3:56 PM Oct 4, 2011
A 50-year-old Holton man will spend up to 25 years in prison for robbing a Ferrysburg convenience store at gunpoint on Aug. 1. Jon Lee DeJong, 8816 Holton Road, was sentenced Monday morning by Ottawa County Circuit Judge Jon Hulsing. DeJong was ordered to serve between 12 and 25 years on the armed robbery charge, and 2-5 years for fleeing and eluding a police officer. An habitual offender charge had been dropped in exchange for the guilty plea on Aug. 15.
3:55 PM Oct 4, 2011
The local pistol and rifle range remains closed, coming into one of the busiest times of the year, as police continue an investigation into a shooting incident that left one man injured and several homes damaged in a nearby subdivision. A large group of residents from the Cutter Park subdivision showed up at the monthly board meeting of the North Ottawa Rod and Gun Club on Monday night to express their concerns about the club's activities.
2:12 PM Oct 4, 2011
Motorists should be on the lookout for a right lane closure on eastbound Interstate 96, between 48th and 24th avenues in Ottawa County, between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. Wednesday. The Michigan Department of Transportation has scheduled guardrail repair there after a six-vehicle crash in that area late Monday night. The work is weather dependent.
2:00 PM Oct 4, 2011
In honor of International Walk to School Day, the students of Ferry, Voyager and Griffin elementary schools are being encouraged to walk to school on Wednesday. With the assistance of parent volunteers, Grand Haven Department of Public Safety officers and Kids Hope mentors, students will make their way from a centralized location to their respective schools. Between 8:25 and 8:35 a.m., Ferry and Voyager students will meet at Second Reformed Church, 1000 Waverly Ave. Students will assemble in an orange cone area.
1:30 PM Oct 4, 2011
Derek Jeter stood at the plate, two outs in the bottom of the ninth, his team trailing by one with two batters on base. Around him was a blur of white towels in the dark Detroit sky, swung throughout the night by a capacity crowd of 43,581 Detroit Tigers fans at Comerica Park hell bent on creating enough noise to make the man's ears ring.
1:22 PM Oct 4, 2011
The Michigan State Police have begun closing posts as part of a plan to regionalize trooper coverage statewide. MSP Director Kriste Kibbey Etue said in a news release today that the number of posts open to the public statewide will drop from 62 to 29. Nineteen posts will remain open as work sites for officers. Fourteen posts will permanently close, including two shuttered last month.
1:19 PM Oct 4, 2011
Grand Haven's varsity soccer team had win No. 11 within reach, but a pair of late goals by East Kentwood spoiled the Buccaneers' unbeaten season. The Falcons rallied from a 2-1 deficit with two goals in the final 10 minutes, clinching the regular-season O-K Red Conference title and earning the top seed in next week's league tournament. East Kentwood entered the game ranked No. 2 in the latest Division 1 state poll while Grand Haven checked in at No. 6.
1:00 PM Oct 4, 2011
Sharing services among local communities and organizations is becoming more of a standard in Michigan. In an effort to save money, Grand Haven Area Public Schools and the city of Grand Haven will be sharing its technical services through June 2012. The Grand Haven school board and Grand Haven City Council each unanimously approved a cooperative agreement to share technical support during their respective meetings Monday night.
12:30 PM Oct 4, 2011
High school students interested in spending a year overseas studying in a new country are invited to bring their parents to an information session tonight. Sponsored by Rotary's Youth Exchange Program, this outbound exchange meeting will be held in the Grand Haven High School library, beginning at 7 p.m. Information will also be provided on hosting an inbound exchange student for a couple of months. For more information, call Dean Buntley at 842-7051, ext. 24.
12:00 PM Oct 4, 2011
Right lane closures for tree removal will be in place today through Friday on eastbound M-104, between 120th and 130th avenues in Crockery Township. Closures will be in place between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. each day, the Michigan Department of Transportation said. In addition, a left lane closure for road work will be in place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. today on westbound Interstate 96 at 60th Avenue, east of Coopersville.
11:21 AM Oct 4, 2011
Loutit District Library's free Sunday Afternoon Concert Series continues with an Oct. 9 performance from the Folias Flute and Guitar Duo. The concert will take place in the library's upper-level lobby, beginning at 2 p.m. The Grand Rapids-based Folias Flute and Guitar Duo was founded in 2002 by Carmen Maret and Andrew Bergeron. The couple perform original flute and guitar music influenced by classical, tango and jazz.
11:14 AM Oct 4, 2011
Authorities in Grand Rapids said they're preparing to release audio and video recordings today from an ex-convict's shooting spree in which he killed seven people, then himself. On July 7, 34-year-old Rodrick Dantzler fatally shot two former girlfriends, his 12-year-old daughter and four others related to them. He also wounded two people before taking his own life. Grand Rapids Police Chief Kevin Belk said he, Kent County Prosecutor William Forsyth and police investigations commander Capt. Jeffrey Hertel will answer questions after releasing the recordings.
11:03 AM Oct 4, 2011
Village Manager Ryan Cotton received high scores Monday night in his annual evaluation by Village Council. The review may lead to a three-year contract next year. Village President Bill Filber, who serves on the review committee with Councilman Jim MacLachlan, said Cotton is currently an "at will' employee. Cotton has had annual reviews since his hiring in 2002.
10:50 AM Oct 4, 2011
Both Spring Lake and Fruitport scored victories over lower-seeded opponents in the opening round of the Lakes Eight Conference boys soccer tournament on Monday. The top-seeded Lakers dispatched of an overmatched Grant squad, 8-0, behind two goals apiece from Tanner Berg and Adam Clauss. Michael Zietlow, Riley Kammeraad and Luke Platz added single goals, as did Nick Mazzole, who netted his first goal of the season.
10:40 AM Oct 4, 2011
The Muskegon County Sheriff's Department is investigating the death of a 20-year old Fruitport Township man following what detectives call an underage drinking party. The party was Friday night east of Muskegon, in the woods off Wolf Lake Road, near Evanston Avenue, police said. The investigation started Saturday morning when Travis Trowbridge was reported missing.