The Hastings Banner — Thursday, August 24, 2023 — Page 11and junior defensive specialist Bri Darling
who were solid contributors for the Saxons as
sophomores.
Also back is junior middle Jordan Mila-
nowski, who joined the varsity midway
through the 2022 season.
“For the most part, everybody is kind of
returning to their same spot so we are hop-
ing for some consistency there,” coach
Slaughter said.
While the Saxons coach is happy to finally
have an experienced team, she also is happy
to add some young talent to the mix. Junior
Liliana Fox is joining the Saxons as a defen-
sive specialist and junior Isabel Gee will
work for a spot in the front row. Sophomore
Olivia Friddle will look to add her athleticism
wherever it is needed.
The Saxon team will be working to improve
on its I-8 finish from a year ago, getting a pair
of wins and then getting a bit of revenge over
the Jackson Northwest girls by knocking
them off at the conference tournament. Cold-
water and Northwest both took five-set wins
over the Saxons during the regular season.
Coach Slaughter still thinks of the math that
showed Coldwater finishing just two points
better, 115-113, than her Saxons in their con-
ference duel.
Coach Slaughter expects Marshall to
remain a tough competitor in the I-8 this fall
after a top ten state finish a year ago. Harper
Creek will also be a strong team to watch out
for in the conference.
How well the defense comes together will
determine a lot of the Saxons’ success this fall.
Coach Slaughter said back row defense and
passing is something the program from the
middle school on up is really trying to work on.
The Saxons had their regular open gyms
throughout the summer and hosted an
All-American Volleyball Camp in late July –getting to work with a couple NCAA Divi-
sion 1 volleyball players who are in the pro-
cess of getting ready to play professional
volleyball.
That was followed up by tryouts and the
opening weeks of practice. Coach Slaughter
had to make more cuts than she ever has
before, which is a tough thing but an okay
thing for the program overall.
“I get jealous of wrestling where every-
body gets to have some role,” Slaughter said
of the tough process at the end of try-outs.
“We definitely have some strong athletes
coming through and those are just some of
those growing pains we haven’t felt yet.”
There is some consistency in the program
overall this fall. Slaughter is glad to welcome
back Jillian Collins as the JV coach and to
have returning leaders at the middle school
level too. Alexis Mast is taking over the
freshman team.204290RUTLAND CHARTER TOWNSHIP
BARRY COUNTY, MICHIGAN
2024-2033 PODUNK LAKE IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM
(AQUATIC VEGETATION CONTROL)NOTICE OF SEPTEMBER 13, 2023 PUBLIC HEARING ON
PROPOSED 2023-
SPECIAL ASSESSMENT ROLLTO: THE RESIDENTS AND PROPERTY OWNERS OF RUTLAND CHARTER
TOWNSHIP, BARRY COUNTY, MICHIGAN; OWNERS OF PROPERTY
ABUTTING OR HAVING DEEDED ACCESS TO PODUNK LAKE IN LAND
SECTIONS 26, 27 AND 34 OF RUTLAND CHARTER TOWNSHIP; AND ANY
OTHER INTERESTED PERSONS:PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that the Supervisor/Assessing Officer of Rutland Charter
Township has reported to the Township Board and filed in the office of the Township Clerk
for public examination a proposed special assessment roll/special assessment column
in the regular tax roll pertaining to the 2024-2033 Podunk Lake Improvement Program
Special Assessment District (Aquatic Vegetation Control) pursuant to action by the
Township Board on August 9, 2023 (Resolution No. 2023-293).This proposed special assessment roll proposes to allocate the costs of an aquatic
vegetation control program for 2024 through 2033 (including estimated administrative/
legal expenses incurred primarily in 2023) in the approximate total amount of $126,
over the ten-year program to the various lots and parcels within the District as follows (in
each instance treating multiple contiguous lots/parcels under the same ownership as a
single assessment unit), as follows:· $2,268.00 to each lot/parcel abutting Podunk Lake, levied and payable
in ten annual installments as follows:- $315.00 in 2023, only
- $217.00 in each of years 2024-
· $1,848.00 to each lot/parcel abutting primarily the channel of Podunk
