HB 6.24.2021 DONE FINAL

Page 8 — Thursday, June 24, 2021 — The Hastings Banner

Fox said in a press release. “We also both

have deep relationships in our communities

that are built upon providing excellent care

and service.

“Together, we can leverage both of our

strengths to further our focus on providing

exceptional care for our communities.”

The organization would have dual head-

quarters in Grand Rapids and Southfield.

“We are enthusiastic about the prospect of

bringing together two of Michigan’s most

respected health systems to create a new sys-

tem that improves the health of individuals

throughout the state,” Beaumont Health Board

Chair Julie Fream and Spectrum Health

System Board Chairman Robert Roth said in

a joint letter. “Together, we will have the abil-

ity to further build a high-quality health care

and coverage network that is ‘For Michigan,

By Michigan.’ ”

A website created to provide information

on the merger, formichiganbymichigan.org,

said major changes are not expected under the

new system.

“We will respect the current medical staff

structures, and our medical staffs will contin-

ue to function locally while collaborating to

share best practices and to advance high-qual-

ity clinical care,” a press release on the web-

site stated.

There are no plans for immediate changes

to the hospital brands, and foundations would

continue to support their local communities.

No hospitals or services are expected to be

closed as a result of the merger.

“Spectrum Health Pennock and all of

Spectrum Health continues to be committed

to delivering care close to home,” Spectrum

Health Pennock Regional Market Leader and

President Angela Ditmar said in a statement to

The Hastings Banner. “We are proud to – and

will continue to – partner with our local com-

munity to improve health, inspire hope and

save lives.”

“The Pennock Foundation will continue to

support health care locally with a commit-

ment that funds raised in local communities

will stay in those communities,” Ditmar

added. “Most importantly, our hospital will

retain local governance oversight and focus

on the key areas unique to our local commu-

nities.

“We want our hospitals to have local voices

that reflect the communities we serve.”

An article in Bridge Magazine reported that

Beaumont has signed letters of intent with a

number of other health systems – not all of

which ended in mergers.

Beaumont entered into talks with Henry

Ford Health System in 2012, but negotiations

collapsed the next year after Beaumont’s

doctors objected.

A merger talk with Summa Health in Ohio

fell apart after that company’s leaders with-

drew two months into the COVID-19 pan-

demic.

Another potential deal, this time with

Illinois- and Wisconsin-based Advocate

Aurora, fell apart in October of last year after

unrest among Beaumont’s doctors and a

no-confidence petition which demanded that

Fox and Chief Medical Officer David Wood

Jr. be removed from leadership.

Julie Fream, the chairwoman of Beaumont

Health’s Board of Directors, said this time

will be different.

“The initial conversation we’ve had inter-

nally with our senior leadership and with the

doctor leaders has been just one of excite-

ment,” Fream said. “They understand and

know Spectrum Health and so they are very

excited to be able to share knowledge and to

work together — whether that’s in research or

in extending to the fields that they are in.”

Beaumont did successfully merge with

Dearborn-based Oakwood Healthcare System

and Botsford Hospital in Farmington Hills in

2015.

A press release on formichiganbymichigan.

org listed five shared goals for the new sys-

tem, including improving health and health

equity, enhancing the consumer experience,

improving health care quality, value and out-

comes, making health care more affordable

and ensuring the voices of team members and

physicians are heard.

In addition to 22 hospitals, the system

would have 305 outpatient locations with

more than 7,500 affiliated, independent and

employed physicians, more than 3,

advanced practice providers and more than

15,000 nurses.

An $8.3 billion organization, Spectrum

Health currently comprises 31,000 team

members, 14 hospitals and the nation’s

third-largest provider-sponsored health plan,

Priority Health, which serves more than 1

million members across the State of Michigan.

Pennock Hospital in Hastings merged with

Spectrum to become the networks’s 12th hos-

pital in 2015.

Beaumont Health is Michigan’s largest

healthcare system, with more than 33,

employees, eight hospitals, 155 outpatient

sites, nearly 5,000 affiliated physicians and

$4.6 billion in annual revenue.

The merger is not guaranteed, and must be

approved by the Federal Trade Commission

and Department of Justice. According to

Becker’s Hospital Review, the FTC denied

five hospital mergers last year.

