2013 as chronicled in the pages of the Onaway Outlook, part II
by Angie Asam-Staff Writer
As we usher in the New Year and prepare for what is to come in 2014, we are certain new items will headline the news in the pages of the Outlook. Before we start a new chapter we take a look back at the news that dominated the pages in the second half of 2013.
JULY
The Presque Isle County Board of Commissioners approved a contract between the Presque Isle County Sheriff’s Department and the city of Onaway to provide police service. Onaway was to pay the county $25,000 annually to provide police patrol, including an average of 16 hours of nighttime patrol each week.
Longtime barber Clyde Berry and his wife Colleen would lead the Onaway Fourth of July parade.
Jim Cleaver was named the new Onaway High School (OHS) varsity football coach.
The Presque Isle County Board of Commissioners approved its 2013-14 budget. The budget was balanced at $5,097,508.48, a bit lower than the 2012-13 budget.
The Fourth of July celebration brought crowds to Onaway for the parade and other events.
It was official, the recall of mayor Gary Wregglesworth and commissioners Charles Abshagen and Jessie Horrocks would be on the November ballot. Commissioners Bernie Schmeltzer and Ron Horrocks also found themselves under the recall microscope as a clarity and factual hearing was scheduled.
The Onaway Area Community Schools (OACS) board of education was considering additional layoffs to close a budget shortfall. Superintendent Rod Fullerton said the budget deficit was worse than expected at the end of the 2012-13 fiscal year by approximately $70,000, which brought the deficit to $372,000. The deficit was covered by fund equity, bringing that down to 7 percent of operating costs. The board was considering the layoff of librarian B.J. Kemme and part-time guidance counselor Michael Franklin.
The Presque Isle County election commission rejected recall language that would have recalled city commissioners Schmeltzer and Ron Horrocks.
Tough times got a little tougher for the Presque Isle County Council on Aging (PICCOA) with the suspension of meals in Posen and layoff of three kitchen staff members. State and federal cuts created a budget shortfall for the organization.
Former Onaway Police Department chief James Gibson filed to run for mayor in the recall effort against Wregglesworth. James Grainger, Bradley Porter, Roger Marsh and Richard Norman had filed for commissioner seats against Jessie Horrocks and Abshagen.
Another clarity and factual hearing for the recall of Ron Horrocks and Schmeltzer was scheduled for August.
The Onaway city commission approved a pair of variances that would allow for the Remnant Church of Jesus Christ to operate in the former Tom’s IGA store.
AUGUST
The Presque Isle County Board of Commissioners passed a resolution, which included language for the ballot for the Nov. 5, 2013 election asking voters to approve a millage for .524 mills for 15 years that would fund renovations of the courthouse building.
Staff members at Presque Isle Academy (PIA) had to reapply for their jobs after receiving a notice in the mail that stated that the board of directors decided to contract with EDUStaff LLC for the academy’s staffing needs.
Director Rick Bongard, teachers Tricia Schell and Kristen Holberton, noncertified teacher Bob Richards and administrative assistant Pam McGinn had received the notice.
Language for the recall of Schmeltzer and Ron Horrocks was approved.
Joe Libby resigned as the director of the Presque Isle County Development Commission/county resource officer to take a position with Moran Iron Works (MIW).
Emily Estep, Megan Estep and varsity coach Jodi Brewbaker represented OHS at the Michigan High School Softball Coaches Association senior all-star game.
Tensions escalated at a city commission meeting after the commission had to call a recess because the public was disrupting the meeting well after the public comment period had ended. Commissioner Schmeltzer lost his temper and things erupted. Presque Isle County Sheriff’s Department deputies were called in to oversee the remainder of the meeting.
More than 50 people attended a town hall meeting to discuss recent decisions at PIA that resulted in the dismissal of the teaching staff and director. PIA attorney Candace Sorenson of CS3, Charter School Consulting Services of Grand Rapids, said the decision was made to clear up certification issues.
The OACS board of education accepted the retirement of Kemme and approved a layoff notice for Franklin.
“Little Mermaid Jr.” the summer youth production of Rogers City Community Theatre was ready to hit the stage at the Rogers City Theater. Cast members were Patrick Dunn, Emilee Madison, Jacob Bruski, Brandi Chojnacki, Linnea Hentkowski, Chloe Schultz, Salena Heidemann, Chloe Hentkowski, Elaina Madison, Ashley Nowicki, Caitlynn Shadbolt, Madison Tulgestka, Kyrsten Altman, Ashley Bunton, Brielle Kulik, Baylee Lijewski, Bradley Heidemann, Emma Bade, Morgan Baller, Mackenzie Bruning, Jadyn Hanson, Mataya Hanson, Hayden Hentkowski, Luke Jakey, Erica Jumper, Dylan LaFleche, Kyley LaFleche, Sierra Loveless, Shelby Michalak, Kaitlin Neff, Rebecca Neff, Madison Thornton, Ella Williams and Mackenzie Williams.
