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After more than five years of sitting vacant, a former drive-thru banking building has been targeted for demolition and is envisioned as a new public parking lot in this city’s historic downtown district. During a special meeting of the Greenville City Council on Tuesday evening, the council entered into an executive session for the second consecutive meeting for the purpose of “acquisition of real property.” The council then voted unanimously to approve a purchase agreement, allowing the city to move forward on behalf of the Greenville Downtown Development Authority to acquire the former Huntington Bank drive-thru bank property at a price...
JUST IN: Martens pleads no contest to causing double fatal drunken driving driving collision
A Gowen woman, who was allegedly nearly three times over the legal limit for alcohol when she struck and killed two pedestrians in Greenville last summer, pleaded no contest on Wednesday morning to the two primary felony charges against her. Amber Martens, 34, was charged with two counts of operating while intoxicated causing death, two counts of leaving the scene of accident causing death, four counts of felony firearms and one count of carrying concealed while being under the influence of alcohol.
Ionia students holding ‘Soup-er Bowl’ food drive
When the 137-year-old Zion United Methodist Church in Ionia caught fire on Jan. 5, more than a historic worship building was lost. Nobody was injured in the blaze, but the Zion Community Food Pantry — an essential source of groceries for many families and individuals — was destroyed.
A resurrected commission
For the first time in more than 11 years, a local government commission has reconvened with a new agenda and direction for Greenville’s Historic Downtown District. On Jan. 25, the Greenville Historic District Commission met for the first time since Nov. 30, 2011, back when the commission’s meetings were run by former Assistant City Manager Cameron Van Wyngarden.
City of Stanton files witness list, evidence exhibits for ex-police chief’s lawsuit
A list of potential witnesses and evidence exhibits for the city of Stanton have been filed in U.S. District Court Western District of Michigan in response to a lawsuit filed by the city’s former police chief. Destinee Bryce filed a lawsuit in August 2022 against Stanton and City Manager Jacob VanBoxel alleging gender and height discrimination in violation of 42 USC 1983, the Fourteenth Amendment and the Michigan Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act. The lawsuit alleges that Bryce is a member of a protected class based on her gender and height (she is 4-foot-7-inches tall).
A century of stories
With many friends and family members gathered around her on Saturday afternoon, Sadie Walker was perhaps the only person unwilling to outright celebrate a grand milestone reached by so few who walk this earth. Having turned 100 years old on Jan. 26, and with many gifts and cards showered before her to celebrate the occasion, a spritely Sadie remained adamant that she had yet to reach a century in age.
Dinner for Dispatch
A local teenager recently showed his sincere appreciation for Ionia County Central Dispatch by buying and delivering dinner for the entire staff. “I was quite impressed by this young man who came to the door to give us some appreciation,” said Central Dispatch Supervisor Kevin Booth. “He seemed like a very nice young man."
Greenville Walmart presents Baldwin Heights PTO with $500
Michael Walsh, principal at Baldwin Heights Elementary School, knows just how important each and every dollar is that makes its way into a classroom. That’s why when Greenville Walmart Store Manager Drew Sierra stopped by to deliver a $500 check to the Baldwin Heights Parent Teacher Organization earlier this month, Walsh was quick to express his appreciation.
Chief deputy among those who applied for Montcalm County Register of Deeds job
Five candidates applied for the job of Montcalm County Register of Deeds this month, including the county’s own chief deputy Register of Deeds, who applied three days after her boss rescinded her resignation. Lori Wilson-Mazzola, who has been the Register of Deeds since 1996, announced in late 2022 that she would be resigning with two years remaining on her elected term, with her final day scheduled for Feb. 10.
MDOT officials provide updates on Greenville West signal arrows, light at Youngman and speed concerns on M-57
As this community’s highway corridor exiting west out of the city continues to grow with more commercial and residential development, the complexities of its various intersections have also grown. During the Jan. 25 quarterly meeting of the Greater Greenville Transportation Committee held at Eureka Township Hall, representatives from the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) provided updates centered around concerns brought forth by residents and city and township officials alike.
‘For the benefit of the constituents’
In an effort to give constituents a more convenient option for participating in their county government, the Montcalm County Board of Commissioners will begin offering one evening meeting per month. County board meetings have been held in the afternoons on second and fourth Mondays in recent years. Commissioners tried moving meetings to 6 p.m. on fourth Mondays in 2019 but attendance didn’t noticeably increase, so they reverted to afternoon meetings in 2021.
Ionia County Brownfield Redevelopment Authority has 4 vacancies
The Ionia County Brownfield Redevelopment Authority had its quarterly meeting on Tuesday. The meeting was attended by Brownfield Authority members, including Chairwoman Julianne Burns, Ionia County Economic Alliance Executive Director Ryan Wilson, Independent Bank Branch Manager Rachel Heppe, Live Local Realty President John Dinehart and Ionia County Conservation District Manager Melissa Eldridge. Also attending was Roman Wilson, Brownfield Program manager for Grand Rapids engineering firm Fishbeck.
