Jeff Robert's Story

 Bronson Battle Creek Hospital ER nurse, Jeff Robert’s journey to becoming a nurse was put on hold a semester into nursing school after surviving being hit by a car while jogging. He overcame some major debilitating injuries to eventually resume life as normal. He first became curious about a career as a nurse almost 20 years ago. “I was part of the 21st Century Health Program at the Calhoun County Tech Center,” Roberts explained. “This was a program that touched on many aspects of joining a health related field. After going through this program I realized I wanted to be a nurse. I graduated from Harper Creek High School in 2007, applied to KCC,  and began taking the required prerequisites as a college freshman.” 

Roberts received his certified nursing assistant (CNA) certificate in 2009 but would have to wait to work for higher credentials. “At the time I enrolled at KCC there was a long waiting list to get in the nursing program,” Roberts noted. “I started working at Battle Creek Health Systems, now Bronson Battle Creek Hospital, as a patient care assistant full time after receiving my CNA certificate, while I waited to get into the nursing program.” Roberts worked patiently for his opportunity to be accepted to KCC’s nursing school for four years, gaining experience as a CNA. “I was finally accepted into the nursing program in 2013,” Roberts recalled. “I dropped down to working only weekends at the hospital and focused on my classes during the week. Nursing school was very demanding with the time required for going to classes and studying.” 

Roberts was working diligently and had just started his second term of nursing school when a major setback stalled his progress. “I had implemented a routine of running to stay healthy,” Roberts noted. “While out on my daily run on January 23 of 2014, a car hit a patch of ice and lost control before striking me. I was immediately knocked out. I was taken by ambulance from the scene to Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo. I don’t have any memories of being hit, or of  anything from my time in the Bronson Trauma Unit. My first memory after the accident didn’t come until a month later.” 

Roberts was in critical condition and sustained many injuries that were potentially life threatening or life changing. “I remained in a coma for a week after the accident,”Roberts said. “I sustained some pretty significant head trauma. I also fractured my hip, had bilateral lower spiral fractures in both legs, and had an open book pelvic fracture. Three separate surgeries were completed to put my hip back together. My pelvis was also fused back together. I still have hardware in my right hip. My legs eventually healed on their own and did not require surgery. My jaw and neck sustained fractures as well. I was bed ridden until the time I was sent to Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Center in Grand Rapids four weeks after the accident. There was a period of time when my medical team didn’t know if my neurological or brain function would fully recover.”

Robert’s medical team could not predict his prognosis for the first few weeks but they continued to do all that they could to stabilize his condition and gave him a fighting chance for full recovery. “When I was physically ready for rehab my doctors sent me to Mary Free Bed. They were hopeful that intense therapy could help with a full recovery, but they didn’t know for sure,” Roberts explained. “I had occupational therapy, physical therapy, social therapy, cognitive therapy, and speech therapy while at Mary Free Bed, spending six hours a day with these therapies. It was an extremely intense process. This schedule remained the entire time I was at Mary Free Bed, for about six weeks.”

Roberts had to start from ground zero, learning many basic skills again, including talking, dressing himself, feeding himself, and walking. The support he received from each specialized therapist and from family members was crucial in his recovery but he wouldn’t have progressed if not for the work he put in everyday. By the time he was released from rehab he was out of the woods, and on his way back to a normal life but there was still work that remained. “When I was discharged from Mary Free Bed I was still in a wheelchair,” Roberts noted. “I was about 75% of the way back to full recovery. I went back home to live with my girlfriend, Ashley. I still needed 24 hour assistance at the time. If Ashley wasn’t available I went to my parents to stay. I also had to continue with physical therapy on an outpatient basis at Southwest Rehabilitation Center once a week. I was finally walking about six weeks after coming home. I continued with physical therapy for another month. By June, less than six months after the accident, I had fully recovered.” 

Roberts had overcome physical trauma and a traumatic brain injury to become fully independent again. He was able to go back to work as a CNA at Bronson Battle Creek and he hoped to continue to pursue a nursing degree. “I was put back on a waiting list for nursing school," Roberts explained. “There were some who questioned whether or not I could handle the rigors of nursing school because of the trauma I had been through. I was finally placed back in nursing school in January of 2015. Nursing school was demanding before my accident but after all that I had been through with the accident, school was even more challenging. I was given some accommodations for testing. Nursing school is unlike anything and it was a great feeling to be done and also to accomplish this after everything I had experienced. I went back in 2017 online through Western Governor’s University to earn a BA in the science of nursing in 2018.” 