Ericka Pauly was crowned Presque Isle County Fair Queen 2013. Bethany Collins was the first runner-up and Amber Pilarski was second runner-up. Other contestants were Chelsea Marx, Kayla Pardike and Chojnacki.
Desiree Smillie was crowned Junior Miss Presque Isle County Fair 2013. First runner-up was Mackenzie Zydbel and second runner-up was Heather Hentkowski. Other contestants were Roxanne Kortman and Andrea Stalker.
Contestants in the 2013 Little Miss Presque Isle County Fair pageant were Abby Muller, Vivianna Austin, Sierra Sanders, Natalie Grulke, Alexis Bacon, Rosalie Mucciante, Emily Grulke, Aislinn Schalk and Kaitlyn Neff.
Contestants in the 2013 Princess Pageant at the Presque Isle County Fair were Cali Hambleton, Samantha Neff, Sierra Grulke, Isabelle Tucker, Cheyanne Bober, Adisyn Fenstermaker, Natalie Domke, Haily Corey, Emma Wickersham, Rebecca Neff, Ella Sobeck, Hanna Corey and Kayde Corey.
The Onaway city commission approved a new public comment policy to address some issues arising at meetings.
Virgil and Judy Freel were named grand marshals of the Millersburg Homecoming parade.
SEPTEMBER
The Onaway City commission approved two variances to allow The Remnant Church of Jesus Christ to operate a church from the former PIA building on M-68 and the vacant lot that was the United States Department of Agriculture building on Michigan Avenue.
MIW purchased the former Art Van Furniture building and 31 acres with possible plans of establishing a welding school.
Judge Scott L. Pavlich ruled to deny the appeal filed by Onaway commissioners Schmeltzer and Ron Horrocks.
Hope Moore, 11, of Onaway got to throw out the first pitch at a Detroit Tigers game held Aug. 21, 2013. The daughter of Mark Moore and Mindy Bidwell had her name drawn in a raffle.
The OHS volleyball team started the Ski Valley Conference (SVC) season with a sweep of Central Lake.
Ray Forester, 94, stepped down as president of PICCOA but planned to stay involved with the organization.
Members of the PICCOA approved the 2013-14 budget, which included the re-opening of the Posen kitchen. PICCOA was trying to overcome serious federal and state cuts that affected its budget.
The OHS volleyball team won the Petoskey Invitational over some stiff competition and became the first Class D school to win the tournament since 2006.
The OACS board of education took a technology tour of the elementary school and learned how teachers were using new technology in the classroom.
The OHS football team defeated Gaylord St. Mary 55-20 to snap a losing skid and notch the first win of the season.
OCTOBER
Post office drop off times were changing. Thirty day notices were posted on boxes in front of the Onaway and Millersburg post offices. In Onaway the final collection time changed from 4 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. while in Millersburg it went from 4:30 p.m. to 3:10 p.m.
The OHS volleyball team defeated Pellston to improve to 31-5-3 on the season and a perfect 5-0 in the SVC.
The community rallied around 36-year-old Lee Kaszubowski of Millersburg who was involved in a serious logging accident. He had been cutting down an ash tree and while it was falling to the ground a 4-inch branch punctured his body, going into his lung.
John Shaloy, 42, of Afton was sentenced to six months in the Presque Isle County Jail for embezzling more than $20,000 from the Onaway Carquest.
A twin-engine aircraft piloted by Paul Newland of Jackson hit a six-point buck when attempting to land at Leo Goetz Airport.
The OHS drama club presented the “Café Murder,” a one-act mystery play. Cast members were Grace Henning, Denise Porter, Tiffany Traynham, Maddy Watts, Brianna Fitzpatrick, Mike Hart Jr., Jazmyn Tibbits, Jordan Bischer, Emilee Madison, Samantha Butler and Mary Bandish.
OHS junior Joe Traynham earned the SVC championship in cross country while Morgan McLean earned all-conference honorable mention honors.
A domestic incident at a home along M-33 just south of Shady Grove trailer park forced an area of Onaway to be closed to traffic and citizens. It also forced OACS to close.
