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The Hastings Banner — Thursday, July 27, 2023 — Page 5

Voting is central in restoring common

sense and dignity to our society

Letter to the Editor:
America used to be a great country, and while
not perfect, it was a light of freedom to people
from nations around the world, a place unlike
any other, where hard work, common sense,
justice and a caring for decency abounded.
But now we have allowed insanity to
become the norm. In doing so, we have
allowed compassion and caring, especially
for the most innocent and defenseless in our
country (i.e. babies, children and youth), to
be twisted into a new definition that is
defined as killing them if they are considered
inconvenient to their mothers or allowing
them to be deceived by the gutter culture
politicians (and the schools they control)
around them into thinking that they are some-
thing they are not and to push mutilation of
their souls, spirits and bodies. And, this is all
done in the name of progress?

We have become worse than third-world

nations and are becoming not much different

than Nazism and communism. But this can be

changed by voting in people who are sane in

their thinking, who have common sense and

who believe in God and his teachings.

Voting for people who know that by not

indulging the selfish, fickle and sinful human

nature and treating it as a virtue will help

bring back a culture with common sense,

dignity and protection for the most innocent.

Joe Perotta

Nashville

Hastings school bond proposal makes

sense for many reasons

I’m careful when I vote because I want to
make the best decision. Voting ‘yes’ on this
(Hastings) school bond request, I believe, is
the right decision. I believe it’s the right deci-
sion for several reasons.

1. The strength of a school, and the per-
   ceived quality of a school system, is a signif-
   icant factor in housing prices. So, even if you
   don’t have children or grandchildren in the
   school system or really don’t care about the
   school, the value of your home will be
   increased by voting ‘yes’ and improving the
   schools.


2. These current students are our future

and the physical quality of a school abso-

lutely matters. When you walk into a nice

hotel, you immediately feel good and are

happy and proud to be there. The same is

true of students walking into a school.

When it looks good and is up to date, the

students feel better about their school and

take more pride in being a student at that

school.

3. As with any home fix-up, if you wait too
   long to fix a problem, the problem can
   become much worse and an initial inexpen-
   sive fix can become a huge expense. That’s
   where the schools are. The roofs and win-

dows and other fixes are right at the point

where, if not fixed now, the expense to fix

might be much greater in a year or two.

This bond request is fair, is reasonable and

is needed. The school is not asking for items

and expenditures that aren’t truly needed. The

bond is literally only a few dollars a month to

each household, and our students deserve to

be proud of their school and the facilities that

they spend their days in.

Please vote ‘yes’ on the bond request.

Mike Schipper

Middleville

Local state rep touts bills that

would keep gun sales private,

allow CPL holders to carry on

college campuses

Jayson Bussa
Editor
Republican lawmaker Gina Johnsen introduced a
pair of bills she hopes will help to preserve the rights
of gun owners throughout the state of Michigan.
Johnsen, of Lake Odessa, represents the 78th Dis-
trict and introduced the bills back in March, both of
which were sent to different committees.
“We drop these bills, introduce them and then we
have to wait to see where they go,” Johnsen said.
“Will they be discussed in committee? Will they go
straight to the floor? Do they go nowhere? So, we’re
still kind of waiting to see.”
The bills tackle two separate issues of gun sales
and ownership. One, House Bill 4831, would prohib-
it banks and credit card companies from requiring
Michigan retailers to use specialized codes to flag
firearms purchases. The other bill, H.B. 4285, would
allow Concealed Pistol Licensed (CPL) holders to
carry their firearms on college and university cam-
puses.
Current law states that CPL holders cannot carry in
dorms or classrooms while schools also have the
discretion to ban CPL holders from carrying through
the entire campus.
Johnsen said that the bill was inspired by the
events that unfolded in East Lansing in February
when a gunman opened fire on the campus of Mich-
igan State University, killing three people and injur-
ing five others.
MSU does not allow CPL holders to carry on its
campus.
“It certainly was drawn from the MSU situation,”
Johnsen said of the bill. “I’m a mother. I’m an aunt
of college-age students. And it was horrifying to me
to think that our students, our loved ones, are sitting
on a campus just reading a book in the library, pre-
paring for a test, eating food in a food service area, in
a classroom learning and they’re sitting ducks and
nobody is allowed to have a firearm to stop a violent
act of any kind.”
Johnsen also contended that the legal red tape that
CPL holders must adhere to in order to get their
license is enough of a safeguard to ensure that guns
do not fall into the wrong hands.
Meanwhile, H.B. 4831 would create the Second
Amendment Financial Privacy Act, which Johnsen
said would protect the privacy of gun buyers from
having their information sent to the IRS, another
government entity or even a marketing firm.
“We want to protect the privacy of those that pur-
chase anything really, but in this case, we’re honing