Lake, levied and payable in ten annual installments as follows:- $273.00 in 2023, only
- $175.00 in each of years 2024-
· $1,018.00 to each lot/parcel abutting neither Podunk Lake nor the chan-
nel but having deeded access to Podunk Lake, levied and payable in ten
annual installments as follows:- $190.00 in 2023 only
- $92.00 in each of years 2024-
The special assessments for each of years 2024-2032 will be subject to annual
redetermination by the Township Board when the actual costs of the yearly program and
any relevant administrative costs are known. Any such annual redetermination of costs
and assessments will be made at a regular meeting of the Township Board in September-
November of each year, or thereabouts, without further notice or hearing except as may
be required by law or as may be further determined by the Township Board; provided
that the allocation of individual special assessments resulting from any such annual
redetermination shall be based on the same allocation method used for the initial 2023-
2032 special assessments. Unpaid assessments will be subject to interest at a rate to
be determined by the Township Board not exceeding 8.0% per annum (tentatively 3.0%).Note: In 2024 the Township Board may consider whether any surplus from the
previous special assessments levied for the 2019-2023 lake improvement program should
be applied in whole or in part as an offset/credit to the special assessment installment that
would otherwise be levied in 2024-2032 for the 2024-2033 program.A public hearing on any objections to the proposed special assessment roll will
be held at the Rutland Charter Township Hall at 2461 Heath Road, Hastings, Michigan,
on Wednesday, September 13, 2023 in conjunction with a regular meeting of the
Township Board commencing at 7:00 p.m. Pursuant to this public hearing the Township
Board may approve and confirm the proposed special assessment roll as submitted, or
may approve the proposed special assessment roll with revisions, or may direct a new roll
to be made.The proposed special assessment roll, and the program plans, estimate of costs,
the boundaries of the 2024-2033 Podunk Lake Improvement Program Special Assessment
District, and the Resolution of the Township Board creating the Special Assessment District
and directing the Supervisor/Assessing Officer of the Township to make the proposed
special assessment roll, may be examined at the office of the Township Clerk and may
further be examined at the public hearing.PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE THAT APPEARANCE AND PROTEST AT
THIS HEARING IS REQUIRED IN ORDER TO APPEAL A SPECIAL ASSESSMENT TO
THE MICHIGAN TAX TRIBUNAL. AN OWNER OR PARTY IN INTEREST OR HIS OR
HER AGENT MAY APPEAR IN PERSON AT THIS HEARING TO PROTEST A SPECIAL
ASSESSMENT, OR MAY FILE AN APPEARANCE OR PROTEST BY LETTER WITH
THE TOWNSHIP CLERK BEFORE THE CLOSE OF THE HEARING OR WITHIN SUCH
FURTHER TIME AS THE TOWNSHIP BOARD MAY GRANT, IF ANY, AND IN SUCH
CIRCUMSTANCES A PERSONAL APPEARANCE AT THE HEARING SHALL NOT BE
REQUIRED. THE OWNER OR ANY PERSON HAVING AN INTEREST IN THE REAL
PROPERTY WHO PROTESTS IN PERSON OR IN WRITING AS PROVIDED ABOVE
MAY FILE A WRITTEN APPEAL OF A SPECIAL ASSESSMENT WITH THE MICHIGAN
TAX TRIBUNAL WITHIN 35 DAYS AFTER THE CONFIRMATION OF THE SPECIAL
ASSESSMENT ROLL (OR SUCH OTHER PERIOD OF TIME AS MAY BE REQUIRED
BY LAW).The foregoing hearings and all proceedings associated with these special
assessment matters will be conducted in accordance with and pursuant to 1954 PA 188,
as amended, the Michigan Open Meetings Act, and any other applicable law.Rutland Charter Township will provide necessary reasonable auxiliary aids and
services at the meeting/hearing to individuals with disabilities, such as signers for the
hearing impaired and audiotapes of printed materials being considered, upon reasonable
notice to the Township. Individuals with disabilities requiring auxiliary aids or services
should contact the Township Clerk as designated below.Robin Hawthorne, Clerk
Rutland Charter Township
2461 Heath Road
Hastings, MI 49058
(269) 948-VOLLEYBALL, continued from page 9 ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
four interceptions and ten pass breakups in
his team’s first ten games last season.
