Features

HOME: Making housing development deals work

Panelists outline challenges facing affordable housing crisis in Michigan 

In combating an identified lack of affordable housing in Michigan, Emily Cauzillo believes one element can help the state in bringing more attention to what has been a growing issue in recent years — educating the public.

FEATURE A TEACHER: Pushing for opportunities 

MACC Health Sciences Instructor Heather Sherwood utilizes prior experiences as a nurse to help students find career paths in the health field  

After having spent much of her professional career as a nurse at Sheridan Community Hospital, Heather Sherwood continues to help those in need — now by teaching others to do the same. 

Having graduated through Montcalm Community College’s nursing, the 1995 Central Montcalm High School graduate spent a decade as a nurse, first working at Mission Point in Greenville in 2010, followed by her move to the hospital in 2012. 

ROOTED IN LOCAL AG: The spud state

Montcalm County ‘the epicenter’ of Michigan’s potato industry

Potatoes are America’s favorite vegetable, generating $2.5 billion for the state of Michigan’s gross domestic product and supporting around 21,700 Michigan jobs — and Montcalm County farms play a leading role in producing around 1 billion of those spuds.

About 10 Montcalm County potato farms each produce an average of 3,500 acres of potatoes per year, mostly for potato chip processing. Those 10 growers produce approximately 1 billion pounds (10 million century weight) of potatoes annually. This makes Montcalm County the state’s largest potato production county.

ROOTED IN LOCAL AG: Belding freshmen each get $1,000 grants for FFA projects

Two Belding High School FFA members each recently received $1,000 corporate grants they will use to expand their syrup and meat chicken businesses.

Wesley Endres and Xavier Moffit, 15-year-old freshmen, received their “Supervised Agricultural Experience” (SAE) grants in January.

CHOICES IN EDUCATION: Career curiosity

Array of career paths to explore at Ionia County Career Center open house

The Ionia County Career Center held an open house after school on Thursday to expose area students to the myriad career paths available to them after high school, and how curriculum taught at the Career Center could get them a head start on their peers.

Belding, Portland high schools receive AP Computer Science awards

Two Ionia County schools were among 33 Michigan schools recognized for their AP Computer Science Principles courses, Belding High School and Portland High School.

The MiSTEM Network highlighted multiple Michigan schools receiving the College Board’s AP Computer Science Female Diversity awards in a recent press release.

Dual enrollment helps Tri County alumna get a jump on college


As a high school student, Haley Powers got ahead on college while at the same time learning how to be a college student.

A 2022 graduate of Tri County High School, Powers took dual-enrollment courses with Montcalm Community College (MCC) beginning her sophomore year of high school.

MCC Faculty Focus: Seth Sutton

Seth Sutton teaches arts and humanities at Montcalm Community College

Seth Thomas Sutton, M.A., is an arts and humanities instructor at Montcalm Community College where he also serves as chair of the college’s Arts & Humanities Department. He is an Emmy nominated Métis artist, scholar, author and activist.

Be informed about MCC’s millage question


The Montcalm Community College Board will be asking voters to consider a question to renew the college’s operating millage during the presidential primary on Feb. 27.

The levy is 1.1487 mills and provides approximately $3.9 million annually toward MCC’s operating budget, or about 19% of the total budget.

HOME: United Way conference places focus on rural economic and housing outlook

Panelists discuss advantages, challenges of recent population and job growth in West Michigan

When looking at the current state of economic development and population growth in West Michigan, Tim Mroz is not shy in his comments.


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