Running backs Alex Brown and Austin Williams have combined to form quite the one-two punch for the Plainwell football team this season.
The Trojans’ Wolverine Conference game with Sturgis on Friday, Oct. 6, was another perfect example of that.
Brown ran for 152 yards and three touchdowns on seven carries for a 21.7 yards-per-carry average, while Williams ran for 97 yards and a TD on eight carries for a 12.1 yards-per-carry average in leading Plainwell to the 52-9 win.
With the win, the Trojans improved to 5-2. That means if they win at least one of their final two games—they host Paw Paw on Friday, Oct. 13, and host Otsego on Friday, Oct. 20—then they’ll receive an automatic playoff bid.
“The offense was once again led by our two running backs,” Plainwell coach Darren Conklin said.
And it didn’t take long for Brown to set the tone.
Taking a handoff from quarterback Matt Root, Brown raced 21 yards to the end zone less than three minutes into the first quarter. Less than six minutes later he was back in the end zone, this time as the result of a 73-yard run that gave Plainwell a 14-0 lead.
“We had a great start again tonight,” Conklin said. “It was great to see, especially considering the nearly two-hour bus ride.”
By halftime the score stood at 38-3 in Plainwell’s favor as Williams scored on a 44-yard run, Luke Morrell connected on a 40-yard field goal, Brown scored on a 24-yard run and Tristan James recovered a fumble for a touchdown.
Root had a hand in Plainwell’s final two touchdowns, connecting with Gunnar Gavalis on a 19-yard scoring pass in the third quarter and running for a 3-yard TD in the fourth quarter.
Root finished 3-of-5 passing for 62 yards.
Defensively, Conklin praised the play of Clayton Tucker.
“I think Tucker was the biggest standout of the game,” Conklin said. “ He drew three holding calls, forced a fumble and had six tackles, two of which were for a loss. He dominated all game.”
 

With weak public turnout at six recent, regional meetings discussing increasing the Allegan County Sheriff Office staff, Allegan County commissioners turned their eyes to a broader funding source.

To boost staff by 14 positions, the county had considered encouraging more municipal contracts for dedicated local service or a countywide law enforcement millage.

Commissioner Gale Dugan approached the public podium during the commissioner’s planning session Thursday, Sept. 28, to ask his fellow commissioners to consider another option: a Headlee override.

“I think the fairest way, the most understandable way, is to go for a Headlee override. That way we can take care of all of the areas this is going to affect,” Dugan said.

Designed to prevent taxes from rising too quickly, the Headlee Amendment has rolled back the county’s operating millage over the years down to 4.6185 mills—that’s a little more than 1 mill lower than what the county would otherwise be able to levy.

Based on 2017 taxable values, county executive director of finance Lorna Nenciarini estimated the full operating millage, at 5.7 mills, would collect an additional $4.8 million.

Dugan pointed out flaws in the other funding sources. Cities would likely demand to keep the amount of millage collected within their boundaries to fund their own police forces; likewise, existing deputy contracts with townships would need to be addressed if funding was going up across the board.

He also pointed out it was difficult to convince the public the funds were truly dedicated to law enforcement; technically, general funds could be pulled out and spent elsewhere as dedicated revenue took its place, leaving funding levels the same.

“You cannot put any language in (a ballot proposal) that will relieve the fear that we’re going to transfer or divert money into other places,” he said.

Finally, it was a question of whether or not a dedicated millage would raise enough revenue. At the regional meetings, it was emphasized that no specific size had been determined. The 14 new positions the sheriff’s office was requesting were estimated to cost $2 million annually; county administration had estimated it would take roughly a 0.5-mill tax to generate that kind of revenue.

“If we (pass) that, we’re going to cascade effect the rest of system,” Dugan said. “We’ll put more pressure on the prosecutor’s office, more pressure on the courts, more pressure on the jail.”

He said overriding the effects of Headlee and restoring the county’s operating millage addressed the entire issue.

“It’s the only fairest way of doing this,” he said. “Having the reliance of the public, going to them and saying, ‘This is for general county operations.’ And let the county board of commissioners, through the administrative and budgeting process, make sure this money is correctly and truly used for the benefit of the people.”

Commissioner Don Black—who has repeatedly said he does not see broad, public support for a dedicated law enforcement millage—agreed.

“I started doing the math in my head; he’s exactly right,” Black said. “It would take care of everything the sheriff department is asking for and all the (other costs) that would come.”

Commissioner Jim Storey said his own support for the law enforcement millage had waned.

“I’ve been thinking about this a lot over the last nine months, and I’ve really come to the conclusion I don’t think a narrow millage is the right way to go, for all the reasons Commissioner Dugan said,” Storey said. “Listening to our prosecutor talk about the ripple effects of adding more in the sheriff’s department, potential changes coming in Michigan law that will burden our whole criminal justice structure...

“If we do anything, we need to look at restoring the full impact of the taxes we already levy by asking voters to reverse Headlee. A law enforcement millage means authorizing a new tax. A Headlee override is not a new tax.”