Lake Odessa

Elaine Garlock
The Curtis family newsletter is published
in Georgia for the descendants of several
Curtis families, but especially for those form
the family of John and Elizabeth Curtis of
Connecticut in the Colonial days. Many
local families are among their descendants,
including the Curtiss family of Portland
Road and Powell family members from Ionia
County. The latest newsletter has the story of
a couple from Texas who set the world record
of longest marriage. Each lived to be past

100. They were married for 80 years before
     the husband died at 106. How about that for
     longevity!
     The committee that plans Ladies Day at
     the Ionia Free Fair met Monday to make final
     plans for this year’s event, which will be July


101. The featured speaker will entertain the
     audience with tales of the 1920s, its fashion
     trends and events of that decade, with plenty of
     audience participation and lots of door prizes.
     This committee also chooses the Woman of
     the Year. Several Lake Odessa ladies have
     won this distinction and therefore were able
     to ride in style in four parades in the county
     during the year to reign.
     Work progresses on the Emerson Street

project. Access is limited to local traffic only,

with people able to reach their own driveways

but not drive the length of the street.

New stop signs on Second Street seem to be

having an effect. Cars and trucks now travel at

slower speeds on Fourth Avenue most of the

time. Access is easier from the side streets.

This will be a great boon to the school buses

which must cross Fourth Avenue en route

from the bus garage to the elementary school

on the boulevard.

Hydrangea bushes are getting ready to

bloom. Strawberries are now on the market.

Hot summer weather is taking a breather this

week with moderate temperatures. Some days,

one even wants a sweater for comfort. The

threat/promise of rain in moderate amounts is

forecast for several days in the future.

The Lake Odessa Fair parade was set for

Wednesday night at 6 p.m. with the usual

floats, bicycles, horses and lots of firetrucks

from all the departments within Lakewood

school district – namely Woodland, Sunfield,

Clarksville and Lake Odessa – along with

plenty of big farm machinery. Everyone gets

to see the latest in tractors and harvesters.

What a thrill!

Michigan schools revolt, won’t

flunk struggling third-grade readers

Ron French and Sophia Kalakailo

Bridge Magazine

Some Michigan schools are rebelling

against the state’s third grade read-or-flunk

law, saying they won’t retain students because

of low reading scores.

The law, which requires the Michigan

Department of Education to recommend

retention for third-graders whose reading pro-

ficiency is deemed to be at least one grade

behind, goes into effect this year. Recently,

families of 3,477 students (about 3.4 percent

of third graders in the state) were sent reten-

tion recommendation letters.

If all those students actually were held

back, it would represent a five-fold increase

over the number of students who flunked third

grade in 2018-19 or 2019-20.

The law, however, grants schools and par-

ents broad leeway to request exemptions from

the state recommendation. School officials

said they plan to take full advantage of those

exemptions to assure no more students are

held back than usual.

“I’d be surprised if any of our districts

retain students,” said Ron Koehler, superin-

tendent of Kent Intermediate School District,

which provides services for the 26 school

districts in Kent County.

“Every conversation I’ve heard (with dis-

trict superintendents) reflects what you’ve

heard elsewhere. They’ll work with parents to

use exemptions because of the extraordinary

circumstances of this school year.”

Same goes in districts statewide, from

urban schools like Detroit to smaller ones like

Coloma Community School District in

Berrien County.

The district had five students who received

retention recommendation letters, and all

were waived after parents appealed, said dis-

trict superintendent Dave Ehlers.

“We’re not a fan of holding kids back. I

don’t know if any school is going to support

that practice,” he said.

The rebellion has the support of some

high-profile officials, including Gov. Gretchen

Whitmer, who continues to be a critic of the

read-or-flunk law that was signed by her

Republican predecessor Rick Snyder. In early

2020, Whitmer launched an initiative with

several high-profile foundations to arm par-

ents with strategies to help their children

avoid repeating third grade.

Michigan’s top school leader, State

Superintendent Michael Rice, also has criti-

cized the law, saying that retention is not an

effective tool for academic growth.

Experts view third-grade reading skills as a

key to improving Michigan’s schools, which

rank in the middle of the pack among the

states in academic achievement.

Michigan ranks 34th in the percent of

adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher.

Snyder and Whitmer both advocated for

increasing the percent of adults with post-high

school credentials as a means of boosting

Michigan’s economy.

In 2016, the Michigan Legislature passed

the law that requires students who are more

than a grade level behind in reading by the

end of third grade to be retained. At least 15

states have similar laws.

Education leaders immediately raised con-

cerns. They predicted that low-income stu-

dents would be more likely to be held back

because test scores often correlate to income.

Studies are mixed at best on the long-term

benefit of retention.

Flunking an additional 3,000 third-graders

also has a tangible cost: Michigan taxpayers

would be on the hook for $24 million because

of the extra year those students would be in

the K-12 system, an amount some educators

argue could be better spent on early literacy

efforts.

Compounding the debate is the pandemic,

which caused most Michigan students to lurch

between online learning and classrooms

where everyone wore face masks.

Experts say most students likely did not

learn as much in the 2020-21 school year as in

a normal school year, which could put more

students in danger of retention.

The retention recommendations are trig-

gered by low scores on the state’s standard-

ized test, the M-STEP. Because of the pan-

demic and the various modes of learning tak-

ing place across the state, federal officials

waived the mandate that 95 percent of stu-

dents take the annual test.

