Sumpter Board passes proclamation honoring veterans each November

By Rosemary K. Otzman
Independent Editor
A proclamation designating the month of November each year as Veterans’ History and Appreciation Month in Sumpter Township was approved unanimously by the township board at its regular meeting Oct. 28.
This is in recognition of the accomplishments, contributions, and sacrifices of veterans in the service of this country.
The approved proclamation will be presented to representatives of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) and the Polish Legion of American Veterans (PLAV) at a veterans’ dinner Nov. 8 at the Moose Lodge.
In other business at the 15-minute regular meeting on Oct. 28 meeting, the board:
• Approved Boy Scout Ryan York’s request to build a guard post shed at the Recycling Center for his Eagle Scout project. Ryan will provide the materials and labor for his project;
• Tabled consideration of the addition to the zoning ordinance regarding medical marijuana provisionary centers;
• Approved closing the township hall from Dec. 24 through Jan. 4, with employees using their time for days not covered by union contract. The treasurer’s office will be open Dec. 31 for tax payments only;
• Approved paying Fire Lt. Collin Lynch $25 per hour for instructing medical classes for the department. Lt. Lynch got the training necessary to be an instructor and now can teach it to the local fire fighters at a big savings;
• Learned the annual haunted house would be open for children on Halloween at the fire hall. Children also can have their candy checked there;
• Heard Trustee Don Swinson report that Parks and Recreation had wonderful weather on October Sundays for the annual fund-raising Turkey Shoots, with no rain or snow;
• Heard Trustee Bill Hamm report that about 75% of the flood-damaged cars parked in a field on Willis Road have been removed;
• Heard Mary Ban compliment the township for all the sirens it has, “when Van Buren Township can’t get their heads together for the safety of the residents.” She recalled that former Trustee Tim Rush was one of those who pushed in the beginning for sirens for the township. “Right next door to us is Van Buren Township who can’t do what we have done.” She said Sumpter is right up front with sirens, while VBT is playing politics. Ban noted they could get a few and then gradually add them, “Yet, they don’t have them like Sumpter Township does”; and
• Heard candidate for re-election to state representative Bill LaVoy urge everybody to vote on Nov. 4. Then he passed out medical cards. Library board candidate LaChelle Caver, a Sumpter resident, came in at the end of the meeting and talked to residents.
Sumpter Supervisor Johnny Vawters was absent and still on medical leave. It has been more than one year since his stroke.