I J Advice for 2006 from some long-time resolution makers... It's not too late for New Year's resolutions, and some residents of Tri City Village in Watervliet have some recommendations for young people for 2006: Delia Benson: "It's hard to give a Edna McKenney: Ml would say Lorene Moss: UI would encourage Bert Vladic: "I would like to tell Rhonda Frost: wMy resolution is Stella Pendergrass: *Td like to see recommendation because if I more young people should go to people to stay out of trouble in the people to quit that smoking. I have to share the Word of God to other more people get to church in the make them (New Year's resolu- church. My own resolution is to New Year. My resolution is to read a granddaughter and a grandson people. People can keep their res- New Year. I'd love to see both my tions), 1 don't usually keep thepi! I pray more. I want to keep my vow, the Bible more - that would help who smoke. You can talk and talk olutions better if they have brothers go to church. With as would suggest to younger people: and I'm sure I will." anyone stay out of trouble. I'd but they keep smoking. Also, peo- stronger family ties, pull together, much trouble as people have, it try not to eat so much and get fat, also like for my children to go to ple should get off the dope. My and go to church together as a would be such a help to them." because the older you get the church more." own resolution is to walk - so I can family. That will help to keep the harder it is to lose." (Mary Brost Reck photos) get around without my walker." kids from being bored." "Guns are a god-given right of Drug bust and property seizure Keeler Township "Ford" property owners," Page 2 in Watervliet Twp., Page 3 building razed, Page 14 I he C ombined Newspapers ol the Watervliet Record, Coloma ( oiirier and Hartford News lo subscribe dial TRI-CITY RE 122nd Year Issue #1 January 5, 2006 Seventy-five Cents Last report most likely a feral cat Athletes and Cougar sighted? Animal control officer saw sports events of big cat several years ago By Lynn Attila have been someone's "pet" that was 2005 revisited Another horse farmer on Hagar later let loose into the wild. A few Shore Road, Watervliet, thought she years ago it became illegal in Editor *5 Note: Few endeavors have Niles Holiday Tournament last week had found "cougar tracks" along Michigan to own a wildcat, coyote, as much formative impact on a and came home with the champi- with a rabbit carcass near her bam or wolf.^ young person's life as competing onship trophy as a reward for its but a Watervliet man, Berrien Coun- A cougar could live anywhere from on the playing fields of school efforts. ty Animal Control Officer Danny 12 to 18 years, Atherton said. and community. The Tri-Cities The Comets beat host Niles in the Atherton, reported that the clues Remain standing; don't run are blessed with great sports championship game by a 52-45 were not those of a cougar. He said Local residents are concerned of opportunities and, thus, the score after downing Lake Michigan it was most likely the work of a coming in contact with one of the community has enjoyed some Catholic in their semifinal game by domestic, but feral, cat. big cats. The first thing to keep in great moments in sports. a 54-48 score. Atherton has worked with cougars mind, according to the Michigan Compiled by sportwriter Tyler LaVanway led the Comets for years at Deer Forest in Coloma Wildlife Conservancy, is to remain Mike Leith, the following is a with 22 points, including four treys; Township. He said he is familiar standing. If you bend over to pick up digest of many of those moments Milo Jefifries had 13 points; Terrel with the eating patterns of the ani- a stick or a stone, the animal will as reported in 2005. Evans had 11 points; while Jermain mal and knew the original horse perceive you as a four-legged prey Murphy added six points and 10 attack was definitively that of a big and is more likely to attack. BERRIEN COUNTY ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICER...Danny Ather- rebounds in the championship game. cat and not a coyote or wild dog. The second thing to remember is to January ton, a Watervliet resident, is on the lookout for "Big Cat" sightings in The Watervliet girls varsity volley- Atherton said that although a cougar never run from a cougar if you see The Coloma Comet boys varsity Berrien County. (Lynn Attila photo) ball team traveled to Eau Claire and was the culprit