ALL MESSED UP AND NO PLACE TO GO—Volunteers play the part of victims in Kent County Local Emergency Planning. According to organizers, they might get a piece of pizza out of it. Left are Paul Savage, Shayn Holtvluwer and Andy DeLoddel.

On Tuesday, May 6, first responders from Kent County’s rescue units—Michigan State Police, Sparta, Alpine, Walker, the Kent County Sheriff Department (KCSD), Life EMS and Rockford Ambulance—were tested and trained on one of 260 emergency plans in place for disasters.

Sue Bartels of KCSD was in charge of the training event and testing for off-site response plans. The practice takes place once a year in Kent County and was scheduled to coincide with Chemical Awareness Week.

This year’s event was the brake fire which led to multiple (pretend) injuries to victims and was held at United Agriculture Products on Ten Mile Road in Sparta. Volunteer victims, complete with injuries applied by the KCSD medical reserve coordinator.

Applying realistic wounds—a process called moulage—is typical and contributes to the serious nature of the event. The victims and situation are treated exactly as a real medical emergency, right down to decontamination of rescue crew and volunteers.

“That’s how seriously they take this,” Bartels warned.

The county’s hazardous materials unit arrived complete with a decontamination tent for showering and changing. Kent County Commissioner Arthur Tanis monitored the practice and said the decon tent is required at hazardous accidents because victims and rescue crew can’t be allowed to contaminate the ambulance or hospital.

Arrival was upwind rather than by the most direct route—also a technique employed in a real emergency.

Bartels said the Kent County Emergency Planning Mangement has 260 plans for emergencies and practices one a year. The training sessions are expensive and resource-consuming, but provide valuable feedback on how rescue responders can best react to different situations. “Many are very similar scenarios,” she said.

Despite the seriousness of the training, Bartels said the planning and execution of the training can be fun and isn’t dangerous. “It’s all flour and water and a smoke machine.”

TOP SHOT—This picture took the top prize at a national photography contest. The Rockford photographer began her winning ways with a Squire photo contest and has since won cruises, equipment, cash and now earns half her living with her photographs.

The Rockford nature photographer has entered many competitions, showed at booths and submitted her work to galleries. She’s won over two dozen competitions, including Best of Category in Rockford Art in the Park last year.

Shoot the Hills, in Hocking, Ohio, was different. The event was open to the public and drew photographers from around the country—even one from Hong Kong. The task seemed simple—take the best pictures you can in a given time and area and may the best photograph win. The best photo was Niedzwiecki’s.

“It was a personal challenge,” said Niedzwiecki, who began her career with dreams of illustrating Hallmark cards and ended up joining the Army to pay her way to a degree in graphic design.

“This was someplace I’d never been before, up against professional photographers. I just had an average camera, not top of the line gear. Despite it all, I came away with the best shot.”

Niedzwiecki took photography as part of her graphics education, but never really took to it. It wasn’t until she began shooting with a digital camera that the passion developed.

She believes photography in the digital age is both a most rewarding and frustrating endeavor.

“The technology is always changing and improving, but it can be a huge learning curve,” she said. “If you can’t embrace change, and stay on top of the newest and coolest, this isn’t the field.”

Photograph editing programs are also changing and improving—replacing dark rooms and chemicals but offering their own new problems.

“Some people say the technology is there, embrace it. It’s the same as using the dodge and burn and tricks from the darkroom. Others say that is crossing a line.” For the Hocking Hills shoot, photographers had to turn in their top shots in raw format, the purest form of digital photography with no program settings or alterations.

Niedzwiecki said there is no avoiding the complications of computers with digital photography, but draws her own limits. “Everybody has to use a photo program to produce a digital image. I won’t introduce an element to a photograph that isn’t there,” she said. “It’s still all about getting the shot.”

Niedzwiecki said weekend photographers don’t realize the extremes pros go through to get that shot. She has driven in the middle of the night in hopes of catching a sunrise over Lake Michigan and spends entire days scouting to find a probable place for a fall photo.

Her work can be viewed or purchased at her website, www.StacyN.com where photos range from postcard size to mountable canvas prints. She believes sharing the beauty of nature can make a difference in all our lives. “People say art is a luxury, and people are cutting back now. We need art and to feel good more than ever in times we are stressed. I hope I’m not a luxury.

“If you can’t afford to buy art, visit a gallery, that’s inexpensive. Go to an art show. That’s a wonderful day out.”

VOTING YES—More Rockford School District voters agreed with Wendy Boswell on the district’s need for continuing funds. “I think we need to keep updating computers and keep up with technology,” Boswell said. She and her husband both work in the computer industry and know how fast technology changes as well as the importance of teaching technology. “That’s really the issue that got me. I believe in putting money into our schools.”

The millage was also a close call, with 3,177 voters in the district approving a renewal of expiring mills and 2,562 voting against the proposal.

Grattan Township would have failed the millage with 26 votes for and 42 against. The City of Rockford, whose polls were pretty busy throughout the day, voted 429 in favor and 271 against.

