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Vol. 124, Issue #111 Saturday, May 12, 2018 75¢

Super mom
of the year
By Samantha May
Staff Writer
THREE RIVERS —  Ten-year-old Faith
Balkema won the Three Rivers Commercial-
News’ writing contest with her Mother’s Day
poem to her mom Erika Balkema.
Faith received the opportunity to write her
poem at Andrews Elementary. Her fourth-grade
teacher Brandy Preston and her fourth-grade
writing teacher Joyce Gyllstrom participated in
this year’s writing contest by assigning it as a
class assignment. The staff at the Commercial-
News voted on 24 entries and selected Faith’s as
the winner.
Faith wrote: “Some love is like leaves, simply
falling away. But your love for me is not like a
leaf, it’s like a stone, staying there everyday and I
love you more than anything. Oh mother, I do
love you!”
Erika has been a high school government and
economics teacher for about 10 years until
receiving her current job as Administrator of
Educational Services at the Three Rivers High
School. In November, her family, including six-
year-old Timothy John, moved from Vicksburg
to Three Rivers and Erika said the kids are
settling in well.
Faith said she has been meeting a lot of new
friends and has had many opportunities to
display her art sketches, and now her poems. She
came up with the idea for her Mother’s Day
poem because of her mom’s interest in nature,
and decided to bring one of her sketches to life
through writing.
“One, she is my mom. Two, she takes care of
me a lot and three, I love her,” Faith said.
“I know my mom likes the outdoors so I was
thinking of a flower, but I know a lot of kids were
doing that too, so I decided on a leaf. And since
leaves fall a lot, they don’t stay, sometimes they
just go away. And the rock always stays in the
exact same place, unless someone picks it up and
moves it.”
Erika said Faith has really been practicing her
writing and spelling since moving to Three
Rivers.
“I like to draw and I like to write,” Faith said.
“Mrs. Gyllstrom let us write poems for Mother’s
Day and in the beginning, I wasn’t very much of
a writer, but when I brought my sketch book in
she showed me how I could put all my sketches
together into my writing or as a story. So that is
L
oving family
Ten-year-old Faith Balkema won the Three Rivers Commercial-News’ writing contest with
exactly why I did it.” her Mother’s Day poem. Pictured, mother Erika Balkema with her daughter Faith and son
Samantha May can be reached at 279-7488 ext. Timothy John Balkema, 6, pose for a photo.
23 or sam@threeriversnews.com. Commercial-News/Samantha May

Vago rescinds resignation; TRDDA board ‘throws out’ previous evaluations

By Alek Frost The Three Rivers Commercial- Finance Director Cathy Lawson. therefore negotiated terms with Board of Directors voted by a
Managing Editor News reached out to Bippus “Mr. Buckhold read aloud, once, Mr. Buckhold wherein I would count of four to three in favor of
following the meeting and he said from a list of comments from remain in my position until June rejecting my resignation. On
THREE RIVERS — Three he supports the board’s decision. board members’ individual review 30th in order to oversee a transition Tuesday, May 8th, Mr. Buckhold
Rivers Downtown Development “I  understand that forms, divided into those that the for the TRDDA and Main Street shared with the board and several
Authority Executive Director Dave personnel matters are difficult but list’s author labeled positive and Program unless I found another staff both the aggregate results of
Vago rescinded his resignation I support the board’s decision and negative. They shared no other position first. the board member reviews and
during a special meeting on Friday, will continue to help the  DDA part of the review. When I asked “Mr. Buckhold informed me each member’s individual scores
May 11 at the Three Rivers Public move forward to improve Three them to share printed copies of that he was in communication and comments. These reviews
Library. Rivers,” Bippus wrote in an email these comments and the other with Mr. Bippus and Ms. Lawson reflected standards that the
The TRDDA board of directors to the Commercial-News. review results with me, they in creating a Resignation TRDDA adopted at its April 6,
unanimously approved the During Friday’s meeting Vago refused to do so. Upon further Agreement. I signed that 2018 meeting, and which it applied
rescinding of Vago’s resignation. read a prepared statement discussion, Mr. Buckhold and Ms. Agreement, attached, on Thursday, retroactively to the previous year
The board also voted 5-0 in favor announcing he would be Bachinski gave me until noon on May 3rd, as did Mr. Buckhold and in conducting the evaluations.
of “throwing out” evaluations rescinding the resignation Tuesday, May 1st to make a Mr. Bippus, with TRDDA “The reviews showed a
previously submitted by the board, agreement he signed on Thursday, decision on their ultimatum. I was Secretary Sherri Rivers acting as satisfactory performance rating in
and to establish new guidelines May 3. unable to confirm my review witness to each. accordance with these standards.
based on training from the “On Monday, April 30, 2018, I rankings or status with other “On Friday, May 4th, at its In light of this, I intend to honor
Michigan Main Street Program was scheduled for a one-on-one board members in that time, and regular meeting, the TRDDA See VAGO, page 3

