The Hastings Banner — Thursday, October 28, 2021 — Page 5What’s on the Nov. 2 ballot in Barry County?
Assyria, Johnstown voters will cast their ballots in Calhoun County
Rebecca Pierce
Editor
For the first time since Pamela Palmer has
held the office of Barry County clerk, she
will not be presiding over an election this
November.
That’s because there isn’t any election
occurring in Barry County in November.
No issues are on the ballot for the city,
villages and townships in the county – and
the only district in the county with an issue is
Pennfield Schools.
Pennfield, which is seeking approval for a
$30 million bond request for building and
security upgrades, is principally located in
Calhoun County in Battle Creek City Precinct
15, Precinct 3 in Bedford Township, as well
as Convis and Pennfield townships (all three
precincts) and Assyria and Johnston town-
ships in Barry County.
But the Pennfield school district has exact-
ly six voters in Johnstown Township and 153
voters in Assyria Township, Palmer said.
Palmer met with the Calhoun County clerk
a couple of months ago and they agreed to
consolidate the election.
So, Calhoun County, which is the princi-
pal location for Pennfield Schools, will coor-
dinate the Nov. 2 vote.
“It just wasn’t economical to open up two
precincts in Barry County for this election,”
Palmer said Tuesday. “So, I met with the
Calhoun County clerk and we decided to
consolidate. We have done that before.”
If the election had not been consolidated
with Calhoun County, Johnstown and
Assyria would have had to open up their
own polling places and hire election workers- a minimum of three per precinct, she said.
So, the consolidation is saving county
taxpayers some money, since they would
have been responsible for paying election
workers, as well as covering the cost of
printing and advertising the ballot, Palmer
said.
Before Election Day, voters may hand-de-
liver their absentee ballots to their local
clerk’s office to avoid postal delays. Absentee
ballots must be received by the voter’s town-
ship clerk by 8 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 2, to be
counted.
“Returning your absentee ballot to your
clerk’s office is a secure option to ensure
your vote is counted and your voice is
heard,” Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson
said in a press release. “Whether you choose
to vote with an absentee ballot or in person
on Election Day, you can be confident your
ballot will be handled and counted securely.”
Voters can find the locations of their local
clerk’s office at Michigan.gov/Vote. They
also can track their ballot on the website to
ensure it is received by their respective
clerks.
Registered voters who do not yet have an
absentee ballot may visit their local clerk’s
office to request, complete and submit one
all in one trip prior to 4 p.m. Monday, Nov.- Eligible citizens who have not yet regis-
tered also can do so at their local clerk’s
office and then request and vote an absentee
ballot in one trip through 8 p.m. on Election
Day.
Clerk’s offices are required to be open for
eight hours the weekend before every elec-
tion. Voters should contact their local clerk’s
office to confirm their hours of operation
this coming weekend.
Superintendent’s Corner
Grateful for community, audit report
Maner Costerisan audited the Hastings
Area School System’s financial statements of
the governmental activities, each major fund,
and the aggregate remaining fund informa-
tion for the fiscal year July 1, 2020, to June
30, 2021. Annually, we engage with certified
public accountants to gain an unbiased finan-
cial audit and opinion that ensures taxpayer
dollars are spent appropriately.
The results are in, and they couldn’t be
better!
Principal auditor Jeffrey Staley said,
“Hastings Area School System had a solid
financial performance for fiscal year ending
June 30, 2021.
With the difficulties the district was facing
during 2021 due to the pandemic and the uncer-
tain federal compliance requirements, Hastings
was able to successfully navigate the turbulent
waters. The district was able to stabilize its
financial position to help meet the future needs
of their students. The district was able to prop-
erly budget for these uncertain times.
Expenses were properly monitored and
controlled. Expenses came in under what was
anticipated by 1.2 percent on a budget for
more than $26 million. Actual revenues came
in slightly higher than anticipated by 0.5 per-
cent. The district filed the final reports
required by State of Michigan for the bonds,
in which the bond expenses were in compli-
ance with state law and what the voters
approved. “We noted no compliance issues
with the overall financial statements nor the
federal awards. The district strives for sound
internal controls and financial accountability
in which they were able to achieve for the
fiscal year 2021,” the audit reported.The 2016 bond has been audited and sent
to the Michigan Department of Treasury.
