By Staff
Throughout the years I have been reporting, I have heard a plea by almost every community. "How do we get the young people from moving away and not returning?"
We educate our youth, send them off to college and poof - they're gone, returning only for holidays and vacations.
So it was good to see the Cassopolis Schools Board of Education hire a native and graduate of their own system to return and take over the reins as superintendent of schools.
Though Gregory Weatherspoon had kept up a lake home on Paradise Lake, and returned to see his family, now he will be offering his dedication to educating our own youth, instead of those in Lansing.
Niles Community Schools also recently appointed Jim Knoll of Niles as principal of the Niles High School, with the retirement of long-time principal Betty Perkins.
I saw Greg Younger, who played baseball with my sons in Dowagiac, become the athletic director for Dowagiac Union Schools.
I hope businesses too think about hiring back our young people and offering them competitive salaries and benefits.
Well is everyone already fed up with the many road construction projects. Wherever you go it seems there are delays. I believe the only solution is to expect to be delayed and allow yourself some extra time.
This coming weekend is the Cassopolis Arts and Music Festival. Years ago there was Cassopolis Days, which mainly were street sales and a parade.
Then there was Catsopolis Days with the horribly ugly but wonderfully tasty dish - Kitty Litter cake, in honor of Ed Lowe, the inventor of the product which brought cats into our home.
For those of you who never got the chance to taste this treat, it took on the grey color of litter, complete with Tootsie Roll candy, which was scooped into our bowl with a pooper scooper.
If anyone still has the recipe maybe they could send it in and I will print it.
There will be four bands playing on Saturday in Cassopolis and the annual Gospel Fest will be held on Sunday. Also on Sunday is the annual Log Cabin celebration held at the Pioneer Log Cabin on the shore of Stone Lake in the Village.
Too bad if you missed the great food and entertainment at the Juneteenth celebration last weekend at the Calvin Center Township Hall.
Speaking with Velma Danzy of Cassopolis, who calls 25 her "grandkids," I heard about her childhood in Mississippi.
She said she wishes everyone would have to pick cotton once in their life to realize how hard the work was.
Roger Woods said he did once. His father wanted to teach them all that lesson. It is one he never forgot. "I earned enough to buy a hamburger and a pop," he said, after picking all day for his uncle in Arkansas.
So get out this weekend and enjoy the Sunday concert in Niles or see what's happening in Cass.