More news stories and features inside City of Watervliet gets good audit... Page 5 Hartford soldier killed in car crash... Page 8 Coloma woman joined WAACs after Pearl Harbor, Page 9 REMEMBERING PEARL HARBOR Armchair Q-Backs pick They were there on Dec. 7,1941; Tri-City Area H.S. boys basketball review... Page 11 the weekend football the story is on Page 7 Hometown Holiday Happenings... Page 14 game winners, Page 11 The Newspaper for Coloma - Hartford - Watervliet 4^" ""*nrd(a)i2k.com www.tricityrecord.cont 12/31/2020 *81 MIXED DET.-1 SONS TRI-CITY:: SPRINGPORT, Ml 49284 RD 127th Year Issue #49 December 3, 2009 Seventy-five Cents Daytime robbers caught in the act By Annette Christie investigation continued on Tuesday S30,000 cash surety bond. Stickland The observant nature of a neighbor and more stolen property was recov- posted S3,000 bond and was released % resulted in the bust of a pair of robbers ered. on Tuesday. in Hartford Township on Monday af- Homeowner Bryan Young said it ap- Both have a preliminary hearing set ternoon, November 30. The neighbor peared as though the subjects could for December 7. observed a pair of men loading items have been to his property more than Watervliet Police m. * mr* in a pickup truck and alerted the once that day. Upon arrival at the owner of the home and then the scene. Young identified all the items investigating two police. in the pickup as his; but after going different assaults at'a I' Upon arrival, police demanded the through his garage and home, he two to get out of their vehicle; the found that many items were missing Watervliet Police Chief Don Divis driver obeyed, but the passenger, how- in addition to what was currently in said that his department is investigat- ever, fled on foot. Hartford City Police the vehicle. Young said some of the ing two different assaults that oc- Officer Tressa Beltran followed but property has already been returned to curred in a two-day period. did not make contact. Several police him. The first was at Watervliet High *9 agencies were quickly on the scene, Young said, "1 can't say enough about School during the lunch period on including the K-9 units from the the police and their response to this. Monday. Divis said that two females THE WATERVLIET BUSINESS ASSOCIATION...kicked off the holiday Berrien County Sheriff's Department At one point, there were 15 police cars were involved in the altercation in the season Tuesday, December 1, with the annual Christmas Tree Lighting and Van Buren County Sheriff's De- in my driveway." cafeteria. Ceremony in Library Park; caroling by the Watervliet Elementary partment. Another witness stated, "Everyone The other was on Tuesday at Hutchins Children's Choir, directed by school music director Brandon Matson; State Police Trooper Gorham of the w itnessed a phenomenal collaboration Funeral Home. The family distur- and, of course, the timely arrival of Santa on a Watervliet fire truck. South Haven Post said that within five of efforts between all resources pres- bance resulted in an injury to a 19- Watervliet City Manager Troy Clay presented the most honored guest minutes of the K-9 units being de- ent." year-old male. with a "Key to the City" and the "jolly old elP led a stream of anxious ployed, the other suspect was appre- Michigan State Police confirmed the Divis said both cases remain under youngsters across Main Street to Cortez Flooring where he heard Christ- hended. identity of the two suspects Wednes- investigation. mas wishes and posed for pictures. uNana Christmas" was on hand and Gorham said the call came in around day mid-morning, Dec. 2. Thomas read Christmas stories to the youngsters as they waited their turns to Marijuana seized in 1:43 p.m. for a breaking and entering Ray Spangler, 22, of Coloma, and whisper secrets to St. Nick; and free cookies and beverages were served, in progress at the Red Arrow Highway Joshua Shane Strickland, 22, also of Keeler Township; compliments of the folks at Watervliet Hardware. home. Coloma, were arraigned in the Van Emiliano Cortez and his brothers did a fabulous job of decorating their female arrested The two suspects were arrested and Buren County Court system on Tues- store for Santa to visit with the children and their families. Tall Timbers Van Buren County Sheriff Dale R. lodged at the Van Buren County Jail, day. Both face a larceny from a build- Tree Farm in Watervliet Charter Township donated the three Christmas Gribler reports that deputies with his awaiting arraignment. Both face ing charge. trees used in the festive display; and tree decorations were handmade by department arrested a female after breaking and entering charges and the According to Van Buren County Jail