The result was an uneven percentage of

students taking the test between districts,

schools and classrooms. Students who didn’t

take the test can’t be retained because of a low

test score, while those who chose to take the

test run that risk.

Chrystal Wilson, spokesperson for Detroit

Public Schools Community District, said the

district will “exercise our good cause exemp-

tions” to limit third-grade retention.

In 2018-19, about 4 percent of Detroit

third-graders were retained in grade; that per-

centage would jump to an estimated 20 per-

cent with reading score retention recommen-

dations.

Wilson referred to a statement district

superintendent Nikolai Vitti made last year

regarding the read or flunk law, saying that

Vitti’s position remained the same.

“The third grade read[ing] law places too

much emphasis on the state reading test. This

is punitive and contradicts what we know as

best practice and what we know is best for

children,” Vitti said at the time. “We should

never use a standardized test to punish stu-

dents.”

Grand Rapids Public Schools had 90 third

grade students with reading scores at or below

the cut score out of 668 who took the reading

portion of the M-STEP this spring. Another

434 third-graders didn’t take the test.

With so many students not taking the test,

“the reality is that the data is not valid or reli-

able,” said Grand Rapids Public Schools

spokesperson John Helmholdt.

“The (Grand Rapids) superintendent has

communicated directly with the families that

she does not support automatic retention and

she will honor any and all requests for stu-

dents to not be retained,” Helmholdt said.

1699 W. M43 Highway,

Hastings, MI 49058.

945-

1351 North M-43 Hwy.

Hastings

945-

1301 W. Green St.

Hastings

945-

This information on worship service is provided by The Hastings Banner, the churches

and these local businesses:

HASTINGS FREE

METHODIST CHURCH

"We Exist To Be An

Expression Of Who Jesus Is

To The World Around Us".

2635 N. M-43 Hwy., P.O. Box

8, Hastings. Telephone 269-

945-9121. Email hastfmc@

gmail.com. Website: http://www.

hastingsfreemethodist.com.

Pastor Brian Teed, Assistant

Pastor Emma Miller, Worship

Director, Martha Stoetzel.

Sunday Morning Worship:

9:45 a.m.. Kids Church and

Nursery are available. Our

worship center is set up for

social distancing. Aftermath

Student Ministries: Sunday 6

p.m.

SOLID ROCK BIBLE

CHURCH OF DELTON

7025 Milo Rd., P.O. Box 765,

(corner of Milo Rd. & S. M-

43), Delton, MI 49046. Pastor

Roger Claypool, (517) 204-

9390. Sunday Worship Service
      10:30 to 11:30am, Nursery and
      Children’s Ministry. Wednesday
      night Bible study and prayer
      time 6:30 to 7:30 pm.

ST. ROSE OF LIMA

CATHOLIC CHURCH

805 S. Jefferson. 269-945-

4246 Pastor Father Stephan

Philip. Mass 4:30 p.m.

Saturday. Mass 8 and 11 a.m.

Sunday.

HASTINGS

BAPTIST CHURCH

309 E. Woodlawn, Hastings.

Matt Moser, Lead Pastor.

Sunday Services: 9:15 a.m.

Sunday School for all ages;

10:30 a.m. Worship Service;

Senior High Youth Group 6-

p.m.; Young Adults 6-9 p.m.

Wednesday, Family Night

6:30-8 p.m., Kids 4 Truth

(Children Kindergarten-5th

Grade), 6:30-8 p.m. Middle

School Youth Group; 6:

p.m. Bible Study and Prayer.

Call Church Office 948-

for information.

CHRIST THE KING

PRESBYTERIAN

CHURCH (PCA)

328 N. Jefferson Street.

Worship 10 a.m. Nursery

provided. Pastor Peter Adams,

contact 616-690-8609.

WOODGROVE

BRETHREN

CHRISTIAN PARISH

4887 Coats Grove Rd. Pastor

Randall Bertrand. Wheel-

chair accessible and elevator.

Sunday School 9:30 a.m.

Worship Time 10:30 a.m.

Youth activities: call for

information.

LIFEGATE

COMMUNITY CHURCH

301 E. State Rd., P.O. Box 273,

Hastings, MI 49058. Pastor

Scott Price. Phone: 269-948-

900. Website: http://www.lifegatecc.
     com. Sunday Worship 10 a.m.
     Wednesday Life Group 6:
     p.m.

PLEASANTVIEW

FAMILY CHURCH

2601 Lacey Road, Dowling,

MI 49050. Pastor, Steve

Olmstead. (269) 758-

church phone. Sunday

Service: 10 a.m.

WELCOME CORNERS

UNITED METHODIST

CHURCH

3185 N. Broadway, Hastings,

MI 49058. Phone 945-2654.

