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Voelker and Rowe do damage on both sides of the ball for EPBP By MIKE BOGAN, Tribune News/Sports Editor Published: Monday, September 28, 2009 11:26 AM EDT PIGEON — A week of could-be distractions turned into a would-be dismantling here Saturday afternoon for Elkton-Pigeon-Bay Port. The Lakers put a finely-fitted bow on the school's 50th Homecoming celebration, turning a tight first half into a 40-7 blowout over reeling Deckerville in a Greater Thumb Conference crossover contest. "We had been preparing for it since the last play of the USA game (last week)," said EPBP coach George Gardy. "We told the kids, 'You guys have to prepare for the craziest week Laker High School has ever seen.' "We told them, 'Deckerville doesn't care who won the powder puff game. They don't care where you guys are writing stuff on windows. They are preparing for a football game.' "And we had to do the same." EPBP power back Chris Rowe rushed for 147 yards and two touchdowns while fleet-footed quarterback Luke Voelker added 120 yards and three more scores. Meanwhile, the EPBP defense simply stymied the Eagles, especially in the second half. Deckerville got a 5-yard touchdown run from Cody Hoff midway through the opening quarter, but was blanked the rest of the way. "Our defense really played well in the second half," Gardy said. "My assistants, Mark Manenti and Tim Bruce, did a great job with those guys. We got a couple of early three-and-outs in the second half and took advantage." Voelker scored on runs of 3, 16 and 21 yards. He also hooked up with Josh Goins on a 2-pointer. Rowe scored on second-half scampers of 12 and 44 yards — the 44-yarder coming midway through the third quarter which gave the Lakers an 18-7 advantage. Rowe also added a 2-pointer. "It's nice to have (Voelker and Rowe) those weapons," Gardy said. The Lakers took an early 6-0 lead on Voelker's first TD on the game's opening possession. The Eagles came right back and marched 83 yards in less than three minutes, highlighted by a long run from Cody Ross and capped by Hoff's short TD jaunt. Josh Fritch added the PAT. After that, the Lakers really took over. Voelker's second score of the opening quarter made it 12-7. After a scoreless second quarter, the Lakers took advantage of a Deckerville special teams miscue to break it open. A bad snap on a punt gave the Lakers the ball at the Eagles’ 26 late in the quarter. A few players later, Voelker capped his fine afternoon with his final TD, giving EPBP a 26-7 advantage. Rowe capped an 85-yard drive midway through the fourth quarter with his final TD. The Lakers then closed out the scoring when Tim Warack hit Goins on a 53-yard strike with 4:42 to play. "Deckerville is a really good team," Gardy said. "They did some things in the first half, and we had to make some adjustments. But again, I give credit to our defense for that. They made the difference." Defensively for the Lakers, Voelker had 13 tackles while Rowe added 12 stops. Deckerville, now 2-3 overall, looks to snap its first three-game losing skid since 2004 when it hosts Mayville on Friday for Homecoming. The Eagles have to win their final four contests to guarantee a spot in the playoffs, though they could possibly get in at 5-4. Meanwhile, the 4-1 Lakers control their own destiny in the GTW. At 3-0 in league play, EPBP is the only team with an undefeated GTW mark. The Lakers travel to Bay City All Saints on Friday before hosting Reese on Oct. 9 and traveling to Bad Axe on Oct. 16 to close out the league portion of their schedule. "We have some tough games coming up, starting with All Saints," Gardy said. "We just need to continue to improve and get more kids on the field. But right now, I am happy with all the kids." |
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Celebrating 50 years of excellence BY STEVE JIAS STAFF WRITER Huron County Press PIGEON – Green and white will be the colors for the weekend as Elkton- Pigeon Bay Port celebrates 50 years as the combined Laker Schools this weekend. Alumni are expected to reunite for what should be a weekend of fun and reminiscing, talk about memories and make new ones. The festivities will begin on Friday at the entertainment tent with a D.J. at 4 p.m. at the Pigeon Park. The focus moves to the high school at 6 p.m. for tailgating followed by the opening ceremonies and the alumni football game at 7:15 p.m. with a bon fire to cap off the evening. Saturday will begin with the 5K run with registration beginning at 6:30 a.m. and the run starting at 8 a.m. The Homecoming Parade will begin at 10 a.m. with queens from the past and alumni honor guard, which will be immediately followed by tailgating and inflatables at Laker Field with food being available from local vendors. School tours will be available from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. with the pregame ceremony at Laker Field at 1:30 p.m. Kickoff is slated for 2 p.m. for the game against Deckerville. The entertainment tent will once again be open on Saturday from noon to 2 a.m. complete with D.J with a $5 cover charge and food vendors from the Pasta House, McDonald's Catering, Band Boosters and Food by Ella Mae. There will be many activities during the celebration including honoring alumni teams, which will be done prior to the football game on Saturday. Fans will have a chance to say thanks to the 1981 State Champions and 2002 football teams. Later in the day, the Celebration of Champions program at 7 p.m. at the Pigeon Recreation Park will honor the football teams from 1981, 1984 and 2002, boys basketball teams from 1972 and 1979, golf from 1975, girls softball from 1987, boys soccer from 2002 and 2005 and girls soccer from 2001 and 2007, as well as girls volleyball from 1984, 1985,1987,1990,1991,199 5 and 1997. During the ceremony, winners from the morning 5K Laker Pride Glide will receive their awards. The speaker for the event is former Laker coach Chris Allen. who after coaching at Lakers. went on to become the head football coach at Ferndale High School for two years. He then became an assistant coach at Central Michigan University, coached at Bowling Green University, the University of Arizona, University of Southern California (USC), National Football League (in Europe), and finished his coaching career at Wake Forrest University in North Carolina. All positions at those universities were as top assistants, either as defensive or offensive coordinators, or assistant head coach. Laker Alumni Pep Band to be in parade The Laker Alumni Pep Band will be in the Homecoming Parade on Saturday, Sept. 26 in Pigeon. (Arrive 7:30-7:45 a.m. Laker High School Band room; Rehearsal 8-9 a.m. Laker High School Band room; 9:00 a.m. Depart for Pigeon for the parade; 10:30 approx start time for 50th parade. The band will be riding on a semitrailer, not marching.) Anyone who is interested in participating in the Laker Alumni Pep Band during the Homecoming Parade, Saturday, Sept. 26, should see www.laker50thcelebration. myevent.com for more information or e-mail Jessica Zarnke at jzarnke@lakerschools.org. Laker alumni get together for