Additionally, it broadened the support for the measure; overriding Headlee required a vote of the public.

Storey said it would help in all of the needed areas, including the prosecutor’s office, the health department, improving road patrol and addressing needs at the juvenile home.

“These are not luxuries,” he said. “These are essential to operating a solid county and offering a bright future for our residents.”

County administrator Rob Sarro said the county would not be required to collect even a fully restored millage, answering a question from Storey.

Commissioner Tom Jessup said he wouldn’t mind putting either type of question before voters.

“We just have to define exactly what we intend to spend the money on,” Jessup said.

While Commissioner Mark DeYoung said the additional funding from the override would be welcome to help address cutbacks in areas such as the environmental services group at the health department—understaffed currently to the point it often cannot complete well and septic system inspections and permits within even a three-week timeframe—tax increases were not popular in his district, the northeast corner of the county.

“In my area, I don’t know; millages just aren’t going anywhere,” DeYoung said.

Sarro said, “I think we would just approach it by asking what is our measurable need and simply build that into our five-year planning budget.”

Dugan said at a recent conference, the state treasurer said financial projections pointed to two difficult years ahead.

“He said the next two years are going to be extremely hard budgeting years,” Dugan said. “I think it behooves us to look at all our alternatives. This is not the saving grail for all our problems, but it’s a very straightforward vote. If voters say yes, we’re on a path... if they say no, it’s back to the drawing board.”

Contact Ryan Lewis at rmlewis@allegannews.com or (269) 673-5534.

The number of felonies prosecuted in Allegan County continues to rise.

Allegan County Prosecuting Attorney Roberts Kengis told county commissioners at their meeting Sept. 28 that felonies reached 1,097 in 2016.

“Our numbers are going up since 2014, about 10 percent every year,” Kengis said.

The category of felonies includes every case punishable by more than one year in county jail.

His 2016 report showed felonies at their highest level since at least 2007; that year, there were 1,032. The number of felonies stayed below 1,000 until 2013, when they spiked to 1,007; they fell to 910 in 2014, but have climbed ever since.

Kengis said much of the increase was likely due to cases involving drug abuse.

Nearly half of the cases were controlled substance violations, 498 in 2016, up from 391 in 2015.

Kengis said, “You can see a pretty big increase between 2015 and 2016. It’s a 27-percent increase.

“And we’re seeing a large increase in the number of cases we’re prosecuting for heroin and prescription drugs.

“The methamphetamine problem is not going away. It’s changed in the sense that we’re not seeing as many meth labs, which is a good thing—but we’re seeing a large influx of what we call crystal ice, meth that is manufactured more professionally and then imported into the United States, usually through Mexico.”

Felony criminal sexual conduct cases rose from 91 in 2015 to 117 in 2016.

Felony assaults rose from 181 in 2015 to 237 in 2016.

Outside of strictly felony cases, Kengis said the prosecutor’s office authorized 718 cases in 2016 that had various elements of domestic violence.

“Domestic violence cases comprise a large amount of the caseload that we deal with,” he said. “That works out to 59 a month and about two per day we are authorizing.”

He said he was proud of the office’s victim services unit, which made contact with victims in these cases 8,678 times through phone, email and mail.

Commissioner Jim Storey asked Kengis if there was a connection between the rise in substance abuse cases and the domestic violence cases.

“Absolutely,” Kengis said. “The driving factor in domestic violence cases is power and control issues. But with the rise in substance abuse cases, we see also a rise in domestic violence—and other crimes as well, assault outside of domestic violence, robberies. It influences everything.”

He said those sentenced for domestic violence frequently were assigned to batterers treatment as well as substance abuse treatment.

“That’s because the two really do go hand in hand,” he said.

Speaking more broadly, substance abuse plays a role in almost every case the office handles. He read from an unnamed presentence report for a 24-year-old charged with resisting arrest to provide an example.

“This is how it hits home for me,” Kengis said. “The defendant has used or abused just about every kind of substance. He reported first trying alcohol about age 9, marijuana at 13, meth at 15, cocaine at 20, heroine and prescription drugs by 21. The defendant reported he drank heavily until age 15 when he started abusing drugs.”

Kengis said the report went on to say the person had overdosed at least four times.

“When he was confronted by police, he ran because he had methamphetamine on his person, and he swallowed it,” Kengis said. “This just paints a little bit of a picture for you... in how substance abuse goes hand in hand with cases we deal with.”

He also said he hoped mental health could be a focus for his office.

“More and more we’re seeing people who are entering the criminal justice system because they’re not receiving the help they need,” he said. “Of course substance abuse frequently ties into that because they’re self-medicating through using illegal substances and that leads to more problems.”

He said he and the sheriff were interested in seeing what can be done to help these individuals before they run afoul of the law.

Contact Ryan Lewis at rmlewis@allegannews.com or (269) 673-5534.

