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  <title>b0665f79</title>
  <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.advisor-chronicle.com" />
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  <entry>
    <title>Former elementary school turned condominium one of private residences featured in 2022 Home Tour</title>
    <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.advisor-chronicle.com/former-elementary-school-turned-condominium-one-of-private-residences-featured-in-2022-home-tour" />
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    <author>
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    </author>
    <updated>2022-09-10T16:37:24Z</updated>
    <published>2022-09-10T16:37:24Z</published>
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           Get to know MPS Superintendent Becky Jones as she looks ahead to the new school year
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           Marshall Public Schools Superintendent Becky Jones said she has always had a passion for wanting to work in education.
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           Even though her master’s degree is in business from Spring Arbor University, Jones originally went to school at Eastern Michigan University to be a special education teacher when she was an undergraduate before making the switch to the business field.
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           “I always wanted to work in some sort of line in education and be a part of the school system,” Jones said. “My aunt was a special education teacher in an early childhood role and she worked for Jackson ISD. That was part of the reason why I wanted to go to school to be a special education teacher when I started. I ended up changing and I’m not 100% sure why I changed, but it’s interesting that I ended up into the system in the career path of doing that.”
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           After Jones graduated from EMU, she landed a job in Jackson as a business manager for a construction company before being hired at Jackson County Intermediate School District in business operations.
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           Jones has been in the school system ever since her time at Jackson County ISD before coming over to Marshall Public Schools, where she served as the director of business operations for the district for eight years.
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           Jones said the relationships she built over the eight years in that role has helped her transition into the superintendent role.
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           “I think with how I am as a leader and how I am as a person, I like to build a lot of personal relationships,” said Jones. “So I think that’s just something that has come natural for me over the eight years, I’ve just always built really good relationships with the people that I work with. I care about the people, I care about families, I care about our students. It didn’t seem unnatural for me to fill into the role of interim, because it was something I wanted to do.”
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           Jones was appointed interim superintendent in May 2021 after the departure of former Superintendent Randy Davis.
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           After eight months, the Marshall Public Schools Board of Education unanimously agreed to hire Jones into the permanent role.
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           When reflecting on when she officially was hired into the permanent role, Jones commended the many who have supported her during the process and said she feels honored to now be serving in the role.
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           “I think that educating people’s children and educating our youth is a very important role,” said Jones. “It’s an honor and a blessing in how I look at it.”
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           Jones added that she is driven and inspired by being able to serve two communities, being students and families in both Marshall and Albion.
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           “When I look at the district as a whole, I look at it as serving two communities,” Jones said. “Obviously we have an interesting history as a school system with bringing Albion into the system and serving both Albion and Marshall. That to me alone, just having the two communities that we get to serve, is a wonderful thing. Both communities have a lot to offer when you look at it. There are a lot of great people, leaders and businesses that are really supportive of the school system and really supportive of our kids. That’s one of the many benefits of this role.”
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           Jones added she is also inspired by being able to serve the students as a whole and being able to interact with them and the teachers who are involved in their learning development.
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           “Also the kids and the interaction with the kids. We get to go out to buildings and interact with the kids and interact with the teachers,” Jones added. “We have a wonderful staff in the district. When I look at the role, I don’t look at it as a superintendent role, I look at it as ‘I get to work with these amazing people who work for Marshall Public Schools and I get to meet all of these wonderful community members.’”
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           In a March article from the Battle Creek Enquirer, former Board President Richard Lindsey acknowledged Jones played a key role in the annexation of the Albion School District and Marshall Public Schools in 2016.
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           Jones further explained how she was involved in that process.
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           “I walked alongside Dr. Davis when annexation happened,” she said. “I sat in all the meetings, went through all the financials and worked on all those things and what it would look like. So I was right alongside working through the annexation piece of it. Through annexation, there were a lot of people that care about both communities and about wanting to make sure that all of our kids have equal opportunity and equal access to good education. To me, in my eyes, that’s the one thing that matters, is equal access to kids for education.”
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           As superintendent, there are both challenges ahead for Jones along with some things that she is excited about in terms of plans the district is implementing going into the school year.
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           “I’m really excited about our strategic plan,” Jones said. “I think it’s really important for organizations to have a vision for what they are working towards. And I think that we’ve clearly written out what our vision is as an organization. I’m really looking forward to putting that in place.”
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           As far as challenges go, Jones brought up being able to educate students in a post-pandemic world and focusing on providing support for students and families on what they need to further their education in light of all the disruptions that took place in schools during the past two years.
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           “I think we still have a lot of challenges post pandemic when we’re looking at children and we’re looking at education,” Jones said. “We as a district need to sit down and focus on where our kids are at and where we need our kids to be in terms of education. So, I think for this year it’s really going to be a huge focus on what support we can give our families and the things we can do to really get our kids educated and where they need to be in a post pandemic world.”
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           Another challenge in Jones’ eyes is how to put a new bond on the table and how to get community members to support one this time around. Last November, a $45.6 million bond was voted down by a 2 to 1 margin. She also mentioned the school’s sinking fund millage that she said will be on the ballot for voters this November.
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           “We have $75 million worth of needs,” said Jones. “We obviously had a failed bond attempt and those needs haven’t gone away. So we’re going to have to go back out to the community in looking at a bond and (figure out) what we need to do. We need to sit down and talk about where we’re at with that. Another thing is with our sinking fund millage. That is set to expire and we’re going to be putting a renewal on the November ballot. It is a renewal but it’s not going to be worded as a renewal, because we’re going to add in security and technology services for that. So we’re really going to have to get out there and communicate effectively with the communities about that.”
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           When Jones’ time is done at MPS, whenever that may be, she said she just hopes for both communities to look at the school district and be proud of what it represents.
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           “I want both communities to be proud of their school system,” she said. “I want Marshall Public Schools serving both Marshall and Albion communities and for it to be a choice district for those communities. I want them to be proud of the work we do here and how we educate their kids.”
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    <summary type="text" />
    <g-custom:tags type="string">Nov 2020</g-custom:tags>
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  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>‘I want both communities to be proud of their school system’</title>
    <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.advisor-chronicle.com/i-want-both-communities-to-be-proud-of-their-school-system" />
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    <author>
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    </author>
    <updated>2022-08-11T19:02:47Z</updated>
    <published>2022-08-11T19:02:47Z</published>
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           Get to know MPS Superintendent Becky Jones as she looks ahead to the new school year
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           Marshall Public Schools Superintendent Becky Jones said she has always had a passion for wanting to work in education.
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           Even though her master’s degree is in business from Spring Arbor University, Jones originally went to school at Eastern Michigan University to be a special education teacher when she was an undergraduate before making the switch to the business field.
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           “I always wanted to work in some sort of line in education and be a part of the school system,” Jones said. “My aunt was a special education teacher in an early childhood role and she worked for Jackson ISD. That was part of the reason why I wanted to go to school to be a special education teacher when I started. I ended up changing and I’m not 100% sure why I changed, but it’s interesting that I ended up into the system in the career path of doing that.”
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           After Jones graduated from EMU, she landed a job in Jackson as a business manager for a construction company before being hired at Jackson County Intermediate School District in business operations.
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           Jones has been in the school system ever since her time at Jackson County ISD before coming over to Marshall Public Schools, where she served as the director of business operations for the district for eight years.
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           Jones said the relationships she built over the eight years in that role has helped her transition into the superintendent role.
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           “I think with how I am as a leader and how I am as a person, I like to build a lot of personal relationships,” said Jones. “So I think that’s just something that has come natural for me over the eight years, I’ve just always built really good relationships with the people that I work with. I care about the people, I care about families, I care about our students. It didn’t seem unnatural for me to fill into the role of interim, because it was something I wanted to do.”
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           Jones was appointed interim superintendent in May 2021 after the departure of former Superintendent Randy Davis.
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           After eight months, the Marshall Public Schools Board of Education unanimously agreed to hire Jones into the permanent role.
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           When reflecting on when she officially was hired into the permanent role, Jones commended the many who have supported her during the process and said she feels honored to now be serving in the role.
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           “I think that educating people’s children and educating our youth is a very important role,” said Jones. “It’s an honor and a blessing in how I look at it.”
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           Jones added that she is driven and inspired by being able to serve two communities, being students and families in both Marshall and Albion.
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           “When I look at the district as a whole, I look at it as serving two communities,” Jones said. “Obviously we have an interesting history as a school system with bringing Albion into the system and serving both Albion and Marshall. That to me alone, just having the two communities that we get to serve, is a wonderful thing. Both communities have a lot to offer when you look at it. There are a lot of great people, leaders and businesses that are really supportive of the school system and really supportive of our kids. That’s one of the many benefits of this role.”
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           Jones added she is also inspired by being able to serve the students as a whole and being able to interact with them and the teachers who are involved in their learning development.
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           “Also the kids and the interaction with the kids. We get to go out to buildings and interact with the kids and interact with the teachers,” Jones added. “We have a wonderful staff in the district. When I look at the role, I don’t look at it as a superintendent role, I look at it as ‘I get to work with these amazing people who work for Marshall Public Schools and I get to meet all of these wonderful community members.’”
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           In a March article from the Battle Creek Enquirer, former Board President Richard Lindsey acknowledged Jones played a key role in the annexation of the Albion School District and Marshall Public Schools in 2016.
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           Jones further explained how she was involved in that process.
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           “I walked alongside Dr. Davis when annexation happened,” she said. “I sat in all the meetings, went through all the financials and worked on all those things and what it would look like. So I was right alongside working through the annexation piece of it. Through annexation, there were a lot of people that care about both communities and about wanting to make sure that all of our kids have equal opportunity and equal access to good education. To me, in my eyes, that’s the one thing that matters, is equal access to kids for education.”
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           As superintendent, there are both challenges ahead for Jones along with some things that she is excited about in terms of plans the district is implementing going into the school year.
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           “I’m really excited about our strategic plan,” Jones said. “I think it’s really important for organizations to have a vision for what they are working towards. And I think that we’ve clearly written out what our vision is as an organization. I’m really looking forward to putting that in place.”
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           As far as challenges go, Jones brought up being able to educate students in a post-pandemic world and focusing on providing support for students and families on what they need to further their education in light of all the disruptions that took place in schools during the past two years.
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           “I think we still have a lot of challenges post pandemic when we’re looking at children and we’re looking at education,” Jones said. “We as a district need to sit down and focus on where our kids are at and where we need our kids to be in terms of education. So, I think for this year it’s really going to be a huge focus on what support we can give our families and the things we can do to really get our kids educated and where they need to be in a post pandemic world.”
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           Another challenge in Jones’ eyes is how to put a new bond on the table and how to get community members to support one this time around. Last November, a $45.6 million bond was voted down by a 2 to 1 margin. She also mentioned the school’s sinking fund millage that she said will be on the ballot for voters this November.
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           “We have $75 million worth of needs,” said Jones. “We obviously had a failed bond attempt and those needs haven’t gone away. So we’re going to have to go back out to the community in looking at a bond and (figure out) what we need to do. We need to sit down and talk about where we’re at with that. Another thing is with our sinking fund millage. That is set to expire and we’re going to be putting a renewal on the November ballot. It is a renewal but it’s not going to be worded as a renewal, because we’re going to add in security and technology services for that. So we’re really going to have to get out there and communicate effectively with the communities about that.”
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           When Jones’ time is done at MPS, whenever that may be, she said she just hopes for both communities to look at the school district and be proud of what it represents.
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           “I want both communities to be proud of their school system,” she said. “I want Marshall Public Schools serving both Marshall and Albion communities and for it to be a choice district for those communities. I want them to be proud of the work we do here and how we educate their kids.”
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    <summary type="text" />
    <g-custom:tags type="string">Nov 2020</g-custom:tags>
    <media:content medium="image" url="https://irp.cdn-website.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/IMG_2084.jpg" />
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>Marshall Country Club celebrating centennial year with multiple upcoming events</title>
    <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.advisor-chronicle.com/marshall-country-club-celebrating-centennial-year-with-multiple-upcoming-events" />
    <link rel="enclosure" type="image/jpeg" href="https://irp.cdn-website.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/IMG-3830.jpg" length="1541174" />
    <author>
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    <updated>2022-08-11T18:57:05Z</updated>
    <published>2022-08-11T18:57:05Z</published>
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           In February of 1921, while what would eventually become the Marshall Country Club was being organized, 70 acres on the south shore of Lyon Lake was purchased for the golf course.
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           That summer was spent by members raking stones, tearing down fences and leveling off and cleaning land while Harold C. Brooks, the club’s first president, hired golf architect Tom Bendelow of Chicago to help design the course.
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           The following year, Brooks erected the club house that was planned by his architect friend Howard Young of Kalamazoo. A breezeway connected the club house with a pro shop and the country club was up and running.
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           There have been a few changes made to Marshall Country Club over time, including the course being renovated into an 18-hole course from a nine-hole course in 1972.
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           But 100 years later, the country club is still serving area golfers, with numerous events on tap as MCC celebrates its centennial year.
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           Director of Communications Nancy Card said she believes Marshall Country Club’s ability to adapt over time has allowed the golf course to stay open even during ever-changing times.
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           “It (country clubs) used to be much more formal,” said Card. “It used to be the ‘good ol' boys club.’ It used to be a high stakes kind of a thing. And now, through the evolution of all of these years, it’s interesting to me to see how creative we’ve had to become in order to continue to operate in the new world. It’s so different and we can’t operate like we used to back then. Just watching the changes and the evolution and how things have made us who we are today, that’s very important. And it’s so exciting to see how people are consumed with this. They really love our country club.”
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            According to a 2019 article from
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           Business Insider
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           , country club memberships dropped 20% from 1990 to 2014. The number of clubs are also diminishing, as there were over 5,000 member-owned full-service golf and country clubs in the U.S., according to the article. By 2017, that number had fallen to about 3,900.
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           MCC used to be a strictly private country club, but over time has morphed into a quasi-private, quasi-public course, with a restaurant, Lyon Lake Grill, that is open to the public.
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           Feef Dillon, a member of the centennial celebration committee, said offering a warm environment has been one of the main keys to making the country club a successful operation.
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           “I think we have to have a welcoming environment that welcomes all walks of life,” said Dillon. “Female, low and high income, we have to make it affordable for people to want to be here and make it worth their while and offer activities that are appealing to people. Long gone are the days where you could write off your country club membership. It used to be that companies would foot the bill. That’s no longer the case. Now we have to find ways (to gain members) and the relationships make it happen.”
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           Tom Duffey, an MCC Board member and past club president, added it’s not only the friendships that are created, but the community environment that has made the country club a special place for him and many others.
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           “This is a great place for family activities,” Duffey said. “We have both Marshall golf teams here, Homer golf teams, Albion College, Olivet College. I brought my kids out to play and now I’m bringing my grandkids out to play. It’s just a friendly, nice place to bring kids. You’ll see a bunch of kids out here hitting balls. It’s just a nice place to come out to.”
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           The COVID-19 pandemic brought tough times to many businesses across the country, and MCC was no exception. House Manager Sarah Coco has been at MCC for four years and said while there have been some difficult times to get through, she did not ever want to leave because of her passion for the country club and seeing how much it matters to so many people she interacts with.
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           “This is my first time working at a country club and it is different than any other restaurant, bar or hospitality place that I’ve ever worked at,” said Coco. “It was pretty challenging during COVID in that situation to get creative with how to be open, how to serve the members. It was a struggle, a huge struggle. You kind of step back and think ‘why am I doing this? You could go anywhere right now and get a job.’ But for me, I can’t do that because this place just means so much to so many people that it becomes special to you.”
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           Vicki Knickerbocker, another member of the centennial celebration committee and MCC member said the country club is special to her in many ways, from building friendships to simply giving her and her husband a hobby.
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           “I think it’s very important for both myself and my husband because it gives us something to do,” Knickerbocker said. “We could be working in our yard or doing something (else), but we’re outside and it’s beautiful out here. My husband is out here (frequently). I’m here maybe a couple days a week, but if it wasn't here where (would we be)?”
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           To date, MCC has held monthly celebrations to honor its centennial year. On Aug. 13, two golf tournaments and a dinner will be held at the country club.
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           The first tournament of the day is for current and past members only and will begin at 8:30 a.m., while the second tournament—a four-person scramble, is open to anyone and is set for an approximate 1:30 p.m. start time. Both tournaments have limited spots available.
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           The centennial dinner is open to the public and tickets are currently on sale. Anyone interested in purchasing tickets can contact MCC.
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           There will also be a raffle drawing that event organizers hope will be held that night, where ticket holders will have a chance to win a variety of prizes, with the top prize being a free membership to the country club.
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           MCC will conclude its celebrations on Oct. 1 with “100 years of fun” and standup comedian Dave Dyer, an event that will also be open to the public.
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           “We want people to know that we are celebrating, why we are celebrating and that we invite them to come and celebrate with us,” Card said.
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    <summary type="text" />
    <g-custom:tags type="string">Nov 2020</g-custom:tags>
    <media:content medium="image" url="https://irp.cdn-website.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/IMG-3830.jpg" />
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>Community gathers at Tee-Ball Garden in Albion for statue, plaque dedication</title>
    <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.advisor-chronicle.com/community-gathers-at-tee-ball-garden-in-albion-for-statue-plaque-dedication" />
    <link rel="enclosure" type="image/jpeg" href="https://irp.cdn-website.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/David+and+Michael.jpg" length="430770" />
    <author>
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    </author>
    <updated>2022-07-04T21:49:50Z</updated>
    <published>2022-07-04T21:49:50Z</published>
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           Jerry Sacharski was a recreation league director in Albion who pioneered T-ball as an organized youth sport in 1956 because he couldn’t stand to turn away young children with the desire to play baseball.
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            Sacharski passed away in February of 2009, but his memory has lived on, which was apparent on June 25 when well over 100 community members came together at Tee-Ball Garden in Albion, where a new T-ball statue and historic plaque was unveiled under the leadership of the
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            Restore Our Coke Sign: Bring Art and History Downtown
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            Many of Sacharski’s former
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           players and their families were present to celebrate the event, along with members of the Sacharski family, including Jerry’s three sons—David, Michael and William.
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           Following the ceremony, current T-ball players played a short game in Victory Park near Hannah Street, which was followed by an “Old-Timers” game.
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           John Sims, one of Sacharski’s former players who spoke at the ceremony, expressed appreciation for his former coach and the impact he left on him and many others who played for him growing up.
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           “I go down to that field and I can see him (Sacharski),” Sims said. “I think everyone who played “pee-wee” ball with him remembers him. We have very few people in our lives as young people who make a mark like that. I’m 70 years old and I still remember that guy with very great kindness. He was good to us.”
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           Sims also cited a 1960 T-ball exhibition game, when Sacharski took him and other pee wee players to Michigan State University to put the sport on display in front of a TV audience as the game was videotaped by a local television station. In 2000, the video was accepted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame at Cooperstown, N.Y.
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           Sacharski was also a teacher with Albion Public Schools for nearly three decades. His son David said his father was great at teaching the fundamentals of the game and brought his teaching qualities to the baseball field.
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           “My dad wanted the kids to learn the fundamentals of baseball while playing T-ball, which was sometimes called pee wee ball,” said David. “Notice the word ‘fun’ in fundamentals. He wanted the kids to have fun and at the same time, learn basic skills. Being a teacher, he made T-ball a classroom activity on grass.”
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           William, another of the three Sacharski sons, said he was one of the original 60 T-ball players in Albion. He remembers the summer of 1956 when “everything changed” in terms of how the game of baseball was played when he was a young boy.
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           “The whole game that we played changed,” said William. “As a 7-year-old kid, we actually got to go up to bat and we actually got to hit the ball (instead of getting walked or striking out). You could take a stance and that ball was sitting there on the tee and you could just kind of drive through it. There were no free passes, there were no strikeouts. Every play, something happened. Just like Dave said, after a while, your fundamentals and your skills (improve) because you’re not standing around.”
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           Michael is the oldest of the Sacharski boys and said he was an umpire during the first T-ball game in June of 1956. He thanked everyone who showed up to the event and commended all who helped his father make the sport successful.
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           He told a story about his father after Jerry retired from school teaching when he was in Hawaii that embodied the type of person and coach Jerry was.
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           “I think the second spring he was there, he ambled up to the park that was near our home, because they were staying in our home,” Michael said. “And he ambled up in the park, and in Hawaii they have springtime youth baseball. He was sitting around on a picnic table watching how teams were practicing on the various fields and he did that a few times. Finally, one of the coaches of one of the teams—the players would have been T-ball players here, but they had (the pitcher) throw the ball, they don’t hit it off the tee—the coach said ‘I’ve seen you here, do you know anything about baseball? Would you like to help coach?’ And he said ‘yes, I will do that.’ The name of the team was the Padres, and they were already 0-3 and by the end of the season, they were I think about 12-3 and took the championship. He never told anybody who he was or where he came from. And to this day, the coaches, the players, the parents—have no idea who this guy was.”
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           Janet Domingo and Linda Kolmodin lead the Coca-Cola team and led the effort for the new plaque and statue at the Tee-Ball Garden.
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           The garden is a cooperative venture with the Calhoun County Land Bank and Albion Community Foundation. Money was raised for these art installations and additional landscape improvements through a matching Patronicity campaign through the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, according to a press release that ran in the ad-visor in the June 25 edition. Donated funds were held by an Albion Community Foundation. Other completed projects included the iconic Coca-Cola sign restoration and the new Malleable Mural celebrating Albion’s long foundry history.
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           “This is the completion of our three (main) projects,” said Domingo. “Many years ago, when I was working at the hospital, I made a video about Albion. I named it, ‘Small Town, Big Heart.’ Well, the town’s a bit smaller (now), but it hasn’t changed. As a result of a very successful campaign, we were able to continue with our goal to bring art and history downtown. We’re not quite done yet. We have a couple other small projects in the works. Thanks again to everyone and to everyone who supported us.”
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    <summary type="text" />
    <g-custom:tags type="string">Nov 2020</g-custom:tags>
    <media:content medium="image" url="https://irp.cdn-website.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/David+and+Michael.jpg" />
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>Teacher at Harrington Elementary School teacher retires after 26 years</title>
    <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.advisor-chronicle.com/teacher-at-harrington-elementary-school-teacher-retires-after-26-years" />
    <link rel="enclosure" type="image/jpeg" href="https://irp.cdn-website.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/IMG-3527.jpg" length="203963" />
    <author>
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    <updated>2022-06-22T03:27:23Z</updated>
    <published>2022-06-22T03:27:23Z</published>
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           After 26 years in education, Harrington Elementary School teacher Deb Seely’s teaching career has come to a close.
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           Seely’s career was honored during a ceremony inside of Harrington’s gymnasium on June 3, where multiple other teachers were also celebrated and given awards for their hard work and dedication to students this past school year.
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           Seely started her teaching career at Caldwell Elementary School in Albion and bounced back-and-forth between Caldwell and Harrington before going to teach at Albion High School for a few years. Then, when Marshall Public Schools merged with Albion Public Schools, Seely went back to Harrington to finish her career in education.
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           During the June 3 event, when Seely’s name was called to the front so she could accept her certificate of appreciation, the entire room gave her a standing ovation to pay respect to the time she has given over her career as an educator.
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           Seely said it felt great to have her peers and other community members in the room to honor her and other teachers for their overall dedication.
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           “It was wonderful to have everybody here,” said Seely. “It was great to see my old principals and just to see everybody. Teaching is hard. To do a good job, you’re starting in the early morning hours before the kids get here, and sometimes an hour after. And there’s no such thing as a real summer vacation, I was here working all summer. So I’m looking forward to having a summer of not getting papers ready for next year.”
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           After over two and a half decades of teaching, Seely met and interacted with a lot of different people, from faculty, students, parents and many other people during her career. Looking back, she said she will cherish the memories she has with the students of classes she taught.
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           “It’s great walking in the community, I see kids (I used to teach) all the time who say, ‘hey Ms. Seely.’ And I’ll have to tell them, ‘tell me your name’ because they’ve changed so much. I took this group of kids to the Nature Center this year, and this young man walks past me as I’m saying (to the students), ‘sit down and raise your hand if you’re ready for a snack.’ And he wheels around and goes, ‘I think you were my first grade teacher.’ And he tells me his name and I go, ‘yep, I remember you!’ I find it amazing they can remember their first grade teacher and remember all of the cool stuff we used to do. It’s fun to see former students.”
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           As Seely parts with Harrington Elementary, she said she wishes the best for future students and staff. Albion community leaders have pushed the proposal of a brand new elementary school, which was part of a $45.5 million bond proposed by Marshall Public Schools that was voted down by a 2-1 margin last November.
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           Seely said she supports a new elementary school being built in Albion, a city which hasn’t seen a new school facility since 1967.
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           “I would love to see a new elementary, preferably up by the opportunity school, '' Seely said. “I would just love to see a building. That would be my dream for the district. “I want to see the teachers have a wonderful place to teach. A new school would bring more people into the school system, so I’m looking forward to seeing that happen.”
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           As far as Seely’s personal journey goes, she is looking forward to a retirement filled with many adventures and different activities.
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           “Enjoying the summer, going hiking, horseback riding, bicycling, camping, traveling,” Seely said about what she is looking forward to.
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           Seely’s late husband, who was a professor at Albion College, passed away two years ago. She said it would be hard going on some of those adventures without him, but has her sister to accompany her on some of her journeys.
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           “I’m going to get to see friends I haven’t gotten to see in forever,” said Seely. “(I will get to visit) my family and his family.
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    <summary type="text" />
    <g-custom:tags type="string">Nov 2020</g-custom:tags>
    <media:content medium="image" url="https://irp.cdn-website.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/IMG-3527.jpg" />
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>30 years of helping those in need: Marshall’s Fountain Clinic</title>
    <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.advisor-chronicle.com/30-years-of-helping-those-in-need-marshalls-fountain-clinic" />
    <link rel="enclosure" type="image/jpeg" href="https://irp.cdn-website.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Cover+Photo+June+11+%281%29.jpg" length="843575" />
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    <updated>2022-06-10T14:02:35Z</updated>
    <published>2022-06-10T14:02:35Z</published>
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          Last year, Marshall’s Fountain Clinic we saw about 1,000 unduplicated patients for a total of 2,800 visits. Compared to about a decade ago, the number of patients have dropped but that is not necessarily a bad thing, said Fountain Clinic Executive Director Mary Jo Byrne.
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          “Actually, things are better due to the Affordable Health Care Act,” said Byrne, who has been executive director since December 2007. “The ACA expanded Medicaid which covered millions more people if you live in an expansion state which Michigan is. It also established the insurance marketplace for those that make too much money for Medicaid.
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          “Even though the premiums are less, there are still folks that fall through the cracks. To give you a perspective our numbers dropped by one-third after 2014. We also help our patients to qualify for the ACA.”
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          The Fountain Clinic opened its doors on May 6,1992 and the clinic recently marked its 30th anniversary.
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          The clinic was the idea of Dr. James Maher, and Byrne remembers how in early 1992, Maher approached her and the core group of individuals who would become part of the clinic's genesis.
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          "We were all at Oaklawn Hospital at the time,” said Byrne, explaining that the “we" included nurses Patty
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          Kellogg and Lee Sherman, along with Dr. Maher's wife Marcia Maher and Kathleen Lambrix, whose husband David was also a physician with Oaklawn.
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          “I was in social work and Dr. Maher came to all of us and said he had this idea for a free clinic for those who are low income and uninsured,” said Byrne. “He wanted to run the idea by us and see what we thought.”
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          Byrne said Maher was looking to pattern the idea of a Marshall clinic after the Nursing Clinic in Battle Creek.
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          "So, we all got together that January and February in his waiting room because we didn't have anywhere else to meet and he presented his experiences with patients,” she said.
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          Maher wrote letters to local doctors asking them if they would participate if there was such a clinic in Marshall.
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          The group would meet every couple of weeks and the Nursing Clinic also sent a representative.
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          Joe Carver, then head of the Calhoun County Health Department, also started attending those meetings and offering his support.
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          "Joe also felt there was a strong need for such a clinic,” said Byrne. "He was renting the house where the hospital parking ramp is now. It was called the old Tanner House and Joe was renting that as a Health Department office. He said he would give us space there to see patients.”
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          Byrne said that the thought was that in 1992, with Bill Clinton running for office with an idea for a national health program on his agenda, that a free clinic for those without insurance would be a “short-lived endeavor,” and now, 30 years later, the need for the Fountain Clinic is as important as ever.
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          Byrne says the concept at the Fountain Clinic remains the same as it was from day one. Doctors are asked to volunteer a couple of hours each month in a clinic setting to see low income/ uninsured patients.
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          "The difference back then was that we had no idea that the need was going to be as great as it was,” said Byrne. "So, we ended up hiring a nurse practitioner to see patients three days a week  as well as three part time nurses as the demand grew.”
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          Byrne says the group initially believed this was an operation they could pull off with all volunteers.
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          "Well, it didn't take us long to figure out that wasn't going to work, and we hired Marcy Stead to help run the clinic and assist the doctors,” said Byrne.
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          That first year, 449 patients came through the doors of the new Fountain Clinic. Five years later, that number had doubled, and in 2000, more than 2.200 patients were seen.
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          And as the years went by the numbers continued to grow.
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          "The big spike in patients being seen came following the recession in 2008 and that really changed many things for a lot of people,” said Byrne. "They lost the jobs with the benefits.”
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          Between 2009 and 2013, the clinic averaged more than 5,200 patient visits a year. As Byrne stated, a dip occurred once the Affordable Care Act took hold along Medicaid expansion with the clinic seeing approximately 3,500 patients a year between 2014-16.
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          Today, the clinic is available to more in the community.
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          “We’re seeing patients, both medical and dental,” said Byrne. “Dental has become a very large program because of so many people being enrolled in the Medicaid expansion program, but dental is big. We’ve also been administering COVID vaccines here and we still have our monthly blood pressure checks (first Friday of the month, 9-11 a.m.) open to the community.”
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          Byrne said overall, the clinic has not changed much over the years.
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          “But we are going to raise the income level to come in here to up to 300% (instead of 250% - for a single person, an annual income just over $38,000) of the poverty level,” she said. “That will allow us to start taking care of more people, especially the working folks who just can’t afford healthcare. This is a significant jump. That sounds like a lot but given inflation and people working at minimum wage or close to it, a lot of people are going to need help.”
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          The clinic’s largest fundraiser of the year had always been the Night at The Louvre event held at Tom Franke’s Oak Hill estate.
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          This year’s event has been renamed Picnic at The Louvre and will again take place at Oak Hill on Friday, June 17 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. To RSVP, call the clinic at 269-789-0410.
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          Franke passed away in March, but the Franke hold the event at Oak Hill this year.
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          Byrne said this year’s event will have more of a picnic feel to it with checkered tablecloths, box lunches provided by Schuler’s and a silent auction. A live auction will no longer be held.
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          “I’m hoping people will come out and have a good time,” said Byrne. “The event is outdoors, and we are very conscious about safety regarding COVID. Last year we had about 200 people and we are expecting that number for this year. We have 65 items so far in the silent auction.”
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          The highest value once again this year is the trip to England for seven days at one of two Abacus Hotels, coming in at a value $3,000 with a minimum bid of $2,000.
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          To see the list of auction items, go to fountainclinic.org.
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          The Louvre event usually raises about $45,000 for the clinic.
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          “This clinic has touched just about everybody in this community in some way – as a patient, volunteer or donor,” said Byrne. “This is a true community organization.”
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          Byrne remembers that there were some in the community that did not give the fledgling clinic much of a chance three decades ago.
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          "I remember one physician saying, 'Mary Jo, that place will never survive. If it lasts two to five years I'd be very surprised,’” said Byrne. “I didn't have any doubt that it would survive. Maybe it was because Joe Carver was so supportive. He made it clear that he would stick with us. He firmly believed it was necessary that there be somewhere for people to go that just did not have any insurance or not have the ability to pay on a sliding fee.
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          Byrne said that the Fountain Clinic's success in helping patients is a testament to the citizens of the area who have offered their support even during difficult times for themselves and others.
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          "I really think that's why the community has been so generous, she said. "Particularly during the rough times of the recession everybody knew somebody who needed the Fountain Clinic. I think our reputation for treating people with respect and dignity has been very good and that gets out  in the community. That’s something we've been very proud of.”
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          And Fountain Clinic staff members share Byrne’s sentiment.
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          Maria Miller, the clinic's dental hygienist stated, "Many of our patients have been without dental care due to not having  access to care. I enjoy educating them about oral health and helping them to restore their smiles and eat without pain. We have wonderful dentists that participate. It is so rewarding when a patient comes back to show their restored smiles. This program is a blessing to our patients, and they are very appreciative.”
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          Maureen Marshall said the clinic allows her to do what she loves: help people.
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          “I hear many times when I answer the phone people state it is nice to be able to actually talk to someone,” said Marshall. “They usually are in need of something and are frustrated with the process of finding help. The appreciation I hear in their voice when I am able to help them is so uplifting. The clinic fulfills so many needs in our community.”
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          Registered Nurse Kim Gloar said it is an “absolute blessing to be a part of the incredible team we have at the Fountain Clinic”
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          “We all work toward the same goal every day, and that is to provide exceptional medical care for those who otherwise would go or have gone without healthcare due to lack of insurance coverage or financial restraints,” said Gloar. “Every day is rewarding knowing we are making a difference in the lives of others. The support we receive from our community is what makes it possible for us to do what we do every day, and for that we are grateful.”
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          Linda Dailey has lived in Marshall for 24 years and had heard about the clinic but did not know exactly what they did.
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          “It wasn't until eight months ago, when I started working here that I started learning everything about the Fountain Clinic and all that we can offer,” said Dailey. “I thought the Fountain Clinic was a medical clinic for the people of Marshall, I was wrong; it's so much more – a free clinic that provides both dental and medical services to all those who qualify in all of Calhoun County and what makes it possible for us to provide these services  are grants and donations received from a compassionate, caring community. 
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          “We are a non-profit organization, but  I feel we are also a life-changing and life-saving organization. I am truly proud to be able to say I work at the Fountain Clinic and that every day my job allows me to help others with what I believe are life-changing and life-saving services. I feel good about working at the Fountain Clinic and what I can do to help others. We have all heard the words ‘helping one person might not change the world,  but it could change the world for one person.’ I get to feel those words.
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          “For 30 years this clinic has been helping thousands of Calhoun County residents and this has been possible with the help of our community. I feel we can continue to help more residents of our county for another 30 years and more…Please take some time and learn more about the Fountain Clinic and how you can help others and know and feel the difference you make in others’ lives. Remember, it's good to be blessed, but it's better to be a blessing.”
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    <summary type="text" />
    <g-custom:tags type="string">Nov 2020</g-custom:tags>
    <media:content medium="image" url="https://irp.cdn-website.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Cover+Photo+June+11+%281%29.jpg" />
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>Olivet baseball has district title revoked due to pitch-count violation</title>
    <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.advisor-chronicle.com/olivet-baseball-has-district-title-revoked-due-to-pitch-count-violation" />
    <link rel="enclosure" type="image/jpeg" href="https://irp.cdn-website.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Sharpley+Whitely.JPG" length="254097" />
    <author>
      <name />
    </author>
    <updated>2022-06-10T13:55:42Z</updated>
    <published>2022-06-10T13:55:42Z</published>
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          Olivet’s varsity baseball team had its Division 2 district championship vacated due to an MHSAA rules violation regarding the daily pitch count limit.
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          The violation occurred during the Eagles’ 8-6 win over Marshall in nine innings on June 4 in the title game at Gull Lake High School.
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          In the bottom half of the 7th inning, Marshall head coach Tom Sharpley and Olivet head coach Bill Whitely met with the home plate umpire to discuss whether the Eagles’ starting pitcher exceeded the 105-pitch limit that is permitted by the MHSAA in a day.
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          After the conversation, the coaches went back to their dugouts and the issue was seemingly resolved before the pitcher was pulled with one out in the inning as Marshall proceeded to tie the game and force the game into extra innings, where Olivet ultimately won.
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          However, a video was dropped off to the MHSAA anonymously that showed the pitcher going over 105 pitches against Marshall, explained MHSAA Communications Director Geoff Kimmerly.
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          After reviewing the video and obtaining information from Olivet that the pitcher had also thrown 10 pitches in the Eagles’ win against the Gull Lake Blue Devils earlier in the day, MHSAA officials determined the rule had been violated, Kimmerly said.
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          “It was an anonymous video, and it was enough where we could count all of the pitches,” said Kimmerly. “We had found that the pitcher had thrown more than 105 in the day. We checked in with Olivet after that and Olivet confirmed that the pitcher had indeed gone over 105 pitches, and at that point it’s pretty open and shut that rule was broken.”
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          Olivet Athletic Director Matt Seidl said they were notified of the violation on the night of June 7 and the decision to force Olivet to forfeit its regional semifinal game against Charlotte was made by the MHSAA on the morning of June 8.
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          The Eagles were set to face the Orioles on June 8 at Eaton Rapids High School. Instead, Charlotte moved on to the regional championship game to face the winner of Hamilton and Grand Rapids Catholic, while the Eagles’ season came to an end and their district crown wiped from the official record books.
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          Marshall, meanwhile, did not get the opportunity to advance to the regional semifinal to face Charlotte in place of Olivet. Kimmerly explained why the Redhawks didn’t get to advance.
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          “That’s the toughest part of this whole thing,” said Kimmerly. “We’ve had this happen every few seasons in a variety of sports. And we might find out about it 10 minutes after the game’s over, we might find out three days after the game’s over—and our general rule on that is that you don’t go back and play it again. In some cases, the team has been done and they’ve turned their uniforms in and it’s all completely over. It’s the right thing to do there and it’s unfortunate it has to end this way. It’s a vacate, that keeps it consistent. We have to go with the vacate, especially three or four days after the fact now.”
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          On June 4, Olivet defeated host Gull Lake, 8-1, in the day’s first semifinal game, while Marshall took care of Pennfield, 11-1 in the second  game to set up the championship matchup.
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          In the title game, the Eagles got out to an early 1-0 lead over Marshall before extending that lead to 3-0 when Jackson Sinclair smoked a two-run double into the gap in the top of the 3rd inning.
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          In the bottom of the 4th, a couple of defensive mishaps from the Eagles allowed the Redhawks to get a run back to make the score 3-1.
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          Then, in the bottom half of the 5th, Nick Ryan stepped up to the plate for Marshall and gave the Redhawks offense some life when he blasted a solo home run to left field to make it a one-run game.
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          After getting another runner on in the frame, Jesse Saldana doubled in a run to level the game at three apiece and give some momentum back to the Redhawks.
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          In the top of the 6th, the Eagles regained the lead after scoring two on a wild pitch to go up 5-3. In the top of the 7th, Olivet would add a much-needed insurance run when Evan Poulopoulos delivered a two-out RBI single to make the score 6-3 in favor of the Eagles.
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          Marshall had one last chance to rally in the bottom half of the 7th and the offense made the most of the frame and scored three to send the game into extra innings.
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          First, Luke Holbrook drove in a run on a single to make it 6-4, but Olivet cut down a runner at third base to record a much needed out for the Eagles.
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          With two outs and runners on first and second base, Coltin Chany roped a single into right field and the ball got by Olivet’s right fielder, scoring two runs on the play to tie the game at 6-6.
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          After each team was retired in order in the 8th, Olivet’s offense was able to manufacture a couple of runs in the top half of the 9th via a bases loaded walk drawn by Tyler Latunski, followed by a sacrifice fly by Brody Lehman to put the Eagles back up by two runs.
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          In the bottom of the 9th, Marshall’s offense threatened but was unable to score as the Eagles outlasted the Redhawks.
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          The win for Olivet improved its record to 31-2, which set the record for most wins in a season in the program’s history.
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          Olivet head coach Bill Whitely was proud of his team’s resiliency to overcome some defensive mistakes while still having the poise to bounce back from those and find a way to win.
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          “These kids have just battled all year,” Whitely said. “We’ve talked about competing and they’ve competed all the time. Whether we’re down or ahead—the kids are really young, it’s a really young baseball team but they compete. And I was really proud of them the way that we made some errors and guys didn’t hang their heads. They came back in and cheered for their teammates and got some big hits and that was the difference.”
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          Lolo Aguirre, who came on in relief in the title game, recorded wins in both games on the day for the Eagles, which improved his record to 11-0 on the season.
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          “They both (pitchers) wanted the ball, they’ve been excellent all season,” said Whitely. “Both guys pound the strike zone, their strikeout to walk ratio is really good. Both kids compete and they’re tough minded, competitive kids. And my catcher back there, he just started catching in January. He does a hell of a job with the pitching staff.”
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          For Marshall, its season ended with a 20-9 overall record while falling just short of a district title.
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          Head coach Tom Sharpley said he was proud of his team for overcoming adversity all season long and complimented both teams for a well-played game in the final.
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          “It’s something that’s taken place the whole spring (overcoming adversity),” said Sharpley. “First we were dealing with the weather, then there was an umpire shortage so our schedule didn’t have a great rhythm to it. This baseball game was incredible because either team could have won it at any point in time, and each team responded. Unfortunately, it came to an end for us, but we’re so proud of our kids for not giving up, not quitting and giving their best shot when we were seemingly down.”
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          Sharpley said the message to his team and to the departing seniors was a positive one as he thought they showed a tremendous amount of resolve to respond after being down in the game on several occasions.
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          “We told them, there were some prolific, great plays, then there were some not so good plays,” Sharpley said. “And that’s the same with how life is. If we have opportunities and sometimes it doesn’t go right, and we don’t react and respond correctly. Then you have the other side of it where you do respond to it well. I think our kids showed great resolve and character because they didn’t give up. And hopefully that carries on with them for the rest of their lives in some way.”
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          In Marshall’s game against Pennfield, Killian Bies hit two doubles and a single while driving in two runs in the Redhawks’ 11-1 semifinal win. Saldana had two hits and an RBI, while Holbrook added two singles and two RBIs. Hogan McCleary also drove in a run on two hits, while Coltin Chany recorded two hits and an RBI as well.
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          On the mound, Isaac Stetler pitched six innings and struck out five batters while allowing just one run on five hits.
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          In the Eagles’ win over Gull Lake, Aguirre pitched five innings while striking out one batter on three hits allowed.
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          At the plate, Sinclair went 2-for-3 and Lehman went 2-for-2. Bryce Wine was 1-for-3 with 2 RBIs, while Ramsey Bousseau went 1-for-3 and drove in three runs.
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    <summary type="text" />
    <g-custom:tags type="string">Nov 2020</g-custom:tags>
    <media:content medium="image" url="https://irp.cdn-website.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Sharpley+Whitely.JPG" />
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>Marshall Academy Director Noah Wilson wins 2022 Michigan Charter School Administrator of the Year</title>
    <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.advisor-chronicle.com/marshall-academy-director-noah-wilson-wins-2022-michigan-charter-school-administrator-of-the-year" />
    <link rel="enclosure" type="image/jpeg" href="https://irp.cdn-website.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/IMG_3323.jpg" length="497776" />
    <author>
      <name />
    </author>
    <updated>2022-05-30T17:16:14Z</updated>
    <published>2022-05-30T17:16:14Z</published>
    <content>&lt;div data-rss-type="text"&gt;&#xD;
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          Marshall Academy Director Noah Wilson was recently named the 2022 Michigan Charter School Administrator of the Year. 
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          The announcement was made as a surprise during “opening ceremony” inside the Marshall Academy gymnasium on May 13 in front of students, staff, Wilson’s family, Michigan Association of School Personnel Administrators (MASPA) and other supporters.
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          Each Friday, during opening ceremony at the school, every student and staff member meet in the gymnasium to begin “high-five Fridays,”where the school celebrates one another’s successes during a given week.
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          After students and staff were finished saying the Pledge of Allegiance on May 13, that’s when Wilson was surprised and presented with the award.
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          “We get done with the pledge and the doors open up from the elementary side, and it’s the Charter School Association, the president walks out with a microphone, my Ferris charter school’s there, the management company is there,” said Wilson. “There are like 40 people walking through the door. So I was flattered. It was really cool to have that area where we’re doing something as a school all together. Everybody that had buy in, everybody that was a part of it was there to see it and witness it, so it was really special.”
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          In mid-March, Wilson learned he was a semifinalist for the award, which put him in the Top 10 for charter administrators in the state of Michigan out of hundreds of applications.
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          In late March, it was announced that Wilson made the cut in the Top 5 as a finalist for the award before being announced the overall winner.
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          To qualify to win the award, Wilson had to submit six essays, three letters of recommendation and three pieces of data.
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          At first, Wilson said he was hesitant after receiving a nomination to enter an application because he said he feels like he has more goals to achieve for himself and the school.
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          But after learning what some people associated with Marshall Academy were saying about him, Wilson figured he would go forth with the application. Now, things have come full circle from that point as Wilson is recognized as the top charter school administrator in 2022 out of over 1,500 total administrators.
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          “Until you’ve retired or you’re just done, you always have to continue to work hard and have a drive to do better,” Wilson said. “For me, I received a nomination, and it’s cool because you get nominated for teacher of the year and administrator of the year and stuff like that, and I had been nominated before. And I just said ‘man, I don’t feel like I’ve really hit it yet, I don’t feel like I’m really there.’ I have a whole list of goals written on my white board and I’m like ‘well I’ve hit a couple, but I haven’t hit them all yet.’”
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          Then, Wilson was informed about some of the things people were saying about him and at that point decided to follow through with the application process.
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          “They said the thing you would like to be recognized for,” Wilson said. “Just things like having a kind heart, pushing kids to do better, recognizing a good staff. But really the heart of it, whether I meet my goals—meeting those steps are really what drives me. That kind of touched me that they recognized some of those things.”
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          At Marshall Academy, Wilson is back in his hometown raising his two boys with his wife Jheri after spending 12 years in education in Florida.
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          Wilson began as the director in the 2018-19 school year and said he is excited to continue his personal journey while seeing Marshall Academy continue to grow.
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          “I feel like, for me personally, I've kind of found my little niche here,” he said. “I’m in a small school where community and personal relationships are important. For me as a person, community and personal relationships are very important to me, which is why I moved home. So, I found that niche and that’s where I’m like ‘this is perfect, this feels like home, this feels like right where I want to be.’ I love the spot that I found and love where I’m at.”
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          His hope is that people recognize Marshall Academy as an option that is free for students who may thrive in the smaller school environment, while hoping to see Marshall Public Schools continue to thrive at the same time.
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          “For the school, I don’t think Marshall as a whole understands that we champion the public school,” Wilson said. “Many of our own kids and family members and relatives go to Marshall Public Schools and we want what’s best for Marshall Public (Schools), so that we can get what’s best for us. We just want to be a part of the community and we want to give kids choices. And most of our kids have tried the public school and for one reason or another—maybe they didn’t fit in, maybe they needed a smaller class size, maybe they needed more attention on them. If the public doesn’t know that Marshall Academy is a choice, and a free choice and a public school that follows all of the same standards and takes all of the same tests—I mean, we have pretty much the same curriculum as the larger public school. People don’t know that about us, so really, I just want to get the word out to the greater community that Marshall Academy is an option for a select few kids.”
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    <summary type="text" />
    <g-custom:tags type="string">Nov 2020</g-custom:tags>
    <media:content medium="image" url="https://irp.cdn-website.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/IMG_3323.jpg" />
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>We’re out here to respect people, to be kind to people’</title>
    <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.advisor-chronicle.com/were-out-here-to-respect-people-to-be-kind-to-people" />
    <link rel="enclosure" type="image/jpeg" href="https://irp.cdn-website.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/IMG-3192.jpg" length="388595" />
    <author>
      <name />
    </author>
    <updated>2022-05-30T17:11:32Z</updated>
    <published>2022-05-30T17:11:32Z</published>
    <content>&lt;div data-rss-type="text"&gt;&#xD;
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           Calhoun County Sheriff Steve Hinkley and Undersheriff Tim Hurtt dive into several topics pertaining to law enforcement
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          Calhoun County Sheriff Steve Hinkley’s inspiration to get into law enforcement circles back to when he was attending Sunday school as a young boy.
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          Hinkley’s Sunday school teacher also happened to be a police chief and by the time Hinkley turned 16 years of age, he would usually spend one day a week doing ride alongs with the chief.
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          “Back then, we’re talking like 1986, you could jump into the back of a police car and ride with them,” said Hinkley. “I was 16 years old and I would spend about one weekend day a week riding with the police. My parents had to sign all the forms, but it was a little different times back then.”
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          After high school, Hinkley graduated from the police academy at Lansing Community College. In 1992, Hinkley landed at the Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office, where he has been ever since.
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          Before being appointed to sheriff in 2020 after the departure of Matt Saxton as his term ended, Hinkley was a detective/sergeant and oversaw multiple sheriff’s office units, such as the major crimes task force. 
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          Thinking back to his school days, Hinkley said he enjoyed physics and math, which are skills that are essential in police work when it comes to things such as analyzing car crashes and what caused them.
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          “I spent 19 years in traffic. My primary job was issuing traffic tickets, investigating traffic complaints and traffic crashes, including fatal accidents,” said Hinkley. “So I went through Michigan State, I spent time at Northwestern, I did heavy truck reconstruction training, pedestrian, bicycle—just everything I could get. Then, I got transferred into the detective bureau and they kind of combined me—I still did fatal crashes, but now I was doing violent crimes and homicides. I did all of those and I was promoted to supervision, then low and behold I was appointed (sheriff).”
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          Hinkley also put into perspective how much he appreciated being appointed sheriff and stressed that he really enjoys his job despite some challenges.
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          “Was this my goal? In a way it was,” Hinkley said. “I just had so many things—visions and dreams and things that I wanted to accomplish. So, when I had the opportunity to do this, it was perfect for me. I mean, I love my job. Law enforcement has changed so much over the years. I love coming to work every day. We’re having so many different struggles, but it is so good to be a policeman. And the interesting thing about being a sheriff, is a sheriff is the only position (in law enforcement) elected by the people. I get hired or fired every four years.”
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          Timothy Hurtt is the undersheriff who works alongside Hinkley in the department.
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          Hurtt is a native of Kalamazoo, Mich. and began his career in law enforcement in June of 1984 as a special deputy sheriff for the Kalamazoo County Sheriff’s Department before being hired as a police officer in Battle Creek in March of 1985.
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          In 1990, Hurtt was promoted to detective in the Battle Creek Police Department. After 12 years of working in violent crimes for the city, he was promoted to inspector in July of 2002 until 2010.
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          In 2011, Hurtt became the first ever police chief for the Kellogg Community College Department of Public Safety and played an integral role in setting the foundation for the department.
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          After almost two years as the police chief at KCC, Saxton was running for sheriff and approached Hurtt at the time and asked if he would be his undersheriff when Saxton was elected, which is how Hurtt ended up at the Calhoun County Sheriff’s Department.
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          Hurtt is also a graduate of Lansing Community College’s police academy while also graduating from Kalamazoo Valley Community College, Western Michigan University and the Center for Public Safety, School of Police Staff and Command at Northwestern University.
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          Hurtt also thought back to his childhood when thinking about when he gained his first interest in law enforcement.
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          “I always had an interest in law enforcement, it was always exciting when I saw the police,” Hurtt said. “I was kind of like a geek, a technology geek. I remember my dad bought me these walkie talkies that had these huge antennas. I said ‘man it would really be nice one day to have one of those radios like the police.’ So I just always had an interest.”
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          Before becoming fully involved in law enforcement, Hurtt worked security at Borgess Hospital in Kalamazoo and got to know a lot of the police officers in the area through that job.
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          “That drew me even closer to wanting to be a police officer,” said Hurtt. “You’d meet some deputies that would come in and they would start talking about the reserve program and being a volunteer deputy after going through training. So I signed up and I was accepted into that in January of ‘84. I went through the school—it was about three or four hours a week, one night a week until the end where they had some accelerated (classes) toward the end. Then I graduated in June and was sworn in as special deputy sheriff for Kalamazoo County.”
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          Hinkley and Hurtt have a unique connection away from their jobs, as they both attend Victory Life Church in Battle Creek and are invested in their faith as Christians.
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          They believe being paired together as work partners is no coincidence, with their faith being a backbone to their relationship.
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          “We’re teaming up. We’ve got a job to do and there are things that need to be done,” said Hurtt. “We truly believe it’s a calling that we’re together and we’re going to answer to God. And there’s some things he needs us to do before our law enforcement careers end.”
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          Added Hinkley: “I think the best part is we’re both Christians. We both go to Victory Life and we both trust in God. We trust in God for the decisions that we make in the morning. For me, I’ll tell you when I get into the office, I have my mother’s Bible at the corner of my desk. It says her name on it, she’s passed away. I read one page every morning—let’s face it, we all struggle, I’m definitely not perfect at all, I’m definitely going to make mistakes. But there’s a lot more out there for all of us and it’s comforting having that.”
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          As far as the weekly tasks the two perform and overall updates as it relates to the sheriff’s department, Hinkley said every two weeks they hold an executive leadership meeting. The department has 178 employees while the sheriff handles both law enforcement and correction services.
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          On top of that, the department also handles civil court orders, evictions, community corrections, among many other tasks.
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          Hinkley also said the department is doing some long term budget planning when it comes to gaining access to new equipment and some other long term items the department will be purchasing or have purchased already.
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          “We have all new in-car cameras for all the patrol cars,” Hinkley said. “All new body cameras plus 10 body cameras for the jail—all brand new and just put into service last week. You can watch the deputy live in a patrol car on a traffic stop. We have three body cams assigned to our K-9’s, you can watch them live when they’re tracking through the woods and you can also GPS locate them. New jail cameras all the way through. Some of the cameras are getting older, the jail is 26 years old.”
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          Hinkley added the department will also be switching uniforms soon and will go away from the traditional brown uniforms and purchase new ones that Hinkley described as a breathable polo type of shirt. He explained there will be no more gun belts for the officers and that all of the weight will go onto a pullover vest and have all of the weight on their shoulders. 
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          Hurtt said between himself, Hinkley and Chief Deputy David Tendziegloski, the three are constantly in communication.
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          When it comes to managing the Calhoun County Jail, Hurtt placed a big emphasis on the rehabilitation process that is provided when people do go to jail. He said a goal they have as a department is to make sure a person who is convicted of a crime changes when they are done with their sentence so they can be productive members of society.
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          “What happens to society if that person just serves the time and doesn’t change? A lot of services we provide inside the jail—we’re trying to get some trades training (through KCC) in there, we’re helping people finish their GEDs,” Hurtt said. “So what we’re doing, it’s not just people serving their time, but we’re trying to help rehabilitate people so they can become productive citizens. Sheriff Saxton always said, ‘jails aren’t full of bad people. They’re full of good people that made mistakes.’”
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          One of the biggest challenges that the Calhoun County Sheriff’s Department has recently faced has been a lack of personnel.
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          Hinkley said a good amount of their time has been spent in finding ways to recruit new employees and retain the ones they already have.
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          “We contract specifically law enforcement services for the city of Springfield, Pennfield Township, Convis, Homer—so out of those, we have about 50 deputies assigned to law enforcement and the remaining are assigned to corrections,” Hinkley said. “So when we’re trying to fill some of these gaps, like I said before, when I started, you’d walk into a room and there’s 500 people looking for a job and there’s only three jobs (available). Now there’s three people looking for a job and 500 jobs (available), it is completely backwards. We have struggled so much on filling these positions, but it’s a nationwide problem.”
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          While Hinkley and Hurtt both acknowledged the difficulties in bringing people in to fill some of the jobs, they both acknowledged that it’s hard to put a finger on exactly why there has been a big dip in individuals pursuing a law enforcement career as of late.
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          On a national scale, the two pointed out that there are some individuals who have represented law enforcement poorly. These situations usually garner national attention that the two said can shine a negative light on the industry as a whole.
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          But Hurtt and Hinkley stressed that the individuals who do represent law enforcement poorly make just a small fraction of police officers. They said oftentimes, people tend to focus on the negative things that happen instead of the positive influence members of law enforcement can have in their communities.
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          “Nationally, there are certainly a few individuals who have not represented law enforcement well,” said Hinkley. “Those individuals are like .01%, it’s such a small (minority). But sometimes we forget that 99.9% of these police officers, they come in every single day and do an excellent job, they’re a part of our communities, they do everything right. But sometimes we get focused on the wrong and we spend too much time looking at the wrong. We (law enforcement) are knitted into our community. If the community fails, we fail. If we fail, the community fails.”
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          Added Hurtt: “One of the things that has never changed with law enforcement, even though the times have changed and the way people view us, is it’s a position of trust. We have a position of high trust within the community. And there’s certain positions in our community—our teachers, ministers, our doctors are all on the same level of trust. And when you get a small percentage that breaks that trust, it affects us all across the nation. And we really would hope that people would look at us as individuals as opposed to one great, big force when something goes wrong. I’d like to encourage the citizens to look at you police department, look at locally what they’re doing and the relationships they have, the communication they have (with citizens) and I think that helps us get through these incidents that have come and unfortunately likely will continue, but hopefully to a lesser degree throughout the future.”
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          Despite the numerous challenges, there are many aspects of law enforcement that makes the career fulfilling for both Hinkley and Hurtt.
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          For Hinkley, knowing there are many people in the world who make mistakes but who are also deserving of a second chance helps motivate him to impact the community in a positive way by trying to make a difference in those people’s lives.
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          “There are so many people out there that deserve a second chance,” Hinkley said. “And some of my dearest friends and some of the dearest people are people that I’ve arrested back in the early 90’s. I’ve arrested (people) for things who I still know, I still talk to, I see them at the store—that are some of the kindest, nicest people and some of my dearest friends. Because there are so many people out there that make that mistake but they deserve a second chance. To be able to be a humble servant and understand that that’s the position you’re in as a police officer. You are here to protect people, you are here to protect justice—no ifs, ands or buts about it. When it comes to public safety, that is your job. But there are so many opportunities to certainly make an impact on someone’s life.”
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          For Hurtt, he has dealt with a lot of families who have had to deal with tragedy where Hurtt is the one who had to deliver bad news to them. While it’s nearly impossible to make a tragic situation better, Hurtt said he knew he was going to handle those situations in the right fashion and give families all of the information and give them as many answers as he possibly could.
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          “The good thing about it is that I knew I was going to do it right, I was going to give them the answer and if anybody had to deliver news to me like that, this is how I would want it to be done,” Hurtt said. “I always let that be my model and my goal. And even though sometimes you couldn’t make the situation better because they had lost a loved one, you could bring them as many answers as you possibly could and help them maybe restore and get some peace and even some justice.”
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          On the flip side, Hurtt says he knows people who have committed violent crimes but were found not guilty in court for one reason or another and therefore were let back into society as free individuals.
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          He said those are tough situations, but his reaction to them as a member of law enforcement can make a difference as well.
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          “I had one guy who was found not guilty—he killed two people and shot a third and was found not guilty,” said Hurtt. “And when you see those people again in society, your reaction can make or break them. For instance, with the guy who killed two people and shot a third—and he had confessed, but the jury under circumstances—a jury nullification is what it was, it came back and said not guilty. When I saw him again in public and I see him in the department store, I went up and I talked to him, and he’s embarrassed. But what I do is I tell him—he said he’s doing good and trying to get his life together. But I said ‘I want to tell you something. You’re better than the worst thing you’ve ever done.’ I said ‘just put it behind you and let’s move on. You’ve paid your price, you’ve done due process.’ And I went on shopping and when I got done he was still waiting for the bus and I ended up giving him a ride home.”
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          Hinkley and Hurtt have also been longtime instructors at Kellogg Community College. Being able to reach young people, especially during a time when recruitment is important due to the lack of overall numbers in law enforcement, is another rewarding element for each of them.
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          “I think the biggest impact is these police academies, from my view, is that (the instructor) sets the standard on what type of cadet and what type of police officers they are going to be,” Hinkley said. “As an instructor, I want to make sure, number one—I tell these kids all the time, that we’re out here to serve the public, we’re out here to respect people, to be kind to people. There are people out there where you may be the only person that they get to talk to in a day that they receive a kind word to. There are some people out there that legitimately need help, they need somebody to be kind to them, courteous to them, respectful to them—and I keep telling these kids, ‘you may be that one person. You may be sent there for a reason and you may have an opportunity to make a significant difference and make an impact on somebody’s life just by the words that you use.’”
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          Hurtt echoed a lot of the same sentiments of what Hinkley had to say when it comes to what the message he preaches to students, but also touched on the level of honesty and real conversations he has with his students.
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          “Regardless of the situation, regardless of the outcome, it’s always about the truth,” Hurtt said. “One thing I found out about the truth, is that when you tell the truth, it can never be changed. That’s what I always drive home to the kids, and that’s why I tell them stories about the guy who killed two and shot a third and he was found not guilty. Because it can happen. But if nobody tells you about it and nobody tells you how they dealt with it and how they continued to go on, that’s something that can discourage you and stop you from going on.”
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    <summary type="text" />
    <g-custom:tags type="string">Nov 2020</g-custom:tags>
    <media:content medium="image" url="https://irp.cdn-website.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/IMG-3192.jpg" />
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>‘To see these kids get this opportunity is really rewarding’</title>
    <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.advisor-chronicle.com/to-see-these-kids-get-this-opportunity-is-really-rewarding" />
    <link rel="enclosure" type="image/jpeg" href="https://irp.cdn-website.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/IMG-3152.jpg" length="719508" />
    <author>
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    <updated>2022-05-06T21:58:30Z</updated>
    <published>2022-05-06T21:58:30Z</published>
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           After two-year hiatus, Class Night returns May 21 at Marshall High School
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          A longstanding tradition for seniors at Marshall High School is returning for the first time since 2019 after a two-year hiatus.
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          Class Night will give seniors an opportunity to showcase a wide range of talents at the high school auditorium on the night of May 21 in what Class Night Advisor Ryan Mead described as Marshall’s version of Saturday Night Live with a mix of some other unique elements to the show.
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          “We have anything from talent portions—we have kids that sing, students doing poetry, people doing their solo dances or their senior dances,” Mead said. “We also have portions of the show where they are—it’s a lot of inside jokes. They’re imitating teachers, they’re poking fun at the principal and vice principal and rules they have to follow here at the school that they think are ridiculous. Or major things that have happened in the world. It’s kind of like this Saturday Night Live on a high school level, where they do often times (talk) about things that have gone on in the world. Political jokes, I’m sure they’ll have some things about the pandemic and mask wearing and people’s reaction to those things.”
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          Class Night is a five-week process with the first week being auditions where the students present their idea to Mead and Ian Gilyard-Schnaitman, who is the other Class Night advisor. The next three weeks are spent rehearsing their parts and the final week is “Class Night Week,” where the show is practiced top to bottom by all involved Monday-Friday before everything comes together for the live audience performance on May 21.
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          The tradition of Class Night started at MHS in the late 1950’s and originally started off more like a talent show, said Gilyard-Schnaitman.
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          “It kind of progressed in the 70’s with a Marshall High School teacher by the name of Brian Burns who took it over and kind of turned it into this production that it is now,” Gilyard-Schnaitman said.
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          Both Gilyard-Schnaitman and Mead are graduates of MHS and participated in Class Night themselves. Gilyard-Schnaitman graduated in 1997 and just two years later in 1999 started assisting with the event and has been involved ever since. Mead graduated in 2000 and has been assisting as an advisor since 2008.
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          As Gilyard-Schnaitman mentioned, the late Brian Burns led the transformation of turning Class Night into what is currently is and is someone who influenced both of their lives along with many other students and staff at Marshall.
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          “The night before the show, we put his picture up on the projector and we introduce the kids to him,” Mead said. “It’s kind of like visiting him (Burns)—when we’re here doing Class Night it’s like he’s there. We wouldn’t be able to do it if the kids didn’t participate, we wouldn’t get that time to remember him and that time to do what he did for so long.”
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          Burns provided memories to students for many years by directing Class Night. For Gilyard-Schnaitman, that is one of the most rewarding parts of being involved in Class Night for so many years for him—knowing students will have memories to carry with them for a long time.
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          “I think one of the most rewarding parts for me is that we start with a blank stage,” he said. “And through everybody’s hard work throughout that five-week process, they have a show that lasts two and a half hours long and they’re going to remember that for a long time. I graduated in ‘97, and I think I can easily say that Class Night is really the only thing that I can vividly remember me taking a part of in my high school career.”
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          Mead explained how important he thinks it is to continue the tradition of Class Night as long as he and Gilyard-Schnaitman are at the school so future students can share similar experiences they will be able to hold with them after the graduate as well.
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          “There have been a lot of traditions that have fallen to the wayside for whatever reason,” said Mead. “Kids nowadays aren’t participating in as many things on the side. But this is a tradition that we’ve pledged to make sure it continues kind of as long as we’re here. We really want it to be passed down and be something that every kid can experience. It’s kind of a final hurrah for the seniors and it’s something that they’re proud of.”
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          Mead also touched on the amount of work that is put in from the students leading up to the live show and mentioned some of the students have never been on stage before in their lives.
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          “It takes a lot of time and a lot of dedication—and a lot of these kids are working, they’re participating in sports, and we try to work around all of that,” he said. “And a lot of these kids have never been on stage before. I remember we had a kid one year, the night of our performance he came running off the stage and he says, ‘I don't know why I’ve never been in a play or on stage before, or why I wasted my time playing football, but this is the most fun I’ve ever had in my life.’ To get that laugh, to hear the kids react to an audience of 930 people laughing at what they created or applauding at what they performed, I think is really rewarding.”
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          Over the past couple of years due to the pandemic, students have been stripped of the opportunity to involve themselves in many extra-curricular activities such as Class Night, which makes this year’s event that much more exciting for Mead.
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          “The fact that they haven’t done this—I mean these kids have been robbed of everything that they were supposed to have in high school,” Mead said. “Every tradition has been put on the sidelines and now they have the chance to kind of stake their spot as seniors at Marshall High School. It’s a big deal. It’s a big deal for them, it’s a big deal for the parents. It’s a big deal for the community because, again, this is something that everybody refers back to. To see these kids get this opportunity is really rewarding.”
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          The doors for Class Night will open at 6:15 p.m. and begin at 7 p.m. for the show that is expected to last two and a half to three hours.
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          “We always say there’s a Class Night feeling and you can’t explain the feeling until you’ve gone through it,” Gilyard-Schnaitman said. “Right when those red curtains open for the first time, students go, ‘oh, this is the Class Night feeling they were talking about.’”
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          Added Mead: “There’s a buzz in the air. In years past, there’s a line out the door the Friday before the show when tickets go on sale. It’s the buzz in the hallway of them talking about it—they’ve heard from their older brothers and sisters who were in Class Night ‘we’re impersonating Ms. Smith or we’re impersonating Mr. Turner.’ So, there’s this buzz in the air, and when they get back to school on Monday, it’s kind of what everyone in the school is talking about.”
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    <summary type="text" />
    <g-custom:tags type="string">Nov 2020</g-custom:tags>
    <media:content medium="image" url="https://irp.cdn-website.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/IMG-3152.jpg" />
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>A very special Easter</title>
    <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.advisor-chronicle.com/a-very-special-easter" />
    <link rel="enclosure" type="image/jpeg" href="https://irp.cdn-website.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Cover+Photo+IMG_1069.jpg" length="1044775" />
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    <updated>2022-04-15T21:51:42Z</updated>
    <published>2022-04-15T21:51:42Z</published>
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          After more than a decade, Rev. Anne Schnaare prepares to bid farewell to Trinity Episcopal Church
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          This Easter will mark the first time for many area churches since 2019 that congregants will gather in person to pray and celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
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          For Mother Anne Schnaare at Trinity Episcopal Church in Marshall, this Easter will mark her last in Marshall after 10 ½ years as she prepares to move to a new congregation in the Grand Rapids area. Her official last day at Trinity is April 30. Her final Sunday services will take place April 24.
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          “Holy Week is always an exciting time, but then also arranging to leave has made things quite busy,” said Rev. Schnaare.
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          Rev. Schnaare arrived in Marshall in October 2011 after leaving her first parish near Plains, Ga.
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          Not ever having heard about Marshall, she read through the church’s profile when she was looking to make a move in 2021.
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          “In a way, we chose each other,” said Rev. Schnaare. “When a church is looking for a priest, they put together a profile that expresses who they are looking for, what kind of style, what kind of characteristics they think are important. Likewise, a priest puts together a profile that describes their ministry approach, their leadership style, their spiritualty. There is a website that’s done by the national church that helps connect us. I joke that it’s like match.com for priests and parishes.”
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          Rev. Schnaare had originally been talking with someone from the  area diocese about a different church in Portage.
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          “We were talking about my skillset and my love of liturgy and music, and  this person thought of Trinity especially and put us in conversation,” she said. “And from there, we discovered it really was a good match.”
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          Rev, Schnaare said she leaves Trinity in a better place compared to when she first arrived.
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          “We’re stronger in our commitment to ministry and our confidence in the skills God has given all of us,” said Rev. Schnaare. “We are on a firmer financial footing which is kind of uncouth to talk about, but that’s important too. When I first arrived at Trinity they could only afford a three-quarter time position. After just over a year, they were able to grow the position to full time, which was really wonderful. As we learned from each other, we grew together which was wonderful to experience.”
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          The impact of COVID beginning in March 2020 was felt by all places of worship, but out of the quarantines and lockdowns came opportunity, she said.
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          “The virtual piece was really important,” said Rev Schnaare. “It forced us to do something we had talked about for many years which was to get out there and do more digital evangelism. So now we stream all of our services and it caused us also to reinvent some of our other liturgies.”
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          On Trinity’s Facebook page, Rev. Schnaare  started an evening prayer service called “Prayers and a Song.”
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          “It was meant to be sort of a nighttime prayer, end of day thing that was more informal than what some of my colleagues were offering,” said Rev. Schnaare.
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          “In the Episcopal Church we have something called Compline, which is basically the end of day prayers. People were already doing that, and I didn’t want to reinvent the wheel. So, this is an informal gathering. Depending on the night we will have between 10-20 people watching live and we have a virtual prayer list people will add to. I pray through the list, offer a bit of reflection and I sing a song usually from the hymnal and put the lyrics up so that people can sing along from wherever they are. We started doing this during the very early days of COVID. That was also an opportunity for the church to reach out beyond our walls, beyond Marshall and beyond the state of Michigan. We’ve had people watching from Iowa, Florida and Virginia. We even had some people watching from Germany, watching live or recorded later. It’s a tight little group and it’s wonderful."
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          Rev. Schnaare said this evening online service will continue to be a churched-based ministry after her departure.
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          “They are trying to discern right now what that might look like without the connection to me. They’re talking about starting a new Facebook page so that they can remain in touch. It’s nice to see them support each other…We definitely have enough people to keep it going.”
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          Rev. Schnaare said the message of Easter is always eternal even when circumstances necessitate changing and adapting.
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          “The big picture theme is always there – that theme of life and death and rebirth is always very present, but the situation, year after year changes,” she said. “Having a Lent when we were in quarantine two years ago felt much more ‘wildernessy’ than other years when we had to manufacture that feeling of wanting something. It’s part of what the fasting is about – putting our bodies through something so that we really appreciate the blessings when they return.
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          “This year at Trinity, with my leaving, there’s an element to that whole environment that we need to acknowledge which is really trusting in God and God’s love for us even in the midst of change. Last year for Easter, we weren’t able to have the congregation present. We had the church ministry help put on the service, but we didn’t have a congregation. And of course, the year before that we were in quarantine and Holy Week and Easter were done from my house.”
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          That message of life, death and resurrection is still there but the context continues to change, said Rev. Schnaare.
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          “So here we are in the midst of saying goodbye to each other and there’s some uncertainty and sadness that goes with that,” she said. “But Christ is Risen. So where do we find our joy in that as well? The big theme is always there, but our lives continuously change so that tension between stability and change, and sorrow and joy are all always there and I think God is just going to emphasize it in some strange way this year.”
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          As she looks back on her time at Trinity, Rev. Schnaare said Marshall holds an important place in her heart.
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          “I think of Marshall as that community that gave me a safe place to learn and grow,” she said. “When I came here, I had just two years of ordained experience and I’m leaving with 12. I’ve been with people through the very best day of their lives and the very worst day of their lives. I’ve treasured all of those moments. Marshall has been a place where I could kind of find my footing. In Georgia I was kind of like an assistant priest. So, this is the place I did my first baptism and first funeral on my own. 
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          “It's very hard to leave. We don’t leave because we are bored or  because it’s our idea. We leave because we are called away and I feel like that is what God is doing so that Marshall can be the home for the next priest at Trinity and take Trinity to wherever God is calling them as a community after that.”
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    <summary type="text" />
    <g-custom:tags type="string">Nov 2020</g-custom:tags>
    <media:content medium="image" url="https://irp.cdn-website.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Cover+Photo+IMG_1069.jpg" />
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>Community member helps assemble Easter baskets for children in Albion</title>
    <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.advisor-chronicle.com/community-member-helps-assemble-easter-baskets-for-children-in-albion" />
    <link rel="enclosure" type="image/jpeg" href="https://irp.cdn-website.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/3DAB1F71-CF47-47F2-BA05-BCE97CDF347F.JPG" length="733753" />
    <author>
      <name />
    </author>
    <updated>2022-04-15T20:41:18Z</updated>
    <published>2022-04-15T20:41:18Z</published>
    <content>&lt;div data-rss-type="text"&gt;&#xD;
  
         A resident of Homer and semi-retired early childhood education teacher recently helped assemble and deliver Easter baskets for children in Albion.
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           Maggie Christiansen is a play advisor for Discovery Toys, a toy company that has been in existence for over 40 years.
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           Christiansen has been selling Discovery Toys since June of 2021, with this year being her first with the Discovery Toys Easter Basket Fundraiser campaign.
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           For the fundraiser, Christiansen, with the help of directors Chelsea Siedzik and Jenny Woods, had the task of determining the development and age group they wanted to target.
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           After thinking that through, Christiansen chose the Little Lambs of Jesus Preschool in Albion to make Easter baskets for and delivered them to the preschool on April 12.
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           Christiansen said they delivered 18 baskets in total and called the fundraiser a “huge success” while talking explaining why she is so passionate about giving back to children in the area.
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           “I have a degree in Early Childhood Education so I'm pretty passionate about providing high quality, developmentally appropriate, educational toys to young children.,” she said. “Between my connections from teaching and my grandchildren it's been pretty easy giving back to the community. I would like to reach a much larger area and am always looking for opportunities to do so. Everyone knows that the school systems do not provide adequate funds to support new and updated tools for the classrooms. I do what I can to help them out.”
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           Christiansen added that each child received a high quality, fun-filled basket that included a DT toy, a book/game, Easter candy treats and new dental supplies.
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           She said they asked individuals and businesses throughout the community to contribute $35 to each basket and that her goal of $600 for 18 Easter baskets was met in just three days.
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           “It means the world to me that so many businesses are so supportive and generous with helping fund these projects,” Christiansen said. “I just have to mention that it involves children and they are like ‘who do I write the check out to?’ I have met so many wonderful people who have grandchildren and families in need. I have a great cause and people are happy to support it.”
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           Although Christiansen is semi-retired, she said she still does some substitute teaching in area schools because of her passion for the education of young children. She has seven grandchildren ranging from one to eight years old and has always purchased toys for them, which partly inspired her to get involved with Discovery Toys in the first place.
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           “I have always purchased toys for my children and now for my grandchildren,” she said. “I wanted to join for the simple fact that I could earn extra income, get free and discounted toys and get these toys out to children who need them. I actually approached my long-time Discovery Toys Consultant and told her I wanted to do this (easter basket fundraiser).”
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           Christiansen said she can do fundraisers for daycare centers, schools and home daycares. Those who are interested in doing a fundraiser for their classroom or center can contact Christiansen by phone at 517-917-1530, or by email at wchrist85@gmail.com.
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    <summary type="text" />
    <g-custom:tags type="string">Nov 2020</g-custom:tags>
    <media:content medium="image" url="https://irp.cdn-website.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/3DAB1F71-CF47-47F2-BA05-BCE97CDF347F.JPG" />
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>‘The moment you make friends is the moment you start collecting memories’</title>
    <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.advisor-chronicle.com/the-moment-you-make-friends-is-the-moment-you-start-collecting-memories" />
    <link rel="enclosure" type="image/jpeg" href="https://irp.cdn-website.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/IMG-2970.jpg" length="1048903" />
    <author>
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    </author>
    <updated>2022-04-15T20:35:46Z</updated>
    <published>2022-04-15T20:35:46Z</published>
    <content>&lt;div data-rss-type="text"&gt;&#xD;
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          Exchange students at Marshall High School discuss their experiences of studying in the United States
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          Four foreign exchange students are finishing up their final few months at Marshall High School before they return to their home countries in June.
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          Beatriz Guerra (Brazil), Mamom Lachaud (France), Jonathan Sorensen (Denmark) and Carlos Garcia (Spain) all faced the uncertainty of COVID-19 before coming to the United States while wondering when or if they would be allowed to study abroad on top of the already strenuous process involved with becoming selected to study in America.
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          Garcia said he has wanted to come to the United States to study since he was 5 years old and convinced his mother to start the process of trying to make that become a reality.
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          “I was always telling my mom, ‘I want to go to study (in America) in high school, maybe in 10th or 11th grade,’” said Garcia.
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          Toward the end of 2020, Garcia’s mother agreed to start the process of making his dream become a reality.
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          That process ended up taking almost a year’s time (Sept. 2020- July 2021), but after writing many letters and signing a collection of paperwork, Garcia was selected to study abroad in the U.S. and started attending Marshall at the start of the school year in August.
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          Sorensen, on the other hand, came up with the idea of coming to America because he felt school was getting quite dull in Denmark after a while.
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          “I’d just talked to some friends and (we concluded) school is very boring right now, we need a break,” Sorensen said. “We were like, ‘what can we do instead?’ Then I said, ‘we could go to America.’ And actually, one of my friends is in Alaska right now and the other is in Texas.”
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          Sorensen said he was searching for a host family for about half a year. He thought many people were worried to take exchange students in because of the fear that they could get sent home at any point and time because of the pandemic. He was finally notified that a family was interested in hosting before the school year began.
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          For Guerra, she said she has always wanted to be an exchange student because both of her parents were. Guerra said her dad came to Battle Creek to study when he was in school.
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          Guerra was originally supposed to come to the U.S. in 2020 but was not allowed because of the pandemic. After running into a couple more road bumps after that, she finally arrived in Marshall last December to come to school for the second semester.
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          Lachaud is also in Marshall for half the school year. She originally wanted to come for the full year but said if that happened she would have to repeat an entire year of school in France.
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          “If you go for one year, when you come back in your country you have to do the year again,” Lachaud said. “I’m a sophomore in France, so if I were to come here for one year, I would have to do my sophomore year again and I did not want to do that.”
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          Between what they are learning in Marshall Public Schools and how the education system works in their home countries, each student pointed out some distinct differences.
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          Garcia said he has enjoyed his education experience at Marshall more than the schooling in Spain, although he said he believes the schooling system is more challenging in Europe.
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          “The biggest difference is that I think it’s harder in Spain and in Europe in general,” he said. “And your grade depends more on your tests. Here, it depends more on if you do homework assignments and stuff. In Spain, our tests are 50-60% of the grade, so if you have a bad (test) grade, your (overall) grade is really bad even if you do all the homework. But I like this system better.”
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          Sorensen said the grading system in Denmark aligns similarly with Spain’s, but that the length students go to school in the United States is different. He also pointed out how much different the math curriculum is in the U.S. compared to Denmark.
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          “Something I find a bit weird is that your (U.S.) high school is four years, and in Denmark it’s only three years. Math, I find it so confusing that you have so many different types of math. Here, they go very specific and in Denmark we just go over the basics of everything.”
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          Guerra said the biggest difference from her schooling in Brazil compared to the United States is that she is used to staying in one classroom back home for a given school day.
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          “In Brazil, I think the main difference is we don’t change classrooms,” Guerra said. “We stay in the same classroom the whole day and the teachers switch classrooms. “We also don’t get to choose our classes -  everyone just studies the same things.”
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          Lachaud drew a similar comparison as Soronson about some of the curriculum being much different in her home country in France as opposed to the U.S., such as algebra. She also compared the grading system between Marshall and her school back home.
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          “We don’t have a grade for homework,” she said. “The teachers (in France) will come and check to see we’re doing the homework, but that’s it. “And I would say, at the beginning here, I thought the courses were not super easy, but easier than in France.”
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          Lachaud also mentioned the length of the school days are longer in France.
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          Being an exchange student and traveling across the world to a different country and adapting to a different culture would be a challenge for just about anyone.
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          But each have involved themselves in extracurricular activities and have made plenty of new friends to help acclimate into the high school.
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          Both Garcia and Sorensen played soccer in the fall for the Redhawks and said that was a wonderful experience for them.
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          “I’d say the best thing I enrolled in was soccer,” said Garcia. “It’s a place where you make friends. I came here the 21st of August, and I started soccer on the 24th, the same day we started school. So, it was perfect for making new friends and that’s a friend group I have right now.”
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          Added Sorensen: “I came on the 9th and started soccer the 10th (of August), I was very tired. Probably the best way to get friends to begin with is just sports because it’s easy to meet people with similar interests.”
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          Sorensen added that he also did swimming and diving in the winter and is currently on the track and field team as well.
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          Guerra said she didn’t have much trouble making new friends at Marshall, but that she was a competitive dancer in Brazil and has continued that during her time at Marshall, which has only helped her with making friends and meeting new people.
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          “I think any kind of sport or extracurricular activity that helps you meet new people helps with making new friends,” she said.
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          Guerra is also part of the soccer team this spring with Lachaud, as Lachaud said she is excited for the season and that she has been outgoing in school and has enjoyed meeting the other students.
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          “I will play soccer with Bea (Beatriz), so that’s going to be fun,” Lachaud said. “I’m very open minded so that’s really helped me in class with talking with people.”
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          Although all of the students were excited about coming to the United States to study, it was still difficult for them to leave home and leave friends and family behind for a time.
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          Garcia said the last days before he left to come to Marshall were hard knowing that he wouldn’t be seeing anyone back home for a time.
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          “The last days before coming here, it was the worst days because it was like, ‘I am going to the United States and I’m not going to see you all (for a while)’, '' said Garcia. “I was kind of enjoying every last moment before coming here, thinking ‘this is going to be the last moment I can do this with my friends’ and things like that. Also in Spain, my country is a big culture for family—family is everything. My mom, my dad, my grandma and grandpa, I’m wishing to see them right now—it’s been about six months since I saw them last.”
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          Sorensen was in Paris when he learned he would be coming over to the U.S. for school and had eight days before he had to be in Marshall. By the time he got back to Denmark, he had just two days before he had to leave and made every effort during those couple days to spend time with friends and family.
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          “Like Carlos, I’m used to always being with my friends,” he said. “I think I just invited all of my friends up to my school and we just played soccer for like four hours. I kind of miss my friends.”
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          Guerra added that in Brazil, family also means a lot to their culture, which means having to deal with a level of homesickness from time to time. Even while missing her family back home, Guerra is enjoying her experience at Marshall and believes this experience is well worth it.
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          “Also in Brazil, our family and friends really like to be together, and I miss my family and friends,” said Guerra. “But at the same time, I’m just really glad to be here and be able to get this experience.”
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          Lachaud said it was also difficult leaving people close to her back home. Even though Lachaud is doing just half a semester at Marshall, she acknowledged it’s still a long period of time to be gone.
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          “I think I was stressed (before leaving France), it was a big movement going to live for the U.S. for six months—and it’s far away too,” she said. “But I enjoyed all of my moments before (I left). I had my two best friends come with me to the airport with my brother and my mother. My mom started to cry, my friends too and my brother (at the airport). But I’m enjoying my life here.”
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          Host families are an essential part to the life of an exchange student as they welcome the students in and offer them support and a place to live.
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          Garcia and Sorensen live together with the same host family as both of them spoke highly about the family’s care and concern they have for both of them.
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          “They’re really warm, they’re always looking out for your grades, we’ll watch movies,” said Garcia. “I was selected (as an exchange student) in July during the last two days. That was so lucky, and I was so excited to come here and they (the family) were explaining everything to me. We went to Detroit, and we’ve gone to so many places—South Haven and (places like that).”
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          Added Sorensen: “They are nice. I didn’t have that many at home (in Denmark), so I’ve become more independent while being here and it’s mostly because of them. They take us a lot of different places. Especially in the summer, we were all over the place and it was fun. I really like my host family.”
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          Guerra said her host family has also been supportive and that she has learned a lot from all of them.
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          “My host family is just amazing, they’re the best,” she said. “I’m so grateful for them. I have two host siblings who also actually go here to Marshall. It’s just fun. I’ve learned so much from them, they’re always willing to explain everything and we just share a lot of things. Even little things about American culture, they’re always willing to teach me something new. And I also think that I’ve taught them a lot of things about Brazilian culture and about things that represent my country. So, it’s just a really fun experience and it’s a really cool exchange and I’m really grateful for them.”
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          Lachaud’s original home when she came to the U.S. was in Homer, which she said was an enjoyable experience, but the host mother had some health problems, which caused Lachaud to have to move to Marshall.
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          Now, she lives with the niece of her original host mother, so Lachaud was able to stay within the same family.
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          “I didn’t have any house siblings in my first family,” Lachaud said. “I think it’s always better when you have house sisters or house brothers. Now, I have two house sisters—one is in college and the other is here in Marshall. I’ve really enjoyed it. My house dad, when he was in college, took French, so he knows something about the country, and he’ll say goodnight in French to me. They’re all super awesome with me.”
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          When the school year ends in June and their experiences in Marshall come to an end, each student said they hope to be able to look back and reflect on what they each learned and the memories each one of them made while in the United States.
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          Sorensen said he has been traveling since he was young and has always been eager to explore different countries.
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          “I have been traveling since I was very little, I’ve been to like 23 countries or something,” he said. “The memories are the reason I came here. I wanted to experience a new culture. It’s actually not too different from the way I used to live, but there’s still the small details sometimes that come up. It’s just fun and I love experiencing new cultures.”
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          Guerra said she thinks all of the exchange students are learning a lot, not only about the United States, but also about themselves.
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          “You’re away from your family and experiencing so many new things,” Guerra said. “It’s just really amazing and I think that in a few years I’m going to look back at it and be like ‘wow,’ and see how much I’ve grown since I got here. It’s just really cool to experience new things every day and to meet so many new people.”
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          Lachaud agreed with Guerra and touched on similar topics in terms of what she is going to take away from studying in the U.S.
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          “I think if there’s one thing I can say I learned, it’s that you have to be very open minded,” she said. “I’m so grateful to be here and I’ve enjoyed my experience.”
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          Garcia said he has really focused on trying to make a lot of friends and create memories during his time in Marshall. He also added that his mother has always been one to motivate him and keep him organized and that coming here forced him to be more independent as well.
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          “You start doing things for yourself and organizing yourself,” he said. “Your mom can’t tell you ‘you’ve got to study from 4 to 6,’ you have to do it yourself and say, ‘I am going to study from 4 to 6.’ Also, the moment you make friends is the moment you start collecting memories. I was thinking about coming for college as well if that’s possible, but if not, just collecting all the moments I have here with friends.”
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    <summary type="text" />
    <g-custom:tags type="string">Nov 2020</g-custom:tags>
    <media:content medium="image" url="https://irp.cdn-website.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/IMG-2970.jpg" />
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>Marshall Academy Director Noah Wilson honored for award as a top administrator</title>
    <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.advisor-chronicle.com/marshall-academy-director-noah-wilson-honored-for-award-as-a-top-administrator" />
    <link rel="enclosure" type="image/jpeg" href="https://irp.cdn-website.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/IMG-2955.jpg" length="607882" />
    <author>
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    <updated>2022-04-15T20:27:29Z</updated>
    <published>2022-04-15T20:27:29Z</published>
    <content>&lt;div data-rss-type="text"&gt;&#xD;
  
         Noah Wilson, director of Marshall Academy, was recently honored as a Top 10 semifinalist for the 2022 Michigan Charter School Administrator of the Year award.
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           There are more than 1,500 charter school administrators in Michigan, with hundreds of nominations being received from all over the state, according to a press release from charterschools.org.
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           “Each semifinalist embodies the values that make charter educators unique – the innovation, professionalism and passion that drive success in their classrooms and schools,” the press release stated.
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           Wilson said this year was his first time being nominated for this particular award and that he had to submit three letters of recommendation, write six essays and send in three pieces of data.
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           Wilson was then informed he was a semifinalist for the award, which he said he is humbled by but that he hopes the charternomination will draw more attention to the school itself.
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           “It’s cool (to be recognized for the award). For me, it’s nice to have accolades, it’s nice to have that type of stuff,” said Wilson. “But it’s just a feather in your cap, it’s something to put on your resume. But really, it’s for the school—I want the school to be more noticeable. I want people to know what Marshall Academy is and that Marshall Academy is a choice for everybody.”
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           Wilson said since he started at the school during the 2018-19 school year as the director, bringing stability has been a key emphasis for him. He added that keeping staff and students around and coming back year after year has helped build relationships and form camaraderie.
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           “Being a small school district and a small charter school district, for 20 years we were seen as someone who had a lot of turnaround,” Wilson said. “There were a lot of ups and downs and it was seen as kind of an unstable place. And when you’re thinking of education and sending your kids to a school, you don’t want unstable. You want the teachers who have been there forever and they know your kids and know the family. For me, one of the most important things when I got here was to establish stability—to get great teachers and just have them stay. And we've gotten to a place where we’ve settled and we’ve stabilized.” 
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           Wilson is from Marshall and graduated from Marshall High School before attending and graduating from Central Michigan in 2005. After graduating from CMU, he and his girlfriend at the time and now wife, Jheri, moved to Fort Myers, Fla. and worked in education at Lee County School District, which has more than 92,000 students and is the 32nd largest school district in the nation.
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           Wilson said he learned a lot being a part of the school district in Fort Myers, but that ultimately he and Jheri—who is also from Michigan and is now the principal at Bellevue Elementary School, wanted to come home after 12 years in Florida while continuing to raise their two boys.
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           Many in Wilson’s family, including his father, who owns Wilson’s Tannenbaum Farm, resides in Marshall or close to the area as he added that it is nice to be around many of them while trying to bring a family-like environment to Marshall Academy.
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           “On my father’s side, I have 16 first cousins—13 boys, and they’re all around,” said Wilson. “It’s nice to be home with everybody. We have a house where everybody comes to eat and gets together. Our kids are scattered all over the place. But it’s just nice to be surrounded by people where you get to build your community further and further out. Being here, we get a chance to have that little community feel. Here (at Marshall Academy), it’s a lot like a family. At my last school, I had 1,200 students and about 170 employees. I could get most everybody’s name, but here, we have 36 employees and 300 students and I know every one of them inside and out. It’s just really nice because you get a chance to just have that community.”
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           Next, the list of semifinalists will be cut down to five administrators, who will be announced soon, with the winner of the 2022 Michigan Charter Administrator of the Year being announced in May.
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    <summary type="text" />
    <g-custom:tags type="string">Nov 2020</g-custom:tags>
    <media:content medium="image" url="https://irp.cdn-website.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/IMG-2955.jpg" />
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>‘I just want people to know, as their city manager, I’m here to serve them’</title>
    <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.advisor-chronicle.com/i-just-want-people-to-know-as-their-city-manager-im-here-to-serve-them" />
    <link rel="enclosure" type="image/jpeg" href="https://irp.cdn-website.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/IMG-2526.jpg" length="204144" />
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    <updated>2022-04-15T20:22:07Z</updated>
    <published>2022-04-15T20:22:07Z</published>
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          New Marshall City Manager Derek Perry brings two decades of experience in local government
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          Derek Perry has hit the ground running as the new city manager in Marshall after he took over for Tom Tarkiewicz, who had been in the position since 2009 and served the Marshall community in city government for 29 years.
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          Perry took office on Feb. 22 and said he has started to build relationships with Mayor Joe Caron and other city staff members while staying busy working on the annual budget.
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          “It’s all been great,” Perry said about his transition into the city manager role. “If I could rate it as a report card, I would say an A+. I’m so excited to be here—great city employees, great city council, the mayor are all excellent. I’ve really enjoyed the conversations that I’ve had with them. My style is to try to communicate with them often. A lot of times it’s via email, but I’ve been provided some good feedback from them. Recently, we’ve been spending a lot of time on the annual budget because it’s that time of year. By charter, I actually have to provide a budget draft review here April 1. So, it’s kind of baptism by fire, but we’ve spent a lot of time with that in the few weeks that I’ve been here.”
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          Perry hails from Burr Oak, Mich. and attended Michigan Technological University. He got his start in local government working a part time summer job for the city of Sturgis while finishing his degree at Michigan Tech.
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          After college, he was hired full time by Sturgis and worked there for almost nine years.
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          At that point, Perry was looking to advance his career and was hired by the city of Marshall in 2003 and worked under Tarkiewicz until 2006 as deputy director of utilities and infrastructure.
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          Perry then made another advancement in his career to work for the city of St. Joseph as a  public works director and held that position for seven years before becoming deputy manager in Meridian Township near East Lansing before being hired as Marshall’s city manager.
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          Perry said even though he worked in Marshall for a few years previously, the time he spent in the community was valuable and left a positive mark on him and his family.
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          While currently commuting from Okemos, Mich., Perry said he is looking to find a place to live in Marshall and is looking forward to living here on a full-time basis.
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          “I truly feel it’s important that the manager be embedded in the community,” he said. “I fully intend to find a home here, live here and establish roots here. It’s closer to where I grew up. In fact, March 2 was my mom’s birthday, and my brother held a birthday dinner. Before, where I lived, two hours away, I would have never had the ability to have that dinner and turn right around and come back. Here in Marshall, I’m able to do that and those types of things are just invaluable.”
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          Perry is currently divorced and has four children. Benjamin, the oldest who attends Michigan State University; Keegan, who attends Lansing Community College; Olivia, who is a senior in high school but attends school at Lansing Community College full-time; and Braiton, the youngest of the four, is in sixth grade.
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          “Anything we do with children, obviously I have to get mom (Angela, Perry’s ex-wife) on board with that,” Perry said. “We’ll have to have some discussions and decide whether he (Braiton) wants to live full time with me during the school year or how that all works. Again, he’s a middle schooler and he has established friends, he likes the school district (in Okemos). So, all of that will weigh in, but at the end of the day we just want to do what’s best for our child.”
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          Along with valuing family, Perry said he values the importance of treating city employees with respect and making sure they are treated as assets.
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          “I’ve really been impressed with the quality of employees here, the dedication of the employees, which is great,” he said. “Again, I just look forward to establishing those relationships because at the end of the day, the most valuable assets a community and city have is its employees. We need to treat them as assets and in doing so, they will be able to provide great services for our residents.”
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          Perry said he takes pride in the fact that he got his start in city government as a seasonal employee and climbed up the ladder but said it wouldn’t be possible without several people in his life that he has looked up to and who have helped him make advancements in his professional career.
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          “I’m pretty proud of the fact that I started out as a part-time, seasonal city employee—cutting grass, cleaning restrooms, picking up trash—and have been fortunate enough to kind of climb through the ranks,” Perry said. “But along the way, there have been people who have obviously helped me.
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          “In Sturgis, he’s a manager there now and was an assistant manager, Mike Hughes is a great friend of mine and he and I will bounce things off each other and I really appreciate his friendship and mentoring. Tom, while I was here, was my director and he was able to share some great perspectives on things.”
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          Perry said one of his biggest mentors is Frank Walsh, who Perry worked with for seven years in St. Joseph when Walsh was the manager there. He said Walsh has family in the Jackson area and took the township manager job in 
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           Meridian Township two years before Perry was hired in and it was Walsh who recruited Perry again to be the deputy manager in Meridian Township.
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          “Frank is known throughout the manager business,” said Perry. “He has mentored a lot of people and I’m fortunate to consider myself one of those that he has really helped from a career standpoint.”
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          Perry cited several challenges facing the community he is eager to tackle, with housing development being one of the areas he cited that the city could improve upon.
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          “Housing is an issue this city has,” said Perry. “We’re working hard as a team here—and I’m a big believer in teamwork—to bring in some developers and find those sites. And the city has put together some creative ways to attract people, like the neighborhood improvement areas. I’m excited for those to bear fruit, but we just have to find the right developers, they have to find the right price points. It doesn’t help that lumber prices and all those things are going higher and higher—they’ve got to make a profit; it is a business. But I think we have all the right tools in place for us to be successful in the next couple of years and I’m excited to see some of those projects move forward.”
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          Perry also mentioned budget management, park enhancements, retaining and attracting new businesses, working with merchants in the downtown area and making sure entertaining events continue to take place in the city as some other topics important to him.
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          He emphasized that he has an open-door policy, and he wants to hear from people if they ever have any concerns and wants to connect with community members in general as he settles into the city manager position.
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          “I just want people to know, as their city manager, I’m here to serve them,” said Perry. “I have an open door and if you have questions or concerns, please reach out to me, whether it is coming into city hall or picking up the phone or sending me an email, know that I’m here. And I’ll work with the team that’s here if you have issues, concerns and complaints to try to resolve them as best as possible. We probably won’t be able to solve everything because sometimes there’s just things that are out of our control, or there just isn’t a solution that works for everybody. But we will give it 100% of our effort to try to come to a solution that works best as possible.”
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&lt;/div&gt;</content>
    <summary type="text" />
    <g-custom:tags type="string">Nov 2020</g-custom:tags>
    <media:content medium="image" url="https://irp.cdn-website.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/IMG-2526.jpg" />
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>Candidate for Marshall city manager gets chance to meet public</title>
    <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.advisor-chronicle.com/candidate-for-marshall-city-manager-gets-chance-to-meet-public" />
    <link rel="enclosure" type="image/jpeg" href="https://irp.cdn-website.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/IMG-2526.jpg" length="204144" />
    <author>
      <name />
    </author>
    <updated>2022-01-21T20:39:14Z</updated>
    <published>2022-01-21T20:39:14Z</published>
    <content>&lt;div style="" data-rss-type="text"&gt;&#xD;
  