After earning his nursing degree in 2016 Roberts started a full time career. “I began working in the ER at Bronson Battle Creek in May of 2016 as a brand new graduate nurse,” Roberts said. “I had planned on being a critical care nurse but ended up applying to the ER and accepting a job there. Working in the ER is definitely interesting. You never know what’s coming through the front door and you have to be prepared for anything. I like the fast pace of the ER. I can imagine myself working in the ER for years to come.”

Robert’s experience has given him a perspective on day to day life. “As it pertains to what life lessons have I learned,” Roberts reflected, “one of the biggest things that I have taken in is the importance of accepting each moment as it is and never taking anything for granted. Unfortunately I had to learn this the hard way.” 

Roberts quickly resumed normal life after fully recovering from his accident. He and his girlfriend, Ashley were married after he started back to nursing school, on May 30, 2015. “We have three kids,” Roberts noted. “Braxton is 14, Ethan is 10, and Landon, our youngest, will be 8 in April. I have returned to running now and completed a half-marathon, which has helped to affirm my full recovery. I wish that I could run more but time doesn’t always allow it. Ashley doesn’t enjoy running as much as I do but she has supported me with this, running with me and completing some races with me.”

Like her husband, Ashley’s perspective on life would be forever changed after the accident. “I think our faith has been affirmed through all that Jeff has been through. We definitely could have gone down a totally different path. We are very grateful for the support that has been given to us.” 

Wattles Park Elementary Story

  Inspiring Students and Staff

“Teaching is the greatest act of optimism.”

—Coleen Wilcox

Each of us has our own unique teaching journey that has led us to our current position with Harper Creek. Some of our teachers have taught the same grade or content in the same building and classroom for their entire careers. Others have also called Harper Creek home for the duration while completing stints in more than one position and different buildings within our district. There are also teachers in our schools, including Beadle Lake Spanish teacher Lesa Kenney, who have gained experience with other districts prior to coming to Harper Creek. Lesa has made stops at several school districts in our area, gaining valuable experience along the way, but has now found a home here at Harper Creek. 

Lesa was raised in Battle Creek for much of her childhood and has lived here all of her adult life. “I was born in Coshocton, Ohio, on November 4, 1981, the oldest of three children of my parents, Craig and Coessa Kenney,” Lesa said. “My sister Leslie was born in 1983, and my brother Michael was born in 1984.” Lesa and her family were still living in Ohio when she started kindergarten. “I walked to school every day, starting in kindergarten on my own,” Lesa recalled. “I remember Mom always hugging me before I left for school each morning. Both of my parents worked, so I had a babysitter who watched me when I came home from school. My dad would leave work at noon to pick me up and drive me to the babysitter’s house, before going back to work. We would often stop at Taco Stop, a local restaurant, to get lunch.” 

Lesa and her family came to Michigan the summer after she finished kindergarten. “We moved to Springfield,” Lesa explained. “My dad was transferred here with his job. He worked at Clow Piping Company. Dad eventually started working at Musasshi in the Fort Custer Industrial Area. He worked at a few other places and retired as a salesman for RSB Transmission, an auto parts company in Homer, after they closed a few years ago.

My mom worked as a waitress when we still lived in Ohio, and when we came to Springfield, she enrolled at KCC to get her degree to be a paralegal.  She continued to waitress and began an internship at the Calhoun County Courthouse while getting her degree at KCC. She started working there full-time in 1993 and continued there for 27 years before she retired.” 

Moving to the Battle Creek area and leaving extended family was initially a challenging transition for Lesa, but she was able to create many fond childhood memories here.”I remember going skating every weekend at Midway Rolling Rink,” Lesa recalled. “Mom would bring my siblings and me, and as many friends as we could fit in our van. Skating was one of my favorite activities growing up. After the pandemic, I dusted off my old skates, which were over thirty years old, and started skating again.”  As an adult, swimming and being in the water have become one of Lesa’s biggest passions. This began as a child, with time spent at Fort Custer State Park and on the shores of Lake Michigan. “We also went to Eagle Lake often during our summer vacations to swim when I was growing up,” added Lesa. “It was a great family time. Many summer afternoons were also spent in Lake Michigan at Warren Dunes State Park.”

