96-YEAR OLD VETERAN HONORED BY COUNTY BOARD

By DEBRA HAIGHT
BCR Correspondent
ST. JOSEPH – Buchanan resident Don Ryman was honored for his many years of service to the community at last week’s Berrien County Board of Commissioners meeting. Ryman served on the Board of Commissioners from 1995-2010 and has been active in serving the community locally and regionally since the 1960s.
Ryman recently celebrated his 96th birthday. He graduated from Ohio State University and then Harvard Law School in 1951. He then served in the United States Navy, rising to the position of legal officer and junior officer of the deck on the U.S.S. Coral Sea aircraft carrier and then to the rank of lieutenant.
Ryman came to Buchanan in 1957 when he took a position in the legal department of Clark Equipment Company, retiring from the company in 1990. He began his public service in the early 1960s, serving on the Buchanan Planning Commission and going back to that body in the 1990s.
At the county level, he served in leadership positions on the county board as well as on other boards and committees such as the Berrien County Planning Commission, the Economic Development Corporation, the Southwest Michigan Planning Commission and the Loan Administration Board.
The resolution honoring Ryman was read by County Board Chairman McKinley Elliott. Elliott has served on the county board representing the Buchanan area both prior to and after Ryman’s tenure. Elliott was the county corporate counsel during Ryman’s time on the board.
The resolution noted that “Don Ryman’s leadership, wisdom, experience, and commitment to the citizens of Berrien is to be recognized.” The same document later continued, “Now, therefore, be it hereby resolved that the Berrien County Board of Commissioners hereby acknowledges and thanks Donald Ryman for his many years of dedicated service to Berrien County.”
The resolution concluded that “his life, actions, and contributions reflect most favorably upon himself, his family, the County of Berrien, the State of Michigan, and the United States of America.”
Ryman’s tribute included County Commissioner Robert Harrison reading a report Ryman wrote 10 years ago in 2014 about the Buchanan and Berrien County Planning Commissions. The report noted the importance of zoning laws in protecting people’s property rights.
County Commissioner Jon Hinkelman also paid tribute to Ryman. Hinkelman said Ryman was a tutor and mentor to him when he joined the board. He noted that he has always remembered Ryman’s advice that “brevity is the soul of wit” and learned to keep his remarks concise.
Elliott also shared a favorite memory. He remembered how the county board was interviewing a pension consultant candidate when Ryman was on the board and he was corporate counsel. “Mr. Ryman said young man, do you know what a consultant is … Don said a consultant, that’s a guy who gives relationship advice but he’s never been on a date. that was quintessential Ryman.”
Also last week, county commissioners heard brief remarks from Interim County Prosecutor Amy Byrd. Byrd was appointed to that position last month after Prosecutor Steve Pierangeli announced his resignation. Byrd is also running for the post in November as a Republican where she will face Democrat and attorney Trevor Maveal.
“I wanted to reintroduce myself,” she told commissioners. “I met most of you at the May night meeting at the extension center. As of last week, I am the interim prosecutor. I’m on day 9 and things are going really well. It’s been a lot of information to digest and to apply but with everyone’s help, I feel that everything is going really well.”
Byrd said the highlight so far has been hiring a new assistant prosecuting attorney to fill one of the vacancies in the department. The new attorney comes from Saginaw County and will start her duties here in August. Byrd said they are also interviewing for a victim advocate for the juvenile division.
With the election season on the horizon, commissioners also heard from judicial candidate Albert Mais during public comments. Mais is one of two people running for the judgeship now held by Sterling Schrock, who plans to retire. Mais has been practicing law since 1999, handling a variety of cases including criminal and family law. He was recently named the deputy city attorney for the city of Niles.
Commissioners also heard from Republican State House candidate Kevin Whiteford of South Haven. He is running for the lakeshore house district seat currently held by Democrat Joey Andrews. Whiteford said he wants to help small businesses and get rid of the state income tax.
In one other election related item, County Administrator Brian Dissette said next week’s Committee of the Whole meeting will feature information about the upcoming 9-1-1 and public safety millage renewals featured on the August ballot.
Dissette also reported on a new project that could bring improvements to the south county building. He said Berrien County Health Officer Guy Miller has plans for over $1 million in improvements to give a facelift to the health department section of the building. It could also bring improvements to the clerk and court offices in the building.
In action last week, county commissioners approved the submittal grant applications to Southwest Michigan Behavioral Health to help fund two existing trial court programs in the 2025 fiscal year. The grants will pay for an intake assessment coordinator as well as materials and supplies for drug treatment and mental health court programs.
The county board also accepted an $81,000 Berrien Community Foundation “For Good” grant to help fund the purchase of new playground equipment at Silver Beach County Park. The county has received a state grant to pay for most of the project costs and is also accepting donations to go toward the $400,000 local match.