         Residents were given the opportunity to meet Derek Perry, a candidate for the open city manager position during a “meet and greet” in the training room at Marshall City Hall on Jan. 18.
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          Perry, a Burr Oak, Mich. native, attended Michigan Tech after graduating from high school and got his start in local government while working a part time summer job for the city of Sturgis while finishing his degree at Michigan Tech.
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          When he graduated, he was hired full time by the city of Sturgis and worked there for about nine years.
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          After his time in Sturgis, Perry said he was looking to advance his career and was hired by the city of Marshall and worked under Tom Tarkiewicz, the current city manager who is retiring in February, from 2003 to 2006 as a deputy director of utilities and infrastructure.
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          Perry then said he left to advance his career to work for the city of St. Joseph as a public works director and worked in that position for seven years before becoming a deputy manager for Meridian Township and has held that position ever since.
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          “I have over two decades of local government experience, pretty much in all facets of government,” Perry said. “This is just an awesome opportunity, I saw that the city of Marshall was looking for a city manager, and I knew Tom has been here a long time and I thought ‘here’s a fantastic opportunity to get back to a community that I love.’ There’s just so many aspects of the community that are great, the kids have lots of great memories of the community. Even though we were only here for three years, it really left an indelible mark on us.”
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          Perry was the only candidate in attendance at the two-hour event on the 18th. On Jan. 19, a special City Council meeting was scheduled for the purpose of conducting an interview with Perry.
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    <summary type="text" />
    <g-custom:tags type="string">Nov 2020</g-custom:tags>
    <media:content medium="image" url="https://irp.cdn-website.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/IMG-2526.jpg" />
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>Great Escape looks forward to welcoming audiences back in 2022</title>
    <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.advisor-chronicle.com/great-escape-looks-forward-to-welcoming-audiences-back-in-2022" />
    <link rel="enclosure" type="image/jpeg" href="https://irp.cdn-website.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Cover+Photo+-ec690e99.jpg" length="940109" />
    <author>
      <name />
    </author>
    <updated>2022-01-21T20:32:05Z</updated>
    <published>2022-01-21T20:32:05Z</published>
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          Great Escape Stage Company, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit, tax-exempt organization, is a small professional flexible black-box theater on Michigan Avenue in downtown Marshall. Owner Randy Lake said the theater exists to bring “innovative, worthwhile, life-affirming and affordable” theatrical productions to its community and surrounding areas.
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          Great Escape was launched by Lake in 2010 and today is also the theater’s artistic director. Great Escape is overseen by a Board of Directors established in 2014. Since the company's inception, Lake and his crews have produced from eight to 10 shows annually, in addition to special events, staged readings and novelty acts. Main-stage offerings range from cabaret-style productions to contemporary and classic dramas and comedies to both big and intimate Broadway musicals.
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          The Great Escape Board of Directors consist of Tony Barroso, Box Office &amp;amp; Marketing; Cathy Bovitz, Patron &amp;amp; Franke Center Liaison; Nate Cox, President; Anne Crandall, Treasurer; Debbie Culver, Secretary; Cameron. Lake, IT &amp;amp; Technical; Randall E. Lake, Artistic Director; Tim Lake, Satellite Advisory Council; Charles Lang, Regulatory Compliance; Hon. Gary K. Reed (ret.), Advisor to the Board; Gayland Spaulding, Past President; and Sarah Stiner, Marshall Civic Players Liaison.
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          Lake was born and raised in Marshall. The first theatrical experience he can remember was when he would go to the Wilder Creek Schoolhouse to take part in a spring fling performance.
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          “I remember performing with my two brothers as a trio singing about a grey horse named ‘Poppy-check’ or something,” said Lake. “That was my first on-stage experience.”
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          Lake added that he used to write plays when he was in middle school, but it wasn’t until he got to high school that he got involved with an actual theater program.
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          “And I’ve kind of done it ever since,” he said.
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          Lake said in 2010, the Marshall Community Foundation initially funded Great Escape's collaboration with the Franke Center for the Arts on a series of staged play readings and a Children’s Theatre Arts workshop. 
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          After two summers of readers theater productions, in October of 2011, GESC produced its first fully-stage production (Ken Ludwig’s “Lend Me a Tenor”) in the lower level of the Franke with the support of Tom Franke himself and, later that year, Great Escape moved into a rented storefront at the intersection of Michigan Avenue and Eagle Street – the former Heritage Cleaners building.
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          That small building with very limited seating and space would be the company's home for six years. There, dozens of productions ranging from musical comedies to Shakespeare helped to establish the company's reputation for inventive, challenging entertainment.
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          That period also brought additional recognition in the form of theatrical awards:
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          *Members of Great Escape's artistic staff were the recipients of EncoreMichigan's Wilde Award for best sound design in 2014. The award reflected the work of Tim Culver, Cameron Lake and Lauri Rowe, who were honored for their work on “It's a Wonderful Life,” one of the many “live” radio plays Great Escape has presented over the years.
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          *Under his stage name Alan Larkheed, Randy Lake was nominated for EncoreMichigan's Wilde Award for best actor, for his performance in Great Escape's 2016 production of “Next Fall."
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          Such developments prompted patrons and donors to provide financial support and encouragement. As a result, in late 2016, the company was able to purchase an historic downtown building at 110 E. Michigan Avenue, from Denny and Judy Hughes.  Built in 1905 as the Knights of Pythias Hall, a band of volunteers and permit-required trade contractors immediately began to reshape the interior into a professional black-box theater.
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          The new, larger theater's opening in July 2017 took place only months after the building's purchase, featuring a production of William Gibson's aptly named “The Miracle Worker.”
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          “Great Escape's patrons and community supporters have noted that every effort was undertaken to preserve the integrity of the historic 1905 structure – including the pristine interior tin ceiling,  while adapting it to modern use, including full handicap accessibility,” said Lake.
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          Great Escape is one of several theater groups or theaters in Marshall and is perhaps the smallest, with Lake stating that it is not really a “competition” between the various organizations.
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          Still, he noted that the theater groups and theaters in town including Great Escape, Marshall Civic Players, Franke Center for the Arts, Marshall High School and Cornwell’s Turkeyville will meet next week to go over calendar dates so as to avoid any conflicts since the theaters sometimes use the same actors and those involved in the production.
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          “I always say about the theater companies – we’re not like a shoe store selling the same shoe that you can buy down the block,” said Lake. “Then, you’re all in competition. But we all do different kinds of shows. There is some overlap at times – this year I’m doing a show that the Civic Players have done in the past. Our experience at Great Escape is a bit different because we are an intimate space.”
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          Last November,  Lake said he made a special point of telling those organizing the Franke Center/MCP fundraiser that he would like to be involved.
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          “Somebody who sits on their board said that went a long way towards easing whatever bad vibes there may have been,” said Lake. “I’ve never felt that we are in competition with each other. We’re all just trying to put on a show and get people in the seats. There’s plenty of room for all of us to survive.”
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          Lake said Marshall has solidified itself as being a great theater community.
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          “I think with the population we have many people tend to want to go to the theater,” said Lake. “But what I think also helps is the focus on teaching young people about theater. The Youth Theater program which began back in 1977 with the Civic Players and I think the Recreation Department at the time – that whole idea of getting kids involved helps make future theater-goers. People who have been involved in theater and understand all the stuff that goes on appreciate it. So that’s part of why I believe Marshall has such a vibrant theater community.”
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          With COVID-19 striking two years ago, Great Escape, like theaters across the world, was faced with some difficult decisions. Initially cancelling their planned production of “Almost, Maine” one week before opening night, this cancellation stretched into scrapping the entire remaining 2020 season. 
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          “Because of foresight by the board in creating an emergency fund, and with the assistance of several grants created to help small non-profits survive the shutdown, Great Escape was able to continue with their basic expenses all while keeping their doors safely shut,” said Lake.
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          In 2021, Great Escape was able to present two productions last autumn to officially reopen the theatre.
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          The theater celebrated their “Tenth-plus-One” year anniversary in October and “The Turn of the Screw” marked their 75th fully staged production.  Adding in all the different staged readings and special events that GESC has produced, those 10-plus years have brought well over 100 creative and innovative productions to the Marshall downtown.
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          With COVID still highly transmissible, Great Escape does require its patrons to be masked and to show proof of vaccination before they enter the building for a performance. 
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           “While our COVID precautions kept some folks away from GESC over these past few months, we're planning to continue following Broadways standards at this point,” said Lake. “All audience members, performers and technical staff must be fully vaccinated and boosted - and must show their vaccination cards upon arrival - and masks must be worn at all times by staff and patrons throughout their visit to the theatre. The Great White Way recently extended these precautions through April 30, and we'll be doing the same. While we're optimistic that the COVID numbers will again recede, we remain committed to keeping everyone as safe as possible at this time and are heartened that a majority of our supporters feel the same.”
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          Lake said this year’s show lineup has several that Lake has wanted to do over the years, but the confined space of his small theater has made such productions “complicated” logistics-wise.
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          “This season I’m being adventurous,” he said, of a lineup that features productions such as Noises Off (March 24 through April 3), The Fantasticks (May 12-22), Mothers and Sons (June 16-26), The Foursome (July 7-17), Avenue Q (Aug. 4-14), Steel Magnolias (Sept. 15-25) and The Full Monty (Oct. 20-31).
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          Great Escape will kick off 2022 with its Feb. 13 fundraiser which will be similar to the virtual telethon they presented a year ago, featuring video performances from around the United States.
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          GESC continues to operate "in the black" added Lake and has received continued support from its enthusiastic donors -- including the Marshall Community Foundation and MAEDA -- for such upgrades as new seating, infrastructure improvements, and equipment.  
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          “Bringing the arts to any community is indeed a collaborative effort between artists and the community itself,” said Lake. “The experience of the past decade has demonstrated clearly that the Marshall community supports the work of Great Escape Stage Company, and that its mission will thrive for years to come.”
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    <summary type="text" />
    <g-custom:tags type="string">Nov 2020</g-custom:tags>
    <media:content medium="image" url="https://irp.cdn-website.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Cover+Photo+-ec690e99.jpg" />
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>City Council approves deputy police chief position</title>
    <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.advisor-chronicle.com/city-council-approves-deputy-police-chief-position" />
    <link rel="enclosure" type="image/jpeg" href="https://irp.cdn-website.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/IMG-2433.jpg" length="426072" />
    <author>
      <name />
    </author>
    <updated>2022-01-12T21:32:19Z</updated>
    <published>2022-01-12T21:32:19Z</published>
    <content>&lt;div style="transition: none 0s ease 0s; display: block;" data-rss-type="text"&gt;&#xD;
  
         In its regular session on Jan. 3, City Council approved a deputy police chief position for the Marshall Police Department in light of the retirement of Public Safety Director Scott Mcdonald.
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           Historically, the Marshall Police Department has held two administrative positions, which typically consisted of a chief/director and a deputy chief, according to information in the Jan. 3 administrative report.
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           Currently, the structure in the police department consists of a public safety director overseeing both the police and fire departments and supervising the fire and police chiefs.
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           With McDonald’s retirement, the structure of having a fire chief and police chief model of command would return to the department, but would have left MPD short a command officer, according to information in the administrative report.
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           Also in the past, the police chief has had a non-union deputy chief position in the department and with the retirement of McDonald, a deputy chief is needed to maintain the same level of administrative oversight within the department, according to information in the administrative report.
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           Marshall Police Chief Josh Lankerd stood in front of council on Jan. 3 to further explain the need to again create and fill the deputy police chief role.
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           “With 27 years of experience of the director leaving, it’s going to leave a void in what we need to do and what we need in our department,” Lankerd said. “Typically, the deputy chief, which is something that I’m doing now, is the operations day-to-day manager, the quality control manager, they’re the ones who supervise the sergeants, they’re the ones that keep operations going.”
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           Three years ago, MPD had 2 ½ administrators, which included a director, deputy and chief lieutenant, according to information in the administrative report. With the promotion of McDonald to director in 2019 from deputy chief and Lankerd’s promotion to police chief from lieutenant, the lieutenant position was left vacant, leaving the department with 1 ½ administrators. 
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           The loss of the administrative position was a “burden” to the police department in 2020, according to the administrative report.
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           McDonald also stood in front of council after Lankerd was finished answering questions from council members and said it would “hamstring” the department if Lankerd was not given the tools he needed to allow the department to run as efficiently as possible.
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           Council also approved the road closures for the Oaklawn Hospitality Classic that will be held on June 11 and approved the water/sewer rate fee scheduled for implementation on Feb. 1, along with approving eight other items on the agenda in the Jan. 3 meeting.
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           For more information, visit cityofmarshall.com.
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    <summary type="text" />
    <g-custom:tags type="string">Nov 2020</g-custom:tags>
    <media:content medium="image" url="https://irp.cdn-website.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/IMG-2433.jpg" />
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>Former Marshall coach helps lead high school football program in Nebraska to first ever state title</title>
    <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.advisor-chronicle.com/former-marshall-coach-helps-lead-high-school-football-program-in-nebraska-to-first-ever-state-title" />
    <link rel="enclosure" type="image/jpeg" href="https://irp.cdn-website.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/State1.jpeg" length="377208" />
    <author>
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    </author>
    <updated>2021-12-30T19:06:38Z</updated>
    <published>2021-12-30T19:06:38Z</published>
    <content>&lt;div style="transition: none 0s ease 0s; display: block;" data-rss-type="text"&gt;&#xD;
  
         A 2003 graduate of Marshall High School and former Marshall football assistant coach recently helped a high school in Nebraska win its first state championship in school history.
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           Jimmy Biggs is the current wide receivers coach and recently completed his first season at Columbus Lakeview High School in Columbus, Neb. as the team defeated Pierce High School by a score of 37-25 at Memorial Stadium (the home field of the University of Nebraska) in November to capture the Class C1 title.
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           Biggs said head coach Kurt Frenzen led a family-like environment and that the team was an overall unselfish group, which played a big part in the team’s success.
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           “We had a pretty senior heavy team, 16 or 18 of them—but it wasn’t about ‘me’ for them, it was literally about ‘what could I do for the team?’ It was ‘do your job’—that’s what it was,” Biggs said. “We had some great offensive and defensive linemen, we had two, three guys that were studs—two of them were all-state, one on offense one on defense, then we had a pretty special player in Adam Van Cleave, a wide receiver/running back and we used him everywhere who ended up being player of the year. He was a special kid, a great kid off the field and a great athlete. It made it fun to be around because they wanted to do whatever it took for the team.”
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           At Marshall, Biggs started coaching soon after he graduated high school before taking a year off to play college football. After that, Jimmy decided he wanted to get back into coaching and returned to Marshall before taking a head coaching job at Waldron High School in 2009, the year the Redhawks won the Division 4 state title with a victory over Three Rivers.
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           In 2010, Biggs joined Rich Hulkow’s staff at Olivet College before Hulkow retired in 2011 after two seasons with the Comets and a long career as Marshall’s head coach from 1984 to 2009, posting a 210-84 record with 11 league titles as Biggs both played and coached for him.
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           Biggs returned to the Redhawks’ program in 2015 when Jason Stealy got the head coaching job and stayed on staff when Bill Dryer took over before moving to Nebraska after the 2020 season.
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           Biggs said his experiences as a coach in Marshall has helped him grow in many ways and that all of the coaches he worked under taught him lessons that he still carries with him today.
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           “I just keep learning every year basically,” said Biggs. “I’ve learned a lot this year and have always tried to take bits and pieces (of information) from everywhere I’ve been and keep it in the memory bank and to keep going as a coach. It’s all about the kids, I love being around the guys—the players, the coaches. Coach Hulkow has done everything he possibly could for me if I needed a letter of recommendation or whatever. I’ve kept in touch (with Hulkow) a little bit, gave him a call before the state championship game just to say ‘hey, it’s been a while, but this is what’s going on.’ Same thing with coach Dryer, who I try to text and stay in touch with him as much as I can, because he was my wide receivers coach. I just always want to keep learning. Eventually I would love to be a head coach, I did it back in ‘09 and would love to get back into it, but I’ve got to coach. I just have to be coaching football and the game has been great to me.”
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           While Biggs has worked under a plethora of coaches, his father Dave is involved with the Marshall football program as a longtime stat keeper for the team’s games.
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           Biggs said his dad did coach him for a time during his youth when his family lived in Lowell, Mich. and learned many lessons from both of his parents.
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           “Back when we were in Lowell before we moved, I played youth football and he coached us in youth football,” said Biggs. “My mom and dad ran the Lowell Youth Football League for years, so we’re a football family. When I got a head coaching job at Waldron in 2009, I asked him (my dad) ‘you’re doing stats for me, right?’ He did, and he did stats for Marshall when I was in high school for my games.”
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           Biggs' wife Kristin is also a Marshall graduate who was a special education teacher at the high school. She landed a position at Columbus High School, a Class A school in Nebraska, which prompted the couple’s move.
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           In conjunction with landing a spot on the football staff at Columbus Lakeview, Biggs was hired there as a paraprofessional teacher in the school’s special education department.
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           With all of the memories the two have made in Marshall over the years, Biggs said moving away from the area was the right choice, but a difficult one.
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           “It was tough to leave, but it just almost felt like it was time,” Biggs said. “Coach Dryer, he was in my wedding, and I just have a great relationship with him, and it was just very hard to leave.”
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    <summary type="text" />
    <g-custom:tags type="string">Nov 2020</g-custom:tags>
    <media:content medium="image" url="https://irp.cdn-website.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/State1.jpeg" />
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>Calhoun County Government's 2021</title>
    <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.advisor-chronicle.com/calhoun-county-government-s-2021" />
    <link rel="enclosure" type="image/jpeg" href="https://irp.cdn-website.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Kelli+Scott+county+adminstrator.jpg" length="79931" />
    <author>
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    </author>
    <updated>2021-12-30T18:58:30Z</updated>
    <published>2021-12-30T18:58:30Z</published>
    <content>&lt;div data-rss-type="text"&gt;&#xD;
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          This time last year, we remarked that 2020 was a year of coming together in Calhoun County: unique partnerships between organizations and businesses, non-profits and all sizes of municipalities made an impressive countywide response to COVID-19 possible. When the pandemic hit, we came together stronger for our employees and our residents. 
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          I would call 2021 a year of bold action in Calhoun County. The progress made by County Government in 2021 built on the strength of the partnerships we gained in 2020 to continue to respond to residents' health and economic needs and make improvements to our operations that will benefit the community in new ways. 
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          The privilege to manage $26M of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) federal funds allowed significant investments to the ways county government serves its residents, and significant contributions to other organizations to help with their impacts from COVID-19. After three phases of appropriations by the County Board of Commissioners within 2021, there are still several millions in dollars of the County’s ARPA allocation remaining.   We are contemplating ways to narrow down more than $50 million in requests we’ve received for these one-time funds.  Our process may include a competitive online application process, and/or a continuation of more informal evaluations and recommendations by the County Board of Commissioners’ Budget Committee and our Internal Budget Committee. 
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          ARPA funds must be used in one of four categories including negative economic impact, premium pay for essential workers, government services lost revenue, and infrastructure improvements. A significant portion of Calhoun's funds are needed to offset drastically reduced revenues within our General Fund and make long-term capital investments to make our facilities healthier and safer.   Other appropriations have also been made to improve how we serve the public, mainly through technology enhancements, as well as to recognize and value our employees.  One example of these employee appreciation efforts included an extra 40 hours of paid time off benefit (PTO), that includes an option to cash some or all of it out per the County's HR policies. 
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          Beyond County government, the County has allocated ARPA funds to assist the Calhoun County Fairground Board's lost revenue from 2020  when the fair was cancelled due to pandemic restrictions; provide resources to the Calhoun County Land Bank to address housing needs in the community; develop a jail diversion program with Summit Pointe, the County’s community mental health authority, to assist with mental health needs in the Calhoun County Jail; and invest in the local economy with Battle Creek Unlimited for the development of the former McCamly Hotel. For a list of all county ARPA appropriations, visit calhouncountymi.gov/arpa. 
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          ARPA funds are our federal government's response to the COVID-19 pandemic and its massive impact on our economies and government operations. The county's COVID-19 response is ongoing, still, now 21-months strong. The Unified Command Team meets weekly on Tuesday mornings to discuss the current state of COVID-19 in our community, which continues to affect hospital capacity at the end of 2021. Our Public Health Department works hard to provide the community with and educate about the COVID-19 vaccine, share information about the impact on hospitals, offer guidance to school districts and countywide businesses about best practices during the pandemic, and much more. Community meetings continue to be held monthly with over 60 individuals following along from countywide non-profits, municipalities, law enforcement agencies, and more. For the public and media, the Joint Operations Center continues to hold monthly briefings which are streamed live on the City of Battle Creek's Facebook page and shared on the Public Health Department and County Government pages as well. Information about Calhoun County's COVID-19 status and the COVID-19 vaccine can be found at calhouncountymi.gov/covid19. 
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          Other bold action taken include requests elected officials have made for usage of ARPA funds. Treasurer Brian Wensauer's Office will use $500,000/year, potentially for three years to assist home and business owners who are near forfeiture avoid foreclosure. Clerk/Register of Deeds Kimberly Hinkley is modernizing processes so that vital records can be requested online, and files can be digitized and preserved. Additionally, ARPA funds will allow the Water Resources Office to buy new technology that will vastly improve the efficiency with regular tasks like measuring water levels and troubleshooting problems with the county drain system. In addition to modernizing technology for law enforcement and the jail, Sheriff Steve Hinkley is also using ARPA dollars to make logistical changes that will save money in the long run. In addition to body cameras, negative pressure jail cells and other safety measures, the Sheriff is using ARPA dollars to purchase new uniforms that  will provide long-term savings in future uniform purchases.
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          A major new initiative began in Calhoun County in 2021 that is a direct result of increased awareness we all experienced of the digital divide, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. In May, Calhoun County Board of Commissioners approved the creation of the Broadband Task Force which seeks to find a solution for high-speed internet to every home in Calhoun County. That process is ongoing and will continue in 2022 with a feasibility study and cost benefit analysis in the first half of the year, at least. That will assist the task force and County Government in understanding what sort of solutions are possible in Calhoun. More information can be found at calhouncountymi.gov/broadband. 
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          The Community Development Office made bold moves across its many departments throughout 2021, as well. A parks millage was approved overwhelmingly by County voters in 2020, and so 2021 saw increased recreation investments by township municipalities that now will receive annual allocations as a result of the millage. The Calhoun County Parks Department, which manages County-owned parks, most of which are within Emmett Township, expanded its footprint with the development of the Albion Park, which is a trailhead the connects major trails in that area. A name for this park will be decided on in 2022, and we look forward to sharing more about the park when the weather improves in spring. The Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Department, which makes interactive maps for many departments countywide, released an incident map in conjunction with the Sheriff's Office and Information Technology Department. This was at the request of Sheriff Steve Hinkley and increases transparency with the public about calls CCSO is responding to countywide. 
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          This is just a small portion of the many accomplishments elected and appointed Countywide leaders within our government offices achieved in 2021. I am humbled and honored to be able to continue to be a part of such responsive leadership as we hope to turn the corner from pandemic response to true recovery and advancement in 2022.
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    <summary type="text" />
    <g-custom:tags type="string">Nov 2020</g-custom:tags>
    <media:content medium="image" url="https://irp.cdn-website.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Kelli+Scott+county+adminstrator.jpg" />
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>Jerome Korten makes Eagle Scout with Oakridge Veteran Graves Project</title>
    <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.advisor-chronicle.com/jerome-korten-makes-eagle-scout-with-oakridge-veteran-graves-project" />
    <link rel="enclosure" type="image/jpeg" href="https://irp.cdn-website.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Jerome+Korten+pic+for+Eagle+article+%281%29.jpg" length="932714" />
    <author>
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    </author>
    <updated>2021-12-30T18:54:05Z</updated>
    <published>2021-12-30T18:54:05Z</published>
    <content>&lt;div data-rss-type="text"&gt;&#xD;
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          Jerome Korten, a Marshall High School senior and member of Boy Scout Troop 373 in Marshall has earned the honor of Eagle Scout, the highest rank that the Boy Scouts of America offers. Only 3 to 4% of Boy Scout members ever attain this prestigious honor. Jerome is the son of Curt and Laura Korten. He achieved the 21 merit badges required to receive the Eagle Scout award and spearheaded an ambitious project to help area residents have an easy way to find the final resting places of veterans at Oakridge Cemetery.
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          The several-year-long effort, which Korten tackled as his Eagle Scout project, resulted in a website where visitors can simply type the first and/or last name of a deceased veteran to search for his or her gravesite. The website, Oakridgecemeteryvets.com, quickly provides the cemetery section and grave number, displays its GPS coordinates and pinpoints the location on a map. It even includes a photograph of the grave marker and the year of birth and death.  Overall, more than 900 graves can be located through the site.
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          As Korten advises on the website’s home page, “Whether you are coming from here in town or halfway across the country, I hope you will find this website useful as we attempt to pay our respects for those who fought for our country.”  In addition, signs have been posted in the cemetery to inform visitors about the nifty new tool.
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          How did a teenager accomplish such a gargantuan effort?  The project was actually born almost four years ago, when the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post  4073 and American Legion Post 79 in Marshall came to Korten with the idea. With the support of Clif Conklin, scoutmaster of Boy Scout Troop 373, the concept would evolve into the Eagle project for Korten, who is also a member of MHS’s varsity swimming and tennis teams and a trombone player in its marching band.
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          After much planning, the physical work began in earnest last year. For starters, it involved more than 20 working visits to Oakridge, where Korten and his team members combed through each section of the cemetery, working from historical lists of veterans and gravesite information. (Sometimes his cohort included fellow Boy Scouts from his troop, or other friends and relatives.) After locating a specific grave, Korten or a team member would stand directly above its marker or tombstone, use a cellphone app to find its precise GPS coordinates, meticulously enter those coordinates into a log, take a photograph of the marker and store it in the phone.   
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          The process required patience.  
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          “Many graves that stumped us when we were looking for them were just in another section of the cemetery than originally listed,” Korten said. “Or had their first and last names switched around, a typo in their names, et cetera.” Especially in the older sections at Oakridge, he added, many graves “had headstones that were either broken or very hard to read.”  But, ultimately, only two of a total of 911 gravesites could not be found.
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          The list includes veterans from across 200 years of American history, including many who died in wartime. Also included were members of auxiliary programs of the VFW or the American Legion. The oldest identifiable birth year is 1817 -- for Susan Murdock, who died in 1850 and whose grave was marked DAR, for the Daughters of the American Revolution.  Korten noted, though, that some on the list might have been born even earlier, as some of the oldest markers were unreadable.
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          The data gatherers encountered a few procedural glitches in using GPS technology. Though quickly resolved, they added a touch of humor to the effort. One set of coordinates, for example, originally pointed to a location in Mongolia, not Marshall, while others would have sent visitors to a farm in Canada.  
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          Indeed, the amount of collected data was staggering. The GPS coordinates alone are carried out to six decimal places:  One marker, for example, is listed as latitude 42.257298 degrees, longitude -84.952712 degrees.
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          “You don’t realize how many hours go into collecting data on more than 900 veterans until you’re staring at the 911th row of the spreadsheet you made to consolidate the data,” Korten said.
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          The data gathering was completed in the summer of 2020, though the daunting task of organizing it extended into the fall and winter.
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          Then came the challenge of building a website, first by contacting individuals and companies to gauge its cost.  After some possibilities fell through, Korten reached out this past July to Thomas Cowan, a web designer based in Lansing.  A veteran himself, Cowan said he “loved the project” and graciously offered to do the site for free, Korten said. 
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          “He made the website very quickly, and taught me how to edit it,” said Korten.
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          Later, with the help of two Marshall city officials – Joseph Smith, Fibernet technical manager, and Phil Smith, superintendent of public works -- Korten arranged for the city to serve as the website’s host.  The site became fully operational in August.
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          More recently, Korten worked with Tom Yoba and Bonnie Kazmar at Signworld Concepts in Marshall, who created two signs for posting at the cemetery, listing the website’s URL address for visitors.  Looking back on the project, Korten said he was still “amazed” at the broad range of  support he received --  from his scoutmaster and fellow scouts, from the VFW and the American Legion, from the website and sign creators and from city officials and many others.  
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          “Going into the project it was incredibly intimidating, just because of the scope and uncertainty:  What data to include? How to make a website?” he said. “The project definitely helped me develop as a leader and as a scout, and it has been exciting to see the fruits of the labor start to pay off.”
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          The Marshall Boy Scout Troop is chartered by the Marshall United Methodist Church. The Troop meets on Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m. More information may be found at the Troop website, troop373marshall.Scoutlander.com or by visiting  on Facebook at “Marshall Boy Scout Troop 373”.
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&lt;/div&gt;</content>
    <summary type="text" />
    <g-custom:tags type="string">Nov 2020</g-custom:tags>
    <media:content medium="image" url="https://irp.cdn-website.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Jerome+Korten+pic+for+Eagle+article+%281%29.jpg" />
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>Marshall resident helps light up the city during holiday season</title>
    <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.advisor-chronicle.com/marshall-resident-helps-light-up-the-city-during-holiday-season" />
    <link rel="enclosure" type="image/jpeg" href="https://irp.cdn-website.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Bill+Day.jpg" length="106550" />
    <author>
      <name />
    </author>
    <updated>2021-12-25T19:23:07Z</updated>
    <published>2021-12-25T19:23:07Z</published>
    <content>&lt;div style="transition: none 0s ease 0s; display: block;" data-rss-type="text"&gt;&#xD;
  
         Bill Day is a lifelong resident of Marshall who retired from working at the city’s power plant nearly seven years ago after being employed there for over 35 years.
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           Since retirement, Day has returned to work part time with the city to work with the line crew on tree trimming and things of that nature.
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           During the holiday season, part of Bill’s job includes maintaining some of the city’s holiday decorations while checking all of the lights that are used to light up downtown.
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           This year, Day spent several months maintaining the decorations while replacing over 10,000 gaskets and bulbs to make sure the city was lit up for the holidays for all to enjoy.
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           “Some of the decorations are probably 50 years old now, but they’ve been maintained well from a guy by the name of Jim Anderson - he did it for many years, then Tommy Freds - he did it for a few years and now I’ve taken over for a few years,” Bill said. “It’s been a passed down deal on that. They’re always stored inside here; we have a nice area for them (the decorations) so they’re not in any harsh weather or anything like that. I just kind of fell into this position and it’s been a nice retirement, part-time job.”
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           Bill said it normally takes about a month to go through the decorations, but that this year that process took about twice that long because of the number of decorations he replaced that previously had incandescent light bulbs and swapped them out for LED lights.
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           “I had found that every light bulb I put in, I should put a gasket in it, they’ve got these gaskets that keeps the weather out of the sockets, because I’ve had to replace a lot of sockets that get corroded and because of how much dirt gets into the base of them,” said Bill. “And each one of the hang-on decorations—some of them only have about 150 bulbs, some of them have almost 300 bulbs on each section. So, it’s time consuming and I’ve stayed quite busy with it when I was doing it. I do that by myself, but our line crew goes out to hang up some of them, and our street department does some of them. So, I don’t do the hanging of them, I just go through the preparation of all of the sockets and bulbs.”
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           There is a set of older decorations that the street department hung up this year that Bill said he hasn’t done any maintenance on yet, but that it will likely be a project coming up in the future.
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           Bill said it is satisfying to see the end product of all of the decorations for the community to enjoy for the holiday season, knowing that many families come downtown to see it decorated to see everything lit up during nights.
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           “Many years ago, it was nice to see it (the decorations), but it was easy to take it for granted,” Bill said. “But as I’ve gotten older and I’ve got grandkids, the grandkids seem to really enjoy the Christmas lights. It just makes you feel a lot better that you can see the end result. As I come through there, I’ll see a light bulb burned out or something that’s not working right, and I’ll make note of what needs to be done when they get pulled down. But it makes you feel a lot better when you can see the enjoyment of the kids, and I’ve gone down to the parade and the lights looked really well this year.”
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           Living in Marshall his entire life, Bill is obviously no stranger to the holiday cheer that fills the city each year. He said he has always enjoyed the atmosphere in the city while that is one of his favorite aspects about the holiday season in Marshall.
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           “I think the city of Marshall, for their downtown businesses they have different hours at nights, different days where some of them will stay open longer and they’ll have the Christmas music going on downtown—it’s just a nice atmosphere to go down and walk around,” said Bill. “My wife and I did a little bit of volunteer work up to the Merry Mile—not as much as a lot of people, we helped out for a few days and my wife put out more days than what I did.”
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           Bill added that he appreciates all of the effort a variety of people in the city put in to make the holiday season a family-like environment for all to enjoy.
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           “Between the fairgrounds and their Merry Mile and Marshall’s downtown, a person could spend some nice time walking with their grandkids or young kids down through there,” Bill said. “There’s some towns that have it, but Marshall really puts a lot of effort into it I think. It’s just a good family town. Some towns you just don’t get that kind of group feeling, it’s almost like everyone knows each other.”
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&lt;/div&gt;</content>
    <summary type="text" />
    <g-custom:tags type="string">Nov 2020</g-custom:tags>
    <media:content medium="image" url="https://irp.cdn-website.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Bill+Day.jpg" />
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>Students in Spanish Club at MHS help support artists in Nicaragua and Guatemala through Pulsera Project</title>
    <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.advisor-chronicle.com/students-in-spanish-club-at-mhs-help-support-artists-in-nicaragua-and-guatemala-through-pulsera-project" />
    <link rel="enclosure" type="image/jpeg" href="https://irp.cdn-website.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Pulsera+Project+pic.jpg" length="609512" />
    <author>
      <name />
    </author>
    <updated>2021-12-17T15:47:59Z</updated>
    <published>2021-12-17T15:47:59Z</published>
    <content>&lt;div style="transition: none 0s ease 0s; display: block;" data-rss-type="text"&gt;&#xD;
  
         Recently, students in Marshall High School’s Spanish Club sold bracelets in support of the Pulsera Project.
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           The Pulsera Project buys hand woven bracelets from nearly 200 artists in Nicaragua and Guatemala, employing them with well-paying fair trade jobs while providing uplifting work in countries with high unemployment and frequently tough working conditions, with each bracelet having the signature of the artist who made them.
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           Brenda, Briana and Bianca Gonzalez are sisters who all took part in the project at MHS.
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           Brenda, a senior, said she first heard about the project online and thought it would be unique to bring to Marshall.
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           “I heard about it online, I was searching things to do for the Spanish Club and I just thought it was a really cool thing to bring to the school,” said Brenda. “We also have a Hispanic background, so we thought it would be nice to bring something that has diversity.”
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           Briana, also a senior, said she has learned a lot through the experience of supporting the Pulsera Project, including some of the drastic differences between the economies in the United States compared to Nicaragua and Guatemala.
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           “If we sold every bracelet, here it would raise $3,000, but in Nicaragua it would raise $110,000, so you can really see the inflation.”
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           Added Brenda: “One thing we learned is that not everyone has the same opportunities as us, so this is really helping them get those same opportunities and get an education if they want one.”
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           Bianca, a freshman, said being involved in the project made her recognize the limited opportunities other people may have and to lend a helping hand when possible.
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           “We have a lot more opportunities than they do and we kind of take that for granted,” said Bianca. “And it shows you to be more educated in your environment and to help other people out.”
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           Each of the sisters agreed that it is encouraging knowing that with the selling of each bracelet, they know that money is going toward helping others obtain a better quality of life.
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           “I think that this is a really important organization, and I feel like it’s almost a life changing experience because not many people can change people’s lives in high school—but I feel like people should look for more organizations like this to be involved and make changes,” Brenda said. 
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           Bianca added that if more people volunteer to support organizations like the Pulsera Project, she thinks it will inspire others to make a difference. 
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           The Spanish Club sold the bracelets for $5 apiece through Dec. 3. While $5 spent may not be a significant amount for many people, Briana said that can make a world of difference for the artists they are supporting.
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           “Many people would think of five dollars as nothing, like it doesn’t really impact them to buy the bracelet, but to people across the world, it’s everything to them, because they can use the money for education and other things,” Briana said.
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&lt;/div&gt;</content>
    <summary type="text" />
    <g-custom:tags type="string">Nov 2020</g-custom:tags>
    <media:content medium="image" url="https://irp.cdn-website.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Pulsera+Project+pic.jpg" />
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>Snowy Marshall Christmas Parade is crowd pleaser</title>
    <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.advisor-chronicle.com/snowy-marshall-christmas-parade-is-crowd-pleaser" />
    <link rel="enclosure" type="image/jpeg" href="https://irp.cdn-website.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Parade+Santa+IMG_5831.jpg" length="660690" />
    <author>
      <name />
    </author>
    <updated>2021-12-03T16:14:18Z</updated>
    <published>2021-12-03T16:14:18Z</published>
    <content>&lt;div data-rss-type="text"&gt;&#xD;
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          The 57th Annual Marshall Christmas Parade Nov. 29 was a snowy one, but it served as the perfect backdrop as the parade returned to downtown after a one-year absence due to COVID-19.
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          “While the year of COVID born a lovely event at the fairgrounds last year (Merry Mile combined with stationary parade), being back downtown was just magical,” stated Matt Davis, one of the parade organizers and one of the parade emcees, on social media. “The Christmas Committee volunteers worked very hard to organize this entire parade with planning starting way back in August. I believe this is my 15th year and probably has been my favorite. It means so much to the community to see ‘normal’ again.”
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          The Ken Burden Memorial Award for the overall parade float winner went to Gutters R Us/New Horizon Property Management.
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          The Jim Grant Memorial Award for the best floats in the Commercial Category went to Dark Horse Brewing with Honorable Mention going to Darling Ace Hardware
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          The Elbert Vincent Memorial Award for the best floats in the Non-Commercial Category went to Girl Scout Daisy Troop #80159. Honorable Mention went to the float from the Marshall United Methodist Church.
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    <summary type="text" />
    <g-custom:tags type="string">Nov 2020</g-custom:tags>
    <media:content medium="image" url="https://irp.cdn-website.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Parade+Santa+IMG_5831.jpg" />
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>Fountain Clinic fundraiser helps ‘light up’ the season</title>
    <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.advisor-chronicle.com/fountain-clinic-fundraiser-helps-light-up-the-season" />
    <link rel="enclosure" type="image/jpeg" href="https://irp.cdn-website.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Cover+Mo+Marshall+house+IMG_3369.jpg" length="284108" />
    <author>
      <name />
    </author>
    <updated>2021-12-03T16:05:44Z</updated>
    <published>2021-12-03T16:05:44Z</published>
    <content>&lt;div data-rss-type="text"&gt;&#xD;
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          The Fountain Clinic of Marshall will again be holding its Holiday Light Competition fundraiser with the Tuesday, Dec. 7 sign-up deadline quickly approaching
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          There will be one winner in each category and a judges choice winner as well.
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          Winners will be determined by the most money donated – votes are made by donating to the Fountain Clinic.
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          The Categories are Most Griswold Like -most over the top and gaudy; Most Pinterest Like – crafty, not traditional, homemade using non-store-bought items; and Most Traditional Like – classy, traditional holiday decorations.
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          You can pick up registration forms at The Fountain Clinic or register online at www.Fountainclinic.org.
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          There is a $25 Entry fee that can be paid by cash, check or credit card to The Fountain Clinic, 111 N Jefferson St. Marshall, MI 49068.
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          The clinic can be reached at 269-781-0952 and the clinic’s website is   www.fountainclinic.org.
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          Last year’s event raised $3,000 which helped the clinic prescriptions for our uninsured and low-income patients. 
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          “We will use the proceeds from this year’s event for COVID testing supplies,” said Fountain Clinic Executive Director Mary Jo Byrne, who noted that the more contagious Delta variant has led to more COVID cases the clinic has seen this holiday season than last. “We’re having to test patients; we’re having to test staff. It’s not good.”
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          Byrne added that 2021 was almost “identical” in terms of how busy things were at the clinic.
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          “The difference starting last January was when staff starting to get the vaccine,” said Byrne. “There was always that anxiety and that fear because if one of us got sick, the clinic would have to close. Things are a little better now because of vaccinations but it wasn’t then. You just closed down…As the  vaccines kicked in, things settled down towards late spring. It wasn’t a particularly difficult year until now.”
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          The money raised from the contest, noted Byrne, comes at a critical time of year for the clinic.
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          “People are getting sicker, we need to fill more prescriptions, we need more supplies,” Byrne noted, adding that the clinic had to cancel three of its fundraisers this year. “This contest last year gave people something to do. We were just totally shut down last year. So, by going out and looking at these houses and people voting, it not only helped us financially, but it also gave families something to do.”
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          Last year, about 10 homes were featured in the contest with the winners as follows:
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          Overall: Duane Dupee and Kevin Daus
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          Traditional: Bob and Mo Marshall
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          Most Pinterest: Tiernan home
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          Most Griswold: Litton home
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          Mo Marshall said it took about 10 hours to set up all the lights at their home last year and she said they plan on entering again this year.
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          “We may add some lights to the barn if we have time,” she said. “Last year, we noticed a lot of cars passing by to see the lights. It will be fun to do this again, especially because it’s a fundraiser for the clinic. And I like a good competition.”
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    <summary type="text" />
    <g-custom:tags type="string">Nov 2020</g-custom:tags>
    <media:content medium="image" url="https://irp.cdn-website.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Cover+Mo+Marshall+house+IMG_3369.jpg" />
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>Newly formed non-profit organization aims to give back to kids in community</title>
    <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.advisor-chronicle.com/newly-formed-non-profit-organization-aims-to-give-back-to-kids-in-community" />
    <link rel="enclosure" type="image/jpeg" href="https://irp.cdn-website.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/logo.jpg" length="59194" />
    <author>
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    <updated>2021-12-03T15:02:17Z</updated>
    <published>2021-12-03T15:02:17Z</published>
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          After the bond proposed by Marshall Public Schools was voted down in November, the Marshall Albion Coalition for Kids (M.A.C.K) was formed.
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          The five directors of the non-profit (Michele Johnson, Jennifer Delaney, Erica Robinson, Aly Priami and Maigen Priami) put their heads together in recognition of needs in the community that exist outside of what they felt the bond addressed.
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          The group consists of parents, grandparents, voters, taxpayers and active advocates who aim to improve education and health and safety of children and the communities they live in.
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          “With the formulation of M.A.C.K, what we really recognized throughout the process of the bond was that there’s a huge need within the school district to support the students in all facets,” Johnson said. “From their development, from their education, to their curriculum, to basic needs of clothing and food and emotional support. As parents, we know we can help provide that. So, we thought the best way to do that and to be able to get funding to help us with that would be to form a non-profit so that we can seek grants and funding. That’s where the idea was born. It’s not a political process; it’s more of a ‘how do we serve our kids in the best way that we can?’”
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          The first project for the organization is gathering warm winter gear for kids, including pants, coats, hats, gloves and boots. M.A.C.K provided drop-off locations and porch pick-up for donations of new and gently used items through Dec. 3 and will have exchange locations available in both Albion and Marshall on Dec. 4 for anyone looking to browse items and gather what they need for kids this winter.
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          Delaney said the group’s focus is to provide for kids in the Marshall and Albion communities and to try to make sure all families who need assistance in both communities can receive it through the help of M.A.C.K.
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          “Basically, we’re just focused on the kids of our area,” said Delaney. “Which is why it’s named Marshall Albion Coalition for Kids, because we want to cover kids in Mar Lee, kids at Marshall Academy, kids in Marshall Public Schools, which includes Harrington and Albion. We want to make sure kids aren’t being left out of it—we have parents in our group who are from Albion and from outlying communities and also in Marshall, and we would like to help foster more of a sense of one big community verses the separation that has kind of cropped up since the annexation.”
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          Johnson said having parents involved in the organization from different schools within the community helps them connect and figure out what needs to be addressed while giving them a sense of the best ways they can help students in the area.
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          “We noticed through the bond that there is a huge silo effect in the school system itself,” Johnson said. “Harrington (Elementary) operates almost all by itself—they have different resources, they have their own parent organization—it’s not connected to a parent organization that, for instance, might be over at Walters (Elementary) or a parent organization that might be over at Hughes (Elementary). So, our goal with M.A.C.K would be to coordinate those parent organizations together. If there’s a need that is existent in all of the elementary schools, try to help fulfill and connect those groups together.”
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          Johnson also stressed that being a part of M.A.C.K doesn’t necessarily mean you have to be a parent or have kids in the area and that there are people who are currently a part of the group who bring other unique perspectives to the table.
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          “Being a part of something like M.A.C.K doesn’t mean that you have to have kids in the area,” said Johnson. “There are people in this group that had kids in school, they might be retired but they might have experience in the trades, and they know what a full boiler system looks like and need for repair and maintenance. They might understand what roofs are required or how green space needs to be maintained. And that was one of the things that was also born out of the bond—recognizing that there are so many skills and abilities in our community and people who are willing to help to donate their time and their expertise.”
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          Delaney said another goal M.A.C.K hopes to achieve is to create a line of communication between the schools and other organizations so they can coordinate and work together to continually help support children.
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          “M.A.C.K’s focus is more on ‘how can we support kids and families so that they can be successful individually and as a group,’” Delaney said. “If it’s (providing them) with a jacket, or if it’s that they need tutoring or community support for different programs such as FFA or trade programs—whatever it is, we want to help facilitate communication within the school district, within the public back-and-forth.”
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          As far as short-term goals of the organization are concerned, Johnson said community involvement will be essential as M.A.C.K continues to grow.
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          “I think for short term goals, it’s really that involvement piece,” Johnson said. “There are some schools that have a huge community involvement and a lot of support, there are some that don’t have as much. For me, the first focus is to assess where we’re at as a school community and find out what the immediate needs are to begin to start to chip away at those pieces.”
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          In the long term, Delaney said they want to serve as an organization that the community can rely upon for anyone in the community to contact them and serve as an “umbrella” organization where people are going to M.A.C.K. with all sorts of topics.
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          “It sounds really challenging and we recognize that it’s going to be a work in progress for a while, but I would say in five years, I would like to see M.A.C.K. being kind of like  the ‘go to’ for a teacher or a principal or a parent to call or email us and say, ‘hey, we’ve got this going on’ or ‘we need support with this activity or this type of event,” she said. “Whether it’s a school carnival or it’s a family in need.”
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          Those interested in becoming a member of M.A.C.K. or inquiring about exchange locations for picking up winter gear can call 269-425-0958.
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    <summary type="text" />
    <g-custom:tags type="string">Nov 2020</g-custom:tags>
    <media:content medium="image" url="https://irp.cdn-website.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/logo.jpg" />
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>57th Annual Marshall Christmas Parade back to regular route Nov. 29</title>
    <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.advisor-chronicle.com/57th-annual-marshall-christmas-parade-back-to-regular-route-nov-29" />
    <link rel="enclosure" type="image/jpeg" href="https://irp.cdn-website.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Cover+Story+Parade+Presents+on+Float+959A3645.jpg" length="1664535" />
    <author>
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    <updated>2021-11-24T22:09:10Z</updated>
    <published>2021-11-24T22:09:10Z</published>
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          Everyone is happy to hear that the Marshall Christmas Parade will return to its normal route and time, Monday, Nov. 29, starting at 7 p.m. 
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          Michigan Avenue will close starting at 5:30 p.m. from Dobbins Street (by Darling ACE Hardware) all the way east to the Shell station by High/Exchange Streets. Parade line-up will occur on Michigan Avenue, west of the fountain circle. 
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          The Marshall High School choir will perform downtown, with sound amplified via the downtown speakers, from 6:15 to 6:45 p.m. followed by the parade at 7 p.m.
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          “This parade marks the beginning of the holiday season for many people,” stated Matt Davis, parade co-chair. “We are happy to see it back on the downtown streets.”
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          While it is not mandatory, due to continued COVID-19 concerns, spectators should spread out as much as possible and wear face masks. Participants on floats are also encouraged to practice safe social distancing and to mask up. The parade will be livestreamed on Choose Marshall’s Facebook page to allow anyone hesitant or unable to attend in person the ability to enjoy the parade.
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          The forecast is calling for cold conditions with temperatures in the mid 30’s but whatever the weather the excitement of the parade normally draws a large crowd.
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          Last year Marshall had a “parked parade,” and entries were spaced among the Merry Mile light display at the Calhoun County Fairgrounds. Spectators drove through the mile-long route to view 30 entries and the thousands of lights that make up the Merry Mile.
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          We were really trying to think outside the box and not cancel events last year,” said Davis. “We thought we might get around 300 cars during the two-hour parade but ended up with 1,500! We have no idea how many people will come and see our parade this year.”
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          Thousands of lights will be on the 90 entries in this year’s parade, including 10 marching bands, five hot air balloons and, of course, Santa Claus.
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          This year’s parade theme is “Giving Has No Season” and is meant to honor the volunteers and employees that have continued to work throughout the pandemic.
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          Kathy Miller is the 2021 parade grand marshal. Miller has lived in town for nearly 60 years and has demonstrated outstanding volunteerism and pride in Marshall for that entire time. She has served on City Council and as the Purple Fairy for the Relay for Life, and also volunteers for the Farmers Market, the Franke Center, Heritage Commons senior center, and many more. Her spirit shines through when she states that the volunteers of Marshall are the true grand marshals of the parade.
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          The Marshall Christmas Parade is organized in a collaboration between the city of Marshall and MAEDA, the Marshall Area Economic Development Alliance. For more information and to easily find the livestream visit ChooseMarshall.com or call the Choose Marshall Welcome Center at 269-781-5163.
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    <summary type="text" />
    <g-custom:tags type="string">Nov 2020</g-custom:tags>
    <media:content medium="image" url="https://irp.cdn-website.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Cover+Story+Parade+Presents+on+Float+959A3645.jpg" />
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>Marshall resident and former MSU cross country co-captain honored during football game at Spartan Stadium</title>
    <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.advisor-chronicle.com/marshall-resident-and-former-msu-cross-country-co-captain-honored-during-football-game-at-spartan-stadium" />
    <link rel="enclosure" type="image/jpeg" href="https://irp.cdn-website.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Starkey+3.jpg" length="72209" />
    <author>
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    <updated>2021-11-24T20:23:29Z</updated>
    <published>2021-11-24T20:23:29Z</published>
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           On Nov. 13, Michigan State University honored the 1968, 1970 and 1971 cross country Big Ten Championship teams during the football game against Maryland at Spartan Stadium.
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           Marshall resident Chuck Starkey played an integral part in the success of the ‘68 and ‘70  teams and was a co-captain of the 1970 team during his senior year along with teammate Kim Hartman.
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           On Nov. 12, members of the teams got together for a dinner in East Lansing at the Spartan Hall of Fame Cafe before being honored at the game the next day while being able to watch the 40-21 Spartan victory in the sky box.
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           Starkey said the experience was something he won’t ever forget and that it was fun being able to catch up with some former teammates while also being able to meet some members of the current cross-country team at MSU.
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           “It was overwhelming, actually—it was so cool,” said Chuck. “It was amazing for me to be there with those three trophies and with all the guys that were there. Two of my favorite guys that I really got along with, they were there (Randy Kilpatrick and Ken Popejoy), so that was neat.”
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           Chuck has been married to Helen  for nearly 15 years and Helen has lived in Marshall for 32 years. Their first date took place at Schuler’s in downtown Marshall. When their anniversary comes around each year Dec. 9, they usually go to Schuler’s to celebrate.
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           Helen took the trip with Chuck to East Lansing to support him in the celebration and was happy for the support Chuck and the other team members received.
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           “Everyone said (at the dinner on Nov. 12) how encouraging he (Chuck) was,” Helen said. “I don’t think people realize what a grueling sport running is. It takes a lot of endurance.”
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           Chuck’s  journey as a runner began in junior high in Columbus, Ohio where Chuck grew up. At Columbus West High School, Chuck ended up becoming a three-time state champion (two in cross country, one in track). But when Chuck first got to high school, he went out for the football team and got cut, which ended up being a good thing for him.
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           “All these guys went out for the football team, and I had never played one second of football,” Chuck said. “And I got out there and made a total fool of myself and got cut on the first round. That actually was a good thing that they did that, because then I figured ‘I’ve got to do something’ then ran on the (cross country) team and that’s when I won my first state championship.”
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           Chuck said there were about a dozen schools who recruited him during high school before selecting MSU and going there on a full ride scholarship while eventually getting a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the school.
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           Jim Gibbard was the head coach while Chuck ran at MSU while Jim Bibbs was his assistant. Rufus Glass was Chuck’s high school coach. Throughout his running career, Chuck said all of these coaches helped push him and teach him lessons that he would carry with him years later.
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           “My coach in high school was very good about giving advice, he was a tremendous coach,” Chuck said. “I really started to know about pace from him because he would say ‘don’t burn all your energy in the first 100 yards, even it out.’ So, I learned about pace then. Gibb (Gibbard) was a good coach too, but he was tough, very tough on everybody.”
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           As tough as coach Gibbard could be, Chuck liked to keep things loose as a co-captain to ease some tension and keep the team relaxed.
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           “The one thing that I thought was nice about the dinner Friday (Nov. 12) was that Ken (Popejoy) said something nice about all the teammates that were there,” Helen said. “And what he said about (Chuck) was as a co-captain, as difficult as the coach (at MSU) could be, you (Chuck) being a co-captain made it fun.”
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           Chuck said the team in college would run 20 miles a day, with the first 10 miles of the run being lighter at an eight-minute pace, while the team would do interval work in the afternoon to cover the rest of the mileage.
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           He remembers one home race where he suffered an injury about two miles into a five-mile race but still ended up finishing. After the race was over, Chuck said he found out he ran three of the five miles on a broken leg.
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           “It was a five-mile race, and I was about in the third spot at the time - there were 17 guys in the race,” Chuck said. “Right when I got to where the big hill was, I felt something, a really horrendous pain. I thought ‘Well, just keep running and it’ll work itself out.’ Well, I got to the finish line, and it just seized up, my whole calf area. Out of 17 guys, I beat three of them with a broken leg. And you could imagine what kind of razzing (the ones who finished behind him received). It happened about the two-mile mark, so I ran three of them on a busted leg.”
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           After college, Chuck continued running as a hobby and participated in many events, most notably the Boston Marathon in 1996 and the San Francisco Marathon after that.
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           For competitive runners, being able to qualify for those races is considered a great accomplishment. Chuck said his experiences at the two races were satisfying and memorable.
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           “I always felt that if you consider yourself to be a distance runner, you should run east coast and west coast,” said Chuck. “So, I ran Boston and San Francisco. It was really cold at Boston and San Francisco was like one big hill. It seemed like I just ran uphill for 26 miles.”
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           Now with Parkinson’s disease, Chuck can no longer physically go on runs, but keeps a positive mindset and encourages other runners to aim to reach their goals.
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           Chuck told one story about his daughter when she told him she would never be able to run a marathon. But as Chuck has always done, he encouraged her and surely enough, she completed the run.
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           “I said, ‘look, it’s 90% mental and 10% training—so if you get a good attitude (you’ll be able to do it),’” Chuck said. “And she did. She completed her one and only marathon, the Cherry Festival in Traverse City.”
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    <summary type="text" />
    <g-custom:tags type="string">Nov 2020</g-custom:tags>
    <media:content medium="image" url="https://irp.cdn-website.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Starkey+3.jpg" />
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>Marshall woman completes hike of the Appalachian Trail</title>
    <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.advisor-chronicle.com/marshall-woman-completes-hike-of-the-appalachian-trail" />
    <link rel="enclosure" type="image/jpeg" href="https://irp.cdn-website.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/End+of+Trail+Mt.+Katahdin+IMG_2007+%282%29.jpg" length="431709" />
    <author>
      <name />
    </author>
    <updated>2021-11-24T20:17:40Z</updated>
    <published>2021-11-24T20:17:40Z</published>
    <content>&lt;div data-rss-type="text"&gt;&#xD;
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          Clementia Kelly, a 2017 Marshall High School graduate recently accomplished the impressive feat of hiking the length of the Appalachian Trail - Georgia to Maine, some 2,107 miles in all in just over six months.
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          Clementia said hiking the trail was something she decided to do shortly after the COVID-19 pandemic began in 2020.
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          After high school she attended Western Michigan University to study engineering but then switched to nursing, at which time she transferred to Kalamazoo Valley Community College because of their nursing program. 
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          “It just made more sense financially,” said Clementia, who said she had to start all over and complete the nursing program prerequisites. 
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          She left school after the fall 2020 semester to do her hike.
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          Clementia had some friends in Kalamazoo, and she would occasionally go with them on short backpacking hikes. 
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          “With everything that happened with COVID and school going online, and the general confusion about life, I decided I wanted to do something different and just experience the world differently,” said Clementia, who in  summer 2020 cancelled plans to travel to Europe. “I was thinking, ‘what am I going to do now?’ I had thought about the Appalachian Trail and figured it was something I’d do eventually. I guess eventually came a lot sooner than I planned.”
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          Clementia spent about nine months preparing for the hike, which she began on April 3.
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          “My plan was to do to the entire thing,” she said. “I read a lot of articles about how people prepare and also watched a lot of YouTube videos…A lot of reading,  a lot of research on the internet…I’m really lucky I had these resources compared to those who did the trail before the internet.”
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          She also got some advice from a former classmate who has done some smaller through hikes including the Colorado Trail. 
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          “He and another friend helped me pick out my gear and make sure that I had light gear and that I was also comfortable,” said Clementia. “I had a very light pack because the friends who helped me, they are what you call ‘ultra-light’ hikers. Ultra-light people usually have a base weight – all of your stuff without food and water – of 12 pounds or less. The average for typical hikers is 20 pounds. But I didn’t want to have a super-heavy pack because it makes hiking a lot less enjoyable and I’m a smaller person, so you have to make the pack weight relative to how much you way. With all my food and water, my pack ended up weighing 23 pounds when I started.”
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          Clementia said the pack gradually got heavier as the hike progressed because she said she was running more of a caloric deficit.
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          “When I would have a full four days of food, it weighed 28 pounds,” she said. 
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          She said she saved money by sewing a lot of her gear leading up to the hike.
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          “My grandmother is a quilter, and she had an extra sewing machine,” said Clementia. “So, I sewed my tent and several bags. The tent was the really big project, but it worked really well for me for the first month or so.”
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          Not sleeping well on the ground,  however, Clementia decided to switch from a tent to a hammock.
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           “I was only going on four or five hours of sleep a night,” she said. “When you’re exerting yourself so much, sleep becomes really important. So, I used the hammock for the rest of my trip and that was really comfortable for me.  It was like a cocoon. I slept like a baby.”
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          Leading up to the hike, Clementia, 22, met another young woman named Katie through a Facebook group and they decided to do a short “shakedown” hike to test out their gear in February in Tennessee.
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          “We got along pretty well,” said Clementia. “So, when I started the Appalachian Trail, we went to Amicalola Falls, Ga. where the trail officially starts. She lives in Ohio, so my mom drove me to Katie’s place. Our parents got to meet and then Katie’s mom drove us to Georgia.”
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          Clementia said her father was excited for her, as he had talked of running the Appalachian Trail before.
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           “That’s been a longtime dream of his,” she said. “My mom, though, was super terrified. I really had to ease her into it. She got me a tracking device that I carried with me so I could send messages stating that I was alive. My message was literally, ‘I’m still alive.’  I would send that once a day for her. The cool thing about that was that I didn’t have to have cell service to send the message.”
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          It is not as if Clementia was all by herself on the trail.
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          “The thing that a lot of people don’t understand about the Appalachian Trail, and a lot of trails in general, is that there’s a really big community around it, so I started by myself, but I was not alone,” she said. “I was around people every day and every night, and I made friends very quickly.”
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          This year, said Clementia, it was estimated that about 5,000 people were on the trail and about a quarter of those people hiked the entire distance.
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          “I started in Georgia and ended in Maine, but some people start in Maine and finish in Georgia,” she said. “ And then there are some people who will start in the middle and hike up and then hike back down…But the most common way is northbound or Nobo.”
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          Clementia and Katie hiked together for about a month and then Katie went ahead on her own.
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          “She went way faster than I did and finished about a week before me,” said Clementia.  “During the day, I mostly hiked by myself because I preferred to hike alone. Sometimes though, I would hike with people and there were a couple friends I would camp with almost every night when we would meet up.  But I felt that the biggest reason for doing this hike was to get comfortable being with myself…I traveled in and out of a lot of groups just because I preferred to make my own decisions. When you’re with a group of five or six, then things become more complicated when you stay at a hostel or hotel.”
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          She admitted that there were times she and other hikers would hitchhike when looking to go into a town near the trail to get supplies or to spend the night.
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          “The nice thing about that though is that the people who live in towns along the trail  are very familiar with hikers,” she said. “So, when they see people with packs on, they pretty much know what you’re doing and they’re super willing to help out. I never felt in any danger hitchhiking.”
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          A “nice surprise”  would be the occasional times Clementia and other hikers would encounter locals who set up food and drink stations along the trail so hikers would not have to venture off the trail.
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          “I think the biggest thing about the hike was that I  realized how much I took many things in life for granted,” she said. “Getting fresh fruit on the hike, for example, was such a blessing.”
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          Most days, Clementia averaged 15-25 miles a day on the trail.
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          “They say you don’t get in shape for the trail; the trail gets you in shape,” said Clementia. “I did yoga prior to the hike and a few shakedown hikes, but I really didn’t do anything that much different from my normal routine. I really didn’t train at all.”
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          Not surprisingly, having the proper footwear, she said, was vital to successfully completing the trail.
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          “Trail runners are nice, but they wear out faster, so on average, they will last 300 to 500 miles,” she said. “I had two different kinds of trail runners to start for the first 1,000 miles, then I ended up switching to a lightweight hiking shoe and that one I had for 900 miles. Those shoes were great because they had a structure of a hiking boot, but they were lightweight, and they dried out fast like a trail runner."
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          Foot pain, she said was a frequent occurrence, especially as the terrain became more rugged the farther north she traveled.
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           “Up until I got to New Hampshire, I never doubted what I was doing,” said Clementia. “I knew that I was going to finish. I knew in my soul that I was going to finish. However, New Hampshire and Maine are known for being the hardest parts of the trail. By the time you get to those parts, you’re worn out, you’ve been hiking for five months, and the terrain is super hard. You have to move so slowly, and the terrain is super technical, and you could really hurt yourself if you fall so you can’t go fast. Your mileage goes way down. In New Hampshire and southern Maine, I didn’t go more than 12 miles a day – I usually averaged about 10 miles a day. It really beats up your body…There were days that I didn’t enjoy it at all.”
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          After southern Maine, there came a reprieve with the “100-mile wilderness.”
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          “It’s relatively flat compared to the rest of the trail,” said Clementia. “There’s beautiful views and lakes and ponds. Once I got there my faith in the trail was restored. I loved it. It was all worth it – the pain I went through to get there.”
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          Clementia reached the end of the trail at Mt. Katahdin on Oct. 8. 
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          “It felt like it wasn’t really over,” she said. “It felt like just another day on the trail, and I’d be waking up to hike again the next day. But then soon after, I was sort of in disbelief at what I just did.”
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          Since returning back home to Marshall, Clementia said she has missed being out on the trail. 
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          “I feel a little disconnected from things,” she said. “I’ve been staying active, going on hikes every day. I still count my mileage. I’m getting in 5-10 miles a day. It feels good to stay moving.”
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          Clementia said the Appalachian Trail is the toughest and she is looking forward to conquering other trails.
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          “I’m glad that I started with that trail because it will set me up to do well on other trails because at least I know I can hike whatever is thrown at me because it will be way easier, terrain wise,” she said. 
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          That said, next week, Clementia will be back on the AT in the Smoky Mountains, meeting up with a friend for five days who is on a southbound thru-hike. 
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          On her six-month hike, Clementia said other than missing good food to eat, she really did not feel like she was missing out on anything while being mostly off the grid.
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          “In some ways I felt guilty being so disconnected,” she said. “It’s a privilege not having to pay attention to the news or have other responsibilities. You don’t have to worry about a job, you don’t have to worry about a lot of life things on the trail. Having said that, I do feel I kept up communication with my family  and friends more while on the trail than when I was home. Having the familiarity of the people you cared about back home was so nice.”
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          She said she enjoyed Instagram on the trail, following other people who were ahead of her or behind her on the trail.
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          “I’d also be able to see where other people stayed and the places they’d recommend,” said Clementia. 
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          She said that at the beginning of her hike, she listened to music a lot, but eventually stopped.
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          “I really started to prefer the silence over music,” said Clementia, who added that she eventually made her own music. “I hiked with a ukulele and there was a friend who had a guitar and another who had a mini keyboard, and we formed a little band on the trail. It was so much fun. I was also the singer. Throughout the trail at the shelters the three of us would make  a setlist and would tell the people which shelter we would be at that night. at was one of my favorite memories of the trail – having that little band for a while.”
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          It was her musical talent that earned her the trail name “Crook.”
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          “I had a song I played on my ukulele I called ‘Crooked Lines’ and a couple of weeks into the hike, I played it for my friends and one of them said that should be my trail name,” said Clementia. “Crooked Line was my initial trail name but there was a talent show at Trail Days about a month into the hike in Virginia and I showed up late, while the last person was performing. I signed up and performed and got second place. My friend told me that I stole the show and my name got shortened to Crook after that.”
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          After she gets back from her five-day hike in the Smokies, Clementia said she’d like to plan her next big hike, maybe the Colorado Trail next summer. 
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          “I’m at the point where I’d rather work short-term jobs, save up and go travel while I can,” she said. “I realized on the trail out in the woods that I don’t need that much to live.”
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          Since she moved into her grandmother’s house in Marshall, Clementia said she hasn’t unpacked much, calling herself “an aspiring minimalist.”
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          She said her plans are open-ended, and she is also mulling over an offer to live with a friend in Montana.
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          “I’m really enjoying the freedom of not having to be somewhere for too long,” she said. “I know eventually I will go back to nursing…But for now, like I learned on the trail, you just go with the flow. I’m excited to be a free spirit…I really learned to like myself on the trail. I really started to enjoy my own company, and I’m so grateful I’ve been able to learn that now.”
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    <summary type="text" />
    <g-custom:tags type="string">Nov 2020</g-custom:tags>
    <media:content medium="image" url="https://irp.cdn-website.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/End+of+Trail+Mt.+Katahdin+IMG_2007+%282%29.jpg" />
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>Olivet varsity softball names head coach</title>
    <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.advisor-chronicle.com/olivet-varsity-softball-names-head-coach" />
    <link rel="enclosure" type="image/jpeg" href="https://irp.cdn-website.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Cooper.jpg" length="592080" />
    <author>
      <name />
    </author>
    <updated>2021-11-23T18:36:59Z</updated>
    <published>2021-11-23T18:36:59Z</published>
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            Michelle Cooper set to lead Eagles after 4 years at helm of JV program
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            Michelle Cooper, who coached Olivet High School’s  junior varsity softball team the past four seasons, knew last season would be Jeff Taylor’s final one as the head of the varsity softball program after leading the Eagles for six years.
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            What she didn’t know was whether she was going to consider applying for the vacancy after Taylor informed his team in May that the 2021 season would be his last.
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            After talking with her family, praying and doing some soul searching, Cooper decided to throw her name in the hat and apply for the job.
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            Weeks later, athletic director Matt Seidl asked Cooper (who is also the JV volleyball coach at the school) before a home volleyball game if she had time to talk softball in the coming weeks.
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            Cooper describes her and Seidl as having a laid back relationship, so when they met, Seidl casually asked Cooper a question at one point in their conversation. Cooper knew exactly what he was referencing.
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            “When we met, we talked a lot about volleyball season wrapping up, how basketball was looking—then he casually laid it on me (and said) ‘so you ready to do this?’ “Right then I knew exactly what he was referring to and replied with ‘you know I am!’ Softball is my sport, my pulse, my happy place. I was ready to jump in with both feet.”
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            Cooper is a graduate of Charlotte High School, where she played softball three years as a varsity catcher. Before coaching the Eagles’ JV program, she coached a Charlotte travel team for two years and an Olivet travel team for five years.
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            Seidl said Cooper is ready to take the next step in her coaching career and is excited to see her take the opportunity.
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            “Michelle’s passion for coaching and working with young people is obvious anytime you talk with her,” Seidl said. “She has established herself as a successful sub-varsity coach in both our softball and volleyball programs, and now she is ready for this next step.”
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            Making the transition from the JV coach to varsity, Cooper said it will be beneficial knowing players in the program and building off Taylor’s success as the program is fresh off winning a district championship.
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            “Coach Taylor worked hard to build a system within our program so the girls know exactly what to expect every year,” said Cooper. “Our girls thrive in the offseason and I can’t wait to get them all back together. I’m thankful to be part of an amazing program where I have a ton of support from my family, friends, past/present players and the administration.”
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            Cooper will have big shoes to fill while replacing someone like Taylor, who spent over 40 years in the game coaching at both the high school and college levels, who Cooper said she learned a lot from.
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            “I’m thankful for coach Taylor and his mentoring the last four seasons,” Cooper said. 
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            Cooper breaks down her philosophy as a coach with four elements: “Have fun, work hard, stay humble but be a beast.”
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            “Every team I coach we set our team goals together, we work hard together and we try our best to accomplish them together.”
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    <summary type="text" />
    <g-custom:tags type="string">Nov 2020</g-custom:tags>
    <media:content medium="image" url="https://irp.cdn-website.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Cooper.jpg" />
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>New pavilion constructed in Marengo Township thanks to help of benefactor</title>
    <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.advisor-chronicle.com/new-pavilion-constructed-in-marengo-township-thanks-to-help-of-benefactor" />
    <link rel="enclosure" type="image/jpeg" href="https://irp.cdn-website.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Pavillion+Dedication.jpg" length="186380" />
    <author>
      <name />
    </author>
    <updated>2021-11-16T00:06:42Z</updated>
    <published>2021-11-16T00:06:42Z</published>
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           On Nov. 6, residents gathered in Marengo Township for a ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the new Weaver-Baty Community Pavilion that was constructed off of 23 Mile Road in Albion just outside of town hall and the fire station.
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           Vickie Wyman is the benefactor of the project that had been in the makings for about a year while taking about eight months to complete.
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           Wyman is not and has never been a resident of Marengo Township, but has plenty of ties to people in and around the area while growing up in Eckford Township. As a child, Wyman attended church and shopped at stores in Marengo, which helped connect her with the people in the village of Marengo.
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           Although she now lives in Ann Arbor, Wyman said she was determined to think of a way she could give back to a place that treated her so well throughout the years.
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           “I heard that the village was unincorporated now,” Wyman said. “The township acquired maintenance and ownership of the cemetery, so that made me think ‘is there something I could do to help the community?’ Because it sounded like it was needing some love. So I brainstormed with myself and came up with the idea to do a pavilion for the township so that people would have a gathering spot and a place to use, and maybe have a farmer’s market and maybe rent it out for birthday parties, just to give them a stimulus.”
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           Wyman then consulted her brother, who together worked with the township to eventually find a construction company contracted to build the pavilion.
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           Township supervisor Dave Fountain said his conversations with Wyman throughout the process were productive and that the township board was overwhelmingly in favor of the project as soon as Fountain presented it to them as he hopes people in the community will enjoy the space provided.
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           “Since we had the extra property right here at the town hall, we decided to put the pavilion in here,” said Fountain. “I think once we get the word out that it’s available that the community will hopefully use it—there’s no charge for it and it’s here for everyone to use.”
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           Wyman said she wanted to give back because she always felt warmth and appreciation from community members when she was actively  in the community while attending church, youth groups and going to the local stores growing up and is happy that she was able to find a way to help.
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           “I felt so much warmth and felt valued by the community when we were participating in the community,” said Wyman. “They just were always so warm and welcoming and that really warmed my heart. I knew I would love to help if I could and I was in a position to help.”
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    <summary type="text" />
    <g-custom:tags type="string">Nov 2020</g-custom:tags>
    <media:content medium="image" url="https://irp.cdn-website.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Pavillion+Dedication.jpg" />
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>A holiday tradition returns: Marshall Community Ballet’s The Nutcracker 25th anniversary production Nov. 26-28</title>
    <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.advisor-chronicle.com/a-holiday-tradition-returns-marshall-community-ballets-the-nutcracker-25th-anniversary-production-nov-26-28" />
    <link rel="enclosure" type="image/jpeg" href="https://irp.cdn-website.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Cover+story+Nutcracker+cast+outdoors+IMG_4940.jpg" length="921138" />
    <author>
      <name />
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    <updated>2021-11-16T00:02:57Z</updated>
    <published>2021-11-16T00:02:57Z</published>
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          It has been three years, but the time has come to announce the return of a Marshall holiday season favorite. Area dancers will take the stage in the Marshall Community Ballet’s, The Nutcracker Thanksgiving weekend, Nov. 26 and 27 at 7 p.m. and at 2 p.m. on the 28th at Marshall High School’s Center for the Performing Arts.
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          This year marks the 25th anniversary since the first Marshall production in 1996.
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          The Nutcracker came to Marshall when resident Sally Bulgarelli began toying with the idea of spearheading a community production of the Nutcracker Ballet. Bulgarelli and choreographer Tricia Taylor, then a dance student at Western Michigan University, teamed up to make The Nutcracker a reality as the Marshall Community Ballet Company was born.
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          This year’s show will be directed by Brianna Novak, owner of Dance Dynamics and Tricia (Taylor) Hilton, who has been a part of every Nutcracker production. The show will be produced by Sara Zeuklhe Conine and Jenna Graeber.
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          There are dozens of other dance teachers, parents and volunteers who diligently work to make sure that this production is a success. 
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          Tryouts  for those between the age of 8-18 were held in late August and practices began shortly thereafter. 
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          This is Novak’s first year as co-director and she said those assisting with the production have been invaluable.
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          “We have an amazing group of choreographers that include Colleen McElroy, Kathryn Grable, Angela Gerten, Beau Hutchings, Kirsten Hall and Marissa Burghdorf,” said Novak. “This will be our first show since 2018 and we have lots of new surprises in this and hope the community comes out to support these amazing dancers on the weekend of Thanksgiving!”
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          This year’s cast:
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          Drosselmeyer:  Mara Tiernan
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          Drosselmeyer’s Assistant: Scarlett Melton, Ava Metheny, Addy Bak, Avery Tiernan
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          Soldier Doll: Kendall Melton
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          Columbine Doll: Juliana Frigerio
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          Harlequin: Abby Geairn
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          Prince: Jackson Graeber
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          Clara: Zadie Zuehlke  Understudy: Maeley Hydrick
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          Clara’s Mom: Helene Hilton
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          Fritz: Marley Albrecht
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          Party guests : Alexis Palmer, Alexis Avery, Makenna Groeneveld, Hallie Machalka, Ellory Albrecht, Brooke Woodworth, Kylie Shedd, Lizzy Loyer, Alanna Smith, Ayla Zienert, Abby Ellis, Mary Claire Davis, Olivia Butler, Hailee-Mae Eldred, Amelia Kotas, Alexis Fitch, Elliana Ebner, Ella Domingo, Madeline Kue and Maeley Hydrick. 
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          Mice: Amelia Damron, Lexi Hart, Cora Mae Davis, Morgan Dale, Kinlee Dermyer, Kennedy Kauffman, Monroe Melton, Brooklyn Tucker, Kylee Battles, Brynley Swallow, Sofia Swift, Aerianna Vaughn 
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          Mouse Queen: Alexis Palmer
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          Head Soldier: Alexis Avery
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          Soldier Ensemble: Autumn Jaynes, Kylie Shedd, MacKenzie Heath, Bailey Everdeen, Hailee Mae Eldred, Alanna Smith, Maddie Kue, Kamree Novak, Arielle Luzadder 
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          Candy Canes: Quinn Russell, Maeve Russell, Violet Groeneveld, Amaya Dubois,  Alaina Dysinger,  Isabella Russell, Caidee Yarbro,  Delaney Flynn
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          Snowflakes: Sophia Andalon, Adriana Domingo, Aubrey Dysinger, Julianna Frigerio Anderson Welker, Sadie Reed, Isabella Peck, Leah McPartlin, Samantha Stults, Whitney Ivey 
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          Icicle Duet: Ellory Albrecht, Brooke Woodworth
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          Snow Queen: Makenna Groeneveld
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          Snow Princess: Hallie Machalka
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          Sugar Plum Fairy: Helene Hilton  Understudy: Alexis Fitch
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          King: Stephen Smith
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          Spanish Soloist: Kylie Shedd
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          Spanish Ensemble: Alexis Avery, Abigail Geairn
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          Arabian Soloist: Lizzy Loyer
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          Arabian Ensemble: Kylie Kirk, Maeley Hydrick, Brooke Woodworth, Ellory Albrecht 
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          Russian Soloist: Alanna Smith
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          Russian Ensemble: Taylor Bohney, Amy Holben   
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          Chinese Soloist: Ayla Zienert
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          Chinese Ensemble: Addison Bak,  Leah McPartlin, Kamree Novak   
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          Mirliton Soloist: Abby Ellis
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          Mirliton Attendants: Mary Claire Davis, Olivia Butler
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          Mirliton Ensemble: Kayla Smith, Adrienne Dysinger, Addison Groeneveld, Aubrey Tarkiewicz, Mackenzie Allen, Maria Andalon
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          Mother Ginger: Hailee Mae Eldred
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          Bon Bons: Kenney Hughes, Brailynn Dermyer, Avery Tiernan, Ava Metheny, Oliva Kotas, Kendall Melton, Annabelle Davis, Brooklyn Schoch
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          Dew Drop Soloist: Amelia Kotas
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          Flower Dew Drops: Aislyn Miller, Arianna Woodliff, Isabella Walters, Zophi Zuehlke, Mallorie Holbrook, Maci Williams, Addison Madre, Charlie Smith
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          Flower Soloist: Alexis Fitch
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          Flower Attendants: Elliana Ebner, Ella Domingo
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          Jr. Flower Attendants: Madeline Kue,  Maeley Hydrick 
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          Flower Ensemble: Violet Holbrook, Savannah Reed, Anderson Welker, Allie Sworst, Harper Snyder, Scarlett Melton, Bailey Everdeen, Lilli Welker
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          “This production could never happen without the leadership from the talented adults that work with these dancers,” said Novak.  
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          While the directors try to stay faithful to the music and story line, Novak noted there are always “special touches” added to make the production different from the last. This year each soloist is creating a pointe shoe to represent their character.
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          “We will also feature an opening number, some added characters and some new choreography in many scenes,” said Novak.
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          Tickets for The Nutcracker are now on sale and can be purchased online by going to  http://www.dancestudio-pro.com/tickets/mcbc Tickets can also be purchased at the door prior to showtime.
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    <summary type="text" />
    <g-custom:tags type="string">Nov 2020</g-custom:tags>
    <media:content medium="image" url="https://irp.cdn-website.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Cover+story+Nutcracker+cast+outdoors+IMG_4940.jpg" />
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>MPS Board of Education ponders next moves after failed bond proposal</title>
    <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.advisor-chronicle.com/mps-board-of-education-ponders-next-moves-after-failed-bond-proposal" />
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    <updated>2021-11-15T23:59:11Z</updated>
    <published>2021-11-15T23:59:11Z</published>
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          At the Marshall Public Schools Board of Education meeting Nov. 8 in the Marshall Middle School Auditorium, board members had their first chance to discuss the failed $45.6  bond proposal that was defeated Nov. 2 by a 2 to 1 margin. Trustee Amanda Lankerd had offered a framework of sorts moving forward to engage members of the community that had voted no to see if a common ground could be reached.
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          The idea would be to invite members of the group, “Important Parents of Marshall Public Schools,” who were against the bond, to a meeting with the board which would be open to the public to hear the group’s concerns.
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          “The thought was maybe to invite 10-15 people and set up ground rules to make sure we can talk and listen to each other in a respectful way”… with no personal attacks, disrespect,  name calling, etc.,”  said Board President Richard Lindsey. 
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          The meeting would discuss the following types of questions:
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          *What are your aspirations for your kids/grandkids?
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          *What are the two to three most important issue for you when it comes to education?
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          *When it comes to capital improvements of the district’s facilities, what do you think are the most important and necessary needs? 
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          *What do you think we collectively can do to address the facility needs? 
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          *What do you think needs to be in the bond proposal and what should be done differently in order for voters to support the bond?
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          “I think this would be a really good framework for us to engage in this,” said Lindsey. “We really missed the mark on a number of things, according to the voters. If we’re going to try again, we need to figure out how to do it differently and better.”
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          Trustee Matt Davis said he believed there was “some interest” in a town hall style session as well.
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          “I would suggest there would be a couple of them – at least one in each community… in addition to the ones a little bit more targeted to the people who were really active and involved in being concerned about the bond,” said Davis. “I would also like to see, and I can’t dictate it, but the board can, is to have (Interim Superintendent) Becky (Jones) begin doing some small group meetings so she can get feedback from people on what some of the issues are who might not feel comfortable talking in an open forum.”
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          Trustee Dr. Carrie Nicholson said she thought the “smaller, informal groups are going to be more effective with people being open and honest about what they’re saying.”
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          “There are certainly a lot of people that have a lot of angst that ended up voting no, and didn’t feel good about voting no,” said Nicholson.
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          Jones said she had “reached out” to people to begin a dialogue.
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          “I’m starting some one-on-one meetings that need to happen and I’m asking those people to kind of branch out from there and then we’ll branch out to meetings of four or five,” said Jones. “We’ll continue to work with people to hear as much community input that I can get and then report back to the board as I move along through those meetings.”
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          Lankerd suggested that there should be a way for people to share their thoughts via a written document in the event they don’t feel comfortable sharing “negative things” in public.
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          “We can put together a document to distribute where people can  attend a meeting and be able to write down their thoughts,” she said. 
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          Lindsey pondered how to get people to engage in the process.
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          “We had, what I thought to be a pretty resounding defeat,” he said, admitting that he thought more people would show up to the meeting to talk about the bond issue and asking what the board was going to do differently. “How do we get the “no” people that were strongly opposed?”
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          Lankerd commented that community engagement is not a “one and done thing.”
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          “You don’t say, ‘yay, we’ve arrived – we have engaged the community and now we can go out and do things,’” she said. “We need to go out, engage the community, take that (feedback), put it into actual things, do the things and then say, hey, did we get it right?’ It’s constant cycle of ‘We listened. This is what we got out of it. This is what we did as a result of it. Did we get it right?’”
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    <summary type="text" />
    <g-custom:tags type="string">Nov 2020</g-custom:tags>
    <media:content medium="image" url="https://irp.cdn-website.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Hawk+logo.jpg" />
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>A soldier’s story: Mike Galloway remembers his time in Vietnam</title>
    <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.advisor-chronicle.com/a-soldiers-story-mike-galloway-remembers-his-time-in-vietnam" />
    <link rel="enclosure" type="image/jpeg" href="https://irp.cdn-website.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Mike+Galloway+Veterans+DAy+IMG_4740.jpg" length="1105863" />
    <author>
      <name />
    </author>
    <updated>2021-11-05T18:50:35Z</updated>
    <published>2021-11-05T18:50:35Z</published>
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           Mike Galloway arrived in Vietnam October 1967 after having been drafted by the United States Army shortly after graduation from Marshall High School in 1966.
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          Mike said he remembers that after being drafted, many Marshall young men traveled together by bus to Detroit.
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           “Many of those people were guys I graduated with from Marshall High School,” he said. “We all went together and none of us stayed together.”
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          Mike went to Missouri for basic training with one other person from Marshall.
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          From there, Mike went to MP school at Ft. Hood in Texas.
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          “I was not an MP, but I was there for almost a year and then I went to Vietnam, ending up in Long Binh, which is very close to Saigon,” he said. “When I got on the plane, I flew into Cam Ranh Bay which is up north and we kept flying north, dropping people off along the way.  I was thinking, ‘My God, I’m going to be in North Vietnam before I get off this plane.’ But we turned around and I ended up at Long Bihn, which was the largest American complex in Vietnam at the time.”
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          Mike worked in supply for the first five months he was there, a job he said he “loved.” He. then was told he would be a general’s aide for the last seven months of his tour.
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          “I was told I was going to be an aide to a brigadier general who was leading the country,” said Mike, “I was told I was going to be his driver. I didn’t have any choice in the matter.”
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          After a few weeks, that general left and a new one took over.
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          “What we mostly did was have a lot of parade ceremonies,” said Mike. “Every morning, I’d take the general’s helmet, pistol and flak jacket to his office and then I’d find out what we were doing that day…We traveled all over, but it was for ceremonies for people who were being awarded…We wouldn’t be there 10 minutes, and after the general presented the awards, we’d get in the helicopter and head back.”
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          Mike also worked with a couple of other aides in the mess hall for the generals and 28 officers.
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          Mike said the Tet Offensive in January 1968 “changed everything.”
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          “That took place right across the highway from us,” he said. “We took a couple hits but that was really the only close call that we had.”
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          Mike was still working in supply at the time of the Tet Offensive where he and another soldier would take laundry to Saigon two days a week. 
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          “Nobody was on us to get right back, so we’d spend the day in Saigon until it was time to pick up the laundry,” said Mike. “After Tet, we dropped off the laundry and went straight back.”
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          In 2017, Mike and his wife of more than 50 years, Cathy, visited Vietnam.
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          “I didn’t recognize a thing,” said Mike. “We stayed in Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon)  three nights, but we hired a driver and translator. When I was there during the war it was nothing but jungle and now it’s all built up between Long Binh and Ho Chi Minh City.”
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          When in Hanoi, they visited the prison that housed U.S. POWs. Sitting on a park bench near the prison, Cathy and Mike were approached by a woman.
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          “She asked if he was in the war and it kind gave me a chill,” said Cathy, who told the woman to ask Mike directly. The answer was no. “I think one of the most moving things was when we were walking to the park, there was this upscale mall. It was so nice, and I was thinking I can’t believe this is in Hanoi. We were up on the second level and this old Vietnamese man saw Mike and came up to him with a big smile and shook Mike’s hand. It was like he was trying to say something. He just kept shaking Mike’s hand and these kids from his family, probably grandchildren went up to Mike and wrapped their arms around Mike’s legs and they hugged him. I was thinking, “We have come a long way.’ It was very moving. That man could have been in the war at the same time as Mike.”
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          Looking back, Mike said he was “very fortunate” to be stationed where he was during the war. 
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          “I had to wear starched uniforms and polished boots and I’d see these guys come in from the field and their headquarters was where I was stationed, and I’d go into the PX, and these guys would look at me like “What the hell do you do?’” said Mike. “We had swimming pools, an amphitheater where we saw Bob Hope and Ann Margret…Those guys out in the field went through hell and I’m fortunate I didn’t. I was lucky.”
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          After returning home from Vietnam, Mike worked downtown at the bar today known as   Mike’s Place for several years and then he worked at Barney’s Glass in Battle Creek until he retired in 2001. Mike has also done some landscaping on the side.
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          Mike said to this day, thinking about the war does bring back sadness.
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          “For me, personally, I grew up a lot there,” he said. “But it makes me sick that we lost so many people and that so many of us are living with problems because of being there.”
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    <summary type="text" />
    <g-custom:tags type="string">Nov 2020</g-custom:tags>
    <media:content medium="image" url="https://irp.cdn-website.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Mike+Galloway+Veterans+DAy+IMG_4740.jpg" />
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>Olivet varsity football defeats Williamston in weather impacted playoff game</title>
    <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.advisor-chronicle.com/olivet-varsity-football-defeats-williamston-in-weather-impacted-playoff-game" />
    <link rel="enclosure" type="image/jpeg" href="https://irp.cdn-website.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Petersburg+and+Mason+Molek.JPG" length="410800" />
    <author>
      <name />
    </author>
    <updated>2021-11-02T19:07:34Z</updated>
    <published>2021-11-02T19:07:34Z</published>
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            Eagles come away with 3-0 win through sloppy field conditions
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          Olivet’s Tyler Latunski planted his feet into the soft, muddy field on a cold and rainy night in Williamston and drilled a 22-yard field goal in overtime to give the Eagles a 3-0 win over the Hornets in the MHSAA Division 5 first round playoff game on Oct. 29.
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          The field goal was the first make of the year for Latunski as Olivet players and coaches poured onto the field in celebration once the ball went through the uprights.
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          “To hit a walk off kick, there’s nothing like it,” Olivet head coach Brock Peters said about the dramatic win. “There’s an emotion that’s involved in sports that I haven’t found in anything else—there’s more important things (in life), but that euphoria of doing something in a huge game like this, to be able to get a walk off is really special.”
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          The field goal came after Olivet’s defense came up with a stop on the first possession of overtime as Williamston missed a 27-yard field goal on fourth down, opening the door for the Eagles to win the game on any score after the miss.
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          In regulation, it was 48 minutes of some missed opportunities combined with strong defensive performances from both teams—similar to the team’s Week 8 matchup at Olivet, which the Eagles won 20-19 without the poor weather conditions.
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          Williamston’s best offensive series of the night came on its opening possession as the Hornets moved the ball all the way to the Eagles’ 1-yard line  looking to take the early advantage. But the Eagles’ defense stood tall and forced Williamston into a missed field goal, which turned out to be a critical defensive stand for Olivet.
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          “Looking back, that’s the difference in the game,” Peters said. “At the time you don’t know it, any time you can hold a team first-and-goal from the one and keep (them) from scoring, that’s just a gigantic win. It gives you some confidence on defense, but not knowing it was going to be 0-0, you don’t realize how huge that was.”
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          The defense had to step up time and time again for Olivet while its offense was trying to figure out a way to move the ball against a stout Hornets defense and against the weather conditions. Late in the second quarter, the Hornets drove the ball near the Olivet red zone, but Olivet’s Mason Molek jumped a pass thrown from quarterback Alex Petersburg to keep the score deadlocked at 0-0 heading into halftime.
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          The Eagles got the ball first in the second half and pulled out a trick play to try to loosen up the Hornets’ stingy defense and executed a throwback pass back to quarterback Clay Flower for a first down into Williamston territory. But on the same drive, Flower had a pass intercepted by Zach Painter at the Williamston 38-yard line.
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          The Hornets would move the ball to the Olivet 30-yard line after the forced turnover, but Olivet’s defense stood strong again while getting a fourth down stop toward the end of the third.
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          On Olivet’s first drive in the fourth quarter, the Eagles were finally able to connect on a big play in the passing game when Flower found Dalton Tobias on a 39-yard pass play down the sideline. Shortly after, Flower connected with Bo Lincoln on a post pattern that Lincoln came down with at the 2-yard line, but a holding penalty on the Eagles negated the play and eventually forced the drive to stall out with 8:44 to remaining.
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          With 4:30 left in the game, the Eagles got the ball back but were forced to punt in their own territory when Ramsey Bousseau slightly bobbled the snap on fourth down. The bobble was enough time for the Williamston rush to force him to run the ball as he was stopped short of the first down marker.
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          The Hornets were suddenly in good field position after that stop, but they gave it right back to Olivet’s offense with a fumble on the first play of their next series that was recovered by Bo Lincoln, only for Olivet to fumble it back to Williamston on its next play in the wild sequence of events.
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          Williamston would get the ball to Olivet’s 19-yard line looking for the game’s first score and potential game winning touchdown, but a Petersburg pass was intercepted by Flower in the end zone, with Flower finding multiple blocks on the return and running the ball back to midfield before getting tackled with 55 seconds left.
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          Olivet could not take advantage of the field position and the game went into overtime to eventually set up the game winning field goal from Latunski.
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          Peters said he is proud of the way his defense has improved throughout the season while pointing out the competitive matchup between Painter and Olivet defensive end Blake Lincoln.
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          “Our two inside linebackers had never played inside linebacker before, so it’s pretty unusual to have a really good football team and have inexperience at linebacker,” said Peters. “They’re great football players and they’ve really learned how to play the position (Caleb Molek and Dalton Tobias), they’ve just gotten better and better all year. And as they’ve gotten better our defense has gotten better. Tonight, Blake Lincoln is one of our defensive ends, and they have number 11 (Painter) on their side is just an absolute monster, he’s a stud. We’ve played him now four times in three years, and he (Lincoln) really had to man up in the second half to take him on—he got manhandled by him in the first half but he stood up and played completely out of his mind in the second half.”
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          Tobias led the Eagles’ defense with seven tackles, with Caleb Molek coming up with six tackles on the night. Bousseau added six tackles, while Flower had five to go along with his interception.
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          Offensively, Flower completed 3-of-13 pass attempts for 53 yards and ran it 16 times for 39 yards.
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          Olivet will play at Portland High School on Nov. 5 to take on the Raiders (8-2) to decide the district champion in the MHSAA Division 5 playoffs.
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    <summary type="text" />
    <g-custom:tags type="string">Nov 2020</g-custom:tags>
    <media:content medium="image" url="https://irp.cdn-website.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Petersburg+and+Mason+Molek.JPG" />
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>LINKS program at Marshall Middle School helps bring students of all kinds together</title>
    <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.advisor-chronicle.com/links-program-at-marshall-middle-school-helps-bring-students-of-all-kinds-together" />
    <link rel="enclosure" type="image/jpeg" href="https://irp.cdn-website.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/IMG_2726Links.jpg" length="797760" />
    <author>
      <name />
    </author>
    <updated>2021-10-29T20:30:31Z</updated>
    <published>2021-10-29T20:30:31Z</published>
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          Last year, staff at Doris Klaussen Developmental Center approached the administration at Marshall Middle School looking for support to start the LINKS program at the school, a peer-to-peer program that pairs general education students with students with special needs.
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          The administration gave approval for the program to be implemented as LINKS continues to be a success in the school with a growing amount of students getting involved in the start of the program’s second year.
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          Michele Gulbis and Justin Brown help operate the LINKS program. Gulbis is a teacher for individuals with autism at DKDC, while Brown works with individuals who have moderate cognitive impairments at DKDC. Even though both are DKDC staff, their presence at Marshall Middle School is felt as they continually recruit students to get involved with the program.
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          “In the two years, it’s expanded exponentially,” Brown said. “We started with a much smaller group, and this year our interest and our feedback from the kids was huge—we have over 70 students (involved), and they are constantly stopping us in the hallway because they’re genuinely excited about it (the program).”
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          Brown said the staff and administration at Marshall have been supportive of the program from the beginning and that being in the Marshall community feels like a family atmosphere where the community is supporting one another, which is helpful to the LINKS program.
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          “We’re absolutely blessed to be here at Marshall because they’re so inclusive,” said Brown. “We’re all a community and we all take care of our kids together, it’s a beautiful thing. And they’re super supportive of our program, so our students can really feel the warmth, the love and the acceptance. LINKS is just an extension of that, it really offers a systematic route by which it can be organized so that the students can pair up and just be friends, they’re just kids being kids but it really is an opportunity where they both learn from each other.”
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          The program looks to pair students who have similar interests to find commonalities between students when they are “linked.” Gulbis explained that while she and Brown oversee the program and implement ideas, she stressed the importance of the kids themselves being hands on in leading the program so they can learn to develop their own skills in the process while making friends and having fun along the way.
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          “We do tell them this is their program,” said Gulbis. “At first we give them some foundational things, but then we have case conferences where they talk about what’s going well, what things they are having difficulty with, what things they need help with,” said Gulbis. “Based on what they’re talking about in case conferences, that’s the type of training that we provide.”
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          Gulbis also said the program offers different projects that the kids help come up with to help connect with each other and spread positive messages in school and in the community.
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          “Last year, the kids wanted to do t-shirts, they wanted to do some disability acceptance type stuff, and they voted to do sidewalk chalk art to spread messages about disability acceptance,” Gulbis said. “So we’re giving them some ideas and just brainstorming with them, but then they’re taking it and saying ‘hey, we want to do this.’ Then we’re providing the structure and communicating with the administration and the teachers.”
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          Brown and Gulbis both agreed that seeing how their students at Doris Klaussen interact with students in the LINKS program at Marshall helps give off a positive vibe and encourages students even who aren’t directly involved with the program to be accepting and welcoming to all.
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          “We’re really lucky to be here, because they see all of these students working with our kids and being friends with them and looking out for them and including them in their groups,” said Brown. “It’s not ‘these kids are over here and these kids are over there,’ it’s more like ‘we’re all Marshall students.’ So I think it does send a super positive message all the way around for all of us.”
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          Added Gulbis: “And I think kindness and empathy and caring is contagious. You see that wherever you go, if those are the expected behaviors and expectations of that being just how we treat each other.” 
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    <summary type="text" />
    <g-custom:tags type="string">Nov 2020</g-custom:tags>
    <media:content medium="image" url="https://irp.cdn-website.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/IMG_2726Links.jpg" />
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>Elegance restored: The Wagner Ballroom holds grand opening</title>
    <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.advisor-chronicle.com/elegance-restored-the-wagner-ballroom-holds-grand-opening" />
    <link rel="enclosure" type="image/jpeg" href="https://irp.cdn-website.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Ball+room.jpg" length="460967" />
    <author>
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    <updated>2021-10-29T19:51:56Z</updated>
    <published>2021-10-29T19:51:56Z</published>
    <content>&lt;div data-rss-type="text"&gt;&#xD;
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          On Oct. 14, the grand opening of the third-floor Wagner Ballroom above Eastend Studio &amp;amp; Gallery in downtown Marshall drew upwards of 1,000 people during the three-hour open house which showed off the renovated ballroom after more than two years of renovation work.
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          The re-opened ballroom marks the first time in more than a century that people can use the space.
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          "Eastend is so grateful for all the support for this restoration, and we were so excited for our community to visit the completed Wagner Ballroom, now active for the first time since the early 1900s,” said Eastend Executive Director Jennifer Conley Darling prior to the grand opening. “This provides an event space for tourists and local residents to enjoy the majesty of this historic, one-of-a-kind room with a gorgeous view of Marshall’s downtown strip.”
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          The decorative painting in the grand stairwell, foyer and Wagner Ballroom were designed by local artist Michael Peck, who has a long history of decorative painting in the Grand Hotel, the Breakers in Palm Beach and the Plaza in New York City to name a few, and the work was completed by local Marshall artists. The third floor also includes a new catering room and bathroom facilities.
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          In addition to the ballroom, visitors to the grand opening viewed Eastend’s reimagined first-floor gallery and exhibition space, which have been configured to better showcase the fine art offerings of local and regional artists.  The new gift shop will feature many favorite art pieces as well, along with a host of new items, including art supplies. 
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          Guests also had the chance to tour second-floor gallery, classroom and ceramics studio and were entertained by musical performances by local favorites Adrian Bagale, Derek Smith and Paul Rauth, among others. 
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          On the morning of the 14th, a ribbon cutting ceremony was held with those responsible for the renovation on hand.
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          Derek Allen, Eastend’s Chairman of the Board, thanked Peck and Jay Larson for their foresight in making the refurbished ballroom a downtown destination.
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          “Our founder Michael Peck and Jay Larson, retired engineer from Eaton and longtime restoration contractor, had a vision to create Marshall’s first visual arts center utilizing 10,800 square feet and encompassing three floors of an historic landmark on Marshall’s Main Street,” said Allen. “Now, it’s a reality.”
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          Allen thanked those on Eastend’s staff and highlighted some of gallery’s programming and its community engagement programming.
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          “Our new work program provides opportunities for local and regional artists to create and sell their work,” he said. “The Larson Gallery features exhibits by regional and national artists curated by our gallery manager Warner Ball.”
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          Allen concluded his remarks by saluting Darling for her leadership.
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          “More than once, I doubted that all this would come to fruition, I’ll admit that,” he said. “It was Jen’s perseverance and determination that made this day happen.”
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          Darling recalled the day Larson talked to her about the ballroom.
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          “Jay asked me to come in and see what had been done to my family’s building,” said Darling. “When I fell in love with what it had become, he hit me with ‘Hey, wanna raise half a million to build an elevator?’”
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          Darling said the turnout for the grand opening exceeded her expectations.
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          “There were so many people,” she said. “We had an amazing turnout and so many smiling faces on every floor. Some volunteers who worked the event said as many as 1,000 people came through over the course of the night. Our board and staff were beyond thrilled.
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          “The renovation of The Wagner’s Block building seemed impossible to most people - especially putting an elevator inside to make it fully accessible. It is truly mind blowing what a community effort it became. Hundreds of individuals, businesses, foundations, and volunteers made this dream come true. I am so humbled to live in a city of such giving, committed people. The beauty that has been restored and enhanced throughout the building would never have come true without each and every one of them.”
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          Eastend was founded in 2006 as a grassroots movement which sought to ignite a renaissance in visual artisan creations. In 2012, Eastend purchased and moved into The Wagner Building in downtown Marshall. Since then, Eastend has undergone a large-scale renovation to create an active visual arts center of opportunity and programming for artists and the community at large. 
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          The Wagner Block Building, located at 143 West Michigan Avenue, was designed by John Van Osdel, known as the first architect of Chicago. Osdel designed many prominent buildings in Illinois and the Midwest, including two Chicago city halls, the McHenry County Courthouse in Woodstock (now the Old Courthouse Arts Center), and a residence for Governor Joel Aldrich Matteson in Springfield, which serves today as the Executive Mansion for the state of Illinois. Only a few of Osdel’s works remain today. 
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          The Wagner Block Building’s 2nd French Empire-style façade is three stories in height with cast iron columns and glass on the first floor, carved limestone containing Greco/Roman columns, balcony and vegetation motifs on the second and third floors. The Mansard top is composed of slate and formed, galvanized steel sheet. All windows are original French plate glass from the 19th century.
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          This has been regarded as one of the most elaborate and ornate facades in western Michigan. 
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          Since the building was purchased by Eastend in 2012, the first and second floors have been renovated and house two exhibition spaces, gift shop, art classroom, ceramics studio and artist studio spaces. An elevator was installed in 2021 to make the entire building accessible and ADA compliant.  
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          The third floor is a ballroom (42 feet by 60 feet with a 22-foot ceiling) with a large plaster cornice and hardwood floors. The ballroom served as Marshall’s main dance hall from 1870 until 1910 but has been unused space for over 110 years and is finally being brought back to its original purpose. 
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          The Wagner Ballroom can accommodate 275 people and up to150 people for meals and will be open to the general public for tours, exhibits, weddings, receptions, dinners, etc. and is expected to increase tourism in Marshall.
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          “There is no other general facility in Marshall that fits in this people capacity range,” said Darling. “This will be a space unlike any in the Southwest Michigan area.”
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&lt;/div&gt;</content>
    <summary type="text" />
    <g-custom:tags type="string">Nov 2020</g-custom:tags>
    <media:content medium="image" url="https://irp.cdn-website.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Ball+room.jpg" />
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>Olivet varsity football closes regular season in style with 49-14 win over Pennfield</title>
    <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.advisor-chronicle.com/olivet-varsity-football-closes-regular-season-in-style-with-49-14-win-over-pennfield" />
    <link rel="enclosure" type="image/jpeg" href="https://irp.cdn-website.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Dalton+Tobias+Isaac+Lynn-Myles.JPG" length="325327" />
    <author>
      <name />
    </author>
    <updated>2021-10-25T22:27:27Z</updated>
    <published>2021-10-25T22:27:27Z</published>
    <content>&lt;div style="transition: none 0s ease 0s; display: block;" data-rss-type="text"&gt;&#xD;
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          Olivet varsity football forced a couple of key turnovers in the first half and used a second half offensive explosion to run away from Pennfield on its way to a 49-14 home victory on Oct. 22 to close the regular season.
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          After a quarter of scoreless football, the Eagles (7-2) got on the board on the first play of the second quarter on a 21-yard run from Soyer Moon off right tackle to put Olivet up 6-0 after a missed extra point.
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          Pennfield’s (3-6) offense would respond with a nearly six minute drive, but Olivet’s defense came up with its first forced turnover of the night by forcing a fumble that was recovered by Michael LaFay to end the Panthers’ drive.
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          On Olivet’s ensuing offensive series, quarterback Clay Flower hooked up with Dalton Tobias over the middle on a pass play with Tobias outrunning the Pennfield secondary for a 73-yard score to make it 12-0 Eagles.
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          The Panthers’ offense would again move the ball near Olivet’s 20-yard line after connecting on a big pass play after going down two scores, but a pass from quarterback Luke Davis on third down was tipped at the line of scrimmage and hauled in by Flower for an interception to give Olivet’s defense another momentum changing play.
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          The Eagles’ offense then had just 1:11 to march 83 yards down the field toward the end of the half, but coach Brock Peters’ team stayed aggressive and moved the ball down the field quickly.
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          With just a second remaining until halftime, Flower found receiver Bo Lincoln in the end zone as Lincoln beat his defender on an inside pattern to put Olivet up 18-0 heading into the half.
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          Pennfield’s offense picked up the tempo and found some life on its first drive coming out of the second half when Davis and company marched quickly down the field while trying to work back into the game.
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          The Panthers found their first touchdown on that first drive of the second half when Davis connected with Isaac Lynn-Miles for an 11-yard touchdown to cut the deficit to 18-8 after a successful two-point try.
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          However, Olivet’s offense wouldn’t let the Panthers hang around for too much longer as Hito Gallimore found a seam and scored from 57 yards out on a run play with 5:49 remaining in the third quarter to make it a 26-8 game as the Eagles were successful on their two-point conversion after the touchdown.
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          That play seemed to be enough for Olivet to grab all the momentum it needed to start to run away from the Panthers as Tobias took a jet sweep play from 53 yards out for a touchdown to put the Eagles up 34-8 with 2:19 left in the third.
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          The defense got the ball back for Olivet’s offense one more time late in the third and set them up in good field position after pinning the Panthers back in their own end before a short punt helped Olivet’s field position on its next offensive series.
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          With 44 seconds left in the third, Flower found the end zone on the ground from five yards out to make it 41-8 heading into the fourth.
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          Each team would score a touchdown in the final quarter with the game well in hand for the Eagles. Davis scored from five yards out on the ground with 9:40 to play and Tobias found the end zone for the third time with a kick return on an attempted onside kick after the Davis touchdown.
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          Flower was 9-of-11 passing for Olivet with two touchdowns through the air to go along with a rushing touchdown.
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          Tobias had four catches for 99 yards and a touchdown to go with his rushing and kick return scores.
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          Gallimore finished with 88 yards on eight carries on the ground, with Moon going for 54 yards on seven carries with his touchdown.
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          Olivet travels to Williamston (6-3) in the first round of the MHSAA Division 5 football playoffs on Oct. 29 in what will be a Week 8 rematch of a game the Eagles came out victorious by a score of 20-19 at home.
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    <summary type="text" />
    <g-custom:tags type="string">Nov 2020</g-custom:tags>
    <media:content medium="image" url="https://irp.cdn-website.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Dalton+Tobias+Isaac+Lynn-Myles.JPG" />
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>Event helps raise money for Ayla Lankerd Fund for Dreams</title>
    <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.advisor-chronicle.com/event-helps-raise-money-for-ayla-lankerd-fund-for-dreams" />
    <link rel="enclosure" type="image/jpeg" href="https://irp.cdn-website.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Ayla+Lankerd.jpg" length="122095" />
    <author>
      <name />
    </author>
    <updated>2021-10-22T18:22:40Z</updated>
    <published>2021-10-22T18:22:40Z</published>
    <content>&lt;div style="transition: none 0s ease 0s; display: block;" data-rss-type="text"&gt;&#xD;
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            Scholarship honors legacy of Ayla Lankerd, helps other kids live out dreams
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          Ayla Lankerd’s competitiveness in sports, her fun-loving attitude and overall joy for life all made her part of the person she was.
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          In June, Ayla passed away unexpectedly due to a brain aneurysm. In her honor, her parents are creating a fund to help kids live out their dreams after Ayla didn’t have the chance to. They are working with the Marshall Community foundation to start the Ayla Lankerd Fund For Dreams scholarship to help graduating seniors going into the arts and sciences.
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          “I think when you lose a child, one of the things that you fear is that your child will be forgotten,” Amanda Lankerd, mother of Ayla said. “She was here for 10 short years, and she certainly had an impact on a lot of people, but people go back and they’re back to normal life after the initial shock of her loss. For us, this scholarship fund helps keep her memory alive. Whether it’s within our family where we can do something good and carry out dreams that she never got to accomplish, or just hearing her name. Hearing ‘Ayla’ is important. She’s being remembered.”
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          Ayla’s father and Marshall Police Chief Josh Lankerd echoed the importance of keeping Ayla’s memory alive and celebrating her life through the scholarship.
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          “You nurture your kids, you want them to grow up, you want them to expand and blossom as this beautiful flower,” Josh Lankerd said. “You just want everyone to meet her and know who she was. To see what could have been—it’s kind of hard to think about ‘what is her legacy?’ in her short 10 years. I don’t know how this is going to impact us going forward because there’s so much grief right now, but I think as the years go, we just want to make sure that her memory keeps living on.”
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          Amanda Lankerd is the CEO of Battle Creek Area Association of Realtors. On Oct. 13, her colleagues at RE/MAX Perrett helped grow the scholarship fund by putting on its 19th annual Soup Day at Riverside Golf Club.
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          Each year, RE/MAX Perrett chooses a local cause to sponsor, and this year chose to support the Lankerds’ fund for the event. Amanda and Josh said the turnout was overwhelming and that they appreciated all of the community members who came out and supported them.
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          “The support has been overwhelming since she passed,” Josh Lankerd said. “Everybody has just been there for us. With this, it just came up where it’s a regular event that RE/MAX does every year, and when they offered, we said that would be great. We are very thankful for them and for thinking about us. Honestly, I saw it in the paper and knew it was going to be a big event, but I didn’t know it was going to be that big—there were a lot of people there, many more than I thought, and it was really overwhelming to see that.”
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          Just over $10,000 were raised at the event. Amanda said on top of the scholarship fund, she and Josh have been thinking about forming a nonprofit so they can more directly give to kids.
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          “Sometimes dreams don’t coincide with an organization,” Amanda Lankerd said. “They want to do something else; they want to start a business. Perhaps one day, we might give kids some start-up money to start a lawn care business or whatever it might be, so we want to have a little bit of flexibility to give funds directly to kids.”
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          Those who wish to donate to the Ayla Lankerd Fund For Dreams can visit marshallcf.org, going to the “give” link and clicking on the “donate now” dropdown button, where one can access the Network For Good page and can fill out the form while specifying the fundraiser.
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&lt;/div&gt;</content>
    <summary type="text" />
    <g-custom:tags type="string">Nov 2020</g-custom:tags>
    <media:content medium="image" url="https://irp.cdn-website.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Ayla+Lankerd.jpg" />
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>Marshall community comes together to help raise funds for rare disorder</title>
    <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.advisor-chronicle.com/marshall-community-comes-together-to-help-raise-funds-for-rare-disorder" />
    <link rel="enclosure" type="image/jpeg" href="https://irp.cdn-website.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Marley+walkers+959A9137.JPG" length="514581" />
    <author>
      <name />
    </author>
    <updated>2021-10-22T18:13:32Z</updated>
    <published>2021-10-22T18:13:32Z</published>
    <content>&lt;div data-rss-type="text"&gt;&#xD;
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          On Oct. 16, about 75 community members took part in Marley’s Miracle Mile, a walk from Gordon Elementary School to the Brooks Fountain in Marshall, organized by Matt and Megan Waun, whose 4-year-old daughter Marley has been diagnosed with GM1 gangliosidosis type 2, a very rare disorder that progressively destroys nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord.
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          In all, the walk raised more than $3,000  to the Cure GM1 Foundation.
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          On Saturday, Oct. 23, Darling Ace Hardware in Marshall will be hosting a fundraiser in support of the Cure GM1 Foundation and the Wauns will be there from 1-2:30 p.m.
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          Marley was born March 9, 2017, a  9-pound baby.
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          “She was big and healthy; beautiful,” said Megan. “Everything went great. It was everything I could have dreamt of for a pregnancy and birth. It was just beautiful with no complications.”
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          Megan stayed home to raise Marley.
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          “She developed just fine, but we were starting to notice some delays.”
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          Megan and Matt discovered a bump on Marley’s back when she was 3 months old. Their doctor told them it was nothing to be concerned about.
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          “At 18 months, we noticed that Marley wasn’t walking very well,” said Megan. “So, we worked with our pediatrician and that’s when they began doing all the tests.”
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          At the same time, Marley began with the Early On program through the Calhoun Intermediate School District.
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          “That program is a godsend,” said Megan. “They helped us so much. They encouraged me to keep going when we weren’t getting answers from all of the tests. They provided us with tools and therapies to help Marley.”
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          Following hearing and vision testing, it was discovered that Marley had esotropia, the crossing of the eyes. She would eventually have surgery for that.
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          Marley also underwent an EEG, spine MRI brain MRI and lots of bloodwork for chromosome testing.
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          “What clued us in was on Dec. 17, 2019, when we received news of her MRI,” said Megan. “They found in the large white matter a form of luca dystrophy (rare, genetic disorders which affect the white matter of the brain). Through a blood test we eventually found out that Marley has GM1 gangliosidosis type 2.”
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          GM1 gangliosidosis is a very rare (1 in 200,000), inherited lysosomal storage disorder that progressively destroys nerve cells (neurons) in the brain and spinal cord. The condition may be classified into three major types based on the general age that signs and symptoms first appear: classic infantile (type 1); juvenile (type 2); and adult onset or chronic (type 3). Although the types differ in severity, their features may overlap significantly. GM1 gangliosidosis is caused by mutations in the GLB1 gene and is inherited in an autosomal recessive manner. Treatment is currently symptomatic and supportive.
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          Marley’s juvenile (type 2) GM1 gangliosidosis is considered an intermediate form of the condition and may begin between the ages of 1 and 5. Features include ataxia, seizures, dementia and difficulties with speech. This type progresses more slowly than type 1, but still causes decreased life expectancy (around mid-childhood or early adulthood).
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          “Marley has some enzymes but lacks the genetic makeup to make a certain enzyme in her brain,” said Megan. “This enzyme breaks down the protein, so what happens with Marley is protein buildup on her brain.”
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          The confirmed diagnosis came in January 2020.
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          “We just went into a state of shock,” Megan.  
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          And then the COVID-19 pandemic struck.
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          “It was just us,” said Megan. “It was blessing, and it was hard. We needed our friends and family but at the same time, we were able just to spend this quality time together and create memories with just the four of us. So, being home was a blessing and  curse at the same time.”
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          Megan and Matt said they worried about their younger daughter Selah, but all seems to be well.
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          “We have not seen any developmental delays in Selah, and we choose not to get her tested,” said Megan.
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          All in all, the parents say, Marley is one happy girl.
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          “There’s definitely a regression of skills (such as being able to walk), but she is so happy and so smart,” said Megan.
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          Added Matt: “She’s really happy and you can tell she enjoys her life and her family. And she enjoys being around people.”
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          Matt added that Marley loves books, flipping pages and music.
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          Marley attends an early childhood special education in Albion at Crowell School.
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          On Fridays she goes to a special therapeutic riding center in Augusta where she rides her horse, Harvey.
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          In the spring, Marley began suffering from seizures.
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          “We’ve transitioned Marley to a ketogenic diet because that helps reduce seizures and helps her recover better when she has a seizure,” said Matt. “We’ve noticed a big improvement in seizure activity, with fewer big seizures and she’s able to recover better from them.”
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          The year following diagnosis was an isolating one for the Wauns, mainly due to COVID, but then last spring Megan and Matt made a decision.
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          “It took us a year of grieving before we decided it was time to share Marley’s story with the community,” said Megan, who noted that the family began sharing Marley’s story on Facebook (A Cure for Marley). “The love and support we received after doing that was just overwhelming in a good way. We felt so loved. Marley felt so loved. We are so thankful.
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           “In the spring, I had been dreaming up how I wanted be an advocate for Marley. I wanted to help join other families with GM1 and just really propel this rare disease into the spotlight… Marley loves to go on stroller rides, and I was thinking what was something we could do that fits our family’s personality? A walk was perfect. We love going on walks around our community, so why not make that into  an awareness/advocacy/ fundraiser all in one?”
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          Megan and Matt said they were overwhelmed by  support last weekend.
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          “We were so encouraged by the love and support shown for our sweet Marley,” the wrote on the A Cure for Marley Facebook page. “It was truly inspiring to look back and see a crowd of (GM1) blue shirts following behind us.”
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          Matt said he and Megan take things a day at a time and he admitted it can be difficult for him to do so.
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          “It’s a battle every day to choose to be grateful for the things she can do,” said Matt. “Some days I get sucked into memories from earlier in her childhood of things she used to be able to do but now can’t.
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          “Every day, I tell myself we are all in the same boat. We are all finite, and none of us are guaranteed tomorrow. So, when I find myself getting down about Marley’s diagnosis, I try to bring myself back in to today. Today is the day the Lord has made – let us rejoice and be glad in it.  The Bible says, ‘do not boast about tomorrow if you do not know what a  day will bring,’ and so I think about how we are all in the same boat. It helps center me and helps me be in today and be grateful for today.”
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          A GoFundMe page has been set up at https://gofund,me/408b447f to help support the Cure GM1 Foundation (CureGM1.org), which is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization whose mission is to advance the development of life-saving treatments for GM1. Every dollar donated can help fund clinical trials and expedite research for a cure.
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    <summary type="text" />
    <g-custom:tags type="string">Nov 2020</g-custom:tags>
    <media:content medium="image" url="https://irp.cdn-website.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Marley+walkers+959A9137.JPG" />
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>Firefighters in Marshall help educate students during Fire Prevention Week</title>
    <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.advisor-chronicle.com/firefighters-in-marshall-help-educate-students-during-fire-prevention-week" />
    <link rel="enclosure" type="image/jpeg" href="https://irp.cdn-website.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Jacob+Gunn-Jackson.jpg" length="402870" />
    <author>
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    <updated>2021-10-15T15:46:04Z</updated>
    <published>2021-10-15T15:46:04Z</published>
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           The city of Marshall and Fredonia Township Fire Departments took part in Fire Prevention Week by visiting local elementary schools on the week of Oct. 3 to help educate students about fire safety and prevention.
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           Firefighter Jacob Gunn-Jackson led the presentation for students throughout the week and explained the importance of being out in the community to preach safety and interact with kids to make sure they know the basics of what to do in case of an emergency.
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           “By the time the call (for a fire) comes in, we’re already behind the 8-ball,” Gunn-Jackson said before their presentation at Hughes Elementary on Oct. 7. “The best chance that people have is to get out initially—so when they hear that smoke alarm go off, to take that seriously and get everybody out and find their meeting spot, especially with the little kids. It’s amazing how many of them don’t know what to do when the smoke alarm goes off, they don’t know what their address is. Trying to instill those basic things for the kids—one of the most important things is just to get out and stay out.”
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           This year’s theme from the National Fire Protection Association is “Learn the sounds of fire safety,” with the goal being to educate people on the different sounds smoke and carbon monoxide alarms make.
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           Gunn-Jackson said it is important to not only recognize those sounds, but to make sure batteries are replaced when needed so the alarms can operate correctly.
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           “The first thing that usually alerts people are the fire alarms with smoke or carbon monoxide, so it’s really important to test those and change the batteries. That’s the first thing people usually notice as far as sounds. Some people will also notice the smells, especially with electrical burning, it’s just such an unnatural and kind of a nasty smell,” Gunn-Jackson said.
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           According to the NFPA, there are also alarms that are designed for the deaf or hard of hearing that include strobe lights flashing to alert people when the smoke alarm sounds.
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          There are numerous preventive steps families and individuals can take to prevent fires from occurring, especially when it comes to electrical fires, which Gunn-Jackson said is the most common type of fire they get calls on.
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           “Cooking, (it’s important to) not leave anything unattended, leaving your phone charging on your bed, a lot of people will put it right there next to their pillow and you can feel the charger a lot of the time get warm,” said Gunn-Jackson. “People will plug stuff into the wall and you have the transformer box for your laptop or other electrical things—that stuff can get overheated, it’ll get shoved down into a couch cushion or chair, or by throwing blankets over that stuff. So to prevent them, just keeping an eye on electrical things.”
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           Equally important, Gunn-Jackson explained, is having a plan if a fire does occur so families and individuals can stay safe and execute that plan if anyone is ever presented with that situation.
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           “One of the big things that we stress is having a meeting spot,” said Gunn-Jackson. “If there is a fire and smoke alarms are going off, you need to have a meeting spot outside somewhere. Whether it’s the neighbor’s yard, it can be a tree, it can be a sign post—anything like that so that everybody gets out and they know where to meet."
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    <summary type="text" />
    <g-custom:tags type="string">Nov 2020</g-custom:tags>
    <media:content medium="image" url="https://irp.cdn-website.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Jacob+Gunn-Jackson.jpg" />
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>Voters to decide on MPS bond issue Nov. 2</title>
    <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.advisor-chronicle.com/voters-to-decide-on-mps-bond-issue-nov-2" />
    <link rel="enclosure" type="image/jpeg" href="https://irp.cdn-website.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/MPS+Logo.jpg" length="9914" />
    <author>
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    <updated>2021-10-15T15:33:41Z</updated>
    <published>2021-10-15T15:33:41Z</published>
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          More than two years ago, Marshall Public Schools began a facility needs assessment in anticipation of bringing a bond proposal to the voters.
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          The cost of the initial “wish list” across all district buildings and facilities came in excess of $55 million.
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          After whittling down that wish list to something they felt the public would approve of, MPS came up with a bond proposal at $45.6 million, with the largest items including a new elementary school in Albion at just under $17 million and improvements at Marshall High School totaling $15.5 million which would include a new auxiliary gymnasium and major upgrades to the football  and soccer complexes.
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          Residents in Albion and Marshall will vote on the bond issue Nov. 2.
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          Also, part of that $45 million price tag would be  new classroom furnishings and equipment at the high school, Marshall Middle School, the Opportunity High School and the three elementary schools in Marshall.
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          One of the main sticking points from those who are uncertain if they will support the bond and for those against the bond proposal is the impact the $45 million bond would have on taxes.
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          In fact, at the third and final bond information workshop held at Marshall Middle School Oct. 12, the majority of the questions centered around the millage rate for Albion and Marshall residents.
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          Currently, Marshall taxpayers are paying a millage rate of 7.05 stemming from the 2010 bond that included the new MHS Auditorium. That bond is expected to be paid off in 2038, with the millage rate slowly dropping between now and then.
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          When MPS annexed the Albion school district in 2016, it was decided that Albion taxpayers would not have to pay on the Marshall 2010 bond debt. Recently, Albion residents finished paying off the Albion debt from a bond issue nearly 30 years ago.
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          If this $45 million bond passes, Marshall’s millage rate would remain at 7.05 for a longer period before lowering gradually in 2039 to match the Albion millage rate of 3.0.
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          In essence, MPS claims if the bond passes, Marshall residents would not see an increase in their taxes for the school district, while Albion residents would see their taxes increase by approximately $300 a year on a house valued at $200,000 with a taxable value of $100,000.
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          Brendon Pollard, director of planning and design of Kalamazoo architectural firm Kingscott, the company which has worked with MPS on past bond improvement projects, served as the go-to person during the question-and-answer period on the 12th.
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          “If the bond doesn’t pass, your millage rate will drop from 7.05 to 6.32 in the first year and very slowly fall off through 2038,” said Pollard in response to the question of what would happen if the bind issue failed to pass on Nov. 2. “You’d continue to pay on the existing bond.”
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          Others questioned why MPS doesn’t just make repairs with dollars from the district’s Sinking Fund.
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          Curriculum Director Kelly Fitzpatrick explained, for example, that just providing air conditioning for the entire middle school building would take several years.
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          “Bonds are the only way to build new facilities and do major upgrades,” said Fitzpatrick, who stated that the Sinking Fund had  just under $800,000, and that the district would need to do no maintenance district-wide for the next three to fours years just to cover the cost of the A/C at the middle school. “It is a function of school finance to seek bonds.”
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          Another sticking point for those who may be against the bond is the cost of a new K-5 elementary school in Albion.
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          Currently, Harrington Elementary has been virtually unchanged since the 1960s and does not have air conditioning. Kingscott and construction firm CSM note just to upgrade Harrington to equal standards to the Marshall elementary schools would cost about $14 million.
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          Another point of contention regarding a new elementary school in Albion is coming from some who feel that the Board  of Education has not been forthcoming in choosing the site of the new school and has allowed Albion College President Matthew Johnson to leverage too much influence in the process. Johnson has said he would like to see a new Albion elementary adjacent to the college campus instead of next to the Opportunity High School on Watson Street, two of the locations MPS is considering.
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          After the Board announced last month that they would choose the site of the new Albion school at the Oct. 11 meeting, at that meeting last Monday at the Bohm Theater in Albion, the Board decided to follow the recommendation of CSM and to wait to see if the bond passes before beginning site surveys to choose the location.
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          That move, along with the district’s handling of COVID policy, has prompted some in the community, including Kris Burkwalt, to be against this bond issue.
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          Since the start of the school year, yard signs have been popping up urging people to vote “No” on Nov. 2 stating that MPS doesn’t truly put “Kids First.”
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          “To me, this is all about teaching our kids about transparency and being honest,” said Burkwalt, who has children that attended and are attending MPS. “I raise my kids to teach them that I expect them to tell me that if they are going to do something, they will follow through. Our Board was supposed to hold the meeting on the 11th and at Marshall Middle School. They changed it to the Bohm. Why? Why did they change it? Why didn’t they announce it? And then why did they go into a closed session during the meeting?
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          “And Board President Richard Lindsey has stated that the Board can change the site of a new Albion school at any point. So, if they simply change their mind over a place where they are holding a meeting, how do I have any faith they’re actually going to keep the school  where they say it’s going to be?”
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          Several people, including some of those of have written letters to the editor in this publication, have noted that Lindsey, an attorney, works with the college in a legal capacity and thus, creates a conflict of interest. In fact, at the meeting on the 11th during public comments, one person urged Lindsey to resign from the Board.
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          “I’m trying to raise my kids to be good people and not do shady things,” said Burkwalt. “And here’s our school board as a leading example of questionable behavior.”
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          Burkwalt also said she did not like the way the district decided on a mask mandate the night before school started and that
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          “They said the mask mandate was necessary to keep kids from getting quarantined,” she said. “So, why are our children still getting quarantined? Again, that come back on to the Board who lied to us…They also said they’d reveal numbers. At no point have any of the schools provided any numbers as to how many kids quarantined from close contact have actually developed COVID. None of the schools can provide you with that information.”
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          In recent weeks, residents in the school district have received bond information from the Kids First committee in the mail urging them to vote “Yes” on Nov. 2.
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          Kids First is a group of volunteer parents, taxpayers and business owners living in Albion and Marshall and the surrounding areas advocating for the bond issue’s passage.
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          Committee member Paul Egnatuk, who was also involved in the Facility Needs Assessment said to him, it’s a “no brainer” when it comes to supporting the bond issue.
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          “I’ve never voted against a school bond,” said Egnatuk. “I don’t think we support our schools enough, ever.”
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    <summary type="text" />
    <g-custom:tags type="string">Nov 2020</g-custom:tags>
    <media:content medium="image" url="https://irp.cdn-website.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/MPS+Logo.jpg" />
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>Olivet varsity football falls short against Pewamo-Westphalia</title>
    <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.advisor-chronicle.com/olivet-varsity-football-falls-short-against-pewamo-westphalia" />
    <link rel="enclosure" type="image/jpeg" href="https://irp.cdn-website.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Eagles+Pirates.JPG" length="473972" />
    <author>
      <name />
    </author>
    <updated>2021-10-04T20:23:03Z</updated>
    <published>2021-10-04T20:23:03Z</published>
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            Eagles’ 4-game winning streak snapped with 26-14 setback against No. 2 team in Division 7
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            Olivet’s varsity football saw its four-game winning streak come to an end on Oct. 1 at Olivet High School, falling to the No. 2 ranked team in Division 7, Pewamo-Westphalia by a score of 26-14.
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            Early on, the game looked like it was headed for an offensive shootout when the Pirates struck first on an 18-yard run from Dak Ewalt on a toss play to make it 7-0 with 5:29 left in the first quarter.
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            The Eagles didn’t waste much time responding when quarterback Clay Flower connected with Ramsey Bousseau in stride for a 70-yard touchdown pass after the Pirates’ touchdown to tie the game at 7-7.
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            Both defenses would settle in after the early scores as the Eagles turned the Pirates over on downs as Pewamo-Westphalia was driving late in the first quarter to keep the score tied.
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            Olivet’s offense couldn’t drive down the field to put the Eagles on top and gave the ball back to the Pirates offense early in the second quarter when they took full advantage with a 6-yard touchdown pass from Troy Wertman to Conner Russell.
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            A missed extra point after the touchdown made the score 13-7 Pirates with 10:02 to go until halftime.
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            The score remained the same until 3:17 left in the second quarter when the Pirates found the end zone for the third time in the half on a  fade route from Wertman to Evan Droste to put P-W up two scores.
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            Olivet’s offense came back to life when it needed to after the Pirates touchdown when Flower hit Dalton Tobias on a pass over the middle off a run-pass-option play design for a score to cut the deficit to 20-14 with 2:10 left in the half.
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            The Pirates offense marched back down the field, but Olivet’s defense came up with another big play while forcing a fumble that was recovered by Michael LaFay to halt P-W’s drive at the Eagles 27-yard line with 20 seconds left in the quarter.
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            Olivet stayed aggressive on offense and hit on a few big plays to move the ball to the Pirates 2-yard line with two seconds remaining in the half, but the Pirates defense intercepted Flower on the last play of the half in the end zone to keep the score at 20-14 going into the break.
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            The Pirates got the ball to begin the third quarter and sustained a drive deep into Olivet’s territory, but the Eagles forced a 4th-and-long and stopped P-W after an acrobatic catch from a Pirates receiver was ruled out of bounds to force a turnover on downs.
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            Olivet’s offense would drive the ball to around midfield with 4:47 to play in the third, but the Pirates defense forced a fourth down play and forced Olivet to bring out its punt team. Just when it looked like another Olivet offensive drive would stall, the punt team forced the P-W defense to jump offsides to give the Eagles a first down.
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            What looked like a potential turning point in the second half was quickly wiped away when the Eagles fumbled on its next offensive play to give the ball and the momentum back to the Pirates.
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            Still, the Eagles defense continued to make plays to keep Olivet in the game when Bo Lincoln intercepted a Wertman pass at the Eagles’ own goal line just when it looked like the Pirates were ready to go back up two scores.
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            Despite the big plays from the defense, the offense couldn’t quite get going in the second half and couldn’t sustain enough drives to put Olivet over the top.
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            The dagger for the Eagles came from a Wertman run on a 36-yard quarterback keeper off right tackle for a touchdown to give the Pirates a 26-14 lead and essentially put the game on ice.
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            Flower threw for 231 yards and completed 10 on his 20 passes for two touchdowns on the night. Tobias caught five of Flower’s passes for 106 yards and a touchdown, while Blake Lincoln caught three passes for 52 yards. Bousseau finished with 70 yards receiving on his touchdown catch in the first quarter.
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            The Pirates did a nice job containing the Eagles’ ground game, but Flower was able to muster 33 yards himself in the running game. Soyer Moon had 27 yards on five carries.
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            Defensively, Caleb Molek led Olivet with eight tackles. Bo Lincoln had five tackles to go along with his interception.
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            The Eagles hit the road to take Lakewood on Oct. 8 for a 7 p.m. kickoff.
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    <summary type="text" />
    <g-custom:tags type="string">Nov 2020</g-custom:tags>
    <media:content medium="image" url="https://irp.cdn-website.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Eagles+Pirates.JPG" />
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>Get to know the employees in Marshall Police Department who were recently recognized for achievements, promotions</title>
    <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.advisor-chronicle.com/get-to-know-the-employees-in-marshall-police-department-who-were-recently-recognized-for-achievements-promotions" />
    <link rel="enclosure" type="image/jpeg" href="https://irp.cdn-website.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Keller+Ambrose.jpg" length="661187" />
    <author>
      <name />
    </author>
    <updated>2021-10-01T22:12:08Z</updated>
    <published>2021-10-01T22:12:08Z</published>
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          At Marshall City Council’s most recent meeting on Sept. 20, several employees from the Marshall Police Department were recognized for achievements, special assignments and promotions that have occurred since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.
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          Two of those recognized were administrative sergeant Kris Ambrose, who recently completed the fire academy and became a certified firefighter, along with officer Scott Keller, who has been assigned to the new investigator position after completing a competitive process.
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          Ambrose, who is from Coldwater, Michigan, has been a sergeant for nine years and was previously a road sergeant before being selected as administrative sergeant after Police Chief Josh Lankerd and Public Safety Director Scott McDonald were promoted in 2020. Ambrose said a large part of his responsibility includes accreditation management, as the Marshall Police Department became accredited by the state in 2019. 
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          “It’s a continuous process where we have to prove to the accreditation team that we are following our policies and it’s just a system of accountability,” said Ambrose. “A large part of my role is to make sure our department is adhering to the standards set for us.”
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          For Ambrose, he sees his position in the department as an opportunity to interact with a variety of different people in a positive way, things that he said drive him to continue his career in law enforcement.
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          “I think probably one of the biggest reasons that I keep doing this job is, I like talking to people, I like interacting with people and I like helping people, and I think this is one of the unique positions you can have to where you focus on finding a problem and solving it from start to finish,” Ambrose said. “You really have this sense of accomplishment with every case that you solve and with every person that you help from start to finish.”
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          Keller was a supervisor in Hillsdale, Michigan for 22 years before coming to Marshall. He said he works both patrol and as an investigator and is assigned to investigate complaints and various situations as an investigator while helping handle calls and traffic enforcement while on patrol.
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          As an investigator, Keller said the biggest difference is that he has more time to sit down and evaluate situations, as opposed to bouncing more from one thing to the other while on patrol.
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          “For example, a local breaking and entering (that happened recently), I think I watched six hours worth of videos, where if you’re on patrol, you don’t have time to do that,” Keller said. “So that’s the biggest thing, it just gives us time to look into each individual crime and you’re able to talk to more people.”
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          Keller said the Marshall community creates an environment where the citizens respect law enforcement as a whole and that the city does a nice job of creating a family-like environment.
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          “I think the citizens here treat you with a lot of respect because we’re law enforcement compared to other areas,” said Keller. “The city itself, the reason I came here, is that it appears to me that they take care of their employees.”
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          Ambrose seconded what Keller said.
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          “There’s a dynamic to it when you’re a part of the city, you’re a part of this family and they reflect that,” said Ambrose. “You’re not just an employee, you’re part of the Marshall city family.”
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    <summary type="text" />
    <g-custom:tags type="string">Nov 2020</g-custom:tags>
    <media:content medium="image" url="https://irp.cdn-website.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Keller+Ambrose.jpg" />
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>St. Mary Church renovation project in final stages</title>
    <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.advisor-chronicle.com/st-mary-church-renovation-project-in-final-stages" />
    <link rel="enclosure" type="image/jpeg" href="https://irp.cdn-website.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/St.+Mary+Church.jpg" length="345706" />
    <author>
      <name />
    </author>
    <updated>2021-10-01T22:04:59Z</updated>
    <published>2021-10-01T22:04:59Z</published>
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            Dedication Mass to be held Oct. 13 at 6:30 p.m.
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          Since early May, mass has been held in the Parish Hall at St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Marshall, but things will soon change as a major renovation project in the church enters its final days.
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          In fact, a special Dedication Mass for the church and chapel will take place Wednesday, Oct. 13  at 6:30 p.m. with a reception to follow outdoors under a tent. Bishop Paul Bradley will be presiding over the mass. The church is located at the corner of Eagle and Green streets in Marshall.
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          Also, that week Solemn Vespers will be held Tuesday, Oct. 12 at 7 p.m. with a reception to follow in the Parish Hall and a special morning prayer will be held on Saturday, Oct. 16 at 10 a.m. with a reception to follow in the Parish Hall.
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          Father Craig Lusk, who has been at St. Mary since 2014 (and is also the priest at St. John the Evangelist in Albion), said the project has been a big undertaking. 
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           “I think we were hoping we could have done more of this project during the early days of COVID and could have been back in by the summer, but everything takes time when it comes to these big projects,” said Fr. Lusk. “We had been working on this for a number of years trying to get to the point where we could actually get to the starting point.”
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          Prior to the pandemic, the St. Mary Chapel was renovated but that has only been used for small weddings of less than 15 people.
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          “So, we haven’t been using our chapel for daily mass because we don’t want to take even 20 people and put them into a small place,” said Fr. Lusk. “Being in the Parish Hall has gone pretty well with folding chairs and the spacing worked out…I think people have been okay with that. We have good ventilation and we’ve encouraged safe procedures. But I am definitely ready to get back into the church. It is such a beautiful church and such a historical part of this community. The cornerstone is from 1888, so we are well over the 100-year mark of this church.”
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          Catholics of the Marshall area were serviced out of Northville, Mich. as far back as 1837. As a mission, priests came on horseback to serve people here – priests like Fathers Morrissey, Cullen and Hennessy. Father James Hennessy became the first resident pastor in 1852, and in 1853,  the first church was dedicated.
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          The first baptism record was Mary Hamilton on May 27, 1855. On May 31, 1855, James Wall and Bridget Farell were the first couple whose marriage was recorded here.
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          Under Father Koopmans, the first school opened in 1856 and the Sister of the Immaculate Heart of Mary came in 1864 to teach. Cemetery land was purchased in 1866,
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          One of the better-known pastors, Fr. Peter A. Baart came to St. Mary in 1882. He opened a new school in 1883, reorganized the Altar Society and is responsible for building the present church structure. It was dedicated on Oct. 27, 1889. In 1900, the well-remembered Baart Hall was opened.
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          Father Baart died in 1908 and is buried in the cemetery chapel. Father George Clarson, who was pastor from 1919 to 1932, is also buried in the cemetery.
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          When the parish was founded in 1852 and when the present church was built in 1889, it was part of the Archdiocese of Detroit.
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          One of the front windows in the church was donated by Bishop Gallagher of Detroit. In 1937, Lansing became a diocese, a break with the Archdiocese of Detroit. Thus, Marshall became part of the new diocese. In 1948, under Father Patrick McGuinnes, the church was renovated. It was at this time that the Rosary Altar Society bought a new marble altar at a cost of $4,000.
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          A small part of this altar now stands under the tabernacle in our church. During the  pastorate of Father Julius Hengesbach, 1966 to 1974, as a result of liturgical changes in the Second Vatican Council, other changes were made in the church.
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          The Diocese of Kalamazoo was formed 1971, and the parish became part of the new diocese under Bishop Paul Donovan. Bishop Alfred Markiewicz was installed as the second bishop on Jan. 31, 1995. Bishop Markiewicz was succeeded by Bishop James Murray in 1998. Bishop Paul Bradley is the current Bishop.
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          During the pastorale of Father Donald Wieber, 1974 to 1981, the present Parish Center was built to replace Baart Hall. The church was renovated in 1988 and rededicated on Aug. 13, 1988.
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          “We tried to, as much as possible really create that very traditional look that this traditional building needed to have,” said Fr. Lusk. “It was over 30 years since it had a paint job, and the carpet was fading and not looking good and there was a lot of plaster work that needed to be addressed.”
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          The church hired a company out of Grand Rapids, Progressive AE, which was recommended by Diocese of Kalamazoo.
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          “They also designed our chapel which is finished,” said FR. Lusk. “The firm specializes in liturgical art and design.”
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          Two committees oversaw the project – the Finance Council and a subgroup called “Building On His Cornerstone,” or BOHC, which was involved more in the specifics of the project.
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          “I brought both groups together and we went through a voting process on some big-ticket items that needed to be addressed,” said Fr. Lusk, who noted the project cost approximately $1 million. “Do we do it this way or do we do it that way? Price tag A or price tag B? I worked to get a consensus. Ultimately, I made the final decision… but I wanted to get some other people’s expertise and opinions on how we should do things. Some people thought we should have done town halls, but I wanted the professionals to guide us with this, and ultimately, that’s what we did…The majority of people seem very enthusiastic and very encouraged,” said Fr. Lusk.
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          Aspects of the renovation included new paint, a new sound system and organ, the thorough cleaning of the church’s stained-glass windows, new carpet and flooring and a new altar. All the pews and chairs were refinished as were the kneelers.
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          Fr. Lusk said it was very important that this project not change the structural design of the church.
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          “We didn’t want to take away any of the innate beauty of this historic church,” he said. “Inside, it looks, lighter and brighter and the ceiling kind of pulls you up because of the gold leafing that we did to accent all the historic, beautiful things in the church. Especially on a sunny day, you’re really going to notice a big burst of lightness. Things will appear fresher and crisper.”
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&lt;/div&gt;</content>
    <summary type="text" />
    <g-custom:tags type="string">Nov 2020</g-custom:tags>
    <media:content medium="image" url="https://irp.cdn-website.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/St.+Mary+Church.jpg" />
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>Olivet varsity football claims 3rd straight victory with 42-7 win over Leslie</title>
    <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.advisor-chronicle.com/olivet-varsity-football-claims-3rd-straight-victory-with-42-7-win-over-leslie" />
    <link rel="enclosure" type="image/jpeg" href="https://irp.cdn-website.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/OHS+football+Blake+Lincoln.JPG" length="375652" />
    <author>
      <name />
    </author>
    <updated>2021-09-22T21:42:29Z</updated>
    <published>2021-09-22T21:42:29Z</published>
    <content>&lt;div style="transition: none 0s ease 0s; display: block;" data-rss-type="text"&gt;&#xD;
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           A first half offensive explosion and a strong defensive performance propelled Olivet varsity football (3-1) to a 42-7 victory over Leslie on Sept. 17 at Olivet High School for its third-straight win.
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           The Eagles wasted no time in making the game an uphill climb for Leslie as quarterback Clay Flower found the endzone on a 38-yard run on their first offensive series to give Olivet an early 7-0 lead.
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           Olivet would add to that lead with 5:41 left in the first quarter when Ramsey Bousseau got into the open field and took a run off left tackle to the house from 54 yards to make it 14-0.
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           Leslie’s offense tried to respond with a lengthy drive to Olivet’s 35-yard line, but Mason Molek came up big for the Eagles defense with a pass break up on fourth down to turn the Blackhawks over on downs and keep the score at 14-0 after 12 minutes of play.
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           After the turnover on downs, Olivet’s offense marched down the field for a 65-yard drive with Bousseau punching the ball in from two yards out for his second rushing touchdown of the night with 9:38 left until halftime.
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           The Eagles broke the game open for good on a pair of plays just seconds after going up three scores. Caleb Molek secured an interception for Olivet’s defense on Leslie’s next offensive series to set the offense up in good field position, and the Eagles took full advantage. On the first play after the turnover, Flower found a wide open Blake Lincoln streaking down the middle of the field and connected with him for a touchdown to make the score 27-0 before the Eagles missed the PAT try.
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           Olivet would score twice more before the half on a 9-yard touchdown pass from Flower to Dalton Tobias, which was followed up by a nice grab from receiver Bo Lincoln in the corner of the endzone on the two point conversion  to push the Eagles lead to 35-0 with 3:10 remaining in the second quarter.
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           To cap off the half, Flower connected with Bo Lincoln on a 45-yard post pattern to give the Eagles a 42-0 lead going into the break. 
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           The second half consisted of a running clock due to the score margin per MHSAA rules. Leslie did get on the board with a touchdown in the second half to avoid the shutout, but the Eagles had the game well in hand from start to finish for the 35-point victory.
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           Flower completed 8 of 12 passes on the night for the Eagles for 149 yards and two touchdowns, while also running for 77 yards on four carries and a score.
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           Bousseau had 119 yards on his nine carries to go along with his two touchdowns. On the receiving end, Blake Lincoln led the way for the Eagles with 90 yards on four catches and a touchdown. 
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           For the Blackhawks, David Leslie led their rushing attack with 86 yards on 18 carries. Quarterback Mason Tow completed 9 of 19 passes for 99 yards and a touchdown.
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           Olivet will play host to Perry High School on Friday, Sept. 24. That game will kick off at 7 p.m.
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    <summary type="text" />
    <g-custom:tags type="string">Nov 2020</g-custom:tags>
    <media:content medium="image" url="https://irp.cdn-website.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/OHS+football+Blake+Lincoln.JPG" />
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>Starr Commonwealth to honor four ‘Stand Tall’ recipients, including Albion’s Vivian Davis</title>
    <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.advisor-chronicle.com/starr-commonwealth-to-honor-four-stand-tall-recipients-including-albions-vivian-davis" />
    <link rel="enclosure" type="image/jpeg" href="https://irp.cdn-website.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Vivian+Davis.jpg" length="837162" />
    <author>
      <name />
    </author>
    <updated>2021-09-17T18:57:13Z</updated>
    <published>2021-09-17T18:57:13Z</published>
    <content>&lt;div data-rss-type="text"&gt;&#xD;
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          Albion-based Starr Commonwealth will be holding its 5th Annual Night of Starrs event on Wednesday, Sept. 22 at 
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           the Franke Center for the Arts in Marshall.
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           A VIP reception will be held from 5-6 p.m. and the main program will be 
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           held from 6-9 p.m. honoring the following Stand Tall recipients: 
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          *Vivian Davis, Retired Educator, Albion Public Schools, Former Adjunct Instructor, Kellogg Community College, 
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           Kellogg Community College Foundation Board, President of Albion Rotary Club, Albion Community Leader
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          *Dr. Yvonne M. Friday, MD, FAAP Division Chief, General Pediatrics Adolescent Medicine, Children’s Hospital 
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           of Michigan
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          *Jeannie Goodrich, CEO, Summit Pointe
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          *Lachanda Garrison, Department of Defense Education Activity, 2021 State Teacher of the Year 
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          Since 2017, the Night of Starrs has served as an evening of celebration for champions of children. 
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          “Stand Tall Award honorees are selected thanks to their dedication to healing trauma and building resilience in the 
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           children they serve,” said Starr Marketing and Communications Director Matt Ray. “Each recipient exemplifies 
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           Starr Commonwealth’s core values and plays a key role in achieving our mission to create positive experiences so 
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           that all children, families, and communities can flourish.”
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          The VIP reception is sold out due to reduced  numbers. A general livestream of  the event will be available  at 
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           starr.org/nos.
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          Vivian Davis came to Albion in 1974, just after her marriage to husband Arthur, and ever since her arrival, Davis 
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           has worked tirelessly to serve and better the Albion community, including working for Albion Public Schools for 37 
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           years, serving on the Board of Education and numerous organizations and committees:
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          Leadership:  
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          Past President, Albion Public Schools Board of Education
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          Past Secretary, Albion-Homer United Way
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          Past President, Michigan Counseling Association 2000-2001
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          Past Board Member, Albion Education Association (2004-2010)
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          Past President, Calhoun Counselors Association (2007-2009)
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          Charter Member - Lions Club of Albion, Presently serves as Secretary
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          Past Member, National Education Association National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education Examiner
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          Present member of the National Education Association Diversity/Social Justice Trainer
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          Past Member, National Education Association Resolutions Committee
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          Past Michigan Education Special Services Association Board of Directors (MESSA) Trustee 
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          National Education Association-Retired Board of Directors (Alternate)
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          Past Member, Michigan Department of Education Standards Commission for Teachers 
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          Community/Local Affiliations:       
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          Member, Kellogg Community College Foundation Board
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          Member, Albion Lions Club, Treasurer
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          Member, Albion Philanthropic Women
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          Member, SISTERS (Sisters Influencing Society Mentoring Program)
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          Bethel Baptist Church Anniversary Committee
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          Executive Board, Psi Kappa Omega Chapter of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. 
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          Secretary, Albion Branch NAACP Board of Directors Board member, Albion Bohm Theatre
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          Member Albion American Legion
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          Member, American Association of University Women
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          President Albion Rotary, Charter Co-Sponsor of Interact Club for youth
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          Davis was raised in Fitzgerald, Ga. and was adopted and grew up as an only child, but over the years she has 
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           reunited with her nine siblings.
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          “I have always been an independent thinker,” said Davis. “So, to me, that was best thing that could have happened 
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           to me because my parents taught me a different structure in life, different values in life and I was always raised with 
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           the idea of when you go to college, you will be able to be self-sufficient. Not, if you go to college. Of my brothers 
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           and sisters, I am the only one in the family of my siblings who has a post-secondary education…I kind of had the
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          best of two worlds. Rather than looking at it negatively, I’ve always looked at my adoption as a positive part of my 
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           life.”
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          Following high school, Davis attended Fort Valley State, a Historical Black College. He then went to Case Western 
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           in Cleveland to get her Master’s in Social Science Administration.
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          She then married her childhood sweetheart, Arthur, and soon thereafter, the couple moved to Albion after Arthur got 
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           an engineering job at Corning Glassworks following his graduation from University of Wisconsin. (The couple have 
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           two sons and four grandchildren.)
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          If a management employment came into their system, and their spouse wanted to work, the company would help the 
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           spouse find a job on their particular area.
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          So, Corning arranged an interview for Vivian with the Albion schools superintendent. 
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          “As it so happened, the school social worker was retiring that year and so I just moved right into her position,” said 
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           Davis, who would go on to hold that position for 10 years, working at Albion’s five elementary schools, middle 
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           school and high school.
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          Davis then went on to get a Master’s in Counseling Psychology and became a high school counselor. 
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          “My entire professional career was in Albion Public Schools,” she said. 
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          Davis retired in 2011 and in 2013, she joined the Albion Board of Education, ultimately becoming president of the 
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           board and overseeing the annexation with Marshall Public Schools in 2016.
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          During her career Davis saw firsthand how the flourishing Albion school district dwindled in size over almost four 
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           decades.
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          “It was very sad,” she said. “When the elementaries closed that wasn’t as emotional for me as when the high school 
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           was losing students. When I first got to the high school, as a counselor I was assigned 400 students, and that was just 
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           students in two grades. Actually, it was a little more than 400 and it was very stressful trying to keep up with so 
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           many students. 
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          “When the high school closed, we had less than 300 students district-wide. In the end, we had about 70 seniors 
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           graduating; when I first got to the high school, we had over 200 graduating… I think what a lot of community 
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           people did not realize was that it was very difficult, impossible actually, to run a viable school district that is 
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           designed for 600 students to dwindle down to less than half that. We didn’t have the financial support and teachers
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          felt as if their job were always in jeopardy.”
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          Davis was on the initial MPS Bond Steering Committee in 2019 and last week, Davis was asked to be on the present 
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           steering committee regarding the $45 million bond that voters will decide on in November.
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          One of the big items of the bond is a new elementary school in Albion to replace outdated Harrington Elementary.
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          “I remember sitting in a meeting with (MPS Trustee) Matt Davis and he was the first one I heard say we could patch 
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           and patch and patch or we could build,” said Davis. “I had not heard anyone ever mention anything about building a 
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           new school. I thought he was talking about a new school to be located between Albion and Marshall and he said, no- 
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           a state of the art elementary school in Albion.”
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          Vivian Davis said a new elementary school in Albion would be a huge boost for students and the community.
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          “Facilities mean a lot,” she said. “We have not had an air-conditioned building. We have not had a state-of-the-art 
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           learning environment. I remember when the students began attending school in Marshall, especially the middle 
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           school and high school students, they would say Marshall offered so many more opportunities. So, I think anytime 
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           we can enhance the educational structure in the community, without a doubt, it’s a positive.”
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          Seeing the Albion school district shut down, said Davis, was like losing “a part of your family.”
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          “It was devastating for a lot of people,” she said. 
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          Davis said found out about the Stand Tall Award about six weeks ago when she received a call from Starr CEO 
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           Elizabeth Carey. 
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          “It was a good feeling to know that the work I have done in the community has not gone unnoticed,” said Davis.
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          “It’s a good feeling.”
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          She added that Starr has a special spot in her heart because of the various programs and collaborations Starr has had 
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           with Albion students over the years.
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          “Who I am today is very much influenced by my experiences with Starr,” said Davis, who makes mention of that 
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           rather extensively in her remarks for the Night of Starrs event that she submitted a few weeks ago. An excerpt:
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          “At Starr, I had the opportunity to meet Mr. Floyd Starr who begin his journey in 1913 with the saying, ‘There is no 
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    &lt;span style="background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"&gt;&#xD;
      
