Our Community 2020

our
2020
community
connect with your community
WELCOME
The Cadillac News serves many towns in the Greater Cadillac
Area and considers the entire coverage area Our Community.
We’ve worked diligently to make this an inclusive publication
offering stories about people and organizations that define the
Greater Cadillac Area.
February 2020
A special section of
Within these pages, you’ll find messages from local businesses that the Cadillac News
play an instrumental role in the continued success of our community. 130 N. Mitchell,
Cadillac, MI 49601
Additionally, you’ll read stories about friends, neighbors and organizations
that are working hard to make a difference in the lives of our citizens and 231-775-6565
strengthen our community.
This publication is an effort of the Cadillac News, consuming months of interviews,
reporting, photography, creative advertising and design efforts. It is our purpose
to provide information that enhances the lives of the people, businesses and
communities we serve. We thank all those who contributed to our 2020 edition
and hope you enjoy this opportunity to connect with your community.
PHO
TO
CR
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2 Our Community 2020 - Cadillac News www.cadillacnews.com | Friday, February 21, 2020
CONENTS
WHAT’S INSIDE
04 It only takes one visit to see the impact
Footprints in Time is more than an adult day program
08 Manton Twins Motor On

Twin children race mini dragsters at tracks throughout Michigan
12 A listening ear in the workplace

Workplace Chaplains help employees with personal challenges
18 Mike Downey takes a measured approach

Living the American dream
20 A hidden gem
Kettunen Center is a conference and retreat facility in Osceola County
24 A better fit in the classroom...

Russ Helsel wasn’t always planning to be an elementary teacher
32 Untied Way helps fund a broad schope of initiatives

Helping people be philanthropic
38 The Y has come a long way

The 10 year history of the YMCA
44 Presenting the Colors

Evart students enjoy the color guard
50 A Family Business
Cadillac’s newest hardware store
53 Friends Thrift Store finds home in Evart

Helping folks in the area with practical needs
60 Love of coffee percolates into business

That love led Laura Dillon to open Michigan Coffee Company
64 Ebels: 100 Years and still growing

A growing business, growing family and faith in God
Friday, February 21, 2020 | www.cadillacnews.com Cadillac News - Our Community 2020 3
It only takes one visit
to see the impact
By Rick Charmoli faith-based adult day program
Cadillac News serves as a multi-generational
outreach three days a week to in-
LAKE CITY — Three times a dividuals in need including those
week St. John’s Lutheran Church who are health-compromised
in Lake City is buzzing with activ- and/or socially isolated, older
ity. adults. It also provides service
During those three days, it is to the people who care for these
not unusual to hear laughter, see adults.
Rick Charmoli | Cadillac News smiles and feel happiness. It is on The goal of Footprints in Time
Jordan Schaafsma smiles as he interacts with a worker at Footprints in Time in Tuesday, Thursday and Friday is to help both the person with
Lake City. The non-profit, faith-based adult day program serves as a multi-gen- Footprints in Time utilizes the disabilities and their caregivers
erational outreach three days a week to individuals in need including those church’s space. The non-profit, thrive and keep their spirits up.
who are health-compromised and/or socially-isolated, older adults.
Honesty
&
IntegrIty
...the foundation of our business for over 50 years!
Rick Charmoli |
Cadillac News
Susie Salas Pre-owned Vehicle Factory
(Susie Salas HIGH STANDARDS:
colors a pic- >>> QUALITY
ture in January >>> SAFETY
at Footprints
>>> VALUE
in Time in
A little history
Lake City.
Over 200 vehicles to choose from!
If we don’t have what you want - We’ll find it!
When Footprints in Time started more than 10 years

ago it was quite different than it is today. ®
Chris Klein had a dream to create a non-profit daycare

and respite program in Missaukee County. The idea was
to offer a place where the elderly can gather to find new www.DonsAutoClinic.com www.HighpointAuto.com
purpose and meaning as well as a place where senior
1110 N. Mitchell, Cadillac South End Business US-131
citizens can alleviate feelings of loneliness and help-
lessness, regardless of their infirmities. This was to be
775-2413 Exit 177, Cadillac
a place that will draw on their past interests and skills. Hours: Mon.-Fri. 8 AM-5:30 PM, 231-775-1222
The name was inspired by the poem “Some People” by Sat. 8 AM-2 PM, Other by Appt. 1-800-828-9852
artist and illustrator, Flavia Weedn.
See Adult Daycare on page 6
Your Full Service Auto/Tire Dealer!!
More than adult
daycare
Continued from page 5 Time, they could be isolated.
Major said there are other
When it first started it adult day programs in the
was held at the Rehoboth area but the individuals who
Reformed Church in Lucas. attend Footprints can’t utilize
Shortly after the adult day those programs because they
care facility started, it made have specialized needs. Their
the switch to catering to the type of activities include
needs of those with special fine motor skills, large motor
needs. In 2017, the facility skills, help with balance, and
moved from Lucas to its cur- everyday living, Major said.
rent facility in Lake City. When it comes to teaching
Currently, the facility everyday living skills, Major
has 22 clients but they are said it includes learning how
always looking to expand in to set a table, how to prepare
numbers. There are seven a meal, how to wash dishes or
employees at the facility and fold clothes. Things the aver-
one volunteer, but they are age person takes for granted
currently looking for a couple but are useful to those attend-
more employees and clients ing Footprints.
so they can be open Tuesday “It is a laid back environ-
through Friday. ment. They are not coming to
Beverly Major is the direc- work they do a lot of games,
tor at Footprints and has been group activities and they just
with the non-profit since 2017. have fun with their friends.
She has only been in the direc- They have camaraderie with
tor’s position for a short time their friends and each other,”
but she said she loves it. Major said.
“Footprints in Time is an In addition to the camarade-
adult day program for people rie, Major said employees and
with different abilities. Some the clients are planning what
are verbal and some are non- trips they will take as a group.
verbal,” she said. “Some have In the past, they have gone to
physical disabilities and some the beach, different museums
do not. We are here to give the and other nearby places. This
caregivers a little respite care summer they are looking at
for themselves.” returning to Mitchell State
While the idea is to give Park for a day at the beach
that respite care, Major said with a cookout, bowling at
it also gives those who attend either Parkview Lanes or The
the chance for socialization Pines Sports Bar and Bowling
as well as the opportunity to Center, visiting the Mount
Rick Charmoli | Cadillac News interact with the community. Pleasant Discovery Museum
Cody Fekete shoots a basket at Footprints in Time in Lake City. For some, if there wasn’t the and Zippity Zoo Da Day at the
chance to go to Footprints in Saginaw Children’s Zoo.
What the future holds
Footprints in Time also hopes to catch for the facility that would be on the top
a movie and then hang out in the Cadillac of the wish list.
Commons for the day. The trips are not “We need to get our name out into
just beneficial for the clients but also for the community. People still don’t know
the community, according to Major. about it,” Major said. “It is a special
“The social aspect is very big. Oth- program.”
erwise, they would be at home and A vast majority of the care facility’s
isolated,” Major said. “This summer funding comes from donations. The
we are planning trips outside of the largest of which is a bowl-a-thon. It
facility and trying to get more into the will again be held at The Pines Sports
community. We also want to educate our Bar and Bowling Center and is by far
community and our participants that the biggest of the year for Footprints.
they can be an active part of the com- In addition to teams signing up to par-
munity.” ticipate, there is a silent auction. In the
In addition to bringing in more em- past, it has raised as much as $12,000
ployees, clients and expanding to four and Major said she believes it raised
days a week, Major said the endgame is roughly $9,000 last year.
always pointing toward Footprints hav- When it comes to where the facility
ing a facility, which also would include a would be located, Major said they are
mode of transportation such as a 15-per- open to being in Missaukee or Wexford Rick Charmoli | Cadillac News
son passenger van or ideally a bus. counties. The facility is open to anyone On Tuesday, Thursday and Friday
Like most things, however, that will within Missaukee, Osceola, and Wex- Footprints in Time utilizes St. John’s
take money. If there was a five-year plan ford counties. Lutheran Church in Lake City’s space.
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Cadillac
FRONT (L-R):Kathy
FRONT(L-R): KathyReid,
Reid,Dr.
Dr.Mark
MarkZook,
Zook,April
AprilSibinovski
Sibinovski 2ND
2NDROW (L-R):Kathy
ROW(L-R): KathySandage,
Sandage,
Cynthia
Cynthia Wood,
Wood,
FRONT(L-R): Kristie
Kathy
Kristie
(L-R):Kathy Hart
Reid,
Hart 3RD
Dr.3RDROW
MarkROW (L-R):
Zook,
(L-R):Wilbur
AprilWilbur Gasper,
Sibinovski
Gasper,
2NDMargo
Margo
ROW Jacobs,
Jacobs, Kristi
Kathy
Kristi
(L-R):Kathy Keeder, Betsey
Sandage,
Keeder, Betsey
FRONT Reid, Dr. Mark Zook, April Sibinovski 2ND ROW (L-R): Sandage,
Sivec,
Sivec,Anita
CynthiaAnita Merritt,
Wood,
Merritt, Mindy
Kristie Hart
Mindy Purvis,
Purvis,Brooke
3RDROWBrooke
ROW Myers,
Myers,
(L-R): Nicki
Wilbur
NickiHavens
Gasper,
Havens BACK
Margo
BACK (L-R):
Jacobs, Timothy Bedker,
KristiKeeder,
Timothy
(L-R):Kristi Keeder, Betsey
Bedker,
Cynthia Wood, Kristie Hart 3RD (L-R): Wilbur Gasper, Margo Jacobs, Betsey
Pamela
Pamela McCullough,
Sivec,Anita
Anita
McCullough, Katie
Merritt,Mindy
Mindy Ranes,
KatiePurvis,
Ranes, Allison
Purvis,Brooke
Allison Droke,
BrookeMyers, Harlee
Myers,Nicki
Droke, Fuller,
NickiHavens
Harlee Havens Ben
Fuller, BenSchultz,
Schultz,
BACK Walter Ross,
Timothy
Walter
(L-R): Amanda
Bedker,
Ross, Amanda
Sivec, Merritt, BACK (L-R): Timothy Bedker,
Morse,
Pamela
Morse, Erin
ErinRoot,
Root,Katlyn
McCullough,Katlyn Nichols
Katie Ranes,Allison
Nichols AllisonDroke,
Droke,Harlee
HarleeFuller,
Fuller,Ben
BenSchultz,
Schultz,Walter
WalterRoss,
Ross,Amanda
Amanda
Pamela McCullough, Katie Ranes,
NOT
NOT PICTURED:
Morse, ErinRoot,
Root,
PICTURED: Julie Rasmussen,
Katlyn
Julie Nichols Jessica
Rasmussen, JessicaNix,
Nix,Karen
KarenBartholomew,
Bartholomew,Bryann
BryannDezeeuw,
Dezeeuw,Lindsey
Lindsey
Morse, Erin Katlyn Nichols
Pacola,
Pacola,Michelle
MichelleGingrich,
NOTPICTURED:
PICTURED: Gingrich, Kathy
KathyLietaert,
JulieRasmussen,
Rasmussen, Lietaert, Jennifer
Jessica Simmer,
Nix,Karen
Karen
Jennifer Christine
Bartholomew,
Simmer, Mondrella
Bryann
ChristineBryann Dezeeuw,Lindsey
Mondrella Lindsey
NOT Julie Jessica Nix, Bartholomew, Dezeeuw,
Pacola, Michelle Gingrich, Kathy Lietaert, Jennifer Simmer, Christine Mondrella
Pacola, Michelle Gingrich, Kathy Lietaert, Jennifer Simmer, Christine Mondrella
Manton twinS
Chris Lamphere |
Cadillac News
John Root
using a rag
to clean off
his dragster's
engine.
m tor on By Chris Lamphere
Cadillac News
Shania, race mini dragsters at
tracks throughout Michigan.
John’s dragster features a black
and name change — more on that
later.
The dragsters are built about
I
n the world of youth drag rac- and green color scheme and is half the scale of an adult dragster
ing, every fraction of every called “The Evil Twin.” Shania’s and are powered by 5-horsepower
second counts, which is why dragster is pink and used to be Briggs and Stratton motors ca-
fathers like Lincoln Root leave called “Lucky in Pink,” although pable of propelling the vehicles
nothing to chance. right now her machine is un- from 54 to 84 mph — with the help
Root’s twin children, John and dergoing a complete overhaul of some after-market additions.
‘The Race
is won at the line’

