THE HASTINGS
Thursday, January 6, 2022Finally with all its weapons,
Delton Kellogg topples Tigers
Brett Bremer
Sports Editor
If finally happened.
The Delton Kellogg varsity boys’ bas-
ketball team had its full compliment of
ballplayers set to take the court Tuesday
night at Allegan. Things went went well
for the DK boys as they scored a 72-
win over the Tigers to move their record to
3-3 on the season.
The big addition Tuesday was big man
Alex Whitmore, who was out with an inju-
ry for the first month of the season. He
finished with 15 points and 11 rebounds,
knocking down three three-pointers.
“He really impacts us,” DK head coach
Jim Hogoboom said. “It’s gonna be nice to
have him available.”
Alden Whitmore and Austin Blocker
tied for the team lead with 21 points each
for the Panthers, and they both picked
things up in the second half to help their
team score 47 points over the final two
quarters against the winless Tigers.
Blocker scored 17 in the second half and
Alden scored 15.
Alden helped DK seal the win by going
7-of-8 at the free throw line in the fourthquarter.
“It was really nice to see our guys exe-
cute against their defense and press down
the stretch,” Hogoboom said.
The Panthers raced out to a 9-2 lead, but
Hogoboom said his guys struggled with
the ball for much of the first half. DK led
13-10 after one quarter and 25-19 at the
half. It was just a seven point ballgame
heading into the fourth quarter.
A 10-0 run that included a pair of threes
by Alex Whitmore gave them Panthers
some breathing room in the end.
Coach Hogoboom liked the improved
ball security in the second half. He liked
what he saw from Mason Nabozny being
a ball handler – finding open guys and
making good decisions.
“We have to get better on the defensive
end,” Hogoboom said, “too many seams
and second chances for people this year,
but we are getting better.”
Delton Kellogg returns to action look-
ing to get over.500 at home Friday night
against Fennville. The Eagles are 3-
overall this season. That ballgame will be
game two of a doubleheader with the girls’
teams Friday.DNR seeks input on shooting
range environmental assessment
The Michigan Department of Natural
Resources, in cooperation with the U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service, is seeking pub-
lic comment on a draft environmental
assessment for the DNR’s proposed shoot-
ing range in Barry County.
The draft environmental assessment
evaluates the options considered for
developing a shooting range and their
effects on area natural resources at the
parcel south of M-179 (Chief Noonday
Road) and east of S. Peets Road. Public
comments will be accepted for a 30-day
period, ending Jan. 27.
The DNR has asked the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service to issue a modification to
a statewide shooting range grant to approve
the construction of an outdoor shooting
range on the parcel in Barry County.
The purpose of the proposed project is
to develop a new, outdoor, public range on
property within the DNR’s Barry State
Game Area. The subject parcel is approxi-
mately 11.6 acres in size and is currently
owned by the Michigan Department of
Natural Resources
The development of a new public range
will enable the DNR to close a popular,
unofficial target shooting location that is
not suitable for public use.
“Many individuals currently use this
area as an informal shooting range; debris
from used targets and bullet casings were
observed throughout the site,” according
to the environmental assessment prepared
by GEI Consultants of Michigan, P.C.
The range will meet or exceed
Americans with Disabilities Act accessi-
bility requirements, provide hunters the
opportunity to increase firearm proficien-
cy and safety, and allow recreational
shooters to practice their sport in a safe,
accommodating area that expands use
potential beyond the summer months.
According to the environmental assess-
ment draft, “in 2020, MDNR reported
540,174 hunters statewide, deer hunternumbers increased by five percent from
2019 (Frawley 2020). As hunter numbers
increase, so increases MDNR commitment
to providing safe/secure practice shooting
ranges areas for public use. There are cur-
rently no safe/secure State-run shooting
facilities within 30 miles of the subject
property and proposed shooting range. The
State of Michigan currently operates 12
shooting ranges throughout Michigan. One
of which is within the Southwestern Lower
Peninsula deer harvest area.”
The proposed project will consist of
creating an access drive, parking and
accessible pathways that connect all range
facilities. There will be new shooting
structures for safety, sound abatement and
weather protection will be built, as well as
downrange berms (with ricochet baffles),
side berms and surface water management
through earthwork activity. Educational
and interpretive signage will be included in
the project.
The purpose of the environmental
assessment document is to look at the fea-
sibility and potential for environmental
consequences associated with each alter-
native under consideration. The assess-
ment was prepared in compliance with the
National Environmental Policy Act, which
applies to the actions of all federal agen-
cies. The DNR proposed this project for
funding through the Federal Aid in
Wildlife Restoration Act, administered by
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
The draft environmental assessment
(dated Dec. 17, 2021) is available online at
Michigan.gov/ShootingRanges under
“Important shooting range updates.”
Additional information on funding for
and design of the range is available from
DNR shooting range specialist Lori
Burford, at 989-600-9114. Written com-
ments or questions may be sent to Burford
via email at [email protected].
Comments should be received no later
than Jan. 27.Schools designate February for
Statewide ‘Oxford Strong’ Support
Schools across Michigan will be dedicat-
ing February to “Oxford Strong” in support
of Oxford Community Schools as the district
continues to mourn the deaths of four stu-
dents during a shooting at the high school
Nov. 30.
