Hurricane heroes

Pictured, left to right: Scott Domin, Jennie Domin, Aiden Siedenstrang and Steven Winterhalter.

Shelby family swooping in to help hurricane victims

By Allison Scarbrough, News Editor

SHELBY — As those of us in west Michigan watched in horror the damage, injuries and deaths in the South caused by hurricanes Helene and Milton, many wanted to help those suffering.

Several local people, organizations and businesses generously donated money and supplies, and one local family decided to take further action by traveling to a devastated community to deliver supplies, help clean up and rebuild. 

The group includes three generations of heroes: Shelby High School 2024 graduate Colton Siedenstrang, Shelby High School junior Aiden Siedenstrang, Shelby High School senior Steven Winterhalter —a close family friend, Colton and Aiden’s mom Jennie Domin, their stepdad Scott Domin, their dad Paul Siedenstrang and grandma Cindy Brumm.

Colton Siedenstrang – Photo courtesy of Abby Reimink

Helping people is a daily duty for several of them. Jennie and Scott work for Life EMS as an EMT and paramedic and are volunteer firefighters for the Shelby-Benona Fire Department, and Colton is a firefighter for the Grant Township Fire Department. Jennie and Scott are also volunteer first responders for Grant Township Rescue.  

The group planned to leave Wednesday night, Oct. 16, to head to the town of Newport, Tennessee — a community decimated by flooding from Hurricane Helene.

“We got married a year ago down in Newport,” said Jennie of her and Scott’s wedding. “I had a connection with the venue where we got married, and he has a connection with a friend and an uncle in the area. The Tennessee area is my second home — we go there twice a year. I’ve been going down to that area since I was a kid.”

Schools, businesses, citizens and fire departments in the community chipped in with donations, said Scott. The group is transporting much-needed food, water, clothing, hygiene products, camping supplies, generators, fuel and funds to the impacted community. 

“They’re basically camping right now,” said Jennie of the people in Newport who lost their homes. The local group will basically be doing the same thing during the visit, which is expected to last until Monday, Oct. 21. “We’ll be sleeping in our cars.” 

Scott said the idea to come to the rescue of the folks in Newport was Jennie’s idea initially, and the boys jumped in to get involved with the mission. “The kids kind of just ran with it,” he said.

“I think it’s important to give back to the community,” said Aiden. The teen said he and his brother came to the aid of people in the White Lake community when a devastating wind storm hit the area June 25. “Colton and I used chainsaws and helped clean up.”

“I always wanted to help, growing up,” said Colton. “My parents were EMTs and firefighters, and my mom still is and my stepdad is a paramedic, and now I’m on the Grant Township Fire Department.” His dad, Paul, served as an EMT for the White Lake Ambulance Authority and a firefighter for the Grant Township Fire Department.

The group will make the 10+ hour voyage in three, possibly four vehicles. “I just got a hold of Shelby State Bank to go pick up from them, and they’ve got a lot more stuff than I thought we were going to get. So, maybe I will end up taking my truck too,” said Colton during a phone interview Wednesday morning.

“It’s just something I’ve always wanted to do is help. It makes me feel good to be able to help and that people pitched in enough for us to be able to go down there and bring supplies.”

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