Chris Lamphere | Cadillac News
Shania Root posted a time on
her dragster she thinks is a good fit CN Promotional Products can supply
for her machine. In youth racing, the driver any customized promotional items! All
chooses a time they believe it will take for their
machine to get to the finish line. Points are tallied based available with your unique branding.
on how close they are to that time, their reaction time out of the
gate, and other factors.
Custom
Pens
John has been involved in dragsters since he was 8 years old,
when he was introduced to the activity by his father. From his
first exposure to drag racing, John was hooked, and Lincoln had a Branded
feeling it was only a matter of time before Shania also caught the Apparel
bug.
Root was seriously injured years ago while serving in the mili-
tary. When he returned to the States, he obtained a degree and Mugs &
became a designer for General Motors. His career ended, however,
when he was no longer able to physically perform some of the
Drinkware
tasks required of his job due to a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis.
Despite no longer working at GM, Lincoln puts his mechanical Banners
skills to good use by working on the dragsters for his kids.
At their home outside Manton, Lincoln and the kids spend a lot
& Signs
of time in a garage that is devoted almost entirely to working on
dragsters.
When Root first delved into the world of youth dragster racing,
Bags
he had no idea how steep the learning curve would be. & Totes
Even the smallest detail on the dragster’s performance can be
analyzed endlessly to look for flaws that can throw a race off.
See Performance on Page 10
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Perfecting Performance
Continued from Page 9
Root said youth drag racing is different than “heads-

up” professional drag racing in a number of ways but
probably the biggest difference is that in youth racing, it
isn’t a contest of which vehicle is the fastest. In youth rac-
ing, the driver chooses a time they believe it will take for
their machine to get to the finish line. Points are tallied
based on how close they are to that time, their reaction
time out of the gate, and other factors.
If it was strictly a contest of who’s the fastest, Root
said, generally the driver with the most money invested
in their dragster will win — which isn’t the point of
youth racing.
To get as close to their estimated times as possible, Root
and the twins spend countless hours fine-tuning their
machines and practicing their timing at the starting line,
which they have down to a science: once the first green
light goes on, each subsequent light lasts 1/8 of a second,
and on the last light, each twin utters a word that is ap-
proximately the length of time before the start of the
race.
“I say, ‘go,’” Shania said in regard to the word she uses
to keep her in the right timing.
Root said the starting line is the most crucial part of
the race and where most mistakes tend to be made.
“Nine times out of 10, the race is won at the line,” Root
said. “It’s all about reaction time.”
To get an idea where there may be problems in the drag-
ster’s performance, Root uses as analytics software that re-
cords various metrics of the machine, including head tem-
perature, exhaust temperature, RPMs, and jackshaft RPMs.
Using this data, along with race times inputted manu-
Chris Lamphere | Cadillac News ally by Root, the algorithm spits out a line graph of the
John Root examines part of Shania's dragster, dragster’s performance, which makes it easier to spot
which he is in the process of making larger. where something went wrong.
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‘It's all about
reaction time’
Root said something as small as not cleaning the clutch
of the dragster after every race night can cause major per-
formance problems. Even humidity in the air can affect the
engine, which is why it’s sometimes necessary to adjust race
times to take these tiny factors into consideration.
“There’s a lot of stuff for drivers to remember,” Root said.
With no races on the horizon until April, Root and the
twins are busy going over their dragsters with a fine-toothed
comb to ensure they are primed and ready for their next
competition.
This last year was big for John and Shania: they both took
home trophies in individual races, and John earned enough
points to win the Advanced Juniors championship at the
Northern Michigan Dragway, in Kaleva.
Last year, Shania barely fit into her dragster, so over the
winter, Root expanded the size of the vehicle’s frame and roll
cage. To do this, he cut the dragster in half, lengthwise, and
Chris Lamphere | Cadillac News inserted new supported beams to make it larger.
Shania Root polishes one of her dragster tire's rims. In keeping with her reputation as a talker at the race track,
they changed the name of Shania’s dragster to “The Social
Twin.”
THANK YOU
Because of you, we are better.
The Y. For a better us.
TM
CADILLAC AREA YMCA

9845 Campus Drive
FOR YOUTH DEVELOPMENT
R
Cadillac, MI 49601
FOR HEALTHY LIVING 231.775.3369
FOR SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY www.cadillacareaymca.org
A listening ear in the
workplace
By Mardi Suhs
Cadillac News
Dean Farve is a department

lead at the Cruiser Plant for
family received help from
Scholten and the company’s
human resources department
after a tragic car accident
took the life of his 23-year-old process by a Workplace chaplain
Groupe Beneteau. He heads up daughter. who works with the human re- Mardi Suhs | Cadillac News
lines four and five, where they Farve had been deer hunting sources team at Groupe Beneteau. Kelly Cater, director of
build boat decks and hulls. that day on Dec. 9, 2018. Human Resources, and Barb
Throughout his many years “Desiree had just spent the Workplace Chaplains Scholten, RN, greet depart-
with Rec Boat Holdings he has night with us and left for home ment lead Dean Farve at
relied on Barb Scholten, the that afternoon,” he recalled. For many years Human Re- the Cruiser Plant at Groupe
employee health nurse, to help “She had teased me because I sources Director Kelly Cater has Beneteau in Cadillac.
his team members when they got a ticket for not wearing or- turned to Workplace Chaplains for
are hurt or not feeling well. ange in my hunting blind. I had help when employees have personal
Scholten has an open-door poli- to laugh. She did some baking challenges.
cy and a shelf packed with first that morning with her grand-
aid supplies. Farve lovingly mother and my wife.”
calls her “mom.” Desiree was just two months
But last year, Farve and his away from achieving her
dream of graduating from
college. His then 1-year-old
granddaughter Ariella Dotson
survived the crash.
After learning of the trag-
edy, Farve and his family were
helped through the grieving
Employee
assistance program
“We look at Workplace Chaplains as an exten-
sion of human resources in how we support
employees,” Cater said. “This is an internal
employee assistance program. Last year we had
two families that lost 20-year-old daughters un-
expectedly and Workplace Chaplains was key to
helping those families.”
Two Workplace Chaplains are advisors for
Munson Home Health Care, and Kathy Vana,
who has a master of divinity degree. They work
under the direction of Rich Langton, the Work-
place Chaplains executive director.
As soon as Cater learned about the death of
Farve’s daughter, she met with him.
“Kelly talked to me about the chaplains,”
Farve said. “I told her I would like to have a
meeting with Kathy Vana. She came to the
house and got to know my wife and the rest of Mardi Suhs | Cadillac News
my kids.” Department lead Dean Farve points to his work area at the Cruiser Plant, Groupe Beneteau.
See Need them on page 14
Products sold worldwide...built locally for any age or lifestyle
There when you
need
them Continued from page 13
Vana counseled the family, arranged
the funeral and led the service.
“My wife and I have talked about this,
what would we have done without this
help,” Farve said. “Chaplain Kathy did
the service for us and every time she
comes here, I talk to her. And Kelly and
Barb were true angels. If it weren’t for
them, we wouldn’t have known what to
do.”
In the last year, Workplace Chaplains
have helped Groupe Beneteau employees
deal with unexpected family deaths, sub-
stance and physical abuse, and marital
problems. They have directed employees
to resources for help with food and hous-
ing plus financial counseling. They have
officiated at funerals, performed wed-
dings and they get up in the middle of
the night when there is a crisis.
Langton oversees 17 clients in 23 lo-
cations representing 7,000 to 8,000 em-
ployees in west Michigan, Indiana and
Illinois.
Typically a chaplain contracts with a
company to visit once a week, walking
through the workplace to touch base
with employees.
“As we go into these workplaces week
after week we talk about their kids and
families, and about sports,” Langton
said. “You develop relationships with
people and when life happens, they trust
that they can turn to you. We walk with
them through the ups and downs of life.”
Mardi Suhs | Cadillac News

Group Beneteau employees Nina Corn and Dean
Farve each lost a young adult child in accidental
deaths. They relied on Workplace Chaplains to
help them through the grieving process.
of Cadillac
SHOWING HOW MUCH WE CARE
Some local organizations this money has been donated
to includes (but is not limited to):
• American Veteran’s Post 110 • Future Farmers of America (Wex.-Miss. CTC)
• Baker College • Kenwood Elementary
(Student Nurses Association) • Lake City High School
• Boy Scouts • Life Resources
• Cadillac Area Public Schools • Manton PTO
Sports Association • Manton Rotary
• Cadillac Area Toastmasters • Michigan Blood
• Cadillac Community Chorus • Munson Healthcare Cadillac Hospital
• Cadillac Express Traveling Soccer • Never Down For The Count Youth Services
• Cadillac Jaycees • Oasis
• Cadillac Junior High Student Council • Relay for Life
• Cadillac Viking Girls Soccer • Resurrection Life Church
• Cadillac Wrestling Club • Sleep in Heavenly Peace
• Champion Force Athletic Cheerleading • Special Olympics
• Cadillac Viking Varsity Hockey • St. Anns Catholic Church
• Cadillac Viking Varsity Football • Tip A Cop
• Daughters of American Revolution • Wexford Genealogy Organization
• DECA (Wexford Misaukee CTC) • Wexford/Missaukee Dept. of Health
• Disabled American Veterans Chapter 39 and Human Services
• Family Video (Lymphoma Research) • Young Life
• Franklin Elementary • And more…
$155,053 Total Funds Given Back to Our Community
Mardi Suhs | Cadillac News

Rich Langton, executive director of
Workplace Chaplains U.S., oversees chaplains that
serve clients in 23 locations throughout the Midwest.
“For HR people, they have employees come to them with chal-

lenges they aren’t able to do anything about,” he added. “There are
regulations and policies about getting involved. It frees them up to
do their jobs and gives employees an outlet.”
“There are times when employees are going through things in
their personal lives that they are not always comfortable talking
with their bosses about,” said Tod Winkle, president of Don’s Auto
Clinic and High Point Auto with 86 employees. “We have Workplace
In addition, our employees volunteer their time in the
Chaplains as a resource to give our employees professionals to turn
to and work through these personal things in their lives.”
community every month. Some volunteering we have done is:
“It takes time to develop friendships,” said Vana. “A lot of people • Clean Up The Sleeping Bear Dunes • Annual Polar Plunge
• Adopt-A-Road Clean Up • Foster Closet
don’t want to talk. I don’t push. I’m here to listen. I check in with • Helping At Animal Shelters • Ringing Bells For The Salvation Army
• Serving Meals To Seniors • And Many More
Barb and she will say, ‘so and so is dealing with this today.’ We are At The Senior Center
dealing with divorce, suicide, grief, murder — it seems like you • Assisting With Color Tour Trains
• Providing Thanksgiving Meals And
name it. I love the work. It’s real life, it’s real people. In church, we Christmas Gifts To Oasis Families In Need
sometimes put on a mask.” • Served Food At The Shepherd’s Table
• Many Parades
“The rewards of this work is making a difference,” said Martin. • Local Classic Car Shows
“We can talk to somebody and move them in a different direction. • Walking And Raising Money For Local
Relay For Life
Lately, I’m dealing with issues of suicide and it’s such a tough thing.
I think the benefit is just having somebody to vent to, whether it’s a
work-related issue or domestic issues. Just to be able to talk to some-
body willing to listen goes a long way.”
8645 East 34 Rd. (Meijer Parking Lot)
231-775-2166 • www.culvers.com
2020
Leading
Businesses 148 Years
CADILLAC
NEWS
Honor roll of Businesses Cadillac
231-775-6565
Est. 1872
100 Years 99 Years 99 Years 92 Years 88 Years

EBELS FAMILY COFFEY CADILLAC COREY PETERSON
CENTER INSURANCE PRINTING FUNERAL HOME FUNERAL HOME
Falmouth Cadillac Cadillac Evart Cadillac
231-826-3333 231-775-3421 231-775-2488 231-734-2251 231-775-3411
Est. 1920 Est. 1921 Est. 1921 Est. 1928 Est. 1932

DRACHT SOUTH BREIDENSTEIN SERvICEMASTER ROARING
CONSTRUCTION END SALES OIL & AUTO Cadillac 20’S
Marion Manton SERvICE 231-775-0564 Cadillac
Cadillac
231-825-0035 231-824-3791 231-775-3371 Est. 1976 231-775-8411
Est. 1972 Est. 1976 Est. 1976 Est. 1977
36 Years 36 Years 31 Years 30 Years

HERMANN’S 35 Years
CADILLAC PEARSON MISSAUKEE
EUROPEAN MANPOWER DRILLING CO. SENTINEL
AREA OASIS Cadillac
Cadillac CAFE Lake City Lake City
Cadillac 231-775-1226
231-775-7299 231-839-4444 231-839-5500
231-775-9563 Est. 1985
Est. 1984 Est. 1989 Est. 1990
Est. 1984
SABER CADILLAC AREA ELLENS CADILLAC vINCENT
TOOL HONOR GUARD CORNER’S FAMILY BUILDERS
Cadillac Cadillac Mesick
PHARMACY Manton
Cadillac
231-779-4340 231-775-6949 231-885-3200 231-775-8200 231-878-2612
BLICK DILLON BOSTICK’S FOSTER BROTHERS ELK’S SCHEPERS
INSURANCE DRUG STORE TRANSFER & LODGE AGENCY
STORAGE
Cadillac Manton Cadillac Cadillac McBain
231-775-3416 231-824-6465 231-775-3501 231-775-5331 231-825-2411

ALRO CADILLAC PIZZA CADILLAC NORTHLAND
STEEL TIRE PLUS PLUMBING & TRAILERS
Cadillac Cadillac Cadillac HEATING SUPPLY Cadillac
231-775-7727 Cadillac
231-775-9336 231-775-7382 231-775-2479 231-775-3101

ADVANCE MCBAIN RANDY’S CAR THE MAGGIES
REALTY BODY SHOP CLEANING BOOK NOOK TAVERN
CAROL COE-VOKES, BROKER
McBain Cadillac Cadillac Cadillac
Cadillac
231-775-1368 231-825-2001 231-775-6261 231775-8181 231-775-1810
29 Years 25 Years 24 Years

29 Years 27 Years
LAKE CITY FAMILY BUDGET WAGS PET CARROLL
LUKE FOREST RETIREMENT &
PRODUCTS DENTISTRY TRANSMISSION GROOMING
Manton
SUSAN VIGNOLA, D.D.S
Cadillac Lake City
INVESTMENTS
Lake City Cadillac
231-824-6655 231-775-6055 231-839-4747 231-876-0302
231-839-2630
Est. 1991 Est. 1993 Est. 1995 Est. 1996
Est. 1991
12 Years 10 Years 10 Years 9 Years 1 Year