Taxpayer funds were accounted for through
this audit, with no findings. The audit found
that all bond proceeds were spent in accor-
dance with what was originally proposed on
the bond application.
We are so grateful for the support of the
community on the 2016 bond project, and the
understanding of the continued facility needs
that require attention.
As we prepare for a May 2022 bond pro-
posal, we plan on addressing the existing
needs that have been presented in accordance
with the board of education’s strategic plan.Matt Goebel,
Hastings Area School System
superintendentTree of Remembrance
Hastings Rotary pays tribute to outstanding
members who are gone, yet not forgotten
Taylor Owens
Staff Writer
Members of the Rotary Club of Hastings
paid their respects to former members who
have died in the past few years.
As part of the Tree of Remembrance pro-
gram, the club will plant five maple trees at
Charlton Park, one for each Rotarian who
was honored Monday. They included:
Carolyn Coleman, Kathleen Beduhn, Joan
Haywood and Richard and Rosemary
Shuster.
Each tree has a fieldstone and plaque with
the name of the Rotarian who was honored.
Neil said the five additional inductees make
for a total of 54 honored since the initiative
started in 1982. The club has been unable to
do the program in the last two years because
of the pandemic, he added.
Rotarian Carl Schoessel started the tribute
by speaking about Carolyn Coleman, who
died in December 2019 at the age of 92.
“This amazing woman left a tremendous
legacy of service in 2019,” Schoessel said.
Originally from Mayfield, Kentucky,
Coleman (originally Green) graduated with
a teaching degree from the University of
Michigan in 1949. While attending school
there, she met her husband James E.
Coleman, who she married in the U of M
chapel in 1950.
They eventually settled in James’ home-
town of Hastings, where they raised three
children.
Coleman went on to receive her master’s
degree in management from Aquinas
College.
She was the first woman elected to the
Barry County Board of Commissioners,
where she served for more than 12 years,
including as chairperson. She also was the
first woman elected as an elder at the First
Presbyterian Church of Hastings.
She championed the causes of numerous
public projects, including the Hastings
Public Library, Future Committee, Charlton
Park, Kalamazoo Child Guidance Center,
Barry County Mental Health, YMCA search
committee and more.
Coleman was a recipient of the Barry
County Human Services Award for Positive
Leadership and the Liberty Bell Award.
The couple also traveled extensively, vis-
iting England, Scotland, Thailand, Turkey,
Israel, Egypt, India and the Galapagos
Islands.
Neil spoke of Kathleen Beduhn, who died
Jan. 9, 2021. Born Kathleen Hyrns in Grand
Rapids in 1928, Beduhn worked as a Bell
Telephone operator after graduating from
Cedar Springs High School.
During that time, her landlord set her up
with Richard Beduhn; the couple were mar-
ried for more than 67 years until his death in
2014.
Beduhn was a member of the First
Presbyterian Church and General Federation
of Womens Clubs in Hastings, and a den
mother for the local Bluebird and Cub Scout
Troops.
She also had a passion for music.
“She loved dancing with Richard,” Neil
said.
They traveled all over Michigan doing the
polka, square dance or modern dancing.
Sarah Alden read items from the obituary
of Joan Haywood, who died June 1, 2020, at
the age of 91.
Born in Hastings, Haywood married her
husband, Don, in 1949. The couple raised
two sons, worked together as farmers, at
E.W. Bliss and later at River Bend Golf
Course and Travel Agency.
They were known for hosting events,
from small intimate card games to elaborate
events and celebrations.
Haywood also loved music, and would
loudly play Broadway musicals while clean-
ing. She especially loved to dance to Tina
Turner’s rendition of “Proud Mary.”
While Haywood had strong opinions that
she liked to share, she also had a gift for
engaging in warm and meaningful conversa-
tions.“This is a woman who had a zest for life,
for fun and for people,” Alden said.
Fred Jacobs formally inducted a couple,
Richard and Rosemary Shuster, a first for the
Tree of Remembrance.
Rosemary “Posy” Shuster died in October
2015 at the age of 86. Richard “Dick” Shuster
followed in July 2018, at the age of 89.
Originally from Grand Rapids, the couple
were high school sweethearts, married in
1953, and had three children.
Rosemary was active in the community
women’s club, Committee of 33, Charlton
Park, Michigan Nature Association, Barry
Community Foundation, Hastings Area
Schools athletics, 4-H and Bluebirds.
