by Justin Gibson | Nov 1, 2018 | Sports, Vicksburg
By Travis Smola
The Vicksburg varsity football team ended their season with a 3-5 record after a 37-7 loss at Three Rivers.
The Bulldogs’ lone score in their final game came on an 87-yard kick-off return by senior Shane Earl in the second quarter. Earl also had an interception in the contest. The loss marks the end of a long, hard season that saw Vicksburg missing out on the playoffs.
“We just couldn’t get into a rhythm offensively or defensively in a lot of games,” Coach Tom Marchese said.
The Bulldogs’ last victory of the season was a 70-28 win over the South Haven Rams on homecoming night. The game will long be remembered for the Bulldog faithful as senior Caleb Welch made Michigan high school football history.
Welch averaged 14.1 yards a carry as he rumbled to 354 yards on 25 carries. But the most eye-popping stat of the night was the eight touchdowns he scored. Welch now joins an elite group of only two other players to score eight touchdowns in a game in MHSAA history.
Six of his scores came in the first half. He had three shorter TD runs, but Welch absolutely shredded the Ram defense again and again by breaking off long touchdown runs of 35, 14, 19, 36 and 50 yards. That last one was the opening play of the third quarter.
“He was running really hard,” Marchese said. “When he gets going downhill with some speed in open areas he’s tough.”
Marchese gave credit to the offensive line for opening up some huge holes all game. “He couldn’t do it without the lineman and his lead blocker, Brandon Thompson, did a heck of a job as well,” Marchese said. “I couldn’t be more proud of our guys.”
Vicksburg fans can definitely look forward to some good things next season, especially the return of sophomore quarterback Jacob Conklin. He impressed fans and opposing teams alike with his calm demeanor and playmaking ability both passing and scrambling.
“He did a really good job of being a silent leader and speaking up when he needed to,” Marchese said. “I think he did an outstanding job not only throwing the ball and running the ball, but also becoming a leader and that’s kind of tough as a sophomore.”
The team will also return key pieces like junior receiver Chase Myers, one of Conklin’s favorite targets and junior left tackle Kyle Rose, who was a force on both the O-line and the defensive front all year. The end result may not have been what they drew up when planning the season, but Marchese said the effort put forth by the boys was exactly what he asked for.
“We’ve got good things coming,” Marchese said.
by Justin Gibson | Nov 1, 2018 | Sports, Vicksburg
Front row from left: Drew Habel, Jake Goodall, Colin Schramer, Noah Dinzik, Cory Hogue, Jayson Fulmer, Reed Tassell. Second row from left: Jack McCaw, Drew Gless, Chase Wilmont, Aiden Woosley, Nathan Schnepp, Connor Tessin, Jonathan Hess, Chris White. Third row from left: Levi Lux, Alex VanSweden, Brendan Kelly, Coach Minnis, Coach Smith, Coach Wadley, Zach Post, Wyatt Glenn. Not pictured: Andrew Moberly, Coach Town. Photo by Lisa Harbour.
By Travis Smola
While Vicksburg’s varsity football team didn’t have quite the year it had hoped for in 2018, the 7th grade team shows the future is very bright for the Bulldogs.
That’s because the 7th graders finished with a perfect 6-0 record on the season. “I think they surpassed all expectations and the future looks very bright for them,” Head Coach Jeffery Smith said. That may be bit of an understatement. The first indication this was going to be a special year came in the opening game of the year when they defeated powerhouse Edwardsburg 22-0.
Smith is a Vicksburg graduate who also brought his experience of playing for Western to the team. This was his second year of coaching this team. He has worked with the boys, including his son, a few times over the years with four years in the rocket football program.
The shutout was just the first of many to come as Vicksburg outscored their opponents all season. At the end of the year they had an incredible stat. “We outscored our opponents 200-0,” Smith said.
As the season wore on, the push to keep opponents off the scoreboard became a rallying cry. “Their defensive coach (Brandon) Wadley put it in their head ‘We’re not going to get scored upon,’ and they really bought into that and were determined to make that happen,” Smith said.
While the win against Edwardsburg was impressive, Smith said the Otsego game was probably their biggest victory of the year. That particular Otsego team had not lost in rocket football in three years. Vicksburg topped them 38-0.
“Walking off the field their coaches were like ‘Man, your kids can hit, block at all levels, they didn’t miss tackles,’” Smith said. He added that they had 21 players and 18 of them started at some point. “It was a total team effort,” he said.
