7:13 AM Jul 12, 2011
A condolence book for Betty Ford will be available for local residents to sign at Klaassen Family Funeral Home, 1500 Robbins Road in Grand Haven. The book may be signed today through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. It will be turned over to the Gerald R. Ford Museum in Grand Rapids on July 18. A condolence book will also be available to sign at the museum. The 93-year-old former first lady died Friday at the Eisenhower Medical Center in Rancho Mirage, Calif.
7:12 AM Jul 12, 2011
A coastal flood warning is in effect for West Michigan's Lake Michigan shoreline, including Ottawa County, until 8 tonight. The National Weather Service said dangerously rapid changes in water levels are expected this afternoon, in response to the line of severe thunderstorms that crossed Lake Michigan this morning. Water levels will have large fluctuations through at least early this evening - most notably along all coastal beaches. Beach-goers should expect dangerous rip currents, too.
7:12 AM Jul 12, 2011
Today: Mostly sunny, with a high near 76. Northwest wind between 5 and 14 mph. Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 60. North-northwest wind at 7 to 10 mph. Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 73. North-northwest wind around 11 mph.
4:00 PM Jul 11, 2011
The Ottawa County Patriots (formerly Holland Zeeland Patriots) will feature Brad Snavely, the executive director of the Michigan Family Forum, as guest speaker for the group's meeting at 7 p.m. Tuesday.
2:51 PM Jul 11, 2011
Classic cars once again took over downtown Grand Haven for the annual Jaycees' Wheels of Grand Haven Car Show. "It turned out to be a great day,' event chairman Sam Janson said today. "We thought it might rain, but it waited until this morning.' Janson said there were about 260 registered vehicles that participated in this year's show, along with a few non-registered classic cars that showed up at the last minute. Cars, trucks and motorcycles lined Washington Avenue from Harbor Drive to Fourth Street, and overflowed onto side streets.
2:00 PM Jul 11, 2011
The Spring Lake Village office was built by the Works Progress Administration during President Franklin Roosevelt's administration. This is just one of many tidbits of information you can learn on the Tri-Cities Historical Museum's Spring Lake Historic Village Walk that will take place Wednesday, July 20. The walk will begin at the Village Hall at 1 p.m. Advanced registration is not necessary. For more information about this free program, call the museum at 842-0700.
12:31 PM Jul 11, 2011
Grand Haven's Norm Boeve completed his lunge across the finish line, greeted some well-wishers waiting near-by and eagerly reached into a wheel barrel stocked with iced towels - a perfect remedy after completing a duathlon during a mid-80 degree morning in Sunday's Grand Haven Triathlon, presented by Grand Haven Bone and Joint.
12:30 PM Jul 11, 2011
Area emergency crews responded to several medical calls over the weekend at local beaches, a marina and the Grand Haven boardwalk. At 3:39 p.m. Saturday, police were called to the Grand Haven State Park about a 60-year-old female who was conscious but not alert. Lt. Joe Boyle of the Grand Haven Department of Public Safety said the woman was attending a bachelorette party at the beach and started to feel faint. She had not been drinking, Boyle said. The woman was taken by ambulance to North Ottawa Community Hospital. No further information was available this morning.
12:30 PM Jul 11, 2011
Despite an earlier mix-up, an event to collect signatures to recall Gov. Rick Snyder was held Saturday afternoon in Grand Haven's Central Park. The event was part of a statewide effort to collect more than 800,000 signatures that would start the recall process on Snyder for his support of the Emergency Financial Manager law, said Jason Collins of Spring Lake. Collins is a teacher for the Newaygo County alternative high school program and one of three Ottawa County residents heading countywide efforts to recall the governor.
12:28 PM Jul 11, 2011
The National Weather Service has issued a severe thunderstorm warning for Ottawa, Allegan and Van Buren counties until 11:15 a.m. NWS meteorologists were tracking a line of severe thunderstorms capable of producing hurricane-force wind gusts in excess of 75 mph. These storms were located over Lake Michigan at around 9:45 a.m. and moving east at 70 mph.
12:09 PM Jul 11, 2011
Three people were injured in a two-car accident reported at 10:43 p.m. Saturday near the entrance ramp to eastbound Interstate 96 near Coopersville, said Sgt. Bob Ruster of the Ottawa County Sheriff's Department. The most seriously injured, David Hanson, 31, of Grand Rapids, was in fair condition today at Spectrum Butterworth Hospital in Grand Rapids, a hospital spokeswoman said. Hanson was the front-seat passenger in a sport utility vehicle being driven by Jordan Gall, 16, of Coopersville.
11:58 AM Jul 11, 2011
Possibly a dozen homes were without power in a Spring Lake Village neighborhood off Lake Avenue after a storm went through just after 8 this morning, said Lt. Steve Bruneau of the Spring Lake Township Fire Department. Firefighters were called at 8:16 a.m. to a home at 320 Mark St. on a possible lightning strike and the smell of electrical burning in the house. Bruneau said the residents did not hear any loud crack from lightning and there was no damage to the house itself.
10:51 AM Jul 11, 2011
Native American children created their own games using items from nature - rocks, sticks, strips of leather. One of their games has become quite popular - LaCrosse. At the Tri-Cities Historical Museum's "Our Woodland Ways' program on Wednesday, July 20, children will have a chance to play two different Native American games: kainsish and throw sticks. This free program will begin at 10 a.m. and take place at the museum's Akeley location, 200 Washington Ave. in downtown Grand Haven. For more information, call 842-0700.
8:47 AM Jul 11, 2011
The National Weather Service has issued a severe thunderstorm warning for southwest Michigan, including Ottawa County, until 8:45 this morning. A line of severe thunderstorms capable of producing damaging winds in excess of 60 mph were moving across the area this morning. These storms were moving southeast at 55 mph. Small hail may also accompany these damaging winds.