Otsego city commissioners heard what it would cost if the Otsego Fire Department shifted from a paid on call model to having a few full-time firefighters.
Fire chief Brandon Weber gave a report to the city commission Monday, Oct. 16, on several options and their costs to the city and Otsego Township, which jointly fund the department.
Mayor Cyndi Trobeck said, “We are in the middle of our fiscal year and are sans manager, but it isn’t in our best interest to wait until the new manager is hired to get information and discuss this.”
Weber has told both governments that over 800 calls in a year would be answered by fire fighters—driven by a large and growing number of medical calls—and that meant the department must change its approach.
Paid on call fire fighters burn out at that pace, Weber said, leading to the department having trouble retaining people and keeping its strength up.

Three options
The options presented include either adding full time personnel who can handle more of the day-to-day work of the department and answer medical calls or discontinuing offering medical first response. The department’s volunteer members would still be called for most fires and for larger incidents or as backup to the full-time members.  
The first option would involve hiring three full-time fire fighters who would man the station in turn in 24-hour shifts, which Weber said is common among fire and EMS services. He estimated that would take about 457 of the calls out of the equation for the paid on call fire fighters.
“That would be what I’d do if you told me cost was no object,” Weber said.
Option two would hire two full-time fire fighters who would work 12-hour shifts from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Weber estimated that would handle about 312 calls on the year.
Option three would be to hire one full-time firefighter who’d work Mondays through Fridays 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. That fire fighter would handle an estimated 192 calls.
“That would still leave a very challenging number for the rest of the department,” Weber said.
The estimated cost of employing a fire fighter would be $64,943 Weber said, with a $194,000 price tag for the three full-time option.
Commissioner Jim Misner asked if there would be a way to do it cheaper using, for example, six part-time fire fighters rather than three full time ones. Weber said he hadn’t considered that option.

Offsets
He also told the commission there were some areas where he believed the city would save money by having a full-time person, including not paying the paid on call wages for the calls the full-time people were taking and giving the full-time person various station and equipment maintenance jobs.
Weber said the city and township could also increase efforts toward cost recovery from insurance companies and offset some of the cost of the calls. The city currently does more of that than the township, he said.
An egregious example he believes should be looked at was medical alert companies.
“These have been a nuisance for years and it’s getting worse,” Weber said. “The majority of these are false. I see what I see as predatory marketing by the alarm companies.”
City commissioner Stacey Withee said she’d had experience with her mother’s medical alert device and it was easy to set off accidentally.
“I’ve done it so many times by bumping it against something when I’m helping her or dropping it one the ground,” Withee said.
But the company would call to check with her mother to see if there was a real medical emergency.
Weber said there were different companies and they all did not do that.
“Some companies are good, but some just call us blindly,” he said. “We’re glad people use the service when it’s a real emergency, but we’d just like not to get called out when the cat is playing with the alarm hanging from the chain.”
Several fire fighters in the audience spoke up to testify that this did indeed happen and claimed it was most often in the middle of the night.
By Weber’s estimates, those would amount to about $75,550 per year in offsets.

Discussion
Weber said that having a full-time core responding to calls would also allow him to expand the area where fire fighters could live in the township because response times for medical calls would be less important.
Weber thanked police Chief (and interim city co-manager) Gordon Konkle for allowing him to use downtime when he’s working as a city police officer to work on fire department administration tasks.
City commissioner Tom Gilmer asked whether Weber would look at internal or external candidates if the city agreed to hire full-time fire fighters.
“We’d have to look internally,” Weber said. “I think that if we hired from outside it would be seen as a slap in the face.”
The commissioners thanked Weber for the presentation.
Gilmer said, “I think this is very good information. I don’t see how we can sustain this the way it is.”
Commissioner Nick Breedveld said he’d seen his son serve on the fire department.
“I know how people can get burned out with it,” Breedveld said.
Gilmer said he thought the residents served by the fire department would support the need.
“I think the community will understand this,” Gilmer said.
Trobeck thanked Weber for putting together the data.
“This isn’t emotion or feelings,” Trobeck said. “This is facts.”
Contact Dan Pepper at dpepper@allegannews.com or at (269) 673-5534.

A man who admitted to assault by strangulation and assault with a dangerous weapon in Plainwell recently also pleaded guilty to violating his probation in another case.
Nestor J. Martinez pleaded guilty to the probation violation Wednesday, Oct. 11, before Judge Margaret Zuzich Bakker.
According to court records, he was on probation for a 2016 conviction of possession of methamphetamine second offense.
Martinez, 32, of Allegan pleaded guilty Oct. 2 to attacking a woman he was in a relationship with at a home on 12th Street in Plainwell.
He admitted strangling the woman and threatening her with a butcher knife.
As part of a plea agreement with Allegan County prosecutors, Martinez pleaded guilty to one count of assault by strangulation, one count of domestic violence third offense and one count of assault with a dangerous weapon. In return for the three guilty pleas, prosecutors agreed to drop a second count of assault by strangulation, third degree criminal sexual conduct involving force or coercion and a habitual offense notice. Prosecutors also agreed they would agree with a sentencing guideline range of 43 to 76 months in prison for the most serious charge.
Martinez is scheduled to be sentenced Monday, Nov. 27, at 9 a.m. in Allegan County Circuit Court.

