May 6, 2008 |
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VAS Voters Say NO to Millageby Tom Serino Voters in the Vanderbilt Area School District voted Tuesday, May 6, against a sinking fund millage request of one mil for four years which would have raised $70,000 the first year to pay for repairs to the school infrastructure. The vote was 142 to 130 defeating the millage request by only 12 votes.There were two four-year seats on the Vanderbilt Area School Board of Education up for consideration. The top two vote-getters were Debbi Badgley and Tom Serino. With 274 voters participating in the election process, incumbent Debbi Badgley garnered 139 votes, while challenger Tom Serino received 182 votes. Incumbent Carmen Bartlomiej lost her bid for re-election securing 89 votes, while challenger Ira Holborn received 47 votes. Yvonne Drayton, who ran unopposed for a one year term, garnered 181 votes to win her a seat on the board. Thank YouI would like to thank all the voters who cast their ballot for me in last week’s Vanderbilt Area Annual School Election. I look forward to serving with pride on the Vanderbilt Area School Board of Education. I will strive to do my best for the students and the community.Sincerely, Tom Serino Paid for by Tom Serino, Candidate for Vanderbilt Area School Board of Education. Civil Air Patrol Offers Trainingby Tom Serino The Civil Air Patrol (CAP) is active in northern Michigan with its 610th Squadron operating out of the Gaylord Regional Airport in Gaylord. At a meeting of the officers of the 610th Squadron, missions accomplished over the last year were reviewed and discussed. Also, ideas for additional training for new recruits to the Civil Air Patrol were discussed. The Civil Air Patrol, an auxiliary arm of the U.S. Air Force, has conducted search and rescue missions at the request of the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center - AFRCC and missions at the request of county Sheriffs, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration NOAA - National Weather Service, Homeland Security and the Federal Emergency Management Agency; with an emphasis on Emergency Services for northern Michigan. Not all the members of CAP are pilots. Administrative and operational personnel including communications specialists are all part of CAP. Mike Harbin, Administrative Personnel Officer for the squadron told OUR HOME TOWN, “We have a need for non-pilot air crew and many non-flying positions, (communications specialists), and this is a great way for a new member to learn a skill otherwise unavailable to most people.” Lt. Colonel Dave Montgomery, Squadron Commander for the 610th added, “We are actively recruiting adult members. We will train - all a person needs is to have a desire to learn about CAP and emergency services, flying, history of aviation as well as cadet programs.” Currently there are four pilots in the 610th Squadron with three others in training as well as others in ground skills training. Some of the upcoming events include meetings held Every Thursday, 7 p.m., at the Otsego County Airport Terminal Bldg. - open to anyone that would like more information about CAP; April 24 - FAA safety briefing for pilots. Co-hosting with the Gaylord EAA group. Event will be at the Gaylord Airport 6:30pm - 9:00pm.; May 24 - Communication Exercise “Pine Tree III”, stressing remote location tactics; and June 21 - Gaylord Airport Airshow. June 26-28 - Search and Rescue Exercise in Cadillac working with the U.S. Air Force. CAP is looking for new senior members and are encouraged to call 2nd Lieutenant Jeff Morey at his office, Elmer’s Ham Shack in Gaylord, at 732-8606 or email the CAP squadron at SQDN610@avci.net or Jeff at WD8DX@yahoo.com.ObituariesMacGregor, Robert D.III Mr. Robert D. ‘Dee’ MacGregor III, age 60 of Vanderbilt, died on Thursday, April 17, 2008. He was born in Grayling on September 26, 1947 to Robert and Mildred (Dunckley) MacGregor. Robert graduated from Benzie Central High School and retired from the U.S. Air Force after 20 years of service. He also worked for Consumers Power at Big Rock Nuclear Power for 17 years. He enjoyed woodworking, clock making and fixing just about anything. Robert loved to travel and loved his motorcycle. He was the best dad and grandfather anyone could ask for. He was a good friend to many and was very much loved. He will be missed by all. Robert is survived by his wife Marta (Gurden) MacGregor; children, Corrie (Dwayne)Smolarz of Gaylord, Jaime MacGregor of Petoskey, and Robert IV, (Amber Gibson) of Gaylord; three grandchildren, Aaron, Alex and Brayden Michael; two brothers, Philip (Patricia) and Patrick (Carlene); mother and father-in-law, Leston and Pauline Gurden of North Muskegon; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents. FUNERAL SERVICES were held on Tuesday, April 22, 2008 from the Nelson Funeral Home. Visitation at the Nelson Funeral Home in Gaylord was held on Monday and on Tuesday until the time of service. