A dramatic, three-hour grain bin rescue at Gallagher Farms in Orleans Township earlier this year ended well, and the farm owner was inspired by the incident to arrange for the donation of new grain bin rescue equipment to the Belding Fire Department. On the afternoon of Friday, Jan. 3, Belding was among 14 area departments that responded to a devastating barn fire at Dynamic Wood Products in Keene Township, near Saranac.
Belding
Girl Scout from Belding troop honored for her project about respecting veterans
Ionia Co. board, Ionia VFW awards Isabelle Sternisha for her achievementsThe Ionia County Board of Commissioners recognized Lowell High School senior and Girl Scout Gold Award winner Isabelle Sternisha with a special certificate of achievement at Tuesday afternoon’s meeting. “I did my Gold Award project on respecting veterans,” Sternisha told the board. She is a member of Troop 3986, based in Belding, and has been involved in the scouting program for 13 years.
Belding council approves Bridge Street improvement project
Council also reviews 2025-2026 budgetThe Belding City Council approved an extension to a street improvement project and tentatively adopted next year’s budget on Tuesday.
Belding Fire Dept. has EV fires covered
Ionia Co. Community Foundation grant helps department obtain electric vehicle fire suppression blanketAs automobile engine technology slowly transitions from the burning of fossil fuels to the recharging of high voltage batteries, hitching a ride is an increase in the number of lithium/ion battery fires. When one of those batteries catches fire, a variety of dangerous chemicals, metals and other toxins are released into the environment. To contain this contamination, the Belding Fire Department recently used a $2,500 grant from the Ionia County Community Foundation to obtain an electric vehicle fire suppression blanket.
Weather Service confirms Belding area tornado
A second Ionia County tornado touched down near MuirThe U.S. National Weather Service confirmed that two tornadoes touched down in Ionia County on Sunday, damaging homes, farm buildings and trees in Belding and Muir. The tornado in Belding lasted for three minutes — from 6:07 until 6:10 p.m. It was rated an “F0” and had a path 150 yards wide with winds up to 85 miles per hour.
Belding seeks new director
Community development director will oversee public transportation, DDA and parks and recThe city of Belding is searching for a unique individual who will fill a new position: Community development director. The director will oversee Belding’s public transportation system (including Dial-A-Ride), the Downtown Development Authority (DDA) and the Parks and Recreation Department.
Belding native aboard USS Sterett in the Sea of Japan
Gas Turbine Systems Technician (Mechanical) 2nd Class Orion Moehring of Belding takes a fuel sample aboard the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Sterett (DDG 104) during a replenishment-at-sea with the Lewis and Clark-class dry cargo and ammunition ship USNS Charles Drew (T-AKE 10) on March 8. The Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group is underway conducting routine operations in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations. — U.S. Navy photo | Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Brianna Walker
‘Invested in the community’
Born and raised in Belding, new city manager and current school board member Keven Krieger is in a unique position to shape his communityAfter clocking out on his last day as a board game buyer on Friday, Feb. 28, Keven Krieger took the weekend off before starting his new full-time gig as Belding’s city manager on Monday, March 3. “It’s been a lot of information in these past two weeks,” Krieger told the Daily News on March 13 in his new office at Belding City Hall, which he has barely begun to redecorate. “The first day was pretty intense, kind of like drinking from a fire hose. But I’ve really settled into a groove here and I’m very optimistic so far.”
Ware memorials added at the Belding Library
This past year, we lost a man who was dear to the Alvah N. Belding Library, Robert “Bob” James Ware.
Belding man pleads to reduced drunken driving charge as part of plea deal
A Belding man pleaded guilty to his third drunken driving offense; however, he will see the charge reduced from a felony to a misdemeanor which could lead to substantially less jail as part of a plea deal with the Montcalm County Prosecutor’s Office.