06-21-2018 Berrien County suffers tragic loss of Lori Jarvis, Register of Deeds; Dennis Thomas is “T

AND THEN THEY WERE #1… The Coloma varsity softball squad showed they were #1 after defeating Millington Saturday in the MHSAA state finals championship game at Secchia Stadium on the campus of MSU. (TCR photo by Kristy Noack) See the Press Box on Page 12 for more photos and sports new. See Page 14 for a special salute to the Champs!

Berrien County suffers tragic loss of Lori Jarvis, Register of Deeds

Lori Jarvis See obituary on Page 6

By Annette Christie Berrien County Undersheriff Chuck Heit said that their office was investigating a single vehicle fatal crash on M-63 near Eaman Road in Hagar Township on Thursday morning. Heit said the accident occurred at approximately 10:00 a.m. when the driver of a vehicle that was headed northbound, left the roadway and struck a garage on the west side of the road.

It was later that morning that family, staff, and co-workers learned the tragic news that the driver was Berrien County Register of Deeds, Lori Jarvis of Hagar Township. Jarvis was first elected in 2000 and has served the citizens of Berrien County since January 2001 in that role. Berrien County Administration announced that the Register of Deeds office would be closed for the remainder of the day Thursday, June 14 and also on Friday, June 15. Flags at all county facilities are being flown at half-staff until Saturday, the day of her funeral. Jarvis was at the office on Thursday morning before leaving for an appointment. The crash remains under investigation and an autopsy was scheduled to occur on Friday morning at the Western Michigan University School of Medicine. The visitation will be held Friday, June 22 from 4 – 8 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church in St. Joseph. The funeral will be held Saturday, June 23 at 11:00 a.m. at the First Church of God, also in St. Joseph. She is survived by her husband, Butch, their three children, Caroline, Alyssa, and Erik, her mother and her four siblings.

RACE FANS RELAX… Recent erroneous reports that Hartford Speedway has been sold to become a Medical Marijuana Grow Facility have been hugely over exaggerated. When in fact track owner Tim Dibble reports of a lease for just five currently unused acres of what would be the upper left corner of this photo to a Detroit area corporation for the development of a Secure Class C MM Grow Operation pending city and state licensing approval. The facility will have no business connection to the track, other than that of landlord/tenant and will have no effect on the Friday night racing fans and drivers have come to love. See the story on Page 3 (Google Earth photo)

Dennis Thomas is “Top Pop”

By Annette Christie When it came time to review all of the entries for Top Pop, it was the old-fashioned hand-written letter from a young girl about her father that earned the award. The little girl, Ava Thomas, said her daddy should be the Top Pop because he spends a lot of time with her and he is always there to cheer her on. We met up with the Top Pop winner at the ball fields but Dennis Thomas wouldn’t have it any other way. When asked what his plans were for the day honoring dads, “Hopefully we will be here all day, if they keep on winning,” Dennis said. Daughter Ava plays softball for a summer recreation team. Their day started with an 8:30 a.m. game that would hopefully lead to two more. If they were to do anything else, Dennis said, “It will be something simple with the kids.”

TOP POP… Top Pop Dennis Thomas (back right) spent his Father’s Day at the ball fields with wife Kassie (left) and daughter Ava. Ava authored the winning letter honoring her father. (TCR photo by Annette Christie)

Dennis grew up in Hartford and played baseball for the Hartford Indians. Wife Kassie says of the daughter and dad duo, “She is the female version of him.” Dennis boasts that they do enjoy a lot of the same things, fishing, hunting, playing ball, etc. “It will probably be golf eventually,” Dennis said. They also have a son, Jacob who is a recent graduate of Watervliet High School. Asked what advice he would give to future fathers, “Always put your kids first,” Dennis said. This is what Ava notices as she declared it in her letter honoring her dad, “My dad spends a lot of time with me, he takes me fishing, hunting, and he practices softball with me. When I am in pageants, my dad is always there to cheer me on. Even if I don’t win, my dad says I am his princess.” Dennis went on to point out that parents have to be a good role model because they (the kids) watch what you do. Dennis, who said he was a young father with his first child states, “I have made my mistakes but you have to remember it’s important how you present yourself because they are watching.” Ava mentioned in her letter that her dad is not only there for his children, “My dad helps other kids to. He helped the Hartford boys’ team for baseball since they didn’t have a coach,” Ava said. In her final statement as to why her dad should be the Top Pop she said, “He buys stuff for my family. And he takes care of us and makes sure we have what we need.” For being selected the 2018 Tri-City Record “Top Pop”, he receives a homemade pie from Bob’s Barn, a $25 gift certificate toward a pontoon rental from Guy’s Marine & Water Sports, a $25 gift certificate from Tom Smith Tractor Sales, Inc., a Double Papa Mo from Mo’e Pies, and a free pizza from DiMaggios Pizza and Burgers.