Lesa and her siblings went to Battle Creek Public Schools. “We went to Valley View Elementary, Springfield Middle School, and Battle Creek Central High School.” Lesa enjoyed music as a child. “I participated in band and choir starting in middle school,” she said. “I played in the marching band, wind ensemble, and I played the flute. I also participated in softball and volleyball at Springfield Middle School. I stopped playing sports in high school. I just didn’t enjoy the competitive nature.”

Lesa’s mom instilled in her and her siblings the concept of a hard work ethic. “I started my first job in ninth grade, working at Post Gardens. They were flexible with after-school activities,” she explained. “My family struggled financially, so this was a way that I could pay for some things on my own.”

Lesa graduated from Battle Creek Central in the spring of 2000 and started college that fall. “I went to KCC for three years after high school, studying music and Spanish education,” Lesa noted. “I had wanted to be a music teacher since middle school. My middle school music teachers, Ms. Stewart and Mr. Waters, inspired me to want to teach music. I studied Spanish because my husband spoke mostly Spanish at this time, and I didn’t speak any Spanish. Both of us are now fluent in Spanish and English. He does have some thickness in his accent, but he is capable of communicating well in English.”

Lesa earned her associate's degree in both Spanish and music from KCC in 2003. She continued her education from there to pursue her teaching degree. “Music had been my passion for many years, and I wanted to share this passion with students,” Lesa reflected. “I wanted to be a choir instructor, and part of the process for being accepted to a college program to do this included a singing audition. This was a highly competitive process. I auditioned at Central Michigan and Western Michigan but didn’t get in.”  Lesa took a semester off from school and went to work full-time at Post Gardens. She needed some time to think about things. Although it didn’t look like being a choir instructor was going to work out, Lesa still wanted to be a teacher. “I went back to school, enrolling at Western Michigan in January of 2004 in the education department, majoring in Spanish and minoring in English. Four weeks later, I started working part-time at Springfield Middle School, working with Hispanic students who were struggling with the English language.” 

Working with Springfield Middle School’s Hispanic population helped to provide on-the-job application to the content she was learning in her classes at Western, but this wasn’t the only positive aspect of her new job. “It was neat to go back and work with some of my former middle school teachers,” Lesa said. She graduated from Western Michigan in 2007. She had to resign from her job at Springfield Middle School to complete her internship at Battle Creek Central High School. She finished her internship with her teaching certificate, ready to start her career. 

Lesa began her career in education in 2008 and spent the next decade gaining experience in various teaching roles across multiple school districts. There were many circumstances that were responsible for her playing musical chairs, moving from district to district. Still, she was able to take in valuable lessons from each assignment and eventually found a permanent home.  “In my first year out of college, I worked at Verona Elementary providing bilingual support,” Lesa commented. “I did this for one school year and then went to Albion to teach high school Spanish starting in 2008 for two years. I left Albion in 2010 and taught elementary Spanish in Maple Valley for the 2010/2011 school year. After one year at Maple Valley. I went back to Springfield Middle School as a bilingual support interventionist for the 2011/2012 school year. I continued to look for a teaching position while working as an interventionist at Springfield and accepted a job at Pennfield as a high school and middle school Spanish teacher starting in the fall of 2012 for two years. I left Pennfield after two years and accepted a job with Hastings Public High School for one year, teaching Spanish. Then I accepted a job with Jenison High School near Grand Rapids to teach Spanish. I was at Jenison for three years.”

After her three-year stint with Jenison High School, Lesa joined our team at Harper Creek. “I started teaching Spanish at Beadle Lake in 2018,” Lesa shared. “I appreciate that our elementary students here at Harper Creek are learning Spanish. Young children can grasp concepts related to learning a language. It makes sense to teach them a second language at a young age. My goal is for my students to learn Spanish, but also to create an atmosphere that accepts making mistakes and learning from them.”

Lesa draws on her music background as a Spanish teacher. “One of the things that helped me learn Spanish as a young adult was singing,” explained Lesa. “I try to incorporate music and singing into my lessons. I also use hand gestures as part of my teaching. My emphasis for teaching Spanish is the language component, and I also embed the cultural part of the curriculum into my lessons.”

One of Lesa’s goals is to provide enrichment opportunities outside of the classroom for learning. “We have taken our students from all three elementary buildings to the Hispanic Flamenco Ballet for the past few years, which has been paid for through a grant,” Lesa said. “This experience has inspired me as a teacher. We have hosted this event for a few years. Next year, it will be at the Kellogg Auditorium, with Harper Creek hosting it again. I’m hoping kids from other schools can go. It’s exciting for me to promote cultural equity for not just Harper Creek students but also students throughout Battle Creek and Calhoun County to have opportunities for these experiences.” 

