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Country Connection
SARC celebrates success
The Salvation Army has had a presence at K.I. Sawyer for more than ten years, and now offers a full-sized gym, ping-pong table, air hockey, foosball, pool tables, games, puzzles, computers, sports and recreation equipment for open recreation by the participants, as well as weekly structured activities.
In 2010, the Salvation Army Recreation Center (SARC) is off to a great start, registering 287 youth and adult participants. In 2009, there were 521 registered youth and adults. Walk-in visits and members totalled 6,672 youth spending a total of 16,869 hours at the center.
The SARC averages twenty-seven youth per day, and each youth averaged two and a half hours at the center. The summer lunch program sponsored by the Gwinn School system and the USDA served 4,242 meals over a three month time span with an average of sixty to 100 meals served to youth each day.
The success of the SARC is attributed to a committed staff and to the many volunteers who give the gift of their time to ensure a fun, safe, clean environment. This month’s events include:
• The St. Patrick’s Day Youth Pool Tournament will take place at 2:30 p.m. on March 20 at the SARC for ages eight to seventeen. Cost is free to members and $3 for nonmembers. It is a single-elimination pool tournament with a prize to top player.
• On Thursdays, families and youth are invited to have an evening meal at the SARC from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Dinner and activities for all ages, games, crafts and character-building programs and life skills lessons are planned. The SARC will be closed for open recreation during this time. Call Doug at 346-5974 or e-mail recreationcenter@hotmail.com for details.
• Tuesdays are Super Snacker days at 5:00 p.m., and participants must arrive on time and remain until each program is finished in order to participate. Adults and youth are welcome to attend. Youth younger than eight must be accompanied by an adult or legal guardian. Super Snackers are sponsored in part by the Salvation Army and MSU Extension.
• A Red Cross Community First Aid Course will be held from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on March 20. The course is open for age sixteen and older. Cost for the two Red Cross Courses will be $10. For details, call 346-5974 or e-mail recreation center@hotmail.com
• From 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. on Saturdays, youth and adults are invited to come to the SARC for “Master of Disaster” to learn how to prepare for disasters which may occur like severe winter weather, fires and other natural or person made hazards. Participants will prepare “Disaster Action Plans” and build “Disaster Kits.” The free classes will run on Saturday from March through June.
• Every Wednesday at 5:15 p.m., come to Book Worm Club and read a story or two and practice your reading skills while finding new adventures through books.
• Youth and adults are welcome at the SARC at 6:30 on Friday nights to create great seasonal crafts with Pam. All supplies are provided to make the crafts.
• Sawyer Seniors & Friends meets every Tuesday from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. at the SARC. Sawyer Seniors and friends is open to anyone eighteen years of age or older. The group gets together for friendship and fellowship over snacks and refreshments. For details, call 346-5974 or e-mail recreationcenter@hotmail.com
—Doug Swartout
Students honored
K.I. Sawyer Elementary Principal Mrs. Peterson had a pizza luncheon sponsored by Tailwinds Bar & Grill for the January Students of the Month, from front left: Holly Parsons, Collin Markle, Steven Kelly; second row: Malorie Couillard, Darren Murray, Hailey Kratohwil, Peter Evans, Analise Hoevker; back row: Joe Bess, Adrienne Schuls, Samantha Schoenbauer, David Soderman, Becca-Lynn Thiel and Sophie Rosevear. Not pictured: Xavier Fountain.
Delta to serve Sawyer
Marquette County and Airport officials are reported that Delta Airlines has announced significant changes to scheduled passenger service at Sawyer International Airport.
Beginning on April 6, Delta Airlines will provide twice-daily service to both Detroit Metro and Minneapolis-St. Paul on the very popular fifty-seat Regional Jets, with the schedule available at www.delta.com
The announcement to serve both Detroit and Minneapolis with multiple flights with all Regional Jet aircraft signifies a new era in air service for passengers flying to and from Sawyer.
The enhanced service to Detroit and Minneapolis- St. Paul on Delta Airlines with Regional Jet aircraft, allows Sawyer to continue the growth and development of Sawyer’s air service program, and provides our passengers the frequency of flights, comfort and speed of jet service for both business and leisure passengers to two of the best airports in the United States.
Additionally, scheduled service with larger aircraft will provide an immediate forty-seven-percent daily increase in available seat capacity, and significantly reduce the weight-restricted flights, and the flights that were often-times in an over-sold condition—both of which were common-place with the former 34-seat turboprop.
Promotions given
Tae Kwon Do Grand Master Kevin Schoenebeck handed out certificates and new belts during a recent martial art belt promotion held in Gwinn. Those promoted and instructors are, from front left, instructor Tina Fuller; Russell Brown (yellow belt); Nicolas Savola (blue belt); Seth Quayle (blue/brown stripe belt); William Overmyer (blue belt); Dan James Blackmon. From back left, Dan Ashlee Kranz; Greg Seppanen (yellow belt); Nicholas Overmyer (blue belt); Kevin Schoenebeck; Jacob Overmyer (blue belt); and Dan Tavaree Kovach.
Merry meal
The first Merry Mixers fun event of 2010 was a potato sausage-making day. Several members made the U.P. favorite, using Edna Hocking’s recipe, starting from scratch at 9:00 a.m. with a goal of lunch at noon. The menu was potato sausage, dinner rolls, a garden salad and jello dessert. Participants paid $3 for their meal to cover the cost of ingredients and enhance the Merry Mixers “White Elephant Fund” used to aid those in need. The team work, the heavenly aroma and the laughter around the dining table made good memories. Shown are volunteers Mary Rivard and Edna Hocking. —Ruthanne Schatzman
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