Jackson native Troy Dixon is a singer-songwriter based in Portland, OR and performs throughout the Northwest at various concert venues.  He returns to Jackson for a concert at Cuppa Coffeehouse at Art 634 Friday night at 7PM and performs two of his compositions on today’s show.  Other guests:  Lumen Christi Principal Chris Smith;  Jackson County Fair Manager Denise Owens;  Jackson Area Career Center Instructor Joe Lienhart with precision machining student Ken Wielinski;  Jackson County Miss Outstanding Teen Kaitlyn Hagerty with Pageant Director Windy Chmiel.

Phil and Sandy DuPuis have been selected to serve as the 2013 Jackson County Rose Parade Grand Marshalls.  Phil DuPuis and Sandy DuPuis are retiring next month and closing their landmark jewelry store, DuPuis Jewelers,  after more than 40 years in business.  The store has been in continuous operation for more than a century.  Other guests today:  Jackson Mayor Martin Griffin;  Jackson County Veterans Affairs Director Dave Welihan with Jim Crawford of Vietnam Veterans of America;  Tom Shirilla, Consumers Energy’s “This is My Michigan” Initiative;  Parma Girl Scouts Hanna Farler, Sage Zigler and Austin Waldron hosting a blood drive at United Methodist Church in Parma May 29th;  Pet of the Week with Kathy Brafford, Cascades Humane Society.

Kriss Giannetti with Bart

Promise Zone and Promise Bowl Coordinator Kriss Giannetti announced the return of the Promise Bowl.  The second annual game between the Lumen Christi and Jackson football teams will be held on Friday, September 6th at Withington Stadium.  The event is a fundraiser for both schools and the Jackson Promise.  Sponsorship opportunities are now available and details are on Facebook and at www.jacksonpromise.com.  Other guests today:  Jackson County Parks Director Brandon Ransom;  Nate Vermeulen, Vermeulen Furniture;  Jackson Area Career Center Instructor Joe Macklin with students Allison White, Nick Aniol and Ryan Curtis with the “Mega Movie Marathon” weekend event (details here);  Big Brothers Big Sisters “Match of the Month” with Ken Jones and Michael.

Civilian of the Year Richard Riska

Dispatcher of the Year Shannon Thompson

Deputy of the Year – Corrections – Michael Coburn

Deputy of the Year Todd Whiting

Jackson County Sheriff Steve Rand announced the 2013 Office of the Sheriff award recipients on today’s show.  The presentations were made at the annual banquet last week.  Other guests:  Jackson District Library Hanover and Concord branch manager Chris Sadler;  Waterloo Recreation Area Park Manager Gary Jones and Hayes State Park Supervisor Jim O’Brien;  Pastor Frank Hampton, Church of God.  Weekend Highlights from the Michigan Beer and Wine Fest;  Smart Commute.

Steve Shotwell and Mark Snyder with Bart

The Jackson Men’s Garden Club and Jackson Master Gardeners are teaming up for a huge plant sale this weekend.  Jackson Men’s Garden Club members Steve Shotwell and Mark Snyder described the joint venture as an opportunity for the event to become a big spring festival.  The hours are 8am to 12 Noon at the Gumper Building, Jackson County Fairgrounds Saturday.  Other guests:  Cameron McCollum, General Manager of Jackson Area Transportation Authority, along with City Councilpersons Andrew Frounfelker and Michelle Woods provided details of the new bus service for inner-city grocery service.  The routes to Aldi begin Saturday;  Bob Rutan, CEO of Naturs Design and inventor of RemZzzs;  Wilson School teacher Mark Taylor with students Chelsey Williams and Kyaira Varner-Brown;  Jackson Recreation Director Kelli Hoover;  Pet of the Week with Kathy Brafford.  Wednesday’s program re-airs on Thursday.

Sarah Ermatinger

Sarah Ermatinger, Vice-President of Marketing at CP Federal Credit Union, reported on the Credit Union’s community involvement over the past year.  More than 50% of the CU’s employees participated in volunteer initiatives and more than $130,000 was donated to organizations and non-profits.  Again the year, CP Federal will be sponsoring the Champions Club at Michigan International Speedway with several major upgrades designed for the fans’ enjoyment.  Other guests:  Jackson County Prosecutor Jerry Jarzynka;  Women’s Health Week with Dr. Monica Hill and Marti Griffith, R.N. from the Center for Family Health;  Communications Director Jim Brian, United Way of Jackson, with Kristin Pluta, Coordinator of “Project Access”;  Reading-Writing Connection Executive Director Jane Robinson and Melissa Quisenberry of the Jackson YMCA on summer reading camps presented by both organizations.

