U.S. Rep. Bill Huizenga handed out service medals for five veterans and their families - including his father, Gerald Huizenga. The veterans served in World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War. The ceremony was held Saturday morning at the Howard Miller Library in Zeeland.

The Ottawa County Sheriff's Department is accepting applications for its 2011 Citizens Police Academy. The 12-week course will be offered from 6-9 p.m. Wednesdays from Sept. 14 to Dec. 7 at the Ottawa County Fillmore Complex, 12220 Fillmore St. There will be a graduation ceremony during the last class. Class participants will get a behind-the-scenes look of the Sheriff's Department, including a ride-along in a sheriff's car. Potential candidates for the academy must meet the following criteria: - Minimum age of 18

The 2011 St. Mary's Festival will kick off with a "White Elephant' sale on Friday and Saturday, July 8-9. Lori Dinneweth, co-chairwoman of this year's sale, said thousands of items have already been donated by the general public and hundreds more are coming in each day. Books, small appliances, holiday decorations, children's toys, clothing, men's items, sporting goods, baskets and an array of glassware have been donated for the sale. Some of the items are new, Dinneweth said.

Grand Haven's city and state park beaches received honorable mention on a listing of the Great Lakes' best beaches provided by a Florida International University professor. Stephen Leatherman, nicknamed "Dr. Beach,' gave the honorable mention ranking to Grand Haven, as well as Lake Michigan's North Beach in Racine, Wis.

Today: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 84. South southwest wind between 10 and 17 mph.

A 40-year-old Grand Haven man reportedly drove off westbound Interstate 96 Thursday night and crashed his car into a wooded area west of Ionia. The man, whose name was not released, suffered non-life-threatening injuries and was taken to a hospital by ambulance, WOOD-TV reported. According to police reports, the man's car drifted off the interstate and into a ditch, and struck a tree near the 60-mile marker, near Saranac in Ionia County's Boston Township, at about 10 p.m. Police said alcohol and fatigue were factors in the one-car crash, WWMT-TV reported.

The National Weather Service has issued a flood advisory for Ottawa County until 5:30 p.m. today. Heavy rainfall with rates of more than 2 inches per hour has occurred across much of the county late this morning and early this afternoon. Runoff from the excessive rainfall will cause minor flooding to occur, especially along small streams and near low water crossings, according to the weather bureau. A flash flood watch remains in effect for Ottawa, Muskegon, Kent, Allegan, Barry, Van Buren, Kalamazoo, Mason, Lake, Oceana and Newaygo counties until 4 p.m. today.

As the nation's blood supply continues to be strained, the American Red Cross is encouraging all eligible donors to make donating blood a part of their summer plans. "Blood collections typically decrease during the summer months because school is out and people are enjoying their summer break,' said Sharon Jaksa, CEO for the Great Lakes Region of the American Red Cross. "However, the need for blood never takes a vacation.'