Farwell Walk to School Day

Farwell students celebrated National Walk to School Day Wednesday morning with a trek from the Kerwin Paesens Athletic Complex to the schools along Superior Street. The walk emphasized the need for a safe pathway for students and residents to walk or bike along the road. “Ever since the Farwell School’s Athletic complex was built on North Road there have been concerns about students walking or riding their bicycles on the busy roadway [North Superior/North Road in Farwell],” said Surrey Township Supervisor Rick Miller.

The School, Michigan Department of Transportation, Surrey Township and Clare County Sheriff’s Department are working with the Village of Farwell to apply for a grant to fund the construction of a pathway along the street. They will seek a Michigan Department of Transportation grant from “Safe Routes to Schools” to fund the project, which has been estimated at about $200,000 to build. The grants provide funds to provide sidewalks and other safety improvements. Jack Hofweber of MDOT said the grant is 100 percent federal funds. A meeting was held after the walk to discuss the progress on the grant application.

As part of Wednesday’s activities, 20 donated bicycles were raffled to students with proceeds to help develop the pathway. The bikes were donated by Farwell Trading Post, Jim’s Body Shop, Sound Productions, Birchwood Restaurant, Carrow’s Supermarket, Palmer’s Hardware, Stocking-Campbell Funeral Home (4), Wyman Funeral Home, Elm Creek LTD, Eagle Glenn Golf, Future Mold, G&M Screen Printing, Reiss Real Estate, Isabella Bank – Farwell, Farwell Auto Solutions, Chemical Bank – Farwell.