The Hastings Banner — Thursday, March 2, 2023 — Page 5Single-vehicle accident claims one
life in Hastings Charter Twp.
Greg Chandler
Staff Writer
A 25-year-old Vermontville man is dead
after a single-vehicle crash on M-79 in
Hastings Charter Township over the week-
end.
The crash occurred shortly before 3 p.m.
on Saturday on M-79 near Quimby Road. A
preliminary investigation by the Barry
County Sheriff’s Office said the driver was
headed eastbound on M-79 in a 2019 Ford
F-150 pickup truck when the vehicle went
left of center and ran off the north side of
the roadway, striking several trees.
The driver, whose name has not been
released, was pronounced dead at the
scene. The crash remains under investiga-
tion.At this time, it is unknown if alcohol or
drugs were a factor in the crash.
Assisting agencies at the crash scene
included Barry County Central Dispatch,
Nashville Police Department, Hastings Fire
Department, Nashville Fire Department,
Mercy EMS, Goldsworthy’s Towing and
Western Michigan University Office of the
Medical Examiner.Legislators discuss Barry County
issues with community leaders
Hunter McLaren
Staff Writer
State and federal legislators met with invit-
ed community leaders earlier this week to
discuss various issues facing the county and
answer questions.
Education, childcare and economic devel-
opment were among some of the issues dis-
cussed Monday morning at Leason Sharpe
Hall in Hastings. The Barry County Chamber
of Commerce hosted the Community Stake-
holders Meeting, where selected community
leaders asked questions and raised issues to
the legislators.
State Senator Thomas Albert and State
Representative Gina Johnsen were both in
attendance, with Peter Dickow representing
U.S. Senator Gary Peters and Gabe Butzke
representing U.S. Representative John Mool-
enaar. Representatives Angela Rigas and
Rachelle Smit were invited to the event but
not present; a Stabenow staffer was planning
on attending but couldn’t make it.
Much of the discussion was focused on
manufacturing training and education as a
vehicle for economic growth.
Albert said it was important to create an
environment where major manufacturers are
attracted to Michigan by looking at how it
regulates and taxes those businesses. He said
it can be more effective than trying to hang
onto manufacturers looking to leave by offer-
ing one-time grants and incentives.
“It’s more important what your state offers
businesses and how they make up their tax law
and all the regulatory law,” Albert said. “That
will determine how much growth (the state
sees) way more than what you have for incen-
tives and other government-driven policies.”
One such example of attractive regulatory
law Albert gave is Michigan’s Right-to-Work
law, which gives employers the ability to dis-
sociate with employees for any reason. It’s a
law he said he’d be fighting to keep in place as
state Democrats have discussed repealing it.
Johnsen echoed Albert’s thoughts that tax
reform could encourage employers to come
and stay in the state. Johnsen added that
relaxing regulations surrounding public
school teachers would help remedy a teacher
shortage, especially for career and technical
instructors.
“We all know people who want to give
back to the community that will make excel-
lent teachers. They are retired engineers,
mathematicians, and they’re not allowed to
teach math to high schoolers because they
haven’t gone through the extra couple years
of the teacher certification process,” Johnsen
said. “There has to be some exceptions that
are practical to meet our current needs.”
Katherine Bertolini, superintendent of
Maple Valley Public Schools, said permitting
experts to teach at the district is something
she has already started looking into, but she
needs the regulations to be more flexible to
do so effectively. She also asked that legisla-
tors look at relaxing Michigan Merit Curricu-
lum, which she said currently demands too
many college-track courses be taught and
doesn’t leave much room for students to take
more vocational-geared elective courses.
“We have some flexibility with expert per-
mitting, but it’s not enough yet,” Bertolini
said. “I’m hoping I can develop partnerships
with local manufacturers so they can come to
my school and teach my students.”When asked what Barry County could do
to best work with state and federal legislature
toward solutions, Dickow said continued
communication and events like the one held
Monday were a great start.