Wesco donates $11,000-plus to Belding Feeding America Mobile Food Bank
In a period of only three months, a fundraising effort by Belding Wesco has provided the Belding Feeding America Mobile Food Bank with enough funding for an entire year of feeding families in need throughout the community. On Jan. 20, Belding Wesco Store Manager Dayna Cook presented a check in the amount of $11,749 to Belding Feeding America following the West Michigan gas station chain’s annual “Drive Out Hunger” campaign.
Montcalm County commissioners look into drafting blight ordinance template
The Montcalm County Board of Commissioners this week took the first step toward drafting a blight ordinance template for local townships to consider using. Commissioners voted 7-0 on Monday to direct Controller-Administrator Brenda Taeter to ask the county’s attorney how much it would cost to draft a blight ordinance template which could be adopted by individual townships, thus providing more consistency for blight enforcement by the county sheriff, prosecutor and judge.
Daily News reporter among honorees at Greenville Chamber awards banquet
A Daily News reporter, a community volunteer, a collaborative citizen and a small business owner were among those honored at the Greenville Area Chamber of Commerce annual dinner and awards banquet in the basement ballroom at Candlestone Inn on Thursday evening. The awards are given by the Chamber to people and businesses that improve the Greenville community through volunteering, promotion, innovation, investment and other forms of service.
Montabella gets first win over CC-C in 11 years, uses big second-half run to defeat Eagles, 43-28
JT Smith has had a prolific basketball career at Montabella High School. The senior will be the first to tell you about some of the best wins and achievements he’s had in his basketball career. But he had a chance to do one thing he’d never done in his basketball career on Wednesday — beat Carson City-Crystal.
Smith brothers guide multiple generations of CC-C boys basketball
Mason Smith has evolved as a floor general for the Carson City-Crystal boys basketball team in his senior season. He directs traffic throughout the Eagles’ offensive sets and can make the timely passes with power and precision. Smith has also stepped up as a leader for the Eagles, and he’s a dual threat on either side of the floor. CC-C had a steadfast leader in Mitchell Wing last year who could score the ball with ease. Smith was the secondary punch in that combination last year, but he’s that first hit — the shock to the system in the backcourt...
Greenville girls hoops earns undefeated mark in nonconference play, dominate Ionia, 61-28
Going into this season, the Greenville girls basketball team had a goal to go undefeated in the nonconference slate. With a 61-28 win over Ionia on Tuesday, the Yellow Jackets did just that. Meanwhile, the Bulldogs are left shaking their heads after another disappointing loss.
Central Montcalm finds groove late, beats Charlotte, 48-36
Last Tuesday night, Jan. 24, Maia Sexton went down with a concerning ankle injury in the second quarter against Grant. The gymnasium at Central Montcalm High School went quiet as the senior was helped off the court. The injury was serious enough to sideline Sexton for the rest of the game, so much so that she was in street clothes after halftime.
Lakeview squeaks by Vestaburg in nonconference boys basketball tilt, 42-37
Drake Syrjala stood at the free throw line, just two-tenths of a second on the clock. His Lakeview boys basketball team ahead of Vestaburg by three. No, these shots weren’t necessarily dire, but making them would prevent any sort of wacky internet-viral moment from taking place Monday at Cook Gymnasium. The first one, up and good. The second one, pure. He only missed one free throw of the seven he attempted.
AUSTIN CHASTAIN: My remarkably memorable night in ‘The Snake Pit’
Before last year, only a handful of endings to sporting events made me cry. Three to to mind immediately — Game 4 of the 2012 American League Championship Series, Game 4 of the 2012 World Series and Game 7 of the 2016 World Series. The first one was because the Tigers had an “angel in the outfield” with my late grandfather who had died that Valentine’s Day. The second was gut-wrenching because the Tigers didn’t win it for Grampa Coop. The third, well, that’s 108 years and multiple generations of Chicago Cubs fans finally seeing the boys “Just get one,”...
CC-C travels to rival Montabella on Wednesday for a big boys basketball showdown
It’s not often that two local teams in the same sport perform exceptionally well at the same time. It takes a lot of different factors, a lot of luck and good timing as well. Last winter, a local rivalry heated up to a new level on the basketball court, and the next chapter in that rivalry begins on Wednesday night.
Exuberant Eagles win
When Carson City-Crystal’s boys basketball team shared the Mid State Activities Conference title last season with Montabella, there was a juxtaposition between feeling celebratory and feeling regretful in some respects. On one hand, the Eagles had just won a conference title and swept a powerful Montabella team to get the job done. On the other, the Eagles had just two losses on their record which, ultimately, prevented them from winning the conference title outright. Those two losses: Breckenridge.
Ionia boys move to 11-1 with 14-point win over Lansing Catholic
In the second quarter of Friday’s home basketball game against rival Lansing Catholic, junior Mason Doty headed to the free throw line after being pushed in the back on a breakaway layup. Doty’s defender was issued a technical foul and he prepared to shoot his free throws. On the Lansing Catholic side of the court, the Cougars’ student section reached a new level of rowdy, with one fan yelling out very distinctly, “You’re going to miss, Mason!”
