I "Who was St. Valentine?" In preparation for the upcoming celebration of St. Valentine's Day, first-grade students from Mrs. Miff's class at Watervliet South School shared their opinions on who St. Valentine was and why he gets his own day. For a look at the historical St. Valentine, see the back page. / Rachel Gonzalez: Ml think T^ler Loomis: uProbably he knew Tony Crumb: "Maybe he Courtney Stantz: MHe Branden Bodfish: MHe Kayla Rutherford: uMaybe maybe he was a president/ lots about caring about people.** was Cupid. We celebrate his probably spoke to a whole gave cards to other people he played music in a band. day because it will make crowd of people about just to be nice." I think it is his birthday." (Mary Brost Reck photos) other people happy." loving one another." Watervliet High School Bone marrow testing drive Armchair Quarterback Super Bowl Honor Roll.. Page 6 for Coloma teacher... Page 9 picks... Page 11 I he Combined Newspapers of the Watervliet Reeord, Coloma Courier and Hartford News lo Sill) TRI-CITY RE 727s/ Year Issue #5 February 3, 2005 Seventy-five Cents Evans knifed bv fellow inmate: claimed 78 homicides Father Bob returns to Immaculate Conception Serial killer with Watervliet m ;•* '*2 roots a suspect in Cold Case Team investigation of death; u V troopers ask for information w ••M By Angela Stair gave Evans his address, Moss Mississippi State Penitentiary in I ff 1 u Last October, the Michigan State became a reluctant pen pal. Parchment where they were more Police Cold Case Team reopened the Dr. Moss said Evans went to lenient and that was when he could murder of Janet Chandler who Watervliet schools from kinder- have the TV." worked in a Holland Motel. She was garten to the eighth grade and then Dr. Moss said Evans received a stay abducted and her body was found he moved to Chicago. After that. of execution and was given the later near South Haven in 1979. Moss did not see or hear about him choice of going back out West or FATHER BOB FLICKINGER...presents a children^ homily to the youngest members of Immaculate A confession by the murderer, Don until Evans started writing him. staying in Mississippi. Evans chose Conception Parish in Hartford. (Mary Brost Reck photo) Evans from Watervliet, that he had Moss said he has over 100 letters Mississippi because he had more done the murder had them checking that Evans sent. privileges. Moss said. for any leads on his whereabouts at After receiving a letter a week from "Over the years, I became fond of Hartford Parish welcomes that time and looking into his back- Evans, Moss said he felt guilty that Don," Dr. Moss said. "Now don't ground. he did not write back so began their get me wrong; I felt he should be in Michigan State Trooper D.A. Gates correspondence back and forth. prison for what he did, but our cor- said that Evans confessed to 78 or 79 "Evans never wrote about the mur- respondence did not deal with the back an old friend; Fr. Bob homicides over the years, but only ders he had committed, just about murders he had committed. He By Mary Brost Reck needs and calls of the people. 1 hope of Kalamazoo as a seminarian from 12 or 15 were verified. The murder prison life, what was happening in would write about some of the good Immaculate Conception Catholic to continue to build on the good his home in Colombia. During his: of Janet Chandler was one he told a the world and Watervliet," Moss times he remembered here in Church in Hartford has a new Pastor, things that have been done here in time in Hartford, Fr. Perez-Diaz reporter he had done and the Cold said. Watervliet. Don once wrote that the one who is also a familiar face. the past." worked tirelessly among the migrant Case Team is looking at all possibil- "For his birthday one year, I bought only good times he remembers are The Reverend Robert Flickinger has "We are glad to have him back," and Hispanic communities. He was ities, Gates said. him a TV for his cell," Moss said. from when they lived here, and he been appointed Pastor of stated Margaret Pomeroy, who was known for his efforts to unite peo-: Dr. David Moss, who now has his "He had been in a federal peniten- felt this was his home." Immaculate Conception, as well as parish secretary when Fr. Flickinger pies of different cultures into one; chiropractic office in Coloma, had tiary out West, and they were very Dr. Moss said he has the newspaper San Felipe de Jesus in Fennville. Fr. was last stationed in Hartford. community. He also offered coun-' gone