ACHTUNG: This is not a “fair and balanced” article. It is the editor’s analysis of the now dearly departed year 2022:
Local schools went through controversial year
The trials and tribulations of the three local school districts in Northeast Allegan County made up the biggest stories of the year 2022 now past.
The Wayland Union district still was unable to pass a bond request in August for $48.5 million, including building a new swimming pool. The proposal lost by 225 votes and revealed the continuing disconnect between the school system and Leighton and Dorr Township voters.
A series of forums intended to explain the requests, led by Assistant Supt. Patricia Velie, did not seem to attract the people schools wanted to attempt to persuade. The district will try again in a special election next May.
Meanwhile, the Covid pandemic and parental rights movement conservatives appeared to have claimed two female superintendents as victims. Dr. Christina Hinds left Wayland after two years to take a deputy superintendent’s post at Grand Rapids Northview. She was succeeded by Tim Reeves. And Brooke Ballee-Stone announced her retirement at Martin, paving the way for longtime Martin assistant Superintendent Samantha Ball to step in.
Velie in March announced she was retiring, but then agreed to stay on long enough to see the bond project through.
There were other retirements, notably Wayland High School Principal Tom Cutler, succeeded by home grown Santino DeCesare. Longtime Hopkins High School social studies teacher Robert Wiersema, former president of the Wayland Board of Education, announced his retirement after being placed on leave for controversial remarks he made to students after the Oxford school shooting.
Meanwhile, the ancient building next to Pearl Street gym was razed to make room for more parking at Pine Street Elementary.
The parental rights movement sparked a book banning controversy when the Wayland Board of Education was asked to read and perhaps remove a book penned by Margaret Atwood, more famous for her “Handmaid’s Tale” story. The board declined.
Former Supt. Norm Taylor and newcomer Jeff Koon and incumbent Pete Zondervan were elected to four-year school board seats and Janel Hott won the two-year post.
In Martin, a conservative slate of six candidates handily was elected to the school board.
Wayland and other schools continued to suffer bus driver, substitute teacher and crossing guard shortages.
Wayland schools had more than their share of tragedies.Longtime language arts teacher Kathie Johnson, Clayton Jackson, John Vargo, Donald Hermenitt, Steve Working and Janet Johnson all died. Teacher-wrestling coach Jody Tyner had a stroke and as of Friday plans were being made for his organs to be donated.
The year in sports featured a number of champions
Martin won the state championship in eight-man football, despite absorbing two defeats during the regular season to two schools judged to be too large in their divisions. Coach Brad Blauvelt’s Clippers avenged season-ending defeats from the past two campaigns to Adrian Lenawee Christian and beat Merrill for the state crown at the Superior Dome in Marquette.
Wayland eighth-grader Evie Mathis was crowned middle school national champ in the pole vault and she already has eclipsed the school record in the event. Laney Wolf captured the Division 3 state title in the 50- and 100-yard freestyle races. Bella Harnish and Kadence Bottrall both made deep runs in the individual state bowling tourney and barely missed a rare opportunity to face each other in the championship round. Harnish was state runner-up, with both bowing out to the state champion.
There were other impressive feats.
Wayland’s Emma Ludema and Kennedy Cole were selected all-state in softball. Freshman Harmony Laker was chosen O-K Gold Conference first team in basketball, something not even Presley Hudson accomplished. WHS grad Maggie Whitney was NAIA champ in the 800 meters and WHS grad Corinna Courser was sixth in NCAA Division 2 hurdles. Charlie Brown III of Hopkins rolled a perfect 300 game in bowling.
The Wildcat softball team continued its perennial successes going 37-2 and was defeated by state softball champ for the second straight year, Owosso in 2021 and Stevensville Lakeshore in 2022. In basketball the WHS girls annexed their second straight district title and Martin won its fifth straight.
Area townships still showing growth
The Allegan County Internet broadband projects continue under the federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). The Dorr Sustainable Business Park project, featuring a bold new recycling plan, has proceeded apace with the township agreeing to use $200,000 in ARPA funds as a contribution.
Watson Township had a ribbon cutting for the Seven Generations recreational park at 20th Street and M-222. Leighton Township used $650,000 in ARPA funds to buy the old Moline Elementary building to pave the way for expansion of the softball fields parking and perhaps a pickleball court. The faith-based Freedom Ranch planned unit development proposal in Dorr was approved.
Perhaps the biggest business growth news, however, came when the Gun Lake Tribe announced big plans for growth after the freeway ramp by the casino was completed. The tribe plans a new pool dome and hotel and further growth between 129th Avenue and 135th Avenue.
Four marijuana business have been launched in the City of Wayland, one on South Main, one of West Superior and two on West Superior not far from the U.S.-131 expressway. They are the first in this area since a state-wide ballot proposal legalizing recreational use of marijuana was passed in 2018.
