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Visit us at BigCLumber.com and follow us on Facebook The Hometown Paper for Coloma-Hartford-Watervliet 463-6397 E-mail [email protected] E-edition tricityrecord.com TRI-CITYEst. 1882 Vol. 137 Issue #2 January RECORD 10, 2019 Seventy-five Cents Watervliet eyes plan that includes $3 million loan for city improvements By Annette Christie water and sewer systems, and the over- The Watervliet City Commission had all asset management plan would be in- a continuation of its discussion into an cluding roads and other infrastructure. overall asset management plan for the Other pieces of the puzzle include City’s infrastructure at their first meet- technology tools that will provide per- ing of 2019 held Tuesday night. They manent records that tell the story of the have been working for months with city’s infrastructure no matter who is Wightman and Associates on a pro- sitting at the Commissioner table or posed asset management plan that serving as city staff. All of the data, MISS WATERVLIET for 2019 and her court were crowned Sunday afternoon at the Watervliet High School au- could help them manage and fund fu- maintenance, and history are available ditorium. The court includes (from the left): Miss Congeniality Natalie Wesaw, 2nd runner-up Emma Kraklau, ture improvements to their aged infra- at the click of the button. “The staff Miss Watervliet Hannah Yerington; and 1st runner-up Emma Yazel. (TCR photo by Annette Christie) structure. Funding options in the form has really embraced the technological of a USDA grant were also discussed. tools available,” Smaka said, adding, Wightman Associate Frank Lapeer, “Having data driven decisions is the ul- Hannah Yerington crowned MissYazel, the Watervliet 18-year-old is a senior at manager of the Stormwater, Asset timate goal.” By Annette Christie she will attend college in pursuit of a Management and Wastewater (SAW) With an asset management plan in The Watervliet Community Pageant master’s degree in Automotive Design Watervliet High School and attends Grant, and Wightman Engineer Alan place, the city can go from being a fix was held Sunday, January 7 before a Engineering. She hopes to support her Lake Michigan College. She will con- Smaka provided an overview including it when it breaks scenario into a more packed audience at the Watervliet High own Pro Stock Drag Racing Team. tinue her education further at Wayne an education and choices for the City proactive system. School Auditorium waiting to see who The new queen is the winner of two State University where she will receive Commission to consider as they talk Financial aspect of would be crowned Miss Watervliet for national drag racing events, and receiv- a bachelor’s degree in Public Health. about their infrastructure. asset management 2019. At the end of the event it was ing an Iron Man Trophy in both events She ultimately will become a pediatri- Lapeer said the primary objective of From a financial standpoint, the City Hannah Yerington who took the crown. in the same year. She has been a divi- cian with her own practice. the SAW Grant was to assess inven- Commission looked at what kind of in- Hannah, 17, is a senior attending Wa- sion final qualifier for six consecutive Yazel is the recipient of the Daughters tory, make conditional assessments, es- creases in rates it would take to do cap- tervliet High School. She is the daugh- years and has won multiple first place of the American Revolution Good Cit- tablish the level of service, evaluate the ital improvements. The figures for the ter of Orville and Rhonda Yerington. trophies. izen award and is a Girl’s State repre- criticality of the systems, and to de- operating expenditures included what In school she is involved in choir, Na- Hannah is a volunteer coach for the sentative. velop a capital improvement plan. tional Honor Society, Club Yuma, and Girls on the Run program and donates She is a MITES Regional winner for woodworking and placed 8th at the With that 90% funded SAW Grant, the See CITY OF WATERVLIET is a College Ambassador. her time to blood and food drives. MITES State Competition, and a city was already able to look at storm continued on Page 3 Following her high school education, Selected as first runner-up was Emma Future veterinarian claims Coloma Queen title; Mr. Coloma has college Club,track Health Occupation star Students in of Coloma his as itssights 2019 Mr. Coloma. The America and the Professional Health contest was held in conjunction with Career Academy. the Miss Coloma pageant. The DAR Citizenship Award winner Taylor, 17, is a senior attending has been on the honor roll for four Coloma High School. He is the son of years and has received academic and Tuesday and Sinatra Taylor. CO-MR. WATERVLIET… Allen varsity letters. In high school, Taylor is involved in Chapin (left) and Derrick Following high school, she plans to football, track and field, and indoor Burkhardt will represent the com- attend Grand Valley State University or track. He has received the most im- munity of Watervliet in the Mr. Northern University to study nursing. proved athlete for track, and has Blossomtime contest. The two serve Being that there were no eliminations, brought home a state title for track. as Co-Mr. Watervliet. all 10 contestants took part in the He hopes to obtain a scholarship to (TCR photo by Annette Christie) whole contest. They began the contest further his education and to continue to with an opening dance number to contribute to the track sport at the col- MITES Regional drafting winner and “This is Me” and had two formal ap- lege level. 8th place and honorable mention at the pearances. The other contestants were Zack Lake, 18, was named first run- State Competition. Narelle Hickman, Emily Greenman, ner-up. He is the son of Ryan Lake and Yazel is Vice President of the National Alexis Saucedo, Emma Young, Caro- Amy Gunderson. The senior attending Honor Society and Co-President of the line Miota, Kivi Costigan, and Skylar Coloma High School plans to play Class of 2019. She has earned several Hicker. football at the college level and be- multiple academic letters. She has par- The emcees for the evening were for- yond. ticipated in basketball, track and vol- mer Blossomtime royalty including In high school he is involved in foot- leyball all years of high school and was MISS COLOMA for 2019 and her court were crowned Saturday evening 2016 Miss Coloma and Miss Blossom- ball, baseball, Student Council, and has named Team Captain for the Lady Pan- at the Coloma High School Auditorium. They are (from the left): Second time Ashley Sipla. She was joined by been on the honor roll. He has been thers Volleyball team. runner-up and Miss Congeniality Cassidy Dryer; Miss Coloma Samantha 2016 Mr. South Haven and Mr. Blos- named the Tri-City Record Press Box Emma Kraklau was named second Scott; and First runner-up Amber Street. somtime Armani May. Player of the Week. runner-up. She is an 18-year-old senior (TCR photo by Annette Christie) The theme of the contest was “The David Hiler was a dual title winner attending Watervliet High School and Spirit of America” and the stage was being named Mr. Nice Guy and second is the daughter of Steve and Mary Beth them out of their comfort zone. By Annette Christie decorated with symbols of patriotism runner-up. The 17-year-old senior at- Kraklau. Future veterinarian Samantha Scott Selected for first runner-up was including the Statue of Liberty and the tending Coloma High School is the son In high school, Kraklau is involved in claimed the Miss Coloma title for 2019 Amber Street. She is a 17-year-old sen- American Flag. of Keith and Brandy Hiler. soccer, National Honor Society, Stu- at the annual pageant held Saturday ior attending Coloma High School. In high school he is involved in foot- dent Council, Peer to Peer, Science night. Street is involved in Leo Club, Na- Mr. Coloma has college ball, basketball and baseball. He en- Olympiad, Prom Committee and vol- Scott is a 17-year-old senior attending tional Honor Society, and Auto Shop. track star in his sights joys working on cars and will turn that leyball. Coloma High School. She is the She has been on the Honor Roll for Sin`cere Taylor hopes to add college like into a career as he plans to become She plans to further her education to daughter of Billy and Rhonda Scott. four years, has received her varsity and track star to his resume, but until then a mechanic following high school.