She also served as a community represen-
tative to the Hastings Board of Education.
“She would go up to the school board and
get it done,” Jacobs said. “Whatever she
took on, she took on all the way.”
Richard Shuster attended Michigan State
University before obtaining a law degree at
the University of Michigan. He served in the
U.S. Army at Fort Knox as an educator for
the troops, before starting his own law prac-
tice in Hastings.
In 1982, he was appointed as interim cir-
cuit court judge, and he was elected three
more times until his retirement.
Jacobs recalled he had a passion for his-
toric buildings, and said he stood up for the
Barry County Courthouse when the county
considered tearing it down.
“Well, Dick wouldn’t have it,” Jacobs
said. “Dick fought hard and won his case,
and now we have a beautiful courthouse in
downtown.”
He also was on the founding board of the
Barry Community Foundation, Hastings
Chamber of Commerce, Barry County Fair
board, Charlton Park Board, YMCA,
Humane Society, school millage campaigns
and more.
Neil said when the plaques are placed on
the field stones for each tree, the family
members will be invited to view the trees.Process of redrawing districts followed
guidelines – and the citizens will benefit
Although I was the Democratic Party’s
representative on the Barry County
Redistricting Commission, this response to
the recent critique of the work of that com-
mission in this paper is mine alone.
As kindly noted in the editorial, we were
able to accomplish the challenging task of
redrawing commission district lines amicably
and cooperatively, in contrast, apparently, to
some of the surrounding counties.
A prime reason for this is that we meticu-
lously followed the four guidelines provided
by the Bureau of Elections and allowed no
other considerations to enter the process.
The stipulations are that districts:- Must be as compact as possible.
•Must be continuous (i.e. no split districts). - Must follow, to the extent possible, the
existing political boundaries of townships,
cities and precincts• - Must fall within a prescribed range of the
“ideal,” exactly equal population in every
district (county population divided by the
number of proposed districts).
Simultaneously satisfying all four condi-
tions is not a simple proposition and, in fact,
without the flexibility provided by the range,
the fourth stipulation would not be possible
at all.
Once the process of dividing the official
2020 U.S. Census population of 62,423 peo-
ple among possible commission configura-
tions, this is what emerges simply by the
numbers involved and the “rules” as they
apply:
A seven-member board requires the City
of Hastings to be combined with part of a
surrounding township to satisfy the popula-
tion threshold while creating a district that is
“neither fish nor fowl,” not fully representa-
tive of either.
A nine-member board requires that the
City of Hastings be split into two districts,
with again either one or both needing popula-
tion from a surrounding township to meet the
population threshold.
An eight-member board, on the other hand,
affords the City of Hastings, with its unique
needs, its own seat on the board, while also
allowing the surrounding townships to be
represented by someone who serves township
needs. An eighth district also means that each
of us will have better access to our commis-
sioners since each will represent fewer con-
stituents – fewer, in fact, than at present and
dramatically fewer than if our new, larger
2020 population is once again divided into
only seven districts.
Since considerable attention was paid to
the $30,000 cost to the county for each com-
missioner, let the numbers speak for them-
selves: $30,000 divided among the 62,
people in the county works out to 48 cents per
person per year, or 4 cents per month or... a
penny a meeting.
Given this cost/benefit perspective, what
about the characterization of even-numbered
boards as “problematic”? Remember, again
as mentioned in the article, that the board
had eight members for the 10 years follow-
ing the 2000 census. Former commissioners
who are quoted as approving a reduction to
seven members do not mention a problem
with tie votes or better-quality results. In
fact, the former chair is quoted merely to
say, “Seven will work as well as eight” and
goes on to cite cost savings – refer to the
pennies we’re talking about – and consider
that the present board routinely functions
with six members when there is an absence.
The editorial’s fourth concern about public
participation raises a couple of worthy issues.
Even though, as was noted, the proper notifi-
cations required by the Open Meetings Act
were adhered to, those of us required to be at
the meetings outnumbered the public in
attendance. I have seen it at county board
meetings as well. I would personally be glad
to join with the Banner in working on a cam-
paign to boost citizen participation in all
elements of local government and to recruit
the quality candidates Barry County deserves.