Other new businesses included the University of Michigan West Health Clinic next to United Bank, a self-pet wash at Gun Lake, a Beauty Bar that will try to defy the “Corner Curse” at North Main and West Superior and One More Grill succeeded A.J.’s in downtown Dorr.
However, some departed the scene. Martin Hardware closed after 70 years, the 412 Distillery moved from downtown to the building next to the VFW on the south side of town. Big Boy closed and speculation about a Culver’s Restaurant replacing it has been rekindled. Freda’s Fish Fry closed at at its Gun Lake location and Salsa For Favor closed, opting instead to offer Mexican cuisine via a food truck.
GOP stampede in election has 1 exception
The Republican Party dominated the “off-year” election as always. Voters in the county supported the GOP in state races, despite a huge year for Democrats in Michigan.
Martin Township Clerk Rachelle Smit was a landslide winner in the newly redistricted 43rd state representative district. Angela Rigas also won handily in the 79th District, which includes only Leighton Township in Allegan County.
State Rep. Mary Whiteford, who served for more than seven years, and Steve Johnson of Wayland quietly bowed out of Lansing.
Interestingly, Whiteford’s husband, Kevin, lost in his bid for state representative to a Democrat in a district that was made competitive by the new redistricting process by a “non-partisan” commission.
Closer to home, Jennifer Antel became the first woman to be elected mayor of the City of Wayland, succeeding Tim Bala, who stepped aside after 14 years.
City of Wayland survives a controversial year
The City of Wayland announced some changes for the year, not all of them welcome.
City officials took criticism for cutting back snow plowing services to only Main and Superior sidewalks and for sewer rate increases. The latter was in the works for a long time because rates had not kept pace with costs for quite a few years.
There were mixed reactions to news that South Main Street would get a turning lane from Maple Street south to 133rd Avenue, the city’s southern border.
There was a changing of the guard besides a new mayor, as Steve Stepek was appointed a new councilman.
City officials soon will have a second reading of a proposed off-road vehicle (ORV) ordinance, but a proposal to permit uses of golf carts on city streets was rejected.
Meanwhile, the Wayland Area Emergency Services ambulance outfit reported that service calls have been reaching new records. Two new ambulances were purchased.
Hopkins Township continues work on DDA District
The Hopkins Township Board still has hopes, however slim, for creating a downtown development district on the west side of U.S.-131. The year began with a hearing on the proposal with the State Boundary Commission.
Realtor Brian Silvernail, however, said he is representing about a dozen residences and landowners who are asking to be annexed into the City of Wayland. No definitive action has been taken yet.
The construction project to connect Hopkins Library with the township hall will begin early next year.
Local celebrations enjoy comebacks
The Covid-19 pandemic wreaked havoc with local festivals and celebrations in 2020 and 2021, but things since have returned to normal.
Moline had sesquicentennial celebration in September. Martin had its second annual Hometown Day. Wayland’s Main Street program decided to go back to naming its summer celebration “Summerfest.”
A new downtown event, “Monster Mash,” was a welcome addition over Halloween, as was the second annual Hot Air Balloon festival at the airport.
Two local doctors recognized
Wayland has a doctor, as famous runner Sarah Brewer defended her PhD dissertation at Michigan State University, in the field of epidemiology.
Martin graduate Christie Orr-Robinson earned her PhD and took over as superintendent at Springport Schools near Jackson.
Public safety had interesting developments
Wayland High School foreign exchange student and graduate Olya Schenky was reported safe in her home country of Ukraine, despite being invaded by Russia. She and her husband later moved in with family in Germany
The Allegan County Board of Commissioners voted 6-1 to reject Allegan County Health Dept. Covid policy recommendations, but a court later in the year ruled that health officials have the right to determine procedures during health emergencies.
Dorr Township Treasurer Myrna Marr abruptly resigned in January and was arrested, charged and sentenced later in the year. Laurie Perry was appointed her successor. It was learned later that the incidents for which Marr was arrested were not in connection with accusations made the year previous, but instead involved larceny from the pension fund.
The Blizzard of 2022 included two huge snowstorms in November and in December.
A motorist whose car spectacularly “flew” over the Dorr exit on the expressway, was only charged with a misdemeanor and won’t do any jail time.
An Allegan County deputy won’t be charged in shooting of motorist in Monterey Township, an incident in which there was no visual evidence from a body cam.
The Hopkins Fire Department rescued a hunter who had fallen from a tree stand in the Allegan State Game Area.
A sexual assault claim on the Rabbit River Trail turned out to be bogus.
Wayland resident Rob Grigsby and his female partner in crime were sentenced in connection with local sex trafficking charges.
Police Chief Mark Garnsey retired while being under investigation. Capt. Scott Matice from the Allegan County Sheriff’s Dept. washired.
Columnists Phyllis McCrossin and Denise Dykstra bowed out of Townbroadcast, but the latter may return after finishing a writing project. Former columnist Barry Hastings died at age 82.