Plainwell and Otsego crowned their homecoming courts on the last two Fridays.

A new firm will help the school district put its long-term facilities needs in perspective.
Plainwell school board members at their meeting Monday, Oct. 16, directed the administration to form a contract with GMB Architecture and Engineering, a move expected to provide the board enough information on whether or not to seek a bond as well as how much priority to give renovating the Plainwell Community Center, among other projects.
The center, acquired from Plainwell city in 2016, has been eyed as a place to expand classes and programming for the district’s Renaissance High School and the adult education.
In April, board members decided to put decisions about the building on hold until a needs assessment could be completed, expected over the summer.
Board president Amy Blades said, “The company that we were using to give us the (mechanical) assessment did not live up to its contractual agreement, so we’re kind of starting at square one. So I know some of you have been asking for an update; there is not one. We’re kind of starting from scratch.”
She said the company was Triangle Associates Inc. District superintendent Matt Montange declined to elaborate on the matter, stating the district would be entering negotiations about its contract with the company.
The assessment from GMB will lay out the longer-term needs of the district. One plan for the center would cost an estimated $500,000 and would put Renaissance High School students in the lower level, continue the current tenants and uses on the main floor and put adult education on the second floor.
Blades said, “We’re waiting for the assessment for the possible bond; do we want to put those (the center plus other improvements) in together or if we’re going to do something separately.”
Board member Jill Dunham said her concern was that there was an immediate need to complete the work at the community center building.
“I would be very, very disappointed if we had to wait until we do a bond. That could easily be three years,” Dunham said. “And I think the situation the Renaissance High School is operating in is too unacceptable.”
Blades and others pointed out, however, that it would be next to impossible to bring in a construction company even within 18 months, as they typically are already scheduled that far out.
Blades also pointed out that if work was approved and then a subsequent bond was passed that included work on the existing Renaissance High School, there would be nowhere to displace the students during construction.
“So we have to be very smart in the way that we (go about this,)” she said.
Dunham said, “Well, I’m disappointed because I think that it’s still going to end up being three years or more before we can get the into the community center.
“I guess I had initially thought that because the football field is in great shape and we had been setting aside $500,000 (for it), and now we don’t have to do that, it would allow us to complete the initial plan that was spoken about when we bought the community center.”
Blades said that was one use for the money, but disagreed that the board had ever agreed on that course.
Christine VanDenBerg questioned the wisdom of spending most of the capital projects money on one building.
“Just because we’re sitting on that money doesn’t mean we put it all into one project,” VanDenBerg said. “Because about when that happens, that’s when the football field will break. It was due to be replaced a couple years ago. Thank goodness it’s been taken care of very well so that it’s lasted.
“We just can’t deplete that one fund for one project when we don’t know what all the other projects are going to be.”
Board member Kim Shafer said there was no point in discussing the matter before the assessment was complete.
She said, “I don’t want to make a decision about one thing until I know the full picture. That’s just not a responsible thing to do as a board member. I think in the next month it’s all going to come full circle. We’ll start talk about the timing... and then we can go in and figure out what we want to do and when we want to do it.”
Montange said after the meeting that GMB would be providing a more comprehensive assessment of the district’s facilities than the one ordered in the spring.
“It’s similar, but it also includes classroom spaces, the future of learning, and then we get community input and staff and students, too,” he said.
Going forward, the district will notify GMB they were selected and the firm will spend between one and three months, including the time it takes to gather community input, to prepare the assessment.
“How old the roofs are, and how long to replace the cafeteria—they’re going to be able to do that stuff pretty quickly. It’s the ‘what projects we want to do’ that takes longer,” he said. “They give us a pretty comprehensive document that lists every area of the district, in terms of each building, what the lifespan is, mechanicals in them, and the approximate costs to replace them.
“It helps you prioritize where you’re going to spend your money.”
 

Otsego city commissioners settled on a salary to advertise the open city manager position.
Commissioners voted Monday, Oct. 16, to set the number at a range of $83,000 to $95,000.
Mayor Cyndi Trobeck said the range, recommended by the Michigan Municipal League, was just that.
“This is just a figure,” Trobeck said. “It’s eventually going to be based on what they bring to the table as far as education and experience.”
Commissioner Tom Gilmer said he thought the floor needed to be set above the highest salary of any of the city’s department heads.
Commissioners also briefly discussed whether they’d offer a car to the new city manager to use, but said the fact they bought one recently meant that wouldn’t be changing for awhile.
The salary range had to be decided for a packet being sent out at the end of October or beginning of November. The commission is now planning to interview candidates in December and pick a new manager in January.
Thad Beard resigned in September after more than 17 years on the job to take a new position in Rockford.
Finance director Matthew Storbeck, police chief Gordon Konkle and city clerk Angela Cronin are serving as co-city managers in the interim.
 