Carroll threw for 643 yards and rushed for
316 yards last season in the Saxons’ Wing-T
offense. He threw six TD passes and rushed
for four scores.
Coach Murphy expects junior Andrew
Haines and senior Mason Bailey to step up
and play big roles on the Saxons’ offensive
line.
“Quite a few of those boys have been
working hard in the offseason and they
expect a lot out of themselves which is kind
of a breath of fresh air with the general popu-
lation of kids, this group of young men are
pretty self driven and self motivated,” coach
Murphy said.”
The Saxon coach sees the commitment to
weight lifting continuing to grow as his guys
see results from year to year.
“I believe the kids see the results of consis-
tent longevity in the weight room, working
hard together and seeing that payoff in the
fall the past four years makes a huge differ-
ence in their attitude about being there on a
consistent basis and holding each other
accountable for being there,” Murphy said.
“In the past, when I first stared we’d have
three or four seniors, varsity players, at lifting
sessions in the summer. It has gone to 23-
players together lifting in the summer togeth-
er. That allows our kids to really develop our
tight knit bond and that relationship they
wouldn’t have if they weren’t together every
day during the summer.”
Coach Murphy expects Marshall, Parma
Western and Harper Creek to be the teams
best positioned to knock his team off the top
of the I-8 this fall – saying Marshall is at the
top of that list.
“Marshall is just explosive,” Murphy said.
“Any time they step on the field they can
make a lot of things happen. They have a
good quarterback, good running backs and a
couple really good wide receivers.”
Hastings opens conference play on the
road at Coldwater Sept. 15.
This year’s Saxon homecoming game is
scheduled for Oct. 13 when they take on
Jackson Northwest.Youth boost Saxon C.C. program
Brett Bremer
Sports Editor
The Hastings varsity boys’ and girls’ cross
country teams are getting a nice boots from
the freshman and sophomore classes this fall.
The difference between the two squads is
that the boys’ team already has a pretty great
base in place. Junior Anika Bourassa is the
lone returning runner for the girls’ program
- and is a two-time varsity letter winner. The
boys’ team brings back a strong group of
juniors and seniors looking forward to push-
ing for a top spot in the Interstate-8 Athletic
Conference.
Seniors Riley Shults, Reuben Solmes and
Jonah Teed are the Saxon boys team’s three
co-captains this fall. All three are four-year
varsity runners.
Shults was an individual state qualifier a
year ago in Division 2 and the two-time
defending Barry County Meet champion. He
earned first team all-conference honors in the
I-8 for the first time last fall.
Also back in the scoring group for the Sax-
ons are junior Micah Johnson and senior
Caleb LaBoe. Both are in their third year
running with the varsity. Others returning to
the program this fall are senior Kenneth Vas-
tine, sophomores Spencer Crozier and Carter
Krzysik and junior DJ Kuck.
The group of new sophomores looking to
break in to the varsity scoring group includes
Austin Abson and Maxson Eichorst, and
freshmen Ethan Hawthorne, Jay-Dee George,
Logan Kelly and Logan VanZandt are brining
their talents to the high school level.
The Hastings boys were fourth in the Inter-
state-8 Athletic Conference a year ago, sev-
enth at regionals and took the championship
at the Barry County Meet. The Saxons would
like to defend that county title and push for
improvements in the conference and at
regionals.
