By Sue Moore
A Vicksburg High School 1998 graduate, David Olson, has been accorded a singular honor by the Grand Rapids Business Journal. It named him one of “40 young business professionals under the age of 40” from a group of 294 nominees. He and his family were feted at a banquet in October to celebrate his accomplishments.
Olson, the son of David Olson in Vicksburg, owner of the Postman on Sprinkle Road, serves as executive manager of the Principal Financial Group in Grand Rapids. He is also a chef and works closely with the Peter Secchia Culinary Institute of Grand Rapids. He recently entered three recipes for beer in the Art Prize contest. The three were granted first, second and third place. His dad said there were plenty of other entries. He has helped to raise $350,000 for scholarships for young chefs at the Institute.
In high school, Olson was a pitcher, having been coached by his father through his many years in Little League in Vicksburg. He attended West Virginia University on a baseball scholarship, got hurt and transferred to Grand Valley State University where he pitched and was captain on its Division II championship team. Now young Dave has coached his son in Little League, keeping the family tradition alive.
Pine View Golf Course Pays Out $10,000 for a Hole in One
A hole in one is not all that unusual these days, said Steve Scott, general manager of Pine View Golf course near Schoolcraft. But it isn’t often that a hole in one earns the golfer $10,000 because he put $5 in the kitty for a chance to win the big prize. Larry Doorn of Dowagiac did just that on Monday, October 15 on #18 on Hemlock with the wind in his face using a 7 iron from 120 yards away. It was the fourth hole in one during this retiree’s lifetime, but never with a $10,000 reward at the end of the day. Usually, it’s just for bragging rights.
United Way Flapjack Fundraiser
Several luminaries were paired in a flapjack flinging contest to benefit United Way recently at the Vicksburg United Methodist Church family center. Village managers from Vicksburg and Schoolcraft squared off as did Vicksburg School Board President Skip Knowles vs. Superintendent Keevin O’Neill. Many of the flapjacks landed outside the goal, but it didn’t matter because United Way was the beneficiary of donations amounting to $3,635 that will benefit the community. The drive for pledges will continue through the fall with a goal of $35,000.
Car Accident at the Dam on Washington Street
A visitor from Three Rivers, in Vicksburg on a rainy evening, drove headlong into the dam on Washington Street. He was fortunate that the rail guards stopped his momentum sufficiently. Rescuers found his front wheels perched dangerously above the water below.
Quilt Trail Publicity
Michigan Blue Magazine did a four-page color feature on Vicksburg’s Quilt Trail. It interviewed Kitch Rhinehart, founder of the quilt trail, and took glorious photographs of many of the barn quilts. The magazine is circulated throughout west Michigan and can be purchased at Costco, CVS, Meijer, Target, Walgreen and Spartan stores.