Like many of our other teachers, Lesa has a child who is a student in our district. “My daughter Zuleyka is in second grade at Beadle Lake,” Lesa shared. “I love having her at school with me. We have signals for each other that we use when we see each other in the hallway. I feel she loves being with me at Beadle Lake. I am dreading when she goes to middle school.” Zuleyka was born when Lesa was 36. Lesa and Zuleyka’s father, Poli, met while working at Post Gardens when Lesa was in high school. They started dating and married six years later in 2004.

Lesa also started a second job, working part-time evenings, weekends, and summer vacations around the same time she started her teaching career. “I started working at the YMCA part-time, teaching swim lessons in 2006,” Lesa explained. “My sister, Leslie Fuller, started working at the YMCA in 2000. The YMCA needed lifeguards, and Leslie convinced me to apply to work there. She said that I could work part-time during the school year and pick up more hours during the summer. I started lifeguarding in 2007 and started mermaiding in 2018. I work events at different pools and lakes in the area as a mermaid. Currently, I teach water aerobics, group swim lessons, and private lessons for Hampton Aquatics at night, on weekends, and during the summer.” 

Lesa had always enjoyed being in the water during her childhood summers, spending time swimming on Eagle Lake and Lake Michigan. However, working as a lifeguard and swim instructor allowed her to develop a deeper love for being in the water. “I love swimming for the enrichment component,” she said. “Being in the water soothes my soul. It seems to naturally de-stress me. Whatever stress I have had is gone after teaching swim lessons.” Lesa has also worked part-time working as an interpreter for Voces, a community organization that provides services for the community. 

Lesa has experienced a major health scare over the last few years that has required time out of the classroom, giving her an appreciation for life. “I went in for a regular wellness exam in August of 2024,” she explained. “I had just turned forty-one, so I was told that I needed to do a routine mammogram. I previously had a mammogram in 2023, and the mammogram in 2024 showed a difference from the one in 2023, so I had to get a biopsy. I was officially diagnosed with breast cancer in November of 2024. I didn’t have to do radiation or chemo, but had surgery in January of 2025 to remove the tumor. Medical tests confirmed that  I had the BRCA 2 gene, so I also had to have a second surgery to have my ovaries and fallopian tubes removed in June. I had reconstructive surgery in December on my breast. One of the most difficult things for me with these surgeries is not being able to get in the water.” 

Lesa has had a positive impact on her students during her time at Beadle Lake while also providing inspiration for other staff. Co-worker Penney Durbin talked about the influence Lesa has had on her. “Despite facing the challenges of breast cancer and undergoing reconstructive surgery, Lesa has continued to inspire both her students and her colleagues. Lesa truly brings language learning to life for her students, orchestrating enriching field trips for grades one through twelve, including the upcoming Flamenco Ballet. Her efforts not only enhance their educational experience but also instill a love for learning in her students. What sets Lesa apart is her unwavering positivity and the genuine affection she shows for all the children she teaches. Lesa's dedication to providing the best education for students at Harper Creek Community Schools is exemplary.”

Penney’s kind words for Lesa truly illustrate that, as educators, we all have the opportunity to make a difference for our students, but also that our impact can go beyond our students. The guidance, mentorship, and inspiration we provide for our co-workers creates a ripple effect in how each of us has a positive impact on students. 

Robbie Crocket Story

 Robbie Crockett, a 1997 Battle Creek Central graduate, is adding to his legacy in the football world while helping to add to Harper Creek’s football legacy as a coach. Robbie has been involved in football much of his life. He discussed his early years on the gridiron. “I had no interest in football prior to 7th grade. My mom didn’t want me to play because she felt it was too dangerous. Friends from my neighborhood loved football and were excited about the upcoming season as we transitioned from elementary school to middle school. The summer before 7th grade, I went with them to equipment checkout with no intention of joining the football team.” Robbie had a reputation for being the fastest kid in the neighborhood. The 7th-grade coaches for Southeastern Middle School were well aware of the athletic talent that Robbie possessed as well as his physical stature, already standing 5 ft. 8 in. and weighing 185 pounds. Head coach Mike Russell wanted Robbie to join the team and tried to convince him to do so. Robbie reflected on the exchange he had with the coaches. “I told the coaches that my mom would never let me play football. They were persistent, however. Coach Russell finally convinced my mom to let me come out. He assured her that she could come and watch every practice, and she could pull me out anytime if she felt I was in danger. Mom relented and let me join the team. She also came to every practice that year to keep an eye on me.” Early on, Robbie didn’t fully understand the strategy involved or the game plan that his coaches were trying to implement, but this didn’t matter. His raw speed allowed him to simply outrun the opponent while playing on his team’s offense as a running back and on special teams as a punt returner. His 7th-grade team experienced some success that catapulted them to an undefeated season the next year in 8th grade under head coach Barry Duckham.