It’s safe to say the future is looking really bright for Bulldog football.
by Justin Gibson | Nov 1, 2018 | Community, Schoolcraft, Vicksburg
Vicksburg
11/3 – Prudential Nursery Annual Art Sale, Richardson St., 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
11/3 – Sat. Generous Hands Fall Extravaganza fundraiser, 5:30 p.m., Indian Run Golf Course, tickets $35 in advance by contacting Sheri Louis at 269-370-7965.
11/6 – Tues. State and local Election Day – 7 a.m.-8 p.m.
11/9 – Fri. Vicksburg Ladies’ Library Auxiliary, A Bit About the British Royals presented by Marilyn Jones, 1 p.m. Vicksburg District Library, public welcome to attend.
11/10 – Sat. Lions Club fall clean-up from 9 a.m.-noon. Rain date would be 11/17 at the Historic Village and Sunset Lake Park. They would appreciate lots of volunteers.
11/12 – Mon. Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5189, will observe Veterans’ Day at 11 a.m. in Oswalt Park in downtown Vicksburg. The public is urged to attend.
11/16 – Fri. Blood Drive, Vicksburg United Methodist Church, 217 S. Main St., 11 a.m.-4:45 p.m.
11/17 – Sat. Vicksburg High School Project Graduation Craft Show 9 a.m.-3 p.m. at Sunset Elementary School.
11/22 – Thurs. Thanksgiving Day
12/04 – Tues. Family Christmas Celebration, Vicksburg United Methodist Church, 217 S. Main. 7 p.m. “Room for a Little One” presented by Ken & Jolene Cron and friends with flute & tuba quartets, singing children, vocal duet, picture story, stringed instruments & more. FREE. Light refreshments will follow the program.
Climax
11/10 – Sat. Climax United Methodist Church Fall Bazaar at the fellowship building by the church. 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
Fulton
11/3 – Sat. Fulton Christian Church Bazaar, 9 a. m.-3 p.m. 14108 W Ave. Fulton.
11/6 – Tues. State and local Election Day – 7 a.m.-8 p.m. Road millage on the ballot.
Schoolcraft
11/ 1 – Thurs. The Vintage Typewriter Exhibit starts for all of November at the Schoolcraft Library.
11/5 – Monthly PTO meeting, 5 p.m. at the Elementary school.
11/6 – Tues. State and local Election Day – 7 a.m.-8 p.m.
11/7 – Mon. Adult Book Club at 2 p.m. The discussion this month is on the book The Marsh King’s Daughter by Karen Dionne at the Schoolcraft Library.
11/22 – Thurs. Thanksgiving Day
11/29 – Harlem Wizards Basketball showdown with Schoolcraft Schools faculty, high school gym, 7 p.m.
by Justin Gibson | Oct 19, 2018 | Community, Government, Vicksburg
-
-
Photo by Taylor Kallio.
-
-
Photo by Taylor Kallio.
By Jef Rietsma
A vote labeled the most important within a 100-year period in Vicksburg will await its village council decision on Oct. 29.
Council members are expected to decide the fate of a proposed $60 million renovation of the former Simpson Paper Company, as the village’s planning commission unanimously endorsed the potential development at its Oct. 17 special meeting.
Village Manager Jim Mallery took any suspense out of the commission’s likely position, when he concluded a 15-minute statement at the onset of the meeting by declaring his and staff’s full support of the application for the planned-unit development (PUD) agreement.
“What I termed on Oct. 3 is arguably, the most important decision this village has had in front of it 50 years in either direction. The potential positive impact to our village will be long-lasting and around for generations,” Mallery said. “It is our recommendation, based on the advice of our experts and our staff, that this commission support and recommend approval of the document that’s in front of you.”
Eighteen citizen comments and nearly two hours later, the seven-member commission paid heed to Mallery’s support and cleared the way for the matter to appear before the village council.
The tipping point that ultimately generated the commission’s and Mallery’s support could fairly be pegged to a series of critical concessions yielded by the project’s backer, Chris Moore, late the night before and only hours ahead of the planning commission’s meeting.
Tim Frisbie, a planning commission member and also a part of the seven-person village council, said the last-minute negotiating yielded a result that he could live with.
“There was language in (the original document), regarding sound that we had an issue with … that was a sticking point,” Frisbie said, following the meeting. “Negotiations late on Oct. 16 ended in disagreement, but we reconvened our conversations today. Chris called me personally and we discussed it, my issue with it impacting the (adjacent areas), and they ended up removing the language completely.”
Frisbie said everyone involved on both sides of the proposal clearly wanted to see some form of a plan garner approval. Still, he had comments written and ready to share at the meeting, where he was prepared to oppose the plan.
