Western Michigan Christian has won a plenty of state titles in its 55-year history, but one that has eluded the school is golf. The Warriors have been state runners-up in golf twice, but have never returned home with the big trophy. This year's team has a chance to change that at the Division 4 state meet on Friday and Saturday at The Meadows Golf Course in Allendale. This will be the school's fourth-straight appearance in the state final.

Michigan's unemployment rate crept up to 10.3 percent in May, pushed higher by the loss of 8,000 government jobs and 3,000 in education and health services. The seasonally adjusted figures released Wednesday by the state's Department of Technology, Management and Budget show an increase of 0.1 percentage points since April. The state figure remains above the national rate of 9.1 percent.

If there's a comfort zone for George Bitner, it's found on the golf course. There's really no other choice for a man who has spent his entire childhood and adult life learning, idolizing and teaching the game that he loves.

Dr. Wallace Ewing, a local historian and author, will be the guest speaker at Spring Lake District Library at 7 p.m. Wednesday, June 22. Ewing will be talking about his new book, "Slaves Soldiers Citizens: African Americans in Northwest Ottawa County.' The book contains information about the African Americans who settled in Northwest Ottawa County in the 1800s, including those who served in the Union Army during the Civil War. A book signing will follow the presentation. For more information, call the library at 846-5770, ext. 107.

A portion of the dock at Pottawattomie Park on Comstock Road in Grand Haven Township is set to be repaired. A floating portion of the park's dock is removed each winter, according to Township Manager Bill Cargo. However, the affixed portion that remains in the water was damaged by ice floes this past year and will be replaced. On Monday, the Township Board unanimously approved a contract with RCB Dredging Solutions Inc. of West Olive for $6,900 to repair the dock. The work is expected to be complete by the Fourth of July holiday weekend.

The country's flag was honored and later burned Tuesday evening at separate ceremonies in Grand Haven. The local Elks Lodge, joined by members of the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars posts in Grand Haven, held its annual Flag Day observance at Waterfront Stadium.

Police are looking for information on vandalism that occurred between 8 p.m. Monday and 6 a.m. Tuesday on a stretch of West Spring Lake Road near the Spring Lake Yacht Club. Spring Lake/Ferrysburg police are looking for information on who spray-painted bike path signs, the path itself, a residence's overhead garage door, and a retaining wall at the intersection of Landing Drive and West Spring Lake Road. The damage was discovered by a Ferrysburg Department of Public Works employee early Tuesday morning, police said.