Autumn Watson and Secondary Principal Jennifer Colin after the program in Grand Rapids.

On Saturday, May 5, Creative Technologies Academy Senior Autumn Watson was a recipient of Justin Amash’s Congressional Medal of Merit at the Gerald R. Ford Museum. The Congressional Medal of Merit is awarded to students who demonstrate exemplary citizenship and academic excellence. CTA is proud of Autumn and her contributions to our school and the community. Autumn plans to attend Ferris State University this fall.

Two CS area students receive Congressional Medal of Merit 

Autumn Watson, of Creative Technologies Academy, received the Congressional Medal of Merit on Saturday, May 5, from Rep. Justin Amash. Courtesy photo.

Jacob Ryan Outwin, of Cedar Springs High School, received the Congressional Medal of Merit on Saturday, May 5, from Rep. Justin Amash. Courtesy photo.

Rep. Justin Amash (R-Mich.) recognized the 2018 service academy appointees and student Congressional Medal of Merit recipients from Michigan’s Third District at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum on Saturday, May 5. 

Applicants to the service academies require a nomination from an authorized nominating source, which includes members of Congress. To assist with the nominating process, Amash assembled a committee of military and civic leaders who reviewed applications, interviewed potential nominees, and made recommendations. 

In addition to the seven service academy appointees recognized, Amash honored 34 students with the Congressional Medal of Merit. Among them was Jacob Ryan Outwin, of Cedar Springs High School, and Autumn Watson, of Creative Technologies Academy.

The Congressional Medal of Merit recognizes high school seniors who have demonstrated exemplary citizenship and academic excellence. Recipients were nominated by their principals or guidance counselors. 

Earlier in November, the US House Committee on Natural Resources passed an energy bill to remove public input for management of public land energy management. H.R. Bill 4239, the bill “SECURE Act,” prioritizes fracking above all other energy sources, decimates rules that regulate drilling, guts public involvement and input on development through the National Environmental Policy Act. It gives the states permitting and oversight authority over energy development on federal lands. I think this applies to Manistee National Forest, Sleeping Bear Dunes, Seney National Wildlife Refuge and other lands the public owns.

You own federal public lands throughout the US but the committee bill limits management decisions to the state where they are located even though most owners do not live there. A goal is to prevent public involvement in energy policy. You might be aware the President has expressed a desire to open National Parks to mining as well as other lands designated for other purposes.

The bill weakens protections for marine mammals, expands offshore drilling in America’s oceans, undoes protections in the Arctic, and eliminates the ability for a president to withdraw and protect areas from drilling off the coasts. It’s destructive for protection of wild areas, ground water protection, and forest management.

The SECURE act could come to a vote on the House floor at any time. I encourage you to protect citizen rights to have continued management input for your shared property ownership. Contact your member of the US House of Representatives to request no vote when the bill comes to the full house. For many of us it is Justin Amash. 

Steven J. Mueller, Courtland Twp

Rep. Justin Amash and Tara Tepin, Cedar Springs High School.

Rep. Justin Amash and Autumn Shelagowski, Creative Technologies Academy.

Rep. Justin Amash (R-Mich.) recognized the 2017 service academy appointees and student Congressional Medal of Merit recipients from Michigan’s Third District at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum on Saturday, May 6.

“We are blessed to have such amazing students in our community. They are making a difference for our future,” said Amash.

Applicants to the service academies require a nomination from an authorized nominating source, which includes members of Congress. To assist with the nominating process, Amash assembled a committee of military and civic leaders who reviewed applications, interviewed potential nominees, and made recommendations.

In addition to the six service academy appointees recognized, Amash honored 40 students with the Congressional Medal of Merit. The Congressional Medal of Merit recognizes high school seniors who have demonstrated exemplary citizenship and academic excellence. Recipients were nominated by their principals or guidance counselors.

In our coverage area, there were two students recognized as Congressional Medal of Merit recipients: Autumn Shelagowski, of Creative Technologies Academy; and Tara Nicole Tepin, of Cedar Springs High School.

Rep. Justin Amash (R-MI.) announced Academy Night for Third District high school students interested in learning more about the U.S. service academies. Academy Night is scheduled for Monday, November 21, 2016, at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum, 303 Pearl Street NW, Grand Rapids, from 7-9 p.m.

Officials from the United States Military Academy, the United States Naval Academy, the United States Coast Guard Academy, the United States Merchant Marine Academy, and the United States Air Force Academy will provide information about the academies and the application process. Representatives from the offices of Senator Debbie Stabenow and Senator Gary Peters also will be available to answer questions.

