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• Luxury automobiles once bore du Pont family name 10/12/2008, 8:41 p.m. EDT
• Hendrix announces another run for Detroit mayor 10/12/2008, 8:30 p.m. EDT
• Sunday's winning Michigan lottery numbers 10/12/2008, 7:57 p.m. EDT
Fire on 8th Avenue
by
Advance Newspapers
Monday October 06, 2008, 1:52 PM
Firefighters from several departments and fire investigators spent more than 15 hours on the scene investigating the cause of the suspicious fire at 18757 Eighth Ave. in which four bodies were found.
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Walker hosts Silent Night parade
by
Advance Newspapers
Monday October 06, 2008, 1:45 PM
To mark National Fire Prevention Week, West Michigan firefighters will hold their 8th Annual Silent Night Memorial Service and Parade of Apparatus.
Continue reading "Walker hosts Silent Night parade" »Locals respond to federal bailout plan
by
Laurie Hekman
Monday October 06, 2008, 1:33 PM
Donald Shevock isn't feeling secure in the wake of the economic bailout plan. In order to save money in these uncertain times, Shevock heats his house with his own wood, and has planted a vegetable garden.But the current job market and dollar amounts Shevock has been hearing whirling around Wall Street and the White House concerning the $700 billion bailout haven't thrilled him lately.
Continue reading "Locals respond to federal bailout plan" »Homecoming royalty
by
Advance Newspapers
Monday October 06, 2008, 12:54 PM
On Sept. 26., during halftime of the Sparta-Coopersville football game, the 2008 Coopersville High School Homecoming King and Queen were announced and seniors Brett Pfahler and Staci Lothschutz were the winners. Coopersville went on to win the game 49-14. Counselor father, senior daughter prepare for college
by Laurie Hekman
Monday October 06, 2008, 12:50 PM
Adam Pfeffer, left, is a guidance counselor at Sparta High School. Part of his job is helping seniors like his daughter, Samantha, right, make a smooth transition to the years after high school. But there is also nothing quite like fearfully walking into the dark void known as the years that follow high school.
Continue reading "Counselor father, senior daughter prepare for college" »Search for GRCC president moving forward
by Chris Hecox
Monday October 06, 2008, 12:49 PM
Grand Rapids Community College may have a new president by February.
GRCC Board of Trustees Chairman Gary Schenk said the board has tentatively agreed to a schedule for its second search for a new president that calls for the board to select a president by mid-February.
Continue reading "Search for GRCC president moving forward" »Group looks to bolster GRPS middle school athletics
by Chris Hecox
Monday October 06, 2008, 12:36 PM
Bob Vander Weide is hoping to bring a little magic to Grand Rapids Public Schools' middle school athletic programs.
Continue reading "Group looks to bolster GRPS middle school athletics" »Time to shine
by Advance Newspapers
Monday October 06, 2008, 12:35 PM
Kenowa Hills High School's 2008 Homecoming King, Kurt VanEssen, and Queen, Kristen Carrier, were introduced during a special ceremony following the Sept. 26 varsity homecoming football game.Sunrise service
by Advance Newspapers
Monday October 06, 2008, 12:33 PM
These students recently got up early to sing and pray in front of Comstock Park High School. The student-led event was part of a national See You at the Pole observance, designed to encourage young people at public schools to express their faith.The Rapid streamlines security process for employees
by Chris Hecox
Monday October 06, 2008, 12:29 PM
Those traveling on The Rapid may not notice a recent addition to the public transportation provider's security system, but Rapid officials say it goes a long way toward keeping riders safe.
Continue reading "The Rapid streamlines security process for employees" »They're No. 1
by Advance Newspapers
Monday October 06, 2008, 12:22 PM
The Sparta Fire Department took first place in the Michigan Vehicle Extraction Competition at the 29th Annual Michigan Fireman's Memorial Festival Sept. 18 to 21. From left is the winning team made up of Shawn Morton, Kyle Svoboda, Rob Arnold, Dan Olney, Darek Scarlavai and John Swendrowski. Walker TrimQuest plant to close
by Sherry Kuyt
Monday October 06, 2008, 12:14 PM
Storm clouds gather over the TrimQuest facility in Walker, which recently announced plans to close by the end of the year. The decision will affect 172 workers.An employee of JCI Trimquest in Walker, Parks is one of 172 plant workers affected by a surprise announcement that the facility would be closing by the end of the year.
