There’s no roundabout way of saying it: Residents of East TU Avenue and 23rd Street in Schoolcraft Township don’t want a roundabout where their streets intersect.
Residents expressed their opinions at the November 14 meeting of the Schoolcraft Township Board. Dan Harrison, who has lived on East TU for 25 years, spoke about his concerns.
Despite claims from the Road Commission for Kalamazoo County that the roundabout is needed due to the number of accidents at the intersection, Harrison said that there isn’t a history of accidents at the site. After the meeting, he said he’s only seen two accidents at the intersection – slide offs during inclement weather.
“I don’t understand the motivation behind the project,” Harrison said.
Area resident Katie Alber said that she has requested accident information about the intersection from authorities because she believes residents are being lied to about the numbers of accidents.
Another concern regarding the project is that the road commission would be using eminent-domain law to take part of residents’ properties to make room for the roundabout, added Harrison.
The commission has received a federal safety grant for a roundabout designated only for that intersection. If the Road Commission doesn’t use the money for that site, it must return the money to the government, Harrison said.
He also encouraged the township to investigate this project for its self-protection.
Commission officials have said the roundabout is needed to improve a link between Sprinkle and Portage roads over TU Avenue, 23rd Street and U Avenue, treating them as primary roads and adding the roundabout as a safety measure at a cost estimated a year ago at $350,000. TU extends from 23rd east to Sprinkle and beyond. 23rd extends south from East Shore Drive in Portage to U Avenue. U extends from 23rd west toward US-131 and beyond.
Township Supervisor Don Ulsh said he’s been told that the Road Commission will do whatever is needed to build the roundabout. He encouraged residents to attend the road commission meetings to make their views known. A schedule of the commission’s meetings was made available to attendees.
The roundabout is scheduled to be constructed in 2025.
Among other matters, communication with township residents was a concern.
Treasurer Teresa Scott reported she has been looking into a digital sign to be placed outside the township office. After talking to several companies, she said the board needed to decide on a design for the sign and the type of electronics they wanted to use. With the board’s input, she can present bid specifications to each company.
Scott also presented information about textmygov.com, a texting system that would allow residents to opt in for information about township events, report something to the Board that needs to be addressed, or get alerts regarding such things as tax due dates. A short video showed how the system would work.
Trustee Steve Fryling said the system seemed a bit pricey and wondered how much use the township would get out of it. He suggested that they start with the digital sign and also check with Vicksburg to see how much use the village gets out of textmygov before moving forward.
Scott said she is also looking into another system, Mail Chimp, to see if that would be more effective.
During members’ time, Clerk Virginia Mongreig said that the cemeteries are in bad shape, noting that a friend who had attended a funeral at a cemetery called her and said the cemetery was disgusting.
“We need to keep them presentable and they aren’t presentable,” she said.
Visitors often leave plastic objects on the graves which is not good for animals or for the appearance of the cemetery, she said.
“People will be unhappy that those things are picked up and thrown away,” she said. Purchasers of cemetery plots are given a list of rules that must be followed, Mongreig added.
Audience members suggested posting a permanent sign at each cemetery listing the rules.
Schoolcraft Village Manager Cheri Lutz told council members she will be in talks about 2024 US-131 construction with Michigan Department of Transportation representatives soon. Lutz added the village will provide updated information about the work in a newsletter to residents.
Work on the roadway within the village includes rebuilding the road and pavement, sidewalks, curbs and gutters. Left-turn lights will be added to an upgraded traffic signal at Lyons.
The entire MDOT project includes rebuilding and repaving 13 miles of the road from Rocky River in Three Rivers to Shaver Road in Schoolcraft. The two-year, $51 million project began this year and proceeded to just north of XY Avenue. Besides resurfacing, it included joint repairs, improving drainage, and rebuilding all intersections as indirect left turns, or “Michigan lefts.”
Village President Lutz noted that the village has been fielding many queries regarding the status of structures located at 425 Hayward Street and 203 Pine Street; both designated as hazardous structures. It was noted that the owner of the structure located at 203 Pine Street still has approximately 30 days to complete the structure’s required demolition. The Council will be discussing the status of 425 Hayward Street at an upcoming meeting.
The Village Council is looking for updates regarding major projects on a regular basis. Village staff representatives will begin attending the second scheduled Council meeting each month to provide updates on major village projects to the Council and residents.
Council members asked for updates regarding the South County Fire Authority’s continuing efforts to secure a permanent contract with Lifecare Ambulance Services to continue its service within South Kalamazoo County. There were no updates available. The Village Council’s representative, Todd Carlin, said he will contact the South County Fire Authority for any updates and share those with the Council.
During the public section of the November 20 meeting, a resident asked the Council how and when the Village’s website is updated; noting that the recent Village Council Meeting minutes appeared to not have been posted yet. Village Manager Lutz said that web site is reviewed and updated at the end of each month by office staff.
The Council approved $600 for expenses involving public activities at the annual Christmas Walk held December 2 after receiving a request from the Walk’s coordinator, Stacy Sherman. This year’s Christmas Walk included photos with Santa, an alpaca petting zoo, a holiday music event for children, antiques and crafts, baked goods, luncheons and hot drinks.
