Northern Notes: Help when bus breaks down

Stephanie Beach: Northern Notes

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Stephanie Beach
Norris Elementary School in Traverse City was the perfect location for a five-generation photo since all four adults attended the school, starting with great-great-grandmother Betty DeMoulpied in 1938, until the school closed in 2008. Pictured, left to right, are grandmother Katie Newman, father Josh Newman holding Orion Newman, great-grandfather Jim DeMoulpied, and Betty DeMoulpied, all of Traverse City. Special to the Record-Eagle

October 16, 2011

By STEPHANIE BEACH Local columnist The Record Eagle Tue Feb 21, 2012, 01:34 PM EST

Senior citizen members of Faith Baptist Church in Adrian made a trip to Traverse City this summer to enjoy the scenery. During the trip, the group experienced bus trouble, but because of many of the businesses in Traverse City, they were able to continue their excursion without missing any scheduled activities.

Pastor Greg Burdine wrote to send sincere thanks to the Traverse City Police Department, especially Officer Adam Verschaeve who diverted traffic away from their vehicle and made phone connections to get the group on its way.

"He remained with us to ensure it (the bus) was transported to the repair shop and drove me back to the motel," Pastor Greg wrote.

Pastor Greg also sends a big thank-you to the board members at Faith Reformed Church for dismissing a meeting to take our seniors back to the motel. Thanks also to Enterprise Car Rental and their staff, who provided rental vans so the group could continue its tour of Traverse City and Starr Truck Rentals and Ken Herman's service staff for fixing the bus.

"We haven't had a bit of trouble with it since. Traverse City is a beautiful location, and the people are very hospitable and kind. Thank you," Pastor Greg wrote.

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When the vehicle used to transport veterans to appointments downstate needed replacement because of its high mileage, the local Disabled American Veterans Chapter 38 turned to the Grand Traverse Area Veterans Coalition for help raising the $15,000 required to purchase a vehicle after grants from Ford and Columbia Trust.

Jack Pickard wrote that the member organizations of the coalition again showed their commitment to area veterans with donations that came to almost half the amount needed to purchase the van.

Donations included $2,000 from Traverse City Elks Lodge 323; $250 from the Sons of the AMVETS Post 114; $1,000 from Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2780; $500 from VFW Post 2780 Auxiliary; $1,000 from the VFW Post 2780 Men's Auxiliary; $500 from Forgotten Eagles Chapter 6; $500 from American Legion Post 219 Ladies' Auxiliary; $500 from American Legion Post 35 Ladies' Auxiliary; $200 from Marilyn Koon; and $1,397 in donations from Buckley music concerts.

"We are closer to reaching our goal due to the caring of others," Pickard wrote.

For more information or to make a donation, contact Pickard, 499-4665.

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Jan Johnson, of Traverse City, wrote to express her appreciation and thanks to everyone who stepped forward in faith to be sure that a senseless act of cruelty does not go unpunished.

On July 3, an unidentified man first taunted a family of mute swans and when the adult male swan responded to his taunts, killed it with an oar before racing off on a personal watercraft on West Bay.

In response to this act of animal cruelty, a $1,500 reward was offered for information resulting in the conviction of the man. Thanks to additional donations, that amount is up to $2,500.

Anyone with information about the incident, which happened near the Tall Ships dock area on West Bay, should call the DNRE Cadillac office, 775-9727, or the Anti-Poacher Hotline, (800) 292-7800.

Donations to the reward fund will be accepted until the incident comes to a conclusion. If no charges are brought about in the case, checks will be returned to the donors.

Checks payable to TBA Credit Union with "Swan Reward" in the memo can be mailed to Jan Johnson, P.O. Box 2022, Traverse City, MI 49685.

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The Mesick Area Museum Volunteers would like to thank everyone who came and participated in the fourth annual Old Car/Truck Show in August.

"We finally had better weather than we have had in our earlier shows," the volunteers wrote. "It may have been a small show, but everyone really enjoyed the ability to see the cars up close and talk with the owners."

Plans are under way for the 2012 show, and interested vintage car and truck buffs can visit www.mesickmuseum.com after the first of the year to learn more.

Stephanie Beach can be reached at sbeach@record-eagle.com.