in on firearms because there seems to be so much

attention on flagging those that have firearms as if

they’re more dangerous than someone else,” Johnsen

said.

Johnsen has seen a number of her Republican col-

leagues sign on to both bills, including fellow Repre-

sentatives Angela Rigas (R-Caledonia) and Rachelle

Smit (R-Shelbyville).

H.B. 4831 was referred to the Committee on Insur-

ance and Financial Services and H.B. 4285 was

referred to the Committee on Government Opera-

tions. Most committees will be on recess until Sep-

tember.

But the legislation will likely not go far while

Democrats hold the majority in both the House and

the Senate, where they have passed legislation of

their own intended to curb mass shootings, like safe

storage and red flag laws.

Still, Johnsen feels her bills will prompt important

conversation.

“Number one is education. Number two is to have

a full conversation on it,” Johnsen said of what she

hopes will come of her bills. “If the goal is truly safe-

ty – and that’s what everybody says, both sides of the

aisle, safety is the goal. We have the same goal, but

what is actually going to get us to the goal?”

Students loans are no excuse;

borrowers do have recourse

After reading in a recent Hastings Banner

that a fellow reader felt that “Student loan

borrowers are stuck with almost no recourse,”

I felt it was necessary to point out some dif-

ferences between the student borrowers and

the others listed in the letter, who are able to

file bankruptcy and whom such action(s)

have an effect upon.

Those who do not go to college most likely

are out in the labor pool earning an income

from day one, not sitting in some college

classroom piling up massive student debt that

the colleges and government make so easy

for them to secure without any thought as to

how they will pay it back.

Lenders who make loans to borrowers for

purchase of a house, car, credit cards or busi-

ness expenses usually do a good job of deter-

mining who they will make loans to depend-

ing on both the borrower’s credit history and

the likelihood of securing repayment from the

borrower and/or having collateral to recover

toward the outstanding debt. If a borrower

files bankruptcy against those creditors whom

unwisely elected to loan to that person, those

lenders “then eat the loss” for their mistake.

Taxpayer money is not paying off that debt.

Contrast that with the student loan borrow-

ers mentioned in that letter. While it may be

true “that tuition has been inflated,” that is an

issue for another day; the question at hand is

repayment of the loans the student freely

signed for.

Many students in the past have determined

that while working part-time or full-time and

going to college carrying less than a full load

of classes may mean less time for partying,

and may take an extra year of classes, the

student would graduate debt free with no

student loans hanging over them for the next

40 years.

Under any government plan that wipes out

or reduces any student loan debt, we the tax-

payers will be on the hook for all those bad

decision(s) the student borrowers signed for

and agreed to pay back. What “is fair” is for

those whom signed for the student loans to

get a damned job and pay off your loan and

not expecting us taxpayers to pay it.

George Hubka

Dowling

NOTICE TO ACCEPT BIDS

RUTLAND TOWNSHIP CEMETERY SIGN REBUILD

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE: The Rutland Charter Township Board is now accepting

bids on the rebuild of the Rutland Charter Township Cemetery sign at the Township

Cemetery located on M-37 Hwy, Hastings, MI 49058.