Worship Services: Sunday,

9:45 a.m.

Worship

Together

. ..at the church of your choice ~

Weekly schedules of Hastings area churches

available for your convenience...

Fiberglass

Products

PART TIME-Caregiver for Elderly

Provide care, comfort, safety and general supervision to residents by

partnering with them in activities of daily living, administering medications

and tending to their individual physical, social and spiritual care needs.

• Partner with residents to provide assistance with activities of daily living as
  outlined in care guides/service plans


• Provide residents with memory impairments appropriate memory care
  support communication/interventions based on types and stages of
  impairment


• Administer medications/treatments to residents according to policy and
  procedure


• Complete daily charting and documentation as required


• Must be 18 years or older


• Must have High School Diploma or GED

Please apply in person at

Woodlawn Meadows: 1821 N. East St Hastings, MI

MERGE, continued from page 1

Middleville approves ORV restrictions

Greg Chandler

Staff Writer

The Middleville Village Council Tuesday

approved restrictions on the use of off-road

vehicles in the village.

The council voted 6-0 in favor of an

ordinance change that will require any ORV

operators who wish to drive their vehicles on

village streets to have proof of no-fault

insurance, proper installation of safety

equipment, a valid Michigan registration and

a license plate. The vote followed a public

hearing on the proposal.

“This is clarifying what is allowed for an

ORV,” Village Planning and Zoning

Administrator Brian Urquhart said.

Trustee Mike Cramer, who proposed the

amendment, said he sees ORV users out on

local streets without proper registration or

insurance. He said vehicles don’t have to have

insurance if they are being used on off-road

surfaces, but it’s different if they are being

used on a public road.

“The last thing I want to see is a Go Fund

Me [page] for some kid because somebody hit

him with a side-by-side and their insurance

doesn’t cover it, and they go bankrupt and

then there’s medical bills that’s not getting

paid. There’s laws for a reason, and we’ve not

gotten compliance,” Cramer said.

“I am fine with side-by-sides being in the

village, but make it legal. We have 5 percent

of our side-by-side users that are compliant,

and I applaud those people, and I welcome

them to town to every village business that we

have. But if you’re going to run [an ORV]

without plates and insurance, take it

somewhere else.”

Andrew Beck, an ORV owner who lives in

the Misty Ridge subdivision, spoke out

against the changes.

“ORVs are permitted, practical forms of

transportation in rural areas,” Beck said.

A provision in a 1994 state law does not

require ORVs to be insured without being

road-legal, Beck said. He asked the council to

form a committee of council members and

ORV owners to address issues around their

use.

“Riding an ORV on the road holds no extra

liability to villages, cities, townships or

counties – only on those licensed to drive the

ORV,” Beck said.

Barry County has an ORV ordinance that

was adopted in 2016. That ordinance allows

for ORVs to be operated on the far right side

of county roads, with the flow of traffic, at

speeds of no more than 25 mph. The ordinance

does not call for any insurance requirements

for ORVs. Such vehicles are not allowed on

the Paul Henry Thornapple Trail, in the Barry

State Game Area or on any other state-owned

land.

Neighboring Allegan County adopted a

similar ORV ordinance earlier this month,

which will go into effect July 1.

“If you could mirror the same rules that

Barry County has and Allegan County has, I

could drive my ORV to Middleville and

patronize your businesses, your gas stations,

your restaurants,” said Scott Beltman, one of

the leaders of the campaign for the Allegan

County ordinance. “As far as putting insurance

on [ORVs], that’s an undue burden that’s

going to isolate the [village] from anybody

else coming in.”

The Village of Nashville last month adopted

an ORV ordinance, allowing their use on the

far right side of the street at a speed of no

more than 25 mph. Vehicles must have an

ORV sticker, but no insurance or licensing of

vehicles is required.

Council Trustee Kevin Smith said he

reviewed insurance provisions for several

carriers that insure side-by-sides and all-

terrain vehicles, and pointed out issues in the

exclusions section of those policies.

“It’s extremely clear that if you operate a

non-street legal vehicle on the road, you are

not covered. Period. End of story,” Smith

said.

“What the goal here is not to be restrictive,

it’s to be protective,” he added.

Among the safety equipment required for

ORVs to be legally operated on village streets

are high- and low-beam headlights, brake

lights, taillights, turn signals, a horn, a

windshield, windshield wipers/washers, an

independent parking brake and street-legal

tires, as required by the Michigan Motor

Vehicle Code.

The Middleville ordinance already allows

ORVs to be operated on unimproved or

vacant private property of at least 5 acres in

size between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. with the

permission of the landowner, but they cannot

be operated within 200 feet of an adjacent

residential property.

Council Trustee Ed Schellinger was absent

from Tuesday’s meeting.