Hartford Man Accused in Death of His Daughter by Joe Cheshire Ly After Arrival
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
I Grace Christian girls head for Watervliet students presented Father's Day gift ideas listed State Championship page 13 awards at assembly page 16 with "Top Pop" rules page 18 Combined editions of the Watervliet Record, Coloma Courier & Hartford News Call 463-6397 to subscribe i'TT'V DT7/ ~i- v.J1. J 1 IVCiLr^ 4928^ 114th Year Issue No. 23 June 10,1998 D Dead from complications of abuse J e Hartford man accused in death of his daughter By Joe Cheshire ly after arrival. rj • • Hartford City Police Chief Paul An autopsy revealed the infant Muinch announced last week that had succumbed to the complica- Cory James Weaver, 19, of Hart- tions of child abuse, including ford has been arrested and broken ribs and multiple head in- charged with the murder of his juries. five-week-old daughter, Kendra The arrest of Weaver on the Weaver. The death occurred open murder charge was a direct Good Friday, April 10. HARTFORD HARDING'S HAS LOTS OF STRAWBERRIES result of seven weeks of intensive investigations conducted by ...(left) Claire Klnchen, President of the Hartford Business Weaver and the child's mother, Rhonda Daisy, also of Hartford, members of the Van Buren Coun- THE FIRST OFFICIAL FUNCTION...to take place at the new Association, and Hartford Harding's Produce Manager Bren- took the child to Community ty Major Crimes Task Force, home of the VFW Post #6803 was a members-and-guests-only da Parker look over the supply of strawberries on hand. The Hospital in Watervliet in the ear- Hartford City Police Depart- dinner which took place on Saturday, May 30. Jerry Everett nnniml Strawberry Festival kicks off this weekend with four ly morning hours of April 10. The ment, Michigan State Police Post (left), Tri-County Council Commander, and Bill Kleraey days of fun, excitement, and a parade. (Joe Cheshire photo) child was pronounced dead short- 51, Van Buren County Sheriff's (center), 7th District Commander, were on hand to con- Department, and the Children's gratulate Post #6803 Commander Glenn Openneer and the Protective Services Department members on the opening of the facility located on Red Arrow of the Family Independence Highway, east of Watervliet. (Carole Kleman photo) Strawberry Festival this weekend Agency. By Joe Cheshire Festival days are again at Strawberry Prince and Princess, The festival is expanding again Weaver was arraigned June 3 VFW Post open house is hand, and Hartford is gearing up along with the big Strawberry this year. Added activities begin on the open murder charge and is for its annual Strawberry Festi- Festival Parade. See STRAWBERRY currently lodged at the Van this Saturday, 1-5 p.m. val to be held Thursday, June 11, continued on page 10 County jail, without bail. through Sunday, June 14. By Carole Kiernan The festival has been a main- less hours finishing the interior of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post the building and held their first stay in Hartford since the middle Amtrak schedules Watervliet stops #6803 is hosting an "open house" 1960s when it was known as official function, a members-only 4 to introduce the public to its new dinner, on Saturday, May 30. 'Spanish-American Days." The during Independence Day celebration building on Red Arrow Highway, east of Watervliet. Post #6803 was Post #6803 Commander Glenn Four nominated for ''Just like the good old days, Chicago; the train is slated to bration runs from Wednesday, formed in October 1986. In 1993, Openneer said "the generosity of Citizens of the Year the train will stop at the Water- halt in Watervliet at about 9:15 July 1, through Sunday, July 5, the Coloma VFW Post members a lot of people and the many vliet depot during the City's July a.m. starting with the opening of the see page 11 for details joined Post #6803. A building fund donations by merchants and 4th celebration," former City Flaherty was instrumental in carnival on Wednesday and win- to provide Post #6803 with a per- members" made the building of Mayor Bob Flaherty has an- getting the train to stop in ding up with the Duck Race Sun- manent home was begun in 1989. a permanent home for the VFW festival was organized by the nounced. Watervliet during the City's day afternoon. The fund grew until late last year Post possible. Hartford Jaycees to pay honor to Although the passenger train centennial in 1986 on the Fourth Also on tap for the festivities when construction plans were the many migrant and rural normally roars through town of July. "Many of us remember are fireworks, the grand parade, formed. The public is invited to attend families that harvested the