<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=2IsBCw_0vOFTPwx00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2IsBCw_0vOFTPwx00" width="650" height="433" ><figcaption>Jermaine Sullivan (left), Manistee mayor, shakes hands Sept. 3, 2024 with city planning commissioner Roger Yoder after city council adopted a resolution of thanks and appreciation for Yoder's 40 years on the planning commission. (Kyle Kotecki/News Advocate) </figcaption></figure> MANISTEE — Manistee's Roger Yoder has been living a life of service — dedicating himself to serving his family, his country and his city. Yoder was recognized during this week's <a href="https://www.manisteemi.gov/88/City-Council" rel="nofollow"> Manistee City Council </a> and <a href="https://www.manisteemi.gov/204/Planning-Commission" rel="nofollow"> City of&nbsp;Manistee Planning Commission </a> meetings for having served 40 years with the American Planning Association and on the city planning commission. City council members voted unanimously Tuesday to adopt a resolution in honor of Yoder's years serving the city. "We give thanks and appreciation to Roger Yoder for his long and faithful service to the community," reads the resolution, in part. Council member Seth Pratt thanked Yoder for his dedication to serving Manistee. "We're very lucky with many of our planning commission members, but I've always appreciated how willing (Yoder) is to listen to people's concerns," Pratt said. "And I&nbsp;do appreciate the humor that he sometimes brings to things. I just wanted to thank him for his years of service. It hasn't gone unnoticed." The city planning commission presented Yoder with a certificate from the Michigan Association of Planning Thursday prior to its regular meeting in a ceremony complete with cake. <figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=0XukTY_0vOFTPwx00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0XukTY_0vOFTPwx00" width="650" height="487" ><figcaption>City of Manistee Planning Commission member Roger Yoder slices the cake Sept. 9, 2024 during a celebration of his 40 years on the planning commission. (Kyle Kotecki/News Advocate) </figcaption></figure> Commission chair Mark Wittlieff said&nbsp;Yoder has been a tremendous asset to the city. "Thank you for being here to be our crutch to lean on," Wittlieff said. Sarah Harless, Yoder's daughter and principal of <a href="https://bllakers.org/" rel="nofollow"> Bear Lake Schools </a> , said Yoder's life of service started soon after high school when he was drafted into the Vietnam War in March of 1968. Yoder saw active combat while driving a tank in North Vietnam before being discharged in February of 1970. "The military was not in Roger's sights when leaving high school," Harless said. "He started working at <a href="https://www.manisteenews.com/local-history/article/hardy-salt-u-s-steel-workers-reach-agreement-19513164.php" rel="nofollow"> Hardy Salt </a> the day after graduation in June of 1966, but his lottery number was chosen and he served his country proudly." After being discharged from the Army, Yoder continued working at Hardy Salt for 22 years before working 22 more at <a href="https://www.packagingcorp.com/" rel="nofollow"> Packaging Corporation of America </a> . During that time he also served in the Naval Reserve Academy. "Upon returning home from Vietnam, Roger married his high school sweetheart, Kathy, who ultimately encouraged him around 1984 to get involved in the Manistee City Planning Commission," Harless said. Harless listed Harbor Village, the Riverwalk, the Little River Casino Resort, the Oaks Correctional Facility, Tondu and the Hampton Inn as some of&nbsp;Yoder's most impactful — "and maybe most controversial" — memories from his years on the planning commission. But Yoder's proudest accomplishment to date on the planning commission, Harless said, was playing matchmaker in 1996 with fellow commission member Kriste Harless, "which eventually led to the marriage of Roger's daughter Sarah and Kristie's son Craig." Yoder will also be honored by the <a href="https://www.planningmi.org/aws/MAP/pt/sp/home_page" rel="nofollow"> Michigan Association of Planning </a> at the end of the month at a conference at the <a href="https://amwaygrand.com/" rel="nofollow"> Amway Grand Plaza </a> in Grand Rapids. Planning commissioner Mick Szymanski said he was impressed with Yoder's service to the city. <blockquote> "It's amazing to have that many years of commitment to one process," Szymanski said. "... Obviously, it's made a difference." </blockquote> Yoder said he was grateful to everyone who celebrated him for his 40 years on the commission. "I enjoyed it, I had a good time and I hope I can do 40 more," he said. </div></body>

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Manistee's Yoder honored for 40 years on planning commission

\"I enjoyed it, I had a good time and I hope I can do 40 more.\"

"I enjoyed it, I had a good time and I hope I can do 40 more."