Jennifer Dentler has run the Spirit of Women program for more than 10 years at Allegan General Hospital. At age 40, she recently received her first mammogram and agreed to share her experience here.

A nurse for more than 18 years and a nurse practitioner for 10, she has worked at Allegan General Hospital for almost 15 years. A large part of her job as both a nurse practitioner and the Spirit of Women coordinator is to move women to take action to improve their health through education, events and initiatives.

She has been married for 18 years and has two sons, Jayden, 16, and Jakson, 14.

Dentler said she did not have a family history of breast cancer. She said she drinks lots of water, neither smokes nor drinks, but admits there have been times in her life where her diet could be improved upon and she could be more physically active.

“Sometimes my diet is nourishing and I am quite active and then there are times where both my diet and activity need improvement,” she said.

Why did you get a screening mammogram?

Dentler: One of the fun and health ACTION initiatives we did this year was called “Mammogram Party” where we offered screening mammograms, pampering and light refreshments in a calm, relaxing environment on a Saturday.

We have held two so far. At the first one, all appointment slots filled besides one. So, I found it an opportunity for myself to have my very first mammogram.

I just turned 40 this past January. Even though I had never had a mammogram I knew a little of what to expect. I knew there would be compression and views taken of my breast tissue. It literally took less than 15 minutes.

What happens during a screening mammogram?

Dentler: First, I answered a few questions, which only took a few minutes.

Then different views of both sides of my breasts were taken. My breasts were compressed but not painfully. I would describe it as a slight pressure.

The mammographer who worked with me was super sweet and very gentle. I would say the total exam with questions and all was 15 minutes.

The next day I was called after the radiologist reviewed my screening results and was told I needed additional reviews.

My heart raced; I couldn’t help to worry. What I found out is that this was because this was my baseline, very first mammogram and that it is not uncommon to be called back to get a better look at the tissue and what is being seen so in the future with repeat mammograms they can be clear on whether something new pops up or if the tissue appears the same or unchanged.

I have two small calcifications/cysts on the top of my right breast that they will compare future views to.

I left feeling much more aware of my body and motivated to keep myself healthy.

Why was important to you to do this?

Dentler: I decided to get a mammogram that day, as I wanted to have a deeper understanding of what my breast tissue is like. I have always been pretty in tune with my body—but that is somewhat limited to what I can feel and see.

A mammogram looks at what is going on inside the breast tissue. I have never noticed changes to my breasts that specifically alarmed me; however, I wanted to see if anything unfelt might be picked up on the mammogram screening.

A very good friend of mine a couple years older than me recently had a mammogram and was diagnosed with fairly aggressive breast cancer. She had a double mastectomy, has just finished six months of chemotherapy and will have radiation and breast reconstruction surgery in her future. She was definitely on my mind that day.

It’s time to party!

The final “Mammogram Party” will be Saturday, Oct. 28, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Arnie Cook, breast health navigator and radiology supervisor at Allegan General Hospital, said, “We want to take the stress and anxiety out of having a mammogram by creating a relaxing and fun environment.

“We encourage ladies to schedule their mammogram with a girlfriend, coworker, sister or mother.”

In addition to the screenings, the event includes the aforementioned pampering, health education, music and refreshments.

A physician referral is not required to sign up; however, mammogram appointments are required. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call the hospital’s radiology department at (269) 686-4210.

A man who admitted to assault by strangulation and assault with a dangerous weapon in Plainwell recently also pleaded guilty to violating his probation in another case.

Nestor J. Martinez pleaded guilty to the probation violation Wednesday, Oct. 11, before Judge Margaret Zuzich Bakker.

According to court records, he was on probation for a 2016 conviction of possession of methamphetamine second offense.

Martinez, 32, of Allegan pleaded guilty Oct. 2 to attacking a woman he was in a relationship with at a home on 12th Street in Plainwell.

He admitted strangling the woman and threatening her with a butcher knife.

As part of a plea agreement with Allegan County prosecutors, Martinez pleaded guilty to one count of assault by strangulation, one count of domestic violence third offense and one count of assault with a dangerous weapon. In return for the three guilty pleas, prosecutors agreed to drop a second count of assault by strangulation, third-degree criminal sexual conduct involving force or coercion and a habitual offense notice. Prosecutors also agreed they would agree with a sentencing guideline range of 43 to 76 months in prison for the most serious charge.

Martinez is scheduled to be sentenced Monday, Nov. 27, at 9 a.m. in Allegan County Circuit Court.

Contact Dan Pepper at dpepper@allegannews.com or at (269) 673-5534.

CORRECTED: Longtime Allegan County Commissioner Don Black will not seek reelection next year and is hoping to encourage others to replace him.

To do so, he planned a pair of local question-and-answer sessions to which the public was invited.

