I Coming to Watervliet Twp. Industrial Park $ 80 million gas plant means 350 jobs On Thursday, May 11, Berrien employ at least 50 people once it is use it intends to process 20 million have anymore information than was about the location and the area sur- Watervliet Township, the City of County Brown field Authority appr- operational. The economic impact of bushels of com annually into etha- released at this time. rounding their proposed new site. Watervliet, and the Coloma Water- oved the sale of 34 acres of land in this plant could generate an addi- nol. County Commissioner Victoria Township resident Bob Becker vliet Economic Development Corp- the Watervliet Red Arrow Industrial tional 300 jobs in the local agricul- "What's not to like Chandler told the audience that summed it up, "Why not this com- oration (CWAEDC). Park to NextGen Energy LLC, an tural and service sectors. future public hearings would be held munity? We have close proximity to Six years ago, the Brownfield about Watervliet?" ethanol production company out of The company indicated that it by NextGen that would, hopefully, 1-94, the rail service is right there, Authority acquired the property Southfield, MI. NextGen intends to selected this location because of the As expected, the discussion of this answer all questions and take care of and what's not to like about Water- after the closure of the Fletcher construct and operate a 50-million- park's established infrastructure, rail recent development came up at the any concerns. vliet?" Paper mill in Watervliet. Through its gallon-per-year ethanol production access, proximity to 1-94, and avail- Watervliet Township Board meeting When questions arose about why The Watervliet Red Arrow Indus- partnership with the state, the plant within the park. ability of the St. Joseph River on Monday night. May 15. Super- this company would come out of trial Park was created through a Brownfield Authority began remedi- According to NextGen representa- Commercial Harbor for barge traf- visor Dan Hutchins announced that nowhere and want to build here, partnership of Berrien County, the ating the property and developing tives, the plant will cost roughly 80 fic. These transportation services he would try to answer questions, if Chandler said that representatives Berrien County Brownfield Auth- the infrastructure for the park, million dollars to construct and were critical to the company beca- possible, but warned that he did not from the company were very excited ority, the MDEQ, the MEDC, covrnvw QP PAQE12 Affordable housing gets green Police seek witnesses and Mrs. SW Mich, and Pre-Teen light in Hartford and Watervliet information to Strong Armed contests this weekend at townships, Page 7 Robbery in Riverside, Page 9 CHS Auditorium, Page 14 I he ( omhiiud Newspapers ol the Watervliet Kecord, C oloma ( (tin ier and llartlord News lo suhserlhe. dial 463-NI \\ S TRI-CITY RE< 122nd Year Issue #20 May 18, 2006 Seventy-five Cents Immigration issues hit close to home | No food, no prospects; Legal vs. illegal debate | no other way to live Growing Hispanic population fever and diarrhea. We traveled to a in Van Buren County noted by Reyna's Story town and tried to take her to the hos- pital, but they would not take her By Mary Brest Reck National Geographic magazine because we did not have the money ,As the immigration reform issue By Mary Brost Reck tories, or in small businesses. Others to pay first. My dad tried to borrow heats up (see related story), it might As the country heats up in debate hope to join family members already the money, but they said we would- be useful to examine the personal over the immigration issue, citizens living in the community. n't be able to pay it back." story of someone who is watching have gathered throughout the coun- The trend has been recognized Turned away from the hospital, the pending legislation most closely. try to either protest or support vari- nationally. A November 2003 Reyna's only sister died. According Reyna came to this country 10 years ous bills. The local impact of these National Geographic focus on to Reyna, the death certificate indi- ago. She candidly acknowledged issues is evident. "Latinos Rise Nationwide" high- cated that the baby died of malnour- that her family came to America in FRIDAY AND HIS AMIGOS...Farmer Paul Friday (background) and The Southwest Michigan communi- lighted Van Buren County, Mich- ishment. 