volleyball On Saturday, Sept. 5, 2009, 12 alumni met at Laker High School to play volleyball together again. The event was part of the Laker 50th Celebration. They played a 6-on-6 match for fun, and then did a game called “Queens Court,” which is essentially a 3-on-3 drill with different people. Each individual earns points and the top 6 players received t-shirts. Bob Drury helped with registration and keeping track of the Queen’s Court points. Those in attendance ranged from the graduating class of 1987 all the way down to graduating class of 2008. Winners: Stephanie Drury, Betsy Drury Diegel, Kelly Mclellan, Kayla, Alyssa, and Kristen Weisenbaugh. In the photo: Laker Alumni Volleyball front row (l-r): Angie (Wiedman) Herford, Betsy (Drury) Diegel, Stephanie Drury, Kristin Weisenbach Back row (l-r): Kelly (McLellan) Sturm, Casey McLellan, Jenny (Murdoch) Turner, Deanne (Jaworski) Murdoch, Cathy (Wurst) Dayak, Becky (Dubs) Gokey, Kayla Weisenbach, Alyssa Weisenbach. Items up on silent auction Several oil paintings and a mosaic decorated coronet, have been donated for a silent auction from 1979 EPBP Alumni artist Pam “ella” Buchholz. “Ella”, now residing in Erie, Colorado, loves the mosaic concept of “Wabi-Sabi,” in which you acquire a musical instrument, which no longer is played, and cover it with glass and porcelain. Bidders can view the art objects now on display at Thumb National Bank in Pigeon, and place their silent bids on each item. Proceeds will go towards the Laker 50th Celebration. For further information call (989) 670-2468. |
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Celebrate Lakers 50th anniversary
By Tribune Editors Published: Friday, September 18, 2009 11:03 AM EDT Fifty years ago, three communities came together for the good of their youth. In the beginning, they found they had differences, but they also discovered those differences could be overcome by focusing on what they had in common. Together, they faced their challenges and grew stronger. Today, the consolidation of Elkton, Pigeon and Bay Port high schools is something to be remembered as a victory for the education of Thumb-area students. Next weekend, Sept. 25 and 26, Elkton-Pigeon-Bay Port Lakers will celebrate the school’s 50th anniversary during a massive homecoming extravaganza. The event is the beginning of a year-long celebration for the school. The events aren’t just for Laker alumni, however. Everyone is invited to join in the festivities. Events and activities include a parade, a 5K walk/run, tailgating, inflatables, entertainment tent, food venders, a bon fire, football and more. Check out a full calendar of events on page 10 of the special Laker Schools Tribune section in today’s Huron Daily Tribune. Page 2 of the section gives a brief history about how the consolidation happened (and almost didn’t happen). The section also features yearbook memories from each of the school’s five decades, and year-to-year comparisons of how life was in America during those times. Extra copies of this special section will be for sale during this weekend’s Homecoming event, and a portion of the proceeds will go toward the Laker Alumni Scholarship. If the section brings back memories for you, be sure to pick up a couple copies for friends who could not make it home for the weekend. The consolidation of the Elkton, Pigeon and Bay Port school districts gave us better students and a stronger community. It’s an event that should be celebrated by everyone who calls the Upper Thumb home. |
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Posted by Mike Bogan at 10:14 | Comment (1) | Trackbacks (0) Former Laker coach relives adventuresome career PIGEON — Chris Allen's football coaching journey started here at Elkton-Pigeon-Bay Port more than 40 years ago. Two continents, six states, nine houses and a slew of hotel rooms later, Allen will come back to where it all started next weekend as part of the Laker 50th Homecoming celebration. "I am looking forward to it," Allen said earlier this week from his home in California. "I think I have been back (to the Thumb) maybe once since I left. I still have family in Michigan, but it's tough to get over there (to the Thumb)." Allen will be the featured speaker next Saturday evening at the Celebration of Champions event planned at Pigeon Recreation Park. "I was honored to be asked," he said. Allen's coaching career at EPBP was brief, but successful. After a year as an assistant under Ed Wolford in 1964, Allen took over head coaching duties in 1965 and 1966. His 1965 team finished 2-5-1. But in 1966, the Lakers finished 7-1, dropping a 20-19 decision to Frankenmuth in the season finale and losing out on the Thumb B championship. "I enjoyed my time (at Lakers)," Allen said. "I really liked the school and the community." Allen came to EPBP after graduating from Central Michigan University. "It was my first job right out of college," Allen said. "I had a degree in English, and there was a big demand for English teachers, especially in Michigan. It was a relatively new school, which had just consolidated, so I thought it was a good opportunity." Two of Allen's former players, Bill McLellan and George Gardy, wound up following in his footsteps and became successful coaches at EPBP. "At that time, all I was thinking about was the next game," Allen said. "But their success as coaches doesn't surprise me at all. "I remember Bill as a smart guy who had solid quarterback skills. He threw very well. And I remember George as a very tough tight end. They were both good athletes." A couple of the more memorable events from Allen's stint at EPBP included a 13-13 tie with Bad Axe in the 1965 regular-season finale, as well as his last game against Frankenmuth in 1966. "At that time, basketball was the 'big dog' at Lakers," Allen said. "So being able to compete with Bad Axe and Frankenmuth — two of the best football schools in the Thumb at that time — was quite an accomplishment." From 1961-64, Bad Axe's football program had a 32-1-1 record. From 1962-69, Frankenmuth was 59-6-4. "They were ‘the teams’ back then," Allen said. He also remembers a scoreboard-less football field at EPBP. "Somehow, we didn't have a scoreboard, we didn't have a clock," Allen said. "I remember thinking, 'We have to have a clock.'" So, Allen said, several people got together and bought a new scoreboard and clock for the school. "I think (player) Paul Clabuesch's dad got some guys together to buy a scoreboard for us," he said. "I'm not sure why I remember that, but I do. “I always think back that if I would have stuck around a few more years (at Lakers), I might not have ever left. And it wasn’t easy leaving. It was a great place to live.” After his stint at EPBP, Allen coached at Ferndale and Ionia before getting an opportunity to coach the offensive line at his college alma mater, CMU, in 1970. While at CMU, the Chippewas won the Division II national championship in 1974, capped by a 54-14 win over the University of Delaware in the title game. Allen left CMU for a brief stint as defensive coordinator at Ball State before catching on as an assistant at the University of