The Crystal Township Board approved an annual budget, split on a vote to hire a leaf pick-up service and discussed a blight ordinance at Wednesday evening’s meeting. Supervisor Curt McCracken, Clerk Patty Baker-Marek, Treasurer Alisha Little and trustees Vera Bogart and David Wight were all present.
Local News
‘Slow down’
Montcalm Twp. residents request speed study on S. Vining RoadFor those who traverse the rural one-mile stretch of S. Vining Road between W. Colby and W. Pakes roads, they may have noticed a message from residents, with road signs dotting the right-of-way: “Slow down.”
CC-C students shine with reading skills, math still needs work
Students at Carson City-Crystal Area Schools are doing well in reading but need to work more on math, according to a progress report presented by two administrators at Monday’s school board meeting. CC-C Lower Elementary School Principal Sara Manzullo gave a reading and math growth report for her third-grade students.
Greenville Department of Public Safety hosting annual Junior Safety Academy
Once again placing a focus on fire and bicycle safety, firefighters and officers with the Greenville Department of Public Safety are inviting local youth to participate in the second annual Junior Safety Academy on June 28. According to GDPS Executive Administrative Assistant Sue Powell, the Academy event is being held for children in kindergarten and up, where they will learn about fire safety as well as bike safety.
Vestaburg school board renews contracts, makes purchases
The Vestaburg Community Schools Board of Education learned about resignations, renewed contracts and made some major purchases at their May 12 meeting. Board President Lynn Van Sickler, Vice President JoAnn Spry-Virgo, Secretary Renau Caudill, Treasurer Brian Zinn and trustees Daryl DeVerney, Carol Herman and Larry Koutz were all present, according to meeting minutes.
Crystal Township Board offers $1,000 reward for arrest, conviction of vandals
Concerns also voiced about people using cardboard compactor incorrectlyAt the start of Wednesday evening’s Crystal Township Board meeting, Supervisor Curt McCracken added an unfortunate item to the agenda: “Vandalism.” Crystal Township Park on Crystal Lake was vandalized and the neighboring Crystal Community Center, where the township board meets, was broken into in the early morning hours of Wednesday, around 2 a.m. The incidents were reported to the Montcalm County Sheriff’s Office at 6:40 a.m.
MCC observes 9.4% jump in summer enrollment
If summer enrollment serves as an indicator for enrollment going forward, Montcalm Community College is in good shape come the start of the next school year. During Tuesday’s meeting of the MCC Board, Dean of Student and Enrollment Services Francisco Ramirez reported that enrollment for the smaller summer semester was once again trending in a positive direction.
Power line fire ‘puts itself out’
Fallen tree at Greenville causes commotionWhen Kim Beckman pulled into the driveway of her home at 307 W. South St. on Wednesday, she couldn’t put into words the sight she found before her. With neighbors rushing to greet her, Kim quickly discovered that just moments before she arrived home, a tree had fallen, snapping a power pole and draping a live power line across the roof of her garage and home. With flames igniting on parts of the line, over both the garage and home, she immediately thought the worst as firefighters were called to the scene.
‘We are getting smaller’
Greenville schools ‘restructuring’ with proposed reduction in staff, $2.1 million in budget cuts as student enrollment decline continuesTwo years removed from implementing nearly $3 million in budget cuts due primarily to exhausted pandemic relief dollars, Greenville Public Schools is once again facing a budget shortfall, resulting in additional cuts. The reason this time around has Superintendent Wayne Roedel describing the proposed cuts as a “restructuring” of the district’s staffing due to a trend in declining student enrollment. During Monday’s meeting of the school board, Roedel and Director of Finance Matt Andres presented the proposed 2025-2026 fiscal year budget during a public hearing, which accounts for a budget reduction of approximately $2.1 million.
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Maple Valley Twp. supervisor reduces public comment options
By Elisabeth Waldon | on June 12, 2025
A new supervisor oversaw his first township board meeting on Monday, which included votes to amend a purchasing policy, to create a board vacancy policy, the appointment of a new Planning Commission member and the removal from the agenda of a second chance for public comment. Bruce Deur was appointed interim supervisor after Dan Boes abruptly resigned mid-term in April. Deur presided over his first meeting on Monday, which featured the typical opportunity for public comment at the start of the meeting. However, the typical second opportunity at the end of the meeting had been removed from the agenda, surprising some in the audience as the meeting adjourned.