Doug Bess, the Bearcats’ JV coach, was there to watch Robbie’s team play their final game of their 8th-grade season and instantly realized the impact Robbie could have for the Bearcats as a high school football player. Robbie talked about his high-school career. “Coach Bess felt that my skill set would not best be utilized in the wishbone offense that Central was accustomed to running and that the Multiple I offense would produce more positive results. He talked to head coach Al Slammer, and they developed a plan. I played JV my freshman year and then moved up to varsity my sophomore year as we transitioned to the Multiple I. In my sophomore year, we were 5-4, and we improved to 6-3 the next year. As seniors, we made a huge leap, finishing the regular season 8-1 and winning our conference. We also made the playoffs for the first time in years as seniors. Unfortunately, we lost to Walled Lake Western in the first round, and they went on the win the state championship.” 

Individual accomplishments for Robbie as a high school athlete included earning all-state honors on the gridiron in his last two seasons. By the time he graduated, he held almost every Bearcat rushing record, including accumulating 1700 yards in one season.. With his natural speed, Robbie also starred on the track with the 4 by 100 relay and 4 by 200 relay being his main events. 

Robbie garnered interest from college football coaches early on. “I received my first recruitment letter as an 8th grader from the University of Illinois,” Robbie recalled. “Going into my junior year, Coach Slammer, who played under Michigan head coach Lloyd Carr when he was at Eastern Michigan, wanted me to go to Michigan’s football camp.” Robbie shone at the Michigan camp and caught the attention of Coach Carr. This experience helped to raise his stock as a Division 1 football recruit on a national scale. “Coaches from the SEC, the Big Ten, and the Ivy League reached out to me,” Robbie explained. “I was a die-hard Michigan fan, and this became my top choice.” Robbie returned to the Michigan camp the summer after his junior year, leading the stat line for all running backs in attendance. Coach Carr made an official offer to Robbie. “I was thrilled with the offer from Coach Carr, but wasn’t ready to commit right away,” Robbie said. “I had never spent much time out of Michigan, and part of me wanted to venture outside of our state. I didn’t commit right away, so Coach Carr offered my scholarship to another running back. After Michigan dropped its offer, Nick Saban from MSU began heavily recruiting me. I considered going to MSU, but Coach Saban hinted that his defensive coordinator, Dean Pees, wanted me as a defensive back. I wanted to continue as a running back, and this concerned me.”

A conversation with a high school buddy of his, Leon Jones, set things in motion for Robbie to commit to the University of Iowa. Leon had just returned from a basketball recruiting trip to Iowa and raved about it. Robbie reflected on this. “Iowa’s coach Hayden Fry had been recruiting me, and after my conversation with Leon, I decided to go for a visit. I was impressed with Coach Fry, the culture in Iowa, how down-to-earth everyone was, and how much everyone supported their football team. I came back home and immediately committed to Iowa.” 

Robbie’s career at Iowa didn’t live up to the hype that was expected, as he eventually lost the top running back spot to Ladell Betts. Coach Fry would retire after Robbie’s sophomore season, with Kirk Ferentz taking his place, adding another unexpected scenario for Robbie.  He reflected on his college career. “There were high points and low points. Taking a handoff and going 30 yards to the house against Purdue on my first collegiate carry was probably the most exciting moment. One piece of interesting trivia is that I scored the last TD of Coach Fry’s career and the first TD from scrimmage of Coach Ferentz’s career. Although there were disappointments, I loved my experience at Iowa and am grateful for my time there.”