“The main goal is to answer questions, primarily,” he said of the sessions. “About running for commissioner but also running for any public office."

He said he wanted to encourage others to consider serving their community and also encourage their friends to look into public office.

“I want to help them understand the time commitment,” Black said, in addition to any other aspect of the job they may be interested in.

He said there were many reasons to run for office, including people using their God-given call to service, putting their gifts and talents to good use.

Black said, “I’m just trying to be proactive.”

He said he has begun hearing from several who have shown some interest. The meeting at Martin’s JC Wheeler Public Library is tonight at 6 p.m.

The second meeting will be Thursday, Nov. 16, at 7 p.m. at Ransom District Library, 180 S. Sherwood Ave.

Black represents District 7, which includes Wayland, Martin and Gun Plain townships, Martin village and Plainwell city.

“If time allows, I will share a few stories,” Black said. “Once I was asked if I would share my best and my worst experience serving the public. I agreed. The man said, ‘Tell me the worst experience first.’”

Black served on the board since 1998 and has been the board’s vice chair and served on a wide variety of subcommittees. He said he announced in June his intention to not seek reelection specifically to give others a chance to consider running.

Black lives in Wayland Township with his wife Clair. He has three sons, nine grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Editor's note: This story initially said Black was stepping down early; he is not. He will serve the remainder of his term, which ends at the end of December 2018.

A man admitted to murdering Kelly Ann (Karl) Stanfill, 36, on Nov. 18 in a Cooper Township field at a plea hearing in Kalamazoo County Circuit Court.
Kevin Jacob Stanfill entered a guilty plea to one count of second-degree murder Monday, Oct. 23, according to court records.
Kalamazoo County prosecutors agreed to drop charges of possession of a weapon by a felon and two counts of felony firearms in exchange for the guilty plea to second degree murder. Prosecutors also agreed to recommend a sentence of 26 years in prison when Stanfill is sentenced.
He was scheduled to go to trial Thursday, Oct. 26, for the murder and was charged with open murder, meaning the jury could have found him guilty of first degree murder, which is automatically punished by life in prison with no parole.
At an earlier court proceeding, a police officer said Stanfill’s sister had described her brother and his wife had gotten out of the car they were all riding in a secluded area of AB Avenue in Cooper Township. The couple got out of the vehicle, allegedly to take a walk and vent, when the sister heard five shots and only her brother came back.
Police said Kevin Stanfill had kept his sister quiet with threats to murder her, also, but she eventually went to police and took them to Kelly’s body.
A sentencing hearing is set for Monday, Dec. 4, in Kalamazoo County Circuit Court.

Plainwell businesses on South Main Street are seeking answers as to why a power surge happened Sunday, Oct. 15, knocking out equipment and causing damages in the hundreds of dollars in some places.
Plainwell city manager Erik Wilson said he and economic development manager Denise Siegel were working with businesses and trying to get answers from Consumer’s Energy.
“I’ll be working with Consumer’s to see if we can work that out,” Wilson said. “We had some power surges in the industrial park a few years ago.”
He said eight or nine business had contacted the city about it.
Plainwell Flowers co-owner Pam Porritt was one who estimated about $800 in damages to her business, which lost the cash register/inventory system, the lights in the cooler and the flower shop’s open sign.
“This seems to happen every year-and-a-half to two years,” Porritt said
The last occurrence was worse, she said.
“We lost two furnace control panels and the refrigerator in the apartment above,” Porritt said.
She’d heard another business had suffered even worse, not being back to normal for at least six days afterwards.
The surge came at a bad time.
“We had to run the credit card, run down the basement to the computer there on every transaction and then back up,” she said. “And we had one of the busiest weeks we’ve ever had, outside of Valentine’s Day or Mother’s Day.
“I got a lot of exercise, so I guess there’s a good side to everything.”
Porritt said she thought it was outside of the business district, too.
“When this is happening to so many people,” she said. “A customer came in and asked what’s happening with the electricity. It’s the whole neighborhood, something’s going on.”
Previous surges had been blamed on lightning, she said, but there was none seen Oct. 15.
Porritt said she was glad the city was helping out and she thought other businesses were too.
“We’re pretty happy Erik willingly and even suggested he handle this for us,” she said. “We were really appreciative.”
Contact Dan Pepper at dpepper@allegannews.com or at (269) 673-5534.