With the exception of Grattan, all district townships passed the millage. Algoma weighed in with 277 votes for, 253 against; Cannon 1,012 for, 253 against; Courtland 372 for, 291 against; and Plainfield with 680 for to 439 against.

The Rockford district campaigned heavily to get word out to voters on the importance of upgrading technology, computers and increasing space in elementary schools, as well as reminding residents that the school has not asked for a millage since 1997.

The millage replaces funds scheduled to expire and will result in a zero net increase to taxpayers, Dr. Shibler explained at multiple informational meetings prior to the election.

Team Farkle and Dam Dogs—below, Jane gives Sparkle a hug. Sparkle has never raced a car before, but plans to hit the tracks rolling on her first race this Saturday, May 10.

Jane Vruggink of Dam Dogs picked a winner. She is backing team Farkle to drive to victory this racing season with a Dam Dogs-sponsored race car built by Harley and Sparkle Farkle (not their real names). According to Harley, he thought the project would be cheaper than a divorce, but now has reconsidered. The couple began working on their canardly (you can hardly tell what it is) on April Fools Day and are now ready for the tracks. They will race at Crystal Motor Speedway, the I-96 Speedway and Berlin Raceway. See the car in person Monday, May 12 when Dam Dogs opens their door at their new location on Bridge Street in downtown Rockford. Look for the bright yellow car.

Kathy Lemieux grew up in the Rockford area and has had Multiple Sclerosis, or MS, since she was born. She has been crowned Miss Wheelchair Michigan, 2008. Miss Wheelchair America will take place in July and Lemieux would like the chance to go and compete.

by Aly DeYoung

“I’ve never known anything else,” said Lemieux, now 37 years old. Born one of six daughters, Lemieux’s parents were both carriers for MS, although not showing symptoms themselves. Lemieux and two of her sisters were born with the disease.

She was nominated by her sister-in-law to enter the Ms. Wheelchair Michigan 2008 pageant. The competition has been going on for 35 years.

“The purpose of the pageant is not to look at beauty, but achievement possible with disability,” said Shelly Luce, state coordinator for the program and Ms. Wheelchair Michigan 2007.

As Ms. Wheelchair Michigan, the title-holder makes a variety of appearances, and has an area of interest to pundit on. Luce took a strong stance on talking to children about her disability in 2007.

“If we can be open with them, they can be open with you, and you aren’t just some freak,” said Luce, a quadriplegic.

Lemieux has a strong belief in inclusion, no matter what the disability. According to her, it’s important to achieve community acceptance, but self-inclusion is important as well. Lemieux, for instance, drives and works at MOKA, an employment service for the disabled, and she leads as active a life as she possibly can.

“Inclusion trumps diversity,” she said. “I think it’s high time for people with disabilities to portray what we need. Otherwise, people without disabilities won’t know. You have to be able to speak out about that.”

A strong part of the pageant is workshops, said Lemieux. The contestants participated in workshops for self-defense, dancing, and creative memories, among other things. In addition, each contestant met with a panel of judges to answer a variety of questions, from what kind of candy she would be to who her top role model is.

In choosing the panel of judges this year, Luce picked three people who worked with the disabled, were involved in different pageant work, or both. Two work with spinal cord injuries, and one was Miss Teen Michigan 2007.

“Her questions were so thought-out. I was so impressed with her,” Luce said.

These days, Luce is fundraising for Lemieux to go to nationals, keeping in touch with possible donators, and learning to write grants and run a non-profit organization. The competition for Ms. Wheelchair America is in July, and Lemieux needs $2,500 to go. She’s also looking to revamp Ms. Wheelchair Michigan itself, adding a longer board and more contestants.

“The more word we can get out there, the better,” Lemieux said of the program. “I’ve had people say to me, ‘Are you kidding? Is this a joke?’”

The first fundraiser will be in Muskegon, where Lemieux and her husband are currently living. It will be on April 18 at Northway Lanes. Lemieux is also looking for fundraising opportunities around her hometown.

“Rockford is really unique and the community hungers to support itself,” she added.

Luce will be hosting another fundraising dinner on the 54th St. Culver’s in Grand Rapids on May 12 from 4 to 8 p.m. To learn about other appearances, visit www.mswheelchairmichigan.org.

HIT THE TRAIL SATURDAY—With Chris Radford to win great prizes and contribute to a cure for juvenile diabetes.

Chris Radford knows all about type one juvenile diabetes. The most debilitating type of the disease was diagnosed in his son Scott when Scott was eleven. From then on Scott learned to monitor his blood sugar, give himself daily shots of insulin and lived a roller coaster of chasing his blood sugar levels as his body slowly stopped producing insulin.

“People know about diabetes and lowered insulin levels, but in type one, the body completely stops insulin production,” Chris said. He said as a father it was frightening watching as his son learned to care for his body, knowing that making a mistake can be life threatening.