The Oakland Activities Association – of
which Oxford is a member – as well as the
Kensington Lakes Activities Association and
Detroit Catholic High School League, with
merchandise vendor E.A. Graphics, have
been primary organizers of this effort.
E.A. Graphics, based in Sterling Heights,
will be printing T-shirts and sweatshirts sup-
porting “Oxford Strong” – with schools able
to purchase those items and then provide
them in their communities. E.A. Graphics
will be donating the price of the apparel, after
costs, directly to Oxford High School and its
community. T-shirts, for example, cost $20,with $16.20 being donated from each sale.
Schools taking part may ask their specta-
tors to then wear the apparel as part of an
“Oxford Strong” sporting event at their
schools during February. Organizers have
designated Friday, Feb. 4, as a day for as
many schools as possible to be “Oxford
Strong” and contribute to a statewide out-
pouring of support for the Wildcats and their
community. However, it’s expected many
schools will sponsor “Oxford Strong” events
throughout the month.
“Every day since Nov. 30, schools have
asked us what they can do, how can they
help,” MHSAA Executive Director Mark Uyl
said. “While there is no way to take away the
pain from such a tragedy, our statewide com-
munity will be glad to provide any comfort
possible to Oxford schools and their commu-
nity at this time of such great sorrow.”Krebs keeps record perfect winning at Montague
Brett Bremer
Sports Editor
The Lakewood varsity wrestling team
placed fourth last Wednesday, Dec. 29, at the
16-team Eric Scott Holiday Mat Cat Classic
hosted by Montague High School.
A trio of Vikings took flight champion-
ships. Nathaniel Graham won the 189-pound
weight class, Joel Simon won at 215 pounds
and Jonathan Krebs took the 125-pound
championship. Daniel Krebs took a runner-up
finish for the Vikings at 140 pounds.
Hudsonville won the day’s championship
with 219 points, ahead of Algonac 208.5,
Fremont 182.5, Lakewood 146.5, Gladstone
141, Brandywine 93.5, Orchard View 85.5,
Mona Shores 83, Montague 71.5, Muskegon
69, Hopkins 68.5, Forest Hills Eastern 64,
Spring Lake 62, Muskegon Catholic Central
56, Holland 39 and Holton 11.
Viking sophomore Jonathan Krebs ran his
record to 17-0 for the season with his four
victories. He closed out his day by pinning
Gladstone’s Michael Brazeau a minute and a
half into the second period of their 125-pound
championship match.
Jonathan pinned his first opponent of the
day, Forest Hills Eastern’s Nick Huffman, 43
seconds into their bout. He followed that up
with a 7-0 decision over Spring Lake’s Gabe
Trask and a 17-0 technical fall against
Fremont’s RJ Thorne in the semifinals. It was
the first defeat of the season for Thorne.
Graham, a senior, and Simon, a freshman,
also pinned their finals foes.
Graham won the 189-pound weight class
with a pin of Hudsonville’s Devin Mervau
2:15 into their championship bout. Graham
pinned Orchard View’s Treyshaun Day and
Jaxon Tuttle at the tournament, while scoring
an 18-2 technical fall in ta match with
Muskegon’s Nathan Stockham in the quarter-
finals.
Simon pinned Hunter Potier from
Gladstone with 13 seconds remaining in the
second period of their 215-pound champion-
ship match. Simon won opened the day with
a pin of Holland’s Romeo Keels in the quarter
finals and then bested Brandywine’s Philip
McLaurin 10-4 in the semis.
Junior Daniel Krebs reached the 140-
pound championship match for the Vikings
by pinning Spring Lake’s Bryce Collins and
scoring a 16-0 technical fall against Algonac’s
Mark Romanowski. Hudsonville’s Tyler
Arntz pinned Daniel a minute and a half into
their championship bout, handing the Viking
140-pounder his first defeat of the season
after a 12-0 start.
Brenden Straub added a fifth-place finish
for Lakewood at 160 pounds with three pins
in consolation matches. He stuck Muskegon’sJakob Price 2:25 into the match for fifth at
their weight class. At 285 pounds, the Vikings’
Eastin Stank was fifth with three more pins in
consolation. Stank stuck Fremont’s Colby
Wright 31 seconds into their fifth-place
match.
Arntz was one of champions for the
Hudsonville Eagles who also had Conor
McAlary win at 103 pounds, Michael Biggar
win at 130 pounds and John Bushman take
the 285-pound championship.
Other titles on the day went to Algonac’s
Lucky Gartin (112 pounds), Jake Kasner
(152) and Josh Kasner (171); Fremont’s Tee
Ward (119) and Trey Myers (145); Montague’s
Cale Coppess (135); and Mona Shores Jake
Moll (160).Lakewood 285-pounder Eastin Stank (left) works for an advantage during a consolation match against Niles Brandywine's Brad
Huber Dec. 29, 2021 at Montague's Eric Scott Holiday Mat Cat Classic. (Photo by Michael D. Graham)
Lakewood's Jonathan Krebs holds Fremont's RJ Thome on his back during their 125-pound semifinal match at the Eric Scott
Holiday Mat Cat Classic hosted by Montague Dec. 29, 2021. (Photo by Michael D. Graham)
Lakewood 140-pounder Daniel Krebs holds down Algonac's Mark Romanowski
during their 140-pound semifinal match Dec. 29, 2021 at Montague's Eric Scott
Holiday Mat Cat Classic. (Photo by Michael D. Graham)