“Events like this one are really important,
there’s not enough of them. I have, quite
frankly, found legislative gatherings like this
to be among the most productive and useful
uses of my time to understand what concerns
are in the employer community,” Dickow
said. “When it comes down to it, creating an
economy that works for everyone is really
our prime focus.”Teen employee takes money from
Gun Lake gas station
Police were called to the Gun Lake BP gas station at 1515 S. Patterson Rd. around
noon on Feb. 17 in reference to an employee that stole from the store. The manager
of the store, a 37-year-old Hastings woman, told police that a 17-year-old employee
had stolen from the store. She said he stole from the store once on Oct. 30 and again
on Nov. 5, with the amount totaling $798. When she became aware of the theft, she
gave the teen a chance to pay back the money but told police he had not paid anything
even after being prompted several times. The manager said she would like to press
charges, and police spoke with the teen who admitted to stealing and accepted respon-
sibility for the crime.Man resists arrest after sending
another man to hospital
A 39-year-old Hastings man resisted arrest after his involvement in a physical alter-
cation around 8:30 p.m. on Feb. 22 at the Hastings Admiral gas station at 313 N. Broad-
way. A Hastings police officer called for backup and was assisted by an officer from the
Barry County Sheriff’s Office. Police said the man was not cooperating, was thrashing
on the ground and repeatedly tried to pull his hands underneath him to prevent police
from handcuffing him. Police were eventually able to handcuff and apprehend the man.
Prior to the officers arriving on scene, it was reported the suspect assaulted another man
and stole an EBT card from him. Police said the man had the EBT card in his possession
when apprehended and the man that was assaulted was transported to Corewell Health
Pennock Hospital.Downed power lines obstruct traffic in
Dowling after ice storm
An ice storm caused issues throughout the state last week on Wednesday, Feb. 22,
making travel hazardous and knocking out power in many places. Police responded to
a downed power line just after midnight on Thursday, Feb. 23, on South M-37 Highway
near East Pifer Road. A caller reported a power line was hanging across M-37 at wind-
shield level. Johnstown Fire Department arrived first on the scene to block the road,
with police taking over once they arrived. Consumers Energy arrived on scene and
removed the power lines from the road, allowing traffic through the road again.Drunk driver stopped after driving
around police vehicles blocking traffic
Police were blocking traffic on Gilkey Lake Road near Cobb Road to assist with
clean-up from a personal injury crash around 3 a.m. on Feb. 19 when a 35-year-old
Dowling man drove around two patrol vehicles. The officers had their vehicles parked
in the roadway with their emergency lights on, and a tow truck on the scene also had
its lights activated when the man tried driving through the scene. Police said the man
nearly drove through debris on the roadway before one of the officers got out of their
vehicle and stopped him. The man told police he was coming from the bar and just
trying to get home. A preliminary breath test showed the man had a blood-alcohol
content level of 0.175 percent at the scene.City of Hastings
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
Notice is hereby given that the Zoning Board of Appeals of the City of Hastings
will hold a public hearing during its regular meeting on March 21, 2023 at 7:
PM in the City Hall Council Chambers, 201 East State Street, Hastings, Michigan
49058.
The purpose of the public hearing is to hear comments and make a determination
on a variance request by owner Stephen Huver at 220 West Muriel Street.
The applicant has requested a variance from Section 90-883 (b)(4) of the City of
Hastings Code of Ordinances, that if granted, will allow construction of a
residential driveway in excess of the 20’ maximum width at the property line.
Legal description of said property is:
City of Hastings Lots 61-62, the Hardendorff Addition.
Written comments will be received on the above request at Hastings City Hall,
201 East State Street, Hastings, Michigan 49058 until 4:00 PM on the day of the
hearing. Requests for information of said hearing should be directed to
Community Development Director, Dan King at 269-945-2468 or dking@
hastingsmi.org.The City will provide necessary reasonable aids and services upon five days
notice to Hastings City Clerk (telephone number 269-945-2468) or TDD call relay
services 1-800-649- 3777.
Christopher R. Bever
City Clerk195889City of Hastings
Development Area Citizen’s Council
NOTICE OF MEETING
The Development Area Citizen’s Council will hold a Meeting for the purpose of
requesting and receiving Downtown Development Authority information and
technical assistance relevant to the preparation of the development plan for the
development area. All persons present at the meeting shall have reasonable
opportunity to be heard. The meeting will be held on Thursday March 9, 2023 at
5:30 p.m. in the Conference Room, second floor of City Hall, 201 East State
Street, Hastings, Michigan 49058.The City will provide necessary reasonable aids and services upon five days
notice to the City Clerk at 269.945.2468 or TDD call relay services 800.649.3777.
Christopher R. Bever
City Clerk195888State Senator Thomas Albert (left) and Representative Gina Johnsen (right) dis-
cussed various issues facing Barry County at a community stakeholders meeting
Monday. (Photo by Hunter McLaren)