Robbie graduated from Iowa in 2001 with a BA in business and administration. He still had hopes of being selected in the NFL draft, but this didn’t pan out. He stayed in Iowa, working as a manager at Walmart, and eventually transferred to a store in Minnesota. He talked about what eventually brought him back to Battle Creek. “I came back home in 2007 to be with my son, whose mom had just passed away. I initially worked at National City Bank before being hired to work in finance for Kellogg's in 2016.” Although Robbie wasn’t able to play in the NFL, football has remained a part of his life. He played for the Battle Creek Blaze, a semi-pro football team from 2008 through 2016. He has also used his experience as a football player to give back as a mentor and a coach. “I have tried to use what I learned from the coaching staff at Iowa to stay in the game. I was fortunate to be exposed to training philosophies and procedures from the Bill Walsh and Bill Parcells coaching trees that filtered down to Hayden Fry, Kirk Ferentz. Iowa running back coach Carl Jackson provided the biggest influence on my understanding of the game of football. I started training my son to prepare him for football when he was 10 years old until his freshman year of high school, when he started playing hockey in 2012. Three years later, I began coaching my stepson’s rocket football team at Pennfield, doing this through his 8th-grade season.” 

Coach Mason Converse asked Robbie to join his staff at Harper Creek as the running backs coach in 2023. Robbie talked about being a high school coach. “I have been given full control of coaching the running backs, applying the knowledge I gained from the coaches at Iowa to work with them on techniques, strength training, flexibility, and football IQ. I want my running backs to be fundamentally sound. Coaching brings an excitement of the unknown to my life. It keeps me involved with the game. I live and breathe football, and coaching is a way to keep it in my life.” 

Coach Converse reflected on the impact Robbie has had on his team. “He knows the game of football and has played it at a high level, but what makes him so valuable is that he excels at building relationships and being a great mentor and teacher.”

Harper Creek assistant football coach Matt Bilger is also grateful for what Robbie brings to the program. “While Robbie has made outstanding 

contributions to our football program during the season, perhaps his most impactful contributions have come in the offseason,” Bilger commented. “For the past two years, Robbie has helped train skill position players in the evenings during the offseason using the Iowa lifting program.” Robbie’s commitment to mentor the players year-round, along with the athletes' buy-in to what Robbie is teaching and putting in the work during the offseason, has helped to strengthen the culture of the program.

Calhoun County Sheriif's Office Mounted Unit Story

The Calhoun County Sheriff's Office Mounted Unit has served the Sheriff’s Office and local community for half a century. During this time, this group has provided support for crowd control with deputies on horseback while also promoting positive public relationships with law enforcement. Like all facets of our society, law enforcement has evolved over the years, adapting to ongoing changes in the needs of keeping our communities safe. Technology has streamlined this process, but there are still benefits to be gained from old-school approaches. “The Mounted Unit has a rich history in law enforcement,” explained Calhoun County Sheriff Steve Hinkley. “Their presence in our community at various events helps to keep this history alive.” The role of the Mounted Unit in Calhoun County goes beyond the history of law enforcement patrol on horseback. Hinkley offered more details. “The Mounted Unit is its own entity. Each deputy owns their horse and everything they need to perform their duties. They are similar to a volunteer fire department. They have an advantage over officers in a squad car or on foot in situations of crowd control. Being seated on a horse allows them a vantage point, helping to scan the area more efficiently.” Hinkley also touched on how the members of the Mounted Unit help to promote a positive perception. “They are by far the best community relations component that I see from my department. The horses seem to draw the public in. They do a fantastic job of fostering positive experiences with community members. I appreciate all that they bring to the community and the sheriff's department.” Although the Mounted Unit is its own entity, it does not exist on an island. Communication and support from the Sheriff’s Office are critical. Mounted Unit Deputy Jeff Adams summarized this partnership. “Our liaison officer, Lieutenant Chris Young, is instrumental in making sure that we are all up to date on our training and certification. He is the go-between for us and the Sheriff. Chris has done an outstanding job in supporting us, and without his support, it would be difficult for us to exist.” 

The Mounted Unit currently consists of 8 volunteer deputies. Adams is the longest tenured deputy, dating back to 2015. He discussed why he joined the Mounted Unit. “I have been a public servant all of my adult life as an EMT, firefighter, and elected official for Newton Township. Growing up, my kids were involved in 4-H, so every summer I would see the Mounted Unit at the Calhoun County Fair. This experience made me realize that being a mounted deputy was something I wanted. My career in public safety and time spent riding horses and taking care of them helped to fuel this interest. Finally, in 2013, I decided the time was right, so I completed an application. I have enjoyed this opportunity and plan on continuing as long as my body will allow me to get up on the horse, hopefully at least another 10 years.”

