The Hastings Banner — Thursday, August 12, 2021 — Page 11Hastings Charter Township eyes
new emergency services contract
Benjamin Simon
Staff Writer
Hastings Charter Township Supervisor Jim
Brown introduced a new $118,602 contract
with Mercy Ambulance Service during its
monthly meeting Tuesday.
For the past 45 years, Mercy Ambulance
Service has served the City of Hastings and
BIRCH Fire Association, which covers
Baltimore, Irving, Rutland, Carlton and
Hastings townships.
And for the past 20 or so years, Mercy has
charged zero dollars for its services.
That’s changing. The current contract with
Mercy Ambulance Service is set to expire in
June 2022 and, as a result, Mercy has proposed
a new contract starting at $118,602.
The contract would cover five years with a
3-percent increase to the agreed-upon amount
following the second year. The contract would
end in 2026-27 at $129,600.
“As time has passed, Hastings and Barry
County has increased in population who is
getting older,” Mercy Director/Treasurer
Rodney D. Palmer wrote in a statement
provided by Brown. “Cost of operation,
medical and mental health incidents have
changed and the current business model is not
financially, or logistically possible.
“Looking down the road for the next
several years, a reasonable amount of subsidy
is necessary to offset the rise of such costs. To
help keep this cost as low as possible, Mercy
Ambulance plans to make a substantial
investment in additional equipment and
personnel to meet the needs of our system.”
Despite the increase in cost, Brown said the
request is “extremely reasonable,” calling it
“coffee money” compared to the price that
other townships pay.
“It’s been nice that we’ve had this free ride
for a long time, but the free ride is over,” he
said during the meeting. “And actually, to be
honest with you, it’s going to be even better
than it was before.”
He pointed to multiple positive aspects to
the new contract, including additional
equipment and a more narrow coverage area.
“Because of the shared financial
commitment by the City of Hastings/BIRCH
Alliance,” Palmer wrote, “the service will be
limited to the geographical areas both entities
serve and not to exceed a 60-mile radius.”
The city and BIRCH will divvy up the
price using a formula based on the number of
runs and property value. Brown said Hastings
Charter Township will use its budget to fund
its portion of the cost.
“It’s really a no-brainer,” Trustee Timothy
McNally said, adding that if the township
didn’t choose to be a part of the contract with
Mercy, it most likely would have to levy a
millage.
They’re waiting to hear from other
townships, but Brown said he is confident the
contract will come together as planned. He
read Palmer’s letter at the Hastings City
Council meeting Monday and the Barry
County Board of Commissioners meeting
Tuesday.
“So far, it’s very positive because we’ve
been in this business long enough, we knowwhat costs are,” he said. “And this particular
cost is extremely reasonable for all thingsconsidered for the situation at hand.”getting help.
The three boys told the officer their mother
was “in bad shape and in the wrong state of
mind.”
One son said Hazen gave him a copy of her
tax returns and the title to her vehicle, but she
did not say why she was doing that. He said
he put the title back in the vehicle.
They told police she left them around 1
p.m., and that was the last time they saw her.
One of the sons said he tried to call his
mother on July 22 to see if she had kept her
appointment at Barry County Mental Health,
but that call went straight to voicemail.
Police contacted Hazen’s cell phone pro-
vider, and learned that her phone has been off
since 6:32 p.m. July 20. It was connected to a
cell tower in Nashville at that time.
Hazen’s nearby neighbor and ex-boyfriend,
37-year-old Patrick Stephens, said he saw
Hazen the night of July 20.
Stephens told police that he and Hazen
drove to Niles that evening to purchase a
gram and a half of methamphetamine, then
arrived back at Hazen’s residence around 3:
a.m. July 21.
Stephens said they each did “one big line”
of meth, and later talked about getting help to
overcome their drug addiction. He added that
there was some meth left over.
Stephens said he went home around 4 a.m.
He lives in Thornapple Lake Estates with his
mother, who said Hazen’s vehicle was gone
when she left the house at 9 a.m. Stephens
said he did not see it return.
His father, Timothy, told police he saw a
black SUV arrive at Hazen’s residence around
2 p.m., and someone got out and went inside
the residence. He said Hazen then walked out
carrying an overnight bag, got in her own
vehicle and both vehicles left.
Stephens, who can see Hazen’s residence
from his own, said he noticed that Hazen had
left the lights on in her residence on that after-
noon, July 21, and he went over and turned
them off. He left a note on her door to say he
was sorry he missed her before she had left
for treatment, and that he cared about her.
Hazen’s son told police he found that note
soon after.
Stephens told police he did not think Hazen
could have gone far, since she did not have
much money; she had spent most of it on
meth the night before her disappearance.
Stephens also told the officer the house was
messy, and already in the state that it was in
when the officer arrived.
Hazen’s mother, Rebecca Evanski, told
police she had gone to the residence on July
22, 23 and 24, and found everything clean and
undisturbed. She did notice a bag of groceries
sitting on the counter that had not yet been put
away.
