevens. Sunday, August 19 - Summer concert.

COUNTRY CHAPEL UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 9275 S. M-37 Hwy., Dowling, MI 49050. Rev. Ryan Wieland. Sundays - 9:30 a.m. Traditional Worship Service; 11 a.m. Contemporary Service; Sunday School and Nursery available during both services (Summer Schedule - Adult Sunday School: 9 a.m., Worship & Children’s Programs 10 a.m.) Youth Group, Covenant Prayer, Choir, Chimes, Praise Band, Quilting Group, Community Breakfasts and more! Call the church office at (269) 721-8077 (M/W/F 9 a.m.-12 p.m.), e-mail office@mei.net or visit www.countrychapelumc.org <http://www.countrychapelumc.org/> for more information SAINTS ANDREW & MATTHIAS INDEPENDENT ANGLICAN CHURCH 2415 McCann Rd. (in Irving).

Sunday services each week: 9:15 a.m. Morning Prayer (Holy Communion the 2nd Sunday of each month at this service), 10 a.m. Holy Communion (each week). The Rector of Ss. Andrew & Matthias is Rt. Rev. David T. Hustwick. The church phone number is 269-7952370 and the rectory number is 269948-9327. Our church website is http://trax.to/andrewmatthias. We are part of the Diocese of the Great Lakes which is in communion with The United Episcopal Church of North America and use the 1928 Book of Common Prayer at all our services.

HOPE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH M-37 South at M-79, Rev. Richard Moore, Pastor. Church phone 269945-4995. Church Website: www. hopeum.org. Church Fax No.: 269818-0007. Church SecretaryTreasurer, Linda Belson. Office hours, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday 9 am to 2 pm. Sunday Morning: 9:30 am Sunday School; 10:45 am Morning Worship; Sr. Hi. Youth 5 to 7 p.m.; Sunday evening service 6 pm; SonShine Preschool (ages 3 & 4) (September thru May), Tues., Thurs. from 9-11:30 am, 12-2:30 pm; Tuesday 9 am Men’s Bible Study at the church.

Wednesday 6 pm - Pioneers (meal served) (October thru May).

Wednesday 6 pm - Jr. High Youth (meal served) (October thru May).

Wednesday 7 pm - Prayer Meeting.

Thursday 9:30 am - Women’s Bible Study.

NEW BEGINNINGS CHURCH OF GOD 502 E. Bond St., Hastings. Pastor J.C. Crank cordially invites you to come worship with us each Sunday at 10:30 a.m. and Tuesday evening Bible study 6 p.m. with Rev. Calvon Kidder. Interested in knowing more about our church? Please feel welcome to call one of these numbers.

Pastor Crank 269-979-8618; (313) 610-5730 or; Ed Blankenship (Local) 269-945-3327.

LIFEGATE COMMUNITY CHURCH 301 E. State Rd., P.O. Box 273, Hastings, MI 49058. Pastor Scott Price.

Phone: 269-948-0900.

Website: www.lifegatecc.com. Sunday Worship 10 a.m. Wednesday Life Group 6:30 p.m.

COMMUNITY BAPTIST CHURCH 502 East Grand, Hastings; Floyd Hughes, Pastor; Myron Huebner, Music. Sunday Services: 10 a.m., Sunday School (all ages); 11 a.m.

Worship Service; 6 p.m. Evening Service; 7 p.m. Thursday, Bible Study and Prayer. Call 269-948-2673 for additional information.

CHURCH OF CHRIST 541 N. Michigan Ave., Hastings.

Pastor Collin Pinkston. Phone 269945-2938. Sunday School 10 a.m.; Worship 11 a.m. Wednesday Night Bible Study 7 p.m.

HASTINGS FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 209 W. Green Street, Hastings, MI 49058. Pastor Don Spachman. Office Phone (269) 945-9574. Office hours are Monday-Thursday 9 a.m.-3 p.m.; Friday 9 a.m. to noon. Sunday morning worship hours: 9:15 Contemporary Worship, 10:30 a.m.

Refreshments, 11 a.m. Traditional Worship. 5th Sunday Worship at 10 a.m. Sunday School for PreK-5th and Nursery Care (infants through age 4) is available during both worship services. Share the Light Soup Kitchen serves a free meal every Tuesday from 5 to 6 p.m.

HASTINGS FREE METHODIST CHURCH 2635 North M-43 Highway, Hastings. Telephone 269-945-9121.

Pastor Daniel Graybill, Pastor Brian Teed, and Youth Pastor, Eric Gillespie. Sunday: Nursery and toddler (birth through age 3) care provided. Sunday School: 9:30 a.m. for children and youth, and a variety of classes for adults. Worship Service: 10:30 a.m. Children’s Junior Church, 4 years through 4th grade dismissed prior to offering. Junior & Senior High Youth Group 6:30 p.m.

Wednesday Mid-Week Pioneers and adult classes return in September. Thursday: Senior Adult Bible Study at 10 a.m. and lunch at Wendy’s, 11:30 a.m. Vacation Bible School: Wed. & Thurs., July 25 & 26, 9 a.m.-2:30 p.m.

GRACE LUTHERAN CHURCH Discover God’s Grace with us!

Holy Communion Every Sunday!

Sunday, June 17 - Summer Hours Begin. Worship at 8 and 10 a.m.

June 14 Men’s Alcoholics Anonymous 7 p.m.. June 18 Spiritual AA at 7:30. June 19 Pennock Hospice Memorial Service at 6-8 p.m.. June 23 - Vacation Bible School Decorations & Team Meeting 9-12 a.m. Location: 239 E. North St., Hastings, 269-945-9414 or 945-2645, fax 269-945-2698. Pastor Amy Luckey. http://www.discovergrace.org

This information on worship service is provided by The Hastings Banner, the churches and these local businesses: Fiberglass Products

770 Cook Rd. Hastings 945-9541

1401 N. Broadway Hastings

945-2471

102 Cook Hastings

945-4700

1351 North M-43 Hwy. Hastings 945-9554

Maxine Eloise Linsea

FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 405 N. M-37, Hastings, MI 49058.

(269) 945-5463. Rev. Dr. Jeff Garrison, Pastor. Sunday Services: 8:55 a.m. Traditional Worship Service; 11 a.m. Contemporary Worship Service. Nursery and Children’s Worship available during both services. Visit us online at www.firstchurchhastings.org and our web log for sermons at: http://hastingspresbyterian.blogspot.com.

Friday - 9 a.m. Pickleball; 9 a.m.

Golfer’s Group Meets. Saturday 10:30 a.m. Praise Team. Monday - 9 a.m. VBS; 6:30 p.m. Softball Game; 7 p.m. Knit Wits. Tuesday - 9 a.m.

VBS. Wednesday - 9 a.m. VBS; 6:30 p.m. Financial Peace University.

ABUNDANT LIFE FELLOWSHIP MINISTRIES A Spirit-filled church. Meeting at the Maple Leaf Grange, Hwy. M-66 south of Assyria Rd., Nashville, Mich. 49073. Sun. Praise & Worship 10:30 a.m., 6 p.m.; Wed. 6:30 p.m. Jesus Club for boys & girls ages 4-12. Pastors David and Rose MacDonald. An oasis of God’s love. “Where Everyone is Someone Special.” For information call 616731-5194 .

Lauer Family Funeral Homes

HASTINGS, MI - Elizabeth V. “Betty” Worley, age 89, of Hastings passed away Friday, June 8, 2012 at Thornapple Manor in Hastings.

She was born November 8, 1922, the daughter of William and Nina (Peterson) Holdridge.

Betty attended school in Hinsdale, NY, where she met Alvin Jackson and became a wife and mother. She worked as a waitress at Court Street Grill in Hastings for eight years and at the Plainwell truck stop for four years.

In earlier years Betty worked at a bar in New York and ran a little store in a small town in Michigan.

Betty loved to play Bingo. She enjoyed going to flea markets where she sold her homemade towels. Betty loved baking peanut butter cake for grandkids. She enjoyed playing jokes on people and was always the life of a party. Betty also enjoyed getting her hair done and nails painted at the Manor.

She was preceded in death by her parents, William and Nina Holdridge; stepfather, Morgan; brother, Clare Holdridge; two sisters, Katherine Lute and Diane Jackson; daughters, Loraine Clayson and Elaine Clayson; grandson, Harvey Mohr; and brother-in-law, Nick.

Betty is survived by a son, Andrew Jackson of New York; daughters, Naomi (Cookie) Crystal and Dan Hines of Lake Odessa, Anita Man of Battle Creek and Linda Clayson of Delton; and many grandkids and friends.

Betty will be sadly missed by her children, family and friends. She was a good mom.

The family wishes to send a special thank you to Thornapple Manor for the great care that was given to their mother.

A graveside visitation and service was held Tuesday, June 12, 2012 at Prairieville Township Cemetery, Prairieville.

Arrangements by Girrbach Funeral Home, Inc., please visit our website at www.girrbachfuneralhome.net to sign the online guest book or to leave a memory or message to the family.

118 S. Jefferson Hastings 945-3429

MIDDLEVILLE, MI - Earl B. Eggleston, age 88, of Middleville, passed away Tuesday, June 12, 2012 at his residence. He was born September 21, 1923 in Grand Rapids, the son of Henry J. and Ann (LeVine) Eggleston.

He attended Hastings High School. Among the highlights of his career, he was manager of City Food and Beverage; chef at Pleasant Point Restaurant and later with Carriage House Restaurant in Hastings; manager of Beacon Motel in Grand Haven and an insurance executive in Madison, WI, retiring in 1985.

Earl was a World War II veteran of the African and Mediterranean Campaign. From 1943 - 1945 he was stationed on the USAHS Shamrock Hospital Ship.

He married Ellen Suzanne Johnson on November 2, 1946. Earl was a member of American Legion Post #45.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Henry and Ann Eggleston; brother, Bob Eggleston and sister, Marie Finkbeiner.

Earl is survived by his wife, Ellen “Sue” Eggleston; daughter, Cynthia and son-in-law, John Carlson; son, Alan and daughter-in-law, Katherine Eggleston of Middleville and Grand Rapids and four grandchildren, Rob, Tonya and Randy Carlson and Hilary Eggleston; three great-grandchildren, Brendan and Aidan Carlson of Middleville and Nicholas Carlson of Tacoma, WA. Memorial contributions may be made to the National Kidney Foundation of Michigan, 1169 Oak Valley Dr., Ann Arbor, MI 48108-9674.

Visitation will be held Thursday, June 14, 2012 from 10 until 11a.m. at the Girrbach Funeral Home in Hastings.

The funeral service will immediately follow visitation at 11 a.m., with Fr. Richard Altine, celebrant. Burial will take place at Mt. Calvary Cemetery with full military honors provided by American Legion Post #45 in Hastings.

Arrangements by Girrbach Funeral Home, Inc., please visit our website at www.girrbachfuneralhome.net to sign the online guest book or to leave a memory or message to the family. to life. She didn’t let things get her down. She loved life and was loved for it; her motto was "don’t sweat the small stuff."

After retirement, Maxine enjoyed visiting her “sister-like” cousin, Georgia and family in California. The girls were “famous” for cutting up and enjoying each other’s company immensely.

Maxine enjoyed working at the VA hospital (Percy Jones) in Battle Creek during WWII where she met many dignitaries and celebrities including Eleanor Roosevelt. she clerked at the McWilliams “five and dime” stores in Grand Rapids and Middleville and waitressed at the Middle Villa restaurant in Middleville

DELTON, MI - Richard "Dick" C. Quinn, of Delton, passed away June 7, 2012.

Dick was born February 6, 1935 in Downpatrick Co. Down, Northern Ireland, the son of Richard and Mary (Mason) Quinn.

A veteran, Dick became a United States citizen in 1958 and proudly served his country in the United States Army.

A founding member of the Delton Chamber of Commerce, Dick owned Delton Floor Covering for many years and was a loyal employee of Kellogg's, retiring in December 1993. A proud member and president of the Liars Club of Venice, FL, Dick was also a member of Saint Ambrose Catholic Church, Delton. Dick loved to work, but most of all, he loved his family.

On August 25, 1960, at St Philip, Battle Creek, Dick married the love of his life, Mary (Huard), who survives. Dick is also survived by his children, Linda Miller of Delton, and Mike (Anne) Quinn of Trenton, MI; a brother, Jerry Quinn, of England; sisters, Anne Curran and Madeline Fitssimmons, both of Ireland; grandchildren, Amber, Quinn, Kelly, Lacey, and Ryan; a great grandson, Bryson; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, and six brothers and four sisters.

Dick's family received friends, Sunday, June 10, with a vigil service at Saint Ambrose Catholic Church, 11137 Floria Road, Delton.

Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated Monday, June 11, 2012, at Saint Philip Catholic Church, 112 Capitol Ave, Battle Creek, Rev. Fr. Bill Remmel, celebrant.

Burial took place at Fort Custer Cemetery.

Memorial contributions to Siena Heights University, 1247 E. Siena Heights Dr, Adrian, MI 49221, or Saint Ambrose Catholic Church will be appreciated.

Dick's family is being cared for by the Williams-Gores Funeral Home, Delton.

Please visit www.williams-goresfuneral.com to view Dick's online guest book or to leave a condolence message for the family.

where she enjoyed her job and socializing with friends for many years.

Maxine graduated with the class of 1936 from Battle Creek High School and attended every class reunion until the age of 90. She was a lifetime member of the Eastern Star for 50 years and moved to Breton Village Green Apartments in Grand Rapids after her retirement residing there 25 years. Her final two years were spent at Crystal Springs Lifehouse Center in Grand Rapids.

The family has honored Maxine’s wishes of cremation without a service. Memorial contributions may be made in Maxine’s name to a charity of choice.

Robert Smith

Maxine E. (DeLong) Linsea passed away peacefully in her sleep early morning Saturday, May 12, 2012 at the age of 93.

Surviving are her four children and spouses, Ronald Perdue of Sacramento, CA, Suzanne Smith of Grand Rapids, Michael (Roz) Linsea of Shelbyville, and David (Lori) Linsea of Middleville. She was known as Grandma “Magazine” to some of her nine grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.

“Auntie Max” is survived by a nephew, David (Susana) Spitzer of Miami, FL and a cousin (sister), Georgia Smith of Clear Lake, CA and several nieces and nephews.

Maxine was born November 6, 1918 and raised in Battle Creek in a working class home by Victorian era parents, Guy and Carrie DeLong who preceded her in death.

Also preceding her in death were her husband, Vincent Linsea; sister, Violet Spitzer, and good friend, Eric Marti.

Maxine lived a full life and made an impression wherever she went. She was the “other mother” to many and was well known for her truthful and “tell it like it is” approach

MIDDLEVILLE, MI - Robert Smith, age 82, of Middleville, passed away Sunday, June 10, 2012 at his home after a short battle with cancer.

Robert was born May 29, 1930, the sixth child of Howard and Ilah Smith. He was raised in the Middleville area, graduating from Middleville High School in 1950.

Bob worked at Bradford White Corporation for 39 years, retiring in 1992. He was skilled as a welder and a journeymen maintenance-repairman. He also was a founding member of Founders Community Credit Union.

On May 15, 1953, he married Shirley Welton, who survives him.

He is also survived by a son, Howard (Judy) Smith of Freeport; and daughters, Roberta (Lee) Wieringa of Middleville, and Marcia (Gregg) Luedke of Hastings; grandchildren, Rene' (Aaron) Dykstra, Angela Smith, Art Smith, Wendy Wieringa, Chris (Lisa) Wieringa and Sarah (Jeff) WieringaSierawski; great grandchildren include, Quin and Charlotte (Dynamite) Dykstra, Andrew and Claire Sierawski, Shyanne Wieringa, and Kolby Smith. Also surviving are several brothers and sisters-in-law, nieces and nephews.

Robert was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Arthur; and sisters, Eleanor, Ruth, Lucille, and Margaret.

A funeral service will be conducted Thursday, June 14, 2012 at 11 a.m. at the Beeler-Gores Funeral Home with Pastor Alan Moody officiating. Interment will take place at Mount Hope Cemetery.

Memorial contributions to Hospice of Michigan will be appreciated. Please visit www.beelergoresfuneral.com to view Bob's online guest book or to leave condolences to the family.

The Hastings Banner — Thursday, June 14, 2012 — Page 7

Middleville Planning Commission to take up chickens debate

BETTER BRIDGE IN BARRY COUNTY

by Gerald Stein NORTH N: 7 5 4 3 M: K 9 8 7 L: A 5 3 K: K 2

WEST

EAST

N: K Q 6 M: 10 6 4 2 L: K 8 4 K: 7 5 4

N: 10 9 M: Q J 5 3 L: 7 6 2 K: Q J 9 6 SOUTH: N: A J 8 2 M: A L: Q J 10 9 K: A 10 8 3

Dealer: West Vulnerable: None M Lead: 2M North

East

South

Pass M 1M N 3N L 4L L 5L Pass

Pass Pass Pass Pass Pass Pass

L 1L N 1N K 4K 4NT N 6N

West Pass Pass Pass Pass Pass Pass

Captain M. North surveyed the deck of his pride and joy. The Barry County Bridge Barge was all set to leave shortly from the Charlton Park Pier. What was he missing? Or who was he missing? This nagged at the captain as he set about aligning chairs and tables for the trip down the mighty Thornapple River for the weekly cruise and bridge tournament.

Just then two of the bridge players prepared to board the BCBB for the afternoon’s session. Rosy and Vera, two experienced players, were bouncing up the gangplank. “Oh, Captain North! We are so glad to see you!”

Captain North looked up with a smile. “Of course! Rosy and Vera! Where have you two been the last couple of weeks? We all missed you and your bubbling personalities.” “Captain North, you say that to all of the ladies,” retorted Rosy. But the Captain could see that they were happy to be back. “Where have you two been recently?” he asked.

The Captain realized too late that he had asked the fatal question. Now he was a captive as Rosy and Vera pulled up empty chairs, and he knew that they would tell all. He shrugged and smiled. “Fire away,” said the Captain.

“Oh, Captain North, we have had the best vacation ever!” started Vera, with a huge smile. “We left Barry County for the northern-most regions of the Upper Peninsula.” “Da Yooper!” giggled Rosa, and they broke into laughter. Captain North waited.

“Yes,” interjected Rosy, “we wanted to play bridge in another state so we went to the Upper Peninsula to a huge bridge tournament near a town called Escanaba. You may have heard of it?” Before the captain could respond, Vera said, “Youbetcha!’ and they again broke into peals of laughter.

Regaining their composure, Vera and Rosy continued with their northern adventure. “We went to the north to play in the WUMBA tournament. It’s an old Indian word for Wisconsin Upper Michigan Bridge Association, and they run the tournament for a week up there. Can you imagine?” The Captain sat still.

“Well, we had a wonderful time, and we found one bridge hand that we just had to share with you.

Here it is,” and Rosy pulled out today’s hand. “The bidding was quite extraordinary as you imagine, Captain North.” “Yes,” said Vera, “imagine getting all the way to a six spade contract with that hand, eh?”

The Captain looked over the hand in question. “Hmmm…the North-South team doesn’t seem to have enough points for a small slam hand. How did they…?” But he was too late. Rosy and Vera were ready for him. “Captain North, we will tell you how it happened.”

M for an opening lead. South took the AM M, having made her plan. There looked “West led the safe 2M to be definite losers in the spade trump suit. Wouldn’t you agree, Captain North?” asked Rosy. The Captain could only nod.

L, the 10L L, and the JL L finally capturing “From then on, South was in charge all the way. She led the 9L L with the AL L in the dummy. South then played the KM M and threw away the good QL L. Imagine West’s KL that!” said Rosy.

K and played a small club from her hand. She led a small “Then, Captain North, South called for the KK N. She then led the AK K from her hand and played heart from the dummy and trumped it in her hand with 2N K from her hand and trumped it on the board with the the small club from the dummy. She then led the 8K N She then led the 9M M from the dummy and trumped it in hand with 8N N.” Here Rosy paused to catch 3N her breath. Her eyes were dancing with excitement.

Vera continued, “This is the best part, Captain North. Did you notice South has not drawn one trump yet?” Captain North could only nod. “South then led her last club planning to trump on the board. West N, QN N, and 6N N. If she trumps with the 6N N, then South will call for the 7N N on is in a predicament with KN the board. So just what did West do, Captain North?”

N and took the trick, but now The Captain waited. Rosy jumped in immediately. “West put up the QN N, with everyone following to she is in a no-win situation. She was stuck in an end-play. She led the 6N N which won the trick. South’s AN N took the 12th and final trick, making the six spade small South’s JN slam! How about that, Captain North!”

The Captain rose from his seat. “Congratulations, Rosy and Vera. Who of you played South on this hand?” They both began to giggle immediately. “Oh, Captain North, neither of us played that hand. We found it on the hand records after the tournament, and we thought you might like to hear about this hand that we didn’t play.” They broke into laughter.

The Captain was speechless. “Oh Captain. We also stopped at Fort Michilimackinac once we crossed the bridge. We wanted to enlist in the British army, but they told us we were “trolls” because we lived under the bridge, and that we couldn’t cut the mustard. I think they were wrong.” Both Vera and Rosy started laughing again. The Captain walked away shaking his head once again. “Welcome back, Rosy and Vera,” was all he could muster.

Recent answers to Bridge questions: “To cut one’s leg off” in bridge lingo means that your opponents have won a game and your part score was eliminated.

“A Golden Fit” in Bridge lingo means that you and your partner have an eight-card or more trump fit. ***** Today’s question: What does it mean to “cut the muster”? ***** (Gerald Stein, an Accredited Bridge Teacher for the American Contract Bridge League, teaches bridge classes at local schools and bridge clubs. You can visit his bridge blog at: http://betterbridgeinbarrycountymichigan.blogspot.com)

Call anytime to place your Hastings Banner classified ad

Brian Scott McKeown, Hastings and Amber Marie Welton, Hastings.

David Allen Roper, Sunfield and Beverly Anne Brown, Delton.

Zachariah Russell Schaefer, Wheatfield, IN and Erica Joy Bare, Hastings.

Donald Ray Hilton III, Middleville and Krystal Nichole Rabley, Muskegon.

Alexander Philip Sleeman, Otsego and Kaylee Joy Vanengen, Caledonia.

Garett Micheal Whitcomb, Bellevue and Charlene Jo Everitt, Bellevue.

Christopher Scott Sayer, Middleville and Jessica Hope Taylor, Kalamazoo.

Jason Lee Broadhurst, Plainwell and Colleen Nicole Kanet, Plainwell.

Joshua Richard Backus, Charlotte and Melinda Timberly Burns, Hastings.

Kendall Williams Kinney, Paw Paw and Jessica Ann Grigsby, Wayland.

Daniel James Culhane, Freeport and Harlei Rose Holford, Lowell.

Adam Christopher Cook, Nashville and Brittney Lynn Eaton, Nashville.

Justin Michael Payne, Cloverdale and Colleen Marie Miller, Cloverdale.

Jordan Taylor Lee Bumford, Nashville and Ona Maria Antonia Leffew, Nashville.

Cody Lee Ward, Hastings and Shyanne Danielle Mays, Hastings.

Maxim Barnaby Howell, Wayland and Aleshia Ann Haselden, Hastings.

Ooms to celebrate 50th wedding anniversary Bernie and Sue Oom of Freeport, Michigan will celebrate their 50th Wedding Anniversary on Saturday, June 16, 2012.

They have three married children, Thomas and Laura Middaugh, Wayne and Kate Oom, and David and Sarah Oom. They also have seven grandchildren and one on the way.

Bernie and Sue were longtime residents of Hastings where Bernie taught school and coached. The couple met through Sue’s brother, Tom, who attended Western Michigan University with Bernie.

Dennis-Wilcox

Pamela Minor turns 90 Pamela Minor celebrated her 90th birthday on June 3, 2012.

Braelyn Dennis would like to announce the engagement of her mom and dad, Mercede Marie Dennis and Colby James Wilcox.

Proud parents are Jack and Shilo Taylor of Nashville, Brian and Lila Dennis of Hastings and Ron and Tammy Wilcox of Hastings.

The bride is a 2011 graduate of Hastings High School and the groom is a 2010 graduate of Hastings High School.

A July 2012 wedding is being planned.