OHS celebrated fall homecoming. King Frankie Ramos and queen Lindsey LaLonde presided over the ceremonies. Other homecoming representatives were seniors Chris Cleaver, Tommy Auger, Carlos Bautista, Mariah Ehrke, Olivia McDonald, Signe Magnussen and Rachel Nave; juniors Brooke Riley, Megan Hoedel, Joe Traynham and Patrick Dunn; sophomores McLean, Derick Wregglesworth, Tori March and Elisha Ionetz; and freshmen Cameron Horn, D.J. Fenstermaker, Taylor Ehrke and Skylar Butler.
The Onaway city commission approved a stormwater, asset management and wastewater grant package put together by Randy Scott of C2AE.
The OHS volleyball team wrapped up its second consecutive undefeated SVC season with a sweep of Mancelona.
NOVEMBER
MIW hosted the first ever Moran Art Competition at the former Art Van Furniture building. The show featured 11 entries from MIW employees as well as pieces from guest artists.
The OHS volleyball team won the Presque Isle County championship tournament, defeating both Rogers City and Posen.
OHS junior Joe Traynham finished fourth at cross country regionals to qualify for the state finals.
Sunrise Communications completed a $500,000 upgrade to its fiber backbone based high-speed Internet, cable television and digital phone service.
Election results were in, and mayor Gary Wregglesworth and Abshagen survived the recall effort. Marsh beat out Jesse Horrocks in the recall by one vote but Jessie Horrocks won the re-election for a two-year term. Marsh would serve for two meetings before the New Year came and the new term began for Jessie Horrocks. Jessie Horrocks requested a recount of the votes.
Miss Onaway 2013 Emilee Madison was the first runner-up in the Miss Sunrise Side pageant.
The OHS volleyball team captured the district title over Rogers City in four sets. A few days later the season came to an end with a loss to Pellston in the regional semifinals.
Keith Smith, 23, the man charged with choking former Onaway Police chief Gibson was to face sentencing for malicious destruction of property and resisting/obstructing police.
Subway was returning to Onaway as new owners John and Ellen Dunbar prepared to reopen the restaurant.
Six OHS football players earned all-conference honors. Seniors Chris Cleaver and Bautista earned first-team honors. Seniors Ramos, Matt Tollini, Auger and junior Cody Whitsitt earned second-team honors.
Four OHS volleyball players earned all-state honors. Mariah Ehrke was named first-team all-state, Lexi Szymoniak earned second-team honors, Taylor Ehrke was selected to the third-team and Devin Bristley earned honorable mention honors.
DECEMBER
Members of the Onaway City Commission were pressuring the Onaway Area Chamber of Commerce to produce copies of its budget, financial report and a list of dues paying members and chamber directors or their lease would not be renewed. Some commissioners had concerns that the chamber was not following its bylaws.
OHS sophomore Millie Dunn had the spirit of the season as she conducted a toy drive to send gifts to the St. Jude Children’s Hospital in Memphis, Tennesee. She camped out at the Family Dollar and had a collection box at Tom’s Family Market.
A tanker/car accident shut down M-68 in Tower. A 2003 Chevrolet Impala was westbound when the driver lost control of the vehicle, crossing the centerline into the path of an eastbound semitruck. The vehicles collided, the car was split in two and the semitruck rolled onto its side sliding down M-68 200 feet before coming to rest blocking the roadway. The semitruck was a propane tanker. Residents of the immediate area had to be evacuated but contents of the truck were safely transferred to another truck. The driver of the car was transported to McLaren Northern Michigan in Petoskey where she was treated and released.
The Presque Isle County board of canvassers held a recount in the Onaway City Commission recall election at the request of Jessie Horrocks and the results remained unchanged.
OHS volleyball standout Mariah Ehrke was invited to play for a regional all-star team. Down Under Sports invited her to play representing Michigan on the 2014 East Central Conference volleyball team. Tournaments were to take place during the summer of 2014 on the Gold Coast of Australia.
OHS senior Tollini was named honorable mention all-state quarterback by the Detroit Free Press. Tollini passed for 1,005 yards and 11 touchdowns for the Cardinals.
The Goodfellows again brightened the holidays for many as they packed 101 food boxes and distributed 243 gifts to
Wolverine Power leaders officially pulled the plug on the Wolverine Clean Energy Project that had been planned for Rogers City.
The OHS girls’ basketball team notched its first win of the season against Boyne Falls.
Nora Eve Freel was ending her reign as New Year’s Baby 2013 as the wait began for the 2014 baby. The daughter of Aaron and Sheri Freel of Onaway was nearing her first birthday.
The OHS boys’ basketball team dominated Rogers City, winning 79-28.