A Fruitport man and a Grand Rapids woman died after separate motorcycle crashes in the same area of a Grand Rapids freeway on Friday and Saturday, respectively. Donald Lavern Matthews, 56, of Fruitport was riding north on U.S. 131 at around 11 a.m. Friday when his motorcycle hit the back of a car that was stopped in traffic near Leonard Street, police said. Matthews was taken to a nearby hospital, where he later died from his injuries. Police said speed and alcohol were not considered to be factors in the crash.

Singer-songwriter Susan Leigh Picking, a former Grand Haven resident, will be performing at the "Tuesdays in the Park Series' on Aug. 9. Picking, and her accompanists Kaja Lill and Johnathon Swainston, will be performing from 7-8:30 p.m. at Grand Haven's Central Park. The concert is part of Picking's concert tour to promote her new CD, "Wonder in the Wonder,' which will be released later this month.

Maura Krueger sat in the front row of the U.S. Coast Guard National Memorial Service clutching the hands of her husband, Dave, and son, Matt - who sat on each side of her. The three were there to honor their son and brother, Lt. Sean Krueger, who died while serving in the Coast Guard. "It means a great deal,' Maura said.

Vice Adm. Sally Brice-O'Hara, vice commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard, noted the contrast of the 11th and 12th points for "The Walk of Coast Guard History' installed this year. The 11th point identifies the first fireworks show over Dewey Hill, shot off on Aug. 3, 1940; and the 12th point recognizes the first Coast Guard memorial service held in Grand Haven on Aug. 4, 1939.

Area residents and boaters are used to seeing Coast Guard crews on patrol in local waterways, and responding to the occasional water rescue. What they do with the rest of their time remains somewhat a mystery to those outside the fenced-in Coast Guard station on Harbor Drive. When the waves are rolling in Lake Michigan, the big silver lifeboat with the crew dressed in blue and orange is not going out just to ride the waves, according to Operations Petty Officer Sean Long.

Heavy rainfall will contribute to high water levels on many rivers and streams, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources said in its weekly fishing report. Shore and boat anglers will need to use caution, the DNR said. It said warm water temperatures on the inland lakes as well as the Great Lakes have anglers fishing in deeper water. SOUTHWEST LOWER PENINSULA

The newest youth ambassador for Coast Guard City USA is a California girl transplanted to Spring Lake. Elizabeth McLaughlin, 18, was announced the winner of the annual scholarship program during the Walk of History presentation in front of Grand Haven City Hall on Friday afternoon. The announcement was originally scheduled to take place prior to the Coast Guard Festival Street Dance on Tuesday night, but it was postponed along with the dance because of the stormy weather forecast for that evening.

Herrick District Library is reducing public service hours and staffing as part of a cost-savings measure. The changes will go into effect Aug. 22 at the Holland library and its North Side Branch. The changes were delayed until then because the staff said it was crucial to follow through with programs scheduled as part of its Summer Reading Club. The change in public service hours is taking place due to a loss of revenue of approximately $630,000 over the past three fiscal years, mainly due to the drop in local property values, library officials said.