by Justin Gibson | Nov 1, 2018 | Community, Vicksburg
This year the McCowen & Secord Funeral Homes will be starting a new tradition at their Rupert-Durham Chapel in Vicksburg as well as their other two locations. They be having a Holiday Remembrance service in Vicksburg at 7 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 3.
Each funeral home will have a Christmas tree with angel ornaments, one for every family they have served since last Christmas. The names of each person that has passed will be read, and families will be welcome to take their angel off the tree. According to Steve McCowen, “The genius of this event is providing a place for people that have had a loss to come together and support one another during the holiday season and celebrate a life that was well lived.” McCowen added, “Ironically, at our Rupert-Durham Chapel in Vicksburg we will be using the Christmas tree that Marilyn Durham used in her home. It’s a fitting tribute that a piece of her is part of a community healing event in my opinion, since the community meant so much to her.”
The funeral home is hoping the time together for families to meet and talk to other families that have had a loss will help this holiday season. They are welcoming all members of the community to attend. If someone in the community had a loved one pass away out of town or may have used a different funeral provider and would like to have their loved one remembered during this service, they may call 649-1697. The funeral home would be happy to do this for them.
People are welcome to start arriving for light refreshments at 6 p.m.
by Justin Gibson | Nov 1, 2018 | Schools, Vicksburg
Senior Jacob Henderson, portraying Robin Hood, is on the left. Linsday Fleck, a junior, at right, plays Marion in “The Heart of Robin Hood.”
By Sue Moore
“The heart of the Robin Hood legend is a tale reminding us to look out for the weakest, stand up for injustice and to strive to be the best versions of ourselves,” according to director Melissa Sparks. The play “The Heart of Robin Hood” will take the stage at the Vicksburg Performing Arts Center at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Nov. 16 and 17 and 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 18.
David Farr’s The Heart of Robin Hood was developed in 2011 for the Royal Shakespeare Company. It contains many Shakespearean devices, including the heroine dressed as a boy to assimilate with the merry men. But it still feels current and contemporary in the writing and style. “I always love giving our high school students some important messages, challenging texts and some new skills,” Sparks said about choosing the play.
In this production, every student has learned both armed and unarmed stage combat for the show. Not only are there many swashbuckling scenes, there are also these great acting moments where the characters are honest, authentic and show humor, sadness, anger and, of course, love. Sparks said, “we are also creating some live music for the performance, played mostly by the ‘clown’ character and Marion’s sidekick, Pierre. Pierre is played by senior Graham Donelson.”
This is a fun, modern take on the Robin Hood tale full of sword fights, romance, comedy and fun. While there are some dark moments in this play, there is also great fun. “When it was performed at the Royal Shakespeare Company, they encouraged it for audiences aged nine and up because of the violence in the play. I would encourage the same,” she said.
In the spirit of Robin Hood, the players are collecting items for Generous Hands, Inc which provides Friday backpacks of food to Vicksburg school children in need. Every donation will receive a raffle ticket to win one of the prizes in the raffle. They are looking for donations of: jars of peanut butter (18 oz.); applesauce cups; mac ‘n cheese; granola bars; fruit cups; bottles of water; oatmeal packets; canned tuna and chicken; toothpaste (4 or 6 oz.); and cans of soup.
Tickets are $12 for adults, $10 for seniors, $5 students, and $2 more the day of the event. Call 269-321-1193 or visit https://tix5.centerstageticketing.com/sites/vicksburg/.
by Justin Gibson | Nov 1, 2018 | Schools, Vicksburg
By Sue Moore
Sunset Lake Elementary school got its chance to shine when the Vicksburg School Board held its monthly meeting there. Principal Amie McCaw headed up presenters with a big thank you to her PTSO officers, school resource officer Derek Guthrie and the teachers in her building.
“Literacy on fire” is the way she characterized the goal of a three-year High Impact Leadership grant the school received in the 2017-18 school year from Western Michigan University.
Sustaining literacy connects the building’s library with the classroom, the summer reading program and the parents, she said.
The culture in the school, the leadership, the academic team and the behavior strategies were all discussed in the presentation to the board.
