It was a night to pay tribute to the Coast Guard. But it was an air force that stood out Thursday at Thirlby Field. Senior Scott Staal, making his varsity start, completed 16 of 20 passes for 250 yards and four touchdowns as Grand Haven won the inaugural Coast Guard Trophy with a season-opening 35-10 win over Traverse City Central. All four of Staal's touchdown passes went to Dan Cotter. Staal also ran for a score. For more on Thursday's contest, see Friday's print edition of the Grand Haven Tribune.

Grand Haven Area Public Schools has been named one of the winners of a statewide 2011 Education Excellence Award program. The Michigan Association of School Boards and SET SEG School Insurance Specialists recently honored programs that represented 16 counties across Michigan. Winners will move on to a second round to determine "Michigan's Best' and the recipients of a $1,500 prize to help further the goals of their programs.

There will be magic in the air Saturday at the First Baptist Church annual Street Party. Colorado magician David Laflin will perform at noon and 2 p.m. at the free event. It will also include food, games, crafts, kiddie train, inflatable 60-foot maze, climbing tower, double-lane slide, dunk tank and a fire truck. The event runs from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the church parking lot, 118 E. Exchange St., across from the Spring Lake District Library.

Sam VanderPloeg is no stranger to broken small engines. "I've been doing small-engine repair for 30 years now,' he said. The Zeeland man recently moved his small business north to Grand Haven's east side. His shop, VIP Repairs LLC, opened at 1442 Washington Ave. on Aug. 17.

Traffic on West Spring Lake Road near the Smith's Bayou bridge was diverted for more than an hour Wednesday night when a large tree branch fell across the road. Ferrysburg Public Works Director George Dunning said it appeared the tree had been weakened by ants, and the weight of the branch finally brought it down. The incident was not storm-related, he said. The branch pulled down a secondary power line, twisting a transformer partially off a utility pole and pulling a power mast off a nearby home. Officials said it looked like only two homes lost power.

A 17-year-old Grand Haven boy was rescued from Lake Michigan near Grand Haven's south pier just as Tuesday evening's storm started rumbling through the area. His name was not available. "Witnesses said, if it wasn't for the surfers, the kid probably wouldn't have been rescued,' said Lt. Renee Freeman of the Grand Haven Department of Public Safety.

Detectives are investigating the theft of cheerleading equipment from the Muskegon High School just days before the cheer season begins. The thief stole the equipment from the coach's sport utility vehicle sometime Monday night or early Tuesday morning on Peck Street. The missing equipment includes 26 new pairs of Nike shoes. The coach said they cost $42 a pair - and the cheerleaders had not yet paid for the shoes, so the coach said she may be stuck with the bill.