Community service, volunteerism, ‘Make all the Difference’ in 2018

Published by admin on Thu, 12/27/2018 - 3:00am

By:

Linda Gallagher, Contributing Writer and Dave Lein, Editor

File photo by Dave Lein

This year, as part of our Six Who Made a Difference, we are saluting the AMVETS Post 114 Honor Guard, based out of Elk Rapids. It is the only official Honor Guard in Antrim County and consists of 25 Armed Forces veterans, both males and females. They have been certified by the U.S. Department of Defense in all aspects of military protocol required to perform official Honor Guard duties. In 2018 they provided representatives for 30 burial details, logged 2,280 miles and 338 hours.

REGION – Overall, it was a pretty good year for Antrim and Kalkaska counties in 2018, with an improved economy and warm summer weather, which meant a great tourism season for retailers and visitors to the region. It was also a good growing season for most fruit producers and farmers, although a summer drought was hard on area corn crops. Additionally, it was a very busy year for local manufacturers and resorts, such as Armor Express and Shanty Creek.

It wasn't a perfect year, however, as the area certainly had its share of criminal activity, with Antrim County’s first murder in more than 10 years, along with another in Kalkaska County, coupled with the continued challenges of battling opioid addiction, domestic violence, and criminal sexual assault.

But compared to other regions of Michigan and the country as a whole, Antrim and Kalkaska counties continued to be regarded by many as "God's Country"; not just because of the area’s scenery and natural resources, but also because of the people who live here, many who selflessly work every day to make the world a better place through community service, volunteerism and dedication.

With that, we give you The Review's selections of six people/organizations who "Made A Difference" in 2018.

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