The Hastings Banner — Thursday, January 6, 2022 — Page 5In this death, a little life lesson
To the readers:
Our family dog died three days before
Christmas.
I can hardly believe the words I just
wrote.
A month ago, she seemed fine – greeting
family and friends at the door, begging for
Cheerios and barking at UPS trucks.
She was only 7. No reason to expect any-
thing untoward would happen to her. She
was just fine.
Then, suddenly, a couple of weeks ago,
she started losing weight – fast.
We called a vet, fully expecting to find
out she had picked something up and we’d
have to give her some sort of pill to address
the problem.
But the news was far worse than we had
expected. He said her kidneys were dam-
aged; he thought she had eaten something
that had poisoned her. Her kidney function,
in fact, was pretty much nil. And once the
kidneys shut down, they don’t recover, he
said.
He gave her about a week to live.
Shock, at first. Then denial. How could
this have happened? The vet had mentioned
antifreeze as one possible poison.
But it couldn’t have been antifreeze. We
already knew that was poisonous to dogs;
we made very sure she was never near any
antifreeze. So it couldn’t have been that.
In my frantic research for possible sourc-
es of poisoning, we learned some things we
didn’t know.
Chocolate is dangerous for dogs to ingest,
we already knew that, but we didn’t know
that grapes and raisins can be toxic for them,
too. Even so, the facts we found didn’t
explain what was happening to our dog.
Billie didn’t have access to any of these
foods.
Outdoors, a number of potential sources
of poisoning exist – from vegetation in the
woods to the infected leavings of raccoon or
deer. We don’t believe that could have been
the cause because we always kept a close
eye on her activities when she was out.
But we also learned that some dogs may
have a genetic disposition for kidney dis-
ease and, in those cases, the age of 7 seems
to be a tipping point of sorts for that ailment
to make itself known.
We hadn’t known that either.
Perhaps this was the case with Billie.
I had all kinds of wild hopes. What if the
vet’s wrong? Could we do something to
save her? We could see she was dying.
Where to turn? These days, people des-
perately seeking answers typically go
online.
Here’s just one of many, many examples
of how the internet performs a great disser-
vice: It actively preys on people in trouble
who want someone to tell them that the truth
they are facing is a lie.
They search online and find all sorts of
sources of junk information and quack sci-
ence. Thinly veiled come-ons are aimed at
taking advantage of distraught people. I’m
sure many poor victims spend a lot of
money with online charlatans in a misbegot-
ten hope that it can change the inevitable
outcome.
We found nothing of any value online;
nothing trustworthy or well-researched,
nothing of substance. What a waste of time
and effort.
Finally, as our beloved pet began fadingfast, we knew there was nothing we could
do to save her.
Perhaps it is just some last vestige of deni-
al, but I’m convinced, if we had known soon-
er, we might have been able to do something,
at least, to extend her life.
If only we had known.
So here, at least, is my proof that what you
don’t know can hurt you.
We will never know what caused Billie’s
death.
But I wish someone had said to me three
months ago to pay attention to a certain
behavior or a specific symptom.
And so I write this to our readers because
it may help someone in a similar circum-
stance.
If you notice some atypical behavior, don’t
assume it’s nothing. Check it out and get
answers from reliable local sources you
know and can hold accountable – not some
internet grifters.
It’s a useful life lesson: Good information
may protect you from premature loss.
In the grand scheme of things, Billie’s lit-
tle life was hardly a speck in the firmament.
Yet her devotion and love were such a
blessing in the lives of her family and
extended family and her absence such a pro-
found loss, we hurt with it.Rebecca Pierce,
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FRIDAY, MARCH 25(^174079) FK-40035_Jan_MPA_EntBW_3.22x4.indd 1FK-40035_Jan_MPA_EntBW_3.22x4.indd 1YANKEE SPRINGS TOWNSHIP PLANNING COMMISSION12/21/21 9:40 AM12/21/21 9:40 AM
PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE
TO: THE RESIDENTS AND PROPERTY OWNERS OF TOWNSHIP OF YANKEE SPRINGS,
BARRY COUNTY, MICHIGAN AND ANY OTHER INTERESTED PERSONS:
PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that a public hearing will be held on January 20, 2022 commencing at 7:00 p.m. at
the Yankee Springs Township Hall, 284 N. Briggs Rd., Middleville, MI, within the Township, as required
under the provisions of the Michigan Zoning Enabling Act and the Zoning Ordinance for the Township.
PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that, in addition to participation during public hearing, members of the public may
also provide comments for the Planning Commission's consideration by emailing or mailing those comments
to the Planning Commission for receipt prior to the meeting, in care of the Township Zoning Administrator,
Eric Thompson ([email protected]) or by leaving a phone message prior to the meeting with the
Township Zoning Administrator, Eric Thompson at 616-877-2000.
PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that the item(s) to be considered at said public hearing include, in brief,
the following:
- PC 22-01-01 PARCEL ID #08-16-120-005-00. 11066 Hastings Point Rd.
Middleville, MI 49333
A. A request by property owner Julie Fox for a Special Exception Use/Site Plan
Review pursuant to section 12.7 Outbuildings "Special Exception Uses".
i. The subject site is .204-acre vacant parcel. The property is currently zoned
Residential Lake Front (RSF) and the applicant is requesting a Special
Exception Use/Site Plan Review to allow for the addition/alteration of an
accessory building on an otherwise vacant, nonconforming lot. - PC 22-01-01 PARCEL ID #08-16-145-048-00. 12235 Oakwood Shores Dr.
Wayland, MI 49348
A. A request by property owner Claudette Lozano for a Special Exception Use/Site
Plan Review pursuant to section 12.7 Outbuildings "Special Exception Uses".
i. The subject site is .558-acre parcel. The property is currently zoned Residential
Lake Front (RLF) and the applicant is requesting a Special Exception Use/site
Plan Review to allow for the construction of an accessory building with living
space. - Such other business as may properly come before the Planning Commission.
The Yankee Springs Township Planning Commission and Township Board reserve the right to make changes
in the above-mentioned proposed amendment(s) at or following the public hearing.Anyone interested in reviewing the application may do so at the Township Hall. All interested persons are
invited to be present at the aforesaid time and place, or, if an electronic meeting is held, to participate via the
electronic meeting.Yankee Springs Township will provide necessary reasonable auxiliary aids and services, to individuals with
disabilities at the hearing upon four (4) days’ prior notice to the Township Clerk. Individuals with disabilities
requiring auxiliary aids or services should contact the Township Clerk at the address or telephone number
listed below.
YANKEE SPRINGS TOWNSHIP PLANNING COMMISSION
by: Shana Bush, Chairperson
Yankee Springs Township Hall
284 N. Briggs Road, Middleville Michigan 49333
(269) 795-lows through on a possible future plan to
build a 100-unit independent living facility
on its campus in addition to Harvest Pointe,
the expanded capacity will be more than ade-
quate to handle the need.
The Hastings City Council previously
approved the amendment, and the document
will soon be presented to the township board
for its approval, Brown said.
In other business Tuesday, the commission-
ers’ committee of the whole:
- Recommended reappointing Dr. Joyce
DeJong to be the county’s medical examiner
for the next four years, and appointed Dr.
Patrick Hansma and Dr. Jared Brooks as dep-
uty medical examiners. All three are affiliated
with Western Michigan University’s Homer
Stryker School of Medicine. Previous deputy
examiners Dr. Theodore Brown and Dr.
Brandy Shattuck have taken positions in
other states, Brown said. - Recommended the board acceptance of
two grants totaling $25,000 to the county
animal shelter from Two Seven Oh Inc. The
shelter is receiving $15,000 toward the pur-
chase of office, kennel and cattery equip-
ment, along with purchasing dog beds, a vet-
erinarian scale, vacuum, cat enrichment
equipment and dog water pails.
Another $10,000 grant will be used for the
county’s TNR [trap, neuter and return] pro-
gram, in which residents can trap feral and
barn cats, and have them taken to the shelter
to be spayed and neutered to control the cat
population, shelter director Ken Kirsch Jr.
said. - Recommended the full board approve reau-
thorizing funds of $41,500 toward a new truck
for the emergency management department.
The board had authorized the funding in
the county’s capital budget last year but due
to manufacturing delays, the department was
not able to take delivery on the truck,
Emergency Management Director Jim Yarger
said. The Chevrolet Silverado will replace a
2008 Ford Expedition. The funding also
includes outfitting the truck with mobile
radio equipment and antennas, as well as a
cargo box and cap.- Recommended approval of surveyor
agreements with nine local companies for
remonumentation work throughout the county. - Recommended approving the appoint-
ment of Steven Koerber, Michael Pratt,
Cameron Lear, Randall Jonker, Rodney
Bredeweg, Cynthia Koster and Ryan Miller
to the Remonumentation Peer Review Board.
Under a grant agreement with the Michigan
Department of Licensing and Regulatory
Affairs, the county is required to have a peer
review panel to review remonumentation
work performed by surveyors that are not part
of the board.
Middleville mother seeks help
to find missing daughter
Greg Chandler
Staff Writer
A Middleville mother is asking for help
from the public to find her missing teenage
daughter.