Frisbie said he discarded those notes at 2:15 p.m., not long after the various sticking points with Moore appeared to have been resolved.
Paper City’s proposal includes a conversion of the existing historical structure and grounds to a multi-use facility to include apartments, office space, event space, multiple food- and beverage-production facilities, a craft brewery and beer gardens.
It also plans to include outdoor venues for live performances where the majority of concerts will be one-night shows, not multiple days. “We’ve asked for up to two weekends a year of multiple day festivals,” Koney said.
More than any other issue, the live-music component received the most attention – and criticism. Project Manager Jackie Koney said original plans called for amplified sound to cease at midnight Fridays and Saturdays, and 11 p.m. any other days of the week.
Difficult as it was to accept, Koney said, Paper City agreed to a 10 p.m. conclusion Sundays through Thursdays and 11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. In the agreement, the Mill operation is allowed to go to midnight six days a year for the large (usually multiple-day) events/festivals.
“We definitely made concessions … in a big way, actually,” Koney said afterward. “We still feel this is a very good product and a business model that will work.”
With just a few exceptions, the 18 people who spoke during the public comment portion of the meeting were adamantly in support of the redevelopment proposal. Many echoed the need for such a destination, while others noted the plan would help preserve a building and property that impacted thousands of local families over its 90-year life before closing in 2001.
Koney during the meeting told commission members she appreciated hearing the concerns as much as she did support from others.
“We have listened to, I think, about 500 of you over Q-and-A sessions and we’ll keep listening; that’s not going to change,” Koney said, also acknowledging the hundreds of hours Mallery and village staff have spent dedicated to the proposal. “We do agree with you, Jim, that we feel like we’ve come to a good compromise on a lot of things.”
Mallery has said if the project is approved, issues related to traffic volume, flow and parking would be addressed in greater detail in 2019.
“The developer needs an opportunity to continue to develop their strategy in determining what size events are best for that property,” Mallery said during an Oct. 3 planning commission work session. “Those discussions will take place similar to the discussions that have taken place on this development agreement. Staff will work with the developer to come to a fair and reasonable agreement that’s legally binding and that represent the core values of this village.”
Moore, meanwhile, is a Vicksburg native who now calls the Seattle area home. He stepped in after plans were presented to demolish the mill.
He told commission members earlier this month that he wanted to do something to honor the village by bringing back to life a community icon, albeit in a different capacity from its original purpose.
More than 70 people were in attendance at the Oct. 17 meeting. Village officials plan to conduct the Oct. 29 meeting at Vicksburg High School Performing Arts Center (PAC), which can accommodate what they expect will be another well-attended gathering.
by Justin Gibson | Oct 10, 2018 | Community, Vicksburg
By Jef Rietsma
Members of the Vicksburg Planning Commission appear poised to make a recommendation on whether to endorse a proposed $60 million renovation of the former Simpson Paper Company mill.
Known as the Paper City Mill Project, the ambitious plan – backed by former Vicksburg resident Chris Moore – was scrutinized by commission members during their work session Oct. 3 at Vicksburg High School. An estimated 100 people attended.
The balance of the 2 1/2-hour session was limited to discussion by the seven-member planning commission, whose members directed many of their questions to Village Manager Jim Mallery, Moore, Project Manager Jackie Koney and Paper City attorney Steve Sielatycki. The evening concluded with six public comments.
Because of the work-session format of the meeting, no votes were cast. The commission’s Oct. 17 meeting, however, could feature a recommendation for or against the proposal, which would then be fielded by the Vicksburg Village Council for a final vote Oct. 29.
Both meetings are scheduled to start at 7 p.m. at the high school’s Performing Arts Center.
Questions related to live-music events comprised the bulk of dialogue at the Oct. 3 assembly. Koney said Paper City is seeking in its approval, a stipulation allowing it to stage at least two major music-related events annually and additional, smaller performances regularly.
Though the majority of the audience appeared to be in favor of the plan, members of the recently formed Concerned Citizens of Vicksburg have indicated their concerns center heavily on the potential volume of music and the possible length of time into the night it would be allowed. Other issues its members have cited include the development’s impact on the area’s quality of life as well as the availability of parking.
Mallery said if the project is approved, issues related to traffic volume, flow and parking would likely be addressed in greater detail in 2019 with a separate planning commission application.
“The developer needs an opportunity to continue to develop their strategy in determining what size events are best for that property,” Mallery said. “Those discussions will take place similar to the discussions that have taken place on this development agreement. Staff will work with the developer to come to a fair and reasonable agreement that’s legally binding and that represent the core values of this village.”
