Grand Haven Tribune

11:20 AM Aug 10, 2011

2 women hurt when their car is hit by a truck

Two women were injured when a semitrailer truck turned into the path of their southbound car on U.S. 31 in Olive Township shortly before 5:30 p.m. Tuesday. Muskegon Heights resident Debra Phillips, 54, was driving a 1993 Cadillac that was hit by a 2006 Freightliner, which was turning west from the highway onto Tyler Street. A passenger in Phillips' car, Deqoya Todd, 19, was also injured. Both women were taken to Holland Hospital where they were treated and released, a hospital spokesperson said this morning.

11:20 AM Aug 10, 2011

Lakers look to end playoff losing skid

Editor's Note: This is the second in a three-day series looking at the Tribune's area prep football teams. The Fruitport Trojans will be featured on Thursday. SPRING LAKE LAKERS 2010 Record: 7-3 (6-1 Lakes Eight Conference, 1st) Playoffs: Lost in the opening round to Grand Rapids Catholic Central, 45-34 Starters Returning

11:07 AM Aug 10, 2011

Local communities taking stand against invasive species

Residents and community leaders are pitching in to take a stand against phragmites, an invasive wetland weed that is blocking lake views and endangering native plants and wildlife. Spring Lake Township Supervisor John Nash, who is also spokesman for the Spring Lake Lake Board, said if $17,000 can be raised by the end of next week, treatment will begin this fall and continue in 2012. "What makes sense is to treat the whole lake, and do it for two years and do it right,' he said. "We're still looking for people to contribute.'

11:04 AM Aug 10, 2011

Planners OK special land use for body art shop on Beechtree

A new place to get body art is coming to Grand Haven's east side. On Tuesday night, city planning commissioners unanimously approved a special land use permit allowing Jay and Angela Helmer to open a tattoo parlor at 14 S. Beechtree St. "Over the past 15 years, the tattooing industry as a whole has skyrocketed,' Jay Helmer said. He cited shows like "L.A. Ink' and "Miami Ink' on the TLC channel as examples of the popularity of body art.

10:45 AM Aug 10, 2011

Jamestown Twp. collision sends 2 to the hospital

A Clarksville woman was injured Tuesday evening when she turned her car into the path of a pickup truck towing a boat in Jamestown Township. Police said Ellie Veltman, 20, stopped her 1990 Pontiac Bonneville on westbound Riley Street at the stop sign at 32nd Avenue shortly before 6:30 p.m. Witnesses said she then attempted a turn onto 32nd Avenue and collided with a 1999 GMC truck pulling a 17-foot boat.

10:44 AM Aug 10, 2011

Jury convicts man in shotgun slayings of 2 women

A southwestern Michigan man was convicted Tuesday in the shotgun slayings of his girlfriend and his cousin's wife, despite his story to police that one of the women shot the other in a jealous rage. Junior Lee Beebe, 34, was found guilty of first-degree murder in the death of Tonya Howarth, 36, and second-degree murder in the slaying of Amy Henslee, 30, according to the Kalamazoo Gazette. A Van Buren County Circuit Court jury delivered the verdict after about five hours of deliberations that began Friday.

10:42 AM Aug 10, 2011

2 women hurt in Olive Township crash

Two women were injured when a semitrailer truck turned into the path of their car around 5:25 p.m. Tuesday on U.S. 31 at the intersection of Tyler Street. Muskegon Heights resident Debra Phillips, 54, was driving a 1993 Cadillac that was hit by a 2006 Freightliner in the intersection. Phillips is in stable condition at Holland Hospital. A passenger in Phillips' car, Deqoya Todd, 19, was also injured. Todd is in stable condition at Holland Hospital as well.

