Coloma St. Patrick’s Day festivities were cold but successful

By Christina Gelder

Saturday, March 11 was a cold one in Coloma but it didn’t stop them from celebrating St. Patrick’s Day in style. Runners and walkers bundled up to start the day with the 5K at the Coloma Township Hall. There were around 140 participants and an additional 20 registered dogs. All of the proceeds will be donated by the Coloma Lions Club to Leader Dog for the Blind out of Rochester, Michigan.

FURRY FRIENDS… Kelly Sutherland and Jodi Hammond participated in the very festive St. Patrick’s Day 5K with their friends Scout and Sparty. (TCR photo by Christina Gelder)

Inside activities geared for kids included a themed story hour at the Coloma Public Library and a St. Patrick’s Day scavenger hunt at the North Berrien Historical Museum. This was the first year the hunt was hosted by the museum and they saw a very nice turn out. Staff and volunteers alike did a great job welcoming and educating families with their very interactive event.

The Lighted St. Patrick’s Day parade is such a unique event and this year the crowd was delighted by around 25 entries. The entries are all judged as they proceed through the route and prizes are given in several categories.

First place for municipality went to Pride Care Ambulance. Second place was won by the Coloma Township Police Comet Car.

Decorated vehicle was awarded to Cub Scout Pack #624 in first, followed by Centsible Heating, Bob Howell with a DeLorean, and the Coloma Lioness Club.

First place marching unit was won by the Coloma High School marching band. Second in that category went to Knightwinds and third to Cub Scout Pack #610.

TROPHY GOES TO… Cub Scout Pack #624 from Lake Michigan Catholic School in St. Joseph won the prize for Best Decorated Vehicle in Coloma’s St. Patrick’s Day parade last Saturday. Pictured are (from the left): Konrad Cordes, Austin Smith, Connor Siglow, Ethan Fajardo, Blake Bacon, Noah Siglow, and Andrew Smith. The boys were thrilled to receive their prizes after a cold ride through town. (TCR photo by Christina Gelder)

The Float division was won by Freshwater Community Church and second went to the Coloma KOA Campground.

Junior decorated vehicle was won by Kathleen and Kara Krieger.

Overall was won by North Berrien Fire Rescue Department.

Organizer Chana Kniebes from North Berrien Community Development was pleased with the turnout overall. She would like to thank everyone who had a part in the festivities. The committee is looking forward to next year’s event falling on Saturday, March 17, which just happens to be St. Patrick’s Day.

FESTIVELY FRAMED… Abby Davis, age 6 with her brothers Gabe, age 10 and Joe, age 8 enjoyed hunting for the pot of gold at the North Berrien Historical Museum last weekend. They are the children of Mike and Stacey Davis of Coloma. (TCR photo by Christina Geld-er)

Federal grant aids Hartford Township road reconstruction project

By Nancy Albright

At the regular meeting of the Hartford Township Board on March 9, Township Supervisor Ron Sefcik reported that the project to widen C.R. 687 between the City of Hartford and 52nd Avenue in Hartford Township is underway.  A letter from the Van Buren County Road Commission to those impacted by road reconstruction states that the project is being funded by county millage dollars in the amount of $450,000, which will be supplemented by federal funding in the amount of $340,000.

The project consists of tree maintenance, drainage improvements, and resurfacing of the road after the existing road surface is crushed and shaped. Tree trimming and removal is slated for completion on March 31, weather permitting. Trees that are scheduled to be removed are marked with ribbons and stakes. Property owners that would like to keep large-length logs from trees that will be removed from their land please contact the Van Buren County Road Commission at (269) 674-8011.

Residents are urged to follow posted detours beginning on June 1, and prepare to alter travel routes during construction through Labor Day weekend. The road will be resurfaced after the holiday.

Also, Van Buren County seasonal weight restrictions designed to strengthen road bases were lifted effective Monday, March 6, 2017 at 7:00 a.m. Drivers can now resume normal travel speeds.

Hartford Township Deputy contract renewed

Van Buren County Sheriff Dan Abbott informed the board that Deputy Phil Scuiletti’s contract will be renewed beginning on April 1, 2017, and end in March of 2018. The contract is open-ended and Deputy Scuilleti has the option to opt out of the contract within 120 days if he so wishes. Sheriff Abbott commended Scuilleti for his service, saying that, “Phil is a top-notch deputy and we’re lucky to have him.”

Sheriff Abbott reported that there were 53 traffic stops and eight crashes in Hartford Township in February, and that one stolen vehicle resulting from a breaking and entering incident was recovered on C.R. 687. There was one incident of trespassing last month, and law enforcement took several calls from Four Winds Casino.