A Plainwell man admitted to charges after causing a standoff with police on Easter Sunday.
Michael John Vanderberg, 27, was in court Monday, Oct. 23, and entered three guilty pleas in three different files.
Vanderberg said that he’d been at a friend’s house on Harmony Lane in Otsego Township Tuesday, April 18, and a stolen gun had been in the house.
“I didn’t steal it,” he said. “The police got called and I wouldn’t come out when the police came because I had warrants.
“I locked myself in the house with the gun. I eventually came out and gave myself up.”
The police response included the Allegan County Sheriff’s Office tactical team and the department’s armored vehicle. They ordered everyone inside to come out through a loudspeaker and everyone but Vanderberg complied.
When Judge Margaret Zuzich Bakker suggested that might not constitute a guilty plea, Vanderberg’s lawyer, Robert Champion, asked him if he’d touched the gun at any time.
Vanderberg said he did and Bakker accepted the pleas to possession of a firearm by a felon and assaulting/resisting/obstructing police.
In exchange for the guilty plea, Allegan County prosecutors agreed to drop a second count of assaulting/resisting/obstructing police and one count of felony firearms.
In the second case, Vanderberg pleaded guilty to soliciting another to obtain pseudoephedrine to make methamphetamine.
“I was hanging out with a couple friends,” Vanderberg said, “A female showed up and said she’d like to make some money.
“I didn’t ask her to do it, but I gave her a ride to the store and gave her $10 for it.”
In exchange for that guilty plea, prosecutors agreed to charge Vanderberg as a second habitual offender, not a fourth habitual offender.
In the third file, Vanderberg admitted to absconding while on bond when he didn’t show up to a plea hearing in the case scheduled for July 17.
“I had a big drug issue, I was addicted to meth, I wasn’t thinking clear,” he said. “I didn’t want to leave my kids when I’d already spent six years in prison.”
As part of the plea agreement, prosecutors agreed not to object to Vanderberg being screened for a special Michigan Department of Corrections program. Because of the firearm charge, his lawyers said, he wasn’t eligible for the Allegan County Drug Court or Methamphetamine Diversion Program.
In addition, all the charges in a fourth file were dropped.
Vanderberg was scheduled for sentencing Tuesday, Dec. 5, at 9 a.m. in Allegan County Circuit Court.
Contact Dan Pepper at dpepper@allegannews.com or at (269) 673-5534.

Police are still looking for a man who robbed someone at gunpoint near D Avenue.
The Kalamazoo County Sheriff’s Office said Tuesday, Oct. 24, they were still seeking the suspect and his vehicle.
According to the sheriff’s office, they were called about 4:19 a.m. to the Michigan Department of Transportation park and ride location on D Avenue near US-131 in Alamo Township.
The man confronted the victim with a silver pistol and demanded property from them, police said, and then fled the area in a vehicle.
The suspect is described as male, smaller in stature (5-foot, 5-inches to 5-foot, 10-inches) and was wearing a dark hoodie, red bandana covering his face and gloves.
His vehicle was a light-colored town car, possible gold or silver.
Anyone who may have further information is asked to contact the Kalamazoo County Sheriff’s Office at (269) 383-8748 or Silent Observer at (269) 343-2100. Information can also be reported online at www.kalamazoosilentobserver.com.

Plainwell city council members approved work for the North Prince Street extension project at a pair of meetings.
Council members held a special meeting Thursday, Oct. 12, to approve a $185,090.60 contract with Kalin Construction for the work. The Sodus-based company was the lowest responsible bidder, the city said.
At the Monday, Oct. 23, regular meeting, city council members approved the engineering still needed for the project, about $55,000.
City manager Erik Wilson said, “We’re hoping they can get the work done.”
The paving work needs to be finished before asphalt plants close for winter.
The city received a $65,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to help with the road. The city’s approvals are contingent on the department signing off.
The longer Prince Street will facilitate the planned headquarters for Sweetwater’s donut mill, as well as future development on the western end of the mill site.
The project includes the street and underlying sewer and water infrastructure.
In other business, the council approved a pair of projects at the water renewal plant, with $4,706.90 to remove bio-bed media (wood chips) from an odor-preventing system and $5,131 to repair and warranty a failed valve.
Contact Dan Pepper at dpepper@allegannews.com or at (269) 673-5534.

The Otsego Public Schools community is gathering to help its middle school students in the wake of a seventh-grader’s death Monday night, Oct. 30.

In a press release today (Tuesday, Oct. 31), school administration said, "The Otsego school family is deeply saddened by the loss of one of our middle school students and our sympathies go out to his family and friends. This is an incredibly difficult time for many of our students and staff members and we have provided areas where students can go and have counselors with them.

"We want to thank counselors from Plainwell schools, the Allegan County Sheriff’s Office and Kalamazoo County Sheriff's Department for assisting us in helping our students talk about their grief. We will continue to provide support for students who need it in the days and weeks to come."

The administration is not disclosing the name of the student to the general public but has notified students and parents.

Officials said the death was not crime-related.

A 26-year-old wanted felon out of Jackson County, who committed five home invasions and stole two vehicles, rolled one of those vehicles while being pursued by officers on M-222 east of Allegan around 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 31.

Prior to the crash, Kalamazoo County Sheriff’s Department was being assisted by the Michigan State Police in trying to locate the felon for assault with intent, unlawful imprisonment and carjacking.

The suspect was believed to be in the Comstock area and spotted by officers. He attempted to flee, broke into three homes on Savannah Avenue in Comstock Township, carjacked a vehicle and left the area.