MCBAIN TRAINING COYOTE MESICK SHAVES &
AUTO SERVICE CROSSING MARKET SHEARS
MASK RESORT
McBain Cadillac Cadillac Mesick Cadillac
231-825-2729 trainingmask.com 231-862-3212 231-885-1030 231-942-8490
Mike Downey
takes a measured
approach
By Karen Hopper Usher
Cadillac News
T
wo words define Mike Downey’s career
from the very start.
His 30-year career on the floor of the
boat company now known as Groupe
Beneteau started later than he’d in-
tended.
Downey was supposed to begin work at Four-
Winns in June of 1987 as a welder who worked
on boat trailers. But a bad car accident kept him
out-of-commission. By the time he healed, the job
he was supposed to do had already been filled but
the company had saved a spot for him.
When he showed up to work the first day, a
manager asked Downey and two other people
if they had electrical experience. None of them
had, but when the manager came back, “I raised
my hand as quick as I could and said, ‘I’ll learn.’”
It’s those two words — “I’ll learn” — that have
taken Downey from the floor of the factory to
Director of Quality.
Downey is an example of the American
Dream, the company’s U.S. brand president,
Christophe Lavigne, likes to say.
For Downey, that’s not so much about picket
fences and more about “this invisible barrier”
between people who work on the floor of a fac-
tory and management.
“I’ve been able to transition, really, back-and-
forth, improving my skill set the entire way,”
said Downey, who picks up certifications, rather
than university degrees, to improve his qualifi-
cations.
Downey left the company for about 15 years to
work for a vendor. It was a change in the name on
his paychecks, not geography, he was still regu-
larly on the boat factory floor.
When Downey returned to Groupe Beneteau’s
employ last year it was as Director of Quality. He
started making changes right away, creating a Karen Hopper Usher
“gate” system that provides checks during every Mike Downey’s career from working on the floor of Groupe Beneteau to becoming the
step of production. director of quality epitomizes the American Dream, according to his boss.
The American
Dream The idea is to catch problems
early.
Boat cleaning, for example, goes
better at the end if people have
been cleaning up after themselves
along the way.
“If you can do that now, we get a
better result at the end,” Downey
said.
“I’m recalibrating,” said Downey,
who likes “math” descriptors (peo-
ple call him “measured” and “cal-
culating,” he says). “We’re taking a
second look at what we do today.”
Sometimes quite literally;
Downey is so detail-oriented, he’s
invested time and his own funds IS YOUR BUSINESS
into trying to find a flashlight with
light that is more similar to day- READY TO WIN AT THE
light, as he explained to another
supervisor who stopped by during
the Cadillac News interview.
INTERNET?
The ultimate goal is to create a
product so good that the customer WEBSITE DESIGN
does not need to be convinced that
it’s high-quality; the value is appar-
ent, with no smoke-and-mirrors.
SEARCH ENGINE
Karen Hopper Usher | Cadillac News
Mike Downey prepares to climb “We need to make sure that our OPTIMIZATION
aboard a boat as it was going quality is so good that we can con-
through some of its final quality vince very easily with the visual, PAY-PER-CLICK
control steps. confidently, that we’re right,”
Downey said.
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A hidden gem BY JOSH ROOSE
CADILLAC NEWS
Kettunen Center is a conference and retreat facility lo-

cated just 20 minutes south of Cadillac in Osceola County.
The premises include over 150 acres of forest that border
the waters of Center Lake. Kettunen was opened in 1961
and named after Arne G. Kettunen who was Michigan’s
4-H leader for many years. Kettunen is owned and oper-
ated by the Michigan 4-H foundation, and it serves as
a destination for training young leaders as part of 4-H
programs in science, technology, engineering, math,
agriculture, healthy living, and civic engagement. Each
year the Kettunen Center holds about 200 conferences
and has more than 10,000 visitors.
Director Chris Gentry said that while Kettunen’s fa-
cilities are geared toward 4-H events, they accommodate
a wide variety of visitors. Kettunen also hosts church
retreats, non-profit agencies, band camps, weddings, and
government training conferences.
“We are a great destination for local families,” Gentry
said. “We are available to the local community for any-
thing from meetings for a few hours to a multi-day event.”
Kettunen Center’s beautiful acreage may seem like
the perfect place to pitch a tent, but don’t confuse it with
a campground. Business development manager Nicole
Coats-Quales said that visitors sometimes have miscon-
ceptions like this.
“They come here, even driving up, thinking we’re going
stay in tents,” she says. “They never ever think that it’s
going to look and feel like a hotel.” Kettunen can boast of
complete accommodations with hotel-style lodging, a din-
ing room with a scratch kitchen, and scenic conference
rooms with smaller rooms for breakout sessions. Ket-
tunen also offers bunk-style accommodations for larger Josh Roose | Cadillac News
groups, and is capable of housing and feeding 200 people Chris Gentry, Kettunen Center director. He said the Kettunen Center may be geared toward 4-H,
for extended stays. but it can accommodate a variety of users.
See Kettunen on page 23
Resolve to worry less and enjoy yourself more

with maintenance-free living at Green Acres. Cadillac Plant
• Private 1 or 2 person apartments • Housekeeping & laundry service
• Home cooked meals • On-site salon and barber shop
• Scenic surroundings, grounds & walking paths
www.borgwarner.com 231.779.7500
• Organized recreational activities • And much more! “Our products lead the commercial diesel industry.”
Take a tour, and see the difference for yourself!
Our Mission: The desire of Retirement Living is to honor God by providing the
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elderly with a lifestyle that values their identity, their independence and their dignity.
Reside For a tour, call 231-775-5300

Olivia Cook, Administrator
Reflect www.rlmgmt.com
Relax 235 Pearl Street, Cadillac, MI 49601
Cool Logic Viscous
Dining
Directory
Visit these fine establishments
for some great eats available in
Cadillac and surrounding areas!
A part of Cadillac for over 50 years!
Daily Specials
Friday & Saturday Dinner Buffets 4-8 PM
Breakfast Buffet 8 AM-Noon in the summer Watch your FAVORITE games on our BIG
SCREEN TVs...viewable from any seat!
Homemade Pies, Cookies, Breads &
CRAFT BEER &
other baked goods available with your Great Food! Lunch & Nightly Dinner Specials IPAs ON DRAFT
meal or to take home!
516 N. Mitchell St • Cadillac • 231-775-9073
deingo
r 2019-April 2020
FREE
Food, with a Focus on Taste. on th
OctobeOcto ber 2019-April 2020
ing FREE
Stop by the Cadillac News
please take one
please take one
Cadillac Area
Guide to the Greater
&menu and pick the latest copy

iNSid e YOu WiLL
2 • After 26 Depot
3 • B.C. Pizza
4 • Cadillac
5 • Cadillac
FiNd:
Grill located at Eldorado

Party Lounge
gu id e
of the On the Go
Dining & Menu Guide!
6 • Crossroa ds
Bar & Grill
7 • Domino ’s
8 • Ellens Corner’
s
9 • The Pines
Sports Bar & Bowling
10 • Primos BBQ Center
11 • Raven Beer,
Activities
Bourbon & BBQ
12 • River Junction
Bar & Restaur
13 • Bourbon ant
s 72 located inside
Turtle Creek Casino
Or view it online at Cadillacnews.com.

Events Special “Flip” Edition
Special “Flip”
! Edition!
FREE
please take one
on the go
October 2019-April 2020
Guide to the Greater Cadillac Area

dining
&menu
October 2019-April 2020
iNSide YOu WiLL FiNd:

2 • After 26 Depot
3 • B.C. Pizza
4 • Cadillac Grill located at Eldorado
5 • Cadillac Party Lounge
6 • Crossroads Bar & Grill
FREE
please take one
guide
see reverse side

7 • Domino’s
forreverse side for

8 • Ellens Corner’s
9 • The Pines Sports Bar & Bowling
Center
10 • Primos BBQ
see
11 • Raven Beer, Bourbon &
BBQ
On the Go - Summer
12 • River Junction Bar & Restaurant
13 • Bourbons 72 located inside
Turtle Creek Casino
& Menu Guide

Issue
Dining Activities
Events
Open 7 Days For Lunch & Dinner • Sunday Buffet 11 AM-3 PM

dining
October 2019-April
2020
FREE
please take one
&menu
Special “Flip” Edition! iNSide YOu
2 • After
26 Depot
3 • B.C. Pizza
4 • Cadillac
WiLL FiNd:
Grill located
guide
see reverse side for

5 • Cadillac at Eldorado
Party Lounge
6 • Crossroads
Bar & Grill
7 • Domino’s
8 • Ellens
Corner’s
9 • The Pines
Sports Bar
10 • Primos & Bowling
BBQ Center
11 • Raven
Beer, Bourbon
12 • River & BBQ
Dining & Menu Guide

Junction
13 • Bourbons Bar & Restaurant
72 located inside
Turtle Creek
Casino
On Lake Mitchell in Cadillac • M-115 & M-55 Intersection • 775-5332
Celebrating Faith
ConneCts A Community
The Greater Cadillac Community holds faith as a key to unity
within our neighborhoods. Worship becomes a place to connect
and relate to one another. The support and friendship found at
church bonds people with ties that are lasting. Those ties extend
out into the community as people come together to encourage
others and make our up-north region a better place to live!
Whether you live in the area or are just passing through, make
sure you visit one of these local churches!
13th St. Seventh-Day aDventiSt

3090 W 13th Street, Cadillac • cadillacthstreetmi.adventistchurch.org First Presbyterian Church
Join Us This saTUrday
WeLcoMe!!! 9:30 am - Bible study Worship ‘Round the Tables 8:30 AM
The 13th st. seventh-day 11:00 am - Worship service
adventist church warmly TRADITIONAL WORSHIP
invites you to grow Mid-Week service SERVICE 10:30 AM
with us in christian Wednesday
community through with Sunday School for Pre K - 6th Grade
6:00 am - Men’s Bible study
worship, fellowship, (guys welcome) Streaming Live at www.cadillacfpc.org
Bible study, prayer and Reveron Michael Horlocker
serving in our community 6:30 pm - Bible study
Pastor robert Benson
and Prayer Meeting
517-896-7842 Visit us at www.cadillacfpc.org • 221 E. Harris Street, Cadillac • (231) 775-7111
St. Ann Catholic Church

800 W. Thirteenth Street, Cadillac
(231) 775-2471
ServiceS Masses:
Sunday Worship .................. 10:00 Am
Wednesday Night .................6:30 Pm
NOW Live Streaming Services Saturday 4:00 PM • Sunday 8:30 AM, 10:30 AM, 5:30 PM
Community Connect (During School Year)
follow us on facebook
@LakeCityChristianReformedChurch
Nursery Care & Preschool Liturgy of the Word will be during the 10:30 am Mass
1657 s. morey rd • lake city • 231.839.4978 • lakecitycrc.org St. Ann School: Preschool-7th Grade 231-775-1301
ZION LUTHERAN OF CADILLAC
Josh Roose | Cadillac News
Chef Diana Horton
Worship Service Times: prepares food in
Sunday 8:30am Kettunen’s kitchen.
Communion Service
Sunday 10:30am
Worship Service (Communion 1st
and 3rd Sundays of the month)
April 17-July 5 - We will be holding
only one worship service at 9:30am.
Sunday School 9:30am
September through May
350 Pearl St, Cadillac • 231-775-9821
www.cadillaczion.org We are saving a seat for you!!
Temple Hill Baptist Church

1601 West Division Street, Cadillac • (231) 775-4942
www.thbc.org • email: office@thbc.org
Pastoral Staff: Andy Brubaker and Jack Miller

Current Ministries
Celebration & Worship Service – Sundays . . . . . . 9:30 AM
Awana and Teens
Wednesdays (during school year) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6:30 PM
Small Groups, Student Ministries, Ladies Bible Study, Men’s Fellowship A good,
homemade meal
Check out our website for more information .
Sears Church of God

5955 40th Ave, Sears • 231-734-2686
Paster Josh Webb Continued from page 20
www.searschurchofgod.com
SEARS Sunday Services Homestyle meals are a big part of what keeps people coming back to
CHURCH Morning Worship 10:30 am Kettunen. Operations manager Jamie Mielke-Mitchell jokes, “If you
OF G O D Church School 9:15 am haven’t gained 10 pounds your first night here, we haven’t done our
The mission of the Sears Church of God is to share with job.”
all people the joy, love and healing power of Jesus Christ. The kitchen endeavors to source as much of its food locally as it can
and goes the extra mile to ensure handmade quality. “You can come in
Affiliated with Church of God Anderson, IN here and smell bread baking,” Coats-Quales said, “like going to your
grandma’s house and having good homemade, home-cooked meals.”
Giving back to the community is an important part of Kettunen’s
mission. “We ask all of our guests to bring one nonperishable food
Our Saviour Evangelical Lutheran Church item,” says Mielke-Mitchell. Kettunen donates these food items to
of Cadillac Oasis Family Resource Center in Cadillac, which provides shelter to
victims of domestic abuse and their children. Kettunen also hosts
302 E. Pine St. • 231-468-2875 “Breakfast with Santa” the first Saturday in December each year. Last
Downtown Cadillac • www.oselcc.org year Ketunnen hosted 1,200 people for this event. They provided a hot
Service Time: breakfast as well as gifts, crafts, and games for the kids. “It’s an event
Sunday 10:30 AM that draws a big crowd, and it’s fun for our staff as well,” Mielke-
Mitchell said.
Rev. Tim Holland Kettunen has plenty of opportunities for recreation when you need
“Come As You Are” a break from business. There is an extensive network of trails that
can be hiked in the summer or skied in the winter. You can play volley-
ball, enjoy the serenity of Center Lake, or have a bonfire.
A better fit in the
classroom By Rick Charmoli
Cadillac News
...
I
t doesn’t take long to see Russ Helsel is
in his element when he stands in front
of his first grade classroom at Frank-
lin Elementary in Cadillac.
It also doesn’t take long to see his
students’ enjoyment when he talks with
them and teaches them.
On a January morning, the students com-
pleted a math lesson, had a snack and broke
into reading groups. They also learned
about the space race between the United
States and the former Soviet Union during
the 1950s and 1960s.
Although Helsel was using a lesson to
lead the discussion, his personality and
those of his students were allowed to shine.
The lesson was not simply a lecture about
the United States’ race to the moon, but
rather a conversation he was having with
his group of learners.
During the conversation, Helsel allowed
his students to have fun while learning, but
he never lost command of the class or their
attention. Whenever it seemed like that
could happen, Helsel was able to rein them
in and move the lesson forward.
When Helsel asked questions, students’
arms shot up hoping to be the one he chose
to answer. At all times, the students were
engaged in the lesson and equals in the con-
versation.
See Switch on page 26
Rick Charmoli | Cadillac News