Newborn Babies Olivia Frankie-Laveigh, born at Pennock Hospital on May 17, 2012 at 8:31 p.m. to Joe and Carrie Burns. Weighing 10 lbs. 7 ozs. 21 1/2 inches long. ***** Rayn Alexzander, born at Pennock Hospital on May 31, 2012 at 7:21 a.m. to Kayla Evans of Hastings. Weighing 7 lbs. 1 oz. and 21 inches long. ***** Tron David, born at Pennock Hospital on June 2, 2012 at 3:48 p.m. to Samantha Price and Adonis Shepard of Hastings. Weighing 6 lbs. 3 ozs. and 19 inches long. ***** Emmalyn Elouise, born at Pennock Hospital on June 1, 2012 at 7:56 a.m. to Andrea and Justin Linsea of Middleville. Weighing 7 lbs.

14 ozs. and 21 inches long.

Olivia Gayle, born at Pennock Hospital on June 1, 2012 at 3:09 p.m. to Jessica and Jason Mays of Lake Odessa. Weighing 6 lbs. 5 ozs. and 19 inches long. ***** Ryan Patrick, born at Pennock Hospital on May 31, 2012 at 5:01 p.m. to Alan and Megan (Lavell) Klein of Hastings. Weighing 7 lbs. 12 ozs. and 20.5 inches long. ***** Kayson Bentlee, born at Pennock Hospital on June 1, 2012 at 1:29 p.m. to Jenna Denton and Tyrone Burkes of Nashville/Battle Creek.

Weighing 6 lbs. 15 ozs. and 19 inches long. ***** Nathan Raymond, born at Pennock Hospital on May 30, 2012 at 1:34 a.m. to Abigail and Joshua Fust of Nashville. Weighing 7 lbs. 13 ozs. and 20 inches long.

269-967-8241

269-945-9554 or 1-800-870-7085

77568328

Ray L. Girrbach Owner/Director

by Julie Makarewicz staff writer Would-be chicken raisers will have to wait a little longer before they’ll know if their flocks can take roost within the Middleville village limits.

The village council sent the issue to the planning commission for further study and review. The next planning commission meeting is July 3.

Stacey and Ruben Campos requested the village consider amending zoning ordinances to allow chickens in backyards of at least some residential lots in the village.

Stacey Campos told council members she wants to be able to have her own fresh eggs and doesn’t believe having chickens will be a detriment to neighbors.

She and her husband proposed several conditions that could be imposed including restrictions on the number of chickens allowed and distance from neighbors.

“Chickens do not take up a lot of space, and you will hardly know they are around,” said Campos at the Tuesday committee of the whole meeting.

She reminded the council that chickens are allowed in big cities like Traverse City and even in New York City in certain areas.

“Across the street, my neighbor has horses and pigs, but I can’t have a few chickens,” she said.

Current village zoning ordinances do not allow livestock unless the property is in an agricultural zone.

Catherine Getty, zoning administrator for the village, said in her review that Thornapple Township allows chickens on lots in residential zoning districts that have an area of at least 20,000 square feet. The City of Hastings, she reported, also allows chickens in lots of at least 15,000 square feet.

The Campos live in Bryanwood Estates and their lot is zoned for residential use.

Stacey Campos said she has talked to many of her neighbors and said she’s gaining much support.

Council member Ed Schellinger said he has received just the opposite opinions from polling his neighborhood.

“Overwhelming, the majority of people I spoke with said absolutely not. They did not want chickens in the village,” he said.

Schellinger said he’s also concerned that if chickens are allowed, the village may be setting a precedent and in the future be asked to expand to allow ducks, geese and even small goats.

“If we say yes to chickens, where does it stop?” he asked.

In other matters before the committee of the whole: • The committee will recommend the council approve a contract with Williams & Works to update the village master plan at a cost of $1,600. Council will consider the proposal at its June 12 meeting.

• Heard concerns and questions from Gene Benting, owner of Tender Loving Car Wash.

Benting recently purchased the business and said he has concerns and questions about where his tax dollars go, what he gets for the money paid, and why his water bill increases so drastically. Village Manger Rebecca Fleury will set up a meting with Benting to explain and review the issues.

• Committee will recommend to council at its June 12 meeting approve a request for proposals for a single waste hauler contract within the village. The current contact expires Dec. 31, 2012. The village has 750 residential users.

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Page 8 — Thursday, June 14, 2012 — The Hastings Banner

Lake Odessa

by Elaine Garlock Coming soon, the Lake Odessa Fair with dates this year June 26 to July 1. The Lions Club has chosen Bill and Jewel Eckstrom as grand marshals for this year’s parade. The Eckstroms have been residents since 1956. In the intervening years, Bill was a teacher and coach for two years, high school principal for 1 1/2 years and superintendent for 30 years.

He began and ended his career in mid-year in the top school spot. In the first years, he still had one foot in the family farming business, with onions grown on Grant muckland his summer priority. After that, he confined his growing prowess to a fine garden on the family lot on MacArthur Street. His post-school years were spent in a partnership with builder Bill Bulling as they developed the Willowbrook condos and Pineview Drive.

Hydrangea bushes are at their best right now. The row of roses that grace the front of First Congregational Church are showing their annual beauty with peach colored blooms on the south half and a variety of colors north of the front entrance. Elderberry bushes in town are doing well. Those in the country, especially along streams and ditches, should be at about the same stage of growth.

Strawberry growers are advertising for pickers now, and they say the season will be short.

Sunday was the final time in the pulpit for Rev. Eric Beck at Central United Methodist Church. The Beck family will be moving to Jackson. Rev. Karen Sordan will move into the Sixth Avenue parsonage. She received her final ordination Saturday at the conclusion of the annual session of West Michigan United Methodist as they met at Calvin College. At the close of Sunday’s service, Lay Leader Von Goodemoot listed the program initiated during the Beck pastorate. Chairman of the Pastor-Staff committee Tony Barcroft presented the outgoing pastor a gift of a custommade stole, bearing original designs copied from motifs in the stained glass windows of Central church. The stole was designed by Lori McNeil, and produced by her mother, Carole Reiser, using liturgical colors for the appliques. Other parting gifts were a copy of the book Pure Lakewood and a John Wesley

Financial FOCUS Furnished by Mark D. Christensen of

bobblehead.

The antiques sale at the Lake Odessa Fairgrounds Saturday and Sunday brought a throng of patrons. Saturday’s sale was geared to dealers. Sunday’s sale was directed to lay buyers. Admission was charged each day.

The Ionia County Genealogical Society has a new book in the process. A book on the county veterans of the Korean Conflict has gone to the printers after months of work by Bonnie Jackson, who also edited the World War II book with a great number of veterans and others who did not survive. .The Lake Odessa farm and garden market is open at the fairgrounds each Friday and Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. between Fourth Avenue and Jordan Lake Avenue.

The United Methodist Women of Central United Methodist Church had their annual trip day Monday. They shared transportation in private vehicles for a trip and tour of Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park. They also enjoyed lunch together.

The Ionia County Commission on Aging has several events coming. Their summer picnic meal will be June 21 in Lake Odessa at Lake Manor. Call 527-5365 for reservations.

This noon meal will feature traditional picnic fare. The Ionia Theater has a weekly travel movie sponsored by the Ionia Historical Society.

The big event for today is Girls’ Night Out in downtown Lake Odessa with many exhibits, information booths, prizes, discounts and trolley rides along with music by the Pacific Lite group.

Many local churches are touting their summer Bible school programs.

Member of the Garlock family Friday attended the funeral of Joseph Helman, 91.

He was known in Lake Odessa as an auctioneer, with farm auctions and antiques his specialty. The Helmans had four generations of auctioneers with Joe and son David the latest in the line. Music ranged from a double quartet of Mennonite neighbors singing hymns, a vocal rendition of the Marine hymn to a country-style recording of “The Auctioneer’s song.

Tackitt to retire from health department Steve Tackitt, health officer with BarryEaton District Health Department, will retire after six years with the department. He also plans to transition from active leadership in other local, state and national public health organizations.

Tackitt holds a master’s degree in public health, is a registered sanitarian, and is recognized as a diplomat of the American Academy of Sanitarians. He joined the health department after 36 combined years in public health with Wayne County, Macomb County, and NSF International. His recent contributions to local public health include establishment of a low-income dental clinic, securing a WISEWOMAN program to promote healthy lifestyle choices, and the adoption of the Time of Sale or Transfer policy. As the department’s health officer, he has promoted public health efforts locally, statewide and at the national level.

Tackitt noted that public health has afforded him great opportunities over the years. He commended the efforts of local public health and attributed his successes to great mentoring and being in the right place at the right time to make change. Tackitt said he feels privileged to have been a part of positive change; however, he feels it is time to move to the next stage of his life. Details related to Tackitt’s farewell open house will be available in August with a celebration tentatively planned in mid-September.

In preparation for his retirement, the health department’s health officer position will be filled using a three-step interview process.

Initially, there will be a review of candidates

Steve Tackitt by a representative from Michigan Department of Community Health to assure candidates meet the state requirements. Each qualified candidate will be reviewed and screened by a five-member panel consisting of three commissioners, a representative from MDCH and a health officer from another county. The finalists will be interviewed in an open forum with the Barry-Eaton District Board of Health, along with the representative from MDCH and the health officer from another county.

Full job details and application requirements can be found on the website, www.barryeatonhealth.org/

EDWARD JONES

Don’t fall victim to investment ‘biases’ If you’re like most people, you go through many complex thoughts and emotions when choosing investments. In fact, a field of study called “behavioral finance” is devoted to understanding why people make their investment decisions. As part of their work, behavioral finance researchers examine “biases” that affect people’s investment selections.

And as an individual investor, you, too, can benefit from understanding these biases — so that you can avoid them.

Here are some of the key biases identified by behavioral finance experts: • Overconfidence — Overconfidence leads investors to believe they know the “right times” to buy and sell investments. But if you’re constantly buying and selling in the belief that you are correctly “timing” the market, you maybe wrong many times, and you may incur more investment fees, expenses and taxes than if you simply bought quality investments and held them for the long term.

• Representativeness — If you make decisions based on preconceived ideas or stereotypes, you may be suffering from a bias called “representativeness.” For example, if you see that investments from a particular sector, such as energy, have performed particularly well in one year, you might think these types of vehicles will do just as well the next year, so you load up on them. Yet every sector will go through ups and downs, so one year’s performance cannot necessarily predict the next year's performance. Instead of chasing “hot” investments, try to build a balanced portfolio that reflects your individual goals, risk tolerance and time horizon.

• Anchoring — Similar to representative-

ness, an anchoring bias occurs when investors place too much emphasis on past performance. If you own shares of XYZ stock, for instance, and the stock price hit $60 per share, you might assume XYZ will always sell for at least $60 a share. But if XYZ drops to $30 per share — perhaps as a result of a broad-based market decline — you might think it’s now “undervalued,” leading you to “snap up” even more shares. However, XYX shares could also fall due to a change in its fundamentals, such as a shake-up in the company’s management or a decline in the competitiveness of its products. As an informed investor, you need to work with your financial advisor to determine the causes of an investment’s decline and any actions you may need to take in response.

• Confirmation — If you are subject to confirmation bias, you may look for information that supports your reasons for choosing a particular investment. This type of bias can lead to faulty decision making, because you’ll end up with one-sided information. In other words, you may latch onto all the positive reasons for investing in something — such as a “hot stock” — but you may overlook the “red flags” that would cause you to think twice if you were being totally objective. To fight back against confirmation bias, take your time before making any investment decision — a quality investment will almost always be just as good a choice tomorrow as it is today.

Being aware of these investment biases can help you make better decisions — and over a period of many years, these decisions can make a difference as you work toward achiev-

STOCKS

The following prices are from the close of business last Tuesday. Reported changes are from the previous week.

Altria Group 33.43 +1.63 AT&T 34.98 +.92 BP PLC 39.02 +2.21 CMS Energy Corp 23.42 +.12 Coca-Cola Co 75.20 +1.96 Eaton 40.66 +.07 Family Dollar Stores 69.42 +1.92 Fifth Third Bancorp 12.86 +.63 Flowserve CP 105.11 +2.61 Ford Motor Co. 10.50 +.31 General Mills 37.94 +.14 General Motors 22.17 +.87 Intel Corp.

26.52 +1.09 Kellogg Co. 48.39 +.19 McDonald’s Corp 87.51 +.43 Pfizer Inc. 22.19 +.59 Ralcorp 64.08 +1.38 Sears Holding 50.66 +2.81 Spartan Motors 4.55 +.20 Spartan Stores 17.30 +.35 Stryker 51.78 +.99 TCF Financial 10.96 +.35 Walmart Stores 67.72 +2.22 Gold $1612.23 -6.70 Silver $28.99 +.42 Dow Jones Average 12,573 +446 Volume on NYSE 680M +16M

Drowning tragedy discussed at Orangeville Township Board meeting

by Fran Faverman Staff Writer Once the opening rites had been observed in the June 5 meeting of the Orangeville Township Board of Trustees, Supervisor Tom Rook turned the floor over to Fire Chief Dan Boulter, who delivered his monthly report.

Of the 24 calls his department responded to in the month of May, 17 of them occurred between May 20 and 29; the most tragic of them was the Memorial Day Weekend drowning of a 17-year-old teen from Grand Rapids in Gun Lake.

Boulter estimated the department spent 16plus hours at the scene in attempts to recover the body. The amount of interdepartmental cooperation was enormous, he said, with Thornapple Township Emergency Services, the marine divisions of Barry and Allegan counties sheriff departments and the Michigan State Police involved. Pontoon boats were released to the department by a local business, a move that greatly enhanced search operations, he added. Boulter said it was one of the largest operations ever mounted by his department.

He credited local businesses with providing cold beverages and food to the rescuers, saying, “I can’t say enough about the support we received from local businesses. Whatever we needed was offered. I am grateful to them for their support.”

An estimated appropriation of $2,250 requested by Boulter to cover the additional labor costs was quickly approved by the board. Treasurer Vicki Ritchie explained that the money would be taken from the township’s contingency fund. Responding to a question from Trustee Robert Perino, who wondered why the department did not have a line-item contingency fund in its budget, Ritchie said the township’s general fund had a contingency fund that was available to cover

those items.

Moving on to other reports County Commissioner Craig Stolsonburg said the county board had received the Orangeville Township resolution opposing fracking and had been advised by its attorney that there was nothing the county could do.

The county audit revealed a sum of $500,000 that had been budgeted but not spent; the funds would be carried over into the 2012 budget, he reported.

The county also received a $250,000 refund from its insurance carrier; the refund was the result of a long period of no claims being made under the county’s policy.

According to Stolsonburg, the money is most likely to be used to improve security in the courthouse.

The airport, funded jointly by the county and the city of Hastings, has started to build a second hangar which will be rented out; the construction is part of the plan to have the airport become financially self-supporting Mark Paradowski, chair of the township’s parks and recreation committee, reported that new games had been secured for Orangeville Days. Four teams had signed up by the deadline for the softball tournament. He also reported that the playground area was receiving a great deal of use; parents have requested the addition of a third restroom facility near the playground, saying that the location of the current facilities was too far from the playground area for most youngsters. The board instructed him to get quotes for a third facility.

Marlene Leep reported that a full lineup of summer activities at the J.C. Wheeler Public Library in Martin is available. The summer reading program begins with registration June 9 for children in kindergarten through sixth grade and for teenagers. The programs provide activities for all ages.

07601725

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Marlene Greggorsen reported that Operation Clean Sweep was successful; 20 volunteers cleaned up six miles of roads in Orangeville Township. She noted that the community garden had been plowed. She said that initially in the past there was great enthusiasm but by the end of the summer, there were very few caretakers. The community outreach program was continuing.

The fracking issue continued to occupy most of the public comment portion of the meeting. An unidentified resident distributed copies of a study analyzing biological risks to members of the board; also available was an estimate of some of the risks associated with the practice of horizontal hydraulic fracturing.

George Williston said the leases surrounding Fish Lake and Mill Pond had been purchased by Richard Patterson, whose company is Meridian Land Trust. He said Patterson purchases leases with the intent to resell them. He also urged the board to hire James Olson, an environmental attorney. James Kahllo said he had learned that small companies will drill as soon as they can but large companies will often sit on leases for years.

Another resident said baseline studies for health should be done before any drilling is allowed.

Perino said that enough noise about the issue was being made at the level of the federal Environmental Protection Agency for some regulations; he added the regulations were currently on hold.

Ritchie said she thinks the board should hire Olson.

Rook said the township’s law firm was meeting this week to determine what avenues, if any, were available to them. He opposed taking any action at the present time.

Julie Nakfoor Pratt, a candidate in the Aug. 7 Republican primary for the office of Barry County prosecutor, introduced herself.

Among the actions she would take if elected are the establishment of task forces on bullying and elder and child abuse. She said she has been practicing law for 24 years and has previous prosecutorial experience in Barry and Allegan counties; since 2008 she has acquired experience in criminal defense law.

The most contentious issue dealt with by the board was a request from Clerk Jennifer Goy for the employment of an outside person to take minutes at board meetings. She said she could not take minutes and participate effectively as a member of the board. Her motion to employ Deb Mousseau was supported by Ritchie. During the board discussion, Perino, Rook and Trustee Linda Ribble questioned the cost at $100 per meeting.

Ribble also said she did not have any difficulty on occasions when she has taken minutes when Goy was absent. The motion was defeated on a 3-2 vote with Rook, Ribble and Perino voting ‘no.’

The board tabled a recycling proposal from Republic Inc., pending clarification of its terms.

The next regularly scheduled meeting of the board will be Tuesday, July 3 at 7 p.m. at the township hall, 7350 Lindsey Road.

The Hastings Banner — Thursday, June 14, 2012 — Page 9

Lucky Farmer Photo Quiz revisited

TREES FOR THE FUTURE – A large grove of evergreen trees is located on the most recent farm to be pictured in the Lucky Farmer Photo Quiz. Rene Ganguillet (right), who with his wife purchased the farm last year, explains to his oldest son, Gary, 6, the reason for planting trees, while his father, Paul, holding Kevin, look on. The trees were planted as a soil and water conservation measure as well as a “cash” crop.

– Photo by Barth.

This is the tenth part of a series reprinting the Lucky Farmer Photo Quiz promotion that ran in the Banner 60 years ago. An unidentified aerial photo of an area farm was pictured in the Banner each week, from Jan. 24 to July 17, 1952, and the owners of the mystery farms were featured in the paper the following week. The contest was sponsored by the Banner and 35 area merchants (listed in the April 12 edition of the Banner). ***** Hastings Banner, May 29, 1952 Lucky Farmer known for his fine Holstein herd It is all dairying on the farm pictured last week in the Lucky Farmer Photo Quiz being sponsored by the Banner and 35 Barry County merchants.

The farm is the one operated on a partnership basis by Lloyd Gaskill and his son, Robert, about a quarter of a mile east of Dowling, Readers of dairying news, “Black & White” show and county fair results will be familiar with the name, for the Gaskill’s Holsteins have won ribbon after ribbon and news stories for the past years have carried headlines in the Banner such as “Dowling Sadie Fobes Posch Black & White Champion,” “Lloyd Gaskill’s herd highest producing in DHIA No. 1,” “Gaskill’s Amy completes tests,” “Gaskill bull given silver medal sire rating,” and they go on and on.

The Gaskills are proud of their Holstein herd which they started developing about 1925. They have 60 head of stock and are milking about 30 cows for the Battle Creek market. They’ve raised their own bull, sired by the great gold medal bull “Mont Vic Rag Apple Chief,” and are also using some artificial insemination for their herd.

Lloyd Gaskill was born in Baltimore Township Aug. 2, 1897, the son of Mrs. and Charles H. Gaskill. His mother died last summer and his dad lives with them.

Lloyd on Oct. 20, 1922, married Gertrude Bacheller, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Bacheller, both deceased. Her father for many years was a rural mail carrier out of the Hastings post office. Lloyd was graduated from Hastings High with the class of 1914, and Gertrude was graduated with the class of 1919.

They have four daughters, Mrs. Chester (Mildred) Soderquist, who lives near Iron River in the Upper Peninsula, Margaret, a junior at Western Michigan College in Kalamazoo; Mrs. Robert (Marcia) Erigle, of

Hastings, and Miriam, 12, at home.

Lloyd has 120 acres on his farm and Robert owns an 80 across the road. They have a real “father and son” relationship, working the acreage together.

The Gaskill farm was one time known as the Clemence farm, first owned by Nathaneal and then his son, Robert. Lloyd’s folks bought it in 1916. At first Lloyd and Gertrude rented the farm from his father and then in 1926 they purchased the homestead.

The Gaskills raise corn and oats for silage and grain for their herd, and alfalfa-brome for hay and pasture. They raise no swine or chickens but do have cats and kittens.

The dairy barn includes a west wing, 36by-50, which is a rebuilt barn purchased by Lloyd for $150. In it are generally housed the young stock. The main portion is 40-by-60 and includes cement stanchions constructed

by Lloyd with the aid of a man employed at $1 a day during the Depression.

The Gaskill’s production records are something they have a right to be proud of. Their DHIA [Dairy Herd Improvement Association] rating has been tops for several years and last year their Herd Improvement Registry rating was especially good – 524.7 pounds of fat average on 26 cows.

(The following story from Brattleboro, Vt., reached the Banner Wednesday morning.)

Hopegood Anna King, II, a registered Holstein cow in the herd owned by Lloyd A. and C. Robert Gaskill, Route 4, Hastings, has recently closed a long lifetime of high production totaling 145,18 pounds of milk and 5,347 pounds of butter-fat on two milking daily, in seven yearly milking periods.

(100,000 pounds of milk is the equivalent of approximately 47,500 quarts. She was taken out of production at an age of 14 years after producing milk for approximately eight years longer than the average U.S. cow. Her highest single record was made at the age of 9 years, 6 months when she produced 21,115 pounds of milk and 754 pounds of butterfat. her production records are officially recorded by The Holstein-Friesian Association of America. ***** Hastings Banner, June 5, 1952 Rene Ganguillets happy to see home in Banner A happy surprise to open the Banner and see a picture of their home and then to answer the telephone as a score or more calls came saying “congratulations” on the picture in the Banner, was the experience of the Rene Ganguillets last week.

CITY OF HASTINGS PUBLIC NOTICE ADOPTION OF ORDINANCE NO. 484 The undersigned, being the duly qualified and acting Clerk of the City of Hastings, Michigan, does hereby certify that Ordinance No. 484 TO DELETE EXISTING SECTIONS 18-10 THROUGH 18-22 OF THE CODE, AND ADD SECTION 90-805(3) TO THE CODE PROVIDING REGULATIONS APPLYING TO ACCESS RAMPS was adopted by the City Council of the City of Hastings at a regular meeting on the 11th of June 2012.

A complete copy of this Ordinance is available for review at the office of the City Clerk at City Hall, 201 East State Street, Hastings, Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM until 5:00 PM. Thomas E. Emery City Clerk 77568732

NOTED HERD – Robert Gaskill (left) and his father, Lloyd, are pictured in the barnyard of their Baltimore Township farm with some of their well-known Holstein cattle which have been top producers. The Gaskill farm was pictured last week in the Lucky Farmer Photo Quiz. – Photo by Barth.

It was formerly the Jennie Loehr and the late Luther Loehr farm located on M-43 just south of the Goodwill church, in Rutland Township.

The Earl Bucks, (Mrs. Buck was the former Emma Loehr), were living at the farm for the past 15 years and they moved into their newly constructed home just north of the farm where Earl and his brother-in-law, Elmer Loehr, are developing beautiful cottage and year-round home sites at Loehrs-Shores at the west end of Podunk Lake and along M-43.

Aunt Jenny Loehr, as she is known to many, came to the farm as a bride. The original home burned in 1907 and they built the present home. The house is all modern, very pleasant, and has a beautiful view across the lake.

Rene Ganguillet is the groundskeeper at Johnson field and the city’s school grounds.

HASTINGS PUBLIC LIBRARY SCHEDULE Thursday, June 14 — Movie Memories enjoys jungle to jungle with “Road to Zanzibar,” 5 to 8 p.m.

Friday, June 15 — preschool story time enjoys stories about fathers, 10:30 to 11 a.m.; Author Gary Schmidt speaks about writing books for young people, 7 to 9 p.m. at the Barry Community Enrichment Center for the library’s fifth anniversary (a free, ticketed event).

Monday, June 18 — summer reading program, “Dream Big, Read,” continues; Kathy Crane art exhibit continues; library board meets, 4 to 6; computer class learns about downloading eBooks and eAudio Books, 6 to 7:30 p.m.

Tuesday, June 19 — toddler story time enjoys stories about bats, 10:30 to 11 a.m.; young chess tutoring class, 4:30 to 5:30 p.m.; open chess club, 6 to 8 p.m.

