SCHMIDT’S GLIDER IS REGIONAL GRAND CHAMPION AND FOURTH IN STATE… Bailey Schmidt took first place Grand Cham-pion honors in regional MITES competition. He then earned a fourth place award in the state woodworking competition.
STANTZ MAKES HER MOVE… Watervliet’s Court-ney Stantz stands next to the chess board she built. Stantz finished fourth in the state in the MITES competition and took first in regionals.
WORKMAN WINS FOURTH PLACE… Isaac Workman shows off his coffee table. The first-place regional winner also claimed fourth place at the state MITES competition in May.
By Kristy Noack
Karl Shafer, the first year Industrial Technology teacher at Watervliet High School, has over 50 reasons to be proud of his students. In April, students in his Woods I and Woods II classes entered 51 woods and 18 drafting projects into the MITES (Michigan Industrial Technology Education Society) regional competition. MITES is a “professional organization of industrial technology, technology education, and career technical education educators whose purpose is the development of industrial and technology education at all levels of private and public education,” Shafer explained. Fourteen woodworkers and their projects along with five drafting students placed in the top four at regional competition held in April at Brandywine High School. Those students and the projects they created moved onto the May 11-14 state competition in Lansing. Of the 19 state qualifiers from Watervliet High School, three students finished fourth in the state. Bailey Schmidt’s glider bench was named Regional Grand Champion and earned first place honors prior to being awarded fourth place at state. A chess board built by Courtney Stantz finished first at regionals and fourth in state competition. Isaac Workman created a coffee table; that piece of furniture was a first place finisher at regional’s and fourth place finisher at state. Other woodworkers with winning projects included: Stantz – hall table – second at regionals, eighth in the state; Jacob Wilmoth – Adirondack chair – third in regionals, sixth at state; Harleigh Unger – jewelry box – first at regionals, seventh at state; Trevor Townsend – gun case – first at regionals, eighth at state; Dominick Tavolacci – Adirondack chair – first at regionals, ninth at state; Tavolacci – gun rack – first at regional’s, ninth in the state; Jakub Gitersonke – bed – second at regionals, ninth at state; Chad Cowsert – glider bench – second at regional’s, ninth at state; Ryan Lefor – dining table – first at regionals, 10th at state; Kelli Elston – jewelry case – first at regionals, 10th at state; and Nick Swanson – dining table – first in regional’s, 10th at state. In the drafting competition, Noah Pritchard finished sixth at state. Zack Pickens won seventh place honors. Emma Yazel and Jason Whorton earned eighth place at state, and Breanna Langston won ninth place.
Hartford Township puts County-Wide Road
Millage renewal on August 2 Ballot
By Nancy Albright Van Buren County Department of Public Works Director Larry Hummel is traveling far and wide on the county’s roads to inform area cities and township voters that the County-Wide Road Millage is up for renewal and will be placed on the August 2 ballot. The 0.9769 millage, if passed, is a four-year renewal that Van Buren County voters have approved since 1978. The millage will generate funds for planned area road improvements and may not cost homeowners much. For example, a homeowner owning a home with a taxable value of $45,000 (market value $90,000) will pay just $44.00 per year. Mr. Hummel reminded Hartford Township officials at the May 12 meeting that millage funds will be used exclusively to improve county, village and city bridges and roads in Van Buren County to help save the lives of all those travelling through the area. Funds will not be used for things such as snow removal, potholes, equipment, traffic signals, and operating costs, which are funded by fuel taxes and registration fees. Road improvements include County Road 681 between 71st and 77th Avenues in Hartford, Lawrence, Keeler and Hamilton Townships. Work is currently underway on the southern section of the throughway and is currently closed to traffic while road crews widen the road and lay a new aggregate base and asphalt surface, complete drainage work, and remove trees. Mr. Hummel reports this section of road may be completed as early as mid-July. Work on the northern section of the road is expected to be completed sometime in September. The estimated cost for the improvement project is $876,000; $699,000 of which will be paid for by federal and state aid. The county-wide road millage and the Van Buren County Road Commission will pay the balance of $177,000. Mr. Hummel also informed township officials that road workers are scheduled to work 10 hours a day, four days a week beginning in 2017, which will help lower overall improvement costs. Mr. Hummel stated that, “On August 2 of this year, residents of Van Buren County will once again have the opportunity to vote on the county-wide road millage for four more years. This millage will enable the Van Buren County Road Commission to continue to make annual improvements and upgrades to our county-wide road network. Our road network is vital to the social and economic welfare of the citizens of Van Buren County. Our economy is based heavily on agriculture, agri-business and tourism. In addition, thousands of children are transported daily over the county-wide road network”. Go to