On July 25, Evanski said she arrived to find
the residence had been ransacked. She said
she confronted Stephens, who told her had
been in the residence looking for notes or
clues that might point to Hazen’s where-
abouts.
The officer asked Evanski if she knew any-
one who drove a black SUV, and she said
Hazen’s ex-boyfriend, Preston White of
Vermontville, drives a black SUV.
White told the officer that he had last spo-
ken to Hazen by phone on July 13. He said he
has offered a $10,000 reward for information
leading to her return, and asked his friends
who own airplanes to look for her vehicle
from the air.
Two of Hazen’s female friends said that,
before her disappearance, they went with her
to the bank to close out her account. During
that trip, they said, she talked about Stephens,
telling them she would threaten him by saying
she could send him back to prison.
According to the Michigan Department of
Corrections, Stephens has a criminal record
dating back to 2005 involving several drug
convictions, including operating a meth lab.
Another woman told police she was “
percent sure” she saw Stephens driving
Hazen’s vehicle on July 22, the day after her
disappearance. The woman said she was out-
side near Little’s Country Store, and she saw
a silver vehicle drive by. The woman said she
recognized the tattoos on the man’s arm,
which could be seen outside the driver’s side
window as he drove past.
One of Hazen’s sons looked at the record-
ings from a security camera that was placed
near the store, but he was unable to spot a
vehicle fitting that description.
Another motorist told police that he
believes he saw Hazen’s silver Ford on the
afternoon of July 21. The driver was south-
bound on M-37, just south of M-79 Highway,
when a vehicle matching that description
came up from behind and tailgated him. Then
it drove past him at a high rate of speed and,
when he tried to get the license plate number,
he saw that the vehicle did not have a plate.
Anyone with information as to Hazen’s
whereabouts since her disappearance is asked
to call the Barry County Sheriff’s Office at
269-948-4801.
Anonymous tips may be submitted through
the Barry County Silent Observer at 1-800-
310-9031.LEGAL
NOTICES
STATE OF MICHIGAN
JUDICIAL CIRCUIT - FAMILY DIVISION
BARRY COUNTY
PUBLICATION OF NOTICE OF
HEARING FOR NAME CHANGE
CASE NO. 21-28910-NC
WILLIAM M. DOHERTY P
COURT ADDRESS:
206 W. COURT STREET, SUITE 302,
HASTINGS, MI 49058
COURT TELEPHONE NO.: 269-945-
In the matter of Karen Lynn Hays-Satterfield.
TO ALL PERSONS, including: whose address is
unknown and whose interest in the matter may be
barred or affected by the following:
TAKE NOTICE: A hearing will be held on
Wednesday, Sept. 1, 2021 at 2:45 p.m. at 206 W.
Court Street, Suite 302, Hastings, MI 49058 before
Judge William M. Doherty to change the name of
Karen Lynn Hays-Satterfield to Samantha Joane
Solmes.
165746STATE OF MICHIGAN
PROBATE COURT
BARRY COUNTY
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
Decedent’s Estate
CASE NO. 21-028874-DE
Hon. William M. Doherty
Court Address: 206 West Court Street, Suite 302,
Hastings, Michigan 49058
Court Telephone No.: (269) 945-
Estate of Keith Lee Hurless. Date of birth: 08/03/1925.
TO ALL CREDITORS:
NOTICE TO CREDITORS: The decedent, Keith Lee
Hurless, died 05/25/2021.
Creditors of the decedent are notified that all claims
against the estate will be forever barred unless presented
to Barney Hutchins, personal representative, or to both
the probate court at 206 West Court Street., Suite 302,
Hastings, MI 49058 and the personal representative
within 4 months after the date of publication of this notice.
Date: 8/5/
David H. Tripp P
202 South Broadway, Hastings, MI 49058
269-948-
Barney Hutchins
1897 Campground Road, Hastings, MI
269-948-9120 165862STATE OF MICHIGAN
COUNTY OF BARRY
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
Trust
In the matter of: The Sang Im Bell Living Trust, dated
March 8, 2021.
TO ALL CREDITORS:
NOTICE TO CREDITORS: The decedent, Sang Im
Bell, who lived at 1670 Star School Road, Hastings,
Michigan 49058, died on July 15, 2021, leaving a certain
trust under the name of Sang Im Bell Trust, dated March
8, 2021, wherein the decedent was the Settlor and
Raymond Bell was named as Successor Trustee serving
at the time of or as a result of the decedent’s death.
Creditors of the decedent and of the trust are notified
that all claims against the decedent or against the trust
will be forever barred unless presented to Raymond
Bell, the named Successor Trustee, at Tripp, Tagg &
Storrs, Attorneys at Law, 202 South Broadway, Hastings,
Michigan 49058 within 4 months after the date of
publication of this notice.