Arizona. While at Arizona, Allen was the offensive and defensive coordinator, as well as assistant head coach under Larry Smith. When Smith moved to the University of Southern California, Allen went with him. From 1987-92, the Trojans compiled a 44-25-3 record and made five bowl appearances, including three Rose Bowls. In fact, Allen was on the field in Bo Schembechler's final game as coach at the University of Michigan — the Jan. 1 1990 Rose Bowl. USC won that game, 17-10. "I remember talking with Bo on the field before the game," Allen said. "That I remember very well." After the entire USC staff was fired in 1992, Allen wound up as an assistant coach at Wake Forest University from 1993-96. "Wake Forest was a lot different than USC, that's for sure," Allen said. After Wake Forest, Allen gambled and became the offensive coordinator and linebacker coach for the Amsterdam Admirals of NFL Europe. "NFL Europe was a great experience and a lot of fun," he said. Allen and his wife, Nancy, spent three months a year living in a hotel in Amsterdam from 1998-2000. After his stint in Europe, Allen had a chance to come home and coach with the Los Angeles Extreme in the XFL. "When we left for Europe, we kept our house in California, so we thought it would be nice to get back home," Allen said. The XFL lasted just the 2001 season before folding. But, the Extreme finished 9-3 and won the league championship, which meant the entire squad got to split a $1,000,000 bonus. After the XFL, Allen did some scouting and player evaluating before retiring a few years ago. Small in stature, Allen made up for it with a booming demeanor. "I was probably the smallest offensive line coach in the nation at CMU," he joked. "And I had never coached defense when I took over the defense at Ball State. But I was a screamer. I got on guys pretty good. But I got a lot out of them, too." Some players Allen coached include future Hall of Famer Junior Seau, Willie McGinest, Chuck Cecil, and former Lions Mark Carrier and Dan Owens. After decades of moving around, Allen now resides in California where he stays active by golfing, jogging and writing. Allen says he enjoyed his time making a living by coaching football, though there were a few drawbacks. "I always wanted to be a head coach, and I had a couple of opportunities, but it just never worked out," he said. "...If I have one regret it's that I didn't spend a lot of time with my family. I wish I could have spent more time at home with my wife and sons." Allen's not sure what he's going to talk about next weekend, but... "I haven't spoke in front of people in like 10 years,” he said. "But I'm a coach. Us coaches can always come up with something." Laker teams to be honored at celebration PIGEON — Several Elkton-Pigeon-Bay Port champion sports teams will be honored next weekend as part of the Laker 50th Homecoming celebration. On Saturday, Sept. 26 before the 2 p.m. game with Deckerville, the 1981 state champion and 2002 state semifinal football teams will be honored. These teams are asked to report below the press box at 1:10 p.m. At the evening Celebration of Champions program at 7 p.m. at the Pigeon Recreation Park, the following teams will be honored: Football – 1981, 1984, 2002 Boys Basketball – 1972, 1979 Golf – 1975 Girls Softball – 1987 Boys Soccer – 2002, 2005 Girls Soccer – 2001, 2007 Girls Volleyball — 1984, 85, 87, 90, 91, 95, 97 Tennis — 1982, 83, 84, 86, 87, 88, 91, 92, 93 These teams are asked to report to the stage area of the tent at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday. |
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By TRACI L. WEISENBACH Tribune Staff Writer Published: Wednesday, August 19, 2009 2:40 PM EDT PIGEON — From sitting on the original Elkton-Pigeon-Bay Port Laker Board of Education to sitting in the bleachers at countless athletic events, Wes Murdoch stood proudly as a staunch Laker supporter. If Lakers ever had a No. 1 fan, Murdoch surely fit the bill. “He loved the Lakers, there’s no doubt about that,” said former Laker administrator Dick Pauly. “He had his finger on the pulse of the district.” Former Laker Superintendent Bob Drury agreed. “He epitomized Lakers,” Drury said. “He was a strong supporter and defender of every aspect of Elkton-Pigeon-Bay Port Laker Schools. He had a lot of green pride.” “When one writes the history of Lakers, there are a few icons that would be mentioned. He would be one of them,” Pauly added. Murdoch died Aug. 12 at 90 years old. A dedicated school board member A 1936 Pigeon High School graduate, Murdoch was asked by Theo Leipprandt and Herb Gettel to run for the Pigeon High School school board. While on this board, he was part of the group that researched the feasibility of having the Pigeon High School consolidate with another nearby school. In a former interview with the Huron Daily Tribune, Murdoch said this group would have meetings until 2:30 a.m., working on plans for a consolidated high school. The hard work paid off, as Elkton and Pigeon high schools consolidated in May 1958, and Bay Port high school consolidated with Pigeon and Elkton in July 1958. At the time, Elkton-Pigeon-Bay Port was the largest consolidated school district in the state, setting an example for other districts that wanted to consolidate, Murdoch said. After voters approved a $1.25 million bond in 1959 to build the high school, the 78,535 square-foot school was finished in 1961, and the first Laker High School senior class graduated that year. Murdoch was the last surviving member of the original Elkton-Pigeon-Bay Port Laker Board of Education. Between the Pigeon High School board and the Laker board, he served 17 years. Those who knew him best say he was very proud of serving on the first Laker school board. One person who worked closely with Murdoch while he was a board member was James A. Matteson, who served as superintendent from 1960 to 1973. “He was always concerned about what was going on at the school,” Matteson said of Murdoch. “He was a very thoughtful, honest person.” Matteson said Murdoch was very dependable as a board member. “He was always there when we needed him,” he said. A loyal Laker supporter Murdoch is remembered for the interest he took in making sure Lakers was the best it could be for the students and community. “Everyone respected Wes for doing things in the best interest of the kids,” said Bob Smith, current Laker superintendent and former teacher. Murdoch also is remembered for being a walking encyclopedia of Laker history. He could even remember little details, even during his last weeks. Smith said he and longtime agriculture teacher Don Wheeler visited Murdoch the week before he passed away. The trio talked about the current renovations being completed at the junior high/high school as part of the sinking fund project. Murdoch shared construction stories from when the high school and junior high were built, and he brought out a scrapbook. “He had so much school spirit,” Wheeler said. “He had so much class.” Murdoch’s support of Wheeler’s FFA program led to he and his wife, Leatha, receiving one of the first Building Our American Community