Franklin Elementary teacher Russ Helsel checks one
of his student’s classwork on a January morning in
Cadillac.
...than the kitchen

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A switch
he is happy with
Franklin Elementary teacher Russ
Continued from page 24 py with that decision every day since,” he said.
Helsel is local to the area. He grew up in Manton and
Helsel leads a group discussion With such a command of his classroom one would graduated from Manton schools. After his brief stint
about the Space Race the United think Helsel was born to be a teacher, but when he start- in culinary school, he attended Ferris State University
States was in with the former ed his college career that was not the case. where he did his undergrad. He eventually got a mas-
Soviet Union in his classroom this He said he was in culinary school for a short time and ter’s degree from Concordia University.
past January. during that time he also volunteered at a couple of local He has been teaching for just under 11 years and start-
schools. The experience quickly made him realize he ed his career in Muskegon in different capacities before
loved the interaction with the students. Although his coming to Cadillac. He has been with Cadillac Area Pub-
time in the restaurant industry was a blast, Helsel said lic Schools for the past nine years.
it didn’t compare with when he was in the school and When deciding on what he wanted his teaching em-
with the students. phasis to be, Helsel said he chose elementary school and
“I switched my focus to education and have been hap- in particular lower elementary for a couple of reasons.
The
Missaukee
Sentinel
Since 1990, the Missaukee Sentinel
has been serving Missaukee County
by reporting the news, people and
activities of our community.

Franklin Elementary teacher Russ Helsel has found his niche when it comes to his
career. After starting in culinary school he quickly switched his focus to education and
he is glad he did.
Watching students
grow
“I love that age group from a developmental standpoint. They
Stay ConneCted
with your Missaukee County News Source!
Subscribe today for

are so curious and always asking for answers to pretty much
anything imaginable,” he said. “The second reason is more self- only $24.00* a year!
ish I guess; the kids always come into school and love you. Re- *Rate for Missaukee County only. Out of area rates available.
gardless of what they are bringing into school, or what type of
week or day I have had, we help each other get through it.” We offer: Office Supplies • Copies • Faxing
When it comes to why he loves teaching, Helsel said for him it
is about seeing growth in his students. He said students come to
Tuxedo Rentals • Dry Cleaning Drop Off & Pick Up
teachers with a wide variety of skills and natural gifts. With that
in mind, Helsel said it is important when trying to build a rela- 231-839-5400
tionship with them to acknowledge what they do well.
See Teacher on page 28
130 N. Main St., Lake City • Open 9am-5pm M-F
A great
learning environment
Continued from page 27
At the same time, it also lends itself to hav-

ing heart-to-heart conversations about what
we need to work on to improve them as a
whole, he said. It is that part of the education-
al process that he said he loves the best.
“I think the importance in teaching is far-
reaching. The obvious importance is the
education aspect and that is what most people
think when they describe the job we are tasked
with in the classroom,” he said. “Some of the
less obvious impacts of being a teacher are the
building of trust with students.”
He said building that trust allows students to
learn to trust other adults in their life outside
of their family. He also said they learn to grow
as people in regard to friendship, responsibil- Rick Charmoli | Cadillac News
ity, and teamwork. Franklin Elementary teacher Russ Helsel leads a reading group of several students during one of the daily activi-
Helsel said like many new teachers, after the ties in his classroom this past January.
first few years of his teaching career he was con-
cerned he wasn’t doing the right thing and wasn’t own. That is when he started to see the results only as a teacher but also as a husband and a
making an impact in the profession he had hoped he wanted and more importantly, he started to father. He said the Mr. Helsel his students see
to. When he walked into Franklin Elementary make a difference. is strangely similar to what his own kids get to
nine years ago, Helsel said he was intimidated. He “Diane Ferritto was my mentor, and she was see when he is at home. Helsel is an avid rock
said the teaching staff at the time and still today a very calming influence in the process. I have hunter, and he always brings in the different
was dedicated and very good at their jobs. also been very lucky to have the same teaching things he finds to show his class. Eventually,
Despite his feeling of not being up to the assistant in my class for the last eight years, he said it never fails that his students start
task, Helsel said his principal at the school Ms. Jackie (Wallbom), and I share the same bringing him in rocks they find during recess.
was encouraging and always gave him great vision for the students and it makes for a great This includes Petoskey stones.
feedback. As a result, he started to adopt some learning environment,” he said. “I love to go rockhounding with my wife and
of the practices he saw working for other Now that he is comfortable in his position, kids or share some part of the outdoors with
teachers and tweaked them to make them his Helsel said his students get to see him not them,” he said.
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With Franklin Elementary under construction, the start of the 2020-
21 school year should be an exciting time. Helsel, the other school staff
and of course the students are excited about the opportunities that are
going to accompany the upgrades being made to the school.
“I think the most exciting part for me is the options that the extra
space will give us. Students will be able to interact with some new
technologies and have a little more room to grow,” he said. “It helps me
do my job because I don’t have to tell the kids we can’t do a cool lab or
activity because we don’t have enough space to make it work. It gives us
more options in the playbook.”
For Franklin Elementary Principal Jaime Heuker having teachers
like Helsel helps to make her job easier.
She said teachers like Helsel keep positive attitudes and their first
concern is trying to meet the needs of the students. She said it is evi-
dent Helsel cares for all of his students, and in return his students en-
joy being in his classroom. She said that mutual respect is easy to see.
She also said Helsel as a teacher is not afraid to “look outside the box”
to support a student who might have additional needs.
“He has a good sense of humor and uses friendly competition the
kids enjoy. He has team leaders so he also is building leadership skill,” Meeting the transportation needs and dreams
she said. “He does a lot of hands-on. That is nice to see in any grade lev- of our community by hiring, developing and retaining
el. I like to see the hands-on to help apply the skills they are learning.”
passionate and knowledgeable people who create
Although the world of education is ever-changing, Helsel said he is
content to be in the classroom and he doesn’t see that changing.
a lifetime of remarkable experiences.
“I always see myself in the classroom. The most rewarding part for Stop in today and Experience the Difference at Fox!
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Community members joined
OASIS/Family Resource
Center and Healing Private
Wounds during their
sexual abuse awareness
walk. United Way Executive
Director Pat Goggin said the
nature of the organization
determines how much they
receive from United Way. For
instance, United Way typically
allocates the largest portion of
its funds to Oasis, which pro-
vides support and assistance to
victims of domestic violence.
United Way helps fund

By Chris Lamphere
Cadillac News
a broad scope of initiatives
Pat Goggin, executive director of the Wexford-Missaukee United
Way, said the organization originally started in Cleveland, Ohio, in
CADILLAC — Walking into the modest Cadillac offices of the the early 1900s. At the time, Goggin said the businesses in that area
Wexford-Missaukee United Way, it’s hard to imagine all the ways the asked the chamber of commerce for help in handling all the charities
organization’s actions reverberate throughout the community. that were constantly knocking on their doors asking for donations.
In 2019 alone, the Wexford-Missaukee United Way was responsible The creation of the United Way, Goggin said, was to make it easier
for raising nearly $180,000 for a variety of organizations that serve for people to donate money to their favorite human-service organiza-
people, from Oasis Family Resource Center and Catholic Human Ser- tions.
vices to the Cadillac Area YMCA and Manton Senior Center. “Our job is to help people be philanthropic,” Goggin said. “One
Unlike most charities, the United Way isn’t focused on one mission ask, one give. We can target a lot of different organizations so it al-
or objective — they raise money for a broad scope of initiatives. lows donors to do a lot for a very little bit.”
Connie Welcome to
Luther
Gladstone
thanked
the Love
INC ministry,
Higher Ground
Learning Center,
for helping her
through the dif-
Luther Logging Days
ficulty of raising July 3rd, 4th & 5th
a granddaughter Visit Facebook for updated information.
traumatized during the
early years of life. The
Higher Ground Learning WELCOME • Entertainment
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In the decades after the United Way formed, Goggin said the
reception from the community and businesses was incredibly
supportive.
He said businesses would compete to see who could donate
the most funds through the United Way’s tried and true fund-
Performance
raising method — payroll deduction.
“The town really rallied around the United Way,” Goggin
said.
Powersports
Organizations that receive funding from the United Way
generally have to apply for it but there are exceptions to that
231-797-5955
rule. Goggin said the United Way has a few pet projects that it 2738 n. kings hwy.
is involved with, including Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library,
which provides free books to kids during their formative years, luther
and 211 — a phone number people can call to get information on
any number of services and community resources.
See United Way on page 34
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United Way Executive
Director Pat Goggin said
the organization originally
started in Cleveland, Ohio as
a way businesses could
manage requests
for donations by
charities.
Rallying behind
United Way Continued from page 33 over the years, there’s been only one instance he can think of where
someone wanted to donate to an animal shelter and they couldn’t do it
Goggin said the nature of the organization determines how much because it wasn’t related to human needs.
they receive from United Way. For instance, they typically allocate the Beginning around a decade ago, Goggin said donations to United
largest portion of their funds to Oasis, which provides support and Way chapters across the country began a gradual slide. Fundraising
assistance to victims of domestic violence. habits changed in younger generations and businesses have been less
“There’s a lot of passion behind helping those who are victims of involved in getting their employees to donate.
domestic violence,” Goggin said. “It’s something we can all get be- Goggin said fewer people today donate to the United Way because
hind.” there are so many more ways to be philanthropic, including online
During Goggin’s tenure as executive director, the Wexford-Mis- services such as Gofundme.
saukee United Way also began allowing people to direct where they “Younger generations tend to want to participate (volunteer) first,”
would like their contribution to go. Goggin said. “And there are so many ways to give. They get comfort-
Although there was some who disagreed with this option, Goggin able with one of them and stick with it. They think, ‘I help with this,
said it made perfect sense for them to allow it, since their job is to be this and this, already.’”
a conduit between donators and the organizations that are helping to One of the things that makes United Way different than some of
better the community. the other modes of charitable giving is the level of involvement it
As long as the organization is related to health, education or basic has with the community and the issues the community faces, Goggin
human needs, Goggin said they will direct the funds to them. He said said.
Jennifer Pugh, executive director of Community Hope, and Mark
Mortenson of Friends Ministry cut the ribbon together on October 2019 as members of the Lake
City Area Chamber and the Morales family look on from the porch of the new Russell Street home. Community Hope and
Friends Ministry both received thousands of dollars from United Way donations in 2019.
While donation trends have changed, United Way mission has remained the same
“That is so much a part of what United Way is might not be able to afford counseling services, United Way funding allows them to be flexible
about,” said Goggin, who also is the chairman Hegg said the United Way contribution allows with their curriculum in order to make sure the
of the Human Services Leadership Council of them to subsidize those costs. For a “good por- lessons are understood. In some cases, families
Missaukee and Wexford Counties. “We’re at the tion” of patients in Wexford and Missaukee might not be in a position to absorb the informa-
pulse of what is important. We’re a very dynam- counties, Hegg said this assistance removes a tion in a way that is useful; this is particularly
ic organization.” barrier that might have prevented them from important when dealing with issues such as safe
Another way in which United Way stands getting the help they needed. sleeping arrangements, Herlein said.
out is the widespread impact it has on the area, Hegg said not having the support of United Goggin and the rest of the staff and supporters
whereas a Gofundme page might only help one Way would be a big loss in two ways: they would of United Way are doing everything they can to
or a few people. have to find other funding sources and they ensure the organization doesn’t go anywhere.
“We help lots of people because we help lots would lose a partner with similar vision and One of those things is to adapt to how people are
of organizations,” Goggin said. “Only 1.5% of goals as themselves. giving nowadays.
each dollar we get goes to the United Way state Amber Herlein, executive director of Oasis Goggin said he’s considering adopting a tech-
and national organizations. If United Way didn’t Family Resource Center, said without the fund- nology that would allow people to make automat-
exist, that would be a loss of a lot of money for ing they receive from United Way, they would be ic donations for every credit card transaction
organizations we support. A lot of that may be forced to cut valuable services, including at their they make up to a certain dollar amount.
made up, but probably not all of it.” shelter and parenting program. He also said it will be important to improve
Sarah Hegg, clinical supervisor for Catholic At the shelter, Herlein said they likely communications about the value of United Way
Human Services, said the assistance United Way wouldn’t be able to stay open 24/7 as they cur- while returning to the basics that brought them
provides is a “substantial benefit” to them. rently do. This would force shelter residents to to this point.
“Specifically, it helps our agency provide out- find somewhere else to stay during the hours “United Way doesn’t play the same role as it
patient counseling to individuals and families the shelter’s not open, which could put them in used to,” Goggin said. “We have to figure out how
in need of mental health and substance abuse harm’s way, as many are escaping from violent to fix this and build on what we’ve always done.
services,” Hegg said. situations at home. Cadillac as a whole is a very giving community. I
For those patients and their families who As for the parenting program, Herlein said the still think there’s a place for United Way here.”
How donations were Oasis
— $21,324.20
Parenting program,
victim services Catholic
distributed in 2019
Human Services
Imagination – $20,456
Library Foster grandparents
— $58,074.40 program, senior
Childhood literacy companions
from birth to 5 program, family
years old * services
United Way
of Wexford
Manton Senior and Missaukee
Center — $8,416 Counties — $12,775
Senior citizen services Community Community response
Staircase Youth and programs Hope — grants, 211
Services $10,000 information and
— $5,083.20 Mentoring children/ New Hope Shelter referral system
Homeless youth and youth, backpack — $12,101.80
runaway services program, Cadillac Shelter operations
Friends Ministry mentoring Area YMCA —
— $4,708.90 adults $12,041.60
Car repair assistance, Teen Center, Teen
self-sufficiency Impact — life skills
training and high school
completion
Cooperative
Ministry
Salvation Army — — $1,200
$3,121.50 Food pantry and
Financial stability utility assistance
services Manton in Missaukee
Consolidated County
Additional agencies that received