The regional field continues to be a tough
one with East Grand Rapids, Forest Hills
Eastern and South Christian among the top
teams which will be competing in the Divi-
sion 2 competition at South Christian High
School at the end of October.
The regional will also include the Saxons’
Interstate-8 rivals from Harper Creek and
Marshall. Both of those squads bring back
their top seven runners from last year’s
squads that went 1-2 in the conference in
- Parma Western was the other team
ahead of the Saxons in the conference a year
ago, and the Panthers have a strong returning
group back too.
Bourassa will be joined on the course this
fall by sophomores Alexia Owen and Lakaya
Evans and sophomores Caroline Randall,
Chloe Pirtle, Alexa DeCamp and Lilianna
Enyart. Randall was the middle school con-
ference champion a year ago at Turkeyville.
Jackson Lumen Christi’s exit from the
Interstate-8 Athletic Conference changes
things a bit. Harper Creek, Marshall and
Parma Western were all in the top half of the
final team standings in the league a year ago
and will be pushing for the top spots with
good returning groups.
Hastings will host the first conference
competition of the season Sept. 12.
The Saxons get to run on their regional
course Friday night at South Christian’s
Under the Lights Invitational.
They opened the season last Friday at the
Portage Central Early Bird Invitational.
In a field of 18 teams the Hastings boys
were ninth and the girls 17th.
Kalamazoo Central took the championship
in the boys’ race with a score of 42 points.
The rest of the top ten included Rockford 84,
Kalamazoo Homeschool 97, Portage Central101, Battle Creek Lakeview 144, Paw Paw
203, Lowell 227, Loy Norrix 258, Hastings
280 and St. Joseph 283.
Simmons led the Saxon team with a
15th-place time of 17 minutes 30.16 seconds.
Shults was right behind in 18th in 17:31.51.
The Saxon team also had Teed 59th in
18:51.10 and then a pair of freshmen in the
top five. Eichorst was 143rd in 21:31.90 and
Hawthorne 153rd in 21:48.10.
The top four for the Hastings girls were
freshmen. Randall was fourth overall in
20:02.83, Pirtle 161st in 26:43.27, DeCamp
188th in 27:58.91 and Enyart 211th in
29:09.42. Bourassa placed 254th in 36:54.99.
St. Joseph won the girls’ meet with 87
points. Jenison was second with 96, ahead of
Rockford 108, Portage Central 113, Stevens-
ville Lakeshore 161, Kalamazoo Central 166,
Gobles 179, Battle Creek Lakeview 223,
Buchanan 270 and Kalamazoo Homeschool
274 in the top ten.FOOTBALL, continued from page 10 –––––––––––––––––
this season teamed with fellow returning
senior Andrew Haines at first doubles. Borton
filled that second singles spot in a dual with
Ionia Monday in Hastings – just a step up
from his third singles position last year.
There will be holes in the line-up this fall
for the Saxons. They filled just four flights in
their dual Monday. Senior Evan Porter and
freshman Owen Boge teamed up in the sec-
ond doubles flight. This is Porter’s third year
as a regular in the Saxons’ doubles line-up.
The Saxons were scheduled to make a trip
to Lowell Wednesday. They will be back in
action Monday at Kelloggsville. The Inter-
state-8 Athletic Conference season starts
when the Saxons host Coldwater Sept. 7.
It’ll be another challenging season in the
conference, although perennial league power
Parma Western did lose three of its four sin-
gles players and three of its top four doubles
players to graduation last spring – which may
or may not bring the Panthers back to the
pack a bit.TENNIS, continued
from page 10 –––––––––––
The 2023 Hastins varsity boys' and girls' cross country teams opened the season at
the Portage Early Bird Invitational Friday, Aug. 18. Team members competing included
(front from left) Riley Shults, Anika Bourassa, DJ Kuck, (middle row) Reuben Solmes,
Bailey Pennock, (back) Cole Greenfield, Kenny Vastine and Alex Steward.