awards about 30 years ago, Wheeler said. “He was so touched that the kids thought that much of him,” he said. While Murdoch deeply cared about every aspect of the district, he’ll be especially remembered for being a fixture at various athletic events, wearing his trademark Laker coat and cap. “One could always see Wes in the crowd,” Smith said. “When his kids played and when his grandkids played, he never missed a volleyball game,” said longtime friend George Gardy, Sr. “And he missed very few football and basketball games.” Even after Murdoch’s grandchildren graduated, he still attended sports events, friends and family said. In the late 1990s and 2000, Murdoch continued his dedicated service to the district by getting involved in the elementary school bond project. He attended every planning meeting, people said, and he gave a historical perspective on the discussion. It took three times for voters to approve the elementary school bond issue. Even during the first two defeats, Murdoch still had a positive attitude. He had witnessed opposition to consolidation before the high school was built, as people didn’t think bringing together three schools would work. “He was a very reassuring person, not only to myself, but to the Laker board members in the late 1990s and 2000,” Drury said. Murdoch spoke at the elementary dedication ceremony. In an earlier interview with the Tribune, Murdoch said he was honored to have been part of the opening of the high school, junior high and elementary schools. “It was like winning the triple crown in education for our boys and girls,” he said. Drury said Murdoch was “as proud as a peacock” during the elementary school dedication. “He was happy that the district was truly a consolidated school district,” Drury said. A charming Christian People will remember Murdoch for his sunny disposition. “He always had an upbeat attitude,” Pauly said. “You never heard Wes say a bad word about anyone.” “He was just a fantastic man. He was always, always positive,” said longtime friend Grace Finkbeiner. Smith said he was just 5 years old when he met Murdoch, and his first impression of him was that Murdoch was very compassionate. “He always had a twinkle in his eye,” Smith said. “He was a good-natured guy.” Murdoch also had quite an astute funny bone. He liked to tease people and play pranks. One of his dear friends, Virginia Leipprandt, remembers a time when Murdoch attended a women’s extension group dressed as a woman, and for most of the meeting, no one knew who he was. Leipprandt also said in Murdoch’s later years, she helped him get up from the pew at Hayes United Methodist Church so he could stand and sing. “He told me, ‘Don’t go too fast. I’m not as young as I look,’” she said. Murdoch was a lifelong member of Hayes. Leipprandt said he was involved in the Sunday School program and shared historical stories that blended with the Bible lessons. “He was such a wonderful Christian man,” she said. “He was a model to those around him.” “God and his faith were number one for him,” said Jenny Turner, one of his granddaughters and an art teacher at Laker Elementary. “He showed this in the way he lived.” Murdoch is survived by his wife of 67 years, Leatha; one son and four daughters; 12 grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren. Recollections from Murdoch’s family Daughter June Sturm of Pigeon • Sturm said one of the first things she’ll remember about her dad is his smile. “Dad's face would break into a smile when we or his grandkids would ask him to tell us a story from his life experiences,” Sturm said. She said while her dad worked hard on the farm, he also played hard with his children. No matter what she and her siblings did as extracurricular activities at school, her father was there to support them. Sturm said her father loved to share a cup of coffee and visit with people. One of his favorite spots for coffee was the former Dutch Kettle in Pigeon. “He could talk to anybody,” she said. Even though his health was failing and he was under hospice care, Murdoch still hoped he could attend the Laker 50th celebration in September. “He really wanted to be there for that, but it just wasn’t meant to be,” Sturm said. Granddaughter Jenny Turner of Pigeon • Turner grew up down the road from her grandfather, so she spent a lot of time with him as she was growing up. She said one of the greatest things about her grandpa was how he made everyone in his family feel special. “It was the little things he would do to show how he loved us,” she said. To exemplify this point, Turner said one day when she was in junior high, she was supposed to be picked up after sports practice, and no one showed. She called her home, and no one answered. She then called Murdoch. He said he’d come out to the school to pick her up. When he arrived, he said because she had waited so long, he’d take her out for ice cream. Turner said Murdoch liked to be busy, and he was on the go until his health prevented him from doing so. “It was real hard for him to not be able to go where he wanted to go,” she said. Traci L. Weisenbach • (989) 269-6461. Tribune News/Sports Editor Mike Bogan contributed to this story. |
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FFA prepares youth for modern-day farming
By Bill Diller for the Huron Daily Tribune August 4, 2009 ELKTON — The definition of a family farm has changed over the years. It used to mean a parcel of land that was handed down from generation to generation, usually a few hundred acres that supported one family. Now, the family farm at times encompasses thousands of acres and may support multiple families. Brothers, cousins, uncles and grandparents all joining together to till the land and reap the benefits of modern day farming. One such family farm has supported the Schuette family, of Elkton, for five generations ... but with some changes. “It’s not the family farm like it used to be,” said Don Wheeler, ag and FFA adviser at Elkton-Pigeon-Bay Port Laker High School for the last 35 years. “These guys are kind of unique in that they have six families working together.” The family members who contribute to the farm’s operation consist of brothers Dale and Don Schuette, their sons, and their families. The brothers took over from their father, who was born in 1902, and was raised on the family farm. Their grandfather farmed, their father farmed, so it should surprise no one to learn that Dale and Don have farmed all their lives. The brothers are joined by other family members, comprising three generations running the family farm. Dale, and his wife, Donna, along with their two sons; Dennis and his wife, Cathy, and their son, Jared; and, Darrin and his wife, Tracie, and their children, Abigail and Alexis. They are joined by Don, and his wife, Kay, who have two sons who are still involved in the family farm: Troy and his wife, Leanne, and their children, Lance and Andrea, and Steve and his wife, Tina, and their kids, Mitchell, Collin and Cameron. Don and Kay have another son, Ryan, who is employed in an agriculture-related field in the Lansing area, and a daughter, Angie, who was at one time an FFA