Alyssa Thompson, community education director, revisited the over 20 percent growth in Kids Club last year. “This is a phenomenal program,” Steve Goss proclaimed as he has two youngsters enrolled. “My son Zachery asked if he could stay another hour past his pickup time just yesterday.”
Goss, who serves as assistant superintendent for finance, reported that the district enrollment count of 2,663 students was preliminary but is about 40 above the budgeted count. “Our small predicted shortfall for this school year of $43,000 will come close to being erased with the state’s per-pupil payment expected in October.”
by Justin Gibson | Nov 1, 2018 | Schools, Vicksburg
Vendors array their products in the Sunset Lake Elementary cafeteria for the 2017 craft show.
The biggest-ever craft show in the Vicksburg area is set for Saturday, Nov. 17 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Sunset Lake School. It’s devoted largely to Christmas crafts with over 80 vendors lining the halls of the elementary school and spilling over into the gym and cafeteria area.
“The success of this craft show is vital to the high school graduating senior class, which coordinates it to raise funds for Project Graduation/Grad Bash,” said Mindy Reno, manager of the craft show. This will be the 25th annual show that was organized for many years by Michelle Morgan. It is the largest fundraiser of the year for sending high school seniors for a night on the town following graduation on June 2. “We are trying to make it be most successful yet,” Reno said.
The admission is free along with the parking. Concessions are available and a bake sale will also be underway to raise money. The all-night bus trip takes the 200 plus graduates to an undisclosed destination where they can hang out, listen to music, eat good food and return home in the wee hours of the morning, Reno said. “It’s always a surprise location and activity. The kids have to earn points throughout the year to help fund the trip. Much of the rest is raised by parents and family friends to make sure they stay safe on graduation day,” she said.
by Justin Gibson | Nov 1, 2018 | Schools, Vicksburg
By Sue Moore
The first ever Walkin’ the Dawgs fundraiser, held October 12 at the Vicksburg High School stadium, raised $17,000. “We are extremely excited to scale back to only one middle-school fundraiser for the entire year and to have 100 percent of the funds received going directly to Vicksburg Middle School and to the benefit of the students,” said Principal Matt VanDussen.
In the past, students and parents have held various fundraisers and sold items such as magazines, cookie dough, Yankee Candles, coupon books, candy and other food items. The profits from past fundraisers have helped serve the students of Vicksburg Middle School by providing funds for programs such as band, choir, sixth grade camp, Civil War Day and the Student Council in addition to providing money for student incentives and building improvements. Instead of each group holding its own fundraiser, Walkin’ the Dawgs now has become the official once-a-year fundraiser to support these programs.
By collecting donations, each child was committing to walk or run around the track for 60 minutes, weather permitting. VanDussen was encouraging students to set their own goal on the number of laps they would like to complete during the fundraiser.
“While we were being optimistic with the $32,000 goal, we understood realistically we would probably come up short the first year,” said Lucas Hillard, the middle school’s chief fundraiser. “The ultimate goal was to unite all the fundraising under one event and grow it from there.”
Unfortunately, because the goal was not met, some planned building improvements will be deferred to the following school year. The administration and staff feel it is very important to uphold the promise of only one fundraiser per year. This will reinforce the importance of the Walkin’ the Dawgs event and will lead to more success in the future, Hillard said.
by Justin Gibson | Nov 1, 2018 | Sports, Vicksburg
By Travis Smola
“Our freshmen have been very strong on both teams but we’ve also had some really good senior leadership,” Head Coach Chris Kato said after the girls ran at the Kalamazoo Christian Comet Invitational. “Our captains have just been phenomenal this year.”
At this race, weather was cool and crisp. Many personal records (PR) were set. Senior Phil Stafford, sophomores Carson Flynn and Jacob Troyer and freshman Simon Sheen all set new PRs for the boys. Junior Ian Edwards and Ben Sampley set season records.
On the girls’ side, freshman Annika Peterson was the top finisher for the Eagles, running a 22:13.36, a new PR for her. Also setting new PRs were junior Morgan Pace, sophomore Emily Springer and senior Lily Hendershot.
Kato credits the team’s success to a good middle school program, his assistant coaches and the attitudes of the runners.
“Our mantra all season has been ‘all in,’ and that’s just racing with everything you have but also racing together as a team at all times,” Kato said. “The kids have really gotten behind that.”