regarding the role and review of my annual employee

responsibilities of the TRDDA evaluation results with the TRDDA
executive director, board members, Board Chair at the time, and my
committee members and direct supervisor, Ron Buckhold.
volunteers before submitting new Mr. Buckhold brought the TRDDA
evaluations of Vago six months Treasurer at the time, Sharon
after those new guidelines are Bachinski, to this meeting. Mr.
established. Buckhold informed me
Approximately 40 people immediately that they were going
attended Friday’s special TRDDA to suspend the review, and that my
board of directors meeting, which review results were poor enough
was called by acting Board Chair to warrant my resignation from
Amanda Yearling and Board my position as TRDDA Executive
Member Andrew George earlier Director.
this week to discuss Vago’s “The two further informed me
evaluation, as well as the validity of that if I did not resign, that they
his resignation agreement. would conduct a vote for my
In the wake of former Board dismissal at the regular meeting of
Chair Ron Buckhold and Treasurer the TRDDA Board of Directors on
Sharon Bachinski’s resignations on Friday, May 4th. The two informed
Wednesday, May 9,Market
five of the six me and demonstrated that they
swings
remaining TRDDAmaking youboard had brought resignation A full house
members were present on Friday.
uneasy? Let’s documents with them for me to Rebecca Shank of Constantine addressed the Three Rivers Downtown Development Authority board of directors, as
City Manager and talk.
TRDDA Board sign that they had prepared with well as the 40 or so people in attendance during a special TRDDA meeting at the Three Rivers Public Library on Friday,
Member Joe Bippus was absent. City Manager Joe Bippus and May 11.
Brigitte Romanelli Commercial-News/Alek Frost
Financial Advisor
.
186 South Grand St

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 Saturday, May 12, 2018 – 3

Commercial-News Today
She married Simon Bontrager
August of 1948 and 5 children are
surviving: Vernon Bontrager,
OBITUARIES Keith served on the
VAGO
Continued from page 1

