Van Buren Township DDA retirees get honors

At the Dec. 16 meeting of the Van Buren Township Board of Trustees, Carol Dolphaccepted an honor for her ailing husband Jere Dolph, who resigned from the Downtown Development Authority due to health problems.
Presenting the placque were DDA Executive Director Susan Ireland and DDA vice president Craig Atchinson.
Dolph was one of the original members of the DDA, serving for 24 years. He has been president since 2001. The massive stroke he suffered will require a long recovery so he is stepping aside so a new member can be active with the group. He currently is in Superior Woods recuperating.
Also at the Dec. 16 meeting, Pastor Jim Richter was honored after his resignation from the DDA was accepted. Pastor Richter is pastor of Open Arms Lutheran Church, located just north of VBT Fire Station #2. He has been in the community for 13 years and joined the DDA in 2006.
Pastor Richter soon will be leaving VBT to start another church in Oswego, IL, 100 miles southwest of Chicago. VBT also honored him for his seven years of service as a Public Safety Chaplain.