ACHTUNG: This is not a “fair and balanced” article. It is a historical review and analysis of the now dearly departing year 2023.
The year 2023 in Northeast Allegan County featured continued growing pains and their effects on infrastructure, decisions about what to do with state and federal grants, and perennial astonishing feats by female athletic figures.
There was good news and bad news.
Prospects for a Sustainable Business Park to replace the new landfill in northwest Dorr Township now have vanished, but federal funds can be redirected to a new Dorr Township Hall. Several new businesses have appeared on the landscape, state and federal grants are fueling some projects, such as road repaving and repairs, and they help with recreation.
Meanwhile, Martin has become an eight-man football powerhouse with back-to-back state championships and some individual females are serving impressive notice and gaining a lot of astonishing publicity.
Infrastructure, grants and getting things done
So Dorr Township this weekend plans to buy the former CrossWind Church and property on 142nd Avenue, using federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds totaling about $530,000. The intent is to leave a severely crowded 33-year-old township hall to emergency services and start doing public business in a much larger facility.
Hopkins Township has continued its efforts to expand by connecting the local library building to the village-township hall, thereby creating space for the clerk and treasurer to conduct business.
Neighboring Leighton Township, however, put the brakes on a massive residential building project proposed by Moline GRI on 10th Street because local officials frankly say they are unable to handle the kind of pressure on infrastructure and public safety it would bring with it. Yet Leighton Township decided to use its ARPA funds to buy the idle and dilapidated Moline Elementary School building for $650,000 and use the site for a recreation park. Walinga won a state grant to expand in the industrial park, but Landscaping Supply on Electric Avenue decided to set up a new shop in Dorr Township.
On the other hand, perhaps the biggest news of the year, in terms of future impact, is that the Gun Lake Pottawatomi Tribe has won a $56 million federal grant to build water and sewer facilities to accommodate its casino’s plans for expansion.
Because the State Boundary Commission rejected requests for annexation of Hopkins Township properties nearby on the west side of U.S.-131, effectively squashing the township reasons to establish a Downtown Development Authority, it appears those sites will have to deal with the Gun Lake Tribe instead to acquire critical water and sewer services.
With the smoke clearing, it is becoming more apparent the tribe and casino have designs on expanding to the north in Wayland Township, growing their enormous economic importance and impact in Wayland Township, Hopkins Township and the City of Wayland.
At the same time, construction proceeds apace on West Superior Street between United Bank and Burger King for a new medical facility run by University of Michigan as a health center that will dwarf current facilities across the street from Wayland High School on East Superior. Because there is a lack of access to local pharmacy services, the center will be competition for Wayland Village Drugs for serving the Hopkins, Martin, Wayland, Dorr and Moline areas. Dorr already has lost its local pharmacy and customers have been told to go to Walgreen’s of Byron Center.
Thus, growth is happening, business is expanding, but it seems to be specific.
Perhaps the biggest business increase has been the arrival of cannabis retail outlets. The City of Wayland already has welcomed Prosper behind Burger King and JARS on South Main and yet another is scheduled to open soon on West Superior. No fewer than five establishments for selling marijuana have been approved by the Planning Commission and City Council.
Infrastructure improvements promised and made
On South Main Street in Wayland from Sycamore Street south to 133rd Avenue were secured through the addition of a left turn lanes. In some cases, like with the 4 One 2 Distillery next to the VFW, business endured traffic hardships, but this nightmare now is over with paving and reconstruction finished.
Not long ago, it was announced that a $250,000 state grant will help fund the repair and repaving of Mill, Church, Park and Elm Streets on the north side of town, where residents have complained for quite some time about potholes.
And money to help bring high-speed Internet access to rural areas in Allegan County is promising to bring the same kind of amenities to farms and rural residences that the Rural Electrification program brought in the 1930s.
A $150,000 state recreation grant has buoyed Watson Township’s efforts to build the Seven Generations Park at the corner of M-222 and 20th Street.
The schools have winning bond votes
The Hopkins, Martin and Wayland schools again had a busy year. Wayland finally saw passage of bond project that will include replacing the old and troublesome swimming pool with a new facility, besides other improvements for district buildings. Martin also was given permission by voters to extend the current bond levy by seven years to accommodate future improvements.
Hopkins decided to stay local in hiring its new superintendent, choosing local grad, administrator and staff member Scott VanBonn to succeed the retiring Gary Wood.
Patricia Velie, assistant superintendent for finance and operations, the lead person in the successful bond millage effort, finally retired and was succeeded by Leslie Wagner.
