Page 2 — Thursday, July 27, 2023 — The Hastings Banner
HHS Alumni Banquet tickets available now
Hastings High School Alumni Banquet tickets are available now for purchase at the
General Store, the Hastings Public Library or from any board member.
The banquet is being held on Saturday, Aug. 26, 2023, at the First Presbyterian Church.
Event organizers say this is a great opportunity to get reacquainted with classmates, many
of whom travel a great distance to reconnect.
Tickets cost $33 each and will only be available until Monday, Aug. 21. Tickets must
be purchased prior to the event and will not be available at the door.
Questions about the event may be directed to Lois Bowers, 269-945-9657.Hastings Rotary Club presents free sharpening event
The Hastings Rotary Club, in conjunction with the Middleville Rotary Club, has
announced a special free sharpening event on Saturday, Aug. 12, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.,
offering the community an opportunity to have their tools, scissors and knives sharpened
at no cost. The event will take place on the Barry County Courthouse lawn and coincide
with the Hastings Farmer’s Market.
Those interested can bring scissors, lawn mower blades, fingernail clippers, kitchen
knives, shovels, hoes, hatchets, axes or any other bladed tool that needs a little extra edge.
Rotary Club members will sharpen the tools for free.
The event is part of the Hastings Rotary Club’s ongoing commitment to serve the
community and promote the spirit of giving back. By offering free sharpening services,
the club aims to help residents save money on tool replacement and extend the lives of
their essential equipment.
Jennifer Heinzman, current Hastings Rotary President, expressed her enthusiasm for
the event, saying, “We are delighted to bring this free sharpening event to our communi-
ty. It’s a fantastic opportunity to not only support our residents by providing a valuable
service but also to create a fun and engaging experience during the Farmer’s Market.”
While the sharpening services are complimentary, the Hastings Rotary Club will grate-
fully accept donations during the event. Donations received will support the Imagination
Library of Barry County, an initiative promoting literacy and a love for reading among
young children.Sign-up going on for Summerfest Backwoods Triathlon
Sign-ups are going on now for the 2023 Hastings Summerfest Backwoods Triathlon.
The event will be held on Saturday, Aug. 26, and is open to the first 48 teams to reg-
ister. Teams of two can register by calling Heidi Lyttle at 269-838-8556.
The event begins with nine holes of golf at Gun Ridge Golf Course with a 9 a.m.
shotgun start. Teams will then compete in a scotch doubles bowling tournament and a
cornhole tournament at Hastings Bowl.
Prizes will be awarded to the top teams.
The cost to participate is $120 per team.
Sponsorship opportunities, either for tee signs or prize donations, are available now.
Contact Lyttle for more information or find a sponsorship form online on the Backwoods
Triathlon page at hastingssummerfest.com.National Depression Screening Day is Thursday, Oct. 5
The Barry County Community Mental Health Authority (BCCMHA) continues to
promote awareness of National Depression Screening Day, which falls on Thursday, Oct.
5, this year.
If you are having a difficult time and are not currently receiving mental health services,
BCCMHA asks that you call 269-948-8041 or stop in at Barry County Community Men-
tal Health, 500 Barfield Drive, in Hastings. They would like to assist you in connecting
with appropriate services.NEWS NEWS BRIEFSBRIEFS
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Hulst Cleaners Pick-Up Station
Celebration of Life for
Ronald C. Prucha
Please join us
Saturday, July 29
for a light luncheon
to celebrate the life of
Ronald C. Prucha
at the
Hastings Elks Lodge
102 E. Woodlawn Ave.,
Hastings
from 1-4 p.m.Thornapple Township Emergency Services
captain pleads guilty to drug charges
Greg Chandler
Staff Writer
An officer with Thornapple Township
Emergency Services pleaded guilty Wednes-
day to two misdemeanor drug charges.
Chad Nicholas Klutman, 46, pleaded guilty
to charges of use of marijuana and allowing
consumption of a drug by a minor in Barry
County court. Judge Michael Schipper sen-
tenced Klutman to one year probation and
ordered him to pay $480 in fines and court
costs, plus $400 in oversight fees. Schipper
dropped the original felony charge of deliv-
ery or manufacture of a controlled substance
in exchange for the guilty pleas.