10:41 AM Aug 10, 2011

Search for Lake Michigan swimmers suspended

Rescue crews have suspended their search for two people missing in Lake Michigan near Saugatuck Dunes State Park. WZZM-TV reported a 46-year-old man and his 22-year-old nephew were in the water Tuesday afternoon. They had been swimming in about 50 yards from shore when they started struggling in a rip current. Searchers were using a helicopter and human chains to search in a grid pattern. Allegan County deputies said the conditions were dangerous, with waves of 6-8 feet and a strong undertow. Deputies said the men are presumed drowned.

10:36 AM Aug 10, 2011

Kids can make Civil War-era dolls at local museum on Aug. 16

During the Civil War, families conserved whatever they had. Money was scarce and many items were unavailable because they were needed for the war effort. It was not a time for children to be able to purchase toys; rather, they made their own. Yarn dolls were just one type of toy created by children during this time period. Area children will have the opportunity to create their own yarn dolls at the Tri-Cities Historical Museum's "Tuesdays History for Kids' program on Aug. 16.

10:35 AM Aug 10, 2011

Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp’s final concert session begins Friday

Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp's fourth and final session of concerts and events for its 2011 season will include performances by the Staff Band, Festival Band and Festival Orchestra.

7:21 AM Aug 10, 2011

Coast Guard seeks information on Holland rescues

The U.S. Coast Guard is seeking help from the public to identify those involved in the rescue of several swimmers from violent rip currents near the Holland State Park beach pier head on Aug. 3 by a Coast Guardsman, representatives from other agencies and local citizens. The Coast Guard is compiling information about the case and is seeking the identities of a male teenager and a female teenager who were rescued at about 2:45 p.m., as well as information from anyone who witnessed any of the rescues.

7:12 AM Aug 10, 2011

Today's forecast

Today: Mostly sunny, with a high near 75. Breezy, with a north-northwest wind at 16-22 mph, with gusts as high as 31 mph. Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 59. West-northwest wind at 10-14 mph. Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 79. Northwest wind between 6 and 15 mph.

7:10 AM Aug 10, 2011

Snyder signs Michigan redistricting legislation

Gov. Rick Snyder has signed legislation to establish new district boundaries for Michigan's representatives in the U.S. House and the state Legislature. It's possible the bills signed today by the Republican governor could be challenged in court by Democrats or others upset with portions of the redistricting plan. Critics of the plans have said Republicans are trying to protect their own incumbents while possibly violating federal protections for minority voters.

6:20 AM Aug 10, 2011

Spring Lake's opening football practice

6:00 PM Aug 9, 2011

Symphony to play ‘Pops in the Park’ on Saturday

The Holland Symphony Orchestra is offering a free concert at 7:30 p.m. Saturday. "Pops in the Park' will take place at Holland's Kollen Park, at VanRaalte Avenue and 10th Street in Holland. Bring a chair and enjoy a variety of symphonic music as the sun sets over Lake Macatawa. The rain location is Holland Civic Center, 150 W. Eighth St.

4:00 PM Aug 9, 2011

Red Cross to hold blood drives in area this month

The American Red Cross Great Lakes Blood Services Region needs approximately 700 eligible donors to donate blood each day in August to continue rebuilding an already fragile blood supply. Blood drives are scheduled at the following local locations: - First Baptist Church of Spring Lake, 118 E. Exchange St., noon to 5:45 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 11. - Grand Haven First Presbyterian Church, 508 Franklin Ave., 1-6:45 p.m. Friday, Aug. 12. - Second Reformed Church, 1000 Waverly Ave., 1-6 p.m. Aug. 22, and noon to 5:45 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 23.

4:00 PM Aug 9, 2011

West Mich. steel company plans to reopen foundry

A West Michigan steelmaker said it bought a former foundry and plans to start producing castings there next year. The Associated Press reported on Monday that Muskegon-based Michigan Steel Inc. bought the former Kurdziel Industries foundry in the Oceana County village of Rothbury in June and plans to rename it Rothbury Steel. Michigan Steel President Chris Moein said the facility could employ between 150 and 200 people. Moein said the company plans to start producing steel castings in the renovated plant by the first quarter of next year.