crops twice a day, Flaherty recently when there was passenger ser- a beer tent, live entertainment, Construction on the new the open house on Saturday, June of local farmers. petitioned Amtrak officials to vice to Watervliet as late as the pancakei^r eakf ast, a 5K run, plus building began on January 3 of 13, from 1-6 p.m. Members oi The festival began in the park- have the train stop during the In- early 1970s. This brings back a lot the "Living History Encamp- this year with Smith Lumber Post #6803 will be proudly ing lot behind where City Hall dependence Day Celebration Ju- of memories," he said. ment" and Rendezvous of 1840s Company building the 30'x40' showcasing their new home and now is located and then migrated ly 1-5. The Independence Day Cele- trappers and traders. building. Members spent count- serving refreshments. to Ely Park as it grew in size. The "It's exciting to have the train festival was abandoned for some stop and it's a great opportunity years before being resurrected to have familiies take a train trip together," said Flaherty. Petition to recall Twp. The Amtrak will stop at the 22 Contestants for depot to let off passengers arriv- Strawberry Prince & ing in Watervliet on Friday, July Supervisor resubmitted Princess Contest 3, at approximately 8:30 p.m. By Joe Cheshire service from Medic 1 to Coloma photos on pages 10 & 11 Flaherty has arranged for a The recall effort against Ambulance Service against the school shuttlebus to take prospec- Watervliet Township Supervisor will of the people; 2) Mr. Morlock tive passengers to the St. Joseph Robert Morlock is still under failed to establish a township by the Hartford Business Asso- depot for the ride into Watervliet. way, according to Tina and Jim police force when federal finan- ciation and renamed the Straw- The shuttle will leave Watervliet Enochs, originators of the drive. cial assistance would have been berry Festival. It now encom- City Hall at 7:15 p.m. A new petition has been submit- provided for three years; 3) Mr. passes not only the carnival but The Amtrak leaves Chicago at ted to the Berrien County Clerk's Morlock approved the develop- also arts and crafts booths, live 5:35 p.m., Chicago time. On Sun- Office, redefining the wording ment plans for the Paw Paw entertainment, crowning of the day, July 5, the train will again from the original petition. Lake Golf Course without con- stop in Watervliet, headed for At a clarity hearing June 3, the sulting the Watervliet Town- Board denied the petition citing ship Planning Commission; and the wording was not clearly 4) Mr. Morlock approved a re- Challenger wins defined. The Enochs had listed cent survey without the approval u eight causes for recall, and the of the Board of Trustees." new petition has been condensed Morlock reserved any com- Watervliet School Board down to four. ments until after the Clarity The new petition states: "1) Board rules on the wording of the seat by one vote Mr. Morlock is trying for the new petition. It is slated to meet OUTSTANDING STUDENTS...Genevieve Gelsler (left) and third time to change ambulance on June 22 at 11:30 a.m. By Joe Cheshire By Cliff Stevens Jacob Roe (right) were chosen as this year's Outstanding There was an upset in Water- Incumbent Coloma Board of Senior Girl and Boy. They were named at Friday night's Com- vliet as newcomer Art Frank Education member Cynthia claimed the one vacant School mencement held at Panther Stadium. The annual award has Graffenius defeated her chal- been presented by the school since 1933. (Cliff Stevens photo) Board seat by one vote. Frank lenger, William Stowers, in Mon- CWAEDC makes offer to garnered 79 votes to oust incum- day's annual school election. bent Ivan Winkel who received Unofficial vote totals showed unnamed job candidate 78. Write-in candidate Frank Outstanding Senior Boy Graffenius received 149 votes to By Cliff Stevens Petrovich received a total of 54 Stowers' 99 votes. the position. None of the can- Kenneth Sutton, Chairman of votes. The one four-year Board seat and Girl named at didates' names have been made In Hartford, Inge Lerdal, runn- the Coloma Watervliet Area public by the Board. was the only issue on Monday's Economic Development Cor- ing unopposed, received 49 votes ballot. Sutton said he'd like to see the Watervliet Graduation poration Board, confirmed Mon- post filled by mid-June. for the four-year term. A total of Two hundred fifty ballots were By Cliff Stevens 53 voters turned out, with four day an offer has been made to a cast, with two ballots being spoil- Two Watervliet High School Society, jazz band, football and ballots being spoiled. candidate to assume the duties of ed. seniors were named as the basketball teams.