• Project diagram is available at the Township Hall or on the Township website:
  http://www.rutlandtownship.org


• Project requires masonry work. Including brick, block and poured concrete.


• Township Hall office hours are Monday thru Thursday 9am to 3pm.

All bidders must carry their own insurance and supply all their own equipment.

Sealed bids will be accepted by mail or at the Township Hall, located at 2461 Heath

Road, Hastings. All bids must be submitted by August 7, 2023, at 12:00 p.m.

The Rutland Charter Township Board reserves the right to reject any bids submitted

that do not meet the boards approval.

Robin J. Hawthorne, Clerk

Rutland Charter Township

2461 Heath Road, Hastings, MI 49058

202824 (269) 948-

SPECIAL ELECTION

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT A SPECIAL ELECTION

WILL BE HELD IN THE:

COUNTY OF BARRY

STATE OF MICHIGAN

TUESDAY, AUGUST 8, 2023

FOR

SPECIAL ELECTION

THE PLACES HOLDING THE ELECTION IN SAID MUNICIPALITIES ARE INDICATED BELOW:

ASSYRIA TOWNSHIP Precinct 1 8094 Tasker Road, Bellevue, MI 49021- Voting at Johnstown Twp.

BALTIMORE TOWNSHIP Precinct 1 3100 E. Dowling Road, Hastings, MI 49058

BARRY TOWNSHIP Precinct 1 155 E. Orchard Street, PO Box 705, Delton, MI 49046

CARLTON TOWNSHIP Precinct 1 85 Welcome Road, Hastings, MI 49058

CASTLETON TOWNSHIP Precinct 1 915 Reed Street, Nashville, MI 49073

HASTINGS CHARTER TWP Precinct 1 885 River Road, Hastings, MI 49058

HOPE TOWNSHIP Precinct 1 5463 M-43 Hwy., Hastings, MI 49058

IRVING TOWNSHIP Precinct 1 3425 Wing Road, Hastings, MI 49058

JOHNSTOWN TOWNSHIP Precinct 1 13641 S. M-37 Hwy., Battle Creek, MI 49017

MAPLE GROVE TOWNSHIP Precinct 1 721 Durkee Street, PO Box 240, Nashville, MI 49073

PRAIRIEVILLE TOWNSHIP Precinct 1 10115 S. Norris Road, Delton, MI 49046 – Voting at Barry Twp.

RUTLAND TOWNSHIP Precincts 1 & 2 2461 Heath Road, Hastings, MI 49058

WOODLAND TOWNSHIP Precinct 1 156 S. Main PO Box 98, Woodland, MI 48897

CITY OF HASTINGS Wards 1,2,3 & 4 201 E. State Street, Hastings, MI 49058

BEDFORD TOWNSHIP Precinct 1 115 s. Uldriks Drive, Battle Creek, MI 49037

TO VOTE ON THE FOLLOWING PROPOSITIONS LISTED BELOW:

GULL LAKE COMMUNITY SCHOOLS

OPERATING MILLAGE PROPOSAL

EXEMPTING PRINCIPAL RESIDENCE

AND OTHER PROPERTY EXEMPTED BY LAW

2.90 MILLS FOR 11 YEARS

FOR HEADLEE RESTORATION PURPOSES, IF NECESSARY

Full text of the ballot propositions may be obtained at the admin-

istrative offices of Gull Lake Community Schools, 10100 East D

Avenue, Richland, Michigan 49083, telephone: (269) 548-3400.

HASTINGS AREA SCHOOL SYSTEM

GENERAL OBLIGATION UNLIMITED TAX BOND PROPOSAL

FOR BUILDING AND SITE PURPOSES IN THE AMOUNT OF

NOT TO EXCEED 17,470,

Full text of the ballot proposition may be obtained at the adminis-

trative offices of Hastings Area School System, 232 West Grand

Street, Hastings, Michigan 49058, telephone: (269) 948-4400.

PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE THAT THE BONDS OF THE

SCHOL DISTRICT IF APPROVED BY A MAJORITY VOTE OF

THE ELECTORS AT THIS ELECTION, WILL BE GENERAL OB-

LIGATION UNLIMITED TAX BONDS PAYABLE FROM GENER-

AL AD VALOREM TAXES.

LAKEWOOD PUBLIC SCHOOLS

GENERAL OBLIGATION UNLIMITED TAX BOND PROPOSAL

FOR BUILDING AND SITE PURPOSES IN THE AMOUNT OF

NOT TO EXCED $39,000,

Full text of the ballot proposition may be obtained at the admin-

istrative offices of Lakewood Public Schools, 223 W. Broad-

way Street, Woodland, Michigan 48897-9798, telephone:

616) 374-8043.

PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE THAT THE BONDS OF THE

SCHOOL DISTRICT, IF APPROVED BY A MAJORITY VOTE OF

THE ELECTORS AT THIS ELECTION, WILL BE GENERAL OB-

LIGATION UNLIMITED TAX BONDS PAYABLE FROM GENER-

AL AD VALOREM TAXES.

Sample ballots may be viewed at http://www.mi.gov/vote.

THE POLLS OF SAID ELECTION WILL BE OPEN AT 7

O’CLOCK A.M. AND WILL REMAIN OPEN UNTIL 8 O’CLOCK

P.M. ON THE DAY OF ELECTION.

Absent voter ballots must be mailed to voters no later than 5:00 p.m. on Friday, August 4, 2023. Registered voters may

contact their local Clerk to obtain an application for an absent voter ballot. For any other questions relating to the elec-

tion process, please contact your local Clerk:

ASSYRIA TOWNSHIP Annette Terry 269-967-

BALTIMORE TOWNSHIP Penelope Ypma 269-908-

BARRY TOWNSHIP Debra Knight 269-623-

CITY OF HASTINGS Amy Hubbell 269-945-

CARLTON TOWNSHIP Amanda Carothers 269-945-

CASTLETON TOWNSHIP Marcia Scramlin 517-852-

HASTINGS CHARTER TWP. Anita Mennell 269-948-

HOPE TOWNSHIP Deborah Jackson 269-948-

IRVING TOWNSHIP Sharon Olson 269-948-

JOHNSTOWN TOWNSHIP Sheri Babcock 269-721-

MAPLE GROVE TOWNSHIP Holly Carpenter 517-490-

RUTLAND TOWNSHIP Robin Hawthorne 2 69-948-

PRAIRIEVILLE TOWNSHIP Rod Goebel 269-623-

WOODLAND TOWNSHIP Elizabeth Busk 269-367-

BEDFORD TOWNSHIP Joyce Feraco 269-968-

PAMELA A. PALMER, COUNTY CLERK 203261

Family Community Funfest on

tap in Yankee Springs

Greg Chandler

Staff Writer

Yankee Springs Township will hold its second

annual Family Community Funfest Saturday at

the Township Park, 1825 Parker Dr.

The event begins at 10 a.m. and runs until 2:

p.m. and will include Treasures in the Trunk, a

fundraiser for the Gun Lake chapter of the General

Federation of Women’s ?lubs (GFWC), where club

members will sell items from the trunk of their

vehicles.

More than 20 vehicles are expected to participate.

The event raises funds for the lending library locat-

ed inside Water’s Edge Floral and Gift Shop, which

the club has maintained on the west side of Gun

Lake for many years.

The festival will also feature a dog costumer

parade at 11 a.m. and a decorated bike parade at

noon. A bounce house, games for kids and fire

trucks will also be part of the event. Lunches from

Schondelmayer Bar-B-Q of Hastings will be avail-

able for purchase.

Rep. Gina Johnsen