Hale told the Select Board that if riders are doing something that is “clearly illegal,” such as gathering for drinking parties in wooded areas or violating traffic laws, residents should call the sheriffs or state police for a law enforcement response. Hale told the Select Board that Orleans County was the first in which VASA contracted with the local sheriff’s department. In general, Howard said, the public has a key role to play in enforcing ATV regulations. He later told the Banner in an email that the VASA contract with the Sheriff’s Department “has no cap on hours; patrol rate is $65 hour, just as it is with all VASA law enforcement contracts and there is no dollar cap.”, Referring to the loaned vehicle, Hale added, “There will be a shared cost program in place for purchase of a side-by-side and trailer next season between VASA and the [Bennington County Sheriff’s Department].”. Currently the road diet design is in place on the township portion of U.S. 12 while the four-lane setup remains in the City of New Buffalo. The motion cited "numerous complaints from township residents concerning the trial road diet" received by the board. Low 33F. He said MDOT has corrected the issues, with cones blocking off the empty lane on the lake side and digital signs at both ends. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph.. Low 34F. “We believe that the network of resources provided by VASA affiliation will be a benefit not only to our club, but to the culture of ATV riding in Pownal.”, She added, “Our club wanted to show good faith to our fellow community members that our central goal is to promote and participate in legal and respectful riding, and we believe that taking on VASA affiliation shows that. According to a media release issued Friday from the Select Board, Rebecca Dragon, liaison to the board, contacted Hale to gain a better understanding of the impact of the new legislation on local municipalities. Country Road Group is part of leading Southern Hemisphere retail group, Woolworths Holdings Limited (South Africa). NEW BUFFALO — Admitting that the temporary road diet on U.S. 12 in New Buffalo Township got off to rough start, the Friends of Berrien County Trails group is seeking to keep the three-lane set-up in place until the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) can conduct a study of roadway traffic both during the week and on a weekend in late July. Author twitter ... contacted Hale to gain a better understanding of the impact of the new legislation on local municipalities. Be Nice. Jim Therrien reports for NENI newspapers in Southern Vermont, including the Bennington Banner, Brattleboro Reformer and Manchester Journal. Bennington County is just beginning local education efforts, he said, and should be in line for “a bigger share of the [funding] pie” next year. Township Supervisor Michelle Heit noted earlier in the meeting that it's up to MDOT whether it conducts the study later this month (dates given during the meeting for that traffic study were July 29 and Aug. 1). No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism racist or sexually-oriented language. “Through multiple conversations, and eventually an introductory meeting with two Select board members, a spokesperson from the Pownal Regulators ATV Club, Mr. Hale, and Ethan Hill (Trails Master of VASA), the town of Pownal has forged a working relationship with VASA,” according to the release. A key component of the program, Howard and Hale said, is that VASA always works with local ATV clubs to coordinate where sheriff’s department patrols are needed and to provide information on trouble spots. VASA, working with the Sheriff’s Department and the local clubs, is primarily there to help fund sheriff’s patrols, educate the public on laws and regulations and provide information on trouble areas, he said. Don't knowingly lie about anyone Trails group urges completion of road diet study; Township Board supports four-lane design, Autumn hikes pass through Galien River County Park, Community Forum to focus on 1918 flu pandemic, New Buffalo volleyball team wins district title on home floor, Bridgman battles back to tame Lions in 8-man football finale, River Valley volleyball team triumphs over Titans in district semifinal, Acorn celebrates fall with final outdoor music fest of 2020, Watervliet beats Bridgman in Division 3 district volleyball semifinal, Berrien County Health Department asks residents to help slow spread of COVID-19, River Valley Schools go to virtual learning after COVID-19 causes staff shortage, Rotary Club of Harbor Country organizes Civility Project. According to the Friends of Berrien County Trails. Changes in traffic volume; 2. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph.. Cloudy with occasional showers overnight. Don't miss the big stories. There is enough right-of-way room in the city to co-exist with either road design. Don't Threaten. Be Truthful. While saying the VASA program is a good one for Pownal and the county, Kocsis said the issue of having ATVs on too many town roads would still remain if the ordinance approved by the board this year is upheld. Partly cloudy. This is just the first step, and I know it will get better.”. About. The number of trucks utilizing U.S. 12; 3. You have permission to edit this article. Like us on Facebook. To date, Howard said, well over 200 riders on trails have been checked for compliance with the state regulations, and “98 percent of them were found to be 100 percent legal.”. Reporter/editor. Gary Wood and J.B. Hoyt, both founding members of Friends of Berrien County Trails, talked about the situation near the spot where four lanes in the City of New Buffalo become three in the township on July 3. Threats of harming another The VASA contract comes as Pownal is preparing for an Oct. 13 special town meeting vote on an ATV ordinance passed by the board in July, which would open most town roads to ATV use, although use is restricted primarily to residents on a number of roads. COUNTRY ROAD GROUP Country Road Group is one of Australia's largest specialty fashion retailers with a market leading position in the mid to upper tier of the segment. Sorry, there are no recent results for popular videos. In Pownal, the Pownal Regulators ATV Club, which formed over the summer, is now affiliated with VASA and is expected to participate. On Friday, July 10, Heit said she received the following email from MDOT regarding U.S. 12: "Thank you Michelle. With a total repaving of U.S. 12 in the city and township slated for 2021, local units of government will have to sign a resolution of support (probably by late this year) indicating their preference of the three-lane design. ATV group assisting off-road patrols in Bennington County. Keep it Clean. The City of New Buffalo portion of the Marquette Greenway would be located along U.S. 12 in town (with either a new 10-foot wide path or expanded sidewalks) before proceeding to Willard Street where it will make a left turn, eventually going right on  Mechanic to a trailhead at Smith Street featuring parking, seating, a map and bike racks. that is degrading to another person. During a meeting Sept. 24, which included VASA Executive Director Danny Hale and Lt. Joel Howard of the Sheriff’s Department, Pownal board members indicated they see the initiative as a first step toward better enforcement of state ATV laws and regulations. South Africa’s Woolworths Holdings, which owns both businesses, said the underpayments affect more than 7000 staff over six years. Determining the need for a traffic signal at Grand Beach Road.". 12.". Reached Monday by phone, Howard said he and deputies with the department have used the 2018 Can Am Defender 1000 HD and trailer provided by VASA for about two weeks, patrolling in two-person teams in the off-road vehicle. each comment to let us know of abusive posts. “Hopefully, we can keep it going.”. Be Proactive. POWNAL — The Select Board has expressed support for an agreement between the Vermont ATV Sportsman’s Association (VASA) and the Bennington County Sheriff’s Department to provide funding for ATV-related patrols in county towns and the loan of an off-road vehicle through December. data from a number of studies across the country have shown that a three-lane roads has 19 percent to 47 percent fewer crashes than on a four-lane highway, noting that roadways in Berrien County and across Southwestern Michigan have been reduced from four lanes to three quite include Lakeshore Drive from Stevensville to St Joseph and Blue Star Highway in South Haven. If the repaved U.S. 12 remains at four lanes in the township, the Marquette Greenway won't fit and a "plan B" currently doesn't exist due to the Amtrak right-of-way and the many private landowner permissions needed closer to the lake. Hoyt said the Marquette Greenway is seen as part of a trail system that would ultimately reach from Chicago to the Mackinac Bridge. New Zealand; About.