           such thing as a bad child,’ and Dick Vitale who added if you hug a child, give them unconditional love, and give 
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           them guidance… they will make it.  At Starr, I worked John Seita who gave me his book  In Whose Best Interest, told me how kids outwit adults and give me guidelines for students in foster care to experience opportunities in 
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           college.
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          “At Starr, I met Stanley Allen who has a passion for the Albion community and a willingness to honor people who 
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           help mold him into a productive and successful adult. At Starr, I learned the importance of creating an environment 
          &#xD;
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           committed to the oneness of mankind as  a core value through  an earnest commitment to diversity, equity and 
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           inclusion.  
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          “Starr Commonwealth  has put into action several  of my  personal core  values to empowering  young people to 
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           develop hope and optimism, self-awareness and compassion for a better world.
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          “My experiences with Starr enabled me to grow as a social science professional, beginning in the 1980’s when Asa 
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           Hilliard spoke at the Starr Commonwealth’s National Children of Color Conference, when he said, ‘There is no 
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           mystery on how to teach children. The first thing you do is to treat them like human beings and the second thing you 
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           do is love them."
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&lt;/div&gt;</content>
    <summary type="text" />
    <g-custom:tags type="string">Nov 2020</g-custom:tags>
    <media:content medium="image" url="https://irp.cdn-website.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Vivian+Davis.jpg" />
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>Festival of the Forks event returning to downtown Albion</title>
    <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.advisor-chronicle.com/festival-of-the-forks-event-returning-to-downtown-albion" />
    <link rel="enclosure" type="image/jpeg" href="https://irp.cdn-website.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/IMG_2725.JPG" length="344070" />
    <author>
      <name />
    </author>
    <updated>2021-09-14T21:23:33Z</updated>
    <published>2021-09-14T21:23:33Z</published>
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           Since 1967, citizens have flocked downtown Albion to celebrate the Festival of the Forks event that takes place every year in the third week of September.
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           Last year was an exception due to the pandemic, but the event that brings people together to dance, eat, laugh and have an overall good time returns on Sept. 17.
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           Event organizer and Interim CEO of the Greater Albion Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Bureau Peggy Grigowski said she thinks this year’s Festival of the Forks will be an exciting opportunity for people to come together.
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           “I think the citizens of Albion, our community is very strong,” Grigowski said. “I think we are a loving, giving group—we enjoy food and laughter, fun, good music and good friends—I think it’s just our chance to come back and group together. I’m almost positive that there are going to be people that haven’t seen each other for a long time because of Covid and they’re going to see each other at the festival.”
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           Grigowski was born in Marshall and raised in Albion, so she isn’t new to the event and the tradition behind Festival of the Forks. Grigowski said even when she graduated and moved away from Albion for a time, she always remembered when the event was when the third week of September came around each year.
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           Grigowski mentioned that she sees people that moved away from Albion who come back for the festival year in and year out, which she said helps keep a bond within the community.
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           Typically, an event of this magnitude needs roughly a year to plan. But with the uncertainty of the pandemic and with the unknowing on whether the state would continue to restrict large gatherings, Grigowski said clearance didn’t come to host Festival of the Forks until late June—which meant little time for planning and things having to come together faster than usual. 
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           Grigowski said she and Kelly Rice, who has also played a huge role in helping organize this year’s event, “took the bull by the horns” and started getting messaging out that Festival of the Forks was returning, along with contacting several people who participated in the 2019 event.
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           With all of the combined efforts, including social media outreach and many willing to come together to make the event happen for the first time in two years, Grigowski, who is planning a festival for the first time, said the process was a lot of work but also a lot of fun to see people working together.
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           “Honestly, they just started rolling in,” said Grigowski. “It was almost like they fell out of the sky and I said ‘oh my gosh, this is great.’ Parade applications started rolling in, food vendors, crafters, market place people. It was very busy and is still very busy, but it was fun and very exciting to see all these people say ‘yes, I want to do this and I want to be here this year, I want to get out and do something.’ It just all kind of fell into place.”
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           Festival of the Fork kicks off with the “Eggs and Issues at Albion College in Baldwin Hall” event from 7:30-9 a.m. on Sept. 17, with festivities wrapping up around 9 p.m. on the 18th.
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           The ever-so-popular car show is scheduled for 4-8 p.m. on Sept. 17, with the parade on Superior Street taking place the next morning from 10-11 a.m.
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           Even though Grigowski’s role with Festival of the Forks has become hands-on and involves a lot of behind the scenes work as an organizer, she still finds time to appreciate all of the fun that the weekend should bring and said she is looking forward to all of the events that will be taking place in the two day festival.
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           “I think the car show is pretty big, I think a lot of people come out for the car show on Friday night,” Grigowski said. “The petting zoo, I know a lot of the kids look forward to coming to that. And we’re having the pony rides, the farm animals, but we’re also having exotic pets. I can’t say what we’re having as exotic (animals), so I guess I can say everyone is going to have to come to find out. Then we’re having the carnival, of course, and so many food vendors. I’m excited about all of it, I could sit here and tell you every single thing. I’m excited about it all because we literally just pulled this together in three months.”
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    <summary type="text" />
    <g-custom:tags type="string">Nov 2020</g-custom:tags>
    <media:content medium="image" url="https://irp.cdn-website.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/IMG_2725.JPG" />
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>Olivet High School football falls to Charlotte in season opening shootout</title>
    <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.advisor-chronicle.com/olivet-high-school-football-falls-to-charlotte-in-season-opening-shootout" />
    <link rel="enclosure" type="image/jpeg" href="https://irp.cdn-website.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/OHS+Bo+Lincoln+Charlotte.JPG" length="373322" />
    <author>
      <name />
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    <updated>2021-08-31T19:38:40Z</updated>
    <published>2021-08-31T19:38:40Z</published>
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            Orioles defeat Eagles 49-40 in high-scoring affair
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          Offensive production was not in short supply at Charlotte High School on Aug. 26 as Olivet High School’s varsity football team opened its season on the road for a nonconference matchup.
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          As it turned out, the Orioles (1-0) offense came up with just a few more big plays and used the ground game throughout the night to edge the Eagles (0-1), 49-40.
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          Olivet’s offense struck on its opening drive of the season with an explosive run of 83 yards by Ramsey Bousseau to give the Eagles a 6-0 lead just 57 seconds into the game. That run accounted for 83 of Bousseau’s 93 rushing yards on the night.
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          After the Eagles defense came up with a stop on Charlotte’s opening possession, Olivet’s offense once again marched down the field and took a 14-0 lead after Bousseau recovered a fumble from his own teammate before a successful two-point conversion try.
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          Charlotte’s offense was finally able to break the Eagles momentum with a touchdown and two-point conversion of its own with 24 seconds left in the first quarter to cut the deficit to 14-8.
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          The Eagles would relinquish the lead for the first time with 8:51 remaining in the second quarter after the Orioles offense found the endzone again, making it 15-14 Charlotte.
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          However, that Charlotte lead did not last long as the Eagles immediately responded on offense on a 78-yard connection from quarterback Clay Flower to tight end Blake Lincoln on a play where the snap from the center came in low but Flower was still able to pick the ball off the ground and find a streaking Lincoln over the middle of the field for a score.
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          The senior quarterback had himself quite the night in the passing game for Olivet, throwing for 287 yards and four touchdowns in the loss.
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          After another Charlotte touchdown response, Flower would connect with receiver Dalton Tobias in stride for his second passing touchdown of the game in what was a 30-yard score to make it 28-21 Olivet with 1:05 left in the first half.
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          The Eagles had a chance to go up two scores again before the half after an Orioles fumble deep in their own territory, but the Olivet offense could not take advantage of the short field and proceeded to miss a field goal.
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          Olivet maintained a 28-21 lead going into the break, but the end of the half sequence turned out to be a big one as the Eagles had a chance to extend their lead and take even more momentum going into the halftime locker room.
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          Charlotte got the ball first to start the second half and did not waste much time in knotting the score at 28 apiece when running back Ashton LaGuire ran in for a touchdown on a jet sweep play with 8:06 remaining in the third quarter.
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          Flower and the Eagles offense again had to respond, and with 3:27 left in the third quarter, they did just that as Flower found Tobias for a touchdown for the second time on the night on a pass over the middle for a 40-yard score, making it 34-28 Olivet after a missed two-point try. Tobias finished with three catches for 100 yards to go along with his two scores.
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          Charlotte’s passing attack wasn’t quite as explosive as Olivet’s on the night as the Orioles passed for 121 yards compared to the Eagles 278, but 50 of those yards for Charlotte came on the very next play of its next series after Olivet took the 34-28 lead.
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          Quarterback Braden Hill launched a pass deep over the middle of the field that his receiver beat the Eagles defender on in a battle in the air for the ball, fought off the tackle and ran into the endzone to allow the Orioles to regain the lead at 35-34 with 3:07 left in the third quarter.
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          On Olivet’s next offensive series, Charlotte’s Hill was able to make another big play, this time on the defensive side of the ball as he intercepted Flower off a tipped pass.
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          The Orioles would capitalize off that turnover and punch the ball in the endzone on a 3-yard run from Devon Eaton to make the score 42-34 Charlotte heading into the fourth.
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          Even after the momentum swing, the Olivet offense did not blink as Flower found Bousseau in the corner of the endzone on a fourth down play for his fourth touchdown pass (Bouessau’s third touchdown) on the night to make the score 42-40 as the two-point try was no good.
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          The Eagles defense was finally able to come up with the stop they needed with 4:50 remaining after being aided by some Charlotte penalties. Olivet forced Charlotte’s offense to 4th-and-30. On that play, the pressure from the Eagles while attempting to block the punt forced the Orioles punter outside the pocket as he was tackled at the Olivet 42-yard line.
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          But on the first play of the next Olivet offensive series, the Eagles went for the “home run” play on a play action pass attempt deep over the middle and Flower was intercepted by LaGuire as he made a leaping catch on a ball in the air.
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          Charlotte again took advantage of the turnover and methodically marched down the field before LaGuire ran in for another touchdown, this time from 11 yards out, to make the score 49-40 and essentially seal the win for Charlotte with 1:41 left.
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          Olivet put together another nice drive in its last series and got into the redzone, but a Flower pass in the endzone was intercepted with two seconds left to officially seal Olivet’s fate.
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          The Eagles outgained Charlotte in total offense for the game 468-393, with the Orioles having the edge in the running game with 272 compared to Olivet’s 190 yards rushing.
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          On Sept. 2 the Eagles, travel to Eaton Rapids (0-1) to take on the Greyhounds. Kickoff for that game will be at 7 p.m.
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    <summary type="text" />
    <g-custom:tags type="string">Nov 2020</g-custom:tags>
    <media:content medium="image" url="https://irp.cdn-website.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/OHS+Bo+Lincoln+Charlotte.JPG" />
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>Mar Lee superintendent is back ‘home’ after spending 2 years with Marshall Public Schools</title>
    <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.advisor-chronicle.com/mar-lee-superintendent-is-back-home-after-spending-2-years-with-marshall-public-schools" />
    <link rel="enclosure" type="image/jpeg" href="https://irp.cdn-website.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/MAr+Lee+Chad+Holt+IMG_2056.jpg" length="575989" />
    <author>
      <name />
    </author>
    <updated>2021-08-20T15:37:18Z</updated>
    <published>2021-08-20T15:37:18Z</published>
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            Chad Holt describes plans for school heading into the 2021-22 calendar year
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          After spending seven years at Mar Lee School before leaving to take a position with Marshall Public Schools two years ago, Chad Holt is back as the superintendent of Mar Lee.
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          Holt said his time in the Marshall school district was a great experience where he served as curriculum director, but that it was time for him to come back to a place he considers “home.”
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          “My experience at Marshall was a great opportunity to network, meet new people and kind of expand on my educational experiences,” Holt said. “It was a great experience, and I had a chance to meet people, but a lot of it was really interrupted by COVID—it affected all of us. As far as returning to Mar Lee, I’ve always had a really special connection to this school, these students, these teachers. My children went to school here. It’s just home and I know it was the right move for me.”
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          Holt will have a few more obstacles to navigate since his last stint with Mar Lee with schools across the country figuring out what policies to implement as the pandemic still lingers in society.
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          Holt said the current policy for Mar Lee heading into the 2021-22 school year is to retain many of the mitigation strategies used during last year for students and staff, such as “social distancing to the best extent possible, modifying our transitions and having seating charts.”
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          Face masks will be required on school buses but will be optional in the school building. 
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          Holt stressed that the school monitors these strategies and policies daily and are subject to change.
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          “This is being evaluated almost daily,” Holt said. “Things can change and likely will change, but going into the year, we will be mask optional. We will maintain those mitigation strategies that were used last year, and as far as contact tracing and those types of things, we will follow those same procedures that were put in place last year.”
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          Holt said while the circumstances have been challenging for all schools over the past year and a half, the team at Mar Lee has done a great job of navigating through them.
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          “I would just say that it has been a challenge, but our team has really been taking input from a lot of different places—our staff feedback, our community feedback and of course the health department’s guidance,” said Holt.
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          Despite the circumstances, Mar Lee was able to provide in-person instruction for students five days a week last school year while offering a virtual option for families as well.
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          Heading into this school year, Holt said the school has opted not to offer a virtual option and has made it a priority to value face-to-face instruction.
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          “We value that in-person time, and I think Mar Lee did a fantastic job last year of providing that for their students, and that’s what we’re committed to this year,” Holt said. “Of course, things may look different than they used to traditionally as far as what the day looks like, but just having them in the building and having that personal connection (is important) so we can build that relationship and look out for their social and emotional health, because that’s really difficult to do virtually.”
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    <summary type="text" />
    <g-custom:tags type="string">Nov 2020</g-custom:tags>
    <media:content medium="image" url="https://irp.cdn-website.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/MAr+Lee+Chad+Holt+IMG_2056.jpg" />
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>New principal excited to be at Gordon Elementary</title>
    <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.advisor-chronicle.com/new-principal-excited-to-be-at-gordon-elementary" />
    <link rel="enclosure" type="image/jpeg" href="https://irp.cdn-website.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Principal+Karyn+Hall+IMG_2065.jpg" length="1137916" />
    <author>
      <name />
    </author>
    <updated>2021-08-20T15:31:49Z</updated>
    <published>2021-08-20T15:31:49Z</published>
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          Karyn Hall may be the new principal at Gordon Elementary School in Marshall, but she is no stranger to education and to Marshall Public Schools for that matter. 
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          She brings with her six years as an elementary principal (in Bellevue) and has been with Marshall Public Schools the past five years, serving mainly as a teacher consultant.
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          Hall was recently named Gordon principal to replace Kelly Fitzpatrick who is now the new MPS curriculum director. Fitzpatrick replaced Chad Holt, who is now in his second stint as Mar Lee School superintendent.
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          Born and raised in Ft. Wayne, after college, Hall moved to Georgia for her first job in education and after five years there, moved to Michigan to be closer to family and has been in the region ever since.
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          In her career, Hall has worked in general education, special education and administration. She has worked in the juvenile justice system and at Starr Commonwealth and also worked at the Western Michigan University School of Medicine for a year and also worked for a hospital.
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          “I have a very diverse background,” admitted Hall. “I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
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          With MPS, Hall  started out as a teacher for cognitively impaired students at Walters Elementary five years ago and then was a teacher consultant the past four years where she was essentially a “go between” special education and general education.
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          “There’s  a lot of paperwork that goes with special education and so I spent a lot of time ensuring that everything was up to date and correct and that we were following it the way we were supposed to,” said Hall. 
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          She said she is excited to start this new chapter at MPS as principal. 
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          “Just anytime you’re working with people that prepares you for the world of administration,” she said. “I’m fortunate that I was an administrator early on in my career.”
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          Hall said her experience of working in all aspects of education in a school district has given her the “perspective of the whole picture.”
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          “So, you’re really able to step back and really look at things and see how it all fits together,” she said. 
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          With the start of school just days away, Hall said the mood is somewhat similar to the start of school last year as it pertains to what could happen in the middle of a pandemic.
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          “We know where we are right now, but we don’t know where we will be next week necessarily,” she said. “So, there are still some questions on what’s going to happen as numbers start to fluctuate again.”
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&lt;/div&gt;</content>
    <summary type="text" />
    <g-custom:tags type="string">Nov 2020</g-custom:tags>
    <media:content medium="image" url="https://irp.cdn-website.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Principal+Karyn+Hall+IMG_2065.jpg" />
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>MHS principal: Students are ‘giddy’ to be back in school</title>
    <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.advisor-chronicle.com/mhs-principal-students-are-giddy-to-be-back-in-school" />
    <link rel="enclosure" type="image/jpeg" href="https://irp.cdn-website.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/MHS+Registration+Jennifer+Travis++and+kids+IMG_2002.jpg" length="676002" />
    <author>
      <name />
    </author>
    <updated>2021-08-20T15:27:30Z</updated>
    <published>2021-08-20T15:27:30Z</published>
    <content>&lt;div data-rss-type="text"&gt;&#xD;
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           Registration took place Aug. 17 for students at Marshall High School and Principal Dave Turner said the with school starting Aug. 24, students are “giddy” to return to the classroom five days a week.
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           “Seeing the kids in our building and also at athletic practices, they cannot wait for school to start,” said Turner. “They are excited to be back in school to be with their friends and interact with teachers and other individuals. The overall sense is ‘I cannot wait to be back in school.’”
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           “I’m ready for them to go back to school – I’m excited,” said mom Jennifer Travis on registration day with her three children, Braden, Shawn and Nola. “They need to be in school.”
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           Nola, a freshman, said she is “excited but nervous” about starting high school.
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           Braden, a sophomore, said he is just excited to be back in the building.
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           Turner said senior class leadership is “really excited” about getting back to school and will be holding a senior back-to-school barbecue on Sunday, Aug. 22 at approximately 5 p.m.
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           “The seniors will be doing some chalking of their parking spaces, paint the rock, decorate the halls,” said Turner. “Kids will bring their own food and I’ll cook it for them. That will be a fun event.”
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           Turner said plans are in the works for Homecoming and Spirit Week in October.
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           “The kids are really looking forward to having school spirit back in our building,” said Turner. 
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           As of Aug. 18, Marshall Public Schools, like almost all school districts in the area were recommending masks but requiring them. The same went for the COVID vaccine – recommended for those who are old enough, but not required.
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           “My general comment to people is, regardless of how you feel about the vaccine, if you’ve had the vaccine, you won’t have to quarantine unless you happen to get sick, which still could happen,” said Turner. “If you wear a mask and you are 3 feet away from an individual, you won’t have to be quarantined, whether you are vaccinated or not.”
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    <summary type="text" />
    <g-custom:tags type="string">Nov 2020</g-custom:tags>
    <media:content medium="image" url="https://irp.cdn-website.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/MHS+Registration+Jennifer+Travis++and+kids+IMG_2002.jpg" />
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>FireKeepers Casino celebrates expansion with help from the ‘King of the Highwire’</title>
    <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.advisor-chronicle.com/firekeepers-casino-celebrates-expansion-with-help-from-the-king-of-the-highwire" />
    <link rel="enclosure" type="image/jpeg" href="https://irp.cdn-website.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Wallenda+3.JPG" length="160847" />
    <author>
      <name />
    </author>
    <updated>2021-08-20T15:22:15Z</updated>
    <published>2021-08-20T15:22:15Z</published>
    <content>&lt;div style="transition: none 0s ease 0s; display: block;" data-rss-type="text"&gt;&#xD;
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            Nik Wallenda completes tightrope walk to new hotel tower
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            When world-renowned daredevil Nik Wallenda walked a tightrope nearly 200 feet above the ground at FireKeepers Casino Hotel on Aug. 16, he mentioned feeling the wind blowing like you and I might mention a fly hovering around our dinner plate—as more of a slight annoyance than an actual problem.
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            The “King of the Highwire” completed the 450-foot walk across a wire in front of a large crowd as part of FireKeepers’ grand opening of the property’s new major expansion, which features a 203-room hotel, a new high limit gaming space, a new location for the restaurant Nibi and a new lobby bar.
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            FireKeepers CEO Kathy George thanked the casino and hotel’s staff, the construction workers and all of those involved who helped complete the project and overcome challenges the pandemic presented in the process.
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            “Everyone persevered to bring this to you today (Aug. 16), and we’re really proud of it,” George said. “I hope that when you come inside, you’re going to get to take a look around and be proud of it as well, for you as community members and especially the tribal members coming through and hopefully you will be proud.”
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            After the ribbon cutting ceremony to mark the grand opening, Wallenda took to the tightrope untethered and without a safety net between the original and new tower at FireKeepers and began his walk.
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            Wallenda said his family started performing stunts in the 1870’s, with Nik being a 7th-generation member of the Flying Wallendas. 
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            Wallenda holds 11 Guinness world records and has performed live in every state in the United States.
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            On June 23, 2013, he became the first person to cross the Grand Canyon on a wire, where he faced 48 mile per hour winds at a height 1,500 feet over the Little Colorado River while completely untethered. 
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            He has also conquered a tightrope walk over Niagara Falls and has walked blindfolded between two towers in Chicago.
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            Although doing what the Wallenda family has done for many generations requires near fearlessness, he said he approaches his stunts with great “respect” as his family has endured several tragedies and frightening moments over the years.
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            In 1978, Nik’s great grandfather Karl Wallenda died after falling off a tightrope in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
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            Three years ago, he and his family  trained for around two months to attempt to set a world record for the highest four-level, eight-person pyramid on a wire. 
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            After training, Wallenda and the others took to the “actual height” wire a few days before the planned performance in front of the live audience, which is standard for the Wallenda family. About 10 steps onto the platform, Nik described to the audience while on the highwire at Firekeepers on how his worst nightmare became a reality. 
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            “That pyramid collapsed to the ground,” said Nik. “By the grace of God, I caught the wire. My cousin Blake caught the wire. One gentleman stayed standing. But five of my closest friends and family members fell to the ground. Statistics say the chances of living after falling from that height are only about 30%. We had five fall from that height.”
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            All of the five that fell to the ground survived the incident, but they did sustain severe injuries, including Nik’s sister Lijana, who broke nearly every bone in her face in the fall.
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            “I continued to walk the wire for about six weeks, then I took some time off,” he explained to the audience while still walking the highwire. “During that time off, I didn’t realize there was a seed planted in my head—and it was a seed of fear during that accident. I recently wrote a book called ‘Facing Fear’ and it talks a lot about that inner dialogue and how it’s so important that we control our inner dialogue, the things that we allow into our minds and how far down that rabbit trail we allow our minds to go.”
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            After the accident, Wallenda said although he wasn’t physically injured, he was psychologically injured and there were times he wanted to give up what he does for a living. But after a conversation with his wife and after he learned how to block out his negative thoughts, he knew giving up wasn’t in his DNA.
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            “See, it got to the point where I was physically trembling on the wire and I got to our place and told my wife I was never going to get back on the wire again,” said Wallenda.  “I was going to give up, I was going to quit. We had a conversation and she said, ‘Nik, you sign every autograph
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            . You do what you do to inspire people that nothing is impossible. And you’re gonna give up? That’s not the man I married.’ And she was right. I had to retrain my brain. I had to learn to cast out these negative thoughts and not allow them to take over my mind.”
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            Wallenda said he still gets nerves like everyone would when doing his walks but has learned to channel his positive energy to overcome challenges and to inspire people that anything truly is possible, which is the message he wants to get across to those who follow him and his family.
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            “I think all of us are dealing with that and all of us do in one way or another,” he said. “We deal with those challenges in life, whether our minds say we’re not good enough to do something, we’re not smart enough to do something, we’re not good looking enough. We all deal with those challenges. Well, I want to encourage you—don’t accept those negative thoughts into your mind, but counter them with something positive. I would encourage others to do the same thing. We’re faced with this wild pandemic, there are so many unknowns and so many people are struggling right now. But I encourage you to remain positive. Great things come from a positive mindset.”
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    <summary type="text" />
    <g-custom:tags type="string">Nov 2020</g-custom:tags>
    <media:content medium="image" url="https://irp.cdn-website.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Wallenda+3.JPG" />
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>Local family set to begin new mission in Uganda</title>
    <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.advisor-chronicle.com/local-family-set-to-begin-new-mission-in-uganda" />
    <link rel="enclosure" type="image/jpeg" href="https://irp.cdn-website.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Uganda+story+Wray+family+photo+IMG_1745.jpg" length="72704" />
    <author>
      <name />
    </author>
    <updated>2021-08-14T20:46:53Z</updated>
    <published>2021-08-14T20:46:53Z</published>
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            In less than two weeks, Chelsea and Rocky Wray of Albion and their three young sons, Jackson, 8, Lucas, 6, and Caleb, 5, will be moving to the central African nation of Uganda as part of an extended mission trip that could last as long as 10 years.
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           Chelsea and Rocky will be helping local villagers in the city of Soroti (population just over 60,000) and its surrounding areas deal with substance abuse issues.
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           “The days are passing by very quickly,” said Chelsea. “We were saying a year or six months to go for so long it seemed. And now we are down to less than two weeks. It feels like a whirlwind.”
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           Rocky said with so much to be taken care of, they probably won’t be able to get all items checked off their to-do list.
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           “We can’t get everything done we want to get done,” he said. “We’ve been so busy.”
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           The duration of their Ugandan journey is still undetermined, but the Wrays said they know it will be for a significant amount of time.
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           “However long God has the work for us there, we’ll stay,” said Chelsea. “We first said we would go for a year and just see what we could do with that time. Then we said a year is not enough time. Then we said two years. It will probably be five to 10 years.”
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           Added Rocky: “In 10 years, our oldest will be 18, so we’ll see what happens then.”
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           How Uganda came onto Chelsea and Rocky’s radar goes back more than a decade.
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           In February 2011, the Watoto Children’s Choir, based in the Ugandan capital of Kampala, came to the area to perform.
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           “At that time, Rocky and I were working and our main goal in life was to have a flat screen TV,” said Chelsea. “We had been married about three years and most of the things we had were given to use or we bought used. So, we had a photo on our fridge of a flat screen TV and an envelope where we would put money in it if we sold something or got paid from a gardening job. That was it. That was our goal in life.”
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           One day, Chelsea received a call from her step-mother who told her she had this “amazing opportunity” for Chelsea and Rocky who were living in Marshall at the time.
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           “She told me that these orphaned children from Uganda were part of a children’s choir and they needed homes to stay in since a snowstorm had altered their plans, and that they were stopping in Marshall for three nights,” said Chelsea “ She asked us if we’d be willing to host two children and a chaperone. I was like, ‘No. That sounds crazy.’ I didn’t know these people and we had just gotten back from vacation. Our house was a mess, and we didn’t have any food.”
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           Rocky said he felt the same way.
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           “People from Africa wanted to come stay with us?” he remembered saying. “That was just weird.”
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           The couple figured somebody else would step up to host the children and chaperone, but then Chelsea started to have a change of heart.
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           “I called Rocky and told that I thought we could do it,” she said. “I called my step-mom back and told her okay. It was just for a few nights. She told me I’d need to pick them up in one hour in Marshall. An hour later we had Franco and Cyrus and Uncle Allen the chaperone. The boys were 8 and 10 years old and the chaperone was in his 20s. We hosted them for three days and they basically wrecked our world, in a good way.”
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           Allen was also an orphan in the program and was one of the first to graduate out of it.
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           “Their slogan was ‘Rescue, Raise, Rebuild,’” said Chelsea. “So, they rescued their own Ugandan kids, raised them up and were rebuilding their nation. They shared their stories with us, and they were heartbreaking. After spending that time with them, Rocky and I felt we wanted to go to Uganda and see what this was all about.”
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           Five and a half months later, Chelsea and Rocky, after raising, saving and earning $10,000 went on a mission trip to Uganda for three weeks.
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           Chelsea said she knew there was something special about Uganda the moment she and Rocky stepped off the plane.
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           “Uganda is called the pearl of Africa, and it’s this beautiful, lush green country and you can just smell the freshness in the air,” she said. “It was just amazing and refreshing. And now every time we step off the plane there, we breathe in and think, ‘Ah, Uganda.’ It smells so good…People are so happy to have us there. They tell us we are most welcome.”
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           That first visit planted the seed for what would be a decade-long love affair with the African nation.
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           “Watoto is an amazing, well-established organization,” said Chelsea. “We served in the Babies Home. They rescue these babies that have been abandoned, some just left on the side of the road. Such awful stories of all of these children…There were almost 200 children there.”
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           Following that three-week trip, Chelsea and Rocky agreed that they wanted more.
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           “That first trip was definitely more a ‘luxury’ mission trip,” said Chelsea. “Someone was serving us at our guest house, we only worked from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. I told Rocky that we needed to go outside those walls. I wanted to see the village. I wanted to learn why babies were being abandoned. I wanted to go deeper.”
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           After that mission trip, the couple were hit with emotions they were not expecting.
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           “When you come back from a mission trip, you feel a lot of bitterness and anger about your own home country because of the wastefulness and things like that,” said Chelsea. “We didn’t have anyone to de-brief with so were stuck with all of these overwhelming feelings of what we saw or the stories we heard. We both agreed we needed to do more.”
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           Chelsea and Rocky contacted Uncle Allen and an Uncle Mike, and they helped the couple make a trip to Soroti, a four - to six- hour  drive (depending on traffic) northeast of the capital.
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           “We said ‘okay!’ and jumped in full force,” said Chelsea. “We started a ministry, Aica (light in the native Ugandan language of Ateso) Ministries, had no clue what we were doing, and said, ‘there’s a need and we are going for it.”
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           The couple returned to Uganda in late 2012, with Chelsea pregnant with their first  son, Jackson.
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           They stayed for a month.
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           “We started doing different empowerment projects and things like that,” said Chelsea. “Rocky is the social worker and I am the organized admin side, so I do all the things here to prepare and once we arrive there, he thrives in his element.”
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           After Jackson was born, Rocky went to Uganda by himself. Chelsea then went to Uganda with Jackson when he was 5.
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           Their last trip to  was Uganda in 2019.
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           Aica was in operation from late 2012 through 2016.
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           “There was some good done during that time, but we went in there uneducated on how to even help these people,” said Chelsea. “We kind of just jumped in with the ‘White Savior’ mentality…A fellow missionary asked us what made us unique. He wanted to know what made us different from everyone else. We couldn’t really think of anything that made us unique compared to what other people did. After that, there was a conviction there where we sought to find out what did make us unique. What exactly were we doing there?”
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           Throughout 2017-18,wWith Aica closed, Rocky said he and Chelsea felt they were at a standstill on Uganda.
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           “We didn’t know if we would ever go back,” he said. “We had three boys under age 3 essentially and taking them to Uganda seemed crazy.”
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            Then two years ago Chelsea said they should go back.
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           “At the end of 2018, I felt that God was telling me he still had plans for us to move to Uganda,” said Chelsea. “Then one day I told Rocky that ‘I think we’re supposed to move to Uganda. What do you think about this?’ He was in the middle of his master’s program in social work, and he said it didn’t sound like a good idea.”
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           Noted Rocky: “Even after I got my degree, that’s when I got a job through Catholic Charities working at Parnall Correctional Facility in Jackson as a substance abuse therapist. That was my dream job. I loved everything about it.”
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           With the timing not great, Chelsea said she left it in God’s hands to work everything out.
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           “I said ‘Okay, God, if this is what you’re calling us to, you will align Rocky and me- we can’t do this separately,’” she said. “I decided not to ask Him about it anymore. As time went by, I felt more sure that we were supposed to move to Uganda.”
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           Then a few months later, Chelsea asked Rocky what he thought about going to Uganda for just one  year.
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           “He said, ‘Oh, yeah. I could do a year,’” said Chelsea. “We then met with Pastor Kris Tarkiewicz of Family Bible Church in Marshall who asked us some hard questions about if we were truly sure and in agreement about this.”
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           Convinced they were in agreement about Uganda, in  July 2019, Chelsea and Jackson went to Uganda to get the process started.
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           “We didn’t have any agenda,” said Chelsea. “I just said, ‘Okay God. Just use us where we need to be used and show us what the next steps are…That trip was amazing. A lot of opportunities and doors opened, and we served alongside Uncle Mike who has a street children’s ministry called Saving Arms International.
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           Soon after, Rocky and Chelsea concluded they could do the most good by working the area of substance abuse.
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           “That’s where it really clicked for me,” said Rocky. “I knew that was the area I was supposed to go in.:
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           A big factor was Rocky’s sobriety. June 6 marked 14 years.
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           That date is celebrated in the family each year.
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           “It’s the biggest day to celebrate in our family,” said Chelsea. “Without his sobriety, we wouldn’t be married, we wouldn’t have our children. He may not even be here. So, it’s a big deal for us.”
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           And that’s a big reason they want to help others in Soroti.
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           “They don’t know what to do with people who are struggling with addiction,” said Chelsea. “They don’t have resources, so they’re treated like trash. Oftentimes they are treated as a lost cause with mental health issues and are turned away from churches and other community places. Nobody is helping them.”
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           Rocky said focusing on substance abuse can make a huge difference.
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           “Generally, if someone has a substance abuse problem, there’s other issues they feel that trump that problem like food, family, housing,” he said. “When in reality, if they took care of the substance abuse problem first, it would help the other areas.”
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           In preparing for their move to Uganda, Rocky and Chelsea have started a “partnership” with people in the community.
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           “Our partners are anybody and everybody,” said Rocky. “Most of the partners are friends, family and church family.”
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           Added Chelsea: “Or word of mouth. We have a lot of people that we don’t even know who have started to partner with us.”
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           They have partnered up with Cord Ministries to help gather resources to deal with substance abuse.
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           “They (Cord) basically deal with what they call ‘misfit missionaries,’” said Chelsea. “They don’t fit in a specific box. They take on contractors, like us, and they are able to serve as mentors for us. They provide support to us in many areas but the biggest one is accountability, managing our finances, etc. We have a specific mentor we can connect with at any time with any questions we have.”
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           With less than two weeks before departure, Chelsea said they are almost to their partnership goal (81%, $745 to go) and shared their progress and made an appeal on social media:
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           What is monthly partnership? These funds are used to support our family on the mission field and our ministry. As missionaries, we are responsible for raising our own funds. If you partner with us, you are helping to fund:
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           - Rent and utilities for our family's home and office 
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           - Food for our family and feeding those during ministry outreaches
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           - Phone/internet for our home and ministry
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           - Basic necessities needed for our family 
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           - Medical insurance and emergency care for our family 
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           - Ministry programs and events 
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           - Ministry administrative costs (postage, printing, supplies, etc.)
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           - Vehicle expenses (personal and ministry)
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           When you partner with us you will receive a prayer magnet with a puzzle piece that goes to this puzzle pictured below. We will have the same puzzle in our home with your name on the back of a piece (or pieces). This will serve as a daily reminder to our family of the partnership, love and support we have back home. 
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           “We need 45 more pieces to our puzzle to be completely funded for monthly partnership,” said Chelsea, who noted that the $25 monthly partnership is tax deductible.
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           “You can set as recurring as well to make it even easier,” said Chelsea, who added that people can follow their journey on their ministry Facebook page, Wrays in Uganda.
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           There is also a blog/website: Wraysinuganda.org and an email address:Wraysinuganda@gmail.com.
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           To view the video on Wray Family Ministries, go to  https://vimeo.com/537739824/411502ba13.
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           Chelsea said this mission is what the family is meant to do.
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           “We are going to glorify God,” she said. “It’s for His kingdom – it’s not about us. It’s about Him. It took us 10 years to get to that place. We definitely had a lot of spiritual maturing to do to get to this point and will continue.”
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&lt;/div&gt;</content>
    <summary type="text" />
    <g-custom:tags type="string">Nov 2020</g-custom:tags>
    <media:content medium="image" url="https://irp.cdn-website.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Uganda+story+Wray+family+photo+IMG_1745.jpg" />
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>MPS says masks recommended, but not required</title>
    <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.advisor-chronicle.com/mps-says-masks-recommended-but-not-required" />
    <link rel="enclosure" type="image/jpeg" href="https://irp.cdn-website.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/School+Board+Siebert+greets+students+IMG_1801.jpg" length="576539" />
    <author>
      <name />
    </author>
    <updated>2021-08-14T20:43:11Z</updated>
    <published>2021-08-14T20:43:11Z</published>
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            Board approves ballot language for bond issue
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         The Marshall Public Schools Board of Education voted on Aug. 9 to adopt a resolution and ballot language calling a special election for Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2021, asking citizens to approve a $45 million bond issue that would include a new elementary school in Albion, improvements throughout MPS buildings and significant upgrades to athletic facilities at Marshall High School.
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          But the bulk of the 70-minute meeting which took place at the Marshall Opportunity High School in Albion focused on MPS policy to recommend the use of masks in school buildings and on school grounds. Students will be required to wear masks, however, on school buses and other forms of district transportation.
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          At the start of the meeting, several people spoke in support of masks as well as to their opposition of masks during the public comments portion.
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          One woman who came forward asked the board to hold firm on the masks optional guidelines and to be consistent throughout the school year.
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          “Since the Health Department is recommending mask use, I want to be sure that you allow students and their families to choose the best path forward for them,” said the woman. “Don’t change your policy at any point through the year. If students and staff want to follow recommendations to wear a mask, I fully support that. But I think that mask mandates and strict requirements do not help you achieve the goal of educating our students to the best of your ability...They (masks) make you feel like you are doing something and give you a feeling of control in this pandemic. However, it’s not something that is going to be effective. Please keep in mind that these masks are impacting the mental health and overall well-being of you students.”
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          Marshall High School teacher Tracy Haroff who has an elementary and a middle school student in the district and voiced her support for masks.
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          “My goal as an educator and as a parent this year is to make sure that my students that I teach and my children are in school five days a week,” said Haroff. “That is my goal and I feel like that is all of the educators’ goals. I believe that this can only be done when we have a mandatory masks policy for all of our staff and students and maintain at least 3 feet social distancing.
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          Haroff furthered her point, noting that she is concerned because her children do not have the ability yet because they are not the minimum age to be vaccinated.
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          “I’m concerned that they’ll either contract COVID or they will have to quarantine,” she said, adding that she is also concerned about teacher shortages if they get sick and are forced to quarantine.
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          Shannon Robinson, vice president of the Marshall Teachers Association as well as a parent and coach, said she was  disappointed to learn that  board was considering only a masks recommended policy.
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          “I think we can keep our students in in-person learning five days a week if we require them to wear a mask,” said Robinson. “I know it is not everyone’s favorite thing to do. It’s hard to wear a mask and teach. It’s hard to wear a mask and sit in a classroom all day long, but we did it last year.”
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          MPS Interim Superintendent Becky Jones thanked all spoke during the public comments portion of the meeting.
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          “I want to thank you all for coming and voicing (your concerns) and I want you to know we are all listening to everything that you have to say, and we take all of that into consideration,” said Jones. “It is nice to have people at our board meetings listening to what we are doing and giving us feedback.”
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          Jones noted that MPS had 922 quarantine cases last school year and 168 COVID positive individuals.
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          “We identify close contacts, and we report the close contacts to the Health Department,” said Jones, who noted that MPS itself does not order students to be quarantined. “This year, if you are unable to identify a close contact, you are not going to quarantined. So, we won’t see whole classrooms of kids being quarantined.
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          MPS Curriculum Director Kelly Fitzpatrick reviewed the district’s COVID back to school policy with board.
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          Fitzpatrick highlighted eight area including instruction, masks, vaccinations, food service, spacing and access, screening, hygiene and visitors.
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          Regarding instruction, classes begin Tuesday, Aug. 24 and the plan is to have face-to-face instruction five days a week.
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          There will be no virtual learning option due to CDC recommendations that students attend fully in person and also due to a lack of interest in the option.
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          Masks are recommended but not required for any individual in a school building or on school grounds.
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          Masks will be required  on buses or on any school transportation. A doctor’s note is required to be medically exempt from wearing a facial covering. A list of students who are medically exempt will be provided to all who have a legitimate educational interest.
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          The district will advocate for all eligible students and staff to get vaccinated.
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          Regarding athletics, the district will comply with all athletic requirements as mandate by the Calhoun County Public Health Department, MHSAA, or CDC order.
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          Breakfast will be served in first-hour classrooms for elementary students. Students in middle school and high school that want breakfast can go through the line to get a Grab &amp;amp; Go breakfast to take back to their first hour classroom.
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          Lunch will be eaten in cafeterias and outside as much as possible. Spacing will be 3-6 feet where feasible.
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          In the classroom, desks, tables and/or student workstations will be set up in the following manner as much as feasible: As far apart as classroom space allows; All facing in the same direction; Teachers will maintain 3 feet of spacing between themselves and students as much as possible; Seating charts will be maintained for contact tracing purposes.
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          Families are encouraged to check their child’s temperature at home every morning. Students with a temperature of 100.4 or greater should stay home and consider testing if symptoms of COVID are present.
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          “There’s no mandatory testing,” said Fitzpatrick. “We are not going to be testing your kid. Nobody is going to stick anything up their nose, I promise.”
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          The district plans to provide an adequate supply of PPE for all buildings and will also have sanitizing stations and hand sanitizer in all classrooms.
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          The district will also provide disinfecting supplies in each classroom to clean frequently used surfaces.
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          Family members or other guests will have limited access for entrance in the school building as determined by district and school officials.
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          Prior to entering the building, adult guests will be required to answer a short screener for symptoms, be recommended to wear a face covering, wash/sanitize hands and sign in and sign out, including date and time.
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          “The district is still going to be analyzing recommendations as they come out and we meet with the Health Department weekly and other superintendents around the county,” said Jones. “This is an everchanging working document as we continue to move forward.”
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          To close out the district’s COVID policy discussion, board member Dr. Carrie Nicholson voiced her concern about rising COVID cases in Calhoun County and the state and what is possibly to come, especially with the more contagious delta variant.
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          “It doesn’t seem quite so bad in the last month, but I definitely noticed in the last week a real uptick in COVID cases,” said Nicholson. “Our numbers have really dramatically escalated. We are averaging about a little over 1,000 cases a day in Michigan and we were at 180 (a day) at the beginning of July. We have not made changes, so I would expect that  that would really escalate when we are thinking about the future…By the time school starts we may be at 2,000 or 3,000 daily cases in Michigan…We can say now that you may not need to mask, but if we get back to where we were in May and April, which it looks like our numbers will be by September, if we are not masking, we are going to have a lot of kids out of school. We are going to have a lot of kids sick.”
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    <summary type="text" />
    <g-custom:tags type="string">Nov 2020</g-custom:tags>
    <media:content medium="image" url="https://irp.cdn-website.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/School+Board+Siebert+greets+students+IMG_1801.jpg" />
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>Progressive Dynamics’ employee marks 50 years with company</title>
    <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.advisor-chronicle.com/progressive-dynamics-employee-marks-50-years-with-company" />
    <link rel="enclosure" type="image/jpeg" href="https://irp.cdn-website.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Dee.jpg" length="991162" />
    <author>
      <name />
    </author>
    <updated>2021-08-14T20:30:14Z</updated>
    <published>2021-08-14T20:30:14Z</published>
    <content>&lt;div style="transition: none 0s ease 0s; display: block;" data-rss-type="text"&gt;&#xD;
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          When Dee Schoenborn first started working as Progressive Dynamics in August of 1971, the company didn’t have a computer system and instead used an electric typewriter sort of machine to insert order entries and complete billing.
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          Times have greatly changed since those days, but 50 years later, Dee is still with the company as an executive and HR assistant and will officially reach that  half-century milestone on Aug. 25.
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          According to a 2018 study from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the typical employee stays at a job for an average of just over four years. Employees typically leave a workplace for a variety of reasons (location, pay, change of pace, etc.), which makes Dee’s 50 years at her place of employment an extremely rare accomplishment.
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          When explaining why she has chosen to stay at Progressive Dynamics for so long and in the Marshall area, Dee explained her family history in the city and mentioned the many friends she has made along the way.
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          “I wanted to stay in Marshall because my family owns Louie’s Bakery, and Louis was my father,” said Dee. “My family’s here. And secondly, it’s a comfort level of working at this place for so long. It’s been good to me. And the people—I’ve made so many friends. Some of them go and some of them are still here, and a lot of them we still see each other outside of work. It’s that - it wasn’t really the pay or the benefits or anything like that.”
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          Mary Mestemaker, an HR manager who works alongside Dee, said this is the first time in her career that she has ever witnessed anyone reach the 50 years of employment milestone. Mary said she enjoys working with Dee and that she provides help to her and the rest of the employees at the company in a number of different ways.
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          “Any time I need something done, Dee is always there to help me out,” Mary said. “She does all of the work behind the scenes, so if there’s some paperwork that needs to be done or something else—she helps the employees, like if they have a medical issue or their billing or unemployment, or just a question they need to ask somebody, she’s the person that they go to. If she doesn’t know, she’ll find (an answer) out for them. She will sit them down and they’ll talk to the doctor’s office or the billing office or whatever it is, she solves a lot of the employees’ issues for a variety of things.”
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          The company will celebrate the occasion on Aug. 25 with a lunch with friends, family, co-workers and some faces that Dee hasn’t seen in several years. Dee said even one of the co-founders of Progressive Dynamics, who is in his 90’s and now resides in Battle Creek, plans to be there to celebrate.
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          “It’s going to be a very special time because I owe a lot to them,” Dee said.
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    <summary type="text" />
    <g-custom:tags type="string">Nov 2020</g-custom:tags>
    <media:content medium="image" url="https://irp.cdn-website.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Dee.jpg" />
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>Uncle Gilly’s Concession is back at the Calhoun County Fair for 55th year of operation</title>
    <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.advisor-chronicle.com/uncle-gillys-concession-is-back-at-the-calhoun-county-fair-for-55th-year-of-operation" />
    <link rel="enclosure" type="image/jpeg" href="https://irp.cdn-website.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/20210803_110031.jpg" length="289570" />
    <author>
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    <updated>2021-08-06T15:52:55Z</updated>
    <published>2021-08-06T15:52:55Z</published>
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          As far as traditions are concerned, it would be difficult to find many that are longer-standing than Uncle Gilly’s Concession at the Calhoun County Fair.
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          Gilly’s Concession has been serving at multiple fairs in Michigan since the mid 1960’s and is in its 55th year of operation. The stand first offered French fries and onion rings before making the transition to serving snow cones to fairgoers.
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          The name of the business comes from Rexine Cockroft’s late husband Gilbert, a United States Army veteran who passed away on April 1 and operated the concession with Rexine during their spare time.
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          Rexine will be back out at the fairgrounds this year after the 2020 fair was canceled due to the pandemic, but without the presence of Gilbert, which will make this time around different than ever before.
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          “He was a joker, so he was always telling jokes,” Rexine said of Gilbert. “Two years ago, he didn’t work the trailer—the year before he did come in and try to do a few things. But he’d come up on his little cart and get a chair beside the window and he’d pick on people coming up there and they got a chance to visit with him. He was well liked.”
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          Back when Rexine and Gilbert worked their full-time jobs, Rexine said she would work in the morning while Gilbert would open up at the fair until she got out of work. Rexine would then arrive at the fair while Gilbert would leave to go to his job and work nights and not be home until 2 or 3 a.m. Finally, the two decided to get a motor home to stay in during fair week instead of having to make the drive from home to the fair when work was in the picture for the two.
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          “I think we had a camper first, then we went to a trailer and then we went to a motorhome,” Rexine said. “Driving back and forth was (hard)—I’ve never ate so much caramel corn in all my life. I’d grab a bag from the popcorn guy and we’d just pile in (the truck) and I’d take off in the truck and drive home and finally I just told my husband ‘this is too much.’”
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          Brenda Walters, who is Rexine’s daughter, has also been greatly involved with the concession stand over the years and remembers when she was in high school putting in hard work to get the concession stand ready for fairs and other events.
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          “Being the oldest (child), I had to run the window, but before we started in the mornings at the fair, we had to peel 200 pounds of onions and 500 pounds of potatoes by hand,” said Brenda. “Everybody gave us a tip on how to cut up onions without crying—’put a toothpick in your mouth, keep your mouth open,’ some say to put them in water, but you can’t put them in water then put them in a fryer, it just spits grease everywhere. But you do meet a lot of different people.”
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          In 2018, when Rexine’s great-grandson was helping her close and pick signs up at the fairgrounds on a Friday night, Rexine fell just after making a comment to him and ended up in the hospital with a broken hip the night before the fair came to a close that year.
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          “I had taken this cane, and that’s why it’s all busted up—I had this, and I was holding a sign up and I said to him, ‘be careful, don't’ get baptized’—it had rained, and when you put those out here like this (hold the sign upside down), where does that water go? He said ‘okay’ and that’s all I remember. I went to the ground and ended up in the hospital with a broken hip.”
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          Fortunately, Rexine was still able to make her 70th class reunion after surgery that summer and still had her annual birthday celebration just a little bit later than usual.
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          Rexine’s birthday falls on fair week every year and she will be celebrating her 91st birthday on Aug. 19. She said each year they have operated the concession stand at the fairgrounds, other vendors and people involved with the fair have put on a birthday celebration for her, which is something she is always humbled by.
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          “I don’t think there has been a year in 54 years that they haven’t done a birthday party for me,” said Rexine. “It started out years ago, they’d have a potluck down by the grandstand and put the food on a peanut stand. Now, the ice cream guy across from us does it.”
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    <summary type="text" />
    <g-custom:tags type="string">Nov 2020</g-custom:tags>
    <media:content medium="image" url="https://irp.cdn-website.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/20210803_110031.jpg" />
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>‘Fair means the world to us’</title>
    <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.advisor-chronicle.com/fair-means-the-world-to-us" />
    <link rel="enclosure" type="image/jpeg" href="https://irp.cdn-website.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Cover+Photo+option+1+IMG_1277.jpg" length="157225" />
    <author>
      <name />
    </author>
    <updated>2021-08-06T15:49:54Z</updated>
    <published>2021-08-06T15:49:54Z</published>
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           Following a devastating barn fire in April, the Burkwalt family is looking forward to this year’s Calhoun County Fair
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            In the pre-dawn hours of April 21, Kris and Mike Burkwalt were awakened by their dogs barking.
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            Their barn north of Albion that ran east-west, located several hundred yards behind their home was on fire in the corner. Within five minutes, the two-story hip-roof barn was fully engulfed, and it didn’t take long for the adjacent barn to also go up in flames.
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            In all, 16 animals – two steers and 14 pigs- were lost in the fire.
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            What remains today are the burnt out remains of several vehicles, tractors and equipment next to where the barns once stood.
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            “That’s the barn where (daughter) Maggie and (son) Alic both had their show steers,” said Kris, pointing to where the barns once stood. “Maggie was bringing a steer and a hog to the fair and Alic was to also bring and steer and two hogs. The hogs were housed at our oldest daughter’s house, so they weren’t affected.”
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            Kris said the ordeal has been “surreal.”
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            “The morning of the fire, as the firefighters were here putting it out, we had to move other animals away from the area.  I, we, all felt numb. You don’t know what to do and you feel absolutely helpless…Seeing how fast everything went, you have a whole new respect for fire.”
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            Kris said the fire started in an electrical panel in the barn.
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            “Faulty electrical,” she said. “We’re wondering if some animal chewed on wires because we did find a carcass in the other barn which didn’t house any animals at the time. So, it could have been  a raccoon or something like that that chewed on the wire.”
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            Kris and Mike own a construction company and Kris is also a nursing student at Kellogg Community College. The Burkwalts have been very active in the fair since moving to area from Grand Rapids (where Mike and Kris met, got married and had their kids) nearly nine years ago.
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            Mike, a 1993 Marshall High School graduate has always been involved in FFA and serves on the Fair Board and Livestock Committee.
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            Kris said for the first month after the fire, the kids “struggled” didn’t do well with seeing fires.
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            “I think on some days now, they still struggle with it,” she said. “We normally heat our house with fire, like with the wood stove in our living room, and we haven’t used it since the fire.”
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            Kris said more than 100 firefighters from eight departments were on the scene battling the blaze.
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            “From what we’ve been told, they went through 155,000 gallons of water,” she said.
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            As the family rebuilds, they now have a welcome respite from what has been a busy summer-- the Calhoun County Fair.
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            “We love the week of fair,” said Kris. “We love the week seeing our friends. It’s our vacation. We joke that it’s 13 days of ‘Carny Life.’ Fair means the world to us.  So, the fact that we are able to go to it and the kids still wanted to show is a huge deal for us.”
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            Both Maggie, a sophomore at MHS and Alic, a junior at MHS, will be showing pigs.
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            “It still feels kind of shocking that I lost my animal in the fire that I put a ton of hard work into, yet I am still pushing through to show another animal at the fair,” said Maggie. “It’s still hard to take in that I lost something that I put all my dedication into and now I have to re-start with a whole other animal.”
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            With fair coming up in just over a week, Maggie said a priority is putting weight on the pigs.
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            “You have to make sure they make weight, so they get put into  good weight class,” said Maggie. “If you know they make weight, you need to make sure that their skin is healthy and not dry. And you need to make sure they are trained. Last year, I had some extra time with my pig, so I taught to play fetch.”
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            Added Mike: “We feed the pigs three times a day; you pretend they’re your baby.”
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            Noted oldest son Austin: “Whenever we go into eat or say, ‘hey, we’re hungry,’ Mom or Dad says, ‘hey, perfect- so is your pig.’”
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            Although the 2020 fair was canceled, the Burkwalts still showed animals at a couple of events at the fairgrounds.
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            Alic will be showing his pig Peppa this year, but had shown steers for the previous seven years.
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            “I’ve never shown a hog in my life,” he said. “It’s totally different.”
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            Austin, who graduated from MHS in May, will not be showing this year because he said he just doesn’t have the time due to his job at Duncan Aviation where he works as an air frame technician assistant.
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            “I wake up at 5:30 each morning and by the time I get back home it’s 4-5 o’clock,” said Austin. “It’s my dream job. I love waking up and going to work…But when I get back home, there isn’t enough time to do anything else.”
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            Mike became involved with FFA in high school during the time longtime advisor Floyd Beneker ran the program.
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            After high school, Mike moved to Grand Rapids and jokes that’s where he met his “city wife” Kris.
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            “Over eight years ago, we made a decision as  family to move back to this area,” said Mike, who took over his parents’ farm which has been in the family since 1995. “The first two years the kids hated us tremendously because it was a lot of work, and then we got things really set up and made it. So, it wasn’t another job. I’ve got enough jobs. I build all day and then farm all night and weekends.
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            Their first winter on the farm was the brutal winter of 2013-14, which saw numerous mornings below zero and above normal snowfall.
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            Kris said it was an adjustment.
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            “But I knew what I was getting into when I started dating him,” said Kris. “ I like it. I like being outside. I enjoy it.”
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            With fair week almost here, Maggie said she is looking forward to the competition.
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             “We have these really close friends, the Hortons, and we always go against each other in the ring,” she said. “It’s always so much fun.”
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            Added Mike: “It’s fun to come in each year and see who’s got what. For us as parents, it’s like ‘your kid was in a stroller last year and now they are showing a pig.’”
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            Mike said the memory of the morning of the fire is still fresh in his mind.
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            “I wanted to fall over and die,” he said. “This was my life. I came out against Kris’s will. I told everybody to stay inside, and I came out and tried to get to the animals. The flames were so high, so I went to the other barn thinking I could save equipment.
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            This is what was going through my mind - What did I do wrong that started this? Austin’s first instinct was that it was his fault, worried that the straw caught fire from the heat lamp So, I made the fire adjuster explain to him directly that the fire didn’t start there… This was a huge fire. This was a huge loss to an insurance company- millions.”
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            Austin said he remembered thinking that morning, “This has to be a nightmare.”
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            “We won’t get those memories back with the old barns,” said Mike. “But the new memories will come with the new barn.”
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            Alic admitted he has mixed emotions about showing at this year’s fair after having lost his steer.
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            “Alic probably had the best-looking steer he ever had this year,” said Austin. “We had a batch of calves that came through that were a lot bigger. And he knew right away when he saw his steer – that one.”
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            This was to have been Maggie’s first year showing a home-grown steer
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            “They pulled their calves back in September and began working with them,” said Kris. “
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            The animals, the family said are truly part of the family.
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            “Our oldest daughter Madison took her senior picture with one,” said Mike. “She walked the steer out in her $300 formal dress…You have to make friends with them. They’re a 1,400-pound animal. It makes your job less when you do the work early.”
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            The “lessons” learned from the fire will be long lasting,” said Kris.
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            “It’s very humbling,” said Kris. “But we are very thankful for the number of friends and community members who showed up to help us, even on the morning of the fire.”
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            Mike said it’s important to never stop trying.
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             “Don’t give up,” he said. “You’re going to get beat up…We’ve had friends of ours at the fair lose their animal close to fair time and they could only hold a photo up of the animal. Thankfully, it wasn’t that close for us. Then I would have pulled the plug… We were at the point where we could try. We’re not expecting to win Grand Champion. We are expecting for the kids to have a life lesson. We didn’t give up. You can’t give up on us and  you can’t give up on what you wanted.”
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    <summary type="text" />
    <g-custom:tags type="string">Nov 2020</g-custom:tags>
    <media:content medium="image" url="https://irp.cdn-website.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Cover+Photo+option+1+IMG_1277.jpg" />
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>Sidewalk sales Aug. 6-7 in downtown Marshall</title>
    <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.advisor-chronicle.com/sidewalk-sales-aug-6-7-in-downtown-marshall" />
    <link rel="enclosure" type="image/jpeg" href="https://irp.cdn-website.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Cover+Photo+Town+and+Country+Antiques+IMG_1340.jpg" length="1329311" />
    <author>
      <name />
    </author>
    <updated>2021-07-30T16:25:16Z</updated>
    <published>2021-07-30T16:25:16Z</published>
    <content>&lt;div data-rss-type="text"&gt;&#xD;
  
