Grand Haven Tribune

11:07 AM Jun 17, 2011

Cougars to honor cancer survivor at home opener

The Lakeshore Cougars' home-opening football contest at Buccaneer Stadium in Grand Haven on Saturday will hold special meaning to the team. The matchup against the Grand Rapids Thunder has been designated as a "Cougar Cancer Awareness' game. Donations will be collected from fans in attendance and pink balloons will be sold to benefit the family of Keegan Bulk.

11:03 AM Jun 17, 2011

Hurley pro surf team to stop in Grand Haven

The Hurley pro surf team will be making its lone stop in the Midwest with a visit to Grand Haven on June 30, as part of the "Rip My Shred Stick Tour.' The event is held in conjunction with MACkite. The 17-stop tour, which started in Puerto Rico on Saturday, gives 16-and-under surfers a chance to hang out with the pro surfers from Hurley, test-drive their boards and compete in a no-pressure, fun surfing event.

10:42 AM Jun 17, 2011

Queen's Cup bypassing Grand Haven next year

The South Shore Yacht Club of Milwaukee, sponsor of the annual Queen's Cup yacht race across Lake Michigan, announced Thursday that it has accepted the South Haven Yacht Club's invitation to host the finish of the 2012 event. Next year's race will mark the 74th running of the world-class event, but it will be the first time the race has ended in South Haven. This year's event leaves Milwaukee on July 1 and finishes in Muskegon the following day.

6:05 AM Jun 17, 2011

Spring Lake Heritage Festival

6:00 PM Jun 16, 2011

Longtime SL optometrist leads Shoreline Vision’s 7th location

Shoreline Vision officials say their village satellite office is proving to be a strategic location. The company's seventh location opened in January at 625 E. Savidge St., a site formerly occupied by G&L Chili Dogs. Dr. John Nametz, a longtime local optometrist, joined Shoreline Vision and said he brought many of his patients with him. Nametz has practiced in the village since 1982.

4:01 PM Jun 16, 2011

Native American dancing June 20 at local libraries

Spring Lake District Library and Loutit District Library will be hosting traditional Native American dancers presented by the Nokomis Learning Center as part of the summer reading program, "One World, Many Stories.' Children will learn how traditional American Indians dressed, as well as the meaning of what they wore and the differences in dance between men and women. Children will also be invited throughout the show to participate and experience a variety of traditional dances.

3:43 PM Jun 16, 2011

Family Fun Night washed out

Many activities rescheduled for later today Weather washed out Wednesday's Family Fun Night, but Spring Lake Heritage Festival volunteers plan to heat it up today with a barbecue chicken wing contest from 4-8 p.m. at Mill Point Park. Several postponed Family Fun Night events will run simultaneously with Wings on the Water - including children's games, the Spring Lake Rotary Club's ice cream social, spin art and free popcorn.

2:00 PM Jun 16, 2011

New downtown art gallery includes owner’s studio

After years in accounting and stock broking, Cyndi Casemier Johnson traded her dark suits, nylons and heels for a potter's wheel. "I went from corporate life to an artisan's life,' said Johnson, 50. "… My business friends were shocked.' Her business history and love of art combine in her new venture - C2C Gallery in downtown Grand Haven's Harbourfront Place, 41 Washington Ave., Suite 165.

12:00 PM Jun 16, 2011

Michigan officials search for missing pool player

The disappearance of a championship pool player who lived in southeastern Michigan is being investigated as a possible homicide after a man believed to be her boyfriend was stopped by police in Indiana for acting suspiciously, authorities said. Matt Harshberger, director of the Pittsfield Township Department of Public Safety, told AnnArbor.com that his department was contacted Tuesday night by police in Merrillville, Ind., who had concerns about Dawn Fital, 45, after they detained the 44-year-old man.

11:34 AM Jun 16, 2011

SLPS board votes to privatize custodial services

The Spring Lake Public School Board voted tonight to privatize custodial services for the district effective July 1. In two unanimous votes, the board awarded a three-year contract to Reliant Professional Cleaning and to lay off the district's 12 custodians. The move will save the district $314,000 per year over its current arrangement. During the meeting's public comments, several people pleaded emotionally with board members to keep the custodians, as well as questioning the quality of work performed by private contractors.

11:33 AM Jun 16, 2011

SL school board votes to privatize custodial services

The Spring Lake school board voted Wednesday to privatize custodial services for the district, effective July 1. In two unanimous votes, the board awarded a three-year contract to Reliant Professional Cleaning and to lay off the district's 12 custodians. The move will save the district $314,000 per year over its current arrangement, Spring Lake Public Schools officials said.

11:12 AM Jun 16, 2011

Special library friendship now 30 years old

For 30 years, Loutit District Library has had a special friend. The Friends of Loutit District Library, a group of volunteers that raises money for various library projects, has played a key role in helping out the library through the years. The Friends celebrated 30 years of service and support to Loutit District Library with a community open house on Wednesday at the Grand Haven library.

10:51 AM Jun 16, 2011

Long-postponed U2 concert at MSU is next week

U2 is scheduled to give a long-delayed performance at Spartan Stadium next week - a year after the original date. The group was scheduled to visit the East Lansing campus June 30, 2010 - but that was postponed after lead singer Bono underwent emergency spine surgery that May. At the time, U2 manager Paul McGuinness said that all the North American dates originally planned for last year were being rescheduled in the same venues. Tickets from the original shows are valid at the rescheduled shows.

10:48 AM Jun 16, 2011

Teaching: not for the faint of heart

10:48 AM Jun 16, 2011

Fruitport's top prep athletes recognized

Fruitport High School recently named seniors Aaron Covert and Lindsey Timmer as its Senior Student-Athletes of the Year during the Trojans' senior awards banquet. Timmer enjoyed success in four different sports at Fruitport, with her top accomplishments coming in competitive cheer. She was the team's co-captain and a first-team all-conference selection in the Lakes Eight Conference this winter. She also ran track and played volleyball for three seasons, and was a sideline cheerleader this fall.

10:44 AM Jun 16, 2011

VanderWerp's team on top at MBVT

Grand Haven's Stevo VanderWerp and his teammate, Evan Engle of California, teamed up to win the Men' Pro Division at Saturday's Midwest Beach Volleyball Tour stop at Grand Haven State Park. VanderWerp and Engle went unbeaten on the day, winning in the finals by a score of 21-14, 21-13 against brothers John and Paul Kessenich of Ann Arbor. In the Women's Pro Division, Kellie DeMerrit and Vicki Vega of Royal Oak edged the local team of Lori Armstrong and Megan Sharp.

10:39 AM Jun 16, 2011

WMC golf out to claim first state title

Western Michigan Christian has won a plenty of state titles in its 55-year history, but one that has eluded the school is golf. The Warriors have been state runners-up in golf twice, but have never returned home with the big trophy. This year's team has a chance to change that at the Division 4 state meet on Friday and Saturday at The Meadows Golf Course in Allendale. This will be the school's fourth-straight appearance in the state final.