Fifteen-year-old Kiara Baker went missing
from an inpatient care facility in Detroit Nov.
21 and is believed to be in the Grand Rapids
area. Her mother, April Saladino, is worried
that her daughter may be vulnerable to human
trafficking.
“We need to find her. She is not safe on the
street. She is not safe from herself, she is not
safe from whoever is hiding her,” Saladino
said Wednesday.
Kiara reportedly took a bus to Grand
Rapids after leaving the Detroit Behavioral
Institute. She was reportedly seen Dec. 27 in
a red SUV at a stop sign next to Hall Street
Party Store on the southeast side of Grand
Rapids.
“We’ve gotten several tips that she’s been
panhandling with an older black male, around
40 years old,” Saladino said. “That was liter-
ally seven minutes from my work, so I
booked it at lunch to see if I could recognize
if it was her or not ... I did not see anybody
with that description in that area.”
Kiara has a history of mental health issues,
Saladino said.
“She’s a normal teenager when she’s on
her meds,” she said. “When she’s off of them,
it’s out of control.”
In October 2021, Saladino requested a
dependency hearing with the Department of
Human Services. Kiara was made a tempo-
rary ward of the court and was sent to the
Detroit Behavioral Institute. Since then,Kiara has gone absent without leave at least
three times from that facility, her mother
said.
Kiara is apparently using the the social
media messaging app Snapchat under an alias
to communicate with people. “I believe she is
in Grand Rapids,” she said. “We are trying to
get a warrant for that Snapchat [account]. She
messaged my sister the other day on Snapchat
and said, ‘I don’t know where they have me.
You’re not going to find me.’ ”
Kiara is described as 5-foot-4, 176 pounds,
with dark brown or reddish-brown hair.
Any tips that may lead to Kiara’s where-
abouts may be sent to Grand Rapids Police at
(616) 456-3400 or Detroit Police at (313)
569-5900. Information may also be sent to
the National Center for Missing and Exploited
Children at (800)-THE-LOST (843-5678).Source of spill
required precise
definition
To the editor:
Your recent article on Page 2 in the Dec. 16 edition of
The Banner about what officials called a “manure spill”
on M-43/M-37 in Hastings could use clarification, espe-
cially if the public is being asked for help.
Manure is the waste of domestic livestock. It would be
very unusual for a farmer to be hauling manure through
town. However, it would not be unusual for a septic truck
to be hauling human waste close to the treatment plant.
Please be aware that farmers are extremely sensitive
about their reputation when it comes to manure manage-
ment.
Probably 90 percent of the people who read your article
think it was 6 inches of cows---.
(I know, being scolded about the varying definitions of
poop is a bit humorous, but precision in reporting is
important.)
Jeremy Boge,
HastingsTK school board
member reacts to photo
To the editor:
The photograph on the cover of last
week’s Hastings Banner showed a file
photo of a Middleville woman leading
people in prayer at a public health
board meeting.
As a person of deep and abiding
faith, I find nothing Christian about
the actions of our most vocal, local
opponents of vaccines and public
health orders. People who use faith to
fight measures that protect us have
divided the community and prolonged
a pandemic that could have been
beaten back months ago. They have
asked to be trusted to make decisions
for their own families and then
ignored facts in favor of folk lore,
conspiracies, and false prophets. They
have bullied and badgered public ser-
vants. They claim to want children in
school, yet they refuse to do the
things that would keep children andteachers safely in school every day.
They are so focused on their indi-
vidual rights that they have lost sight
of the core of Jesus’ message – to
love one another. They also have also
ignored the clarity of mind Jesus
called us to live with when he com-
manded those with eyes to see, those
with ears to hear. Armed with this
clarity, people of faith do not contort
unpleasant facts. They face them
with courage and optimism. They
embrace science as a gift from God.
They see public health as the clearest
public, secular expression of reli-
gious teachings to love and care for
one another.
May we all move forward with
clarity and courage and get vaccinated
to put an end to this pandemic.Anne Hamming,
MiddlevilleTHORNAPPLE, continued from page 3 ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Welcome back, ball drop!
The New Year’s Eve ball drop returned to the Walldorff Brewpub & Bistro in down-
town Hastings this past weekend -- and the night “went well,” said Arts and Events
Coordinator Maiya Merrick. The event, which took place from 5:30 p.m. To 12:30 a.m.,
featured a DJ, dancing in the street, an ice sculpture of a wishing well and music from
the band “Crooked Root.” As the evening progressed, more and more people arrived
in anticipation of the ball drop, featured in the above photo. “It was nice to see how
many people really come out at 11:45 p.m.,” Merrick said. “The event always looks so
slow at first, but then a lot of people come out at the end.” (Photo provided)