state officer. Neither Ryan nor Angie are involved in the family farm. The six families represent three generations who share the duties and responsibilities of making sure the land supplies their needs. This is something that would be impossible to do with only a couple of hundred acres and a tractor. “This has been a farm that’s changed over the years,” Wheeler said. “They used to raise hogs and steers, but now it’s mainly cash crops. They produce grain and forage for dairy farmers.” “We’re at about 4,500 acres right now,” said Troy Schuette. “We grow everything: corn, dry beans, soy beans, sugar beets, wheat and alfalfa.” With six families producing crops from a multi-acre farm, it stands to reason they don’t all reside under one roof. Each family has their own home, with barns and outbuildings to store equipment, which, like the family farm itself, continues to grow. As equipment increases in size, the price, and reliability, go up. The farm needs to produce more in order to pay for the equipment. The profit per acre needs to rise to make the purchase of the equipment economically sound. One thing feeds on the other. “It has to do with profit per acre,” Wheeler said. “As the farms started getting bigger, they actually got less and less for their product, so you almost need to keep expanding just to stay the same.” “You’ve got to have the combines and tractors to harvest 4,000 acres,” said Leanne, who is an agricultural loan officer at Bay Port State Bank. “If you throw in another 1,000 acres, that’s your profit.” The Schuettes, like most large farms in the area, are constantly on the lookout for more acres to farm. “It allows you to use your equipment more profitably,” Troy said. As the equipment continues to grow in size, it’s been improved, and called upon to carry a heavier load. “I wouldn’t say they last longer,” Troy said, “but they allow you to put more through than the older ones.” We live in an age of specialization, and farming is no exception. “Where agriculture has changed over the years is that now everybody does one thing,” Wheeler said. “Everyone specializes in one area, instead of being a jack of all trades.” Fifty years ago a farm produced the same animals and crops as farmers do today, but the method is constantly expanding and changing. A farm in the 1950s was much smaller, and more self-contained. Each farm had a few chickens, a hog, a few dairy cows, maybe a bull, ducks, geese and possibly horses or a pony. The farm produced crops to feed the animals and some to sell for cash. Today, one farm raises steers, another chickens or hogs, and still another has a dairy herd, while nearby farms produce crops to feed the animals and sell for market. That’s the trend, and it’s probably here to stay. “I don’t think it would be possible to go back to the way it was in the old days,” Troy said. “The expenses would be too large.” “If you find a niche market, you can do it on a small basis,” Wheeler said. “But if not, you have to stay large to keep expenses down.” It’s part of the expand-and specialize-to-survive philosophy. In order for a family farm to be successful, farmers need to become better businessmen, and more informed on modern methods of raising animals and producing crops. Education is the key, and that’s where programs like FFA come in. Wheeler, in his role as FFA instructor at Laker High School, is a strong advocate of FFA involvement, and the Schuette family is a multi-generational example of FFA participation. Dale and Don were both FFA members, as were all seven of their offspring. Troy and Leanne’s children, Lance and Andrea, have carried on the family tradition, and Dennis and Cathy’s son, Jared, will begin this fall. It’s fairly certain the younger children will also join the FFA as they get older. “Right now agriculture needs a stronger voice than we’ve ever had,” Wheeler said. “That’s why these kids like Lance and Andrea are so darn important — because in 10 years they will be out there being a voice for agriculture.” As their parents are now. “The FFA is a good organization,” Dennis said. “The experiences our kids have gotten through the FFA are invaluable,” Troy said. “The leadership and skills contests ... it’s something I wish every kid could do.” The FFA gives kids a chance to learn hands-on by being involved in various projects revolving around the agriculture industry. Recently, Lance was involved in the design of a new greenhouse at Laker High School, and both Lance and Andrea have received gold medals at the state level of competition for leadership. Lance, who graduated earlier this year, plans to attend Michigan Technological University in Houghton where he’ll study mechanical engineering. “He’ll be creating the tractors,” said Kay, with a laugh. Both Lance and Andrea are actively involved in FFA projects. “Lance has gone to nationals for skills contest, and received silver,” said Leanne. “Andrea is currently vice president of the Laker FFA, and is a representative for Region Three Officer Team.” As part of their involvement in the FFA, both Lance and Andrea have shown animals at the Huron Community Fair. “When they were younger, they showed hogs,” said Leanne. “Now that they’re older, they retired from hogs and wanted to do something different.” At the 2009 fair, which recently ended, Andrea showed a steer. It was her second year showing a steer, and she took home the Reserved Champion ribbon. Lance, who was showing a steer for the fourth year, won the Grand Champion ribbon and trophy. Last year, Lance won the plaque for Market Class. Showing a steer is like any other form of competition for show animals. The handler displays the animal to the judge, takes them through a series of movements, and is judged on a variety of criteria. “You have to walk them around in a circle,” Lance said. “They’ll tell you to line up in a certain order. A lot of it is showmanship. A lot of it is you ... how good you do in presenting that animal. The better you set it up, the better it looks.” Both prefer showing steers to hogs. “Because you have more control over the animal,” Andrea said. Showing hogs or steers is a part of FFA training that will have them in good standing in the years to come. The leadership and skill FFA members learn will last a lifetime and create memories that can be shared with those that follow after them. They’ll be proud of that blue jacket they wore, and strong advocates for the agricultural industry. One such opportunity to share memories is coming up on Aug. 8 at the park in Elkton. From 2 p.m. until 8 p.m. a picnic/reunion called Forever Blue will take place. It’ll be a chance for former and current FFA members and their families to get together and bring each other up to date on what’s been happening — and what’s happening now. The brainchild of Don Wheeler, the Forever Blue reunion costs $10 a ticket. He hopes alumni will take advantage of this opportunity to visit with old friends, and maybe make some new ones. It’s certain the Schuette family will be well represented. |