Admission to the academies, except for the Coast Guard Academy, requires a nomination from the vice president, a U.S. senator, or a U.S. representative. Students typically begin the admissions process in the spring of their junior year of high school.

More information about the academy nomination process can be found at amash.house.gov.

Rep. Justin Amash and Alyssa Bonk, of Algoma Christian School.

Rep. Justin Amash (R-Mich.) recognized the 2016 service academy appointees and student Congressional Medal of Merit recipients from Michigan’s Third District at the Grand Rapids Art Museum on Saturday, April 30.

“I am honored to recognize these deserving students for their outstanding achievements. I wish them great success in their future endeavors,” said Amash.

Applicants to the service academies require a nomination from an authorized nominating source, which includes members of Congress. To assist with the nominating process, Amash assembled a committee of military and civic leaders who reviewed applications, interviewed potential nominees, and made recommendations.

In addition to the nine service academy appointees recognized, Amash honored 39 students with the Congressional Medal of Merit. The Congressional Medal of Merit recognizes high school seniors who have demonstrated exemplary citizenship and academic excellence. Recipients were nominated by their principals or guidance counselors.

In our coverage area, there were two students recognized as Congressional Medal of Merit recipients: Alyssa Bonk, of Algoma Christian School; and Kyle Ross Spahr, of Cedar Springs High School. Spahr was unable to attend the ceremony.

Rep. Justin Amash (R-Mich) will be holding eight town hall meetings next week in the third district. The closest one to the greater Cedar Springs area will be held on Tuesday, March 29, from 9:15 a.m. to 10:15 a.m. at the Sparta Civic Center, 75 N. Union Street, in Sparta. He will also hold meetings in Lowell, Marshall, Hastings, Eureka, Portland, Battle Creek, and Caledonia.

Spc. Samuel Andres received a Purple Heart and other medals in a recent ceremony. Pictured left to right: Nick Andres, Mary Andres, Spc. Samuel Andres, Rep. Justin Amash, Michele (Andres) Krick, and Andrea (Andres) Lisagor.

Rep. Justin Amash presented six medals, including the Purple Heart, to retired Army Specialist Samuel N. Andres at a ceremony held at Kent County Veterans Services on Wednesday, October 14.

Spc. Andres is a veteran of the Vietnam War. On Friday, September 13, 1968, Andres and his four-man squad were attacked while on night patrol south of Pleiku. Over the course of the nearly hour-long firefight, Andres was struck by two bullets, sustaining injuries to his right leg. On the request and with the assistance of Andres’s family, including his wife Mary, the United States Army approved Spc. Andres’s medals, including the Purple Heart, in May 2015.

Children of Spc. Andres include Nicholas (Nick) Andres, of Cedar Springs; Michele(Andres) Krick, and Andrea (Andres) Lisagor, both living in Greenville, and Eric Andres, deceased in 2009.

The Purple Heart is awarded in the name of the president of the United States. First issued under the administration of George Washington, this prestigious award signifies that, as the result of hostile actions, the recipient was wounded or killed while actively serving our country in the United States Armed Forces.

Rep. Justin Amash answered questions from constituents at the Cedar Springs town hall meeting last week. Courtesy photo.

Third District Representative Justin Amash (R-MI) held town hall meetings in both Cedar Springs and Sparta, on Monday, July 1.

He was at the Sparta Carnegie Township Library, 80 N. Union in Sparta from noon to 1 p.m., and then at Creative Technologies Academy, 350 Pine Street in Cedar Springs from 6 to 7 p.m. Ben VanderVeen, a spokesman for Rep. Amash, said the meetings turned out well, with about 45-50 people at the Sparta meeting and 50 to 60 in Cedar Springs.

Rep. Amash gave a 5 to 10 minute update on some specific issues and then opened it up to questions from the audience. The meetings ran about an hour each.

“He (Amash) was pretty pleased with how they went,” said VanderVeen.

The representative tries to hold two to four town hall meetings a month throughout the third district.

Rep. Justin Amash (R-MI) announced that he will host town hall meetings in Sparta and Cedar Springs on Monday, July 1, 2013.

“I look forward to answering questions about the issues facing our country and the Third District of Michigan,” said Amash.

The town halls are free and open to the public and the media.

He will be at the Sparta Carnegie Township Library, 80 N. Union St., Sparta from noon to 1 p.m. on Monday, July 1.

Amash will then be at Creative Technologies Academy, 350 Pine Street, Cedar Springs, from 6 to 7 p.m. the evening of Monday, July 1.