Photo by Stacey Tucker • Thanks to a $30,000 donation from the Kent Kramer Memorial Trust, Thumb area residents have a new paved quarter-mile walking trail in Kingston where they can exercise. Below, Doug and Paula Kramer present a check to Kingston Elementary School principal Lane Walker.
By Stacey Tucker
Staff Writer
KINGSTON — Each day, approximately 360 pairs of feet will be walking along a track at Kingston Elementary School, thanks to a caring family in the community.
Doug and Paula Kramer, along with Melanie (Kramer) Harrington have donated $30,000 from the Kent Kramer Memorial Trust to install a 1/4 mile walking track, located behind the school.
The track was donated in memory of Kent Kramer, who passed away in 2010 after he was fatally shot by a part-time Sandusky police officer. The money is a portion of the settlement awarded to the Kramer family after their civil lawsuit against the City of Sandusky and officer Scott Mintz was settled out of court.
Since being awarded the funds, the family has been donating the money to different organizations and causes.
“When we donate the money, we try to donate to what Kent would have supported,” Paula Kramer said. “Kent loved kids.
“This is really a gift to kids from him.”
The track cost approximately $30,000 to build.
The 1/4 mile asphalt track was constructed around the playground at the school, and has four inspirational signs held by a cutout of Kester, the elementary school’s cardinal mascot. On one end, benches with the words “In Memory of Kent Kramer” are installed for weary walkers.
Kingston Elementary School principal Lane Walker said they are thrilled to have the new addition to their school, and they couldn’t have done it without the thoughtfulness of the Kramer family.
See WALKING A8
“What a luxury for us,” Walker said. “We’ve been wanting one for eight years, but there’s not a lot of money for perks for kids.”
Walker said the PTO worked to raise funds eight years ago and realized the cost was just too high to make a go of it.
“The PTO really wanted one, but once they started looking into it, they realized it just wasn’t doable,” Walker said. “Without this, we couldn’t have done any of it.”
At Kingston Elementary School, there is a walking group called Kesters Fitness Club. In the club, students walk each day to promote fitness. The students receive incentives for walking and teachers track their progress.
“Now even when it’s wet or snowing outside we can still walk,” Walker said. “I would anticipate 360 kids walking on it on average a day.”
The asphalt for the track was laid down by Aztek Asphalt and Kramer said owners Todd and Ann Wendorf donated $2,000 to the project.
“I told him he had the job, but knowing what it was for he knocked $2,000 off as his donation,” Kramer said.
Walker said the school plans on having an after school fitness club for students and parents would be welcome to walk too.
“Just to get in shape and enjoy exercising,” he said. “Even if parents want to come up it’s a great opportunity.
“We want to offer a school that loves kids and kids want to go here.”
Community members are also welcome to walk the track after school hours.
Stacey Tucker is a staff writer for the Tuscola County Advertiser. She can be reached at tucker@tcadvertiser.com.