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By Tribune Sports Staff Published: Friday, July 10, 2009 11:10 AM EDT PIGEON — The Laker 50th anniversary golf benefit was hosted recently at Scenic Golf & Country Club. The event was a huge success, raising over $2,000 for celebration activities. Earning first place and winners of the Green Jackets were Troy Gunden, Paul Picklo, Lee Swartzendruber, Jim Vanbruane. Second place went to Mike LePage, Matt LePage, Josh LePage and Crawford Kennedy. Third place went to Sean Walsh, Jay Anthes, Dan Bivens and Neil Nuncio. Mike LePage headed this event, which boasted 19 teams. The Laker Golf team also helped out. There was a BBQ following the event where prizes were awarded. |
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Huron County Press Local News
PUBLISHED: Wednesday, May 27, 2009 Laker's 50th Anniversary Celebration planning continues BY JOHN BONKE STAFF WRITER PIGEON - Planning continues for the many events in celebration of Laker High School's 50th Anniversary, according to Lisa DiCamillo, Laker High School Principal and one of the main planners and organizers. A core group of planners, the Steering Committee, has been working since the fall of 2008. Efforts sprung out of a correspondence a couple years back between a Laker alumnus and Laker School Board Member Neal Eichler. The alumnus mentioned that the 50th anniversary of Laker High School was coming up. DiCamillo said Eichler brought the letter to her attention and soon a Steering Committee was formed. She said she first got in touch with people involved with the 25 year anniversary celebrations. Committee members include Bill Esch, Dick Koehler and Deb McBride. "I feel we need to highlight parts of the Laker Experience, Fine Arts, Sports, FFA, church involvement and other activities, that are all part of Laker Pride," DiCamillo said. "It's about Laker Pride and celebrating our existence, highlighting our accomplishments and sharing our memories. It's pretty unique and special." DiCamillo said she hopes the celebrations are not just bigger and better, but more special. "Events are open to all members of our Laker Community," said DiCamillo. One of the inaugural events is the golf fundraiser to be conducted on Saturday, June 27 at Scenic Golf Course & Country Club, Pigeon, beginning at 1 p.m. that day. One highlight of the event will be the presentation of green jackets to members of the winning team. Golf balls will be imprinted with the 50th Celebration logo. Mike LePage is the main organizer for this event. Registration for the mixed team shotgun start golf event is $65 per person, which includes cart, BBQ and prizes. Another event in the near future is the FFA Forever Blue Event on Aug. 8 from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Ackerman Memorial Park, Elkton. The reunion event will be Open House format. Planners for the event include Don Wheeler, Donna Wheeler and Shelia McBride. Tickets are on sale for the dinner at 6 p.m. Adult $10; Child 6-12 $5; under five free. For more details, e-mail mrs_wheeler_6@hotmail.com. The main event of the anniversary celebration will be Homecoming, the weekend of Sept. 25-27. Festivities include a car show, alumni football game with alumni pep band and alumni cheerleaders, a bon fire, a parade, tailgating, a Saturday High School Football Game versus Deckerville and evening entertainment. Plans also include Fireworks, funding and weather permitting. "It's going to be fun!" said DiCamillo of the weekend. Activities include a Friday night alumni football game with opening ceremonies and a bon fire. Saturday will see the parade in Pigeon, tailgating, and a Saturday varsity football game "played under the sun instead of under the lights." "We appreciate Deckerville agreeing to play on a Saturday," DiCamillo said. DiCamillo and the Steering Committee invite all Laker Alumni to participate in the parade by marching the approximately one-mile route. "This is an important event commemorating Laker history," said DiCamillo. The Committee would like the alumni to join together by graduation class for the parade. Help is needed building the 50th Anniversary Celebration Float, said DiCamillo. Anyone who is handy or who can lend a hand is invited to get in contact with Annette Renn at My Secret Garden in Pigeon at 453-2425. The Steering Committee hopes to have the float ready for the Pigeon Farmers' Festival in July. Having the float ready for the Michigan Sugar Festival in June in Sebewaing doesn't seem feasible at this time, DiCamillo noted. In conjunction with the Pigeon Farmers' Festival, July 24-26, an alumni tennis tournament will take place at Laker High School on Saturday afternoon, July 25. Anyone who wishes to participate may contact Kent Tibbits at ktibbits55@yahoo.com or Tom Craig at kayakertc@hotmail.com. In conjunction with the Elkton AutumnFest, Sept. 4-6, an alumni volleyball tournament will take place at Laker High School on Saturday, Sept. 5. Anyone interested in participating may contact Angela Herford at alherford@hotmail.com. Events continue into 2010. Also planned are a November 2009 Thanksgiving Dinner and Food Drive with support from Laker Community churches; ComingHome alumni basketball and varsity basketball versus Cass City in February of 2010; a school personnel dinner at the Franklin Inn, Bad Axe, in April of 2010; a Fine Arts Drama Review in May of next year; and a Graduation Day Sunrise Service and Alumni Concert planned for June 6, 2010. Anyone interested in playing in the alumni flag football game in September or the alumni basketball game in February of 2010 may contact Dan Armbruster at armbru22@yahoo.com. The Steering Committee is asking for a representative from each of the 49 classes to lead in the Class of 2010. Guest Speaker will be State Representative Terry Brown, whose son, Chris, will be a member of the graduating class of 2010. One long-term outcome DiCamillo hopes to see as a result of the celebration is a permanent Laker Alumni Association formed from the Steering Committee. DiCamillo believes this can happen from the impetus of the anniversary efforts. She envisions multiple functions for such an organization. This group would provide scholarships for Lakers graduates including for the Master's and Doctorate levels. The group also would provide mentoring for current Laker students including job shadowing and other learning opportunities. The association also would yearly honor an outstanding alumnus and create a Hall of Fame. DiCamillo urges everyone to visit the Web site often as it is frequently updated. "The best way to keep up-to-date on all of the events is to see the Laker Schools Web site (www.lakerschools.org/) and click on the 50th link (on the right hand side of the page)," said DiCamillo. DiCamillo said the feedback from the Web centers around alumni who say they really appreciate the Laker Experience, remember their teachers, and have many fond memories. They also say they look forward to attending many of the events and that the site has had several thousand hits by mid-May. There are surveys on the site for alumni. DiCamillo said she believes Laker offers a well-rounded program and experience. "Absolutely everyone in our Laker Community is welcome