Wednesday, June 20 — summer reading program features the Outdoor Discovery Center Macatawa Greenway, 2 to 3 p.m.

Call the Hastings Public Library for more information, 269-945-4263.

He is also the greenskeeper at the Hastings Country Club where he has been for 25 years with the exception of the two years he served in the Navy during the war.

Rene was born in La Heutte, Switzerland, March 10, 1908, and came to this country at the age of 4 with his parents, the Paul Ganguillets, and an only sister.

The family farmed north of Hastings until after the death of the mother and they moved into town. Paul worked with Rene at the Country Club until the last three years he has been employed by the Board of Education.

Rene was married April 21, 1935, to Helen Weaver, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Henry Weaver, of Hastings.

Rene says his desire was always to go back onto the farm, especially after his return from the service.

Then, after adopting two little sons, Gary Paul, now 6, and Kevin Gene 3 1/2, and Grandpa making his home with them, the Ganguillets outgrew their small home they had built in 1940.

It meant enlarging the home they had or moving to larger quarters. They decided it would be good to get the boys out in the country and now would be the best time to make the change. They had been looking for some time and when the Loehr place was placed on sale they knew it was just what they were

NOTICE OF A PUBLIC HEARING ON PROPOSED 2012-2013 BUDGET FOR DELTON KELLOGG SCHOOLS PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that on June 25, 2012 at 6:45 o’clock p.m., in Room 32 in the Upper Elementary School at 327 N. Grove St., Delton, Michigan, the Board of Education of the Delton Kellogg Schools will hold a public hearing to consider the district’s proposed 2012-2013 budget.

The Board may not adopt its proposed 2012-2013 budget until after the public hearing. A copy of the proposed 2012-2013 budget including the proposed property tax millage rate is available for public inspection during normal business hours at the Superintendent’s office, 327 N. Grove St., Delton, Michigan.

The property tax millage rate proposed to be levied to support the proposed budget will be a subject of this hearing.

This notice is given by order of the Board of Education.

Jennifer Bever, Secretary 77568730

NOTICE

The minutes of the meeting of the Barry County Board of Commissioners held June 12, 2012, are available in the County Clerk’s Office at 220 W. State St., Hastings, between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, or www.barrycounty.org.

77568645

CITY OF HASTINGS Position Available Code Enforcement Officer The City of Hastings is accepting applications for a parttime Code Enforcement Officer position in the Department of Public Services. Applications will be accepted until Friday, July 6, 2012 at 5:00 PM. The selected candidate will perform and document code violation inspections in response to citizen complaints and routine daily inspections, and monitor corrective action taken and compliance with penalties imposed by civil infraction tickets and uniform law citations.

Minimum requirements include a high school diploma or GED and a driver’s license valid in the State of Michigan. One year of related experience is strongly preferred.

Beginning wage rate for this position is $13.10 per hour and does not include fringe benefits.

An application form and full job description are available upon request at City of Hastings, 201 East State Street, Hastings, Michigan 49058. Questions regarding this position should be directed to Tim Girrbach, Director of Public Services, 269-945-2468.

77568713

looking for.

The Dr. George Lockwoods bought the Ganguillet home on South Benton Street.

Rene’s interest has always been in turf management, experimenting with grasses, their reaction to fertilizers, etc., and he expects to carry over this interest into grassland farming.

Also, he wanted a place with land he could put into evergreen trees and thanks to the foresight of the Bucks they already had several acres of trees in, many of them now towering into a “young forest.”

They all agree that if there was nothing else attractive about the place, just a walk back into those pines is a thrill and attraction enough.

They plan to plant trees each year, eventually making the place known as “Evergreen Acres,” and offering several varieties of Christmas trees for sale.

The land is being farmed by Melvin and Gerald Smith.

Rene, Helen, Grandpa Paul and the boys are all enthusiastic over their new home and they are so happy to have located in the Goodwill community. They say the name “Goodwill” certainly fits the neighborhood in every way. They have found everyone so friendly and helpful.

Tim Girrbach Director of Public Services

Call anytime to place your classified ad in the Hastings Banner...

269-945-9554 or 1-800-870-7085

CITY OF HASTINGS Position Available Operator 2 - Dept. of Public Services The City of Hastings is accepting applications for two (2) fulltime entry level bargaining unit Operator 2 positions in the Department of Public Services. Applications will be accepted until Friday, July 6, 2012 at 5:00 PM. Position #1 will be assigned to the wastewater treatment plant and involved with the day to day operation and maintenance of the City’s activated sludge treatment plant and a neighboring township septic tank effluent pumping system.

Position #2 will be assigned to the maintenance division in the Public Services Department and involved with manual and semi-skilled tasks related to the operation, maintenance, and repair of the City’s public work facilities and infrastructure.

Minimum requirements include a high school diploma or GED and a Commercial Driver’s License valid in the State of Michigan with an “A” endorsement and air brakes. One year of related experience is strongly preferred.

Beginning wage rate for this position is $12.12 - $15.50 per hour (DOQ) and includes a fringe benefit package.

An application form and full job description are available upon request at City of Hastings, 201 East State Street, Hastings, MI 49058. Questions regarding this position should be directed to Tim Girrbach, Director of Public Services, 269-945-2468.

Tim Girrbach Director of Public Services 77568716

Page 10 — Thursday, June 14, 2012 — The Hastings Banner

Nowhere Band kicks off Middleville Riverbank summer music series

Fracking draws opponents at jamboree Opponents of hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, in Barry County and the state of Michigan are present at Circle Pines Buttermilk Jamboree over the weekend. Petitions were available for signing, as well as information, T-shirts, lawn signs and bumper stickers against the drilling process.

Information about oil and gas leases now available on DVD Videos of an informational meeting at Pierce Cedar Creek Institute in May are now available. The three-part video covers the natural gas drilling process of horizontal hydraulic fracturing, commonly referred to as “fracking.”

The May meeting was designed to be objective and covered how an oil well is developed, the regulations drillers are required to meet, and how to protect owner and property rights when signing an oil and gas lease.

All topics are discussed in three videos.

The first video is an overview of the oil and gas drilling process and regulations specific to the state of Michigan. This overview was given by Michael Shelton, a geologist with the Michigan Department of Environmental

Equality. The second video is a presentation

by Susan Harley of Clean Water Action, who discusses the environmental issues surrounding fracking. The third video is an introduction to oil and gas leases, facilitated by Curtis Talley of the Michigan State University Extension office.

Pierce Cedar Creek Institute has copies available in its visitor center for one-week checkouts. The videos can also be viewed online by visiting the institute’s website, www.cedarcreekinstitute.org.

DVDs of the informational meeting are available for check out at the Delton and Hastings libraries.

For more information, call Matt Dykstra, 269-721-4473.

by Julie Makarewicz Staff Writer Summer Friday nights in Middleville will be filled with music and a chance for families and friends to gather for free entertainment.

The popular Riverbank Music Series, sponsored by the Middleville Downtown Development Authority, returns starting June 15 with the Nowhere Band.

The music series continues each Friday night through Aug. 24 with a variety of musical entertainment from country to bluegrass to classic rock and more.

The free concerts start at 6:30 and end about 8:30 p.m. in the gazebo at Stagecoach Park on East Main Street. In case of bad weather, the concerts will be moved inside to the Middleville United Methodist Church at 111 Church St. The Nowhere Band has been performing together since 2005. The band specializes in Beatles tunes, playing popular Beatles classics like “Let It Be,” and “Eight Days a Week.”

Visitors are encouraged to bring lawn chairs or blankets to sit on the lawn by the gazebo, listen to music and have a picnic or snacks, or use the Paul Henry Thornapple Tail and stroll along the river.

Downtown restaurants will offer Friday night specials.

Featured bands scheduled to play in the music series include Sweet Grass with its bluegrass music June 22; An Dro with Celtic music June 29; and the Thornapple Valley Strings July 6. Luke Lenhart Family and Friends will be on stage with their bluegrass music July 13; and Mid-Life Crisis, classic rock band, takes the stage July 20. At that concert, the group will host a donation drive for Mel Trotter Ministries.

Rounding out the summer will be the Blue Water Ramblers with folk, country and blue-

Call anytime for Hastings Banner classified ads 269-945-9554

grass tunes July 27; Kick’n Brass classic rock Aug. 3; Hawks and Owls Aug. 10; The Caledonia Strike steel drum band Aug. 17; and Chris and Cody, a local Middleville duo

Aug. 24.

For more information or a complete list of the entertainment, visit www.villageofmiddleville.org or call 269-795-3385.

Nashville car show expands to Valley Rally ‘Route 66’ in Nashville will again be filled with classic cars Saturday, June 16. The 12th annual Nashville Classic Car Show is merging with Valley Rally, offering several days of activities. Blue Water Rockers kicks off the fun Thursday, June 14, at 6:30 p.m. This will be first in the Lyrics on the Lawn series sponsored by Friends of Putnam District Library, which presents the free concert on the library lawn. Friday evening fills the village with karaoke and free food prepared and served by members of Grace Community Church. A softball tournament will begin behind the stores, followed by fireworks at dusk. Saturday, registration of classic cars will begin at 8 a.m., and the first Valley Rally 5K will line up behind the stores. Village-wide yard sales will be throughout Nashville, and Art on the Lawn will feature the paintings of Lelia Lentz and furniture from Lentz Table Company at the library. There will also be art activities for children, an annual book sale and root beer float sale. A parade is planned for 11 a.m. and a variety of food options will be for sale at Central Park. Car show enthusiasts may purchase tickets for entry to win a host of door prizes. Fifty-plus trophies will be awarded to car show entries. For more information about the car show, call Ralph Rasey, 517-726-0036.

Trolley Around Town FREE TROLLEY RIDES

Ride downtown for dinner, view the new sculptures, shop, get some ice cream, have coffee or drinks, visit the park...

Fridays from 6pm to 10pm Now thru August 17 201 S. JEFFERSON ST., HASTINGS (corner of Jefferson & Court St.)

269-945-0100

The City of Hastings will be the venue this summer for the newest Trolley route.

Every Friday night, now through August 17, the Trolley will ring through the streets from 6pm to 10pm. Catch it at any of the schools in the city limits, any city park, and other designated stops, or just flag it down on its route.

All rides FREE compliments of the local businesses listed here.

269.945.3412 312 E. Court St., Hastings

Look to us for all your jewelry, watch and clock repairs.

Gilmore Jewelers 102 E. State Street In the Heart of Hastings

RESTAURANTE

269-945-9572

945-4403 • 131 South Jefferson, Hastings HOURS: Mon. - Thurs. 11-8; Fri. 11-9; Sat. 11-8:30; Sun. 12-3

www.gilmorejewelers.com Join us on Facebook

1120 West Green, Hastings 945-4174

• Live Music • Outdoor Dining Browse through our site: www.countyseatlounge.com 128 South Jefferson St. Downtown Hastings

269-945-2401

269.948.4042

150 W. Court St., Hastings, MI 49058

Est. 1983

• comfortably, sophisticated ambiance • unique flavor combinations • enviable wine list • signature cocktails • unrivaled coffees

150 W. State St. • Downtown Hastings • 269.948.9222 SeasonalGrille.com

Thank you Barry County Transit would like to thank the City of Hastings, and the sponsoring merchants for their help in making this service possible.

77568666

945-3405 404 E. Woodlawn Ave. Hastings, MI 49058

The Hastings Banner — Thursday, June 14, 2012 — Page 11

LEGAL NOTICES STATE OF MICHIGAN PROBATE COURT COUNTY OF BARRY NOTICE TO CREDITORS Decedent’s Estate FILE NO. 12-26123-DE Estate of Dennis R. Crouch. Date of birth: 12/9/1943.

TO ALL CREDITORS: NOTICE TO CREDITORS: The decedent, Dennis R. Crouch, who lived at 8390 Chain O Lakes Drive, Delton, Michigan died March 15, 2012.

Creditors of the decedent are notified that all claims against the estate will be forever barred unless presented to Kathryn Crouch, named personal representative or proposed personal representative, or to both the probate court at 206 W. Court St., Ste. 302, Hastings, and the named/proposed personal representative within 4 months after the date of publication of this notice.

Date: June 12, 2012 Manvir S. Grewal, Sr. P48082 2400 Science Pkwy.

Lansing, MI 48864 (517) 393-3000 Kathryn Crouch 9215 Windsor Hwy. Dimondale, MI 48821 77568734 (517) 646-6666

NOTICE OF MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE SALE This firm is a debt collector attempting to collect a debt. Any information we obtain will be used for that purpose.

Default has occurred in the conditions of a mortgage made by ANDERSON PROPERTIES, a Michigan partnership ("Mortgagor"), to CHEMICAL BANK, a Michigan banking corporation, having an office at 333 E. Main Street, Midland, Michigan 48640-6511 (the "Mortgagee"), dated September 29, 2006, and recorded in the office of the Register of Deeds for Barry County, Michigan on October 20, 2006, as Instrument No. 1171694 (the "Mortgage").

By reason of such default, the Mortgagee elects to declare and hereby declares the entire unpaid amount of the Mortgage due and payable forthwith.

Mortgagee is the owner of the indebtedness secured by the Mortgage.

As of the date of this Notice there is claimed to be due for principal and interest on the Mortgage the sum of Sixty-Six Thousand Three Hundred Fifty and 52/100 Dollars ($66,350.52). No suit or proceeding at law has been instituted to recover the debt secured by the Mortgage or any part thereof.

Notice is hereby given that by virtue of the power of sale contained in the Mortgage and the statute in such case made and provided, and to pay the above amount, with interest, as provided in the Mortgage, and all legal costs, charges and expenses, including the attorney fee allowed by law, and all taxes and insurance premiums paid by the undersigned before sale, the Mortgage will be foreclosed by sale of the mortgaged premises at public vendue to the highest bidder at the east entrance of the Barry County Courthouse in Hastings, Michigan on Thursday the 12th day of July, 2012, at one o’clock in the afternoon. The premises covered by the Mortgage are situated in the City of Hastings, County of Barry, State of Michigan, and are described as follows: Commencing at the Southwest corner of Lot 289 of the City, formerly Village, of Hastings, according to the recorded plat thereof and running thence West 20 rods for a point of beginning; thence North 8 rods; thence West 4 rods; thence South 8 rods; thence East 4 rods to point of beginning.

Also (a) all privileges, appurtenances, improvements, buildings, tenements, hereditaments, easements, rights of way, licenses, riparian and littoral rights, mineral/oil/gas/water rights, rights to adjoining land, and all other rights belonging to the abovedescribed premises and which may hereafter attach thereto; (b) all rights to make divisions of such premises that are exempt from the platting requirements of the Michigan Land Division Act, as it shall be amended; (c) all rents, issues, profits, revenues, proceeds, accounts and general intangibles arising from or relating to the premises or any business conducted thereon by the Mortgagor including, without limitation, all rights, conferred by Act No. 210 of Michigan Public Act of 1953, as amended; (d) all equipment, other goods, and fixtures of every kind and nature whatsoever, now or hereafter located in or upon such premises or any part thereof and used or useable in connection with any present or future operation of such premises, whether now owned or hereafter acquired by the Mortgagor, including, without limitation, all heating, air conditioning, ventilation, lighting, incinerating and power equipment, engines, signs, security systems, fences, hoists, cranes, compressors, pipes, pumps, tanks, motors, plumbing, cleaning, fire prevention, fire extinguishing, apparatus, elevators, escalators, shades, awnings, screens, storm doors and windows, appliances, attached cabinets, partitions, carpeting, ground maintenance equipment.

Commonly known as: 437 W. Mill Street, Hastings, Michigan 49058 P.P. #08-55-001-107-00 Notice is further given that the length of the redemption period will be six (6) months from the date of sale, unless the premises are abandoned. If the premises are abandoned, the redemption period will be the later of thirty (30) days from the date of the sale or upon expiration of fifteen (15) days after the Mortgagor is given notice pursuant to MCLA §600.3241a(b) that the premises are considered abandoned and Mortgagor, Mortgagor's heirs, executor, or administrator, or a person lawfully claiming from or under one (1) of them has not given the written notice required by MCLA §600.3241a(c) stating that the premises are not abandoned.

If the premises are sold at a foreclosure sale, under MCLA §600.3278 the Mortgagor will be held responsible to the person who buys the premises at the mortgage foreclosure sale or to the Mortgagee for damaging the premises during the redemption period.

Dated: June 14, 2012 CHEMICAL BANK Mortgagee Timothy Hillegonds WARNER NORCROSS & JUDD LLP 900 Fifth Third Center 111 Lyon Street, N.W. Grand Rapids, MI 49503-2487 (616) 752-2000 77568684 8412856-1

Notice Of Mortgage Foreclosure Sale THIS FIRM IS A DEBT COLLECTOR ATTEMPTING TO COLLECT A DEBT. ANY INFORMATION WE OBTAIN WILL BE USED FOR THAT PURPOSE. PLEASE CONTACT OUR OFFICE AT THE NUMBER BELOW IF YOU ARE IN ACTIVE MILITARY DUTY. ATTN PURCHASERS: This sale may be rescinded by the foreclosing mortgagee. In that event, your damages, if any, shall be limited solely to the return of the bid amount tendered at sale, plus interest.

MORTGAGE SALE - Default has been made in the conditions of a mortgage made by Chester M. Maka and Dianne L. Maka, Husband and Wife, original mortgagor(s), to Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems, Inc., Mortgagee, dated April 12, 2004, and recorded on April 26, 2004 in instrument 1126429, and assigned by said Mortgagee to JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association as assignee as documented by an assignment, in Barry county records, Michigan, on which mortgage there is claimed to be due at the date hereof the sum of One Hundred Twenty-Five Thousand Four Hundred Seventy-One and 14/100 Dollars ($125,471.14).

Under the power of sale contained in said mortgage and the statute in such case made and provided, notice is hereby given that said mortgage will be foreclosed by a sale of the mortgaged premises, or some part of them, at public vendue, at the place of holding the circuit court within Barry County, at 1:00 PM, on June 21, 2012.

Said premises are situated in Township of Hope, Barry County, Michigan, and are described as: A Parcel of land in the Northwest 1/4 of Section 21, Town 2 North, Range 9 West, being more particularly described as commencing at the Northeast corner of said Section 21; thence North 89 degrees 48 minutes 22 seconds West along the North line of said Section 2644.25 feet to the North 1/4 post of said Section; thence South 00 degrees 13 minutes 15 seconds West along the North and South 1/4 line of said Section 1697.82 feet to the centerline of Highway M-43; thence 254.06 feet along said centerline and the arc of a curve to the right, Whose radius is 998.20 feet and whose chord bears South 57 degrees 03 minutes 30 seconds West 253.37 feet to the true place of beginning; thence continuing 50.99 feet along the centerline, and the arc of a curve to the right whose radius is 998.20 feet and whose chord bears South 65 degrees 48 minutes 49 seconds West 50.97 feet; thence South 67 degrees 16 minutes 36 seconds West along said centerline 134.05 feet; thence South 68 degrees 59 minutes 42 seconds West along said centerline 120.09 feet; thence South 00 degrees 22 minutes 51 seconds West 307.25 feet; thence North 89 degrees 45 minutes 19 seconds East 282.68 feet; thence North 00 degrees 13 minutes 15 seconds East 421.75 feet to place of beginning.

Subject to an easement for ingress and egress and public utilities for the benefit of Parcel D over a parcel of land described as: commencing at the Northeast corner of said Section 21; thence North 89 degrees 48 minutes 22 seconds West along the North line of said Section 2644.25 feet to the North 1/4 post of said Section; thence South 00 degrees 13 minutes 15 seconds West along the North and South 1/4 line of said Section 1697.82 feet to the centerline of Highway M-43; thence 305.04 feet along said centerline and the arc of a curve to the right, whose radius is 998.20 feet and whose chord bears South 58 degrees 31 minutes 20 seconds West 303.85 feet; thence South 67 degrees 16 minutes 36 seconds West along said centerline 134.05 feet; thence South 68 degrees 59 minutes 42 seconds west along said centerline 33.90 feet to the East line of existing 66 foot wide easement for ingress and egress; thence South 00 degrees 22 minutes 45 seconds West along said East line 228.79 feet to the place of beginning; thence North 79 degrees 52 minutes 15 seconds East 228.84 feet; thence South 00 degrees 13 minutes 15 seconds West 67.09 feet; thence South 79 degrees 52 minutes 15 seconds West 229.03 feet to said East line; thence North 00 degrees 22 minutes 45 seconds East 67.13 feet to the place of beginning.

Also together with and subject to an existing easement for ingress, egress and public utilities as described below.Also together with and subject to the rights of the public over the Northerly 33 feet thereof as used for Highway M-43.

Description of centerline of existing 66 foot wide easement for ingress, egress and public utilities: Commencing at the Northeast corner of said Section 21, Town 2 North, Range 9 West; thence North 89 degrees 48 minutes 22 seconds West along the North line of said Section, 2644.25 feet to the North 1/4 post of said Section; thence South 00 degrees 13 minutes 15 seconds West along the North and South 1/4 line of said Section, 1697.82 feet to the centerline of Highway M-43; thence 305.04 feet along said centerline and the arc of a curve to the right, whose radius is 998.20 feet and whose chord bears South 58 degrees 31 minutes 20 seconds West 303.85 feet; thence South 67 degrees 16 minutes 36 seconds West, along centerline, 134.05 feet; thence South 68 degrees 59 minutes 42 seconds West along said centerline 69.34 feet to the true place of beginning; thence South 00 degrees 22 minutes 45 seconds West, 325.24 feet; thence South 19 degrees 38 minutes 38 seconds East 200.55 feet; thence South 05 degrees 33 minutes 41 seconds East, 221.02 feet; thence South 42 degrees 59 minutes 58 seconds West, 210.09 feet; thence South 47 degrees 57 minutes 58 seconds West 155.36 feet; thence South 68 degrees 57 minutes 42 seconds West 159.53 feet; thence North 76 degrees 01 minutes 17 seconds West 132.05 feet; thence South 84 degrees 07 minutes 17 seconds West 213.20 feet to the place of ending of said easement.

The redemption period shall be 6 months from the date of such sale, unless determined abandoned in accordance with MCLA 600.3241a, in which case the redemption period shall be 30 days from the date of such sale.

If the property is sold at foreclosure sale under Chapter 32 of the Revised Judicature Act of 1961, pursuant to MCL 600.3278 the borrower will be held responsible to the person who buys the property at the mortgage foreclosure sale or to the mortgage holder for damaging the property during the redemption period.

Dated: May 24, 2012 For more information, please call: FC S (248) 593-1304 Trott & Trott, P.C. Attorneys For Servicer 31440 Northwestern Highway, Suite 200 Farmington Hills, Michigan 48334-2525 File #395012F01 77568061 (05-24)(06-14)

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Call 945-9554 for more information.

