Skateboard Park Fund Nears $12,000 Mark; Project Goal Is $40,00
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f * / ? I I ew hospital board Rare deer corralled in Coloma and Watervliet resident, see page 3 Bainbridge, see page 11 Honor Rolls, see page 7 I he Combined Newspapers of (he Wale IN Met Reeord, Coloma Courier & Hartford MC 145 MOAG i SONS TRI-CITY R SPRINGPORT,, Ml 4?284 12(if Year Issue No. 8 . February 19,2004 Seventy-five Cents Group claims he mishandled pornography and bill payment issues Supervisor's resignation sought "I am not ashamed of any work I have done as supervisor. I have drive of the computer George Fri- make that decision on my own," not be produced. She said this is. day was using up to be scanned Shafer said. "My own personal how they know Friday was taking been honest and worked hard and am satisfied that what I have deeper," Martin said. "Sure, they opinion is that the police should do money. ,, were told it would take six months the scanning, if anyone does, but When Shafer was asked about the done is in the best interest of the taxpayers and commun^ty, before the police could do it and they are not the ones asking to." bills, he said the committee has Steve Shafer, Hartford Township Supervisor. they could not be without the com- Another issue from the committee never asked for a specific bill. "I. puter that long, but we had a man is that George Friday, when he was have invited them to ask for them, > By Angela Stair go," Martin said; but at this time it satisfied that what I have done is in already lined up that said he could Treasurer, wrote checks to himself because 1 would like to see them Madonna Martin, local teacher and is composed of Martin, Douglas the best interest of the taxpayers do the i deep scan in about two and his company without paper- too. But they have never asked for a. Township resident, said she and the Mackinder, Randy Kime, John and community," Shafer said. He hours." She said the committee was work to back up his claims, Martin specific bill." Citizens Committee she belongs to Vargo, Mike Vargo, and John has been Supervisor since 1989. willing to pay for it. said. She said auditors would not Supervisor Shafer explained that;, asked Hartford Township Supervi- McLellan. Martin said the committee had "The question of the hard-drive pick up on that because they take a the state requires two signatures on sor Stephen Shafer to resign on All but McLellan were present at taken a list of complaints when it scan was asked at the meeting on bill and work back to check its va- every check to make sure someone Wednesday, February 11, the night the meeting with Supervisor Sbafer went to Shafer and asked for his Thursday, the 12* That was the lidity, but there were no bills for cannot write a check out to himself before the Township's monthly on Wednesday, Feb. II, wh^n resignation. The pornography that first the Board had heard of it and Friday's work to follow. or herself. Then all the bills/checks meeting. Shafer was asked to resign. was being viewed at the Township did not want to pursue it at that Martin said the Citizens Commit- Please see HARTFORD Martin said the Citizens Commit- Supervisor Shafer said he told offices and the teen sex chat line time. This is a decision that needs to tee had asked to see specific bills Continued on page 5 tee does not meet on a regular basis, them he would not resign. "I am not that was found was one of their be made by the Board. I cannot for specific checks, and they could just when something comes up that ashamed of any of the work I have complaints (see accompanying it feels needs looking into. The done as Supervisor. 1 have been story). committee members "come and honest and worked hard and am "The Board will not give the hard Invited to dance at United Nations Skateboard Park fund nears $12,000 mark; project goal is $40,00 * ByC. Notf carison About $20,000 will be needed for said Watervliet Police Lieutenant Tri-City Area youths and adults concrete alone; and another $10,000 John Pokagon, who confirmed can look forward to using their for the structures. The remaining there is an ordinance against skate- skateboards, BMX bikes, and in- $10,000 is a buffer for incidentals, boarding on the City sidewalks and line skates in the future on struc- according to Goodrich's report. streets. tures at Hays Park in Watervliet. No place to "board" According to Collin Buck and When a group of youngsters got the About three years ago, a skate- Max Goodrich (Cara's son), who idea that they wanted a park where board store called "Rolling Thun- were part of the club the skate- they could