Howard City Senior Action Center, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Socializing, playing cards, games, puzzles Read more [...]
A flight across the sky: My first experience in a hot air balloon
On Wednesday evening, I was offered the chance to ride in a hot air balloon as part of this weekend’s Frontier Days festival at West Park. My love-hate relationship with heights told me to refuse and never step near the balloon. Hours later, I found myself clutching onto the side of a hot air balloon basket as I slowly ascended above Carson City.
Montcalm County commissioners continue to debate blight ordinance template
The ongoing debate about Montcalm County’s current junk and rubbish ordinance and a proposed new blight template has resulted in commissioners deciding to ask their District Court judge for his opinion.
Retired as publisher of the Daily News, Julie Stafford presented with special tributes from local legislators
On her final day as publisher of the Daily News, Julie Stafford received a final surprise in the form of two special tributes from her local legislators.
$1,000 missing from Crystal Township office, sheriff’s office investigating
A recent special meeting of the Crystal Township Board revealed that $1,000 went missing from the treasurer’s office this past February, and also revealed that the treasurer does not have a lockbox for township money.
The ‘next evolution’ of sustainable farming
A collaboration between a global waste solutions provider and one of the country’s largest energy corporations has resulted in a significant energy-efficient solution at one of Montcalm County’s larger dairy farms. A partnership between San Francisco-based Brightmark and Chevron U.S.A. Inc. has brought forth an effort by both companies to produce and market dairy biomethane, a renewable natural gas, at dairy farms throughout the county — five of them in West Michigan.
Board sets clerk relocation timeline
Another clerk’s office discussion, another heated argument. The Montcalm County Board of Commissioners voted 5-2 on May 8 to combine the two county clerk offices during a lengthy heated meeting. The vote to relocate the clerk’s Vital Records/Elections Office from the Administrative Building across town to the Circuit Court Office at the courthouse in Stanton didn’t specify when the move would take place, whether a current mail room would be added for more space or whether the county would digitize any of the clerk’s many records.
Corewell Health pledges $100K to MCC campaign
Corewell Health recently awarded Montcalm Community College a five-year pledge totaling $100,000 to support the college’s “Transforming Lives, Empowering People” campaign. The pledge will create an endowed scholarship fund to benefit students who are admitted into MCC’s nursing program. Scholarships will be awarded as part of MCC’s regular scholarship awarding process based on the established criteria. The first scholarships will benefit students beginning fall semester 2023.
Belding Area Schools bond construction starting soon
While today marks the last day of the school year for students at Belding Area Schools, the grounds around several school buildings will remain busy throughout the summer as construction and renovation projects begin. On May 17, district administrators, members of the Board of Education, teachers, students and more celebrated a groundbreaking event at Ellis Elementary School, acknowledging the start of the district’s $21.5 million tax-neutral bond proposal with no increase to the current millage rate.
Stanton Police Department grows to 4 full-time officers, plus reserves
The Stanton Police Department is growing and flourishing with many new faces on the force, all of whom are dedicated to a community policing approach. The city department now has four full-time police officers, one of whom is a resource officer for Central Montcalm Public School, plus three reserve officers.
Thwaites Trail closing on Friday for repairs
The three-mile long Fred Thwaites River Trail in Ionia will be closed for a seven-week construction project, from Friday until July 24. Last week, the city of Ionia was awarded a $300,000 grant from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources Trust Fund to undertake the $532,316 improvement project. The city’s $240,000 portion will come from the Parks Improvements Fund.
Benn trial adjourned after defense attorney tends to family emergency
The trial of an Ionia woman charged with a double fatal, was originally scheduled for today through June 2, but was adjourned at a status hearing Tuesday morning after a motion from Assistant Public Defender John English was granted by Ionia County Circuit Court Judge Ronald Schafer. At about 11:15 a.m. on July 30, 2022, Mandy Benn, 43, allegedly struck five bicyclists with her SUV while attempting to pass a UPS truck on Stage Road, killing Edward Erickson, 48, of Ann Arbor, and Michael Salhaney, 57, of Bloomfield Hills and severely injuring three others. Witnesses on the scene described Benn...