FORECLOSURE NOTICE This firm is a debt collector attempting to collect a debt. Any information obtained will be used for this purpose. If you are in the Military, please contact our office at the number listed below. MORTGAGE SALE – Default has been made in the conditions of a certain mortgage made by: Daryl L Brodbeck, an unmarried man to Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems, Inc as nominee for Polaris Home Funding Corp its successors and assigns , Mortgagee, dated June 12, 2008 and recorded June 30, 2008 in Instrument # 20080630-0006729 and corrected by Affidavit recorded November 30, 2009 in Instrument # 200911300011519 Barry County Records, Michigan Said mortgage was assigned to: CitiMortgage, Inc, by assignment dated November 12, 2009 and recorded November 18, 2009 in Instrument # 200911180011265 and corrected by Affidavit recorded December 7, 2009 in Instrument # 200912070011776 on which mortgage there is claimed to be due at the date hereof the sum of One Hundred Sixty-Two Thousand Seven Hundred Seventy-Two Dollars and Twenty-Nine Cents ($162,772.29) including interest 5.125% per annum. Under the power of sale contained in said mortgage and the statute in such case made and provided, notice is hereby given that said mortgage will be foreclosed by a sale of the mortgaged premises, or some part of them, at public vendue, Circuit Court of Barry County at 1:00PM on July 5, 2012 Said premises are situated in Township of Carlton, Barry County, Michigan, and are described as: Commencing at the Southeast corner of section 1, Town 4 North, Range 8 West, Carlton Township, Barry County, Michigan, thence North along the East line of said section 2105 Feet to the place of beginning; thence West 725 Feet; thence North 430 Feet; thence East 725 Feet to the East line of said section; thence South along said east line 430 Feet to the place of beginning Commonly known as 7451 Cunningham Road, Lake Odessa MI 48849 The redemption period shall be 6 months from the date of such sale, unless determined abandoned in accordance with MCL 600.3241 or MCL 600.3241a, in which case the redemption period shall be 30 days from the date of such sale, or upon the expiration of the notice required by MCL 600.3241a(c), whichever is later; or unless MCL 600.3240(17) applies. If the property is sold at foreclosure sale under Chapter 32 of the Revised Judicature Act of 1961, under MCL 600.3278, the borrower will be held responsible to the person who buys the property at the mortgage foreclosure sale or to the mortgage holder for damaging the property during the redemption period. Dated: 6/07/2012 CitiMortgage, Inc, Assignee of Mortgagee Attorneys: Potestivo & Associates, P.C. 811 South Blvd. Suite 100 Rochester Hills, MI 48307 (248) 844-5123 Our File No: 12-61931 (06-07)(06-28) 77568579

IF YOU ARE CURRENTLY IN BANKRUPTCY OR HAVE RECEIVED A DISCHARGE IN BANKRUPTCY AS TO THIS OBLIGATION, THIS COMMUNICATION IS INTENDED FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT AN ATTEMPT TO COLLECT A DEBT IN VIOLATION OF THE AUTOMATIC STAY OR THE DISCHARGE INJUNCTION. IN SUCH CASE, PLEASE DISREGARD ANY PART OF THIS COMMUNICATION WHICH IS INCONSISTENT WITH THE FOREGOING. OTHERWISE, FEDERAL LAW REQUIRES US TO ADVISE YOU THAT COMMUNICATION FROM OUR OFFICE COULD BE INTERPRETED AS AN ATTEMPT TO COLLECT A DEBT AND THAT ANY INFORMATION OBTAINED MAY BE USED FOR THAT PURPOSE. IF YOU ARE NOW ON ACTIVE MILITARY DUTY OR HAVE BEEN IN THE PRIOR NINE MONTHS, PLEASE CONTACT OUR OFFICE AS YOU MAY BE ENTITLED TO THE BENEFITS OF THE SERVICEMEMBERS' CIVIL RELIEF ACT. MORTGAGE SALE - Default has been made in the conditions of a mortgage made by Robert F. Lancaster and Lisa Lancaster, husband and wife, to Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems, Inc., as nominee for Polaris Home Funding Corp. its successors or assigns., Mortgagee, dated April 28, 2008 and recorded May 1, 2008 in Instrument Number 20080501-0004710, Barry County Records, Michigan. Said mortgage is now held by JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association by assignment. There is claimed to be due at the date hereof the sum of One Hundred Fourteen Thousand Six Hundred Eighty-Five and 94/100 Dollars ($114,685.94) including interest at 6% per annum.

Under the power of sale contained in said mortgage and the statute in such case made and provided, notice is hereby given that said mortgage will be foreclosed by a sale of the mortgaged premises, or some part of them, at public vendue at the Barry County Circuit Courthouse in Hastings, Michigan in Barry County, Michigan at 1:00 p.m. on 07/05/2012 Said premises are located in the Township of Prairieville, Barry County, Michigan, and are described as: Commencing at the center of Section 31, Town 1 North, Range 10 West, Prairieville Township, Barry County, Michigan, thence South 89 degrees 56 minutes 00 seconds East, 498.56 feet along the East and West quarter line of said Section 31, thence South 00 degrees 33 minutes 00 seconds East, 774.00 feet parallel with the North and South quarter line of said section to the point of beginning; thence South 89 degrees 56 minutes 00 seconds East, 175.00 feet parallel with said East and West quarter line; thence South 03 degrees 11 minutes 48 seconds East, 413.44 feet tot he Northerly line of Highway M-89; thence Northwesterly along said Northerly line, 205.41 feet along the arc of a curve to the left having a radius of 1959.86 feet and a chord bearing of North 71 degrees 30 minutes 21 seconds West, 205.32 feet; thence North 00 degrees 33 minutes 00 seconds West 347.89 feet parallel with said North and South quarter line to the point of beginning.

The redemption period shall be 6 months from the date of such sale, unless determined abandoned in accordance with MCLA §600.3241a, in which case the redemption period shall be 30 days from the date of such sale. TO ALL PURCHASERS: The foreclosing mortgagee can rescind the sale. In that event, your damages, if any, are limited solely to the return of the bid amount tendered at sale, plus interest.

If the property is sold at foreclosure sale, pursuant to MCL 600.3278, the borrower will be held responsible to the person who buys the property at the mortgage foreclosure sale or to the mortgage holder for damage to the property during the redemption period.

If you are a tenant in the property, please contact our office as you may have certain rights.

Dated: June 7, 2012 Orlans Associates, P.C. Attorneys for Servicer P.O. Box 5041 Troy, MI 48007-5041 2485022633 File No. 682.2314 (06-07)(06-28) 77568532

Notice Of Mortgage Foreclosure Sale THIS FIRM IS A DEBT COLLECTOR ATTEMPTING TO COLLECT A DEBT. ANY INFORMATION WE OBTAIN WILL BE USED FOR THAT PURPOSE. PLEASE CONTACT OUR OFFICE AT THE NUMBER BELOW IF YOU ARE IN ACTIVE MILITARY DUTY. ATTN PURCHASERS: This sale may be rescinded by the foreclosing mortgagee. In that event, your damages, if any, shall be limited solely to the return of the bid amount tendered at sale, plus interest.

MORTGAGE SALE - Default has been made in the conditions of a mortgage made by Shawn M. Ricketts and Bambi R. Ricketts, husband and wife, original mortgagor(s), to Wells Fargo Home Mortgage, Inc., Mortgagee, dated October 23, 2002, and recorded on November 1, 2002 in instrument 1090769, in Barry county records, Michigan, on which mortgage there is claimed to be due at the date hereof the sum of Ninety-Six Thousand Five Hundred One and 74/100 Dollars ($96,501.74).

Under the power of sale contained in said mortgage and the statute in such case made and provided, notice is hereby given that said mortgage will be foreclosed by a sale of the mortgaged premises, or some part of them, at public vendue, at the place of holding the circuit court within Barry County, at 1:00 PM, on June 21, 2012.

Said premises are situated in City of Hastings, Barry County, Michigan, and are described as: Lot 18, Fairview Estates No. 1, according to the recorded plat thereof in Liber 6 of Plats on Page 6.

The redemption period shall be 6 months from the date of such sale, unless determined abandoned in accordance with MCLA 600.3241a, in which case the redemption period shall be 30 days from the date of such sale.

If the property is sold at foreclosure sale under Chapter 32 of the Revised Judicature Act of 1961, pursuant to MCL 600.3278 the borrower will be held responsible to the person who buys the property at the mortgage foreclosure sale or to the mortgage holder for damaging the property during the redemption period.

Dated: May 24, 2012 For more information, please call: FC D (248) 593-1309 Trott & Trott, P.C. Attorneys For Servicer 31440 Northwestern Highway, Suite 200 Farmington Hills, Michigan 48334-2525 File #387378F01 77568068 (05-24)(06-14)

Notice Of Mortgage Foreclosure Sale THIS FIRM IS A DEBT COLLECTOR ATTEMPTING TO COLLECT A DEBT. ANY INFORMATION WE OBTAIN WILL BE USED FOR THAT PURPOSE. PLEASE CONTACT OUR OFFICE AT THE NUMBER BELOW IF YOU ARE IN ACTIVE MILITARY DUTY. ATTN PURCHASERS: This sale may be rescinded by the foreclosing mortgagee. In that event, your damages, if any, shall be limited solely to the return of the bid amount tendered at sale, plus interest.

MORTGAGE SALE - Default has been made in the conditions of a mortgage made by James P. Shields, single, original mortgagor(s), to Household Finance Corporation III, Mortgagee, dated August 16, 2006, and recorded on August 21, 2006 in instrument 1168918, in Barry county records, Michigan, on which mortgage there is claimed to be due at the date hereof the sum of Two Hundred Three Thousand Two Hundred Forty-Two and 38/100 Dollars ($203,242.38).

Under the power of sale contained in said mortgage and the statute in such case made and provided, notice is hereby given that said mortgage will be foreclosed by a sale of the mortgaged premises, or some part of them, at public vendue, at the place of holding the circuit court within Barry County, at 1:00 PM, on July 5, 2012.

Said premises are situated in Township of Hope, Barry County, Michigan, and are described as: Lot 105 and 106 of the plat of Steven's Wooded Acres No. 2 according to the plat thereof recorded in Liber 4 of Plats, Page 60, Barry County Records.

The redemption period shall be 6 months from the date of such sale, unless determined abandoned in accordance with MCLA 600.3241a, in which case the redemption period shall be 30 days from the date of such sale.

If the property is sold at foreclosure sale under Chapter 32 of the Revised Judicature Act of 1961, pursuant to MCL 600.3278 the borrower will be held responsible to the person who buys the property at the mortgage foreclosure sale or to the mortgage holder for damaging the property during the redemption period.

Dated: June 7, 2012 For more information, please call: FC H (248) 593-1300 Trott & Trott, P.C. Attorneys For Servicer 31440 Northwestern Highway, Suite 200 Farmington Hills, Michigan 48334-2525 File #326802F02 77568544 (06-07)(06-28)

NOTICE OF MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE SALE This firm is a debt collector attempting to collect a debt. Any information we obtain will be used for that purpose.

Default has occurred in the conditions of a mortgage made by ERIC C. ANDERSON, a married man, THOMAS S. ANDERSON, a single man, and MARK ANDERSON, a married man, as joint tenants (collectively, "Mortgagor"), to SAND RIDGE BANK, a division of First Financial Bank NA, a national association, of 450 W. Lincoln Highway, Box 598, Schereville, Indiana 46375, dated September 9, 2005, which was duly recorded in the office of the Barry County, Michigan, Register of Deeds on September 13, 2005, as Instrument No. 1152665, as assigned to CHEMICAL BANK, a Michigan banking corporation, of 2185 Three Mile Road NW, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49544-1451 ("Mortgagee"), pursuant to a Branch Purchase and Assumption Agreement dated May 11, 2006, and a Bill of Sale dated August 18, 2006, as evidenced of record by an assignment of mortgage dated September 14, 2009, recorded September 29, 2009, as Instrument No. 200909290009655, Barry County Records, and as amended by a first amendment to mortgaged dated May 5, 2010, as recorded June 4, 2010, as Instrument No. 201006040005390, Barry County Records, given to Mortgagee by Mortgagor and also by SHERRY ANDERSON, who is the wife of Eric C. Anderson, and CHRISTINE ANDERSON, who is the wife of Mark Anderson (the “Mortgage”). By reason of such default, the Mortgagee elects to declare and hereby declares the entire unpaid amount of the Mortgage due and payable forthwith. Mortgagee is the owner of the indebtedness secured by the Mortgage.

As of the date of this Notice there is claimed to be due for principal and interest on the Mortgage the sum of Seventy Seven Thousand Five Hundred Six and 34/100 Dollars ($77,506.34). No suit or proceeding at law has been instituted to recover the debt secured by the Mortgage or any part thereof.

Notice is hereby given that by virtue of the power of sale contained in the Mortgage and the statute in such case made and provided, and to pay the above amount, with interest, as provided in the Mortgage, and all legal costs, charges and expenses, including the attorney fee allowed by law, and all taxes and insurance premiums paid by the undersigned before sale, the Mortgage will be foreclosed by sale of the mortgaged premises at public vendue to the highest bidder at the east entrance of the Barry County Courthouse in Hastings, Michigan on Thursday the 12th day of July, 2012, at one o’clock in the afternoon. The premises covered by the Mortgage are situated in the City of Hastings, County of Barry, State of Michigan, and are described as follows: The East 1/2 of Lot 7 and the West 1/2 of Lot 8 of Block 2 of James Dunnings Addition to the City of Hastings, Barry County, Michigan, according to the recorded Plat thereof.

Together with all rights, easements, appurtenances, royalties, mineral rights, oil and gas rights, crops, timber, all diversion payments or third party payments made to crop producers, all water and riparian rights, wells, ditches, reservoirs, and water stock and all existing and future improvements, structures, fixtures, and replacements that may now, or at any time in the future be part of the real estate.

Commonly known as: 721 W. Walnut Street, Hastings, Michigan 49058 P.P. #08-55-035-016-00 Notice is further given that the length of the redemption period will be six (6) months from the date of sale, unless the premises are abandoned. If the premises are abandoned, the redemption period will be the later of thirty (30) days from the date of the sale or upon expiration of fifteen (15) days after the Mortgagor is given notice pursuant to MCLA §600.3241a(b) that the premises are considered abandoned and Mortgagor, Mortgagor's heirs, executor, or administrator, or a person lawfully claiming from or under one (1) of them has not given the written notice required by MCLA §600.3241a(c) stating that the premises are not abandoned.

If the premises are sold at a foreclosure sale, under MCLA §600.3278 the Mortgagor will be held responsible to the person who buys the premises at the mortgage foreclosure sale or to the Mortgagee for damaging the premises during the redemption period.

Dated: June 14, 2012 CHEMICAL BANK Mortgagee Timothy Hillegonds WARNER NORCROSS & JUDD LLP 900 Fifth Third Center 111 Lyon Street, N.W. Grand Rapids, MI 49503-2487 (616) 752-2000 8412749-1 77568679

IF YOU ARE CURRENTLY IN BANKRUPTCY OR HAVE RECEIVED A DISCHARGE IN BANKRUPTCY AS TO THIS OBLIGATION, THIS COMMUNICATION IS INTENDED FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT AN ATTEMPT TO COLLECT A DEBT IN VIOLATION OF THE AUTOMATIC STAY OR THE DISCHARGE INJUNCTION. IN SUCH CASE, PLEASE DISREGARD ANY PART OF THIS COMMUNICATION WHICH IS INCONSISTENT WITH THE FOREGOING. OTHERWISE, FEDERAL LAW REQUIRES US TO ADVISE YOU THAT COMMUNICATION FROM OUR OFFICE COULD BE INTERPRETED AS AN ATTEMPT TO COLLECT A DEBT AND THAT ANY INFORMATION OBTAINED MAY BE USED FOR THAT PURPOSE. IF YOU ARE NOW ON ACTIVE MILITARY DUTY OR HAVE BEEN IN THE PRIOR NINE MONTHS, PLEASE CONTACT OUR OFFICE AS YOU MAY BE ENTITLED TO THE BENEFITS OF THE SERVICEMEMBERS' CIVIL RELIEF ACT. MORTGAGE SALE - Default has been made in the conditions of a mortgage made by Dennis J. Goit, a married man and Joyce A. Goit, his wife, to MCA Mortgage Corporation, Mortgagee, dated April 6, 1998 and recorded May 11, 1998 in Instrument Number 1011750, Barry County Records, Michigan.

Said mortgage is now held by US Bank National Association, as Trustee, successor in interest to Wachovia Bank, National Association, as Trustee for GSMPS 2005-RP3 by assignment. There is claimed to be due at the date hereof the sum of Eighty-Two Thousand Four Hundred Eighty-Four and 79/100 Dollars ($82,484.79) including interest at 8% per annum.

Under the power of sale contained in said mortgage and the statute in such case made and provided, notice is hereby given that said mortgage will be foreclosed by a sale of the mortgaged premises, or some part of them, at public vendue at the Barry County Circuit Courthouse in Hastings, Michigan in Barry County, Michigan at 1:00 p.m. on 07/12/2012 Said premises are located in the Township of Thornapple, Barry County, Michigan, and are described as: The land referred to in this Commitment, situated in the County of Barry, Township of Thornapple, State of Michigan, is described as follows: That part of the Southeast 1/4 of Section 12, Town 4 North, Range 10 West, commencing at the Southeast corner of said Section; Thence South 89 degrees 48 minutes 23 seconds West, 334.56 feet along the South line of said Section; Thence North 00 degrees 15 minutes 25 seconds West, 422.00 feet parallel with the West line of the East 1/2 of said Southeast 1/4; Thence North 89 degrees 48 minutes 23 seconds East, 334.63 feet, thence South 00 degrees 14 minutes 50 seconds East 422.00 feet along the East line of said Section to the point of beginning. Subject to highway right-ofway over the Southerly 33 feet thereof and over the Easterly 33 feet thereof.

Except that part of the Southeast 1/4 of Section 12, Town 4 North, Range 10 West, Thornapple Township, Barry County, Michigan, described as: Beginning at the Southeast corner of Section 12; Thence South 89 degrees 48 minutes 23 seconds West 334.56 feet along the South line of said Southeast 1/4; Thence North 00 degrees 15 minutes 25 seconds West 222.00 feet parallel with the West line of the East 1/2 of said Southeast 1/4; Thence North 89 degrees 48 minutes 23 seconds East 334.60 feet; Thence South 00 degrees 14 minutes 50 seconds East 222.00 feet along the East line of said Southeast 1/4 to the place of beginning.

Subject to highway rights-of-way for Garbow Road and Robertson Road.

The redemption period shall be 6 months from the date of such sale, unless determined abandoned in accordance with MCLA §600.3241a, in which case the redemption period shall be 30 days from the date of such sale. TO ALL PURCHASERS: The foreclosing mortgagee can rescind the sale. In that event, your damages, if any, are limited solely to the return of the bid amount tendered at sale, plus interest.

If the property is sold at foreclosure sale, pursuant to MCL 600.3278, the borrower will be held responsible to the person who buys the property at the mortgage foreclosure sale or to the mortgage holder for damage to the property during the redemption period.

If you are a tenant in the property, please contact our office as you may have certain rights.

Dated: June 14, 2012 Orlans Associates, P.C. Attorneys for Servicer P.O. Box 5041 Troy, MI 48007-5041 2485022633 File No. 326.9185 77568697 (06-14)(07-05)

Page 12 — Thursday, June 14, 2012 — The Hastings Banner

LEGAL NOTICES NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE OF MORTGAGE CHARLES J. HIEMSTRA IS A DEBT COLLECTOR ATTEMPTING TO COLLECT A DEBT. ANY INFORMATION OBTAINED WILL BE USED FOR THAT PURPOSE. IF YOU ARE IN THE MILITARY, PLEASE CONTACT OUR OFFICE AT THE NUMBER LISTED BELOW. Default has occurred in the conditions of a Mortgage (“Mortgage”) made by Rick A. VanDeWeg and Tracy VanDeWeg, husband and wife, of 5205 Hammond Road, Hastings, Michigan 49058-8936, Mortgagor, to Lake Michigan Credit Union, a state chartered credit union, having its principal office at 4027 Lake Drive SE, Suite 110, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49546, which Mortgage was dated July 30, 2008, and recorded in the office of the Register of Deeds for Barry County, Michigan on August 5, 2008 at Instrument Number 20080805-0007965. By reason of this default, the Mortgagee hereby declares the entire unpaid amount of said Mortgage due and payable immediately. As of the date of this Notice there is claimed to be due for principal and interest on this Mortgage the sum of One Hundred Nine Thousand One Hundred Seventy-one and 68/100 Dollars ($109.171.68). No suit or proceeding at law has been instituted to recover the debt secured by this Mortgage or any part thereof.

Notice is hereby given that by virtue of the Power of Sale contained in this Mortgage and the statute in such case made and provided, this Mortgage will be foreclosed by sale of the mortgaged premises, or some part thereof, at public auction to the highest bidder at the East Steps of the Barry County Courthouse, 220 W. State Street, Hastings, Michigan 49058 that being the place of holding Circuit Court in said County, on Thursday, the 28th day of June, 2012, at 1:00 p.m.

The premises covered by this Mortgage are located in the Township of Hope, County of Barry, State of Michigan and described as follows: Lots 3 and 4 of Casa-Del-Mar of Acker’s Point according to the plat thereof recorded in Liber 3 of Plats, Page 64 of Barry County Records.

PP# 08-07-070-003-00 Notice is further given that the length of the redemption period will be six (6) months from the date of sale unless determined to be abandoned in accordance with MCLA 600.3241a, in which case the redemption period will be as provided by MCLA 600.3241a.

If this property is sold at a foreclosure sale by advertisement, during the period of redemption, borrower/mortgagor will be responsible to the purchaser under this Deed or to the mortgage holder for physical injury to the property beyond wear and tear resulting from the normal use of the property if the physical injury is caused by or at the direction of the borrower/mortgagor.

Dated: May 23, 2012 LAKE MICHIGAN CREDIT UNION MORTGAGEE THIS INSTRUMENT PREPARED BY: Charles J. Hiemstra (P-24332) Attorney for Mortgagee 125 Ottawa Ave., NW, Suite 310 Grand Rapids, MI 49503 77568132 (616) 235-3100

SCHNEIDERMAN & SHERMAN, P.C., IS ATTEMPTING TO COLLECT A DEBT, ANY INFORMATION WE OBTAIN WILL BE USED FOR THAT PURPOSE. PLEASE CONTACT OUR OFFICE AT (248)539-7400 IF YOU ARE IN ACTIVE MILITARY DUTY. MORTGAGE SALE – Default has been made in the conditions of a mortgage made by MARK D. HAMMOND, A SINGLE MAN, to UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, Mortgagee, dated May 30, 2008, and recorded on June 6, 2008, in Document No. 200806060005989, Barry County Records, Michigan, on which mortgage there is claimed to be due at the date hereof the sum of One Hundred Twenty-Eight Thousand Two Hundred Fourteen Dollars and Thirty-One Cents ($128,214.31), including interest at 5.375% per annum. Under the power of sale contained in said mortgage and the statute in such case made and provided, notice is hereby given that said mortgage will be foreclosed by a sale of the mortgaged premises, or some part of them, at public venue, At the East doors of the Barry County Courthouse in Hastings, Michigan. at 01:00 PM o'clock, on July 5, 2012 Said premises are located in Barry County, Michigan and are described as: COMMENCING AT THE NORTHEAST CORNER OF SECTION 6, TOWN 1 NORTH, RANGE 10 WEST; THENCE WEST ALONG THE NORTH LINE OF SAID SECTION A DISTANCE OF 379.50 FEET; THENCE SOUTH AT RIGHT ANGLES TO SAID NORTH SECTION LINE, 178.20 FEET TO A POINT ON THE NORTHEASTERLY EXTENSION OF THE CENTERLINE OF PINE LAKE ROAD; THENCE SOUTH 60 DEGREES WEST ALONG SAID CENTERLINE, 1516.69 FEET; THENCE SOUTH 26 DEGREES 07 MINUTES 58 SECONDS EAST, 470.22 FEET FOR THE PLACE OF BEGINNING; THENCE SOUTH 26 DEGREES 07 MINUTES 58 SECONDS EAST, 178.34 FEET; THENCE SOUTH 78 DEGREES 09 MINUTES 57 SECONDS WEST, 583.16 FEET TO THE CENTERLINE OF OAKRIDGE DRIVE THENCE NORTH 10 DEGREES 25 MINUTES 30 SECONDS WEST ALONG SAID CENTERLINE, 246.34 FEET; THENCE NORTH 61 DEGREES 42 MINUTES 15 SECONDS EAST, 170 FEET; THENCE SOUTH 83 DEGREES 42 MINUTES 41 SECONDS EAST, 161.94 FEET; THENCE SOUTH 59 DEGREES 20 MINUTES 03 SECONDS EAST, 91.73 FEET; THENCE NORTH 81 DEGREES 48 MINUTES 33 SECONDS EAST, 149 FEET TO POINT OF BEGINNING. The redemption period shall be 6 months from the date of such sale unless determined abandoned in accordance with 1948CL 600.3241a, in which case the redemption period shall be 30 days from the date of such sale. If the above referenced property is sold at a foreclosure sale under Chapter 600 of the Michigan Compiled Laws, under MCL 600.3278, the borrower will be held responsible to the person who buys the property at the mortgage foreclosure sale or to the mortgage holder for damaging the property during the redemption period. UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Mortgagee/Assignee Schneiderman & Sherman, P.C. 23938 Research Drive, Suite 300 Farmington Hills, MI 48335 USDA.000085 (06-07)(06-28) 77568589

SCHNEIDERMAN & SHERMAN, P.C., IS ATTEMPTING TO COLLECT A DEBT, ANY INFORMATION WE OBTAIN WILL BE USED FOR THAT PURPOSE. PLEASE CONTACT OUR OFFICE AT (248)539-7400 IF YOU ARE IN ACTIVE MILITARY DUTY. MORTGAGE SALE – Default has been made in the conditions of a mortgage made by RANDY J. SILSBEE, A SINGLE MAN, to Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems, Inc. ("MERS"), solely as nominee for lender and lender's successors and assigns, Mortgagee, dated November 22, 2006, and recorded on January 3, 2007, in Document No. 1174584, and assigned by said mortgagee to JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association, as assigned, Barry County Records, Michigan, on which mortgage there is claimed to be due at the date hereof the sum of One Hundred Five Thousand Three Hundred Seventy-Nine Dollars and Twelve Cents ($105,379.12), including interest at 7.000% per annum. Under the power of sale contained in said mortgage and the statute in such case made and provided, notice is hereby given that said mortgage will be foreclosed by a sale of the mortgaged premises, or some part of them, at public venue, At the East doors of the Barry County Courthouse in Hastings, Michigan. at 01:00 PM o'clock, on June 21, 2012 Said premises are located in Barry County, Michigan and are described as: PART OF THE NORTHEAST 1 / 4 OF SECTION 7, TOWN 2 NORTH, RANGE 8 WEST, DESCRIBED AS: COMMENCING AT THE NORTHEAST CORNER OF SAID SECTION 7; THENCE SOUTH 88 DEGREES 34 MINUTES 16 SECONDS WEST 497.86 FEET ALONG THE NORTH LINE OF SAID SECTION 7 TO THE POINT OF THE BGINNING; THENCE SOUTH 88 DEGREES 34 MINUTES 16 SECONDS WEST 248.83 FEET; THENCE SOUTH 2 DEGREES 38 MINUTES 38 SECONDS EAST 262.69 FEET PARALLEL WITH THE EAST LINE OF SAID SECTION 7; THENCE NORTH 88 DEGREES 34 MINUTES 16 SECONDS EAST 248.83 FEET; THENCE NORTH 2 DEGREES 38 MINUTES 38 SECONDS WEST 262.60 FEET TO THE POINT OF BEGINNING. The redemption period shall be 6 months from the date of such sale unless determined abandoned in accordance with 1948CL 600.3241a, in which case the redemption period shall be 30 days from the date of such sale. If the above referenced property is sold at a foreclosure sale under Chapter 600 of the Michigan Compiled Laws, under MCL 600.3278, the borrower will be held responsible to the person who buys the property at the mortgage foreclosure sale or to the mortgage holder for damaging the property during the redemption period.

JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association Mortgagee/Assignee Schneiderman & Sherman, P.C. 23938 Research Drive, Suite 300 Farmington Hills, MI 48335 JPMC.000277 (05-24)(06-14)

Notice Of Mortgage Foreclosure Sale THIS FIRM IS A DEBT COLLECTOR ATTEMPTING TO COLLECT A DEBT. ANY INFORMATION WE OBTAIN WILL BE USED FOR THAT PURPOSE. PLEASE CONTACT OUR OFFICE AT THE NUMBER BELOW IF YOU ARE IN ACTIVE MILITARY DUTY. ATTN PURCHASERS: This sale may be rescinded by the foreclosing mortgagee. In that event, your damages, if any, shall be limited solely to the return of the bid amount tendered at sale, plus interest.

MORTGAGE SALE - Default has been made in the conditions of a mortgage made by Dennis Jay Steffes aka Dennis J Steffes and Tina Marie Steffes aka Tina M Steffes, husband and wife, as tenants by the entireties, original mortgagor(s), to Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems, Inc., Mortgagee, dated November 22, 2004, and recorded on December 2, 2004 in instrument 1138030, and assigned by mesne assignments to JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association as assignee as documented by an assignment, in Barry county records, Michigan, on which mortgage there is claimed to be due at the date hereof the sum of Two Hundred Forty-Eight Thousand Three Hundred Eight and 56/100 Dollars ($248,308.56).

Under the power of sale contained in said mortgage and the statute in such case made and provided, notice is hereby given that said mortgage will be foreclosed by a sale of the mortgaged premises, or some part of them, at public vendue, at the place of holding the circuit court within Barry County, at 1:00 PM, on June 21, 2012.

Said premises are situated in Charter Township of Rutland, Barry County, Michigan, and are described as: Beginning at the Northwesterly corner of Lot 1 of Algonquin North Shore Subdivision, according to the recorded plat thereof in Liber 3 of Plats on Page 50, in Section 2, Town 3 North, Range 9 West, and Running thence North 51 degrees 04 minutes East 41.18 feet along Northwesterly line of said Lot; thence South 55 degrees 01 minutes 24 seconds East 57.0 feet along the Northeasterly side of said Lot; thence South 01 degrees 06 minutes 14 seconds West 155.34 feet along the East line of said Lot; thence North 89 degrees 22 minutes West 40.0 feet along the Plat Meander Line; thence North 22 degrees 45 minutes 04 seconds West 91.51 feet to a point on the West line of said Lot 1, distant South 00 degrees 16 minutes East 77.28 feet from the Northwesterly corner thereof; thence North 56 degrees 43 minutes 34 seconds West 85.40 feet to the center of Iroquois Trail (platted North Shore Drive); thence North 51 degrees 04 minutes East 65.0 feet along the center of said Street; thence South 00 degrees 16 minutes East 32.02 feet to the place of beginning. Extending the Easterly and Westerly sidelines to the Water's Edge of Algonquin Lake.

The redemption period shall be 6 months from the date of such sale, unless determined abandoned in accordance with MCLA 600.3241a, in which case the redemption period shall be 30 days from the date of such sale.

If the property is sold at foreclosure sale under Chapter 32 of the Revised Judicature Act of 1961, pursuant to MCL 600.3278 the borrower will be held responsible to the person who buys the property at the mortgage foreclosure sale or to the mortgage holder for damaging the property during the redemption period.

Dated: May 24, 2012 For more information, please call: FC S (248) 593-1304 Trott & Trott, P.C. Attorneys For Servicer 31440 Northwestern Highway, Suite 200 Farmington Hills, Michigan 48334-2525 File #337812F03 77568073 (05-24)(06-14)

NOTICE OF MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE SALE The Mortgage described below is in default: Mortgage (the “Mortgage”) made by Jason E. Jonker and Jennifer J. Jonker, husband and wife, as Mortgagors, to United Bank Mortgage Corporation, a Michigan banking corporation, with its address at 900 East Paris SE, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49546, as Mortgagee, dated March 18, 2005 and recorded on March 28, 2005, as Instrument No.: 1143335, Barry County Records, Barry County, Michigan. The balance owing on the Mortgage is $189,187.78 at the time of this Notice.

The Mortgage contains a power of sale and no suit or proceeding at law or in equity has been instituted to recover the debt secured by the Mortgage, or any part of the Mortgage. TAKE NOTICE that on July 19, 2012, 1:00 pm local time, or any adjourned date thereafter, the Mortgage will be foreclosed by a sale at public auction to the highest bidder, at the Barry County Courthouse in Hastings, Michigan (which is the building where the Circuit Court for Barry County is held). The Mortgagee will apply the sale proceeds to the debt secured by the Mortgage as stated above, plus interest on the amount due at the rate of 4.5% per annum; all legal costs and expenses, including attorneys fees allowed by law; and also any amount paid by the Mortgagee to protect its interest in the property. The property to be sold at foreclosure is all of that real estate situated in the County of Barry, State of Michigan, described as: BEGINNING AT A POINT ON THE NORTH LINE OF SECTION 20, TOWN 3 NORTH, RANGE 9 WEST, RUTLAND TOWNSHIP, BARRY COUNTY, MICHIGAN, DISTANT SOUTH 88 DEGREES 50 MINUTES 00 SECONDS EAST, 1326.54 FEET FROM THE NORTH ONE QUARTER CORNER OF SAID SECTION 20; THENCE SOUTH 88 DEGREES 50 MINUTES 00 SECONDS EAST 237.58 FEET ALONG SAID NORTH LINE; THENCE SOUTH 29 DEGREES 55 MINUTES 14 SECONDS EAST, 965.21 FEET TO THE CENTERLINE OF GUN LAKE ROAD; THENCE SOUTH 60 DEGREES 04 MINUTES 46 SECONDS WEST, 377.95 FEET ALONG THE CENTERLINE; THENCE NORTH 00 DEGREES 15 MINUTES 13 SECONDS EAST, 174.37 FEET; THENCE NORTH 88 DEGREES 50 MINUTES 00 SECONDS WEST, 396.00 FEET; THENCE NORTH 00 DEGREES 15 MINUTES 13 SECONDS EAST, 847.50 FEET ALONG THE WEST LINE OF THE EAST ONE HALF OF THE NORTHEAST ONE QUARTER OF SAID SECTION 20 TO THE POINT OF BEGINNING. TOGETHER WITH A MUTUAL PRIVATE EASEMENT FOR DRIVEWAY PURPOSES TO BE USED IN COMMON WITH OTHERS, 66 FEET WIDE, 33 FEET EACH SIDE OF A CENTERLINE, DESCRIBED AS: COMMENCING AT THE NORTH ONE QUARTER CORNER OF SAID SECTION 20; THENCE SOUTH 88 DEGREES 50 MINUTES 00 SECONDS EAST, 1,564.12 FEET ALONG THE NORTH LINE OF SAID SECTION 20; THENCE SOUTH 29 DEGREES 55 MINUTES 14 SECONDS EAST, 890.21 FEET TO THE POINT OF BEGINNING OF SAID CENTERLINE; THENCE SOUTH 29 DEGREES 55 MINUTES 14 SECONDS EAST, 75.00 FEET TO THE CENTERLINE OF GUN LAKE ROAD, AND THE END OF SAID DESCRIBED CENTERLINE. Tax Identification Number: 08-13020-008-40 The redemption period shall be six months from the date of sale pursuant to MCLA 600.3240(8), unless deemed abandoned and then pursuant to MCLA 600.3241a. June 8, 2012 UNITED BANK MORTGAGE CORPORATION, Mortgagee PLUNKETT COONEY KELLI L. BAKER (P49960) Attorney for Mortgagee 333 Bridge Street NW, Suite 530 Grand Rapids, Michigan 49504 77568691 (616) 752-4624 (06-14)(07-12)

NOTICE OF MORTGAGE SALE DEFAULT having been made in the conditions of a certain Mortgage, made by EASTWOOD MANAGEMENT LLC, a Michigan Limited Liability Company, whose address is 1340 Forrester SE, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49508, as Mortgagor, to MERLIN T. SUTHERLAND, a married man, whose address is 6155 Oakmont Landing, Alto, Michigan 49302, as assigned in the Barry County Register of Deeds to Knowlco, LLC, whose address is 8379 White Pine, Middleville, Michigan 49333, and securing that certain Note between Scott T. Sutherland, as Debtor and Merlin T. Sutherland, as Creditor, dated July 13, 2001, and pursuant to that certain guarantee wherein Mortgagor, Eastwood Management LLC, guaranteed the Note mentioned above and secured the guarantee with Mortgage described above.

There is claimed to be due thereon, at the date of this notice, for principal and interest, the sum of THIRTY THOUSAND AND 00/100-($30,000.00) Dollars with interest at the rate of 0%, as secured by the above-referenced mortgage as of this date.

There also shall be attorneys fees, unpaid real estate taxes and costs.

And no proceedings having been instituted to recover the debt now remaining secured by said Mortgage, or any part thereof, whereby the power of sale contained in said Mortgage has become operative; NOW, THEREFORE, NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that by virtue of the Power of Sale contained in said Mortgages, and in pursuance of the statute in such case made and provided, the above said Mortgage, will be foreclosed by a sale of the parcels of the premises therein described, or so much thereof as may be necessary, at public auction, to the highest bidder, at the Barry County Courthouse, County of Barry, Michigan, that being the place of holding the Circuit Court in and for said County on the 12th day of July, 2012, at 1:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, of said day and said premises will be sold to pay the amount so as aforesaid then due on said Mortgage, together with interest payable at the rate of 0%, together with late fees, legal costs, attorneys fees and also any taxes and insurance that said Mortgagee does pay on or prior to the date of said sale together with interest thereon as though on an open account at the rate of 5% per annum; which said premises are described in said Mortgage, to-wit: PARCEL 1: LOTS 4, 5, 6, 7 AND 8, HASTINGS HEIGHTS, ACCORDING TO THE RECORDED PLAT THEREOF IN LIBER 3 OF PLATS, ON PAGE 41 AND THE VACATED ALLEY TO THE NORTH ADJACENT THERETO. PARCEL 2: COMMENCING AT THE NORTHWEST CORNER OF LOT 8, HASTINGS HEIGHTS, ACCORDING TO THE RECORDED PLAT THEREOF IN LIBER 3 OF PLATS, ON PAGE 41; THENCE NORTH 1° EAST, 33 FEET FOR THE PLACE OF BEGINNING; THENCE CONTINUING NORTH 1° EAST, 160 FEET; THENCE SOUTH 88° 30’ EAST, 330 FEET; THENCE SOUTH 1° WEST, 160 FEET; THENCE NORTH 88° 30’ WEST 330 FEET TO THE PLACE OF BEGINNING. Commonly known as: 405 E Woodlawn, Hastings, MI 49058 The period of redemption will be six (6) months from date of sale.

Dated: June 8, 2012 David H. Tripp, Attorney for Knowlco LLC Drafted by: David H. Tripp (P29290) Tripp & Tagg, Attorneys at Law 206 South Broadway Hastings, Michigan 49058 77568706 (269) 945-9585

Notice Of Mortgage Foreclosure Sale THIS FIRM IS A DEBT COLLECTOR ATTEMPTING TO COLLECT A DEBT. ANY INFORMATION WE OBTAIN WILL BE USED FOR THAT PURPOSE. PLEASE CONTACT OUR OFFICE AT THE NUMBER BELOW IF YOU ARE IN ACTIVE MILITARY DUTY. ATTN PURCHASERS: This sale may be rescinded by the foreclosing mortgagee. In that event, your damages, if any, shall be limited solely to the return of the bid amount tendered at sale, plus interest.

MORTGAGE SALE - Default has been made in the conditions of a mortgage made by Bonnie M. Sofia, original mortgagor(s), to Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems, Inc., Mortgagee, dated July 3, 2002, and recorded on July 9, 2002 in instrument 1083477, and assigned by said Mortgagee to Bank of America, N.A., successor by merger to BAC Home Loans Servicing, L.P. fka Countrywide Home Loans Servicing, L.P. as assignee as documented by an assignment, in Barry county records, Michigan, on which mortgage there is claimed to be due at the date hereof the sum of Ninety-Six Thousand Eight Hundred Ten and 98/100 Dollars ($96,810.98).

Under the power of sale contained in said mortgage and the statute in such case made and provided, notice is hereby given that said mortgage will be foreclosed by a sale of the mortgaged premises, or some part of them, at public vendue, at the place of holding the circuit court within Barry County, at 1:00 PM, on July 5, 2012.

Said premises are situated in Township of Hope, Barry County, Michigan, and are described as: Lot 64 of Lakewood Estates, according to the recorded plat thereof as recorded in Liber 4 of plats on Page 19, Barry County Records.

The redemption period shall be 6 months from the date of such sale, unless determined abandoned in accordance with MCLA 600.3241a, in which case the redemption period shall be 30 days from the date of such sale.

If the property is sold at foreclosure sale under Chapter 32 of the Revised Judicature Act of 1961, pursuant to MCL 600.3278 the borrower will be held responsible to the person who buys the property at the mortgage foreclosure sale or to the mortgage holder for damaging the property during the redemption period.

Dated: June 7, 2012 For more information, please call: FC X (248) 593-1302 Trott & Trott, P.C. Attorneys For Servicer 31440 Northwestern Highway, Suite 200 Farmington Hills, Michigan 48334-2525 File #150768F02 (06-07)(06-28 77568537

Notice Of Mortgage Foreclosure Sale THIS FIRM IS A DEBT COLLECTOR ATTEMPTING TO COLLECT A DEBT. ANY INFORMATION WE OBTAIN WILL BE USED FOR THAT PURPOSE. PLEASE CONTACT OUR OFFICE AT THE NUMBER BELOW IF YOU ARE IN ACTIVE MILITARY DUTY. ATTN PURCHASERS: This sale may be rescinded by the foreclosing mortgagee. In that event, your damages, if any, shall be limited solely to the return of the bid amount tendered at sale, plus interest.

MORTGAGE SALE - Default has been made in the conditions of a mortgage made by Sallie K. Stambaugh and Greg L. Stambaugh, husband and wife, original mortgagor(s), to Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems, Inc., Mortgagee, dated February 24, 2005, and recorded on March 4, 2005 in instrument 1142271, and assigned by said Mortgagee to DEUTSCHE BANK NATIONAL TRUST COMPANY AS TRUSTEE FOR T HE HOLDERS OF IXIS REAL ESTATE CAPITAL TRUST 2005-HE3 MORTGAGE PASS-THROUGH CERTIFICATES,SERIES 2005-HE3 as assignee as documented by an assignment, in Barry county records, Michigan, on which mortgage there is claimed to be due at the date hereof the sum of One Hundred Five Thousand Three Hundred Ten and 02/100 Dollars ($105,310.02).

Under the power of sale contained in said mortgage and the statute in such case made and provided, notice is hereby given that said mortgage will be foreclosed by a sale of the mortgaged premises, or some part of them, at public vendue, at the place of holding the circuit court within Barry County, at 1:00 PM, on June 28, 2012.

Said premises are situated in Village of Nashville, Barry County, Michigan, and are described as: Parcel A: A parcel of land in the Northwest 1/4 of Section 36, town 3 North, Range 7 West described as: Commencing at a point 17 1/2 rods East of the Northwest corner of Section 36, running thence South 9 1/2 rods; thence East 9 1/2 rods to the West line of Main Street in the Village of Nashville, Barry County, Michigan; thence North along the West lien of said Main Street 9 1/2 rods to the Section line of the North side of said Section 36; thence West along said Section line 9 1/2 rods to the place of beginning, excepting a parcel 26 feet square out of the Southeast corner thereof, which said parcel was deeded to the Consumers Power Company.

Parcel B: A parcel of land in the Northwest 1/4 of Section 36, Town 3 North, Range 7 West, Village of Nashville, Barry County, Michigan, described as: Commencing at the Northwest corner of said Section 36; thence East 17 1/2 rods; thence South 9 1/2 rods; thence West 17 1/2 rods; thence North 9 1/2 rods to the place of beginning The redemption period shall be 6 months from the date of such sale, unless determined abandoned in accordance with MCLA 600.3241a, in which case the redemption period shall be 30 days from the date of such sale.

If the property is sold at foreclosure sale under Chapter 32 of the Revised Judicature Act of 1961, pursuant to MCL 600.3278 the borrower will be held responsible to the person who buys the property at the mortgage foreclosure sale or to the mortgage holder for damaging the property during the redemption period.

Dated: May 31, 2012 For more information, please call: FC X (248) 593-1302 Trott & Trott, P.C. Attorneys For Servicer 31440 Northwestern Highway, Suite 200 Farmington Hills, Michigan 48334-2525 File #401425F01 77568270 (05-31)(06-21)

Notice Of Mortgage Foreclosure Sale THIS FIRM IS A DEBT COLLECTOR ATTEMPTING TO COLLECT A DEBT. ANY INFORMATION WE OBTAIN WILL BE USED FOR THAT PURPOSE. PLEASE CONTACT OUR OFFICE AT THE NUMBER BELOW IF YOU ARE IN ACTIVE MILITARY DUTY. ATTN PURCHASERS: This sale may be rescinded by the foreclosing mortgagee. In that event, your damages, if any, shall be limited solely to the return of the bid amount tendered at sale, plus interest.

MORTGAGE SALE - Default has been made in the conditions of a mortgage made by Erin Merritt, a single woman and John F. Merritt, a married man and Jane Merritt, his wife, original mortgagor(s), to Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems, Inc., Mortgagee, dated April 18, 2008, and recorded on April 24, 2008 in instrument 20080424-0004444, and assigned by said Mortgagee to Chase Home Finance LLC as assignee as documented by an assignment, in Barry county records, Michigan, on which mortgage there is claimed to be due at the date hereof the sum of One Hundred Thousand Five Hundred Twenty-Three and 17/100 Dollars ($100,523.17).

Under the power of sale contained in said mortgage and the statute in such case made and provided, notice is hereby given that said mortgage will be foreclosed by a sale of the mortgaged premises, or some part of them, at public vendue, at the place of holding the circuit court within Barry County, at 1:00 PM, on June 21, 2012.

Said premises are situated in City of Hastings, Barry County, Michigan, and are described as: The North 1/2 of Lot 997 and the East 1/2 of the North 1/2 of Lot 998 of City Formerly Village of Hastings, according to the Plat thereof recorded in Liber A of Plats, Page 1 of Barry County Records.

The redemption period shall be 6 months from the date of such sale, unless determined abandoned in accordance with MCLA 600.3241a, in which case the redemption period shall be 30 days from the date of such sale.

If the property is sold at foreclosure sale under Chapter 32 of the Revised Judicature Act of 1961, pursuant to MCL 600.3278 the borrower will be held responsible to the person who buys the property at the mortgage foreclosure sale or to the mortgage holder for damaging the property during the redemption period.

Dated: May 24, 2012 For more information, please call: FC S (248) 593-1304 Trott & Trott, P.C. Attorneys For Servicer 31440 Northwestern Highway, Suite 200 Farmington Hills, Michigan 48334-2525 File #340480F02 (05-24)(06-14) 77568078

NOTICE OF MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE SALE MORTGAGE SALE-Default having been made in the terms and conditions of a mortgage made by DONALD F. HERRICK and ANNE K. HERRICK, husband and wife, of 5885 LAMMERS RD., HASTINGS, MI 49058, Mortgagor(s) to MORTGAGE CENTER, LC, of 29621 NORTHWESTERN HIGHWAY, SOUTHFIELD, MI 48034, Mortgagee, dated AUGUST 22, 2003, and recorded on SEPTEMBER 3, 2003, in INSTRUMENT NO. 1112348 in the office of the Register of Deeds for Barry County, and State of Michigan on which Mortgage there is claimed to be due, at the date of this notice, for principal and interest, the sum of EIGHTY-NINE THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED SEVENTY-NINE AND 10/100THS ($89,579.10) DOLLARS with interest at 6.125% percent per annum, and attorney fees as provided for in said Mortgage and no suit or proceeding at law or in equity having been instituted to recover the debt secured by said Mortgage or any part hereof, NOW, THEREFORE, by virtue of the power of sale contained in said mortgage, and pursuant to the statute of the State of Michigan in such case made and provided, notice is hereby given that on JULY 5, 2012, at 1:00 P.M., local time, said Mortgage will be foreclosed by a sale at public auction, to the highest bidder, inside the Barry County Circuit Court Building in the City of Hastings, Barry County, Michigan (that being the building where the Circuit Court for Barry County is held), of the premises described in said Mortgage, or so much thereof as may be necessary to pay the amount due, as aforesaid, on said Mortgage, with interest thereon and all legal costs, charges and expenses, including the attorney fees allowed by law, and also any sum or sums which may be paid by the undersigned, necessary to protect its interest in the premises. Which said premises are described as follows: All the certain pieces or parcels of land situate in the TOWNSHIP OF HOPE, COUNTY OF BARRY, AND STATE OF MICHIGAN, to wit: BEGINNING AT A POINT ON THE WEST LINE OF SECTION 11, TOWN 2 NORTH, RANGE 9 WEST, DISTANT NORTH 390 FEET FROM THE SOUTHWEST CORNER OF SECTION 11; THENCE NORTH 307 FEET, MORE OR LESS ALONG THE WEST LINE OF SECTION 11 TO A POINT 381 FEET SOUTH OF THE NORTH LINE OF THE SOUTH 49 ACRES OF THE WEST 3 / 4 OF THE SOUTHWEST 1 / 4 OF SECTION 11; THENCE EAST 360 FEET PARALLEL WITH SAID NORTH LINE: THENCE SOUTH 307 FEET MORE OR LESS TO A POINT 390 FEET NORTH OF THE SOUTH LINE OF SAID SECTION: THENCE WEST 360 FEET TO THE WEST SECTION LINE AND THE PLACE OF BEGINNING. SAID REAL ESTATE IS IMPROVED WITH, AMONG OTHER IMPROVEMENTS, A MANUFACTURED HOME UNIT*. BORROWERS ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THIS UNIT IS A PART OF THE REAL PROPERTY HEREBY SECURED BY THIS MORTGAGE. *1994 CENTURY MOBILE HOME, SERIAL NO. MY9534929ABF. MORE COMMONLY KNOWN AS: 5885 LAMMERS ROAD, HASTINGS, MI 49058 During the SIX (6) months immediately following the sale, the property may be redeemed, except that in the event that the property is determined to be abandoned pursuant to MCLA 600.3241 a, the property may be redeemed during the thirty (30) days immediately following the sale. _____________________________ KENNETH C. BUTLER II (P 28477) ATTORNEY FOR MORTGAGEE 24525 HARPER AVENUE ST. CLAIR SHORES, MI 48080 (586) 777-0770 77568282 Dated: 05-31-12 (05-31)(06-28)

The Hastings Banner — Thursday, June 14, 2012 — Page 13

LEGAL NOTICES Notice Of Mortgage Foreclosure Sale THIS FIRM IS A DEBT COLLECTOR ATTEMPTING TO COLLECT A DEBT. ANY INFORMATION WE OBTAIN WILL BE USED FOR THAT PURPOSE. PLEASE CONTACT OUR OFFICE AT THE NUMBER BELOW IF YOU ARE IN ACTIVE MILITARY DUTY. ATTN PURCHASERS: This sale may be rescinded by the foreclosing mortgagee. In that event, your damages, if any, shall be limited solely to the return of the bid amount tendered at sale, plus interest.