Date:August 10, 2021
Nathan E. Tagg (P68994)
202 South Broadway, Hastings, Michigan 49058
(269) 948-
Raymond Bell
8455 96th Street, SE, Alto, MI 49302
616-366-2849 166118166015
CITY OF HASTINGSPUBLIC NOTICE
City Offices Will Be Closed
The City of Hastings will be closing its administrative offices Thursday, August 12,
2021 at 5:00 pm and will be reopening Friday, August 13, 2021 at 1:00 pm. This
temporary closing is necessary to facilitate an upgrade of our financial software
systemsPlease be aware, if you are wishing to make a payment during that time period,
only online payments will be accepted through our Point and Pay system. See
our website for details.Business that is non-payment related will still be conducted by appointment only
and the police department will remain open during that time.Jane M. Saurman
City ClerkCHECK IN... 8:30 AM
Pick up T-shirts at this time
TIP OFF... 9:30 AMCOST...$
25
per team of 3 or 4 playersTYDEN PARK • SATURDAY, AUG. 27
THEntries must be to
the Chamber
by Friday, Aug. 19thMake checks
payable to Hastings
Summerfest 2016
Boys & Girls
(Ages 12-14)Boys & Girls
(Ages 15-17)Men & Women
(Ages 18-25)Men & Women
(Ages 26 & up)Send Entries to...
Barry County
Chamber of Commerce
221 W. State Street
Hastings, MI 49058Questions ??...
Call (269) 948-Team Name ____________________Team Captain___________________________________ Age _______Phone # __________________________
Team Members Age___________________________
___________________________Age___________________________
___________________________
Please fill out form completelyAge brackets subject to change based on participationTYDEN PARK • SATURDAY, AUG. 27TH
COST...per team of 3 or 4 players$ 25
Entries must be to
the Chamber
by Friday, Aug. 20thMake checks
payable to Hastings
Summerfest 2021
Boys & Girls
(Ages 12-14)Boys & Girls
(Ages 15-17)Men & Women
(Ages 18-25)Men & Women
(Ages 26 & up)Send Entries to...
Barry County
Chamber of Commerce
221 W. State Street
Hastings, MI 49058Questions ??...
Call (269) 948-Team Name ____________________Team Captain___________________________________ Age _______Phone # __________________________Email____________________
Team Members Age___________________________
___________________________Age___________________________
___________________________
Please fill out form completelyAge brackets subject to change based on participationTYDEN PARK • SATURDAY, AUG. 28
THCHECK IN... 8:30 AM
Pick up T-shirts at this time
TIP OFF... 9:30 AMTYDEN PARK • SATURDAY, AUG. 28
THBuzz Youngs Legends Golf Outing
The Buzz Youngs Legends Golf Outing experienced a year of change. Hastings
Athletic Boosters supported this year’s outing. The event is named for George “Buzz”
Youngs, who had a deep love of Hastings and a passion for high school athletics.
Youngs loved to spend his time golfing and attending high school sporting events. He
covered Hastings High School sports for 37 years as a sports reporter and editor at
The Hastings Banner and the local radio station WBCH. Greg Gillons and Denny
Storrs came up with the idea of the Buzz Youngs Legends Golf Outing in 2000 to sup-
port the athletic boosters. This year, because of COVID-19, no legend was selected,
but several past legends played in the event. Buzz Youngs’ oldest son, Mike, came
from Illinois to play with Jock Clarey, Tim Clarey and Jock Hopkins – all past graduates
of Hastings High School. A part of the outing as a special event with Superintendent
Matt Goebel hitting against teams on the 13th hole to hit the green. Boosters expressed
their appreciation to all participants, adding their generosity will benefit Hastings’ ath-
letes. This year’s first place team was made up of (from left): Danny Hooten, Nate
Tagg, Andy Baber and Tom Watson. (Photo provided)HASTINGS
PUBLIC
LIBRARY
SCHEDULE
Thursday, Aug. 12 – Movie Memories and
Milestones watches a 1949 movie based on
the book “Madame Bovary,” 5-8 p.m.
Friday, Aug. 13 – star viewing party and
Guided by the Stars stories at Pierce Cedar
Creek Institute, 8:30-10 p.m.
Saturday, Aug. 14 – Dungeons and
Dragons, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Thursday, Aug. 19 – Novel Ideas Book
Club discusses the Celeste Ng book that
started the TV mini-series “Little Fires
Everywhere;” Movie Memories and
Milestones watches 1962 movie based on
Gypsy Rose Lee’s memoirs, 4:30-8 p.m.
More information about these and other
events is available by calling the library, 269-
945-4263, or checking its Facebook events.Rachel HazenMISSING, continued from page 1
Witnesses told police they
last saw Hazen on
Wednesday, July 21.
She was driving her 2005
silver Ford Escape, which
was missing a license
plate. That vehicle has
not been found.CONTEST!
2 DAY KARAOKE
CONTEST
Friday & Saturday, August 13 & 14 at 5 pmTop 50% from day 1 advance to day 2
$1,000 1st Place Cash Prize / Top 3 Awarded
$20 Contestants Fee / Free to AttendDJKeilKaraoke
William Smith Memorial Park
201 E. Orchard St., Delton, MI
269-370-
This is an outdoor event,
please bring a chair and necessities.
Please register by 5 pm on 8-