Donald
Teuma-Castelletti
GRAND CALUMET ISLAND Oct. 12-14, 2018
Though late into the season, one last softball tournament was held this weekend, supporting a Grand Calumet Island resident who was recently badly injured on the job.
Featuring eleven teams from across the Pontiac, players took part in the weekend-long tournament at the island’s ball diamond, raising roughly $3,500 for Jim Newton, following his accident in late August.
Organizer Latecia Lance said she held the tournament in support of her father because he was not only their softball coach growing up but taught her and her siblings, Shane and Taneshia, how to play the game. The siblings received a tremendous amount of support in organizing the weekend, Latecia said, from volunteers through to the number of players who signed up.

With 110 players, plus the volunteer work of Nancy Newberry, Emilie La Salle, Marie-Claude Dumouchel, Jason Beaudoin, Tammy Davis, and Moris Newberry, as well as the island’s recreation association, Latecia said it was a great turnout for a cause that is close to her heart.
She was especially proud of people from all around the Pontiac for taking part in large numbers, despite it being the last weekend for hunting.
“It’s great to see all the towns from the area come together,” she said.
Newton was involved in an accident while loading his zoom onto a transport vehicle on Aug. 28. While doing so, he fell, hitting trees and the roof of a house before hitting the ground, before the zoom fell on top of him, damaging his legs extensively. In the process, all his ribs were broken, his spleen was swollen, and his pelvic bone was broken, as well as numerous other injuries.
On top of this, his insurance will not cover the costs associated with the healing process, as he was not safely harnessed into the machine at the time of the accident. A GoFundMe campaign has raised over $15,000 in the time since the accident, with a goal of raising $20,000, as of press time.
The island resident has a long road to recovery but has received a huge outpouring of support through initiatives like the online fundraiser and last weekend’s tournament.
Latecia said her family is thankful for everyone’s support, and all the players who took part in the weekend’s fun. When the dust settled Sunday afternoon, Fully Loaded emerged the weekend champs, furthermore when they donated the winnings back to the fundraiser.