Klutman, a firefighter and paramedic who
holds the rank of captain at TTES, has been
on a leave of absence from the department
since early this month.
The charges stem from an incident on June
9 in Thornapple Township. Assistant County
Prosecutor Christopher Ellsworth told the
court that Klutman was using marijuana in a
vehicle occupied by two other people, a
19-year-old man and 17-year-old girl.
Klutman’s attorney, Joseph Brugnoli,
asked the court to sentence his client under
Michigan’s 7411 statute that allows first-time
drug offenders to have their crime expunged
once they complete terms of their sentence.
Klutman had no prior offenses.
However, Ellsworth objected to Brugnoli’s
request.
“I don’t object to 7411 for first-time
offenders if the use is their own,” Ellsworth
said. “This, I consider, not necessarily Mr.
Klutman’s use, but the fact that he was doing
it ... with an individual who was 19 years old,
and he provided that marijuana to the 19-year-
old. So that 19-year-old has violated the law
himself.”
Schipper asked Klutman directly what he
was doing with the two other people that
were in his car.
“Other than driving around your own kids
at that age or coaching kids, what are you
doing with a 19-year-old and 17-year-old?”
the judge asked.
“I was not in a clear state of mind, your
honor,” Klutman responded. “I was just look-
ing to smoke and find someone who smoked,
and it was him, and I did not realize that his
girlfriend was under the age of 18 ... I wasn’t
fully aware of the rules regarding use of mar-
ijuana in the presence of someone under the
age of 21.”“It was incredibly, incredibly stupid of
me,” he added.
Schipper rejected the 7411 motion. He also
spoke of Klutman’s position with the fire
department and the visibility and responsibil-
ity that comes from being associated with the
department.
“My dad was a pastor and then a high
school teacher, and he said it may not seem
fair, but every job carries with it different
responsibilities,” Schipper said. “If you don’t
want those responsibilities and how people
look up to you, then don’t do those jobs.
“You’re in a position that people think is a
responsible position and a position that peo-
ple look up to. That carries weight with it. If
you’re not prepared to carry that weight, then
get a different job.”Klutman said he has entered into counsel-
ing and apologized for his actions.
“I regret my choice, and I just want to get
back to doing what I love to do, in helping
people and taking care of my community,” he
said. “I know I’ve let so many people down,
and I just want to get back and take care of
people.”
Schipper ordered Klutman not to have any
contact with any individuals under the age of
18 unless it’s in the context of his work.
TTES Chief Bill Richardson wrote in an
email Wednesday afternoon that he is waiting
to meet with Thornapple Township’s Person-
nel and Compensation Committee to deter-
mine what the next steps should be with
regard to Klutman’s future with the depart-
ment.“(Rick Krouse’s) 39 years (with the depart-
ment) says a lot,” Conan said. “I’d just like to
see the continuation of the tradition of bring-
ing up your fire chief from your department.”
Council member Jim Cary, who voted
against the appointment of Jordan, started the
council discussion by directly addressing
Moyer-Cale.
“Wrong choice,” he said.
Cary later added that he knew it likely
wasn’t an easy choice to pick Jordan over
Krouse, but he couldn’t support it. Cary said
Krouse has personally responded to a fire at
his home in the past.
“Sarah, that’s a hard seat to sit in over
there. You’ve done a super job on all kinds of
stuff,” Cary said. “But (imagine you) go
home one day and your house is on fire. (Rick
Krouse) showed up and I’m still living in that
house because of it. I appreciate that, what he
did. Real professional about it, too.”
Council member John Resseguie, who
voted to support Jordan’s appointment, said
he would prefer to appoint Rick Krouse from
within but he was also obligated to support
the city manager’s decisions.
Al Jarvis, voting in support of Jordan’s
appointment, echoed Resseguie’s sentiments.
“I sat and met with the city manager and
gave my opinion. After our discussion, I said
I would support her decision,” Jarvis said.
“We hired the city manager to run the city,
and I think she should pick her team. I’ll
leave it at that.”
Bill Nesbitt said he appreciated Krouse’s
service to the city over the years and the com-
ments he made during the open interview
about fire service workers functioning as a
family. Nesbitt said he believes the city
should promote from within, but he chose to
support the city manager’s decision following
a meeting with her.