to school with Evans; and, strict. When his execution was get- clipping that tell of Evans' death Flickinger had been serving as "Seeing him up there (on the seling to English and Spanish^ because a mutual friend in Florida ting close, he was moved to the See KILLER cont. on Page 7 Associate Director of Hispanic altar)... it's just like old times, like speaking families. Ministry for the Diocese of he never left." "Fr. (Perez-Diaz) was one of tho Kalamazoo and temporary adminis- Deacon Art Morsaw is glad to have only local resources for the migrant Norm Kellogg named Mr. Hartford 2005 trator of parishes in Vicksburg and Fr. Flickinger back as his new boss. community throughout southwest* By Annette Krieger Marshall and Chris Walker. Mr. Hartford 2005 and his First Mendon. "1 want to say 'Welcome back em Michigan," explained Santiago! Norm Kellogg, a 17-year-old senior Chairman of the contest was Runner-uo will participate in the Mr. Fr. Flickinger previously served the home' to Fr. Bob," noted Morsaw's Lopez, Director of Liturgy and at Hartford High School, was named Michelle Bunn. Serving as master of Blossomtime Contest being held Hartford community as Pastor from wife, Cathy. "This was his home for Music for the parish. "Under his Mr. Hartford 2005 before a packed ceremonies was Rick Ward. March 6 and 7 at the Mendel Center. 1989 to 1994. Many of the babies he many years, and I am glad he is leadership. Immaculate Conceptioit audience on Saturday night, January baptized then are teen-agers now, back. He has some new faces to get built a new church office and had a 29. and some even remember his to know and some old friends to statue commissioned for the parish Kellogg, the son of Mark and Anna famous children's homilies. become reacquainted with, as well. of St. Juan Diego, the first indige- Kellogg, is active in football, track, The Reverend John Grathwohl, rep- Of course, we are also sorry to see nous Mexican saint." and basketball. He is on the year- resenting The Most Reverend James Fr. German go." Recently, the people of the parish book staff and is a member of the Murray, Bishop of the Diocese of The Reverend German Perez-Diaz held a farewell reception honoring Ski Club. He volunteers for the Red Kalamazoo, received Fr. Flick- has served as Pastor in Hartford Fr. Perez-Diaz and his service to the Cross, Habitat for Humanity, Big inger's statement of fidelity and since 1999. Bishop Murray appoint- community. Members of the parish Brothers/Big Sisters, and is tutoring. installed him as the new Pastor dur- ed Fr. Perez-Diaz to further his stud- contributed to the purchase of a His future plans include attending ing Mass on January 30. ies at the John Paul 11 Institute at handcrafted Chalice from Spain, as a Michigan State University where he "Fifteen years ago, 1 stood on this Catholic University of America in reminder of his time with the com- has already been accepted to the same spot and was installed as Washington, D.C. He is pursuing a munity. Math and Science Honors College. Pastor by Fr. John," said Fr. Licentiate in Sacred Theology of "I've known Fr. German since He hopes to become an orthopedic Flickinger. "This is a real feeling of Marriage and Family. When he before his ordination," said Fr. surgeon. deja vu. returns to the Diocese of Kalamazoo Flickinger. "He has done great work Kellogg hopes to bring the Big 2005 MR. HARTFORD AND HIS COURT...(from the left) Second "1 am glad to be back in this com- in approximately two years, he will for the community. 1 wish him all Brothers/Big Sisters program to Runner-up Adam Smith, Mr. Hartford Norm Kellogg, First Runner-up munity," said Fr. Flickinger. "1 look be able to serve in the area of family the best in his studies. He will con- Hartford so that more young people Justin Quigno, and Mr. Nice Guy Wyatt Boothby-Shoemaker. forward to serving the diversity of counseling. tinue to be a great benefit to the could have mentors and positive role (Annette Krieger photo) the community and listening to the Fr. Perez-Diaz came to the Diocese Diocese when he returns." : models in their life. First Runner-up honors were given to Justin Quigno, son of Joe and Would you like to be on the board of education? Petitions must be filed with Leane Quigno. He is an 18-year-old senior and plans to further his edu- Township or County Clerk; deadline to file for candidacy is February 8 cation by attending a four-year uni- By Angela Stair Previously, if a school election were or county clerk.