Mark Bolin: Longtime Watervliet resident, baseball fan/coach, veteran, City employee, and now Parade Grand Marshal

By Kristy Noack Mark Bolin, longtime resident of Watervliet and current Operator in Charge of the city’s Iron Filtration Plant, was named as the Grand Marshal of this year’s Independence Day Celebration parade, by members of the Watervliet Business Association. Bolin, 58, was born in Paw Paw “…back when we went to Paw Paw for the hospital,” he said. His parents are AC and the late Annette Bolin, longtime residents of Watervliet as well.

Mark Bolin already has a special connection to the Independence Day holiday. Fifty-eight years ago, his mom went into labor on July 4th, although Bolin wasn’t born until twenty minutes after midnight on the fifth. This year, he will have another reason to celebrate as he will share the ride along the parade route with his dad. Bolin has a brother, Chris, and sister, Linda. He also had a brother Donnie who passed away at two years old of pneumonia when Bolin was five. Bolin is quick to admit, “The love of my life is baseball. My love of the game comes from being a kid in 1969 watching the Cubs lose the pennant to the Dodgers,” Bolin shared. Bolin shared a favorite memory from when he was a kid growing up in the city. “Me and my brother went to Bill Stewart’s golf course and dive the ponds. We’d take the balls we’d find and sell them to the golfers for 25 cents.” Bolin played baseball, football, and basketball for Watervliet. “I played for Coach Barchett and Steve Miller. Steve Miller is Watervliet baseball. If it wasn’t for him, Watervliet baseball wouldn’t be what it is today.” Bolin graduated from Watervliet High School in 1978. In 1983 he joined the Air Force and spent four years as a flight line fuel jockey. He filled B-52s, traveling with the aircraft around the country. “I loved it,” Bolin commented about serving his country in the military. “I loved my job. The thing I liked most was meeting people from all over the world. It was really a unique thing.” Following his time in the military, Bolin returned home to Watervliet. One day, Bolin’s Uncle Jimmy, who was the Superintendent of Public Works in Watervliet, “came to me and offered me a job.” Bolin took it. He’s been there 23 years and three months and now holds the title of Operator in Charge of the Iron Filtration plant. “Sometimes,” he said, “people don’t pick what they’re best at. I happen to be good at this.” One of his favorite parts of the job is being able to talk to citizens in the city. “Back then, we walked with books to read the meters. Mr. Hamilton would sit outside and wait for me. He was just an old, lonely guy. It was nice to sit down and share time with him.” From the time Bolin hired in with the city, he got married and divorced. His family grew and now includes sons Mark, Matt, Travis, and Joe, and daughters Ashley and Faith. Bolin calls Faith his “…miracle child. She was born with heart complications and probably the hardest thing I ever did was hand her to the doctor before heart surgery.” Faith is now 18 and “in love with life.” His love of baseball included acting as a coach in rec ball for 16 years; he was also the president of the council for a period of time. Leaned back in his office chair, Bolin pauses and looks away. “To me utopia is a nice sunny day sitting in the ballpark keeping a scorecard.” Bolin also coached varsity baseball at Watervliet for four years. Bolin credits his father for his work ethic, honesty, and deep roots. Bolin worked for his dad in high school when AC opened a furniture store on Red Arrow Highway, just east of the city. “One day, we were standing by the door [of the furniture store] looking out the window. We see this old man walking down the road. Next thing I know, dad goes out the door. Now, my dad was probably barely making it. My dad goes out there and I see him take his coat off and give it to the guy. He reached into his pocket and I knew he didn’t have anything but he gave that man $20.” Bolin has carried that lesson with him. “That told me everything I ever needed to know about my dad. The way he treated me, the way he treated my mom. If you treat a man with respect and dignity, he’ll do right by you. “I’m the luckiest kid in the world” to have grown up in Watervliet, Bolin shared. “I grew up on the hill on Sutherland. I grew up in the 70s when life was great, when it was the north side versus the south side and you met up at Hays Park to play ball. To grow up here in the city of Watervliet, to have parents like mine, I couldn’t have done better. To be honest, to look back at my life, I couldn’t ask for more. I’ve been blessed. I am blessed.” Bill Whitney nominated Bolin for the grand marshal duties, unbeknownst to Bolin. “I’m really flattered,” Bolin shared. “I’m really honored. I really feel humbled. One side of me wants to hide, one side wants to say it’s a great opportunity to say thank you to the city.” His tie to the city is meaningful, you can tell. He stops a moment and then says, “After all these years, I’d love to thank the citizens of the city of Watervliet. They helped me raise six kids. They helped me put Travis through college. For the people who helped me, the mayor, the commission, all the people who I worked for.” Make your way into downtown Watervliet Saturday, June 30 and pick out a prime spot on Main Street between Red Arrow and Hays Park. As the parade begins at 1:00 p.m., you’ll see Bolin riding through the town he loves, celebrating a holiday he holds dear, waving to the people he’s had the pleasure to serve while working for the city. You’ll see a son, sharing another moment with his father and returning the lesson he was taught so many years ago – how to treat people, how to honor them with respect and dignity. Of all the titles he holds – father, brother, veteran, baseball fan, city of Watervliet employee, grand marshal – the one that he wears the best just might be soon.