He went on to note that decibel levels are included within terms of the agreement, and they vary depending on the size of crowd and day of the week. For example, a maximum decibel level of 85 is set for an event at which 20,000 or more people are present.
Also, the agreement in its current state calls for amplified sound to cease at midnight Fridays and Saturdays, and 11 p.m. any other days of the week.
Regarding infrastructure, Mallery said the fee for Paper City to connect to the village’s water infrastructure is in excess of $2.6 million. Meanwhile, Mallery said the cost to improve the wastewater infrastructure and flow rate as a direct result of Paper City’s proposed development is $2 million.
“I want the commission to be assured that we will represent the village’s interest and impact on our infrastructure system,” he said. “Wholeheartedly, we’ll be fair and reasonable, but Paper City realizes there are going to be substantial costs to the water/sewer hook-up.”
The Paper City project is being presented as a Planned-Unit Development. Attorney Lance Zoehof of Warner Norcross, explained that a PUD doesn’t fit into a specific zoning classification within a municipality’s normal ordinances.
He said Paper City’s plan is a perfect application for a PUD considering the extent of its uniqueness and extent of its mixed-use plan.
“As long as they hit minimum requirements that don’t have negative impacts on the surrounding community … the property itself gets rezoned and reclassified, and as long as they stay within their parameters, they are compliant with the zoning,” he said.
Paper City’s proposal includes a conversion of the existing historical structure and grounds to a multi-use facility to include apartments, office space, event space, multiple food- and beverage-production facilities, a craft brewery and beer gardens.
Koney addressed the commission and said Paper City has worked hard to make the process transparent, informative, responsive and responsible. She said Paper City has opened an office in the village’s downtown and staff members have been available to answer questions and address questions in person or online.
“We have given television and print interviews, provided frequently-asked questions on our website, and shared information at local community group meetings such as the Lions and Rotary,” Koney said. “Through all these points of contact, we have heard overwhelming support from the people of this community. We want to be good citizens while retaining the rights and responsibilities to build and run our business.”
Moore will be responsible for at least a quarter of the redevelopment’s cost. A Vicksburg native who now calls Seattle his home, Moore stepped in after plans were presented to demolish the mill, which closed in 2001.
He told commission members he wanted to do something to honor the village by bringing back to life a community icon, albeit in a different capacity from its original purpose.
Still, Moore acknowledged the challenges involved with the planning and zoning for such a project.
The majority of the six people who spoke at the conclusion of the meeting indicated their support for the project. The opponents who spoke reiterated that noise generated as a result of the live music, potential parking issues and traffic volumes were their main concerns.
Former village manager Ken Schippers received a round of applause after concluding his brief statement. He said anyone willing to take on a task as mammoth as renovating the long-abandoned mill should have the community’s support.
Schippers acknowledged Moore, Koney and Mallery for their collective commitment to the process.
“I’d just like you to know that I do put my support behind (the proposal) 100 percent … I hope it all goes well for you,” he said.
by Justin Gibson | Oct 9, 2018 | Schools, Vicksburg
By Sue Moore
Opening day of the 2018-2019 school year saw an enrollment of 2,645 students in Vicksburg Community Schools according to Superintendent Keevin O’Neill at the monthly school board meeting. “For budget purposes we had estimated 2,625 students, so this is a nice addition, but we won’t know for sure until we take the official count,” he said.
Much of the meeting was taken up with reports from various department administrators, with Mike Roy, athletic director pointing out the turf surface at the stadium is in good shape. The life expectancy was estimated to be 8-12 years; it is in its 12th year and getting a huge amount of use. “Lots of effort has gone into repairing it each year, making sure that the turf was within the acceptable limits for impact,” said Steve Goss, assistant superintendent.
“It’s paid off and we’re using it for free now,” said Board President Skip Knowles.
Citing student sport participation, Roy said that 53 percent of the high school student body played one sport during the last school year. Of the senior class, 88 played one sport and 33 participated in two sports with seven out for three sports. “We are trying to de-emphasize kids playing just one sport,” Roy told the board. “We believe that valuable lessons are learned in not specializing in one sport.”
Karen McKinstry, transportation director congratulated bus driver Jerri Gorsline who is now on her 47th year of driving for Vicksburg. She is now realizing that she is picking up some of the grandkids of children she started with many years ago.
Altogether the Vicksburg buses traveled 287,292 miles in 2017-18 with a total of 422,046 riders delivered safely during the school year. The buses have consumed 55,800 gallons of diesel fuel and 789 gallons of regular gas, using the smaller mini-vans largely for athletic contests with 48,378 students on board throughout the year. Special needs transportation totaled 86,376 miles.