As usual, businesses come and go
Perhaps the biggest news about welcoming new business was the arrival of a Culver’s restaurant, replacing the Big Boy eatery on West Superior just east of the U.S.-131 expressway. Rumors had circulated for a couple of years after it was learned Big Boy was closing, just like other such franchises all across the Midwest.
An ambitious Mexican restaurant, Mi Guadalajara, opened its doors at the former location of 4 One 2 Distillery on South Main, promising authentic fare.
The most unique new business downtown is the Country Cat Lady, which beckons cat lovers and students to help with the welfare of our feline friends.
Another unique business, Huff Pool & Spa opened on North Main Street.
However, the downtown Wayland business district was plagued by controversy over parking. Arny Rodriguez, owner of Aqua In Vino, placed “no parking” signs at the parking lot next to his business and the American Legion lot at the chiropractic center did the same. The City of Wayland discontinued its leasing and maintenance agreements with both, insisting there is plenty of parking available in the district.
In the political arena…
New State Reps. Rachelle Smit and Angela Rigas were sworn in and they wasted no time in jumping into the culture wars. Rigas was one of only one of a few who opposed increasing the minimum age for marrying and Smit issued public proclamations making heroes of the Null Brothers of Plainwell and Shelbyville, both of whom were acquitted of charges of being in on the plot to kidnap Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.
Allegan County continued to have a one-party system, all Republicans, but the husband of former State Rep. Mary Whiteford was the only member of the GOP to lose in the election of 2022.
Township and school government seemed to feature a lot of merry-go-rounds.
Two Martin Board of Education trustees, Rodney Pillars and Austin Marsman, resigned and did not provide explanations. Eric Curry replaced Pillars.
Denise Merlau resigned as Martin Township Clerk, succeeded by Jennifer Wharton, Hopkins Township Clerk Sandy Morris left town and was succeeded by Eric Alberta, Watson Treasurer Stephanie Caulder left to work on Mackinac Island, succeeded by Tera Davis. Abbie LaFountaine succeeded longtime Wheeler Library Director Alicia Kershaw.
Tracy Bivins lost her bid for another term on the City Council, by just one vote to Jerry Jansen III, but decided not to ask for a recount.
Dr. Bruce Sexton retired after many years of practicing dentisry, succeeded by Dr. Paul Inges, Dr. Gary Gulish stepped down after many years. But Wayland High School grad Michael Mirren was promoted at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn.
Some of the departures in the community were tragic, such as that of 8-year-old J.J. Slater in a Martin farm accident, Baker Elementary teacher Katrina Brown in a traffic crash, and Wayland Middle School teacher and wrestling coach Jody Tyler, who died of complications of a stroke. Longtime Wayland Board of Education member and president Dorothy DeWeerd passed after many years of service.
But there was also some happy news: Dorr Elementary won a national Blue Ribbon designation, The Wayland High School robotics team won the state championship and earned a trip to “worlds” in Houston.
Sports, as usual, gobbles up a lot of attention
The Hopkins, Wayland and Martin schools athletic teams continue to raise more than a few eyebrows.
Most noticeable was the second straight state championship for Martin in eight-man football. The Clippers’ achievement has been called, “The Miracle in Marquette” because they came back with a furious fourth quarter rally, featuring a recovered onside kick and QB Gabe Meyers scored the game winner with time running out.
Another astonishing feat at Martin was turned in by freshman distance running sensation Veyda Conley, who finished her 5,000-meter race at the state meet in only 19:42. Her accomplishments echo neighbor Evie Mathis, now a Wayland sophomore, who already owns the school record in the pole vault and was second in the state in that event. Wildcat sophomore Adam Huff also was a runner-up, in the discus.
But, as usual, Wildcat softball team had another terrific season, once again winning the conference and district titles. Coach Cheri Ritz earned her milestone 1,000th career victory.
WHS graduate Emma Ludema was a terrific addition to the Calvin University softball team, earning all-MIAA second team accolades as a freshman. And Colin Weber of Hopkins earned all-league honors as tight end for the University of North Carolina-Charlotte. Perhaps the most welcome news was Wayland’s football team that registered its first winning season in 10 years at 6-3, even getting the best of eventual state runner-up South Christian.
Another feather in the girls’ cap was that all three local basketball teams — Wayland, Hopkins and Martin, won their league crowns. And Hopkins took home the first-place trophy in O-K Silver Conference cross country.
Kadence Bottrall, who competed at the state level in all four of her years at Wayland, now has joined teammate Bella Harnish on the Davenport University bowling team. And the Wayland guys had a good year by qualifying for the state meet for the first time since Hector was a pup.
The Martin boys’ track team finished third in the Michigan State Track Coaches’ Association state meet.
The area was shocked to learn that seven teams have pulled out of the O-K Conference to form their own league, necessitating some scheduling changes starting next fall.
