75 years of crossings
The city of Belding’s main connection to the rest of West Michigan was finished 75 years ago this month. The Veterans Memorial Bridge across the Flat River on M-44 was dedicated on Oct. 28, 1950, and will therefore celebrate its 75th anniversary next week.
From potholes to progress
For the past 36 years, Greenville resident Julie Blundy has enjoyed life at her home on S. Cross Street — a short street spanning no more than a quarter-mile, nestled within neighborhood buildings. What she hasn’t enjoyed, however, is the state of disrepair the street has entered into in recent years — a point she brought forward during the Oct. 7 meeting of the Greenville City Council.
‘A historic piece of ground’
Kelsey Hospital may be gone, but its memory will live on. Ground was broken Tuesday evening on a new community pavilion to be located on a portion of the former hospital property in the heart of Lakeview.
State budget brings certainty, challenges for MCC
With much of its funding coming at the behest of Michigan taxpayers, leaders at Montcalm Community College took a collective sigh of relief when Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed the 2025-26 state budget into law last week. The $81 billion budget was signed on Oct. 7 — nearly a week after the start of the fiscal year on Oct. 1 — and with that signature from the governor came new certainties regarding what programs would be funded and which wouldn’t.
Ionia City Council approves water main repair
The Ionia City Council held a special meeting on Wednesday to approve a water main project on Lawton Street. Council members selected low bidder C.L. Trucking in Ionia, with its $124,055.50 estimated cost.
Charges dropped for third time against Stanton man in family altercation
Criminal charges were dismissed for the third time against a Stanton man whose wife was also acquitted by a jury. Lorena Graves, 54, and Robert Graves, 58, were both charged after a Feb. 2 family altercation in Belvidere Township. The couple were alleged to have assaulted and pointed a pistol at their niece Jennifer Beardslee of Edmore during a dispute over Beardslee and her mother, Stacy Roberts, allegedly taking financial advantage of Sue Roberts (the stepmother of Lorena and Stacy and the grandmother of Beardslee).
Trufant resident pleads with Pine Twp. Board for help with neighbor’s blight
The saying is “one man’s junk is another man’s treasure.” But one Pine Township man has had enough with his neighbor’s over accumulation of stuff. The subject of blight was once again a topic discussed at the Pine Township Board meeting on Monday evening.
Heartland Primary Care celebrates opening in former Crittenden office
When Dr. David Crittenden retired and ended his longtime practice in Greenville in 2022, many in the community noticed a sizable absence. Patients such as Amy Homich, who, along with her children, had been visiting his office on Cass Street in downtown Greenville for decades, were left wondering where they would seek medical treatment going forward.
Ionia Twp. trustees discuss potential developments
Township trustees discussed two issues during Tuesday's meeting at Ionia Township Hall. First, trustees talked about allowing a potential housing development that is still in its early stages to create a private road, with Supervisor Jamie Stephens declaring “we've moved a little bit further” on that issue.
Lafayette Street Park receives a glow-up
A stroll through a pocket portion of downtown Greenville just became a little brighter thanks to new decorative lighting illuminating one of its smaller parks.
Ionia Co. Road Dept. to replace lowboy trailer
The Ionia County Board of Commissioners approved a request from Road Department Managing Director Linda Pigue to purchase a used lowboy trailer for a cost not to exceed $75,000. Pigue said the old one was purchased new 27 years ago and was removed from the fleet after it was found to be “rusted out.”
After annexation, Greenville, Eureka Twp. leaders commit to better communication, renewed cooperation
The process of annexation has a mixed history between the neighboring municipalities of Eureka Township and the city of Greenville. As the city has grown over the decades — from housing developments, new industry and numerous commercial projects — its physical boundaries have stretched as well.
Grattan Twp. picks up tab to move grinder pump
Gary DeYoung convinced the Grattan Township Board on Monday to pick up the $1,850 bill to move a sewer grinder pump station off of his neighbor's property, where it was improperly installed. During September's meeting, DeYoung appealed to trustees for help dealing with the grinder pump after he discovered that it overlaps his neighbor's parcel by about 11 inches.
A new view from M-46
Taco Bell restaurants are becoming as prevalent as dollar stores in Montcalm County. A Taco Bell is opening soon in Edmore, the fifth of the chain of restaurants being built throughout the county this year by Great Lakes Taco LLC.
Belding to interview 4 candidates for manager
The village managers of Edmore and Howard City are among four candidates set to be interviewed for the job of Belding city manager this weekend. The Belding City Council is looking to hire a new manager in the wake of Keven Krieger’s resignation after just six months on the job. The City Council voted in September to name Finance Director Becky Schlienz as interim city manager and to retain Krieger as a consultant on a part-time basis as needed for $52.88 per hour.
The road to bonus football
Week eight of the high school football regular season has come and gone, leaving teams either hoping to host a playoff game or simply to make an appearance. As the final week of the regular season approaches next week, several local teams are trying their hardest to put their best foot forward, despite the uncertainty associated with the qualification process.
Picking off a victory
Competing on a night when the outcome of a high school football game was the least of concerns for the hundreds of fans packed into Rudness Field, the Belding Black Knights put an exclamation point on a Friday evening full of celebration. With the Comstock Park Panthers (2-6, 1-5 OK Silver) visiting during the annual B Foundation “Day to Believe” game — in which Belding-area cancer victims and survivors are honored and celebrated at halftime — the Belding Black Knights (7-1, 5-0 OK Silver) raced out to a 50-20 victory, providing fans with a little extra energy as they departed...
ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Omari LaneFree Access
Omari Lane of Lakeview football was voted this week’s Daily News Athlete of the Week. Lane, a junior, led the Wildcats to their first win of the season with 10 carries for 110 yards, two touchdowns, four tackles, one assist and three tackles-for-loss.
Upcoming sports for Oct. 18, 2025
Check out the local high school sports schedule for the upcoming week.
Hornets, Vikings defend boys XC conference titles
In his senior year alone, Gage Hoffman has acquired eight first-place finishes over the 10 races he’s participated in. He secured quite possibly the most important one of the season so far on Tuesday at the Central State Activities Association (CSAA) White conference meet at Morley Stanwood, earning his second consecutive individual conference title by over a minute.
Blocking out cancer
Tuesday night’s trio of matches was about something more than previewing possible postseason brackets for the Central Montcalm volleyball team. Rather than don their traditional green and white uniforms, the Hornets decked themselves and the gymnasium out in pink for their annual Dig Pink Out event. This year’s edition of the event included Belding and Ithaca, who also bought in on some of the action by wearing special cancer awareness jerseys of their own.
Upcoming sports (Oct. 17 and 18)
Upcoming sports (Oct. 17 and 18)
Swinging for states
The stage is set for this weekend’s girls golf state finals tournaments and two local golfers are ready to make their mark among the best in the state. Thanks to a pair of hard-fought performances at their respective regional tournaments last week, Ionia junior Lila Redder and Belding senior Hayley Conrad punched their individual tickets to the Division 3 state final this weekend at Forest Akers West at Michigan State University. The pair join Greenville, who qualified as a team in Division 2, as the only area golfers to qualify.
‘Concentrating on the moment’
Friday night’s conference finale was all about teamwork for the Tri County football team. The Vikings (3-2 CSAA Red, 5-2 overall) were looking to bounce back in a big way after their loss to Reed City as they wrapped up their Central State Activities Association (CSAA) Red schedule Friday night, hosting Chippewa Hills (2-3 CSAA Red, 3-4 overall) in their final regular-season home game.