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Diabetes Association through the Nelson Funeral Home, P.O. Box 1548, Gaylord MI 49734. Friends may share condolences online at www.nelsonsfuneralhome.com Mr. William ‘Bill’ Ernest Boyd Mr. William ‘Bill’ Ernest Boyd of Hartland, near South Lyon, MI, formerly of Gaylord, died Wednesday, April 9, 2008 peacefully in his sleep at home. Bill was born in Wyandotte, lived in Northville from 1954 to 1984, then moved to Gaylord from 1984 to 2002, and returned south to Hartland from 2002. Bill was born to Ellsworth Ernest and Eileen (Nottingham) Boyd on October 9, 1933. He married Mitsue ‘Miki’ Asano on Sept. 3, 1954 enjoying 53 years of marriage. He is survived by his wife Micky and son Kenneth (Carol) Boyd, all of Hartland. He was preceded in death by his parents and a younger sister Lois Jean Boyd. He had many family and friends in the Vanderbilt and Gaylord area. He owned Ramsey’s Bar in Northville, and was a life member of the VFW Post 4012 in Northville. He enjoyed woodworking and was known to be very creative. He also like to hunt and travel all over the United States with his loving wife ‘Miki’. Bill served in the United States Navy during the Korean conflict. FUNERAL SERVICES will be held Saturday, April 19, 2008 at 11 a.m. at the Casterline Funeral Home in South Lyon, MI, Reverend Matthew M. Coleman officiating. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the American Heart Association. Arrangements entrusted to the Casterline Funeral Home of South Lyon.Mrs. Shirley Jane Buchholz Mrs. Shirley Jane Buchholz of Vanderbilt passed away Thursday, April 10, 2008 at home. She was 73. Shirley was born in Grand Rapids on Oct 24, 1934. She loved camping and spending time with her family. On Oct 12, 1968 in Gaylord she married Ronald E. Buchholz, who survives. She is also survived by her children: David Jenkinson of Vanderbilt, Cathy Brink of Vanderbilt, Mary (Don) Howard of Vanderbilt, Linda Knoch of Alanson and Tracy Matts of Belgium. 12 grandchildren, 14 great grandchildren with “one on the way” in July, 1 great great granddaughter and 4 brothers: Virgil & Robert Hilliker of Alaska, Kenneth Wilson of Charlevoix, Stuart Wilson of Wisconsin She was preceded in death by her son Steve Jenkinson, brothers Edward and Loren Hilliker, parents Kenneth & Vivian Wilson, and mother in law Lillian Pomarzynski. FUNERAL SERVICES were held on Saturday, April 12, 2008 at 11am from the Vanderbilt Community Church, Pastor Joe Sereno, officiating. Burial will take place in Evergreen Hill Cemetery in Vanderbilt. Visitation was held at the Nelson Funeral Home on Friday and at the church. In lieu of flowers, contributions in memory of Shirley Buchholz may be made to Hospice of Michigan through the Nelson Funeral Home, P.O. Box 1548, Gaylord MI 49734.School Board Approves Millage RequestSchool Board Petitions Filedby Tom Serino The Vanderbilt Area School voted at their regular school board meeting to hold a ‘sinking fund’ millage for school repairs. At that meeting, held Wednesday, Feb. 13, the board approved a ‘sinking fund resolution’ to put a 1 mill request before voters at the May 6, 2008 annual school election. That millage request will be for four years, raising $60,000 the first year, and approximately $250,000 over the four years, if approved by the voters. Vanderbilt School Board President Bernie Matelski commented, “The request will cover much needed repairs and equipment replacement projects, such as the bleachers in the school gym. Those bleachers should be fixed or replaced, as well as the soffit on the side of the front of the building, over toward the gym, which is peeling off. There are pieces just blown off the side of the building. If you go around the gym, you can see where it is missing. There’s nothing even there. Cold air blows in and freezes up the Science room.” “The building addition was constructed in 1998, and we need to do some maintenance on it. Things are going to start falling apart.” added Matelski. Matelski urges the public to support the millage, saying, “We definite need some maintenance on the building and this millage is our only way to raise money to pay for the repairs.” In other school news, Superintendent Jeff Liedel announced that school board petitions had been filed for the upcoming May 6 election. Four petitions were filed for two 4-year positions on the school board, and one petition was filed for a one-year term, and as such is unopposed. Both Ira Holborn of Hudson Township, and Tom Serino of Vanderbilt are running for the 4-year term which went up for grabs when 8-year member Neil Brasseur chose not to run for re-election. Both Holborn and Serino have run for election to the school board before. Holborn ran unsuccessfully about ten years ago, while Serino ran last year garnering 