TWO CLASS ACTS REMEMBERED… The Watervliet boys’ and girls’ varsity basketball teams from 1992 were honored Friday on the 25th anniversary of their im-pressive seasons. The boys’ team was the 1992 Red Arrow Conference champions, while the girls’ team was the 1992 District champions. (TCR photo by Kristy Noack)

Amy’s Angels 5th annual 3 on 3 tourney tipoff March 25

By Jon Bisnett

Over 500 players and fans are expected to jam both gyms at Hartford High School on Saturday, March 25 for Amy’s Angels 5th annual 3 on 3 basketball fundraiser.

Registration begins at 8 a.m. with competition running from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The double elimination tourney accepts teams from 4th-grade through adult. Kids under 18 pay just $55 per team. Adult charge is $75 per team. Concessions will be available. Teams may also register online through midnight Thursday, March 23, 2017 at www.myamysangels.org/events.

The tragic story of the young Hartford mother of two played in the nationwide media back in 2011. Amy Henslee’s life was cut short that January and that solitary dark event motivated those left behind, to join hands in forming Amy’s Angels as a non-profit charity to honor Amy’s memory by helping families and children in need. “We wanted to find a way to give back to the community, to thank them for all the love and support we received during that terrible time,” explained organizer Brenda Miston. “Children were so much a part of Amy’s life that we focus mostly on families with children in need.”

“Amy’s army of angels” includes over 40 volunteers serving as referees, scorekeepers, runners, concession and registration for the tourney.

The group works with a multitude of Tri-City families providing support in a variety of ways and aspires to a long-term goal to establish a Nursing Scholarship in Amy’s name at Hartford High School.

Officers include: President James Henslee (Amy’s husband), Vice Presidents Bob & Brenda Miston (Amy’s parents), Treasurer Tricia Cole and Secretary Marilyn Mead.

Follow Amy’s Angels on Facebook or donate by mail at: Amy’s Angels, P.O. Box 651, Hartford MI 49057. They can be contacted via email at angelsamys@yahoo.com or by calling 269-350-7851.

HIDING THE HYDRANT… underneath a squad car is never a good idea, but that is just what happened as a result of the pursuit of suspect wanted in connection with a hit and run accident in Hartford Township earlier in the day on Wednesday, February 22. Van Buren Sheriff’s Department gave chase after the subject bolted from a traffic stop on Red Arrow Highway. The pursuit traced through the city until it collected a Hartford squad car that failed to negotiate a turn hurling the unit into a fire hydrant at the corner of North Center and Prospect Street. Pride Care Ambulance transported the Hartford officer to Lakeland Community Hospital Watervliet, where he was treated and released. Neither the hydrant nor Dodge Charger fared as well, making this the third major collision for the Hartford City fleet in the last two years with the prior crashes coming from striking a deer and getting caught up in a multi-vehicle melee on I-94 last winter. (TCR photo by Jon Bisnett)