VOLUME 89, NUMBER 14 CASS CITY, MICHIGAN - WEDNESDAY, JULY 5, 1995 FIFTY CENTS 14 PAGES PLUS ONE SUPPLEMENT Near-perfect weather greets festival crowds by Melissa B. firm0 “We certainly look forward Prettiest Float; and the Octa- consider not returning to the Staff Writer to doing it next year,’’ said gon Barn float took the Most festival next year. Although dark skies threat- festival co-chairman Jim Original Award. They are looking to find a ened Cass City early in the Ceranski. Following the parade, many tall fence to close off the pull weekend, sun and cooler Festival coordinator Jane festival-goers made their way arena in the future. than normal temperatures Hittler said she thought the to the north end of the Cass “If you have it every year, took center stage Saturday, threat of rainy weather might City Recreational Park to you keep having more lifting spirits high at the 17th have kept some people away, watch the Thumb Area Trac- people coming,” she re- Annual Fourth of July festi- but added each event she at- tor Pulling Association’s marked. The association val * tended was a success. truck and tractor pull. could put on a bigger show “From my personal stand- “There is just so much work Pull organizer Sharon with more attendance. point, I thought it went very entailed in every little detail Brown said enough people And inside the pull, every- well,” commented festival of the event,” Hittler ex- attended the pull to raise the thing ran like clockwork, co-chairman Alan Sward. “I plained. more than $2,000 needed to producing a 2 1/2 hour show. think we’re very lucky some- “The kids’ games were fan- pay the bills. “It was a real nice pull,” times,” he continued, refer- tastic. We had twice or 3 “Everyone that came in just Brown said. ring to the festival’s tradition times as many games as had a great time,” Brown At the other end of the park, of nice weather. we’ve had in years past,” she commented, adding many a constant crowd populated And judging from his expe- observed, adding there were local businesses supported the lawn around the ex- riences at the Lions Pavilion, continuous lines at each the pull financially. panded music program in the the crowds were hungry, event geared toward chil- “We would not have been gazebo, signaling its success, Sward helped fellow Lions dren. able to come in without their Hit tler said. Club members serve up “It does reaffirm the fact support,” she said. And program organizer Jan chicken dinners in the after- that this is a family event, and But a handful of people Moore said the show went I LOVE A PARADE - Jessica Lynn Prieskom, 111 months, daughter of Matt and noon and bratwurst in the it’s very healthy for kids and watched the pull from out- off without a hitch. Dawn Prieskorn of Cass City, enjoyed a balloon while waiting for the annual Fourth evening - both menus sold adults alike,’’ she said, “And side the roped-off area with- Just north of the gazebo, the out. until kids can go out on their out paying, causing Brown battle raged on in the 7th of July Parade to get underway Saturday. Picture-perfect weather greeted crowds “On an overall basis, it was own, they have to go to these and her husband Bruce to Please turn to back page. - throughout the village’s 17th annual festival. a wonderful day,” he re- things with at least one par- marked. ent.” One such family event was Hunter appointed trustee the greased pig contest, which drew some 40 chil- Goodchild hired dren, prompting event orga- nizer Charlie Carpenter to open a 3rd division. as new Kingston 0-G board okays new budget Zach Dorland, 8, caught one of 2 pigs donated by the Dave Little family in the 9- Owen-Gage Board of of Mlvenna’s 4-year term, as the previous year. ing - state aid - will total estimates until school of- The P be year-old and under category; Education appointed a new Turning to finances, school The total is composed of about $1.66 million, some ficials have a handle on a superintendent 10-year-old Travis Jensen board trustee, and approved* Supt. Manuel Thies outlined $603,200for elementary in- $47,000 more than in 1994- number of variables, includ- proposed 1995-96 budget struction and support staff, 95. Thies explained the 3- ing enrollment, which deter- beat 8 other 10- to 12-year- director, state/federal pro- a the 1995-96 spending plan, old boys to take home the A veteran Montrose School during a special meeting held saying the budget is tentative $822,703 for secondary in- percent hike, from $5,200 mines the amount of state grams director, community $10 prize; and Erin District