Scott now 17, benefits from an automatic pump that injects insulin. He must still test his blood by pricking his finger and change the injection site every few days. It is a dream of both father and son to contribute to the works to find cures and treatments for diabetes so others will not have to go through the same life-changing efforts.

A family fun day to be held this Saturday, May 10, from 9 a.m. to 1:30 is a step or a roll in the right direction. A first time event, Chris hopes the event will become annual. He has spent the last month putting together the fund raiser and has made a name for himself “the JDRF guy.”

Chris asked businesses to jump on board with gift certificates and prizes, talked to the people at Wolverine World Wide and Rockford Public Schools and received a warm welcome at Cannon Township. Cannon Township approved use of their center at the corner of Meyers Lake and Belding Road for the Family Fun Day and proudly offer use of the newly-opened four mile trail for the event.

Participants can enjoy a silent auction at the hall along with children’s activities, a chance to see fire trucks and the township hovercraft and snacks. Walkers and bikers will enjoy the handicap accessible trail—either the entire eight-mile round trip to Townsend Park and back or as much or little as they care to explore.

On the trail, stations will offer poker cards and the best hands will earn the prizes. For $10 a hand, or a family deal of four hands for $30 players can test their luck and have a great time outdoors for a great cause.

Chris and Scott have a goal of riding in a national juvenile diabetes ride for a cure and must raise a certain amount of money to participate. Chris also hopes to raise awareness for the disease and plans educational signs along the route toward that purpose.

“I feel like I’ve learned a lot about organizing a fund raiser, something I’ve never done before,” Chris said. To find out more visit Cannon Townships new website at cannontwp.org, or jdrfwestmichigan.com/ride or donate online at http://ride.jdrf.org.

On April 18, Michigan State University student Leah Brand was inducted into the 2008-09 class of Tower Guard, a sophomore honor and service-based organization at MSU. Tower Guard, which started in 1933, is the oldest active student organization at MSU.

Students who are inducted into Tower Guard are selected from the top five percent of the freshman class. After this academic criterion is established, they are evaluated on their embodiment of the four pillars of Tower Guard: leadership, service, scholarship and character.

As a new member of Tower Guard, Brand will volunteer 120 hours of service next year to aid students with visual impairments through MSU’s Resource Center for Persons with Disabilities. It is truly an honor that Brand has been inducted into Tower Guard and both the RCPD and Tower Guard extend their sincerest congratutions to this student during such an important milestone in her life.

Brand is the daughter of Jeanne and Paul Brand of Rockford.

The volunteers are an integral part of the police department offering additional eyes and ears on the community through park/trail patrol, assisting with handicapped parking issues, observing city code violations, visiting shut-ins, and maintaining a presence downtown in the Welcome Center where they assist visitors and residents in finding information about Rockford and the surrounding area.

Last year the volunteers logged over 2500 hours, with 1250 of them spent in the Welcome Center. The Welcome Center recorded 3,041 visitors for the year.

The Volunteer Service Unit staff also participate in additional events including the Youth Night, Start of Summer Celebration, 4th of July Fireworks, Shop With a Cop at Christmastime, and the Santa Parade.

For anyone interested in more information on the Volunteer Services Unit, or to become involved, please contact Sam Russell at 866-9557 or e-mail at srussell@rockford.mi.us.

Back row: Scott Holt, Jim Cymbal, Bob Stephens, George Phillips, Bob Master, Art Howson. Middle row: Amy Boese, Nancy Edgecomb, Becky Matson, Joan Phillips, Carol Delp-Kruzeja, Jim Herdegen. Front row: Sandy Karl, Therese Foley, Joan Longfield, Ruth Howson. Inset, Dick Hurst and Linda Crone

Basic camera views can be accessed at two-second refresh at no cost.

Also, MDOT’s MI Drive traveller information site has been updated to include maps showing the Construction Lane Closure information.

Check it out at www.michigan.gov/drive. Loading the local map takes some time during the first visit, but future visits are shorter. Traffic video at 15 second refresh are available there, as well.Visit MDOT Traffic Info Online at: www.mi.gov/drive

It was our first time with this event and it was WILDLY successful! We raised over 500 dollars - all items/games/drinks were sold at 10 cents - so you can see what great participation we had to raise that much money!

Everyone had a great time and the students had a BLAST raising money for the American Cancer Society.

The students are already asking if we will have a ‘mini-relay’ next year!

This week we are having a ‘penny race’ - which raised 200 dollars just the first day. Next week we have ‘spirit’ week (wacky hair, pj day, hat day etc).

Invited is everyone who enjoys using the White Pine Trail – kids welcome. “All you need to bring are some work gloves. We have some tools but if you have any pruning or lop shears bring them along,” Heyboer stated. “Remember that all trail maintenance is done by volunteers. The DNR does not have any money to perform up-keep on the trail. If you want a clean, useable trail we need your help.”

The new system is projected to save the district time, space, and money by increasing efficiency. Anyone interested in viewing current job openings or applying for a position can do so at www.rockfordschools.org and clicking on “Employment Opportunities.”