59 votes against incumbents who garnered over 125 votes apiece in an election characterized by a very low voter turnout. Incumbent Debbie Badgley is also running for that 4-year seat, instead of running to for the one year remaining on the seat she filled when appointed to the board last year. Badgley filled Penny Smith’s seat when Smith resigned. Carmen Bartlomeij, for her part, is running for re-election to a 4-year term. As such, the top two vote getters among the four will win the two seats. Running unopposed for the one year seat is Yvonne Drayton of Vanderbilt. Debbie Whitman, Corwith Township Clerk, who oversees the elections commented, “I’m looking for a large turnout for the May election since the sinking fund millage will be up for consideration.”Vanderbilt School Gains 14 StudentsBy T. Kenichi Serino Vanderbilt Area Schools (VAS) recently added students, making ‘Fourth Friday’, a special day for VAS. ‘Fourth Friday’ is a mandated attendance taken in September that makes official the number of students at Vanderbilt Area School. The count is important because it determines how much funding a school will receive from the state. The funding, per student, is currently set at $6,700 but is projected to increase. Gov. Granholm has recently signed a bill that would raise the per student amount $175 to $6,875. VAS has added 14 students to this year’s roster, going from 193 to 207. This is welcome news for Principal and Superintendent Jeff Liedel, “Does this mean we got out of our situation from last year? No, but we are headed in the right direction.” Last year’s budget crisis led to the elimination of a separate Superintendent position and a remaining total shortfall of $235,536 for this year. The ultimate number of students funded is determined by a formula blending this October’s count with last year’s February count. This means that VAS’s budget has improved by only about $35,000. “We are moving in the right direction but need to continue the growth to work our way out of a negative fund balance.” The 14 student gain is in marked contrast to other district schools. While Liedel does not have official numbers, Vanderbilt was one of only two schools in the district to increase their student enrollment. By contrast, Gaylord and Wolverine have lost 12 and 10 students respectively. Mr. Carl Hilling, Superintendent of Gaylord Community Schools anticipates 3,443 students but ended up having 3,431 for the fourth friday. “The problem with our numbers is that they keep fluctuating.” added Hilling. Liedel attributed the increase in VAS enrollment, among other things, to small class sizes and the personal attention students receive from teachers. However, while these traits are in contrast to Gaylord, Wolverine shares these same attributes with VAS. According to Liedel, most of the new students have come from either downstate or out-of-state.
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Sheriff Jim McBride Seeks 3rd Termby Tom Serino
Sheriff James McBride announced that he is seeking his third term as Otsego County Sheriff.
Sheriff McBride, who started his career in law enforcement in 1972 with Iosco County, was appointed Sheriff of Otsego County in 1998 and
has successfully been re-elected sheriff in 2000 and 2004.
During his tenure, Sheriff McBride increased the hours that deputies patrol our county roads and instituted the civil division, to provide court security and civil paper service, thus allowing more time for deputies to provide law enforcement duties. He also instituted programs such as Cell Phones for Seniors, Buster the Safety Bus (to promote school bus safety for elementary age children) and the Michigan Sheriff’s Association STOPPED program (that targets young drivers and encourages driving safety and accountability). Sheriff McBride also established the Otsego County Mounted Division; comprised of volunteer members to provide security for community events such as the Otsego County Fair and offer child safety programs. Sheriff McBride also expanded the sheriff’s pages on the Otsego County government website, providing information and forms on-line for our county residents and visitors; saving time and money for all.
Sheriff McBride is a member of many public safety boards and professional organizations such as the local 911 Committee, DARE Board, Jail Technical Committee, Michigan Sheriffs’ Association, National Sheriffs’Association, Association of Chiefs of Police and the Gaylord.Otsego Fraternal Order of Police. He is also involved in the community as a member of the Kiwanis Club visiting schools in support of the Terrific Kids Program at Vanderbilt, Salvation Army Board, Friendship Shelter Board, and is an active member of the First United Methodist Church in Gaylord. He is also a member of the Gaylord Elks, Gaylord Eagles Club, Gaylord American Legion Post, the NRA and the Otsego Memorial Hospital Auxiliary.