Schools — $2,204.20
Manton Schools
latchkey program
donor-directed funds
Love Inc.
— $2,783.05
High Ground Learning
Center After 26 Project
— $416
Alex Harrison
Memorial Foundation
— $1,028.98
Cadillac Area Public

Helping Our Own Schools
People — $83.20 — $562.50
Healing Private
Wounds — $249.60
Club Cadillac
Marion Public — $21.25
Schools sports — $41.60 Habitat for Humanity
— $104
Freedom Service Family Health

Missaukee 4H — $160 Dogs of America Care-Cadillac — 699.20
— $145.60
Food Truck
National Multiple — $41.60
Sclerosis Society
— $41.60
Paws with a Cause

— $83.20
Precious Gems — $416
St. Ann Church and

School — $208.85
St. Jude Children’s United Way

Research Hospital Roscommon County —
— $145.60 $52
United Way
Mecosta-Osceola
Stehouwer Free Clinic Counties — $182
— $193.70
Wounded Warrior
Project — $187.20
United Christian
Ministries
International
— $420.50 * Of the total amount listed, $30,000 was raised through
a United Way challenge to the Cadillac Area Community
Foundation and $22,200 was raised through a Golf Classic
Challenge hosted by area businessman Dan Minor.
The Y has come
a long way
in 10
years
By Chris Lamphere
Cadillac News
CADILLAC — Ten years

ago, many of those work-
ing at the newly-built Ca-
dillac Area YMCA facility
were scared.
The Great Recession
just started and people
all over the country were
figuring out ways to cut
back on spending.
Current YMCA director
and CEO Michael Kelso
was the program director
at the time and he said the
future of the organiza-
tion was far from secure:
their revenue stream was
modest and they had a
substantial construction
loan hanging over their
heads.
“It was a bit of a strug-
gle the first couple years,”
Kelso said.
Since that time, the Y
has doubled its member-
ship numbers, become
debt-free and is now look-
ing to expand.
What happened in 10
years?
The history of the YMCA
Kelso said the Young Men’s Christian As-
sociation began around the time of the indus-
Over the years, the YMCA migrated to
America and elsewhere across the globe. It
trial revolution in Europe, in the mid-1800s. has changed in some ways and remained ba-
Young men from rural farming communi- sically the same in others.
ties came into the cities looking for work to Kelso said what most people think of when
send money back to their families. In doing they hear YMCA is “gym and swim,” which
so, they also made a little extra to keep for isn’t too far from reality.
themselves, which many spent at bars and What’s unique about the YMCA, however,
brothels. is that each chapter has the ability to create
Seeing this negative trend developing, its own programs and services to fulfill what-
philanthropist George Williams started the ever need is apparent in the area.
YMCA as a place where men could come for “It can be whatever a community needs,”
Bible study and recreation. The YMCA also Kelso said.
offered housing for some of these men. See New Beginnings on page 40
Mary Dillon (above) and her husband Tom donated a large

portion of their estate to the Cadillac Area YMCA project.
Pictured below is the Cadillac Area YMCA swimming pool
while it was under construction 10 years ago.
YMCA, Baker College and Consumers Energy staff help
cut the ribbon on new day care facilities at the college.
New beginnings at the YMCA

Continued from page 39 Zdrodowski and others began the process of offered by the Y in the area.
establishing a chapter to provide swimming “We needed to show people: look at what
For many years, the city of Cadillac had lessons in the area. the Y can bring to the community,” Kelso
a building people referred to as the YMCA, One of the first programs adopted by the said.
although Kelso said he’s not sure how long Cadillac Area YMCA was running the sum- With that need clearly demonstrated,
that location was officially affiliated with mer youth camp at Camp Torenta. Kelso said it was becoming obvious that of-
the organization; various people used the From there, Kelso said they expanded fering all the programs at many different
building and its pool and may have just kept their programming to include Tae Kwon Do locations was an inefficient way to run the
the YMCA name attached to it, even though classes at the Cadillac Armory, a teen center operation, from a business perspective.
it might not have been officially a chapter. at the Naval Reserve center, and swim les- That’s when organizers began looking
In the 1990s, this building was demolished. sons wherever they could find a business for help from the community to construct a
In 2001, Anne Smith Zdrodowski moved to willing to let them use their pool. YMCA facility where they could provide all
the Cadillac area from Grand Rapids. “We had 30 different programs in 30 differ- their programs in one location.
Almost immediately, Zdrodowski realized ent locations,” Kelso said. “We were every- Among others who contributed, local resi-
there wasn’t a community pool, with the where and nowhere at the same time.” dents Tom and Mary Dillon, after whom the
closest one being 45 miles away. Kelso said before they could begin asking YMCA building is named, donated a large
As someone who was involved with for money to build a facility, they needed to portion of their estate toward construction
the YMCA before she moved to the area, demonstrate there was a need for services of the facility.
Being debt-free is good news for Y’s future
Baker College also donated a large sum forward through the tough years to fol- Even though providing affordable
of money and leased some of its proper- low. childcare causes them to lose money,
ty to the organization for $1, Kelso said. Slowly but surely, Kelso said member- they still maintain the programs, which
To begin construction on the $6 mil- ship increased and today, they serve serve 100 families in the Cadillac area.
lion facility in 2007, Kelso said they had around 3,000 people. Kelso said childcare is an example of
to take out a $1 million loan to cover the Another bit of good news to come out how the YMCA differs from other busi-
difference of what they weren’t able to of those years was Baker College’s deci- nesses and organizations that might
collect in donations. sion to pay off $822,000 the YMCA still not be able to offer certain programs if
Two years later, in 2009, the building owed from their construction loan. they’re not profitable.
was finished and staff moved in. “We’re debt-free now,” Kelso said. Kelso said other programs that have
“That’s huge for a community organiza- grown over the years include senior
Scaling up tion.” aquatics and fitness classes.
In coming months, Kelso said they
At the time of the new facility’s open- Growing with the community will be considering the direction of the
ing, Kelso said they had around 600-700 Initially, Kelso said a community pool YMCA for the coming years — a discus-
households signed up as members, and swim lessons were the primary need sion that will include questions about
equalling around 1,500 people. identified in the Cadillac area. how to expand programming, either
With the Great Recession just begin- As the Y has evolved through the years, at the current facility or by partnering
ning at the time of the facility’s opening, they’ve identified others, notably afford- with outside organizations to provide ad-
Kelso said it was a nervous time for the able childcare and teen programming. ditional childcare space
staff. Kelso said the bottom line is that child- “All the easy needs are met,” Kelso
Enter Dan Smith, who took over as care is hard to find because it’s not profit- said. “That’s the part I get excited about:
YMCA director and kickstarted staff ef- able. It’s no different for the YMCA than using the Y to help build the assets for
forts to scale up membership and move it would be for anyone else. our citizens and the community.”
CADILLAC AREA PUBLIC SCHOOLS

PLEASE VOTE ON MARCH 10!
JUST THE FACTS...
• IS THIS A NEW TAX?
NO. This is just a RENEWAL of a millage approved by the voters in 2013. The district has a voter approval to levy up to a maximum of 18 mills
on a non-homestead property (such as industrial or commercial property or rental properties) through December 31, 2020. This millage would
continue to charge these owners the same rate they are currently paying.
• I OWN A HOME WITHIN THE CADILLAC SCHOOL DISTRICT, WILL THIS IMPACT ME?
NO. If you are a homeowner, the passage of this millage will not impact your property tax rate.
• I OWN A BUSINESS WITHIN THE CADILLAC SCHOOL DISTRICT, HOW WILL THIS IMPACT ME?
The passage of this millage would result in a continuation of your current millage tax rate.
• IF THE MILLAGE IS VOTED DOWN, WHAT WOULD BE THE IMPACT TO THE DISTRICT?
This millage brings in $5,578,947 each year. If it is voted down, it would result in a 17% reduction in the total budget for Cadillac Area Public
Schools each year.
• WHEN IS ELECTION DAY?
The election is March 10, 2020. Please vote at your regular polling location.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE NON-HOMESTEAD OPERATIONAL MILLAGE, PLEASE VISIT WWW.CADILLACSCHOOLS.ORG
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Presenting the colors By Mike Dunn
Cadillac News
W
hen Zandrea
Geranen and
Sareania Mc-
Ginnis first
heard about
the opportunity to be part of a
student color guard last year,
they were intrigued.
Zandrea and Sareania were
juniors at Evart High School
who also signed up for the
popular public safety class
taught by veteran police of-
ficer Joy Paquette at the Me-
costa-Osceola Career Center
in Big Rapids. Paquette had
started offering her students
the chance to volunteer as a
member of the MOCC-affili-
ated color guard prior to the
start of the 2016-17 school year
and she had seen good results
from it.
The more Zandrea and Sare-
ania heard about the color
guard from Paquette in fall
2018, the more interesting it
sounded. By the time Paquette
had finished her appeal, the
young ladies looked at each
other and decided to take the
step; they were among a small
group of public safety stu-
dents committing to this new
adventure.
“It sounded like it would
be a cool experience,” said
Zandrea, who is taking classes
this school year in the MOCC
corrections academy and has
continued to be part of the
color guard as a senior.
“We didn’t exactly know ev-
Mike Dunn | Cadillac News erything we were getting into
Evart students and Mecosta-Osceola Career Center color guard members, from left, Bianka Emard, Sareania McGinnis and Zandrea Geranen at first but it’s turned out to be
proudly display their MOCC Public Safety shirts. fun and something you learn
from and feel good about it.”
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Evart
students
enjoy... Continued from page 44
Sareania, who also is part of the corrections

