By Bill Petzold
Editor
CARO — Usually you have to stay up late to see the stars, but at least once a year they get up bright and early for breakfast.
The Tuscola County Stars Breakfast is an annual event that honors those Tuscola County citizens who strive to make a difference in their community.
About 150 people from around the county were on hand to honor those who make Tuscola County a better place to live.
Four awards are handed out: Individual Community Service, Business Community Service, Group Communty Service, and the Above and Beyond Award given to a person who exemplifies going out of their way to serve their community.
This year’s Individual award went to Lonnie Kester. Kester is a lifelong resident of Millington, and as a believer in physical fitness has donated considerable property to the Southern Links Trailways in order to help improve the health of local citizens.
“Lonnie is a true humanitarian and helps those in need with no expectation of recognition,” emcee and Tuscola Intermediate School District superintendent Gene Pierce said. “Whether it’s plowing snow for neighbors or co-signing loans for folks with no credit, Lonnie sees the best in all people.”
Kester told the crowd he is “blessed.”
“We all have the Holy Spirit (in us),” Kester said. “Through God, all things are possible.”
Other individual nominees included:
Gary Avery — honored for his work with Caro area Boy Scouts.
Adam Barden — honored for volunteer efforts in Vassar including organizing Chill on the Hill.
Dale Collins — honored for coaching and serving as president of Millington Little League, as well as serving on the school board for more than 10 years.
Doug and Paul Kramer — honored for their community work in Kingston through the Kent Kramer Foundation and for supporting and hosting activities for students from Kingston Schools and Highland Pines School.
Matt Lefler — honored for his work with the The Outdoors Club at Reese Schools, which hosts a pep rally for deer season, a wild game dinner, ice fishing events, nature clean-up days — and even a turkey calling contest.
Melody Liscomb — “Some people are born with a heart of gold and share the glow with everyone they meet,” Pierce said. “Melody is one of those people. She privately sees those in need and reaches out to make their life better. Melody’s needs always seem to be secondary to others in need. Melody is generous in ways many of us cannot understand or fully appreciate.”
Rose Putnam — honored for her work with the Thumb Octagon Barn and Thumb Quilt Trail, which provides the area with a tourism draw as well as helps preserve the Thumb’s agricultural heritage.
Rev. William Sanders — honored for his work with Watrousville United Methodist Church and for serving the Tuscola County Sheriff’s Department and Michigan State Police as a chaplain. He serves as a trainer for chaplains, and is a member of the International Conference of Police Chaplains.
Brian Terbush — honored for his work with the Reese High School Outdoors Club, assists in organizing an Eath Day Clean-Up, indoor archery, a wild game dinner and fishing contests.
Rick Tuckey — honored for volunteering as an assitant chaplain with the Forgotten Man Ministires, being the fundraising coordinator for the Rebuilding Together Program and for working with youth at The Fowler Center for Outdoor Learning.
John Zehnder — honored because, as lead chef at Zehnder’s Restaurant in Frankenmuth, he brings a wealth of experience to Tuscola Technology Center students as a regular visitor to his son Chef Robert Zehnder’s Culinary Arts classes.
Vassar Woman’s Life wins Group Category
Since it was found in 2013, Woman’s Life Vassar Chapter 857 has already made a major impact on its community. The group has applied for and received grants to make blankets for the Homeless Coalition of Caro and the Foster Closet in Vassar. They have purchased flowers for Keep Vassar Beautiful’s annual petunia planting project, and have hosted bake sales, raffles, tea parties and other functions as fundraisers for numerous community activities.
Accepting the award were Dean and Susan Campbell, Lenore Philo, Deborah Stakolosa, Elaine Williamson, Dolly Bauer and Ellen Green.
Also nominated in the Group Category were:
Jim and Jan Kribs — honored for their service to Arbela Township.
Living Word Worship Center and Pastor Mark Karwowski — honored for assisting many people to become debt free thorugh the church’s “Financial Peace University of Cass City,” Pastor Mark also is a member of the LEAD Tuscola steering committee and a member of the Cass City village council.
Reese High School Out-of-Doors Club — honored for developing a respect for nature and keeping kids connected. Their activities include clean ups, turkey calling contests, team shooting competitions, kayaking trips, bass fishing, spear fishing and a whitewater rafting trip. The group also present two $500 scholarships.
St. Paul Lutheran Quilters — This group of six to 18 quilters, both men and women, sew quilts for the less fortunate, including 130 quilts made by hand last year. On hand representing the group were Hilda Buchinger, Karen Elmy, Lorna Kline, Lucille Sopchik, Marily Hinderer, Ruth Gustko, Sally Martine and Sandy Singer.