MORTGAGE SALE - Default has been made in the conditions of a mortgage made by Steven Elenbaas and Lynda Elenbaas, husband and wife, original mortgagor(s), to Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems, Inc., Mortgagee, dated April 20, 2009, and recorded on May 6, 2009 in instrument 20090506-0004870, and assigned by said Mortgagee to Freedom Mortgage Corporation as assignee as documented by an assignment, in Barry county records, Michigan, on which mortgage there is claimed to be due at the date hereof the sum of One Hundred Sixty-Three Thousand One Hundred Ninety-Three and 07/100 Dollars ($163,193.07).

Under the power of sale contained in said mortgage and the statute in such case made and provided, notice is hereby given that said mortgage will be foreclosed by a sale of the mortgaged premises, or some part of them, at public vendue, at the place of holding the circuit court within Barry County, at 1:00 PM, on June 21, 2012.

Said premises are situated in Township of Thornapple, Barry County, Michigan, and are described as: The North 1/2 of Lots 49 and 50 on Thornapple Riverside, Township of Thornapple, Barry County, Michigan, as recorded in Liber 5 of Plats, Page 55.

The redemption period shall be 6 months from the date of such sale, unless determined abandoned in accordance with MCLA 600.3241a, in which case the redemption period shall be 30 days from the date of such sale.

If the property is sold at foreclosure sale under Chapter 32 of the Revised Judicature Act of 1961, pursuant to MCL 600.3278 the borrower will be held responsible to the person who buys the property at the mortgage foreclosure sale or to the mortgage holder for damaging the property during the redemption period.

Dated: May 24, 2012 For more information, please call: FC H (248) 593-1300 Trott & Trott, P.C. Attorneys For Servicer 31440 Northwestern Highway, Suite 200 Farmington Hills, Michigan 48334-2525 File #334970F02 77568085 (05-24)(06-14)

NOTICE OF MORTGAGE SALE FOSTER, SWIFT, COLLINS & SMITH, P.C. IS ATTEMPTING TO COLLECT A DEBT AND ANY INFORMATION OBTAINED WILL BE USED FOR THAT PURPOSE. PLEASE CONTACT OUR OFFICE AT THE NUMBER BELOW IF MORTGAGOR IS IN ACTIVE MILITARY DUTY. DEFAULT having been made in the conditions of a certain Mortgage made on October 26, 2007, by Scott C. Mueller, a single man, as Mortgagor, given by him to MainStreet Savings Bank, FSB, whose address is 629 West State Street, Hastings, Michigan 49058, as Mortgagee, and recorded on October 26, 2007, in the office of the Register of Deeds for Barry County, Michigan, in Instrument Number 20071026-0003530, which mortgage was assigned to Commercial Bank on June 3, 2011, recorded on June 13, 2011, in Instrument Number 201106130005798, on which Mortgage there is claimed to be due and unpaid, as of the date of this Notice, the sum of One Hundred Five Thousand One Hundred Thirty and 66/100 Dollars ($105,130.66); and no suit or proceeding at law or in equity having been instituted to recover the debt or any part thereof secured by said Mortgage, and the power of sale in said Mortgage having become operative by reason of such default; NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that on Thursday, July 5, 2012 at 1:00 o'clock in the afternoon, at the Barry County Courthouse in Hastings, Michigan, that being one of the places for holding the Circuit Court for Barry County, there will be offered for sale and sold to the highest bidder or bidders at public auction or venue for purposes of satisfying the amounts due and unpaid on said Mortgage, together with all allowable costs of sale and includable attorney fees, the lands and premises in said Mortgage mentioned and described as follows: LAND SITUATED IN THE TOWNSHIP OF BALTIMORE, COUNTY OF BARRY, MICHIGAN, DESCRIBED AS: That part of the Southeast quarter of Section 4, Town 2 North, Range 8 West, lying South of the highway running East and West through said quarter Section, except therefrom: Commencing at the Southeast corner of said Section 4; thence North on Section line 9.25 Chains to the center of said highway; thence North 85 Degrees West along the center of said highway 10.37 Chains; thence South 10.10 Chains to the South Section line; thence East on said Section Line 10.34 Chains to place of beginning. Also excepting therefrom: Commencing at the South quarter Post of Section 4, Town 2 North, Range 8 West, thence North along the North-South quarter line to the center of Mixer Road; thence East 620 Feet; thence South parallel with the North-South quarter line to the South Section line of said Section 4; thence West 620 Feet to place of beginning. Commonly known as: 1634 Mixer Road, Hastings, Michigan 49058 Parcel Number: 08-02-004-452-00 The period within which the above premises may be redeemed shall expire six (6) months from the date of sale, unless determined abandoned in accordance with M.C.L.A. Sec. 600.3241a, in which case the redemption period shall be 30 days from the time of such sale.

Dated: May 29, 2012 FOSTER, SWIFT, COLLINS & SMITH, P.C. COMMERCIAL BANK Benjamin J. Price of Hastings, Michigan, Mortgagee Attorneys for Mortgagee 313 S. Washington Square Lansing, MI 48933 (517) 371-8253 (05-31)(06-21)

NOTICE OF MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE SALE THIS FIRM IS A DEBT COLLECTOR ATTEMPTING TO COLLECT A DEBT. ANY INFORMATION WE OBTAIN WILL BE USED FOR THAT PURPOSE. PLEASE CONTACT OUR OFFICE AT THE NUMBER BELOW IF YOU ARE IN ACTIVE MILITARY DUTY. ATTENTION PURCHASERS: This sale may be rescinded by the foreclosing mortgagee. In that event, your damages, if any, shall be limited solely to the return of the bid amount tendered at sale, plus interest.

MORTGAGE SALE: Default has been made in the conditions of a mortgage by Jason L. Watson and Deena L. Watson, husband and wife, original mortgagor(s), to Kellogg Community Federal Credit Union, Mortgagee, dated July 27, 2005, and recorded on August 22, 2005, in Instrument No. 1151437, in Barry County records, Michigan, on which mortgage there is claimed to be due at the date hereof the sum of Two Hundred Sixty-six Thousand Two Hundred Fifty and 00/100 Dollars ($266,250.00), including interest at 5.0% per annum.

Under the power of sale contained in said mortgage and the statute in such case made and provided, notice is hereby given that said mortgage will be foreclosed by a sale of the mortgaged premises, or some part of them, at public venue, at the lobby of the Calhoun County Justice Center, 161 E. Michigan Avenue, Battle Creek, Michigan 490144066, at 1 p.m. on Thursday, July 26, 2012.

Said premises is situated in the Township of Hope, County of Barry, Michigan, and described as: The Southwest 1/4 of the Southwest 1/4 of Section 23, Town 2 North, Range 9 West, excepting therefrom the South 726 feet thereof.

PPN: 08-07-023-002-15 More Commonly Known As: 7807 N. Lammers Rd., Delton, MI 49046 The redemption period shall be six (6) months from the date of such sale, unless determined abandoned in accordance with MCLA 600.3241a, in which case the redemption period shall be thirty (30) days from the date of such sale.

Dated: June 11, 2012 For more information, please call: KELLOGG COMMUNITY FEDERAL CREDIT UNION Mark D. Hofstee (P66001) Bolhouse, Baar & Lefere, P.C. Grandville State Bank Building 3996 Chicago Drive SW Grandville MI 49418-1384 77568723 (616) 531-7711

IF YOU ARE CURRENTLY IN BANKRUPTCY OR HAVE RECEIVED A DISCHARGE IN BANKRUPTCY AS TO THIS OBLIGATION, THIS COMMUNICATION IS INTENDED FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT AN ATTEMPT TO COLLECT A DEBT IN VIOLATION OF THE AUTOMATIC STAY OR THE DISCHARGE INJUNCTION. IN SUCH CASE, PLEASE DISREGARD ANY PART OF THIS COMMUNICATION WHICH IS INCONSISTENT WITH THE FOREGOING. OTHERWISE, FEDERAL LAW REQUIRES US TO ADVISE YOU THAT COMMUNICATION FROM OUR OFFICE COULD BE INTERPRETED AS AN ATTEMPT TO COLLECT A DEBT AND THAT ANY INFORMATION OBTAINED MAY BE USED FOR THAT PURPOSE. IF YOU ARE NOW ON ACTIVE MILITARY DUTY OR HAVE BEEN IN THE PRIOR NINE MONTHS, PLEASE CONTACT OUR OFFICE AS YOU MAY BE ENTITLED TO THE BENEFITS OF THE SERVICEMEMBERS' CIVIL RELIEF ACT. MORTGAGE SALE - Default has been made in the conditions of a mortgage made by Trevor Brown, an unmarried man, to Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems, Inc., as nominee for Amerifirst Financial Corporation, its successors or assigns., Mortgagee, dated November 12, 2010 and recorded November 17, 2010 in Instrument Number 201011170010817, Barry County Records, Michigan. Said mortgage is now held by JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. by assignment. There is claimed to be due at the date hereof the sum of Sixty-Six Thousand Four Hundred Forty-Five and 87/100 Dollars ($66,445.87) including interest at 4.5% per annum.

Under the power of sale contained in said mortgage and the statute in such case made and provided, notice is hereby given that said mortgage will be foreclosed by a sale of the mortgaged premises, or some part of them, at public vendue at the Barry County Circuit Courthouse in Hastings, Michigan in Barry County, Michigan at 1:00 p.m. on 06/28/2012 Said premises are located in the Township of Johnstown, Barry County, Michigan, and are described as: The following premises County of Barry and State of Michigan: Lot 28 of West Beach, according to the Plat thereof as recorded in Liber 2 of Plats, Page(s) 67, Barry County Records.

The redemption period shall be 6 months from the date of such sale, unless determined abandoned in accordance with MCLA §600.3241a, in which case the redemption period shall be 30 days from the date of such sale. TO ALL PURCHASERS: The foreclosing mortgagee can rescind the sale. In that event, your damages, if any, are limited solely to the return of the bid amount tendered at sale, plus interest.

If the property is sold at foreclosure sale, pursuant to MCL 600.3278, the borrower will be held responsible to the person who buys the property at the mortgage foreclosure sale or to the mortgage holder for damage to the property during the redemption period.

If you are a tenant in the property, please contact our office as you may have certain rights.

Dated: May 31, 2012 Orlans Associates, P.C. Attorneys for Servicer P.O. Box 5041 Troy, MI 48007-5041 File No. 682.2896 77568311 (05-31)(06-21)

77568304

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING ON PROPOSED 2012-2013 BUDGET PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that on June 18, 2012, at 7:30 p.m. in the multi-purpose room of Hastings Middle School, 232 West Grand Street, Hastings, Michigan, the Board of Education of the Hastings Area School System will hold a public hearing to consider the system's proposed 2012-2013 budget.

The Board of Education may not adopt its proposed 2012-2013 budget until after the public hearing. A copy of the proposed 2012-2013 budget, including the proposed property tax millage rate, is available for public inspection during normal business hours at 232 West Grand Street, Hastings, Michigan.

The property tax millage rate, proposed to be levied to support the proposed budget, will be a subject of the hearing.

This notice is given by order of the Board of Education.

Donna L. Garrison, Secretary Hastings Board of Education

77568736

STATE OF MICHIGAN COUNTY OF BARRY NOTICE TO CREDITORS Decedent’s Trust In the Matter of The Alton E. Close and Dorothy F. Close Revocable Living Trust u/t/a dated August 12, 2004. Date of Birth: December 8, 1926 Dorothy F. Close.

TO ALL CREDITORS: NOTICE TO CREDITORS: The decedent, Dorothy F. Close, surviving Trustee, died May 29, 2012 leaving the above trust entitled “The Alton E. Close and Dorothy F. Close Revocable Living Trust” in full force and effect.

Creditors of the decedent are notified that all claims against the decedent or against the Trust will be forever barred unless presented to Bruce Cook within 4 months after the date of publication of this notice.

Date: June 7, 2012 Law Weathers Stephanie S. Fekkes P43549 150 W. Court Street Hastings, MI 49058 (269) 945-1921 Bruce Cook 11609 Bowens Mill Road Middleville, MI 49333 77568689 (269) 795-7315

STATE OF MICHIGAN BARRY COUNTY TRIAL COURT FAMILY DIVISION PUBLICATION AND NOTICE OF FRIEND OF THE COURT ANNUAL STATUTORY REVIEW PUBLIC NOTICE ANNUAL REVIEW OF PERFORMANCE RECORD OF THE FRIEND OF THE COURT Under Michigan law, the Chief Family Judge annually reviews the performance record of the Friend of the Court. The review will be conducted on or about July 1, 2012. This review is limited by law to the following criteria: • Whether the Friend of the Court is guilty of misconduct, neglect of statutory duty, or failure to carry out the written orders of the court relative to a statutory duty; • Whether the purpose of the Friend of the Court Act are being met; • Whether the duties of the Friend of the Court are being carried out in a manner that reflects the needs of the community.

Members of the public may submit written comments to the Chief Family Judge relating to these criteria. Send your written comments, with your name and address to: Honorable William M. Doherty Barry County Trial Court, Family Division 206 W. Court Street, Hastings, Michigan 49058

Notice Of Mortgage Foreclosure Sale THIS FIRM IS A DEBT COLLECTOR ATTEMPTING TO COLLECT A DEBT. ANY INFORMATION WE OBTAIN WILL BE USED FOR THAT PURPOSE. PLEASE CONTACT OUR OFFICE AT THE NUMBER BELOW IF YOU ARE IN ACTIVE MILITARY DUTY. ATTN PURCHASERS: This sale may be rescinded by the foreclosing mortgagee. In that event, your damages, if any, shall be limited solely to the return of the bid amount tendered at sale, plus interest.

MORTGAGE SALE - Default has been made in the conditions of a mortgage made by Rosemary Ann Davis, a married woman and Joel C. Davis, as to homestead rights only, original mortgagor(s), to Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems, Inc., Mortgagee, dated August 9, 2007, and recorded on August 20, 2007 in instrument 20070820-0001071, and assigned by said Mortgagee to Chemical Bank as assignee as documented by an assignment, in Barry county records, Michigan, on which mortgage there is claimed to be due at the date hereof the sum of One Hundred Five Thousand Five Hundred Fifty-Five and 96/100 Dollars ($105,555.96).

Under the power of sale contained in said mortgage and the statute in such case made and provided, notice is hereby given that said mortgage will be foreclosed by a sale of the mortgaged premises, or some part of them, at public vendue, at the place of holding the circuit court within Barry County, at 1:00 PM, on July 12, 2012.

Said premises are situated in Village of Middleville, Barry County, Michigan, and are described as: Lot 11, Plat of Thornton Addition, Village of Middleville, Barry County, Michigan, as recorded in Liber 3 of Plats, Page 72.

The redemption period shall be 6 months from the date of such sale, unless determined abandoned in accordance with MCLA 600.3241a, in which case the redemption period shall be 30 days from the date of such sale.

If the property is sold at foreclosure sale under Chapter 32 of the Revised Judicature Act of 1961, pursuant to MCL 600.3278 the borrower will be held responsible to the person who buys the property at the mortgage foreclosure sale or to the mortgage holder for damaging the property during the redemption period.

Dated: June 14, 2012 For more information, please call: FC F (248) 593-1313 Trott & Trott, P.C. Attorneys For Servicer 31440 Northwestern Highway, Suite 200 Farmington Hills, Michigan 48334-2525 File #396291F01 (06-14)(07-05) 77568669

Notice Of Mortgage Foreclosure Sale THIS FIRM IS A DEBT COLLECTOR ATTEMPTING TO COLLECT A DEBT. ANY INFORMATION WE OBTAIN WILL BE USED FOR THAT PURPOSE. PLEASE CONTACT OUR OFFICE AT THE NUMBER BELOW IF YOU ARE IN ACTIVE MILITARY DUTY. ATTN PURCHASERS: This sale may be rescinded by the foreclosing mortgagee. In that event, your damages, if any, shall be limited solely to the return of the bid amount tendered at sale, plus interest.

MORTGAGE SALE - Default has been made in the conditions of a mortgage made by Kyle C. Rickert, and, Stacia Rickert, husband and wife, original mortgagor(s), to Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems, Inc., Mortgagee, dated April 4, 2008, and recorded on April 14, 2008 in instrument 20080414-0004028, and assigned by said Mortgagee to SunTrust Mortgage, Inc. as assignee as documented by an assignment, in Barry county records, Michigan, on which mortgage there is claimed to be due at the date hereof the sum of One Hundred Thirty-Three Thousand Four Hundred Forty-Four and 37/100 Dollars ($133,444.37).

Under the power of sale contained in said mortgage and the statute in such case made and provided, notice is hereby given that said mortgage will be foreclosed by a sale of the mortgaged premises, or some part of them, at public vendue, at the place of holding the circuit court within Barry County, at 1:00 PM, on July 12, 2012.

Said premises are situated in City of Hastings, Barry County, Michigan, and are described as: Lots 284,285,286,287 and 304, AL-GON-QUIN Lake Resort Properties Unit No. 2, as recorded in Liber 2, Page 63 of Plats, Barry County Records.

The redemption period shall be 6 months from the date of such sale, unless determined abandoned in accordance with MCLA 600.3241a, in which case the redemption period shall be 30 days from the date of such sale.

If the property is sold at foreclosure sale under Chapter 32 of the Revised Judicature Act of 1961, pursuant to MCL 600.3278 the borrower will be held responsible to the person who buys the property at the mortgage foreclosure sale or to the mortgage holder for damaging the property during the redemption period.

Dated: June 14, 2012 For more information, please call: FC F (248) 593-1313 Trott & Trott, P.C. Attorneys For Servicer 31440 Northwestern Highway, Suite 200 Farmington Hills, Michigan 48334-2525 File #390522F01 77568674 (06-14)(07-05)

FORECLOSURE NOTICE This firm is a debt collector attempting to collect a debt. Any information obtained will be used for this purpose. If you are in the Military, please contact our office at the number listed below. MORTGAGE SALE – Default has been made in the conditions of a certain mortgage made by: Stan L. Monks, a Single Man to Option One Mortgage Corporation, Mortgagee, dated August 15, 2005 and recorded August 22, 2005 in Instrument # 1151436 Barry County Records, Michigan Said mortgage was assigned to: Deutsche Bank National Trust Company, as Trustee for Soundview Home Loan Trust 2005OPT3, Asset-Backed Certificates, Series 2005OPT3, by assignment dated May 2, 2012 and recorded May 10, 2012 in Instrument Number 201205100005418 , on which mortgage there is claimed to be due at the date hereof the sum of Two Hundred Thousand Six Hundred Thirty-Five Dollars and Twenty-Nine Cents ($200,635.29) including interest 6.99% per annum. Under the power of sale contained in said mortgage and the statute in such case made and provided, notice is hereby given that said mortgage will be foreclosed by a sale of the mortgaged premises, or some part of them, at public vendue, Circuit Court of Barry County at 1:00PM on June 21, 2012 Said premises are situated in Township of Irving, Barry County, Michigan, and are described as: The North one-half of the North one-half of the Southeast one-quarter of Section 8, Town 4 North, Range 9 West, except the South 220 feet of the East 750 feet of the North one-half of the North one-half of the Southeast onequarter of Section 8, Town 4 North, Range 9 West.

Except; beginning at a point on the East and West one-quarter line of Section 8, Town 4 North, Range 9 West, distant North 89 degrees 29 minutes 20 seconds West, 1353.00 feet from the East onequarter corner of said Section 8; thence South 05 degrees 00 minutes 00 seconds West, 660.00 feet to the South line of the North one-half of the North one-half of the Northeast one-quarter of said Section 8; thence North 89 degrees 27 minutes West, 1228.6 feet along said South line to the North and South one-quarter line of Section 8; thence North 00 degrees 29 minutes 40 seconds East, 657.2 feet along said North and South line to the center one-quarter corner of said Section 8; thence South 89 degrees 29 minutes 20 seconds East, 1280.4 feet along said East and West one-quarter line to the point of beginning. Commonly known as 6225 N Solomon Rd, Middleville MI 49333 The redemption period shall be 6 months from the date of such sale, unless determined abandoned in accordance with MCL 600.3241 or MCL 600.3241a, in which case the redemption period shall be 30 days from the date of such sale, or upon the expiration of the notice required by MCL 600.3241a(c), whichever is later; or unless MCL 600.3240(17) applies. If the property is sold at foreclosure sale under Chapter 32 of the Revised Judicature Act of 1961, under MCL 600.3278, the borrower will be held responsible to the person who buys the property at the mortgage foreclosure sale or to the mortgage holder for damaging the property during the redemption period. Dated: 5/24/2012 Deutsche Bank National Trust Company, as Trustee for Soundview Home Loan Trust 2005-OPT3, AssetBacked Certificates, Series 2005-OPT3, Assignee of Mortgagee Attorneys: Potestivo & Associates, P.C. 811 South Blvd. Suite 100 Rochester Hills, MI 48307 (248) 844-5123 Our File No: 12-61560 (0577568125 24)(06-14)

IF YOU ARE CURRENTLY IN BANKRUPTCY OR HAVE RECEIVED A DISCHARGE IN BANKRUPTCY AS TO THIS OBLIGATION, THIS COMMUNICATION IS INTENDED FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT AN ATTEMPT TO COLLECT A DEBT IN VIOLATION OF THE AUTOMATIC STAY OR THE DISCHARGE INJUNCTION. IN SUCH CASE, PLEASE DISREGARD ANY PART OF THIS COMMUNICATION WHICH IS INCONSISTENT WITH THE FOREGOING. OTHERWISE, FEDERAL LAW REQUIRES US TO ADVISE YOU THAT COMMUNICATION FROM OUR OFFICE COULD BE INTERPRETED AS AN ATTEMPT TO COLLECT A DEBT AND THAT ANY INFORMATION OBTAINED MAY BE USED FOR THAT PURPOSE. IF YOU ARE NOW ON ACTIVE MILITARY DUTY OR HAVE BEEN IN THE PRIOR NINE MONTHS, PLEASE CONTACT OUR OFFICE AS YOU MAY BE ENTITLED TO THE BENEFITS OF THE SERVICEMEMBERS' CIVIL RELIEF ACT. MORTGAGE SALE - Default has been made in the conditions of a mortgage made by Jeffrey Lynn Smith, a single man, to Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems, Inc., as nominee for lender and lender's successors and/or assigns, Mortgagee, dated August 4, 2011 and recorded August 10, 2011 in Instrument Number 201108100007599, Barry County Records, Michigan. Said mortgage is now held by Wells Fargo Bank, NA by assignment. There is claimed to be due at the date hereof the sum of One Hundred Fourteen Thousand Nine Hundred ThirtyFour and 84/100 Dollars ($114,934.84) including interest at 4.875% per annum.

Under the power of sale contained in said mortgage and the statute in such case made and provided, notice is hereby given that said mortgage will be foreclosed by a sale of the mortgaged premises, or some part of them, at public vendue at the Barry County Circuit Courthouse in Hastings, Michigan in Barry County, Michigan at 1:00 p.m. on 07/05/2012 Said premises are located in the Township of Maple Grove, Barry County, Michigan, and are described as: Lots 39 and 40, Fuller Heights, according to the Plat thereof recorded in Liber 5 of Plats, Page 49, Village of Nashville, Barry County, Michigan.