academy this school year, agrees.
“What attracted me was that I already
planned to join the Army, so being part of the
color guard was something that would give me
a head start,” she said. “You learn a lot about
following orders and being part of a team. MIke Dunn | Cadillac News
There’s a lot more involved with it than you re- Evart seniors and MOCC color guard members Zandrea Geranen, left, and Sareania McGinnis were chosen to speak at
alize at first. It takes a lot of practice and dedi- the podium as part of the special Veterans Day program held at Evart High School in November 2019.
cation to do things right.”
Bianka Emard is a junior at Evart this school years as a police officer for Ferris State Univer- quette’s who still serves as a Ferris State police
year and in the position that Sareania and Zan- sity prior to that, so moving to the classroom officer and who also is a member of the Mecos-
drea were last year. Bianka is a student in Pa- to impart to students some of what she learned ta Honor Guard, trains the students.
quette’s public safety class at MOCC this school on the job was a natural step for her to take. Pa- “Bill does a great job with the kids,” Paquette
year and she also has volunteered to be part of quette also serves as a part-time officer for the said. “He relates to them really well and they
the color guard. She hasn’t participated in of- Newaygo Police Department. have a lot of respect for him.”
ficially presenting the flag yet but she’s eagerly She chose to offer the color guard opportunity There are side benefits for the students who
awaiting the opportunity. In the meantime, she to her students three years ago mainly because participate, Paquette noted, such as the chance
is practicing with fellow student volunteers and of the teamwork and discipline aspect of it. to interact with military veterans at some of
learning the paces. “Many of the kids who sign up for public safe- the events where the students present the flag.
“When Miss P brought it up, it sounded pretty ty have career goals that include the military She also has noticed the students who vol-
cool,” Bianka said. or law enforcement or corrections and this is a unteer to be part of the color guard develop a
“You get to carry a rifle and look professional great preparation for them,” she said. deeper appreciation for the flag and a deeper
but it’s a lot more than that. It’s different than “It takes dedication and commitment to serve understanding of what it represents as well.
I expected; there’s a lot involved with learning in the color guard and the kids benefit from Sareania, Zandrea and Bianka all agreed
the routine and what your role is. They show that. It’s also a great way for the kids to bond as with that. The three would have classified
you the proper way to carry and turn the rifle they work together as a team. It’s not for all of themselves as patriotic before the experience of
and how to keep in step. It takes a lot of practice them; some of them try it and decide not to con- the color guard but their respect of the flag and
to get it right.” tinue. But the ones who stay with it really enjoy their understanding of the freedoms we have in
PAQUETTE HAS been the MOCC public the experience.” this country have definitely heightened because
safety instructor since 2015. She served for 17 Bill Saunders, a former colleague of Pa- of it.
THE MOCC COLOR GUARD is called upon to present the
flag at a variety of events, particularly school assemblies, gradu-
ations, meetings and seminars. Sareania and Zandrea were priv-
ileged to present the flag as part of the color guard ceremony at
LAKER ECADILLAC
SORT
the Evart High School graduation ceremony in May 2019, among (Previously the Cadillac Sands) is undergoing a complete renovation!
other graduations. Goodbye 1980s, hello 2020s!
The girls admitted the Evart graduation was just a bit nerve-
We are moving fast and working on multiple projects in the
racking for them, performing their roles in the color guard in Cadillac West area. We hope to restore this area as a premier
front of classmates, teachers, parents and administrators. Ev- destination once again!
erything went off without a hitch, though, which made them feel Keep an eye on our Facebook page for any
really good. updates and more renovation photos!
Zandrea and Sareania also were part of the six-member MOCC
231.775.2407 FACEBOOK.COM/LAKECADILLACRESORT
$75
color guard at a number of other events last school year, includ-
ing two big ones: a military brunch for retired veterans at Michi-
gan State University in Lansing in November of 2018, and the
Career Technical Education (CTE) Conference for the entire state
held at the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel in Grand Rapids in January
ROOM RENTAL
2019. The education conference had more than 600 attendees. SPECIAL DURING
The girls said they were probably more nervous presenting the
flag at the military brunch than any other setting, though.
OUR RENOVATION!
“With all the veterans out there, you don’t want to mess up!”
Sareania said. “You want to make sure and do everything right
CALL NOW
for them.”
It was a thrill interacting with the veterans after the presenta-
TO BOOK
tion was completed, the girls added. YOUR STAY!
Presenting the flag at the large CTE Conference in Grand Rap-
ids was awe-inspiring as well, especially for Zandrea, who served
as speaker for the color guard that day, addressing the large
crowd.
“Everybody else was too chicken to do it,” she said with a
laugh.
Once again, the presentation of the flag went off flawlessly.
One very interested observer during that conference in January
2019 was Paquette, who had the chance to watch her students in Thank you for all of your support in 2019! It was one of our best
action in front of the big crowd and handle it beautifully. years yet! In turn, we have made many great improvements to
Paquette said she “couldn’t have been prouder” of the students our facility. Knocked down a few walls, repainted the interior
than she was that day. It also was a special event for Paquette, and exterior, repaved the parking lot, and so much more!
whose public safety program was recognized with the “Excel- If you have not stopped by recently, now is the time to do so.
lence in Practice Award” for all CTE programs across the state Keep an eye on our Facebook page for specials and events!
of Michigan.
See Gain on Page 49
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Our Community 2020 47
Welcome to
Reed City Events
May - Memorial Day Weekend:
EXPERIENCE MODERN EYE CARE Memorial Day Parade
A leading provider of optometry services and vision care in the
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July - Reed City City-Wide Yard Sales
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August - Annual Great American Crossroads Celebration

October - Halloween In The Park @ GT Norman Elementary
November - Community & Business Expo
115 W. UPTON AVE. • REED CITY • 231-832-3133
OPEN LATE MON. & THURS. TILL 7 PM • CLOSED SAT. & SUN. November - Evergreen Festival
Reed City Glass

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gain from it”
Continued from Page 47 posed to turn left, they’ll all turn the
wrong way and you don’t want that
411 Dailey Dr., Reed City, MI 49677 An added bonus for Sareania and to happen. When it’s done and every-
Zandrea and the other members of thing has gone the way it’s supposed
Office: 231-832-4000
the color guard, in addition to seeing to, it’s a great feeling. There’s a lot of
Office Hours: Monday-Friday 8 am-5 pm
Winter Hours: Mon.-Thurs. 8 am-4 pm their instructor honored among her satisfaction.”
Summer Hours: Mon.-Fri. 8 am-5 pm, Sat. 9 am-1 pm peers, was getting to spend the night Zandrea said she gets nervous
in the Amway Grand. It wasn’t origi- ahead of time, too, but calms down
nally scheduled to be an overnight once the ceremony is underway.
stay for the color guard but Mother “I’m happy when it’s done and then
Nature intervened in the form of a it feels pretty good,” she said.
Reed City snow storm and so there was a con- “The most rewarding part for me
tingency plan. was last year at Michigan State when
“We didn’t have our hair brush or we presented the flag for the veterans
Check out our gift shop toothpaste or change of clothes with and afterward they came up to us and
for unique Michigan gifts us but we did have fun staying over- thanked us for doing that and being
night,” Sareania said. “They treated there. That made it all worthwhile.”
and Precious Moments® us really well and that’s an awesome Sareania has enlisted in the Army
Prescriptions, Drive-Thru Pharmacy Durable Medical Equipment place if you have to spend the night Reserves and will be taking part in
130 W. Upton Ave., Reed City • 231-832-5521 somewhere.” basic training after she graduates in
M-F 9am-7pm, Sat 9am-3pm
email: pattie@hometownpharmacy.com Online prescription refills: www.hometownpharmacy.com THE ROLES have expanded this the spring. She plans to attend college
school year for Sareania and Zandrea. next year and is looking at the pos-
The color guard features two rifle sibility of going into active duty in
43 PROUDLY SERVING OSCEOLA, MECOSTA

AND SURROUNDING COUNTIES
bearers, two flag bearers, a driver
and a speaker. Bianka’s role in this
the military or pursuing a career in
law enforcement. Zandrea is enjoying
first year for her is primarily as a her corrections academy classes this
If it has our name on it, you have our word on it! rifle bearer, same as Sareania and school year with Lt. Mark Davidson
BABB FORD
Zandrea when they started out as and plans to work at least part-time
juniors. in the field of corrections after she
This school year, Sareania has taken graduates in the spring. She may ulti-
on the role of driver (sergeant-at- mately pursue a career in law enforce-
WWW.BABBFORDSALES.COM arms), meaning she stands behind ment as well.
REED CITY, MI 1-866-333-2206 the unit and “drives” everyone with Bianka is open about the future but
her marching orders, telling them also is drawn to the possibility of do-
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what to do with the flags and rifles, ing work in the field of corrections or
which direction to go, when to stop law enforcement. She continues to en-
and when to go. Zandrea is the speak- joy her public safety class this school
er, something which she got a taste of year with “Miss P.”
last year too. She goes to the micro- All three young ladies are happy
phone or podium and addresses the about being part of the MOCC color
crowd, asking everyone to stand and guard.
put their hand over the heart or salute “It looks good on your resume but
10989 210th Avenue • Ashton, MI • 231-832-3310 if they’re a veteran and recite along it’s also something that teaches you
with her the pledge of allegiance. about the importance of prepara-
OPEN 7 DAYS! 7 am-10 pm Mon.-Sat., 8 am-9 pm Sun.
“I’m nervous but excited at the same tion and teamwork,” Sareania noted.
• Groceries • Beer / Wine / Liquor • Propane time,” Sareania said about being the
driver.
“There’s a lot you gain from it.”
“Plus it gives you a different per-
• Fresh Meats Daily • We Accept E.B.T. “I’m telling everybody what to do so spective about the flag and especially
I can’t afford to mess up. If I tell every- about the veterans,” Zandrea added.
body to turn right when they’re sup- “It’s definitely been worth it.”
A family business Chris Lamphere | Cadillac
News
By Chris Lamphere wife Kelly, all work at the hardware store alongside the rest of Cainen Gilde
Cadillac News the employees, who are not related. looks up a part on
Growing up, Gilde worked at the family business, LC Redi- the internet for
CADILLAC — At Lakeside Ace Hardware — Cadillac’s newest Mix, so bringing his family members into the hardware store he customer David
hardware store — owner Cainen Gilde has made a concerted ef- built on Mitchell Street in Cadillac seemed natural. Stoutenburg
fort to cultivate a family atmosphere. “I was washing trucks on Saturdays as a teenager,” Gilde said while his family
While that is a noble goal espoused by many other business regarding his experience at LC Redi-Mix. “I worked my way up Caleb, Kelly and
owners interested in building a tight-knit employee pool, in the to managing the gravel pit. There was always a sense that what Alexis observe at
case of Lakeside Ace Hardware, maintaining a family atmosphere you were doing was for the family’s benefit. I wanted to recreate Ace Hardware in
entails literally employing family members — all four of them. that for my kids’ benefit. I consider it a blessing to have that op- Cadillac.
Gilde’s three children, Alexis, 17, Caleb, 13, Conner, 9, and his portunity.”
Life
lessons
Adverse to the idea of giving his kids an al-
lowance for just sitting at home, Gilde believes
that giving them the opportunity to earn their
money will better prepare them for what it’s like
in the real world.
Every other Sunday after church, the whole
family works together at the store. On the Sun-
days they don’t work, Gilde said their tradition
is to spend the time together, whether that’s go-
ing out to dinner, riding ATVs, playing games or
anything else they may decide to do. Gilde said
the kids also come in during the week whenever
there is a school cancellation.
In addition to teaching his kids valuable life
lessons, Gilde said having his family so involved
in the business helps in two big ways: it fosters
a family-friendly environment in the store that
is welcoming to everyone, including those who
aren’t very familiar with hardware products or
what exactly they’re looking for; and it encour-
ages all the team members to take pride in the
store and feel like they’re part of the family.
Family HealthAlexisCare
Chris Lamphere | Cadillac News
See Ace on page 52 Gilde replaces a part on a machine that sharpens chainsaw blades at Lakeside Ace Hardware in Cadillac.
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Making family time work Continued from page 51
While the kids haven’t received the in-depth training that other employ-
ees have gone through, Gilde said they are able to help in a number of dif-
ferent ways, including stocking merchandise, answering customer ques-
tions to the best of their abilities, cashiering and cleaning.
Not surprisingly, Gilde said sometimes his children make it obvious
they aren’t too keen on the idea of going to work, especially when they’d
rather be doing something else like playing video games or watching tele-
vision.
“You sometimes get an eye roll or a shrug,” Gilde said of the times he
has to remind his kids it’s time to go to work. “They don’t necessarily
want to work but once they’re there, they seem to enjoy it.” Chris Lamphere | Cadillac News
Gilde said he takes particular pleasure in watching his children derive Caleb and Conner Gilde take a break for lunch dur-
value from doing a good job. ing a shift at Lakeside Ace Hardware in Cadillac.
“There was one time when my son helped a lady find a lamp,” Gilde said.
“You could see the little smile in his face ... the pride. He was standing a said Caleb, who added that he’s learned a lot about electrical and plumb-
little taller that day.” ing products.
All three of Gilde’s children acknowledged that sometimes they’d rather From the time he opened Lakeside Ace Hardware in spring of 2019,
relax at home than come into work, although they also saw the benefit Gilde said the community reception to the store has been great, although
they were getting from the experience. he added his clientele base is still growing.
“You learn about customer service,” said Alexis, “how to be a friendly, Judging from the feedback he’s received so far about the kids’ presence
do-it-yourself person.” at the store, Gilde said he thinks people really enjoy seeing the entire fam-
“I think it will be a good learning experience for when we get older,” ily helping out in the day-to-day operations of the business.
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Store finds
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at the Friends Thrift Store in Evart.
Mike Dunn | Cadillac News
Store manager Carole McLachlan among the many houseware items that are available
The work grew and the vision grew in a short period of time and be-
Cadillac News came bigger than the Stahls could manage anymore from their home. The
outreach to the community also grew beyond the Christian Reformed
EVART — “This is God’s work and we’re privileged to be a part of it.” Church as folks from other churches caught the same vision.
So says Larry Stahl, who along with wife Suzanne founded what is In time, a building was purchased south of Lake City on M-66, the same
known today as Friends Ministry. It happened more than a quarter of a building that today still serves as the Friends Ministry headquarters. A
century ago when the Stahls, who were and are active members of the gifted, far-seeing director, Mark Mortenson, was hired to oversee the bur-
Lake City Christian Reformed Church, started an outreach in their home geoning operation.
to help folks in the area with practical needs. See Thrift on page 55
Welcome to
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Events
Products
February 15 - Annual Snowfest
>>>> Bow servIces April 11 - Saturday Easter Egg Hunt. At the VFW.
109 E. Main St., Marion May 25 - Veterans Memorial Day Service
231-388-4051 June 14–20 - Marion Fair at the Fairgrounds
www.untamedarchery.com
>>>> June 28 (Sunday) Log Cabin Days at the Museum
July 31–Aug 2 - Marion Old Fashion Days
July 31–Aug 1 - Marion Car Show
August 6–9 - White Pine Music Gathering
231-825-2196 September 12 - Christopher Clark Day at the Museum
On-Site Service October 10 - Snowmobile Swap Meet
Forestry, Off Road
Trucks & Farm October 31 - Trunk or Treat Village Hall
Steve VanHouten November 11 - Veterans Day Service
9190 W. County Line Road • Marion, MI 49665 November 15–16 - Opening Day Buck Pole at the VFW
November 28 - Christmas Kick Off
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of Red Wing Shoes and Carhartt Clothing MIke Dunn | Cadillac News
Plenty of shoes come through the
Friends Thrift Store for children up to adults. Shoes are
among the fastest sellers in the store.
FLEMMING’S CLOTHING
108 W. Main, Marion MI • 231-743-2461 • OPEN: Mon-Sat 9-5
Idea for thrift store takes off
The original goal was to secure funds for the

ministry by renting out the vacant portion of
the building for meetings and weddings. In time,
though, someone had the idea of opening a thrift
store at the site and that’s what happened. And
from the start, the Friends Thrift Store south
of Lake City was a hit … a big hit. Donations
• Prime Rib • Steaks • Burgers started coming in from all over, donations of fur-
• Friday Fish Fry niture and bedding and housewares and clothes
and books and other items. Volunteers were en-
• Thursday Wing Special listed to sort the donations and display the items
142 E. Main St., Marion • 231-743-9814 • Closed Sundays in the store. Staff was hired as the outreach con-
tinued to grow and impact more and more lives.
And it hasn’t stopped since.
See Mission on page 56
The Mission: Help
people Continued from page 55
The thrift store took on a life of its

own, becoming a hub of activity, a
refuge for many from the area, a safe
place to meet and talk and share, a
place to seek prayer, a place where
anyone could go to get really good
deals on donated items that were also
quality items. The word spread and
so did the success of the store.
THE FRIENDS THRIFT STORE
in Evart is the second satellite thrift
store that has expanded from the
original vision and mission of Larry
and Suzanne Stahl and those who
have come alongside them. The Ev-
art thrift store site was purchased
more than two years ago by Friends
Ministry and has been open to the
public on Seventh Street across from
the Dollar General for a year-and-a-
half. In that time, many hundreds
have come through the door and
large quantities of product have
gone out the door. The store in Evart
has met a genuine need in the com-
munity and the response has been
outstanding.
There is also a thrift store in
Marion that has been open for seven
or eight years and that is also flour-
ishing. The site may be different but
the mission is the same whether in
Evart or Marion or Lake City: help-
ing people.
That remains the bottom line.
See Evart on page 57
Mike Dunn | Cadillac News