In summary, I would argue that the benefits
of adopting the proposed map and expanding
citizen participation on the board with the
restoration of an eighth member is well worth
the penny a week it will cost us.Mark Bonsignore,
DeltonThe value of diversity – among pets,
plants and people
To the editor:
I am a retired veterinarian having worked
with farm animals, horses and pets for 40
years. And I am a lifelong naturalist, observ-
ing and learning about the workings of the
natural world. I see human beings as natural
creatures living in the natural world.
In animal husbandry, one encounters the
benefits and drawbacks of having purebred
animals that are selected for breeding to
enhance and reproduce specific characteris-
tics considered desirable. This practice
makes it more likely there also will be
unforeseen, often undesirable, characteris-
tics as well. These might be an increased
incidence in health problems or dangerous
traits. There will be an increased chance of
recessive mutations, which only result in
health problems when both parents carry the
hazardous gene.
A familiar concept in the veterinary world
is “hybrid vigor.” The odds of getting a
healthy animal go up with mutts. The more
opportunity for natural, rather than planned
breeding, to take place, the less likely hered-
itary problems will occur. And studies which
show there is a “bonus,” although hard to
quantify, hardiness that mutts have.
There also is an advantage to diversity in
agriculture and horticulture. No farmer or
gardener can successfully plan for every con-
tingency. They make decisions about what
plants to put in the ground and how to tend
them. If they make bad decisions, and events
they hadn’t planned for arise, problems occur.
Planting multiple crops – or at least multiple
varieties of a crop – helps ensure some suc-
cess at harvest time.
The same advantage for diversity is seen
in the wild natural world. Environmental
scientists and conservationists are guided by
various principles and goals in evaluating
and managing habitats and the communities
of plants, animals and fungi they support.
One guiding principal that has remained
important is the value of diversity – variety,
or a multitude of different members of the
living community.
There’s a widespread misunderstanding
that natural selection always favors some
exemplar of strength, speed, stealth, rapid
growth, intelligence, etc. This is not so.
Despite the formidable size and strength of
prehistoric dinosaurs, their principal descen-
dants are the smaller and quite different birds.
Natural selection favors some set of charac-
teristics that fit a particular situation and
location. Success in the long run, is due to
flexibility and adaptability.
Resilience follows more from there being
enough variation in the population so thatsome of the individuals have the necessary
traits to survive and reproduce. The only
way one can know which traits will be the
favored ones is to know what the future
holds, and that is not possible. That some
change will come is the only outcome one
can predict.
I believe diversity is just as valuable in the
human community. Americans are not unique
in believing that our values have been consis-
tent throughout our history and that our val-
ues should not be challenged. We often assert
that our American character is unique and
unchanged since the nation’s founding.
Change, of course, can be frightening and
difficult. But, in reality, America has not
remained static. The composition of America
has always been complex and continuously
changing.
From the very beginning, America was not
just a nation of transplanted Englishmen or
even a homogeneous group of white Christian
Europeans. Those Europeans found many
indigenous peoples already in America when
they arrived. In addition to the English colo-
nists, there were many French, Dutch,
Spanish, Scotch, Irish and Germans from the
very beginning. Although they came as
slaves, there was a large population of
Africans, and their labor and other contribu-
tions were essential to the success of the
American colonies.
Although the majority of colonists were
Christians, there was a wide variety of reli-
gious beliefs and practices among them.
And there were Jews and Muslim colonists,
as well.
From the very beginning, the diversity of
national origins and cultural backgrounds
was a strength that favored the American
colonies, encouraging invention and the pos-
sibility of many solutions to the challenges
that were faced.
And this has continued throughout our
history. Unfortunately, each infusion of new
immigrants has produced a nativist and pro-
tectionist backlash. It does not take historical
revision, just historical honesty, to know
about animosity to Native Americans,
Germans, Irish, Italians, Jews, Moslems,
Poles, Africans, Mexicans, and on and on. It
also should not be difficult to recognize that
every group has added many important con-
tributions to the success of America today.
The original motto of the United States is
“E pluribus unum,” or, “Out of many, one.”
It’s an odd notion some folks have that “we
the people” doesn’t include everyone.Dr. Kenneth M. Kornheiser,
Prairieville TownshipPosy and Richard Shuster Joan Haywood Carolyn Coleman Kathleen Beduhn