         Throughout the weekend of Aug. 6-7 (and possibly on the 8th) your favorite stores in downtown Marshall will be turned inside-out when they host their annual sidewalk sales.
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          “It's a way to encourage folks to walk downtown and enjoy the all the wonderful merchandise local stores have to offer,” said Kristen Holbrook, owner of The Mole Hole and The Wind in the Willows at 150 W. Michigan Ave.
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          Sidewalk sales have been a community event dating back to at least the 1960s.
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          “It’s kind of like a garage sale, but for retail stores,” said Holbrook. “It's a fun way for stores to clear out old inventory but also to show those who may always walk by, but never come in what kinds of items they can find in their local downtown stores. 
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          "At The Wind in the Willows we get so many people in that say 'I didn't know you had so much clothing,' but we've had clothing for over 15 years. Locals sometimes don't shop their own town. We need to find fun events to get people to come downtown and what better way than to offer some great bargains. Back in the 1980's, 90's and 2000's  it drew crowds. The sidewalk was full of shoppers. It would draw not just people from Marshall but all the neighboring communities as well.  It was a really big event. I think now that we have a full and good assortment of retail stores downtown, it can be that way again. We just need to get the word out."
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          Jan Williams, who used to work at The Mole Hole when it opened, shared her memories of the early days of the sidewalk sales.
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          "I remember back in the 60’s it was quite the event!” said Williams. “My Mom and her friends would go and meet up for lunch often at Schuler’s because they had sidewalk sale specials, and after shopping the sales they could compare their luck in finding the best deals. Lots of people would start their Christmas shopping during the sidewalk sales. It was always a thrill to get a bargain.  Summer things were on sale, but all the new fall merchandise was inside the store.
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          “Even if you weren’t a retail shop, you would still have someone out front of your place selling. When I was in middle school my friends and I would make tissue paper flowers and sell out in front of the bank. Others would sell lemonade, homemade jams, all sorts of arts and crafts. 
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          When I worked at The Mole Hole in the late 70’s and 80’s it was still a big deal to spend your day looking through all the bargains. (Owner) Mike Kinter always had the band organ out in front playing, giving the downtown that festive feel.
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          One of the businesses downtown taking part in this year’s sidewalk sales are Marshall Town and Country antique store located at 151 W. Michigan Ave.
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          This year’s event holds special meaning for owner Larry Bennett, who learned just two weeks ago that the building which has housed his store for the past 22 years had been sold, forcing him to hold a going out of business sale.
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          “This is perfect timing for people who plan to come out to the sidewalk sales,” said Bennett, who noted most items will be between 25% and 50% with some items up to 75% off.
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          Bennett said he was “shocked” to hear about the building being sold.
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          “It felt like somebody walking up to you and hitting you in the stomach,” he said.
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          Bennett said some of the most popular items selling are sports memorabilia.
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          “Four guys plus I have gone to card shows, collector shows all over the United States over the years,” said Bennett. “Last week we sold a Lou Whittaker autograph for $35, a Joe DiMaggio for $120. I mean, Joe DiMaggio is like a $450 autograph. But we have to get rid of them; we have no place to put them.”
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          Bennett said the store has something for everyone, noting that last week was perhaps the busiest week he had ever had.
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          “We’ve been opening early and closing late,” he said. “It’s been a zoo.”
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          Town and Country features glass, collectibles, vintage clothing and Bennett said, “downstairs is just loaded with everything known to man.”
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          Bennett said he expects to be open through the month of August as he sells off his inventory.
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          He extended thanks to those who he has worked with and the customers who supported the business.
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          “I’m a religious man and I trust the Lord and I know he is going to take care of me,” said Bennett. “It’s been a lot of fun for 22 years.”
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    <summary type="text" />
    <g-custom:tags type="string">Nov 2020</g-custom:tags>
    <media:content medium="image" url="https://irp.cdn-website.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Cover+Photo+Town+and+Country+Antiques+IMG_1340.jpg" />
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>Amish furniture store owners look to make friends and connect with community</title>
    <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.advisor-chronicle.com/amish-furniture-store-owners-look-to-make-friends-and-connect-with-community" />
    <link rel="enclosure" type="image/jpeg" href="https://irp.cdn-website.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Bob+and+Betty.jpg" length="1034057" />
    <author>
      <name />
    </author>
    <updated>2021-07-30T16:03:35Z</updated>
    <published>2021-07-30T16:03:35Z</published>
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          Bob Truesdale said if he had it his way, he would much rather die on a fishing boat than in an Amish furniture store when his time on earth comes to an end.
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           But after he and his wife Betty sold the building that they operated Amish Furniture &amp;amp; Gifts Warehouse in for 28 years in Cedar Springs, Mich. earlier in the year, attempts to sell the actual business were unsuccessful.
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           The couple, who have been married for 67 years, decided to move their store to Marshall in May at 1600 South Kalamazoo Ave. (about two miles south of the Brooks Fountain in the former Standard Printing building) to mark their 29th year as owners of the business.
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           The two moved to Marshall five years ago before moving the furniture and gift store to town. They said at this point in their lives, it’s not about making money, but more so about being a part of a community—a community in Marshall that the two said have been great to them since they moved in.
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           “I tell our customers it’s not about money,” Bob said, whose business is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. “Sure, you’d like to be prosperous, but it’s being with people and making friends. And we’ve made a lot of friends since we came to town. We’re pretty common type of people and I think that is recognized and people feel comfortable with us. And we don’t care whether they buy anything or don’t buy anything—just come see us.”
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           The couple’s decision to move from Cedar Springs stemmed from having no family left in that area and having their daughter Vicki living in Marshall.
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           Betty said after moving from Cedar Springs, the two planned on fully retiring, but the store property they owned there, which was twice as big as the store they have in Marshall, was difficult to sell, along with their house on the same lot. She said they had the property on the market for about five years and still had quite a bit of furniture in the store.
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           When the property was sold, the new owners wanted immediate possession, so the two had no choice but to find a place to put the furniture, which led them to where they are now.
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           “We had thought we would retire when we left Cedar Springs, but this opened up and it has been ideal and we’re really thankful,” Betty said.
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           There are many furniture buyers that go to Shipshewana, Ind. to purchase Amish furniture. But since Betty and Bob opened their store, they have heard some people say that they are going to support locally now that Amish Furniture &amp;amp; Gifts is in town in a time where local businesses need support more than ever since the pandemic.
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           “I’ve had quite a few people tell me that they have shopped in the Shipshewana area—but now that we’re here, they said they did want to support local,” Betty said. “Which we really found wonderful, and it’s been really great here.”
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           Bob and Betty have two other children (Dan and Colette), who live out of state. The two tragically lost their son Dean to a brain aneurysm when he was 50 years old.
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           Bob explained the need for he and Betty to stay busy as they have endured both good and bad times throughout their lives, with their goal being just to meet people and make friends as they still operate the business decades after retiring from their previous careers before owning the store.
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           “We need to be busy,”  said Bob. “We’ve had heartache and we’ve had joyous times. Today, like a lot of people up north, they might not even have any need for furniture, gifts or this type of thing. They just stop in to visit. People are hurting, especially through this pandemic—a lot of people are confused, they don’t know where they’re going or what’s going to happen, but that’s kind of the reason for us being here.”
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    <summary type="text" />
    <g-custom:tags type="string">Nov 2020</g-custom:tags>
    <media:content medium="image" url="https://irp.cdn-website.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Bob+and+Betty.jpg" />
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>Calhoun County 4-H Creative and Expressive Arts program helps local youth develop variety of life skills</title>
    <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.advisor-chronicle.com/calhoun-county-4-h-creative-and-expressive-arts-program-helps-local-youth-develop-variety-of-life-skills" />
    <link rel="enclosure" type="image/jpeg" href="https://irp.cdn-website.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/4-H+singing+photo.JPG" length="392298" />
    <author>
      <name />
    </author>
    <updated>2021-07-23T15:34:22Z</updated>
    <published>2021-07-23T15:34:22Z</published>
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           The Calhoun County 4-H Creative and Expressive Arts program is back providing opportunities for area youth after a pause last summer due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
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           The program that was established over two decades  ago focuses on arts, mentoring and leadership skills , where participants work toward putting on a performance by the end of the summer and develop life skills in the process.
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           Youth participating in this summer’s program have already started meeting four days a week in the old Washington Gardner Middle School building in Albion to develop skills unique to dance, music, theater and drama.
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           Sherry Grice and Marquetta Frost are the program directors and are excited about what they have seen so far from the students they help oversee.
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           Grice and Frost both explained the purpose of the program is to help guide the mentors (many have already been with 4-H for several years) and for the mentors to be able to pass along what they learn to the younger kids to help them grow and express themselves in positive ways.
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           4-H’s program is supported through MSU Extension and under the umbrella of Michigan State University and operates as a locally-based, community-run program. Frost mentioned the program has had a partnership with Albion College in “different ways” for many years, but that this year, the two are forming a true partnership through Albion’s Build Albion Bonner Fellows program.
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           The program for Albion students allows them to earn college credit and/or some money and are assigned to different nonprofit organizations in the community.
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           Frost said the partnership is a benefit to the 4-H program, with Grice adding that it helps 4-H be able to offer more opportunities on a more consistent, year-round basis.
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           “We have three assigned to us and it’s a wonderful partnership,” said Frost. “The young people kind of get to choose where they want to go based on their career interests. We really are benefiting from this partnership by having some very skilled college students help us teach our disciplines this year and help create our program. So, we’re really proud of that—they do a lot of the technical stuff—social media, they are really good with that, and we really appreciate that partnership.
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           Added Grice: “The nice part about it is it gives us more help in being able to do things year-round. We’re probably one of the longest performing arts programs that is in Albion at this point in time. There’s some new ones starting up, which is great. We’re blessed to still be here and if it wasn’t for the community—aside from the college, we have many community folks that volunteer, we’ve had community people that bring food to our young people and the community really comes together.”
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           Each mentor has a specific discipline they teach ahead of the performance coming up in late August and are split up by dancing, singing and acting.
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           Those who were present on June 19 during rehearsal and leading the acting group were Chris Gamble (Marshal High School senior), A’tayah Artis (MHS senior) and Sophia McQuown (Albion College).
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           Leading the singing section were Mary Kurtz (Albion College) and Ella Lattimore (MHS senior), while Makiyah Johnson led the dance section.
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           Gamble described the process in teaching acting to students and what it takes to get them used to acting so they are prepared to go on stage.
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           “We try to get everybody used to acting. We’ve got to teach them stage rules and directions and all of that,” said Gamble. “We play games with them sometimes to get them more used to acting—learning how to improv, learning how to talk loud enough so everybody can hear you and basically teach them the basics of acting. I think I got a lot out of that (growing up) because I used to be a shy actor and now, I’m one of the acting leaders and my role got bigger.”
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           With singing, Kurtz said building confidence is key and that she and Lattimore are making that a point of emphasis with the kids they are teaching now.
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           “We’re just kind of going at it with this working up the confidence with everybody and letting people do what they’re able to do but building that up and doing what they’re comfortable with, along with working with them with different warmups they could be doing for their voice that could help improve their voice and performance of singing,” said Kurtz.
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           Johnson has been in dance since second grade and has been with 4-H for three years. Being a sophomore in high school, Johnson said a lot of the students she works with are around the same age as her. She expressed excitement to have a bigger role as a mentor but that not a ton has changed considering she has been used to working with and learning from students in the program over the last few years.
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           “Even when I wasn’t a leader, I kind of still did help—it’s really not that much of a difference at all as I always did help the last few years, but now it’s kind of a bigger role,” Johnson said.
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           Those who wish to get involved with the Calhoun County 4-H Expressive Arts program in Albion this summer can contact Frost by email at marquettafrost01@gmail.com or by phone at 517-240-6770, or by contacting Grice by phone at 517-240-8891.
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           “We are still welcoming people to come out, we’ll have workshops and field trips and stuff like that,” said Grice. “Some of the things they (MSU) offer are college visits, getting to see a basketball game in the arena and stuff like that, and there are a lot of opportunities for scholarships.”
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    <summary type="text" />
    <g-custom:tags type="string">Nov 2020</g-custom:tags>
    <media:content medium="image" url="https://irp.cdn-website.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/4-H+singing+photo.JPG" />
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>Marshall law firm marks centennial</title>
    <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.advisor-chronicle.com/marshall-law-firm-marks-centennial" />
    <link rel="enclosure" type="image/jpeg" href="https://irp.cdn-website.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Law+firm+pic.jpg" length="669706" />
    <author>
      <name />
    </author>
    <updated>2021-07-23T15:28:23Z</updated>
    <published>2021-07-23T15:28:23Z</published>
    <content>&lt;div data-rss-type="text"&gt;&#xD;
  
         The story of the oldest law firm in Marshall actually began in southern Illinois.
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          Lewis W. Schroeder or “L.W.” was the founder of what is known today as Schroeder DeGraw PLLC located at 203 East Michigan Ave. in downtown Marshall.
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          “L.W. graduated from high school in southern Illinois and worked as a farmer there,” said longtime partner Ron DeGraw, who joined the firm in 1959. “Farm work was dying out, so he decided he might want to go to college, so he rode the rods under a freight train to Ann Arbor. One of the people he met in Ann Arbor was Jim Mackey, who was a Marshall boy. Mackey said he was going to law school and L.W. said he was planning to be a dentist or a doctor but Mackey talked him in to being a lawyer. So, he went over to the law school, no undergrad, applied and was admitted on the spot. When he graduated, he went to Cassopolis but did not do well there, and Mackey kept in touch with him and told him that Marshall could use another lawyer. So, L.W. and his wife came here and started the firm in 1921.”
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          DeGraw said over the years in the office they have found many of L.W.’s notes including how L.W. and his wife would split an egg for lunch and also how busy L.W. was one day when he drew a deed and got 50 cents.
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          “Life was different then,” said DeGraw with a smile. “David (Ron’s son and another attorney at the firm) and I once concluded that we still wished it was that way.”
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          Over the years, starting with L.W., said DeGraw, there have been 16 attorneys who worked at the firm.
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          Six left for various reasons, with Jason Bomia being the most recent after he became a Calhoun County Judge.
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          Working alongside DeGraw at the firm is his son David, who joined in 1985; Lisa McNiff, who joined in 1995; Brock Veenhuis, who joined in 2015 and Katy Reed, who joined the firm in June.
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          All the attorneys say their workloads have increased in the past few months as the court system starts to get up and running again  in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.
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          But they acknowledge that some of the changes brought about by the pandemic will continue on.
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          “They found a way to still conduct everything remotely which was kind of neat,” said Veenhuis, who admitted that being back in the courtroom has taken some getting used to.
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          Reed said that even though some proceedings are back in person, many family court matters are still online.
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          “It’s a whole new world now,” said Reed. “This was part of the tech plans in some ways. I remember hearing Michigan Supreme Court Chief Justice Bridget Mary McCormack say this only hit ‘fast-forward on the inevitable.’”
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          Reed, from Lansing went to Western Michigan University’s Cooley Law School.
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          Veenhuis went to law school at Michigan State and is from Swartz Creek.
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          David DeGraw went to Hamlin University Law School in St. Paul. Minn.
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          McNiff grew up in Ft. Wayne and went to law school at Wayne State.
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          Ron DeGraw, who came to the firm in May 1959, went to law school at the University of Michigan.
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          Reed, who had worked in Lansing and Battle Creek said she “loves” working in a small town.
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          “It’s so nice to know everybody and see familiar faces,” she said.
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          Sometimes knowing many people in a small town can have its drawbacks, as Ron can attest, sharing the following story.
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          “One time I was on the street and a client stopped me and I tried to explain to him why his work wasn’t done, and all of a sudden I felt this sharp pain in my backside, and I turned around and the Postmistress of Burlington had hit me with her cane, and she said to me: ‘If you weren’t out here gabbing, you’d have my work done,’” said Ron. “That’s what life is like in a small town. In the big city, you never see your clients, or very seldom. It’s a lot more personal contact here and it makes it very difficult to bill because you see these people and you know their circumstances. That’s the hardest part of practicing law in my opinion.”
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          Ron said practicing law has become more of a challenge these days because of people’s expectations.
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          “The biggest change is instant gratification,” he said. “It used to be that somebody would come in and you’d write a letter and tell them that you’d probably have a response in 30 days. Now, they call you and say, ‘I emailed you yesterday and you didn’t reply. Why not?’ Everything has to be done immediately and you get redline copies of 30-page contracts and they expect a response tomorrow…Everything’s got to be done yesterday.”
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          That change in expectations began a quarter century ago as the internet took hold.
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          Today, the hundreds of law books in the firm’s conference room sit untouched. Years ago, it was the norm to see attorneys pore over numerous books spread out on the conference table.
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          “I always felt I may not be the smartest person, but nobody was going to out-work me,” said Ron, who took pride in his research efforts. “I’ve always put in a lot of hours.”
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          David noted that “there was an art to doing research with the books,”
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          “This room is full of books, and they used to be used,” he said. “And the table would be covered with open books. I’d rather use the books.”
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          Title opinions on abstracts-  where the title company issues a title commitment, is also a thing of the past.
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          “The lawyers used to be involved in it with an abstract, a summary of  title history to your property,” said David. “You’d have it updated by the abstract company, take it to an attorney and the attorney would issue an opinion on whether the property was marketable or not…I can remember walking into my dad’s office and there would be a stack of abstracts on the floor 3 feet high and he’d have to do title opinions on them. We don’t do that anymore because there are no more abstracts. That was a huge change in real estate law.”
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          McNiff shared David’s sentiment about how the internet changed how law is practiced.
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          “When I got here, I didn’t have a computer; I don’t believe any of the lawyers had a computer at that point,” she said. “I had been using a computer in law school and when I got here, I remember thinking, ‘I really need a computer.’”
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          Another big change she noted over when she first came to the firm was the role women play when it comes to the law.
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          “When I first came here, there were all male judges,” said McNiff. “And now, out of nine judges (in the county), four are women. We’ve seen a larger increase in the number of women practicing law as well and I believe that has changed the tenor of the courtroom quite a bit.”
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          McNiff said she always wanted to be a lawyer.
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          “I can’t remember not wanting to be a lawyer,” she said. “And president. I figured I’d be a better president if I were a lawyer.”
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          Reed had been a journalist for a decade and then decided to go in a different direction following the 2008 recession.
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          “I thought, ‘what am I going to do now?’” said Reed. “Everybody said I’m good at arguing, so that was when I decided to fully immerse myself in law.”
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          Vennhuis said growing up, he always enjoyed reading and writing.
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          “That’s our stock and trade as attorneys,” he said. “I remember when I interviewed here, and this is the truth….my dad, when I first started college , was starting his own business and I never really knew lawyers could be or were involved in a process like that. It was neat to see how they could help them through that process and so, I thought I could make a career of doing that for other people.”
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          David bluntly admitted: “I did not want to be a lawyer. It looked like way too much work.”
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          Growing up, David saw firsthand how busy his father was.
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          “People calling late at night, weekends getting chewed up,” he said. “We’d start a board game after dinner with family and friends, the phone would ring, and we’d have to deal him out.”
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          David said that in his senior year of college, he started to wonder what he was going to do with a degree in economics.
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          “I didn’t want to work for somebody else like a corporation or teach, so I figured I better go to law school,” he said.
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          Ron said his desire to become a lawyer happened when he was 4 years old.
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          “I lived in St. Joe, Mich. and we were under the  influence of the Chicago Tribune, not the Detroit News and on Abraham Lincoln’s birthday, there was a political cartoon on the front page,” he said. “It showed a log cabin that looked a lot better than the house I lived in and there was a ladder up into the clouds along with the White House and it read ‘The ladder’s still there.’ I asked my mother what that meant, and she told me about Lincoln and how he was raised in a log cabin and how he was a lawyer and became president. I then decided I’d be a lawyer and then be president.”
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          Ron said whatever political ambitions he had fell by the wayside once he got to law school.
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          “When I met some of the people there, I figured there was no way I’d want to spend the rest of my life with them,” he said. “If they could get your notes and burn them, they’d do that to help the class average. If there were 10 reference books in the library, one guy would check them all out. And if there was one page in a book that was important, that page would be missing. It was really cut-throat, and I just didn’t want anything to do with it.”
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          Shortly after Ron’s arrival to Marshall, the firm moved from its location on Jefferson Street (where the Fountain Clinic is located today) to its current location in 1962 where it has been a downtown fixture for nearly 60 years.
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          “Earl Goodrich operated a business across the street and voiced his concern when the firm took residence on Michigan Avenue,” said Ron. “He was really upset because he said the law office was going to harm the customer traffic. After about two years, he came over one day and told me that we were the best thing to ever happen, because we increased the foot traffic considerably.”
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&lt;/div&gt;</content>
    <summary type="text" />
    <g-custom:tags type="string">Nov 2020</g-custom:tags>
    <media:content medium="image" url="https://irp.cdn-website.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Law+firm+pic.jpg" />
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>Instructor wants to bring ‘family-like’ environment to new Marshall Judo and Jiu Jitsu school</title>
    <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.advisor-chronicle.com/nstructor-wants-to-bring-family-like-environment-to-new-marshall-judo-and-jiu-jitsu-school" />
    <link rel="enclosure" type="image/jpeg" href="https://irp.cdn-website.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Worley.jpg" length="324741" />
    <author>
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    </author>
    <updated>2021-07-16T15:16:24Z</updated>
    <published>2021-07-16T15:16:24Z</published>
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           When Shane Worley and his family first moved to the Marshall area, their plan was to own and operate a farm after buying property in Vermontville.
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           After COVID put a wrinkle into those plans, Worley and his family had to change course—which led to Worley opening his Marshall Judo and Jiu Jitsu school downtown at 303 E. Michigan Ave. July 12.
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           Worley, a Grand Ledge, Mich. native, said Marshall was the right fit for him and his family to settle in after moving from out of state. Worley sees it as a city he can connect with and build relationships with people within the community.
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           “We lived in Turkeyville for almost five months,” Worley said. “Because of COVID and backups on construction and all that, our original plan kind of changed. We came to Marshall every weekend from Turkeyville—I’d go to Grand River Brewery, I’d go to the Copper, we’d go to places downtown and we’d walk around the blocks. Marshall reminded me, maybe not 100%, but it reminded me of what Grand Ledge was like when I was a kid. Grand Ledge of course is huge now, but I wasn’t looking for that. I was looking for a small-town community that I could get involved with.”
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           Worley entered the Navy at 17 and spent most of his adult life in the military, which is where he was introduced to martial arts. Worley said while in the Navy, he would practice martial arts when he could.
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           He said when he was in Scotland, he tried Aikido. Then, when he was an instructor in Panama City, Fla., he tried out Kempo, another form of martial arts—but for a while, Worley said whatever he tried never really completed itself and he was just trying out different forms of martial arts to stay physically active and learn how to defend himself.
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           But in 2007, Worley went on an individual augmentee, which meant he was assisting a special operations command in the military when he was first introduced to Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.
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           “At that command, I got introduced into grappling,” said Worley. “I loved wrestling in high school—I wasn’t effective or good at it, but I loved it because I was constantly thinking about it. And Jiu Jitsu, when I was introduced to that, I got to see it when we were doing the pre deployment work up, and one of the guy’s on the team was big into jitz. We kind of rolled in Afghanistan a couple of times.”
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           Worley said as soon as he got back home in Tennessee, where he and his family lived prior to moving back to Michigan, he found and enrolled in the closest Jiu Jitsu academy, which was a Royce Gracie school (Gracie is a semi-retired mixed martial artist, a UFC hall of famer and practices Jiu Jitsu). After that, Worley trained under Master Danny Dring for around eight years and was under his guidance until Worley received his black belt last year.
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           Worley met Jack Taufer, his current coach, at a seminar about seven years ago. Taufer meets with Worley to keep him sharp in his technique and teaching style so Worley can relay those skills to those who attend his classes.
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           “It was the best seminar I’d ever been to—just the way he talked to the kids, the way he talked to his adults, his approach to Jiu Jitsu—it just all fit like a key in a lock,” said Worley. “I contacted Jack last year after I got my black belt when I knew I was moving back home to Michigan, so we started talking. He will come in (to the school) twice a year and basically, he teaches me—this next week, he and I will get a chance to roll a lot, which is a big deal. He’ll go over some of his teaching techniques and stuff like that. It’s kind of like a continuing education, and we’ll run his system of Jiu Jitsu.”
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           Worley said that for those interested in learning more about his school, they can check out the school’s Facebook page or reach him at 269-243-8660 or by email at marshalljudojiujitsu@mjj-mi.com.
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           Along with being a veteran, Worley is also an ex-police officer and paramedic and applies many of the values he has learned over the years into his teaching style for kids who come in for classes. Safety is important to Worley along with discipline, respect and said that he wants to teach things “kids can take back home and maybe help them out.”
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           “When the kids come in, they learn how to get on the mat, we bow to respect the school, they can sit and stretch on the mat and talk quietly among themselves,” he said. “Just good rules of etiquette and respect.”
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           Along with the Jiu Jitsu classes, Worley also has some experience with Judo, with the main difference between the two being Judo focuses more on throwing techniques while Jiu Jitsu is more on groundwork, but both are grappling arts and have many similarities as well.
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           Worley said he goes through Chris Snyder for Judo, who has his own school in Kalamazoo.
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           “Chris Snyder really runs the program; he’s been a black belt for 20 years at least,” said Worley. “He competed nationally, in 2002 he was the Judo National Champion—so how do you argue with credibility when it comes from a guy like that? Every Friday, Chris comes out and we have an open mat and he and I go over what techniques he teaches that week at his school in Kalamazoo. I get proficient in that and then I come in and teach that.”
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           Worley is married to his wife Janice and has two sons (Josh and Jon) and holds his family as an important part of his own life.
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           That is why Worley wants to provide a “family-like” atmosphere those who want to get their kids involved and stressed why providing that type of environment in his school is so important.
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           “We picked up family along the way through me coaching pee wee football, our wrestling family—both of my sons played football and wrestled through their entire school-aged lives,” said Worley. “My boys, when they started out wrestling, it was with Elite Wrestling Academy, and that was a family. We traveled together, we were friends, we did UFC fight nights. It was a big circle of friends that you really hold dear. So, when I say ‘family,’ I really want this to be an extension of not only this community, but every parent that brings their kids in here; they’re family. “
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           Worley said one of his goals is to give those in his school confidence so they can have the opportunity to succeed and advance to achieve their own goals by working their way up the ladder through hard work and dedication.
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           “Hard work equals reward,” Worley said. “Just because you come in and you get on the mats and you participate, but you don’t work hard and you’re not trying to advance—that’s not going to win you success. So, when we go to competition, especially for the kids, when they win a competition and they’ve truly won, they step off that mat and they’re proud of themselves and I’m going to be proud of them. But guess what that does? That means ‘hey, I worked hard, and I was rewarded.’ My hope is that in three to five years, we have a state-known Judo program for those kids.”
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&lt;/div&gt;</content>
    <summary type="text" />
    <g-custom:tags type="string">Nov 2020</g-custom:tags>
    <media:content medium="image" url="https://irp.cdn-website.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Worley.jpg" />
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>‘We treat them like people, like human beings’</title>
    <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.advisor-chronicle.com/we-treat-them-like-people-like-human-beings" />
    <link rel="enclosure" type="image/jpeg" href="https://irp.cdn-website.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Seth-s+story+Dianne+Brunner.jpg" length="1084798" />
    <author>
      <name />
    </author>
    <updated>2021-07-09T16:03:01Z</updated>
    <published>2021-07-09T16:03:01Z</published>
    <content>&lt;div style="transition: none 0s ease 0s; display: block;" data-rss-type="text"&gt;&#xD;
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           Cliff and Dianne Brunner discuss the impact their dog breeding business has on the community at large
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          Cliff and Dianne Brunner are in the 12th year of operating their dog breeding business—but their love for large breed dogs extends far beyond that.
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          The couple's first dog was a St. Barnard named Roscoe, who was a wedding present to each other when they first married. After Roscoe passed away after 11 ½ years, Daisy, a Newfoundland and Khamari, a Great Dane, came into their lives. 
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          Khamari had two litters, one of which is the Brunners Great Dane named Pumpkin. Daisy and Khamari have since passed away, but when Pumpkin lost her mother, Cliff and Dianne figured she would need a playmate.
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          That playmate ended up being Sammy, their St. Bernard, who together created Brunner St. Danes—which actually ended up being an accident because the Brunners thought Sammy was too young.
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          “It was a booboo,” Dianne said. “When Daisy passed away, we decided we would just look for another dog. When we saw Sam at these people’s house, he came right up to us and sat in his (Cliff’s) lap and we said ‘okay, I guess we’ve got to get him.’ So, we thought they would be okay because he (Sam) was too young anyway.”
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          Added Cliff: “They hooked up and we said, ‘uh oh’—but we did some research, found out that it was actually a hybrid dog that a few people were breeding, and we just took it and ran with it.”
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          Cliff and Dianne, who are both retired, said they keep the puppies in their house and watch over them until they are old enough to be bought and claimed by their new owners and brought to new homes.
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          Both agreed that one of the main reasons their business has been successful over the years is because of their love for the dogs and how they treat them. They believe people who come to them to potentially buy the puppies see Cliff and Dianne’s passion for doing what they do, which in turn makes for a good relationship between the Brunners and the potential dog owners.
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          “That’s our claim to fame, is how we treat our dogs,” Cliff said. “People really respect that, and they want one of our pups. We treat them like people, like human beings.”
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          The Brunners said one of their favorite parts about their dog breeding business is staying in touch and interacting with those who do end up purchasing puppies from them and seeing pictures of the dogs as they grow while enjoying their new homes.
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          “What’s fun is the people that we sell them to, they are really a lot of stand up, good people,” said Cliff. “They’ll send pictures, and you’ll see the dog on vacation somewhere and that warms your heart, really.”
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          Added Dianne: “They’re always our dogs. Seven and 8-year-old dogs that we’ve sold, we still stay in touch with. When they pass, our hearts break just as much as the owners do. We follow them on Facebook, they were our babies and they’re still a part of us, still a part of our family.”
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          On July 2, Cliff and Dianne brought their dogs into Maplewood, a senior care facility in Marshall, to let the residents at the facility interact with them in an attempt to bring a light to their day and put a smile on their faces.
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          Occurrences such as those are common as the Brunners enjoy getting out to spend time at facilities where they know their dogs are going to have a positive impact on the people around them.
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          When Cliff was growing up, he said he endured a brain trauma accident that caused him to have rods and screws placed in his neck and back. He said that seeing and interacting with dogs helped him get through a time when he was struggling, which helped him understand the importance the impact animals can have on all types of people—such as the elderly who need assistance or people who may have a disability. 
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          “I used to be bulletproof and all of the sudden I wasn’t anymore,” said Cliff. “I have compassion for them after I got in my accident. That’s why she (Dianne) insists and helps with coming here (Maplewood) at least a couple of times.”
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    <summary type="text" />
    <g-custom:tags type="string">Nov 2020</g-custom:tags>
    <media:content medium="image" url="https://irp.cdn-website.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Seth-s+story+Dianne+Brunner.jpg" />
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>MPS Board approves budgets, pays tribute to retiring AD Dan Coddens</title>
    <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.advisor-chronicle.com/mps-board-approves-budgets-pays-tribute-to-retiring-ad-dan-coddens" />
    <link rel="enclosure" type="image/jpeg" href="https://irp.cdn-website.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/School+Board+Dan+Coddens+IMG_0209-2d930a73.JPG" length="279745" />
    <author>
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    <updated>2021-07-07T18:30:27Z</updated>
    <published>2021-07-07T18:30:27Z</published>
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          At its June 28 business session, at the Marshall Opportunity High School in Albion, the Marshall Public Schools Board of Education approved the revised 2020-21 General Fund, Food Service Fund and Student Activity Budgets and also approved the projected 2021-22 General Fund, Food Service Fund and Student Activity Budgets.
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           The 2020-21 General Fund Budget showed revenues at nearly $32,769,085 million with expenses coming in at $32,831,190, a difference of $62,125 which was taken from the district’s Fund Balance. The Fund Balance came in at $4,508,002 or 14% of the overall budget.
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           “We’re sitting in a good financial position,” said Interim Superintendent and Business Operations Director Becky Jones during her presentation at the start of the meeting. 
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           The 2021-22 proposed budget shows a drop in revenues at this point totaling $28,241,155 with expenditures projected to be down slightly at $31,115,021, indicating a deficit of $2,873,866 which takes the Fund Balance down to $1,634,137 or 6% of the budget.
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           “I only budgeted $150 per pupil increase for the foundation allowance,” said Jones. “I thought that that was a conservative approach in the budgeting since we don’t know that yet. We are anticipating more, but we are waiting for them (the state)to go ahead and get that out there.”
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           Jones added that she was bringing the “worst case scenario” of 2,720 pupil FTE.
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           “I’m hoping that we’re going to gain some students back that we had lost through the COVID transition, so hopefully that’s a pretty conservative number for the district,” she said. 
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           The changes from the 2020-21 to the 2021-22 budget, explained Jones, was a $542,447 decrease in local funding because of grant dollars; a $1.75 million decrease in state revenue because of the decrease in federal revenue (with no Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund in the budget); and a total $2.83 million in expenditures going towards assumed teacher STEP increases, as well as an increase in health insurance and retirement and a decrease for no in-house virtual school option, an added-back business office position and increased interest cost for the State Aid Note.
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           “I thought that it was important that we don’t account for something that we don’t know what we’re getting,” said Jones on the absence of the federal funding in the budget at this point.
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           As for Capital Outlay for 2020-21, Jones highlighted the $100,000 purchase of two school buses which was already approved by the board, $30,000 in technology purchases and $2,500 per elementary building for miscellaneous items.
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           The Food Service Fund showed a Fund Balance of 21% for the 2020-21 budget and a projected Fund Balance of 7% for the 2021-22 budget as the district plans on going back to providing in-person instruction five days a week.
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           Tax levies for 2021-22 are comprised of the usual 18 mils for general operational purposes only on non-qualified agricultural and non-Homestead property and 6 mils on commercial personal property.
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           The district’s Sinking Fund is 1 mil, with 7.05 mils for the debt retirement in all Marshall property and 0 mils for debt retirement on all Albion property as the final payment on the Albion debt was paid in May.
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           During the report of the interim superintendent, Jones and the board honored Marshall Athletic Director Dan Coddens, who officially retired June 30 after 25 years with the district, lauding him for his contributions as a teacher, coach and athletic director, complete with a standing ovation.
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           “Twenty-five years…it’s’ a flash,” said Coddens. “I remember 1996 like it was yesterday sitting in front of Ray Davis, Rob DuBois, Saundra Hainline, Dick Hamilton and a guy named Rich Hulkow. I’m thankful that that day in June brought me here to this moment now.”
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           Coddens arrived in Marshall in 1996 to teach social studies and coach the varsity boys basketball team, a position he held for 16 seasons.
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           In 2013, Coddens became Marshall’s new athletic director following the retirement of Tom Duffey. 
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           I’ve been blessed; I’ve been very fortunate,” said Coddens, who noted that during his time at MHS, he met his “best friend,” wife Robbin, a counselor at MHS who just completed her 30th year. “The kids that I’ve coached, the families that I’ve worked with, the community I have served, I am grateful. I’m still going to be part of this community. I have a daughter in the school system. Please continue to do your best for her. Our other two kids have succeeded wonderfully while graduating from Marshall Public Schools. It’s been an interesting year. I’m not reflecting on the last year – I’ve been grateful for the last 25. So, again, thank you for this special recognition tonight. There are many people that made it all happen – coaches, players families, boosters, school board members, faculty, co-workers and colleagues.”
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           Coddens noted that the COVID pandemic made things difficult for all involved with the schools.
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           “It was hard for kids, it was hard for families, it was hard for teachers,” said Coddens. “Most of the things I did, and every other AD did in this role was that we really didn’t make decisions -  we just dealt with the decisions and tried to provide opportunities for our kids to play and somehow, some way, we got three seasons in, and it was kind of amazing when you look back to where we were 15 months ago.”
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           One of the benefits of retiring from the AD position, he added, was he will not have to work weekends and nights anymore.
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           “This job is a time commitment,” said Coddens. “It is a labor of love and commitment to the district and the kids. I knew what I was signing up for. I knew what I wanted. I’m glad I did it. I certainly don’t have any regrets. It’s a little weird knowing it is going to be a part of my past and no longer a part of my future.”
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           Coddens said he will always look back fondly on his 25 with the school district.
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           “I got to be high schooler for a long, long time,” he said. “There was a lot of fun with that and I’m going to miss a lot of the people that I worked with on a daily basis. I made a lot of new friends with the ADs in our league and around the state.”
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           Coddens will be working for Eric Dale Heating and Air Conditioning, Inc. in Marshall.
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           “It will definitely be a change in direction for what I have been doing,” said Coddens. “But some of the skillset that goes with being an educator, teacher, coach and administrator…I’m hoping to use those skills in just a different way.”
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    <summary type="text" />
    <g-custom:tags type="string">Nov 2020</g-custom:tags>
    <media:content medium="image" url="https://irp.cdn-website.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/School+Board+Dan+Coddens+IMG_0209-2d930a73.JPG" />
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>Hacks for MACS golf outing set for July 30</title>
    <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.advisor-chronicle.com/hacks-for-macs-golf-outing-set-for-july-30" />
    <link rel="enclosure" type="image/jpeg" href="https://irp.cdn-website.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Hacks+for+MACS+pic.jpg" length="524010" />
    <author>
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    <updated>2021-07-02T17:19:14Z</updated>
    <published>2021-07-02T17:19:14Z</published>
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           Annual event helps raise funds for area families and residents in need
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            The annual Hacks for MACS (Marshall Area Community Services) golf outing sponsored by the Marshall Teachers Association will take place July 30 at The Medalist with a 9 a.m. shotgun start.
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          The event has raised thousands of dollars for MACS for around two decades, with proceeds going toward assisting local individuals and families in need.
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          Retired teachers Doug Burger, Jerry Coleman, Rick Niemi and Terry Lambert helped evolve the event throughout the years and have turned it into what it has become today, but they are ready to hand over much of the administrative duties.
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          Coleman said they are still assisting in some ways to help organize this year’s event, but his son-in-law and Walters Elementary School teacher Anthony Miller has been one of the main organizers and will be taking on the responsibilities for years to come.
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          Burger’s son Mike is also helping organize the event along with local attorney Jeremiah Joseph. 
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          “They like what we’re doing, so they are pretty much going to continue to do what we did, but they have more energy and more time,” Coleman said. “My golf team is his (Miller’s) kids (Coleman’s grandkids), and my wife, who golfs once a year. We’re not going to win it, but that’s okay. My grandchildren get to see what we do and that gives them a sense of value and to learn to do the right thing.”
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          Coleman mentioned that Burger may be the most difficult person to replace in the ‘passing of the torch’ process considering he was the one going door-to-door (aside from last year because of the pandemic), asking businesses and community members if they would be willing to donate to MACS.
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          “Any door I went in, there was never a ‘no.’ It was always ‘let me help, what can I do?’”, as Burger raved about how generous the Marshall community is about giving back. “I didn’t do anything out of the ordinary, just being a teacher and a coach—if you’re going to do something, do it the right way.”
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          MACS has helped feed and clothe local residents since the 1950s when a few area Marshall ministers got together with the primary concern being to help area families with emergency needs.
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          The organization receives recommendations and requests from concerned residents, schools, the health department and the local police and fire departments and provides assistance after hearing those requests.
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          MACS provides help in a variety of ways (food, clothing, utility assistance, etc.) to families in the area. In early August, MACS will provide free backpacks and school supplies for students before the start of the school year, followed by a food drive in October. During the holiday season, MACS annually provides gift baskets to assist area residents.
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          President of MACS Harriet Carroll said the funds raised by the golf event and their overall relationship with the Marshall Teachers Association immensely help the organization’s ability to provide for families in need.
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          “It’s worked out and has helped us work together to be good partners for each other,” Carroll said. “The teachers know they can call us if they have needs for students and we know that if we hear of something that’s going on with a family that needs help, we feel comfortable calling and talking with teachers. Since we help Marshall families and Marshall students, it’s just a huge benefit to have that good rapport and being able to work together on things.”
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          Even though Miller is taking on some more responsibility as far as the organizing of the outing goes, he and his friends have golfed in it for several years. Miller said he takes satisfaction in knowing the money raised is going to a worthy cause and that the tournament is a good time for anyone who comes out, regardless of skill level in their golf game.
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          “It’s just a fun tournament, it’s not all that serious,” said Miller. “I’m sure everybody who’s competitive wants to do well, but it’s more about just golfing for the fun of it. Every little bit of money you spend goes where it should, which is to MACS. That’s really what it’s all about at the end of the day, and that makes you feel pretty good to be involved in something like that.”
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          Last year, 31 teams participated in the tournament even with the challenging circumstances the pandemic provided.
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          This year, Miller and Coleman said 25-26 teams have signed up, with hopes of at least matching the number of teams from 2020 in this year’s event.
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          The cost is $85 per golfer/$340 per team (teams of four) and includes dinner, with raffles and prizes being handed out during the event.
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          Those looking to sign up can contact Anthony Miller at (269) 924-9507 or email at amiller@marshallpublicschools.org, or Jerry Coleman at (269) 964-8832 or email at jjccfish@aol.com.
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          The Medalist can be reached at 269-789-4653.
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          “It’s all about the kids and their families and making sure people have what they need,” Miller said.
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&lt;/div&gt;</content>
    <summary type="text" />
    <g-custom:tags type="string">Nov 2020</g-custom:tags>
    <media:content medium="image" url="https://irp.cdn-website.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Hacks+for+MACS+pic.jpg" />
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>Relay for Life is back July 9</title>
    <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.advisor-chronicle.com/relay-for-life-is-back-july-9" />
    <link rel="enclosure" type="image/jpeg" href="https://irp.cdn-website.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Cover+Story+Relay+for+Life+Victory++Lap+Picture+%282%29.jpg" length="153775" />
    <author>
      <name />
    </author>
    <updated>2021-06-25T15:35:49Z</updated>
    <published>2021-06-25T15:35:49Z</published>
    <content>&lt;div style="transition: none 0s ease 0s; display: block;" data-rss-type="text"&gt;&#xD;
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           An ‘Old-fashioned Relay’ goes back to basics at the Calhoun County Fairgrounds
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            Last year’s Calhoun County Relay for Life event was held virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but is back in person this year on Friday, July 9, celebrating 25 years, although things will look a little different.
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            One of the most noticeable changes will be that instead of a 24-hour event at the Calhoun County Fairgrounds, the event will run just 13 hours, beginning at 10 a.m. and ending at 11 p.m.
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            The event’s leader is Joy Sommers who is happy the event is back in person but admitted it won’t be completely the same.
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            “We didn’t even know we were going to meet in person until two months ago,” said Sommers. “I want it to go back to 24 hours but that will be up to the committee.”
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            Sommers noted that this year’s theme is “Back to Basics.”
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            “The very first relay did not have a lot of bells and whistles,” said Sommers. “We have no DJ this year – we are only using the PA system in the Covered Arena, so if you’re near the Covered Arena you will hear what’s going on.”
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            The Relay For Life movement is dedicated to helping communities attack cancer. Through funds donated, time given, or awareness raised, communities team up  to make a difference. 
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            Relay for Life is the ultimate team fundraiser for the American Cancer Society that brings communities together to fight cancer. It's an opportunity for us to remember loved ones lost and honor survivors of all cancers.
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            Kathy Miller has been part of every Relay for Life event in Marshall. 
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            “The average duration of any fundraiser for any organization, big or small, is 12 years,” said Miller. “When you think this has gone for 25 years, that’s a testament to this community.”
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            But, Miller noted, those who are organizing Relay year after year tend to be the older people in the community.
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            “The younger people are not getting involved,” she said. “They’re busy with their lives and their kids’ activities.”
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            Diana Wade, who has been a Relay organizer and team captain for nearly 20  years, said she is looking forward to seeing old friends and familiar faces on the 9th.
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            “It was hard not to do it last year and see all the faces and the people,” said Wade. “Plus, it will be nice to celebrate with everybody and hear their stories. There’s nothing like meeting up one-on-one, person-to-person. Doing it virtually will never compare to that.”
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            Wade noted however, this will be her last year as a team captain and taking on such a high-profile role.
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            “I’ll just be a participant where I can just enjoy seeing everybody,” she said. “I’m not walking away from Relay; I’m just taking on my retirement role.”
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            Wade said many years ago, God and Relay “chose” her.
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            “I don’t know why, but He  put the passion in my heart for many, many reasons,” said Wade. “Relay does define me. All who know me know that and if not, well then, I have not done my job well. Relay taught me to accept that I am also a survivor and I do my best to teach that to each and every one I come across that has been diagnosed that they are too.  I've taken away so much more from being involved than I ever have put into to it. The people, the stories, the fight and the memories are all why I Relay.”
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            Wade’s granddaughter, Zoe Ellis, a Marshall High School student, has been active in Relay and other cancer fundraising efforts in recent years. In February, she organized a fundraiser to help teacher Trevor Young, who was diagnosed with a rare form of kidney cancer.
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            Zoe said that after following Relay for Life on Instagram, another cancer fundraiser showed up under the “suggested for me” tab. 
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            “I came across a family whose little boy was fighting brain cancer,” said Zoe. “I started following them and not long after, their son Hayes passed away. After that I knew I wanted to create a change, so I started my own Instagram account in memory of Hayes. The more I learned, the more I knew something had to change."
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            “All childhood cancers combined only receive 3.8% of national cancer funding. That leaves many cancers with a 0% survival rate. Many people think childhood cancer is rare, but in reality, one in every 285 kids will be diagnosed with cancer. I knew I had to do something besides just sharing these kids’ stories, although that’s very important as well. So, I started sending them packages. I also visit local kids when I can. I raise money through t-shirt fundraisers. I also have a St. Jude fundraiser through the high school and have raised money for specific families to help cover bills and also to donate to clinical trials."
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            Zoe’s Instagram page is #iflovecouldcurecancer where she has approximately 24,000 followers. 
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            Through her efforts, she has raised nearly $10,000 in the last four years.
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            This year with the shortened time-frame, instead of an Opening Ceremony the event will feature a Welcoming Ceremony at  6 p.m., followed by the Survivor Lap (tram will be available for those that can't walk it).  Caregivers are encouraged to walk the lap with their survivor.  If their survivor is no longer with us, they are still invited to join in the Survivor Lap.  
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            At 8:30 p.m. the luminary Ceremony is scheduled to take place followed by the candlelight/ silent lap in memory of those lost to cancer.
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            At 10 p.m. the raffle prize drawings are scheduled to take place.
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            One feature that is always looked forward to, said Sommers, is Wade’s granddaughter Abby Ellis and friend Elli Ebner doing a special dance for the survivors.
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            “Abby has not missed a Relay in her 16 years thanks to her mama Sarah (Ellis),” said Wade, who again is the captain for the Albion Family Fare team.” Sarah started out as my co- captain in the early years and is once again taking that role this year . Team Captain of the Albion Family Fare team.
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&lt;/div&gt;</content>
    <summary type="text" />
    <g-custom:tags type="string">Nov 2020</g-custom:tags>
    <media:content medium="image" url="https://irp.cdn-website.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Cover+Story+Relay+for+Life+Victory++Lap+Picture+%282%29.jpg" />
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>Herman’s Marshall Hardware Inc. sold to new owners</title>
    <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.advisor-chronicle.com/hermans-marshall-hardware-inc-sold-to-new-owners" />
    <link rel="enclosure" type="image/jpeg" href="https://irp.cdn-website.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Herman-s+HArdware+Paul-+Mark+and++Lori+IMG_6909+%281%29.jpg" length="443301" />
    <author>
      <name />
    </author>
    <updated>2021-06-25T15:24:29Z</updated>
    <published>2021-06-25T15:24:29Z</published>
    <content>&lt;div style="transition: none 0s ease 0s; display: block;" data-rss-type="text"&gt;&#xD;
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           Business had been in the Herman family for 50 years
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            After 50 years, Herman’s Marshall Hardware, Inc. in downtown Marshall will officially change owners July 1 as Paul Herman and his wife Sharla have sold the family-owned business to Mark Walker and his wife Lori Zettell. The business will now be known as Marshall Hardware.
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          Paul and Elizabeth Herman first purchased Mitchell Hardware at 213 E. Michigan Avenue in 1971 across from the Marshall Post Office.  In 1975, they bought John Meyers’ hardware store at 139 W. Michigan Avenue, which at that time had been in operation since 1951. 
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          The business expanded to 135 W. Michigan Avenue in 2007, adding on the “annex,” with Herman’s Marshall Hardware taking up three storefronts.
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          “It was one of the best things I ever did,” said Paul Herman, the founder’s son, on adding the annex.
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          Legend has it that Henry Ford was driving through town in 1909 when his car broke down. Ford stopped for repairs at Udell Farm Implements which had occupied 137-139 State Street (today’s Michigan Avenue) since 1887. There has been a farm machinery or hardware store at this location almost since these buildings were constructed around the  end of the Civil War.
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          Herman said the timing was right to sell the business and retire but emphasized that his was his parents who made the store an institution in Marshall.
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          “My mom and dad took a chance on 1971, and without them, we wouldn’t be here,” he said. 
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          Herman said selling the business and retiring is “bittersweet.”
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          “it’s been an incredible journey,” said Herman, who took over the operations of the store in 1982. “I came back home, took over and have been here ever since…I give thanks to the good Lord, my wonderful wife Sharla and family – kids James, Paul, Jake and Sarah. They’ve been incredible and couldn’t have done it without their support.”
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          Herman said the store was only as good as it was thanks to the great staff.
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          “Jake was with me for about eight years and Dave Miltenberger has been here for 15 years,” said Herman. “I could not have done it with out them. And I couldn’t have done it without the support of the community through the years.”
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          Herman noted that the business is “really an old-fashioned hardware store.”
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           “The whole key to our success here was the very diverse inventory ,” he said. “We got everything. We prided ourselves on being professionals and knowing what we’re talking about. And Mark and Lori are planning on keeping all my employees on, so customers can expect the same great service.”
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          Herman said he always was “on top of things,” to make sure he had the items and inventory when inclement weather hit, especially in winter.
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          “You have to order these things six months in advance to get it,” said Herman. “We made sure we were open during those times. I’d get calls at home from people saying they were out of power and needed a generator. I’d say ‘sure, meet me at the store.’ You don’t get that at a big box store.”
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          Over the decades, Herman was invested in the youth of Marshall. He and Sharla ran the junior football program for several years, and he was also a part of Rich Hulkow’s  coaching staff when the Marshall High School football team won the state championship in 2009, with son Jake on the team.
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          “Herman’s Marshall Hardware has been supportive of many programs and organizations,” he said. “We love this community. Marshall is a special place.”
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          Herman said contributing to the success of Marshall with a strong downtown business is something he said he is proud of.
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          “This has been an anchor store over the years downtown with Hemmingsen, Schuler’s Restaurants and Louie’s Bakery,” he said. “Then you have all the other businesses downtown. Marshall has been fortunate to have a retail downtown all these years. I just hope they never get away from that.”
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          “We went through all the background to see if this was really something we want to do, should do, could do,” said Walker, who noted there are plans to renovate the upper floors of the buildings sometime in the future.
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          Walker and his wife own a couple other businesses downtown including the Outside the Box Wellness Café.
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          “This is the first time we are buying a business where everything is already set up,” said Zettell. “We are excited about being able to carry on a Marshall tradition.”
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          Herman, who will be 65 in August, said he is looking forward to retirement, but again stressed the bittersweet feelings he has been experiencing.
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          “It’s been a hell of a ride,” said Herman. “I have no regrets.”
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    <summary type="text" />
    <g-custom:tags type="string">Nov 2020</g-custom:tags>
    <media:content medium="image" url="https://irp.cdn-website.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Herman-s+HArdware+Paul-+Mark+and++Lori+IMG_6909+%281%29.jpg" />
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>COLUMN: MHSAA, many others deserve credit for providing youth opportunities during pandemic</title>
    <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.advisor-chronicle.com/column-mhsaa-many-others-deserve-credit-for-providing-youth-opportunities-during-pandemic" />
    <link rel="enclosure" type="image/jpeg" href="https://irp.cdn-website.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Olivet+softball+huddle.JPG" length="324117" />
    <author>
      <name />
    </author>
    <updated>2021-06-25T15:18:26Z</updated>
    <published>2021-06-25T15:18:26Z</published>
    <content>&lt;div style="transition: none 0s ease 0s; display: block;" data-rss-type="text"&gt;&#xD;
  