Volunteer David Carmichael of Evart sorts
through some of the tools on display at the
Evart Thrift Store.
Evart community welcomes thrift store
Continued from page 56 The Friends Thrift Store in Evart came about as “We got the permits we needed and remodeled
a means of expanding the outreach even farther. the place,” Stahl said. “It went from a dark place
“That’s why Friends Ministry exists,” Larry “WE DID A DEMOGRAPHIC study and to a bright, welcoming place in a pretty short pe-
Stahl confirmed. that’s how Evart first came on our radar,” Stahl riod of time.”
“Helping people can be accomplished in dif- said. The Friends Thrift Store of Evart officially
ferent ways according to what the need is. There “We’ve been so blessed in Lake City with an opened its doors in July of 2018, just before
are practical and physical needs people have but abundance of housewares and furniture and the annual Dulcimer Festival. The thrift store
there are also needs for things like learning how clothing and other goods and we wanted to find seemed to be hitting the right chords with the
to live within a budget and we try to supply that another outlet like the one we had in Marion. community from the start.
also. People in Evart were very receptive to us com- CAROLE McLACHLAN is a thrift store co-
“We like to have local churches involved with ing there. We met with local pastors and some manager along with Robin Keysor. Carole is a
our outreach, too, so that people who come and community leaders and finally we agreed to start retiree from Evart who started out at Friends as
need prayer or counseling can find it. We want to looking for a building.” a volunteer and was eventually hired as a man-
be a blessing for God’s kingdom most of all.” The most reasonable and suitable building the ager as the thrift store operation became more
Friends Ministry is known as a Christian group from Friends could find was the old Evart solvent.
Community Development Organization. The Lounge on Seventh Street near Foster’s Super “I was retired and had the time to help,” ex-
Lake City operation has grown to include a com- Market. plained Carole, who is also actively involved at
munity garden and a barter labor program that “It needed a lot of work but it was a good loca- South Evart Free Methodist Church where she is
has benefited hundreds over the years. That is in tion and we could make it work,” Stahl said. a longtime member and as part of the “Christian
addition to the thrift store which has been open The contract was signed on Nov. 28, 2017 and Chicks,” the ladies’ ministry of the church that
for 18 years and other ventures, including part- the following week a group of 35 students from is also involved in helping the community in
nering with Habitat for Humanity to provide low- Northern Michigan Christian School came to the various ways.
incoming housing. site and emptied it out. See Smiles on page 59
Welcome to eventS:
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2nd weekend July
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Welcome to
Evart www.Evart.org Saturday, April 11th - Easter Egg Drop
Events
May - Memorial Day Weekend:
Parade - starts at Guyton Park
Jun. - Sep. – Evart Summer Concert Series
Jun. - Oct. - Farmer’s Market- Saturday’s
June 3-6 - Wood Carvers Roundup - Osceola Fairgrounds
Independence Day:
• Wills • Probate July 3 - Fireworks - @ Airport @ Dusk
• Trust • Real Estate July 4 - 5K Run, Parade, Party in the Park
• Family Law:
Need a
Lawyer?
Divorce, Paternity, July 16-18 - Dulcimer Festival - @ Osceola Fairgrounds
Child Custody, Adoptions August 8 - Timber Beast Adventure Race (Dry Triathlon)
August - Main Street Art Festival - Downtown
White Law Office, P.L.C. October - Fall Festival - Downtown
James R. White, Attornery At Law October 31st - Halloween Monster Mash - Downtown
jwhite@whitelawoffice.net November 28 - Shop Small Biz - Downtown Merchants
116 N. Main St. • Evart • 231-734-3531
December - 1st Saturday - Christmas in a Small Town
Your Neighborhood Pharmacy

We make it easy to get everything you
need with friendly, helpful service and a
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• Prescription & over-the-counter remedies
• Hearing aid batteries • Personal care items
• First aid & home health care • Cards & gifts
• Willow Tree • Souvenirs & gifts
HOLIHAN DRUGS
128 N. Main, Evart, MI • 734-2551
231-679-2606
9622 US-10 • Evart
Monday-Saturday 9 AM-6 PM
Third Generation of Dignified Service ‘We see a lot of smiles every week’
McLachlan said she noticed the building renovations going on before

the thrift store opened and was pleased that this type of store was com-
ing to Evart.
Ironically, it was two of Carole’s brothers who originally built the
Mark F. Corey, Manager structure years ago as a skating rink. The building looks a lot different
415 N. Main St. • Evart
now than it did then, of course.
231-734 -2251 “This is a really nice place for people to come,” Carole said. “It’s all
coreyfuneralhome.com
good quality stuff and people like the prices and the way it’s set up. We
see a lot of smiles every week.”
The Friends Thrift Store of Evart has a furniture section that includes
bedding and there are also sections dedicated to housewares, tools, toys
and books in addition to a large section devoted to clothes and shoes.
Children who come are permitted to play in the toy section of the store
while their parents shop.
Carole is at the store three days a week and Robin, the other manager,
is there the other three days. Tuesday is half-price day and typically
draws the largest crowds. Twice a week, a large trailer arrives from Lake
City bringing more items that have been donated and sorted by the vol-
Nightly Specials ~ Buffet All Week! unteers at the Friends Ministry operation up there. The Evart store does
not have the space to accept donations at its site but there is fresh supply
401 West 7th St., evart ~ 231-734-3922 ~ bcpizza.net of items coming in all the time.
The Evart thrift store has 10 volunteers who help regularly and they
are the lifeblood of the operation, Carole noted.
Your LocaL choice

“They’re such nice people and very dedicated,” she said. “We couldn’t
keep the doors open without them and everything they do every week.”
TOOls: HuNTiNg & FisHiNg: DAVE AND LINDA CARMICHAEL are two of the volunteers who
• Rentals • Licences regularly donate their time to help at the thrift store.
• New & Used • Tackle, Live Bait & Minnows “The store is a big help to the community,” Linda said, mentioning a la-
Equipment PROPANE: • Camping Supplies dy who came in recently looking for pants for her two grandsons, whom
• EFCO • Propane Refills • River Tubes
she had adopted. Not only did the grandma find the pants she needed but
HOMETOWN HARDWARE she also found a gracious spirit evident in the store; when the grandma
went to the counter, she discovered the pants were already paid for.
104 S. Main Street, evart
Hardware OPen 7 daYS a weeK And that’s not an unusual occurrence, David added.
Hardware SMall engineS “It’s people caring about people,” he said. “That’s what makes this a
231.734.5831 231.734.5023 special place.”
The Friends Thrift Store of Evart has also donated items like shoes
and clothes to benefit Evart students when the store has been made
aware of needs.
Another volunteer who donates her time nearly every day said she
loves the atmosphere of the thrift store. “It comes from the managers
and all the people here; we enjoy helping and the people who come in
sense that,” she said.
...it’s a grand time for a stay at the Osceola Grand Hotel of Evart, Michigan! One person who is a regular customer described the thrift store as “a
• Across from • Wi-Fi great addition to Evart.”
Rails To Trails! • Breakfast Included
• Cyclists Welcome! • Pool & Hot Tub “They have great prices on everything and everybody is friendly,” she
• Family friendly said. “I have friends who come and visit and we make a special trip here
940 US 10 • Evart, MI • 231-734-0470 • 1-877-382-7864 on Saturdays because my friends like it here so much. It isn’t just the
shopping but it’s the people here too. You always feel welcome.”
www.osceolagrandhotel.com
The thrift store is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday through Friday and
10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays.
Love of coffee percolates
into business By Rick Charmoli
Cadillac News
Valley surrounded by mountains. ways wanted to move to Alaska and I finally
After the year she had in 2012, Laura said the gave in. We moved out there,” she said. “It was
change was needed. nice to get away. To be somewhere where you
CADILLAC — Some people like coffee didn’t know anyone.”
and then there are the people who love TIME FOR A CHANGE Laura said the plan was always to return to
coffee. Laura graduated in 2003 from Lake City Michigan because that was home and where
Laura Dillon is the latter. High School. While in high school she started all their family lived. That said, the change
That love led her to open her coffee working at Kentucky Fried Chicken and after was a welcomed one for sure.
shop in Cadillac West — Michigan graduation moved up the ladder to become
Coffee Company. Although she was manager of the restaurant. She worked there BREWING LOVE
born and raised in Lake City and for eight or nine years but, in 2012, the fran-
married a man from Marion, her chise owner declared bankruptcy and closed When the Dillons moved out to Alaska, Lau-
love of coffee didn’t begin until the business. ra said she didn’t have much, if any, knowl-
she moved to Alaska. In par- While losing a job would be bad enough, her edge about coffee, but that soon changed. She
ticular, she and her husband mother was battling cancer and lost that battle understood the basics. Roasted coffee beans
and son moved to Wasilla, the same year. As horrible as that sounds, it are ground up and steeped in hot water to make
Alaska which is about an got worse for Laura and her family. Laura also the beverage, but she learned early on while in
hour north of Anchorage was diagnosed with cancer. Alaska there is so much more to the drink than
in Matanuska-Susitna “It was pretty rough. My husband had al- that.
Making a career out
of a passion
“Every little corner there had a little coffee stand with the most
excellent coffee. They had really awesome coffee in Alaska,” she
said. “If you were a regular, they knew what you wanted and
greeted you by name. It was just a really friendly environment.”
She said that experience made her fall in love with the coffee
experience. She enjoyed the interaction with the people selling the
coffee and learned about the coffee culture. She said these people
were making people happy through coffee and, of course, it also
tastes wonderful. her mind kept going back to her time in Alaska and her new-found Rick Charmoli |
Laura said she and her husband fell in love with espresso and love of coffee. Cadillac News
got one every day. While in Alaska, she started working at a local Laura started talking with her husband about the possibility of From left,
Wasilla bakery. It was a full-scale bakery that also had a coffee opening up a coffee shop similar to the bakery she worked at in Karl Stojic,
shop in it. The bakery specialized in making various bread, baked Alaska. Nathan Amboy,
goods, sandwiches, and soups. “We wanted to offer consistent coffee, so every coffee, no matter Michigan Coffee
Laura worked at the bakery for roughly two years before owner- who makes it, is the same. We wanted consistency and quality,” Company owner
ship switched hands. She continued to work there for a year before she said. “That is why we opened this place.” Laura Dillon,
the family moved back to Michigan in 2016. Michigan Coffee Company, 6184 E, M-115, opened in September Pam Bigelow
When they returned to Cadillac, Laura said her son, who is now 2018. At her store, brewed coffee is the start of the show but there and Rose
14, was not happy. He didn’t want to leave his friends in Alaska, also are lattes, mochas, Americanos, and any other coffee drink Nelson have a
but he adjusted. One thing Laura missed, however, was the coffee. you could ask for. They have specialty drinks such as the iced conversation
She started working at the Qdoba Mexican Eats restaurant in caramel macchiato or spiced chai cider. at the Cadillac
Haring Township as a manager. While she was happy to be home, See Coffee on page 62 West business.
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Brewing f r the future
Continued form page 61 When Michigan Coffee Company opened in ing a good cup of coffee, Laura said Michigan
fall 2018, Laura said they knew it would likely Coffee Company has something for everyone.
While the focus is on the coffee, Laura said be slow, but that was by design. They have a good selection of hot tea, chai tea,
she also was able to get back to baking and of- They wanted to perfect what they did so there hot chocolates and steamers for the kids, fruit
fering various baked goods. Eventually, however, was quality and consistency. By the summer, smoothies and Red Bull Italian Sodas. They
she said they decided to up the food offerings. they started to get known, building a customer also have frappes that don’t include a shot of
Laura said they started off offering breakfast base and business picked up. espresso so it is more accessible for those who
sandwiches and eventually offered a full menu While the food menu evolved during the first don’t like coffee.
that included sandwiches and homemade soups. year, Laura said they have found their niche. With things going well, Laura said the ulti-
She also does potato salads, wraps, parfaits, and They also like supporting other local business- mate goal is to make the business something
other confectionery things, she said. es and sell other items such as Owl Eye Roast- she could have her son take over if he is inter-
She also said she made sure to partner with ers Coffee, Three Tree Farms maple syrup, ested. Ideally, she would like to see Michigan
local roasters including Grand Rapids Coffee preserves by Stonewall Jams and Jellies and Coffee Company become a family business.
Roasters as well as Owl Eye Coffee Roasters of jewelry made by Down to Earth Designs artist With her son only 14, there is a lot of deci-
Cadillac. Ken Schug. sions he will have to make in the next couple of
“We are featuring really good coffee. Some “If we can help other people sell their items years. That will include the decision to go to col-
people know coffee, and some people are coffee and help them feature their items, we will do lege or start managing the coffee shop. Part of
snobs who really know coffee. They want what that,” she said. “We are trying to help others be the future will likely include a food truck that
they want, which is really good coffee,” she successful.” they would take to various events to serve cof-
said. While it is hard to fathom someone not lik- fee, sandwiches and other items.
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Welcome to
Manton February • Polar Dip
Events
For more information go to
www.mantonmichigan.com March • Chili Cook Off & Pie Contest
april • Fishing Derby
May • Annual Car, Truck & Craft Show
July • Truck Show
SepteMber • Annual Harvest Festival
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Chris
Lamphere
| Cadillac
News
From left,
Bob, Dawn,
Mark, Laura
and Tom
Ebels.
Ebels:
100 years and still growing
By Chris Lamphere incorporated their families into the business.
Cadillac News In the years leading up to the 1920s, Mark’s great-grandfather Chris
Ebels ran a post office in an area that was called “Dinca,” in Missaukee
FALMOUTH — From the beginning, the Ebels have always put God County. Today, Mark said this region is known as Aetna Township.
and family first — a philosophy that has served them well and continues Around 1919, Chris went into business with his brother-in-law, Martin
to guide their decision-making process a century after the opening of VanHaitsma, to open a hardware and agriculture implements store. In
“the biggest little store in Missaukee County.” 1920, Chris bought out Martin’s share of the business and became the
Starting as a tiny storefront in downtown Falmouth, the Ebels have sole owner.
gradually grown their business footprint and now are on the verge of At the time, Mark said such businesses provided a valuable service
expanding into another town in another county. to area farmers, many of whom owned small farms of 40 acres or less
Mark and Dawn Ebels run Ebels General Store with three of their — very much unlike today, when the typical farm has hundreds or thou-
children, much like Mark’s father, grandfather and great-grandfather sands of acres.
Pictured is Ebels store around the time they moved to their current location in 1927.
“The Little Store With More!”
A growing business, growing
family and faith in God
The first big change to the Ebels store happened in 1927, when they
moved their storefront from downtown to a nearby piece of property
that was large enough to allow them to expand if necessary. • Jerky • Sausage • Bologna • Hams
Mark said he’s heard stories about how this was done: apparently, • Beef Sticks • Bacon & More
they cut the store in two, and placed each half on wooden skids; then
the sections were pulled by a horse tied to a tripod. Mark said the
tripods were used at the time to pull out tree stumps but it’s possible
they utilized the mechanism for pulling the building to its current New Full Service Deli
Area’s Best Meat Department!
location.
In exchange for local assistance in relocating the store and digging
Many meats sliced to order.
out its basement during the wintertime with a horse and dirt scoop,
Mark said his father paid one bale of hay and a plow, respectively.
“They both thought they were getting a good deal,” Mark laughed.
“Horses played a big part in getting us moved here.”
Over the years, the Ebels gradually expanded their offerings to
include more than just farm equipment, eventually incorporating
groceries and other products.
Chris and his wife, Susie VanHaitsma, had five children: Thressa,
Elizabeth, Peter, Dennis and the oldest, John — Mark’s grandfather.
At the start of the Great Depression, John moved to Kalamazoo and Also Visit
did odd jobs for a number of years until 1944, when his mother asked
him to return home and help her run the store following the death of
Chris Ebels in 1938.
When John took over the store, the first person he employed was
Mark’s mother, Bernice Dick. Bernice met Harold — John’s son and
Mark’s father — at the store and they started dating shortly after-
ward.
“They went to the Cadillac fair for a date,” Mark said. “He won her a Family Owned & Operated Since 1920
teddy bear by fooling the weight guessers by sticking his belly way out.”
After getting married in 1952, Harold and Bernice moved to Grand
Rapids for a period and then Harold enlisted in the Army. After his
231-826-3333 • Falmouth
service, he returned home and eventually took over as owner and www.EbelsGeneralStore.com
operator of Ebels. Open Monday - Saturday 8am - 6pm
See Ebels on page 68
Welcome to
Events
Lake City For more information go to www.lakecitymich.com
February 15 – Polar Plunge SUSAN VIGNOLA, DDS

