11:16 AM Aug 30, 2011
Andrew Byrne scored one goal and assisted on two others as the Grand Haven varsity boys soccer team shutout Mona Shores on Monday, 4-0. Byrne set up the Buccaneers' first goal, scored by Chad Buitenhuis, with just 50 seconds remaining in the opening half. Midway through the second half, with his team already on top 2-0, Byrne sent a cross to Jake Vanderlaan, whose header found the upper corner of the goal for a 3-0 lead. Byrne then put one away himself later in the game to wrap up the 4-0 victory.
11:15 AM Aug 30, 2011
Spring Lake's varsity boys tennis team went 3-0 at Monday's home tri-meet, scoring victories over North Muskegon, Western Michigan Christian and Whitehall. The Lakers beat the Norsemen, 5-3, scoring wins in all four doubles flights. Spring Lake also swept the doubles in a 6-2 win over Whitehall, then won at every flight except No. 4 singles in a 7-1 victory over WMC. Sophomore Ryan Fedewa went 3-0 at No. 1 singles, scoring easy wins against WMC and Whitehall but needing three sets to beat North Muskegon senior John Snider, 6-3, 4-6, 6-0.
11:13 AM Aug 30, 2011
The first-ever varsity soccer game for Muskegon Community College was a rousing success on Saturday. Behind a hat trick from Reeths-Puffer graduate Nate Schmitt, the Jayhawks pulled out a 4-3 victory over Ancilla (Ind.) College at Orchard View High School.
11:01 AM Aug 30, 2011
A 41-year-old Grand Rapids man died and four passengers in his car were seriously injured in a two-vehicle accident late Monday morning near Zeeland. The dead man's name is being withheld pending notification of relatives, said Sgt. Steve Austin of the Ottawa County Sheriff's Department.
10:44 AM Aug 30, 2011
Police said a 44-year-old Illinois man drowned while swimming in Lake Michigan, where strong offshore currents were making conditions dangerous. The Berrien County Sheriff's Department said the accident happened Sunday afternoon off Hagar Township Beach. Deputy Roy Davis told The Herald-Palladium of St. Joseph that the victim is from the Chicago suburb of Wheeling. Davis didn't release his name. Davis said the man was 75-100 feet from shore while his wife and 4-year-old son sat on the sand.
10:41 AM Aug 30, 2011
A ticket raffle will be held Wednesday by Shoreline Dental Associates to select the participants of Free Dental Day on Sept. 17. The raffle will be held at Shoreline Dental Associates, 1221 E. Sherman Blvd. in Muskegon. Tickets will be given out from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. A second raffle will take place on Sept. 7.
10:33 AM Aug 30, 2011
The Muskegon Police Department is investigating the discharge of a firearm by one of its officers late Sunday night at an incident in the area of Fifth Street and Southern Avenue. Responding officers were originally sent to the area on a call of shots fired and found three people. The first officer advised one man to raise his hands, and the person pulled a handgun from the waist of his pants and raised it toward the officer, reported Muskegon Police Capt. Andrew Olson. The officer - a six-year veteran - fired a single shot at the man, missing him.
10:08 AM Aug 30, 2011
A Spring Lake woman, injured when a lift she was working from fell over Saturday night, remains in critical condition today at Spectrum Health Hospital in Grand Rapids. Brenda Blahnik was put into an induced coma on Monday to help relieve pressure on the brain. Blahnik's husband, Andy, said this morning that doctors planned to do surgery sometime today to further relieve the pressure. Blahnik's prognosis remains unclear at this time, her husband said.
10:06 AM Aug 30, 2011
Authorities said a Muskegon man who fatally shot his wife before killing himself was a state corrections officer. Muskegon police said they found the bodies of 36-year-old Jesus Flores and his 35-year-old wife Jennifer in their home on Sunday. WWMT-TV reported Jesus Flores worked at the Brooks Correctional Facility in Muskegon. The station said Jennifer Flores' brother saw her husband pull out a gun and shoot her. The couple were recently married.
9:59 AM Aug 30, 2011
The West Michigan Youth Symphony is seeking musicians for its 2011-12 season. Open auditions will be held from 6-8 tonight (Tuesday, Aug. 30) at Muskegon Community College. The youth symphony is seeking to fill the following spots: all strings, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, French horn, trumpet, trombone, tuba and percussion. Sixth-graders through college sophomores who are members of school music ensembles are eligible to participate.
9:50 AM Aug 30, 2011
Exchange Street will reopen to traffic today after undergoing a Safe Routes to School makeover. The village thoroughfare now sports traffic calming devices called "bumpouts' at the intersections with Prospect and Williams streets.
7:05 AM Aug 30, 2011
Today: Mostly sunny, with a high near 77. Southwest wind around 9 mph. Tonight: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 64. South southeast wind around 8 mph. Wednesday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 81. South southeast wind at around 7 mph.
6:50 PM Aug 29, 2011
The last time a pitcher won the Most Valuable Player award in the American League, Justin Verlander was 9 years old. The season was 1992, when the Oakland A's closer Dennis Eckersly and his Old West gunfighter-style mustache took home the award. And the last starting pitcher to win MVP? Verlander was only 3 when a fresh-faced Roger Clemens won in 1986 with Boston.
5:24 PM Aug 29, 2011
A Spring Lake woman remains in critical condition at Spectrum Hospital in Grand Rapids today following an accident Saturday night at the Spring Lake Aquatic and Fitness Center where she is employed. Brenda Blahnik suffered spinal and head injuries in the incident, according to her husband, Andy Blahnik. She is in the surgical critical care area at the Meijer Heart Center where she is recovering from spinal surgery, which was performed on Sunday, he said.
5:20 PM Aug 29, 2011
Six vehicles were involved in a crash on the M-104 bridge approaching the drawbridge late Saturday morning. Sgt. Curt Theune of the Spring Lake/Ferrysburg Police Department said traffic was stopped on the westbound M-104 bridge, approaching U.S. 31, shortly after 10:30 a.m. Several cars and a garbage truck collided.
4:01 PM Aug 29, 2011
Amateur photographers are invited to hone their skills during a free photography class at Spring Lake District Library during the month of September. Photography enthusiast Gert Wallis will share his expertise and show attendees how to make the most of their camera equipment during the three-part class. It will be held Wednesdays from 7-8:30 p.m.: Sept. 7, 14 and 21. Attendees are encouraged to bring their cameras and questions.
2:00 PM Aug 29, 2011
Local historian and author Dr. Wallace Ewing will present his book, "From Home to Trench: the Civil War Letters of Mack and Nan Ewing, 1856-1865,' at Loutit District Library on Thursday, Sept. 8. The free program in the library's Program Room A will begin at 7 p.m. This historical treasure features 92 letters from the Civil War era with explanatory text, compiled and edited by the correspondents' great-grandson. Ewing said that the letters "offer vivid and detailed descriptions of life in the trench and at home.'