The redemption period shall be 6 months from the date of such sale, unless determined abandoned in accordance with MCLA §600.3241a, in which case the redemption period shall be 30 days from the date of such sale. TO ALL PURCHASERS: The foreclosing mortgagee can rescind the sale. In that event, your damages, if any, are limited solely to the return of the bid amount tendered at sale, plus interest.

If the property is sold at foreclosure sale, pursuant to MCL 600.3278, the borrower will be held responsible to the person who buys the property at the mortgage foreclosure sale or to the mortgage holder for damage to the property during the redemption period.

If you are a tenant in the property, please contact our office as you may have certain rights.

Dated: June 7, 2012 Orlans Associates, P.C. Attorneys for Servicer P.O. Box 5041 Troy, MI 48007-5041 File No. 326.8902 77568584 (06-07)(06-28)

77568651

Synopsis ORANGEVILLE TOWNSHIP BOARD MEETING June 5, 2012 Meeting called to order at 7:00. All board members present.

Approved minutes from the May 1, 2012 regular board meeting and the May 15, 2012 special meeting.

Treasurer’s report read and put on file.

Fire report read and put on file.

County Commissioner report read.

Library report read.

Parks and Recreation report read.

Public Comment received.

Approved motion to delete final sentence of paragraph E ordinance 1-02 page 5 of cemetery ordinance regarding cremation burial with full burial.

Approved paying of the bills.

Approval of hiring a scribe to take monthly meeting minutes failed with a roll call vote of 3 to 2.

Approved motion to adjourn.

Respectfully submitted, Jennifer Goy, Clerk 77568728 Attested to by Thomas Rook, Supervisor Notice Of Mortgage Foreclosure Sale THIS FIRM IS A DEBT COLLECTOR ATTEMPTING TO COLLECT A DEBT. ANY INFORMATION WE OBTAIN WILL BE USED FOR THAT PURPOSE. PLEASE CONTACT OUR OFFICE AT THE NUMBER BELOW IF YOU ARE IN ACTIVE MILITARY DUTY. ATTN PURCHASERS: This sale may be rescinded by the foreclosing mortgagee. In that event, your damages, if any, shall be limited solely to the return of the bid amount tendered at sale, plus interest.

MORTGAGE SALE - Default has been made in the conditions of a mortgage made by Danney Ellard, also known as Dan Ellard, a single man, original mortgagor(s), to Credit Union Mortgage Company, Mortgagee, dated July 25, 2002, and recorded on July 30, 2002 in instrument 1084628, and assigned by mesne assignments to MidFirst Bank as assignee as documented by an assignment, in Barry county records, Michigan, on which mortgage there is claimed to be due at the date hereof the sum of Seventy-Three Thousand Five Hundred Seventy-Three and 25/100 Dollars ($73,573.25).

Under the power of sale contained in said mortgage and the statute in such case made and provided, notice is hereby given that said mortgage will be foreclosed by a sale of the mortgaged premises, or some part of them, at public vendue, at the place of holding the circuit court within Barry County, at 1:00 PM, on July 5, 2012.

Said premises are situated in Township of Johnstown, Barry County, Michigan, and are described as: Lots 2, 3, 4 and 5 of Reese Acres, according to the recorded Plat thereof, as recorded in Liber 3 of Plats, on Page 73 The redemption period shall be 6 months from the date of such sale, unless determined abandoned in accordance with MCLA 600.3241a, in which case the redemption period shall be 30 days from the date of such sale.

If the property is sold at foreclosure sale under Chapter 32 of the Revised Judicature Act of 1961, pursuant to MCL 600.3278 the borrower will be held responsible to the person who buys the property at the mortgage foreclosure sale or to the mortgage holder for damaging the property during the redemption period.

Dated: June 7, 2012 For more information, please call: FC F (248) 593-1313 Trott & Trott, P.C. Attorneys For Servicer 31440 Northwestern Highway, Suite 200 Farmington Hills, Michigan 48334-2525 File #379423F02 77568360 (06-07)(06-28)

FORECLOSURE NOTICE RANDALL S. MILLER & ASSOCIATES, P.C. MAY BE A DEBT COLLECTOR ATTEMPTING TO COLLECT A DEBT AND ANY INFORMATION OBTAINED MAY BE USED FOR THAT PURPOSE. IF YOU ARE A MILITARY SERVICEMEMBER ON ACTIVE DUTY NOW OR IN THE PRIOR NINE MONTHS, PLEASE CONTACT OUR OFFICE. Mortgage Sale - Default has been made in the conditions of a certain mortgage made

by Vicky Root, and Douglas C Root, wife and husband to Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems, Inc. acting solely as a nominee for Quicken Loans Inc., Mortgagee, dated November 17, 2006, and recorded on December 5, 2006, as Document Number: 1173504, Barry County Records, said mortgage was assigned to Deutsche Bank National Trust Company, as Trustee of the Home Equity Mortgage Loan Asset-Backed Trust Series INABS 2007-B, Home Equity Mortgage Loan AssetBacked Certificates, Series INABS 2007-B under the Pooling and Servicing agreement dated June 1, 2007 by an Assignment of Mortgage dated April 19, 2012 and recorded April 26, 2012 by Document Number: 201204260004904, , on which mortgage there is claimed to be due at the date hereof the sum of Ninety-Three Thousand One Hundred Ninety-Four and 20/100 ($93,194.20) including interest at the rate of 6.62500% per annum. Under the power of sale contained in said mortgage and the statute in such case made and provided, notice is hereby given that said mortgage will be foreclosed by a sale of the mortgaged premises, or some part of them, at public venue, at the place of holding the Circuit Court in said Barry County, where the premises to be sold or some part of them are situated, at 01:00 PM on June 21, 2012 Said premises are situated in the Township of CASTLETON, Barry County, Michigan, and are described as: THE SOUTHEAST QUARTER OF THE SOUTHEAST QUARTER OF THE NORTHWEST QUARTER OF SECTION 31, TOWN 3 NORTH, RANGE 7 WEST Commonly known as: 3494 S MORGAN RD If the property is eventually sold at foreclosure sale, the redemption period will be 6.00 months from the date of sale unless the property is abandoned or used for agricultural purposes. If the property is determined abandoned in accordance with MCL 600.3241 and/or 600.3241a, the redemption period will be 30 days from the date of sale, or 15 days after statutory notice, whichever is later. If the property is presumed to be used for agricultural purposes prior to the date of the foreclosure sale pursuant to MCL 600.3240, the redemption period is 1 year. Pursuant to MCL 600.3278, if the property is sold at a foreclosure sale, the borrower(s) will be held responsible to the person who buys the property at the mortgage foreclosure sale or to the mortgage holder for damaging the property during the redemption period. TO ALL PURCHASERS: The foreclosing mortgagee can rescind the sale. In that event, your damages are, if any, limited solely to the return of the bid amount tendered at sale, plus interest. If you are a tenant in the property, please contact our office as you may have certain rights. Dated: May 24, 2012 Randall S. Miller & Associates, P.C. Attorneys for Deutsche Bank National Trust Company, as Trustee of the Home Equity Mortgage Loan Asset-Backed Trust Series INABS 2007-B, Home Equity Mortgage Loan AssetBacked Certificates, Series INABS 2007-B under the Pooling and Servicing agreement dated June 1, 2007 43252 Woodward Avenue, Suite 180, Bloomfield Hills, MI 48302, (248) 335-9200 Case 77568115 No. 12MI01177-1 (05-24)(06-14)

Page 14 — Thursday, June 14, 2012 — The Hastings Banner

INVESTIGATION, continued from page 1

City band begins new season with old drum City band members (from left) Craig Holley, Jeff Buehl and director Joe LaJoye led the effort to refurbish a vintage Ludwig concert bass drum much like those used by Hastings City Bands in the 1800s. The 2012 Hastings City Band began its 2012 season last night and will continue for the next four Wednesdays. Concerts are Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m. on the Barry County Courthouse lawn. Participants are encouraged to bring lawn chairs or blankets to sit on to view the drum and enjoy the concerts.

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Call guarantee the accuracy of any advertisement, nor the (517)507-9941. quality of goods or services advertised. Readers are cauLawn & Garden tioned to thoroughly investiAQUATIC PLANTS: OUR gate all claims made in any Lotus & Water Lilies are advertisements, and to use ready! Also Koi & Goldfish, good judgment and reasonapumps, filters & pond sup- ble care, particularly when plies.

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PUBLISHER’S NOTICE: All real estate advertising in this newspaper is subject to the Fair Housing Act and the Michigan Civil Rights Act which collectively make it illegal to advertise “any preference, limitation or discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, national origin, age or martial status, or an intention to make any such preference, limitation or discrimination.”

Familial status includes children under the age of 18 living with parents or legal custodians, pregnant women and people securing custody of children under 18.

This newspaper will not knowingly accept any advertising for real estate which is in violation of the law. Our readers are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised in this newspaper are available on an equal opportunity basis. To report discrimination call the Fair Housing Center at 616-451-2980.

The HUD toll-free telephone number for the hearing impaired is 1-800-927-9275.

77564784

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WOODLAWN MEADOWS RETIREMENT VILLAGE is currently accepting applications for part-time Resident Caregivers on all shifts.

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embezzling between $20,000 to $50,000 through the distribution of fuel cards to several companies from which he never collected the payable debts. Charges were dropped after Blair agreed to pay the outstanding debt to the airport.

Tuesday, a perplexed group of commissioners was again scratching its collective head and asking how the situation could have happened once more.

“This is most unfortunate because it casts an unnecessary negative light on the rest of our employees, our board and our administration,” said Houtman. “This is the third time we’ve encountered this issue. Michael, I hope that you’ll come back with a recommendation on how we can prevent this — do we need to step up our independent, internal audits?”

Dave DeHaan, partner with Walker Fluke and Sheldon who will lead the upcoming internal audit of the Veterans Affairs program, responded that random independent audits might be one response but that he has more work to do before being in a position to make recommendations.

“There are some options out there,” conceded DeHaan. “You could hire a full-time internal auditor, but you have to look at the cost and reward factors. You could also, maybe once a month, hire somebody who comes in on a surprise basis and does an internal audit on an unannounced specific area or program.”

Commissioner Dan Parker said he liked the latter suggestion, stating that just the potential element of surprise can serve as a good deterrent.

But, in either case, Commissioner Don Nevins was adamant.

“It’s not if we can afford it,” said Nevins; “it’s we have to afford it.”

DeHaan was careful to point out to commissioners, though, that fraud is an opportunistic crime and that even external and internal audits — announced and surprise audits — cannot totally eliminate the possibility.

“We helped prepare you [for the Rehman Robson audit],” pointed out DeHaan, “but were we looking for fraud? No. Our intent was to be sure that financial statements were not materially misstated. Steven and Kristin [Rehman Robson auditors] were looking at internal controls. Do we look at everything?

No, you’re too big.”

DeHaan informed commissioners that fraud seminars he’s attended in the past consistently stated that discovering fraud by external audits account for only 5 percent of all occurrences. Discovering fraud by a tip accounts for 60 percent of all such occurrences.

Commissioners still pushed for explanations. Howard “Hoot” Gibson asked if the latest occurrence could have been prevented if two signatures on all checks was required.

Commissioner Jeff VanNortwick asked, when the commission decentralized its committee structure and did away with a finance committee, whether that left open an opportunity for dishonest behavior.

“Out of luck, you may have caught it,” acknowledged Brown, of the abandoned finance committee, “but the way the [former finance] committee was structured, it looked at vouchers and the check register to be sure the check went out. This instance [of fraud] had an underlying cause ... we have to look deeper at controls.”

“This is the first time that I’ve dealt with this,” said Ben Geiger, who as vice chair, was substituting for Chair Craig Stolsonburg Tuesday. “The real injustice here is to our veterans because this was money for them. We need to recoup that money.”

How that will be done and what to expect next was left unaddressed. A call from the Banner to County Prosecutor Tom Evans indicated that the sheriff department’s investigation is ongoing and that no report has been made to Evans.

To Nevins’ concern that the process not interfere with future delivery of benefits to veterans, Brown replied that any claims or concerns be directed to his office.

“I don’t have the credentials,” conceded Brown, “but part of my conversation with the state was at the level of putting an interim program together and then looking at a longterm solution to this program.”

“You’re right, we do need to recoup the money,” said Houtman in summation remarks regarding Geiger’s comment, “but Michigan is near 50th among the state rankings in providing benefits to veterans. We’ve got to find ways to bring more benefits in here for veterans.”

In other business, the commission: • Approved participation in the West Michigan Regional Planning Commission and a regional Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy as well as the contribution of $1,414, or one-half the total amount, of 2012 dues.

• Approved a $28,495 bid from Anderson Builders for a Housing Quality Standard Rehab program house at 628 W. Madison St. in Hastings.

• Approved expenditure of $206,550 for the Hastings City/Barry County Airport Commission to construct a six-unit box hangar in accordance with a project proposal submission by Stedfast Construction Inc. • Approved deposit of $252,657 in excess net assets from the Michigan Municipal Risk Management Authority into the building rehabilitation funds to be used for security improvements to the courthouse buildings.

• Approved a contract with Beth Botke to provide commercial and industrial appraisal update services to the county for 2012.

• Approved a proclamation designating June 15 as Elder Abuse Awareness Day in

Barry County.

• Received a recommendation from Jim Brown, Hastings Township supervisor and volunteer on the Animal Shelter 2000 committee, that the commission form a standing Animal Control/Shelter board similar to other county-structured boards as a means of

addressing Animal Control issues.

• Agreed to move the June 19 meeting from commission chambers to the Barry County Circuit Court to accommodate a larger attendance expected for the commission’s scheduled discussion of the Animal Control issue.

POLICE BEAT Driver fails some tests, refuses another A Hastings Police Officer noticed a vehicle weaving in the area of State Road and Michigan Avenue June 6. The 24-year-old Hastings driver was stopped for suspicion of operating while intoxicated after turning onto North Boltwood Street. After attempting sobriety tests, the driver refused a requested Breathalyzer test. He was arrested, and suspected marijuana was located during a search. The man was charged with operating while intoxicated, possession of marijuana, and cited for refusing a Breathalyzer test.

Ex makes up story about girlfriend’s gun-toting dad Barry County Sheriff Deputies received a phone call May 29 about a possible felonious assault. The man said his girlfriend’s father had threatened him with a gun. He told deputies that when he and his girlfriend pulled into the girl’s Uldricks Road driveway, her father came out of the house with a handgun and told him to get off the property. Deputies made contact with the father at his residence. He denied the incident and said he had not even seen the boyfriend. He told deputies his daughter had broken up with the complainant. The father said the boyfriend was calling and texting his daughter non-stop and filling her phone mailbox. The messages were allegedly threatening in nature, some threatening to get her in trouble with the police. When deputies contacted the woman, she played some of the phone messages. She also claimed the 42-year-old Battle Creek man had stolen property from her garage and told her to call him if she wanted the property returned. The woman told deputies she did not want to file charges against her ex-boyfriend, but was going to get a personal protection order against him. When the boyfriend was contacted again by deputies he told the same story and denied any accusations against him. He was told the report was being forwarded to the prosecutor’s office. June 1, the complainant called to drop all charges against the girl’s father. A warrant was requested on the ex-boyfriend for filing a false police report.

Cousins have property dispute Deputies responded to an assault complaint at a South Broadway residence June 2. The 29-year-old Hastings man accused of the assault said he had been in a verbal dispute with his cousin who was in a building farther back on the property. He said there was no physical confrontation, but his cousin was not supposed to be in the building. When deputies talked to the complainant, the cousin, he told them the man had punched him in the face and bent his glasses. Reportedly, the man’s glasses were visibly bent. The victim said he did not want to press charges, but wanted his cousin told not to strike him. The case is closed.

Man’s friend shares medical card and more Deputies stopped the driver of a Silverado pickup truck on Keller Road near Otis Lake Road June 2 for not wearing a seat belt. While asking for the man’s driver’s license, deputies reported smelling burnt marijuana from inside the vehicle.

The 28-year-old Delton man admitted to smoking marijuana 15 minutes prior to the traffic stop and when asked said he did not have a medical marijuana card. He said the friend he was smoking with did have a medical marijuana card. Deputies asked the man if there was more marijuana or weapons in the vehicle and were told no.

The man was placed under arrest for driving under the influence. A deputy searched the vehicle and found a glass jar containing what he reported as marijuana. The man was taken to Pennock Hospital for a blood draw and a sample was sent to the Michigan State Police Forensic Lab for analysis. The arrest report was forwarded to the prosecutor’s office.

Defendant brings supplies to court A 20-year-old Hickory Corners man was in Barry County Circuit Court June 7 for sentencing on a separate case and was taken into custody. When deputies searched the man, they discovered a hypodermic needle and a spoon with residue in his jacket. The case is open pending lab analysis.

Man takes the high road into town Hastings Police received a call about a possible drunk driver heading into Hastings on South Hanover June 5 around 2:15 p.m.

A description of the car along with the license plate number had been given to dispatch and relayed to the officer. The officer confirmed the registration plate as he followed and observed the suspected driver.

After the driver was seen making a slow wide turn into an opposing traffic lane, the driver was stopped in a parking lot on Court Street near Michigan Avenue.

Officers observed the 41-year-old Hastings man’s actions, speech, driving ability and an odor of alcohol on his breath. He registered a .34 percent blood alcohol level. He was lodged at the Barry County Jail and charged with operating with a high blood alcohol content of .17 percent or higher.

Vacant school draws traffic June 8 deputies were dispatched to the old Pleasantview School on Lacey Road for a reported alarm activation. Central Dispatch staff repoted that a motion detector had activated in the school’s hallway.

While en route, a deputy contacted Michigan State Police. Troopers had handled two breaking and entering cases earlier in the week. The suspects had stolen copper piping in those incidents. Upon inspection by deputies, the current trespassers had pried the west door open with a crow bar. The building was secure and nothing had been taken, according to the building’s keyholder. The case is closed.

Cyclist struck while cruising through Price of beauty intersection proves to be high A car and bicycle accident at the intersection of South Boltwood and East Center streets brought Hastings Police to the scene June 9. Officers determined that a 57-yearold Hastings man, Gary Englerth, had been bicycling westbound on Center Street, after coming down a hill near Hanover Street. A witness reported seeing the cyclist go down the hill and continue to ride fast into the intersection where a southbound van struck him. The 46-year-old Hastings woman, Ruth Ibbotson, driving a 2005 Dodge Caravan, was not injured in the incident and is not suspected of any wrongdoing.

According to Chief Jerry Sarver, Englerth allegedly ignored a stop sign on Center Street. He was transported to Pennock Hospital by Mercy Ambulance, where he is being treated for injuries not suspected of being life threatening.

A Hastings Walmart employee contacted deputies on a shoplifting matter June 7 involving three subjects, all from Nashville. The three were being detained at the store, but the employee told deputies they were not cooperating. The employee said she witnessed the trio pushing a cart through the health and beauty section and then into the lawn and garden section as one of the three put the merchandise into a bag and attempted to leave the store. In all, 18 items were taken with a value of $113.

After questioning all three, the deputy put a 19-year-old woman under arrest. A 28year-old female and 20-year-old male were released. Warrants are being sought on all three subjects for retail fraud. A report has been forwarded to the prosecutor’s office for review.

The Hastings Banner — Thursday, June 14, 2012 — Page 15

DK’s multi-sport athletes finalize collegiate plans

by Brett Bremer Sports Editor There wasn’t a whole lot of specialization among the eight Delton Kellogg seniors who gathered to celebrate their collegiate athletic plans Wednesday morning at Delton Kellogg High School .

The outliers among the group were Alea Hammond, Mitchell Wandell and Nick Brindley. Their five classmates, Adrianna

Culbert, Tyler Dempsey, Kami McCowan, Andrea Polley and Ryan Watson were all three-sport varsity athletes. Hammond played two varsity sports. Wandell and Brindley, four each.

“It’s just amazing,” Brindley said of the group of eight from the class of about 100 that are going on to play sports on the next level.

“We put out a ton of college athletes this year, and a lot of all-conference, all-county,

Delton Kellogg High School honored eight graduating seniors Wednesday who are going to continue their athletic careers on the collegiate level. The group included (front from left) Alea Hammond (Kellogg Community College - soccer), Adrianna Culbert (Colorado State - volleyball), Kami McCowan (Kalamazoo Valley Community College - softball), Andrea Polley (Kellogg Community College - basketball & volleyball), (back) Nick Brindley (Hope College - football), Mitchell Wandell (Davenport golf), Ryan Watson (Albion - basketball) and Tyler Dempsey (Grand Valley wrestling). (Photo by Brett Bremer)

all-everything.”

Brindley was a member of the Delton Kellogg varsity football, boys’ basketball, baseball and boys’ track and field teams. He is headed to Hope College to play football, likely as a wide receiver.

“I had a lot of walk-on offers, but I had just one scholarship offer,” Brindley said. “I went to Hope and just loved everything about the whole campus and all the athletic facilities and everything. They’re really nice. I fell in love with it as soon as I went there, and I went to a camp there in made a ton of friends that I still talk to, and I love the coaches.”

Wandell was a part of the varsity football, boys’ soccer, boys’ basketball and boys’ track and field teams, and said he is going to Davenport University to play golf and basketball.

Wandell is one of three Panthers who plan on playing basketball at the next level. Polley plans to play volleyball and basketball at Kellogg Community College. Watson, the class’ valedictorian, is going to play basketball at Albion. Watson and Culbert were both Academic All-State selections, Watson in basketball and Culbert in volleyball.

Culbert, an All-American volleyball player is the lone athlete headed to a Division 1 school. She will join the Colorado State University Women’s Volleyball program. She is also the only one headed out of state.

Hammond plans to play soccer for Kellogg Community College. McCowan is headed to Kalamazoo Valley Community College to play softball. Dempsey plans to wrestle for the Grand Valley State University club team.

“It doesn’t come very often that we have so many exceptional athletes in one grade,” Dempsey said.

They were not only exceptional individually, they were a part of and helped lead exceptional teams. All eight of them won at least one conference or district championship during their senior seasons. Conference titles were won by the Delton Kellogg volleyball (Culbert, Polley, McCowan) boys’ track and field (Dempsey, Brindley, Watson), boys’ basketball (Brindley, Watson, Wandell), and competitive cheer teams (McCowan). The girls’ basketball team (Hammond, Culbert) won its first district championship.

Basketball and track and field Kalamazoo Valley Association championships were a

couple of the highlights of the year for Brindley and Watson. Brindley and Dempsey were both also quick to mention the varsity football team’s victory at Waldo Stadium as one of the highlights of their senior year.

Wandell still has some of his senior season ahead of him. He’ll be at Forest Akers East Golf Course this weekend to take part in the Division 3 State Finals for the second year in a row.

He knows it will take some work to try and be a multi-sport athlete in college.

“A lot of study tables, a lot of tutors. I think it’s ten hours a week maybe of study tables,” Wandell said.

Like any group of graduating seniors, the plans for the future were mixed. Wandell said he plans to study towards a degree in business or accounting at Davenport. Culbert said she has no idea about her course of study yet.

Brindley said he’s not declaring anything, but he’s leaning towards marketing. Watson seemed sure of a degree in business management, and Polley didn’t hesitate in saying she would be studying towards a degree as a dental hygienist.

Four inducted at Hall of Fame banquet

Area boys can’t get through to D2 State Finals at Ferris

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accept her award.

The Hastings MI USBC Board deemed it a privilege to recognize the new hall of fame members. The board also is looking forward to receiving more nominations for welldeserving people that would qualify for induction in the 2013 class.

Call 269-945-9554 anytime for Hastings Banner classified ads

77568606

The Thomas Jefferson Hall located on the corner of Jefferson and Green Streets in Hastings is looking for bids on repair and updating in the following areas: • Exterior and Interior Painting • Removal and Installation of roof shingles • Restoration and repair of windows • Installation of Air Conditioning • Porch Repair • Drapery cleaning and installation • Electrical Updating All bids will be treated on an individual basis.

To inspect and discuss the projects, please contact David Macqueen at (616) 570-8906 or (269) 945-8832 or leave a message at (269) 945-3345.

tion to the sport of bowling.

Barnum and Pennington were present to accept their hall of fame awards.

Gardner was honored posthumously, with her husband Duane Gardner and daughter Becky Becktold there to accept the award in her honor.

Bahs was unable to attend, but her son John and daughter-in-law Sue were present to

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James Michael Cole, 44, of Delton, was sentenced for possession of a stolen credit card. Cole was ordered June 7 to serve no jail time, no probation, and to pay $1,098 in court assessments. Two additional charges of stealing or retaining a financial transaction device without consent and a charge of larceny from a building were dropped. Cole is on federal parole for bank robbery and was delivered back into federal custody.