april 11 – 3rd Annual Lake City Easter Egg Hunt • Caring Team Motivated & Trained to Meet Your Needs
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May 16 – Community Garage Sales
• Friendly, Gentle Family Dentistry
• Veneers, Crowns, Root Canals & White Fillings
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• Complementary Sports Mouth Guards for School Aged Patients DENTIS
august 7-8 – 25th Annual Car Show & Cruise • Payment Plans Available thru CareCredit (apply from home: www.carecredit.com)
septeMber 17-20 – 42nd Annual Festival of Pines LAKE CITY Insurance Plans Welcome
OctOber – Annual Chamber Banquet FAMILY DENTISTRY

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Call Today: 231-839-5400 130 N. Main St., Lake City

Open 9am-5pm M-F
In this picture believed to have been taken before 1920, Chris Ebels poses in front of a
carriage.
Ebels celebrate 100 years in business
Courtesy Photo
Mark and Dawn Ebels pose in
front of their store, as well as
their vintage 1953 Chevrolet.
...aren’t slowing down anytime soon

Continued from page 65 Town Jerky over the course of the next 10 go out different doors of the church to incon-
years. spicuously meet up on their way home.
Almost immediately after taking over, Har- “At one time, all of us were a part of the busi- “We were baptized together and we grew up
old began expanding the store, doubling its ness,” Mark said. together,” Mark said. “Our Lord is the center
size in 1971, then adding another 60-by-80-foot Eventually, the siblings moved in different of everything. God put us together and has
section in 1978. directions: Steve started his own heating and helped us through many, many things.”
Harold and Bernice had five children: Steve, cooling business; Mary now runs Great Lakes In 2006, Mark took over as owner of Ebels
Mary, Mark, David and Paul. Dairy — an offshoot of Ebels — with her hus- and with the help of Dawn, the store has grown
When Harold died in 1984, the siblings band, Bruce; and David and Paul branched off into a multifaceted business that employs
shared responsibilities running the store. in 2016 to run Ebels Hardware, which also is around 100 people and now includes a gift shop,
They continued the expansion their father celebrating its 100th anniversary this year. coffee bar and United States Department of
started decades earlier, opening a custom meat Mark met Dawn at Bible camp when they Agriculture food license that gives them access
processing center, catering business and Little were both children. He said they used to each to opportunities around the world.
Next century will include
new store in Reed City
Dawn said they saw expansion as a necessity
in order to find a niche that wasn’t already being
filled by the big box stores such as Wal-Mart and
Kmart.
“A lot of accolades go to Dawn,” Mark said.
“She’s shouldered a lot of the responsibilities.
She’s really a superstar in my book.”
Three of Mark and Dawn’s children — Laura,
Bob and Thomas — work at the store and will be
the next generation to carry on the Ebels busi-
ness brand. From left, John Ebels,
To that end, the Ebels are planning to open a Steve Ebels and Harold Ebels. This
new location in Reed City in a building that once pictures was taken sometime in the 1970s.
housed Vic’s supermarket.
“A lot of people in surrounding communities
asked us if we could open a store where they the location — Jack Patty — who is a personal done right in order to succeed.
lived,” Mark said. “We’re excited to go there.” friend of the Ebels with a 20-year background in He said their dedication to God’s word is an-
While they’re still sorting out the details at this the grocery industry. other big factor explaining why Ebels is still here
point, Mark said they expect to have the Reed City Mark said he believes they’ve been successful a century after originally opening its doors.
branch open by the end of this year. Once opened, in business because of their focus on the cus- “Lord, make us a blessing in the place where
Mark anticipates they will employ 20 to 30 people tomer experience, the employee experience and you have put us,” Mark said. “That’s what my
there. product quality: none of the three are more im- dad used to say and that’s what we’ve tried to do.
They’ve also selected their store manager for portant than the other two, and they all must be That’s what we’re going to try to do in Reed City.”
Compassionate and Quality Care

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ADVERTISiNG INDEX
WHO’S
22-23 • Celebrating Faith Directory 66-67 • Lake City Directory
- 13th St. Seventh Day Adventist - City2Shore Real Estate
- First Presbyterian Church - Classic Chevrolet
- Lake City Christian Reformed Church - Lake City Family Dentistry
INSIDE
- Our Saviour Evangelical Lutheran - L & J Meat Market
Church Of Cadillac - Lake City Taphouse
- Sears Church of God - Maple Ridge Living Center
- St. Ann Catholic Church - Lake City Family Pharmacy
- Temple Hill Baptist Church - Whitetail Realty
- Zion Lutheran of Cadillac
62 • Audiological Services 16-17 • Leading Businesses
of Cadillac 30-31 • Cadillac Directory Honor Roll of Businesses
- Airport Animal Clinic
20 • Borg Warner - Art Van Cadillac 57 • LeRoy Directory
41 • Cadillac Area Public Schools - Cadillac Mortgage - Kater Lawn/Snow
11 • Cadillac Area YMCA - Cadillac Title LLC - Travlers Bar & Grill
69 • Cadillac ENT & - Foster Brothers Transfer & Storage
- Law Offices of King & King PLLC
33 • Luther Directory
Facial Plastic Surgery - Maple Ridge Living Center
- Dex’s Loggers Landing
29 • Cadillac Heritage - Performance Powersports
- Pheasant Ridge Estates
- Rothig Forest Products, Inc
Christian School - Richard T Melstrom O.D.
71 • Cadillac News - Shaves & Shears 63 • Manton Directory
- Sunnyside Assisted Living - City2Shore Real Estate
61 • Cadillac Tire Center
- Lutke Rental Hall
19 • CN Digital Solutions 42-43 • Cadillac Downtown Directory - Lutke Forest Products
09 • CN Promotional Products - Advance Realty
- Bostick’s Drugstore
- After 26 Depot Care
15 • Culvers of Cadillac - The Book Nook 54-55 • Marion Directory
05 • Don’s Auto Clinic and Highpoint - Cadillac Family Pharmacy - Backwoods Realty Company LLC
Cadillac GMC - Cadillac Party Lounge - Christie’s Potting Shed & Florist
09 • Eagle Village - Cadillac Printing Company - Flemming’s Clothing
- City2Shore Real Estate - Horseshoe Bar
65 • Ebel’s Family Center - Johnson Insurance Agency - M-Town Gym & Tan
51 • Family Health Care - Raven Social - Pollington Machine Tool, Inc.
29 • Fox Motors of Cadillac - Serendipity - Steve’s Tire, Inc.
52 • Friends Thrift Store - Thistle Patch - Untamed Archery, LLC
- Wexford Jewelers
20 • Green Acres Assisted Living 45 • McBain Directory
13 • Groupe Beneteau 25 • Cadillac West Directory - Burkholder Family Funeral Home LLC
07 • Hospice of Michigan - Coldwell Banker - McBain Auto Service
- Galvaneks Auto Sales - McBain Family Chiropractic Center, P.C.
28 • Lake Osceola State Bank - PRO Realty - McBain Family Pharmacy
28 • Long’s Hearing Care Systems - Spin City Laundromat - McNallys
27 • Missaukee Sentinel - Pluger Mechanical LLC
21 • Dining Guide Directory
33 • Northern Pines Health Center, PC - Cadillac Party Lounge
- Schepers Agency, Inc.
47 • The Pines Sports Bar - Duane’s Family Restaurant 48-49 • Reed City Directory
& Lake Cadillac Resort - Lakeside Charlies - Ashton General Store
19 • Pak Mail - Babb Ford
58-59 • Evart Directory - Crossroads Pest Control
10 • Wade Logging - Affordable Prints
- Hometown Pharmacy
10 • Wexford Osceola - BC Pizza - Evart
- Newbees Daycare Center
- Corey Funeral Home, Inc.
Habitat for Humanity - Holihan Drug Store
- Precision Eye Care
61 • Wexford Missaukee ISD/CTC - Hometown Hardware & Small Engines
- Skip’s Pool & Spa
- Reed City Fields Assisted Living
52 • The Woodworkers Shoppe - Osceola Grand Hotel
- Reed City Glass
- White Law Office, PLC
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08 Manton Twins Motor On

12 A listening ear in the workplace

18 Mike Downey takes a measured approach

24 A better fit in the classroom...

32 Untied Way helps fund a broad schope of initiatives

38 The Y has come a long way

44 Presenting the Colors

53 Friends Thrift Store finds home in Evart

60 Love of coffee percolates into business

64 Ebels: 100 Years and still growing

When Footprints in Time started more than 10 years

Chris Klein had a dream to create a non-profit daycare

Our State. Our Town.

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