Grand Haven Tribune

10:26 AM Aug 26, 2011

Nearly 1,000 turn out for Gentex Corp. job fair

By noon Thursday, nearly 1,000 applications had been processed at a job fair for Zeeland-based Gentex Corp. The event in Holland was scheduled to open at 10 a.m. Workers said because the line was getting so big, they had to open two hours earlier to allow everyone time. The company said last week that it plans to hire more than 1,000 additional employees, following the announcement of a tax credit that will allow the manufacturer to expand.

10:24 AM Aug 26, 2011

Fire damages large warehouse in Van Buren County

Authorities said a fire has severely damaged a large warehouse in southwestern Michigan. WOOD-TV and WWMT-TV reported the fire started early today at Bangor Industries in Bangor, about 50 miles southwest of Grand Rapids. Bangor Fire Chief Derek Babcock said no one was in the building at the time the fire started and there were no injuries. Explosions were reported in the building as firefighters battled the flames. Crews from about a half-dozen departments were at the scene this morning to assist Bangor firefighters in extinguishing the blaze.

10:11 AM Aug 26, 2011

Grandfather's high bid makes for unique family outing

It was the hottest item on the auction table that night and bidding was going high. But Spring Lake resident John Carlyle thought the dinner and fire truck ride would make a unique family outing. "All of the grandparents were bidding,' Carlyle said. "Stupid grandfather raised his hand and won,'

10:09 AM Aug 26, 2011

2nd year of GHAPS bond projects wrapping up in time for school

The energy and technology improvements at five Grand Haven schools are expected to be complete when doors open in less than two weeks for the 2011-12 school year, according to school officials. Throughout the summer, construction crews tore apart Robinson, Peach Plains, Lake Hills and Mary A. White elementary schools in order to install several improvement projects that were approved by voters in 2009.

7:46 AM Aug 26, 2011

Fruitport pulls away in 4th to win at Reeths-Puffer

Tied at 7-7 with rival Reeths-Puffer entering the fourth quarter, Fruitport quickly turned the contest one-sided by scoring 21 points in the quarter en route to a 28-7 victory. Zack Goldman's 72-yard run on a toss sweep left -- keyed by an outstanding lead block by running back Mike Reyes -- started the Trojans' rally on the first play in the fourth quarter. The Trojans added touchdown runs by fullback Logan Six and back-up quarterback Tyler Fehler to blow the contest open. Goldman led the Trojans with 131 yards rushing on just nine carries.

7:24 AM Aug 26, 2011

Spring Lake vs. Whitehall football

7:14 AM Aug 26, 2011

Football season kicks off tonight

The 2011 high school football season kicks off tonight. The Grand Haven Bucs open on the road at Traverse City Central, the Spring Lake Lakers are at home against Whitehall and the Fruitport Trojans are at Reeths-Puffer. The games kick off at 7 p.m. Check back here for the final scores, and follow the games with realtime updates here on the Tribune's Sports page.

7:07 AM Aug 26, 2011

Today's forecast

Today: Sunny, with a high near 76. Calm wind becoming southwest at 4 to 7 mph. Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 63. Southwest wind at around 7 mph. Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 77. North-northwest wind at 9 to 13 mph.

11:33 PM Aug 25, 2011

Staal guides Buccaneers to season-opening win

It was a night to pay tribute to the Coast Guard. But it was an air force that stood out Thursday at Thirlby Field. Senior Scott Staal, making his varsity start, completed 16 of 20 passes for 250 yards and four touchdowns as Grand Haven won the inaugural Coast Guard Trophy with a season-opening 35-10 win over Traverse City Central. All four of Staal's touchdown passes went to Dan Cotter. Staal also ran for a score. For more on Thursday's contest, see Friday's print edition of the Grand Haven Tribune.

10:57 PM Aug 25, 2011

Lakers fall short against Whitehall in football opener

A year ago, Spring Lake scored a touchdown as time expired to beat Whitehall in the season-opener for both teams. On Thursday night, the Lakers looked poised for another dramatic win, but a costly interception by quarterback Keegan Wolter with just over a minute remaining helped the visiting Vikings hold on for a wild 33-31 win over the host Lakers at Thomas E. Grabinski Field.

4:00 PM Aug 25, 2011

GH schools’ Peers Support Program wins an Education Excellence Award

Grand Haven Area Public Schools has been named one of the winners of a statewide 2011 Education Excellence Award program. The Michigan Association of School Boards and SET SEG School Insurance Specialists recently honored programs that represented 16 counties across Michigan. Winners will move on to a second round to determine "Michigan's Best' and the recipients of a $1,500 prize to help further the goals of their programs.

3:58 PM Aug 25, 2011

Grand Rapids-area pastor accused of sexual assault

A Grand Rapids-area Baptist pastor has been charged with sexually assaulting two boys. Authorities said the alleged incidents occurred years ago in Ottawa and Kent counties. Tedd Butler, pastor of Gospel Light Baptist Church in Walker, is charged with second-degree criminal sexual conduct. Lt. Mark Bennett of the Ottawa County Sheriff's Department said the 46-year-old pastor was taken into custody Wednesday in Allegan County. Butler is expected to be transferred to an Ottawa County court today. It was not immediately known if he had an attorney.

2:00 PM Aug 25, 2011

SL Baptist Church to host free Street Party

There will be magic in the air Saturday at the First Baptist Church annual Street Party. Colorado magician David Laflin will perform at noon and 2 p.m. at the free event. It will also include food, games, crafts, kiddie train, inflatable 60-foot maze, climbing tower, double-lane slide, dunk tank and a fire truck. The event runs from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the church parking lot, 118 E. Exchange St., across from the Spring Lake District Library.

1:53 PM Aug 25, 2011

Petoskey stones Bucs', Lakers' tennis

Petoskey dominated the field at Wednesday's Grand Haven Buccaneers' tennis quad, scoring 23 points. The host Bucs and the Lakers of Spring Lake tied for second with 11 points each, while Muskegon Catholic placed fourth with three points. Petoskey won all four singles flights and also took first in three of the four doubles flights. Grand Haven's No. 2 doubles pair of Adam Carlisle, a sophomore, and Ryan Peterson, a junior, broke up a Petoskey sweep by winning their flight.

12:31 PM Aug 25, 2011

‘People are very important’ to new small-engine repair shop

Sam VanderPloeg is no stranger to broken small engines. "I've been doing small-engine repair for 30 years now,' he said. The Zeeland man recently moved his small business north to Grand Haven's east side. His shop, VIP Repairs LLC, opened at 1442 Washington Ave. on Aug. 17.

11:50 AM Aug 25, 2011

Old wedding band found in used pickup

Police in West Michigan have a wedding band mystery on their hands. Michigan State Police Sgt. John Tillman said a woman from Muskegon County's Fruitport Township came into the Grand Haven post on Tuesday afternoon carrying a gold ring with the inscription "W.D.F to O' inside and two other worn-off letters. Also inside the 14-karat gold band is the date "8/14/40' that may be the wedding date of the ring's owner.

11:04 AM Aug 25, 2011

Traffic diverted when tree falls across West SL Road

Traffic on West Spring Lake Road near the Smith's Bayou bridge was diverted for more than an hour Wednesday night when a large tree branch fell across the road. Ferrysburg Public Works Director George Dunning said it appeared the tree had been weakened by ants, and the weight of the branch finally brought it down. The incident was not storm-related, he said. The branch pulled down a secondary power line, twisting a transformer partially off a utility pole and pulling a power mast off a nearby home. Officials said it looked like only two homes lost power.