NORTHEAST ADVANCE

The Latest News, Updates and Opinions

The idea for some sort of youth center in Cedar Springs is one that has been knocked around for decades by area service groups, churches and local government. But this past August, one loosely affiliated organization finally started making real strides toward making the concept a reality.

"We wanted to raise $1,000 that night; instead we got $1,500. To me, that was a good sign." Pastor Tom Holloway

Continue reading "Cedar Springs youth center could be operational by next fall" »

Blaine Cronn, 19, of Cedar Springs, was arraigned late last month on charges that he sent threatening e-mails saying he planned to kill several people at Grand Valley State University's Grand Rapids and Allendale Township campuses.

Continue reading "Cedar Springs man charged with making false terrorism threat" »

Two Rockford area contractors were sentenced recently for their roles in several breaking and entering burglaries.

Continue reading "Rockford builders sentenced for breaking and entering crimes" »

Ashley Gremel loves to knit. She also enjoys helping others. In July 2007, while a sophomore at Rockford High School, Gremel found a way to join the two interests in an effort to provide knit wear to the area's needy. Continue reading "Rockford girl warms up winter for the needy" »

Good teachers are fairly common. Excellent teachers can be a little harder to find. The National Heritage Academies (NHA) found one at Chandler Woods Charter Academy, however, in the form of eighth-grade instructor Jerry Anderson. Continue reading "Chandler Woods teacher 'Excellence in Teaching' finalist" »

Rockford Girl Scouts have helped deck the halls of the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum with a tree celebrating Girl Scouting in Michigan. Continue reading "Rockford Girl Scout tree at Gerald R. Ford Museum" »

Christmas comes early this year to the Rockford Sportsman's Club. On Dec. 7 from 1 to 3 p.m., Santa will be on hand to hear the gift requests of area youngsters.

According to club member and organizer Judy Mayhak, this is the first year the club has opened the event to the public.

Continue reading "Santa to visit Rockford Sportsman's Club" »

If nothing else, the weather was beginning to look a lot like Christmas at this year's tree lighting ceremony at Peppler Park in Rockford. With temperatures hovering in the mid-twenties beneath an all-but-invisible pebbling of fine precipitation, a large crowd gathered at the park's pavilion to enjoy holiday music and witness the switching on of the city's Christmas lights. Continue reading "Large crowd braves the cold for tree lighting ceremony in Rockford" »

Plainfield Township's water rates are set to increase 2.9 percent next year.

The Township Board approved the rates last week as part of a four-year capital improvement plan for the water system.

Continue reading "Plainfield water rates to increase" »

Anyone who thinks young kids can't make a difference when it comes to big problems should meet the students of Belmont Elementary School, who recently raised $5,174 for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF). That amount represents a 40 percent increase over a similar event held at the school last year.

Continue reading "Belmont Diabetes Walk nets over $5,000" »

AeroMed helicopters returned to the skies over downtown Grand Rapids as they began take off and landing practices at Spectrum Health Butterworth Hospital's new helistop.

Continue reading "Butterworth helistop upgrades complete" »

Are the old timers exaggerating when they talk about the winters of yesteryear, when the snow started in October and didn't go away until June? Well, maybe. Then again, maybe not. It depends in large part on the validity of the claims of climatologists worldwide regarding global climate change. Most agree that temperatures are rising across the globe. Continue reading "Craig James to speak on global climate change" »

In the first five months of its new energy conservation program, Grand Rapids Community College reduced its energy use by 16.25 percent over the same period last year.

The savings translates to about $224,000.

Continue reading "GRCC saves $224,000 in energy costs in five months" »

Grand Rapids voters may be asked next year to approve a bond issue that would help finance a restructuring initiative at the city's high schools.

The Grand Rapids Board of Education and district officials are working to develop a comprehensive strategy aimed at making sweeping changes and reforms at the high school level to increase graduation rates, strengthen school safety and bolster academic achievement.

Continue reading "GRPS considers revised plan for its high schools" »

Members of Cedar Springs Historical Society broke ground on the museum expansion at Morley Park with a few weeks to spare. About $30,000 in grant money hung in the balance and might have been lost had the work had started later than Dec. 1.

Continue reading "Work begun on historical museum in Cedar Springs" »

It's all about networking.

Members say that's the main advantage of joining the North East Business Association.

Continue reading "North East Business Association offers networking opportunities" »

The Plainfield Township Board last week approved a $7.6 million general fund budget for 2009.

Providing public safety is the largest expenditure in the 2009 spending plan, totaling $2.9 million, followed by general government operations, which is a $2.6 million expenditure.

Continue reading "Plainfield approves $7.6 million budget for 2009" »

Plainfield Township's new clerk Scott Harvey will earn the same salary as his predecessor, Susan Morrow.

The Township Board last week voted 6-0 to maintain the clerk's salary at $64,272, plus benefits. Morrow was absent from the meeting.

Continue reading "Plainfield keeps clerk salary the same for Harvey" »

Santa, along with Mrs. Claus, is coming to Rockford Dec. 6 at 11 a.m., and this year he's not putting up with any "wannabe" St. Nicks.

Continue reading "St. Nick flying solo in Rockford's 65th Annual Santa Parade" »