Sheriff McBride stated, “During these difficult economic times affecting our state and county, I’ve been able to maintain a viable road patrol and stay within my operating budget each year.” He credits an open relationship with the county commissioners as a key asset to his success as it relates to his operating budget.
The biggest challenges Sheriff McBride believes he faces during his next term are jail overcrowding and the issue of a new jail. The sheriff stated, “The new Sheriff’s Work Camp and day reporting program have alleviated jail overcrowding at this time, but it is an issue that won’t go away as time passes. We need to be proactive in our approach to solving the jail issue.”
Sheriff McBride is married to Patty and together they have five children and six grandchildren.
by Tom Serino
A forum for voters to submit comments related to millages
Access to the online forum is accomplished by loading the Web page, www.OtsegoCountyForum.org. Anyone can read the submitted comments (called a post), but to submit a new post or reply to a post you must first register by clicking “Register” on the Web page. See related ad, this page.
The purpose of this forum is to provide an online method for Otsego County residents to discuss what is going on in Otsego County. It’s anticipated that most discussion will be about local government and school issues, but since this is a new forum, initiated in August 2006, we don’t really know.
www.OtsegoCountyForum.org is not a government project. The forum is funded and administered by Otsego County citizens interested in facilitating constructive community-wide dialog regarding issues that impact us. Our local elected officials and government/school employees are welcome to submit posts, as are all Otsego County residents.
The purpose, usage rules and configuration of the forum are described under Administrators’ Posts at www.OtsegoCountyForum.org. Other questions regarding the forum can be e-mailed to administrator@otsegocountyforum.org or submitted to the www.OtsegoCountyForum.org “Complaints & Suggestions” Forum Administration category.
By Phil Williams
This past week I received a schedule of fees from my propane gas company (at bottom). As I read through it, I could not believe that in a time when gas prices are skyrocketing that they would have the nerve to add additional fees or better yet to send me a notice at Christmas.
And heaven forbid—You run out of gas——Because you are low income and don’t have regular refills—It will cost you $150.00 if you call after 4:30 or before 8 am or $250.00 if it is on the week end. Then add $85.00 for the leak check fee (because you ran out of the gas that you can’t afford anyway) then another $100.00 if you can’t afford the 200 gal minimum! So now for running out of gas on a Holiday weekend you will need $435.00 to make the call to get any gas…Gas fee not added in yet.
The more I read the angrier I got. But after some reflection I realized that this is just a great marketing plan and I began to think of ways that I could also benefit.. Here are some of the concepts I came up with:
Driveway usage, every time they deliver… $100.00.
If unable to back in with one try additional $50.00 per attempt.
Per minute fee for using our property $5.00 per minute or $100.00 whichever is greater.
$100.00 fee for arriving before 9am and disturbing my morning coffee.
$100.00 a month advertising fee for having their company name on the tank in MY yard.
Obviously the days when Customer Service mattered are gone. When a Company was just darn happy to have you as a Customer… Now it is about the money. Needless to say, I will be shopping for a friendlier Gas Company, one that wants my business, not my Soul. Maybe you should too. But first I will have to save up the $100.00 fee for the tank removal!