         Over the better part of the last 15 months, youth in the state of Michigan have largely been put last by way of virtual schooling, social isolation and numerous other consequences caused by the effects of the pandemic.
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           For many kids, being an athlete or being involved in other extracurricular activities meant having to live in constant worry about whether or not leaders in the state would wake up one day and decide they were no longer allowed to participate in the activities they love.
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           But even when leaders in the state gave vague reasoning and lacked hard data to support contact sports being associated with any spikes in overall community spread as far as COVID-19 was concerned, the Michigan High School Athletic Association held its ground.
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           Every time MHSAA Executive Director Mark Uyl was given clearance to give opportunities for student-athletes to participate in sports in accordance with state orders, he gave them those opportunities.
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           Even when the fall sports season looked like it may not reach the finish line when the state playoffs were paused in November of 2020, the MHSAA found a way to crown state champions in January.
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           Each time a new wrinkle was thrown in the direction of the MHSAA, the organization adjusted its schedule and attempted everything in its power to allow for every student the opportunity for closure within their sports—something that many senior students did not receive when COVID-19 derailed the spring sports season in 2020.
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           When weekly testing was required by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services for high school athletes to complete the fall, winter and some of the spring sports seasons, Uyl and the MHSAA paired with the health department to do what was necessary to finish those seasons. Uyl and the MHSAA always cooperated and looked for solutions with state leaders, even when the two parties disagreed.
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           While providing students in the state a chance to compete, the MHSAA also defended the students by highlighting the extraordinarily low test positivity percentage during the pilot COVID testing program that the organization paired with MDHHS on.
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           Those results showed that from over 30,000 tests performed between 5,376 individuals (players, coaches, staff, etc.) from Dec. 30 to Jan. 19, 99.8% of those results produced a negative test, with 57 individuals (1%) testing positive during that time frame, according to a press release from the MHSAA using data provided to them by MDHHS.
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           Uyl then used that data to put some pressure on the state to allow winter sports to resume, which were delayed before the state lifted a nearly three-month long ban on youth indoor contact sports in early February.
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           The MHSAA did everything in its control to assure student-athletes they wouldn’t miss out on competition. Certainly, not every action performed by the MHSAA was handled perfectly over the last 15 months but considering the circumstances and the numerous challenges that came along with getting to the finish lines of these seasons, Uyl and the entire organization—along with kids, parents, coaches, athletic trainers (the list goes on)—across all levels of sport, should be commended for their commitment to keep young people active and “in the game.”
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           One argument that bothers me that I heard over and over again throughout the past 15 months is when people say, “Why are you so worried about sports? They don’t need their sports -  school is more important.”
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           Some made this argument with their heart in a good place, and they are certainly right that the learning environment that school provides is important to students’ overall development.
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           But do you know what else is important for the students? Exercise. Learning how to overcome challenges. Learning how to deal with situations when the ball doesn’t bounce your way. Learning what it takes for everyone to come together to achieve a common goal.
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           Those are the things that sports—along with so many other extracurricular activities kids can get involved in, teach. 
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           There are both educational and physical benefits for kids involved in sports as well. According to aspenprojectplay.org, a study that tracked kids from kindergarten through fourth grade showed that organized sports helps children develop and improve cognitive skills (Piche, 2014). In the same article, another study found playing sports at a young age is a significant predictor in young adults’ physical activity levels (Robert Wood Johnson Foundation/Harvard University/NPR, 2015).
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           On the flip side, keeping students out of sports or other activities good for their mental and physical health could add to problems our society is already facing.
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           According to the CDC, childhood obesity affects one in five children in the United States. According to an article from healthline.com, 31.9% of adolescents will meet the criteria for an anxiety disorder by the age of 18.
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           Putting all these factors together, I can only imagine what the consequences could have been if kids were pulled out of school, sports and other activities for a longer period of time. For some, the consequence was already great as some kids had a more difficult time than ever keeping up with their studies and making friends.
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           I just hope that as a society, as a whole we can take more time to have some empathy for our youth, who were largely forgotten about during the pandemic— and try to balance tending to the needs of all ages during times of crisis.
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    <summary type="text" />
    <g-custom:tags type="string">Nov 2020</g-custom:tags>
    <media:content medium="image" url="https://irp.cdn-website.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Olivet+softball+huddle.JPG" />
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>City Council takes next step in sale of Marshall House</title>
    <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.advisor-chronicle.com/city-council-takes-next-step-in-sale-of-marshall-house" />
    <link rel="enclosure" type="image/jpeg" href="https://irp.cdn-website.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Council+photo.jpg" length="309425" />
    <author>
      <name />
    </author>
    <updated>2021-06-25T15:09:08Z</updated>
    <published>2021-06-25T15:09:08Z</published>
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           Council votes to select Integra as purchaser of the city-owned property
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           Over the past six months, the Marshall City Council has explored a potential sale of  Marshall House, a senior and disabled citizen housing community owned and operated by the city that opened in 1980.
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           In its regular scheduled meeting on June 21 at the Marshall Regional Law Enforcement Center, council voted  to move forward with a sale, choosing Integra Housing Group over two other potential purchasers after lengthy discussions.
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           Director of Special Projects and Code Enforcement Eric Zuzga met with each of the three organizations that were in the running to purchase Marshall House (Integra, ACD and Glick Family Foundation). Zuzga said Suntree Apartments (Glick) in Saint Johns, Michigan, was his first visit and that he came away impressed.
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           “Nice facility, well-kept, built about the same year Marshall House was. They haven’t done any major improvements on the facility since then, and that’s okay, it’s in good condition,” said Zuzga. “The staff was very impressive. Glick was probably the most impressive group through the whole process—they wowed me; I will tell you.”
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           While council members Scott Wolfersberger and Jim Schwartz agreed with Zuzga and leaned toward Glick, council members Ryan Underhill, Ryan Traver and Mayor Joe Caron favored Integra. Council member Jacob Gates said he was split on the matter but ultimately leaned slightly toward Integra, which had the highest offer to the city at $10,300,000, to help pass a motion to choose Integra as the buyer. 
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           “I think the flexibility we have with the Integra offer is that they’ll work with us to help develop that position (service coordinator) to what we’re looking for and what the residents are looking for,” Caron said. “And like Ryan was saying, it also helps with the huge improvement in the actual physical (appearance) of the building as well, it kind of extends the life of it for 30 to 40 more years with the investment that we’ll be making, so that kind of ensures years ahead that the building is going to be sound for residents.”
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           Caron also added that while selecting the group with the highest offer was not the top priority, the return on the property should still be factored into the equation.
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           “It wasn’t our top priority but being fiscally responsible and making sure we get our full return on this investment that we’ve made over the years is also important,” said Caron. “Between all of those facts, I would probably tend to lean a little bit more toward the Integra offer.”
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           Glick’s offer to the city for Marshall House came in at $9,500,000, while ACD pitched the second-highest offer at $9,600,000—still $700,000 of Integra’s top offer.
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           While Wolfersberger and Schwartz raised several key questions and made compelling arguments to select Glick, council ultimately decided to move forward with a sale after Traver made a motion for council to select Integra’s offer, with the vote passing 4-2.
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           Also on the agenda at the June 21 meeting was a public hearing for the consideration of an OPRA exemption request for the redevelopment of the second and third floor of Schuler’s Restaurant, which would assist in the redevelopment of the second and third floors into seven apartments, with the request being for 12 years as allowed by the OPRA statute.
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           OPRA is a tool to encourage the redevelopment of blighted structures created by the legislature in 2000. It works by freezing the taxable value of a property of up to 12 years, which then provides incentive for a property owner to make improvements to a building without the burden of an increase in property taxes for that period.
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           The original exemption was only for the second floor with plans on reconstruction of the third floor to come at a later date. But restaurant owner Sue Damron expanded the project to include the third floor and requested the exemption to include the most recent aspect of the project.
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           “I thought this was a great project before and think it still is,” Wolfersberger said during the council's opportunity to comment before the public.
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           Council unanimously approved the request from Schuler’s for the 12-year OPRA exemption.
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           Informational items on the agenda included the “Walk of the Witches” and Vintage Garden Market events, both of which were approved by council.
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           Along with the proposed sale of the Marshall House, council passed nine other items in the meeting under reports and recommendations.
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           On the consent agenda, the council voted to approve five total items.
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           For more information, visit cityofmarshall.com.
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    <summary type="text" />
    <g-custom:tags type="string">Nov 2020</g-custom:tags>
    <media:content medium="image" url="https://irp.cdn-website.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Council+photo.jpg" />
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>Remembering Dad</title>
    <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.advisor-chronicle.com/remembering-dad" />
    <link rel="enclosure" type="image/jpeg" href="https://irp.cdn-website.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Bud+Moe1.jpg" length="25952" />
    <author>
      <name />
    </author>
    <updated>2021-06-19T17:43:27Z</updated>
    <published>2021-06-19T17:43:27Z</published>
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           Junior and Tim Stealy reflect on the legacy of their stepfather ahead of Father’s Day
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            Junior and Tim Stealy were five and 11 years old when Bud Moe became their stepfather after marrying their mother Joanne in 1969.
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          Sunday, June 20 will be their first Father’s Day without the man who meant so much to them and many others in the Marshall area as Bud died in March at 86.
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          “What I miss is the silence on my phone,” Junior said. “There’s times where it’s 6 o’clock in the morning and I have a question and I think, ‘dad’s not here anymore.’ He drove me nuts, but his compassion—dad and I got close after mom passed, it’s an empty spot. But the community support has been phenomenal.”
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          While Junior lives in Marshall and helps operate the family farm, Tim lives in New Hampshire and always relied on phone calls from Bud. Tim said even when his stepfather’s health was failing and he was staying in a Marshall nursing home, Bud would call Tim to check on him and see if there was anything he could do for him, with both Junior and Tim saying that was true to Bud’s character.
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          “He would always stay in contact no matter where I was,” Tim said. “He was always there whether he could do something or not.”
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          Tim said he talked to Bud a week before he passed and Bud described himself as the “social director” at the facility.
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          Junior added that if there was something he could do for the other residents at the facility, he would go to the higher ups to see what he could do for them.
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          “If somebody wanted something done up there, they always got ahold of dad,” said Junior. “Then dad would go to the big shots—he didn’t care, he wanted what was best for everyone and even when life changed, he wanted what was best for the residents over at the nursing home. So, it never stopped - that was his role in life,  to help people make the best of what they got.”
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          Bud lent a helping hand to both his family and the community throughout his life. After selling Bud’s Wrecker Service in Marshall in 1981 after he and Joanne started the business in 1969, Bud remained active in the community through involvement with the Calhoun County Agriculture Industrial Society along with his continued service with the Calhoun County Fair, which he was avid supporter of for over five decades while also serving on the board for many years.
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          Bud also was involved in the Lions Club, American Legion and was a volunteer firefighter for nearly 20 years.
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          Junior and Tim both agreed that their stepfather’s willingness to be involved in so many different things within the community is an important part of the legacy he leaves behind.
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          “He wanted himself out there, not just for the business because the business was sold, but he still stayed in the community,” Junior said. “Even the owner of Bud’s now, they would give dad a call and dad would stop out there—there’s some memorabilia still out at Bud’s.”
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          Tim added that the Lions Club would have pancake breakfasts and Bud would convince him to wait to come home on those weekends because Bud wanted Tim to be welcomed by the people he interacted with in the community at social events.
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          “He’d come around with a plate of pancakes and sausages and say ‘oh, you’re out? Have some more.’ He would make sure everybody had some. But he just loved that,” Tim said.
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          Bud was never shy about meeting people and loved being in the spotlight. He became friends with several different classic country music singers through his work as a disc jockey at a couple of radio stations.
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          Junior and Tim were introduced by Bud to several performers over the years including Charlie Pride, Aaron Tippin and Billy Dean. The family even knew Dolly Parton in the years before she became famous.
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          Tim recalls one memory before Bud became his stepfather when his mother would take him to the radio station Bud worked for in Jackson at WJCO. Bud would invite Tim to sit in the booth with him and allow Tim to help him on the air.
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          “He’d say, ‘yeah, we’ve got a young man here today’ and he’d throw a song on and say, ‘you’re on the radio now,’” Tim said.
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          As much as Bud liked to have fun and interact with as many people as he could, he was also never afraid to voice his concerns if he had an issue with something or someone in particular, which in turn would rub people the wrong way from time to time. But in the eyes of Tim and Junior, that aspect of their stepfather just made him human and showed his authenticity as a person.
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          “He pissed a lot of people off,” said Junior. “Not deliberately, but if he believed in something, he was going to do it 110 percent. You can’t keep everyone happy all the time.”
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          Added Tim: “He was always up front.”
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          One of the most meaningful memories the three had occurred three years ago, just about six months before Bud started living in the nursing home, when they visited Washington, D.C. as part of Talons Out Honor Flight to visit the memorials dedicated to honor those who have sacrificed and served the country.
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          Bud joined the Air Force in 1954 and was assigned to the Strategic Air Command (SAC) under Col. Curtis E. Lemay in Africa. Tim also has a military background himself, but the trip was meaningful for all three.
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          “He thanked me 100 times when we went to the Honor Flight,” said Junior. “That was the most joyous and sad time, we had two World War II vets with us. His health was really failing, but even through all that pain he was just so proud and so happy to be there.”
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          Added Tim: “My daughter surprised us and showed up. So, it was just like ‘wow.’ His granddaughters and great granddaughters showed up, which I didn’t know. They surprised all of us.”
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          To this day, some of the jokes Bud used to tell and stunts he used to pull still make Tim and Junior laugh when they think back on their stepfather.
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          Tim said he remembers Bud making their mom mad because he had bought a camper for the sole purpose of using it as the Fairgrounds when he would spend long hours over there.
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          “I remember it even got to the point where dad had bought a travel trailer and would  take it to the fairgrounds and he was there all weekend and never came home, camping out in the trailer,” said Tim. “He’d take the trailer up there, park it and he was all set for the week.”
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          Junior said he will always remember the smile Bud had on his face as he was playing jokes or having fun with the family.
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          “Ninety-nine percent of the pictures you ever see, he always had that smile on his face,” Junior said.
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&lt;/div&gt;</content>
    <summary type="text" />
    <g-custom:tags type="string">Nov 2020</g-custom:tags>
    <media:content medium="image" url="https://irp.cdn-website.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Bud+Moe1.jpg" />
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>Marshall’s soccer season comes to an end in regional final with loss to Byron Center</title>
    <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.advisor-chronicle.com/marshalls-soccer-season-comes-to-an-end-in-regional-final-with-loss-to-byron-center" />
    <link rel="enclosure" type="image/jpeg" href="https://irp.cdn-website.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Marshall+soccer+Shawn+Brophy+and+BC+Ella+Perry.JPG" length="356403" />
    <author>
      <name />
    </author>
    <updated>2021-06-19T17:32:37Z</updated>
    <published>2021-06-19T17:32:37Z</published>
    <content>&lt;div style="transition: none 0s ease 0s; display: block;" data-rss-type="text"&gt;&#xD;
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            The Marshall High School girls soccer program has gotten used to making deep postseason runs as the Redhawks’ June 11 Division 2 regional final matchup against Byron Center at Vicksburg marked the fourth-straight time the program has made it that far.
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            Unfortunately for the Redhawks, they could not make it two consecutive trips to the Final Four as Marshall was defeated by the Bulldogs 2-0.
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            Marshall saw itself playing catch-up early in the game when Byron Center’s Maddie Lange found the back of the net just 1:43 into the contest on a volley off a cross from the left side as Lange found herself open along the back post.
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            “A lot of credit to Byron Center, really good team that plays super hard,” Marshall head coach Hans Morgan said. “To go down early certainly changes the complexion of the game and makes it harder for us without a doubt.”
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            The Redhawks settled down after giving up the early goal while fending off a couple more quality chances from the Bulldogs in the first half to keep the score at 1-0 heading into halftime.
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            Early in the second half, Marshall’s best chance of the game came when a loose ball turned up in the Byron Center box off a cross, but the Redhawks’ shot was denied by the Bulldogs’ keeper to keep the score at 1-0.
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            Marshall began to find itself on Byron Center’s half of the field more often in the attack as the second half wore on, but were not able to connect in the attacking third quite often enough against a stingy and physical Byron Center team.
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            It wasn’t until 14:55 remaining in the game when Megan Malek beat Marshall goalkeeper Abby Welke on a free kick to put the Bulldogs up 2-0 and essentially put the game away.
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            Despite Marshall’s ability to hang around after the early goal, it never seemed like the Redhawks got in enough of a rhythm in their attack to put pressure on the Bulldogs’ defense as Byron Center made it difficult for Marshall to find openings behind their defense and did a nice job of pressuring the ball in all areas of the field.
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            “Overall, just their physicality and their level of aggression and the level of athletes that they bring to the table—a lot of the teams we play over the course of the year, we have a clear cut advantage athletically and we can pass the ball around a little bit easier, and against a team that’s that athletic like today, you can see we needed to be a little bit sharper in some areas,” said Morgan. “When a team can put you under that much pressure they can expose some of that and I think that was a huge deal, how much pressure they bring and how athletic they are made it really hard for us because you don’t have enough time and space on the ball, and when you don’t have time and space it’s hard.”
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            Even though Morgan and the team wished the result would have been different in the regional final, Morgan said he saw a growth in leadership as the year went on and is excited for the future as the postseason roster this season featured five seniors, eight juniors, four sophomores and four freshmen.
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            “One of the huge things that happened was over the course of the season, we found our voice a little bit and we found our leadership,” said Morgan. “Obviously when you start to get good leadership, that helps a ton. One of the things that is exciting for next year is we had underclassmen that went through that process this year, so next year it won’t be kind of this early leadership vacuum. I think we’re going to have that leadership right away, whereas this year it took a little while to develop. It was there by the end and that’s part of our improvement, but early it wasn’t there and I don’t think that’s going to be the case next year.”
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            Marshall ends its season with a 16-3-2 record with an Interstate 8 Conference championship in both the regular season and the conference tournament, as well as a district championship for the fourth-straight season.
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            Byron Center (17-6-3) advanced to the Final Four to take on Spring Lake on June 15 in Holland and lost 2-1, ending its season.
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    <summary type="text" />
    <g-custom:tags type="string">Nov 2020</g-custom:tags>
    <media:content medium="image" url="https://irp.cdn-website.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Marshall+soccer+Shawn+Brophy+and+BC+Ella+Perry.JPG" />
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>Marshall baseball falls to South Christian in regional final</title>
    <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.advisor-chronicle.com/marshall-baseball-falls-to-south-christian-in-regional-final" />
    <link rel="enclosure" type="image/jpeg" href="https://irp.cdn-website.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Marshall+baseball+Tyler+Rupp.JPG" length="406048" />
    <author>
      <name />
    </author>
    <updated>2021-06-19T17:22:43Z</updated>
    <published>2021-06-19T17:22:43Z</published>
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              Redhawks’ season comes to an end with 8-0 defeat to Sailors
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              Marshall baseball came into its June 12 regional final game against South Christian High School (Grand Rapids) having won 14 of its last 15 games overall.
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              But against the Sailors, the Redhawks didn’t have the sharpness they have played with all season long as five errors on defense and inability to get timely hits played a big part in the 8-0 loss in Coldwater to see their season come to an end.
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              The Sailors put their first two runs on the board with a two-out rally in the bottom of the second inning with a soft blooper down the right field line to score the first run of the game, followed by a single off of Redhawks’ pitcher Isaac Stetler to make it 2-0 to South Christian early on.
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              “He didn’t quit, and that’s what you want,” Marshall head coach Tom Sharpley said about Stetler’s performance. “Hopefully he’ll grow from it—two years ago, Trenton Fuller was in Isaac’s shoes. Obviously, Trenton built on that and I can see Isaac doing the same thing.”
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              In the bottom of the third, the Sailors capitalized off two Marshall throwing errors to take a 5-0 lead, with the first scoring two runs with runners on first and second on a bunt play and another on an attempted stolen base to score the fifth run.
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              Marshall threatened on offense in the top of the fourth when the first two batters reached base, but Sailors’ pitcher Alex Volstad, who pitched 6 ⅔ innings of shutout baseball, retired the next three Redhawks hitters in order to end the threat and keep the score at 5-0. 
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              Luke Holbrook came in to relieve Stetler on the mound with two outs in the bottom half of the fourth and pitched out of a jam to allow the offense an opportunity to get back into the game, but Volstad was too much on the mound as he held the Marshall offense down the entire day.
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              The Sailors were able to break the game wide open in the bottom of the fifth when a single paired with a Marshall error allowed two runs to score, followed by a Jake Dehan single to make it 8-0.
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              Marshall made an attempt at one more late push in the top of the sixth, but stranded the bases loaded as South Christian cruised to the shutout victory.
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              Sharpley said it was puzzling for his team to play out of character with the numerous defensive mistakes and the bats being shut down, especially considering the type of baseball the Redhawks played down the stretch and all season long.
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              Yet, Sharpley wants his team to take the loss as a learning experience heading into the offseason.
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              “What happened here today was hard to explain and hard to figure out, but in the game of life, it’s the same thing that happens,” said Sharpley. “So we have to find a way to overcome it and develop and get better from the things you learn.”
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              When Sharpley looks back at the 2021 season, he said he is going to remember the way the team came together through some challenging circumstances.
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              “We came together as a team, and that was the big thing and it’s what I’ll remember,” Sharpley said. “Because with everything that was going on—COVID and the ups and downs of ‘you can do stuff, you can’t do stuff’ and what have you, not being sure we were even going to have a baseball season, and then what we started with was the unknown—a lot of guys didn’t get to play varsity baseball last spring, and what they accomplished is the biggest thing in my mind and they did a great job.”
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              South Christian advanced to take on Stevensville-Lakeshore in the state quarterfinals later in the day and lost 10-1 to end the Sailors’ season.
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    <summary type="text" />
    <g-custom:tags type="string">Nov 2020</g-custom:tags>
    <media:content medium="image" url="https://irp.cdn-website.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Marshall+baseball+Tyler+Rupp.JPG" />
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>Olivet High School softball wins 4th-straight district championship</title>
    <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.advisor-chronicle.com/olivet-high-school-softball-wins-4th-straight-district-championship" />
    <link rel="enclosure" type="image/jpeg" href="https://irp.cdn-website.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Spencer+HR+celebration.JPG" length="431116" />
    <author>
      <name />
    </author>
    <updated>2021-06-11T14:40:16Z</updated>
    <published>2021-06-11T14:40:16Z</published>
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             Eagles defeat Eaton Rapids and Western to win title; Face Lakewood in regional semifinal June 12
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            A balance of timely hitting, good pitching and solid defensive play usually bodes well for any team wishing to make a deep run in postseason play.
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            That has been exactly the case for Olivet High School girls softball as the Eagles secured their fourth-straight district title on June 5 with wins over Eaton Rapids and host Western High School.
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            The most timely hit of the day came off the bat of senior catcher Mollie Spencer in the title game against Western, when the lefty delivered a three-run shot to right centerfield in the top of the sixth inning to send the Eagles’ dugout into a frenzy and give Olivet a 5-1 lead en route to the 6-3 victory.
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            “We’re dangerous in the lineup,” head coach Jeff Taylor said. “When a pitcher makes a mistake, these kids have so much confidence in themselves that they’ll jump on a mistake. I think we’re up to about 39 home runs now for the season and our first seven kids, anyone can hit the ball over the fence. If we can keep the game close, we know somebody is probably going to jump on one.”
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            Two batters later, outfielder Bella Strader gave the Eagles their fourth run of the inning with a solo blast of her own to make it 6-1 Olivet. 
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            Strader, who also made a few nice defensive plays on the day, said she strived to leave everything she had on the field knowing it could be the seniors’ last game and said it felt good to step up for her team.
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            “I knew that I needed to play my hardest because it wasn’t just a game for me, it was my seniors’ possible last game, so I needed to put in everything that I had,” said Strader. “With my home run, I hadn’t really been hitting well but I think everything just kind of came together there and I did deliver at the end.”
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            Shyann Truax, who pitched all 22 innings in districts for Olivet and allowed just eight runs total in those three games, put together another winning performance against the Panthers, striking out 10 batters while allowing six hits and three runs.
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            Sierra Truax got the scoring started for the Eagles in the top of the third with a two-run single after the Panthers took a 1-0 lead in the first inning.
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            After the Eagles stretched their lead to five runs in the sixth, the Panthers made one last effort at a comeback attempt with two runs in the bottom of the seventh, but it was too little, too late as Shyann Truax recorded the final out and the Eagles rushed the pitcher’s circle to embrace one another in celebration.
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            In Olivet’s first game of the day, it met up with a familiar opponent in Eaton Rapids as the Eagles faced the Greyhounds earlier in the season in a tournament in Chelsea.
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            When the two met up the first time, Olivet had four players who were positive for COVID-19 and could not travel with the team, so the Greyhounds saw a much different Olivet team this time around.
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            Eaton Rapids got on the scoreboard first in the district semifinal with two runs in the top of the first inning, but Olivet came right back to take the lead with three runs in the bottom half.
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            After holding the Greyhounds down in the top half of the second, the Eagles exploded for four runs in the home half to take control of the game early for a 7-1 lead and would eventually grab an 8-3 victory to propel them to the championship game.
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            Peyton Lehman belted two home runs in the contest and drove in three runs coming off the heels of her extra-inning home run on June 1 to help the Eagles knock off No. 1 ranked Jackson Northwest.
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            Shyann and Sierra Truax both homered as well while driving in a pair of runs each. Abby Williams chipped in with two hits in the game as Olivet peppered the Greyhounds’ pitching with 11 total.
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            Shyann Truax struck out 16 batters while scattering six hits.
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            The Eagles travel to Fowlerville on Saturday, June 12 to take on conference foe Lakewood at noon in the regional semifinal, with the winner taking on the winner of Haslett and Owosso on the other side of the bracket in the regional title game.
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            “Lakewood’s got one of the better pitchers in the state,” Taylor said. “We happened to catch her in a doubleheader on an off day for her and she dominated us the following Wednesday in a single game and had us no-hit for six innings before we finally broke through. She’ll be tough and we’ll have to gear up for that. We know we’re going to face good pitching toward the end of the year and we gear up for it in practice. We have a former player that’s playing up at Saginaw Valley, Jaclyn Groves, that’ll come in and throw bb’s to us. We may not touch her but at least the kids have got some type of idea about how fast the ball is going.”
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    <summary type="text" />
    <g-custom:tags type="string">Nov 2020</g-custom:tags>
    <media:content medium="image" url="https://irp.cdn-website.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Spencer+HR+celebration.JPG" />
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>Great pitching, defense send Marshall baseball to regional final</title>
    <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.advisor-chronicle.com/great-pitching-defense-send-marshall-baseball-to-regional-final" />
    <link rel="enclosure" type="image/jpeg" href="https://irp.cdn-website.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Baseball+Nick+Fitzmaurice+959A9206.JPG" length="314802" />
    <author>
      <name />
    </author>
    <updated>2021-06-11T14:33:20Z</updated>
    <published>2021-06-11T14:33:20Z</published>
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            Talk about peaking at the right time.
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            Behind outstanding pitching by Trenton Fuller and timely defense, the Marshall High School baseball defeated Vicksburg 2-0 in their Division 2  regional semifinal at Harper Creek High School to advance to the regional championship game Saturday, June 12 in Coldwater at 10 a.m. versus Grand Rapids South Christian.
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            GRSC advanced to regional final after defeating Olivet, 4-1, in Wayland on June 9.
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            Fuller, who went the distance, didn’t allow an earned run in Marshall’s 5-2 win over Pennfield in the District Tournament final June 5. It was more of the same versus Vicksburg as Fuller was in full control, allowing just four hits and going the distance to earn the win and shutout.
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            “I feel like I’ve been hitting my spots really well and my secondary pitches have been good,” said Fuller. “And I’ve got a great team behind me [in the field], so it doesn’t get any better than that. They were the best I’ve seen them all year. We’ve got a lot of young guys and they’ve stepped it up  towards the end of the year.”
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            Fuller added that the team has that certain vibe about them that is pulling the team together.
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            “Everyone loves each other – it’s great,” he said. “Everyone picks each other up; nobody gets down on each other. It’s just a great atmosphere.”
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            At the plate, Marshall batters had just three hits.
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            They got their first run in the 1st inning when a Cooper Middleton sacrifice fly scored Gavin Spence.
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            In the 4th, it was Spence’s base hit which scored Isaac Stetler to put Marshall up 2-0.
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            “It was a 2-2 pitch, and the pitcher threw a fastball right down the middle and I hammered it to get that run in,” said Spence, who added that Fuller has done a great job as has the defense “I just go out there and play my game. Our defense is insane right now. Our second baseman, Tyler Rupp, made incredible plays. We just got to keep grinding.”
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            Marshall coach Tom Sharpley had high praise for his pitcher.
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            “This is Trenton Fuller at his best,” said Sharpley, who also commented on his team’s opportunistic baserunning. “We have a thing we call ‘backyard baseball.’ We run the bases like you’re playing in the yard and that was key. Most coaches hold their runner up at third; I get out of their way…Also Tyler Rupp, with runners on first and third, made an incredible backhanded play and he flipped it behind him. There were incredible plays in this game.”
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            The Redhawks won their third district title in a row June 5, first beating Hillsdale 7-2 in the semifinal and then beating host Pennfield in the final.
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            In the game versus Hillsdale, Coltin Chany had a double and 2 RBI, Cooper Middleton had a single and RBI, as did Fuller and Luke Holbrook. 
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            Stetler earned the win, going 5 2/3 innings, allowing two earned runs and striking out five.
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            In the district final versus Pennfield, Jesse Saldana led the way with a home run and 3 RBI, while Fuller had a single and RBI. 
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            Fuller said he is looking forward to the regional final and the tough competition.
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            “To be the best, you’ve got to beat the best,” he said.
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    <summary type="text" />
    <g-custom:tags type="string">Nov 2020</g-custom:tags>
    <media:content medium="image" url="https://irp.cdn-website.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Baseball+Nick+Fitzmaurice+959A9206.JPG" />
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>Marshall soccer advances to regional final</title>
    <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.advisor-chronicle.com/marshall-soccer-advances-to-regional-final" />
    <link rel="enclosure" type="image/jpeg" href="https://irp.cdn-website.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Soccer+District+trophy+by+Grace+Townsend+959A8633.JPG" length="501305" />
    <author>
      <name />
    </author>
    <updated>2021-06-11T14:26:31Z</updated>
    <published>2021-06-11T14:26:31Z</published>
    <content>&lt;div style="transition: none 0s ease 0s; display: block;" data-rss-type="text"&gt;&#xD;
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             District champs one game away from return to the Final Four
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            It may not have been the best game the Marshall High School girls soccer team has played this season, but it may have been the bravest.
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            In a scrappy match between two evenly matched teams, Marshall beat St. Joe 1-0 June 8 in a Division 2 regional semifinal game played in Vicksburg.
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            The victory propelled the Redhawks into the Friday, June 11 regional final versus Byron Center. Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. in Vicksburg.
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            A win in the team’s fourth straight regional final would send Marshall to its second straight Final Four.
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            Following a first half which saw each team with only a couple of good scoring chances, Marshall struck early in the second half on a goal by Ella McAllister with the assist going to Brooke Waito.
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            With St. Joe pressing in the game’s final 20 minutes, Marshall actually had the better scoring chances down the stretch.
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            The always stout Marshall defense held its own, limiting any late chances by St. Joe to preserve the 1-0 victory.
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            “In the second half we stepped up our effort and intensity so much,” said Marshall coach Hans Morgan. “It wasn’t pretty and St, Joe wasn’t going to let it be pretty. I was less than happy with our play in the first half, but I was incredibly happy about our play in the second half.”
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            Goalkeeper Abby Welke went the distance to record her ninth shutout of the season as Marshall improved its season mark to 16-2-2 and stretched its winning streak to 10.
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            Morgan said at halftime, he told his players that “If we’re going to go out, we need to go out fighting.”
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            “In the first half I thought we were backing into everything,” he said. “Everything we talked about for the second half, playing hard and firm, it was, and I think that was the difference. It tilted the field our way because we played better.”
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            Morgan implied that there may be a bit of a post district title letdown in the regional round.
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            “We have a bad habit of playing sub-par games in the regional semifinal and somehow, the last three or four years we have sneaked through 1-0 in those and have been able to play really well in the regional finals,” said Morgan. “Hopefully, playing for a trophy on Friday, we will start a little bit better.”
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            As for the regional final matchup, Morgan said he has never seen a team play as hard as Byron Center did in its regional semifinal game. 
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            “They go hard at everything,” he said. “We’re going to have our work cut out for us. We’re going to have our hands full.”
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            McAllister said she saw the opportunity happen quickly inside the 6-yard box.
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            “I saw the ball near the goal and thought this could be our chance,” said McAllister who hit the shot near the goal line and near post, eluding the St. Joe goalkeeper. 
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            Four nights earlier on June 4, Marshall won its fifth straight district title with a dominating 3-0 win over I-8 rival Western in a game played at Mason.
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            Marshall attacked right from the outset and created several quality scoring chances but was denied by the  Western goalkeeper, who is heading to defending NCAA Division 2 national champion Grand Valley State University to play next fall.
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            Marshall's persistence was rewarded when a cross into the box was misplayed by a Western defender and Madelyn St. John was there to take advantage of the mistake and left the goalkeeper with no chance.  St. John's goal was assisted by  McAllister and Abbie Schoepke.  Despite several other good chances to increase the lead, Marshall went into halftime with the 1-0 lead.
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            Little changed in the second half as Marshall continued to push Western. Marshall capitalized again when Mallory Tucker headed in a Halley Frever corner kick to make the score 2-0.  Late in the half, McAllister, who had been a thorn in the Western defense's side all night, again beat her defender and dribbled into the box before passing the ball to Addie Waito who hit the ball into the back of the net to make it 3-0.
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            Abbie Schoepke was also credited with the assist.
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&lt;/div&gt;</content>
    <summary type="text" />
    <g-custom:tags type="string">Nov 2020</g-custom:tags>
    <media:content medium="image" url="https://irp.cdn-website.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Soccer+District+trophy+by+Grace+Townsend+959A8633.JPG" />
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>Extra-inning home run propels Olivet High School softball to upset victory over top-ranked Jackson Northwest</title>
    <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.advisor-chronicle.com/extra-inning-home-run-propels-olivet-high-school-softball-to-upset-victory-over-top-ranked-jackson-northwest" />
    <link rel="enclosure" type="image/jpeg" href="https://irp.cdn-website.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Peyton+Lehman+Olivet+softball.JPG" length="576788" />
    <author>
      <name />
    </author>
    <updated>2021-06-04T14:54:38Z</updated>
    <published>2021-06-04T14:54:38Z</published>
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            Olivet senior Peyton Lehman stepped into the batter’s box with a runner on third and two outs in the eighth inning in a tie game against the top ranked softball team in Division II in the Eagles’ district game against Northwest at Western High School on Tuesday, June 1.
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            Moments later, Lehman would create the most memorable moment of her softball career with one swing of the bat as she sent a pitch over the left field fence and gave a fist pump as she rounded first base, delivering a two-run home run to give Olivet a 3-1 lead to help the Eagles stun the Mounties in extra innings by a final score of 3-2.
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            “I was looking for that low, outside pitch that she had given me pitches before prior to that at-bat, and she gave it to me first pitch and I swung and it went over the fence,” Lehman said. “I was surprised but it’s something I’ll always remember and it’s a way to knock off the number one team in Division II.”
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            Lehman said after all the years she has played softball, she had never quite experienced a moment like that.
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            “This is at the top for sure,” said Lehman.
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            Head coach Jeff Taylor, who recently picked up his 800th career win as a softball coach and is set to retire after the season and has been coaching since 1978, was nearly at a loss for words after the thrilling win, but was proud of the way his team hung in the game and found a way.
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            “I don't know what to say, my goodness,” Taylor said. “That was just absolutely huge. Give the kids a lot of credit because this is a game that could have gotten away from us if we let it. The kids were not intimidated by them, we came in ready to play, we had a good game plan against them defensively, and offensively we just did enough.”
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            Senior Shyann Truax helped the Eagles stay in the game with a solid pitching performance as she went the distance and struck out six batters in the win.
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            Truax said despite Northwest coming in as the No. 1 ranked team in the state (according to mhssca.com, No. 2 on MaxPreps), it was important for her to stick to the game plan and attack their hitters like she would any other team when she was in the pitcher’s circle.
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            “I was mainly sticking with what I knew, the rise balls, the screwballs, jamming them in,” said Truax. “Working the changeup once or twice if needed, but other than that, I kind of thought of them as another team. They may have some special players, but no one is really that special in the aspect of being unbeatable.”
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            Truax delivered from the batter’s box for the Eagles as well when she knotted the score at one apiece with an RBI single to score Olivia Fowler in the sixth inning to help put Olivet in position to extend the game.
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            Senior catcher Mollie Spencer has had a first hand look at Truax’s pitches all year long being behind the plate, with Spencer saying the chemistry between the two helped them succeed against Northwest and all season long.
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            “I think the relationship we have is kind of rare,” Spencer said. “We read each other’s minds a lot, so we just know what we’re thinking and we just do it, and that’s kind of how it works with our chemistry.”
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            “I’m just so proud of this team overall, it’s so amazing to watch how we work together and grow to beat one of the best teams in Division II,” Spencer added.
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            After Lehman’s home run in the eighth, Northwest scratched across a run in the bottom half of the inning, as each team started the inning with a runner on second base in accordance with the international tiebreaker rules, but Truax got the final batter to pop out to the second base side to secure the win.
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            The Eagles will be back in action on Saturday, June 5 at Western High School to take on Eaton Rapids in the second game of districts. First pitch will be at approximately noon.
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    <summary type="text" />
    <g-custom:tags type="string">Nov 2020</g-custom:tags>
    <media:content medium="image" url="https://irp.cdn-website.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Peyton+Lehman+Olivet+softball.JPG" />
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>Local veterinarians mark 30 years</title>
    <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.advisor-chronicle.com/local-veterinarians-mark-30-years" />
    <link rel="enclosure" type="image/jpeg" href="https://irp.cdn-website.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/IMG_1712.jpeg" length="49368" />
    <author>
      <name />
    </author>
    <updated>2021-06-04T14:07:59Z</updated>
    <published>2021-06-04T14:07:59Z</published>
    <content>&lt;div style="transition: none 0s ease 0s; display: block;" data-rss-type="text"&gt;&#xD;
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             It has been 30 years since Dr. Randy Eshuis and Dr. Jim Rzepka graduated together at Michigan State University after going through veterinary school while forming a friendship in college.
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            Today, the two are working together at VCA Marshall Animal Hospital on Old 27 and have been working partners after joining forces in 2000.
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            Rzepka’s first job in the field was at an animal practice just outside of Chicago before coming to Marshall in 1992, when an opportunity came open as Rzepka applied to be an associate for a practice owned by Jennifer Myers.
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            Rzepka, now a medical director, then bought the practice from Myers in 1994 as it grew to become Marshall Animal Care Center in 1997.
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            “In high school, I loved the idea of working with animals,” said Rzepka. “I think you find out that working with the animals is a smaller part of it and working with the people they are attached to is a bigger part.”
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            Eshuis, a staff veterinarian, spent four years as an animal practitioner in Ohio before returning to Michigan to practice medicine at a small animal practice in Kalamazoo, a practice that Eshuis spent about five years at while also trying to buy it outright.
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            As time passed, Eshuis realized there was little progression being made toward him purchasing the practice in Kalamazoo and made the decision to join Rzepka at Marshall Animal Care Center in 2000 and buy half of the practice.
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            Eshuis said he knew what he wanted to do for a career since the eighth grade and recalls when his family moved into the country when he was 12 and got their first horse.
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            “We had a veterinarian who would come in and stop at the house, and that was my first real introduction,” Eshuis said. “I thought that looked like the greatest thing in the world.”
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            Before VCA took ownership of Marshall Animal Care Center in 2019, Rzepka and Eshuis shared administrative responsibilities over the years and developed a working partnership that continued to grow as time passed.
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            They both had kept in touch in the near decade from the time they graduated to joining forces in 2000, something they both say helped with their working relationship.
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            “I think we divided up the ownership responsibilities in different ways, where Randy would do all the book work and even the check writing and the technical stuff and making sure the business was continuing,” Rzepka said. “I think I probably took more of the HR role with employees and making sure that we were staffed and kind of figuring out schedules. That was important to establish early on, and it’s worked out great.”
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            Added Eshuis: “We did more together before we were partners, we would go to conferences once a year and just meet up to have fun and do things. Once you’re partners, he’s working or I’m working and just really socially didn’t have hardly time to do anything together anymore, but the day-to-day stuff has always been great.”
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            Both of them said they enjoy working in the Marshall area and getting the opportunity to know the animals and people in the community that bring them in to receive care, which is one of the many commonalities the two share that make their working relationship a success and has helped the business succeed.
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            “For me, I have three kids now going through the Marshall schools, so you meet and interact with so many people,” said Eshuis. “All of my kids were involved with sports and different extracurricular activities, so you just meet so many people that also tend to have pets. I think it’s important that you’re sort of part of that community, and you know everybody, and you can greet them. I think it’s made us a better practice, that we’ve kept sort of that small clientele—well, big clientele now, but with a small-town feel.”
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            Added Rzepka: “That’s what’s important, when I moved here, I was 27 when I moved to Marshall and obviously didn’t know anybody here, but it didn’t take very long to make friends, and I was involved in a lot of things outside of the practice that helped the practice. It does help the business to kind of have those relationships outside of the business that are important to the community.”
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&lt;/div&gt;</content>
    <summary type="text" />
    <g-custom:tags type="string">Nov 2020</g-custom:tags>
    <media:content medium="image" url="https://irp.cdn-website.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/IMG_1712.jpeg" />
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>Administrators at Marshall Academy look back on unique school year</title>
    <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.advisor-chronicle.com/administrators-at-marshall-academy-look-back-on-unique-school-year" />
    <link rel="enclosure" type="image/jpeg" href="https://irp.cdn-website.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/MArshall+Academy+kids+in+cap+and+gowns+IMG_4299+%282%29.jpg" length="673426" />
    <author>
      <name />
    </author>
    <updated>2021-05-28T17:21:29Z</updated>
    <published>2021-05-28T17:21:29Z</published>
    <content>&lt;div style="transition: none 0s ease 0s; display: block;" data-rss-type="text"&gt;&#xD;
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            While many schools in Michigan and across the nation adopted a virtual or hybrid format to begin this school year in the fall due to COVID-19, Marshall Academy took a different approach as it welcomed students back to its learning environment.
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            After having to shut down due to the pandemic in the spring of 2020, the school board at Marshall Academy was adamant about wanting the students in-person to learn if possible, prompting Director Noah Wilson and the ‘COVID team’ at the school to come up with a comprehensive plan to make that a reality. 
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            “They (the board) asked ‘how was it when you shut down?’ “I’m like, man, we miss the kids, we didn’t have graduation, kids weren’t doing homework, their grades dropped and now we’re trying to pass them—so it was a headache, and they (the board) asked what would be best and we said ‘in-person—try to see what we can do in-person,’” Wilson said.
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            Since that meeting before the school year, Marshall Academy has stayed in-person five days a week the entire year with graduation just around the corner on June 6 and the school year coming to an end.
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            Wilson said having such a small student body (270 students) is at times an obstacle to overcome, but in a situation such as coming up with a COVID plan and figuring out how to keep students face-to-face with their teachers, the population of the school played to their benefit in this case.
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            The plan has turned out to be an overall success in Wilson’s estimation as the students were set up in ‘cohorts’ within the school depending on their grade to minimize movement between too many students at once while still being able to maximize their educational experience. Wilson said there have been just four COVID-19 positive cases at the school all year long.
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            “The more we started planning and going through this, the more we were like ‘dude we’re totally coming back in-person, we could really do this,’” Wilson said.
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            “Basically, by keeping the kids in cohorts and having the ability to do it logistically and with spacing, we just went for it,” Administrative Assistant Kristen McDowell said.
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            Marshall Academy will graduate a dozen seniors in this year’s 2021 class and will have an outdoor graduation ceremony.
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            Wilson said he believes the adversity the group of seniors has gone through with all of the unique challenges that have been presented to them has brought them closer together as a group. Wilson and McDowell agreed that the entire student body has handled the school year well considering the circumstances.
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            “It’s really brought them kind of together (being) the group of ‘the year that sucked’ and it’s helped bond them together,” said Wilson.
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            Added McDowell: “I think them missing last year, that this year they (the students) were a lot more appreciative to be here and excited to be in school.”
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            The public academy offers a variety of programs that have helped students engage in activities outside of the classroom as well, which is something both Wilson and McDowell said have helped keep students engaged while learning real-life skills that may not be associated directly to the classroom.
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            Wilson said the academic advisor at the school came up with a lunch program to help students who need credit recovery and who may need academic assistance.
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            Another program the academy offers is “Gentlemen of Quality” (GQ), a boys club that focuses on the leadership, respect and responsibility that is associated with growing up as a young man, with another one called “Leading Ladies” with the objective of helping women empower each other, build self-confidence and develop leadership, along with many other programs.
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            “I think that’s where we are different than most every school, is our ability to be small enough to make a relationship with every single kid,” Wilson said. “It’s just kind of that ability to reach every single kid.”
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            Noted McDowell: “And just to form those relationships and just teach them what it is to be a good citizen and things like that.”
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    <summary type="text" />
    <g-custom:tags type="string">Nov 2020</g-custom:tags>
    <media:content medium="image" url="https://irp.cdn-website.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/MArshall+Academy+kids+in+cap+and+gowns+IMG_4299+%282%29.jpg" />
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>Olivet High School softball coach Jeff Taylor notches 800th win in final season</title>
    <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.advisor-chronicle.com/olivet-high-school-softball-coach-jeff-taylor-notches-800th-win-in-final-season" />
    <link rel="enclosure" type="image/jpeg" href="https://irp.cdn-website.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Olivet+softball+Jeff+Taylor+%281%29.JPG" length="584227" />
    <author>
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    <updated>2021-05-28T15:57:12Z</updated>
    <published>2021-05-28T15:57:12Z</published>
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             Olivet High School softball coach Jeff Taylor got his start in coaching in 1978 when he was an assistant for a newly formed softball program at his alma mater Gull Lake.
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            Since then, Taylor has coached at five other schools at both the high school and college level and has been at Olivet since 2016.
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            Taylor picked up a milestone victory on May 21 as the Eagles beat Marshall 13-0 in game one of a doubleheader, making it the 800th win of Taylor’s long coaching career.
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            Two days before the Eagles traveled to Marshall, Taylor informed his team this season would be his last—not because the game has gotten stale for him, but simply because he feels like it’s time after being in the game for so long.
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            “It (coaching) just never got old,” Taylor said. “It still isn’t old, it’s just time. ‘78 is when I really got started and it’s been a lot of fun, and just coming back and being with the kids every spring, it’s been a real joy.”
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            As far as the milestone is concerned, Taylor said it is something he may be able to appreciate more later on because of how fast the time has seemed to go in his coaching career.
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            “I think it’ll be more reflection later on because it happened so fast, in the blink of an eye,” said Taylor.
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            Olivet athletic director Matt Seidl joked that he has tried to talk Taylor out of retirement multiple times. Even while those attempts have been unsuccessful, Seidl said he is thrilled to see Taylor reach the milestone and that he will be missed as the leader of the softball program.
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            “While I'm not happy to hear that Jeff is retiring—and, trust me, I've tried to talk him out of it multiple times— I'm thrilled that he reached such an impressive milestone late in his career,” Seidl said. “Jeff is a phenomenal coach who has made Olivet a better place, both as the leader of our softball program and as a representative of our community. He also has been a friend to many and will be greatly missed. Coaches like him don't come around very often.”
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            Taylor said he is going to miss getting his teams ready to play on a regular basis and everything else that goes along with coaching.
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            “Just getting ready, getting ready to execute , teaching the kids, going over different scenarios,” Taylor said about aspects of the game he will miss. “Of course the people that are involved from the other coaches to the administrators to the umpires. I’m going to miss the preparation of each season, the excitement of looking forward to ‘who’s coming up?’ ‘Who do we have coming back?’ And getting ourselves prepared throughout the offseason and into the season. And it’s the people that are involved, the kids in particular—I’m not here without the kids.”
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            Even though Taylor did not inform his team of his upcoming retirement until later on, Taylor said his mind was made up early in the season and doing so allowed him to watch his players grow and just have fun in his last season.
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            “Of course missing last year was a huge loss, for everyone that was involved in spring athletics and for these kids as well,” Taylor said. “So it was really important to kind of reconnect with them this spring and have a lot of fun, and actually making the decision to step down after this year early just kind of gave me an opportunity to just watch them play, to just have fun with it.”
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             Breakdown of wins in Taylor’s career
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            - 123-54 as varsity coach at Olivet High School (2016-21).
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            - 293-100 as varsity coach at Gull Lake High School and Climax-Scotts High School.
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            - 192-32 as JV coach at Gull Lake High School.
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            - 108-68 as varsity coach at Canyon Country High School and Pasadena Polytechnic High School in California.
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            - 87-57 as head coach at Kalamazoo Valley Community College.
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            - 803-311 overall record
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    <summary type="text" />
    <g-custom:tags type="string">Nov 2020</g-custom:tags>
    <media:content medium="image" url="https://irp.cdn-website.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Olivet+softball+Jeff+Taylor+%281%29.JPG" />
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>Thank you for your service</title>
    <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.advisor-chronicle.com/thank-you-for-your-service" />
    <link rel="enclosure" type="image/jpeg" href="https://irp.cdn-website.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Cover+story+photo+May+21.jpg" length="147179" />
    <author>
      <name />
    </author>
    <updated>2021-05-21T16:41:22Z</updated>
    <published>2021-05-21T16:41:22Z</published>
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            In 1969, Earl Richar, an employee of Eaton began a renovation of his home at 201 East Prospect Street.  Behind a lath and plaster wall lay a box of letters and jumbled fragments dating from the Civil War and late 1800s.  With a little sleuthing, his wife Sharon discovered that the correspondence belonged to the family of Lemuel Bradley, a Marshall merchant, and that Bradley’s grandson-in-law was H. C. Brooks.  Brooks was at first appalled that letters between his in-laws were in another’s possession.  But Sharon was very gracious and gave the letters to Brooks.  Larry Hughes, Brooks’ grandson, transcribed much of the correspondence, an arduous task given the tiny, stylized handwriting and the age of the letters.
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            The Civil War correspondence was written by Thomas Nelson Wright, born in Marshall September 23, 1843, son of George Smith Wright, a Marshall pioneer and his wife, Susan Pratt.  T. N. Wright was the grandson of Benjamin Wright, chief construction engineer of the Erie Canal.  Wright’s letters were penned to his girlfriend, Inez Bradley, who became his wife in February 1870, a century before the letters were discovered.  Tom Wright listed his occupation in the 1880 Federal Census as “Commercial Traveller” and spent much of his time on the east coast.  By 1900 he was an “office clerk.” For years he was the secretary of the Calvin Colgrove chapter of the Grand Army of the Republic.  He died in November 1904, just over a year after the GAR had erected their Hall in 1903.  He was 61.  Both he and his wife are buried at Oakridge.
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            Wright was one of scores of Marshall boys to enlist during the War Between the States and one of many to survive it.  He served with the US Navy at Mound and Cairo, Illinois, at the confluence of the Ohio and Mississippi.  Fort Pillow, named for General Gideon Pillow, originally a Confederate defense position on the Mississippi just north of Memphis, lay 150 miles distant, perhaps 300 miles by water, as the great Mississippi zig zags and doubles back on itself between those locales.  Fort Pillow was the site of a Civil War battle that Wright visited in the aftermath.
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            “Remember Fort Pillow”
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            “Remember the Alamo” and “Remember the Maine” still echo in the history of the United States. “Remember Fort Pillow” does not.  Yet, during the waning days of the Civil War, the memory of the slaughter there was a common battle cry of the Union troops.  Today we would compare the Fort Pillow Massacre to the Mai Lai massacre during the Vietnam War in 1968, although there the victims were civilians; or better, to the Malmedy Massacre during the Battle of the Bulge, which was the organized execution of US prisoners by the Nazis.  The Fort Pillow Massacre was blamed on the loss of command by Major General Nathan Forrest’s Confederate officersand the uncontrollable rage his troops.  
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            Fort Pillow was garrisoned by about 600 Union soldiers, half of whom were Black.   On April 12, 1864, they were overwhelmed by far superior Confederate forces and offered up little defense.  The Rebel forces attacked with great ferocity and were merciless to the surrendering US troops.   Some 300 men in blue were killed, many of them Black.  The Confederates immediately abandoned Fort Pillow after the battle as it no longer had military significance.  Fort Pillow was a stark incident revealing the hatred of the Black Union troops by their former enslavers.
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            This is a fragment of T.N. Wright’s letter to Inez about the aftermath:
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            “When we reached the foot path of the ascent to the fort I was glad, I can assure you, to see our boat headed for the shore and to hear the whistle of the boatsman calling on.  (We prepared to) get our small arms ready to go on shore for by these signs I knew that it was the captain’s intention to land and see the place and while he was doing this I could do the same. 
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            (Oh, the mosquitos.  I have killed twelve since I came out to write and only those who have had the audacity to light upon my hands.  I must stop for a while, Irie, or I will be carried off). 
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            But to resume.  After making just to the bank the armed men filed over the gang plank and began to ascent the hillside.  The men went to act as pickets for in this region it is very unsafe to land without taking considerable precautions for guerillas are ever around and “gobble” whom they can - any one.  We made one of our lines fast to a 68-pounder cannon that lay half submerged in the water, a relic of the water battle which was here when the rebels had possession of the river at this point.  The bluffs rise to the height of about 300 feet and are very steep.  During the high waters which rise and fall each season these water batteries have been washed away, many of them, and now and then you can trace their position by the little fragments of guns etc. that lay round.  
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            From this point at the top of the bluff the ascent is made by a … or road made out of the sides of the hill and running parallel with the river. This point must have been the regular landing when our troops had command of the place as the road is one that’s substantial and firm.  The river at this point is very rapid and the channel lies close in under the banks.  It flows to the east for a distance of about four miles in a very straight line and then turns suddenly to the south, making a very sharp bend, and right on the angle of this bend stands the fort.  The captain and lading paymaster, executive and the surgeon formed one party, while the two engineers, Horn and Bennigan, together with our little Wright boy made the second party.  They went straight for the fort while we took (a different) course, it being the top of a hill from which we had a fine view of the ground to the rear of the fort.  Ascending the road we passed between the hills.   There stood the headquarters of the regiment and herenow remain the charred pieces of timber and pieces of lumber that were once the buildings in which lived many officers who met death in such a frightful manner.  Book, sofas, old stores, tin cans, pieces of glass and crockery etc. lie scattered around in all directions.  Here on stood the building of the quartermaster who was found nailed to the side of his building, shot through the head and heart.  The building was set on fire but when our forces came in it was not entirely consumed.”
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            Fort Pillow is now a Tennessee State Historic Park.  Wright continued to serve on the USS Mist until the end of the war.  
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    <summary type="text" />
    <g-custom:tags type="string">Nov 2020</g-custom:tags>
    <media:content medium="image" url="https://irp.cdn-website.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Cover+story+photo+May+21.jpg" />
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>City Council discuss downtown retail event at special meeting</title>
    <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.advisor-chronicle.com/city-council-discuss-downtown-retail-event-at-special-meeting" />
    <link rel="enclosure" type="image/jpeg" href="https://irp.cdn-website.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/city+council+pic.jpg" length="217804" />
    <author>
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    <updated>2021-05-21T16:33:19Z</updated>
    <published>2021-05-21T16:33:19Z</published>
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            Around two dozen people gathered at the Marshall Regional Law Enforcement Center on May 10 during a special Marshall City Council meeting to discuss a downtown bazaar/marketplace event that is set to take place on June 26 and July 31.
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            After council approved the times and dates for the event in its regular meeting on May 3, council member Ryan Traver said some community members reached out to express concern about the closure of Michigan Avenue on those two days and what effects that may have on other businesses downtown.
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            Traver said after the council heard some of those concerns, they felt like the topic warranted further discussion.
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            “After that meeting on Monday (May 3), we started receiving some phone calls and emails and personal discussions with several people throughout the community—business owners and other individuals that are tied to the community,” Traver said. “We all talked to several people, we felt like this warranted further discussion to make sure that we do have an approval in place that we’re comfortable with.”
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            Caryn Drenth, representing the retailers group putting on the event, said she is willing to come up with a compromise for the bazaar and said they would plan for just the two events at the end of June and July instead of the four that were originally planned. 
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            If all goes well at the first two events, the Retailer Group would then look to plan for a third event in August.
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            “We spent some time before the meeting trying to organize thoughts and trying to offer a compromise, because all of the businesses that have concerns are important to our downtown and we want to listen to them and be collaborative with them,” Drenth said. 
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            Jason LaForge, owner of Louie’s Bakery, said he supports the event but that the road closure would make parking a near impossibility for customers considering the bakery is only allowed to use the front door for health and safety purposes. LaForge said he would close on the days the event was happening due to lack of access for customers to reach his store.
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            “When we close the street, large orders can’t be taken out the back door because of health code,” LaForge said. “So, the front door is really our only access for customers, so our customers can’t pick up cakes because I have to walk two blocks, three blocks to find where this person is parked because they can’t park in front of the bakery. Then on Saturdays, we’ve got Farmers Market, so right now our parking lot is really full. There’s going to be extremely tight parking, and for us to lose that much access to our building and lose that amount of sales, for us on those days, we will have to close. There’s no way we can lose that much more money on top of the money we’re already losing to stay open. If you do this, that’s fine and I understand people wanted it, but for us personally, we would just have to close those days.”
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            Sue Damron, owner of Schuler’s Restaurant, mentioned how the past year has been “a rollercoaster” with the challenges of COVID-19 and expressed that the road closure makes it difficult for the restaurant. Damron also supported the event but wanted a guarantee that the intersection of Michigan Avenue and Eagle Street would remain open to allow access for customers, with council later agreeing that the intersection would not have to be closed off.
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            “It really is difficult for us because we bring thousands of people into Marshall off of the highways every year and it’s difficult for our business when people can’t get from the highway to find their way around town when the streets are closed,” said Damron. “I totally understand that we close the street for Blues Fest and the Christmas Parade and these really big community events, but to do it on a more regular basis if that intersection is closed, it’s harder for us. I will support this if you can just promise this intersection stays open.”
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            There was also discussion from other community members about if all the lanes needed to be closed for the event to happen, but the retailers group and City Council came to the agreement that any traffic going through the area during the event would be a safety issue.
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            Michael Lounds, owner of Bogar Theater, TrailBlazers and PawFitters, helped come up with the idea for the retailers event and apologized for any inconvenience it may cause other business owners in the downtown area and hopes everyone can rally behind giving the event a try.
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            “My intention was, with the year that we’ve had, we’ve had a lot of events for the retailers and stuff get canceled, whether it was the Christmas time events that really bring a lot of traffic and sales and what not,” said Lounds.“When it was brought to our attention that this was an opportunity of something we could do, we were trying to figure out a way with CDC guidelines saying it’s safe to be outdoors and things of that sense, to have an event where people can show up, and really the idea was to do something outside, bring some energy downtown, to give people a chance to get out, get excited and hopefully get back to normal of some sort. If someone like Jason, if it affects you, that was not the intention at all. The intention was to create some positive energy in town, give people something to do, bring their families out. I’m hoping we can still do this and apologize for anyone it could impact and maybe there are things we can work out to help you get through that. Just giving people a great experience iswhat all this is about.”
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            After public comment, Traver made a motion for council to amend the action previously approved by council to still allow the downtown bazaar/marketplace event on June 26 and July 31, but to change the times of the event from 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. (the original proposed time was from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.).
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            All council members voted to approve the amendment except for Mayor Joe Caron, who opposed it.
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            Council also reviewed the top five offers for the sale of the Marshall House and consensus of the members was to schedule interviews for the top three offers.
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            The 2022 budget was also discussed in the special meeting.
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            For more information, visit cityofmarshall.com.
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    <summary type="text" />
    <g-custom:tags type="string">Nov 2020</g-custom:tags>
    <media:content medium="image" url="https://irp.cdn-website.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/city+council+pic.jpg" />
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>Marshall Public Safety Director Scott McDonald and Police Chief Josh Lankerd share thoughts on serving Marshall citizens</title>
    <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.advisor-chronicle.com/making-a-difference-marshall-public-safety-director-scott-mcdonald-and-police-chief-josh-lankerd-share-thoughts-on-serving-marshall-citizens" />
    <link rel="enclosure" type="image/png" href="https://irp.cdn-website.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Lankerd+and+McDonald.png" length="643394" />
    <author>
      <name />
    </author>
    <updated>2021-05-14T14:03:27Z</updated>
    <published>2021-05-14T14:03:27Z</published>
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            Director of Public Safety Scott McDonald and Chief of Police Josh Lankerd have combined for nearly 54 years of service in law enforcement in the Marshall community.
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            Throughout the years, both said they feel fortunate to be able to serve citizens in the area to a community who has been and continues to be supportive of police, despite the seemingly rising tensions between community members and police on a national scale over the past few years.
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            “Our officers realize that (they are appreciated), most of them live within the area and the community and the community’s been very supportive,” McDonald said.
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            Lankerd, who was appointed police chief in January 2020, said he hears words of encouragement from the community on a daily basis despite some of the negative narratives about police officers as a whole that sometimes become amplified on social media and the news.
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            “That’s the thing, you see the national news but then you walk in the store and everybody’s like ‘hey thank you for what you do’ every day; every day, people are supportive,” Lankerd said.
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            McDonald, who has been in his current position for about a year and a half, said being able to oversee a small department in a smaller community allows them to monitor their crew, a crew that they both described as exceptional and has helped build trust between citizens and law enforcement over time.
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            “We’re fortunate, we have a smaller department and certainly we know what they’re (the officers) doing every day unlike a New York City where you have 35,000 cops and you might not ever see your boss,” said McDonald. “We’ve got a very good crew and we partner with the Calhoun County Sheriff's Office and the Michigan State Police and we’re just surrounded by a good group. I’ve been in police work for 33 years and you hear these horror stories about these bad officers, I can honestly say I haven’t really been exposed to too much of that in my 33 years in the Marshall area.”
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            McDonald credits Lankerd for being one to expose him to new ideas and come up with ways for the department to improve itself and change with what society wants.
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            Lankerd acknowledged changes need to be made in some police practices on a large scale and takes it upon himself to make sure he is educating the officers he oversees about policies that can help law enforcement and community members interact with one another in positive ways.
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            “Really it comes down to trust in the community and building that trust to where they know we’re doing the right things, that we have the training and our officers are prepared to deal with stressful situations and situations that could get out of hand,” Lankerd said.
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            Lankerd also brought up the racial tensions that have escalated on a national scale and that all police departments need to be held accountable for bad practices and actions when they occur.
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            “I know the racial tensions right now—just because of past practice, I think there’s time for change. I think there’s some things that, admittedly in law enforcement, there are some practices that need to change,” said Lankerd. “Those things are changing; it’s just been a slow process. In the end, our responsibility as administrators is to make sure that we’re changing with the times but preparing our officers to deal with those issues out in the community.”
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            Although McDonald and Lankerd both focus on what they can do to help people in the community, both admitted the backlash that can be associated with police can be discouraging.
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            McDonald said he would be hesitant to recommend law enforcement to anyone as a profession in the current climate.
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            “I am at a loss right now to really want to recommend this occupation to anybody, and that’s a shame,” McDonald said. “Yeah, I think it’s something needed— going back to the beginning of time, society has needed some kind of policing or some kind of law enforcement. It’s frustrating, but on the other hand, you’ve got to have thick skin and know that’s just a minority of people talking, and again, knowing our community here is solidly behind us and you've just kind of got to knock yourself out of that negativity and get back in the game.”
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            Despite some of the obstacles and challenges that are presented with being in law enforcement, the two still see their occupations as rewarding and are grounded in why they got into the profession in the first place, which was to help others and continue to help people in the community.
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            “I do think we are making a difference,” McDonald said. “A lot of the day-to-day things that Josh and I do impact a lot of people. It impacts how our cops go out and interact with folks on the street.”
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            Added Lankerd: “The reason why I got into law enforcement and I think the reason why most law enforcement officers get into it is to help people. We have this innate quality that we want to help our community and be a part of something and to help our fellow citizens, so I think that’s what drives me, and I think that’s what drives most of us.”
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    <summary type="text" />
    <g-custom:tags type="string">Nov 2020</g-custom:tags>
    <media:content medium="image" url="https://irp.cdn-website.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Lankerd+and+McDonald.png" />
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>Honoring local nurses</title>
    <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.advisor-chronicle.com/honoring-local-nurses" />
    <link rel="enclosure" type="image/jpeg" href="https://irp.cdn-website.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/5.8.2021+Advisor+front+PROOF+%281%29.jpg" length="763964" />
    <author>
      <name />
    </author>
    <updated>2021-05-07T15:23:31Z</updated>
    <published>2021-05-07T15:23:31Z</published>
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            National Nurses Week begins each year on May 6 and ends on May 12, Florence Nightingale's birthday. These permanent dates enhance planning and position National Nurses Week as an established recognition event.
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            Nurses Week in 2020 marked the 200th anniversary of Florence Nightingale as well the Year of the Nurse and Midwife.
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            The American Nurses Association has extended the Year of the Nurse and Midwife into 2021, as they again use this opportunity to highlight all that nurses are, have been, and will be in our society, noting that 2021 is a time to celebrate the efforts made by nurses everywhere to improve health conditions globally; recognize and reflect upon the challenging conditions nurses face in practice, whether they be physical, emotional, or mental; and, then take strides toward increasing and better caring for the existing nursing workforce.
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            This week, the ad-visor&amp;amp;chronicle highlights five local nurses who work through Oaklawn Hospital in Marshall: Anita Darling, Janna Harris, Shelley Hickok, Rachel Rangel and Stephanie Zacharski. 
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            Anita Darling
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            Anita Darling said her mother told her from a young age that she was always caring for somebody.
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            That care and compassion Darling displayed from a young age has carried over into the nursing profession as Darling now works at the Oaklawn Wound Center and has worked in wound care for 17 years.
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            Darling said she applied for nursing school out of high school. After the college she was attending closed, she moved on to veterinary medicine as a veterinary tech before eventually attending Kellogg Community College, then later Spring Arbor University where she received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing.
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            As a case manager in the Wound Center at Oaklawn, Darling said a holistic approach is key to the success of wound healing.
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            “I assess the wound, assist the provider with debridement (the medical removal of dead, damaged or infected tissue), educate and care for the wounds,” she said. “Education is another key to wound healing. The Wound Center treats many wounds which include diabetic ulcers as well as venous and arterial ulcers. This is truly a rewarding field.”
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            Janna Harris
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            Janna Harris remembers she first became interested in nursing when she was in high school.
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            Harris then gained experience in healthcare by volunteering in a nursing home, working in a doctor’s office and assisting at Oaklawn Hospital as a nurse’s aide before becoming employed as a critical care registered nurse at Oaklawn with 42 years of experience as an RN. (Her mother, Phyllis Heidenreich was a nurse’s aide at Oaklawn for many years and Harris’ daughter and daughter-in-law are both Registered Nurses.)
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            “In all three of these positions, I discovered that I enjoyed helping make a difference in people's lives,” said Harris. “I found nursing to be a very interesting, challenging and fulfilling career.”
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            Harris’ job at Oaklawn entails providing high quality care to critically ill patients. She said she monitors each patient and works closely with doctors to adjust each patient’s care as determined by their current status. Some of the tasks in Harris’ care for her patients include taking vital signs, giving medications, starting IVs as well as performing any other procedures that are needed.
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            During the COVID-19 pandemic, Oaklawn has not allowed families to visit patients. With the challenge of families not being able to visit the hospital, Harris said she does her best to keep in contact with patients’ loved one through virtual formats.
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            “I try to help keep the family updated on their loved one's condition, often utilizing our unit's tablets to facilitate FaceTime,” said Harris. “It is one way to help patients and families connect during these difficult times.”
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            Harris added that the pandemic has provided difficult times for her and for people in her profession, but that Nurse’s Week is a good time to honor healthcare workers who have been on the front lines during difficult circumstances.
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            “With the onset of COVID, these have been extremely scary, challenging times for people working on the front line,” Harris said. “Nurse’s Week is a good time to recognize the healthcare providers who have worked in dire, life threatening circumstances. They have sacrificed so much to confront this war against COVID and continue to do so.”
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            Harris said working with “a great team” at Oaklawn helps her “persevere” through the daily challenges that are presented.
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            “We work cohesively together to care for all the patients on the unit on any given day,” Harris said. “We could not do what we do without helping each other throughout each day. We help each other with patient care and procedures, new admissions and intubations, and we put our heads together to problem solve. Each 12-hour shift has its challenges, but we persevere.”
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            Shelley Hickok
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            Shelley Hickok said that from the time she was a little girl, she had always wanted to be a nurse.
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            “I like the flexibility of nursing, and enjoy helping others,” said Hickok, who works with Oaklawn Homecare. “In homecare you deal with a wide swath of the population and invariably have to be able to adjust to how you approach situations. That kind of flexibility and a perspective can be helpful in all aspects of one’s life. I love the challenge and autonomy and every day in homecare is different.” 
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            Hickok has been a nurse with Oaklawn for more than 20 years, the last 18 in homecare where she is a case manager and intake coordinator.
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            “My case manager duties consist of advocating and facilitating care for those with chronic diseases and acute illnesses in the comfort and privacy of their own home,” she said. “Most prefer to heal and recovery at home rather than in an inpatient acute setting or a rehab setting. That’s the benefit of receiving one-on-one compassionate, quality, personal, professional and loving tender care. Our goals are always to promote healthy a healthy lifestyle and improve their quality of life.”
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            Hickok said she and other nurses provide multiple skilled services by multiple disciplines that are patient-specific. Disciplines include skilled nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work and home health aides.
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            “Nursing skilled services we provide to name a few of many include assessments, disease process education, home safety, fall prevention, medication management and teaching, pain management, wound care, IV therapy, injections, activities of daily living support, dietary educations and so on,” said Hickok. “My intake coordinator duties consist of the registration process of patients that we receive a referral for. Those responsibilities include gathering patients’ records, taking medical histories, obtaining information and ultimately coordinating services ordered and needed for home care services to begin.”
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            Hickok pointed out that she is passionate about homecare.
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            “It’s not a job to me, it’s my calling,” she said. “I am very grateful to be part of such a rewarding profession. I truly feel I have made a difference in several patients’ lives in the paths that I have crossed in my 18-plus of homecare. I probable have a story for every disease. One of the most memorable was back in 2006 I met a young lady who was age 14 at the time with an immune deficiency. I administered her IVIG transfusion monthly until she became an adult and left the area to become a nurse! During that time, I would attend her athletic events and even her pinning ceremony in another state as well as her wedding. This beautiful, mature, grown mother is now 29 years old and has returned the area and I was asked to resume her IVIG therapy! It was like she never left. She feels like family.”
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            Rachel Rangel
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            Rachel Rangel was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes during her freshman year of college. 
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            “I remember initially feeling very scared, overwhelmed and so unprepared,” said Rangel, who is a Registered Nurse on the Inpatient Psychiatric Unit at Oaklawn. “However, the more I learned about my new diagnosis, the more intrigued I was with learning the physiology of the human body. That, in addition to my love for helping, (and several family members in the medical field) directed me to pursue a career in nursing.” 
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            Rangel said her primary goal is to provide a “safe and therapeutic” environment for all patients with medical and psychiatric needs. 
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            “This role requires critical thinking skills, as well as the ability to multi-task in a highly active environment,” said Rangel. “As a Registered Nurse, I am responsible for the overall nursing care for the patients I serve. Some of my duties include assessment, person-centered treatment planning and implementation, and evaluation. I also assist with coordinating aftercare services for all patients to ensure a sound transition of care for their individualized need.” 
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            When serving as the charge nurse, Rangel said she is responsible for the direction and supervision of the nursing care team. 
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            “This is a multidisciplinary team made up of registered nurses, a licensed practical nurse and psychiatric technicians,” she said. “During each shift, nurses are required to document physical assessments and administer medication as prescribed. Nursing staff are also responsible for monitoring medication reactions, and the patient’s response to treatment, in a timely manner. All patients and their progress are consistently assessed throughout the nurse’s shift, with specific attention to meeting with the patient on a 1:1 basis to conduct further assessment and evaluation.”
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            Another integral part of the nursing role, said Rangel, is to establish and maintain effective communication with external agencies. 
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            “This helps to ensure proper placement for both medical and psychiatric needs as appropriate for each patient requiring hospitalization,” she said. “Being a psychiatric Registered Nurse provides me the opportunity to be an advocate for all patients, as well as helping educate others to work towards ending the stigma associated with mental illness.” 
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            Stephanie Zacharski
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            Stephanie Zacharski had a degree in Health Education and said her husband, who was in nursing school at the time  encouraged her to go into nursing as well. 
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            “I started at Oaklawn in February 1999 working as a med/surg nurse,” said Zacharski, who today works at Oaklawn’s Birth Center.  “In July of 1999, our first child was born, and I had this amazing nurse named Sara. I just loved her.  It was at that time I realized this is what I wanted to do, to be a part of the most amazing day in someone’s life; to have that impact on someone like she did on me. What is more amazing than the birth of your child?”
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            A few months later, Zacharski was hired in the Birth Center and has been there for 21 years.   
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            “I have met so many people in this community through my job in the Birth Center, and delivered many of my friends and neighbors’ children,” she said. “That’s what I love about being at Oaklawn, over the years being at school functions or at the store and I get ‘Stephanie! You delivered my baby!’  I love that I have had that impact on them and could be a part of that day.”
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    <summary type="text" />
    <g-custom:tags type="string">Nov 2020</g-custom:tags>
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  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>Players wanted for Marshall pickleball group</title>
    <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.advisor-chronicle.com/players-wanted-for-marshall-pickleball-group" />
    <link rel="enclosure" type="image/jpeg" href="https://irp.cdn-website.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Cover+Photo+IMG_4470.jpg" length="844032" />
    <author>
      <name />
    </author>
    <updated>2021-04-27T02:00:06Z</updated>
    <published>2021-04-27T02:00:06Z</published>
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            When Marshall resident Barb Rosene signed up to take a pickleball course at Kellogg Community College five years ago, it motivated her to find a spot locally where people could come together to play the sport.
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            That summer, Rosene put an ad in the newspaper encouraging people to come out to the tennis courts at Marshall High School, where Rosene said close to 100 people showed to the first gathering.
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            Around 20 of those people stayed for the rest of that summer to form a pickleball group to play the game that combines ping pong and tennis into one. 
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            Not long after that, Rosene was able to find a permanent home of sorts when she found out the former owner of the historic Villa on Verona in Marshall, Katy Banfield, was trying to figure out what to do with the tennis courts at the facility.
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            That’s when Rosene got in touch with Banfield and was able to turn the two tennis courts into pickleball courts, as tape is required for new lines as pickleball is played in a smaller area than a tennis match.
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            When describing the game to those who haven’t given it a try, Rosene said it’s like “ping pong on steroids” and is a sport for all age groups.
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            “The thing is, it’s just a fun sport,” said Rosene. “Supposedly it’s better for you on your joints than tennis. It’s just good to get out and have a good time and enjoy it. The number of people who have come out and joined us to play—it’s the game of the young and old. The age levels are all over the place and there’s just a variety of people, men and women.”
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            While Rosene started the pickleball gatherings at the Villa on Verona when Banfield was the owner, The Villa recently underwent an ownership change with Mason and Virginia Novess taking it over on March 1.
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            The Novesses, who are also currently raising their 10-month-old daughter Logan, said they want to promote a family-like atmosphere no matter what guests may find themselves at The Villa for, with Mason saying the commodity of people coming together for pickleball fits right into what their vision is for The Villa.
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            “I love having pickleball here,” Mason said. “It encourages people to get outside, move around and try to get healthy. It’s good for their mental health to get together with other people and play some games. It’s a fun way to exercise—a lot of people don’t like to exercise because it’s hard and it’s boring, but pickleball is a good way to move and be active and have fun. We want to encourage fun ways for people to move here.”
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            While the majority of the guests who stay at The Villa are from out of town visiting, Virginia said many of the events held there are built and meant for the community in the area to come together and have fun, which is what pickleball promotes as well as some of The Villa’s other summer events, such as Music on the Grounds.
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            “When you talk about an event space, most of the people (who stay) aren’t from Marshall -  they are in bringing business to the area, which is great,” said Virginia. “But pickleball and Music on the Grounds are for the community and we’re really looking forward to meeting people through that and bringing people together through those things.”
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            Both the Novesses and Rosene said the atmosphere with the people who play pickleball at The Villa is laid back, with the Novesses mentioning everyone who regularly comes out to play are welcoming and friendly.
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            Rosene said she encourages anyone looking for an activity to come out and give the sport a try, no matter age or skill level as she said there have been several new players who have come over the years that ended up enjoying the game.
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            “Come on out, - we’ve got quite a few paddles and plenty of balls, so if you want to come out and play then just come on out,” said Rosene. “I do recommend not buying anything (paddles, balls, etc.) until you’ve actually played a couple games and you think ‘okay, I think I’d like to play’ because if you don’t get a decent paddle, it can hurt your game and they’re not cheap. I think the average one right now is about $45, and that’s for one you can get on sale. So, it’s not cheap but you want a good paddle.”
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            The Marshall Area Pickleball Group plays at the Villa on Verona (1100 Verona Rd., Marshall) on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 10 a.m.-noon and on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6-8 p.m. All levels are welcome with paddles and balls available for newcomers.
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            Those interested can contact Barb Rosene at 269-579-1837 or email Barbara.rosene@gmail.com and can visit the Marshall Area Pickleball Facebook page for more information.
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    <summary type="text" />
    <g-custom:tags type="string">Nov 2020</g-custom:tags>
    <media:content medium="image" url="https://irp.cdn-website.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Cover+Photo+IMG_4470.jpg" />
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>From farm to market</title>
    <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.advisor-chronicle.com/from-farm-to-market" />
    <link rel="enclosure" type="image/jpeg" href="https://irp.cdn-website.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Cover+Photo+-cf81a90d.jpg" length="365365" />
    <author>
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    </author>
    <updated>2021-04-22T15:00:50Z</updated>
    <published>2021-04-22T15:00:50Z</published>
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            The weather is warming up in Michigan, meaning the list of outdoor activities for community members to take part in are on the rise.
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            One of those activities many look forward to each year is the opening day of the summer outdoor Marshall Area Farmers Market, which is set for Saturday, May 1 at 125 West Green St.
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            Farmers Market Manager Pam Wolfersberger said she is looking forward to being outside in the sunshine and the enjoyment of the community interacting with one another on opening day.
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            “What I’m looking forward to for opening day is being outside in the sunshine,” said Wolfersberger. “We will be able to have music and opening for us will be Jim Jam-- Jim Oliver and Jim Dyer playing their jam session music. The market looks forward to them opening our season as they have for the past several years.”
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            One of the vendors at this summer’s market will be Hazel Family Farm, a local business started by Todd and Barb Hazel in 2018 when they started selling their products through the farmers market.
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            Todd said selling through the farmers market in Marshall has been beneficial to help build sustainable relationships with customers throughout the past few years.
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            “We’ve gotten quite a following of people that look for us and look for our stuff,” Todd Hazel said. “Word of mouth is awesome, especially in the Marshall area, so we’ve gotten a lot of help that way. We’ve just got a very good following and they (the farmers market) do a lot of our promotion for us.”
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            Todd grew up right down the road from where he and Barb live now as his parents owned the 55-acre property that Todd and Barb bought from them after they got married so they could build off the original farm Todd’s parents owned. The two moved to the farm in July of 2001.
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            Barb also grew up on a farm and met Todd while in the same FFA class, a career and technical student organization that promotes and supports agricultural education. Barb’s father was the FFA advisor at the time as well, giving the two plenty of training from a young age to be able to now operate a farm together.
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            “My folks had always gardened and I was really familiar with that,” said Barb. “I had a lot of background with flowers also, and we thought ‘well we’ll just try to do some of the vegetables, produce and also some of the cut flowers’ because at the farmers markets we had always seen that too.”
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            Todd said the experience they both have possessed throughout the years and the things they have learned about farming together has been valuable.
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            “We both had a lot of training through FFA with the gardening and the greenhouse stuff and the cut flowers, which was really valuable and really helped give us the idea to do this,” said Todd.
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            Both said the support from community members has been key to their business, with Todd explaining how vendors at the market root for each other’s success while Barb talked about how the market has supported their business from day one.
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            “The other vendors at the market have really encouraged us and helped us out with some ideas and different avenues we could look at,” Todd said. “The Marshall market is a real community, it’s really cool where everybody’s in competition to make as much as they can, but everybody wants everybody to do well.”
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            “Everybody’s always been really helpful,” said Barb. “Jen Rice was the farmers market manager when we started and when we kind of asked about the particulars of being a vendor, she was giving us paperwork and explaining stuff and was just really informative and helpful and it was just a very good environment to kind of learn more about it before we actually got into it.”
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            Wolfersberger expressed a similar sentiment in terms of the community environment the farmers market provides and said she encourages community members to know where their food comes from and to buy local.
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            “The market provides a good sense of community interaction for Marshall,” Wolfersberger said. “Our vendors and volunteers enjoy seeing our weekly ‘friends,’ better known as our customers. I do believe our farmers market is a great service to Marshall. We provide healthy food sources, we have farm grown fruits and vegetables, some are organically grown but as a customer you can meet the farmer who grew the produce you are purchasing. Our meat and dairy come from farms where the animals are treated humanely, raised as members of the farmers’ family. My biggest belief is know where your food comes from and choose local.”
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            While the COVID-19 pandemic has had a negative effect on many businesses, the Hazels said they saw an increase in new customers, especially during the start of pandemic last year when more people may have been hesitant about who was handling the food they may consume.
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            “I think it ended up helping the market because we got more and different customers,” said Todd “They started coming out to see what is offered so they wouldn’t have to go to the grocery store because they know that we were the only ones touching the food and it wasn’t being handled by many different people and that it was locally grown.”
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            “That was actually surprising that it brought out different customers and more customers than we thought,” Barb Hazel added.
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            The two said the most negative impact the pandemic had on business was on the production level as the Hazels have ordered materials needed for the farm from back in December, with the two saying some of those things are either just arriving or haven’t arrived yet at all.
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            “Some of it is the material logistics but some of it is also they don’t have enough workers to get the stuff packed and shipped,” Barb said.
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            “I’m still waiting on pots and we were waiting on seeds and stuff that was ordered back in December that should have been here by February,” Todd said.
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            The Marshall Area Farmers Market will begin at 8 a.m. on opening day until 1 p.m. and will happen every Saturday into October at the same times each week.
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            Wolfersberger said the market will continue to change and evolve its health and safety practices as health department regulations are updated at the state and county level.
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    <g-custom:tags type="string">Nov 2020</g-custom:tags>
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  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>Marshall City Council approves electric rates increase while local business owners, residents express concern</title>
    <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.advisor-chronicle.com/marshall-city-council-approves-electric-rates-increase-while-local-business-owners-residents-express-concern" />
    <link rel="enclosure" type="image/jpeg" href="https://irp.cdn-website.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/City+Logo+.JPG" length="6090" />
    <author>
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    <updated>2021-04-20T14:53:38Z</updated>
    <published>2021-04-20T14:53:38Z</published>
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            During a public hearing on April 12,  the Marshall City Council voted to approve a deficit elimination plan for the city’s electric fund, a decision that will ultimately increase the city’s electric rates.
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            The city is in the second year of a five-year deficit elimination plan with the State of Michigan Department of Treasury. On Jan. 4, the city received a notice that the state intended to withhold State Revenue Sharing Payments unless a deficit elimination plan was submitted to remedy the deficit at the end of the five-year period, according to information in the city council’s April 5 meeting packet. The city’s finance department is to file the plan to the department of treasury after council’s vote.
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            Originally, council considered an 18% rate increase for one year to offset the city’s $2,973,470 in its electric fund, but after hearing public comment, council agreed to a tiered system that council member Scott Wolfersberger suggested as an option at the start of the meeting. The plan includes a 12% electric rate increase in year one and an 11% increase in year two.
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            While the revised plan will cost payers more in the long run, council came to a conclusion that a lesser increase in the first year would lessen the blow for local businesses and consumers to give them time to recover from lost revenues resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.
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            Sue Damron, owner of Schuler’s Restaurant &amp;amp; Pub in downtown Marshall, said regardless of what the city’s financial position may be, a decision to increase rates by 18% would have been a challenge for her and many other businesses in Marshall to try to overcome and expressed the tiered system that was ultimately passed by council would put businesses in a better position, even if it may cost them more in the long run.
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            “We’re looking at making over a million dollar investment in our property by putting seven downtown living units in, so our electric use and the rate of that will be strongly affected when we have more use in our three-story building as well,” said Damron. “Regardless of how many years our business has gone without a rate increase or how our rates compare to Consumers, or what the city’s financial position is, this is going to hurt and possibly close down more businesses during the middle of a pandemic when we are already suffering from loss of business and trying to operate after two closures, and as restaurants at 50% capacity. I was hoping to explain a side that seems to be missed when people just keep saying ‘we have no other choice.’ I guess you (council) need to understand that you are making a choice by approving this to put some businesses out of business.”
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            James Hackworth, a resident and small business owner in Marshall also said an 18% increase would have been too great of a hit on the public. With the tiered system and having the 12% increase in the first year instead of 18% at once at least allows businesses to take less of a financial blow initially while being able to plan ahead on how to budget for next year’s increase, explained Hackworth.
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            “I don’t think a lot of businesses, as Sue was saying, could take an 18% hit right now,” Hackworth said. “It’s a big hit, and even with the tiered system, if we could have some time to balance some of that out and at least have an idea of what we would be looking at for next year, would at least give us time to budget and look at some possibilities.”
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            Council member Jen Rice was the only council member to oppose the electric rate increase plan in any form. Rice is the general manager of the Calhoun County Fairgrounds while Kathy Miller, an administrative assistant at the fairgrounds, said during the meeting the fairgrounds has suffered immensely during COVID-19 and that they already pay high electric rates.
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            “Right now, we’re trying to get things going again and we pay a very high electric rate, and that could make or break us if that goes through,” Miller said. “Right now, we are challenged every day of the week with even just meeting payroll.”
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            The initial 12% increase in the power supply cost adjustment is set to take effect on July 1. The power supply cost adjustment will apply to all of the city’s electric rate schedules, except for the monthly security light rental rate.
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    <g-custom:tags type="string">Nov 2020</g-custom:tags>
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  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>MDL Librarian Chelsea Johnson talks about local history and genealogy</title>
    <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.advisor-chronicle.com/mdl-librarian-chelsea-johnson-talks-about-local-history-and-genealogy" />
    <link rel="enclosure" type="image/jpeg" href="https://irp.cdn-website.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Library+Chelsea+Johnson+.JPG" length="531061" />
    <author>
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    <updated>2021-04-20T14:51:38Z</updated>
    <published>2021-04-20T14:51:38Z</published>
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             Last month, Marshall District Library Librarian Chelsea Johnson was named the recipient of the 12th Annual Governor’s Mansion Pillar Award for her contributions and dedication to the Marshall community. Last week, Editor John Hendler caught up with Johnson, who has been involved with helping people learn about local history and genealogy and asked about those areas of interest. 
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            John Hendler:  How did you get involved in local history and genealogy? Was that something you were interested in when you were growing up?
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            Chelsea Johnson: I always had an interest in family stories while I was growing up, but I didn’t really dive down the genealogy rabbit hole until I came to work for the Marshall District Library in 2012. My predecessor maintained the local history and genealogy collections and I was eager to take that over and explore the rich history of this area. I quickly realized that genealogy is a passion project for me, as well as a substantial part of my job. In addition to helping members of our community research their family stories, I’ve spent the last decade fleshing out the tales that I learned as a child about my own family’s path to the United States, and eventually Michigan.
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            JH: How has interest in those areas grown in our area in recent years? Have companies like Ancestry.com, 23andMe, etc. had an influence on that with people who come into the library seeking assistance in those areas? 
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            CJ: The popularity of Ancestry.com, television shows like Find Your Roots and Who Do You Think You Are? and genetic genealogy (DNA testing) have all had a noticeable impact on the numbers of new genealogists. In the past few years, many more people have come in seeking help to choose between different DNA testing companies and kits, and to read the results when they come in. The interest in finding immigrant ancestors and learning the story of how families came to this country has been steadily increasing. Meanwhile, requests for local history topics and house research have always been a big part of my work at MDL. 
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            JH: Has the pandemic had an influence in the number of those who are taking an interest in these areas?
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            CJ: As we all spent more time at home during the pandemic, and as online resources have become more available, the number of budding genealogists has increased. One of the biggest developments in genealogical research in the past decade is the sheer volume of information available online! At MDL, for instance, during the pandemic we were able to launch our online archive, which contains early city directories and over a century of Marshall High School yearbooks. We also have Marshall newspapers available from 1838-2019 through our website. In addition, national and local genealogical societies have moved their conferences online, which makes attendance more accessible to a wider audience. 
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            JH: What are some of the more unique or interesting things you have come across in local history and genealogy?
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            CJ: Some of my favorite finds have involved exploring discrepancies in records: ages not matching up or people not being where you expect them to be. Since Marshall was on a major passenger railroad line, sometimes I will see couples who were born, lived, and died here, but went out of state to get married – perhaps to avoid the waiting period for a marriage license or to more easily fudge a participant’s age (harder to do when you live in a small town and know the officiant!). I have also seen individuals age themselves up or down to excuse teenage pregnancies or to enroll for the armed services a year early. The reason I love these examples so much is that they tell us something about who our ancestors were that doesn’t usually come through on official documents; what the societal expectations were, how they were trying to conform to them, and what their experiences or concerns might have been.  
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            JH:  What advice/assistance do you have for people who are interested in learning more about local history or their family's genealogy?
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            CJ: I would recommend talking with your family members – particularly generations who remember events you weren’t able to experience and people that you weren’t able to meet. Have a journal for your family history information (or even one for each side of your family) and write down what you learn. Once you have some basic information, start exploring the wealth of resources online for genealogists. And, of course, come visit me at MDL! I am happy to meet for one-on-one appointments (currently through Zoom) with new or experienced genealogists. In addition to personal assistance, we also have free copies of genealogical forms and charts in our local history section and free access to Ancestry, Library Edition. 
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    <summary type="text" />
    <g-custom:tags type="string">Nov 2020</g-custom:tags>
    <media:content medium="image" url="https://irp.cdn-website.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Library+Chelsea+Johnson+.JPG" />
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>Behind The Mask: Marshall catcher Cooper Middleton</title>
    <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.advisor-chronicle.com/behind-the-mask-marshall-catcher-cooper-middleton" />
    <link rel="enclosure" type="image/jpeg" href="https://irp.cdn-website.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Cover+Option+4+959A1444.JPG" length="259044" />
    <author>
      <name />
    </author>
    <updated>2021-04-10T11:37:12Z</updated>
    <published>2021-04-10T11:37:12Z</published>
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            Cooper Middleton began playing competitive travel baseball when he was 8 years old and knew exactly what position he wanted to play. 
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            “When I was younger, I wanted to be a catcher because I loved wearing the gear and getting dirty,” said Middleton, a Marshall High School senior and four-year varsity player “I was also able to see the entire field and be in control of the action which is one of the aspects of catching that I still love today.”
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            As he got older, Middleton stuck with catching because he thought it was the hardest position on the field and he wanted to be the guy to do it. 
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            “I also appreciated the mental side of it because every pitch and every batter represents a different, unique opportunity,” he said. “l worked hard at developing my skills for blocking and receiving the ball because of the technique it requires… I consider blocking and receiving to be kind of like an artform.”
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            Middleton says if you take it seriously and work hard at it, catching is both mentally and physically exhausting but also very rewarding. 
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            “Calling a game takes some strategy,” he said. “Every team you face is different, and hitters have different strengths and weaknesses. You have to pick up on those strengths/weaknesses and take advantage of them. Calling pitches throughout the course of a game requires knowing your pitcher and what they can do and how they are feeling and also the game situation. You may want to make a power hitter chase off speed pitches or you may want to make a weaker hitter put the ball in play. It all depends on the flow of the game and who’s at the plate.”
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            Middleton added that during pre-game warmups, he will typically talk to the pitcher about how they are feeling and what pitches they feel will work best that day. 
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            “We go over signs and plays and what we want to do if certain situations come up in the game,” he said. “Then I typically finish my warmup with them and leave them to focus on the game -  letting the pitcher handle themselves is important, but catchers need to be able to keep them calm and collected so they don’t do too much.”
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            Throughout the years, Middleton said he has  been “lucky” to not have any injuries that have been severe during a season. 
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            “Just minor injuries like sprained ankles, black eyes, a few arm injuries and a few knee injuries,” he said. “The only thing I sometimes have to deal with is muscle soreness but that comes with the job and I have good parents (both are physical therapists) that help me with that.”
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            Foul tips off the mask or other areas, he added, aren’t as bad as they seem to appear most of the time. 
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            “They happen so fast you can’t even tense up before the ball hits you,” said Middleton. “It’s just the after
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            effect of the high velocity that hurts a little. Direct hits to the mask sometimes ring your bell but, in most cases, you can shake it off pretty quick.”
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            Along with talking with his pitcher pre-game, Middleton noted that establishing a good relationship with the umpire before, during and after the game is very important. 
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            “Before every game I usually try to greet the umpire, shake his/her hand and introduce myself,” he said. “During the game I like to talk or joke with them, get to know them a little and enjoy the game. After the game I shake their hand again and thank them and wish them well. Having a good relationship with them allows you to be remembered by them as a good person and a good catcher and you also never know when you will have that umpire again, so having a good reputation is always a positive thing. Umpires will also appreciate you even more if the ball never touches them.” 
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            Middleton said the “best” parts of being a catcher seem a “little odd” and that's because it's a unique position. 
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            “The best parts of catching are the bruises all over your body and the dirt all over your uniform,” said Middleton. “If you have both after a game, you know you played hard, and it was a good day.”
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            He added that calling pitches, being able to control the game, leading by example and being a vocal leader on the field are also great reasons why he feels being a catcher is the best position in baseball. 
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            “The most challenging thing about being a catcher is being mentally tough on every pitch,” said Middleton. “Being a catcher requires you to throw the ball just as much as the pitcher, squat for the majority of the game or games and you have to be comfortable with smelling terrible afterwards. 
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            “Being mentally tough and powering through the moments of muscle soreness, pain, overheating and exhaustion make it worth it. As I have grown up, my love for catching has increased. I have made it my main athletic focus to become the best catcher I can be and take advantage of every opportunity that crosses my path.” 
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            Middleton said he been “blessed” with great coaches like MHS coach Tom Sharpley and the rest of the MHS baseball staff and great summer ball coaches like Thom Shipley and his current coaches, Mike Hinga and Don Ampersee with the Kalamazoo Maroons. 
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            “I am grateful to coach Sharpley for believing in me and giving me the opportunity to start on varsity as a freshman,” said Middleton. “I have also been blessed with great training opportunities, especially with Rick Sellers, former MLB scout and player who has opened doors for me that I will always be grateful for, like being invited to attend the MLB Professional Developmental Pipeline showcase the past two years.”
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            Sharpley said Middleton’s love of the game translates into him being a leader.
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            “He’s always willing to  catch a bullpen, take conditional batting practice, that type pf thing,” said Sharpley. “He’s a four-year varsity player and that makes a huge difference. The other guys watch him as he sets the example of being a hard worker. He’s a great asset for our baseball program.”
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            After graduating from MHS, Middleton will attend Kellogg Community College (and eventually transfer to a four-year school to play ball and earn a degree in exercise science and become a physical therapist) and play for the nationally-ranked Bruins’ baseball program.
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            “I met coach Eric Laskovy the fall of my freshman year while catching a bullpen for a pitcher he was looking to recruit,” said Middleton. “We talked, stayed in contact and began a great relationship. Coach Laskovy introduced me to coach Sellers and for the past four years I have had the opportunity to train with him in Lansing and Mt. Pleasant. I have been working hard to play at the next level and when KCC gave me an offer, I was excited. KCC has a great baseball history, and I look forward to competing, but first we have business to take care of this year at Marshall looking to win our fifth straight league championship and third straight district title. I can't wait to get playing one last year of high school and summer ball.”
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    <summary type="text" />
    <g-custom:tags type="string">Nov 2020</g-custom:tags>
    <media:content medium="image" url="https://irp.cdn-website.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Cover+Option+4+959A1444.JPG" />
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>City Council reschedules public hearing on electric rates to April 12</title>
    <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.advisor-chronicle.com/city-council-reschedules-public-hearing-on-electric-rates-to-april-12" />
    <link rel="enclosure" type="image/jpeg" href="https://irp.cdn-website.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Electric+Generator+959A7291-bd80604b.JPG" length="387613" />
    <author>
      <name />
    </author>
    <updated>2021-04-10T11:33:41Z</updated>
    <published>2021-04-10T11:33:41Z</published>
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            On April 5 during its online virtual meeting, the Marshall City Council voted to reschedule discussions of adjustment of power supply costs and the electric deficit elimination plan to a public hearing on Monday, April 12 at 7 p.m., when council will consider an increase in electric rates to make up the deficit in the city’s electric fund.
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            The meeting on the 5th was originally planned to be held in-person.
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            “We intended to do this meeting in-person, but due to the COVID numbers in the community and outreach from concerned citizens, I’d like to reschedule this public hearing to a special meeting on Monday, April 12 at 7 p.m., so that everyone who would like to participate will have the opportunity to do so,” said Marshall Mayor Joe Caron. 
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            Caron added that the link to the meeting will be posted on the city’s website and Facebook page, but at press time it had not yet been determined where the meeting would be held if it were to be in person.
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            The city is in the second year of a five-year deficit elimination plan with the State of Michigan Department of Treasury. On Jan. 4, the city received a notice that the state intended to withhold State Revenue Sharing Payments unless a deficit elimination plan was submitted to remedy the deficit at the end of the five-year period, according to information in the city council’s April 5 meeting packet.
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            To offset the city’s $2,973,470 deficit in its electric fund, council will consider an 18% rate increase in the power supply cost adjustment at the public hearing on the 12th. The power supply cost adjustment would apply to all of the city’s electric rate schedules, except for the monthly security light rental rate if council approves the plan.
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            One community member, who said he was on the city’s future energy needs committee about 20 years ago, said the city should be focusing on reducing energy instead of increasing costs, something the community member said should have been a point of emphasis a long time ago.
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            “One thing that we could have done then, we still haven’t done yet, is to make our electric rate structure progressive so that, instead of charging less for the bigger users, we charge more to the bigger users because they drive more of the demand for additional contracts and capital investments,” he said. “As council is now considering electric rates in a couple different ways, I would strongly encourage the city to take a pause and make sure that it is giving due consideration to progressive conservation and use reduction encouraging rates.”
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            Council also voted to authorize a submission of a Community Development Block Grant (CBGD) application for $420,000 to assist in the redevelopment of the Schuler’s 2nd Floor Rental Rehabilitation Project. The grant will be received by the city and passed through to Schuler’s Restaurant and Pub to pay for the redevelopment of the 2nd floor into seven apartments, in addition to over $509,000 from Schuler’s.
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            Also, during the April 5 meeting, council approved the utilization of Rowe Professional Engineering Services in the amount of $26,700 to design and bid the rehabilitation work for phase two of the $4.75 million street improvements project the residents of Marshall voted to approve in November of 2020.
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            On the consent agenda, council approved a resolution authorizing an application to the Local Bridge Program for the South Marshall Avenue Bridge over Rice Creek, the scheduling of a public hearing for April 19 to hear public comment on a proposed amendment to City Ordinance chapter 70, section 70.17 of the Code of Ordinances, city council minutes on March 15 and March 22 and city bills totaling $715,793.44.
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            For more information, visit cityofmarshall.com.
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    <summary type="text" />
    <g-custom:tags type="string">Nov 2020</g-custom:tags>
    <media:content medium="image" url="https://irp.cdn-website.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Electric+Generator+959A7291-bd80604b.JPG" />
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>Fountain Clinic administers COVID-19 vaccines</title>
    <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.advisor-chronicle.com/fountain-clinic-administers-covid-19-vaccines" />
    <link rel="enclosure" type="image/jpeg" href="https://irp.cdn-website.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Vaccination+Bob+Lankford+and+Kim+Gloar.jpg" length="843255" />
    <author>
      <name />
    </author>
    <updated>2021-04-10T11:31:34Z</updated>
    <published>2021-04-10T11:31:34Z</published>
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            The Fountain Clinic in Marshall served as a COVID-19 vaccination site on April 7 as Executive Director Mary Jo Byrne said about 100 doses of vaccine from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services made the event possible, with another clinic set to be held on April 14.
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            Byrne said it was a “comforting feeling” knowing the clinic was helping protect community members from COVID-19 by administering the vaccine.
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            “To know that within two to four weeks these folks are going to be fully vaccinated, to know that our staff is fully vaccinated - it’s nothing short of a miracle, really, compared to what we were going through a year ago,” Byrne said.
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            Byrne noted the Fountain Clinic has stayed open five days a week throughout the pandemic and remained dedicated to serving their patients even as anxiety was high for those that worked in healthcare, especially in the early stages of the pandemic.
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            “In a small clinic like this, (we knew) if one of us got sick, we’d have to close down,” said Byrne. “And we take care of a pretty special group of people in this community - they’re low income, they’re uninsured. They really have nowhere else to go for their healthcare except here. So, the emotions the entire community went through, the whole state and the whole country, cannot be minimalized, but especially for people in healthcare. It was really tough.”
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    <g-custom:tags type="string">Nov 2020</g-custom:tags>
    <media:content medium="image" url="https://irp.cdn-website.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Vaccination+Bob+Lankford+and+Kim+Gloar.jpg" />
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>Local pastor Brandon Crawford says people need their local church more than ever</title>
    <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.advisor-chronicle.com/local-pastor-brandon-crawford-says-people-need-their-local-church-more-than-ever" />
    <link rel="enclosure" type="image/jpeg" href="https://irp.cdn-website.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Cover+Photo+Brandon+Crawford+in+Church+959A1428.JPG" length="447557" />
    <author>
      <name />
    </author>
    <updated>2021-04-03T12:50:10Z</updated>
    <published>2021-04-03T12:50:10Z</published>
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            This Easter, the mood is more optimistic a year into the COVID-19 pandemic compared to last Easter when schools and businesses had just locked down, ushering in a spring of uncertainty.
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            Brandon Crawford has been the pastor at Grace Baptist Church (500 Cosmopolitan Avenue) in Marshall for more than 10 years and said Easter last year was “very subdued.”
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             “We offered only live steam and it was just me and the camera,” said Crawford. “We were still learning what COVID-19 was. The health professionals were still trying to figure out the best ways to treat patients. There was a lot of anxiety and a general fear of what the upcoming months were going to look like.
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            “This year, it’s quite a bit different. It’s still subdued, but we are now offering in-person worship and we know now what we are dealing with in regard to COVID. A lot of that anxiety is now gone away, and people have made adjustments to their lifestyles in order to cope with it…The energy is a bit higher, and I now sense more of an impatience to get things back to normal.”
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            Crawford said a year ago, he nor most people could not foresee the impact the pandemic would have.
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            “When we shut down all of in-person programs at Grace we were thinking two weeks or maybe four weeks,” said Crawford. “That was what we were kind of thinking it would be. But then the two weeks turned into four, and the four weeks turned into 12 and on it went. We definitely did not think it was going to stretch out that long.”
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            Crawford said the past year has shown that people need their local church.
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            “They need the worship they get there; they need the teaching they get, but they also need the support group around them,” he said. “The congregation is made up of people they know and love. People do much better in a community of people than being by themselves in isolation…It’s not the building and it’s not a livestream, which is a nice temporary crisis for a short-term crisis. That is no way to do church long term. It’s inadequate to meet church members’ needs. Even scaled back, it’s important to have that option available for people.”
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            And this Easter, he said, is a chance for people to regain their sense of hope.
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            “Easter is the most hopeful event on the church calendar,” said Crawford. “We are celebrating resurrection. The resurrection of Christ is everything. For us, it is the validation of all that He said and did and it’s the confirmation that there is life beyond death for us. So, this year, as we contemplate the resurrection together, we’re going to be emphasizing all of that. Even in the midst of an unspeakable tragedy like the crucifixion, there was a resurrection after that. And in the same way for all who believe, there is reason to hope, even as you are going through some awful circumstances… God does not leave his people in misery forever. There may be a season of it, but the resurrection comes and there is hope afterwards.”
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            The pastor added that those themes are some of the things people have been living and experiencing over the past year, making the role of the church more important than it has ever been for many in his congregation.
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            “It's really rewarding when you help someone through those difficult times,” said Crawford. “There was so much anxiety and grief that we started a support group- not just for our congregation, but we opened it up to the entire community. We had about half church members and half community members. We just tried to work through our anxiety and grief together in a group setting because there was just so much of it.”
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            Crawford said it usually takes him about eight hours or so to write his weekly sermon but noted that that was the “easiest” part of his job.
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             “The hard part is the one-on-one ministry with people where they’ve just gotten this pink slip from work and they don’t know how they are going to pay their bills or they’re having anxiety attacks because of all the things swirling around them or they have received a serious health diagnosis and they’re struggling with that diagnosis and figuring out what to do next,” he said. “That’s the hard part- helping them to overcome the very difficult struggles that they have… It’s been a really challenging year for a lot of people, especially for those who have been unemployed for a year’s time.”
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      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            Crawford said the church’s Benevolence Fund offers emergency financial relief to people, and not surprisingly, has been utilized more than it has ever been during the COVID pandemic.
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      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            “Over the past year, we have given thousands and thousands of dollars in emergency aid to people, far more than we have ever done in the fast,” said Crawford, who also noted that the church is preparing to be a fresh food distribution site.
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      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            “Those who can’t afford the meat, milk, cheese and produce can come to our church and get a  box of that for no cost, no questions asked,” he said.
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            Crawford said he hoped the church’s new tagline, Offering help and hope through the Gospel of Christ, will help people find the faith and comfort they have needed during these challenging times.
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      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            “We wanted to be a place that people would run to when they are afraid or grieving or just exhausted from life,” said Crawford. “We want them to think of the local church to run to during those times. The ‘help’ refers to practical assistance and the ‘hope’ refers to the biblical counsel we can offer. We have let people know in our congregation and in our community that we are here for them, whatever their needs are.”
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      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
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&lt;/div&gt;</content>
    <summary type="text" />
    <g-custom:tags type="string">Nov 2020</g-custom:tags>
    <media:content medium="image" url="https://irp.cdn-website.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Cover+Photo+Brandon+Crawford+in+Church+959A1428.JPG" />
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>Olivet senior wrestler Gavin Bartley qualifies for state meet, wins 100th match after being granted temporary restraining order against health department</title>
    <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.advisor-chronicle.com/olivet-senior-wrestler-gavin-bartley-qualifies-for-state-meet-wins-100th-match-after-being-granted-temporary-restraining-order-against-health-department" />
    <link rel="enclosure" type="image/jpeg" href="https://irp.cdn-website.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Gavin+Bartley+.jpg" length="23244" />
    <author>
      <name />
    </author>
    <updated>2021-04-03T12:47:42Z</updated>
    <published>2021-04-03T12:47:42Z</published>
    <content>&lt;div style="transition: none 0s ease 0s; display: block;" data-rss-type="text"&gt;&#xD;
  &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
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      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            Olivet High School wrestlers Gavin Bartley (senior) and Tyler Schofield (freshman) both qualified for the state wrestling meet in Kalamazoo on April 2 in Kalamazoo  after their performances at individual regionals in Lansing on March 27.
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      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            Bartley placed second at the event at 160 pounds while also picking up his 100th career win in the process, while Schofield finished fourth at 145 pounds.
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      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
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            Bartley’s ability to continue his senior season and notch his 100th win was up in the air when Bartley’s mother reportedly received a call on March 21 from the Barry-Eaton District Health Department.
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      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            The call was a notification that Gavin Bartley was identified as a close contact to a COVID-19 positive case after sitting three feet from the COVID-positive student at school, according to Jimmy Thomas, an independent lawyer who represented the Bartleys while helping them take legal action against the health department.
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      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            Thomas mentioned Bartley’s mother being an RN who works in a hospital who has all of her children wear N95 masks in school because of her position at the hospital and not wanting to be exposed to COVID by her children. The N95 masks are used by nurses and doctors to be protected from COVID and Bartley was wearing that at all times while in school, Thomas said.
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      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            Thomas said he filed an “emergency ex parte temporary restraining order” against the Barry-Eaton District Health Department, which granted Bartley the ability to compete in regionals while securing his 100th win.
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      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
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            Thomas said at no time did Bartley or his family receive a formal written notice from the health department or Olivet High School. He explained that Michigan Compiled Laws (MCL) 333.5203 lays out the rules for quarantine and that BEDHD could only take action against Bartley if he was a “carrier” of the virus and that there was no written notice alleging Bartley was a carrier under the rule.
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      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            Bartley’s 18th birthday was March 25, which was the same day a judge ruled in favor of Bartley and the verified complaint Thomas submitted based on BEDHD “violating Gavin’s rights by them exceeding their statutory authority and not complying with the statutory requirements and not following the science and data of the CDC guidelines,” Thomas said.
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      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            “As far as the lawsuit goes, the main purpose was to get intervention from the court to allow Gavin to wrestle in regionals in an effort to fulfill his legacy,” said Thomas. “Otherwise, there would have been irreparable harm which is one of the elements in granting a TRO (temporary restraining order). Unfortunately, there were many other athletes that missed out on their legacies because they either didn’t know they could challenge their quarantine, or the clock just ran out on them.”
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      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            When word got around on social media that Bartley had won in court, Thomas said many others in similar situations contacted him.
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      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            “When the news broke out of Gavin’s win in court, many other parents reached out to me because their child was in the same boat for this (last) weekend,” said Thomas. “It is a shame that we have kept healthy children, especially seniors out of their competitions based on speculation at best that they were exposed to COVID through contact tracing. It will be up to Gavin if any further action will be taken with the lawsuit filed on his behalf.”
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      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
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&lt;/div&gt;</content>
    <summary type="text" />
    <g-custom:tags type="string">Nov 2020</g-custom:tags>
    <media:content medium="image" url="https://irp.cdn-website.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Gavin+Bartley+.jpg" />
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>MHS teacher Trevor Young battles back from kidney cancer</title>
    <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.advisor-chronicle.com/mhs-teacher-trevor-young-battles-back-from-kidney-cancer" />
    <link rel="enclosure" type="image/jpeg" href="https://irp-cdn.multiscreensite.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Cover+option+1+.JPG" length="474285" />
    <author>
      <name />
    </author>
    <updated>2021-03-27T13:39:40Z</updated>
    <published>2021-03-27T13:39:40Z</published>
    <content>&lt;div style="transition: none 0s ease 0s; display: block;" data-rss-type="text"&gt;&#xD;
  &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
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            Last September, Marshall High School math teacher Trevor Young noticed a pain in his side one day and figured it was a kidney stone.
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      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            When the pain did not subside and in fact, intensified, he decided to go to a doctor.
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      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            He got the news on Sept. 11: he had kidney cancer. Doctors found large masses on both kidneys – one of them was the size of a football, much larger than the kidney itself.
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      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            “At first it was just disbelief,” said Trevor. “There had to be something else. Then it was my family. My mom passed when I was 5, so I have an idea what that is like. It was difficult. Then it turned to hope. My faith brought me peace and gave me hope. When I was sitting in the doctor's with my wife and I was given the news, I actually thought about all the people that might be going through this alone. So, we designed a t-shirt that someone might wear when they are going to appointments like this. I don't know why, but that is what went through my head.”
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      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            Doctors hypothesize that it may have taken three to four years to reach the size it did, with Trevor having no inkling what was going on inside his body.
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            “They say, with this type of cancer I could have even had it at birth,” he said.
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      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            This type of cancer is chromophobe renal cell carcinoma, which is a rare type of kidney cancer which forms in the cells, lining the small tubules in the kidney. Only about 5% of people with renal cell carcinoma will have the chromophobe subtype. The fortunate aspect of this type of cancer, said Trevor, is that chromophobe tends to be a less aggressive form of the disease because the tumors can grow to be quite large before spreading to different parts of the body.
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      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            In his case, doctors discovered the cancer had not spread.
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            He had two surgeries- Oct. 9 and Jan. 19.
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      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
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            Today, Trevor has half of one kidney remaining, and although low functioning, it has been doing the job, meaning that he did not have to go through dialysis.
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      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            “Doctors are optimistic that the kidney will work for a while,” said Trevor, 40 and a teacher at MHS for 16 years. “They’ve said my kidney is basically working overtime and at some point, it will have issues, which would mean I’d need a kidney transplant.”
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      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            Trevor said he would need to be cancer-free for two years before he could receive a kidney.
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      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
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            As a result of having just half of a kidney, he has to stick to a very restrictive renal diet.
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      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            “That means I need to watch for sodium and potassium particularly,” he said. “Some fruits and vegetables are high in potassium like bananas, potatoes, tomatoes, pasta and spinach. There are others on the list too, but those are the ones my family eats often. I have also been advised to avoid dairy products as well.”
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      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            He can have meat, chicken and fish as well as some vegetables such as eggplant which is low in potassium. He only now drinks water.
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      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            “Now, I cook for myself essentially.” said Trevor, who noted his new diet took some getting used to. “It was scary at first, because I was thinking, ‘Is this next food going to kill me?’” he said. “But the more I talk it out and see doctors, they said it’s more a long-term type of thing. If I have a banana, it’s not going to kill me, but over time, you need to be careful about that.”
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      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            Trevor and his wife Melissa have been married 20 years and have five children.
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      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            Three of their older children attend Mar Lee School, but while Trevor was waiting for his second surgery, the kids stayed home from school so as not to risk bringing COVID home.
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      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            “I was hoping to have that second surgery in early December, but then there were some COVID issues at U of M and some other things and it got pushed back to mid-January, so the kids stayed home until then,” said Trevor. “For the kids to get COVID would not have been a big deal, but for myself, COVID would have endangered what was left of that second kidney.”
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      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
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            Melissa said her and Trevor’s faith has helped them get through this difficult time. 
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      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
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            “Since the beginning of this I felt like God was helping us from above and people here on earth have been helping us with meals and gift cards and words of encouragement and prayers,” said Melissa. “It’s been overwhelming.”
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      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            Trevor said it is not natural for him to be in the limelight but feels he can help others who are going through similar difficulties.
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      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            “I told my brother Kyle that if something needs to change, I have to let this change me in some way,” said Trevor. “If this happened for a reason, I need to adhere to that reason and let it change me because maybe it can help somebody in some way.” 
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      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            Kyle, who is also a math teacher at MHS and is Trevor’s identical twin, said he was “crushed” when he heard the news about his brother. 
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      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            “We were just getting into a crazy new year in school with COVID and trying to do school online and in person,” said Kyle. “We were scrambling to figure out how we could help or make it better, but in most ways we were helpless. Honestly, until much later, I put off how it would change my world and worried most about his spiritual walk and his family.  I think we all started making plans in our head for him not being with us.”
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            Kyle added that the community response has been “great.”
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            “Many people are actually finding out about it now because Trevor didn’t want to get any attention from it,” he said. “The people that did know have been willing to do whatever he needs.”
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            Trevor said the support has been “unbelievable.”
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            “I have received dozens and dozens of cards from students and former students, some I have not seen in years,” he said. “Three come to mind who just graduated college and sent me gift card. I remember when I graduated from college, I had no money and for them to give me that gift card was just unbelievable.”
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      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
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            Community members provided enough meals for the family for two months during October and November.
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      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
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            “People wanted to help in any way they could,” said Trevor. “I’d get messages from people I hadn’t talked to in years. It was amazing.”
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            Trevor said one woman approached him and told him she’d be willing to give one of her kidneys to him.
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            “My wife knows this woman, through a homeschooling thing she did three or four years ago, but I never met her,” he said. “She said, ‘I don’t know why, I but I feel I’m supposed to this. I went to the doctor and got my blood tested and I am the same blood type as you (O negative).’ She told me that she would “absolutely” be willing to donate a kidney to me. Wow.”
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      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            On March 17, Trevor and his family sat at the Brooks Fountain while a parade of cars drove from the high school to the fountain showing their support by waving, cheering and honking.
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      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            That drive by culminated a week of  events at MHS to highlight Kidney Cancer Awareness Month which takes place every March.
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      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            Student Zoe Ellis, who has been involved in several cancer fundraisers over the years, helped organize activities during the week of March 14, which included painting the rock orange outside the high school. Zoe and other students set up a card donation box at the school’s Four Corners and decorated the math hallway with a big orange sign on the windows facing the football field (orange is the Kidney Cancer Awareness color - more info at kidneycancer.org) as well as hanging posters around the school. 
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            Prior to the Marshall’s boys varsity basketball team’s final home game of the season March 18, Trevor and Kyle were in the MHS Gym while players and coaches wore orange t-shirts with #teamtrevor across the front to honor Trevor.
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      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            Melissa said the words of a song from church have helped she and Trevor and the kids get through the past six and a half months and uses the words as kind of a manta.
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      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            “The song that stood out is It is Well,” said Melissa. “And the words are: Through it all, my eyes are on you. Through it all, it is well with my soul and it is well with me. Everything has been so overwhelming for everybody. Being in church is rooted in our relationship and our family. No matter the trials we have had to go through, our faith has stayed strong.”
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      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            Trevor and Melissa celebrated their 20th wedding anniversary just after the cancer diagnosis.
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      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            “We celebrated our 20th in 2020 fashion,” she said. “Our meal for our anniversary was at the hospital.”
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      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            Trevor received his second COVID vaccine March 19 and he said he hopes to return to the classroom following spring break once in-person classes resume at MHS April 19. (The week of April 12 will be virtual only for all students.)
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      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            “I’m feeling good enough that I can go in and do my job well,” he said. I’ve gotten my strength back and feel good. I’ve been walking three to four miles four days a week and have put some weight back on.”
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      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            Trevor will go back for more testing in a couple months and get another MRI to make sure the cancer has not returned.
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            “Technically, with cancer cells, they can remove the cancer from me, but even if there is just once cell left, it can grow back in the kidney,” he said. “So, they could say in May, ‘yep, it’s back,’ and I’d probably have to go in and get that kidney taken out and then I’d have to do dialysis.”
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      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            Melissa said she and Trevor’s faith will continue to always remain strong.
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      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            “We are just clinging to God,” she said. “We are trusting that everything will work out.”
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&lt;/div&gt;</content>
    <summary type="text" />
    <g-custom:tags type="string">Nov 2020</g-custom:tags>
    <media:content medium="image" url="https://irp-cdn.multiscreensite.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Cover+option+1+.JPG" />
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>Following in his parents’ footsteps, Hemmingsen pharmacist is excelling in Marshall before he returns to Alaska</title>
    <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.advisor-chronicle.com/following-in-his-parents-footsteps-hemmingsen-pharmacist-is-excelling-in-marshall-before-he-returns-to-alaska" />
    <link rel="enclosure" type="image/jpeg" href="https://irp-cdn.multiscreensite.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Hemmingsen+Soren+White+.JPG" length="240214" />
    <author>
      <name />
    </author>
    <updated>2021-03-27T13:37:15Z</updated>
    <published>2021-03-27T13:37:15Z</published>
    <content>&lt;div style="transition: none 0s ease 0s; display: block;" data-rss-type="text"&gt;&#xD;
  &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
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            Soren White is more than 2,000 miles away from his hometown in Sitka, Alaska, but he has found a new temporary home while working as a pharmacist at Hemmingsen Drug Store in Marshall.
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            After graduating from Oregon State University in 2019 with an MBA after going through the pharmacy program in college, the 26-year-old White had multiple elements of his life line up to ultimately lead him to working in Marshall after he finished school.
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            Several years back in Florida, White and his family were at a pharmaceutical-related conference when they met Chris and Mindy Munden, who bought Hemmingsen in January of 2016.
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      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            After White graduated, he and his girlfriend moved to Ann Arbor  because she got a job in the University of Michigan’s residency program. That exchange between the two families at that summer conference along with White’s move to Michigan helped lead White to Hemmingsen, where he was brought on staff in January and expects to stay until June before likely going back home to Sitka.
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      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            “I was in the area and my Dad sent me a text saying, ‘this guy, you met him at a conference a few years ago and we stopped by his pharmacy, it looks great, it looks fun, people seem really nice,’ which they are,” White said. “I gave Chris a call to see if he needed a pharmacist and he said he did. Just a few days later--quick interview process, I gave him my resume and my CV, and he said, ‘yeah, I think you’ll fit in great.’”
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      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            For White, being in the pharmaceutical industry runs in the family as both of his parents, Dirk and Trish, have been pharmacy owners longer than he has been alive.
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      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            He has followed in their footsteps as his mother also went through the same program as he did at Oregon State. In June,  White said his plans are to likely go home and help take over the family business as his parents are owners of Harry Race and White’s Pharmacy in Sitka.
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      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            White said the timing will line up well with his parents being ready to retire sooner rather than later, especially his Mom.
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      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            “I’m definitely thinking about going back and taking over the family business and letting my parents retire,” White said. “My Mom’s been ready for quite a while even though she told me when I was going to pharmacy school ‘you really don’t have to do this,’ and ‘are you sure you want to do this?’ But my Mom’s ready to retire and their retirement plan is me, so I’ll hopefully head back sometime at the end of June or so and take some things I learned from Chris and everybody down here (at Hemmingsen).” 
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      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            Chris Munden said he believes bringing White into Hemmingsen is a win-win situation for both White and Hemmingsen as Munden said he enjoys investing in the next generation of pharmacists such as White.
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      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            Munden said White’s ability to connect and interact with others has made him a valuable asset to the company during his time in Marshall thus far.
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            “He has a great rapport with people, he’s a people person and has a real empathy about him, which is something we look for in all of our pharmacists,” Munden said. “He’s great with the staff, he gets along with everybody, and the reality is, he helps me a lot. I’m able to do some management things that I need to do as well. There’s a lot of benefit there and we’re really thankful to have him even if it’s just through mid-summer until he goes back to Sitka.
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            “Personally, I’m just excited to have that friendship with him and look forward to collaborating with him over the years and bouncing ideas off of him like I do with other independent pharmacy owners.”
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            Munden said White, along with the other full-time pharmacists at Hemmingsen (Matt and Brynn) are the best pharmacists he has ever worked with.
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            As for White, he said he has enjoyed working with the community in Marshall and outside of work has enjoyed the area in general. He said his parents taught him the importance of helping the community as part of the industry and always thought that trait was admirable and was a key reason as to why he chose to follow their path.
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            “Sometimes on holidays, Christmas Day (we would) run into the store and help get patients their medications if they needed them and just helped the community, which I thought was really admirable,” White said. “They seemed to know everybody in the community, and they were always looked up to and I just thought, ‘you know what, I’d like that too’ and that I’d like to be a part of the community and they taught me that’s a great virtue to give back to the community and try to help as many people as you can.”
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    <g-custom:tags type="string">Nov 2020</g-custom:tags>
    <media:content medium="image" url="https://irp-cdn.multiscreensite.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Hemmingsen+Soren+White+.JPG" />
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>City council authorizes city clerk to sign construction contract for dam remediation project</title>
    <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.advisor-chronicle.com/city-council-authorizes-city-clerk-to-sign-construction-contract-for-dam-remediation-project" />
    <link rel="enclosure" type="image/jpeg" href="https://irp-cdn.multiscreensite.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/City+of+Marshall.jpg" length="10386" />
    <author>
      <name />
    </author>
    <updated>2021-03-27T13:35:25Z</updated>
    <published>2021-03-27T13:35:25Z</published>
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            The Marshall City Council voted to authorize the city clerk to sign a construction contract for a Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) required dam remediation project at its meeting on March 15.
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            The city owns and operates a 124-year-old hydroelectric facility on the Kalamazoo River, which is under the jurisdiction of FERC. In 2012, FERC changed the status of the Perrin Dam from a significant hazard to a high hazard and ordered the city to perform a comprehensive dam inspection, according to information in the city council packet.
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            The inspection identified three deficiencies, including leaks, significant tree growth and a “low freeboard water condition,” which could cause overtopping resulting in a washout in a major rain event.
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            The 2012 FERC report indicated the city would receive a notice for a remediation to repair the deficiency, which the city received in 2015.
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            Council has reviewed ways to reduce the cost of the remediation over the past several years. The most recent step in the process was for the city to receive bids from contractors for the remediation of the dam and perform construction management activities.
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            In September of 2019, council approved Lawson-Fisher Associates P.C. to “develop engineering plans, acquire permits from multiple governmental agencies, prepare bid documents and issue/advertise the construction documents,” according to the packet. A pre-bid was held in December of 2020 with seven construction firms attending and six construction contractors submitting bids.
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            Mead Brothers Excavating, Inc. was “thoroughly vetted by city staff and its engineering/construction management consultant (Lawson-Fisher) and determined that Mead Brothers was fully qualified to complete the dam remediation project,” according to information in the packet.
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            Mead Brothers was the “low and qualified bidder” in the amount of $1,509,938 with a $226,500 (15%) contingency.
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            Dennis Zebell, the project manager from Lawson-Fisher said the project will take around seven months to complete, something that was discussed between Lawson-Fisher, the city’s electric department and Mead Brothers.
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            “When we went into the project, we gave the contractors a schedule they had to live by,” Zebell said. “We’ve actually got a sequence of construction laid out and they’re given seven months to substantially complete the project. So that means all of the major work has to be completed, things like clean up, access road removal, stuff like that. If we get started here in April, we should be done by November before the cold weather hits. I thoroughly talked with Mead Brothers and they hope to beat that seven-month schedule.”
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            Councilmember Jacob Gates asked Utilities Director Ed Rice during the meeting if the city had looked into any grants from the state that might be made available to the city to help with the cost of this project, with Rice saying it would have been difficult to receive help from the state in terms of funding.
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            “All through this process we were looking for grants, talking to the state and getting them involved in it,” said Rice. “There’s grants for removal but there wasn’t hardly anything available for repairs or maintenance-- the state is really pushing dam removals. It’d be very difficult for Marshall to do because of the sediment issue upstream. We did analyze that, and it would be anywhere from 20 to 60 million dollars for sediment remediation if we were to remove the dam.”
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      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
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            Dam remediation has been a major discussion point across much of the state since an incident in Midland, Mich. in May of 2020 when dams failed and caused $200 million in flooding damage.
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            Council also voted to have the city attorney review a development agreement created by council in 2013 called the “Hospital Campus Overlay District.” City staff researched past city actions and could not find that council approved the original agreement.
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            Also approved by council was a six-year auditing services contract, a deficit elimination plan for the FiberNet fund and to direct the finance department to file the plan with the Michigan Department of Treasury and an accepting of a bid from Michigan Paving &amp;amp; Materials of Jackson for street improvements after the residents of Marshall voted to approve a $4.75 million Street Improvement Bond Proposal in November of 2020.
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            Council voted for a work session to further discuss a deficit elimination plan for the electric fund and to direct the finance department to file the plan with the Michigan Department of Treasury.
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            Council also approved five items on the consent agenda in the March 15 meeting.
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            For more information, visit cityofmarshall.com.
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    <summary type="text" />
    <g-custom:tags type="string">Nov 2020</g-custom:tags>
    <media:content medium="image" url="https://irp-cdn.multiscreensite.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/City+of+Marshall.jpg" />
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>MPS Board approves option of increased in-person instruction</title>
    <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.advisor-chronicle.com/mps-board-approves-option-of-increased-in-person-instruction" />
    <link rel="enclosure" type="image/png" href="https://irp-cdn.multiscreensite.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Marshall+Public+Schools+logo.png" length="13711" />
    <author>
      <name />
    </author>
    <updated>2021-03-27T13:33:23Z</updated>
    <published>2021-03-27T13:33:23Z</published>
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            At its March 22 meeting in the Marshall Middle School Auditorium, the Marshall Public Schools Board of Education voted to give parents the option for MMS and Marshall High School students to return back to the classroom for in-person instruction four days a week and also agreed to five-day-a-week in-person instruction for elementary school students (with one day being an early release day).
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            Currently, middle school and high school students have been in class two days a week and online three days a week, and elementary students have been in school four days a week with Wednesday serving as a virtual day.
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            Superintendent Randy Davis recommended to the Board that students come back to a virtual-only week of instruction April 12-16 for all grades K-12 following spring break April 5-9.
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            High school juniors only will be given the opportunity to report in-person for SAT testing on Tuesday, April 13.
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            Davis also  recommended beginning five days of weekly instruction on April 19 for the primary grades K-5, with Wednesdays being early release days and grades 6-12 moving to four days a week for students who choose that option, also beginning April 19. Wednesdays would remain an online learning day.
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            High School and middle school students could remain in the hybrid model if they so choose and those who are virtual only would continue to do so.
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            At the start of the meeting, Marshall Teachers Association Nick Dent and Vice President Shannon Robinson addressed the Board urging them to not potentially double the number of students in the middle school and high school.
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            “As we all know, Michigan is experiencing an uptick in COVID infections,” said Dent. “According to the latest from Johns Hopkins, Michigan is reporting a daily average of almost 3,000 new cases day, up 50% from a week ago and up 110% from two weeks ago.
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            “The MTA is concerned that a move to a four-day-a-week in-person instruction model at the middle school and high school level will result in an increase in COVID exposures and infections. Such a move will undoubtedly increase the rate of COVID exposures and  the rate of student and staff quarantines.”
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            Dent pointed to Coldwater schools as an example, which after having kids back in school full time, reverted back to a hybrid model.
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            He also noted that Harper Creek had postponed increasing in-person instruction after an increase in cases.
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            Dent said at times, MPS’ COVID data was not timely and there were staff shortages in the district.
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            “Our buildings are already experiencing certified staff and substitute teachers shortages and an increase and students and decrease in spacing will undoubtedly lead to more infections,” he said.
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            Robinson continued the argument against increasing in-person instruction, following Dent’s allotted time to speak during public comments.
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            “Unfortunately, buildings will have to close due to a lack of staff,” said Robinson. “Additional specific concerns are the impact of schedules on nearly all middle school students which will need to be reworked.”
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            She also questioned the feasibility of masking and 3-feet spacing for students in the cafeterias.
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            “It is important for the public to know that the MTA recently brought these concerns to the Central Office and the Board via email,” said Robinson. “Unfortunately, only one Board member responded to our email and our questions remain unanswered.”
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            MHS teacher Juliann Tobias stated her concerns over having too many students in school and what the potential consequences could be
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            “How many kids are going to quietly leave our school because it’s too crowded?” she asked. “I’m worried that our cafeteria is going to have so many people in there that it’s going to be over what our local restaurants are not allowed to have. How do we handle it when I have too many students in my classroom?”
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            Tobias also wondered how many students would actually come into school four days a week.
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            “Right now, our kids don’t come the two days that they are allotted sometimes, and they tell me they don’t come to school because they are working, they are on vacation, they slept through the entire day, they’re babysitting or today’s was, the weather was just too nice,” she said. “As I sit here and look at this, we are all spread out (in the auditorium). If this is such a focus, why are we not in this meeting  3-feet, nose to nose? Because that’s what you’re going to put me under.”
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            MHS Principal Dave Turner said going to four days a week would create “a huge disruption to educational opportunity that our students and staff and parents have.”
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             “Our current model prevents that from happening,” said Turner. “In fact, we have had zero students quarantined from classes (not athletics).”
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            MMS Principal Tara Egnatuk shared the same sentiment and urged the Board to “consider staying the course.”
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            One of those who supported increasing in-person instruction, Megan Vandenboss, said it was past time for kids to be in school fulltime.
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            “They were never not supposed to go back to school,” she said. “You had to know this was the plan. These kids deserve to go back to school… COVID is never going to go away. It is going to be in our lives forever. Forever. You need to do what’s best for the kids. End of story. School is about the children and the children need to come first.”
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            The Board members each commented on the difficulty of the decision and that both students and parents wanted to increased face to face instruction.  They commented on searching for the right balance.  Additionally, Davis indicated that he had reviewed the plan with the Calhoun County Public Health Department and there was no objection to the proposal.  
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            Davis also indicated that there were some areas of challenge such as how to maintain distance during lunches, and he would continue to work with his staff to address those issue.  
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            Board President Richard Lindsey said this had been “a very difficult issue to determine what is the right direction.”  “The Board appreciates very much the efforts of our teachers and administrators and the board is following the superintendent’s recommendation on this in order to seek the best way to serve the educational needs of our students,” said Lindsey, who also noted that. Davis will keep careful watch if numbers continue to rise and would expect that the plan would be modified if appropriate.
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    <g-custom:tags type="string">Nov 2020</g-custom:tags>
    <media:content medium="image" url="https://irp-cdn.multiscreensite.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Marshall+Public+Schools+logo.png" />
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>Through closures and capacity limitations, Schuler’s has found ways to adapt during challenging times</title>
    <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.advisor-chronicle.com/through-closures-and-capacity-limitations-schulers-has-found-ways-to-adapt-during-challenging-times" />
    <link rel="enclosure" type="image/jpeg" href="https://irp-cdn.multiscreensite.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Cover+Option+2+959A9352.JPG" length="458765" />
    <author>
      <name />
    </author>
    <updated>2021-03-21T14:50:08Z</updated>
    <published>2021-03-21T14:50:08Z</published>
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            When Sue Damron took over Schuler’s Restaurant and Pub in the fall of 2019 as President and CEO after over 20 years of working her way up in management, having to operate a restaurant during a pandemic wasn’t on her list of challenges that laid ahead.
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            But that’s exactly what Damron and other restaurant owners faced starting in March of 2020 when COVID-19 forced a nearly three-month shutdown to the industry in Michigan before they were allowed to re-open in early June of last year at 50% capacity.
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            “As COVID started being something that people were aware of and was on the news, we had started to, on our own, figure out the kinds of precautions that we needed to take to try to make sure that we helped our guests be very comfortable and we were taking it seriously,” Damron said. “Then when the state mandate came through to close, I think just like anybody we were kind of shocked a bit and didn’t really know what to do at first. We just kept trying to trudge along and make decisions. Our management team has over 115 years of experience working in the operation, so I feel like we have a seasoned team who knows what they’re doing.”
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            Even while finding ways to be creative to try to make money during these unprecedented times, Schuler’s was not exempt from being hurt from a monetary perspective as management was trying to figure out the best steps to take for the business on the fly.
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            Damron said during the first closure, Schuler’s started offering takeout but realized the restaurant was losing money after reviewing the matter, leading to a complete closure while willing to wait for the time the state allowed them to re-open, which happened on June 8 of last year.
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            She said while Schuler’s had a good turnout last summer while learning more ways to lessen the financial blow and be as efficient as possible during a pandemic, the monetary hit was “astronomical” when factoring in the additional state shutdown on indoor dining from Nov. 15, 2020 to Feb. 1  along with continued capacity limitations.
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            “We lost a lot of money last year,” said Damron. “It was just astronomical the amount of money that we lost. We learned to do things a little bit differently and we had to make some decisions. We closed our pub kitchen -  we’re working out of one kitchen now. Just a lot of different things that we’re trying to be creative with how to do business because it’s just a hard situation. But we’re finding ways to be creative.”
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            One of the ways Schuler’s has gotten creative is through its Take &amp;amp; Bake option, where customers can take a main entree and bake it in their oven at home, with the restaurant offering free delivery to Albion, Marshall and Battle Creek. The service is something Damron said she never thought of doing if not for the unique circumstances.
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            Another element that Schuler’s stayed on top of during the first shutdown of the business is keeping up with renovations. Damron said Winston’s Pub has been upgraded inside the restaurant during the down time, something that many of the customers dining in for the first time in a while have recently noticed when inside.
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            “We did take advantage during the first shutdown and did some renovations in Winston’s Pub,” said Damron. “So, we were also trying to say, ‘we won’t have an opportunity like this again when we’re closed, so what can we do to the physical piece of the building to try to make improvements on what we’re doing?’ It’s kind of interesting because we have people that are coming in to dine right now that literally have not been out in a year - the renovations that we did during the first COVID shutdown and then we were open from June to November, those people just weren’t feeling safe so they didn’t come out, and now they are and they’re thinking we just did it (renovations) when we really did it almost a year ago, so that’s kind of been fun and interesting.”
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            Despite the challenging times, Damron said the support from loyal customers in Marshall and the surrounding area has been fantastic while she thinks Schuler’s is also continuing to make new friends and build relationships with new customers as well.
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            “I think it’s just been incredible from people in the community, and we often talk about the Calhoun (County) community because we feel like that it stretches beyond the Marshall city limits,” Damron said. “But we’ve just got great Calhoun County community supporters that have just been fantastic through all of this. “And we feel like we’re developing new friendships and new customers as well. Our Take and Bake program is an example of where we feel like we have people that are ordering every single week from us that are new names that I didn’t necessarily recognize all of them in the past. Then we have our supporters who have been for a number of years and some of them through the closure period were getting takeout multiple times a week, and with the restaurant open we definitely have a few different groups that are coming into the restaurant, sometimes almost every day and others multiple times a week. It’s just been incredible to see the amount of outreach that’s been going on.”
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            Being a part of the Michigan Restaurant and Lodging Association, Damron said she receives constant communication from the association to make sure restaurants in the state stay informed about the communication between the MLRA, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.
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            Damron said one of the most challenging aspects for restaurant owners has been the lack of understanding of the data being used by the state to make decisions on the rules for indoor dining. She said moving forward, she hopes the MLRA, the governor and MDHHS can work together to create an outline so all involved can understand what the COVID numbers have to be to be allowed to either ease restrictions or tighten them up in the industry.
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            “They (MLRA) presented a plan to the governor about four or five weeks ago, which included how to get our restaurants open again and move through capacity limitations based off metrics of what is going on with the COVID numbers,” Damron said. “One of the hardest things for our industry is that we really don’t understand what data is being used to make the decisions, so I think it would give us all a track of knowing what needed to happen and where we needed to be as an industry if the governor and the Michigan Lodging and Restaurant Association could work together and there could be some sort of an outline that we would understand that we’re following that could just make sense to us.”
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    <summary type="text" />
    <g-custom:tags type="string">Nov 2020</g-custom:tags>
    <media:content medium="image" url="https://irp-cdn.multiscreensite.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Cover+Option+2+959A9352.JPG" />
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>Community comes together to honor the late Jim Stealy and raise money for youth bowlers</title>
    <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.advisor-chronicle.com/community-comes-together-to-honor-the-late-jim-stealy-and-raise-money-for-youth-bowlers" />
    <link rel="enclosure" type="image/jpeg" href="https://irp-cdn.multiscreensite.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Stealy+family.JPG" length="471113" />
    <author>
      <name />
    </author>
    <updated>2021-03-21T14:45:37Z</updated>
    <published>2021-03-21T14:45:37Z</published>
    <content>&lt;div style="transition: none 0s ease 0s; display: block;" data-rss-type="text"&gt;&#xD;
  &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
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            A bowling tournament was held at Marshall Lanes on March 12 and March 14 to honor the late Jim Stealy, a lifelong bowler and member of the Marshall Men’s Bowling Association Hall of Fame, who passed away last November.
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            The tournament that was organized by the Stealy family raised over $5,000 with several local businesses and community members donating to benefit the Marshall Youth Bowling Association.
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            Jim Stealy II said bowling was a big part of his father’s life and to have community members gathered to help youth in Marshall, which was something his father was passionate about, meant a lot to Stealy II.
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            “He taught me how to bowl, he taught me how to play baseball, he taught me a lot about the things that I do in my life every day,” Stealy II said. “My Dad was a unique guy, but he was a good friend to people and bowling was a big part of his life. I got that from him, so having this event and being able to benefit kids bowling, promote bowling amongst youth in Marshall is a big deal. It was a big deal to him, it’s a big deal to me and I think this is a way we can honor him and his life.”
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            Jim Stealy’s passion for supporting youth in sports started in his own family as he was known for coming to all of his grandkids’ sporting events and supporting them in every way that he could.
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            “He meant a lot to my entire family,” Alexis Stealy said, granddaughter of Jim Stealy. “I think he was definitely our biggest supporter as a grandparent. He came to everything and didn't miss anything. My brother and I played on opposite sides of the state for softball and baseball and he somehow managed to make it to both. He was always there an hour or two early before anything started with snacks and drinks. He always came prepared and did everything he could to make it to everything, so for our whole family his support definitely meant the most to all of us.”
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            Jim Stealy’s brother Junior played a big part in organizing the event and said it meant a lot to him to not only honor his brother, but to support Marshall Lanes, a place Junior Stealy and his family lived next door to until he was 13 years old and a business that has been hit hard during the COVID-19 pandemic due to closures and restrictions placed throughout the past year.
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            “This is like one big happy family down here (at Marshall Lanes), Junior Stealy said. “We’re a small-town community and we’re doing it in my brother’s honor but also for Marshall Lanes, a small business in this COVID pandemic--we wanted to bring everyone together. It’s just heartwarming with the pandemic we’ve been in and to have all these people in here recognizing what my brother has dedicated a big part of his life to.”
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            J.D. Stealy said his father Jim was always one to push him and his brothers to reach their goals growing up and always wanted them to be better than he was at anything they did, but especially when it came to bowling. J.D. has one memory between he and his father that sticks out vividly, which was when he bowled his first 300 (a perfect score).
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            “He was the guy that wanted us to be better at everything than he was,” J.D. Stealy said. “He wanted to teach you how to do it, he wanted to teach you how to do it the right way, and he wanted you to be better than he was. I think he set that precedent with all three of us as far as having 300’s and scoring well throughout our career. When I threw my first 300, he was more excited about it than I was, I think. When he threw his 300 and his 800 series, he called me and as soon as I threw mine, I called him.”
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        &lt;br/&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        &lt;br/&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        &lt;br/&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
    &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
  &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
&lt;/div&gt;</content>
    <summary type="text" />
    <g-custom:tags type="string">Nov 2020</g-custom:tags>
    <media:content medium="image" url="https://irp-cdn.multiscreensite.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Stealy+family.JPG" />
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>Marshall swimmers win 5th straight league title</title>
    <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.advisor-chronicle.com/marshall-swimmers-win-5th-straight-league-title" />
    <link rel="enclosure" type="image/jpeg" href="https://irp-cdn.multiscreensite.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Swim+Team++wins+5th+straight+IMG_3263+%282%29.jpg" length="416933" />
    <author>
      <name />
    </author>
    <updated>2021-03-21T14:43:23Z</updated>
    <published>2021-03-21T14:43:23Z</published>
    <content>&lt;div style="transition: none 0s ease 0s; display: block;" data-rss-type="text"&gt;&#xD;
  &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
    &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            In the past few weeks, several summer events in the region have already been cancelled due to COVID-19 concerns including the Marshall Blues Festival.
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            But, with COVID vaccine distribution becoming more widespread, organizers of the 2021 Calhoun County Fair have high hopes that this year’s fair will take place Aug. 15-22.
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            “We have known for months that this year’s fair was going to be different, that is, assuming that public health and elected officials in Michigan declare it’s safe for area residents to gather and traverse the fairgrounds later this summer,” said Calhoun County Fairgrounds Manager Jen Rice. “While no one knows for sure where we will be in mid-August in terms of Governor Whitmer’s plans to re-open Michigan’s economy, I remain cautiously optimistic and continue to work diligently with our county health department and industry experts to make a plan which places the health and safety of our community as our highest priority.”
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            Rice noted that she is working daily to explore and develop numerous means and methods that can be successfully implemented to thin out crowd size and permit appropriate social distancing behavior throughout the fairgrounds.  Concepts being considered include discounting gate pricing during off-peak times (before 4 p.m.) and encouraging online purchases of fair week passes.  
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            Fair Board President Jim Olds shared Rice’s sentiment, stating he wants the community to know that they are planning on have a typical fair using the Health Department’s guidance.
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            “The Calhoun County Fair is the oldest in the state of Michigan and even though we couldn’t hold it last year, we want people to know that we plan to have Grandstand events, carnival rides, fair food, auctions, etc.,” said Olds. “We are planning on a normal fair, and things may dictate differently as time progresses, but as of right now, we are going to have fully-funded Grandstand events, all the cattle and animal shows will continue as normal as can be with that caveat being that we are working with the Health Department to make sure we are doing it safely.”
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            Olds noted concern that sponsors may be reluctant to come forward if they think there won’t be a fair like last year.
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            “But here’s the double-edged sword: Without the sponsorships, we really can’t have a fair,” he said. 
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            Olds said he is hopeful that things will be much improved regarding COVID by the time the fair opens five months from now.
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            “They’re saying we should have most people vaccinated by the end of June,” said Olds. “If that turns out to be the case, then by August we should be fine to go, but so many things are dependent on government and what happens between now and then. I hate to stick my neck way out, but if we don’t stick our necks out, we’re not going to have a fair at all.”
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            Rice said she is working on a plan to actively manage the number of people permitted inside all of the buildings and tents, just like the practices adopted by many supermarkets and big-box retailers.  
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            “Plans also include live-streaming livestock shows and judged events to allow friends and relatives of youth exhibitors the opportunity to ‘virtually’ attend and enjoy these competitive events from their homes,” she said.
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            Rice emphasized that this year’s fair will reflect significant operational adjustments aimed at meeting or exceeding evolving public health mandates.  
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            “Providing an opportunity for a healthy physical distance between visitors will play a significant role in allowing the Calhoun County Fair to contribute to the healing of our community, emotionally and physically,” she said. “Our annual fair is a celebration of community in the most inclusive sense and a cherished tradition for many people in Calhoun County and beyond.  We are committed to presenting a fair that meets the mandates of our public health officials and our governor.”
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            For up-to-date information and a complete schedule of events, visit www.CalhounCountyFairgrounds.com.
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        &lt;br/&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        &lt;br/&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        &lt;br/&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
    &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
  &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
&lt;/div&gt;</content>
    <summary type="text" />
    <g-custom:tags type="string">Nov 2020</g-custom:tags>
    <media:content medium="image" url="https://irp-cdn.multiscreensite.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Swim+Team++wins+5th+straight+IMG_3263+%282%29.jpg" />
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>Organizers plan on holding Calhoun County Fair this summer</title>
    <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.advisor-chronicle.com/organizers-plan-on-holding-calhoun-county-fair-this-summer" />
    <link rel="enclosure" type="image/jpeg" href="https://irp-cdn.multiscreensite.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Fairgrounds+Photo+959A9583.JPG" length="605338" />
    <author>
      <name />
    </author>
    <updated>2021-03-21T14:41:10Z</updated>
    <published>2021-03-21T14:41:10Z</published>
    <content>&lt;div style="transition: none 0s ease 0s; display: block;" data-rss-type="text"&gt;&#xD;
  &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
    &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            In the past few weeks, several summer events in the region have already been cancelled due to COVID-19 concerns including the Marshall Blues Festival.
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            But, with COVID vaccine distribution becoming more widespread, organizers of the 2021 Calhoun County Fair have high hopes that this year’s fair will take place Aug. 15-22.
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            “We have known for months that this year’s fair was going to be different, that is, assuming that public health and elected officials in Michigan declare it’s safe for area residents to gather and traverse the fairgrounds later this summer,” said Calhoun County Fairgrounds Manager Jen Rice. “While no one knows for sure where we will be in mid-August in terms of Governor Whitmer’s plans to re-open Michigan’s economy, I remain cautiously optimistic and continue to work diligently with our county health department and industry experts to make a plan which places the health and safety of our community as our highest priority.”
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            Rice noted that she is working daily to explore and develop numerous means and methods that can be successfully implemented to thin out crowd size and permit appropriate social distancing behavior throughout the fairgrounds.  Concepts being considered include discounting gate pricing during off-peak times (before 4 p.m.) and encouraging online purchases of fair week passes.  
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            Fair Board President Jim Olds shared Rice’s sentiment, stating he wants the community to know that they are planning on have a typical fair using the Health Department’s guidance.
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            “The Calhoun County Fair is the oldest in the state of Michigan and even though we couldn’t hold it last year, we want people to know that we plan to have Grandstand events, carnival rides, fair food, auctions, etc.,” said Olds. “We are planning on a normal fair, and things may dictate differently as time progresses, but as of right now, we are going to have fully-funded Grandstand events, all the cattle and animal shows will continue as normal as can be with that caveat being that we are working with the Health Department to make sure we are doing it safely.”
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            Olds noted concern that sponsors may be reluctant to come forward if they think there won’t be a fair like last year.
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            “But here’s the double-edged sword: Without the sponsorships, we really can’t have a fair,” he said. 
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            Olds said he is hopeful that things will be much improved regarding COVID by the time the fair opens five months from now.
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            “They’re saying we should have most people vaccinated by the end of June,” said Olds. “If that turns out to be the case, then by August we should be fine to go, but so many things are dependent on government and what happens between now and then. I hate to stick my neck way out, but if we don’t stick our necks out, we’re not going to have a fair at all.”
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            Rice said she is working on a plan to actively manage the number of people permitted inside all of the buildings and tents, just like the practices adopted by many supermarkets and big-box retailers.  
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            “Plans also include live-streaming livestock shows and judged events to allow friends and relatives of youth exhibitors the opportunity to ‘virtually’ attend and enjoy these competitive events from their homes,” she said.
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            Rice emphasized that this year’s fair will reflect significant operational adjustments aimed at meeting or exceeding evolving public health mandates.  
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            “Providing an opportunity for a healthy physical distance between visitors will play a significant role in allowing the Calhoun County Fair to contribute to the healing of our community, emotionally and physically,” she said. “Our annual fair is a celebration of community in the most inclusive sense and a cherished tradition for many people in Calhoun County and beyond.  We are committed to presenting a fair that meets the mandates of our public health officials and our governor.”
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            For up-to-date information and a complete schedule of events, visit www.CalhounCountyFairgrounds.com.
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        &lt;br/&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        &lt;br/&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        &lt;br/&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
    &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
  &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
&lt;/div&gt;</content>
    <summary type="text" />
    <g-custom:tags type="string">Nov 2020</g-custom:tags>
    <media:content medium="image" url="https://irp-cdn.multiscreensite.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Fairgrounds+Photo+959A9583.JPG" />
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>Olivet High School senior Peyton Lehman signs to play softball at Lansing Community College</title>
    <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.advisor-chronicle.com/olivet-high-school-senior-peyton-lehman-signs-to-play-softball-at-lansing-community-college" />
    <link rel="enclosure" type="image/jpeg" href="https://irp-cdn.multiscreensite.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Lehman+LCC.jpg" length="133305" />
    <author>
      <name />
    </author>
    <updated>2021-03-14T16:08:25Z</updated>
    <published>2021-03-14T16:08:25Z</published>
    <content>&lt;div style="transition: none 0s ease 0s; display: block;" data-rss-type="text"&gt;&#xD;
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            Olivet High School senior Peyton Lehman signed a letter of intent on Nov. 19, 2020 to play softball at Lansing Community College next spring. On March 7, Lehman’s family, coaches and teammates gathered to celebrate the occasion with her.
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            Lehman said the connection with the coaches at LCC and being close to home were major factors in her decision.
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            “I decided to choose LCC because I actually know both of the coaches personally, so I had that connection,” Lehman said. “I also played travel softball with a few of the girls that are going there and that are currently there now. Also, it was close to home--I’m not sure if I’m going to live up there or not but it’s not too far away from Olivet.”
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            Lehman, primarily a pitcher in softball while also playing shortstop in the field, is a three-sport athlete who also played volleyball and is currently playing a key role on the Eagles’ girls basketball team. She said playing multiple sports in high school has helped her become a more versatile athlete and helped develop leadership skills, things she thinks will help prepare her for her next journey.
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            “Playing multiple sports definitely gives you versatility, you use some of the same skills in all three sports,” said Lehman. “It’s also helped me become a better teammate and team leader. This being my senior year, I’ve gained a lot of leadership skills by just playing multiple sports.”
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            Lehman said she wants to go into either the law enforcement or forensic science field in college as her father has helped lead her in that direction as he is a state trooper in Michigan.
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            She said she plans on taking general education courses at LCC then looking into the criminal justice program at the college while continuing her softball career.
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        &lt;br/&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
    &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
  &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
&lt;/div&gt;</content>
    <summary type="text" />
    <g-custom:tags type="string">Nov 2020</g-custom:tags>
    <media:content medium="image" url="https://irp-cdn.multiscreensite.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Lehman+LCC.jpg" />
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>During Reading Month, Marshall District Library promotes early literacy</title>
    <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.advisor-chronicle.com/during-reading-month-marshall-district-library-promotes-early-literacy" />
    <link rel="enclosure" type="image/jpeg" href="https://irp-cdn.multiscreensite.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Cover+Photo+IMG_3016.jpg" length="733082" />
    <author>
      <name />
    </author>
    <updated>2021-03-13T13:51:19Z</updated>
    <published>2021-03-13T13:51:19Z</published>
    <content>&lt;div style="transition: none 0s ease 0s; display: block;" data-rss-type="text"&gt;&#xD;
  &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
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            March is Reading Month and a love of learning and reading starts well before a child gets to school and never really ends. Marshall District Library and other public libraries all over the nation provide early learning experiences for children from the day they are born until they are ready for kindergarten. The last year, these experiences have looked a little different, but they still incorporate our five early literacy practices of “Talk, Sing, Read, Write and Play.”  
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      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            Talking helps children to learn about language. It helps them learn new words and new concepts. 
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      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            Singing helps children to learn to listen and it helps them hear the different sounds in each word.
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      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            Reading together helps children learn what words mean and helps them understand how to tell a story. It gives them quality time with a beloved adult and makes children want to learn to read on their own. 
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      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            Writing and drawing helps children develop fine motor skills and helps them learn the shapes of letters. 
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      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            Playing helps kids learn about feelings, imagination, and storytelling. It lets them explore the world. 
