08-02-2018 Former Hartford Township Sexton found guilty in embezzlement case; Lady Comets State Cha

Grand City Show Skiers to perform on Paw Paw Lake this Sunday Once again, Paw Paw Lake Yacht Club is host to the Grand City Show Skiers for an annual water ski show held on Paw Paw Lake. The show can be viewed from boats or the Yacht Club located at 5099 Shoreview Dr. in Coloma beginning at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 5. Founded in 1978 as the West Michigan Water Ski Association, Grand City Show Skiers is excited to be celebrating their 40th anniversary of bringing a love of show skiing to crowds throughout the state of Michigan. In those 40 years, Grand City has held an annual tradition of skiing on New Year’s Day, hosted and lead waterski clinics for the disabled and blind, won their first Michigan State Show Championship in 1993, and won Division 2 National Championships in 2010. Grand City is very proud of their 40-year history of performing and teaching show skiing to both the very young, and the young at heart. The team ranges in age from 8 to 78 years old. This team loves the sport of show skiing and looks forward to bringing that passion to audiences and new skiers for many more years to come. The public is invited to view the show from the Yacht Club. Hot dogs, brats, chips and drinks will be available at the club from 1:30 to 3:00 p.m., donations accepted. Cocktails and beer will be available for purchase from the club bar.

Former Hartford Township Sexton found guilty in embezzlement case

By Jon Bisnett A jury of 10 women and two men deliberated for several hours last Tuesday and all day Wednesday finally returning a guilty verdict late Thursday evening in the case of Gerrie Lee Heskett, 62, of Hartford with a conviction on one count of embezzlement by a public official over $50. The trial began in the Paw Paw courtroom of Judge Kathleen Brickley on Monday July 16 with the prosecutor’s office seeking one count of embezzlement between $50,000 and $100,000 and one count of embezzlement by a public official over $50. Hartford Township first contacted the Van Buren County Sheriff’s Department in fall 2016 with suspicions that led to an investigation in January of 2017 of missing funds, mostly cash transactions that were the responsibility of Heskett. The period spanned January 2011 through December 2016. Township officials discharged Heskett, the Township’s only full-time employee, in late 2016 when discrepancies arose. She had worked as the caretaker for both Hartford Township cemeteries from 1997 to December of 2016. Since discharging Heskett the Township liquidated all maintenance equipment related to her position and now subcontracts the work. All burial purchases and any related charges are now managed internally by the Township Clerk, serving as Cemetery Coordinator using a newly purchased comprehensive software package. Although investigators claim Heskett stole as much as $100,000 during the period from 1997 to 2016, the defense argued what it called discrepancies in the methodology of averaging used in the case. Judge Brickley ruled that the jury may use either calculation in their deliberation, which apparently resulted in a not guilty verdict on a second embezzlement charge. Embezzlement by a public official over $50 is a felony which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, and typically demanding restitution. Sentencing is expected sometime in September.

Coloma H.S. Principal among finalists for Superintendent post; interviews are Aug. 2 & 3

By Annette Christie The Coloma Community Schools Board of Education is moving forward in the selection of a new superintendent. Eighteen educators initially applied for the position, one of which is Coloma’s own high school principal, David Ehlers. The board reviewed the applications and has invited four educators to be interviewed including Ehlers. The process has been facilitated by Dave Killips, Regional President of the Michigan Leadership Institute. The interviews will be held on August 2 and August 3. Two interviews will be held each evening, with one scheduled at 5:00 p.m. and one at 6:30 p.m. All interviews will be held in the media center at Coloma Intermediate School, 274 South West Street. The interviews are open to the public and the public is encouraged to attend. The interview schedule is as follows: Thursday, August 2 at 5:00 p.m. – Jerome Sardina, High School Principal in South Haven; Thursday, August 2 at 6:30 p.m. – David Ehlers, High School Principal in Coloma; Friday, August 3 at 5:00 p.m. – Ric Seager, High School Principal in Schoolcraft; Friday, August 3 at 6:30 p.m. – Dr. Ryan Goble, Teaching and Learning Coordinator in Glen Ellyn, Illinois. The opening occurred as current superintendent, Peter Bush, has accepted a similar position with Sparta. Mr. Bush has been with the district for four years. Board President Heidi Ishmael stated, “We were pleased with the number of applicants who demonstrated interest in Coloma. The board understands the importance of this decision and the impact the new superintendent will have on our children, schools and community. We look forward to finding out more about the candidates’ leadership abilities and what each candidate has to offer our schools and community. It is important we move through this process quickly, but thoroughly, in order to have our new superintendent ready to go near the start of the school year.” In the preliminary calendar of events scheduled for the process, those selected for second interviews will be interviewed on August 7, 2018 along with a candidate open house. The details for this have not been finalized, but will be released as soon as that is complete.

