Grand Haven Tribune

4:01 PM Jun 2, 2011

Public can preview Grand River Ravines on June 9

The public is invited to join parks staff and the Friends of Ottawa County Parks for a preview of Grand River Ravines from 4-8 p.m. Thursday, June 9. The preview will allow visitors to view this newly acquired property, including the house that will be available for rental in the future. Refreshments will be provided. The property is located in Georgetown Township. Look for signs to the event on 42nd Avenue, approximately a third of a mile north of Fillmore Street.

3:34 PM Jun 2, 2011

I-96 lane closures in Crockery Twp. today, Friday

Single-lane closures for soil testing will be in place today and Friday on both eastbound and westbound Interstate 96 near 112th Avenue in Crockery Township. The closures are scheduled for 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. both days. For up-to-date information on this project and others, go to the list of statewide lane closures at www.michigan.gov/drive.

2:01 PM Jun 2, 2011

Chinook Pier surf shop opens

Brothers and lifelong surfers John and Ben McNeil are making final preparations to get their new business - Wet Mitten Surf Shop, 301 N. Harbor Ave. - ready for summer. "We have always wanted to go into business together in some form,' John said. The store in the Chinook Pier shops opened in April. We grew up along the shores here,' said John, 27. "We've been surfing ever since we've been able to.'

12:42 PM Jun 2, 2011

Bulldogs take a bite out of Bucs

With several of his top players - including all-state senior Aliina Weykamp - sitting on the sidelines in warm-ups, Grand Haven varsity girls soccer coach Cor Damhuis got a glimpse of the future of his program. Unfortunately, the future couldn't extend the present as the Buccaneers suffered a season-ending 2-0 loss at the hands of the Grandville Bulldogs in the opening round of the Division 1 district tournament.

11:31 AM Jun 2, 2011

Spring Lake children take Make-A-Wish trips

Two Spring Lake children got to experience the magic of Walt Disney because of Make-A-Wish trips. Ashleigh Dorman, 9, and Clayton Dorman, 5, both have cystic fibrosis. Ashleigh was diagnosed with the disease at age 3 - after her mother, Alice, took the girl to the doctor because of a digestive problem. After going through several procedures, Ashleigh was diagnosed with CF.

11:17 AM Jun 2, 2011

Ferrysburg planners to discuss mobile pet clinic

Ferrysburg planning commissioners tonight will discuss whether a mobile veterinary clinic is allowed use the former city hall under current zoning ordinances.

11:09 AM Jun 2, 2011

C3 Exchange to host Sunday concert series at SL park

C3 Exchange will host a Sunday evening community concert series beginning this week at Mill Point Park.

11:05 AM Jun 2, 2011

Lions maul Lakers' softball

Riding a five-game winning streak, Spring Lake's varsity softball team was looking to make a statement going into Wednesday's make-up doubleheader against Newaygo. Instead, it was the Lions who made an emphatic statement, thumping the Lakers in both ends of the twin bill, 16-1 and 10-2. The pair of wins helps Newaygo leapfrog Spring Lake into third place in the final Lakes Eight Conference standings and leaves Lakers' coach Bill Core wondering how his team will respond in Saturday's district tournament.

11:03 AM Jun 2, 2011

Whitecaps' 9th-inning rally comes up short

The West Michigan Whitecaps nearly treated a Wednesday night crowd of 5,067 to a thrilling comeback victory at Fifth Third Ballpark, but their ninth-inning rally fell short in a 3-2 loss to the Quad Cities River Bandits. West Michigan (21-32) was held scoreless through the first eight innings before roaring back in the final frame, eventually losing for the fourth time in their last five games. Trailing 3-0 in the bottom of the ninth, the Whitecaps refused to go down quietly.

11:02 AM Jun 2, 2011

New Harbor/Washington traffic signal one visible change downtown

The downtown reconstruction project has brought about many changes, from a new snowmelt system and improved public utilities to a new traffic signal at Harbor Drive and Washington Avenue. Grand Haven Special Projects Manager Julie Beaton said these new signals are unique in how they are designed. "The signals are designed for two things - improved pedestrian connectivity and improved traffic flow,' she said.

10:54 AM Jun 2, 2011

Sugar Ray, Night Ranger complete Summer Celebration lineup

Sugar Ray and Night Ranger will perform on Saturday, July 2, during the Muskegon Summer Celebration. This completes the headline artists lineup which also includes: Pop Evil and Black Stone Cherry (July 1), Theory of a Deadman and Skillet (July 3), Hotel California, Smokin' Joe Kubek, and Artie Dean Harris (July 4), Charlie Daniels Band and Aaron Lewis (July 6), The Goo Goo Dolls, Michelle Branch, and Parachute (July 7), Cinderella and Jackyl (July 8) and Trey Songz and Hot Chelle Rae (July 9).

10:37 AM Jun 2, 2011

Toddler found floating in water under trampoline

Authorities said a 19-month-old boy is hospitalized in critical condition after being submerged for 10 minutes in water in a hole on his family's property in Montcalm County. The Montcalm County Sheriff's Department said the 3-foot-deep hole was dug for the family's trampoline. The property is in Bloomer Township, near Carson City, about 45 miles north-northeast of Grand Rapids. WOOD-TV reported that Jaxon Crouse wandered away and was found floating face down in the water about 11:30 a.m. Tuesday.

10:34 AM Jun 2, 2011

Man shot to death after Montcalm County standoff

A law enforcement officer fatally shot a 47-year-old man following a standoff at a home in the Howard City area on Wednesday. Police said someone called 911 about 5:30 p.m., asking officers to check on the well-being of Matthew Speese at his Montcalm County home. Michigan State Police said Speese had a gun and was talking with officers before the shooting. Lt. Andrea Nerbonne said Speese was shot about 7:20 p.m. Details about the officer who shot him weren't immediately released.

10:32 AM Jun 2, 2011

LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Beach trash is an insult

10:13 AM Jun 2, 2011

Spring Lake grad’s documentary to show at L.A. Film Fest

A Spring Lake High School graduate will be going to Hollywood in two weeks to the Los Angeles Film Festival, where her documentary about members of a controversial Kansas church will be shown. Erin Zacek and classmate Dan Moore traveled with members of Westboro Baptist Church - a Topeka, Kan.-based group known for protesting at funerals of soldiers and other high-profile people. The documentary was among more than 200 films selected out of the 5,000-plus submissions, according to the festival website.

8:06 AM Jun 2, 2011

Grand Haven vs Grandville District 1 Soccer Tournament

7:16 AM Jun 2, 2011

Today's forecast

Today: Mostly sunny, with a high near 66. North-northwest wind at 3 to 7 mph. Tonight: A 30-percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2 am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 54. East wind between 5 and 13 mph. Friday: A 30-percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 2 pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 76. South-southeast wind at 13 to 17 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.