Township approves bid for lawn care and snow removal

The board approved the bid received from Martin Landscape & Nursery of Watervliet for lawn care at Pioneer Cemetery, Maple Hill Cemetery and Township Hall for an annual cost of $39,400. The company will also provide snow removal services for $40 per plow to remove snow from the front and back parking lots of Township Hall, and the drive leading to the shop located behind the building. Township Supervisor Ron Sefcik told the board that of the three bids submitted Martin provided the most detail, including a Certificate of Liability and a course of action.

Cemetery operations streamlined

Cemetery management software purchased by the township in the amount of $2,925.00 has been installed to simplify cemetery operations, and Township Clerk Julie Sweet expects to complete data input within the next week. Township Supervisor Ron Sefcik thanked Sweet for her hard work on the project to help better manage the cemeteries.

Clerk Sweet reported that a limited number of cemetery plots are available for purchase at Maple Hill Cemetery. Plots are located in Section 4 at the back of the property, and in Section 21, which is near the chain link fence.  She also commended the jail crew on their work to clean up Pioneer Cemetery. “They did a great job.”

Board approves orders to raze area structures

Township officials approved the removal of structures on properties in the Hartford area that are considered hazardous as per Dangerous Buildings Hearing Officer David Leroy.

Arrowway Farm Systems, LLC, located at 68158 Red Arrow Highway in Hartford agreed to remove five cabins, six outhouses, and one mobile home located on the property within 60 days. Barbara Huffman of 215 S. Wendell in Hartford attended the meeting and told the board that removal of the house on her property is in progress and the project will be completed within the 60-day timeframe. Also slated for removal within 60 days is the house located at 62631 67-1/2 Street in Hartford that is owned by Dawn Charlene Moser, and the barn and garage at 69092 68th Avenue in Watervliet owned by Anna Marie Smith.

Board members agreed to allow Keith Griffen, owner of a barn located at 5002 Paw Paw Lake Road in Coloma, 90 days to complete the project.

Township treasurer reports on finances

Township Treasurer Steve Starner told the board that Hartford Township collected $2.2 million for the winter tax season, and that 311 parcels in the township did not pay required taxes totaling $250,000. Van Buren County will determine final reimbursement to the township for uncollected funds resulting from property owners that failed to pay.

The board approved payroll in the amount of $7,396.82 and bills in the amount of $30,909.22 for a total of $38,306.04.

Trustees reappoint committee members

Township officials voted to reappoint Trever Meachum to the Planning Commission; John McLellan to the Zoning Board of Appeals; Steve Starner to the Fire Board; and James Jonatzke to the Library Board. All will serve a three-year term, to commence on April 1, 2017.

The board also approved the appointment of Hartford Fire Chief Rob Harting to the Zoning Board of Appeals through March 31, 2018 to complete former ZBA committee member Susan Layer’s term.

Congratulations to all and thank you for your service to the Hartford community.

G.W. Jones Exchange Bank branch closing in Watervliet

By Karl Bayer, editor

Customers of the G.W. Jones Exchange Bank branch in Watervliet got a letter earlier this week informing it was closing.

The letter, signed by Cordell R. Jones, President, said the branch would close Friday, June 9, 2017. Bank regulations require a 90-day notice for a bank branch closing.

He wrote, “It has been a pleasure to serve our customers in that area and it saddens us that we are going to be closing this branch. We thank you for your patronage, support and kindness shown our staff.

Jones declined to give a number of the depositors at the branch but said the response of new customers and loan demand was disappointing. “We are sorry this happened, but you can only do so much. We expected to have much more from local residents and businesses. Of course there is a lot of competition with all the banks in Coloma.”

He said there were plans for a drive-thru at the back of the bank on Church Street, but the business never picked up enough to warrant it. He said the ATM business had been on the increase.

The bank branch opened November 26, 2013.

The G.W. Jones Exchange Bank was opened in Marcellus, Michigan in 1877 by George Washington Jones. Cordell R. Jones became chairman of the board in 1983. He is the 4th generation of family to manage the bank. The bank also has branches in Cassopolis and Edwardsburg.

Watervliet Independence Day

Celebration 2017 meeting

Members of the Watervliet Independence Day Celebration (WBA) committee are planning to meet again on Monday, March 20 at 6:00 p.m. at the Watervliet Fire Department.

This year’s festival is slated for June 30, July 1 & 2, adding Friday night events back into the weekend celebration. Many new and exciting activities are being planned for this year’s festival including a Decorated Golf Cart contest and parade. Also, a Pro Wrestling event, a Garden Tractor pull and a Meet and Greet with the Mid American Rodeo Cowgirls are all on Friday night.

Saturday will be packed full with its regular crowd pleasers: car show, pancake breakfast, Bednarowski Cherry Walk/Run, Little Miss & Mr. Firecracker crowning, Vintage Baseball game, Grand Parade, July 4X4 Mudd Run, fireworks and much more. Sunday will host the ever popular Ping Pong Ball drop, the Duck Race and a multi-denominational church service.

There are several areas that need chair people for this year’s festival and we need your help to make this all happen. Come to the meeting, it is not too late to get involved.