Grand Haven Tribune

12:12 AM Jun 18, 2011

GH's Smith to be a 'Hometown Hero' at MIS

Staff Sergeant Daniel Smith has plenty of stories to tell, and he'll get a chance to share some of those stories with quite an audience at Michigan International Speedway on Sunday. Smith, a 2000 graduate of Grand Haven High School and a decorated member of both the Marines and the U.S. Army, has been chosen to represent the Army at the Heluva Good! Sour Cream Dips 400 NASCAR Sprint Cup auto race.

12:08 AM Jun 18, 2011

Golf finals roundup: Fry's stellar round has SL in contention in Division 2

Spring Lake junior Marcus Fry joked that the cup kept getting in the way of his ball during the first round of the Division 2 state finals at Forest Akers East Golf Course at Michigan State University in East Lansing. That was a welcome mistake for the Lakers' standout, as he finished with a 2-under 70, placing him second overall among individual scores. Chris Noble of NIles was first with a 68. His round also was a considerable boost for a Lakers' team that otherwise struggled with their putting.

12:03 AM Jun 18, 2011

GH, SL players shine in MCC All-Star softball game

Several Spring Lake and Grand Haven girls participated in Thursday's Muskegon Community College All-Star softball game. Spring Lake's Rachael Adams helped the Gold team defeated the Blue squad, 11-5. Adams, who played shortstop and outfield, had a bunt single and scored a run. Grand Haven's Sarah Deal was also on the Gold team, as was Spring Lake's Sam Weerstra, who threw three scoreless innings.

Jun 18, 2011 (All day)

Ferrysburg Community Church to host VBS next week

Ferrysburg Community Church invites children from age 4 through fifth grade to follow the tiki torches and join the Caribbean crews for an "Island Odyssey' vacation Bible school, June 20-24. It will take place at the church - 17785 Mohawk Drive, at the entrance to South Holiday Hills - from 9-11:30 each morning. The adventures will include team-building games, Bible adventures, energetic songs, crafts and tropical treats. Kids will enjoy appearances by Survivor Sal each day. The fun-filled week is free for all kids.

Jun 18, 2011 (All day)

Grand Haven Eagles host Christmas in July toy ride

Grand Haven Eagle Riders 925 will have a Christmas in July Toy Run on July 9. Registration is from 11 a.m. to noon, with the ride starting immediately after. There is a $5 donation fee. Sponsor stops are Fruitport Eagles, Red Rooster Restaurant, White Lake Eagles and back to Grand Haven Eagles. Upon the return, there will be a food and beer tent opening at 4 p.m. Admissaion into the tent will be a unwrapped gift minimum of $5 or a $5 donation. Food and drinks will be available for purchase. Quarter Below will provide entertainment from 6-10 p.m.

Jun 18, 2011 (All day)

IDEMA: The idolatry of college football

Jun 18, 2011 (All day)

Splash pad on track for August completion

Residents and visitors to Grand Haven's harborfront are closer than ever to having a new splash pad to play in. It will be located near Chinook Pier and the Municipal Marina. "We hope to get the building going in the next few days,' Gernot Runschke of GMB Architecture said.

Jun 18, 2011 (All day)

GHHS alumni create Buckle Blocker

When Collin Veele was babysitting with his girlfriend, he noticed a recurring problem: One of the 3-year-olds they were watching kept unbuckling himself in the car. Veele and classmate Alex Cotton thought about the problem and came up with the Buckle Blocker - a device that prevents children from pushing the release button on seat belt buckles. Now, the two Grand Haven High School alumni are hoping that people will chip in to get their product into production.

Jun 18, 2011 (All day)

Authorities investigate shooting, find marijuana

Authorities said they found a marijuana growing operation while investigating the accidental shooting of a 10-year-old boy in southern Michigan. The Jackson Citizen Patriot reported Friday that the boy's 44-year-old father could face charges including second-degree child abuse and manufacturing marijuana after the growing operation was found at the home in Calhoun County's Sheridan Township. The man's name wasn't released.

Jun 18, 2011 (All day)

Man pleads no contest after sexual assault of dog

A 59-year-old West Michigan parolee has pleaded no contest to bestiality after the sexual assault of his pet dog. Jose Sanchez entered the plea Friday in Muskegon County Circuit Court. He faces up to 22-and-a-half years in prison when sentenced on July 12. A no contest plea is not an admission of guilt, but is treated as such for sentencing. Sanchez was convicted in 1998 of second-degree criminal sexual conduct involving a minor.

11:49 PM Jun 17, 2011

Handwriting expert at Spring Lake Dist. Library

Want to know what your handwriting reveals about you? Graphologist Jeanne Drew of Drew Consulting will share her knowledge of handwriting analysis at Spring Lake District Library on Tuesday, June 28, at 7 p.m. Attendees may submit a sample of their writing for analysis during the free program. For more information, call the library at 846-5770, ext. 107.

11:34 PM Jun 17, 2011

West Mich. police chief, deputy cleared in man’s slaying

A prosecutor cleared two West Michigan law officers in the shooting death of an armed Gulf War veteran outside his home earlier this month, determining they acted in self-defense. Howard City Police Chief Steve DeWitt and Montcalm County Sheriff's Deputy Clayton Thomas fatally shot 47-year-old Matthew Speese outside Thomas' Howard City-area home on June 1. Officers were called to Speese's home after he told someone at a veterans' crisis line that he would kill himself and shoot police who came to the house.

11:30 PM Jun 17, 2011

Proposed laws would restrict access to meth’s main component

A series of bills intended to combat the manufacture and use of methamphetamine - by restricting access to its main component - has been approved by the Michigan House Health Policy Committee and sent to the full House of Representatives for consideration. State Rep. Amanda Price, R-Park Township, is the sponsor of two of the bills. Pseudoephedrine is found in many cold medications and is the main ingredient in methamphetamine, a dangerous and addictive stimulant that can be made at home.

8:42 PM Jun 17, 2011

Weather outshines for third day of SL Heritage Festival

The third day was the charm for the Spring Lake Heritage Festival after a low turnout and rain dampened Tuesday and Wednesday events. While smoke was pouring from Mill Point Park during Thursday's Wings on the Water barbecue chicken wing contest, senior citizens were heating up fun of their own at the first Senior Art Mixer at the Holiday Inn. Earlier in the day, seniors spooned up ice cream at the Little Red House as they listened to the Spring Lake Jazz Band play music from the 1940s.

5:22 PM Jun 17, 2011

Spring Lake Heritage Festival Car Show

1:00 PM Jun 17, 2011

WHAT'S UP: Summertime is all about the sunshine

Tuesday, June 21 - the summer solstice or first day of the Northern hemisphere summer - is the longest day of the year, reckoned by the length of time the sun is above the horizon. In Grand Haven on the summer solstice, the sun will rise at 6:06 a.m. and set at 9:28 p.m., giving us 15 hours and 22 minutes of face time with the sun. If twilight is included, the period of time before and after sunrise and set when there is still enough diffuse sunlight to see easily, we have a little more than 16 and a half hours of play time.

11:56 AM Jun 17, 2011

Cuatro Caminos Mexican restaurant closes

A Mexican restaurant that had been awaiting approval for a state liquor license has closed. Cuatro Caminos, 17250 Hayes St., closed June 6 after being opened for less than a year, owner Amanda Martinez said Thursday. "There just wasn't enough business to keep the doors open,' she said.