GHS seniors bookend final year of high school with ‘Senior Sunset’
Eight months ago, a handful of Greenville High School seniors started the first day of their last year of high school standing atop the bleachers of Legacy Field, watching the sunrise together over the eastern horizon. On Wednesday evening — the night prior to their commencement ceremony — those same seniors came together a final time at the school’s practice soccer fields to embrace one another, taking in yet another emotional experience as they watched the sunset over the western horizon.
Refurbished bench installed to honor Belding class of ’66 veterans
Late last month, a group from Belding High School’s class of 1966 arranged for a bench in Denny Craycraft Veterans Freedom Park to get new slats that are permanently etched with a dedication honoring their classmates who served in the military. A bench already existed in that location, but the slats were made of wood and looked rather weather-beaten. Retaining the metal parts, new bench slats were made by Poly Products in Mulligan out of recycled plastic milk jugs, and purchased through Mike Eden, owner of Preservation Materials International in Ionia.
Perfect weather greets Sheridan Springfest
Kicking off the summer season, the Sheridan Springfest 2023 had perfect weather and great attendance at events throughout the weekend. With events for kids like the tractor pull and the new sidewalk chalk drawing, events for teens like Michigan GellyBall and more carnival rides and events for adults, like yard sales, arts and craft show, beer tent and live music, it was a family-oriented, fun weekend.
Pitch perfect
If one were to sum up Ryan Binge’s high school academic performance in baseball pitching terms, the Montabella senior would have pitched a perfect game, earning his team the win and leading the club to a World Series. The 17-year-old starting pitcher has been doing well on the mound for the Mustangs varsity baseball team this year. But it is in the classroom where he’s been most impressive, posting a pristine 4.0 grade point average throughout his high school career.
Laughing the nerves away
Mickiah Allbee is generally a hilarious person, full of personality. Her range of humor goes from lame puns to dark jokes that would make just about anyone blush. But that’s just the life of a teenager.
Saturday’s track finals features 32 area athletes
The Daily News coverage area will feature 32 athletes at this weekend’s track and field state finals, all of which will take place in the greater-Grand Rapids area.
Tri County’s Stuart Gould, Belding’s Hayley Conrad headline Daily News track Invitational
Tri County's Stuart Gould, Belding's Hayley Conrad headline Daily News track Invitational
Ionia baseball earns 8-3 win over St. Johns in predistricts behind Ethan Bowen’s complete game, faces Portland in district semis
Ionia baseball had one goal in Tuesday’s predistrict game against St. Johns. Make it to Saturday. Check it off the list. The Bulldogs earned an 8-3 win over the Redwings on Tuesday at Belding in a Division 2 predistrict matchup featuring two teams that had just played one another last week.
Greenville softball no-hit in district opener against Rockford, lose 15-0
For the fourth season in a row, the Greenville varsity softball team drew a familiar foe to start district play — the Rockford Rams. Geographically, the pairing makes sense. Enrollment-wise, Rockford’s enrollment of 2,469 students vastly outweighs the Yellow Jackets’ enrollment of 1,082.
Playing with power
Sutton Schroeder stood tall on the ninth tee at Kent Country Club back on May 3. Playing in an O-K White jamboree, Schroeder was struggling in this particular round as the No. 1 for Greenville. Schroeder was 4-over par after three holes and made a bogey on No. 8. He’s used to playing as the No. 1, he’s been that top player on the roster for both of his high school seasons. His freshman year ended in a berth in the state finals, has the “Competitor” bag tag to prove it. This year, he’s still playing at an outstanding level.
Carson City-Crystal girls soccer team better than on paper
Nathan Walker looked around the soccer field at Carson City-Crystal’s home game on Thursday. The Eagles were playing nearby Fellowship Baptist Academy, where he attended high school. The local soccer rivalry created a buzz around the soccer field at CC-C. The cars were extended almost all the way out to South Gratiot Road, which is about another 60 yards, give or take, from the goal line on the east end of the field. He loved the buzz around the game on Thursday — having the community out in force to see two local soccer teams — man, he absolutely loved...
Area baseball stat leaders for May 30, 2023
Area baseball stat leaders for May 30, 2023
Area softball stat leaders for May 30, 2023
Area softball state leaders for May 30, 2023