KATHRYN M.
“KATIE” HUTSON
Kathryn M. “Katie” Hutson, 86,
of Constantine, died May 10, 2018
at Life Care Center of LaGrange.
She was born on March 10, 1932 in
Centreville, a daughter of Noah
A.E. and Sarah L. (Miller) Miller. In
January of 1971, Katie married
Jaime Hutson at Messiah Lutheran
Church in Constantine.
Katie was employed at DuMore
Office in Elkhart during the 1960s
to 1973, and later worked with her
husband at Jaime’s Upholstery
from 1973 to 1983. She enjoyed
gardening and quilting, operating a
craft store next to the upholstery
shop.
Service Announcement
ELIZABETH “BETTY” LAMBERSTON
The family of Elizabeth “Betty” Lamberston , whom
passed away on Feb. 19, 2018 will receive friends for
visitation from 9:30 a.m. until time of memorial services
beginning at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, May 15, 2018 at First
Presbyterian Church, 320 N. Main St, Three Rivers, MI
49093 with Rev. Brenda Deily officiating.
Private interment of cremains will be held at Riverside
Cemetery, Three Rivers.
Memorial donations may be directed to the St. Joseph
County United Way or Three Rivers Area Hospital.  Envelopes
available will be available at the church or Hohner Funeral
Home in care of arrangements. Online condolences may be
shared at www.hohnerfh.com.
Elkhart, Ind., Gary (Jill) Bontrager,
LaOtto, Ind., Diane Reese,
Constantine, Kevin (Rita)
Bontrager, Palmetto, Fla., and
Barbara (Gary) London, Camarillo,
Calif.
Surviving are her husband Jaime
Hutson, Constantine, step children
Jeffery Hutson, Three Rivers, Dale
(Patricia) Hutson, Colon, and
Joseph Hutson, Three Rivers,
many grandchildren and great H. KEITH
grandchildren, brothers Ed Miller,
Sturgis, Reuben (Sophia) Miller,
WALTKE
H. Keith Waltke, age 73,
Three Rivers, and Wilbur Miller,
of Sturgis, passed away
Gobles, sisters Lydia (Frank)
peacefully at home with his
Schragg, Centreville and Clara
loving wife and
Grubert, Elkhart.
stepdaughter Jennifer by
Katie was preceded in death by
his side on Wednesday,
her parents and four brothers.
May 9, 2018 after a
Cremation has taken place.
courageous battle with
Relatives and friends will be
cancer.
received Monday from 3-5 p.m. at
He was born Aug. 2, 1944
the Eley Funeral Home in
in Allen County, Ft. Wayne,
Constantine, where a memorial
Ind. a son to the late
service will be held at 5 p.m.
Elwood E. Waltke and Pat
Monday. Memorial contributions
(Patrick) Meese.
may be directed to the National
Keith moved to Sturgis
Multiple Sclerosis Society. Online
as a child and graduated
messages may be left for the family
from Sturgis High School
at www.eleyfunralhomes.com.
with the class of 1963.
He played music with the
original “Falkons” and
recorded two records
“Why? Marianne” and
“Kiss Me When You’re
Glad” in 1965. He played in
the 70s with the
“Kruchbirds” and in the
80s with the “Two of Us.”
On Aug. 5, 1989 in
Sturgis he married Judy
Ward.
Keith was a member of
the Masons, Knight
Templar, Royal Arch,
Meridian Sun Eagle Lodge,
and the Sturgis Saladin
Shriners.
Life member of the
Fraternal Order of Eagles,
Sturgis Planning Board
since 2002 and chairman
since 2005. He also served
on the zoning board of
appeals since 1998.
Keith owned and
operated the Sturgis Glass
Company for the past 35
years.
He enjoyed playing golf
at Klinger Lake Country
Club where he was a
member. He enjoyed riding
his Harley Davidson
Motorcycle that he won at a
chamber auction in 2008
with the Heritage Trail Hog
Chapter where he was a
member. Keith also enjoyed
going to Canada fishing
with the guys, spending
time at the Sturgis Elks
Lodge, and was an avid
University of Michigan fan.
Surviving are his wife:
Judy; 1 son: Kevin Waltke
of Sturgis; two daughters:
Julie (Brian) Hoggett of
Middlebury, Ind. and
Kimberly (Earl) Arthur of
San Antonio, Texas, three
grandchildren: Ireland
Hoggett, Ben Arthur, and
Kenny Arthur; nine great-
grandchildren: Ryker,
Brantley, Willow, Lane,
Addy, Eowyn, Lorelei,
Emery, and Killian; one
stepdaughter: Jennifer
(Richard) Kelly of
Indianapolis, Ind.; and his
beloved dog: Chloe.
He was preceded in death
by his parents, one brother:
Gaylord Hill, one sister:
Grace Miller, and his
favorite dog: Sheena.
The family will receive
friends and relatives from 4
– 8 p.m., Wednesday, at the
Rosenberg Chapel of
the board’s vote at this time,
and to recognize that I signed
the May 3 Resignation
Agreement unwillfully, under
duress, and under false
pretenses.
“Therefore, effective
immediately, I hereby withdraw
and rescind my resignation
from my position as Executive
Director of the Three Rivers
Downtown Development
Authority and Michigan Main
Street program. I will be happy
to evaluate and discuss my
future with this organization in
the coming weeks and months.
I trust that any future discussion
regarding my employment will
take place in accordance with
due process, applicable laws,
and full transparency, and that
it will include the input and the
vote of the full TRDDA Board
of Directors.”
After Vago read his
statement, Board Member
Sherri Rivers said while she was
present when the resignation
agreement was signed by Vago
and Buckhold, she made her
objections known.
“I would like to state that I
did witness it but I had the
Opening Meeting Act there
and I read it out loud — so (it
was clear that) I was opposed to
what was going on, and that I
didn’t feel it was legal,” Rivers
said.
Immediately following
Rivers’ comments, Vago said
her account of what happened
was accurate.
City Clerk Melissa Bliss was
one of 19 people who spoke
during the public comment
portion of Friday’s meeting.
Bliss urged those in attendance
to “let the negativity go.”
“It is disheartening to see all
the tension, and I just want to
“It’s for everybody from all
walks of life and I really
appreciate that because frankly,
I don’t think people are always
willing to work with people
different from them, and Dave
has always struck me as
someone who is willing to do
that and have an open mind
about it. So I’m grateful for that.
And the other thing that I
wanted to say is that as this
target demographic it’s hard for
me to convince a potential
spouse or friends who are also
in their 20s and educated, who
want to make a difference, to
come to a town that keeps
having scandals. Like two
months ago there was the
library ouster, we’re in the
middle of this thing with
Lockport (Township), the
county is suing us or something
— I mean it’s hard to follow.
“(But) it’s not building, it’s
problem after problem, it’s not
people working together and
coming up with a cohesive
vision, and I hope as we go over
the review — I appreciate that
you all reviewed Dave but I
think that we’re all reviewing
Dave right now — by showing
up, we’re reviewing Dave. But I
think a lot of people in this
town should maybe have an
evaluation outside of the scope
of their board, maybe talking to
downtown people, maybe
talking to other people in the
city about how they feel these
people are doing because there
a lot of feelings in this town
right now about how things are
going, and it’s hard to see us
moving forward, but I really
want to.”
Rob Vander Giessen-
Reitsma, who lives in downtown
Three Rivers and was on the
hiring committee that chose