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            This month, Marshall District Library provides three virtual early literacy programs to help foster a love of learning and reading in the children who live in our area. Families can sign up on the library’s website at www.yourmdl.org and pick up a kit of activities to do at home. Library staff members create videos and links are sent via email to those who register. STEAM Explorers focuses on Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math concepts with a belief that the best learning is accomplished through play. Virtual Storytime comes with a kit full of supplies for your preschooler to use while following along with stories, songs and fingerplays, as well as craft projects perfect for building fine-motor skills. Jumpin' &amp;amp; Jammin' is a music and movement program where children use their little muscles and big muscles to develop their motor skills. The Virtual Jumpin' &amp;amp; Jammin' kit is full of supplies for your preschooler to use while moving &amp;amp; grooving; examples include scarves, egg shakers, &amp;amp; bubbles.  Look on the website at monthly dates for upcoming Bedtime Storytimes that incorporate songs, bedtime stories and relaxing yoga for all ages. Marshall District Library also visits preschools and day care centers virtually and provides early literacy packets to nearly 200 children in the Marshall area. 
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            In April, the library will provide an early literacy kit with assorted activities to families who register.  These activities will provide an opportunity for young children to practice the five early literacy practice and get excited for the library’s virtual Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library official kick-off event on Saturday, April 24 from 11 a.m.-noon.  Register for an April Early Literacy Kit and access to this event on the library website now. More information on the Imagination Library can be found at the end of this article.
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            Marshall District Library’s “Rock Star Reader” program is a free, self-paced program intended to help prepare children for success in school.  For every 100 books read, a child will receive a free book. If a child completes all 1,000 books before entering kindergarten, he or she will also receive a certificate of completion. If an adult reads one book a night for three years, that child will have heard 1,095 books.  The books do not have to be different titles, just 1,000 reads.  Registration for this program is also available on the library website. 
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            Marshall District Library also provides a monthly early literacy e-newsletter filled with activities and resources for caregivers. For questions about library programs or to sign up for the e-newsletter, please contact Shauna Swantek, Head of Public Services, at 269-781-7821 ext. 18 or swanteks@yourmdl.org. 
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            Marshall District Library’s building is open at limited capacity for one-hour visits. Masks and social distancing are required. Public computer use is available. Phone and virtual technology help is offered at this time. For technology assistance, call 269-781-7821 ext. 27 or email harmonm@yourmdl.org . All virtual services and programs continue as scheduled.  The library’s outside drive-thru drop box is open for returns.  All virtual programs and services continue as scheduled.  To contact library staff, call 269-781-7821 or email semiferoa@yourmdl.org. Marshall District Library is tax supported by the residents of Eckford, Fredonia, Marengo, and Marshall Townships, and the city of Marshall and remains at your service. 
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            Marshall District Library launches Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library
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            Marshall District Library, through the support of generous local donors and the assistance of the Marshall Community Foundation, has launched Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library for the Marshall area. 
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            This program is a free book-gifting program that mails high-quality hardcover children's books each month to all children who register in a geographic area at no cost to the child’s family. Children from birth to age 5 are eligible to participate. More than 200 children in the Marshall area are already registered. To register a child, visit the library's website at www.yourmdl.org and click the link at the bottom of the homepage.
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            We all know how important early learning experiences are for school readiness and a child's learning to read. Other communities in Calhoun County have had access to this program for years and it has been a long-time dream to bring the program to Marshall. The Dollywood Foundation pays the cost for all of the books delivered to children.  The local champion, Marshall District Library, is responsible for paying the mailing costs for the books at $25 per year for each child. No fees may be charged, and no government funds may be used. All funding for this program is through donations from the community. Thanks to the generous donations of local residents, we have been able to start this program, but we would love to sustain this program for five or more years. Our goal in the next six months is to raise $20,000 in funds to support this program.  I hope that members of our community will consider making a donation to sponsor children in the Marshall area.
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            Local residents Tom Stachnik and Pam Sigren donated the first funds for this project that will support children in the area for nearly two years. They have previously supported preschool scholarships for local children of single parents who make up the working poor. According to Pam, “Author Emilia Buchwald said, ‘Children are made readers on the laps of their parents.’ This is why Tom and I donated money and are so excited about our Marshall Library making available Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library – this free program mails free books from birth to age 5 every month. 
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            “Having been an elementary teacher and a remedial reading teacher for grades 9 and 10, I have seen the benefits of reading to a child. At just a few months of age an infant can look at pictures, listen to your voice and point to objects.  Children learn to love the sound of language before they even notice the printed words on a page.  Parents should try to read to their child at least once a day and best at a regularly scheduled time if possible.  I can’t think of a better way to for a parent to connect with their child.  Happy Reading!”
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            For those who are interested in making a donation, Marshall Community Foundation is holding the funds for this project under the MDL Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library Fund.  Checks can be sent to Marshall Community Foundation at 614 Homer Rd, Marshall, MI 49068. Please specify the Imagination Library in the memo. You can also donate online at https://marshallcf.org/give/donate-now/ and designate the fund as Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.  For questions about this program or making a donation, please contact me at 269-781-7821 ext. 11 or semiferoa@yourmdl.org. 
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            Since launching in 1995, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library has become the preeminent early childhood book gifting program in the world. The flagship program of The Dollywood Foundation has gifted well over 140 million free books in Australia, Canada, Ireland, United Kingdom and the United States. The Imagination Library mails more than 1.7 million high-quality, age-appropriate books each month to registered children from birth to age 5. Dolly envisioned creating a lifelong love of reading, inspiring them to dream. The impact of the program has been widely researched and results suggest positive increases in key early childhood literacy metrics. Penguin Random House is the exclusive publisher for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. For more information, please visit imaginationlibrary.com.  
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    <summary type="text" />
    <g-custom:tags type="string">Nov 2020</g-custom:tags>
    <media:content medium="image" url="https://irp-cdn.multiscreensite.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Cover+Photo+IMG_3016.jpg" />
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>Local Albion leaders urge people of color to get the COVID vaccine</title>
    <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.advisor-chronicle.com/local-albion-leaders-urge-people-of-color-to-get-the-covid-vaccine" />
    <link rel="enclosure" type="image/jpeg" href="https://irp-cdn.multiscreensite.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Vaccine+Harry+Bonner+959A8276.JPG" length="412529" />
    <author>
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    </author>
    <updated>2021-03-13T13:47:10Z</updated>
    <published>2021-03-13T13:47:10Z</published>
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            On March 6, Albion community leaders Harry Bonner and Ward 2 Albion City Councilmember Lenn Reid received their second dose of the Moderna COVID vaccine during an Oaklawn vaccination clinic at the United Methodist Church in Albion.
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            Both Bonner and Reid wanted to show fellow community members, especially those who are African American, that there was nothing to fear in taking the vaccine. 
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            “There has been a big concern about people of color not wanting to get the shot,” said Bonner. “To a large degree, people of color need to hear from myself and others about what a positive experience getting the vaccine has been.”
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            Bonner said that mindset of not wanting to take the vaccine has come from a lack of communication and a lack of trust over the years.
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            “They don’t the system, period,” said Bonner. “Whether you’re talking about public safety or school systems, talking about all these things that are part of the distrust, it adds up…Some people might say, ‘If I don’t trust the police or the educational system for my kids, why should I trust getting the shot?’”
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            Bonner said building trust comes from forming relationships and partnerships with those who are part of the system.
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            “The three C’s -  collaboration, coordination and cooperation,” said Bonner. “That’s how you do it… A lot of people who come in here, they know who I am, they know Councilmember Reid, and that makes them feel comfortable. They see how I ‘ve partnered with leaders in the community.”
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            Reid said getting the vaccine did not hurt at all and encouraged others to get vaccinated.
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            “If you want to prevent having COVID, if you want to be able to go places and feel safe, you need to get it,” said Reid.
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            Kerrie Mansfield director of operations for the medical group at Oaklawn said more than 200 vaccines were administered at the Methodist Church on the 6th.
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            “Our staff is working every weekend,” said Mansfield. “It’s such a rewarding experience for them and  patients have been so appreciative.”
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            Those who are patients with Oaklawn Medical Group primary care, or a medical specialty are being contacted about the vaccine, added Mansfield.
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            Outside the vaccine area in the lobby of the Methodist Church was a sign telling people 65 and older who are not yet on a waiting list for a vaccine to contact Alfredia Dysart-Drake, healthcare navigator for the Albion Health Care Alliance at 517-629-5080 or Vicki Easterwood, healthcare navigator for the Albion Health Care Alliance at 517-629-6578.
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            Juanita Coney, a retired Albion teacher said on her way out of the vaccination area that getting the vaccine  “felt fine.”
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            “I didn’t hesitate (getting the vaccine) at all,” she said. 
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    <summary type="text" />
    <g-custom:tags type="string">Nov 2020</g-custom:tags>
    <media:content medium="image" url="https://irp-cdn.multiscreensite.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Vaccine+Harry+Bonner+959A8276.JPG" />
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>A ‘Twist’ in Marshall History:  The fire bell at City Hall</title>
    <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.advisor-chronicle.com/a-twist-in-marshall-history-the-fire-bell-at-city-hall" />
    <link rel="enclosure" type="image/jpeg" href="https://irp-cdn.multiscreensite.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Twist+of+history+Photo.jpg" length="338384" />
    <author>
      <name />
    </author>
    <updated>2021-03-13T13:34:42Z</updated>
    <published>2021-03-13T13:34:42Z</published>
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            Harold C Brooks was an historian and preservationist.  To him, all things Marshall were sacred.  Throughout his life he saved papers, artifacts and buildings from destruction.  
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            During his tenure as mayor, he responded to the complaints of the city engineer Mr. Camp and fire marshal Mr. Vogt concerning the inadequacies of their existing buildings.  Brooks championed the conversion of the Stone Barn, built in 1856, an old livery stable, then owned by the Michigamme Oil Co, on the southeast corner of the Fountain Circle to be the new town hall.  He privately funded some of the improvements including the architectural plans and the bell tower.  Once the new town hall was completed, the fire department was moved from the east side of what is now Herman’s Hardware to the town hall.  
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            The fire department had two large fire bells. The smaller bell from the Perrinville (Upper Village) fire department, originally located on South Marshall Avenue, south of Rice Creek, weighed about 650 pounds.  The larger bell had been hoisted into the bell tower over the city offices and fire department in March 1881. That bell weighed about 1600 pounds.
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            By 1930, with the advent of telephones and sirens, they were no longer necessary to raise an alarm. To save those artifacts of Marshall history, Brooks had them moved to the top of his driveway at 310 North Kalamazoo. There they sat without a permanent home, for about 30 years. Max Stulberg was keen to purchase them for the scrap value, but Brooks declined the offer.  
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            About 1958 Brooks gave both bells to Jack Twist, his son-in-law. The larger, without its clapper, sat next to Twist’s swimming pool. The Perrinville bell, now at Capitol Hill School, was mounted on a sturdy triangular framework, welded up by Willie Faurot.  Twist would ring the bell whenever Michigan State won a football game, and the bell was loud and ringing it most certainly annoyed some neighbors.
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            When Jack and Emily Twist moved to Ceresco in about 1973, they took the bells to their new house on the Ceresco millpond. To place the clappered bell on the north side of the house, Twist hired a crane to lift it over the house – it was too heavy to move any other way.  But the bells really belonged in Marshall, so when they returned to Marshall in 1985, the bells came, too.
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            In anticipation of Harold Brooks’ 100th birthday, the Twists funded the construction of the plinth, faced with Marshall sandstone, located in front of City Hall.  The larger bell was placed there.
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            We all had something to say that Saturday, but Larry Hughes, calling upon the epitaph for Christopher Wren in London, said it best about our grandfather:
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             Si monumentum requiris circumspice.
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            (If you seek his monument, look around.)  Within view was the town hall, the fountain, and the Honolulu House – a few of Harold Brooks’ gifts to the city.   
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    <summary type="text" />
    <g-custom:tags type="string">Nov 2020</g-custom:tags>
    <media:content medium="image" url="https://irp-cdn.multiscreensite.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Twist+of+history+Photo.jpg" />
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>The wait is over:  Marshall High School alum Drew Devine back on the field for WMU baseball after recovering from Tommy John surgery</title>
    <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.advisor-chronicle.com/the-wait-is-over-marshall-high-school-alum-drew-devine-back-on-the-field-for-wmu-baseball-after-recovering-from-tommy-john-surgery" />
    <link rel="enclosure" type="image/jpeg" href="https://irp-cdn.multiscreensite.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Devine_+at+shortstop+.jpg" length="198797" />
    <author>
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    <updated>2021-03-13T13:29:05Z</updated>
    <published>2021-03-13T13:29:05Z</published>
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            On Feb. 26, Marshall High School 2016 graduate and current Western Michigan University baseball shortstop Drew Devine dug into the right-handed batter’s box in a live game as a Bronco for the first time since May 18, 2019.
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            In his second at-bat in the season opener against Kansas State, Wildcats pitcher Jordan Wicks got ahead of Devine in the count at 0-2. Then, with two runners on base and the Broncos already leading 1-0 in the top of the 4th inning, Wicks made a mistake with a fastball up in the zone. Devine took full advantage as he put a clean swing on the ball and sent it over the fence in left center field for a three-run home run.
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            “I think the biggest thing with being back this year is just missing the competitive atmosphere that comes with the game,” Devine said. “I know everyone’s been itching at the bit to get back out there and we finally are, and I just think getting that fix of competitive at-bats, competitive innings, that’s something that we all really missed.”
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            While it had been a while for all of Devine’s teammates since they had played a college baseball game since the COVID-19 pandemic shut down WMU’s season 15 games into the 2020 season, Devine’s was over before it even started.
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            WMU head baseball coach Billy Gernon had plans to move Devine from shortstop to pitcher last year and utilize his strong arm to help the team on the mound, even though Devine hit for a  .359 batting average with a .484 slugging percentage while being a Second Team All-MAC selection in 2019.
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            But during a preseason scrimmage about two weeks before last season’s opener, Devine was on the mound when he felt a pop in his right elbow after he threw a pitch. He would later find out that he tore his Ulnar Collateral Ligament in his throwing elbow that required Tommy John surgery, named for the Major League pitcher who missed the entire 1975 season, a surgery to reconstruct the ligament that usually takes about a year to recover from and can be even longer for pitchers.
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            Even while not being able to compete physically, Devine said he found ways to stay engaged and develop a new perspective on baseball even during last year’s shortened season while trying to help the players who had to help fill his previous role.
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            “When you’re playing, you get caught in the flow of the day and being able to sit down and watch really just helped me slow everything down and see some of the parts of the game that maybe I wouldn’t have necessarily seen while playing,” said Devine. “I think that really helped me a ton of just slowing it (the game) down, because the more you can slow it down, the easier the game gets. And as I’ve talked about before, I knew it was next man up--there’s going to be someone at shortstop and we still had games to play and I just tried to help as many of them as I could to get game-ready and to be able to help us win.”
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            Even when COVID-19 practically shut down the sports world and Devine could no longer help prepare his teammates for games, his willingness to try to give back to others did not end.
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            Tom Sharpley is the current baseball coach at Marshall High School and coached Devine in his senior season in 2016 after Trevor Kelly was there in Devine’s previous three seasons as a Redhawk.
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            Sharpley said Devine sent him daily texts to share with the baseball players at Marshall of tips on how to stay in shape even when seasons were on pause. Sharpley said he would pass those texts on to his players and said that gesture can have positive effects on potentially inspiring players in his program.
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            “It’s a huge thing for him to do what he’s done for our Marshall baseball program and for him to go on and play for Western Michigan, it’s a special thing,” Sharpley said. “Because of that, it impacts the kids who follow him and watch him. Then, knowing what he went through, for him to be able to stick this whole thing out and do it with a smile on his face, and also the fact of him being a senior--he outworks everybody. He did that in high school, and he does it now and as a baseball program we’re really proud of him.”
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            Sharpley said during the year he coached Devine, the player’s maturity and instincts stood out. But aside from his play on the field, Sharpley mentioned the other elements he noticed about Devine.
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            “The biggest thing is probably the intangibles,” said Sharpley. “The impact on his teammates, his coaches, his family, his schoolwork. He’s always doing his best and that becomes contagious in a positive way. He is impacting the lives of the others around him by helping them pull up and be successful.”
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            Devine said he learned an abundance of lessons playing baseball at Marshall and that he was able to learn to love the game at a young age.
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            He said his experiences at Marshall played a positive role in his transition to Western Michigan. 
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            “Baseball is a big thing at Marshall and coach Sharpley is doing such a great job over there getting guys to play the game and love the game,” Devine said. “I think that was the biggest thing, was learning to love the game at a young age and kind of driving that passion and driving that want to get better and that's something that Marshall baseball definitely taught me throughout the years. To be able to succeed, you have to love it, and there was never any push towards it, it was just going out, loving the game and having fun and I think that really helped me in my process of coming to Western.”
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            As far as this season goes at WMU, Devine said his goal is to help the Broncos win a Mid-American Conference championship for the first time since 2016.
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            In the future, Devine, who is majoring in sports management, sees himself continuing in baseball in some capacity, whether that would be as a player or on the business/management side of the game.
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            “My plans are to definitely continue to play and try to play as long as I can and hopefully have the opportunity to continue to play,” said Devine. “But I definitely see myself in the game of baseball in some capacity. There is definitely a little bit of an unknown with it right now, but I guess that’s kind of  the beauty of it. I’m just focused on the season right now and on trying to win a MAC championship and after that I guess we'll just see what comes.”
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    <summary type="text" />
    <g-custom:tags type="string">Nov 2020</g-custom:tags>
    <media:content medium="image" url="https://irp-cdn.multiscreensite.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Devine_+at+shortstop+.jpg" />
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>Threes company: Three local teachers are friends and roomates</title>
    <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.advisor-chronicle.com/threes-company-three-local-teachers-are-friends-and-roomates" />
    <link rel="enclosure" type="image/jpeg" href="https://irp-cdn.multiscreensite.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Tecahers+IMG_2599+%281%29-d6a9c1e4.jpg" length="382688" />
    <author>
      <name />
    </author>
    <updated>2021-03-07T13:04:50Z</updated>
    <published>2021-03-07T13:04:50Z</published>
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            Three elementary school teachers who live in Marshall all attended Albion College, got teaching jobs where they student-taught and since last fall have been roommates.
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            How’s that for a  trifecta? 
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            McKenna Donahue and Megan Moco are kindergarten teachers at Walters Elementary in Marshall while Emily Benjamin is  second grade teacher at Jefferson Elementary in Coldwater.
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            “Emily and I graduated in the same year, and McKenna graduated the year before us,” said Megan. “Emily and I took a bunch of  education classes together and I always say I call her my ‘class best friend.’  You have your best friends you live with or hang out with, but she was the one that I stuck with for all my classes.”
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            Emily and McKenna became acquainted through Christian Fellowship at Albion College and one time all three took the same science class together.
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            “It’s really funny when we think about that because I don’t think the three of us ever hung out together outside of class,” said McKenna. “That’s how we became pals – in class.”
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            Both Megan and McKenna did their student-teaching at Walters  and following graduation, were offered teaching positions at the school.
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            McKenna and Megan are both in their second year teaching kindergarten. During her first year at Walters, McKenna was an aide.
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            Emily is in her second year teaching second grade at Jefferson, where she student-taught and ended up taking the place of her mentor.
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            “Emily and I are both in the same classrooms we student-taught in,” said McKenna. “Megan is just down the hall and her mentor teacher from student-teaching is her current mentor teacher. Go Albion College! I feel like that’s a pretty good endorsement for the program.”
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            Marshall elementary students are in the classroom four days a week (Wednesday is a virtual day) since returning from winter break and in the last couple weeks kids have returned to the classroom in Coldwater.
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            “I think coming back from our winter break feels pretty much the same,” said Megan. “We still follow the same safety protocols. Our  COVID numbers overall have been very low and I feel like we’ve figured out how to manage it well and keep kids in school, having fun and learning. I feel very safe.”
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            McKenna shared the sentiment.
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            “It feels the same, but it now feels more normalized,” said McKenna. “In the fall, when we were preparing to start school, it seemed like it was more of an unknown, and now, it’s our new routine. For the kids, this is all they know.”
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            Emily said her second graders have talked about wanting to go back to “when coronavirus wasn’t a thing.” 
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            “We had been hybrid – half the kids going to school Monday and Tuesday and the other half Thursday and Friday,” she said. “The kids were so excited about being back to school with everyone…It was like the first day of school.”
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            The idea of living together seemed like no-brainer according to the three teachers.
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            “Last year when Emily and I got jobs at the schools we student-taught at, she reached out and said we should get an apartment and live in Marshall,” said Megan. “So, we lived together last year, and it was awesome. Since McKenna and I knew each other from Albion, we started hanging out last year and once I got the kindergarten job, McKenna said Emily and I should just move in. And the rest is history.”
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            All three said they get along, although Emily joked that one of her pet peeves is when someone leaves the time remaining on the microwave, meaning she can’t see the actual time.
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            “It’s really nice living with other teachers,” said Emily. “When there were so many unknowns last summer about the start of  school, we felt that by living together we could help each other if, worst case scenario, we were all teaching from home.”
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            The teachers said they share experiences with each other and run ideas by each other.
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            Emily said she enjoys coming home “to a place that doesn’t know the drama of my school.”
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            “It’s kind of like a nice break,” she said. “I enjoy that.”
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            Megan noted that Emily does get regular updates about the comings and goings at Walters, however.
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            “She knows about our kids and we share cute stories,” said Megan. “It’s awesome that we are so close and talk about it so much that we know each other’s kids.
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            McKenna said it goes the other way as well.
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            “Our kids know our roommate story,” she said. “We will do writing in the morning and they will write a story and label a picture they’ve drawn like ‘That’s Ms. Moco, and that’s roommate Emily.’ And they’ll be like, ‘Don’t forget about their dog, Coda.’”
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            At first not many people knew the teachers were roommates.
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            “At the beginning of the year people didn’t know and then we would walk into the teacher’s lounge and they’d asked us if we were roommates,” said Megan. “My classroom and McKenna’s are right next to each other and I’ll say, ‘see you at home’ and people get a laugh out of that.”
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            McKenna said people are surprised to find out that she and Megan do not carpool to school.
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            “Or when they see me, they’ll ask ‘where’s Megan?’” said McKenna. 
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            As the school year enters its final two and a half months, McKenna, Megan and Emily all said their students are doing well in the classroom.
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            “We are where we should be at this point in the year,” said Emily. “The kids are doing alright.”
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            Noted Megan: “I appreciate the fact we started the year in person with our entire group. I had a concern when we were going virtual about reaching all the kids and making sure they were still progressing. I think having them in person and creating those relationships really helped us during the time we went virtual (around Thanksgiving). Our kids are really rocking it. It’s sad to say this but it’s almost an awesome thing that they don’t know anything different…They don’t know that usually, they would go to a different room for music. They just know that Mrs. Root comes in every Thursday and Friday.”
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            Was virtual time from mid-November to mid-January a setback?
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            In comparison to last year, we are pretty much where we should be,” said McKenna. “Having our Wednesdays established as a virtual day was very helpful.  It has helped prevent any backsliding.”
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            Next week will mark exactly one year when in-person class was suspended after the first cases of coronavirus were reported in Michigan and the teachers agree that they and all teachers have come a long way in adapting to the new normal.
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            “That was a different world compared to what this year has been,” said McKenna. “They didn’t know what expectations were fair to set. My teaching partner and I were trying to coordinate and do things together but there wasn’t a district-wide expectation set. I couldn’t imagine being a parent at that time.”
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    <summary type="text" />
    <g-custom:tags type="string">Nov 2020</g-custom:tags>
    <media:content medium="image" url="https://irp-cdn.multiscreensite.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Tecahers+IMG_2599+%281%29-d6a9c1e4.jpg" />
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>Marshall Middle School staff members presented with Diversity Champion Awards</title>
    <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.advisor-chronicle.com/marshall-middle-school-staff-members-presented-with-diversity-champion-awards" />
    <link rel="enclosure" type="image/jpeg" href="https://irp-cdn.multiscreensite.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Diversity+Champion+Awards+group+photo.JPG" length="403579" />
    <author>
      <name />
    </author>
    <updated>2021-03-06T21:45:12Z</updated>
    <published>2021-03-06T21:45:12Z</published>
    <content>&lt;div data-rss-type="text"&gt;&#xD;
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            Staff members from Marshall Middle School were presented with Diversity Champion Awards on  March 2 as recommended by Parent Mentor Coordinator and Associate Resiliency Coach for Starr Commonwealth Elijah Armstrong Jr.
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            Diversity Champion Awards were started in 2016 following the annexation of Albion and Marshall Public Schools by Harry J. Bonner Sr., executive director of Kids at Hope Youth Development Center, Substance Abuse Prevention Services, and Minority Program Services, Inc.
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            Armstrong Jr. works closely with the middle school staff and was able to observe the efforts of empathy and care for students at MMS throughout the pandemic along with their dedication and commitment to making sure each student has the necessary tools needed to succeed while virtual and hybrid learning.
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            “It’s a joy to my heart at the end of the day when I go home to know that the kids from both communities are getting what they need,” said Armstrong, Jr. “Despite what’s going on in the world and in our communities, you all (the staff) still push past that and make sure the kids are getting what they need.”
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            Erin Reed, a senior trainer for Starr Commonwealth, a nonprofit organization and longtime partner with Marshall Public Schools, was invited by Bonner Sr. to hand out the awards to the 24 recipients.
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            Reed commended the efforts of the staff at MMS for their diligence in helping create a more equitable and inclusive school district since Marshall and Albion merged in 2016 while recognizing there is still work to be done.
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            “I think we have to go back to the history between Marshall and Albion,” Reed said. ”Marshall has a reputation for being not welcoming to folks who are Black, indigenous and people of color, then fast forward in that history to annexing schools where in Albion we have a lot of kids who have Black and brown skin, and they have to imagine coming to school here. The educators here have really had to do the work of creating personal relationships to reach out beyond that image that we’ve had from the outside to be able to say, ‘we really do want to welcome these kids and we really do want to make a space for them that is inclusive and intentional.’ Which means that anybody who is doing that work has to be doing a lot of reflection, has to be doing a lot of education, has to look at history to be able to show up and really authentically create the relationships that need to be created. I’m not saying we’re 100% there. This is the ongoing work of showing up and being willing to reflect every single day and how we can do better to make this school district more equitable and inclusive for all kids.”
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            Ebony Gill, secretary at MMS who received an award, has a daughter at Marshall High School who helped create a “Black Lives Matter” mural that recently caused a stir in the Marshall community after some parents criticized the painting.
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            Gill said the awards presented on Tuesday was a testament to staff who are doing their part to ensure inclusivity and equity for all, something she said the African American community continues to strive for in Marshall.
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            “It’s hard for the African American community who feels they’re not welcome here, it’s hard for the people who don’t have a problem with the mural at all,” Gill said. “It’s hard for people to be and feel included, but I feel like this award lets them know that ‘hey, you’re doing your part.’ Elijah gave out these awards and it shows them that we see that you’re doing your part, we see that you’re not separating the African American children from the Caucasian students and that everybody is included here and being recognized for that is important.”
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            MMS Principal Tara Egnatuk and Assistant Principal Matthew Siebert also received awards, with Egnatuk saying she is honored for the recognition and that her favorite part of this year’s Diversity Champions Awards was the recognition of all different types of staff outside of just teachers.
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            “He (Armstrong Jr.) sees the work we do every day,” Egnatuk said.  “He helps guide us, but I think he knows that we have the best interests of the students at heart in everything that we do. It’s an honor to be recognized for the work that we’re doing, but the thing that I like about this year’s award is that he’s acknowledging a bigger team. It’s not just the teachers or the administrators, in this instance it’s our custodial staff, our food services, because those have been such a crucial part of making this year such a success with making sure kids are fed, making sure kids have what they need. Our secretaries, counselors, librarians--it’s the whole team, so I’m really happy that they chose the bigger group because in the past, teachers have been recognized or administrators for leading the cause and it’s not just them, it’s everybody.”
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            Siebert echoed similar sentiments in regard to those who received awards as he sees the hard work of those around him in the school to help students at the school.
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            “I’m super proud to even be a part of it, to be mentioned with the group that stood up there today,” Siebert said. “Every single one of those people deserve it and even more, I’m sure we just couldn’t give out enough awards for how proud I am and happy I am for everyone, including our janitors. We have sixth grade teachers, we have eighth grade teachers, we had just a whole array of people that deserve it because they work so hard to help our students every day.”
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            Full list of award winners:
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            Tara Egnatuk- Principal Marshall Middle School
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            Matthew Siebert- Assistant Principal Marshall Middle School
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            Ebony Gill- Secretary-Marshall Middle School
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            Amanda Quin- Para Health Marshall Middle School
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            Danielle Siebert- Marshall Public Schools District Nurse
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            Elijah Armstrong Jr- Associate Resilience Coach Starr Commonwealth
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            James Hackworth- Behavior Specialist
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            Carrie Begg-  Behavior Specialist
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            Mrs. Bridgette Hicks– Behavior Specialist
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            Roni Blanchard-  Manager Marshall Middle School Cafeteria
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            Sandy Moffitt -Cafeteria Server
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            Mr. Todd Hicks- Cafeteria Worker
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            Chris Sachjen- Custodian Marshall Middle School
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            Rick Barnes –Head of Custodians Marshall Middle School
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            Amanda Morrick- Sixth grade teacher
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            Paige Williams- Sixth grade teacher
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            Miriam Wisnewski- Sixth grade teacher
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            Renee Shaum- Sixth grade teacher
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            Sabrina Tobias-  Sixth grade teacher
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            Lisha Loveberry- Sixth grade teacher
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            Sarah Rebenstorf- Sixth grade teacher
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            Tara Fitzpatrick- Sixth grade teacher
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            Joel Jolink- Eighth grade teacher
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            Lesley Hagelgans- Eighth grade teacher
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    <summary type="text" />
    <g-custom:tags type="string">Nov 2020</g-custom:tags>
    <media:content medium="image" url="https://irp-cdn.multiscreensite.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Diversity+Champion+Awards+group+photo.JPG" />
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>Two of a kind: Marshall identical twins turn 90</title>
    <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.advisor-chronicle.com/two-of-a-kind-marshall-identical-twins-turn-90" />
    <link rel="enclosure" type="image/jpeg" href="https://irp-cdn.multiscreensite.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Cover+Photo+March+6+959A7310.JPG" length="336438" />
    <author>
      <name />
    </author>
    <updated>2021-03-06T19:24:05Z</updated>
    <published>2021-03-06T19:24:05Z</published>
    <content>&lt;div data-rss-type="text"&gt;&#xD;
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            It is estimated that the chances of having identical twins are approximately three cases for every 1,000 births.
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            Aside from the biological aspects that make twins identical, there’s also the strong mental and emotional bonds that many identical twins form throughout their lifetimes.
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            And then there are the unusual stories you may hear about regarding  identical twins. Among the most famous is the story of Jim and Jim. Born in 1940, the boys were adopted by separate families in Ohio, and grew up within 45 miles of each other. Both were named James by their adoptive parents. Both married twice — first to women named Linda, and then to women named Betty. Both had children, including sons named James Allen. Both owned dogs named Toy. After reuniting in 1979, after 39 years of separation, the twins were recruited for a study, and the results of their tests were extraordinary. Their medical histories were identical, and the pair shared the same habits, including having woodworking workshops in their garages, a fondness for Chevys, and vacations on one particular beach in Florida. 
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            Last week, identical twin sisters, Geneva Hess and Genevieve Hall, known as Gen and Gen, turned 90 years of age.
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            Born Feb. 27, 1931, Gen and Gen (or simply The Twins) are well known to many Marshall-area residents who saw them always walking together around town over the years.
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            Often joining Gen and Gen on their outings is Geneva’s daughter Mickey Sloane, who said the sisters are doing very well for their age.
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            “I take more medicine that they do,” joked Mickey. 
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            The sisters both live in their own homes and still are able to take care of themselves.
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            One lives on the east side of town, the other on the west side.
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            “It’s been like that for as long as I can remember,” said Mickey. “They’ve always lived fairly close to each other.”
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            Speaking of close, even after all these years, people still are not able to tell the sisters apart when they are side by side.
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            “And for some reason, they seem to dress alike without even trying,” said Mickey. “People used to laugh about it where they worked when many times, they’d show up dressed alike. If I’m not mistaken, one time for their birthday, Aunt Gen was visiting California and bought Mom’s birthday card, and Mom bought a card for Aunt Gen here and they ended up being the same birthday card.”
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            Known as fast walkers, Mickey said Gen and Gen have started to slow the pace down when the three of them get together. 
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            “When I was a kid, I’d always tell them to slow down,” said Mickey. “And now it’s the opposite. They’re now telling me to slow down. I tell them, ‘now you know how I felt as a child.’”
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            Mickey put together a little family birthday dinner for the sisters who have pretty much kept to themselves during the pandemic.
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            “It’s been rough on them,” said Mickey. “Before COVID, just about every morning around 7, they’d meet  a bunch of people at McDonald’s and sit around talking until about 10. That’s been rough on them, not having contact with anybody.”
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            Despite the pandemic, Mickey said Gen and Gen have been in good spirits.
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            “I try to take them out, and they visit each other a lot,” said Mickey.
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            By the way, Genevieve is the oldest, by four minutes. 
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            Both sisters said they “feel good” turning 90.
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            “They’re spryer than I am,” said Mickey. 
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            The Twins did marry and have children but have always remained very close.
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            “We’ve really not known anything else other than being constant companions and friends,” said Genevieve.  “We always had ‘our’ friends, but not our own friends.”
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            Added Geneva on the relationship with her sister: “I wouldn’t give it up for anything.”
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            Having been seen around town all their lives has given them a sense of being celebrities, joked Genevieve.
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            “People will say hi to us and we have no idea who they are,” she said. “But they’ll act like they’ve known us all their lives…Years ago, we worked at the same place- I worked at the east end of the shop and Geneva worked at the west end, so they called us the east and west Gens.
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            Still, it has always been difficult to tell Gen and Gen apart. 
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            “Even our husbands would get us confused,” said Geneva.
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            Geneva also added that the sisters would play pranks on each other growing up.
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      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            “We used to walk home from school and there was a little grocery store we would stop off at and pick-up groceries for our mom and dad,” said Geneva. “Genevieve would carry them and then she’d set them in the middle of the road and tell me it was my turn now, and she’d just walk away. Of course, I went back and got them.”
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            And the sisters would also play pranks on their dates.
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
             “I remember them telling me that when they’d go out on dates, and then when the guys would go get popcorn, they’d trade seats,” said Mickey. “The guys never knew.”
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            But, sometimes, being the spitting image of each other did have its drawbacks.
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            “I lived in the country for a while and my sister lived in town and I was going to join a mothers club,” said Geneva. “But then they told me they wouldn’t let me join because they thought I was a snob because they’d see Genevieve thinking it was me and say hi and Genevieve wouldn’t answer them because she didn’t know them.”
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            And then sometimes,  said Genevieve : “We’d go into the stores separately and people would say, ’oh, we didn’t know there was two of you.’ That’s how we had our fun.”
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            As children, Gen and Gen attended Shearman School, Marshall Middle School and Marshall High School, but both quit school their senior year.
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            “Geneva quit in October to get married,” said Genevieve. “And then I quit in January.”
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            In their 50s, Gen and Gen went to night school together in 1985 to earn their high school diplomas.
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            Although they are in relatively good health (Geneva said she shoveled for hours after a large snowfall in mid-February), Genevieve did have some serious health issues three years ago.
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            “But here I am today, clicking my heels off,” she said. “Not high, but I’m doing it.”
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            Mickey said that Gen and Gen still call each other to say goodnight before they go to bed, something they started when they were 50 years old.
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            “We take turns calling,” said Genevieve. “But sometimes we call each other at the same time, and she will get the answering machine and I’ll get a busy signal.”
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            The sisters said they are each other’s best friends and look forward to spending more time together.
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            “We still have a lot of fun,” said Geneva. 
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        &lt;br/&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        &lt;br/&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        &lt;br/&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
    &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
  &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
&lt;/div&gt;</content>
    <summary type="text" />
    <g-custom:tags type="string">Nov 2020</g-custom:tags>
    <media:content medium="image" url="https://irp-cdn.multiscreensite.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Cover+Photo+March+6+959A7310.JPG" />
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>City council approves plan for expansion of Marshall Social District</title>
    <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.advisor-chronicle.com/city-council-approves-plan-for-expansion-of-marshall-social-district" />
    <link rel="enclosure" type="image/jpeg" href="https://irp-cdn.multiscreensite.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/City+Council+social+districtIMG_2844.jpg" length="81607" />
    <author>
      <name />
    </author>
    <updated>2021-03-06T19:19:11Z</updated>
    <published>2021-03-06T19:19:11Z</published>
    <content>&lt;div style="transition: none 0s ease 0s; display: block;" data-rss-type="text"&gt;&#xD;
  &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
    &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            The Marshall City Council approved a plan to expand and implement changes in the city’s Social District during its March 1 meeting held online.
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            Established in September of 2020, the city’s Social District is “a designated public area where alcoholic beverages can be purchased in a designated cup from participating establishments and taken to designated consumption areas to enjoy,” as stated on choosemarshall.com/socialdistrict.
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            Currently, five Marshall businesses participate as part of the social district, including Schuler’s Restaurant &amp;amp; Pub, Copper Athletic Club, Broadway Grille, Grand River Brewery and Mike’s Place.
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            Marshall Area Economic Development Alliance/Choose Marshall  CEO James Durian, who helped propose the plan to council along with Director of Special Projects Eric Zuzga and City Manager Tom Tarkiewicz, said he believes the expansion will benefit the city’s engagement in the downtown area.
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            “It will benefit restaurants, who have been particularly hard hit by the ongoing capacity restrictions and on their limitation to operate, and it will also add vibrancy to the downtown and allow for safe and social distanced community engagement opportunities,” Durian said. “Obviously, the focus is dining and drinking, but we’re also looking at retail and other events that we’d like to do once the weather improves this spring and summer.”
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            Durian said the focus of expansion focuses on increased hours and space within the Social District. Residents could previously take advantage of social district hours daily from noon-10 p.m., while the new proposal suggested those hours to be changed to 9 a.m. to 11 p.m.
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            After some concern expressed by City Council members about the lateness of the 11 p.m. time on weekdays, council agreed to amend the suggested hours in the proposal and approved the hours be 9 a.m.-10 p.m. on Sunday-Thursday and 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            As far as space is concerned, Durian said the east and west portions of the social district will largely remain the same while the north and south parts will be expanded.
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            Durian said the new boundary would expand up to Mansion Street and all the way down to and across Green Street.
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            As stated in the administrative report in the March 1 City Council meeting packet, the Social District’s annual plan includes:
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            -	Adding dining and social seating to Michigan Avenue., Grand Street Park, Peace Park and Carver Park.
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            -	Enhance ambiance of the downtown with the addition of solar lights in Grand Street Park, Peace Park and Carver Park.
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            -	Support EastEnd Studio &amp;amp; Gallery with their idea to create a mural event while educating other artists, on the back of businesses located in south alley between Eagle and Jefferson streets.
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            -	Convert the downtown planters, when not in use by the garden club, into tabletops with QR codes that provide information and history about Marshall.
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            The report also states the social district has created a committee which includes City Council members, permit holders, Choose Marshall employees and city employees to brainstorm new ideas and to keep the community up to date on events. 
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            In the spring, the Social District plans to have a relaunch where it hopes to have lights and equipment in place. Choose Marshall is also focusing on ramping up marketing of the social district and is working with each permit holder to provide social media content on their own pages, according to the report.
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            Along with adjusting the hours of the proposal, the council also amended the expansion to exclude the parking structure near Oaklawn Hospital in the northern boundary area citing potential noise as a concern.
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            The council voted to approve all other aspects of the proposal after amending the two items, with Mayor Joe Caron thanking Durian for his time and stressing the social district is something the council wants to play a part in continuing to improve.
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            “I think we, not only as a city but we (council) as well can certainly work on making this beneficial and kind of a destination for our downtown,” Caron said.
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            The City Council also voted to approve a recommendation for the road closure for the 100 Block of S. Jefferson St. on March 17 for the Grand River Brewery Community Saint Patrick’s Day Celebration, which is planned on being held within the city’s social district with Grand River preparing to set up tables and chairs for eating and drinking in the area but will not be specifically providing food or beverage service. Grand River may provide guests in the area with other entertainment as well as other promotional activities assuming the event goes forward.
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            The motion carried by council only approved the road closure starting at 7 a.m.until 10 p.m. with no changes to the social district hours.
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            Council discussed potential barriers and challenges Grand River Brewery may face as far as state orders on COVID-19 on gatherings from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, but those challenges will ultimately be left to Grand River to sort out with the MDHHS.
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            Based on the current language in the MDHHS order on gatherings that council member Jen Rice brought up in the meeting, council and Public Safety Director Scott McDonald seemed confident that as long as the event is taking place in the social district then it would be condoned.
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            McDonald said he was going to remind Grand River to check in with MDHHS regulations (which were updated on March 2), while also stating his department is not going to be enforcing social distancing around the city.
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            “If we restricted it to just closing the road and making that part of the social district, and they chose to make that an incidental event, again, I’m hesitant to have the police department start policing social distancing,” McDonald said. “I could call them (Grand River) and explain their options. They could have a social district event and use the verbiage that Jen gave us, or if they want to close it off, I’d remind them to review LCC laws and health department standards and that we as a city expect them to adhere by them.”
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            Council also approved five other items, including the city’s Corrective Action Plan that has to do with retirement and benefits. On January 28, 2021, the city received an email from the Michigan Department of Treasury for the city’s MERS Defined Benefit Plan being funded at 59.88%, with the state’s threshold being 60%. To address the underfunded status, council carried the motion to continue to pay the “Actuarially Determined Contribution” (ADC) as invoiced by MERS plus an additional $10,000 for five years.
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
             Other items the council carried motions on dealt with Rebecca Street and Oak Drive dedications and easements, Green Burial addition to the rules and regulations for Oakridge Cemetery, the approval of rental fees for Cronin Millrace Pavilion and Stuarts Landing along with an update in the city’s social media policies in attempt to improve communication with the public.
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            Council also approved the two items on the consent agenda, which were city council minutes for the regular session on Tuesday, Feb. 16 and city bills totaling $558,449.93.
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            More information can be found at cityofmarshall.com.
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        &lt;br/&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        &lt;br/&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        &lt;br/&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        &lt;br/&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
    &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
  &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
&lt;/div&gt;</content>
    <summary type="text" />
    <g-custom:tags type="string">Nov 2020</g-custom:tags>
    <media:content medium="image" url="https://irp-cdn.multiscreensite.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/City+Council+social+districtIMG_2844.jpg" />
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>Oaklawn's virtual benefit auction is now online through evening of March 4</title>
    <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.advisor-chronicle.com/oaklawn-s-virtual-benefit-auction-is-now-online-through-evening-of-march-4" />
    <link rel="enclosure" type="image/jpeg" href="https://irp-cdn.multiscreensite.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Hope+for+Heroes+IMG_2693.jpg" length="177347" />
    <author>
      <name />
    </author>
    <updated>2021-02-26T14:36:37Z</updated>
    <published>2021-02-26T14:36:37Z</published>
    <content>&lt;div style="transition: none 0s ease 0s; display: block;" data-rss-type="text"&gt;&#xD;
  &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
    &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            When Jim Schwartz first arrived in the Marshall area in 2009 when he was appointed as the city’s public safety director, he said he immediately fell in love with the city and what it stands for.
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            Although he is now retired after 10 years as Marshall’s public safety director and working over 35 years overall as a public servant in Michigan and Florida, Schwartz is looking to further make an impact in the city as a newly elected member of Marshall’s City Council.
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            “I came to Marshall in 2009 as the public safety director and fell in love with Marshall right away--the acceptance when we moved into Marshall was something that was appreciated,” Schwartz said. “And the way the city is laid out is very unique in that we are located close to Battle Creek, close to Lansing and other areas that you want to travel to. The quality of life is very positive, and it worked out to be that way.”
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            Schwartz said when the time came for him to retire in September of 2019, he was not interested in simply walking away from trying to do things to positively impact the city.  He said he feels as if the relationships he has built in the community, along with the knowledge he has gained about the area equips him to continue to try to bring a positive influence to the city.
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            “There are so many things that are in the fire now, or areas that I feel like my knowledge, my abilities and even skills would be able to lend a positive outcome for the city in the future,” said Schwartz.
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            During his time as public safety director for the city, Schwartz said he not only looked at the day-to-day part of the job, but also kept an eye for what improvements could be made in the long term, an aspect Schwartz said he thinks is valuable as a city council member along with his constant interaction with surrounding communities over the years.
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            “I had a lot of interaction with the surrounding communities, and when I’m doing that, I’m looking at not the day-to-day so much, I’m looking three, five years ahead,” Schwartz said. “As a council member, I want to look at just not today, but where we want to be in three years, five years. I look at ways to collaborate and share those resources--what we are doing well, what others (communities) are doing well--that we can implement and make us (the city) stronger.”
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            During his campaign before he was elected, Schwartz highlighted several key topics as items he sees as important for the city to tackle as time moves forward.
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            Two of those topics include the city’s fiscal budgeting and responsibility (an issue Schwartz sees as especially important during COVID-19) and how to balance the city’s budget, along with how to continue to enhance and improve the downtown area.
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            “We are no different than anyone else during this time of COVID,” said Schwartz. “Things have really shaken up and budgets take a hit. So, I want to be able to take a look at what we’re doing and asking, ‘is what we’re doing really needed at this point? Is it a must have or a want?’ So, you start to look at those kinds of things and say, ‘what is it that we can do, especially during these times, that will make us stronger?’ It’s not just about cuts, it’s (also) about what more we can do.”
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            Schwartz also praised downtown and mentioned the growing number of residents living there while being eager to think of ways to grow the area even more.
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            “One of the real nice things about Marshall is our downtown,” he said. “We are getting more and more people living downtown. But what else can we do to bring more people into that area? Is it our lighting? Is it our hours at places that are open, and could we be more consistent with hours? What types of businesses are downtown? Do we need to bring in more professional or more retail? Those are all things that I want to work toward that attracted me when I first came to Marshall, to strengthen as well.”
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            Ultimately, Schwartz said he is excited to continue to work with other members of the city council to make decisions that impact the city and encourages any community members who have concerns or want to give input about issues within the city to reach out to him to work toward solutions.
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            “Those that I’m working with on council, what a great bunch of people we have,” he said. “Those sharing of ideas back-and-forth have really been working very well. I just want people to know that I am available either online or by phone. I do want to hear input and if they have concerns then they need to share those with me so I can share back with them what I know on the situation, and if I don’t know then I want to get them answers.”
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            Those who wish to contact Schwartz can reach him via email at JSchwartz@cityofmarshall.com, by phone at 269-986-5813 or by visiting his Facebook page “Jim Schwartz for City Council” and sending a direct message.
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        &lt;br/&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        &lt;br/&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        &lt;br/&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
    &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
  &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
&lt;/div&gt;</content>
    <summary type="text" />
    <g-custom:tags type="string">Nov 2020</g-custom:tags>
    <media:content medium="image" url="https://irp-cdn.multiscreensite.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Hope+for+Heroes+IMG_2693.jpg" />
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>Jim Schwartz looks to help bring positive outcomes to Marshall</title>
    <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.advisor-chronicle.com/jim-schwartz-looks-to-help-bring-positive-outcomes-to-marshall" />
    <link rel="enclosure" type="image/jpeg" href="https://irp-cdn.multiscreensite.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Jim++Schwartz.jpg" length="181230" />
    <author>
      <name />
    </author>
    <updated>2021-02-26T14:30:43Z</updated>
    <published>2021-02-26T14:30:43Z</published>
    <content>&lt;div style="transition: none 0s ease 0s; display: block;" data-rss-type="text"&gt;&#xD;
  &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
    &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            When Jim Schwartz first arrived in the Marshall area in 2009 when he was appointed as the city’s public safety director, he said he immediately fell in love with the city and what it stands for.
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            Although he is now retired after 10 years as Marshall’s public safety director and working over 35 years overall as a public servant in Michigan and Florida, Schwartz is looking to further make an impact in the city as a newly elected member of Marshall’s City Council.
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            “I came to Marshall in 2009 as the public safety director and fell in love with Marshall right away--the acceptance when we moved into Marshall was something that was appreciated,” Schwartz said. “And the way the city is laid out is very unique in that we are located close to Battle Creek, close to Lansing and other areas that you want to travel to. The quality of life is very positive, and it worked out to be that way.”
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            Schwartz said when the time came for him to retire in September of 2019, he was not interested in simply walking away from trying to do things to positively impact the city.  He said he feels as if the relationships he has built in the community, along with the knowledge he has gained about the area equips him to continue to try to bring a positive influence to the city.
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            “There are so many things that are in the fire now, or areas that I feel like my knowledge, my abilities and even skills would be able to lend a positive outcome for the city in the future,” said Schwartz.
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            During his time as public safety director for the city, Schwartz said he not only looked at the day-to-day part of the job, but also kept an eye for what improvements could be made in the long term, an aspect Schwartz said he thinks is valuable as a city council member along with his constant interaction with surrounding communities over the years.
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            “I had a lot of interaction with the surrounding communities, and when I’m doing that, I’m looking at not the day-to-day so much, I’m looking three, five years ahead,” Schwartz said. “As a council member, I want to look at just not today, but where we want to be in three years, five years. I look at ways to collaborate and share those resources--what we are doing well, what others (communities) are doing well--that we can implement and make us (the city) stronger.”
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            During his campaign before he was elected, Schwartz highlighted several key topics as items he sees as important for the city to tackle as time moves forward.
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            Two of those topics include the city’s fiscal budgeting and responsibility (an issue Schwartz sees as especially important during COVID-19) and how to balance the city’s budget, along with how to continue to enhance and improve the downtown area.
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            “We are no different than anyone else during this time of COVID,” said Schwartz. “Things have really shaken up and budgets take a hit. So, I want to be able to take a look at what we’re doing and asking, ‘is what we’re doing really needed at this point? Is it a must have or a want?’ So, you start to look at those kinds of things and say, ‘what is it that we can do, especially during these times, that will make us stronger?’ It’s not just about cuts, it’s (also) about what more we can do.”
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            Schwartz also praised downtown and mentioned the growing number of residents living there while being eager to think of ways to grow the area even more.
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            “One of the real nice things about Marshall is our downtown,” he said. “We are getting more and more people living downtown. But what else can we do to bring more people into that area? Is it our lighting? Is it our hours at places that are open, and could we be more consistent with hours? What types of businesses are downtown? Do we need to bring in more professional or more retail? Those are all things that I want to work toward that attracted me when I first came to Marshall, to strengthen as well.”
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            Ultimately, Schwartz said he is excited to continue to work with other members of the city council to make decisions that impact the city and encourages any community members who have concerns or want to give input about issues within the city to reach out to him to work toward solutions.
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            “Those that I’m working with on council, what a great bunch of people we have,” he said. “Those sharing of ideas back-and-forth have really been working very well. I just want people to know that I am available either online or by phone. I do want to hear input and if they have concerns then they need to share those with me so I can share back with them what I know on the situation, and if I don’t know then I want to get them answers.”
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            Those who wish to contact Schwartz can reach him via email at JSchwartz@cityofmarshall.com, by phone at 269-986-5813 or by visiting his Facebook page “Jim Schwartz for City Council” and sending a direct message.
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    <summary type="text" />
    <g-custom:tags type="string">Nov 2020</g-custom:tags>
    <media:content medium="image" url="https://irp-cdn.multiscreensite.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Jim++Schwartz.jpg" />
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>Marshall Electric Dept. saves customers approximately $50,000 during recent cold snap</title>
    <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.advisor-chronicle.com/marshall-electric-dept-saves-customers-approximately-50-000-recent-cold-snap" />
    <link rel="enclosure" type="image/jpeg" href="https://irp-cdn.multiscreensite.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Electric+Generator+959A7291.JPG" length="346529" />
    <author>
      <name />
    </author>
    <updated>2021-02-26T14:28:15Z</updated>
    <published>2021-02-26T14:28:15Z</published>
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            Due to regional high electric demand in the Midwest as a result of a recent snowstorm and sub-zero temperatures, electric market prices increased approximately seven times their normal amount ($0.03/kwh to $0.215/kwh) during the week of Feb. 15. To offset these high electric prices, the city of Marshall ran all three of its natural gas-fired internal combustion engines (total of 9,000 kilowatts) on Feb. 17 and  Feb. 18.  The availability of the engines saved Marshall Electric customers approximately $50,000 during the two-day high price period. 
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            Ed Rice, director of Electric Utilities for the city, explained the process of the decision to run the natural gas engines and how the decision was cost efficient for Marshall Electric customers.
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            “We have access to market prices, particularly in Michigan but also in the Midwest on what’s called ‘day ahead pricing’ and separate real-time (pricing), which is what actually happens,” Rice said. “We watch that pretty closely and when it starts creeping up, we start determining whether or not it’s more economical to run our city owned engines and not have to buy off the market. We decided on Tuesday (Feb. 16) that we better run (the city owned engines) Wednesday (Feb. 17) and Thursday (Feb. 18), because the projections were that (market price) was going to go up to over 20 cents per kilowatt hour, which normally on the market it runs three or four cents per kilowatt hour.”
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            Rice said the number of times the natural gas engines are used per year varies depending on weather patterns and how that impacts electric market prices. He said these engines are used as a “backstop for runaway energy costs.”
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            The city’s electric power supply is currently provided through diverse, long-term contracts with major out-of-state electric generating facilities with a small electric generation contribution from the two remaining city owned hydroelectric generators and three diesel/natural gas electric generators located at the city’s Powerhouse site on the Kalamazoo River.  The major off-site generating facilities include: Prairie State (Marissa, Ill); Amp Energy Center (Fremont, Ohio); Menominee Hydro (Menominee, Mich.); Octono Hydro (Green Bay, Wis.) and five (5) hydroelectric generation facilities on the Ohio River. Approximately 19% of electric supply purchases are planned to be from renewable energy sources.
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      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            Marshall Electric is a municipally owned, operated, maintained and constructed electric utility under the local authority of the Marshall City Council.  It is one of 41 such municipal electric utilities in the State of Michigan with the Lansing Board of Water and Light being the largest. 
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      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
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            The mission of the city of Marshall’s Electric Department is to provide safe, reliable and cost- effective electric service to Marshall residents, businesses and industries in a customer sensitive manner. 
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      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
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            Rice recognized city electric workers Robert Siegel, Lead Operator/Maintenance Mechanic II; Jeff Taylor, Maintenance Mechanic II/Operator; Tim Sanders, Maintenance Mechanic I/Operator; and Curt Crow, Operator I for their hard work and dedication to keeping the city’s electric services up and running.
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            The Marshall Municipal Electric Department was formed in 1893 with the city’s acquisition of the hydroelectric facility located at its present site on the Kalamazoo River.  The department is currently staffed with a director of electric utilities; seven Journey Line workers; three electric line apprentices; four powerhouse and three-meter department employees. Rice said employees are dedicated to providing quality electric services at a reasonable cost to the city’s 3,885 residential, 668 commercial and 20 industrial customers.  In addition to providing service to customers the department also manages the street and security lighting systems consisting of 1,400 lights.
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      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
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  &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
&lt;/div&gt;</content>
    <summary type="text" />
    <g-custom:tags type="string">Nov 2020</g-custom:tags>
    <media:content medium="image" url="https://irp-cdn.multiscreensite.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Electric+Generator+959A7291.JPG" />
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>Many voice support for Black Lives Matter painting, student project at Marshall High School following social media controversy</title>
    <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.advisor-chronicle.com/many-voice-support-for-black-lives-matter-painting-student-project-at-marshall-high-school-following-social-media-controversy" />
    <link rel="enclosure" type="image/jpeg" href="https://irp-cdn.multiscreensite.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/School+Board+Black+Matter+Sign+IMG_2656.jpg" length="301552" />
    <author>
      <name />
    </author>
    <updated>2021-02-26T14:25:06Z</updated>
    <published>2021-02-26T14:25:06Z</published>
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            After it was revealed last week on social media that some people in the community were not pleased that a student project at Marshall High School displayed a painted Black Lives Matter sign on the high school cafeteria’s window, Marshall Public Schools Board of Education President Richard Lindsey posted a statement online Feb. 21 stating the Board’s position:
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            We are aware that a partially completed sign with the phrase “Black Lives Matter” was put on a window in the Marshall High School Cafeteria last week as part of a student project.  The project has now been completed as part of a larger message designed by the students and which includes inspirational quotes along with information and statistics about the disproportionate impact of police actions on members of the Black community. 
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            The sign borrows a phrase that has become common across the country and does not necessarily represent a particular organization.  The intent of the student project was to start a dialogue and encourage students to think critically by illustrating the reality out of which the statement was created through reporting of objective facts and data. 
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            The slogan Black Lives Matter is a means of calling attention to the facts and data that unequivocally illustrate the disproportionate impact of police violence on Black citizens.  The slogan does not diminish the value of other lives but rather calls for Black lives to matter as much as those other lives do. The specific purpose of the statement here is to draw attention to those facts. 
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            The statement will make some feel uncomfortable.  For others, it reflects the reality that doing or saying the wrong thing at the wrong time can cost them their lives.  The student creators are hoping the dialogue will encourage a discussion about what we can collectively do to bend the arc toward empathy, understanding, and compassion.   
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            Some community members have asserted that different political perspectives have been discouraged in the past. We are examining our policies on those issues and those claims carefully.  We encourage our students, faculty and staff to continue to engage in civic debate on the issues they feel passionate about.  Going forward, efforts to engage in civil discourse by all sides will be encouraged and dialogue about these issues will be embraced.
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            The MPS Board of Education is meeting on Monday February 22, 2021, at 7:00 p.m.  On behalf of the Board of Education, I encourage anyone who is willing to speak and to listen about these issues to participate in public comment.  As a board we look forward to the dialogue.
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            At that Feb. 22 online meeting, approximately 25 people spoke out during the public comments portion of the meeting, all but two voicing their support for the students, the Board and Marshall High School Principal Dave Turner.
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            Audra Granger, the interventionist at the high school and staff sponsor of the school’s youth NAACP group, told the Board she wanted to give some insight about the situation.
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            “We meet weekly to discuss all different topics and projects in our youth NAACP group and a couple weeks ago we started brainstorming how we could celebrate Black History Month during COVID times, which was very difficult,” said Granger. “One day, in one of our meetings, a student was very excited, and she suggested the murals- not just the Black Lives Matter murals but quotes and inspirational items by people of color. I could feel the energy shift; our kids were excited.
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            Granger said she set up a meeting with Turner to see if this were something that could be done.
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            “The kids knew what (materials) they needed, and I offered to purchase it out of my own pocket and Mr. Turner offered to do so himself,” said Granger. “The next Wednesday, our next virtual day (Feb. 17), the students painted, and the energy was high. We were laughing, talking, painting and having a great time.”
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            Granger noted that the students worked for approximately eight hours and had not yet finished the painting but were planning on coming back on Sunday. Feb. 21.
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            “One by one, the students started contacting me about posts on social media, said a visibly-upset Granger. “They were confused and hurt. It was devastating to watch them go from proud to heartbroken. I talked to them one by one about the posts. As a White person,  I feel it’s my job to stand up, to buffer what is being thrown at them, and I couldn’t do that.”
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            Granger said it was “a great feeling” to see the Board’s statement that evening supporting the students.
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            “I just can’t thank you enough,” she said. “Our students were re-energized. They feel supported. They feel safe. They feel heard. I wanted to personally thank you for taking this stance for all of our students. I want to thank Dr. Davis (Superintendent Randy Davis) for supporting our students and I especially appreciate and want to thank Dave Turner. He has been unwavering in his support and I don’t think you realize how much this means to our students and the shift I have seen in my students after they read your support.”
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            Granger ended her remarks by asking community members to “think twice” before making “such hurtful comments” on Facebook posts.
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            “Our students are reading these and the racial trauma that this is causing can stay with them for a long time,” said Granger.
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            The more than 1,000 comments made on the Board of Education post were mainly in support, but for those who took issue, they noted that the project turned political, and that it supported the nationwide BLM movement and that any of those who did not support the movement were not allowed to voice their opinion.
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            One of the commentors at the Feb. 22 meeting wanted to know “why you guys feel the need to teach this kind of communism in our schools.”
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            “That has nothing to do with Black history,” said the commentor. “I understand that February is Black History Month and students do need to be educated on that, but Black Lives Matter (the organization) has nothing to do with Black history at all…I don’t feel that it needs to be in our schools at all.”
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            Albion Chapter NAACP President Bob Dunklin closed out the public comments by stating that “Black lives do matter.”
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            “For six years, these students have been in the Marshall Public Schools system and they have been feeling the pain where they feel that their lives did not matter,” said Dunklin. “And when our children speak, it is time for the adults to listen. These children have spoken. They feel the pain. When we mention Black lives, the slogan Black Lives has real meaning. When more Black men, more Black women in 2020 have died because of police brutality. Not to say that is the issue…the issue with these children is that they are feeling the pain also. I want to thank the Board, Mr. Turner and Ms. Granger for their support of these students. There’s an old saying that tells us that our children will lead us. They have spoken. I ask that we listen.”
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            Lindsey thanked all who commented.
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            “This discussion I feel has been a good one and much appreciated,” Lindsey said to the superintendent. “I’m not sure we were necessarily tasked with anything to follow up on Randy, but if you took anything out of that, we will address that in future sessions.”
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            Turner made the following statement after the meeting: “At Marshall High School, students are welcomed and encouraged to share their thoughts in a constructive manner.  We provide equal opportunity for students to share their understandings and ideas and believe all students need a voice and should be heard. 
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            “I am so proud of the students at Marshall High School. While we naturally have students with differing views and life experiences, they have been nothing but appropriate, responsible, and respectful with the black lives matter poster and the meaning behind the message. The youth NAACP organization did an excellent job sharing some of the racial disparities students of color experience. While we know we have more work to do, we can tell we are starting to make a difference when a black student shares with a staff member that they finally feel supported, heard and seen.  That sentiment has been echoed by numerous students throughout the week.  
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            “Racism in our society is something that we struggle to effectively address.  We need to continue to find ways to openly discuss racial issues while providing all students with a safe platform. We have to have the courage to face and acknowledge the facts about racism while creating and supporting policies that reduce racial inequities.  This will require hard work and open minds from all individuals to ensure success.  I can confidently say that the message the youth NAACP is sharing about black lives and the response from the student body leads me to believe we are on the right path to equality.”
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            On Feb. 24, Davis said his primary interest was to make sure “we are creating an inclusive school environment for every child regardless their unique differences and that we celebrate that diversity in the way we teach and learn.”
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            “This is an example of helping students find their voice in that dialogue,” he said. “All we are trying to do is foster positive dialogues around issues of diversity and inclusion.”
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&lt;/div&gt;</content>
    <summary type="text" />
    <g-custom:tags type="string">Nov 2020</g-custom:tags>
    <media:content medium="image" url="https://irp-cdn.multiscreensite.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/School+Board+Black+Matter+Sign+IMG_2656.jpg" />
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>Marshall FFA helps bring out the best in students</title>
    <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.advisor-chronicle.com/marshall-ffa-helps-bring-out-the-best-in-students" />
    <link rel="enclosure" type="image/jpeg" href="https://irp-cdn.multiscreensite.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Cover+Option+2+IMG_1804.jpg" length="621824" />
    <author>
      <name />
    </author>
    <updated>2021-02-19T14:54:48Z</updated>
    <published>2021-02-19T14:54:48Z</published>
    <content>&lt;div style="transition: none 0s ease 0s; display: block;" data-rss-type="text"&gt;&#xD;
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            National FFA Week this year runs from Feb. 20-27. 
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            Starting in 1948, the National FFA Board of Directors designated a week-long tradition to recognize George Washington’s example and legacy as a leader and farmer. For the past 73 years, FFA members across the country have taken part in agricultural, leadership and service-based activities during National FFA Week.
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            “National FFA Week is a significant event that really showcases the heart of our organization,” said Christine White, chief program officer for the National FFA Organization. “Local chapters use this as an opportunity to highlight program success, recognize community supporters and amplify the mission of the organization.”
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            This year, more than 700,000 FFA members will spend the week of Feb. 20-27 developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education. 
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            “It is an opportunity to celebrate FFA and agriculture education,” said Agriscience Instructor and Marshall High School FFA Advisor Lora Finch. “We are lucky to have a great ag program at Marshall and an extremely supportive community.”
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            Finch noted that activities planned at MHS during FFA Week include dress-up days, hat day, Instagram insta-polls, a staff appreciation breakfast and poster contest. Marshall Middle School ag class students under the guidance of MMS FFA Advisor Andrea Gerloski are also planning a poster contest as well as other fun activities.
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            The 2020-2021 Marshall FFA Chapter Officer Team includes James Ruedisueli, President; Mara Tiernan, Vice President; Makenzie Hennagir, Secretary; Audree Richardson, Treasurer; Kaleb Green, Reporter; and Austin Burkwalt, Sentinel. 
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            Ruedisueli, Hennagir, Richardson, Green and Burkwalt are seniors, while Tiernan is a junior. 
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            Finch offered several chapter highlights over the past year:
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            Trophy Case Legacy Project named for Floyd Beneker.
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            Floyd Beneker was the longtime agriscience teacher and FFA advisor at MHS and passed away in December of 2016. In his honor and memory, the Class of 2020 decided to build a trophy case at MHS to display the agriscience and FFA awards. After many planning meetings with hours of discussions, the trophy case was installed. The committee included 2020 seniors and 2019-2020 Marshall FFA Chapter Officers: Sara Horton, chapter president; Harrison Hautau, student advisor; Sam Kiessling, co-vice president; Lucas Settineri, co-vice president; and Emma Ruedisueli, secretary.
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            Results of District Leadership Contests for Marshall FFA members 
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            Marshall FFA members won 2 District Championships earlier this month:
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            *Demonstration: Floral team: Makenzie Hennagir, Mara Tiernan, Izzy Endsley, and Stephan Turner 1st place receiving Gold award and qualifying for regional competition. 
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            *Demonstration: Terrariums team: Maggie Burkwalt, Aidan Fast, Abby Fast, and Alexis Stealy,  3rd place receiving Silver award. 
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            *Creed Speaking: Alex Finch 1st place receiving Gold award and Ellie Chamberlain 2nd place receiving Silver award both qualifying for regional competition. 
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            *Greenhand Public speaking: Josh Munson 2nd place receiving Gold award and qualifying for regional competition.
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            *Job Interview: Helene Hilton, 2nd place receiving Gold award and qualifying for regional competition. 
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            James Ruedisueli, 4th place, receiving Gold award
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            Kaleb Green, 5th place and  receiving Gold award
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            Austin Burkwalt, 8th place and receiving Gold award
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            Henry Harrell - participant at Pre-Districts
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            Regionals will take place in early March. 
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            Middle School Ag Classes
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            Marshall Middle School is currently offering one middle school course for students in 7th grade.  The class is called Introduction to Agriscience/ FFA leadership.  This class explores a wide range of agriscience topics including, but not limited to, animal production, the food system, and career options.  Gerloski said the course gives students the opportunity to use agriculture as an avenue to develop leadership skills and personal growth.  In the future, she said she would like to see this offered to 6th and 8th grade students as well.
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            we would like to expand this opportunity to 6th and 8th graders.
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            “I am excited to help grow Marshall Middle School’s Agriscience/FFA program,” said Gerloski.
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            “Being a first-year teacher, I am thankful for the opportunity to work next to Lora Finch as she has helped guide me through this challenging year.”
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            High School Ag Classes
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            Marshall High School is currently offering three high school courses for students in grades 9-12. Both Botany and Zoology classes are science electives that count for High School graduation requirements. Advanced AFNR Leadership is an advanced course for students interested in learning about agriculture at a more in-depth level, as well as a desire for increased leadership development through FFA membership. All three courses include topics of leadership, teamwork, work ethic, responsibility and career exploration. 
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            “In the future, we are exploring offering: Food Science, Vet Science, Floral Design. Currently an exploratory level of this curriculum is integrated into the Botany and Zoology courses,” said Finch.
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            Salmon in the Classroom
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            In January, Marshall High School Zoology classes and FFA members received 75 chinook salmon. These fish hatched at the Wolf Lake Hatchery in Mattawan and are currently in the “swim-up fry” stage of their lives. They are approximately 2 inches long and will remain at MHS until May, when they will be released in the Kalamazoo River with hopes of making the journey to Lake Michigan. 
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      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            The Zoology students, as well as some Botany and Advanced Ag students, care for the salmon and monitor their health and do weekly water testing. This is the fourth year of the Marshall Agriscience and FFA program’s involvement in this program through the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR). 
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      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
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      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            Looking to the future...Spring Plant Sales
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      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            Despite COVID and modifications to the school environment, Marshall FFA members and Botany students are still planning on having the annual spring plant sales. The sale is set for May 14-15 at the Calhoun County Fairgrounds in Marshall. Last year’s sale was “a huge success,” said Finch. 
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      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
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            Member numbers
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            Finch said current membership on the official Marshall FFA roster was 90 as of Feb. 1. This includes 7th-12th grade students, but also, graduates can extend their membership until 21 years of age if they have plans to earn their American FFA Degrees. Currently there are 10 high school graduates on the roster. 
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      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
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      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
    &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
  &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
&lt;/div&gt;</content>
    <summary type="text" />
    <g-custom:tags type="string">Nov 2020</g-custom:tags>
    <media:content medium="image" url="https://irp-cdn.multiscreensite.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Cover+Option+2+IMG_1804.jpg" />
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>Marshall City Council authorizes city clerk  to sign  brokerage services contract for sale of Marshall House</title>
    <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.advisor-chronicle.com/marshall-city-council-authorizes-city-clerk-to-sign-brokerage-services-contract-for-sale-of-marshall-house" />
    <link rel="enclosure" type="image/jpeg" href="https://irp-cdn.multiscreensite.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Marshall+House.jpg" length="600784" />
    <author>
      <name />
    </author>
    <updated>2021-02-19T14:52:25Z</updated>
    <published>2021-02-19T14:52:25Z</published>
    <content>&lt;div style="transition: none 0s ease 0s; display: block;" data-rss-type="text"&gt;&#xD;
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            The Marshall City Council authorized the city clerk to sign a brokerage services contract with Affordable Houses Advisors of Marcus &amp;amp; Millchamp for the sale of the Marshall House in its public virtual meeting on Feb. 16.
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      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            Marshall House Apartments, which is operated and owned by the city, is a 100-unit housing community for seniors and disabled citizens that opened in January of 1980. The housing was established for low income and disabled with rent based on about 30% of the person’s adjusted income, according to cityofmarshall.com.
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      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            At the Jan. 19 council meeting, staff was authorized to proceed with a request for proposal for real estate broker services to discuss the potential sale of Marshall House. Three brokers were interviewed by the city manager, director of special projects and the purchasing agent via Zoom, with the city ultimately deciding on Marcus &amp;amp; Millchamp as the city stated the other two companies interviewed did not have as much experience and the industry and charged higher commission rates.
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      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            “Each company was extremely qualified, provided a process that we believe would lead to attractive offers, and will help us meet our goals with Marshall House,” the Feb. 16 administrative report states on the city’s website. “The decision came down to two companies, CBRE and AHA, with staff feeling that both offers were extremely comparable. The final decision came down to recommending the company with the lower commission” (3% vs. approximately 3.46% at $7 million valuation).
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      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            The brokers informed the city that now is an ideal time to explore the sale of Marshall House due to low 10-year T-bill rates, a low supply and the COVID-19 crisis causing a rush of money to the safety of subsidized rents, according to the report. The city stated each company interviewed felt that the market timing was “the best they could hope for.”
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      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
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            Matthew Kurzmann, a senior national director at AHA, spoke at the Feb. 16 meeting to express his gratitude for the opportunity and to explain his company’s role in the process.
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      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            “Our role in this process is a liaison to the market,” Kurzman said. “If and when we get the green light from the city, we will commence a marketing effort and hopefully return with the information that the city needs to make an informed decision on who a potential (suitor) to the asset may be and what that transition looks like.”
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      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            In the meeting, Kurzmann made a point to City Council members that Marshall House will be marketed as affordable housing property.
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      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            “The property will be marketed as an affordable housing property,” said Kurzmann. “It will not be marketed based on any change of use. There are some regulatory components that will restrict any change of use, but despite that, our goal will be to identify an affordable housing developer with a solid reputation whose plan it is to put money back into the building through a number of different government programs.”
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      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            A work session was scheduled by the City Council with Kurzmann and AHA for March 1 to further discuss the next steps in the process.
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      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            The city also approved road closures for the Marshall High School Graduation Vehicle Parade in the Feb. 16 meeting and approved all items on the consent agenda, which included:
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      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            ●	Setting a public hearing for March 15 to consider Zoning Amendment Application #RZ21.01 to rezone 410 East Drive from Professional Office Service to R-2 (Suburban Residential District).
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      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            ●	Adopting the Resolution of Intent to authorize the city of Marshall to seek financial assistance from the state of Michigan for its public transportation service, DART.
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            ●	Approving the creation of a construction vehicle and storage permit for use in city parking lots per the fees set forth.
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      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
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    &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
  &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
&lt;/div&gt;</content>
    <summary type="text" />
    <g-custom:tags type="string">Nov 2020</g-custom:tags>
    <media:content medium="image" url="https://irp-cdn.multiscreensite.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Marshall+House.jpg" />
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>Marshall swimmers aim for fifth-straight league title</title>
    <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.advisor-chronicle.com/marshall-swimmers-aim-for-fifth-straight-league-title" />
    <link rel="enclosure" type="image/jpeg" href="https://irp-cdn.multiscreensite.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Cover+Photo+.jpg" length="292805" />
    <author>
      <name />
    </author>
    <updated>2021-02-12T14:29:41Z</updated>
    <published>2021-02-12T14:29:41Z</published>
    <content>&lt;div style="transition: none 0s ease 0s; display: block;" data-rss-type="text"&gt;&#xD;
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            Last season, the Marshall High School boys swimming and diving team went 8-0 in dual meets and 7-0 in league meets on their way to a fourth-straight conference championship.
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      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            In this abbreviated 2021 season, the Redhawks picked up right where they left off, winning their first two league meets of the season – at home versus Sturgis Feb. 2 and at Harper Creek Feb. 9.
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      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
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            Coach Dave Karns said that winning the conference title for a fifth straight year is the team’s goal.
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            “And for those who make the state meet, that’s just the cherry on top,” said Karns.
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            Last year’s state meet was cancelled right at the start of the pandemic last March, but six returning swimmers did qualify for the state meet last season and hope to do so again: Jerome Korten, sprint freestyle, backstroke; Marcos Eshuis, sprint freestyle, backstroke; along with this season’s captains, Nate Turner, distance freestyle, backstroke; Anthony Dent, butterfly, breaststroke; Isaac Culp, sprint and mid-distance freestyle; Aidan Bohl, breaststroke, individual medley; and Parker Gilbertson, backstroke, sprint freestyle, butterfly.
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      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
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            “We are returning a very diverse group of experienced and newer swimmers,” said Karns. “With seven state returners, we will have a lot of leadership. We did graduate eight seniors last season, so
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      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
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            they have some big holes to fill. 
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      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
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            “This year’s team is well rounded, but smaller and we will need to develop depth, which should allow the guys to compete for a fifth consecutive league title and be very competitive at the state meet.”
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            Gilbertson said there really is not another feeling like winning. 
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            “The past three years that I have been a part of the  swimming and diving team, we have done nothing besides win,” he said. “It feels good to know that our team trains harder than any other team, and to see that work pay off in the end only enhances the rush of the victory.”
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      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
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            He added that with this season’s team being the smallest that it has been in his years in the program, he knew this year would have to be a year “where tons of people step up into important, scoring roles.”
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      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
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            “For this reason, I have practiced much better self-health to ensure that I do not get sick during this time for the sake of my team,” said Gilbertson. “Besides this, I still anticipate our team's ultimate victory over the rest of the league and want nothing less than our win streak to live on.”
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            Turner  said each of the three previous championship teams have been “very different, from abilities to personalities.”
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            “That fact makes every win seem different, emotionally, but the same physically,” he said. “Winning those titles, for me, is a way to carry on the Turner tradition at Marshall High School. My brother’s team was unable to win a conference championship, so I feel this is a way to keep the Turner name in the mind of everyone in the league.”
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            Turner noted that this past year has been unlike any year for him all student-athletes.
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            “Normally, I would have had a summer season and a fall season -  unfortunately that was not the case,” he said. “I had to rely on swimming at the YMCA in Battle Creek to prepare me for this season, and even that didn’t prepare me as much as I wanted.”
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            Still, he said he expected he and the team to have another successful season.
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            “I have no doubt in my mind that this Marshall team can win the conference championship, but we’re going to need to work,” said Turner. “This year is definitely going to be challenging, and we need some of the younger guys on the team to step up big when it comes to winning us points. It’s going to take all of us.”
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            Bohl said winning the league meet “felt amazing” his first couple years.
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            “But it was even better last year when I played a big part in it, and it will feel even better this year because it's looking like every swim will matter,” he said. “The swim season has always been exciting, and tough but this season we have to work extra hard and push ourselves to keep our goal of five straight league championships.”
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            Dent noted that being on a team that continues to perform at a high level each year has been a “great experience.”
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      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            “My teammates and I have been fortunate to have such a knowledgeable and passionate coach,” said Dent. “He pushes us each day in practice which, without a doubt, is a large reason why we are so successful in the pool. 
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      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            “As a captain, I have prepared myself physically in the offseason with weight training and the occasional swim workout so that I can contribute to this great team with the best of my ability. I am looking forward to keeping our undefeated dual meet record alive this season and winning the league championship for the fifth year in a row.”
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      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
             Culp, who decided to try out swimming during his freshman year, said he immediately felt like he “belonged” in the sport with this team. 
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      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            “The older athletes were extremely welcoming to us newcomers, and we all quickly developed a bond that will not be forgotten in my time after graduating,” he said. “As I myself become one of the elder swimmers, I strive to contribute to the including and welcoming sense of brotherhood I received in my earlier years.” 
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      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
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            In addition to the great community of the team, Culp added that the swimmers are “a very competitive group,” showcased by the four conference titles in a row and undefeated record in dual meets.
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      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            “That status is revealing when one considers the determination and hard work that went into the effort preceding each victory,” he said. “As exciting and proud as those moments were, the experiences that I have gained in the past three years of my involvement with the team are priceless, and I would deem them some of my favorite times of high school. My love for the environment that swimming with such an amazing team and under the guidance of such a great coach like Dave Karns is beyond any gratitude I can express.”
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      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
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            Even though this season will be shortened and compressed into a small timeframe, Culp said he and his teammates feel fortunate to be able to still compete.
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      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            “Taking careful measures to navigate around any problems that could potentially present dangers in relation to the pandemic, I expect that we will be able to maintain safe conditions throughout the season,” he said. “With that being said, we are working very hard in the pool, and are all very eager to get back into racing and once again aim for the championship title at our league meet in March.”
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  &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
&lt;/div&gt;</content>
    <summary type="text" />
    <g-custom:tags type="string">Nov 2020</g-custom:tags>
    <media:content medium="image" url="https://irp-cdn.multiscreensite.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Cover+Photo+.jpg" />
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>My cancer journey</title>
    <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.advisor-chronicle.com/my-cancer-journey" />
    <link rel="enclosure" type="image/jpeg" href="https://irp-cdn.multiscreensite.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Travis+Dopp+with+puppies+.jpeg" length="355170" />
    <author>
      <name />
    </author>
    <updated>2021-02-12T14:27:01Z</updated>
    <published>2021-02-12T14:27:01Z</published>
    <content>&lt;div style="transition: none 0s ease 0s; display: block;" data-rss-type="text"&gt;&#xD;
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            When you’re young, you have no idea what lies ahead.  You look at life through that pair of rose-colored glasses and the sky is the limit.  Then, as life encroaches with all of its intricacies and quirks, those rose-colored glasses turn clear, and your analysis of life has altered.
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            I was born in Battle Creek in October of 1975 and my parents, Bill and Gayle Dopp moved to Marshall when I was 2 years old.  Fortunately, I had an older brother Tom Blandford, and shortly after we moved to Marshall my younger brother William was born as was my younger sister Samantha.  
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            Attending Kindergarten at Shearman School, I completed the rest of my grade school at Gordon.  I do believe I still hold the record for getting into trouble there.  For three months straight, each day I made a trip to the principal’s office. This mostly was due to the fact that I had two small friends who were picked on older bullies, so I would fight those kids each day to try to keep them from picking on my buddies.  From Gordon I attended Marshall Middle School and graduated from Marshall High School in 1994.  And for the record?  I stayed out of trouble! 
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      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
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            When you’re 18, you’re really not sure what you want to do, so you try out different avenues.  I completed a year of the architecture program at Baker College in Owosso after high school.  And that was okay. But having an older brother to talk to help me make some decisions about my future.
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      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            After the conversation explaining to Tom about what I really wanted to do with my life, there was a serenity that I felt.  I wanted to be a film writer, director and actor yet I always wanted to play music.  So, I decided to attend Lansing Community College to study film and writing and to be closer to my friends in Lansing in the band I was playing with.
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      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            Our new band, Small Brown Bike, started up and we were gaining some attention.  At the same time, I was studying 11 different majors at LCC and spending money without a target goal in sight.  In the meantime, we built a skate ramp in our garage.  I made the decision to end my time at LCC and spend my time writing, filming, and playing music.  That life-changing decision paid off for me, but I do believe that the lifestyle I adopted played a part in my cancer diagnosis.
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      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            In 2003 I went to the Los Angeles Film School and completed its eight-week film program.  While I was there, the owner of the film school told me I was an “idea guy” so, he asked me to pitch a concept for their ad campaign. I did, and I ended up directing and writing the ad campaign for them.
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            It’s interesting how interests throughout one’s lifetime change.  Growing up in the country, I spent most of my time in the woods, in my sandbox, in the cornfields playing war games, building forts, running with my dogs and brothers.  After school, we’d watch our favorite cartoons and then go right outside and try to recreate those episodes. The summer before 5th grade I got into skateboarding and fell in love with the sport, so it became an everyday activity.  And I still skateboard, even with bad knees.  It’s something I simply can’t shake.
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            Although I stayed out of trouble in my high school years, the group of guys I hung around with were kind of wild, but I liked that though.  I played football, and there I could unleash the aggression of being made fun of for being a skater, a long haired 90210 skater.  We were a machine the way our team played and worked together. To me it was cool with the team mentality.  Teamwork is also what made our band fun.  We worked hard to sound perfect and tight, but the most important things at the time were watching movies, hanging with my buddies, and skateboarding every day.
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      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
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            My musical interests over the years have ranged from growing up listening to Motown, R&amp;amp;B and classic folk music to, by third grade, getting into break-dancing when I fell in love with Hip Hop, which has stayed with me till this day.  However, through skating and my older brother Tom and his friends, I was introduced to thrash metal and punk rock. Today those remain my staples.
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            I’ve digressed. Immediately when I got out of high school I worked at my dad’s station, Walter’s Tire Shop, and I also did some construction work.  During that time, I was writing scripts and our band, Small Brown Bike, began touring and putting records out.  Officially we’re still together, but we haven’t played a show in four years. 
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      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
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            I’ve also completed solo music projects: Leave Let Be and Travis John along with five unaccompanied records. In 2004, I decided to move to Orlando, Florida to write for a wakeboard magazine Alliance; there I was given my own four-page section of the magazine to review music and write my odd stories with wake boarders. 
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      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
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            Deciding in 2007 that I needed a change, I moved to Chicago to really focus on my film career.  At this point I already had a couple music videos on MTV that I directed and appeared in a few commercial items as well.  Since that time, I haven’t looked back; I’ve stayed focused on my film career. I have to say, it hasn’t been easy or pretty, but my determination has paid off. 
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      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
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            My brothers and I created a show that was a finalist for Comedy Central, and I’ve pitched my projects to almost every network under the sun. I filmed a show last year, but because of the virus, I had to postpone the series. I’m currently a producer with a company called Brandon TV, which is affiliated with Viacom.  But again, the response to the virus has really put some roadblocks up for any true momentum to get going. I do however have a cartoon with some major players that is in pre-production to shoot the pilot episode.
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            Sometimes I wonder why I chose this path, but I’ve been creating or using my imagination since I can remember. The typical 9 to 5 jobs never made sense to me.  I tried a couple of them, but I just didn’t last long at them.
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             In February of 2020 I began thinking I might have something wrong with me.  I started to see blood in my stools.  This occurred off and on, not with any consistency.  However, I was sick all of December 2019 and the beginning of January 2020. But, because of the pandemic, I wasn’t able to see my doctor, so we had to Zoom our appointments. The doctor thought I had an ulcer, so we began to try to fix that. 
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            In March and April, I changed my entire diet after I started having an absurd amount of bowel movements in a day.  I would have between 8 and 12 and there was blood in the stools. So, with my new diet change, everything went back to normal, but when I would walk away from the diet, those symptoms would start back up. 
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            In June I started to see changes, so I went to see about getting a colonoscopy.  By that time, I didn’t have blood in my stools for 10 days, so the doctor didn’t believe I had cancer, but felt I should schedule a colonoscopy anyway.  I didn’t have insurance and I was feeling good, so I didn’t schedule the procedure.
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            I felt great all of June and July.  By August, things began to really change. The pain in my back and sides were more frequent and I had five days of blood in my stools.  I began to realize that something was wrong but didn’t want to believe it. So, I made another Zoom meeting with my doctor and after a stern talking to, she told me to get a colonoscopy. I couldn’t thank her enough, because I was totally going to try and fix this situation I was in, by myself. She gave me the hard truth.
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      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            My journey began at Oaklawn Hospital, but then I switched to an oncologist in Kalamazoo.  Then, I played the waiting game at the University of Michigan Hospital.  I had heard so many promising stories about the University of Michigan, but they were in absolutely no hurry to get me in, so while we waited on them, I had meetings with the Mayo Clinic.
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      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            I absolutely loved the surgeon at the Mayo Clinic because she broke everything down for me.  Unfortunately, the University of Michigan gave me the run around, and I didn’t like its “unsure diagnosis” nor its bedside manner. I ended up at Bronson in Battle Creek after hearing two great stories about the facility and its team.
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      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            On Sept. 17, 2020 I was diagnosed with colon cancer – The Mayo Clinic and the University of Michigan Hospital were both ready to surgically remove the tumor, and since they believed it to be Stage 1, no chemotherapy would be necessary. After five weeks of talking and scans,  U of M wanted me to get a liver MRI before surgery because they saw something on my liver. On Oct. 26 U of M told me that I had Stage 4 colon cancer and I was no longer curable, because they found 10-15 lesions on my liver. 
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      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            The Mayo Clinic thought the lesions on my liver were not cancer, but they were worried about a high aortic lymph node that was swollen, so Mayo diagnosed me as Stage 4 as well. Unfortunately, no one had 100% of the answers because they couldn’t get a biopsy on my liver and the high lymph node might be swollen from infection, not cancer.
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      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            After the meetings with the U of M team, I called the Bronson Cancer Center in Battle Creek. After the meeting with Dr. Cox, he said he did not believe I had cancer in my liver, so he deemed me Stage 3. 
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      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            On Dec. 16, I started my chemo treatment at Bronson Cancer Care Center. I’m scheduled for 12 doses, going every two weeks: one day at the center getting chemo and two days at home with the chemo pack on me. U of M wanted to check me after six doses but because my blood work was perfect and my cancer numbers were lower, Bronson wanted to check me after four doses.
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            I’ve only done three rounds of chemo and every single one of them have been different. After the first round, I experienced a tingling in my hands and one day of hunger. After round two, the tingling was worse, and I experienced about five days of brain fog.  By round three, I basically slept for nearly two  days and the tingling in my hands was more intense. But other than that, I feel great, I can work out and my energy is high after the five days of chemo.
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      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            When you travel down this rocky road of cancer, especially when you’re my age, it’s extremely daunting.  However, the support I have received has been amazing.  My family is supporting everything I’m doing to beat this.  Additionally, I’m operating from a highly positive mindset, so everyone vibrates at my level.
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      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            The music community has stepped up huge as well; the outreach and connections have been deeply appreciated and heartwarming.  The stories have been very encouraging and provide fuel for my own survival fire. Since my insurance doesn’t cover everything, a music fan created a t-shirt to raise money. Another friend created a GoFundMe.  Bands are helping with music compilations to raise money and a photographer is selling live music pictures of me to raise money for my fight.
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      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
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            When you don’t have a 100% diagnosis, it’s difficult to be placed into a category of numbers and statistics.  My cancer and body is different from others.  My diet is clean, my mindset is my own and different than others. However, all of these effects are not talked about between the doctor and the patient.  
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      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            Looking at my cancer as a gift, I needed a deep change, and my body has spoken. Once I understood the change I needed to make, it’s been much easier to unpack and forgive on a daily basis. I’ve been allowed the time to appreciate the moment and plan for a healthier future, the one I’m supposed to have.
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      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
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            As far as a prognosis, one doctor says I’m curable; another doctor says it’s incurable but manageable and yet another told me he’s seen this type go into remission. My personal prediction is that I will beat this and be cancer free. 
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      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
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            My genetic makeup is not prone to any cancers.  I believe this was all lifestyle. I can change my lifestyle and this disease. I also have a gene that doesn’t allow cancer to multiply rapidly. My blood work remains flawless and I believe it will be again on this next week when I receive a full body scan to assess what the chemo has done. From the way I’m feeling and how my body has been working, I believe I am going to see fantastic results. 
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      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            It’s strange sometimes the way you look at a cancer diagnosis.  At first, I was extremely mad and scared and gave myself a short time to live. That only lasted for perhaps an hour.  I then made it clear to myself that I would beat this cancer and remain positive. Since I was 19, I’ve been dealing with anxiety.  Most of my anxiety was irrational and I would think I had cancer or some other disease, causing unwarranted worrying. Since my diagnosis, I no longer speak those things over me. My journey doesn’t have an ending. I only see my future without cancer.
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      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            Throughout this journey, I’ve learned that change is key.  It made me evaluate friendships, relationships, and those who no longer serve my well-being.  I’ve learned to forgive those who I believe wronged me but most importantly, I’ve forgiven myself.  I beat myself up for the first week after I heard I was Stage 4. My lifestyle did this – my past. I’m living in the present and I’m reversing the outcome with positive affirmations, diet, exercise and strong belief. This journey has prepared me for a better future. 
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      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
             My advice?  Perhaps this isn’t “ethical” but if you’re 35 years old, lie to your doctor and say you have blood in your stools so you can get a colonoscopy. Every doctor has told me they keep seeing younger people with colon cancer. However, institutions like the CDC and other health organizations indicate you’re not supposed to need or get checked until you’re 45 years old. That’s wrong. Just go. Because if they find a polyp, they remove it and then you’ll know you need to be checked more frequently. I’ve already had more than 20 people get a colonoscopy since I shared my story. If you have blood in your stools, don’t be like me and think you can fix it.  You can’t.  Get a colonoscopy as soon as possible.  It’s not a joke and cancer treatment isn’t fun.
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      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            Since my insurance doesn’t take care of everything and I’m doing my surgery at the Mayo Clinic, they require 20% down on my surgery cost: it’s a six-figure operation. We have multiple ways for people to help, contribute, and donate to help my fight. Stories and kind words are always appreciated to any cancer victims and support from anyone is appreciated.  So, I’ve asked people when they’re praying or sending good vibes my way to focus their thoughts on my liver not having any cancer in it and shrinking my colon tumor. 
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            Cancer is not easy, but you can change everything you did leading up to your diagnosis. Doctors will not talk to you about diet, but research diet and cancer – see what works for you. But be open to completely changing your diet. It’s worked extremely well for me and my results are proof. Forgive and unpack any unwarranted stresses or anxieties and believe you can beat this, especially if you’re willing to change. Pills and chemo aren’t the only keys to success. 
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            Anger, anxiety, zero balance in my life and stress contributed to my cancer. I don’t hate my cancer – it took years to make this happen.  My body was just telling me we were off. Now I’m doing everything to correct myself. Like I said before, 
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            I look at my cancer as a gift. I’m in the middle of filming a series that documents my cancer journey and sharing my methods to beating cancer in hopes it gives some insight or comfort to those in the same boat. 
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      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        &lt;br/&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
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            For anyone who is interested in Travis’ journey and hearing more, check out: Personal Instagram: travisjdopp / Company Instagram: oldpointlight / FaceBook: https://www.facebook.com/ShyGuy1975. You can follow his YouTube channel for episodes. YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/OldPointLight.
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&lt;/div&gt;</content>
    <summary type="text" />
    <g-custom:tags type="string">Nov 2020</g-custom:tags>
    <media:content medium="image" url="https://irp-cdn.multiscreensite.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Travis+Dopp+with+puppies+.jpeg" />
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>Marshall City Council approves contract with Granger for trash and recycling services</title>
    <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.advisor-chronicle.com/marshall-city-council-approves-contract-with-granger-for-trash-and-recycling-services" />
    <link rel="enclosure" type="image/png" href="https://irp-cdn.multiscreensite.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Granger.png" length="230909" />
    <author>
      <name />
    </author>
    <updated>2021-02-12T14:23:42Z</updated>
    <published>2021-02-12T14:23:42Z</published>
    <content>&lt;div style="transition: none 0s ease 0s; display: block;" data-rss-type="text"&gt;&#xD;
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            During its Feb. 1 regular meeting, the Marshall City Council approved the contract with Granger Waste Services to provide a single hauler for residential trash and recycling services after approving the proposal at the Dec. 7 meeting.
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      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            Last year, the Council proposed a similar ordinance and received input from the community; recently, city staff addressed many concerns previously noted by residents, and updated the ordinance and structure of the proposed services.
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            Whereas the 2019 proposal pertained to yard waste and bulk items, the updated proposal only focused on the collection of trash and recycling. 
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            As such, the service that was intreated in the request for proposal to regional waste providers included the following items: trash service is not required, and citizens will have the ability to opt out if they have alternative methods of disposal; recycling will be available at an additional charge but is also not required (even if trash service is desired); properties that receive service from a homeowner’s association or condo association, residential properties of four units or more, and properties that have both commercial/residential uses (e.g. downtown buildings) will be exempt from the ordinance; billing and all customer service will be provided by the city. 
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      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
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            The recommended rate for trash is $13 per month with an additional $5.50 for recycling services, and there is a 3% price increase for each year of the contract. Sixty-four- and 96-gallon containers will be available for trash, while 96-gallon containers will be available for recycling. Though the city will continue its bulk cleanup in the spring, residents will be able to schedule individual bulk item collection for $25 per item. 
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      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
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            Special Projects Director Eric Zuzga noted that while last year’s bulk cleanup took about three weeks to be completed, Granger expects to finish the process in only four hours.
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      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
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            With the acceptance of this proposal, city staff and City Attorney David Revore were directed to negotiate a contract with Granger for the provision of these services.
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      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
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            Though the ordinance adopted involves residential property, Granger has agreed to extend the cost provided in the contract to other properties in an opt-in option. This will only include properties that use the toter level service, not those that have dumpsters. City staff will distribute this information to impacted properties as the city moves forward in this process.
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      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            While saving residents’ money and increasing service, the city says, is its primary motive for the move to a single hauler, the contract will save the city over $10,000 per year through reduced costs for trash service.
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      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
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            “We feel very comfortable that this puts in place the structure that [the Council] approved in December and protects the residents and the city,” said Zuzga. “It was five years that was approved and does include transitioning our communitywide cleanup, as well as the dumpsters that city facilities use, to Granger. It’s a sizable savings for the city from the operational standpoint.”
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      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
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             In other news, the City Council:
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            · Approved the adoption of the Capital Improvement Program, which is proposed for July 1 of this year through June 30 of 2027.
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            For many years, the Council has been presented with a CIP—a guide for future capital improvements for the city. Currently, through the CIP process, the groundwork has been laid to ensure that capital improvements are identified and prioritized. The resources to provide those needs have also been analyzed.
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      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
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            The CIP is published on the Finance Department’s page of the city’s website.
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      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
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            · Approved the county parks millage allocation of $19,876, which will be used for repairs to Marshall Riverwalk this year.
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      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
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            In 2020, voters approved a countywide millage for parks. The millage rate is 0.2 mills for five years. The allocation for the city of Marshall parks is $19,876 for 2021. City staff have prioritized the repair of the Marshall Riverwalk with this revenue for at least the first year.
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      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            Staff have identified a list of necessary repairs throughout the course of the Riverwalk’s route, which include fencing, fence railing, deck boards, a rotting post, uneven boards, overhanging dead limbs, dead trees, leaning tress, encroaching bush removal and signage. Under the regulations of the county millage, this project fits into the parameters of where the funds should be used.
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      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            · Approved the implementation, integration and training of CityWorks, Inc. proposal by Stantec Consulting in an amount of $92,357, with a contingency of $7,643, totaling in $100,000.
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      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            The city had started researching computerized maintenance management software in 2017 as part of its overall geographic information system improvements and asset management requirements. The city received three vendors for onsite presentations: CityWorks, Cartegraph, and Lucity. After vendor presentations and staff’s research, staff decided CityWorks was the CMMS for the city.
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      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            Following this decision, the city issued a request for proposal for implementation of CityWorks in spring of 2019. The city received two bids on the project: Stantec of Ann Arbor’s initial proposal bid was $148,633 for 559 hours, with a current scope price of $92,357, and Timmons of Waterford Township’s initial bid was $132,495 for 417 hours, with a current scope price of $94,065.
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      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
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            In the spring of 2020, staff decided to move forward with a portion of implementation, GIS Enhancements, that focused on preparing the city’s GIS for CityWorks implementation. The motivation for this was two-fold—uncertainty around the coronavirus pandemic, and the work could be completed with current city software. The GIS Enhancements project is nearly finished at this time. The next step is to move forward with implementing CityWorks.
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      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            Two consulting firms, Timmons Group and Stantec, provided proposals for implementation. The proposal for Timmons Group was limited in hours and planned to spend most of those hours scoping the project, not actually implementing it. At the time of the request for proposal, Timmons Group estimated an additional $30,000 to complete the tasks after the initial scoping. Stantec proposed not to exceed pricing for the implementation tasks and presented clear plans.
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      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            This project will be funded equally by three departments: Water, Wastewater, and Department of Public Works. $33,334 will be applied to each of the following Capital Outlay Budget lines: 101-900-970.00, 590-900-970.00 and 591-900-970.00. For fiscal year 2021, $50,000 was budgeted for each line.
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      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
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            · Adopted the resolution authorizing the issuance and sale of unlimited tax general obligation bonds, series 2021, to finance street improvements.
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      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            · Appointed Ann Fitzpatrick to the Marshall District Library Board, with a term expiring March 31, 2024; and Katy Reed to the Marshall Farmers Market Advisory Board, with a term expiring Oct. 1, 2023, as well as Todd Hazel and TJ McCully, with terms expiring Oct. 1, 2022. 
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    <summary type="text" />
    <g-custom:tags type="string">Nov 2020</g-custom:tags>
    <media:content medium="image" url="https://irp-cdn.multiscreensite.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Granger.png" />
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>Newly married couple says friendship, faith drive their relationship</title>
    <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.advisor-chronicle.com/newly-married-couple-says-friendship-faith-drive-their-relationship" />
    <link rel="enclosure" type="image/jpeg" href="https://irp-cdn.multiscreensite.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Jontaj+and+Katie+and+Dog++image_67518209.JPG" length="782450" />
    <author>
      <name />
    </author>
    <updated>2021-02-06T15:00:30Z</updated>
    <published>2021-02-06T15:00:30Z</published>
    <content>&lt;div style="transition: none 0s ease 0s; display: block;" data-rss-type="text"&gt;&#xD;
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            Two Albion College graduates will be spending their first Valentine’s Day as a married couple, having been married  last June in these unprecedented times due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
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            Jontaj and Katie Wallace united at Albion College when they were both members of the cross-country team early in their college days while also being members of the track team.
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            After developing a friendship during the fall semester of 2016 when Jontaj (a 2016 Marshall High School graduate) was a freshman and Katie was a sophomore, the two decided to go on their first official date at La Casa Mexicana in Albion.
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            They both admitted they were nervous-- Katie ended up inviting her best friend along with her friend’s husband, something Jontaj joked he had no prior knowledge of.
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            But despite the nerves, the night went well and the two realized they could establish a deeper connection with each other.
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            “After that first date, I felt like I had known her for my whole life,” Jontaj said. “I feel like people say that all the time but genuinely, I had never felt a connection like that with somebody before.”
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            The two said from that point, they were able to build their relationship even further and found many common interests that brought them together that extended beyond being on the same sports teams, such as both being in the education program at Albion and their faith.
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            They both continued careers in education after college as Katie is a learning assistant at Lenawee County Intermediate School District Tech Center while Jontaj is the choir and band director at Hanover-Horton Public Schools.
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            “If we think about it in terms of faith, Jesus is at the center of our marriage,” Jontaj said. “He allows us to communicate and love one another and spread that love to different people through education.”
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      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
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            Jontaj proposed to Katie in the summer of 2018 at the Nature Center at the college, where Jontaj had family members and his fraternity brothers meet there to celebrate the moment.
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            The couple enjoys doing photoshoots together as a hobby and the Nature Center happens to be the spot the two did their first one in October 2017, making it the perfect spot to propose to Katie in Jontaj’s mind.
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            “I just felt like our progression as a couple has come very natural,” Jontaj said. “I don’t think that I ever questioned being married to her. I think that was just kind of an automatic thing where her and I both kind of knew after that first date, and we just kept trying to build up our friendship up until that point and I think we’ve maintained that.”
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            Getting married in a pandemic turned out to be a unique experience for the couple.
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            Initially, the two planned to marry at Goodrich Chapel at Albion College before those plans were denied by the school due to COVID-19.
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      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
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            There was a long process of planning and re-planning before the official ceremony at Lewis Chapel Church in June of 2020, where they had just immediate family members in attendance and around 30 people total while they livestreamed the ceremony for the ones who could not be there.
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            Katie said they were afraid they would end up being disappointed with not being able to have a traditional ceremony with everyone they wanted to be there, but in the end said it turned out to be a special day with the most important thing being their love for one another and what that day stood for on June 27.
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            “I think at first we were afraid we were going to be disappointed because not everyone was there and all of these things, but I think our wedding was just so unique and it was fantastic,” Katie said.
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      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
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            After the ceremony, the two headed up north and spent a week in the Upper Peninsula. Right after the wedding, they headed for Mackinaw City before spending some time and staying in Marquette.
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             “We ate dinner (at the outdoor reception), got in our car and headed for Mackinaw City,” Katie said. “It was just so nice to not have to worry about cleaning anything up or doing anything like that. We just enjoyed each other, spent a week in the U.P. and it was great.”
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      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
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            Jontaj and Katie said they are planning on holding a traditional wedding reception this summer as Katie is reserving her wedding dress for then.
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            The two enjoy spending time with each other and doing a variety of activities, but the couple said one thing they are eager to do is travel once society returns to functioning the way it was before the pandemic, whether it be in out of the country.
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            As far as Valentine’s Day goes,  they have plans for dinner at Veritas in downtown Jackson as restaurants in the state are now open for dine in. Feb. 14 will also be their dog Panda’s birthday as the couple will get to celebrate the special day with their furry friend as well.
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            “We’ll throw a little mini birthday party with probably some peanut butter,” Katie said with a laugh. 
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            Jontaj seemed to like that idea as well.
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            “He (Panda) loves peanut butter,” said Jontaj.
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    <summary type="text" />
    <g-custom:tags type="string">Nov 2020</g-custom:tags>
    <media:content medium="image" url="https://irp-cdn.multiscreensite.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Jontaj+and+Katie+and+Dog++image_67518209.JPG" />
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>Still crazy in  love after all these years</title>
    <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.advisor-chronicle.com/still-crazy-in-love-after-all-these-years" />
    <link rel="enclosure" type="image/jpeg" href="https://irp-cdn.multiscreensite.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Cover+Photo+959A5809.JPG" length="557648" />
    <author>
      <name />
    </author>
    <updated>2021-02-06T14:32:21Z</updated>
    <published>2021-02-06T14:32:21Z</published>
    <content>&lt;div style="transition: none 0s ease 0s; display: block;" data-rss-type="text"&gt;&#xD;
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    &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            The keys to happy and long marriage, according to Mike and Christine (Chris) McLain include love, of course, as well as a strong faith in God and commitment to family.
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            After nearly 54 years of matrimony, Chris said she and Mike still enjoy each other’s company very much.
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            “Also, respect and trust are so important,” said Chris. “Plus, just the everyday things that people take for granted like being kind to each other. Those things are so important in a marriage and any other relationship.”
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            Mike and Chris were married June 16, 1967 at the Marshall Methodist Church.
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            They met as students at Marshall High School when Mike was a junior and Chris was a freshman. 
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            “We went to dances together, but I wasn’t allowed to get into a car,” said Chris. “So, we just kind of went to movies. But my dad had to drop me off.”
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            Turns out Mike didn’t have his license anyway, so the couple would meet up for occasional dates. 
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            After graduating from MHS, Mike went to college at Central Michigan University while Chris completed her junior and senior years at Marshall. During that time, the couple made the effort to continue seeing each other despite the distance and some parental discouragement.
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            “I would go up to some functions he had up at school and Mike would come back to Marshall for functions that I had,” said Chris. “Then there was a bit of lapse or pause in the relationship as our parents thought we should date other people. That didn’t last too long. We knew pretty early on that we would be together.”
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            The two tied the knot at a relatively young age compared to today’s norms, but that was not uncommon in the 1960s.
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            “I was 21 and had just graduated from college and Chris was 20 when we got married,” said Mike. “Chris was still in college at Western Michigan.”
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            Of her wedding day, Chris said she remembers “walking down the aisle and seeing Mike at the end waiting for me.”
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
             “I was not nervous,” she said. “I was so calm - I remember that. My dad walked me down the aisle, which was wonderful. All of our family was there except for my mother who had passed away. I was very young when she passed, but still, the void was there.”
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            Added Mike: “I remember that after the wedding it rained,” he said. “But during the church ceremony, I got some water in my eyes, too.”
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            Following a honeymoon in Florida, Mike enlisted with the Air Force and was stationed at Keesler Air Force Base in Mississippi. It was during the height of the Vietnam War, but Mike stayed stateside during his 27 months with the Air Force.
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            “I enlisted and wanted to fly and then went to MacDill Air Force Base near Tampa and took the physical and the last thing I had to do was to read a particular paragraph out loud and the doctor said, ‘Have you always talked like that?’ I said yes, and he then said, ’Okay, thank you.’ Two weeks later I got a notice that I had a speech impediment and that I couldn’t fly. They told me I had a lisp.”
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            Mike got an early release provided he would teach school for a year.
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            “Mike got an early out because they needed teachers to teach in the math and science fields,  so he was able to teach in New Port Richey (just north of Tampa),” said Chris, who was still in school and attended the University of South Florida to earn her degree in education.
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            The couple was in Florida just over a year before returning to the Marshall area.
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            Chris got a job in Tekonsha where she taught for 16 years before teaching in Marshall for 21 years at Gordon Elementary.
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            Mike would go on to become a CPA and still works although he said, these days, he is semi-retired.
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            The couple have one daughter who lives in Battle Creek and three grandchildren.
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            “Luckily, we had gone to Disney World with our daughter and her husband and we also went with all the grandkids,” said Chris. “We were fortunate that we did all that before the pandemic.”
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            As the couple prepares for a rather low-key Valentine’s Day next week, Chris and Mike said they look forward to traveling someplace warm once things get back to normal whenever that may be.
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            Even though they’ve spent more than a half century together, they said they still remain as close ever.
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            “The time has gone fast,” said Mike. “And I still have a burning flame for my wife all the time.”
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        &lt;br/&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
    &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
  &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
&lt;/div&gt;</content>
    <summary type="text" />
    <g-custom:tags type="string">Nov 2020</g-custom:tags>
    <media:content medium="image" url="https://irp-cdn.multiscreensite.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Cover+Photo+959A5809.JPG" />
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>The sky's the limit... and probably beyond</title>
    <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.advisor-chronicle.com/the-sky-s-the-limit-and-probably-beyond" />
    <link rel="enclosure" type="image/jpeg" href="https://irp-cdn.multiscreensite.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Cover+Photo+IMG_1543-53f1c1ea.jpg" length="691275" />
    <author>
      <name />
    </author>
    <updated>2021-01-29T14:24:39Z</updated>
    <published>2021-01-29T14:24:39Z</published>
    <content>&lt;div style="transition: none 0s ease 0s; display: block;" data-rss-type="text"&gt;&#xD;
  &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
    &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            Veronica Barba said an indication that her son Shannon was going to be special was when he began speaking in full sentences as a toddler.
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            “When he was little, he didn’t talk right away,” said Veronica. “I have a nephew the same age as Shannon, two days apart actually. Calvin was walking and talking and interacting with people, while Shannon was into stacking objects and seemed to be more into observing. And then one day he came up to me and said, ‘May I have some water please?’  I thought that was neat. I then knew he was developing differently.”
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            Another sign came when Shannon was 3 ½.
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            “I would read to him every night and one night, he read a book to me that I had read to him before,” said Veronica. “I thought, ‘Oh, he memorized it. That’s so cute.’ He then began spontaneously reading and he could pick up any book and read it to me.”
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            Over the years while being homeschooled (and brief stint at Marshall High School) Shannon continued to excel faster than his peers and today, at age 15, he is a sophomore at Albion College in the Honors Program, double majoring in physics and computer science. He was named to the Albion College Dean’s List for the fall 2020 semester after posting a grade point average above 3.5. He is also a student senator and is a member of the college’s Biochemistry Club.
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            His academic prowess aside, Shannon has been playing the piano since age 4, writes for the college newspaper, The Pleiad, is in the college jazz ensemble, has illustrated children’s books, is in Civil Air Patrol, enjoys skiing, tubing, kayaking and also rides a unicycle. Yes, a unicycle.
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            He also plans to attend MIT’s AeroAstro Program and one day work for NASA.
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            Not too bad of a resume for a kid  who is still not old enough to drive.
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            Shannon grew up in New Mexico and by age 12 he began taking classes at a local community college. 
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            “I pretty much felt like I was ready for college-level classes,” said Shannon. “I was understanding all the material that was being presented to me and I wanted something more advanced.”
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            After Shannon’s parents got divorced, Veronica received a job opportunity in the Marshall area as a teacher consultant for Special Education with Calhoun Intermediate School District. 
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            “I had never been to Michigan before,” she said. “I grew up in Southern California and moved to New Mexico when I was 19 and lived there for 19 years. So, after the divorce, I had been looking for places to move to outside of New Mexico because I knew Shannon was probably going to start college young and I really didn’t think New Mexico had the best schools for his interests. 
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            “We had been looking at moving to Georgia for Georgia Tech or to Florida. When I started a new relationship and my boyfriend was from Albion, we talked about moving here. The University of Michigan was a good option, but just the way everything happened with the pandemic and schools closing down, Albion College was right down the street and they had a really good reputation for placing students after undergraduate studies. So, it kind of all worked out. We’ve been so impressed. It’s a small school and based on his age, it’s been a perfect fit.”
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            Shannon attended Marshall High School from September 2019 until March 2020 when in-person learning was suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            Still, he was able to graduate based on the credits he hard earned in conjunction with his community college credits and his homeschool credits.
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            “When he started at Marshall High School, he was a freshman by age, but he was already a junior by credit,” said Veronica. “Because this was a new community and a new environment for him, we wanted him to try to go with his peers. He did do that through March, and he was doing fine. He seemed to  enjoy it. When the pandemic hit, he was a little nervous about what was going to be happening with the public schools and he didn’t want to lose the progress he had made, so we really hit it hard. We began  again with homeschooling in March and that continued into the summer so we could get him the hours that he needed to be able to graduate and then start college in the fall.”
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            Shannon started with in-person instruction at Albion College in the fall. The college went to online instruction the second part of the fall semester. For the winter semester, Shannon takes two classes on campus with the others online.
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            “It really doesn’t matter to me,” said Shannon. “I’m happy with both. I’m understanding the information whether it’s online or in person. So, I guess it doesn’t feel like that I’m missing out on too much because  I really haven’t experienced too much.”
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            Being in class with older students, he added, has been a good experience, but as can be expected, some are curious about him.
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            “I would get asked a lot of questions,” said Shannon. “But, after my first few weeks of classes, everyone knew that I was there. People were saying ‘Did you know that there is a 15-year-old on campus?’”
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            He said that he has gotten used to the attention his age brings.
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            “It goes both ways though,” said Shannon.  “A lot of people are impressed, while some think it’s weird.”
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            Shannon said his long-term goal is to one day work for NASA.
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            “When I graduate Albion College, I then want to earn my master’s at MIT’s AeroAstro Program,” he said. “I’ve always been interested in flying ever since I was a young kid. Over time, it has evolved into not just flying for commercial airlines (he already has done some flight training and is involved with Civil Air Patrol, an auxiliary of the Air Force), but also into developing rockets and working in aeronautical engineering.”
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            Veronica said school and learning always came naturally to Shannon.
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            “When he was 7, there was a Davidson Young Scholars program which had resources for gifted kids and he was tested  for that,” she said. “The diagnostician  said ‘Oh, that’s pretty high, to get a 145 and be in the 99th percentile in all academic areas? I’ve never seen a kid do that.’ He scored a 160-plus IQ and she said that in her 22 years of testing, she had never tested a kid with an IQ that high. That was when we knew we needed to do something with all that.”
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            Shannon will be 17 when he graduates college, but his mother said she believes he is ready for whatever challenges he will face in the coming years. 
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            “I used to worry about him - his social development and emotional development,” said Veronica. “It used to scare me that he was going too fast, too soon. But Shannon has really become a mature, young man and I think he will do okay. He’s very motivated, as far as academics goes, so that will continue to drive him, and I think he will do well.”
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        &lt;br/&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        &lt;br/&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        &lt;br/&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
    &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
  &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
&lt;/div&gt;</content>
    <summary type="text" />
    <g-custom:tags type="string">Nov 2020</g-custom:tags>
    <media:content medium="image" url="https://irp-cdn.multiscreensite.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Cover+Photo+IMG_1543-53f1c1ea.jpg" />
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>A new chapter for Marshall girls basketball</title>
    <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.advisor-chronicle.com/a-new-chapter-for-marshall-girls-basketball" />
    <link rel="enclosure" type="image/jpeg" href="https://irp-cdn.multiscreensite.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Cover+Story+Hawblitz+holding+ball+959A5261.JPG" length="228244" />
    <author>
      <name />
    </author>
    <updated>2021-01-22T20:52:50Z</updated>
    <published>2021-01-22T20:52:50Z</published>
    <content>&lt;div style="transition: none 0s ease 0s; display: block;" data-rss-type="text"&gt;&#xD;
  &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
    &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            Lance Hawblitz began coaching basketball while he was attending Western Michigan University. His high school alma mater, Harper Creek, from where he graduated in 2003, asked him if he would like to assist with the freshman boys team.
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            The following season, Hawblitz was asked to be a varsity team assistant.
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            In 2009, while coaching with the Harper Creek boys varsity team  he was asked to take the girls varsity head coach position a few days before their first game.
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            “In that season, I was able to help them to their best record, at the time, in school history and a district championship,” said Hawblitz, the new Marshall High School girls varsity basketball head coach, taking over for Sal Konkle who retired after 21 years as head coach.
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            The following season, Hawblitz said he had the “great opportunity” of joining Konkle's staff at Marshall with Doug Riegel and Anthony Miller. 
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            Hawblitz was Marshall girls varsity assistant from 2010-17 and girls JV head coach from 2018-20.
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            “During that time, I was able to enjoy being a part of back-to-back Final Four teams and the 2016 state championship,” he said. “Having the opportunity to learn from great coaches such as Matt Bowling, Sal Konkle, Doug Riegel and Anthony Miller has made me into the coach I am today.”
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            Hawblitz said he got into basketball coaching by being “a student of the game.” 
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            “My family was very sports-oriented where we would spend our evenings watching games and talking about situations, strategies, officiating, etc.,” he said. “This led me to choose to go into education where I could work with children and help teach them the game of basketball. Over the past 12 years, I've coached a variety of basketball from 3rd grade through 8th grade boys and girls basketball, to working summer camps, to even coaching elite AAU travel high school basketball.”
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            After graduating from WMU where he majored in physical education and minored in elementary education, Hawblitz was able to work as a substitute teacher in several area school districts. In 2012, he accepted a position at Hughes Elementary teaching 3rd grade. In 2014, he accepted a 4th grade position at Hughes where he has been ever since.
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            Hawblitz said he knows he has some very big shoes to fill, following a coach who won 15 district titles, four regional titles (and possibly a fifth had the season not been cancelled the day of the regional final), two Final Four appearances and a state championship in 21 seasons.
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            “Taking over the MHS girls basketball program is such a great honor and I know the community of Marshall is so proud of all the young ladies that contributed to it,” he said. “The main reason for the success and pride of the program is because of Sal Konkle. Her contributions are immeasurable. 
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            “It is my goal to continue that winning tradition with teams the community of Marshall will be proud of on and off the court. As assistant to Sal for the past 11 years, we have run successful camps, organized practices, scouted opponents, scheduled scrimmages, reviewed game film, and created a winning culture on the court and in the community. I don't view it as pressure following Sal but rather receiving the torch handed off, continuing the winning ways, celebrating the greatness in all our players, and serving as role models for our future teams. 
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            “Sal always gave credit to all the coaches in the program and I too am proud of the great coaches joining the basketball staff - Taylor Sundell and Shannon Robinson. Both will make excellent contributions to the Marshall girls basketball program. Together, we are going to promote hard work, character, perseverance, and build on our winning culture.  The goal is to get a little bit better each and every day and have fun while we are doing it. We have some excellent returning players and I'm very excited about this year.”
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            Konkle said she is “so  very happy” that Hawblitz has the opportunity to be the girls varsity coach. 
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            “He has earned this right through his dedication and efforts in the high school girls basketball program,” she said. “Lance has not only coached various levels, but he has also volunteered many hours towards our program and has made a significant impact on the success of the Marshall High School girls basketball program.  The program will benefit from his knowledge and work ethic."
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            Marshall Athletic Director Dan Coddens said Hawblitz is a “dedicated coach” who is  excited and ready to lead the program.
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            “He is a basketball junkie with a ton of coaching experience, and he will make a great head coach,” said Coddens. “It is unfortunate for him that his first year has been interrupted by the pandemic, but he has maintained a positive attitude.  I know he is looking forward to getting the season started.”
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            Hawblitz said he is looking forward to coaching this group of girls, many of whom he has coached since they were in third grade. The coach points out that a few girls missed him at the JV level when they were on the varsity roster as freshmen.
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            “Many of the girls have already had a lot of varsity experience,” said Hawblitz, also noting that there are no seniors on this season’s team. “I’m excited with what we are going to be able to do.”
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        &lt;br/&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        &lt;br/&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        &lt;br/&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
    &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
  &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
&lt;/div&gt;</content>
    <summary type="text" />
    <g-custom:tags type="string">Nov 2020</g-custom:tags>
    <media:content medium="image" url="https://irp-cdn.multiscreensite.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Cover+Story+Hawblitz+holding+ball+959A5261.JPG" />
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>MPS students return to in-person learning; Superintendent says teachers to get vaccine in coming weeks</title>
    <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.advisor-chronicle.com/mps-students-return-to-in-person-learning-superintendent-says-teachers-to-get-vaccine-in-coming-weeks" />
    <link rel="enclosure" type="image/jpeg" href="https://irp-cdn.multiscreensite.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Classroom+Photo+.jpg" length="415474" />
    <author>
      <name />
    </author>
    <updated>2021-01-15T15:40:49Z</updated>
    <published>2021-01-15T15:40:49Z</published>
    <content>&lt;div style="transition: none 0s ease 0s; display: block;" data-rss-type="text"&gt;&#xD;
  &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
    &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            At the Marshall Public Schools Board of Education’s Annual Organizational Meeting and Work Session, held virtually on Jan. 11, Trustee Richard Lindsey assumed the role as Board president, a position he also held in 2015-16.
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            Previous Board president Bill DeSmet was defeated in the November election which saw Trustee Lisa Middleton re-elected and Matt Davis win a seat on the Board.
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            Board Vice President Carrie Nicholson assembled a Nominating Committee of the Board at the Dec. 14 Combined Work/Business Session. The committee included  Nicholson,  Middleton and Shawna Gamble. The committee developed the following recommendations for board officer assignments for January 2021-December 2021: Lindsey, president; Nicholson, vice president; Middleton, secretary; and Larry Williams, treasurer.
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            During the meeting Superintendent Randy Davis discussed the latest impacts of COVID-19 on the school district and Calhoun County.
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            For the period of Jan. 3-9, one student and one staff member had tested positive for COVID-19 but noted that there was no school-associated close contacts identified.
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            “The frequency we have had the past five weeks has been relatively low,” said Davis. “Being in session or not in session really hasn’t truly impacted our COVID positive reporting because primarily these are associations and exposures outside of school.” 
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            Davis noted that the most recent 7-day positivity rate was 7.5% amounting to 197.5 cases per million.
           &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
            “While those have been high, those numbers have been trending downward for the last three or four weeks,” said Davis. “Right now, Calhoun County seems to be doing decently relative to what the expected surge was supposed to be… But we are still not out of the woods.”
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            Regarding vaccines, Davis touched on how those who work in education may begin to receive the first dose of the COVID vaccine in the next few weeks as vaccinations under Phase 1b get underway.
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            “They’ll (the Calhoun County Public Health Department) start to roll out scheduling both the vaccination clinic and the follow up booster clinic, specific to a school district and it will be site-based,” said Davis. “So, they’ll bring the vaccination clinic to our schools and they will work with me on which school will house a clinic. [Calhoun County Health Officer] Eric Pessell already recognizes that we may have  one in Albion and one in Marshall. Not sure when that is going to happen. Nobody really knows until they get through 1a, but we’re excited about moving forward with that. It’s my hope that we can have our vaccination clinic and the turn around and have our booster in time enough to get through the month of February.”
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            Davis added that he did not know if the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccines would be used.
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            MPS returned to in-person instruction Jan. 11 after a nearly two-month absence with elementary students in class four days a week with one virtual day and middle and high school students attending in-person two days a week and virtual three days a week. 
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            All students and teachers must wear masks in school and maintain social distancing.
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            MPS Athletic Director Dan Coddens commented on the current situation regarding the resumption of winter sports.
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            “Basically, we are in a holding pattern again,” said Coddens, who indicated adjustments would have to be made if pause in winter sports was extended.
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            On Jan. 13, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services announced that in-person dining was still on hold through Feb. 1 and that contact sports such as basketball and wrestling could begin practicing in a non-contact manner Jan. 16 but not take part in any competitive contests until Feb. 1 at the earliest.
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            Swimming &amp;amp; diving and bowling could begin competitive contests Jan. 22 and Jan. 25 respectively, with those sports’ practices beginning Jan. 16.
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            Coddens said that at the middle school level, boys basketball had been on pause since mid-November while girls basketball and wrestling would not begin until later in February.
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            Davis thanked Coddens for his efforts noting “how tentative this situation can be, and I appreciate the flexibility that you and others – the coaches and so forth - have had. It’s got to be a frustrating circumstance for all of you but in particular, our student-athletes trying to figure out what their road map is.”
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            Davis asked Coddens if he was seeing a drop in numbers of those students turning out to participate in sports.
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            “It’s difficult to assess at this point,” said Coddens, noting that athletes hadn’t tried out or began practicing when winter sports practices were halted in mid-November. “What we would normally do when we were in school was hold meetings and have face-to-face conversations for kids to sign up. Many of our coaches have been creative in creating Google surveys to collect students’ names and emails and contacts…Our numbers, I think overall,  and we will not be alone in this, and it will be a trend across  the state and probably the country – numbers will be down because some families are choosing to opt out.”
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            Davis said the logistics of organizing sports during COVID-19 have made things difficult and that he was worried the lower numbers might be “an indication of social and emotional challenges which may be occurring as everybody continues to plod through this pandemic situation.”
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    <summary type="text" />
    <g-custom:tags type="string">Nov 2020</g-custom:tags>
    <media:content medium="image" url="https://irp-cdn.multiscreensite.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Classroom+Photo+.jpg" />
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>3rd Annual Wolf Tree Film Festival is Jan. 23</title>
    <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.advisor-chronicle.com/3rd-annual-wolf-tree-film-festival-is-jan-23" />
    <link rel="enclosure" type="image/jpeg" href="https://irp-cdn.multiscreensite.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/WOLFTREE-COVER-JPG+FINAL.jpg" length="2094969" />
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    <updated>2021-01-15T15:23:56Z</updated>
    <published>2021-01-15T15:23:56Z</published>
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            The 3rd Annual Wolf Tree Film Festival, showing on Jan. 23 at 6 p.m., will showcase nine short films set in the Great Lakes region or by filmmakers who reside in or grew up in the Great Lakes region. 
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            Hosted by the Franke Center for the Arts and Marshall’s Youngish Professionals Committee, the Wolf Tree film festival in past years has been held at Franke Center, an arts complex that is the proud home of world-class concerts, inspiring theater, and award-winning movies.  The festival this year will be fully virtual and will include screenings of each selected film and an awards presentation. 
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            The event will feature one of the stars from the CBS sitcom Young Sheldon, Lance Barber. 
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            Barber has appeared in numerous shows on the small screen as well as feature films. An alumnus of Chicago’s Second City, he played the role of Paulie G on HBO’s critically acclaimed The Comeback, which The New York Times described as “among the great villains of television comedy.”  
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            Barber will emcee the event and do a private filmmaker’s Q&amp;amp;A session with the selected filmmakers.  He was born and raised in Battle Creek and he began acting with the Pennfield High School Drama Club and later joined the theatre program at Kellogg Community College and the Barn Theatre. 
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             “As a native of Battle Creek, I appreciated having access to artistic opportunities as a kid. I’m excited to be a part of this event that celebrates quality filmmaking from hometown area and the entire Great Lakes region,” said Barber. 
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            Franke Center Executive Director Jacob Gates said the virtual format will allow people from anywhere the chance to watch the films.
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            “If you have a film buff cousin living in California, they could watch, then the two of you could discuss the films despite being hundreds of miles apart,” said Gates.” Hopefully, this will allow more people to enjoy the festival than in the past, since we aren't limited by seating capacity. There will also be a live chat function that will allow people to discuss the movies in real time, which should be fun. Most of all, of course, it allows people to watch the films from the comfort of their own homes and stay safe.”
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            Jennifer Conley Darling, the chair of Wolf Tree’s film committee, noted: “Each year, the number of submitted films and level of talent continues to grow for the festival. I’m also thrilled the committee selected a film called As We Are  by a Marshall native, Michael Faulkner. It’s pretty amazing how much talent comes out of our town.”
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            The committee, comprised of Darling, Cathy Bovitz,  Beau Hutchings, Gates, Maddie Metzger, Kristy Morse, Isaiah Potter and Erin Skidmore, reviewed nearly 80 films from various states and countries.  The final nine that were selected include a variety of genres, including comedy, drama, documentary, sci-fi, thriller and animated. The festival will be presented in two separate acts, starting at 6 p.m. 
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            The first Act kicks off with Narcissick (from Canada/directed by Hugo Lacasse), a drama about an “Instababe” who puts her physical and mental health on the line to compete against a younger, more popular rival. Salt River Water Walk (from Canada &amp;amp; Minnesota/directed by Krista Davis, Jenny Zander) is a documentary that travels with the Salt River Water Walkers, describing an Indigenous-led ceremony as it creates community and builds relationships with the earth through the shared goal to care for the water.  Pegasus (from Illinois/directed by Orlando Leroi) is a drama, Sci-Fi student film about a young black father’s search for freedom that takes him beyond the limits of the atmosphere. Medical Help (from Battle Creek, Michigan and Maryland/directed by Lanessa Miller) is an animated video illustrating the original swing jazz song “Medical Help” by Dwight L. Wilcox II with relevance to the era in which we are living. Rise (from Michigan/directed by Hannah Byrd) is a documentary about a previously homeless man who takes a ride through his past in order to understand the present and how it affects his future.
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            After a short break, the first film of the second act is Bathroom Break (from Minnesota/directed by Simone LeClaire), a comedy about a woman who gets more than she bargained for when she spends her night out hiding in the bathroom. As We Are (from Marshall, Michigan and California/directed by Michael R Faulkner) is a documentary about a man who was diagnosed with autism and who, along with his mother, went on to discover his gift for music together. Lily in the Maze (from New York and Michigan/directed by Alexandra Emmons and Andrew Juhl) is a thriller about a quiet introvert, who deals with a change in his routine on the same day a woman from his past appears. The final film of the night is Satiety (from United Kingdom/directed by Anna Rust), a drama and thriller about a troubled woman who records her journey to finding her mother after she was abandoned more than a decade ago.
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            Tickets are $15 each and are available on the Franke Center website at https://thefranke.org/events.
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            Many have wondered why the name “Wolf Tree?” According to legend, the Wolf Tree was a lone, prominent tree that once stood in the middle of Marshall. The first settler in the area sought refuge in the heights of the tree as wolves and bears roamed the dirt lane and forest that would one day become the city’s downtown. Later, a platform was built in the large oak’s branches where it is said a sentry, seeking the faint glow of wolves’ eyes, would hunt, eager to protect the village from threats hidden in the darkness below. 
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    <summary type="text" />
    <g-custom:tags type="string">Nov 2020</g-custom:tags>
    <media:content medium="image" url="https://irp-cdn.multiscreensite.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/WOLFTREE-COVER-JPG+FINAL.jpg" />
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>Calhoun County Parks expect busy 2021</title>
    <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.advisor-chronicle.com/calhoun-county-parks-expect-busy-2021" />
    <link rel="enclosure" type="image/jpeg" href="https://irp-cdn.multiscreensite.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Cover+Photo+1-9+.jpg" length="458236" />
    <author>
      <name />
    </author>
    <updated>2021-01-11T22:24:37Z</updated>
    <published>2021-01-11T22:24:37Z</published>
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            The relatively mild start to our winter has meant more people than usual out and about walking through local neighborhoods and utilizing Marshall’s Riverwalk and other county parks and trails. There has also been more focus on being outdoors due to COVID and that translated into more people seeking recreational activities last summer and fall and that trend is expected to carry over into 2021 and beyond.
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            Last August, a new .2 mill parks millage (for a five-year period) proposal passed with 61% of the vote, making 2021 an important year for county parks.
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            “I think the pandemic made people realize how important our parks and public spaces are,” said Calhoun County Parks Manager Doug Ferrall. “When we couldn't gather indoors, many people spent their time outside, and the millage will significantly improve those public spaces.”
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            Ferrall noted that the county parks system, which includes Historic Bridge Park, Calhoun County Trail, Kimball Pines, Ott Preserve and Albion Township Park, receives 50% of the funding levied by the millage. Those funds will be used to improve county parks with projects such as ADA improvements, renovating Kimball Pines, adding river access, improving signage, and more. 
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            “We know most of the projects we will tackle during the first two to three years of the millage, but beyond that, we are excited to reach out to the community to see what projects they would like to see,” said Ferrall. “The other 50% of millage funds will go to municipalities that choose to accept their population-based allocation. For example, Marshall is eligible for approximately $20,000 a year. There are great parks and public service staff throughout the county that are excited to put these dollars to work. You can expect to see various projects in 2021, but more projects will come as townships decide how to spend their allocations.”
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            Calhoun County Community Development Director Jennifer Bomba said that parks are a “vital component in a thriving community.”
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            “Parks are known to improve community wellness by providing spaces where people can get outside and engage in physical activity, whether it be running or walking along the trailway or kayaking down the Kalamazoo River,” said Bomba. “Parks are also places where people can experience nature, from viewing wildflowers in the Ott Preserve to encountering a snake or turtle at Historic Bridge Park.
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            Also important, she added, are the economic benefits that parks and public spaces provide to a community.  
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            “Well-developed and properly maintained parks are a key component in attracting new businesses to a community and maintaining a productive workforce,” said Bomba. “Parks are often a destination for travelers that result in secondary spending within a community. These economic benefits are often appreciated on a regional level.  The Office of Community Development for Calhoun County is focused on making county-wide improvements that will strengthen our community parks and open spaces in order to realize these many benefits.”
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            City of Marshall Recreation &amp;amp; Parks Superintendent Justin Miller said the city will be allocated monies for the next five years for park improvements, capital projects, matching funds, planning and engineering. 
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            “For the first year of the parks millage, the city has plans to use the monies for structural improvements and much needed repairs to the popular Riverwalk,” said Miller. “Hopefully with repairs to the Riverwalk, more people within the community and surrounding communities will be able to enjoy it for years to come.”
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            Once the Riverwalk repairs have been complete, city staff will determine the next project for the allocated Parks Millage monies for the following year or years. 
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            “If city staff comes up with a larger project, we have the option of carrying over the millage money over for next couple of years,” noted Miller.
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            Miller added that the demand for more outdoor recreational options saw a huge increase beginning last spring.
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            “Early on with COVID, during April and May, most all of our parks parking lots were full,” he said. “People going stir crazy being at home have realized the value of parks. Throughout the summer the Riverwalk was packed every day with people walking and with people launching kayaks…Going forward, I do expect the spring and summer to be busy. Outdoor recreation has become popular over the years and COVID  has brought more people to parks. After being couped up all winter people will be itching to get out and be active. Even in the winter, many people get out to Brooks Nature Area to hike, snowshoe and cross-country ski…Since we do not maintain the Riverwalk in the winter months (snow and ice removal) we don’t see as many people on the walk, however if the Riverwalk is ice and snow free, people are on it daily.”
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            Ferrall said the county was notified last year that they were being recommended for a $193,400 grant from the DNR to redevelop Kimball Pines Park. 
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            “The county will supply an additional 50% match for the grant, creating a $388,000 project,” he said. “The project includes a paved accessible trail and a new parking lot, bathroom renovations, a new entrance, prairie restoration and more. Grant balances from the Calhoun County Visitors Bureau and ITC Holdings Company, combined with millage funding, were essential in securing this grant.”
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            Miller said Marshall is “blessed” with many parks perfectly spaced throughout the city. “The most recognizable park is the iconic Brooks Fountain Park that is located across from City Hall on Michigan Avenue in the center of town,” he said. “Brooks Fountain is a community treasure, and you can see tourists and locals taking pictures and using this park daily throughout the year.”
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            Marshall’s Ketchum Park recently adopted a 25-year master plan and progress is already being made, noted Miller. A new pavilion has been constructed just off the entrance of Ketchum Park on the banks of Rice Creek. The pavilion consists of picnic tables, bench seating and an outdoor gas fireplace to warm yourself in the cooler months. The park also has many other features which include a large play area with multiple swings, playhouses and other fun playscapes. On the north side of the park there is a skate park, small play structure, pavilion, picnic tables and walking trails along Rice Creek. 
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            The Marshall Riverwalk begins at Stuart’s Landing Park. Stuart’s Landing is a large green space park which offers a boat launch to outdoor enthusiasts you onto the Kalamazoo River. Stuart’s Landing consists of multiple fishing opportunities, a small pavilion and a band shell. 
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            The Riverwalk, beginning at Stuart’s Landing heads west along the banks of the Kalamazoo River and ends at South Kalamazoo Avenue. The Riverwalk extends approximately two miles with both a walking path and a bike path. 
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            “The Riverwalk is used by citizens year-round and is a favorite destination for anyone coming to our city,” said Miller. We also have Brooks Nature Area which is a hidden gem in the community. This park consists of over 200 acres of pure nature. This park provides many walking trails, woods, prairie and a lake. The diverse habitat is home to many animals, bugs and plants. This park is located east of town off of Homer Road. Brooks Nature area amenities include a bathroom, pavilion and an observation deck overlooking the lake.”
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             Other city parks include the Marshall Athletic Fields on the west side of town along Michigan Avenue, Shearman Park at Mansion and Linden streets, the site of the old Shearman Elementary School and Carver Park on the east side of downtown at Exchange Street and Marshall Avenue.
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            Ferrall shared Miller’s sentiment that the pandemic created an increased demand for outdoor activities for local residents.
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            “They went on hikes, walks, or even drove around exploring,” he said. “I think many people discovered hidden park gems in their community and I think they will remember those experiences and come back more often, even when the pandemic is over.”
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    <summary type="text" />
    <g-custom:tags type="string">Nov 2020</g-custom:tags>
    <media:content medium="image" url="https://irp-cdn.multiscreensite.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Cover+Photo+1-9+.jpg" />
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>Christmas Memories</title>
    <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.advisor-chronicle.com/christmas-memories" />
    <link rel="enclosure" type="image/jpeg" href="https://irp-cdn.multiscreensite.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/12-19+Cover+Photo+.JPG" length="359722" />
    <author>
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    </author>
    <updated>2020-12-18T15:34:23Z</updated>
    <published>2020-12-18T15:34:23Z</published>
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            Readers share their favorite Christmas memories
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            Small town Christmas
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            Marshall resident David Swender shares the following quote: “Some of the pictures of Father Christmas in our world make him look only funny and jolly. But now that the children actually stood looking at him, they didn’t find it quite like that. He was so big, and so glad, and so real, that they all became quite still. They felt very glad, but also solemn.”
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            -C.S. Lewis, The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe
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            Swender said that thinking back on his childhood memories of Christmas in Marshall, the people, places and things that stand out in his mind all serve to give him a feeling of belonging to the small town he grew up in. 
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            “The most prominent person of this magical season, of course, would be Santa Claus,” said Swender. “On a typically cold, dark evening in December, we would hear the bright brass notes from a hand bell outside our door. Santa Claus (our neighbor, Tom Sullivan) would come to our house to visit and listen to what we all wanted for Christmas. Just like C.S. Lewis’s Father Christmas, he was big (especially to us kids!), joyful and real. On other nights leading up to Christmas, we’d see him around town, at the small Santa’s workshop that looked like a gypsy carriage, parked on Michigan Avenue outside the bank. Looking back, it is amazing to think that this World War II veteran took the time to bring so much joy to the children of our town.
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            “As we prepared for Christmas, the brightly wrapped presents under the tree were always of interest. But the real attraction for me was the nativity. I’d spend my days looking at all the Fontanini figurines and arranging baby Jesus’s attendants in just the right way. Our Hummel musical drummer boy figurine would chime my favorite Christmas tune while I played.
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            “On Christmas Eve, we would often go to a neighbor’s house for a party. The cottage-style home on Eagle Street, just around the corner, would be crammed full of all the grownups (and a few lucky kids) from the neighborhood. Their broad, soft-needled tree was always decorated with glassy, silvery angel hair tinsel, taking up nearly half of the front room. The smell of candles, Schuler’s meatballs and smoked oysters was strangely intoxicating. Warmed from the fireplace and stuffed full of food, we would then make our way up snow-lined sidewalks to midnight mass at St. Mary’s. There, the joyful celebration was laced with smoky incense and hearty carols. By the end of the long night, you’d think there would be no waking me the next morning. And yet, after just a few short hours’ rest, my parents would be not so gently reminded, ‘Wake up! It’s Christmas!’
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            “Just as I cherish these memories, I am taking stock in the traditions and memories that we are making with our children, living in Marshall. The Christmas Parade, the Merry Mile and the downtown decorations all figure prominently in their Christmas. Our nativity serves as both a toy and way of learning about the birth of our Savior. We have our own Santa, whom we see around town both in and out of season (though always in character). Our children have grown up amongst dear family and neighbors, who always make the Christmas season truly special with their visits, gifts and companionship. It is wonderful to think that our children will also treasure special Christmas memories, growing up in Marshall. Now, if I could somehow figure out how to get them to sleep in...”
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            Christmas wedding
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            For Karen and Doug Shilling of Homer, Christmas holds not just memories with their children, but of their wedding. On Dec. 26, 1981, Karen and Doug tied the knot. Because Karen’s twin sister and her maid of honor could not make their planned wedding on March 19, 1982, the couple bumped up the date to the day after Christmas when all the family could be together.  
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            “Of course, we moved the date up because I wouldn’t have dreamed of having anyone else stand up with me,” said Karen. “I had three weeks to plan our Christmas wedding. It was small and intimate, but it was perfect. My parents’ church was decorated for Christmas, so we had a beautiful backdrop for our ceremony. Unfortunately, we didn’t have a professional photographer, so the pictures taken don’t capture the beautiful Christmas decorations.”
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            Another tradition the Shilling family participated in was each year one of the children was given the honor of putting the angel on top of the Christmas trees. Now that the Shilling children are grown and Karen and Doug have grandchildren, traditions are changing.
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            “For a number of years, we took our grandkids to a home off Snow Prairie Road west of Coldwater to see the elaborate outdoor and indoor displays that Ron and Chickie shared with anyone who wanted to tour their home during the weeks of December,” stated Karen. “It’s amazing the amount of Christmas decorations they have. They begin setting them up in September and one designated night each year they have Santa there to visit with the children and give each of them a dollar present which the couple buys for all the children who come.”
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            Sibling Christmas
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            Beth Rayner and her sister Laurie are 17 months apart and Beth said the sisters have shared many Christmas memories.
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            “She was my first playmate and best friend, and though our close ages often meant bickering and getting in each other’s way growing up, Christmas Eve was always a time when we happily shared space,” said Beth a longtime Marshall resident who recently moved to Japan. “My bedroom was closest to the living room, where our Christmas tree was often waiting for Santa. Laurie always snuggled into my twin bed on Christmas Eve. I think until we were even in middle school. We always tried to stay awake, listening for jingle bells, reindeer and Santa’s sleigh. For Christmas 1980, we lay in my bed, each with wet braided pigtails for a Christmas Day special hairdo. We were sure we heard Santa’s arrival, but the next morning, no one believed us.
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            “My own children, three years apart, made Christmas much more magical than I even remember it as a child. When they were little, William frequently ended up in Maddie’s bedroom on Christmas Eve after I read How the Grinch Stole Christmas, which has been one of our favorite continued traditions. One year, he was sure he heard the jingle bells. I assured him Christmas morning that I believed him because I’d heard them once, too. Every year they took turns opening presents, shared their new toys, and were really sweet with each other. I loved how they worked together one year to solve a poetic riddle scavenger hunt to find the new Wii Santa had already hooked up under the TV. 
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            "The togetherness and love shared by siblings is my best Christmas memory from my childhood and my children’s. This year is bittersweet - the first that I won’t see either my sister or my own (adult) children because I’ve moved to Japan. I am grateful for the ‘Thanksgiving-mas’ I shared with my sister and her family two days before I moved. And, through the miracle of the Google Meet, I will still read the Grinch to Maddie and Will on their Christmas Eve, as if they were little again seated on either side of me, despite our 14-hour time difference. ‘Maybe Christmas,’ he thought, ‘doesn’t come from a store. Maybe Christmas . . . perhaps . . . means a little bit more!’”
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            Family traditions
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            Gretchen Peters said a prominent memory from her childhood was always going to Christmas Eve mass.  
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            “The first Christmas we lived in Marshall, I was asked to process in carrying Baby Jesus, to lay him in the manger,” said Gretchen. “Another memory was that my Uncle Leo would come to visit us each Christmas. He would fly in on Christmas morning and we would pick him up at the airport. He would help us assemble all our Christmas toys. I remember one year he made a Ferris wheel out of Tinker Toys…My dad filmed every Christmas morning for years. As far as I know, no one has ever viewed the videos, but they exist somewhere!
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            As a parent of five children, Gretchen has carried on some family Christmas traditions and created new ones as well.
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            .“Hiding the pickle in the tree for the kids to find is a favorite,” said Gretchen. “The girls still compete over this even though they are 27, 22 and 17. We still go to mass on Christmas Eve—often Midnight Mass and shots to follow once we’re home. It’s a tradition my dad always had, and I’ve continued it…I never let the morning start until I read the Christmas story from the Gospel of Luke…We wear Santa hats when we open gifts, and everyone takes turns so the morning lasts longer. We always have a fun breakfast with mimosas. Early afternoon we go to my parents’ house and meet with all my siblings and their families. We generally have 40-plus people and when Grandma passes out the presents it is pure chaos! I love it!”
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            Sounds and smells of Christmas
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            Kathleen Oerther, who just left Marshall for North Carolina remembers the excitement of Christmas morning as a child.
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            “Waking up on Christmas morning for me as a kid was Mitch Miller’s voice blaring from the stereo as my mother and father would yell to my siblings and me that Santa had come,” said Kathleen. “Our stockings would always be full of outrageously large oranges. We’d open presents together, then attend a Christmas service at church afterwards. Soon after we arrived back home, our home would be filled with the aroma of polish sausage - a McPhilamy/Permoda family tradition. We’d nibble on it all day long along with a homemade polish bread (placek).
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            “As I’ve grown into an adult, my husband Mark and I developed new traditions as our family grew. Every year on the night before Christmas, we’d have each of our children make a wish upon a Christmas key and then hang it on the outside of the front door. The key looks gold and is very heavy. They’d wake up the next morning to the sound of a toy train whose tracks wrap around the bottom of the tree. I’d have them wait on the stairs until every sibling was awake so that they would all come downstairs together and marvel at what Santa had brought, starting with stockings.”
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            Sharing the love at Christmas
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            Kim Chapple Mooney said as child, the holidays “were the best.”
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            “My dad would make special pieces as gifts,” she said. “One year it was a Barbie house, another year a desk, and my favorite year was when I was 7 and my brother and I got Big Wheels!”
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            The “very best” part of Christmas, said Kim, was the music.
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            “My dad would stack Christmas albums on the turntable every year and I would dance around to the songs,” said Kim. “We heard everything from Johnny Mathis and Barbra Streisand to my favorite, Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass.
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            As a mom, I’ve worked on carrying on some traditions with my daughters, and together we have created our own traditions. We always try to make a Christmas Eve service at Marshall United Methodist Church and the girls and I share our own celebration together with treats. The one thing I try to teach my girls is that Christmas is not about money. It is a time for love. We might not always be rich monetarily, but we are always rich in love. My girls are everything to me. A few weeks ago, my oldest reminded me of this family phrase and my heart swelled with joy. Christmas is a time to reach out to others and share the love.”
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    <summary type="text" />
    <g-custom:tags type="string">Nov 2020</g-custom:tags>
    <media:content medium="image" url="https://irp-cdn.multiscreensite.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/12-19+Cover+Photo+.JPG" />
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>City adopts solid waste proposal ordinance</title>
    <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.advisor-chronicle.com/city-adopts-solid-waste-proposal-ordinance7090bb19" />
    <link rel="enclosure" type="image/jpeg" href="https://irp-cdn.multiscreensite.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Garbage.jpg" length="286302" />
    <author>
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    <updated>2020-12-11T19:40:01Z</updated>
    <published>2020-12-11T19:40:01Z</published>
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            City adopts solid waste proposal ordinance
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            During its Dec. 7 regular meeting via Zoom, the Marshall City Council held a public hearing to consider adopting an ordinance that would provide a single hauler for the collection of residential trash and recycling. 
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            Last year, the Council proposed a similar ordinance and at the public hearing received mostly negative comments from the community; now, the Council had asked city staff to address many concerns previously noted by residents, and to update the ordinance and structure  of the proposed services.
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            Whereas the 2019 proposal pertained to yard waste and bulk items, the updated proposal only focuses on the collection of trash and recycling. 
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            Following last Monday’s public hearing, the Council voted to adopt the ordinance with a 4-3 vote. Mayor Joe Caron, Ward 1 Councilmember Scott Wolfersberger, Ward 3 Councilmember Jacob Gates, and Councilmember At-Large
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            Ryan Traver voted yes, while Ward 4 Councilmember Michael McNeil, Ward 5 Councilmember Ryan Underhill, and Ward 2 Councilmember Nick Metzger voted no.
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            The city received bids from two of the three current providers: Granger and Republic provided bids, while Waste Management chose not to bid. The Council voted to accept the bid from Granger to provide solid waste services for a period of five years and to approve the proposed rules and regulations for the provision of solid waste services. All but Underhill voted yes in choosing the provider.
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            Leading up to the Dec. 7 meeting, a request for proposal to regional waste providers included the following: trash service is not required, and citizens would have the ability to opt out if they have alternative methods of disposal; recycling would be available at an additional charge but is also not required (even if trash service is desired); properties that receive service from a homeowners association or condo association, residential properties of four units or more, and properties that have both commercial/residential uses (e.g. downtown buildings) will be exempt from the ordinance; billing and all customer service will be provided by the city. 
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            The recommended rate for trash is $13 per month with an additional $5.50 for recycling services, and there is a 3% price increase for each year of the contract. Sixty-four- and 96-gallon containers will be available for trash, while 96-gallon containers will be available for recycling.
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            Though the city will continue its bulk cleanup in the spring, residents will be able to schedule individual bulk item collection for $25 per item. 
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            The Council and staff have explored the solid waste issue for many reasons. According to the city, Marshall is one of the few communities in the region that does not provide solid waste through a contract for its residents. In fact, as reported by the city, other communities have added this service for the following three reasons:
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             Cost
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            Several residents have stated that the cost of the proposed trash service under the city's contract would save them money. Additionally, there is a known cost for the next five years, and fuel surcharges and other fees can be added, amending the contract. 
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             Increased service
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            Transitioning to a city contract creates the possibility of recycling for all residents. At this time, only one company provides recycling for residents.
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            Combining the entire city under one contract provides a company a broader base of customers to justify adding recycling services, which have been requested by many residents who use one of the companies that don't provide the services.
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            The city also plans to provide front-line customer service to residents. In other words, if residents have a problem with their service, they can call the city to file a complaint, and staff will work to resolve the issue with the service provider. 
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             Streets
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            Consolidation to a one service provider will eliminate a lot of heavy trucks from residential streets. Presently, most neighborhoods see four garbage trucks—three trash and one recycling—each week on multiple days. Moving to a single provider will result in only one truck per week and a second truck every other week. What’s more, a garbage truck is usually about 33,000 pounds when empty, and up to 51,000 pounds when loaded. Consolidating service could be the equivalent of eliminating 1,279 car trips per truck from neighborhood streets that are not designed to handle heavy truck traffic, therefore extending the investment that was approved with the street millage this fall.
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            "City Council and staff are exploring this issue for the benefit of the community and for no other reason," the city posted on its Facebook page. "If we can save people money, protect our streets, and provide a higher level of service, then it was worth the time spent.”
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            During the public comments and during the public hearing, a number of residents expressed both concern and support for the proposed ordinance.
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            “It’s disappointing to see that [the Council has] decided to resurrect something that should have been buried and put away,” said Barry Adams, conveying concerns that the city is overstepping its boundaries of authority. “It really shows me that the agenda of the city is not consonant with the interest of the citizens of the city and appears to operate in antagonism to the individual interests of Americans. It’s very disappointing to see this kind of thing happening. You’re trying to monopolize this competitive business, inhibiting commerce. The whole thing smells as bad as the garbage you’re trying to remove.”
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            Vicki DeGraw agreed with Adams, voicing additional worry over the cost of the contract.
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            “Like the speaker ahead of me, I don’t believe you should be going into a contract for all of us, not unless you have put this to a vote and allowed us to vote on this,” she said. “This notification, by sending it out on Facebook and giving us snippets of information without giving us the whole picture, is truly patronizing. You’ve given us the cost of the [request for approval]. You have not given us the cost of what it’s going to cost us in our tax dollars to support this contract, should you go into it.”
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            DeGraw also stated disapproval regarding the public hearing taking place via Zoom.
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            “Doing this on a Zoom meeting in the middle of a pandemic—it’s just wrong,” she said. “There are a lot of people who don’t know how to get onto Zoom. There are a lot of people who don’t know how to call in. You’ve given them a week’s notice that this was still occurring after all the meetings that occurred a year ago, and you got public feedback that said we don’t want this, and yet here you are still pursuing this and spending time on this. I’m very disappointed. I would hope that you would vote this down and not pursue it any further.”
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            On the other hand, Sarah and Brian Huggett declared their support for the ordinance in an email.
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            “I write in support of this change and want you to know that a few loud voices in opposition do not speak for us all,” said Sarah Huggett. “The reasons we support using a single provider for Marshall are to reduce Marshall’s carbon footprint by eliminating redundant garbage runs; to decrease the impact on city streets; to promote a culture of recycling with a curbside pickup—we routinely see piles of cardboard boxes next to garbage bins; to improve the city’s aesthetic with as needed removal of large garbage items—there have been many instances on our short street where couches and mattresses have been left by the curb for weeks and months; and the better rate—we would save about $40 per year to offer the same services.”
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            Several residents inquired as to why this issue wasn’t present on the November ballot and urged the city to place the issue on the next ballot.
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            “We did look at that and had multiple discussions with City Attorney (David) Revore,” said Special Projects Director Eric Zuzga. “That was our inclination—we really would have preferred to go that route. There is no mechanism for the city to put an ordinance on a ballot. So even if we wanted to say, ‘Hey, we want a vote of the people on this issue,’ we have no mechanism for that.”
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            Zuzga explained that though the city cannot add such issues to a ballot, they can instead be added through a petition or referendum initiated by voters.
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    <summary type="text" />
    <g-custom:tags type="string">Nov 2020</g-custom:tags>
    <media:content medium="image" url="https://irp-cdn.multiscreensite.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Garbage.jpg" />
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>Local man marks 25 years since heart transplant</title>
    <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.advisor-chronicle.com/local-man-marks-25-years-since-heart-transplant" />
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    <author>
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    <updated>2020-12-11T19:23:13Z</updated>
    <published>2020-12-11T19:23:13Z</published>
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            Local man marks 25 years since heart transplant
           