oficial will take over last wekk in the Owendale at best and will likely un- struction and, support staff, to funding the district will re- education director, public per pupil $5,353 per pu- McMahan, 12, won in the the reins as superintendent of High School library. dergo several changes over $40,000 for elementary and pil, represents the incremen- ceive. the Kingston School District. relations director and cur- The board unanimously the the next several months secondary supplies, tal increase promised by the In other business during the 10- to 12-year-old girls divi- riculum director. $30,000 sion. The Kingston Board of voted in favor of the nomi- as school officials receive for capital outlay, $200,000 state. June 28 special session, the Education last week hired Goodchild earned his Bach- nation of Paul Hunter of more definite information for plant operation and main- Other funding sources in board approved the hiring of A little less energy was re- George Goodchild, 50, after elor of Arts degree at Michi- Gagetown to fill a vacancy regarding state funding. tenance, $90,000in transpor- 1995-96 include: $60,527 in Joel Douglas. quired of those who earlier narrowing a field of more gan State University, and his left by Lisa McIlvenna, who He noted approval of a bud- tation costs, and $5,000 in non-homestead tax revenue, The new teacher earned a in the day joined the crowd than a dozen candidates to master’s degree at Eastern recently resigned. get at this time meets a state interest for money borrowed $48,000in interest on invest- Bachelor of Science Degree on Main Street to watch the just 2; Goodchild and An- Michigan University. If he accepts the appoint- mandate requiring schools to in anticipation of future rev- ments, and $63,500in Chap- in history from Grand Valley parade. drew Cook of Swartz Creek. He has completed a num- bent, Hunter would serve draft a budget and hold a enue. ter I and I1 dollars. State University and a “I thought the parade crowd Interviews of the finalists ber of hours beyond his bntil the next regular school hearing prior to the start of On the revenue side, Thies Thies promised the board a teacher’s certification in his- was excellent,” Ceranski were held in May and the master’s and is certified both election in June 1996. He the new fiscal year. estimates funding will total more detailed picture of the tory and social studies from commented. school board offered as a superintendent and cen- would then have the option Thies estimated expendi- $1.797 million in the next budget at the regular July Western Michigan Univer- “The clowns were wonder- Goodchild the job during its tral office administrator. of seeking reelection to com- tures will total $1.79 million school year. meeting, but again empha- sity, according to high school ful, and we had a few extra June 26 monthly meeting. He is a veteran, having plete the remaining 2-years in 1995-96, about the same The biggest source of fund- sized the numbers will only Please turn to back page. clowns around,” Hittler re- served with the U.S. Air marked, Goodchild, who has 17 Force during the Vietnam Featured in the parade were years of administrative expe- War. this year’s 4 award-winning rience, has spent the bulk of Goodchild’s salary as the floats, including the Thumb his 29-year career in educa- new Kingston superinten- Cass City native National Bank President’s tion in the Montrose School dent hasn’t been set yet. Award winner. District, where he currently “A contract is now being Shabbona United Method- serves as supervisor of op- negotiated and he will be Delong part of effort t ‘0 ist Church’s float was judged erations. coming on board in July,” the Most Sentimental with its The husband and father of said current Supt. Jerry H. praying hands bursting out of 3, has also served as a middle Laycock, who is retiring af- a globe; the judges voted the school principal, assistant ter 40 years in education, in- help Kenya preserves First Presbyterian Church of high school principal, tech- cluding 12 years at the helm Cass City’s float to be the nology coordinator, security of Kingston Schools. by Melissa B. firrno professors thought we’d be.” Staff Writer DeLong studied in Kenya from June 1 to June 24 pk Some 14 rolls of film show- as ing the Kenyan countryside of a first-year program orga- nized through MSU’s fisher- remain undeveloped in Sharie DeLong’s bags, but ies and wildlife program. the papers and presentations “Anytime you do some- she helped write could al- thing for the first time, there will be kinks,” she said.