Thumb Quilt Trail Committee — Since 2013, the group of roughly 17 volunteers has poured hours and hours into the project working barn owners, businesses and private donors to build, paint and mount barn squares on 21 Thumb-area barns. The Michigan Barn Preservation Network describes the quilt trail as “a growing agri-tourism phenomenon.” Accepting the award for the group were Rose Putnam, Pat Frazier, Pam Stillwell-Binder, Ruth Steele and Barbie Brooks.
Kappen Tree Service wins Business Award
Kappen Tree Service was honored for its volunteerism as the winner of the Tuscola Stars Award in the Business Category. Kappen generously donated their staff, time and equipment to assist with hanging quilt squares for the Thumb Quilt Trail. Pete Cody and the Kappen crew were honored for their help with the quilt trail as welll as numerous other community service projects.
Also nominated in the Business Category were:
Caro Rental Center — owner Dick Fullmer was honored for supporting the Caro community by supplying materials, equipment, labor and financial contributions.
Cass City Police Department — Chief Craig Haynes and fellow officers were honored for organizing a golf outing to raise funds for the Child Advocacy Center.
Consumers Energy — honored for donating money and sponsoring the Caro Chamber of Commerce, Tuscola County Fair and more. Mary Kulis accepted the award.
Janson Equipment of Reese — honored for its support of Reese Schools. For many years, owner Tom Janson has been a community leader and recognizes the importance of community spirit and leadership.
Millington Pizza — Owner Michael Derscha and his staff were honored for raising funds for those in need, especially in emergencies, and for donate turkeys and gift boxes to families during the holidays.
Gail Smith goes Above and Beyond
The final category in which people are honored by the Tuscola County Stars committee is the Above and Beyond Category,
Gail Smith’s name was submitted by at least three people for the Above and Beyond Award. Gail is an organizer of high school foreign exchange programs and has placed studetns from all over the world. Gail also helps out at Rawson Library, and has organized fund raisers that have generated more than $8,000 for the library.
Also nominated for the Above and Beyond Category were:
Marc Augsburger — president and CEO of Caro Community Hospital honored for community involvement and being a member of the Caro Rotary Club, United Way Honorary Campaign Chair, a member of the Hospital Council of East Central Michigan and member of the Child Advocacy Center.
Stacy Crutchfield — Stacy has worked for Tuscola Intermediate School District for almost 40 years, coaches swimming for children and high school students, volunteers at the Children’s Fun Fair and raises funds through the Polar Plunge for Michigan Special Olympics.
Jerry Fierros — honored for his work at Akron-Fairgrove Elementary School, Jerry puts others first, gives everything and expects nothing in return. He looks out for the students and donates his own money to help a child in need. Jerry makes the school a better place with his positive attitude and caring nature.
Bob Forbes — The Vassar Township supervisor was honored for spear-heading efforts to help a 71-year-old veteran who was unable to afford much-needed repairs to her home. Thanks to Forbes efforts to rally the support of various groups, most of the repairs will be done in the next few months.
Bob Frazer — honored for volunteering his time to work with the Thumb Quilt Trail to promote tourism in the area and the Caro Roadhouse project to help preserve the history of the Thumb for residents and visitors.
Debra and Jim Hobbs — honored for checking in on senior citizens to ensure their well-being, taking treats, casseroles and meals with them to make sure they are well-fed and healthy.
Paul Iloncai — honored for his volunteer work, Iloncai is a U.S. Navy veteran. He volunteers with Hospice services, the Eastern Michigan Food Bank and the Cass City Chamber of Commerce, tutors students and works at the Cass City Library. Paul has earned the Ed Kuntz Memorial Scholarship and the Human Service Program Excellence Award.
Daryl and Connie Iwankovitsch — The Cass City couple — known as “The I’s” — were honored for chauffeuring others to church, shopping, restaurants and other activities.
Pam Jerzy — honored for being a dedicated volunteer at Rawson Memorial Library, Jerzy has a list of elderly neighbors who look forward to a morning phone call.
Steve Ley — honored for being a wrestling coach and educational leader for many years in Tuscola County. This year, Ley marked his 500th wrestling team victory, and has been a mentor to athletes and students. Steve served as the co-op coordinator and principal of the Tuscola Technology Center. Steve was instrumental in establishing the Kiwanis Club of Caro, volunteered to assist with the Pumpkin Festival and numerous other events.
Shawn Petri — Shawn is principal of the Tuscola Technology Center and serves as president of the Caro Kiwanis Club.
Vicky Sherry — honored for her work with the Tuscola County Economic Development Corporation. She plans, writes and implements grants to help move community projects forward.
Bill Petzold is the editor of the Tuscola County Advertiser. He can be reached at petzold@tcadvertiser.com.