for the recent attack one. The animal will go after you for basketball team competed in the won the annual Rachel Magers of a horse on Hagar Shore Road on sure if you do. Carrying pepper Memorial Invitational Volleyball November 26,2005, it doesn't mean spray with you as a deterrent in case Coloma neighbors concerned with view Toumament. that the animal *is still in the Water- of ^n encounter is a good idea. For The Lady Panthers went 6-0 for the vliet area. He said, "A large cat can more information, you can read a day in pool play before defeating cover a lot of distance looking for brochure online at \vwwtmiwjW Cell phone tower decision tabled host Eau Claire 25-13 and 25-20 in opportunities to feast. It could cover life.org. their semifinal match. By Lynn Attila ny, requested a 70'x70, base to erect and fall into itself. He also pointed a 100-square-mile area in a short Berrien County Animal Control has The Lady Panthers then went on to Coloma City Commission held a a 250' freestanding tower. The com- out that down south, after Hurricane time." advised Berrien County residents to defeat Jackson Vandercook Lake in be alerted to the possibility of public hearing on Monday, January pany would be interested in a five- Katrina, the cell phone towers were u u • u- "Would eat matc cougar sightings and advises anyone 2, 2006, to discuss the placement of year lease with the option of a five- still standing even though every- ^ 0 to report any unusual activity such a cell phone tower near the water year renewal. The project would thing around them had been de- " " three-four pounds ea in terv iet e a were as paw prints or droppings. You can tower in the City of Coloma. generate approximately $1,000 in- stroyed. ^ Jj f y U.S. Cellular, a cell phone compa- come per month for the City and the The residents present at the meeting ourtney arvm vut our assists, of meat per day" call them at (269) 471-7531. 74 0,nts seven aces 10 k,,ls and A cougar would cover over two company would also be assessed voiced concern about the visual P ' ' ' effect of the tower. Mayor Owen 58 d,«s; Shannon McLaughlin had miles per day just wandering personal property taxes. 24 oin,s ei ht aces 19 kills and 30 around. "It could still be in Water- Three representatives of U.S. Cell- concurred that this was one of the P - g - - d, s; Sarah ShetTer had 0 ur ass,s,s vliet or it could be in Gobies or Coloma Charter Township ular were on hand to answer ques- main concerns that he also had. « f [ , l : 49 0,nts 19 aces four blocks and Decatur," Atherton stressed. tions concerning the building and The U.S. Cellular representatives P ' ' - said they would plant a fence of 39 d,gs; Kim with 12 points •He said it would be typical for the maintenance of the tower. There four ac 108 k ls b locks a d cat to spend a couple of days with its Public Hearing set to discuss were a half dozen concerned citizens evergreen trees that would grow to ^' ' - 'J 1 ; " at the meeting. be 15 feet tall and would help cam- seven d,8s; Ashley T^d 34 kill until the meat was gone. Then it points, nine aces, and 20 digs; Ken Holzhei, site acquisition spe- ouflage the tower. They also pointed would move on. A cougar would liner modification at landfill Ashley Parker with 17 points, three "demand a large area for survival cialist, said the new site would be out that the towers tend to blend into By Lynn Attila aces, and 13 digs; along with 138 and would eat three-four pounds of similar to the 250' tower already the scenery and one doesn't even 1 he C oloma C barter Township has set a public hearing for Monday, January standing near Coloma Lanes on notice them after a while. Comm- assists, 38 points, six aces, four meat per day," he said. l), at the request ot trustee Ed Helbling. The hearing, slated for 7:00 p.m. at Mountain Road. He said it would be issioner Sue Dahlquist said that peo- blocks, and 37 digs from Katelyn Atherton said that cougars have al- Co,oma Townshi Ha,1 is t0 Bryce. ^vTheenTround and people should P » discuss the Construction Permit Modification a freestanding tower with no guide pie don't even see the water tower The Watervliet girls then won their . | rt to tuejr presence but not be Application tor the Orchard Hill Sanitary Landfill, which is located in both w|res arKj wou|(| more than com- when they come into town, it blends ( oloma ancl Wat „ fourth toumament of the young sea- r*v#»rlv fearful He reported that sev- ervliet townships.