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            This weekend, Dec. 13 to be exact, Ralph Moody of Convis Township will celebrate the 25th anniversary his heart transplant surgery that gave him the heart from a donor who was just 29 years old.
           
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            Although heart transplants are not as rare as they were three and four decades ago, Ralph’s longevity with his new heart is something of a medical marvel.
           
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            Earlier this year, it was reported that an 83-year-old North Dakota man may be one of the longest-surviving heart transplant patients today, having received his heart 29 years ago.
           
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            Ralph, 87, said even though he has slowed down a bit, he still feels good and maintains a certain level of physical  activity, mowing his lawn, tinkering on his old cars and navigating his property on his new Polaris off-road vehicle.
           
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            Just over 25 years ago in 1995, at age 62, Ralph was in ill health, having suffered two heart attacks.
           
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            “I had no energy at all,” remembered Ralph. “I was just dying.”
           
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            Ralph’s wife of 63 years, Virginia, remembered how Ralph’s health declined sharply over that summer after a trip to Europe.
           
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            “We had been to Luxemburg that summer and he was doing really well,” said Virginia, in 2009.  “If you’d seen him then, you’d have thought I had two choices: I’d have to call an undertaker or find out what was going on with him.”
           
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            The couple soon visited the Cleveland Clinic.
           
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            “We went not with the idea of getting a transplant because that as the furthest thing from our minds,” said Virginia.
           
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            After it was determined he would be a candidate for a heart transplant, that October, Ralph received a HeartMate pump that would do most of the heart’s work in pumping blood through his body as his heart was functioning at just 5%.   
           
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            “It was Friday the 13th  when Ralph was to get the HeartMate and one of the doctors put his arm around me and asked if I was superstitious,” said Virginia.
           
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            For the next two months, the Moodys lived on the grounds of the Cleveland Clinic and then one night, they learned a heart had become available.
           
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            “It had to be one of the worst nights in Cleveland – snow, sleet, you name it,” said Ralph.
           
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            The couple had been out to dinner and when they had returned back to their room, there was a note on the door, asking them to call his doctor.
           
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            Moments later, the coordinator walked into their room and said, “come on, we’ve got a heart.”
           
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            Ralph was prepped for surgery a couple hours later at 10:30 p.m. and the heart arrived soon after. 
           
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            At 3:30 a.m., Virginia got the call that Ralph’s surgery went as planned with no complications.
           
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            “As far as I’m concerned, I never hurt a bit,” said Ralph. “That was a simple operation as far as I was concerned.”
           
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            Eight days later, Ralph and Virginia were back home but had to make weekly trips to Cleveland for the first month to make sure the Ralph’s body wasn’t rejecting the heart.
           
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            Following the heart transplant and having received a new lease on life, Ralph became involved in advocating for people to become organ donors and also competed 10 times around the world in the Transplant Games, an athletic event open to transplant recipients.
           
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            Ralph first found out about the Transplant Games after attending a support group in Kalamazoo and took part in his first competition in 1998 in Ohio. During that event, he and Virginia met actor Larry Hagman, who received a liver transplant in July 1995.
           
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            The Transplant Games are held in the United States during even-numbered years and held internationally in odd-numbered years.
           
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            In 2007, he traveled to compete in Thailand. In 2006 in Louisville, Ralph brough home  a silver medal in the softball throw. 
           
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            In 2008, he earned three silver medals competing in the softball throw, shot put and bowling.
           
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            In 2009, he competed in Australia.
           
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            Ralph’s new heart gave the Moodys a new opportunity to travel and remain active.
           
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            “We’ve been very blessed,” said Virginia. “Live for today; tomorrow will take care of itself.”
           
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            For years following his heart transplant, Ralph would speak with hundreds of people at Secretary of State offices asking them to become organ donors.
           
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            “He really would pound the pavement and talk to people about becoming an organ donor,” said Melissa Moody, Ralph and Virginia’s daughter, who cares for her parents in their home.
           
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            Melissa said she remembers the day all too well when her mother took her father to the Cleveland Clinic.
           
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            “I’ll never forget the day I waved goodbye to my dad as my mom took him to Cleveland,” said Melissa. “That was a really sad day for me because I wasn’t sure if he was coming home.”
           
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            Virginia has said many times that she was very grateful to those donors and their families.
           
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            “We’re very blessed when you consider what modern medicine has been able to do,” said Virginia. “Donor recipients today have a better quality of life. They’re out playing golf, walking, riding their bicycles…But if it weren’t for the donor families, these people would not be here. We have to honor those people as well.”
           
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            Virginia said Ralph getting a new heart was like winning the lottery.
           
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            “You can’t win a better lottery,” she said. 
           
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            Melissa said her mother will have some good days and some bad days and added that her father is “slowing down a little, but he’s still good.”
           
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            Ralph again stressed the importance of one becoming an organ donor to help someone who was in a similar situation as he was a quarter century ago.
           
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            He added that he was able to do so much since thanks to his transplant and he plans to keep as busy as he can.
           
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            “I’m hanging in there,” said Ralph. “I’m still going.”
           
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  &lt;a&gt;&#xD;
    &lt;img src="https://irp-cdn.multiscreensite.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Ralph+and+Heart+mate+pump+.jpeg" alt=""/&gt;&#xD;
  &lt;/a&gt;&#xD;
&lt;/div&gt;</content>
    <summary type="text" />
    <g-custom:tags type="string">Nov 2020</g-custom:tags>
    <media:content medium="image" url="https://irp-cdn.multiscreensite.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Ralph+outsode+vehicle+.jpeg" />
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>13 Mile Solar project brings renewable energy to Marshall</title>
    <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.advisor-chronicle.com/13-mile-solar-project-brings-renewable-energy-to-marshall" />
    <link rel="enclosure" type="image/jpeg" href="https://irp-cdn.multiscreensite.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/solar+man.jpg" length="327033" />
    <author>
      <name />
    </author>
    <updated>2020-12-04T20:20:54Z</updated>
    <published>2020-12-04T20:20:54Z</published>
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            13 Mile Solar project brings 
           
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           renewable energy to Marshall 
          
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            In a region bedazzled with twinkling holiday lighting, a new form of renewable energy is making its debut on the Consumers Energy power grid and it comes from the oldest source of light known to man, the sun. 
           
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            In comes 13 Mile Solar, LLC, 12634 L Drive N. in Marshall Township, expected to go online before the end of December.  It will produce 2.87 Megawatts of power, enough solar energy to power an estimated 629 average-size homes.  The project is Calhoun County’s first renewable energy source and is being built and run by Pine Gate Renewables, LLC of Asheville, N.C. on property leased to the firm by landowner, James Fletcher, 12504 L Drive N. “I am very happy to have this project here,” said Fletcher, a proponent of green energy. “I am happy that the renewable energy trend is growing. The cost to produce renewable energy is becoming much more competitive.”
           
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            Indeed, according to an article in the Planning &amp;amp; Zoning News March and April edition written by graduate students at University of Michigan, the mandate for balancing traditional fossil fuel energy production with renewable sources is creating an increasing demand for renewable projects like 13 Mile Solar.
           
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            What makes solar increasingly attractive is its flexibility to be built on a relatively smaller scale with hundreds of projects now underway in Michigan in the 1- to 20-Megawatt range, like 13 Mile Solar, which will connect distribution lines directly into the power grid, rather than requiring the infrastructure of transmission lines. 
           
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            The $3 million Marshall Township project received unanimous approval from the Marshall Township Planning Commission in March 2019. Initially there were some minor objections to the project, said Township Zoning Administrator Paul Anderson. He said the planning commission requested modifications to expand the green barrier around the project based on public feedback.
           
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            Anderson said he was surprised by the early responses of some residents at public hearings for the project, including some who had the misconception that solar power may cause more pollution than a coal burning operation.
           
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            “Once people get educated on it (solar power) they’re more tolerant toward it,” Anderson said.
           
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            Twenty-three acres of rotating solar panels now rest on a wood-lined stretch of 13 Mile Road at the intersection of L Drive North. Altogether there are 7,362 sun-gathering modules that start the day facing eastward, flatten during midday and turn to the west to catch the final luminous moments of each day. Improvements in solar technology now mean these panels have a cell life of 25 years. 
           
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            Corey Battle, Pine Gate’s electrical project manager for the site, said the modules charge on both sides and even capture light from the Moon and reflections. Cloudy days are no problem for these sensitive sun catchers, that Battle says now have the ability to harvest all forms of light and turn it into useable energy.
           
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            The final construction phase of 13 Mile Solar began in September and took about eight weeks, said Mike McDonald, Pine Gate project manager.
           
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            Pine Gate Renewables LLC has a slogan which its Director of Communications and Marketing, Tami von Isakovics, shared:
           
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            “Get Solar Done,” she said, and the company follows it, having already brought 480 Megawatts of renewable energy into production in five states with another eight Gigawatts currently in development.
           
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            McDonald said the firm employed about 40 workers in completing the Marshall Township project. Michigan is one of Pine Gate’s primary markets. The firm has already contracted 40 in-state projects with Consumers Energy through long-term, bi-lateral agreements.
           
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            “Solar technology has improved dramatically,” von Isakovics said. “Even in the last five years. We are now installing racking that allows panels to track the path of the sun throughout the day.  We are installing ‘bi-facial’ panels that accept sunlight from on top and beneath the panels. This is particularly interesting in Michigan where Pine Gate is seeing improvements in electricity production due to reflections off the snow.”
           
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            The future of renewable energy from the sun and outer-earthly light sources may sound a bit Star Wars-esque, but Anderson, who has been sculpting the future of communities for more than 20 years as a full-time zoning administrator, sees the potential for reaping space light. 
           
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            “There is a big push for renewable energy,” Anderson noted. “There’s just not enough space to generate the volume needed to replace fossil fuels.  But someday they may have panels up in space. We have to look at renewable energy for the future. We can’t depend on fossil fuels. Alternative energy is something we have to pursue.”
           
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            Because solar development technology continues to improve, Anderson is seeing the proliferation of area solar developments in nearby townships. He sees solar as a trend and not a fad. 
           
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            Now on this old farmland, once owned by Civil War veteran Perry Mayo, (whose letters to his mother at home during the war are legendary in Marshall folklore) there is a symbiotic relationship born in environmentalism.
           
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            Fletcher, who purchased the farm in the early 1990s as “good investment,” now is at the precipice of actualizing his “green-will,” a long-held desire to support a greener world. And it’s a perfect blend with Pine Gate, a company that oozes with green culture.
           
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            “We go well beyond the solar project we develop,” von Isakovics said. “SolarCulture is our trademarked initiative to protect and preserve the land on which our solar farms are located to help native plants and animals thrive.”
           
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            One of the SolarCulture projects houses the largest solar farm apiary in the United States.  Fletcher hopes to develop an apiary at his farm to promote the sustainability of honeybees. He is looking to collaborate with a local beekeeper on this phase of the project.
           
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            As Fletcher walks the perimeter around the over 7,000 solar panels now standing on his farm, he is smiling and looking ahead to all the clean energy this project will produce.
           
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            “I am very happy to have it here,” he said. 
           
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  &lt;/a&gt;&#xD;
&lt;/div&gt;</content>
    <summary type="text" />
    <g-custom:tags type="string">Nov 2020</g-custom:tags>
    <media:content medium="image" url="https://irp-cdn.multiscreensite.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/solar+man.jpg" />
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>Celebrating what we hold dear</title>
    <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.advisor-chronicle.com/celebrating-what-we-hold-dear" />
    <link rel="enclosure" type="image/jpeg" href="https://irp-cdn.multiscreensite.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Cover+1.jpg" length="218156" />
    <author>
      <name />
    </author>
    <updated>2020-12-04T20:13:14Z</updated>
    <published>2020-12-04T20:13:14Z</published>
    <content>&lt;h3 style="transition: opacity 1s ease-in-out 0s;"&gt;&#xD;
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            Celebration of Trees in downtown Marshall pays tribute to loved ones and the joy of the holiday season
           
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            As you walk along Michigan Avenue in downtown Marshall, it would be hard to miss the small, decorated Christmas trees situated every few hundred yards.
           
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            Although smaller than in past years, Marshall’s “Celebration of Trees” will most likely be viewed by more people than when it was set up on the lawn of the Honolulu House or in Grand Street Park, both locations of the west side of downtown.
           
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            “We moved the trees because so many people requested it,” said Kimber Thompson of Choose Marshall. “They felt having them on the Honolulu House lawn removed them too much from people being able to walk among them and see them. The first year, four years ago, they were in Grand Street Park and were very popular there. We can't put them in there now because of the electric and water lines that were added later, so we can't put stakes in to hold the trees up.’
           
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            Thompson added that the trees have been a “huge hit” with people walking downtown.
           
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            “I have been approached so many times while down there setting them up and working on them,” she said. “Passers-by have commented how much they enjoy them. We get phone calls at the Welcome Center daily asking what is going on in town, people trying to decide if they should make a trip here. We tell them about any upcoming events, that our stores are open and wanting customers, how and where to enjoy some great food (the new fire pavilion at Ketchum Park is one I recommend), and of course exploring how each tree is decorated while they enjoy the store windows. We also mention the Santa mailbox (at Grand Street Park) to families with little ones.”
           
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            The tree, located in front of Great Escape Stage Company on the south side of Michigan Avenue, pays tribute to Dan McKeever, who died in Oct. 15. 2019. Dan’s wife, Marcia, and grandchildren, Archer Huggett, 8, and Beatrix Huggett, 5, made handmade ornaments to pay tribute to “Papa.”
           
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            “The kids were so excited to do this,” said Marcia, who was married to Dan for 42 years. “This was all about the kids! They came with me to the Welcome Center to fill out the paperwork and decide on the plaque wording: ‘For our Papa we love.’ Then, they bought and made the decorations and put them on themselves.”
           
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            Marcia said she surprised the grandchildren with the idea to sponsor the tree.
           
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            “They were very thoughtful about how the decorate,” she said. “They chose ornaments like a golden retriever like his beloved dog, Punch, golf clubs, a peppermint P for Papa, a basketball, a chocolate ice cream cone, lots of family photos and topped it off with his hat. He was a hat man. (Archer was actually wearing on of his grandfather’s hats in the cover photo.) 
           
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            In his obituary, it mentioned Dan loved all sports, especially basketball and golf. He once said, “the two sweetest sounds in sports were the swish of a basketball and the click of the sweet spot when teeing off with the driver.”
           
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            Marcia and Dan, who raised their kids and lived in in Berkley, Mich. where Dan worked for a civil engineering firm  for 35 years, moved to Marshall in May of 2019 to be close to the grandkids.
           
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            “We had the best family summer ever before Dan became ill,” said Marcia.
           
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            In all, there are trees in 20 planters downtown, with two at City Hall, and two in Carver Park on the east side of downtown.
           
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            Each planter has 3-foot tall artificial trees and Christmas lights, along with live garland from Wilson's Tannenbaum Farm out on N Drive North. Each sponsor decorates their tree. The sponsorships were $75 this year, down from $100 in years past due in part because of the smaller trees. Every tree was sponsored this year.
           
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            At Carver Park are trees dedicated to memory of Debbie Carrel, who died March 1 of this year, and Marilyn Paskett, who died Sept. 6, 2004.
           
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            Debbie’s sister, Joanne Davis, dedicated the tree.
           
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            “Debbie’s family and close friends decorated the tree using photographs that capture the essence of her wonderful life,” said Joanne. “Debbie did everything for those around her, always giving and supporting when it mattered most. She is missed by everyone who was fortunate to know her in the short time she was with us. Debbie loved the color red and the plaids used to accent the tree.”
           
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            Marc Paskett said the tree dedicated to his mother’s memory features many meaningful ornaments:
           
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            *Crayons and glue stick- her love for teaching.
           
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            *Church- She loved her church family.
           
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            *Bells- her love for music, sang in the church choir and loved playing the piano. 
           
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            *Stars- she was a beautiful, good, and positive person, which is what stars symbolize.
           
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            *Poinsettias- she loved Christmas
           
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            *Cardinal- her favorite bird, and it's said that when one appears an angel is near. 
           
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            “Mom was a beautiful soul and like the ornament with her picture in it, love lives forever,” said Marc.
           
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            One of the trees in front of City Hall pays tribute to PFC Gerald Treadwell Jr.
           
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            “This is our second Christmas without my brother, who lost his battle with cancer, and the second tree we have decorated in his honor,” said sister Julie Amaro. “The Celebration of Trees has given our family a time to all come together and to include him in a part of our Christmas.”
           
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            Gerald was a former Army infantryman who loved his country and was very patriotic, said Julie.   
           
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            “He also loved eagles,” she said.  “His tree is decorated in red, white and blue with flags and eagles in his honor. There is also a special ornament with his nickname ‘Tready’ on one side and the infantry symbol for the 1st Calvary division on the other.”
           
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            Another soldier memorialized is the tree near Grand River Brewery honoring James Twist.
           
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            “We wanted to decorate the tree red, white and blue to reflect his patriotism and his love of country and his service in Afghanistan and his loyalty to the Michigan State Police,” said James’ aunt Alison Twist Yarger, who is staff writer at the ad-visor&amp;amp;chronicle.  
           
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            A tree dedicated to the late Deb Fletcher by the Hutchings family is located on the north side of Michigan Avenue.
           
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            “My friendship with Deb goes way back to before we had children and were on the same softball team in the 1980s,” said Sue Hutchings. “We were both pregnant and playing at the same time and had our children, Beau and Lauren three days apart.
           
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            Lauren was born on Dec. 17, 1985 and Beau on Dec. 20, 1985. Deb and I even shared a hospital room for a day. The kids will tell you that we made them be friends.”
           
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            Sue and Deb became neighbors in the Squaw Creek area and their kids went through school together. 
           
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            “We developed a long-standing tradition of going out to dinner together; Deb and Lauren and me and Beau and looking at Christmas lights at some time during their birthday week,” said Sue. “We have worked to keep that tradition alive.”
           
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            Deb and Sue played golf together, bowled together and their families spent a lot of time together. 
           
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            “Beau and Lauren are best friends and Beau got himself ordained and performed Lauren and her husband’s marriage ceremony in 2016.
           
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            Deb's husband, Jim, is from Painseville, Ohio and attended Ohio University and The Ohio State University. Their daughter, Dr. Lauren Fletcher-Morehouse received her undergrad also at Ohio State.
           
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            “Deb loved The Ohio State Marching band,” said Sue. “She also loved snow and loved, loved, loved Christmas.”
           
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            Deb was diagnosed with Glioblastoma in the early spring of 2015 and underwent brain surgery. 
           
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            “She suffered through many treatments and trials before succumbing on Feb. 5, 2017,” said Sue. “We dedicated a tree to her when the Chamber started the initiative with the trees at the Honolulu house. Deb's and my good friends, Jan Keen and Gail Bradstreet, made the ornaments and Gail and I decorated the tree that year.”
           
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            A tree dedicated to David Wallace, who died Sept. 23, by his wife Sue, has frogs placed all over the tree and planter and is located in front of Grandma's Baby Boutique.
           
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            “David collected decorative frogs; tons of them,” said Sue. “When we first met, I asked him if the frogs he collected were live ones…He collected them from all over the world.”
           
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            A friend once told David and Sue that frog was an acronym for Fully Rely On God.
           
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            “That acronym then became really important to David,” said Sue, who has been replenishing the frogs on the tree after people were asked to take one when they pass by the tree.
           
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            On the other end of town, in front of the law offices of Schroeder DeGraw, a tree is dedicated by NN Autocam with artwork that is being given away by a local artist.
           
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            Other trees include dedications to the Girl Scouts and family pets as well as to the city of Marshall by local residents, such as Paul Davis and local businesses and organizations including Oaklawn Hospital, the Fountain Clinic and Marshall Exchange Club.
           
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            “I have talked with several participants in person, and they say how it helps bring them some joy to decorate a tree for their loved ones that are missing from this year's celebrations,” she said. 
           
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    &lt;img src="https://irp-cdn.multiscreensite.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Cover+Story+Dan-s+grandkids+IMG_8956.jpg" alt=""/&gt;&#xD;
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&lt;/div&gt;</content>
    <summary type="text" />
    <g-custom:tags type="string">Nov 2020</g-custom:tags>
    <media:content medium="image" url="https://irp-cdn.multiscreensite.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Cover+1.jpg" />
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>Christmas parade draws 1,500 cars to fairgrounds</title>
    <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.advisor-chronicle.com/christmas-parade-draws-1-500-cars-to-fairgrounds" />
    <link rel="enclosure" type="image/jpeg" href="https://irp-cdn.multiscreensite.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Santa-8523df23.jpg" length="207425" />
    <author>
      <name />
    </author>
    <updated>2020-12-04T20:05:41Z</updated>
    <published>2020-12-04T20:05:41Z</published>
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            Christmas parade draws 1,500 cars to fairgrounds
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            It was a Christmas parade like no other, but for those who attended the 56th Annual Marshall Christmas Parade Nov. 30 at the Calhoun County Fairgrounds, it was an experience they will not soon forget.
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            Taking place through The Merry Mile lighted route, several vehicles, tractors and trailers were also on display providing the sights and sounds of the season as approximately 1,500 cars drove through the one-mile route, with many cars waiting upwards of 60-90 minutes to enter the fairgrounds from S. Marshall Avenue with traffic backed up on Michigan Avenue to well west of the Brooks Fountain.
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            “We were extremely happy, and frankly pleasantly surprised at the volume of interest and number of cars that came through the Christmas Parade at the Merry Mile,” said parade committee chairman Matt Davis.  “It was wonderful to see all the smiling faces and happiness that the holiday season brings, especially in the large number of children we saw. They were so happy to see the lights the displays and of course Santa Claus at the end of the parade.”
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            Davis also thanked the event’s many sponsors, the collaborative partnership with The Merry Mile, the  fairgrounds and the city of Marshall “to make Marshall such a magical town.”
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            Through Dec. 27, The Merry Mile will be open Thursday through Sunday from 6-9 p.m.
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    <summary type="text" />
    <g-custom:tags type="string">Nov 2020</g-custom:tags>
    <media:content medium="image" url="https://irp-cdn.multiscreensite.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Santa-8523df23.jpg" />
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>Local woman determined to walk again following serious injuries</title>
    <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.advisor-chronicle.com/local-woman-determined-to-walk-again-following-serious-injuries" />
    <link rel="enclosure" type="image/jpeg" href="https://irp-cdn.multiscreensite.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Michelle+cropped.jpg" length="145373" />
    <author>
      <name />
    </author>
    <updated>2020-11-27T15:41:38Z</updated>
    <published>2020-11-27T15:41:38Z</published>
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            Local woman determined to walk again following serious injuries
           
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            Michelle Cruz-O’Dell had just spent what she called a very nice Father’s Day with her husband of nearly three years, Ron, and his children.
           
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            It had rained earlier in the day, but it had cleared up and Michelle thought it was nice enough to go outside.
           
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            What happened next, she has no recollection of, as her life and her family’s was about to profoundly change forever. 
            
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             “According to Ron, I walked out of the garage,” remembers Michelle, 53 of Marshall. “He heard me yell, then heard a tremendous crash and felt the house shake. A very large oak tree had fallen and hit the garage and me knocking me to the ground. Ron came running out as I was lying on the driveway, trying to get up, saying I could not breathe. Neighbors came running over. An electrical wire was pulled down and was lying very close by. Ron called 911 and about 20 minutes later, an ambulance and fire truck arrived.” 
            
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            By that time, she was no longer responding to anyone and was transported to the helipad at the hospital in Coldwater and then airlifted to Parkview Hospital in Fort Wayne, Ind.
           
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            “I do not remember any of it,” said Michelle. “The next day, I had a spinal cord fusion with two 8” rods. I woke up alone (due to COVID) to a doctor talking to me, but I do not remember what he said. A day or so later, I recall waking up to my oldest son Parker, visibly upset, visiting with me. He was granted emergency leave from his base in San Diego and was only allowed an hour visit due to COVID. I was in and out of consciousness, but it was then that I realized this must be really bad. Michelle learned she had sustained a broken back, collapsed lung, multiple broken ribs and a mild traumatic brain injury. Nine days later, she was transported by ambulance to Mary Free Bed of Grand Rapids.
           
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            “I think this is when I fully realized I was unable to walk and was not expected to walk again,” she said, realizing the long road ahead of her. “My youngest son Chandler, who was deployed in South Korea at the time, was granted emergency leave. The Red Cross assisted him in coming home and both he and Ron were waiting for me at Mary Free Bed. I was blessed, as one week before that, no visitors were allowed due to COVID.”
           
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            In the ensuing weeks, Michelle said she had some “extremely dark thoughts” throughout her stay and recovery. 
            
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             “I truly questioned why God had allowed me to live and had wished many times, that I had not,” she said. “I was not the same person anymore.” 
            
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             To make matters worse, Michelle developed pneumonia had to be taken to the ER where she remained hospitalized for several days before returning to Mary Free Bed where it would take two months of physical and occupational therapy, learning how to be safe and mobile in a wheelchair, to gain strength and independence, before she was allowed to go home, which took place Aug. 27. 
            
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            “Once home, sleep was the only thing I looked forward to,” she said. “I could not and did not want to get up in the morning. I was mourning the loss of my life as I knew it. I missed running, biking, kayaking, horseback riding, the gym, long walks, etc. I knew I would not ice skate this winter, cross country ski or walk my dogs. I felt so much loss. It was like a death in the family. My heart was broken, like my body.”
           
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            Michelle said  it was her “amazing” friends, “adoring” husband and many family members who would not let her give up. 
            
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             “They are the ones who insisted on visiting when I did not want and refused visitors,” she said. “I also received so many cards, flowers, texts and emails. It showed me how many people truly believed in me and helped me realize I have a strength inside of me that will not let me quit.”  
            
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             In the fall, she began outpatient physical and occupational therapy two times a week and went back to work part time from home. 
            
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            “This has helped me get back into a routine,” she said. “My biggest advocate and coach, Ron, has made a home gym which we use on days I do not have therapy. We bought a golf cart to get around in the neighborhood. . Ron had installed hand controls on the golf cart so I can drive it. I will get certified to drive with hand controls on a vehicle and we are looking into that. Ron also built a ramp so I can get the wheelchair onto our pontoon boat. I have a hand trike which I use when the weather is nice. I am working with a horseback riding center for therapeutic riding and I work on standing every day with Ron, stretching and strength training.”
           
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            Michelle also said she developed some “amazing” friendships at Mary Free Bed. 
            
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             “Through those friendships, I was told over and over to never give up, and to ‘prove them wrong,’” she said. “One of my best friends is a young man who was injured like myself but in a diving accident. He never quits smiling and his mom has given me so much encouragement from the first day I met her.” 
            
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             She noted that her faith in God is stronger now than it has ever been.
            
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            “We met an amazing couple who purchased our camper which we listed on Marketplace,” she said. “We knew we’d not be able to use it for a long time. They came to purchase the camper and asked Ron if they could pray with him. We discovered they are Seventh Day Adventist as am I and are still in contact with them. Also,  my father donated his time, labor and his crew to make sure our home was accessible before my homecoming. Beron’s Tree Service was called for the trees that fell. They cut down two more and refused payment after. What a blessing. Sims Electric hooked power back up  to the home after the power line was pulled down and also refused to take any payment. Oaklawn Hospital, Ron’s employer, makes sure he was/is able to take any and all time off to be with me during recovery and while I was hospitalized.” 
           
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            Looking ahead, Michelle said she is optimistic about her future. 
            
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             “Will I have bad days? You can be rest assured that I will, but I have seen many miracles occur in my life since the accident,” she said. “I cannot even explain them all but would be more than willing to sit down and share them with anyone who needs to or wants to hear them. My advice is to never give up and to ‘prove them wrong.’ I was told by someone via Instagram, someone I have never met, that God knew this was going to happen long before it ever did and there is a reason, unbeknownst to me.
            
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             I will keep going, keep living my life to the fullest, keep loving and keep working hard as long as it takes or until God says it’s time.”
            
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    <summary type="text" />
    <g-custom:tags type="string">Nov 2020</g-custom:tags>
    <media:content medium="image" url="https://irp-cdn.multiscreensite.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Michelle+cropped.jpg" />
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>Green Mittens</title>
    <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.advisor-chronicle.com/green-mittens" />
    <link rel="enclosure" type="image/jpeg" href="https://irp-cdn.multiscreensite.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Mittens.jpg" length="237802" />
    <author>
      <name />
    </author>
    <updated>2020-11-27T15:34:20Z</updated>
    <published>2020-11-27T15:34:20Z</published>
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            On Christmas 1984 each one in our family received mittens. They were hand knitted and given to us by someone we may never know. Gifts made with love.
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            “Mother, are you going to wear those mittens shopping?” These words came from my teenage daughter with her sister standing beside her for support. They weren’t sarcastic words, just sort of quietly suggesting they didn’t go well with my coat and if they were with me wearing those mittens, they would be embarrassed. I smiled as I looked down at my hands. Yes, they did show up, bright green against my burgundy coat, and they were a little over-sized, hanging an inch and a half from the end of my fingers. Not exactly a fashion statement. But those green mittens were as special to me as the story behind them. 
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            It all began in 1982 when Bill, my husband, lost his job. After working 15 years in the same factory, they closed their doors and we were without an income and four children to raise. It was in December, with Christmas only a couple of weeks away, and we had been out of work for three years. We had depleted our savings and had been forced to accept help from our families, our church, and from welfare. It was difficult to swallow our pride and realize that we couldn’t support ourselves. We had seen over and over during this time, how God had met every need in our lives. But there is a difference between needs and wants and I was having a difficult time accepting that. 
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            I found myself arguing with God and questioning why Bill couldn’t find full time work that would pay enough to live on, and why I had inflammatory bursitis and couldn’t work to help out. One day I would praise God for His goodness in providing, and the next day I would be crying out, “Why?” I was dreading Christmas. We had been used to giving. Sending out dozens of cards, making gifts, baking holiday cookies and taking them to shut-ins, making costumes for the children’s program at church, and volunteering to help with Christmas baskets for the needy. This year we didn’t even have 25 cents for a stamp and our car had been repossessed. This year we were the needy. 
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            We didn’t know it, but someone had given our name to an area community service group and we had been adopted by a local church to receive a Christmas basket. We could hardly believe it when a week and a half before Christmas there was a knock at our door and they started bringing in boxes and huge bags filled with everything from a turkey and enough groceries to last a week, to wrapped and unwrapped presents for everyone in the family. The oldest children were at school so we decided to keep some of the gifts for Christmas morning. 
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            We took the bags to our bedroom and began sorting through. I started crying as we took out shirts, pants, pajamas, games, toys, sweaters, and jewelry. They were neatly labeled, for Dad and Mom. For 11-year-old boy, and 10- year-old boy. For 3-year-old girl and baby girl. They had remembered each one with special gifts. But when we got to the middle of the second bag I began laughing out loud. There I saw two pair of the biggest Christmas green mittens I had ever seen. They were handmade and laid carefully together with a pair of mittens for each child. We put the children’s mittens out to give them that evening because they needed them and Bill and I tucked ours away in a drawer, still smiling. 
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            The week after Christmas it snowed, and we got ready to go make snowmen in our back yard. I went to put on my old leather gloves and remembered the mittens. I hadn’t worn mittens since grade school and was a little surprised at how warm they kept my hands as we played. That winter we had a lot of snow and made a lot of snowmen and I began wearing my mittens more and more. I started wearing them when we walked and even when we went for groceries. The next winter I took them from the back of my drawer and put them in my coat pocket so I would have them with me when I needed them. The more I wore them, the more I thought of the work and love that it took to make them. I would look at the even rows of stitches done one at a time and think of the person that took the time to make mittens for someone who needed help at Christmas. I prayed for her and thanked God for her gift. 
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            These bright green mittens mean so much to me. I have worn them every winter for over twelve years now and each time I put them on my heart is flooded with memories. I remember those four hard years when we could not support ourselves, when God used others to provide for our needs. I remember that it is often harder to receive than to give. But even in receiving we give to others as we allow them to be used by God. And these mittens remind me that every gift and talent is given for a purpose. 
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            No matter how small a thing it seems to us, we never know how much the talent God has given us will touch another’s life when we use it. As I told this story to my daughters they were no longer embarrassed but understood in a deeper way how much God cares for us, and how important it is to care for each other. They learned that gifts don’t have to be big and expensive to be special, only given with love. God sent His Spirit to a listening heart and a stranger took the time to knit for me. The warmth of these mittens is felt not only by my hands but also in my heart. To me these mittens are love. 
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            “Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.” I Peter 4:10
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             Note: Each year as Christmas approaches, the writer remember MACS and how they helped her family through a difficult time. This is her thank you to each one who gives their time and talent to help others.
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    <summary type="text" />
    <g-custom:tags type="string">Nov 2020</g-custom:tags>
    <media:content medium="image" url="https://irp-cdn.multiscreensite.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Mittens.jpg" />
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>All is ‘Merry’ at the Calhoun County Fairgrounds</title>
    <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.advisor-chronicle.com/all-is-merry-at-the-calhoun-county-fairgrounds" />
    <link rel="enclosure" type="image/jpeg" href="https://irp-cdn.multiscreensite.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Merry+Mile+Santa+Barn+cropped.jpg" length="236026" />
    <author>
      <name />
    </author>
    <updated>2020-11-27T15:25:24Z</updated>
    <published>2020-11-27T15:25:24Z</published>
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            The 5th Annual Merry Mile awaits you
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            The 5th Annual Merry Mile at the Calhoun County Fairgrounds is possibly the most perfect event during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic as people drive through the fairgrounds from the safety of their vehicles. Social distancing at its finest.
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            On Friday, Nov. 27, the tree lighting ceremony will take place at 6 p.m. and people can view that virtually online on the Calhoun County Fairgrounds Facebook page. 
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             The event itself will open to the public for a preview weekend right after the Lighting Ceremony at about 6:30 p.m. on the 27th. On Saturday, Nov. 28 it will be open from 6-9 p.m.  
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            From Dec. 3-27, the Merry Mile will be open Thursday through Sunday from 6-9 p.m.  The cost is $10 per carload, and Merry Mile organizers say it is the perfect answer to pandemic-holiday blues as you stay in your car, all warm and safe, while enjoying the holiday lights of the Merry Mile!
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            “We’ve added a lot to it this year,” said organizer Harmony Dawson who came up with the idea for the Merry Mile. “We have had so many volunteers this year, and that’s been really helpful to me.” 
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             Dawson added that with so much holiday season things closed or not offered this holiday season, the Merry Mile is perfect for holiday fun as motorists snake through the fairgrounds on the one-mile path.
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            “With COVID, there’s just not a lot of stuff going on,” said Dawson. “The Merry Mile is something people can bring their family to.” 
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             In a recent survey out of Grand Rapids, the Merry Mile made the Top 10 list of Best Drive Through Christmas Lights for 2020 in Michigan. 
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             And in a holiday twist due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 56th Annual Marshall Christmas Parade will be much different this year as it will be held Monday. Nov. 30 at the fairgrounds with cars driving through the Merry Mile to see the floats, decorations and of course, Santa Claus. 
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             The parade is free and will run from 6-9 p.m.
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            “Even though the parade is free we will be accepting donations to the fairgrounds as people first enter,” said Dawson, who added that she thinks the traffic will be “bumper to bumper” on the 30th and asked people to not all show up right when the event starts at 6 p.m. “Our family is planning to come out around 8 p.m., so maybe a little later would be better to come out.”
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            Dawson said setting up the Merry Mile is feat onto itself as close to $10,000 worth of extension cords were purchased in order to light up the fairgrounds. 
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            “When my husband Brent and our family decided to move here, we thought this would be something beautiful to have here during the winter when there are no events at the fairgrounds,” said Dawson, who noted that so many in the community have volunteered their time. “This is really a community event. So many people and organizations have made contributions to make this year’s event the best ever.” 
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             Added Cindy Thomas, who has worked on the Merry Mile: “I feel really blessed that so many people have come out to help us. It’s been wonderful with about 75 volunteers.” 
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             Dawson said because of the many volunteers and more lights, this year feels like the first year all over again.
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            “It has had a boost of energy this year,” said Dawson. “Maybe it’s because so many people missed out on the fair, but we’ve had several 4-H members out here helping put up lights. I think maybe the just missed those hours that they would usually commit to the fair and instead committed those hours to the Merry Mile.”
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            The fairgrounds that usually bustled with activity throughout the year has been hit hard during the COVID-19 pandemic. This event, said organizers, helps bring in much needed revenue for the fairgrounds as well as letting people enjoy the season in complete safety.  
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             People are urged to go to www.calhouncountyfairgounds.com for the up-to-date event list to know when Santa will make his visits and the live nativity will be in place.
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            Dawson noted that in a year that has challenged us all, not only will the Merry Mile bring our families safely together in celebration of the holidays but it will also help us to sustain one of our county’s greatest treasures, the Calhoun County Fairgrounds.   
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             Calhoun County Fairgrounds Manager Jen Rice said the event will be a boost to the fairgrounds. 
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              “Your fairgrounds consists of nearly 65 acres and 22 buildings”, said Rice. “As you can imagine, without our events this year, we have a large physical footprint to care for with no revenue stream. The revenue from this year’s Merry Mile will help us to survive this difficult year and look forward to a bright future…This year’s Merry Mile will be bigger and better than ever.”
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            Throughout December, the Merry Mile at the Calhoun County Fairgrounds will be open Thursday through Sunday from 6-9 p.m. 
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    <summary type="text" />
    <g-custom:tags type="string">Nov 2020</g-custom:tags>
    <media:content medium="image" url="https://irp-cdn.multiscreensite.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Merry+Mile+Santa+Barn+cropped.jpg" />
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>Remembering the game of my youth</title>
    <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.advisor-chronicle.com/remembering-the-game-of-my-youth" />
    <link rel="enclosure" type="image/jpeg" href="https://irp-cdn.multiscreensite.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/jachymmichal-oVWilf8znF8-unsplash.jpg" length="87331" />
    <author>
      <name />
    </author>
    <updated>2020-11-19T20:44:28Z</updated>
    <published>2020-11-19T20:44:28Z</published>
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            Remembering the game of my youth
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            I know things are tough all around as we head into Thanksgiving and the holiday season. There will be brighter days ahead; we just need to practice a little more patience to get through what could possibly the most difficult weeks of the pandemic.
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            Last week, in my effort to escape the gloom and doom that seems to be lurking around every corner these days, I binge-watched The Queen’s Gambit on Netflix. 
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             To say this was an outstanding series and perhaps one of the best I’ve ever watched would be an understatement. 
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             The seven episodes are truly an exemplary series showcasing one of the oldest and most intellectual games in our history and the show truly pays homage to the classic game. 
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            I’m not going to spoil it for you, but a young woman taking center stage in a male-dominated game while conquering her vices makes each scene of this show worthy of view time. The passion displayed by the main character for the sport where you can see her whole world revolving around it inspires you to find your own and stick with it. 
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            The series takes place during the 1960s and at times highlights the Soviet Union dominance in the game. 
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             And while watching, I was brought back to my introduction to chess in the summer of 1972. 
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             My father bought a chess board and wanted to teach me the game because he said in a few weeks, the world championship between American Bobby Fischer and Soviet Boris Spassky would take place and he wanted me to have an understanding of the game so I could read about the results in the newspaper.
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            My father learned the game as a child in Russia and even though he despised the Soviet Union, he did have a fondness for Mother Russia and was proud of his roots. 
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             As an 8-year-old, I was more interested in playing checkers or playing with my Hot Wheels, but I eventually agreed after my father made me an offer I couldn’t refuse: Chess or The Belt. 
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             Yeah, I know. If we, in 1972, were able to time travel to the 21st century, my father would have been arrested within the first hour of his arrival. Between the belt or teaching me to syphon gas from a car (and not necessarily ours) to letting me show my friends his loaded handgun or riding a bike without a helmet to drinking out of the garden hose or walking down the street by myself, some nosey neighbor or two would have called the cops for any of those felonious offenses.
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            But I digress. I learned the game. And over time, I came to love it. 
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             That summer of 1972, I would go the newspaper after each Fischer- Spassky game, cut out the summaries and replay them on my chess board. Soon after, several friends and I would get together after school a couple days a week to play chess. 
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             A few months later, I joined the chess club at my elementary school and became the proud owner of a magnetic chess board that folded up so you could store the pieces in the green felt middle. 
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            I worked my way up to the top 15 of the club (out of 40 kids), the highlight being my beating of the number two-ranked player who was a grade ahead of me.
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            I lost the rematch and never again achieved chess greatness. In fact, after elementary school, I rarely, if ever, played the game again. 
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             But when living in Italy 20 years ago, I would meet up with Ulrich, a Major in the German Air Force stationed in Naples, and we’d play chess a couple times a month. I enjoyed playing again so much that I when I visited Sorrento know famously for its inlaid wood, I purchased  a chessboard that I brought back to the United States.
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            And in the 17-plus years I have been back, I’ve played maybe two or three times. After watching The Queen’s Gambit, I found the chess set buried at the bottom of a storage bin. But now, it sits on the coffee table in my living room, as I look forward to playing once again. Hello, old friend.
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            As we begin the holiday season amid the current shutdown, maybe we should all put down out phones, turn off the news and dig out any board game that we haven’t used in a while and play with family members to take part in some good old-fashioned facetime. 
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             But as you do that, do try to find time to watch The Queen’s Gambit. 
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             More than anything else, the look of the series is what puts it in a class all its own. There are some stunningly conceived visual effects that haunt the viewer and return thematically at points. All in all, it is a beautifully shot production, with very astute direction and, it goes without saying, wonderful performances. It will stay with you for a long time after you finish watching it.
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            I wish you all a safe and happy Thanksgiving and upcoming holiday season.
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            Until next time, may the good news be yours.
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    <summary type="text" />
    <g-custom:tags type="string">Nov 2020</g-custom:tags>
    <media:content medium="image" url="https://irp-cdn.multiscreensite.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/jachymmichal-oVWilf8znF8-unsplash.jpg" />
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>Capturing the moment</title>
    <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.advisor-chronicle.com/capturing-the-moment" />
    <link rel="enclosure" type="image/jpeg" href="https://irp-cdn.multiscreensite.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Tyler+Presley+Cropped.jpg" length="195380" />
    <author>
      <name />
    </author>
    <updated>2020-11-19T20:44:27Z</updated>
    <published>2020-11-19T20:44:27Z</published>
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            Tylere Presley photographs Marshall athletes in action  
           
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            If you have been to a Marshall High School sporting event over the past few years, chances are you’ve seen Tylere Presley roaming the sidelines, camera in hand (and usually another slung over his shoulder), taking photos of MHS athletes.
           
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            Presley, a 2008 MHS graduate, has taken tens of thousands of photos, posting them to his Tag Along Media site, providing athletes, their families and friends a chance to purchase those moments frozen in time. Presley said of all the sports he covers, football is where he takes the most photos.
           
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            “I take on an average of 2,000 photos during each football game and 1,000 for other sports,” he said. “Football typically has more because on each play, something could happen and it’s easier to be ready for what might happen and get yourself in a good position. For other sports, you are limited to the action happening where you are positioned. If a play is happening at the other end of the field/court, you aren’t going to get a usable shot and it’s not worth clicking the shutter button unless you’re going for that specific shot.”
           
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            Presley, who earned a degree in Political Science in 2012 from Central Michigan University, said he always had an interest in photography from a young age, but really got started in 2014 after he purchased his first camera while undergoing chemotherapy for Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.“My employer was gracious enough to let me take time off due to my diagnosis and during that time I was able to focus on developing my photography/media skills and was hired to assist on some projects and it grew from there.” 
           
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            After CMU, Presley traveled the southeastern part of country as a Leadership Consultant for Beta Theta Pi Fraternity, visiting college campuses in South Carolina, Georgia and Florida for a year, assisting them in leadership and operations. He then transitioned to a Chapter Development Coordinator working at Georgia Tech and the University of Alabama for a year each, helping them reestablish their identity, grow the organization and help with leadership and operations.
           
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            In 2016, he moved back to Marshall because his cancer had relapsed and that’s when he started Tag Along Media, LLC. “The name Tag Along came from the idea that I’m there to capture the moments and tell the story without the feeling that I’m there at all: I’m there to tag along,” he said. It was in March 2016 that Presley connected with MHS athletics while attending the girls basketball team’s state championship run.
           
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            “I remember thinking it would’ve been cool to have someone document the experience,” he said. “Because I was undergoing chemo and didn’t have much else to do, I reached out to coach Sal Konkle before the following season and asked to follow them as they had a good chance to repeat as champions and she accepted. Without her saying yes and Athletic Director Dan Coddens’ approval, I don’t think I would be doing what I am doing today with MHS athletics.”
           
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            Presley’s equipment features Canon cameras and lenses.
           
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            “I’m generally shooting on a Canon 6D Mark II and/or Canon 7D Mark II for photos and a Canon C100 Mark II for video,” he said. “Lenses vary depending on what type of shot I’m going for and what sport/environment I’m in. My go-to and favorite is the Canon 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II lens because it gives me the reach to feel like you are in the action. Other lenses used are the Canon 16-35mm f/4L IS, Canon 50mm f/1.4 and Canon 24-105mm f/4L IS.”
           
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            And what Presley said he enjoys most is “capturing the moments others will be able to cherish,” while the biggest challenge in capturing live events is that “the moment only happens once.”
           
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            “You can’t ask a team to re-do a play because you weren’t ready, were in the wrong position or missed focus,” he said. One of the biggest keys to getting a good shot when it comes to sports, said Presley, is “having a basic understanding of the sport you’re shooting.” “From there you can make decisions about where to position yourself to give you the best chance of getting a good shot,” he said. “Knowing the limitations of your gear is also key because it will inform you on what type of shot you can get and what you can’t get. Then it’s all about practice, practice and practice.”
           
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            During the just-completed fall sports season, Presley said he was quite busy as he tried to cover as many sports as he could. “My main focus, outside of paid work, is the football team and I thank coach Bill Dryer for allowing me the access he does,” said Presley. “I try to be at every football practice and game. Practices can be up to two hours a day and games can be up to eight hours (with multiple sports) and this doesn’t include the time to edit content. I try to at least be at one sporting event from each team, but this season I was only able to get to football, boys soccer and girls volleyball (on a regular basis). I’d love to be at every game/event for each team, but there is only so much time in the day that I can volunteer my time and talents. Ideally, it would be great for this to be a paid position to promote all the sports teams and teach interested students the craft.”
           
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            And with last week’s announcement that all high school sports have been suspended through at least Dec. 7, Presley said he feels for the athletes and coaches and also has found himself now with some unexpected down time.
           
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            “I’m bummed for the players and coaches that sports will be shut down for at least the next three weeks especially the ones who were deep in their post season runs,” he said. “Fall sports, even with the restrictions and protocols, were an escape from everything going on for a few hours and allowed you live in the moment. Hopefully, we will see the return of winter sports. I have some planned shoots scheduled, but I’m taking it day-by-day. Nothing is guaranteed and I’m thankful for the work I’ve been able to get.”
           
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    <summary type="text" />
    <g-custom:tags type="string">Nov 2020</g-custom:tags>
    <media:content medium="image" url="https://irp-cdn.multiscreensite.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Tyler+Presley+Cropped.jpg" />
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>A new twist on an old tradition</title>
    <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.advisor-chronicle.com/a-new-twist-on-an-old-tradition" />
    <link rel="enclosure" type="image/jpeg" href="https://irp-cdn.multiscreensite.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Santa.jpg" length="227386" />
    <author>
      <name />
    </author>
    <updated>2020-11-19T20:44:25Z</updated>
    <published>2020-11-19T20:44:25Z</published>
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            The 56th Annual Marshall Christmas Parade to take place Nov. 30 through the Merry Mile at the Calhoun County Fairgrounds
           
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            As has often been the case for most of us in 2020, the 56th Annual Marshall  Christmas Parade, which will take place Monday, Nov. 30, has been forced to improvise and in a COVID-19 twist,  those coming out to view the lights and decorations will, in essence, become the parade, driving through the Calhoun County Fairgrounds to take in the pageantry.
           
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            Entries will be stationary and placed along the Merry Mile lighted attraction, and end with Santa. 
            
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             The event will take place from 6-9 p.m. and will be free to view that evening, but donations and sponsorships will be accepted and appreciated to help defray the cost. 
            
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             And because of the pandemic, the parade will be the only chance to see Santa Claus this holiday season in Marshall.
            
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            Vehicles will be encouraged to move along at a pretty steady pace, so that those in line do not have long to wait for entry. 
            
