Ben Garbacz/Daily Mining Gazette A color guide leads the 2024 July fourth parade in South Range. The long-time festival chair announced he stepped down earlier this month

SOUTH RANGE – After 18 years with the Fourth of July Committee, several of them as president, Michael Renier announced that as March 20, he had stepped down from that office and stepped away from the committee.

Renier said after nearly two decades of community service, it is time to focus on other things.

“Right now,” he said, “I’m just going to focus on working and thinking in the fall going back to graduate school.”

Renier said he plans to earn a Ph.D. in chemistry.

Ben Garbacz/Daily Mining Gazette
A color guide leads the 2024 July fourth parade in South Range. The long-time festival chair announced he stepped down earlier this month

The South Range Fourth of July Committee, which consists of seven volunteer members, is active year-round with fundraising events. In 2023, the committee organized and hosted its first Deer Hunters’ Ball, which took place at the South Range VFW, located on Baltic Avenue. The committee also puts on other events, such as its Valentine’s Day Dance, their annual Oktoberfest, along with a raffle drawing, conducted during the actual celebration, and many others. The proceeds from the events are dedicated solely to funding the annual Fourth of July events in the village.

In his 18 years with the committee, Renier said he did strategic planning, accounting, reporter interviews, sales and implementing new ideas.

“When I first started volunteering, I was more shy in the beginning but eventually I became more engaged at the meetings and then felt more comfortable meeting new people,” Renier said. “I even feel more comfortable now talking to TV, radio and newspaper reporters.”

Renier said through his years of community service he has met incredible people, including committee volunteers.

“I remember all these people very well from over the 18 years,” he said. “Also, I have loved meeting new people and enjoy the teamwork of the committee.”

Committee work provided him as sense of purpose, while also making the community a better place by volunteering.

“I saw it in the smiles on the community members’ faces at the Valentine’s Day Dance or the Hunter’s Ball, or at the Fourth of July parade and the fireworks,” said Renier.

Renier offers a suggestion to the person the committee will select as its next president:

“To be a good leader, you have to listen to new ideas.”