to join in," said DiCamillo. "We want and welcome ideas people share with us," she said. "It's not too late to add ideas." "If anyone would like to help with the planning, the meetings are open to all in the general public," DiCamillo said. The meetings are slated for the first and third Sundays of each month at 7 p.m. in the Laker High School Library. The purpose of the 50th Celebration is to highlight the accomplishments of alumni; to share fellowship and memories; and to appreciate the uniqueness of Laker High School. Laker High School has afforded its students a family atmosphere that is reflected in the work done and the memories created. The 50th Celebration Web site also features memorabilia such as a coffee mug, a keychain, a money clip, a glass paperweight. "Kent McKenzie has been very generous to provide items at cost with proceeds going to the events," said DiCamillo. Businesses, individuals and organizations may donate to help cover the costs of the events. This can be dome via the Web site using Pay Pal. Also for sale is a button, for $2 each, with proceeds helping defray costs of the events. For more information, see www.laker50thcelebration.myevent.com/. |
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Laker 50th anniversary golf event set June 27
By Daily Tribune Sports Staff Published: Tuesday, April 21, 2009 11:18 AM EDT PIGEON — In celebration of Elkton-Pigeon-Bay Port's 50th anniversary, the Lakers are hosting a benefit golf outing on Saturday, June 27 at Scenic Golf & Country Club. The event is a four-person scramble which gets started with a 1 p.m. shotgun. The cost is $65, which includes golf, cart, dinner and prizes. Other tickets for people not playing golf can be purchased. Teams may only have one player with a handicap below 8. The team minimum is 45. Any male-female combination can be used. Players 65 or older can play from the gold tees. Champions will receive a "coveted green jacket." Proceeds will benefit the 50th Homecoming festivities from Sept. 25-27. For more information, call (989) 453-3113, or email to mike.lepage@thumbnational.com. Entry forms also can be picked up at the Huron Daily Tribune office. |
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Huron County Press Local News
PUBLISHED: Wednesday, March 11, 2009 Lakers add more to celebration BY DAWNE PROCHILO Staff Writer The EPBP 50th Anniversary Committee is hard at work adding more fun activities and events in honor of the school district's celebration. April 24- Organizers are having a reminiscing afternoon at the Franklin Inn in Bad Axe at 6 p.m. "We want to bring people out this day, whether they're staff, graduates or community members so we can talk about days gone by," said EPBP High School Principal and committee member Lisa DiCamillo. She added this was a tentative date and to check the website for up-to-date changes. Jun 27- A Golf Fundraiser at 1 p.m. at the Scenic Gold Course is being planned. According to DiCamillo, Event Coordinator Mike LePage is planning on having great prizes for winners. "He has a green Lakers jacket for the first prize I believe and I think it's great," she said. July 24-July 26- During the Farmer's Festival weekend, watch for the anniversary celebration float in the Grand Parade on Saturday. Aug. 1- Attend the Bay Port Fish Sandwich Festival for another viewing of the float. DiCamillo said individual floats are encouraged to enter. Aug. 8- The FFA Alumni Reunion takes place. DiCamillo said the events for this day are still being planned. Sept 4- Sept. 6- The reunion float makes another appearance in the Elkton Autumnfest Grand Parade. Sept 25- Sept. 26- This is the big Homecoming Weekend. Friday has an alumni flag football game, the alumni pep band performs, a bonfire, recognitions and an evening of festivities. On Saturday there will be a parade, tailgating, afternoon football and a special event after the game with a guest speaker and a tribute with entertainment and tribute to Laker athletes. Nov. 21- Nov. 22- A Harvest Dinner is being planned along with a food drive. "The purpose of this event is for everyone to be thankful for our schools," said DiCamillo. Students and staff members are compiling information to publish a book and a DVD in honor of the celebration. Both the book and DVD will share the history of Laker High School with the first part focusing on the consolidation of the district and the construction of the high school. Other chapters will be devoted to each graduating class. The core group is asking anyone who has pictures, 8mm film or video footage they'd like to share to please contact them at 50years@lakerschools.org. The core group planning the celebration events also wants to establish a Laker Alumni Association (LAA). Then the LAA can establish scholarships, organize future guest speakers, establish a program to provide career and job shadowing opportunities and a Hall Of Fame for honor LHS graduates who have made significant contributions to society. Visit the Laker website at www.lakerschools.org and click on the anniversary link for updated information. DiCamillo added for alumni to make sure they visit the website. "We have surveys on there and I'd love to have people go to them and fill them out." |
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50 years of Laker PrideActivities planned for 2009-2010 Published: Friday, January 16, 2009 11:26 AM EST PIGEON — In April 1961, Bob Dylan made his singing debut in New York City. In May 1961, Alan Shepard became the first American to travel into space. In August 1961, construction began on the Berlin Wall. Also in 1961, the first class graduated from the consolidated Elkton-Pigeon-Bay Port Laker High School. Much has happened in 50 years, but one thing that has remained constant at Lakers is school pride, and this will be celebrated during the 2009-2010 school year through a variety of activities aimed to bring generations together. A steering committee of 15 to 18 members has been meeting on a regular basis since September 2008 to plan for the 50th anniversary celebration. This committee represents many different classes, including the Class of 1961 and the Class of 2010. When looking at the span of years from 2009 to 1961, one could see there are just 48 years between them. However, when high school officials sat down and drew a graph of school years between 1960/1961 through 2009-2010, these school years added up to 50. One of the first things the steering committee did was develop a website that will be the hub of the celebration wheel. This is where people will be able to find out information about activities, connect with fellow alumni and submit information that will be helpful in planning activities. People can get to this website by going to www.lakerschools.org and then clicking on “Laker 50th celebration” on the right-hand side of the page. Once there, people can bookmark it on their website browser for easier access. “The website is in progress all the time and people should check it on a regular basis for updates,” said Laker High School Principal Lisa DiCamillo. One page that will be updated often is the “Details