Hattie Jo Zolnierek of Posen is the 2024 New Year’s Baby
by Peter Jakey–Managing Editor
The wait for the New Year’s Baby came to an end five days into 2024 with the birth of Hattie Jo Zolnierek, the first born of Simon and Jessica (Konieczny) Zolnierek of Posen. It’s the second-straight year the baby passes the rattle to another in the potato capital of Michigan.
Hattie was born at McLaren Northern Michigan hospital in Petoskey at 10:37 p.m., weighing 9 pounds, 3.5 ounces and measuring 20 and one-quarter inches long. The Zolniereks have been married for a little over 14 months.
“Everything is going well,” said Simon, from the comfort of the couple’s living room and Hattie waking from a deep sleep and making sounds.
With an expected due date of Jan. 9 and the baby being born Jan. 5, Jessica was not too sure her daughter would c
“But, my aunt Betty was telling my mom she should check,” said Jessica.
“My uncle Chuck said the same thing, ‘you better call,’ ” said Simon, who sent an email less than 24 hours after the birth.
Hattie and her parents were given many fine gifts from merchants across Presque Isle County, including the gift that keeps on giving every week with news and information: a one-year subscription to the Presque Isle County Advance and Onaway Outlook. Some day, Hattie will see her photo on the front page and read this story. Plus, the follow-up after her reign is over.
Hattie’s grandparents are Keith and Betty Konieczny of Rogers City and Monica and David Zolnierek of Presque Isle; great-grandparents Richard and Angeline Kieliszewski of Rogers City, Josephine Tulgestke of Rogers City and Bernice Zolnierek of Alpena.