Update:  This episode also airs on Friday, May 17.

- Senior Division:
Mark Mann – 71
Greg Bailey – 77
Nathan Lazebnik – 77
Steve Jackson – 78
Andy Bostik – 80
Chris Strong – 80
Bill Tuttle – 80
Bob Rainey – 81
Roger Wilkes – 81
John Drlicka – 82
Dave Mayotte – 82
Jim Nelson – 82

- Open Division:
Andrew Tindall – 73
Andy Denig – 74
Greg Zeller – 75
Dan Bellus – 77
Chris Pond – 78
Jason Klinger – 79
Andrew Lang – 79
Kevin Rhodes – 79
Justin Welton – 79
Mike Boldt – 80
Todd Marston – 80

Maycee Brigham, Coach Leigh Ann Swihart and Sydney Martines

Jackson Community College recently signed two Concord High School seniors to play for the Jets during the 2013-14 season.

Maycee Brigham is a 5-foot 9-inch outside hitter and defense setter for Kathy Lehamn, Concord Yellowjackets coach. She is a three-sport athlete at Concord, with honors in volleyball, basketball and softball. In volleyball, she has been All Conference, All Area Dream Team, All Region, Most Valuable Player of team, First Team All State. She was named Female Athlete of the Year for three years, and was varsity all four years of high school for all three sports. In the classroom, she has earned a 3.9 grade point average, is Top 10 in her class, is part of the National Honor Society, Students Against Drunk Driving (SADD), Academic All State and Academic All Conference, all four years.

Sydney Martines is a 5-foot 10-inch middle hitter for the Concord Yellowjackets. She is also a three-sport athlete, playing volleyball, basketball and softball. Her volleyball honors include Second Team All State, Big 8 All Conference, All District and All Region.

“I am super excited to have both of these athletes here at JCC,” said Leigh Ann Swihart, JCC head volleyball coach. “They will raise the level of our play and be a huge asset to our team as we strive for that conference title.”

Matt Van Pelt

Senior point guard Matt Van Pelt has signed a one year contract to play professionally for the Darwin Uni Rebels located in Darwin, Australia. Van Pelt will depart on June 5th and tentatively plans to return to the states on December 16. Matt is one of only two American players on the roster joining a 6’9 forward from Seattle, Washington.

Darwin is the capital city of the northern territory in Australia and sits right on the ocean. Temperatures range from the low 70′s to the high 90′s all year long.

Matt started in 126 games throughout his collegiate career and led Spring Arbor to 84 victories. He was twice named to the Crossroads League All-Defensive Team.

In March the National Christian College Athletics Association recognized Matt as the Pete Maravich Award Recipient. This is the highest individual honor within the NCCAA. The award which originated in 1990 was named after Pete Maravich, the legendary LSU and NBA basketball Hall-of-Famer. Van Pelt is the 24th recipient and the first in Spring Arbor history.

Matt will graduate this spring with a degree in English and Communications.

“I’m really happy Matt has the opportunity to continue to play the game he is so passionate about. He has put in countless hours and is very deserving,” commented SAU Head Coach Ryan Cottingham.

Van Pelt becomes the first SAU player to play overseas since Rob Boss played two seasons in the Basketiglan Herr Division I League in Sweden in 2010 and 2011.

Melissa Walton, a senior associate athletic director for Albion College, has taken on a new challenge during this spring semester – coaching the Special Olympics Area 19 volleyball team from Jackson County as it prepares for the state games at the end of the month.

Walton has been trying to have a volleyball team represent the area in the Special Olympics, but didn’t have enough players until this year.

“My aunt worked for the national [Special Olympics] office in Washington D.C., so I have been working for Special Olympics since I was 5,” says Walton, “but this is my first time working in this area.”  Walton ran the power lifting event for the Special Olympics when she was working at Central Michigan University.

Each Monday night, the eight members of the team are brought to Kresge Gymnasium for a two-hour practice, which normally starts with running laps, and then transitions to brief passing drills with partners, and eventually leads into a scrimmage.