Ariana Pillot and Dante Pillot. Photos by Stephanie Blentlinger, Lingering Memories Photography.
By Mark Blentlinger
On September 28, Schoolcraft’s cross-country teams competed in Otsego’s Bulldog Invitational. The Golden Eagles faced teams from Centreville, Bangor, Bronson, Parchment, Quincy, Bloomingdale, Delton-Kellogg, Fennville and Comstock. Both Schoolcraft teams finished in 2nd place: Centreville took 1st place in the boys’ teams with Bronson in 1st for the girls. Ariana Pillot finished in 5th place with a time of 21:21.85, followed by Olivia Bays finishing 10th with a time of 21:55.51. For the boys, Dante Pillot was champion of the invitational with a time of 17:09.81, and Ace Drewyor finished in 11th place, crossing the line at 18:40.35.
The Portage Invitational, held October 5, is arguably the largest cross-country event in the state with 4 divisions of high school runners and 4 divisions of junior high school runners. In the Division III race, 40 boys’ teams with 443 runners competed. Jackson Lumen Christi topped all teams. Schoolcraft Finished in 17th place. Senior Dante Pillot finished in 25th place at 16:51.5, Ace Drewyor took 109th with a time of 18:13.5 right in front of Eli Martin at 18:14.3. Senior Conner Candler finished 122nd 18:21.2. The girls had 38 teams, and 376 runners competed. Pewamo-Westphalia took the number 1 spot while Schoolcraft finished in 21st. Ariana Pillot took 48th place 20:48.1, Alyda Leep finished her day in 122nd 22:28.3, with Avery McCrum in 123rd 22:28.5
The SAC High School Championship was held October 10 at US 131 Motorsports Park in Martin. Fourteen SAC teams entered for the boys and 10 for the girls. The schools were competing for not only the team championship but also an individual championship. To the sound of the starter’s pistol for the boys’ race, 103 runners took off. Saugatuck took the SAC Team championship while Marek Bultkiewicz topped all boys, finishing in a time of 15:47.12. Schoolcraft’s Dante Pillot finished in 13th place 17:14.84, while Ace Drewyor finished in 25th 18:04.32, and Connor Candler finished 33rd 18:34.32. In the girls’ race, Gobles took the top spot while Schoolcraft finished in 5th place. Ariana Pillot finished in 16th 21:01.79, Addison Blodgett 19th place 21:33.38, Alyda Leep took 28th 22:14.80, and Samantha Pavlak 32nd 22:27.16.
Both Schoolcraft teams competed in the Kalamazoo Christian Comet Invitational on October 19, with 11 teams competing for the top spot for both the girls’ division and the boys’ division. Kalamazoo Homeschool Sports took the boys’ championship. Schoolcraft finished in 7th place with Dante Pillot finishing in 27th place at 17:43.40, followed by Ace Drewyor in 29th 17:52.13, and Eli Martin in 35th place 18:01.43. The girls team also finished in the 7th position with GR-South Christian taking the top spot. Ariana Pillot finished in 17th place 20:57.08, 26th was Addison Blodgett, 21:29.72, and Alyda Leep took 41st, 22:03.78.
Runners competed in the Lower Peninsula Regional 22-Division III at Portage West Middle school on Saturday October 26.
Could water pumped from Lockport Township’s water system in St. Joseph County make possible new commercial development along the US-131 corridor in both St. Joseph and Kalamazoo counties? Could it provide an adequate, more reliable supply for Schoolcraft Village?
Engineering consultants retained by Lockport presented ways to make that happen at a September meeting of the village council.
Options were presented by Kenneth Jones of the South Bend firm of Jones, Petrie and Rafinski.
Lockport Township, adjacent to Three Rivers, operates a water system which serves its customers and nearby Fabius and Park townships.
Interest in furnishing more water north into Park Township and perhaps into Schoolcraft is heating up to support commercial and industrial development along US-131. And the village, Council President Michael Rochholz said, has been seeking an additional well for years.
Jones recommended an option which divides a $10.7 million project into two nearly equally priced parts: One, limited to the existing system and estimated at $5.45 million, would include a third well, complete a loop into adjacent Park Township and other improvements up to the county line.
The second part, estimated at $5.235 million, would extend the system north into Kalamazoo County, providing access to Schoolcraft Township for US-131 development and connecting to the village water system.
It would raise rates for water, Jones said, with rates paying about $4.1 million, assessments based on more than 600 users paying the rest – an amount which could be paid in part from the village, in part from the users.
Like many small communities which have kept water expenses low, Jones said, “You waited too long” to act.
Village President Michael Rochholz thanked Jones. He and other council members didn’t comment about the numbers. Rochholz said, “You delivered on what I asked you to do.” A representative from village’s engineering consultant, Prein & Newhof, attended the meeting. That company will be asked to examine the proposals, Rochholz said.
“I thought it was excellent,” Schoolcraft Township Supervisor Don Ulsh said of the presentation. “Everyone understood what he was saying.” Ulsh said extension of the water system would “open up opportunities” for companies to move in. “A lot want water and sewer,” he said. He noted that a water system would mean insurance rates for businesses “go way down.”
Although there has been ongoing public discussion of a wastewater disposal system in the US-131 corridor but no action, those considering expansion of a water system acknowledge that businesses attracted to the area may eventually push for a sewer system.
Concern about safety of students walking to schools on the village’s east side continues at village council meetings. A parent asked at a September council meeting if it was possible to have a police presence at the intersection of Lyons and 14th Street at the start and end of the school day.