Continue reading "Walker TrimQuest plant to close" »Walker OKs North Ridge connection
by Shery Kuyt
Tuesday September 30, 2008, 10:06 AM
The City of Walker is prepared for a road project that may or may not happen - and if it does, the city may not have to pay for it.
North Ridge Drive is the name for two sections of road separated by several parcels zoned for industrial use.
The sections lie just south of 4 Mile Road near Kenowa Hills High School, in an area being eyed for future development.
Continue reading "Walker OKs North Ridge connection" »Coopersville lifts building height limits
by Jeffrey Cunningham
Tuesday September 30, 2008, 10:05 AM
The Coopersville City Council "raised the roof" on the height of buildings that could be built in the city's industrial areas.
The move last week removed the three-story or 45-foot height restriction that had been in place for nearly 20 years and gave the city's Planning Commission the power to look at buildings on a case-by-case basis, according to City Manager Steve Patrick.
"When the height restriction was first passed it had more to do with the city's fire-fighting ability than anything else," Patrick said. "After talking to the fire department and looking at plans that come across my desk for proposals for the former Delphi building, for example, that would require more height, we decided that the height restriction was unnecessary."
Continue reading "Coopersville lifts building height limits" »Sweet support
by Advance Newspapers
Tuesday September 30, 2008, 10:01 AM
Deputies nab suspects in multiple golf course break-ins
by Jeffrey Cunningham
Tuesday September 30, 2008, 10:00 AM
Deputies from the Ottawa County Sheriff's Department were called to the Western Greens Country Club early on the morning of Sept. 18 after an alarm at the clubhouse went off.
Deputies found that the clubhouse located at 2475 Johnson Ave. in Tallmadge Township had been forced into, authorities said. They then noticed that a truck was parked outside of the neighboring Sand Creek Golf Course, they said.
According to Lt. Mark Bennett of the Ottawa County Sheriff's Department, upon arriving at Sand Creek Golf Course, deputies found a 21-year old Grand Rapids woman hiding between some of the buildings at the course. A K-9 police dog was called in and used to locate a 25-year-old male suspect from South Haven hiding between the two golf courses.
Continue reading "Deputies nab suspects in multiple golf course break-ins" »Arrest made in Alpine Township killing
by Laurie Hekman
Tuesday September 30, 2008, 9:56 AM
TERRANCE DEVON SEYMOUR
Terrance Devon Seymour, 19, of Grand Rapids, allegedly shot and killed Matthews, 25, in his York Creek Apartment home in Alpine Township, according to the Kent County Sheriff's Department.
Authorities said Matthews let the suspect into his apartment, and was shot after a brief struggle.
Seymour is being charged with homicide, assault with the intent to rob while armed and for carrying a concealed weapon, according to the sheriff's department.
Area Catholics celebrate opening of Cathedral Square
by Sherry Kuyt
Tuesday September 30, 2008, 9:51 AM
The Catholic Diocese of Grand Rapids last week held dedication and blessing ceremonies to officially open Cathedral Square on 11.5 acres in downtown Grand Rapids.
The site is located at the corner of Division Avenue and Wealthy Street, near Grand Rapids Catholic Central High School and the Cathedral of St. Andrew.
Along with a parking structure and green space, the new project includes Cathedral Square Center, a four-story, 100,000-square-foot facility housing offices and ministries, Catholic Charities of West Michigan, the Catholic Information Center, Michigan Church Supply/Bishop Baraga Bookstore, and Saint Mary's Pharmacy.
The center has several stained glass windows that were previously at St. Joseph Center Chapel on Burton Street.