www.facebook.com/VBCRC for updates on Van Buren County Road Commission activities, and don’t forget to vote on August 2! Hartford Township Hall renovations underway Other planned township improvements include renovations to the Hartford Township Hall, which are currently underway. The city has awarded the construction contract to Hall Builders of Paw Paw. Benton Harbor-based engineering, surveying and architectural firm Wightman & Associates, Inc. will design and engineer the building. Township Supervisor Ron Sefcik stated that things may become “a bit messy during construction and that work will be completed as soon as possible”. The township is currently accepting bids for batches of like items, such as desks and chairs that are in need of being replaced. Items up for bid will be posted on the front door of Township Hall located at 61310 County Road 687, Hartford, MI, and on Facebook. McDowell Apartments Senior Complex forms Neighborhood Watch Deputy Phil Scuiletti of the Van Buren County Sheriff’s Office reported that the McDowell Apartments Senior Complex off North Center Street in Hartford has formed a neighborhood watch in response to the stabbing of 61 year-old Charlotte Young that occurred on March 29, 2016. The group will meet on the third Wednesday of every month in the complex’s conference room and encourages all interested residents to attend. In other news, the department is currently investigating several criminal complaints, including multiple larceny charges and a breaking and entering incident that occurred in the 67000 block of Red Arrow Highway in April. Hartford Fire Department awards and appreciation dinner Hartford Fire Chief Robbie Harting reported that the Fire Department held their awards and appreciation dinner on Saturday April 30, and congratulated Firefighter Captain Mike Chappell for receiving the 2015 Firefighter of the Year Award, and Firefighter Daniel Carlisle for receiving the Most Improved Firefighter Award for 2015 on behalf of the entire department. Candidate for Van Buren County 7th District Court Judge Mike McKay Addresses Township Meeting Current Van Buren County Assistant Prosecutor Mike McKay addressed township officials and other meeting attendees asking for their support in his run for Van Buren County 7th District Court Judge. After earning a bachelor’s degree from Northern Michigan University, Mr. McKay served with the Michigan State Police in South Haven for 10 years until he was hurt during a crash investigation. He then attended Michigan State University College of Law, and completed externships with the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division and the Governor’s Office of Legal Counsel. Mr. McKay began his legal career at the Berrien County Prosecutor’s office and then joined the Van Buren County Prosecutor’s Office where he has worked with the Michigan Court of Appeals and served as a Drug Treatment Court prosecutor. He is currently a Mental Health Court prosecutor. Mr. McKay is a dedicated public servant who has represented Van Buren County in more than 5,000 legal cases and stated that he has the experience to fulfill the requirements which will allow him to be an effective 7th District Court Judge. Strawberry Run fun set for Saturday, June 11 The township voted to sponsor this year’s Hartford Strawberry Run, which is scheduled for Saturday, June 11, in the amount of $750. Strawberry Run organizer Kim Sinclair reminds those who wish to participate that there is still time to register for the run! Entry fees for the 5K Walk, 5K Run and the 10K Run are $20 for participants registering by June 9, and $30 if registering on race day. The Fun Run will begin at 8:00 a.m. The 5K Walk, 5K Run and 10K Runs will begin at 8:30 a.m. All runs will begin and end at Hartford High School. Strollers are allowed for the 5K Walk as long as participants start at the back of the pack. The Lions Club will award trophies to the 1st, 2nd and 3rd place male and female winners of the 5K and 10K runs, and medals for the top three male and females in all 13 age groups. Every finisher of the 5K Walk will receive a participation ribbon and the Lions Club will award a Dog Tag Finisher Award to all participants of the One Mile Fun Run. Pre-register online at register.chronotrack.com/r/20219 by June 9 and receive a free t-shirt! Credit cards will be accepted for online registration. If mailing in your registration it must be received by June 6. Mail the registration form and a check payable to the Hartford Lions Club to: Strawberry Run P.O Box 633, Hartford, MI 49057. Residents and business owners on the route can purchase route markers for $30. The markers will be featured along the run route and help make the run well-marked. Businesses and names of those purchasing route markers will be printed on the back of 700 “Official Strawberry Run” t-shirts, which can help promote area businesses. Each business or individual that purchases a route marker will receive one marker and be allowed to keep the sign as a souvenir of this year’s race. Those wishing to purchase route markers must do so by June 1. The Fruit Belt Race will also take place on June 11. There are five legs of the run. The event begins in Hartford and each runner that finishes all five races receives a commerative gold coin. The Hartford Indian Emerald Vanguard will also sponsor a FREE pancake breakfast! For more information contact Kim Sinclair at (269) 757-2541. For additional information visit the Hartford Strawberry Run Facebook page.
Comments