SOUTHEAST ADVANCE

The Latest News, Updates and Opinions

To keep up with the winds of change, Gaines Township is considering amending its zoning ordinance to establish rules and regulations for wind energy turbines.

Continue reading "Turbine changes blow into Gaines" »

Digital billboards, such as the ones recently installed along M-6 in Gaines Township and US-131 in Wyoming, are drawing attention from more than motorists.

Local branches of government have taken notice as well.

Continue reading "Digital billboards cause concern" »

Caledonia Planning Commissioners recently approved an expansion to the Caledonia Home Construction Center, but told developers they are not to begin construction until a number of written documents are presented.

Continue reading "Home Construction Center to expand" »

The Kentwood Parks and Recreation Department will host their 15th annual tree lighting and community awards from 6 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 10 at the Kentwood Activities Center, 355 48th St. SE.

Continue reading "Kentwood hosts 15th annual tree lighting" »

The Caledonia Christmas parade and tree lighting are scheduled to take place this Saturday evening.

Continue reading "Caledonia hosting parade, tree lighting" »

The Wyoming/Kentwood Chamber of Commerce Santa Parade is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 6.

Continue reading "Local Santa parade set for Saturday" »

Learning that it's better to give than to receive begins at a young age in the Dutton Christian school system.

Over the last several weeks, students collected hundreds of pounds of food to donate to needy children through the local Kids Food Baskets charity.

Continue reading "Giving warms the hearts of Dutton Christian students" »

For the last 22 years, the mission of the Kentwood Senior Chorale has been to share the joy of singing, to enjoy the fellowship of others and to bring music to the community.

A small part of that mission was accomplished as the group of 45 singers age 50 and older performed moving renditions of "Autumn Leaves," "Say it with Music" and more last Thursday for students and faculty at the Caledonia Resource Center.

Continue reading "Seniors share camaraderie, love of music through Kentwood Senior Chorale" »

Months after gaining preliminary site plan approval in January, a Walgreens Drug Store will indeed be built in Caledonia.

Caledonia Township Planning Commissioners granted Geenen DeKock Group LLC final site plan approval to construct the 13,650-square-foot drug store on 3.69 acres of land at 9210 and 9240 Cherry Valley Ave. SE.

Continue reading "Walgreens plan approved, billboard and all" »

Dennis Recker, the man Gaines Township had pegged as its first superintendent, told township staff he is no longer interested in the position and has withdrawn from negotiations.

Continue reading "Recker withdraws from consideration for Gaines post" »

Responding to a 1 a.m. burglary in Kentwood, police discovered a possible suspect on the building's rooftop.

Kentwood Police responded to the burglary call on Wednesday, Nov. 19 at the Quik Stop, 751 48th St. SE in Kentwood.

Continue reading "Police locate burglary suspect on store's roof" »

On Saturday, Nov. 15, about 30 dancers at Caledonia Dance Center raised $3,200 to help finish and furnish a specialized home for a wounded Marine, Cpl. Joshua Hoffman.

Continue reading "Area dancers raise $3,200 for injured Marine" »

Parents on a budget looking for a stroller, high chair, crib or affordable Christmas present may now be able to find it without driving to the mall.

Kids Stuff, a newly opened children's consignment shop located at 9379 Cherry Valley in Caledonia, offers gently used furniture, toys, clothing and a variety of other items for infants, toddlers and teenagers.

Continue reading "Furniture, toys and clothing available at Kids Stuff" »

Audrey Wierenga has a way with words.

Boasting a literary vocabulary that includes such descriptive phrases as "crooked as a gnarled tree," "pale as parchment," and "silent as the grave," the 12-year-old Dutton Christian Middle School seventh-grader writes at a much higher academic level.

Continue reading "Calvin's Golden Pen Award goes to 12-year-old poet" »

HOLT -- Revenge is sweet, especially when it comes in the regional final. Not only was the East Kentwood volleyball team out to avenge its loss to Okemos from a few weeks back, but also to win its first regional in a row. The Falcons accomplished both on Thursday night with their 25-14, 25-22, 25-16 win over Okemos.

"Everybody gave something to the win. It was a team effort," said junior libero Becca Means, who got 15 digs in the match. "They beat us a couple of weeks ago, and that fired us up before the game. (The regional final) was where we got eliminated last year, so it was big to win it tonight.

Continue reading "Kentwood spikers gain revenge along with regional title" »

With conference alignments shaking up area sports, this boys tennis season saw the rise of the ultra-competitive O-K White. Playing host to two top-five state teams in East Grand Rapids and Grand Rapids Christian, the White also spawned three No. 1 singles state finalists, including Mr. Tennis hopeful  Michael Sukenik of East Grand Rapids, Northview's Aaron Hendrick, and Greenville's Bryant Dudzik. The O-K White also crowned six state-flight winners.

The search for the best male tennis players of 2008 reached epic proportions. While all are deserving, only a slim few of talented racketeers can make the cut. With that said, we give you the Advance All-Area Boys Tennis team:
 

Continue reading "O-K White stars shine on Advance All-Area Boys Tennis Team" »

For the sixth time in eight seasons, the East Kentwood volleyball team won its first round at the regional level. The Falcons traveled to Holt where they defeated Battle Creek Lakeview 25-15, 23-25, 25-17, 25-17.

"We played well in the first game," said EK coach Roxane Steenhuysen. "Then we kind of cruised through game two. We made a couple of errors at the end of the game, and we lost. After that, the girls responded well. We took control of the tempo in games three and four."

Continue reading "Kentwood down BC Lakeview in semifinals" »

More than 140 years after the war ended, Kentwood area veterans who fought in the War Between the States are being honored at last.

A ceremony last week Tuesday ensured 16 fallen Civil War veterans resting in Kentwood's Pine Hill Cemetery will forever be remembered for their heroic actions.

Continue reading "Forgotten soldiers finally getting their due" »

The title Gaines Township Superintendent will soon be synonymous with the name Dennis Recker.

The Gaines Township Personnel Committee recommended the hiring of Recker to the township board, and township trustees agreed, voting 5-1 to hire Recker as the township's first superintendent.

Continue reading "Gaines names Recker as first superintendent" »

The Gaines Township Board unanimously granted Spartan Stores approval to renovate and expand their Family Fare Supermarket store at 6127 Kalamazoo Ave. SE at their last meeting.

Continue reading "Gaines Family Fare set for expansion" »

The Broadview Country Estates housing development in Caledonia is expanding, despite neighbors' concerns.

Members of the Caledonia Township Board unanimously approved an amendment to an existing development plan allowing for the construction of three four-unit buildings, four six-unit buildings, a detached garage building and two commercial buildings to be built at the location, 8573 Broadmoor Ave.

Continue reading "Broadview Country Estates gains amendment to build" »

Inside Kentwood's Global Gifts lie hundreds of handcrafted creations from dozens of Third World cultures around the world.

Shoppers may consider unique olivewood ornaments from the Holy Land, colorful tablecloths from Bangladesh, a set of earrings from Ecuador, real organic Colombian coffee, and many other ethnic carvings, crafts and creations at the 2055 28th St. SE location.

Continue reading "Global Gifts helps fight world hunger" »