Ice fishing, a township fiasco and FOIA’ing a serial killer
One of the things I love most about my job is that I never know what the new year is going to feature in local news, and this year was no different. From an international ice fishing contest in the village of Lakeview to a long-running game of musical chairs on the Belvidere Township Board to a random FOIA request leading to the possibility of a serial killer having lived in Crystal Township, here's a look back at just a few of the most memorable stories I covered in 2025.
2025 concludes with intense breaking news coverage
As 2025 comes to a close, it marks another busy chapter as I prepare to embark on year 15 as a reporter at the Daily News. Trying to put into perspective 12 months of work — covering hundreds of board meetings, dozens of feature stories, numerous breaking-news events and more — it can be difficult to select only a handful of moments that stand out.
My 2025 bingo card in sports
If you thought a 16-hour work trip to Marquette and back for a high school football state championship game would keep me from going to a Jonas Brothers concert in Detroit the next day, you’d be wrong. After seeing just how attractive Nick Jonas is in person, I don’t regret it one little bit.
On the road (while stranded), with a small-town reporter
For this New Year’s Eve edition, Daily News reporters were asked to reflect upon our favorite story, most fun story, most difficult story, a story where we learned something, what we hope readers learned from our stories and what we hope to cover next year. Flicking through the hundreds of news stories I submitted this year, it's apparent that nearly all of them were related to some government meeting or another — county commission meetings, city council meetings, township board meetings and school board meetings.
Owners determined to rebuild after early-morning fire destroys Evans Repair & Tire in Stanton
Firefighters from multiple departments battled an early-morning blaze for hours on Monday as flames tore through Evans Repair & Tire, destroying the downtown Stanton automotive shop. While the fire may have reduced much of the business to ash, its owners are determined to rebuild and rise from those ashes.
‘Set up for success’
Nearly a year into implementing a new strategic plan at Montcalm Community College, administrators and faculty are steadily working toward completing a number of goals centered around the college’s mission and vision. During an annual joint meeting of the MCC Board and MCC Foundation Board on Dec. 9, MCC President Bradley Barrick and several administrators provided an update on how the plan has been progressing since the beginning of the year.
Sparking growth
The Carson City Police Department is an example of how to do community policing. When Larry Sparkes was named police chief in the spring of 2024, the previous police chief had abruptly quit without notice, as had the city administrator. Multiple officers had left the police department and when Sparkes took on his new job, the lone remaining officer was preparing to leave for another job.
JUST IN: 5 fire departments respond to blaze at Evans Repair and Tire in StantonFree Access
Firefighters from five area fire departments responded to a blaze at Evans Repair and Tire early Monday morning. The Stanton Community Fire Department was dispatched the report of a structure fire at 1:50 a.m. at 133 W. Main St. in downtown Stanton.
Take-and-bake for the holidays
Hundreds of local families enjoyed a free pepperoni pizza dinner this Christmas Eve thanks to the owner and employees of Your House of Pizza, made possible with donations from the community. “People really like to have a hot meal during the holidays,” said restaurant owner Shawn Kline. “Not everybody gets all the bells and whistles of ham and turkey and all the other things, or they have to work and don’t have time to make all that. These are take-and-bake pizzas, so they can cook it whenever they want to.”
Greenville accepts grant for Flat River Community Players
For more than 50 years, the Flat River Community Players have entertained the community through countless plays and musicals on the stage of the Greenville Area Recreation and Community Center. While the organization’s presence has been felt through local actors performing dramas, comedies, tragedies and more, there’s one thing that’s been lacking: A permanent home.
Fairplain Township home destroyed in early-morning blaze; resident escapes safelyFree Access
A woman safely escaped without injury after a suspected gas leak sparked a fire that destroyed her modular home just as Christmas Day had concluded.
Montcalm Township OKs pact with Stanton police
Contracting with an agency outside its own jurisdiction, Montcalm Township is moving forward to enforce its zoning laws. During the Dec. 10 meeting of the township board, members voted unanimously, with Trustee Brian Cousineau absent, to approve a law enforcement services agreement between the township and the city of Stanton.
