Grand Haven Tribune

8:30 AM Jul 13, 2011

Muskegon man sent to prison for sex assault of pet dog

A judge has sent a Muskegon man back to prison for sexually assaulting his pet dog. Muskegon County Circuit Judge William Marietti ordered Jose Sanchez, 59, to prison for 17 months to 22 1/2 years. The judge also asked state corrections officials to get counseling for Sanchez. Sanchez told investigators for a pre-sentence report that he was sexually abused as a child. Sanchez pleaded no contest last month to bestiality. His parole officer was told the dog was sexually assaulted Aug. 2. The 60-pound female dog has been taken in by a foster family.

7:16 AM Jul 13, 2011

Tribune seeking local comments for Betty Ford story

In the wake of Betty Ford's death, the Tribune is working on a story about local residents who might have known the Ford family or met them in some way. We are also interested in talking with Tri-Cities residents and former residents who plan on attending Betty Ford's funeral in Grand Rapids on Thursday. Please e-mail us at news@grandhaventribune.com or call us at 616-842-8790.

7:05 AM Jul 13, 2011

Today's forecast

Today: Sunny, with a high near 71. North-northwest wind around 10 mph. Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 56. North wind around 7 mph, becoming east. Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 78. East wind at 4 to 7 mph, becoming calm.

10:00 PM Jul 12, 2011

Historic Spring Lake Cemetery Walk set for July 29

Jane Ladley, a Spring Lake resident and museum educator, will be the tour guide on an historic walk through the Spring Lake Cemetery on Friday, July 29. The walk, sponsored by the Tri-Cities Historical Museum, will begin at 10 a.m. Ladley will highlight the lives of the Savidge, Bilz and McCluer families, and others who played a prominent role in developing the Spring Lake area. She will also point out and discuss gravestone symbolism. Advance registration is not necessary. The walk will begin on the west side of North Fruitport Road.

6:00 PM Jul 12, 2011

Alewives show up in force along Lake Mich. shore

Hundreds of thousands of alewives have been showing up along the Lake Michigan shoreline in recent weeks. The Traverse City Record-Eagle reported officials say there's been more of the fish than usual this year along parts of the northwestern Lower Peninsula. Jim Dexter is acting fisheries chief for the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. He said some become stressed and die during the spawning process, and end up on beaches.

4:00 PM Jul 12, 2011

Supreme Machined Products gets tax abatement

A 12-year, 50-percent tax abatement for Supreme Machined Products was unanimously approved Monday by the Spring Lake Township Board. Company officials said they plan to add $3.2 million of machinery to manufacture automotive metal components at their plant, 18686 172nd Ave. The move is expected to add 10 jobs. The abatement will save the company about $100,000 over 12 years, according to Township Trustee Bob Shay. Last year, Supreme Machined Products spent $1.8 million in equipment.

3:46 PM Jul 12, 2011

One hurt in crash on U.S. 31 in Ferrysburg

One person was injured in a two-vehicle accident early this afternoon on U.S. 31, south of Ridge Street. James Hicks, 52, of Muskegon Heights was taken to North Ottawa Community Hospital following the 12:30 p.m. accident on the northbound lanes of U.S. 31. Police said his injuries were not serious. Hicks was driving a 1997 BMW north on the highway when he either hit the wall and then a northbound pickup truck, or hit the truck and then the wall almost head-on.

3:07 PM Jul 12, 2011

Fire pact stalled by Spring Lake Township Board tie vote

Hopes for an updated fire service agreement between Spring Lake Township and Village were doused Monday night when a motion to approve it ended in a tie vote. The measure needed a majority vote to pass. Township Supervisor John Nash said Clerk Carolyn Boersma, who was not in attendance Monday night, indicated she would vote in favor of the agreement - which does not raise the $12,000 rate that the village has paid the township for fire protection since the original 1976 contract.

