Family and friends gathered in the media center at Lakeshore Middle School on Wednesday night for Principal Julia Houle's retirement open house. Houle, 63, will end a 40-year career in education on Friday, the last day of school for Lakeshore students. She said she has enjoyed the chance to make an impact on children during a critical time in their learning. Educators also face significant challenges, both current and future, she said.

A 20-year-old Coopersville man was arrested without incident early this morning, just a few days after he kicked out a police car window to escape. Ottawa County Sheriff's deputies picked up Jordan Michael Mulder about 3 a.m. today near a Mechanic Street home, said Lt. Mark Bennett of the sheriff's department. "During the investigation, deputies continued to check areas Mulder was known to have frequented,' Bennett said. "Deputies were checking the Mechanic Street area when they saw several individuals outside a residence.'

Gov. Rick Snyder has ordered U.S. flags to be lowered to half-staff in honor of a 23-year-old Army private from Plainwell killed in Afghanistan's Kunar province. The order is for today, the day of Thomas Allers' funeral. The military said Allers was killed May 23 along with three others by an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 27th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division based at Schofield Barracks in Hawaii.

Gov. Rick Snyder announced Wednesday that Varnum LLP - a Michigan-based law firm with an office in Grand Haven - will donate $1 million in legal services to targeted state-based start-up, early stage and growing businesses to help spark Michigan's economy. The statewide initiative provides free legal services associated with starting a business, capital formation and other legal needs to help Michigan entrepreneurs. The program will make its debut this month.

A hazardous weather alert has been issued for portions of several southwest counties, including Ottawa County, for tonight. Scattered severe thunderstorms are possible this evening, with damaging winds and large hail as the primary threats, according to the National Weather Service. These storms will also bring frequent lightning and locally heavy rainfall. Storm motion will be east at 35 mph. Heavy rain is possible Friday and Saturday. Severe weather may be possible as well across southern Lower Michigan if the warm front lifts north.

As we wove our way through a mass of red, white and blue-clad humanity following the United States' 2-0 win over Canada in the Gold Cup opener at Ford Field on Tuesday, my friend had a dazed look on his face. "Are you OK,' I asked. "Oh yeah,' he said in a dream-like voice, looking around at the thousands of soccer-crazed U.S. supporters. "This is how soccer should be.' ---