“The city is a family also,” Nesbitt said. “I
look forward to seeing your participation to
ensure that the Hastings/BIRCH Fire Depart-
ment continues to thrive.”
Nesbitt, who has a law enforcement back-
ground, later added he saw Krouse as some-
one with high integrity and “a man who’s
put in the hours and a man that (deserves) a
fair shake.”
He hoped Krouse could be provided train-
ing and other opportunities to make him bet-
ter suited for similar roles that might be
available in the future, he said.
“I understand putting in the hours. I under-
stand having something seemingly just taken
right away from you. I’ve been there,” Nes-
bitt said. “I do appreciate your service.”
Mayor Dave Tossava said while the deci-
sion was not an easy one, he supported the
city manager’s choice to hire Jordan.
“I have a lot of respect for Rick Krouse,”
he said. “That being said, we did a search for
a city manager. Under our city charter, it calls
for the city manager to make all hiring and
firing (decisions). I think I’m obligated to
support our city manager.”“I really appreciate Rick, I talked to Rick
today,” Tossava said. “I really hope that you
find it in your heart to stay with the fire
department and help us build the future.”
During public comment near the end of the
meeting, Maupin-Moore said she was disap-
pointed city council members approved Jor-
dan’s appointment. Maupin-Moore served as
a city council member after being appointed
in 2016. She resigned from the position in
2021, citing personal reasons.
“One of the reasons why I stepped down
from this board is because I feel like a lot of
times the constituents’ needs (and) wants fall
on deaf ears, and I do believe that happened
again today,” she said. “You guys want to talk
about supporting the city manager, and I
think (you really) should have been support-
ing your own, Rick Krouse.”
“I think you guys made the wrong deci-
sion tonight,” Maupin-Moore said. “Shame
on you for not listening to your constituents
once again.”
Megan Jordan, Mark Jordan’s daughter-in-
law, told council members Mark comes from a
family with many members in fire service and
law enforcement and he would be moving
closer to Hastings to fully dedicate himself to
his role. She said as long as everyone in the
department works together to serve the people
of Hastings, it doesn’t matter who’s in charge.
“What you get with Mark is a family of
service,” Megan Jordan said. “Mark has been
a firefighter for a very long time. He’s very
much a community man and willing to do
whatever it takes, to step up for the needs of
his community.”
Council member Mandy Furrow reiterated
that she would have liked to see the chief
position go to Krouse.“We’re a small town. We stick together
and look out for one another. If you do good
things for your community and work and
serve your way through those years, you
should be rewarded for that,” Furrow said.
“I respect our city manager, but as a lifelong
city resident, I’d like to see this (position)
go to Rick. I’m familiar with him and I
respect him.”
Tossava reiterated that he hoped Krouse
would stay with the city despite not receiving
the chief position.
“I’ve already told Rick how I feel about
him. I used to call him in the middle of the
night and it wasn’t ever anything about a
fire,” Tossava said. “He always made me
look good, and he makes the city look good.
I hope he continues on.”
Correction: Coverage in last week’s edi-
tion of The Hastings Banner incorrectly iden-
tified the two fire services officials who sat
on a panel to assist City Manager Sarah Moy-
er-Cale in the hiring process. The two offi-
cials who sat on the panel were Fire Chief
Kerry Minshall from the Mason Fire Depart-
ment and Fire Chief Mike Burke from the
Elba Township Fire Department. The Banner
regrets this error.
Moyer-Cale thanked Krouse for his work
as the interim chief of the Hastings Fire
Department and welcomed Jordan to his new
role in Hastings.
“I would like to thank Rick Krouse for
serving as the interim chief these past few
months. He has done an excellent job. He has
gone above and beyond, especially at the
beginning (when) there were very few bread-
crumbs to follow to find a starting place for a
lot of these things,” she said. “He showed his
dedication and I greatly appreciate that.”MARK JORDAN, continued from page 1 –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Mark Jordan (center) answers a question during a public interview earlier this
month. Jordan, who formerly served as chief for Bellevue Fire Department, was
appointed as the new chief of the Hastings Fire Department on Monday.Chad Klutman (left), an officer with Thornapple Township Emergency Services,
stands next to attorney Joseph Brugnoli during Wednesday morning’s hearing in front
of Judge Michael Schipper. (Photo by Greg Chandler)