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Homes, 807 E. Chicago say today that I hope the city, Vago as TRDDA’s executive
of Moose, Sturgis American
Rd., Sturgis, MI 49091. the city staff, the community, director said “very little has
Legion S.A.L., and Sturgis
A Benevolent and whatever role you play here, if been easy” for Vago since he
VFW (Social).
you’re a part of the downtown, was hired in May of 2016.
He was a life member of Protective Order of Elks
if you believe in the downtown “I believe we got a great
Service will be held at 7:30
Sturgis Benevolent and
— regardless of what hat we’re person to lead this movement
Protective Order of Elks p.m., Wednesday, at the
funeral home. wearing, we’re all here together, downtown, and I still believe
Lodge #1381 where he
Services celebrating the in it together. To let the that. But I will say, that over all
served as Exalted Ruler
life of H. Keith Waltke will negativity overrule or just kind of that time, very little has been
1971-1972. He was honored
be held at 11 a.m., of clout what the real — what it easy. It gets frustrating for those
with Elk of the Year in 1972
Thursday, at the First is your job here is to do today. of us who are very involved for
and 2008. He was past state
Presbyterian Church, 1320 We put you in these positions it to be this difficult all of the
president of Michigan Elks
S. Lakeview Ave., Sturgis, because we trust your opinions time. This morning, the only
Association 1981-1982.
MI 49091. and that you’re doing your jobs. reason all of us are here this
Past District Deputy Grand
Memorial donations may I just encourage everybody to morning — we don’t need to be
Exalted Ruler Southwest
be directed to Michigan let the negativity go — there are here, this doesn’t need to be
District and coached
Elks Major Projects, P.O. a lot of things that are constantly happening right now, this a
Sturgis in winning National
Box 141605, Grand Rapids, moving, different parts, and to waste of all of our time, quite
Ritual Team in 2008. He
MI 49504 or to Hospice of constantly try to put out fires is frankly — I mean it’s not a
was also the past National

Baubl& Bags
es
Sturgis, P.O. Box 126, probably more damaging and
Grand Lodge Chairman of
Sturgis, MI 49091. difficult than to just let you do
the Ritual Committee
your jobs that you’re here to do
2014–2017.
today. And I would say the
same for everyone else at their
own jobs at their current place
Three Rivers
Top Sales Associates
of employment,” Bliss said.
Health Auxiliary “I just want to encourage you
Fundraiser to continue to move forward
positively. As a city staff I know
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appreciates that Vago
understands “downtown is for
everyone.”
“I am in my 20s, I’m educated,
I’m kind of entrepreneurial, I’m
the type of person that I think
most cities would hope to
attract, right? I’m hoping to
have kids here, I’m hoping to
make my life here, and I’m
really passionate about living in
Three Rivers, and I love our
downtown. I’m so enthused
that one, Dave understands that
we’re not all liberal, we’re not all
conservative, we’re not all older,
younger or anything — there’s a
lot of ethnic groups in Three
Rivers — Dave understands
that the downtown is for
everyone,” Sonday said.
waste for all of us to be here
being supportive but all of these
talented people, all of this
energy in this room — all of us
have jobs.
“All of us could be doing
them right now and
contributing to our city but
because a few people decided to
create an emergency, we have to
put out another fire. I’m tired of
that; I think we’re all tired of
that. What we need to be able to
do is work together, that’s the
only way our small city is going
to move forward. I think it’s
obvious that many of us are
committed to that, many of us
are working together everyday,
and some people don’t seem to
be as committed to working
together.
“So I would like for all of us
to move forward — and if you
want, I can do the whole thing
where I can talk about the
number of people who have not
invested downtown because of
this kind of stuff. It’s a lot, it’s a
lot of money, it’s a lot of
disinvestment and it’s not
helpful. So what I would like to
do is encourage all of these
folks to join this group of folks
— who have been working on
this, who want to continue
working on it, who want to
build lives here, who are
committed to this place. Join us
to keep moving it forward.”
Alek Frost can be reached at
279-7488 ext. 22 or alek@
threeriversnews.com.