of Events” page. The first event will be a fundraising golf tournament at 1 p.m. June 27 at Scenic Golf and Country Club. The winner of the tournament will receive a special green jacket. Those who are interested in finding out more about the tournament can contact Mike LePage at mal@thumbnational.com. The steering committee is looking for more fundraiser ideas to pay for the celebration activities. No money from the district’s general fund will be used to pay for any 50th anniversary events. During Farmer’s Festival 2009, the 50th anniversary celebration will be represented in the grand parade with a float. School tours will be conducted during the festival, as well. The biggest events will take place during Homecoming 2009, DiCamillo said. This will be Sept. 25 and 26. There will be alumni flag football, alumni pep band, a bonfire, recognitions and evening festivities at the Pigeon VFW Hall, with a tent added in the park adjacent to the hall. There also will be a homecoming parade, tailgating, afternoon football and a special event after the game with a guest speaker and entertainment as a tribute to Laker athletes. Of course, there will be the homecoming game against the Deckerville Eagles. One of the plans for the homecoming parade is to have the previous 49 homecoming queens (or as many as possible) ride in classic convertibles. Another big event will be Graduation 2010, which will be June 6. For the ceremony, the plan is to have a representative from each of the 49 classes to lead the Class of 2010 into the gymnasium. Alumni should start thinking about who they want their class representative to be. DiCamillo said near the end of the ceremony, after the Class of 2010 is officially graduated, a representative from this class will join the rest of the graduated classes, completing the 50 years. “That is going to be really cool,” she said. State Rep. Terry Brown, D-Pigeon, will be the keynote speaker for the graduation ceremony. Brown is a 1977 Laker graduate. His son, Chris, is graduating in 2010. Also in June, an alumni concert is being planned to celebrate graduation and a sunrise service will take place the day after graduation. Other events being planned include an agriculture/FFA event in August, a Thanksgiving Harvest Dinner and Cornerstone Concert in November, recognition of superintendents, principals, teachers, paraprofessionals, custodians, food service, transportation and secretaries in February 2010, Cominghome and an alumni basketball game in February 2010, and a drama review in March 2010. DiCamillo said the anniversary celebration embodies five decades of Laker pride. “We’re proud of our school. We’ve prepared people well. We’ve provided a good foundation, and we have good kids who have grown into great adults,” she said. Other than providing information, another important goal of the website is to provide a portal for alumni to connect with the high school and other alumni. One of the pages on the website asks people to fill out surveys about themselves. There are three categories of surveys: one survey is for Laker alumni, one is for Laker High School supporters, such as parents and athletic boosters, and the third is for past high school personnel. The surveys ask for contact information, family information, current employment and other facts. The hope of the steering committee is that many people fill out the surveys and tell their friends about it. The committee said this is the best way to get in contact with alumni and others, as it would be too time consuming and costly to mail out information about the 50th anniversary to people. “They have to come to us through our website,” said Dick Koehler, a steering committee member from the Class of 1971. “We really want the technology to work for us,” DiCamillo said. The steering committee encourages organizers of class reunions who have current addresses to contact members of their classes about the 50th anniversary festivities. The website also features a guest book where people can leave messages to their classmates. Those reading the messages can reply, as well. There also is a poll page, a calendar of events, information for travelers (such as about hotels and restaurants in the area), and a page where people can donate to the Laker 50th celebration via PayPal. Donations are tax deductible. Another page is donated to a book and DVD project. Laker teachers and students are working on publishing a book and producing a DVD on the history of the high school. Those who have pictures, 8mm film, or video that they would like to submit for the book and DVD project can e-mail 50years@lakerschools.org. The website also features a page where school-related photos can be uploaded. People from the Class of 1961 through Class of 2010 can submit photos. Laker keepsakes will be for sale on the website at a later date. A page of Laker High School accomplishments also will be featured. The steering committee is looking forward to bringing 50 years’ worth of history together during the 2009-2010 school year. “We’ve created a lot of memories and we want people to relive those memories,” DiCamillo said. She believes there will be a lot of participation in the activities and that people who haven’t been to Lakers in years will be happy to come back and help celebrate. DiCamillo is looking forward to seeing adults whom she once had as students to see how they’ve changed — and not changed. Koehler said he doesn’t want the 50th anniversary celebration to be just for alumni. “I want to bring our youth into this,” Koehler said. “I don’t want this to take away from (our student’s) senior year.” Mike LePage, Class of 1975, said the celebration will create a unity among all Laker graduates. “I’m looking forward to bringing the Laker family together,” said LePage, a member of the steering committee. Susan Herford, Class of 1971 and another steering committee member, said she likes the idea of bringing together multiple generations for the celebration. “From people in their sixties to teenagers — they will all be celebrating the same thing,” Herford said. The next meeting of the steering committee is 7:30 p.m. Sunday at the Laker High School library. Everyone is welcome to attend. Those who would like to submit ideas for fundraisers and events can call (989) 453-4600 ext. 580. Alumni association planned While the Laker 50th anniversary celebration will provide a school year’s worth of fun and reminiscing, the celebration will carry on in the form of a Laker Alumni Association. The association will establish scholarships for Laker graduates, including seniors and alumni in master's and graduate programs. The scholarships would be connected with the Huron County Community Foundation. The association also will organize a speaker/expert bureau in which alumni who can help current students and teachers in their area of expertise; establish a program to provide career and job shadowing experiences; and form a Hall of Fame to honor Laker graduates who have made significant contributions to society. Those chosen for the Hall of Fame would be recognized at homecoming each year and would receive a plaque. |