2:49 PM Jul 12, 2011

Worst of storms skirt Tri-Cities

Spring Lake varsity girls basketball coach Rich Hyde said his team was probably in the best place they could be when the second round of storms swept through Holland on Monday morning. The Spring Lake High School varsity and junior varsity squads were participating in a camp on the Hope College campus. The JV players had just come in to DeVos Fieldhouse when the high winds hit the area, uprooting and topping off many trees in the area. Hyde said everybody was safe at the time.

2:00 PM Jul 12, 2011

American history on stage: 'Jefferson & Adams' at GHHS

America's second and third presidents will be brought to life on stage in a performance at 7 p.m. Thursday highlighting their 52-year friendship. As a part of the John Adams exhibit featured throughout the summer at Loutit District Library, "Jefferson & Adams: A Stage Play' will be performed at the Grand Haven High School Performing Arts Center.

11:53 AM Jul 12, 2011

GH's Rose, Vanderlaan to play for national title with GR Crew

Grand Haven's Nate Rose and Jake Vanderlaan will again have the opportunity to play for a national championship with their travel soccer team. The U-17 Grand Rapids Crew Juniors were victorious during the U.S. Youth Soccer National League Region II Championship on June 29 in Appleton, Wis. The tournament featured teams from 14 different states. In the championship game, Rose, a forward, scored a goal in the second minute, then assisted on the second score in the 2-1 final. Solid play by Vanderlaan on defense helped secure the tight victory.

11:30 AM Jul 12, 2011

Townships approve service collaborative agreements

Two collaborative agreements for shared services between several local communities have received approval by a majority of the municipalities.

11:15 AM Jul 12, 2011

Man, grandson dead after fishing accident near Ludington

Police said a 68-year-old man and his 24-year-old grandson have apparently drowned following an accident while fishing from a boat on a private pond in Mason County. The Ludington Daily News reported police were called to the pond in Eden Township, near Ludington, on Monday night. The Mason County Sheriff's Department recovered the bodies of the man with help from the Riverton Fire Department, Michigan State Police and others. Both men are from Scottville. Their names weren't immediately released.

11:09 AM Jul 12, 2011

Storms blamed in 1 death, 191,000 blackouts

A Kent County man died Monday after a tree fell over during severe thunderstorms that generated winds of 80 mph and knocked out power to at least 191,000 homes and businesses, authorities said. The 38-year-old man was trapped on a porch Monday morning in Cutlerville, south of Grand Rapids. Thunderstorms moved across southern Michigan, prompting warnings from the National Weather Service. In Holland, winds of about 80 mph were reported and a police cruiser was hit by a fallen tree. The officer was not hurt.

10:56 AM Jul 12, 2011

Businesses, building owners learn more about shopping district tax

In an effort to get more information to downtown businesses and building owners about a proposed Principal Shopping District, another informational meeting was held Monday night at the Grand Haven Community Center. "The PSD is going to serve as the marketing promotions arm and it's also going to keep us healthy moving forward,' said Steve Loftis, a member of the Grand Haven Main Street Downtown Development Authority and a downtown business owner.

10:50 AM Jul 12, 2011

Robinson Twp. store robber sentenced

One of two men charged with the armed robbery of the Oaklea Party Store in Robinson Township was sentenced Monday to serve between six and 40 years in prison. Scott Lee Richardson, 26, was also ordered to pay $20 in restitution and $198 in fines and costs. The Holton man was given credit for 83 days served in jail since the April incident. Richardson pleaded guilty to a charge of armed robbery June 6 in Ottawa County Circuit Court. In exchange for his guilty plea, a charge of being an habitual offender was dropped.

10:45 AM Jul 12, 2011

Coopersville man crashes pickup into semi

A Coopersville man was injured and one of his dogs went missing after he drove into the path of a semitrailer truck Monday afternoon, police said. Witnesses told police that Michael Mooney, 57, was driving east on Arthur Street when he ran a stop sign at the 48th Avenue intersection, said Ottawa County Sheriff's Sgt. John Wolffis. Mooney drove into the path of a semi pulling an empty livestock trailer, driven by 42-year-old Matthew Entrican of Caledonia. The vehicles collided and Mooney's 2007 Chevrolet pickup truck was thrown into the ditch.