use their skateboards, a der" opened in downtown Water- boarders started. Rolling Thunder major project rolled into action. vliet and it became a favorite hang- was a big hangout where the kids "It started with the kids," said Cara out for kids who love to be on used to go to watch a skate video if| Goodrich of Watervliet, who is wheels. The City was alerted to the they got in trouble for skating President/Treasurer of the Tri City popularity of skateboarding and its downtown. The skaters were upset Skateboard Association. She reports problems when kids brought their because their boards were confis- that the organization has over one- boards downtown. cated and they received citations V quarter of the funds needed to de- The problems arose when the kids from the police. / velop the park. used their boards on the downtown Tri City Skateboard According to a financial report sidewalks. The local merchants Association founded - presented to the City Commission complained about kids zipping by VI SHAFER DANCERS.^front row, from the left) Heather Vitale, Lauren Foley, Amy Birk, Em J. Shafer; After meeting with the City's Park earlier this month, over $11,000 has their windows, and some skaters (second row, from the left) Kristin Perrino, Cassie Evans, Karlianne Loshbough, Jessica Burkhard, Antonia and Recreation Committee, and at been raised toward the estimated nearly collided with pedestrians. Mavrakis, Sarah Monte; (back row, from the left) Britani Spencer, Sarah Rimpel, Amanda Stowers, the suggestion of the City Commis- $40,000 needed for the project. "There were some near-misses," Heather Nelsoii, and Amber Morris. Not available for the photo were Elizabeth Veine, Morgan Roggow, sion, the skateboarders started a Alani Fellows, and Michelle Strebeck. nonprofit corporation called the Tri City Skateboard Association to raise funds to develop a skateboard park in the area. They started out by sell- ing candy bars. VLIET i Vi Shafer Dancers UCT In August of 2002, Cara Goodrich JARY and some others began spearhead- ing the kids' efforts and a bank ac- count for the project was opened. Letters were sent to area businesses, donation canisters were stationed at to perform at U.N. various locations, T-shirts were sold, dances were held, and dona- By Amy Loshbough The United Nations building will perform at many area festivals, as tions were received. The Vi Shafer Dancers and Vi's be our next stop and truly a one-of- well as provide entertainment for Location sought Kids will perform at the United a-kind experience. This invitation is private functions. While most everyone agreed a Nations in New York City this the biggest honor of the whole trip Vi Shafer has been in the business skateboard park was a good idea, summer. because it is unheard of for any for 44 years. Her dancers have gone finding a suitable site brought out On July 15, the Coloma-based dance team to be allowed into the on to dance with many entertainers, some different opinions. City com- troupe will grace the indoor north- U.N. Following the performance, along with the Atlanta Ballet and missioners first suggested a location east comer of the public lobby the dancers will tour the Empire Georgia Ballet, with some students in Sterner Park, a small City-owned (Zeus Area) at the United Nations State Building, Lincoln Center, teaching dance for the University of park on Mill Creek just south of building. Fifth Avenue, Central Park, Rocke- Michigan. Red Arrow Highway. After receiving a formal confirmed feller Center and the Theatre Dis- Shafer was Miss Coloma in 1956 The skateboarders' parents ob- invitation from the U.S. Mission to trict. and has worked with numerous area jected, citing the park's remote the United Nations, plans have been At the end of the week, a dance queens. She has directed many Miss location could cause more trouble. made to include the performance in workshop will be held at Lincoln Coloma, Miss Hartford and Miss An early suggestion to locate the an upcoming trip to Hershey, Penn- Center and possibly with the Rock- Blossomtime pageants, developing skateboard park in Hays Park as sylvania; with the experience end- ettes. After dinner on Friday, the the two-day schedule still being part of the park's major renovations ing up in New York City. dancers will attend a performance used by Blossomtime Festival offi- last year got little support from The trip will begin on July 11, on Broadway of "The Lion King." cials. Hays Park Project organizers. leaving from Vi Shafer School of Over the years, the Vi Shafer The dancers traveling with this Meanwhile, a suggestion to locate the Dance in Coloma.