children at St. Joseph Catholic School and North Elementary School. locating a large amount of marijuana one who fled also faces a resisting and personnel, Spangler is still incarcer- Santa is scheduled to make a second appearance at Cortez Flooring on obstructing charge. Gorham said the ated. He is being held, pending a Saturday, December 12, between the hours of 10:30 a.m. and 12:00 noon. CONTINUED ON PAGE 8 One of the Tri-City Area families that visited with Santa was the Evans family from Watervliet. Pictured are: Mom Patty; Dad Tony; 4-year-old Hailey; big brother Austin; and eldest sister Lakayla. None of these young- sters had any idea what they wanted for Christmas yet, but there is still plenty of time to make those all-important "lists." Santa gave each a candy cane, which were donated by Harding's Market. (Lynn Attila photo) Parks and Recreation plan "visioning" meetings will POLICE RESPOND...Police units from throughout the area responded quickly to this Red Arrow Highway home in Hartford Township on Monday to a report of two men removing items from the building. One of the be a joint effort of suspects gave up immediately; the other was tracked and captured by the K-9 unit. (Contributed photo) For hometown holiday happenings, see the back page North Berrien communities By Cindy LaGrow visioning sessions where interested The Ramada in Watervliet Charter parties can review a copy of a draft Cider shots, fruit pies, and Township will be the site of a "kick- plan and include comments. Copies off meeting of a "visioning" process will be disseminated to Coloma Public to develop parks and recreation plans Library and at each respective com- gourmet sauces... down at for the communities in North Berrien munity hall. County. The meeting at the Ramada is The dates for the specific community Monday, December 7, at 6:00 p.m. visioning meeting dates are: Grandpa's Cider Mill The communities of Hagar Township, Watervliet City Hall, December 8, at By Chrissy Meek ter, and pumpkin pie are just a few of cessful throughout the year. Betweer City of Waterv liet, Watervliet Charter 6:00 p.m.; Ready for a shot of peanut butter the choices. They also offer hot choco- Thanksgiving and Christmas, they sell Township, and City of Coloma are Hagar Township Hall, December 14, cider? Or how about a homemade fruit late and tea too. And, of course, with "hundreds of pies," Sarah says. collaborating on a joint parks and at 6:00 p.m.; each drink, you might want to buy a Jay said, "Old-fashioned apple cidei recreation plan. The communities see Watervliet Charter Township Hall, pie? Fresh-baked cider donuts and tasty pastry that hits the spot. is still our biggest seller, though." the area in North Berrien County as a December 21, at 6:00 p.m.; gourmet sauces are just other mouth- region and believe that joint planning Coloma City Hall, December 28, at fuls of goodness found at Grandpa's Need to do a little Christmas shop- Jay and Sarah have no future plans foi can be beneficial for all parties 6:30 p.m. Cider Mill. Grandpa's Cider Mill was ping? Sarah Jollay stated, "We have expansion at this time; however. Jay involved. The planning process can opened in 2005 by owners Jay and many great gifts under S20 dollars and says, "I would really like to see £ assist communities in developing 2,100 Watervliet Sarah Jollay who also own Jollay Or- it's nice to get something different tourist center built close by the high- shared visions and eliminate duplica- chards, down the street from the mill, than your typical Christmas present." way to let people know what attrac- tion of efforts. customers without in Coloma. They use many local food products tions we have around this area." The purpose for the community kick- Grandpa's Cider Mill is not your helping to support local community Sarah said, "Watervliet and Colons off meeting is to start generating ex- power Tuesday usual mill. It's a great place to take the farmers. Gift packaging is another ef- are such great cities with so much tc citement and interest about planning family for a Saturday afternoon out or ficient available service. offer. We live in a really unique area At 2:03 Tuesday morning, December for the current and future of the parks even for a little Christmas shopping. Throughout the year, the mill has The\ cannot reproduce us anywhere. I I, about 2,100 Indiana Michigan systems in each of the communities. The mill is open daily from 9:30 a.m. many seasonal events. Apple picking want people to know, when they corm Power customers in the Watervliet At the community kick-off meeting, is such a blast during the harvest sea- to my town and to the Cider Mill, they area experienced an interruption in until 5:30 p.m.