Hodgson (center) with Denny and Diana Kakos, president and CEO of INBA/PNBA and Iron Man Magazine.
Natural bodybuilding is the passion of Schoolcraft resident Gabriel Hodgson. His hard work and dedication to the sport has earned him national recognition in 2022 and 2023.
Hodgson says he has always been an active child. He is the youngest of three brothers. He played multiple sports and suffered a knee injury in 1995 in the 8th grade playing football.
Hodgson said his family had some basic weight training equipment in the basement when he was younger, but he didn’t know exercises and how to train. During the necessary time off from his injury, he began experimenting with weights and exercises again.
While attending Comstock High School, he and his friends started lifting weights. “I loved lifting. I loved how it felt and I enjoyed doing this with my friends.” Gradually, Hodgson and his friends built interest in the activity and started a powerlifting team, competing in their first state championships in 1998 while they were in 10th grade. After that, they were hooked.
In 11th grade, the team placed in the top 10 in the State Championships. During their senior season they qualified for the National Championships in Neenah, Wisconsin in 2000.
After high school, Hodgson attended Carthage College, where he played a year of college football. He eventually moved back to Michigan, attended Kalamazoo Valley Community College, and ultimately earned his BSBA from Spring Arbor University.
For the last 27 years, he has continued to work out and lift weights. He took time away from competitions to focus on his career path and family responsibilities, but his interest for the sport never left.
Hodgson said when he was interested in competing again in 2020, he was “more mature and was ready to be on stage.” He trained in his pole barn leading up to 2021 when he was back competing, qualifying for the Masters Division nationally.
Hodgson explains the preparation for competitions is very intense and involves strength and definition training, but also a strict dietary regime of protein, natural supplements, and clean foods. “Meal prep takes lots of time,” says Hodgson, “and it’s costly.”
Up until this time, Hodgson had always competed against athletes who were in the IFBB (International Federation of Body Building). Hodgson decided to compete with the INBA (International Natural Bodybuilding Association) in 2022.
In July 2022, Hodgson competed at Natural Nationals in Chicago where he achieved his goals: He won his three divisions and won the overall show. His picture appeared in the December 2022 issue of Iron Man Magazine. He also earned his Pro card, the INBA Golden shield award and was featured on Generation Iron Network.
In July 2023, Hodgson competed at his first PNBA Professional Competition and was the Pro Division Masters Overall winner. Hodgson was featured on Generation Iron Network and will also be in Iron Man Magazine at the end of 2023.
Today, Hodgson isn’t sure what his future in bodybuilding competitions holds. To continue at the professional level is expensive and time consuming, and he has a family.
But through his own success and personal story, he hopes to encourage people to work out, take care of themselves, and to never give up on their dreams.
If you knew that I have a beau Most of you would think it’s funny, I’m usually ready when he calls Quite often, he bubbles over with money.
I especially like him to start my day At my table with his warm smile, After relaxing with him for awhile It feels that I could run a ten-minute mile.
And he always makes me feel good If you’d like to know, his name is Earl, We’re going steady and he warms my heart ‘Cause I’m an easy-to-please kind of girl.
In the afternoon, I sometimes get drowsy And think that I’ll need a pick-me-up, So my friend and I share a cookie After I get out a pretty cup.
I’ve had several other favorites But this one, I crave every day, It’s a habit I can’t live without Are you curious about his last name?
Horse and wagon rides and Christmas Card Lane are popular parts of Schoolcraft’s annual Christmas Walk celebration.
By Stacey Sherman, Schoolcraft Christmas Walk Committee
The Christmas Walk in Schoolcraft will return December 2, with a main event time of 10 a.m.-7 p.m. This year, you’ll see lots of familiar participants including our antique shops, Santa photos at the Beauty Bar, live music and crafts at the American Legion, the Ladies’ Library, our local churches, and more. The day will incude the return of the Craft and Vendor event hosted by the Schoolcraft 4th of July committee, horse and wagon rides with Newland Farms at Burch Park, Underground Railroad House Tours, and Christmas Card Lane. Local families, organizations, and businesses are encouraged to create a card that celebrates any winter holiday or the season itself! More information on how to participate in Christmas Card Lane, and on the event as a whole, can be found on our Facebook page “Schoolcraft Christmas Walk”. This year, the planning team is working hard to make new things happen, such as a town-wide scavenger hunt that involves great prizes, and (as requested by many event guests!) something involving lights after dark. Last year had a wonderful turnout despite the chilly weather, and we’re hoping this year will be even better.
Tot Time – Tuesdays at 9:30 a.m. Children ages 18-36 months. Registration required. Email missroxanne@schoolcraftlibrary.org
Preschool Story Hour Tuesdays at 11 a.m. Ages 3-6. Registration required. Email missroxanne@schoolcraftlibrary.org
Book Club – Wednesday November 1 at 2 p.m. Discussion of Angeline Boulley’s “Firekeeper’s Daughter”.
Children’s Book Week – November 6-11. The library will have activities, take-home projects, in-library scavenger hunts, prize drawings and more! Stop in and see us!
Library holiday closing – November 22 at 5 p.m., November 23, 24 and 25. Have a Happy Thanksgiving!