A short time later, the suspect conducted a home invasion in Ross Township on 44th Street where he took another vehicle, leaving the previously stolen vehicle in the driveway.

The suspect then committed a fifth home invasion on East Gull Lake Drive before being spotted by a DNR officer in Allegan County driving the stolen vehicle.

The suspect fled, leading the officers in a pursuit and eventually crashing. The suspect was then taken into custody in Allegan County.

There were no reported injuries in the home invasions.

Here are links to our coverage of ballots in local communities for the Nov. 7 general election.

Polls for the election will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Voters are required to present photo ID at the polls, such as a Michigan driver’s license or identification card.

Anyone who does not have an acceptable form of photo ID or is not carrying one can still vote. They will sign a brief form stating that they’re not in possession of a photo ID. Their ballots will be included with all others and counted on election day.

Calculating millages: Find out how much you would end up paying  annually for a millage by dividing your home’s taxable value by 1,000 and then multiplying that times the millage amount.

For example, a 1.5-mill tax would cost a homeowner with a home with $50,000 in taxable value a total of $75.

Here's how the math would look: $50,000 divided by 1,000 = $50; then $50 x 1.5 = $75

Uncontested races: Candidates run unopposed for city council races in Allegan, Douglas and Saugatuck

Casco Township’s proposed new millage would reconstruct, repair roads

City of Fennville’s proposed new millage would fund new position, truck

Fennville Public Schools seeks $23 million to renovate high school, add fields

Interurban Transit Authority seeks to renew millage (in Saugatuck, Douglas and Saugatuck Township)

Martin Public Schools’ operating millage up for renewal

Otsego Public Schools’ millage extension proposal would build childhood center

Saugatuck Public Schools seeks operating millage renewal, plus rec millage

Saugatuck Township seeks to renew road millage

City of Wayland: Four vie for three council seats

Wayland Union Schools' smaller bond project won’t increase millage

A man who admitted choking his girlfriend and fled Plainwell police by jumping into the Kalamazoo River will serve a prison sentence for the crimes.
Kenneth Craig Moose, 28, was sentenced to 29 months to five years in prison for attempted assault by strangulation.
Allegan County Prosecuting Attorney Roberts Kengis argued for the prison sentence Monday, Oct. 30.
“I do feel a prison term is appropriate,” Kengis said. “This was very violent conduct Mr. Moose engaged in.”
Kengis suggested a sentence of 20 months to five years.
Moose pleaded guilty in August and admitted to choking his girlfriend during a fight and then running from Plainwell public safety officers who responded to the report of a domestic disturbance on West Bridge Street.
Moose’s lawyer, Frederick Walter Jensen, Jr., argued his client should receive a jail term and probation.
“Outside this incident, he’s not been a violent offender,” Jensen said.
He said Moose had a criminal record, but it wasn’t as extensive as some. Jensen suggested Moose would benefit from the Kalamazoo Probation Enhancement Program and a boot camp program.
“He does have a supportive family,” Jensen said.
Moose told the court he was sorry.
“I’m sorry for what I’ve done,” he said. “I’ve had a lot of time in the Allegan County Jail and I’ve been in NA, the community reentry unit, Bible Study, family victorious.
“I just want another chance.”
Judge Margaret Zuzich Bakker said Moose’s offense toward a woman he was in a relationship was very violent.
“You put her in a headlock and put your hand over her mouth,” Bakker said. “You covered her mouth and nose so she couldn’t breath.
“She had to fake going limp to get you to stop. Then you hugged her and said, ‘Sorry you made me do this.’”
To do that because the girlfriend took Moose’s phone, Bakker said, was very worrisome.
“You almost killed your girlfriend because she took your phone,” she said.
Moose had also exhibited other abusive and controlling behavior toward the victim, like only allowing her to go to the store at certain times and demanding to always know where she was. “The court feels it’s a safety issue for the community,” Bakker said.
The judge also sentenced Moose to 174 days in jail, with credit for 174 days already served, for attempted assaulting/resisting/obstructing police.
Moose pleaded to the two crimes as part of a plea agreement with Allegan County prosecutors, who agreed to drop assault by strangulation and assaulting/resisting/obstructing police charges, not charge Moose as a third felony offender and not seek charges for witness intimidation based on contacts between Moose and the victim in the case.
The crime happened about 11:45 a.m. May 10 when police were called the 300 block of East Bridge Street in Plainwell. The victim told officers Moose was hiding upstairs and he leaped off a second-story balcony and ran along the river. Officers chased him on foot and Moose jumped into the river behind the Trestle Bridge complex and tried floating downstream.
Otsego Police Department officers and Allegan County Sheriff’s Office deputies joined the chase.
Moose ignored lines to him thrown by police, but eventually pulled himself out of the river on the north bank near First Avenue before he’d reached the US-131 bridge. Police said he wasn’t in shape to resist by that point and he was arrested and charged.
Contact Dan Pepper at dpepper@allegannews.com or at (269) 673-5534.