Maple Valley High School is currently seeking applicants for a couple of head coaching positions for the 2012 fall sports season.

The Lions are looking for a new varsity boys’ soccer coach and a sideline cheer coach for the football season.

The posting for the varsity boys’ soccer coaching opening will be up until June 26.

Any interested applicants should email their letter of interest to Duska Brumm, Athletic Director at Maple Valley High School, dbrumm@mvs.k12.mi.us.

The sideline cheer position will be posted until June 22 at 3 p.m. Interested candidates are asked to please send their letter of interest and resume to Brumm via email or regular mail at 11090 Nashville Hwy, Vermontville, MI 49096.

A group of four new members were inducted into the Hastings MI United States Bowling Congress (USBC) Association Hall of Fame during the second annual banquet at Hastings Elks Lodge 1965 May 5.

Before friends and family, Louise Bahs, Jim Barnum, Janet Gardner and Hugh Pennington were honored with the banquet as well as awards for service, love and dedica-

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Daniel Frederick Url, 51, of Nashville was sentenced June 7 for maintaining a drug house. Url was ordered to serve 30 days in jail, with credit for two days served. He must pay $1,698 in court assessments and serve 12 months on probation. The balance of his jail sentence will be suspended upon successful completion of probation. Url must pay $100 per month toward assessments. A charge of delivery or manufacturing of marijuana was dropped.

MVHS looking for soccer and cheer coaches

Beck Becktold (seated from left), Duane Gardner, Jim Barnum, John Bahs, and (back) Hugh Pennington accept awards Hastings MI USBC Association Bowlers Hall of Fame banquet May 5 at Hastings Elks Lodge 1965. Barnum and Pennington were among the four Hall of Fame inductees, while Becktold, Gardner and Bahs accepted the honor on behalf of Louise Bahs and Janet Gardner.

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COURT NEWS

The three individual state qualifiers from the regional were Niles’ John Schrader who shot a 74, Gull Lake’s Evan Krohn who shot a 77, and Edwardsburg’s Dominic Razzano who fired a 78.

Haslett’s Chris Beltzer fired the day’s low round, a 73.

DeWitt took the day’s team championship with a score of 312, followed by Haslett 315 and St. Johns 323.

Edwardsburg was fourth with a 327, followed by East Lansing 330, Mattawan 333, Hastings 343, St. Joe 348, Otsego 349, Niles 354, Gull Lake 363 and Ionia 379.

Peter VanSpreeken led DeWitt, tying Schrader for second individually. The Panthers also got a 76 from Tyler Polulak, a 78 from Owen Byer and a pair of 84s from Mitchell Overway and Courtland Nelson.

St. Johns was the only other team with two golfers in the top ten. Tyler Mazzolini shot a 78 and Zach Peters a 79.

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The 2012 varsity boys’ golf season came to an end for all the representatives of the O-K Gold Conference that took part in Thursday’s Division 2 Regional Tournament at Gull Lake View West Golf Course in Richland.

Hastings’ Danny Buehler came the closest of any of them to reaching the Division 2 State Finals, which he qualified for as an individual a year ago. He was ninth individually with a 79.

The top three teams and top three individuals not on those teams at each of the regionals around the state this week earned a spot in the Division 2 State Finals which will be held at Katke Golf Course at Ferris State University June 15-16.

Behind Buehler for Hastings, Taylor Klotz fired an 83, Dylan Thurman a 90 and Logan Barrett a 91.

Thornapple Kellogg’s individual regional qualifier, Ben Jazwinski, fired a 94 Thursday.

The two boys from Wayland Alec Pawlowski and Evan Hallorman, shot an 87 and 89 respectively.

Page 16 — Thursday, June 14, 2012 — The Hastings Banner

Everybody plays a part in Trojans’ regional wins

by Brett Bremer Sports Editor Thornapple Kellogg senior Dylan VanPutten caught his breath for a moment sitting atop a blue cooler in the visitor’s dugout at DeWitt High School Saturday afternoon.

Most of his teammates were still taking turns with the regional championship trophy, posing for photographs and just celebrating in general.

“We’ve got a leader sitting right there.

There ain’t no secret, he stepped it up leadership-wise and led this team. Dylan has done a nice job,” said Thornapple Kellogg head coach Jack Hobert after his team’s 3-1 victory over Portland in the Division 2 Regional Final.

VanPutten snagged the throw from short stop Dalton Phillips at first base to secure the final out of the championship game, then rushed in and lifted pitcher Garrett Harris into the air as their teammates closed in on the center of the diamond.

“From day one we’ve all just played as a team,” said VanPutten. “We’ve all trusted each other. We do things as a team. We hang out as a team. It’s all about the team, for sure.”

The team got the job done Saturday, with a

10-2 regional semifinal victory over Fowlerville followed by the 3-1 win over Portland for the Trojan baseball program’s first ever regional championship.

All nine Trojan starters had at least one hit in the regional tournament. Seven different guys notched at least one RBI. Seven different guys scored at least one run.

It was just two guys who took care of the pitching duties, freshman Dalton Phillips and sophomore Garrett Harris. Each threw a complete game.

“It feels good,” Harris said. “Yeah, we’re carrying a lot, but I feel like we’re doing really good.”

Harris gave up just four hits in the championship game against Portland, and three of those were infield hits. He walked two and struck out one.

Thornapple Kellogg’s varsity baseball team rushes in to celebrate with head coach Jack Hobert as he lifts the regional championship trophy Saturday in DeWitt following the Trojans’ 3-1 victory over Portland in the Division 2 Regional Final. (Photo by Brett Bremer)

Thornapple Kellogg’s Alex Roy drills an RBI single to right field during the top of the first inning of Saturday’s Division 2 Regional Final against Portland at DeWitt High School. (Photo by Brett Bremer)

Thornapple Kellogg’s Garrett Harris rounds third and heads for home during the top of the first inning against Portland Saturday in DeWitt. (Photo by Brett Bremer)

Phillips went the seven innings in the semifinal against Fowlerville, giving up five hits and walking one. He struck out eight.

“It’s different,” VanPutten said of having a couple youngsters taking care of the pitching duties on a team that includes eight seniors. “I never would have expected it. Since day one, they came out and they fit right in. They’ve been a part of the team and they have succeeded. I trust them on the mound. I have no doubt that they’re going to get the job done for us.”

The only ball that hit the outfield grass after being pitched by Harris in the final against Portland was a double to right center field off the bat of Dylan Carrol to lead off the bottom of the sixth inning. A pair of wild pitches brought him home, but Harris settled down from there.

“He was changing his speeds,” Hobert said.

“He was keeping them off balance. He was giving me a heart failure because I think just about every hitter he started out with a ball.

We all know how that usually works out. But he mixed things up well.”

The Trojan offense scored all the runs it would need in the first inning of each game.

Cody Ybema started things off with a one-out single in the top of the first against the Raiders. Harris followed with an infield single. With two out, Alex Roy drove in Ybema from third with a single that just got over the Raider second baseman’s glove. Harris then came home on a wild pitch from Portland starter Andrew Click.

After Portland scored in the bottom of the sixth, TK answered right back with a run in the top of the seventh. Caden Francisco, who’d saved a run from scoring with a nice running catch in deep center field in the bottom of the fifth, reached on a bunt single with one out. He went to second on a wild pitch, moved to third on a single by Nate Iveson, then scored on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Harris.

“I think the only mistake we ever made was maybe not communicating in the outfield. All day, that was it,” said Hobert. “I mean, these guys are catching the balls in the gap; picking guys off; ball is in the hole and we’re throwing guys out; laying down a bunt when you need it in that last inning. That run was huge.

That last run in the seventh inning was huge because it’s momentum.”

Roy and Harris had two hits each in the championship game. TK had nine as a team, all of them singles.

TK had 13 hits in the opener, a 10-2 win

over Fowlerville.

VanPutten had a two-run double and Jordan Timm a one-run double in the top of the first as TK jumped out to a 3-0 lead. Fowlerville answered with two runs in the bottom of the first, on a two-run double by Chad Soja.

Fowlerville had five hits off of Phillips, but three of them were in that first inning. The Gladiators only had one baserunner between the first and seventh innings, and Phillips promptly picked him off at first base.

TK tacked on two more runs in the third, on a two-run single by Timm. He finished the game 3 for 4 with two doubles and four RBI. Iveson drilled a two-run double in the top of the fifth to make it 7-2 in favor of TK. Harris, Timm and Hudson drove in the final three Trojan runs with hits in the top of the sixth inning.

VanPutten, Phillips and Iveson had two hits each in the semifinal for TK. Iveson and VanPutten had two RBI each.

HMS boys’ track season ends well The Hastings Middle School boys’ track and field team recently ended a successful season on the track.

The team’s record was 2-2 in duel meets and 2-0 in tri meets.

The team took first place at the Delton Invitational, and first at the Tom Foy Memorial Invitational where it beat the defending champions from Ionia. The Saxon team also had a second-place finish at its league meet and a third-place finish at the Comstock Invitational during the season.

Many of the boys finished the season having recorded their personal best throws, jumps, vaults and times.

A number of special honors were handed out at the end of the year. Alex Maurer was named the Most Valuable Athlete. Tyler Youngs and Maurer shared the Most Improved Athlete honors. Captain Awards went to Alex Beauchamp, Quentin Wigg, Justin Carlson, Felipe Carmona and Austin Haywood. The seventh grade Rookie of the Year Award wen to Jack Longstreet and the eighth grade Coach Award went to Justice Lamance.

Owen Post was also honored for tying two Hastings Middle School track records, in the 100-meter dash and the 200-meter dash.

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Open House: Monday, June 18th from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm This lovely home sits on a hill with a circle drive, many lovely trees and flowers. It has propane heat and central air. There is a porch on the front & a deck off of the dining room on the back. It has a spacious Living area just off the Kitchen. It has 3 bedrooms, 2 baths & a laundry room. The kitchen has very nice oak cabinets.

The spacious master bedroom has a full bathroom and a walk in closet. There is a large basement with a sliding glass door that opens onto the back yard. The basement has 10’ tall ceiling and could be finished for more living space. In addition there is a Pole Barn/Garage that is separate from the house. This is a very clean nice home sitting close to town, yet in a very quiet, private area. You must see this to appreciate it. Property will sell at approximately 12:30 pm.

ATTORNEY: DAVID TRIPP; Hastings, MI; 269-945-9585

A U C T I O

—AUCTIONEERS—

KENDALL TOBIAS . . . . . . . .Hastings 945-5016 TONY MOOREHEAD . . . . . . . . . . . . .Auctioneer VINCENT VERDUIN . . . . . .Assisting Auctioneer

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Buyer must register with Kendall Tobias Auctioneering - selling by number - Driver’s license for I.D. Never charging a buyer’s premium! TERMS: Cash or good Michigan Check. Sorry, no credit cards or out of state checks. Nothing removed until settled for sale day. Not responsible for accidents, before, during, or after sale for goods after sold. ***Auctioneers & employees act as sales agents only - assume no liabilities or guarantees. Everything sold, “AS IS, WHERE IS”.

The 2012 Hastings Middle School boys’ track and field team. Team members this year included (front from left) Justice Lamance, Theron Heniser, Skyler Brower, Ethan Klipfer, Morgan Tolles, Justin Carlson, Ben Anderson, (second row) Thomas Furrow, Kenny Redman, Alex Maurer, Jacob Wilgus, Calvin Cappon, Noah Lumbert, Matt Endsley, Nick Surratt, Zach Allyn, Krylan Pederson, Clay Coltson, Aaron Denny, (third row) Jasce Brown, Nick Baum, Dylan Williams, Connor Musculus, Connor Wales, Ryan Smelker, Sam Johnson, Felipe Carmona, Alex Beauchamp, Cristian Laux, Colin Cusack, Thomas Bare, Charles Surratt, Matt Maurer, coach Tiffany Blakely, (back) coach Steve Collins, Carter Carpenter, Quentin Wigg, Tyler Youngs, George Murphy, Taylor Harding, Owen Post, Caleb Keech, Michael James, Lee Stowe, Austin Haywood and Jack Longstreet. (Photo by White’s Photography)

Boucher will take over LHS varsity football

by Brett Bremer Sports Editor Lakewood didn’t go far to find the next man to fill its varsity football head coaching opening.

Nick Boucher has been named the new head coach, filling the hole created by the legal troubles of Chad Curtis who was hired after Jim Behrenwald stepped down at the end of the 2011 season.

“He is what we need for our program,” said Lakewood High School athletic director Bill Barker. “It’s a challenge, but he’s up for it.

We’re glad to have him.”

Barker said that Boucher’s loyalty and stability were key in the decision to make the hire, and that Boucher has built up trust with the student-athletes during his time in the program.

“What we need right now is someone they can look to and trust, and he is the man,” Barker said.

His “passion and enthusiasm for Lakewood football” were also key.

Boucher has been the Viking’s junior varsity head coach each of the past two seasons, after a stint as the freshman team’s head coach from 2003-2009.

Boucher was also an assistant varsity wrestling coach at Lakewood High School from 2003-2010, and has coached with various wrestling clubs in the area. He is a Lakewood High School graduate, who played

football in high school and also won a state championship as a wrestler in 1996.

He went on to wrestler at Cleveland State University for four years, and worked one

year for Cleveland State as an assistant wrestling coach before returning to Lakewood. He was also an assistant freshman baseball coach in 2003.

Tractors fill Delton school parking lot Delton Kellogg High School students enjoy the annual year-end “Drive Your Tractor to School Day.” The parking lot took on an even more rural look Wednesday, June 6, when the farm vehicles filled in spaces.

The Hastings Banner — Thursday, June 14, 2012 — Page 17

Experienced Eagles edge Trojans in quarterfinal

by Brett Bremer Sports Editor “To me, this is the last week of baseball in Michigan, high school baseball, and we were playing. What a feeling,” said first-year Thornapple Kellogg varsity baseball coach Jack Hobert Tuesday.

The Trojans made it to the last week, but not the last weekend. Grand Rapids Christian, ranked second in the state in Division 2, knocked off the Trojans 5-1 in the state quarterfinals at Hope College’s Boeve Stadium in Holland Tuesday.

“When these kids came in, I’m their third head coach. The seniors, I’m their third head coach,” Hobert said. “They had to adapt to me and I had to adapt to them. The way we started off, 0 and 5, people were wondering, ‘are we ever going to get this done?’

“Obviously, we go 25 and 8 the rest of the way on. Hard work. Dedication. About the last month or so I’ve got kids coming to me, ‘can I take extra ground balls, can we get extra hitting.’ They grabbed hold of what was going on and they took it. I just had the reigns.”

The Trojans had a bunch of seniors who played nearly flawless baseball throughout the postseason run. A freshman and sophomore were the aces of the pitching staff. A senior first baseman who opponents didn’t want to pitch to was the leader. They won their school’s first ever district and regional baseball championships.

What the Trojans didn’t have was postseason experience. Grand Rapids Christian did.

The Eagles had eight players starting Tuesday, six seniors and two juniors, who started in the Division 2 State Championship Game at Bailey Park in Battle Creek last June.

St. Clair beat the Eagles 4-1 in that game. The Eagles mercied both Spring Lake and Unity Christian to earn the regional championship in Holland Saturday.

“Last year, we saw the dog-pile at the end

Trojan shortstop Dalton Phillips gets in position to field a ground ball as Grand Rapids Christian’s Kurt Hoekstra races in front of him during the top of the fifth inning Tuesday in Holland. (Photo by Brett Bremer) with St. Clair and everyone watched it,” said Grand Rapids Christian head coach Brent Gates. “From the last game last year, we had to go get back to Battle Creek. Once you get there, it’s so hard to do.

“These guys have been number one, number two in the state all year long and the pressure has been incredible. We’re supposed to win these games right now. Last year, we weren’t. For these guys to come in and do it day in and day out is pretty impressive.”

The Eagles got off to an impressive start Tuesday. A pair of hard-hit singles were followed by a two-run triple to right center field off the bat of clean-up hitter David Pluymert in the top of the first.

TK starting pitcher sophomore Garrett

Harris got a couple of ground-outs to strand Pluymert at third. It was the only really rough inning for Harris.

The Trojans never let the Eagles feel comfortable, but couldn’t get the big hit to make them feel really uncomfortable.

TK answered the Eagles in the bottom of the second. Senior first baseman Dylan VanPutten led off with a triple over the left fielder’s head, and came home on a two-out single by Dalton Phillips. Brendon Hudson followed with a single, but Phillips and Hudson were stranded at first and second.

Christian got that run right back. Kurt Hoekstra tripled for the Eagles with one out in the top of the third, then came home with two out when a line drive was misplayed in the

Grand Rapids Christian’s Alex VandeVusse dives around Thornapple Kellogg catcher Nate Iveson in an attempt to score safely in the top of the seventh inning of Tuesday’s Division 2 State Quarterfinal at Hope College. VandeVusse would have to come back to touch the plate to score the Eagles’ final run in their 5-1 win over the Trojans. (Photo by Brett Bremer)

Thornapple Kellogg’s Dylan VanPutten slides in safely with a triple to lead off the bottom of the second inning as Grand Rapids Christian third baseman Travis Kraai waits on the relay throw Tuesday. (Photo by Brett Bremer) outfield.

Harris would go four innings and take the loss. He allowed five hits and one walk, which turned into three runs only two of which were earned.

Freshman pitcher Phillips finished off the final three innings, giving up five hits and one walk, which turned into two runs only one of which was earned.

That pair of youngsters combined to earn 17 of the Trojans’ 25 wins on the mound this season. The split the pitching duties Tuesday after both throwing a full seven innings at the regional tournament Saturday.

“They’re solid kids on the mound for young kids, and they don’t get rattled. Very proud of them,” Hobert said.

Thornapple Kellogg’s best chance to overtake the Eagles came in the bottom of the third. Cody Ybema was hit by a pitch with one out, and Phillips followed with a double that put runners at second and third. The Eagles’ opted to intentionally walk VanPutten, and it paid off.

Eagle starter David VanVliet got Alex Roy to hit a ground ball to second baseman Taylor Prius who took a couple steps to his right to touch second base then fired to first to complete the double play.

“Our guys are throwing strikes all year long. Our defense has been what has won games. Obviously, that’s how you want it to work out,” Gates said. “It doesn’t always work out that way, but that’s their good hitter and again we knew we had a kid throwing strikes on the mound and we have a good defense so, you hope that works that way.”

VanVliet followed that up by setting the next eight Trojans down in order, with a single by Roy in the bottom of the sixth the only other hit off him the rest of the afternoon.

VanVliet got the win, giving up five hits and two walks in six innings of work. He struck out three.

Kurt Hoekstra came on in relief after VanVliet walked the first batter he faced in the bottom of the seventh, and earned the save. Hoekstra gave up one hit, an infield single off the bat of Caden Francisco, and struck out one.

The Eagles were able to breathe a little bit after a two-run rally in the top of the seventh.

Pluymert singled and a Trojan error allowed Alex VandeVusse to reach, putting runners on second and third with one out. Travis Kraai came to the plate, and after taking a couple pitches, dropped down a perfect sacrifice bunt. TK managed the out at first, but both Eagle runners came in to score with VandeVusse diving around a sweeping tag by TK catcher Nate Iveson and then racing back to touch home plate to get his team the second run.

The Eagles advance to the state semifinals at Bailey Park in Battle Creek Friday afternoon where they’ll take on Dearborn Divine Child. St. Joseph will meet Bay City John Glenn in the other Division 2 State Semifinal Friday.

“We won a district championship, which has never been done in school history,” Hobert said. “We topped that off with a regional championship. The final eight teams in the state of Michigan in your division, and we played a pretty good Grand Rapids Christian team pretty tough. We get a bounce our way, we’re moving on. They have nothing to hang their heads about.”

“We’re back to work tomorrow. We’ve got summer baseball going with our kids and we’re going to keep trucking and try to live up to what these kids set the standard at.”

LHS boys and DK’s Wandell return to D3 Finals The Delton Kellogg Mitchell Wandell and the Lakewood Vikings are headed to the state finals for the second year in a row.

Lakewood’s varsity boys’ golf team finished second at Thursday’s Division 3 Regional Tournament hosted by Olivet at the Medalist in Marshall to earn a spot in this weekend’s Division 3 State Finals at Forest Akers East on the campus of Michigan State University.

Viking senior Adam Barker was one stroke back of the day’s medalist, Wandell from Delton Kellogg. Wandell fired a 71 and Barker a 72. The top three teams and top three individuals not on those teams earned spots in

the state finals.

Wandell picked up his game at the regional tournament, finishing nine strokes better than he did the week before at the district tournament at Yarrow Golf Course.

Barker hit 12 out of 14 fairways, ten greens in regulation, and had just 28 putts throughout the 18-hole round Thursday.

“He was making six to eight-footers all day,” Lakewood head coach Carl Kutch said of Barker. “It is his high school career best round for 18. Couldn’t ask for better timing.

Kyler Clark also shot lights-out today, firing a 75, also a personal best 18-hole round for him. He rallied on his second nine with four

birdies over a stretch of just six holes.”

Clark was fifth overall. The Vikings also got an 87 from Royce Everts and an 86 from Ben Ridder.

“All five of our seniors really played tough,” Kutch said. “They knew what was on the line and they wanted to get back to the state finals. We have had several rough rounds through the season, I guess we got things ironed out. This past week was a very good week of practice. The guys worked very hard, focused and were very prepared coming into today.”

West Catholic took the regional championship, with a score of 313. Lakewood shot a 320, followed by Lansing Catholic Central 325. Pennfield was fourth with a 328, followed by NorthPointe Christian 334, Dowagiac 335, Coloma 336, Schoolcraft 344, Paw Paw 357, Allendale 361, South Haven 367 and Comstock 375.

West Catholic and Lansing Catholic Central also had two top ten individual performances each. Sam Weatherhead shot a 72 to lead West Catholic, and his teammate Matt Rooney added a 77. Jacob Johnson shot a 75 to lead the Cougars, and his team also got a 76 from Brent Marshall.

The two others joining Wandell as individual state qualifiers were Dowagiac’s Jordan Juday who shot a 74 and Olivet’s Tyler Masters who fired a 76.

Lakewood’s Kyler Clark (left) and Adam Barker show off their medals after finishing in the top five at Thursday’s Division 3 Regional Tournament at The Medalist in Marshall.

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J-Ad Graphics’ PRINTING PLUS Delton Kellogg’s Mitchell Wandell hits a drive at The Medalist in Marshall Thursday as Maple Valley’s Caleb Walker looks on during their Division 3 Regional Tournament.

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Page 18 — Thursday, June 14, 2012 — The Hastings Banner

50-ton beams help Michigan Avenue bridge take shape

A steel beam used to guide the concrete beams into place bends under the weight of 50 tons of shaped concrete Friday morning. The concrete beams make up the final concrete bridge deck.

The Michigan Avenue Bridge beams are now in place. The eight concrete beams arrived one per truck Friday, June 8. Each beam is 100 feet long, four feet square, and weighs 100,000 pounds. Trucks entered North Michigan Avenue from East State Road navigating the turn by steering the truck’s rear tires independently. The trucks then backed the beams down Michigan Avenue to the bridge. (Photo by Jerry Sarver)

Trucks carefully back down North Michigan Avenue toward the bridge readying 100foot concrete beams for placement on the bridge. The trucks, which picked up the beams in Kalamazoo, took a circuitous route to the bridge Friday, going east to Charlton Park Road before turning west into town, coming in north of the Thornapple River.

After a concrete box beam is slid into place, a worker hooks a harness to the beam, which is then placed by a crane.

The exercise was repeated seven more times Friday.

Onlookers gather to watch as 50-ton beams are maneuvered into place to shape the Michigan Avenue bridge in Hastings.

Cranes on both sides of the Thornapple River work to position the first of eight concrete beams Friday. Two more beams wait on North Michigan Avenue ready to be placed.

The 50-ton beams are moved off trucks by crane and then slid across the Thornapple River on this red steel beam. The bridge beam was then attached to a second crane and the two cranes worked together to place each of the eight beams.

With the beams placed Friday, workers move on to the next steps in construction of the Michigan Avenue Bridge. As of Monday evening, a retaining wall was in place. The temporary sewer line (right) will be moved once the bridge is completed.

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The sixth of eight 100,000-pound beams is lowered into place. The bridge deck will be completed within two weeks. According to city officials, the project is a week ahead of schedule. (Photo by Jerry Sarver)