Phil Williams
By Tom Serino Well, here I am back from my vacation to Japan. The first trip back there in 18 years. It was a fun trip, with lots of things to do, great food to eat, and lots of my wife’s family to meet and spend some time. The trip was eventful with a lot of new experiences. Things have advanced greatly in the past 20 years. For example, the new trains are faster, very roomy, with very nice bathrooms. I say that since on the last leg of my journey there, after landing in Sapporo, I took the express train to Wakkanai, about a 5 hour trip. I had to use the bathroom and there is one conveniently located every second car, so that passengers don’t have to travel too far to get to one. The doors open easily at the push of a button. They also close easily, but you have to remember to push the button. As I left the bathroom, I touched the door to enter the passenger car and the door opened, but then I noticed that the bathroom door was still open, so I stepped with one foot and pushed the button, so the door closed. That left me with my legs spread wide apart, as well as my arms, so that when the train shifted around a fast corner my body went crashing into the wall, giving me my first view of stars during daylight hours and a black eye. At age 58, it was painful, but I can take it. I went and sat down. The next day, my son and I ventured to Rebun. Rebun island is the most northern island of Japan and south of Sakhalin, Russia. The weather there is bitterly cold in winter time. However, it does contain many beautiful scenery for one to see. It is also called the Island of Flowers because there is a great variety of flowers over the island in summer time. Anyway, there are two courses, an 8 hour trek and a 3 hour trek. My son agreed to the 3 hour trek with his Dad. The 3 hours meant 3 hours up, and it took us about 2 hours to come down the mountain, and another hour to walk back to the main town Kafuka, to eat and then catch the ferry back to Wakkanai. I suggested taking the bus, but Kenichi thought it was a great weather for a walk, which it was. It would have only cost us a dollar each for the bus ride to the ferry. And I figured it would be a buck well-spent. But we walked. It took my legs 3 days to recover. At my age it takes longer, I guess. Lastly, the trip to the main family farm, owned by brother in law Haruo Watanabe. It is a dairy farm with 84 cows, and since we stayed there, I felt compelled to help, along with my wife Fumiko and son Kenichi, in the barn. My wife and son had been there off an on during their two month stay in Japan, and I was only there 4 days, and it was nice to help out and learn about the dairy farm business. Helping out meant twice a day, once at 6 a.m. and later at 5 p.m. cleaning out the barn, the stalls with the cows in them, and then feeding them hay. I became good friends with the cows, as they became intimate with me, licking every part of me as I tried to clean manure from under their feet and inside the stalls. One cow especially gave me a rough time. I struggled three days, thats six times, with this one cow who seemed to like me a lot. On the third day, she pushed me so hard I lost my footing and I don’t know what I hit, but found myself holding on to a post in the stall, so I wouldn’t be on the floor, and the cow was right up against me. I was dazed and suffered a large scratch and bruise to the top of my forehead. I did manage to stay off the floor, and also learned how to use the other cow in the stall to keep the seemingly agressive cow away from myself. On the last day, I dreaded going into that one stall, but I figured I had to meet my fear head on, so I did, keeping the tamer cow between myself and the agressive cow. About a minute or two before I completed cleaning the task, and after what seemed a lot of maneuvering of the two cows, my wife came over and cautioned me, saying, “You need to watch out for that one cow, she’s in heat.” At my age, I’m still learning.On the Other Side of the Street...by John Crinnion Christian Groups are speaking outThe Christian Groups are speaking out about the poor choice they have among the presidential contenders. It is mostly about abortions. Having an abortion is a traumatic experience for most women who have had an abortion; only now after all these years are they beginning to speak out. It is important for young girls to be aware of the problems with promiscuous sex before marriage; in fact, promiscuous sex, after marriage also. If you avoid premarital sex, you avoid unwanted pregnancy you avoid sexually transmitted diseases. If you realize that 80% of all those living in poverty are single moms. The women have the most to lose by submitting to sex before marriage. For the most part, it is a case of having respect for yourself, your future and your parents. It is having self-respect and realizing that whoever is trying to influence you into having premarital sex, has no respect for you. Once you realize that it is much easier to say no. In recent times there have been many cases of girls who have been in beauty pageants have had photos of them taken in situations that should never have been allowed. Anyone who wants to take that type of picture no matter what the reason expressed is up to no good and has little or no respect for you to suggest you put yourself in that type of situation, either for pictures or otherwise. Stay away from meeting people on the Internet; you have no idea if they are who they say they are; and they probably are not. If you know anyone who wants you to compromise your moral principles, stay away from them; whether it is in school, Internet or church. In fact, do your friends a favor and let them know what a creep that person is. You should remain, as Job’s wife, above reproach. If you practice that, you will have a less complex life. Don’t think you need to give in to be popular. It is not worth it. A reputation is easy to lose, but very difficult to regain; check the American carmakers! Do the right thing and keep your reputation. If your friends think you are being square, you need other friends. To become sexually involved risks your entire future and puts any opportunities at risk. It is important to receive a good education in grade school, high school and college. All schools are not up to providing this and you will have to fight for it in some cases and get your parents to support you in that effort. Save and be ready to chose a private college and don’t restrict yourself to a public college. If you are going to invest four years in the learning process, you do not want to waste it where the experience is counterproductive. The cost of public and private college is not that great; if you help your parents buy working and saving. By your junior year in high school, you should be considering and investigating your options. Is Bush's Social Security Plan right for you? Click on above link to find out!Although the Web edition contains most stories that the print edition contains,not all stories are guaranteed to appear online. For the most complete news coverage, we invite you to subscribe to the print edition of the paper. You read this news FIRST in OUR HOME TOWN NEWS! 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