Continue reading "Area Catholics celebrate opening of Cathedral Square" »Federal earmarks benefit Grand Rapids youth programs
by Chris Hecox
Tuesday September 30, 2008, 9:49 AM
Grand Rapids has received two federal earmarks totaling $505,000 that will directly impact the lives of young Grand Rapids residents, said Lynn Heemstra, executive director of the city's Our Community's Children office.
The money will allow the city to expand after school programming in the city, follow up on the 2007 Juvenile Offense Index Report, complete a youth master plan, and support youth employment programs.
"These dollars will go directly towards our youth," Heemstra said.
Specifically, $205,000 from the earmarks will be used to create after school programs at North Park Elementary and North Park Montessori as well as expand programming for middle school after school programs throughout the city.
School 'count day' reveals some ups, more downs
by Sherry Kuyt
Tuesday September 30, 2008, 9:46 AM
For most, it was bad news. For others, it was not as bad as they had feared.
Last Wednesday was the official fall "count day" used to calculate per-pupil funding from the State of Michigan. The figures must still be audited to ensure accuracy.
The fall totals are blended with a supplemental count taken on the second Wednesday in February.
Continue reading "School 'count day' reveals some ups, more downs" »GRPS count day shows better-than-projected enrollment figures
by Chris Hecox
Tuesday September 30, 2008, 9:45 AM
Enrollment numbers have slipped once again this year at Grand Rapids Public Schools, but not as much as district officials anticipated.
The district projected a loss of about 900 students, but figures from last Wednesday's count day show a loss of only about 600 students.
The district still has one month to account for students with excused absences.
State school funding is based, in part, on student head counts taken on two "count days," Sept. 24 and one on Feb. 11.
Continue reading "GRPS count day shows better-than-projected enrollment figures" »Rain grounds Air Tour, but not new weather system
by Laurie Hekman
Tuesday September 30, 2008, 9:39 AM
The rainy weather may have kept the 2008 Michigan Air Tour from landing at the Paul C. Miller Municipal Airport in Sparta Friday, Sept. 12, but it didn't stop the newly installed automated weather observation system from accurately reporting the details.
"It's disappointing, but the weather is beyond our control," said Airport Manager Richard Roberts.
The system was installed Thursday, Sept. 11, but won't be officially commissioned for a couple more months, Roberts said.
But even now, the airport manager said, the system can reveal things such as temperature and dewpoint, which need to be numerically far apart in order to have good flying weather.
On the first Friday of the scheduled Air Tour, they were both 21 degrees Celsius.
Continue reading "Rain grounds Air Tour, but not new weather system" »City manager, couple's attorney disagree over contract progress
by Jeffrey Cunningham
Tuesday September 30, 2008, 9:37 AM
Attorney Dan Martin confronted the Coopersville City Council at a recent meeting to ask why the group has taken more than two years to reach an agreement with his clients over a special-assessment district on East Randall Street.
Martin, of Scholten and Fant in Grand Haven, accused the city manager and the attorney working for the city of dragging their feet on reaching the agreement with his clients, Tim and Christine Stroven. His clients are now being charged more than $11,000 in interest alone for an assessment they don't think is fair, he said.
The issue was not on the City Council's agenda, and Martin was speaking to the council during Citizens Input time.
Continue reading "City manager, couple's attorney disagree over contract progress" »50-year-old church still serving local community
by Laurie Hekman
Tuesday September 30, 2008, 9:33 AM
Every week, local migrant workers and their families from the surrounding community make their way to Peace Lutheran Church to pick up free groceries.
"I like to think that I am running a mini grocery store," said Emily Brown, the food pantry coordinator for Peace Lutheran Church, 1225 12 Mile Road in Sparta.
Brown has been coordinating the food pantry only for the last three years, but she knows that it has grown substantially since its inception in 1977.
"It began as a few shelves in the kitchen," she said. "With the last expansion of the church, it is now two small rooms filled with lots of shelves, four freezers and a great amount of food."
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