7:15 AM Oct 4, 2011
An Italian appeals court has thrown out Amanda Knox's murder conviction and ordered the young American free after nearly four years in prison for the death of her British roommate. Knox collapsed in tears after the verdict was read out today. In its ruling, the court also cleared Knox's co-defendant, Raffaele Sollecito, of murder.
7:15 AM Oct 4, 2011
Today: Sunny, with a high near 65. Calm wind becoming west-southwest around 6 mph. Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 53. West-southwest wind at 6 mph becoming south-southeast. Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 69. East-southeast wind around 6 mph becoming southwest.
6:00 PM Oct 3, 2011
Two Christian ensembles will join hands to present a benefit concert at 6 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 16. The program will be presented in the sanctuary of Ferrysburg Community Church, located at the corner of Mohawk and Dogwood drives in Ferrysburg. There will be no admission charge for the concert, but a free-will offering will be taken for Humanity for Prisoners, a nonprofit prisoner advocacy agency based in Grand Haven. His Men is a male chorus whose singers reside in this part of the state, and Jubal Brass is an instrumental ensemble whose players reside here.
4:05 PM Oct 3, 2011
A report of a possible missing boater on Sunday turned out to be unfounded, according to an official at Coast Guard Station Grand Haven. The Coast Guard was notified about 7:45 p.m. Sunday that there was a boat anchored in the Grand River in the area of 144th Avenue and Mercury Drive, near the Odawa boat launch in Grand Haven Township. The caller reported there was nobody around the boat, the official said.
4:00 PM Oct 3, 2011
Spring Lake District Library will be hosting a seasonal flu and pneumonia vaccine clinic from 10 a.m. to noon Friday, Oct. 14. Vaccines for seasonal flu and pneumonia will be administered by registered nurses. The services will be provided by North Ottawa Community Health Systems. No appointment is necessary.
2:00 PM Oct 3, 2011
All Michigan residents are encouraged to read and discuss the book "Arc of Justice: A Saga of Race, Civil Rights and Murder in the Jazz Age' by Kevin Boyle during the Great Michigan Read. "Arc of Justice' is the true story of Dr. Ossian Sweet, a black physician who moved his family into an all-white neighborhood in Detroit in 1925. Sweet and others in his home were charged with murder after defending their new home from a mob. Legendary attorney Clarence Darrow was the lawyer for the defense during the pivotal civil rights trial.
12:00 PM Oct 3, 2011
Two Grand Rapids-area men were taken to the hospital and treated for hypothermia after their fishing boat swamped in Lake Macatawa and they had to swim to shore, said Sgt. Keith Garvelink of the Ottawa County Sheriff's Department. Terrance Mullenix, 39, of Wyoming; and Brett James, 32, of Grand Rapids, went fishing in a 16-foot fiberglass boat about 5 p.m. Friday, Garvelink said. The boat started taking on water when the men were about 200 yards south of the Anchorage Marina on the north side of the lake.
11:30 AM Oct 3, 2011
More than 300 walkers united in step Sunday afternoon to help stomp out poverty. Spring Lake Presbyterian Church hosted the annual C.R.O.P. Walk - which raised about $35,000 for Church World Service, an international organization focused on hunger. Participants dined on broth and bread at the church before walking around Spring Lake Village.
11:20 AM Oct 3, 2011
The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) is doing its part to help fans arrive safely and on time in Detroit today and Tuesday for the American League Division Series. In order to help motorists plan ahead, MDOT has posted major lane closures and restrictions all in one convenient location online for the games between the Detroit Tigers and the New York Yankees on Oct. 3 and 4.
11:16 AM Oct 3, 2011
Although it didn't come in the Lakes Eight Conference, Spring Lake's streak of league championships was extended on Saturday.
11:14 AM Oct 3, 2011
It was a day full of first-place finishes for the Grand Haven cross country teams, as the Bucs totaled three invitational wins - the boys and girls each captured the Allendale Falcon Invitational title, while a second Grand Haven girls team won the Fruitport Invitational at Rycenga Park. The Bucs' girls competed without their No. 1 runner, sophomore Claire Borchers, who was resting sore shins, but her teammtes picked up the slack. At Fruitport, the Bucs totaled 44 points, led by sophomore Ashley Rice's first-place showing at 20:57.
11:09 AM Oct 3, 2011
In a battle of state-ranked teams, Spring Lake's varsity soccer squad scored an impressive 3-1 win over host Whitehall on Saturday afternoon. The Lakers entered the game ranked No. 4 in Division 2 while the Vikings came in ranked No. 2 in Division 3. Spring Lake got out of the gates quickly, scoring twice in the opening 15 minutes. First, Tanner Berg's pass sprung Adam Clauss on a breakaway. Minutes later, Clauss made a nice play to create space for Kyle Kendall, whose shot found the back of the net.
11:08 AM Oct 3, 2011
A car loaded with eight Norwich University students lost control and crashed after an off-campus party early Sunday, killing a freshman and leaving three others with critical injuries, police said. The 22-year-old behind the wheel is charged with drunken driving resulting in a fatality. Renee Robbins, 18, of Kentwood, Mich., died in the crash just after 1 a.m., Northfield police said. Seven people in the car required hospital treatment.
11:06 AM Oct 3, 2011
Grand Haven reached the semifinals of Saturday's West Ottawa volleyball invitational, falling to Wayland in the semifinals, 21-25, 25-20, 18-16.
10:51 AM Oct 3, 2011
A Jenison man was seriously injured after crashing his car into a parked truck early Saturday morning, according to Sgt. Keith Garvelink of the Ottawa County Sheriff's Department. Elijah Robert Bouwens, 26, was driving west on Baldwin near Mill Street when his Mini-Cooper crossed the turn lanes and two eastbound lanes of traffic, before leaving the road and hitting a Freightliner semitrailer truck parked on private property. Bouwens was taken by ambulance to St. Mary's Hospital in Grand Rapids.