Lady Comets State Champs to lead Glad-Peach Parade as Grand Marshals Saturday

By Annette Christie Coloma High School graduate Wendy Goodline always knew she wanted to come back to her hometown to teach and to coach and her dream came true. Goodline, a Class of 1991 graduate, went to Western Michigan University for her degree and then returned to her roots, and she has been here ever since. She has spent her whole career right here in the Coloma School District where she had taught physical education and health for 16 years and is currently the Athletic Director and Dean of Students in Middle School. The coach of the Lady Comets softball team for 19 years, she led them to the state championship this year, a first for the district. They finished the season with an impressive 38-3 record. In the state champi

COACH GOODLINE holds the State Championship trophy aloft following the Girls’ Softball Team win it all… see the Press Box for more game info.

onship game, Coloma defeated Millington at Secchia Stadium on the campus of Michigan State University in what some describe as an exciting nail-biting come from behind victory. Parade Chairperson Mary Ann Moser said of the team, “It was unanimous, everyone we asked said they wanted to see our championship softball team as the Grand Marshals.” The community of Coloma will get what they asked for as Goodline and the team will be the Grand Marshals of the 51st Annual Coloma Glad-Peach Parade on Saturday at 1:00 p.m. The members of the 2018 Division 3 State Championship softball team include: Mia Cole, Phoebe Brown, Julia Sternaman, Mika Andersen, Hannah Mathis, Sam Stewart, Megan Neubecker, Skylar Crisenbery, Mya Potter, Jaidyn Hutsell, Morgan Wagner, Kayla Yore, and Megan Koenigshof. Goodline is assisted by Dave Ehlers and Rebecca Allen.

Family friendly Glad-Peach Festival kicks off Thursday in downtown Coloma

By Annette Christie The annual celebration of the gladiolus flower and peaches kicks off Thursday, August 2 in downtown Coloma. The family friendly festival features two stages of entertainment, a carnival, food and craft vendors, a car and motorcycle show, two parades, and a spectacular fireworks display. At 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, August 2 the carnival will open. It will be located behind Edgewater Bank. On Friday, August 3, vendor booths, food booths, and the carnival open at noon. Bake Fest entries will be accepted starting at noon until 1:00 p.m. at the Hammond building (location of the newly opened Soulard’s), 126 North Church St., Coloma. All recipes must contain peaches. Entrants should bring the Bake Fest application and the recipe for the entry with the entry at that time, no preregistration is required. The judging will begin at 1:30 and the top five prizes will be announced at 7:30 p.m. near the Leonard Main Stage. The official opening of the festival is at 6:15 p.m. Friday evening, followed by the coronation of the Glad-Peach Prince and Princess at 6:45 p.m. At 7:00 p.m., the Glad-Peach Festival Youth Parade begins. All entries must be received no later than noon on August 3 to be eligible for prizes. Any child who is 12 or younger may participate. The parade line-up will be on Washington Street near the Fire Station at 5:30 p.m. The award presentation will be immediately following at the Main Stage. Friday night’s entertainment includes a square dance demonstration at 8:00 p.m., the band “Whiskey Highway” at 8:30 p.m. on the Leonard Main Stage and the band “Trashcan Cocktail” at the Showcase Stage. Saturday, August 4 kicks off with the annual pancake breakfast at the North Berrien Fire Rescue Station starting at 6:00 a.m. It will last until 1:00 p.m. and will be repeated Sunday morning at the same time. Vendor and all other food booths will open at 10:00 a.m. The Glad-Peach Run Walk Bike event will start off at Salem Lutheran Church. Online registration for this event closes on Friday, August 3, however on-site registration will go until 8:15 a.m. on event day. Pre-registration packets can be picked up on event day starting at 6:30 a.m., also at Salem Lutheran Church. The 5K and 10K bike race starts at 7:45 a.m., as well as the 10K walk. The 5K run / walk and 10K run begins at 8:30 a.m. The online registration cost is $30; the on-site registration is $35. The library will be hosting a book sale from 10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. The family art fair will be held in Laura Baker Park from 10:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. and again from 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. The 51st Annual Glad-Peach Festival Parade will be held at 1:00 p.m. The registration table will be open at 8:30 across from the Dollar General. Line-up could begin at 10:00 a.m. with judging at 11:15. All units are requested to use glads and peaches in decorating their unit. Trophies will be awarded 15 minutes after the end of the parade at the Main Stage. If a unit wins an award and are unable to be at the award presentation, they can be picked up at City Hall the following week. The Peach Pit Spit and Chalk the Street event will be held following the parade. It is the 6th year for the Chalk the Street event which is held on the street beside The Friendly Tavern. Pre-registration is not required. The judging will be at approximately 7:00 p.m. The entertainment on Saturday night includes the “Bad Entertainment Singers” on the Leonard Main Stage, “Ultrafab” on the Leonard Main Stage and “Down Maggie” on the Showcase Stage. The night will be topped off with the Peach-Tac-U-Lar Aerial Fireworks Display downtown. Sunday will bring the car/motorcycle show from 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m., a Kids Fun Fair from 10:30 – 11:30 a.m., Community Worship Service on the Leonard Main Stage from 11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., and the John Dudley Magic Show at 11:45 a.m. The festival closes at 3:00 p.m.