With a significant amount of northbound traffic from US 131 ignoring a posted detour and instead using 14th Street, it can be an extremely busy intersection. The school has posted an official crossing guard at the intersection during the high congestion times. Village police have been helping during these times as well unless they are responding to a call.
Police Chief Scott Smith has been working with school administrators to coordinate efforts in this area as well as looking for additional ways to improve safety at this intersection. One improvement: The intersection’s overhead lighting will be adjusted to provide more illumination for the areas where people walk across the intersection at night or early morning. It is expected that even after US 131 reopens, and the detour traffic subsides, a crossing guard will remain to aid children arriving and leaving school for the day.
In other matters:
The Council approved Halloween trick or treat hours on October 31 from 5:30-8:30 p.m.
Doug Wohlberg, a CPA specializing in financial statement audits for local school districts, townships, villages, and authorities in Michigan, presented a summary of the 2023-2024 village audit. He found that the Village’s financial statements were accurate, reliable, and comparable to prior years. The Council accepted the audit findings as presented.
The Council declined to approve an audit for the South Kalamazoo County Fire Authority. Trustee Kathy Mastenbrook, the village’s delegate to the six-community authority’s board, said the board discussed findings from the audit. The audit management letter to the trustees identified an internal control deficiency that is considered to be a material weakness, defined as a deficiency or combination of deficiencies in internal controls indicating a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of the authority’s financial statements would not be prevented or detected and corrected on a timely basis.
This finding does not present a legal concern. And it’s not uncommon in small to medium-sized governmental units. But it is a repeat finding which points to a significant gap within the financial operations of SKCFA. To rectify this matter, the auditor recommended that authority hire an internal or external resource to make journal entries and prepare a draft of the authority’s annual financial statements instead of contracting with the auditor for these services.
The authority chose not to take action to deal with the repeat finding, determining that the additional costs of carrying out the recommendation would outweigh the benefits.
Mastenbrook noted that the authority has not presented any documentation showing that a cost analysis has been done to determine whether or not implementing the auditor’s recommendation would be cost prohibitive. After discussion regarding this information, the Council took no action to approve the draft audit as presented.
Ambulance provider agreement requests for proposals have been distributed to potential service providers. The South Kalamazoo County Fire Authority is awaiting the completed proposals, bids for final review and next actions.
Two village residents raised once more the question of permitting golf carts to be driven on village streets. Council members said they’re continuing to work with the police department and will report back at a later time.
The Dome Sports Center in Schoolcraft Village has changed its name. Now the Next Level Sports Center, it’s planning to show off the new facilities and why the name was changed in a November 2 free-to-the-public re-opening.
The center has ballooned to offer more activities — literally: The original inflated dome, still 212 feet long, is 263 feet wide, a gain of 102 feet. The center is also making more use of its 30-acre campus.
The new name, said Marketing Director Nikki Hackkworth, stems from a goal “to ensure that every athlete – no matter their starting point – has access to the resources, coaching and support they need to achieve their next level.”
She added, “We have big plans to broaden our impact by bringing even more athletic opportunities to all members of the community, including those with disabilities and special needs.”
For golfers, the Center provides an outdoor driving and target range, indoor driving range and putting green. For athletes it provides access to turf spaces for training, court space for basketball, volleyball, futsal and pickle ball, outdoor athletic fields and grass volleyball courts. For those with disabilities, it offers the Miracle Field, a baseball diamond for disabled kids, and a community playground open to the public, with wheelchair ramps and swings meeting ADA requirements.
The Center will be open to the public from 5-8 p.m. for the Nov. 2 opening.
Tot Time – Tuesdays in October 9:30-10:30 a.m. Ages 18 to 36 months, with a caregiver. Songs, movement, fingerplays, books and more!
Story Time – Tuesdays in October 11-11:30 a.m. for ages 3-6. Stories, fingerplays, flannel graphs and a take home craft. Child must be potty trained.
Take and Makes – New craft every Monday in October. 10/7 – Robot 10/14 – Hedgehog 10/21 – Haunted House 10/28 – Halloween
Family Events
Pumpkin Decorating Contest – Free pumpkins to the first 10 families. Pick up begins October 12. The last day to drop off decorated pumpkins is October 19, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Voting begins week of October 21. The winning family wins a Bella Creamery gift card!
Movie on the Lawn – Disney’s “Hocus Pocus” showing from 7-9 p.m. October 12. Bring lawn chairs and blankets. Popcorn and hot cocoa provided. Weather permitting. Call the library for cancellations.
Adult Events
Prairie Page Turners – October 2, 2-3 p.m. Discussion of the book The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin. Treats provided
Friends of the Schoolcraft Library – Wednesday October 9 at 6:30 p.m.
Board Meeting – Wednesday October 23 at 6 p.m.
Follow us on Facebook@schoolcraftlibrary to see more activities or check out our website at www.schoolcraftlibary.org.
It’s fun to write humorous poems But they don’t always end up that way, Sometimes they turn serious When I write down what I want to say.
Humor can camouflage some insecurities It has always been an oasis for me, I know I can’t change the world But I like to spread joy wherever I may be.
How we relax reflects our persona Do you like to jog, paint, sew or read? Those pastimes reflect our personalities Writing prose of memoirs is what I need.
As a person who has lived several decades I’ve accumulated lots of adventures in life, Some are bound to be hilarious Others remind us, there were times of strife.
What do you do with an annoying mosquito? You shoo it away, with no regret, So do the same with negative thoughts Life is simply too short to fret.
So whatever you do to relax Be an individual, it’s OK with me, You’ll find me snickering, with paper and pen Writing something funny, while drinking iced tea.