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             Kimber Thompson, one of the parade organizers said  there is still space for entries and that those interested in taking part should email her at kimber@choosemarshall.com . Donations can be sent via mail or put into the drop box outside the Marshall Welcome Center at City Hall.  
            
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            “We want to encourage only one household per vehicle,” said Thompson. “We are doing everything possible to be safe with this event.” 
            
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             This year’s parade theme is "Joy to the World,” said Thompson as the event will try to “infuse some much-needed cheer into 2020.” 
            
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            "Every year the Marshall parade draws an audience from near and far to our magically decorated downtown to kick off the holiday season with all the pomp and circumstance we can muster,” she said. “And while this year is a little different, the underlying feeling is still there. Our hope is that this stationary parade will serve to raise the spirits of everyone this pandemic has affected, help take our minds off all the negatives at least for the time it takes to travel through the display. Hope that is needed to carry us through this phase of the pandemic and beyond."
           
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            The parade’s Grand Marshals this year will be the frontline workers in the community who have the jobs with the greatest risks associated with COVID-19 including doctors, nurses, police officers, firefighters, EMTs and teachers. 
            
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             The 5th Annual Merry Mile will kick off on the weekend prior to the parade and organizers are calling the event the most perfect ending to a less than perfect year. 
            
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            Over the past several weeks, a small army of volunteers, under the leadership of  Harmony Dawson, have been hard at work to ensure that this year’s Merry Mile is bigger and better than ever before. 
            
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             “This drive-through event is ideal for social distancing and protecting our families,” said Dawson. “In a year that has challenged us all, not only will the Merry Mile bring our families safely together in celebration of the holidays but it will also help us to sustain one of our county’s greatest treasures, our Calhoun County Fairgrounds.”
            
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            The fairgrounds, which normally plays host to over 100 events each year, has been almost completely shut down this year due to COVID restrictions. 
           
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            “Your fairgrounds consists of nearly 65 acres and 22 buildings,”  said Fairgrounds Manager Jen Rice. “As you can imagine without our events, we have a large physical footprint to care for with no revenue stream. The revenue from this year’s Merry Mile will help us to survive this difficult year and look forward to a bright future.”
           
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            The Merry Mile will come alive with the annual Tree Lighting Ceremony on Friday, Nov. 27th at 6 p.m.  A virtual viewing of the ceremony will take place online and people can follow the fairgrounds on Facebook for the link. 
            
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             The Merry Mile will welcome visitors on the following dates: Nov. 27-28, Dec. 3 – 6,  Dec. 10 – 13,  Dec. 17 – 20, and will wrap up Dec. 24-27. 
            
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             A wide array of special events will be on tap throughout the Merry Mile season, including photo sessions with that Jolly Old Elf himself on Dec. 5, 11 and 19.  For the latest on the Merry Mile follow on Facebook and on the Merry Mile website at www.calhouncountyfairgrounds.com.
            
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            Other than the night of the Christmas Parade which will be free, you can enjoy the sights and sounds of the Merry Mile for $10 per carload or $20 per bus throughout the holiday season. 
            
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             “The 2020 Merry Mile offers all of us an opportunity to celebrate the holidays and put a true vision of hope on the horizon for a bright, safe and healthy future,” said Dawson. “We can’t wait to welcome you to the 5th annual holiday family tradition.”
            
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            Matt Davis, who has been involved with the parade for several years, said 2020 has been a year of challenges most of us could never have anticipated.  
           
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            “People and organizations are having to pivot and do things differently, on a dime, like never before,” he said. “The Marshall Christmas Parade is no exception.  The 55-year tradition of the parade in downtown Marshall is beloved by many, with upwards of 10,000 people packed onto the Fountain Circle, down Main Street to Carver Park.  Over 100 entries, from girl scouts, bands, horses, carriages and dogs up to the semi pulling Santa Claus have joined in to make the Monday after Thanksgiving a tradition of joy and happiness for people from across the region.”
           
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            Davis added that this year’s Christmas Committee faced quite a challenge 
            
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             “We realized we could not do the parade the same way this year with its close person-to-person contact and we had to contemplate cancelling the event, like nearly every other city has done,” he said.  “However, we decided to press forward, thinking that some sense of normalcy, if we can create a safe parade, would be welcomed and celebrated.”  
            
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            Initially the plan was to do a 9-mile motorized parade leaving from and returning to the fairgrounds. 
            
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             “However, with the recent changes in our protocols from the state, this option became more challenging to logistically and safely pull off, “ said Davis. “So, we made a pivot… If you are interested in providing a display/float, electric hook up will be available, we'd ask that you attempt to make it sturdy enough to stay in place through the Christmas Holiday season if you are able to leave it to be a part of The Merry Mile.”
            
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            More information on the parade can also be found on the ChooseMarshall Facebook page or ChooseMarshall.com.    
           
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             This year’s Marshall Christmas Parade will take place Nov. 30 through the Merry Mile at the Calhoun County Fairgrounds. 
            
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        &lt;/b&gt;&#xD;
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  &lt;img src="https://irp-cdn.multiscreensite.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Cover+Story+Merry+Mile+arch+%281%29.jpg"/&gt;&#xD;
&lt;/div&gt;</content>
    <summary type="text" />
    <g-custom:tags type="string">Nov 2020</g-custom:tags>
    <media:content medium="image" url="https://irp-cdn.multiscreensite.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Santa.jpg" />
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>MHS volleyball wins fourth-straight district title</title>
    <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.advisor-chronicle.com/mhs-volleyball-wins-fourth-straight-district-title" />
    <link rel="enclosure" type="image/jpeg" href="https://irp-cdn.multiscreensite.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/VB+District+Champs+.JPG" length="495874" />
    <author>
      <name />
    </author>
    <updated>2020-11-13T15:47:26Z</updated>
    <published>2020-11-13T15:47:26Z</published>
    <content>&lt;h3 style="transition: opacity 1s ease-in-out 0s;"&gt;&#xD;
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           But team falls to Lakewood in Regional Semifinal
          
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            The Marshall High School volleyball team, three days after winning its fourth-straight district title in straight sets over Western, saw its season come to an end Nov. 10 losing to host Lakewood in the Regional Semifinal Nov. 10.
           
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            Lakewood took the first set by a score of 25-16. Marshall came out strong in set 2 and battled back and forth to squeeze out the win by a score of 25-23. The third set saw the Vikings jump out to a big lead, but the Marshall battled back to tie it up on two occasions. Lakewood would finish out that set by a score of 25-17. The fourth and final set of the evening was another great battle but the Ladyhawks came up short and ended up losing 25-20. 
           
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            “Even though it was a tough loss, the atmosphere in the gym was electric,” said Marshall coach Bre Johnson. “We gave 2nd ranked Lakewood all they could handle and more.”
           
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            On the night for the Redhawks, Olivia Webber led the way offensively with 12 kills followed very closely by Abby Welke with 11. Regan Fulmer, Ja’nyece Larry and Courtney Fuller all contributed with 4, 3 and 3 kills, respectively. Running the offense once again for the Ladyhawks was Teagan Giannunzio with 29 set assists to go along with 7 defensive digs. Abby Welke led the defensive effort picking up 15 digs. Ella McAllister was close behind Welke with 13 digs of her own. Paige Crull, Courtney Fuller and Ashlynn Giannunzio also contributed defensively with 6, 5 and 4 digs, respectively.
           
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            “I’m so proud of the effort put forth by this team tonight,” said Johnson. “They’ve worked so hard all season and executed at a high level. We competed on every single point tonight and never let up. As a coach, I couldn’t have asked for anything more. We may have come up a little short on the court, but this team should hold their heads up and be proud of the players they are and more importantly, the people they’ve become. This senior class has set the bar high for the future of this program. They’ve help create a culture like no other. This team has been one of the most dedicated, hard-working and talented teams I’ve ever coached. I feel lucky to be a part of such a great community and volleyball program at Marshall.”
           
                      &#xD;
      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
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      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
                        
            On a season that saw also Marshall win a league title, the team finished with a 33-9 record.
           
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  &lt;img src="https://irp-cdn.multiscreensite.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/VB+Abby+Welke+_0856+%281%29.JPG"/&gt;&#xD;
&lt;/div&gt;</content>
    <summary type="text" />
    <g-custom:tags type="string">Nov 2020</g-custom:tags>
    <media:content medium="image" url="https://irp-cdn.multiscreensite.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/VB+District+Champs+.JPG" />
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>Olivet football advances to district final</title>
    <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.advisor-chronicle.com/olivet-football-advances-to-district-final" />
    <link rel="enclosure" type="image/jpeg" href="https://irp-cdn.multiscreensite.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Olivet+Football+Clay+Flower+959A9299.JPG" length="412503" />
    <author>
      <name />
    </author>
    <updated>2020-11-13T15:32:36Z</updated>
    <published>2020-11-13T15:32:36Z</published>
    <content>&lt;h3 style="transition: opacity 1s ease-in-out 0s;"&gt;&#xD;
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           Olivet football advances to district final
          
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    &lt;/font&gt;&#xD;
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&lt;/h3&gt;&#xD;
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            The Olivet High School football team advanced to the Division 5 Region 2 District final after defeating Kalamazoo Hackett Catholic 28-14 on Nov. 6.
           
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      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
                        
            The Eagles travel to Lansing Catholic Nov. 13 at 7 p.m. with the winner advancing to the regional semi-final.
           
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            “Our defense was outstanding last Friday night,” said Olivet coach Brock Peters. “We held a team that averaged over 40 points per game this year scoreless through three and a half quarters.  I was very proud of how we played on that side of the ball.
           
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            The offense capitalized on turnovers forced by the Eagles’ defense and Clay Flower led the Olivet run game with 4 touchdowns on 20 carries for 138 yards.  
           
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            Peters said Lansing Catholic will be a tough opponent.
           
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      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
                        
            “They are outstanding and are the defending Division 5 state champions and have several contributors back from that team,” he said. “The key will be getting pressure on their quarterback and whether or not our offensive line can get movement against their talented defensive line.  They have an explosive offense, and we will need to play great defense again this week to have a shot.”
           
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      &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
    &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
  &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
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  &lt;img src="https://irp-cdn.multiscreensite.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Olivet+Football+Clay+Flower+959A9299.JPG"/&gt;&#xD;
&lt;/div&gt;</content>
    <summary type="text" />
    <g-custom:tags type="string">Nov 2020</g-custom:tags>
    <media:content medium="image" url="https://irp-cdn.multiscreensite.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Olivet+Football+Clay+Flower+959A9299.JPG" />
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>Redhawks’ season comes to an end following 63-42 loss at Pennfield</title>
    <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.advisor-chronicle.com/redhawks-season-comes-to-an-end-following-63-42-loss-at-pennfield" />
    <link rel="enclosure" type="image/jpeg" href="https://irp-cdn.multiscreensite.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/FB+Trenton+Fuller+.JPG" length="224685" />
    <author>
      <name />
    </author>
    <updated>2020-11-13T15:27:19Z</updated>
    <published>2020-11-13T15:27:19Z</published>
    <content>&lt;h3 style="transition: opacity 1s ease-in-out 0s;"&gt;&#xD;
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    &lt;font color="#000000"&gt;&#xD;
      
                      
           Redhawks’ season comes to an end following 63-42 loss at Pennfield
          
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    &lt;/font&gt;&#xD;
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            The Marshall High School football team saw its season come to and in the Division 4 semi-final following a 63-42 loss at Pennfield Nov. 7.
           
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      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
                        
            The loss left Marshall with a season record of 4-5.
           
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            From the get-go, the Redhawks found themselves playing catch up after falling behind 14-0 midway through the first quarter.
           
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            But two scores less than a minute apart would give Marshall its only lead of the game.
           
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            Trenton Fuller’s 8-yard touchdown reception from Nate Tucker made the score 14-7. Then Greg Wallace’s 21-yard fumble recovery for a score and the subsequent 2-point conversion gave Marshall a 15-14 lead with 7:21 to play in the half.
           
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            Following a Pennfield score to make it 22-15 Panthers with 8:48 to play in the first half, Wallace scored on a 53-yard run with 7:21 remaining to even the score at 22-22.
           
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            Two Pennfield scores two minutes apart gave them a 26-22 lead, but Marshall answered back with a touchdown just before halftime as Aidan Robinson scored on a 17-yard run. The two-point conversion failed, and Marshall was trailing 36-28 at halftime.
           
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            Midway through the third quarter, Pennfield scored two touchdowns in two and a half minutes including a 98-yard interception return by Ryne Petersen that made the score 50-28.
           
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            With 38 seconds to play in the third quarter, Fuller scored again on a 10-yard reception to make it 50-36 heading into the fourth quarter.
           
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            With 5:54 to play, 
           
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            Luke Davis scored on a  5-yard run to give the Panthers a 56-36 lead.
           
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            Cody Hogan followed that up with a 1-yard touchdown run to make it 63-36.
           
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      &lt;div&gt;&#xD;
        
                        
            The Redhawks’ final score would come on a Cooper Middleton to Fuller touchdown of 22 yards with 1:28 to play to make it 63-42.
           
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            On the day, Fuller had four receptions for 50 yards to go along with those three touchdowns.
           
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            Donivan Woodson had seven catches for 53 yards, Jesse Saldana had four catches for 33 yards and Gabe Serbantez two catches for 19 yards.
           
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            Tucker was 20 of 35 for 200 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions, while Middleton was 1 of 1 for 22 yards and a touchdown.
           
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            Wallace led the ground attack with 166 yards on 23 carries and one rushing touchdown to go with his defensive touchdown. Luke Holbrook gained 30 yards on  four carries and Robinson gained 11 yards on three carries.
           
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            On defense, Fuller and Robinson led the Redhawks with six tackles each.
           
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  &lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
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&lt;div&gt;&#xD;
  &lt;img src="https://irp-cdn.multiscreensite.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/FB+Nate+Tucker+.JPG"/&gt;&#xD;
&lt;/div&gt;</content>
    <summary type="text" />
    <g-custom:tags type="string">Nov 2020</g-custom:tags>
    <media:content medium="image" url="https://irp-cdn.multiscreensite.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/FB+Trenton+Fuller+.JPG" />
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>Community rallies around family of injured farmer</title>
    <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.advisor-chronicle.com/community-rallies-around-family-of-injured-farmer" />
    <link rel="enclosure" type="image/jpeg" href="https://irp-cdn.multiscreensite.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/InjuredFarmer.jpg" length="57650" />
    <author>
      <name />
    </author>
    <updated>2020-11-13T15:20:05Z</updated>
    <published>2020-11-13T15:20:05Z</published>
    <content>&lt;h3 style="transition: opacity 1s ease-in-out 0s;"&gt;&#xD;
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           Community rallies around family of injured farmer
          
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            Not only did Shoni Landis’ co-workers quickly raise $25,000 (topping their goal by $5,000) for her family but another family supplied them with wood for their outdoor boiler.
           
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            The community of Homer has been rallying around the Landis family since the Monday, Oct. 26 accident that left Shoni’s husband and father of four injured and hospitalized.
           
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            “He is not home yet,” Shoni said Tuesday, Nov. 10.  “We are hoping for Friday. He is currently doing inpatient acute rehab at Mary Free Bed.” 
           
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            Lance Landis was reportedly driving his tractor that day when it ran out of gas.
           
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            After returning in a truck with some gas, he reportedly parked the truck in front of the tractor while he hopped on board and turned the tractor’s ignition.
           
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            But because the vehicle was still in gear, it lurched forward, not only throwing Landis to the ground but running him over.
           
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            According to a Facebook post by the Farm Bureau office in Marshall, Lance was dragged 300 feet.
           
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            “He was able to call for help and was airlifted to Jackson Henry Ford Allegiance Health hospital,” the Farm Bureau reported on Oct. 29. “He had reconstructive surgery, and he will be facing a long road to recovery. Please keep our fellow farmer and his family in your thoughts and prayers. There is a GoFundMe page if you are so inclined to contribute.”
           
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            That page, located by going to GoFundMe.com and searching for Landis Family Road to Recovery, had a goal to raise $20,000.
           
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            But as of Monday, Nov. 9, the page was still raising money - at $25,780 from 217 donors.
           
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            Marlene Wilcox added a comment to their donation: “Shoni always shows up to help anyone in need. Gary and I want to help the Landis family any way we can.”
           
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            Shoni Landis works at Oaklawn Hospital as a nurse.
           
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            “Our community has been amazing,” said Shoni on Tuesday. “A neighbor is letting us use an aluminum wheelchair ramp. There was a huge ‘wood cutting party’ held at a friend’s house where over 15 loads of wood were cut for our wood burner! It’s truly been amazing.”
           
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            The couple’s children attend Homer Area Schools, which also took up a donation for the family.
           
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            “‘Wow’ is all I can seem to utter right now,” Shoni posted on her Facebook page Nov. 1. “The outpouring of support in the form of cards, donations, food, etc. over the last six days is more than I could have ever hoped for. 
           
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            “The firewood itself means so much,” said Shoni, “but what means just as much is that people took time out of their weekend, provided physical labor and equipment, food, and so much more to help us. We can never express our full gratitude.”
           
                      &#xD;
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            According to Shoni’s page, Lance underwent surgery Oct. 27 to repair a broken pelvis with plates installed along the front and back, as well as a plate and screws for a broken arm.
           
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            By Nov. 6, he was beginning rehabilitation, Shoni reported.
           
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            “So, he should be getting up with a walker for stand/pivot transfers from now on,” she included in her update. “He is already very weak and becomes winded easily. We only have a short period of time before he has to come home. They need to work him like a team of Amish horses!! We need to get through this chapter before we can go to the next; I’m ready for this book in the series to be done.”
           
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  &lt;img src="https://irp-cdn.multiscreensite.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/InjuredFarmer.jpg"/&gt;&#xD;
&lt;/div&gt;</content>
    <summary type="text" />
    <g-custom:tags type="string">Nov 2020</g-custom:tags>
    <media:content medium="image" url="https://irp-cdn.multiscreensite.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/InjuredFarmer.jpg" />
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>Veterans Day observance in Marshall</title>
    <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.advisor-chronicle.com/veterans-day-observance-in-marshall" />
    <link rel="enclosure" type="image/jpeg" href="https://irp-cdn.multiscreensite.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Gun+Salute+959A4490.JPG" length="516040" />
    <author>
      <name />
    </author>
    <updated>2020-11-13T15:15:42Z</updated>
    <published>2020-11-13T15:15:42Z</published>
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           Veterans Day observance in Marshall
          
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            Approximately 40 people turned out at the Brooks Fountain  Circle in Marshall Nov. 11 for the annual Veterans Day observance. The 15-minute ceremony was led by Marshall American Legion Commander Chuck Baker and Marshall VFW Commander Adam Childs, who read the poem In Flanders Fields and the Veterans Prayer. As usual, George Youngdahl led the crowd in singing the National Anthem and God Bless America. The ceremony ended with the Gun Salute and the playing of Taps by Ken Reddick.  
           
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    <summary type="text" />
    <g-custom:tags type="string">Nov 2020</g-custom:tags>
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  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>It’s a Family Affair</title>
    <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.advisor-chronicle.com/its-a-family-affair" />
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    <author>
      <name />
    </author>
    <updated>2020-11-12T21:45:32Z</updated>
    <published>2020-11-12T21:45:32Z</published>
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           It's a Family Affair
          
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            As Teddy Roosevelt said, “In a civilized and cultivated country, wild animals only continue to exist at all when preserved by sportsmen.  The excellent people who protest against all hunting and consider sportsmen as enemies of wildlife are ignorant of the fact that in reality, the genuine sportsman is by all odds, the most important factor in keeping the larger and more valuable wild creatures from total extermination.”
           
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            As long-time hunter Kyle Hughes will tell you, true hunters and outdoorsmen love getting out in nature.  They are passionate about nature and wildlife.  Those who aren’t hunters often think it’s just about killing the animal, but true hunters have a respect for the animal and a focus upon the laws and helping to control the populations.  They take what they’re doing seriously while looking forward to being outdoors with a chance to connect with nature.  There are many reasons why hunters enjoy and invest the time and money into what they do.  
           
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            Born the youngest into a family with five brothers, Kyle graduated in ’96 from Marshall High School and Northwestern College with a degree in automotive technology.  He grew up working on cars and dirt bikes, so Northwestern was a great fit to further his education.
           
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            He began his automotive career at Brian Banfield’s when he was a senior in high school, and worked there until he completed his education at UNOH.  He began working at Eaton Proving Grounds in October of 1997, and remained there until 2009.  He rejoined Eaton in 2012 and has been there since, celebrating his 20th anniversary this past spring.  
           
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            Kyle went on his first hunting trip at age 12 with his cousin Kip.  “My grandparents had some old fiberglass recurve bows that I enjoyed shooting, so around the age of 11 or 12, I received my first compound bow,” said Kyle.  “Hunting just seemed like the next step from shooting at hay bales.”  
           
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            During his first year of hunting, Kyle also began rabbit hunting that same winter with his Grandpa John.  “He would walk with me while I stomped brush piles trying to flush out rabbits.  I didn’t get very many, but it sure was fun when I did,” stated Kyle.  Through a class held at Wilder Creek in the fall before his first bow season, Kyle took Hunter Safety to ensure he knew at his young age the rules about hunting.  The goal of this program is to train safe, conscientious and law-abiding hunters and to promote responsible hunter behavior.
           
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            When he was 14, Kyle began deer hunting with a shotgun.  Back then, that was the minimum age for firearms seasons, unlike today.  “I began hunting with a shotgun because it was new and helped increase my odds of being a successful deer hunter,” stated Kyle.  “I took my first deer that year with my cousin sitting next to me.  I had to shoot it left handed, which was the first time I had ever done that.”
           
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            Hunting in the Hughes family is definitely an affair that involves everyone. “When my wife Lindsey was young, she began walking in the woods with her dad Tony and her sister Miranda,” said Kyle.  “As she got a little older, she started “pushing” deer for her dad and grandpa.  Then, she took Hunter Safety and began hunting on her own.  Lindsey was 16 when she took her first deer!”
           
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            When the Hughes children were around 5 or 6, they began going out with Kyle to the woods when he hunted.  “I remember being successful on the first deer hunt I took Alex on,” said Kyle.  “He was so excited to see the deer and be able to touch it while it was still warm.  Prior to that, the kids had only seen my deer after they’d been field dressed.”
           
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            “The first time I took an animal with Hannah it was a squirrel.  We were deer hunting one morning before her floor hockey game and a big fox squirrel kept creeping closer to us so she asked if we could take it,” said Kyle.  “I have also taken the kids duck hunting with me and they seemed to enjoy that as well.  They liked that because we got to take our Labrador Retriever with us.”
           
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            Hannah, a music lover who plays clarinet in her high school marching band stated, “Sitting in nature, it’s very relaxing being able to disconnect from everything.  That’s one of the reasons I like to hunt.”  Camping and fishing are also favorite pastimes for Hannah. While she has taken a little ‘flak’ from some classmates who don’t understand the thrill of the hunt, the majority of people have been happy for Hannah and have said how great it is for girls and women to be “outdoorswomen”.
           
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            “The thrill of testing yourself against nature and seeing if all of your practice will pay off is the main reason I enjoy hunting,” stated Alex.  A member of the varsity level debate team who has many first place finishes in his career, Alex loves camping and kayaking as well as hunting.
           
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            The Hughes family hunts have been conducted only on private lands, which are mostly family property or friends’ property.  “I have, however, done some public land hunting in the Upper Peninsula for snowshoe hare,” stated Kyle.  
           
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            Over the years, the family has not kept track of all the deer they’ve harvested, but Kyle estimates the family harvests one to two deer per year.  “I have only taken about half a dozen with a bow,” stated Kyle.  “I was 21 before I filled my first archer tag.  After Alex and Hannah were born, I took a number of years off from bow hunting and got back into at a few years ago.  I have taken deer with a variety of weapons including bow, crossbow, shotgun, muzzleloader and revolver.”
           
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            Lindsey has taken about 12 deer herself, two with a crossbow and the rest with a shotgun.  Alex has two under his belt, both with firearms, and Hannah has one.  This year was Hannah’s first season deer hunting and was successful using her bow.  She actual prefers fishing to hunting, but wanted to bow hunt this year.
           
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            Asked if the family has any traditions for opening day of deer hunting, either bow or firearms Kyle said, “We don’t have any family traditions really.  I guess the only one I personally have is that I have never missed an opening day of firearms season since I started hunting!” 
           
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            Kyle believes that it’s extremely important to teach children to hunt.  “Hunters do so much for the conservation of land and animals.  Some people think hunting is murder or harmful to the environment.  I don’t see it that way.  I think most hunters see land development and urban sprawl as detrimental to the sport of hunting.  Without getting the next generation into hunting, we’ll eventually run out of people who fight for reasonable land management.  Plus, it educates children about pollution and littering.  When you’re in the woods and find balloons or any other type of littler, it teaches them that their actions have consequences on the environment.”  
           
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            Kyle further explained, “On a personal level, it’s something that I can do with my children to get them outside and give them a break from their rigorous academic schedules.  It’s not just about the hunting though.  We spend hours together practicing shooting our bows.  And, we do 3D shooting events like the Total Archery Challenge that was held at Boyne Mountain Ski Resort.  I highly recommend TAC for any archer to test their skills.” 
           
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            Kyle hunts everything he can.  He loves being outdoors and seeing animals in their natural state.  “I started out hunting deer and rabbits.  That has led to squirrel, turkey, coyotes, waterfowl and last year, Alex and I had a great hog-hunting trip in Tennessee.  Alex took down a nice Russian sow with his muzzleloader and I arrowed a hybrid boar.”  
           
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            Of course, the Hughes family eats what it hunts and kills.  They butcher their own deer as well, letting the least amount as possible go to waste.  “The kids help when they are around.  They both attend the Utica Academy for International Studies in Sterling Heights, therefore they have limited time with us on the weekends – so, mostly it’s just Lindsey and me hunting,” stated Kyle.”  “Sometimes we get help butchering from our friends and we return the favor to them as well.  I feel it really adds to the whole experience of knowing where our food comes from.  Often times when we grab a package of meat out of the freezer which has been labeled by who got it, when and where, we sit back and talk about that particular hunt.”
           
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            If there is a sacred moment in the ethical pursuit of game, it is the moment you release the arrow or touch off the fatal shot.  Hunters temper their killing with respect for the game pursued.  The animal is not just a target, but a living creature with more freedom than any of us will ever have.  Hunters take that life if they can, with regret as well as joy, and with the sure knowledge that nature’s way of fang and claw and starvation are a far crueler fate than the hunter bestows.
           
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            Opening day of firearms begins in Michigan on Sunday, Nov. 15.  And, as Fred Bear said, “On that day, when a hunter is in a tree stand with moral values and with the proper hunting ethics and richer for the experience, that hunter is 20 feet closer to God.”
           
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            Life means to have something definite to do – a mission to be fulfilled – and in the measure in which we avoid setting our life to something, we make it empty.  Human life, by its very nature, has to be dedicated to something.  And the Hughes family is not only dedicated to learning and family, but to nature and hunting as well.  So at daybreak on opening day, in the stillness and silence of the early morning hours in the woods, Lindsey, Hannah, Kyle and Alex will each be doing their part in helping to balance the wildlife populations with what the land can support.
           
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    <summary type="text" />
    <g-custom:tags type="string">Nov 2020</g-custom:tags>
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  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>Redhawks storm back win playoff opener</title>
    <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.advisor-chronicle.com/redhawks-storm-back-win-playoff-opener" />
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    <updated>2020-11-09T18:34:28Z</updated>
    <published>2020-11-09T18:34:28Z</published>
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          22 4th quarter points beats Flint Powers Catholic
         
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           Marshall plays at Pennfield  in district semi final
          
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            It was not looking good for the Marshall High School football team in its playoff opener at Flint Powers Catholic Oct. 30. 
            
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             The Redhawks found themselves down 32-13 at the start of the fourth quarter. 
            
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             A pair of Greg Wallace touchdown runs (41 yards, 2 yards) in the first part of the final quarter brought the Redhawks to within three points, 32-29 with 6:12 remaining. 
            
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            On the ensuing drive, Flint Powers took the ball to the Marshall 34. On first down, Powers running back Gabe Morrison fumbled and Marshall’s Cooper Middleton picked up the ball and took it to the Marshall 39 with 3:29 to play. 
            
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             Marshall then proceeded to drive the ball down the field, going 61 yards in seven plays culminating in Aidan Robinson’s 1-yard run to put the Redhawks ahead 35-32 with 48 seconds to play.
            
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            Starting at their own 43, Powers got as close as the Marshall 32.  
            
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             On 2nd and 7, quarterback Austin Hamlin was sacked by the Redhawks’ Trenton Fuller for a 9-yard loss to the Marshall 41. 
            
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             On 3rd and 16 with 12 seconds remaining, Hamlin threw an incompletion, broken up by Marshall’s Jesse Saldana.
            
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            On 4th down, Saldana again broke up the pass as time ran out, sealing Marshall’s 35-32 win and propelling the Redhawks into a second-round  Div. 4 matchup at Pennfield on Saturday, Nov. 7 at 1 p.m.
           
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            The victory improved Marshall’s season mark to 3-4.  
            
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             Wallace led the Marshall ground attack, gaining 138 yards on 22 carries with two touchdowns.
            
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            Quarterback Nate Tucker was 22 of 34 for 279 yards with two touchdowns, including a 58-yard scoring play to Donivan Woodson and an 8-yard touchdown pass to Ezra McAllister.
            
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             McAllister led the team with seven receptions for 30 yards while Woodson caught six passes for 146 yards.
            
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    <g-custom:tags type="string">Nov 2020</g-custom:tags>
    <media:content medium="image" url="https://irp-cdn.multiscreensite.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/FB+Greg+Wallace+.jpg" />
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>Olivet beats Hillsdale 20-17 to advance to district semi-final</title>
    <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.advisor-chronicle.com/olivet-beats-hillsdale-20-17-to-advance-to-district-semi-final" />
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    <updated>2020-11-09T18:27:14Z</updated>
    <published>2020-11-09T18:27:14Z</published>
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            Olivet beats Hillsdale 20-17 to advance to district semi-final
           
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            The Olivet High School football team won its first-round playoff game at home over Hillsdale 20-17 on Oct. 30.
           
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            The win improved the Eagles’ record to 6-1 and puts Olivet in a Div. 5 district semi-final matchup at Kalamazoo Hackett Catholic Prep at 7 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 6.
           
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            Olivet took the opening drive of the game and scored on a 7-yard run by Michael Groves as the Eagles took a 7-0 lead. 
            
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             Hillsdale answered on their first drive with a field goal to make it 7-3. 
            
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             Olivet's Jordan Hall then answered with a 26-yard TD run to make the score 13-3.
            
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            Hillsdale scored late in the first half, but Olivet led 13-10 at the half. 
           
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            Hillsdale missed a field goal on the opening drive of the second half. Olivet then went on a 19-play drive that took over 10 minutes off of the game clock. Clay Flower scored on a 1-yard QB sneak as the Eagles took a 20-10 lead. 
            
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             A Hillsdale score with 1:20 to play cut the Olivet lead to 20-17.
            
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            The Eagles recovered the onside kick and ran out the clock to seal the victory. 
            
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             “This was a really good win for us,” said Olivet coach Brock Peters. “Hillsdale went 11-1 last year.  I was really proud of how our kids responded to the adversity we were in and made several clutch plays to pull out the win.”
            
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    <summary type="text" />
    <g-custom:tags type="string">Nov 2020</g-custom:tags>
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  <entry>
    <title>MHS girls cross country wins regional title, heads to state meet unbeaten</title>
    <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.advisor-chronicle.com/mhs-girls-cross-country-wins-regional-title-heads-to-state-meet-unbeaten" />
    <link rel="enclosure" type="image/jpeg" href="https://irp-cdn.multiscreensite.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Cross+Country+Girls+Regional+Champs++_1418+%281%29.jpg" length="613611" />
    <author>
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    <updated>2020-11-09T18:19:03Z</updated>
    <published>2020-11-09T18:19:03Z</published>
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           MHS girls cross country wins regional title, heads to state meet unbeaten
          
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            With all seven of their runners finishing in the top 16, the Marshall High School girls cross country team continued their string of dominating wins at the Div. 2 regional meet in Portage Oct. 31, winning the program’s first outright regional title since 2007. 
            
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             The team competes Nov. 6 at the state meet at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn at 3:30 p.m.
            
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            With senior Maliyah Gore leading the way with her runner-up finish, the girls had six runners make the All-Regional team (top 15).  Junior Brooke Waito (5th), freshman Camille DeCola (7th), sophomore Shawn Brophy (8th), senior Abbie Schoepke (12th) and sophomore Zariah Ozuzu (13th) all joined Gore on the All-Regional team.  Senior Anna Zacharski, finishing 16th, missed the All-Regional team team by 1.5 seconds. 
            
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             The team's winning score of 28 points was one of the lowest recorded in the entire state. Marshall finished 54 points ahead of second place Harper Creek. The second-seeded team from Parma Western was unable to compete due to COVID quarantine.  
            
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            "I'm not sure what else to say about this group of young women,” said coach Steve Wissink. “Every goal we discussed throughout the season they have achieved and done it with style and class.  We head to the state meet knowing our undefeated season will come to an end, but we're hoping for a top 10 finish and to run some great times."
           
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            This year’s state meet has been altered due to COVID-19. There will be two races for each division.   Marshall’s race will consist of all the regional winners and runners-up (18 teams) from the regional meets.  The other race will be the regional third place finishers and all the individual qualifiers.
           
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            Although considered one of the top teams in Div. 2 over the years, Marshall had experienced heartbreak at the regional meet after winning it outright in 2007 and sharing the title in 2008.
           
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            “Although we made it to state many times, we've missed league titles and trips to state by the narrowest of margins, or due to some bad luck, too many times,” said Wissink.  “It makes years like this one that much sweeter. I'm very proud of our consistency.  Not counting my first two years in Marshall as I tried to develop a winning culture, the last 20 have been great. I keep tons of stats, and we've beaten 81% of the teams we've run against over the last 20 years, with the worst year still being a winning percentage of 68%.  We've also won six league titles in those 20 years and finished second 11 times and third three times. Not too shabby.”
           
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    <summary type="text" />
    <g-custom:tags type="string">Nov 2020</g-custom:tags>
    <media:content medium="image" url="https://irp-cdn.multiscreensite.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Cross+Country+Girls+Regional+Champs++_1418+%281%29.jpg" />
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>Flying Piper Cubs to corporate jets</title>
    <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.advisor-chronicle.com/flying-piper-cubs-to-corporate-jets" />
    <link rel="enclosure" type="image/jpeg" href="https://irp-cdn.multiscreensite.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Walbeck+with+plane+.jpg" length="168142" />
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    <updated>2020-11-06T16:14:04Z</updated>
    <published>2020-11-06T16:14:04Z</published>
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           Pilot’s adventures began at Brooks Field
          
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            Life often has many twists and turns but for William “Bill” Walbeck, a Marshall native and Marshall High School graduate, his twists and turns were often zigs and zags or ups and downs as he chose to become a professional pilot who has logged more than 22,000 aeronautical miles during a career spanning over nine decades. For 75 years, Walbeck has flown all over the world and confronted intrigue and adventure. 
           
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            Walbeck’s career path started as an opportunity through a Marshall family connection. His uncle, Bill Ellis, was an executive with Ronan and Kunzl, which owned the land on which Alwyn Downs Golf Course was built. The golf course happened to be contiguous to the land on which Brooks Field was built. Alwyn Downs Golf Course’s pro in 1945 happened to be Harry Rimmer, who was an expert pilot and taught flight lessons for the Army Air Corps. Walbeck’s uncle, Bill Ellis, knew Rimmer well and made a deal with him to provide flying lessons to young Bill Walbeck, who was just 16 at the time.
           
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            Rimmer had Walbeck flying solo within eight hours of instruction and he got his student pilot’s license at age 16. He’s been flying all kinds of planes ever since. But before his professional pilot career could begin, Walbeck was drafted into the Army.
           
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            In March of 1952, Walbeck was 22 and already a graduate of Michigan State University. He had spent his previous six flying years soaring the mid-Michigan skies as a precocious student pilot. Now he was entering Army basic training at Ft. Riley, Kan. through the draft, in what he described as a tough experience. 
           
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            It was during the era of the Korean conflict, and after three months of basic training, he was called to the Presidio in San Francisco, where his skills as an accomplished trombonist led him to serve as a bandsman in the Army. Much to his liking, the band at the Presidio played freestyle jazz. Following his nine-month stay in San Francisco, he was stationed at Ft. Irwin in the Mojave Desert in California for nine months. 
           
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            Walbeck’s final military service during his two-year tenure was a unique, three-month tour at Camp Desert Rock in Nevada in which he participated in atomic bomb tests as part of Operation Upshot Knothole. The experimental testing left him with physical side effects, as he got cancer and later had three bouts requiring surgery. In the aftermath of his military service, he received a settlement related to his cancer from the Department of Justice in 2013.
           
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            His love for jazz and freestyle music stated while in high school. Walbeck was a member of the Rudy Vogelreuter Band, a 10-person band with two trumpets, two trombones, three saxophones, a bass, piano and drums. The group played big band music. He said they had over 100 sheet music arrangements and among their engagements, they played the prom at Ball State University in 1946 and 1947. Walbeck played both the slide trombone and a valve-equipped instrument, which he still has in storage. He started college at MSU as a music major but switched majors to journalism after his freshman year. After a solid year in collegiate music, he convinced himself he had no future as a trombone player. Further on he realized selling advertising did not hold the appeal of flying and Walbeck followed his dream to continue as a flight instructor and professional pilot.
           
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            When Walbeck started flying in Marshall, he described Brooks Field as a well-kept sod surface with no paved runways. There were a half dozen pilots in 1946 that stored their planes there and regularly flew out of Marshall. His initial flight training with Harry Rimmer included spins and rolls and stalls and the training took place in a two-seater Piper Cub. For his licensing test, Rimmer instructed Walbeck to take the plane to 3,500 feet, perform a 3 ½ turn spin and to roll out parallel with Old 27 and land the plane. Since that day in 1946, Walbeck has held a pilot’s license.  
           
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            He recalls being part of The Marshall Flying Club and some of the original members included Skip Dowding, Gene Kilbourne and Ken Sliwa. Walbeck is still good friends with Dowding and speaks with him regularly. In 1959, at age 30, Walbeck got his commercial pilot’s license to allow him to transport passengers and advance in his aviation career. By 1962, Walbeck started a pilot training school in Charlotte which he ran with partners at first. He eventually bought out the partners and ran the school as a sole proprietor until 1973 when he sold the school. In 1973, Walbeck joined Clark Equipment Company as a commercial pilot and worked his way up to becoming the company’s chief pilot. While at Clark, he began flying small jet aircraft including Saberliners. He served Clark as chief pilot until 1986. It was during his service with Clark that one of Walbeck’s most fascinating adventures occurred.
           
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            “We were flying into Manaus, Brazil,” Walbeck recalled. “During the trip we were on a boat ride on the Amazon River when the hydraulics on our boat overheated. We drifted down the river until 11 p.m. and while we were drifting, we saw primitive living, people who were totally isolated.”
           
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            Walbeck explained that people in some areas of the Brazilian jungle never see other people and maybe only live five miles from the next village. 
           
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            During the same trip to Brazil Walbeck had an encounter with Libya’s Muammar Gaddafi (who was assassinated in 2011). As Walbeck remembers, a Portuguese publication in the area speculated that the Clark corporate jet belonged to the CIA. Gaddafi had shipped three planes full of arms slated for Columbia that were diverted to Brazil. The Libyan planes carrying the arms were quarantined for five days and sat on the runway next to the plane Walbeck was flying for Clark. The hotel for the Clark party was also where Gaddafi’s people stayed. Walbeck said it created quite a stir at the hotel.
           
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            Flying into Mexico City back in the 1980s was another adventurous trip, Walbeck said.
           
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            “They had no pollution controls,” he said. “They treated us well and we stayed in the best places, but we had to make sure to stay in places five stories high or higher. The air was so thick.” In addition to flying corporate jets for Clark, Walbeck also was the chief pilot for Cintas Corporation from 1986-1994. He flew Saberliners and Canadair Challengers (small jets) out of Cincinnati for Cintas. These jet aircraft fly at a cruising speed of 465 miles per hour and at altitudes up to 45,000 feet. Walbeck has banked over 8,000 hours in jet aircraft.
           
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            Now 91, Walbeck still loves piloting and owns his own, single-engine aircraft. It is a Vans RV6, which he and his wife, Judy, built over a four-and-a-half-year period from 1988 to 1993. The RV6 was made in sections from a kit and Walbeck is proud to say the plane passed FAA inspection and was certified in 1993 on the first inspection by the FAA office in Cincinnati. 
           
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            The Walbecks have about 1,000 hours of flight time on their RV6 and have flown the craft to Coldfoot, Alaska and Pelly Lake, British Columbia for camping. The Walbecks have also made several trips to the mountains in Idaho. They keep their plane near their rural Kalamazoo home at Newman Field Association, which houses about a dozen single-engine planes and two helicopters. Walbeck said one thing kept him from pursuing work in the large commercial passenger plane industry. “I have 22,000 flying hours but I am color blind and that’s a restriction,” Walbeck said. “This has been a great adventure.”  
           
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            Pilot William “Bill” Walbeck stands beside the Vans RV6 aircraft he and wife, Judy, built over a 4 ½ year span from 1988 to 1993. Walbeck is a legendary pilot, who earned his student pilot’s license at age 16 at Marshall’s Brooks Field. Now 91, with 75 years as a licensed pilot, Walbeck has logged over 22,000 flying hours, flying everything from Piper Cubs to corporate jets. 
           
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            William “Bill” Walbeck still has his original flight logbook signed by Harry Rimmer, his original licensing flight instructor, in 1945. Here we see Rimmer’s remarks and logging of flight times, all done at Brooks Field in Marshall. 
           
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            Bill Walbeck with models of planes he has flown over the past 75 years. 
           
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    <summary type="text" />
    <g-custom:tags type="string">Nov 2020</g-custom:tags>
    <media:content medium="image" url="https://irp-cdn.multiscreensite.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Walbeck+with+plane+.jpg" />
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>Most incumbents hold on to seats in Calhoun County, stateraces</title>
    <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.advisor-chronicle.com/most-incumbents-hold-on-to-seats-in-calhoun-county-stateraces" />
    <link rel="enclosure" type="image/jpeg" href="https://irp-cdn.multiscreensite.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/pexels-photo-1550337.jpeg" length="65555" />
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    <updated>2020-11-06T15:57:01Z</updated>
    <published>2020-11-06T15:57:01Z</published>
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          Jim Schwartz beats James Hackworth for Marshall City Council seat
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            There were relatively few surprises in area elections throughout Calhoun County as incumbents held their seats at the state and county level, while locally, Marshall’s City Council Ward 2 race was a nail biter as were Albion City Council races, including the mayoralrace as incumbent Dave Atchison was defeated.
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            In the Marshall City Council Ward 2 race, the only contested race on the council, former Marshall public safety director Jim Schwartz narrowly defeated James Hackworth, 1,533 to 1,409.
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            “Thank you, Marshall, for electing me to represent you on the City Council,” said Schwartz on social media. “As I stated, I will listen and represent the city of Marshall in providing you a strong and vibrant city.”
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            Schwartz thanked Hackworth for running “a great campaign.”
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            “You are a very positive person and I hop we can sit down and discuss your concerns more in depth,” said Schwartz. “I appreciate your way of thinking and I know that we both have Marshall’s best interest in mind.”
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            Jen Rice will be another new face on the City Council having run unopposed in winning the Ward 4 seat.
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            In Marshall, a Street Improvement Bond Millage passed by a vote of 2,126 to 1,542.
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            In Albion, challenger Victoria Garcia-Snyder defeatedincumbent Mayor Dave Atchison and challenger Joedy Brown in the closest race of the night.
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            Garcia-Snyder received 969 votes, defeating Brown by five votes. Atchison was third with 892 votes.
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            In Albion’s 3rd Precinct, incumbent Al Smith was defeated  by Nora Jackson by a vote of 388 to 261.
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            In Albion’s 5th Precinct, Linda LaNoue defeated Vivian Davis 347 to 294, while in Precinct 4, incumbent Marcola Lawler defeated challenger Wayne Arnold 215 to 188.
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            In the race for seats on Marshall Public Schools Board of Education, current Board President Bill DeSmet was defeated in the four-person race as Lisa Middleton, with 6,259 votes and Richard Lindsey, with 5,593 votes, held on to their seats while challenger Matt Davis won a seat with 5,430 votes compared to DeSmet’s total of 4,198.
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            “Thank you to the voters of Marshall Public Schools for granting me the opportunity to serve on the School Board,” said Davis. “I know we all hope to be positive forces on behalf of the public, students and stakeholders of the entire school district.
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            In the Board of Education race, trustee Amanda Lankerd held on to her seat, defeating Joanna Johnson by a vote of 4,530 to 3,657.
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            Sheriff Steve Hinkley defeated Brad Palmer, 37,411 to 25,679; Prosecutor David Gilbert defeated Christopher Vreeland, 37,176 to 25, 297; Clerk and Register of Deeds Kimberly Hinkley defeated Andy Helmboldt, 37,327 to 25,465; Treasurer Brain Wensauer defeated Michael Evans, 35,789 to 26, 269; and Water ResourcesCommissioner Ron Smith defeated Wayne Kukuk, 35,520 to 26,068.
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            On the Calhoun County Board of Commissioners, Republican incumbents Steve Frisbie (District 4), Derek King (District 5), Tommy Miller (District 6) and Gary Tompkins (District 7) all won reelection.
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            A county 911 Surcharge proposal was defeated by a vote of 37,233 to 21,508.
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            In the State House races, District 62 Democraticincumbent Jim Haadsma won reelection, defeating Republican Dave Morgan by a vote of 20,970 to 19,893.
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            In the District 63 State House race, Republican incumbent Matt Hall won reelection defeating three challengers.
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            Hall received a total of 15,122 votes, while Democratic challenger Luke Howell received 6,823 votes. Libertarian Rafael Wolf received 461 votes and Green Party candidate John Anthony LaPietra received 374 votes. Write-in candidate Ronald Lee Hawkins received 3 votes.
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            “Thank you to the people of Kalamazoo and Calhoun counties for trusting me to represent you for another term,” said Hall. “I am grateful for your support.”
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            In the race for Michigan’s 3rd Congressional District, among Calhoun County voters, Peter Meijer received 35,140 votes compared to Democrat Hillary Scholten’s 28,687 votes.
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            In the U.S. Senate race in Michigan, among Calhoun County voters, Republican John James received 35, 474 votes while Democratic incumbent Gary Peters received27,700 votes.
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            And in U.S. Presidential race, Donald Trump received 35,900 while Joe Biden 28, 417 votes.
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            Complete local election results can be found online at https://elections.calhouncountymi.gov/Nov032020/#results. 
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    <g-custom:tags type="string">Nov 2020</g-custom:tags>
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  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>The long road back</title>
    <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.advisor-chronicle.com/the-long-road-back" />
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    <updated>2020-11-06T15:47:10Z</updated>
    <published>2020-11-06T15:47:10Z</published>
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          Marshall American Legion Post Adjutant Sonja Patrick has overcome many obstacles to help local veterans
         
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         Sonja Patrick was wrapping up her one-year tour of duty with the United States Army in Iraq in 2004 and was getting ready to head back to Germany. In fact, some soldiers had already been sent back. And then, on the day she was to depart, Patrick, a generator mechanic and light wheel vehicle mechanic, received devastating news. 
         
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          “Our trucks were loaded, and we (the unit) were supposed to go home,” said Patrick. “Then the order from President Bush came down which essentially was, ‘You guys are already trained, so I’m going to extend you.’” 
         
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            As fate would have it, two months later, Patrick’s appendix burst during a physical training test, but that was not the worst of it. 
            
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             “During the operation, several mortar rounds hit the tent I was in,” she said. “I got thrown off the operating table and my spine was crushed…At some point I woke up for a moment and I remember a woman shielding me. As a result of my spine being crushed,  I now have a spine curvature called second stage degenerative bone disease and my spine is continuing to curve.”
            
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            As a result of her injury, Patrick would be unable to walk and would be confined to a wheelchair for six years following her return to the United States. 
           
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            Today, Patrick, 35, serves as Adjutant for the Marshall American Legion post, a position she has held the past year. H
            
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             er duties include sending out condolences, writing get well cards, recording the minutes for all meetings and writing a regular newsletter. She is also heavily involved in helping veterans who went through similar circumstances as she.
            
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            January will mark 15 years since Patrick received an honorable discharge from the Army, but that experience, she said, still leaves a bad taste in her mouth, she said. 
            
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             Following the injuries she sustained in Iraq, Patrick was sent to the Landstuhl  Regional Medical Center in Germany. 
            
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             “I was told that I wasn’t going to get any better, that I would probably never walk again,” said Patrick. “So, they discharged me home (January 2005) with nothing, so I came back to the United States with  no DD Form 214 (certificate of discharge or release from active duty), no discharge papers or transition assistance. I got nothing.”
            
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            Patrick noted, however, that she did receive a $5,000 severance six months later.
           
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            Once stateside, Patrick moved to Michigan to take care of her ailing mother an initially had difficulty getting care at the Battle Creek VA. 
            
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             The VA told her they needed proof from Patrick that she was actually in the service. 
            
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             Eventually a representative tracked down Patrick’s DD 214 for her. 
            
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             Over time, Patrick received strength training, physical therapy and acupuncture and after six years, she was able to walk again. 
            
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             During that time, Patrick put herself through college, earning a degree in criminal justice.
            
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            And about five years ago, Patrick made the decision to start getting involved in helping military veterans despite what she went through in Iraq, Germany and her return to the United States. 
            
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             Thinking back to what happened to her following her injury, Patrick said she should have fought harder to stay in the Army. 
            
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             “My regret is that I didn’t fight my release; I had wanted to stay in,” said Patrick. “I tell people the Army kicked me out, even though it was an honorable discharge. To me, it feels like they just booted me. I was no longer ‘good.’” 
            
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             While recovering from her injuries in Germany, Patrick told her commander she wanted to stay. 
            
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             “I was told I could no longer perform basic soldiering skills, which was to carry a gun,” she said. “I was also trained to work in a motor pool. It doesn’t seem like they did much for me.” 
            
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            She added that there were many awards and commendations she did not ever receive because her unit was still deployed when she got out of the Army.
           
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            “Some presidential citations that should have gone to everybody, I got left out of,” said Patrick, who noted that she did receive one certificate but that was never put on her DD 214. “It was like they just discarded me.” 
            
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             Patrick said she is still working through the lengthy process of getting those awards and citations on her DD 214. 
            
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             “I never got a Purple Heart, and it seems everybody I volunteer with has two for a lot less,” she said. “It’s frustrating because I know I’ll probably never get one. It shouldn’t matter, but I want this for my kids. I want them to look up to me.” 
            
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             Still, she said it’s frustrating for her when people doubt her military service. 
            
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            “When I go out and ask for a veteran’s discount, people look at me weird,” she said. “One day I was wearing my Legion Riders vest, and someone came up to me and said, ‘Really? You were in the service?’ I think a lot of it has to do with my age and gender.” 
            
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             Patrick said she had wanted to join the military “ever since I could talk.” 
            
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             “I actually signed up when I was 17 and then waited until my 18th birthday,” she said. “That was right after 9/11 and that hit me pretty hard, but I had already wanted to join prior to that.”
            
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            Patrick went to boot camp in Ft. Jackson, S.C., one of the two bases females could go to for basic training. 
            
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             Following boot camp, Patrick went to Aberdeen Proving Grounds in Maryland, and then to Germany, which ultimately led to her being deployed in Iraq. 
            
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             “Upon arrival in Germany, I was immediately measured for DCUs (Desert Combat Uniform),” she said. “So, we knew  early on we would be deployed.” 
            
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             Before she would arrive in Iraq, Patrick’s unit first went to Kuwait.
            
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            “We were in Kuwait for a couple months and it seemed that everybody and everything was laid back,” she said. “The reason we were there was because our trucks were there and then we had to drive the trucks to Iraq - a 32-hour convoy. Once I got to Iraq and hearing all the mortars go off, that’s when things changed. We first slept on our trucks and then we took over Saddam Hussein’s warehouses, and that’s where we set up camp.” 
            
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             Patrick said experiencing warfare in Iraq still affects her.
            
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            “To this day, I am still a very jumpy person,” said Patrick. “When people make loud noises behind me or if I hear firecrackers behind me, it bothers me.”
           
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            Because of Patrick’s experiences of seeking healthcare and resolution over her citations, she feels she is well-equipped to help veterans who find themselves in similar situations. 
            
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             “When I joined the American Legion, I learned a lot,” she said. “And now, when I run into other veterans and they have issues, I realize I’ve almost been through every single one of those issues already, so I’m able to help.”
            
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            In March, when lockdown orders were being issued throughout the state over COVID-19, Patrick said it felt just like that day when her orders were extended in Iraq. 
            
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             “It was uncanny; I went back to that place,” she said. “I’d stay home because it was important to me to not spread the virus, but when they tell me I can’t leave, I don’t like it. “ 
            
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             Being a relatively young war veteran as well as a female, said Patrick, has brought its share of challenges. 
            
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             “Some, when they find out that I served, will treat me like I stayed in and just pushed pencils  around,” she said. “When I joined the Legion Riders, I was given American Legion Auxiliary patch. It’s very frustrating…I’ve been told by some that I should have a thicker skin. How thick is it supposed to be?
            
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            “I’ll go into a restaurant and ask about the veteran’s discount and the server has to look at my ID a couple times and then ask the manager. But a guy will walk in wearing a Vietnam hat and he gets thanked for his service, and he gets told about the veteran’s discount. I run into that situation a lot. Sometimes I will wear an Iraq War hat and people don’t notice it…But when people thank me for my service, that really means a lot to me.”
           
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            Along with her duties with the American Legion post, Patrick tracks down remaining World War II veterans in the area and interview them and then turns those interviews over to the National Archives. 
            
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             “I don’t think the younger generations realize that soon, all the World War II veterans will be gone,” she said. 
            
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            Next spring, Patrick will be escorting a 94-year-old World War II veteran on a Talon’s Out trip to Washington, D.C. 
            
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             “I’ve helped other veterans go on those trips by helping them turn in their applications,” said Patrick. “This time, they surprised me with orders to fly with this man. I am excited because I’ve done a lot of fundraising for Talon’s Out and it ill be nice to see it from the other side.”
            
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            Patrick said helping veterans fills her calendar and keeps her busy most days, but every two months she finds time to help others by donating blood.
           
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            As she continues to help veterans around the region and the state, Patrick said she knows this is what she was meant to do.
           
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            “I don’t think I could ever turn a veteran down when they need help,” she said. “I don’t know what my future is going to be, but it will have something to do with the veteran community.”
           
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    <summary type="text" />
    <g-custom:tags type="string">Nov 2020</g-custom:tags>
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  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>Unstoppable</title>
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    <updated>2020-11-03T19:54:25Z</updated>
    <published>2020-11-03T19:54:25Z</published>
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          Marshall High School girls cross country puts unbeaten record on the line at regional
         
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         On Oct. 31, the Marshall High School girls cross country team will put its unbeaten season record of 79-0 on the line at the Div. 2 regional in Portage with a berth to the state meet on the line. The team qualified for the 11:30 a.m. regional as the number one seed after winning the pre-regional in Vicksburg Oct. 24.
         
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          How the team got to this point in a year like no other has its roots back at the beginning of 2020, before any of us had any inkling that life as we knew it would be turned upside down.MHS girls cross country coach Steve Wissink says he isn’t a gambling man, but last February, he said some good fortune came his way while he and his wife attended a concert at FireKeepers Casino Hotel.Wissink said, to quote legendary Grateful Dead member Jerry Garcia, “What a long, strange trip it’s been.”
         
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          “Although cross country is a fall sport, for some coaches, it's a year-round thing,” said Wissink.  “This year's season started for me on that cold February night. I got a text message from Tyler Tucker, an All-State track athlete who had run for me. The message went something like this, ‘Hey Wis, if you're coaching cross country again this fall, my sister (Mallory) and Brooke Waito want to run.’  As a cross country coach, you live for messages like that.  Brooke and Mallory were both outstanding middle school track athletes and were varsity standouts in both basketball and soccer at MHS.” A few weeks later, Wissink said he got another hint that this season was going to be special.
           
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          “The lockdown had begun, and I was handing out free breakfasts and lunches at Gordon Elementary where I teach half time,” he said. “Three times in two weeks I saw Shawn Brophy running. And she wasn't just jogging through Marshall. She was running with a purpose.  I also found out that team member Abbie Schoepke was running every day. And it was only April. “None of us knew what was going to happen. Pretty much all my runners either run track or play soccer, and their spring seasons had been wiped out. Things were bleak. I decided to talk to one of my parents about the possibility of having our summer camp to give the girls something to look forward to.  We usually hold a four-day cross country camp every July at Van Buren State Park, but it seemed absurd to consider.  No other schools were having camps.  He said he'd consider it for his daughter if precautions were in place.  I texted the team, told them to share it with their parents, and decide if they would consider attending camp? The overwhelming response was yes.”
         
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          In early June, athletes and coaches got the green light to begin summer workouts.“It was immediately apparent that the girls were so happy to have something to do that our numbers were the best ever,” said Wissink.  “We were averaging 12 girls per day. They worked hard, running five or six days a week.  We had our camp with precautions in place and it was awesome.  The team formed bonds. It was clear that with the veterans we had and the new girls joining the team, we had the potential to have a very successful season.”
         
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          A successful season is nothing new to Wissink or his runners over the past decade and a half as MHS consistently challenged for its league title, were state ranked and more times than not, had representation at the state meet. This season began in late August and everything was different.  No spectators.  No food after races.  No team dinners.  Masks. Smaller races.  Cancelled races.  “The only constant - we were beating everyone we ran against,” said Wissink.  “Six meets, six wins, 48 opponents and we beat them all. We were on a roll.” And then, on  Sept. 22, things came to screeching halt.
         
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          “One of our girls was feeling ill and got tested for COVID and it came back positive ,” said Wissink. “Our entire varsity was quarantined for two weeks. Devastation. Was the season over?  I texted the girls, explained the situation in more detail, and their response was unanimous.  They were going to support their teammate, they were going to complete their workouts individually and remotely, and they were going to come back together with more resolve than ever to finish what they started.  And they've done just that.” “Amazingly,” added Wissink, is that despite this season’s unparalleled run, his team has not had one meet when the team’s seven best runners were all healthy and competing.
         
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          “A long-standing knee injury has prevented Mallory from competing this year, but she has been a huge support to the team with her presence and encouragement,” said Wissink. “Laraya Warnsley, an All-League runner a year ago, has struggled with injury. But our depth and resolve have led us to where we are now. We're hoping to have everyone healthy and ready for the regional and state meets.”  Warnsley said she is “very thankful to be a part of such a well-driven team.” “I've had some complications throughout the season running with an injury which caused me to not be at my best,” she said. “But that didn't stop me from giving it my all because that's what we all do, always give our best. Our team has come a long way from practicing really hard over the summer and all of our hard work really paid off. Our team did not let this pandemic hold us back. We have risen from this even better, stronger and most importantly, together.”
         
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         Heading into this season, Wissink believed his three incoming freshmen were decent runners in middle school, but one of those runners, Camille DeCola surprised in the season’s opening meet. “I knew Camille was going to be special when she was our third runner in the first meet,” said Wissink.  “I have the girls do their workouts in groups based on ability level, and she quickly worked her way into our top group.  It became clear early on that she wanted to improve, to be her best, and she worked hard every day. When she finished fifth overall at the second I-8 Jamboree, I knew she was special.”
         
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          DeCola said she was inspired by the older girls on the team to push herself every day.“I never expected to play a big part, but it's so rewarding when all your hard work adds up to make you better than you were,” she said. “Everyone plays such an important role on the team. We all work together, support each other, and push the other girls to be better. We've been working hard since June to get to where we are, and I'm so thankful to get to run with this team! I can't wait to compete with them for the regional title!”Wissink said he likes the team’s chances win the regional.“Out of the eight teams and 14 individual runners from teams which didn’t qualify, we have the third, seventh, eighth, ninth, 10th, 11th and 12th-ranked runners,” he said. “So, our chances of winning are excellent.”
         
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          Wissink said Maliyah Gore had led the team the past three seasons, but her season got “totally sidetracked” when she had to quarantine for two weeks and then was sick for a week. That was about the same time DeCola stepped up to post the top Marshall time at several races. “Maliyah has been improving with each meet,” said Wissink. “Brooke Waito is a first-year runner and has had an outstanding season, but she too was sidetracked by illness, but is running her best right now when it matters most.  She has already dipped below the 20-minute mark, and her best races are yet to come.”
         
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          Waito said her first year running cross country has been “very exciting and challenging.” “We started off the season very strong, winning all of our meets, but then I tested positive for COVID-19,” she said. “Despite the team having to quarantine for two weeks, we came back even stronger. I think our biggest reason for success is having an amazing group of girls and a coach who constantly encourage one another.” Gore shared Waito’s sentiment, adding that this season’s team is the best one she has been on. “We’ve never won league until this season and we were never supposed to win the regional,” said Gore. “That is insane and I’m so proud of my team. For all this stuff going on in the world, our team has really stayed strong and pulled through it all and I am so amazed at that. I’m so excited to run the regional meet and I think we can really win it this year and get some nice hardware.”
           
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         Of all the twists and turns this year and season have taken, Wissink said Brophy’s solo workouts in the spring may be his favorite. “Shawn ran last year as a freshman but ran most of her races in the 23-minute range,” said Wissink.  “She just didn't seem into it.  Then I started seeing her running when the lockdown began. She ran all winter, spring and summer, and is now on the verge of breaking 20 minutes.  Shawn is a very intelligent girl who keeps primarily to herself, but she has transformed herself into a top-notch runner.”
         
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          Brophy said she sees how her hard work has paid off to help the team. “Last year, I was in the 23-24-minute range and I was never as good as I wanted to be,” she said.  “I saw being quarantined as a way to get better at running. I ran every day over the course of quarantine, and coming into the season, I saw the difference.  After my first few races I had already dropped a minute off my previous PR (personal record), and as we continued to work hard throughout the season my time continued to drop, and now my current PR is  20:10. I never thought I would be able to run as fast as I have. As we are heading to regional and hopefully the state meet, I am so proud that I get to be a part of this team… Everybody is willing to step it up when needed, which is why it is tough to beat us. It is a special experience to have so many talented runners on a team, that it is impossible not to push yourself to work harder. Even with difficulties we faced throughout the season we managed to go all season undefeated, and we definitely could not have done any of it without an amazing coach.”
           
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          Wissink said another surprise this season was Zariah Ozuzu, who came out to June workouts, never having run cross country. “She has worked hard, and steadily moved up our depth chart,” he said.  “She made the All-League team and continues to improve each week.” Ozuzu said she is happy she made the decision to join the team.“We have some great runners on our team and a great coach,” she said. “I am happy to be a part of it and look forward to getting another trophy for our school…And I can’t wait to do it again next year.”
         
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          The last pieces of the puzzle for the team’s success are Wissink’s most veteran runners, seniors Anna Zacharski, Natalia Egnatuk and Schoepke, all four-year varsity runners and team captains. “After last season ended very disappointingly, they decided that this year would be different,” said Wissink. “They have worked hard and led the team all season.  Abbie is probably our most steady performer and made the All-League team after coming very close in the past.  Anna also made the All-League team this year and is certainly the team's verbal leader.  Natalia is a former All-League runner, who in my opinion, has demonstrated more heart this season than anyone else.  All three of these girls are amazing and we will certainly miss them next year.” Egnatuk said that she, Zacharski and Schoepke have been looking for a season like this one since their freshman year after falling short of championships and regional titles for the past three years.
           
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         “Our freshman and sophomore-year teams were extremely talented and had a lot of depth which we didn’t think we would ever have in a team again, but we have clearly been proven wrong,” said Egnatuk.  “This season has been so much fun, and all around, the 17 girls on the team have all worked so hard and built a very strong bond this season through everything we have been through. Looking back, I didn’t even think we would be having a full season and thought most meets would be cancelled. I am so grateful that we have been able to make the most out of the challenges we have been put through.”
         
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          Larsen Morehouse is a senior and team captain, and although not part of the top varsity runners who will compete at the regional, noted that she is “really proud of all the hard work everybody has put in this year and over the summer and how everyone has taken the obstacles of this year in stride.”“It has been great to see how the team has overcome illness, injury, and quarantine to still win the pre-regional and peak at the right time,” Morehouse added.
         
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          Zacharski said the team needed to seize the opportunity this season, precisely because of so much uncertainty.“During these unfortunate times, the next race is never a guarantee, so we always go out and give it our all,” she said. “The team has shown so much heart in every single race.  It has truly been a team effort to get to regionals being undefeated. Our team has such an amazing bond, and we make each other grow as runners and people every day!”
         
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          Schoepke said the summer was key in preparing for the season and that the strong turnout was maybe a result of the quarantine. “We had more girls running at our optional practices than ever, possibly due to the fact that we were all bored from quarantining for so long,” she said. “I’m just extremely glad we all conclusively decided this year was going to be our year. Being undefeated in cross country is quite challenging because you run against so many teams, but our team is stacked solid. We usually run in a pack finishing just seconds away from each other. This means that each girl on the team is almost exactly equal in talent, which is a major reason we’ve been able to defeat every team we’ve come across. I personally believe our key to success is that our team doesn’t just contain talent, but every girl is willing to put in tons of hard work. I’m excited to race at the regional and hopefully win. I could not have asked for a better senior season!”
         
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         Wissink said even though he has had many talented and successful teams over the years, this year’s team will stand out for sure in this one-of-a-kind season. “A lot of people can't wait to forget all about 2020,” he said. “But this group of girls has made it a year to remember.”
         
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    <g-custom:tags type="string">Nov 2020</g-custom:tags>
    <media:content medium="image" url="https://irp-cdn.multiscreensite.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Cover-2BSTory-2Bpic-2B-ad33fc7e-7b3fb1c0-3a2e5dcd.jpg" />
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>Another ace in the hole</title>
    <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.advisor-chronicle.com/don-vandergeest-makes-another-hole-in-one" />
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    <updated>2020-08-28T17:22:24Z</updated>
    <published>2020-08-28T17:22:24Z</published>
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          92-year-old Don VanderGeest has fifth hole in one
         
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         The odds of the average amateur golfer making a hole in one is approximately one in 12,000. Making five holes in one, including four on the same hole? 
         
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          Now you’re talking astronomical odds.
          
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           But don’t tell that to 92-year-old Don VanderGeest.
          
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           On Aug. 13, Don (who will turn 93 in November) aced the 11th hole at Marshall Country Club for the fourth time and it marked his fifth hole in one all time.
          
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           And to top it off, that Aug. 13 round, he shot an 85. Studies have shown that only about 25% of all golfers break 90.
          
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           Not too shabby for someone in his 10th decade of life.
          
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           “I was more proud of shooting 85 than I was of the hole in one,” said Don, smiling.
          
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           Don, who coached Marshall High School boys basketball and boys golf from 1964-72, was playing with Nick Timmer, a former Marshall superintendent, 
           
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            Bill Church and Ron Labadie the former MHS football coach.
           
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           “As soon as I hit the shot, I thought, ‘Oh no!’” said Don, laughing. “I knew I hit it well, but I didn’t want it to go in the hole because then I’d have to buy the guys drinks. It doesn’t make sense to me – I hit a hole in one and I have to pay for the drinks?”
          
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           Don has been playing at the Country Club for nearly 50 years and plays 18 holes each Tuesday and Thursday and occasionally will go to the course a third day to play several holes.
          
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           “Golf is still fun for me and I enjoy playing,” he said. “But sometimes it’s a bit of a struggle (to play well). You have to accept you’re not what you used to be…That’s just the way it is. People keep thinking about what they used to do, but you’ve got to forget that because you can’t do it like that anymore. You just have to accept your game.”
          
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    <g-custom:tags type="string">aug 2020</g-custom:tags>
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  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>Marshall Lanes hopes reopening is near</title>
    <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.advisor-chronicle.com/marshall-lanes-hopes-reopening-is-near" />
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    <updated>2020-08-17T14:35:10Z</updated>
    <published>2020-08-17T14:35:10Z</published>
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           Five months ago, in mid-March, many places of business were shut down in Michigan as COVID-19 was declared a global pandemic.
          
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           Under Executive Order 2020-9, effective March 16 numerous places of public accommodation were closed including restaurants, cafes, casinos, fitness centers, movie theaters and bowling centers.
          
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           Whereas restaurants, cafes and casinos have since reopened with restrictions, fitness centers, movie theaters and bowling centers remain closed.
          
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           For Marshall Lane owners Bob and Sue Hutchings, the five-month closure of their facility has put them in a tight financial situation. 
          
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           Two weeks ago, Marshall Lanes reached out to State Representative Matt Hall to see if he could do anything to help the bowling center.
          
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            “Our 16-lane bowling center in Marshall has been shut down since mid-March,” Bob Hutchings wrote to Hall. “Our tax payments to the state of Michigan, including 941 and UIA and other payroll taxes have amounted to around $31 total. We have, however, had $500 deducted from our Keno account despite not having sold one Keno ticket since March 13. Our employees have been existing on unemployment. Our utility, rent, insurance payments have not ended and have not been reduced. We cannot sustain our business on take out as we only have a small service kitchen. 
           
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           “Mid-September means a huge property tax payment to our local government. We need to open our business in August to prepare for our fall/winter season. If we do not open for the fall season, our loyal and loving customers will either drive the 40 miles to Indiana or stop bowling altogether. We are a vital part of our community and provide not only recreation, but teaching, fundraising and social stimulation for our residents. We support and fund high school bowling. We lost the last quarter of our income generating season. The PPL loan will not sustain our needs. We are struggling the get the EIDL loan approved. I urge you to advocate for the opening of bowling in lower Michigan. We are ready. Our customers are ready. Please help us.”
          
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           Sue Hutchings said she and her husband thought that Marshall Lanes would be open by mid-July.
          
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           “We thought we would be open by mid-July at the latest,” she said. “When August rolled around, and we were not allowed to open our business a bit of panic set in. Bowling centers in Michigan cannot survive without building a fall league base. Our customers are asking us when we will open, and we have no answer for them.” 
          
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            Hutchings added that is “especially difficult” for centers in Southern Michigan as Ohio and Indiana centers are open and Michigan bowlers are traveling there to bowl tournaments. 
           
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           “Matt Hall called my husband after Bob emailed him asking for help,” she said. “Matt is receptive to our plight and during the COVID-19 Committee meeting, of which he is chair, he asked our industry representatives about any safety measures put in place. 
          
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           “Bowling is ready. We have asked the Governor’s office to look into our safety protocols and for four months we did not even receive a reply. After the press took up the cause, the Governor’s staff actually did reply to an email. It is very hard to sit by while bars, casinos, golf courses and retail shops are open. We would like to open our business using all of the prescribed safety measures and let the public decide whether or not they feel safe bowling.”
          
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           What would bowling look like at Marshall Lanes once they are open?
          
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           “Masks will be required,” said Hutchings. “We would take reservations limiting to every other lane. Bowling would be by the hour. Upon check in, groups would be required to sign in each person with contact information for tracing purposes. House balls would be left on the ball returns at the lanes after use as would the house shoes. All touch points sanitized between reservations. Food orders at the tables to eliminate lines at the counter. As for leagues, some of the nuances will be determined by the bowler themselves. The Bowling Proprietors Association of America and the United Stated Bowling Congress have both provided information regarding open play and league formats that take Social Distancing into consideration.
          
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           Earlier this month, the Bowling Centers Association of Michigan had filed a lawsuit against Governor Gretchen Whitmer and organized a rally at the Capitol Aug. 12.
          
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           Hutchings said residents can make their voices heard by contacting the governor to express their support for Marshall Lanes and other bowling centers and urged citizens to share the following message:
          
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           I am happy to see Michigan restaurants and bars reopen with 50% capacity, social distancing and PPE in place.
          
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           Bowling centers are much like restaurants.
          
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           While I understand and respect the responsibility entrusted to you to keep Michigan citizens safe, the most recent extension of the Stay Home, Safe Order keeping bowling centers closed while allowing restaurants to reopen is simply unreasonable. I am confident bowling centers can reopen and keep their patrons safe while following your guidelines and the additional precautions the centers have put in place.
          
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           The following four public health experts in Michigan, were recently asked by MLive to assess the risk various activities pose to spreading Coronavirus.
          
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           ● Dr. Matthew Sims, Beaumont Health director of infectious disease research
          
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           ● Dr. Dennis Cunningham, McLaren Health Care medical director for infection prevention
          
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           ● Dr. Mimi Emig, retired infectious disease specialist with Spectrum Health
          
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           ● Dr. Nasir Husain, Henry Ford Macomb medical director for infection prevention
          
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           The doctors pointed to five factors, when considering how risky a given activity might be: Whether it’s inside or outside; proximity to others; exposure time; likelihood of compliance; and personal risk level.
          
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           They assigned a score for activities from 1 to 10, with a 10 being the riskiest and a 1 being the least risky. The score is an average of scores given by the health experts, rounded to the nearest whole number. (For a direct comparison, only restaurants and bowling are shown below).
          
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           Restaurants, indoor seating - Risk level: 6
          
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           Bowling - Risk level: 5
          
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           As you can see, the health experts feel bowling is safer than eating in a restaurant.
          
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            The link to send a message to the governor can be found at
           
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           http://www.123formbuilder.com/form-5485097/form
          
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    <summary type="text" />
    <g-custom:tags type="string">aug 2020</g-custom:tags>
    <media:content medium="image" url="https://irp-cdn.multiscreensite.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Marshall-Lanes_1280x800.JPG" />
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>Public information officers keep everyone in the know</title>
    <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.advisor-chronicle.com/public-information-officers-keep-everyone-in-the-know" />
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    <updated>2020-08-17T14:27:11Z</updated>
    <published>2020-08-17T14:27:11Z</published>
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           When reduced water pressure or a water valve replacement leads to a boil water advisory, the public knows about it.
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           When a new sheriff was appointed in March, word went out.
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           When someone has a zoning issue, needs a building permit or answers about potholes, they look at the city or the county websites.
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           And, when the first COVID-19 patient was identified in Calhoun County on March 13, two days after the disease was declared a global pandemic, word went out to the public about the new, uncharted situation and how to best avoid the virus.
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           Arming people with information they can use to protect themselves has been the number one job of Calhoun County Communications Manager Lucy Blair, Calhoun County Public Health Department Health Educator Kristin McDermott (since changed jobs) and city of Battle Creek Communications Manager Jessica Vanderkolk since their offices, the schools and the state of Michigan shifted to crisis mode.
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           From maintaining the websites, to creating the press releases, slideshows, YouTube videos and graphics, to setting up AccessVision announcements and Zoom public meetings, Blair and VanderKolk, and for most of the pandemic response, McDermott, have used mutli-media methods to reach everyone who needs to know the status of the current situation.
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           Below is a Q&amp;amp;A with both Blair and Vanderkolk.
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           Lucy Blair:
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           Jessica Vanderkolk:
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    <summary type="text" />
    <g-custom:tags type="string">aug 2020</g-custom:tags>
    <media:content medium="image" url="https://irp-cdn.multiscreensite.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Favicon_250x250.png" />
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>Cancer survivor walks to help others</title>
    <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.advisor-chronicle.com/cancer-survivor-walks-to-help-others" />
    <link rel="enclosure" type="image/jpeg" href="https://irp-cdn.multiscreensite.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Josh-Munson-Main-Image.jpg" length="116904" />
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    <updated>2020-08-17T13:58:58Z</updated>
    <published>2020-08-17T13:58:58Z</published>
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           On March 2, 2010 Josh Munson was diagnosed with Leukemia This year marks his 10th year as a survivor. Josh is 14 years old. Not quite the age you picture for a cancer survivor, but Josh is not your typical kid.
          
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           For 10 years, Josh has been an avid supporter of the Calhoun County Relay for Life. Starting off as a participant on Team S.O.S and in 2018 as a full-fledged fundraiser for his own team, School of Walk, Josh has brought enthusiasm, commitments and goals to each year he participated.  
          
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           In 2019 he walked 100 laps (35 miles) in 22 hours to raise over $600 for the event. But this year, with the pandemic, the format for Relay changed dramatically. The event was moved to a fully virtual event to be held Sept. 12. Josh determined his 100-lap goal was not to be repeated but didn't want to miss out on an opportunity to support Relay.
          
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           "I love Relay,” said Josh. “It's positive. It's fun. It celebrates the fight. It celebrates the fighters. Cancer might be what brought us here, but it's so much more than that.”
          
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           So, with that thought in mind, Josh came up with a plan. He didn't want to lose the positivity and the camaraderie that really was the spirit of Relay. So, he set himself a new mission, and a new goal. By the time the virtual relay takes place, he plans to walk 100 miles, and he invites you to Relay with him, virtually of course.  
          
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           In his first 10 miles of walking he had already almost matched last years donation total. He is posting daily updates on his walks on Facebook and asking others to get active with him. Get out, walk a block... or a mile, or all 100 with him. And feel free to send him photos of you on your Relay adventures. But most importantly, Donate. Because the mission of the American Cancer Society, and the purpose of Relay, is a cure for a disease that 50% of people develop in their lifetime. Donate because every 30 seconds someone in the United States is diagnosed. Donate because the mission is a miracle, and don't you want to be a part of that?!  
          
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           If you'd like to help Josh reach his $1,500 goal, please send donations (payable to American Cancer Society) to:
          
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           Relay for Life – Josh
          
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           PO Box 130
          
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           Ceresco, MI 49033-0130
          
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           Or look him up on Facebook for a link to donate, words of encouragement and to share photos of you relaying with him!
           
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    <summary type="text" />
    <g-custom:tags type="string">aug 2020</g-custom:tags>
    <media:content medium="image" url="https://irp-cdn.multiscreensite.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Josh-Munson-Main-Image.jpg" />
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>MPS Board passes ‘Return to Learning Plan’</title>
    <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.advisor-chronicle.com/mps-board-passes-return-to-learning-plan" />
    <link rel="enclosure" type="image/jpeg" href="https://irp-cdn.multiscreensite.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Cover+Story+girls+.jpg" length="502962" />
    <author>
      <name />
    </author>
    <updated>2020-08-17T13:54:30Z</updated>
    <published>2020-08-17T13:54:30Z</published>
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           By a 5-2 vote Aug. 10, the Marshall Public Schools Board of Education passed the district’s “Return to Learning Plan” that will have most students in the classroom at the start of the 2020-21 school year which begins Aug. 26.
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           On June 30, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer issued her Executive Order 2020-142 and shared Michigan’s Return to School Roadmap. The Roadmap is aligned with Michigan’s Safe Start Plan, using the “six phase approach” as a basis for reopening schools. 
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           The Roadmap provides requirements, recommendations and guidance unique for each phase under which schools may operate. As such, Whitmer requires each district in Michigan to submit a Board approved “Preparedness and Response Plan” to the local ISD on Aug. 17, and then to the Michigan Department of Education to be approved on Aug. 19.
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           Most of Michigan, including Marshall, is in Phase 4, which allows for in-person schooling with varying levels of safety protocols or a combination on in-person instruction and online instruction. In Phase 4, high levels of safety protocols would be implemented, and school grounds would be closed to outside groups and visitors.
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           If Michigan were to go back to Phase 3, then all instruction would be required to be conducted online.
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           The proposal the board considered and approved has K-5 students in class Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday each week, with Wednesday being a virtual or online learning day.
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           For grades 6-12, half of all students would attend class on Monday and Tuesday, while the other half would attend Thursday and Friday with three days each week serving as an online learning. 
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           All K-12 students are required to wear masks.
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           A recent, second parent survey indicated a 76% response rate, a rate Superintendent Randy Davis called “pretty strong.”
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           Those wanting virtual learning only totaled 29.8% across the district and 70.2% stating they wanted some level of in-person instruction.
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           All MPS students will be supplied with a laptop and students who chose the virtual-only option must stay with that option for the entire first semester before deciding to go back to in-person classes.
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           Prior to the vote, Superintendent Randy Davis gave a rundown on the proposal the board was to consider for in-person classes.
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           He spoke of area school districts receiving guidance from the Governor’s office through executive orders and the Calhoun County Public Health Department.
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           Davis said he other area superintendents meet weekly with Calhoun County Public Health Department Health Officer Eric Pressell to receive updates on the COVID-19 situation in the county.
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           “We hear from the ground at the health department what’s going on and if there are any unusual upticks,” said Davis. “For the past 59 days …we have not been above 3% in our seven-day average of positive cases. That’s a huge statistic and many times are under 2%. On Aug. 8 we were at 1.7% for the seven-day average. If it were over 4%, that would be the first time a flag would go up for the Health Department to start looking at other factors that may indicate something is going on and there’s an untick or increase in risk or in community spread.”
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           The number of positive cases per million in the county has fluctuated but has remain relatively low in recent weeks, said Davis.
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           “That has gone up and down since March,” said Davis. “The last time we were above 40, which is the benchmark for a red flag going up…was 42.5 positive cases per million on July 16. Since that time, we have gone below 40 per million. In fact, we are at 22.3 cases per million as of Aug. 8.
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           “We all agree those are the benchmarks we will look for. And if the Health Departments in any way feels there is any community spread or unusual circumstance or higher risk, they would then make the recommendation to us regardless of what phase we are in, to let us know that we should probably move to remote [learning].”
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           If that were to occur, Davis said MPS would have about seven days to get ready to completely move to remote learning.
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           “I am just really pleased the Health Department is giving us that direct guidance and feedback and will make a direct interaction when they need to,” said Davis. 
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           Trustee Amanda Lankerd asked Davis on how the district planned to “maintain the rigor” for students in grade 6-12 going to in-person classes only two days a week.
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           “The rigor and relevance is going to be there,” said Davis. “It’s a continuation…every day is going to be another instructional day with another lesson plan tacked on and scaffolded on top of what they’re learning all the way through the week. Whether you’re in front of the teacher in person or if you are remote, that’s still going to be a continuation of learning all the way through.”
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           Davis noted that older students can tap in to do work from home when they best can tap in and be focused versus having students in front of a computer to simulate a school day.
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           “Synchronous instruction all day long puts the student in position to learn for six hours straight to mirror what they experience in the classroom and that’s not something we want to see,” said Davis. “That’s not a very good plan of action. So, we want to make sure there is a lot more flexibility, but they’re not being held accountable for anything less that what they would in any kind of in person or face to face [class].”
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           Socially distancing students in classroom would mean most class sizes would be in the 18-20 range at a maximum.
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           For example, based on the size of the classrooms at Harrington Elementary, with students 6 feet apart, would mean 19 students per room.
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           “What we have to remember for elementary and why we are doing four-day in person and one day remote is that they will be in cohort groupings,” said Davis. “We are going to try and teach those kids in cohorts as much as we possibly can so we can have accountability in case something should come off in regards to a COVID positive.”
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           Davis cited Health Department data that had when you have cohort grouping at the elementary level and you have social distancing and masks, you don’t have individual students connecting with individual students from more than 15 minutes at a time from less than 5 feet away.
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           “If they have masks on, they have social distancing, they’re in cohort, they’re not spending up close and personal time with each other, and they’re washing hands frequently… all of that is mitigating pretty good in regards to safety,” said Davis. “Is it absolute? Nothing is absolute, but it is the strongest practice we can put in place.”
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           Many teachers, noted Davis, have gone through Google certification to teach students online.
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           Trustee Richard Lindsey, who voted no on the plan along with Lankerd, said he “struggled” with the idea of sending students back into the classroom at this time.
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            “I appreciate everything the administration has done…I’m still struggling with what it looks like to be in the classroom with the children,” said Lindsey. “I understand that we’re hoping this is what’s going to happen, but I can’t see it in reality. I’m in a profession (legal) where the courts remain closed, but are starting to reopen, but I don’t trust adults to be together in large groups and we’re going to put teachers into this situation…I feel like if we waited a little bit longer and let some other people have some experience, then we can learn from what they do as opposed to putting our teachers into those positions and students into those positions.”
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           Trustee Shawna Gamble noted that “this is a very difficult decision for the seven of us to have to make.” 
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           “We just hope that we are able to make the right decision for all of our kids,” Gamble added.
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           Board President Bill DeSmet agreed that this was a difficult decision to make.
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           “It’s virtually impossible to make everybody happy and give everybody something they are looking for,” said DeSmet. “I continue to be impressed with Randy and his team have put in front of us, trying to give every option we can to families and do everything we can to prepare students and teachers…I appreciate the fact that we are giving families two options and they do have solid choices to be able to make as far as what’s going to be the best fit for their family.”
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           The Board did pass unanimously the virtual learning aspect of the curriculum in the event the district goes back to Phase 3.
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           “This is to make sure we have all the flexibility that we need to be able to use all of our classes in a remote way,” said Davis. 
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           Derek Allen, who is a parent of a fifth grader, said he was “naturally worried about the possibility of children returning to school in-person being a cause of an increase in infections in our community.”
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           “However, I am also worried about my son and other students in the district being able to learn as much virtually as they would in the presence of the high caliber teachers we have throughout our buildings,” said Allen. “With that said though, I have a great deal of confidence in Marshall Public Schools’ leadership to ensure that no matter what, my son and others receive the quality education they need and deserve while also taking every possible step to ensure their safety.”
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           Ginger Obermyer, who has a second grader, said she is “a little nervous” about sending her child to school during the pandemic.
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           “I feel Marshall Public Schools has prioritized the health, safety and emotional well-being of our family,” said Obermyer, who also has a GSRP student “I am thankful MPS has given us choice - whether we choose to do in person or online is up to the families and students unique needs. I have chosen in person and I am excited for him to get back to some stability and socialization with friends and the MPS staff.”
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           Aislynn Melton, who has three daughters who will be returning to in-person classes (two of which were on the cover), said sending her girls back to school was not an easy decision to make for she and her husband.
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           “I have been so undecided about them going back to school in-person,” said Melton. “I’m still not 100% sure I’m making the right choice. In-person is what my husband and I have decided would be the best fit for our girls. We feel they need the social interaction with their peers and the physical presence of their teacher. I would have preferred them easing into the school year at the elementary level, possibly going two days a week, like the middle school and high school for the first semester. However, I am happy that Marshall has worked to provide options for families.”
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           Sarah Mannes has a third and fourth as well as a seventh and 11th grader in MPS and she noted that she and her husband did not choose the in-person option for their kids.
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           “We were able to work out a work-from-home situation with his job and decided to try and keep our kids home for at least the first semester,” said Mannes. “We believe our kids would do much better at school, in their classrooms. However, with how this pandemic has been, we had to base our decision on what we think is best for them.”
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           She added that she “hopes and prays” the return to school will work out.
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           “It seem to have started out being a good idea,” said Mannes. “However, with current trends, it seems like the chance for exposure may increase and then what? All of these at-school kids are going to be forced home, and it just seems this would be yet another disruption for them. There is no easy answer here. I believe people are doing what they believe is the best for their family and their lifestyle, but I worry that all of this energy and hard work the school and staff have put into getting schools back up and running will be for too small of gains.”
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&lt;/div&gt;</content>
    <summary type="text" />
    <g-custom:tags type="string">aug 2020</g-custom:tags>
    <media:content medium="image" url="https://irp-cdn.multiscreensite.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Cover+Story+girls+.jpg" />
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>Albion city manager’s job in limbo</title>
    <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.advisor-chronicle.com/albion-city-managers-job-in-limbo" />
    <link rel="enclosure" type="image/jpeg" href="https://irp-cdn.multiscreensite.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/McClary.jpg" length="9525" />
    <author>
      <name />
    </author>
    <updated>2020-08-07T18:35:50Z</updated>
    <published>2020-08-07T18:35:50Z</published>
    <content>&lt;div style="transition: opacity 1s ease-in-out 0s;" data-rss-type="text"&gt;&#xD;
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           Ever since he was placed on paid administrative leave on July 28, Albion City Manager Darwin McClary’s future with the city remains unclear.
          
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           “The city has not been happy with Mr. McClary’s performance,” said Councilman Shane Williamson on Aug. 5.
          
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           A three-member committee, chaired by Williamson, was formed to “resolve our issues” related to McClary’s leave and decide how to move forward, Williamson said.
          
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           “This is intended to move along quickly,” said Mayor David Atchison. “We don’t want it to drag out.”
          
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           McClary was hired by the city of Albion in September 2019. He came to Albion after a contentious two-year tenure as Ypsilanti’s city manager. He resigned from that position in March 2019; he was accused of racism there after he hired a white fire chief over a black candidate who had served as Ypsilanti’s interim fire chief and had been with the department for more than 30 years.
          
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           McClary has also held city management and planning positions with Lake Orion, Garden City, Eastpointe and Highland Park. He came to Albion after city manager LaTonya Rufus resigned. Rufus had been at the job for five months when she was placed on leave in March 2019. Shortly after being placed on leave, Rufus was charged with embezzlement by a public official. She later reached an agreement with the city after she agreed to pay $6,500 and waived her right to sue the city.
          
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           The City Council voted 6-1 to place McClary on administrative leave two weeks ago. The terms of the leave included that McClary would not work in the office, but would be available Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. 
          
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           The dissenting vote came from Jeanette Spicer.
          
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           “I cannot support this,” Spicer said. “If we’re going to pay (McClary), he should be working.” 
          
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           Since McClary was put on leave, assistant city manager Haley Snyder has been acting as Albion’s interim city manager. Snyder, an Albion native, has been assistant city manager for about two months. She holds a degree in public administration from Western Michigan University. Her job as assistant city manager includes grant-writing and coordinating internal affairs.
          
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           “Haley was a candidate for the city manager position in the past,” Williamson said. “She has done a great job and I can’t say enough good things about her.”
          
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           The next Albion City Council meeting is scheduled for Aug. 17.
          
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&lt;/div&gt;&#xD;
&lt;div&gt;&#xD;
  &lt;a&gt;&#xD;
    &lt;img src="https://irp-cdn.multiscreensite.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/McClary.jpg" alt="Darwin-McClary"/&gt;&#xD;
  &lt;/a&gt;&#xD;
&lt;/div&gt;</content>
    <summary type="text" />
    <g-custom:tags type="string">aug 2020</g-custom:tags>
    <media:content medium="image" url="https://irp-cdn.multiscreensite.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/McClary.jpg" />
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>Meet the MHS Marching Band drum majors</title>
    <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.advisor-chronicle.com/meet-the-mhs-marching-band-drum-majors" />
    <link rel="enclosure" type="image/jpeg" href="https://irp-cdn.multiscreensite.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/BAnd+Camp+rehearsal+.JPG" length="337722" />
    <author>
      <name />
    </author>
    <updated>2020-08-07T18:29:21Z</updated>
    <published>2020-08-07T18:29:21Z</published>
    <content>&lt;div data-rss-type="text"&gt;&#xD;
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           For the 2020-21 school year, the Marshall High School Marching Band will be led by drum majors Isaac Culp, Jaylyn Jones and Mary Kurtz.
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           Below the three drum majors share their thoughts on the upcoming school year and the impact COVID-19 will have on classes and the marching band.
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    <summary type="text" />
    <g-custom:tags type="string">aug 2020</g-custom:tags>
    <media:content medium="image" url="https://irp-cdn.multiscreensite.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/BAnd+Camp+rehearsal+.JPG" />
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>Samar’s Candy &amp; Cones: A sweet sensation in downtown Marshall</title>
    <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.advisor-chronicle.com/samars-candy-cones-a-sweet-sensation-in-downtown-marshall" />
    <link rel="enclosure" type="image/jpeg" href="https://irp-cdn.multiscreensite.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Candy-Store-Brandy-kids.jpg" length="127435" />
    <author>
      <name />
    </author>
    <updated>2020-08-07T17:56:56Z</updated>
    <published>2020-08-07T17:56:56Z</published>
    <content>&lt;div style="text-align:left;" data-rss-type="text"&gt;&#xD;
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          A few years ago, Emery and Brandi Hudson, living in Allen Park, a suburb southwest of Detroit, came up with the idea of opening their own bulk candy store.
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          Where the store would be was another question.
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          Brandi, a nurse, worked at Henry Ford Allegiance Hospital in Jackson and heard from some coworkers that Marshall was nice town and that she would love it.
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          The Hudsons began their search for a business location as well as place they could live and liked what they saw in Marshall, so last fall, the couple, along with their four children, made the move west to the City of Hospitality.
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          They found store space on the south side of Michigan Avenue downtown next to Kate’s Diner and three weeks ago, on July 17, opened Samar’s Candy and Cones, the business being named for one the family’s three daughters.
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          “So far, business has been good; better than what we expected,” said Brandi. “We chose this location hoping the business will do well here.”
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          Inside the store, it is hard to miss the dozens, if not hundreds, of different kinds of chocolate and candies along the length of the store’s wall, stretching back some 50 feet.
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          Dark chocolate items are a big seller as are the malted milk balls and these small wax “bottles” that have juice inside.
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          “It seems like we have a lot of items, but there’s so much stuff we don’t have,” said Brandi, who noted that they accept requests from customers who desire a type of candy the store does not have yet.
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          On the other side of the store sits two ice cream freezers with 24 different flavors of Hershey’s Ice Cream for customers to choose from. The store also makes banana splits and milkshakes and Brandi noted that they will get another freezer to offer 12 additional flavors sometime next year.
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          The store can also make what Brandi calls a “candy bouquet,” essentially a decorated glass container of chocolate and candies that can be given as a gift for any occasion.
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          She added that the store will soon be offering Taffy Town Saltwater Taffy in the coming days.
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          Samar’s Candy and Cones, located at 127 West Michigan Ave is open at noon daily and closes at 8 p.m. five nights a week (Saturday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday), at 10 p.m. on Fridays and at 5 p.m. on Sundays.
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          “We had never heard of Marshall before, but we heard how great Marshall is,” said Brandi of the town the family now calls home. “We do like it very much. Marshall is a great town.”
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&lt;/div&gt;</content>
    <summary type="text" />
    <g-custom:tags type="string">aug 2020</g-custom:tags>
    <media:content medium="image" url="https://irp-cdn.multiscreensite.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Candy-Store-Brandy-kids.jpg" />
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>COVID-19 forces a different type of Band Camp experience</title>
    <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.advisor-chronicle.com/covid-19-forces-a-different-type-of-band-camp-experience" />
    <link rel="enclosure" type="image/png" href="https://irp-cdn.multiscreensite.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Favicon_250x250.png" length="5300" />
    <author>
      <name />
    </author>
    <updated>2020-08-06T18:01:52Z</updated>
    <published>2020-08-06T18:01:52Z</published>
    <content>&lt;div style="text-align:left;" data-rss-type="text"&gt;&#xD;
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            Marshall High School’s Marching Band held its annual August camp, but at a distance.
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           Every year, during the first week of August, the Marshall High School Marching Band Camp is held, a sure sign that fall sports practices are a week away and that the start of school is just around the corner.
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          This year, however, Band Camp took on added significance as the first group event of the 2020-21 school year amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.
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          No decision has been made yet by the Marshall Public Schools Board of Education, but that is expected to change during its meeting Aug. 10 where the Board will approve a plan for the upcoming school year.
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          A virtual option for the first semester has been offered to all students and MPS has supplied each student with a laptop.
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          A proposal the Board will consider on the 10th is to have K-5 students go four days a week in-person with online on Wednesdays, while grades 6-12 would be in school two days a week with three days online.
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          During Band Camp last week, Band Director Jeremy Root spoke to the students about the challenges this fall will bring, but also noted his happiness to have some semblance of normal in having a music rehearsal with students for the first time in five months.
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          “I was
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           really
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           excited to be working with the students,” said Root. “Last year was full of challenges. It is hard to remember that the 2019 marching band season was impacted tremendously by the EEE precautions that schools were taking.  We weren't able to have any Monday evening rehearsals for most of the football season, which cut out a significant amount of our rehearsal time.  
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          “Now, in planning for this year's camp, the reality is that these students haven't participated in a music rehearsal since March. That's a long time. I think I can speak for teachers everywhere when I say that one of the hardest challenges of how last year ended was how we missed being around the students.  So, I'm excited to see them, and I hope that they are excited to get together and play some music.” 
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          This year’s Band Camp was been scaled way back, said Root, to adhere to state executive orders and mandates surrounding COVID-19.
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          “To give some perspective, in a normal band camp, a student experiences 52 hours of rehearsal time,” said Root.  “In this year's camp, each student experienced five hours.”
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          The band was split into to groups with each group participating two days for two and a half hours each day.
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          Percussion players were the only group to be there all four days and practiced on their own.
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          “We came up with this schedule because our band is too large to space out with everyone there,” said Root. “It was a challenge to rehearse the students without everyone there at the same time, but we learned to adapt. Obviously, we had to scale back what we expect the students to learn at camp since they are rehearsing less than 10% of the time that they would at a normal camp.”
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          Safety, added Root, was the number one priority at this year's camp. The entire camp was held outdoors with students spaced 7 1/2 feet apart. 
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          “Students and their families made special ‘bell covers’ that helped reduce aerosol transmission and the kids wore masks when they weren’t playing their brass or woodwind instruments,” said Root. “All staff wore masks at all times. Students and staff filled out a medical screening form each morning before arriving at camp.”
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          Last week band members worked on this season’s halftime show, the music of Aretha Franklin with songs Think, Respect, I Say a Little Prayer and (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman.
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          This year’s drum majors are Jaylyn Jones, Mary Kurtz and Isaac Culp. They each participated in a virtual leadership camp this summer with Dr. David Montgomery, former director of the Western Michigan University Bronco Marching Band and current professor of Music Education at Baylor University.
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          Because of the reduced hours of Band Camp and uncertainty of having the entire band practice at the same time, Root said this year’s show will not feature a marching drill on the field.
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          Not surprisingly, he added that this year’s Band Camp was the most unusual he has been a part of.
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          “These last few months have caused everyone in education to examine what we do through a different lens,” he said. “At this year's camp there were no meals, no skit night, no Wednesday afternoon at Eagle Lake, and no ice cream treats at night. But, as in life, you can look at the bad and complain about the things you want to do that you aren't able to do, or you can choose to make the best out of the situation you find yourself in. That's a message that I hoped I imparted on the band students this week.  The students rose to the challenge like they always have.”
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&lt;/div&gt;</content>
    <summary type="text" />
    <g-custom:tags type="string">aug 2020</g-custom:tags>
    <media:content medium="image" url="https://irp-cdn.multiscreensite.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Favicon_250x250.png" />
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>Voters renew Senior Millage and new Parks Millage; Miller defeats Potter in County Commission 6th District primary</title>
    <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.advisor-chronicle.com/voters-renew-senior-millage-and-new-parks-millage-miller-defeats-potter-in-county-commission-6th-district-primary" />
    <link rel="enclosure" type="image/png" href="https://irp-cdn.multiscreensite.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Favicon_250x250.png" length="5300" />
    <author>
      <name />
    </author>
    <updated>2020-08-06T17:59:55Z</updated>
    <published>2020-08-06T17:59:55Z</published>
    <content>&lt;div style="text-align:left;" data-rss-type="text"&gt;&#xD;
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          With approximately 25% of registered voters casting ballots in the Calhoun County primary Aug. 4, voters overwhelmingly approved the renewal of the county’s Senior Millage and also approved the new Parks Millage proposal on a night where all proposals in the county were approved.
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          The Senior Millage renewal received 82% of the vote as 19,045 people voted yes while 4,243 people voted no. 
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          Calhoun County Services released the following statement following the vote: “Thank you Calhoun County for voting to renew the Senior Millage. We look forward to another 10 years of promoting health, safety and independence for our county’s older adults.”
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          The Parks Millage vote was slightly closer as voters cast 14,154 yes votes (61%) versus 9,034 no votes.
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          Marshall voters approved the Annual Trash Leaf and Brush Millage proposal by a 1,460- 247 margin, and in Albion, the Street Millage Renewal proposal passed by a vote of 897 to 246.
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          Proposals were also approved in neighboring townships:  Burlington (Road Millage); Clarendon (Fire Protection and Library); Emmett (Public Safety); Homer (Library Millage renewal and increases); Marengo (Operating Millage); and Tekonsha (Road and Sidewalk).
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          Among key races for office that were contested in the county, Incumbent Calhoun County 6th District Commissioner Tommy Miller defeated Vic Potter in the Republican primary by a margin of 1,700 to 1,179.
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          “I wanted to thank everyone for your support,” wrote Miller in a social media post. “I will give you everything I have in representing the 6th District.
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          Miller will face Democratic challenger Curt Osborn in November.
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          In the Democratic primary for the State House District 63, Ron Hawkins narrowly defeated Luke Howell 1,388 to 1,335. Hawkins will now face Republican Incumbent Matt Hall in November.
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          In the Republican primary for the State House District 62, Dave Morgan received 5,013 votes to win the primary over Michelle Gregoire, 1,365 votes and Chad Basse, 543 votes. Morgan will face Democratic incumbent Jim Haadsma in November.
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          In the Republican primary for Calhoun County Water Resources Commissioner, Ron Smith, with 6,750 votes defeated Johnny Cash, who received 5,542 votes. Smith will face Democrat Wayne Kukuk in November.
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          In the race for the U.S. House of Representatives 3rd District, Peter Meijer won a crowded Republican primary field, receiving a plurality of the vote (46%), garnering 6,119 votes. Lynn Afendoulis was second with 2,865 votes followed by Thomas J. Norton, 2,643 votes; Emily Rafi, 969 votes; and Joe Farrington, 652 votes.
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          “I am so proud to be your Republican nominee for Congress,” said Meijer. “Thank you, West Michigan for having faith in our campaign. Thank you for helping us spread our message in every corner of this district. We will not let you down and together we will bring it home in November.
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          Meijer will face Democrat Hillary Scholten in the Nov. 3 election.
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           Complete primary results can be found at
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      &lt;a href="https://elections.calhouncountymi.gov/August4th2020/" target="_blank"&gt;&#xD;
        
            https://elections.calhouncountymi.gov/August4th2020/
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&lt;/div&gt;</content>
    <summary type="text" />
    <g-custom:tags type="string">aug 2020</g-custom:tags>
    <media:content medium="image" url="https://irp-cdn.multiscreensite.com/b0665f79/dms3rep/multi/Favicon_250x250.png" />
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