1 an illegal manner. Reyna was 11 his workers prune some of his patented Flamin Fury peach trees. As the ty has seen a substantial increase in igan, as one of the areas that has "My mother never got over that. years old at the time. season progresses, Friday expects to employ approximately 25 farm the number of Hispanic individuals seen an increase in what the U.S. She still cries. She says it is the "People ask why we came here," hands, mostly migrant workers who come primarily from Texas and and families over the past decades. Census Bureau now recognizes as worst thing you can go through - to said Reyna. "They ask why we did- Mexico. (Mary Brost Reck photo) Some come to work the farms, fac- CQIs mVW OH BACK PAGE see your baby die because you don't n't do it legally. We came here, even have enough money. I just don't illegally, because we didn't have any want anyone to have to go through other way." that." Lisa Norden named Reyna remembers the situation in her country of origin when she was a The struggle to survive little girl. Reyna says her family tried every- Life in Mexico thing they could to make ends meet Hartford Firefighter of the Year back in Mexico. The whole family, "I remember not wanting to ask my By Angela Stair honored." to be gone." children included, worked for a time mother for something to eat, because The Hartford Fire Department held Jennifer Heminger, the other wo- Norden's husband, Kyle, also works sewing soccer balls. she would always cry when one of its annual Appreciation Dinner on man firefighter, said Norden recei- for the Hartford Fire Department "We used to do that from sunrise to the little ones asked for food and she Saturday, May 6. Lisa Norden was ved the award because she is a good and is First Lieutenant. When she sunset. We made $30 a week to sup- could not give it to them," said named Firefighter of the Year. firefighter. "She never has to be told was dating him (they have been port all of us - my parents, my five Reyna. She remembers her mother Most improved firefighter was what to do; she just knows and goes married four years), she became in- brothers, and me." Soon, even that being very skinny at the time. She Nicholas Woodruff, Scott Weberg ahead and does it. Lisa (Norden) has terested in firefighting. opportunity came to an end. recalls the fainting spells she would received his 25-year pin and Jason been able to attend 90% of the fire Becoming a firefighter took a while, "There were no jobs left in our little experience. Meachum received his 10-year pin. calls." as Norden had to attended the nine- town. We tried to get a job unloading "We later found out it was because Chief Ed Riley said the title of Norden works as a paraprofessional month-long firefighting school. She trucks, but even to do that you had to she was not eating properly. She Firefighter of the Year is a very pres- at Red Arrow Elementary School said they teach you everything about have graduated junior high." Their wanted to save all the food for the tigious honor. He said Norden was and helps students from kinder- a fire so, when you go to your first village did not have school past children." Reyna's articulate voice given the title because of her per- garten through second grade with one, you know what to do. sixth grade. began to crack as she recounted the formance over the past year. reading. She said the school knows Norden also holds a First Re-spon- LISA NORDEN...was named Finally, when Reyna's older brother memory. Norden is one of two women pre- that when her pager goes off she has der license for medical calls the "Firefighter of the Year" at the turned 15, he expanded his search But the worst was yet to come. sently at the department, and he said to leave and everyone there is very department goes on. Hartford Fire Departments an- for a j ob further and further. And Tears welled in Reyna's eyes as she there have been many women fire- understanding about it. She said, "I "I love being a firefighter," Norden nual awards dinner on May 6. then he heard there were farm jobs fold her story. fighters over the years. '1 was real put in extra time before or after said. "I would recommend it to any- (Angela Stair photo) available in a place called Indiana. '"My sister was 2V2 years old. She surprised to get the award and very school to make up for the time 1 had one." CWTiWEP OP MCh PAQZ had been sick for a long time with a Marge Yetzke is 2006 "Best Mom"V. ; 20,h year for Tri-City Record award By Angela Stair ter and he said he had not." old enough to help her as a junior flat of flowers from Harding's in Marge Yetzke of Watervliet in John Yetzke, a trustee on the Bain- leader.