‘We can’t sit on our hands’
After that project came in under budget, County Commissioners voted Tuesday to use some of the money leftover from the recent courthouse portico renovation to engage Restore Consulting LLC of Holland to create design drawings, bidding documents and contract materials for the eventual renovation of the County Administration building at 101 W. Main.
MCC receives clean audit
Montcalm Community College again earned a clean fiscal audit, though delays in the auditing process forced the college to submit the report late and address a material weakness identified, prompting the college to take corrective action.
A community connection
Attending the Grateful Hearts Community dinner for the first time, Belding resident Carmen Punches marveled at the generosity that surrounded her in the cafeteria of Belding High School on Friday evening. Having just finished a traditional holiday meal, complete with ham, turkey, mashed potatoes and more, Punches barely had time to push her chair back before a member of the Collective Impact student club politely took her plate.
Belding girls basketball falls to West Ottawa at Cornerstone
Rather than spend their holiday break practicing inside their home gym, the Belding girls basketball team found a new and exciting way to get their reps in. After picking up two wins in the week leading up to break, the Black Knights (3-2) were looking forward to making their debut at the Cornerstone University Holiday Classic on Saturday afternoon, a two-week-long tournament that draws in strong high school basketball programs from all over West Michigan.
‘Locked in’
If there’s one thing the Greenville girls basketball team isn’t shying away from this season, it’s their strength of schedule. The Yellow Jackets (3-2) were seeking an opportunity to get back into the win column after a 10-point loss in their conference opener against Cedar Springs last Thursday, 51-41.
Greenville’s Lindquist, CM’s Rolston cross 1,000-point career benchmark
Reaching 1,000 points in a high school basketball career is a highly sought-after goal that many players hope to achieve in their four years. Greenville senior Michael Lindquist and Central Montcalm senior Evan Rolston have not only led their respective teams to impressive starts this season, 6-1 for the Jackets and 7-0 for the Hornets, but they’ve also found their own individual victories so far this season.
Athlete of the Week nominees for Dec. 30, 2025Free Access
Athlete of the Week nominees for Dec. 30, 2025
Upcoming sports (Jan. 2 and 3)
Upcoming sports (Jan. 2 and 3)
Clicking into place
Not even a threatening fourth-quarter comeback from the opposing team could spoil the Central Montcalm boys basketball team’s spotless season record Monday night. The Hornets’ (7-0) quest for greatness continued after a thrilling three-point victory over conference rival Kent City last Friday to remain at the top of the league untouched, 51-48.
Belding boys fall to Jenison at Cornerstone
The Belding boys basketball team has made a lot of games interesting this season, yet a 20-point halftime deficit was too much for them Friday night. While most other teams were enjoying their Friday night off the day after Christmas, the Black Knights (3-4) went back to work to see if they could bust their way back into the win column after a narrow loss to Western Michigan Christian the week before.
‘We can play with anyone’
The last time the Greenville boys basketball team defeated Forest Hills Central was Valentine’s Day 2012. Thanks to another exhilarating team performance on Tuesday morning that had four players break into double-digit point totals, the Yellow Jackets (6-1) ended the Rangers’ (6-2) streak with a convincing victory at the Cornerstone Holiday Tournament, 71-56.
Sports roundup for Dec. 27, 2025
Monday, Dec. 22 Boys Basketball Central Montcalm 48, Ionia 44: Evan Rolston led the Hornets with 22 points, followed by Peyton Marks with 11 and Daniel Zableckis with seven. Colt Piercefield led the Bulldogs with 21 points, followed by Ethan Wenzel with 13 and Carter Ralston with six. Central Montcalm record: 7-0. Ionia record: 2-5. Central Montcalm next: 7 p.m. […]
Upcoming sports (Dec. 28-29)
Upcoming sports (Dec. 28-29)