Being a mounted deputy is voluntary and not a full-time job, but it does require more than showing up at events with a horse. Adams discussed the lengthy process required to become a part of the Mounted Unit. “Each of our deputies must be trained as a reserve deputy law official to represent the Calhoun County Sheriff’s Department. During the certification process, each candidate must attend a series of evening training sessions. It is a condensed version of a full law enforcement academy.” Each deputy goes through 180 hours of training over a 6-month period of time. The commitment also requires another 10 hours on the shooting range and 40 hours of ride-along time with a deputy who is certified to be a training officer. “Those who desire to be a part of our program must be equestrians willing to dedicate their time,” Adams explained. “These individuals need to come to us with experience and knowledge on how to ride a horse in a crowd.” The training goes beyond teaching future deputies. Horses must go through desensitizing training annually and go through a battery of tests each year to qualify. “Horses must be trained not to let certain things stress them out,” Adams explained. “Examples of stressors for horses include loud noises, streamers, and plastic bags swept away by the wind. The purpose of the desensitizing training is safety for the horse, the rider, and the crowd. Bill Richey, a world-renowned horse trainer and desensitizer, comes to Calhoun County each year to desensitize our horses.” Preparing each horse for becoming comfortable in large crowds is just as important as the training required of the deputies. The pricetag for bringing in Bill Richey for training each year is $2500. Like all other items associated with the Mounted Unit budget, no tax dollars are used. They are completely self-sufficient financially, with costs coming either out of pocket from each member or from fundraising events that they organize.

Calhoun County is fortunate to have a Mounted Unit. Currently, approximately only ⅓ of Michigan’s counties have this luxury. To have a mounted patrol presence for various events in our county has been something that many in the law enforcement sector appreciate. Having longevity for 50 years has allowed the Mounted Unit to evolve over time while having a continual cycle of veteran Mounted Unit deputies and those new to law enforcement, working together and learning from one another. Calhoun County's most experienced mounted deputy, Bill Bammer, served the community for 47 years in this role from 1976 to 2023. He reflected on his years of service. “The Mounted Unit initially started in Calhoun County for a couple of reasons. Horseback patrol at the Calhoun County Fair was one of the initial needs, but having a mounted patrol to help with search and rescue was probably an even bigger need.” You can still see the Mounted Unit out at the county fair each summer, assisting the Sheriff’s Department. Other events where their presence is common include local parades and other community events. Bammer talked about some of the other huge gatherings they have been called to over the years. “We helped with crowd control when the KKK held a rally in Hillsdale back in 1995. We also assisted with crowd control on the campaign trail when Donald Trump came to Battle Creek in 2020, and in 2004 when George W. Bush was in town.” Enjoying the time on horseback may have been part of why Bammer stayed on for so long, but he explained how this wasn’t his main calling card. “I continued as a member of the Mounted Unit for so many years because I have always felt that the service that we provide is important.”

The common theme for why the Mounted Unit’s current group of deputies invests of their time is centered around the opportunity of weaving a passion for horses into providing a positive support for the community. Kathy Fischer, who is in her second full year as a Mounted Unit deputy, reflected on why being a part of this group is important to her. “It has been something for me to do in this stage of my life that I enjoy. I love being able to support our community and create a positive image of law enforcement for kids, in particular. It is a job that we take seriously, but we also have a lot of fun.” Husband and wife, Angie Solomon and Steve Funk, who reside in Hastings, have shared their passion for being a part of a Mounted Unit for many years. They have been a part of Calhoun County’s Mounted Unit since 2022. “Both Steve and I were with the Eaton County Mounted Unit for seven years,” Angie said. “They disbanded in 2019, but Steve and I really wanted to continue working as mounted deputies, so we decided to apply to Calhoun County. Being a prior law enforcement officer, I have seen some of the negative perceptions that the public has of law enforcement. Horses help to bridge the gap with this perception.”  

“I am a retired firefighter for Delta Township,” Steve added.  “Both Angie and I also currently volunteer for the Freeport Fire Department. We enjoy volunteering our time for a good cause. Being a part of the Mounted Unit is a way to give back. When you can give back to the community with a horse, it makes the experience better.” 

The Mounted Unit will be out at the Calhoun County Fair again this year, celebrating its 50th year of serving Calhoun County. You can see them as they patrol or by stopping by their booth in the Merchant’s Building for more information about what they do.