It's somewhat unusual for a teenager to be interested in 200-year-old American history, but it's even more unusual to have a keen interest in the country's second president. But then there's 14-year-old Lizzy Traves, who traveled from her home in Blissfield, about 25 miles northwest of Toledo, Ohio, to listen to the John Adams re-enactor at Grand Haven's Central Park on Monday evening.

Five of 15 teachers laid off by Spring Lake Public Schools will be called back to teach next year, Superintendent Dennis Furton said. As one of several measures to close a projected $3.1 million deficit for the 2011-12 school year, SLPS laid off 15 teachers, Furton said. Some had their hours cut back, while others were eliminated completely - equating to slightly more than 12 full-time positions being eliminated, according to Furton.

Ottawa County Parks and The Outpost of Holland are offering a hiking and camping program at 7 p.m. Thursday. "What's New in Hiking and Camping' will be presented at the Ottawa County Parks Nature Education Center. Staff from The Outpost will conduct this one-hour indoor program to help you prepare for these experiences. A variety of day packs, foot wear, clothing, tents, sleeping bags, and other hiking and camping accessories will be discussed and displayed during this program for adults and older accompanied children.

The Grand Haven Patriot's Day Run will be entering its 12th year this summer and once again will stand as a benefit for the Grand Haven cross country program. This year's race will be held Saturday, July 2 at Grand Haven High School beginning at 8:30 a.m. behind the school. The race is a part of a local running series that also includes the recently completed Klever Kickoff to Summer Run and the YMCA Coast Guard Run. The races include a point system which will award overall winners from all three races.

A dog has escaped unscathed from a small plane crash in northern Michigan that killed an Indiana couple and critically injured a 16-year-old boy. The Petoskey News-Review reported the male labradoodle is named Brady and belongs to Austin Hatch, who was being treated Monday at Munson Medical Center in Traverse City. Friday's crash claimed the lives of 46-year-old pilot Stephen Hatch of Fort Wayne, Ind., and his 44-year-old wife Kimberly, Austin Hatch's stepmother.

Today: Partly sunny, with a high near 70. Breezy, with a west wind at 16 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 28 mph. Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 54. North-northwest wind at 5 to 8 mph. Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 69. Northwest wind at around 6 mph.

Michigan authorities say an online database can help people learn about water quality before they head for state beaches this summer. The state Department of Environmental Quality said today that information on water quality at 1,210 beaches is available at the BeachGuard site. The department said the site can assure people that their favorite beaches are safe for swimming. DEQ officials said water quality at some beaches can be affected by runoff and sewer overflows during heavy, long rains. Fewer than 1 percent of beaches are affected by runoff closings each summer.