By Kathy Oswalt-Forsythe
Winter has arrived in South County. We have located our car’s ice scrapers and brushes, and our snow shovels stand ready. The ushering in of our Michigan seasons is one of the best parts of living here. While many of us feel winter can drag on a bit too long, the beauty of the flocked snow on the pines or the cardinals feeding in the snow regularly lifts our spirits during winter’s darkness.
People on the move
Cindy Kole, longtime Vicksburg resident, was promoted to executive vice president of First National Bank of Michigan, following her accomplishments as senior vice president and chief operating officer. Cindy has more than 30 years of experience in banking, including wealth management, private banking, human resources, and retail banking.
The Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs’ (CDMRP) Prostate Cancer Research Program (PCRP) named a former Vicksburg resident, Commander Fred R. Cohrs USNR (Ret.), to participate in evaluation of research applications to the program. Commander Cohrs, a 1966 VHS graduate, was nominated by the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center’s Chapter of UsTOO, an international prostate cancer advocacy group. When commenting on serving as a consumer reviewer, Fred said, “It was a privilege to represent prostate cancer patients on this panel and make recommendations for directing taxpayers’ money for important research.”
YouTube video features local singer
A lovely music video featuring Makayla Cardosa walking through Vicksburg’s downtown in a light evening snowfall has been posted on YouTube by Connections Community Church in Schoolcraft. Makayla, a Vicksburg High School graduate, sings the Christmas song “Hush” on the Main Street sidewalks and the gazebo in the Historic Village. The link is https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5YgcOL3hUYg
Concrete block mystery solved!
In Leeanne Seaver’s November article, she shared architectural historian Cheri Szcodronski’s discovery of an unusual block used in foundations and structures around the village. Ever-helpful local historian, Maggie Snyder, cracked the case, finding a reference to the source in Dr. Arle Schneider’s 2004 book, “A Tale of One Village.”:
“The Clapp Brothers business began in 1884 with a small planing mill, on the East side of Portage creek across from the end of South Street. The brothers used the Portage Creek to bring lumber up from Barton Lake. The stream was narrowed with timbers to power the mill. It ran at first with an undershot wheel and was soon replaced with a steam engine….soon after a sawmill was added. The Clapps also operated a hardware store stocked with a complete line of building materials, pumps, paint, glass harnesses, dishes, silverware and windmills.”
Thanks, Maggie!
The Carhartt jacket and chainsaw wish fulfilled!
We never know what might happen when making wishes public. Dr. David Schriemer’s patients and friends will be happy to know he received both a Carhartt jacket and a chainsaw for Christmas. He is a happy fellow!
Many thanks
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