A new vocal talent show mirrored after the hit TV show "American Idol' will kick off a week of entertainment during the 2011 Coast Guard Festival. "Hometown Idol' will be held at 7:30 p.m. Friday, July 29, at Waterfront Stadium. Tickets are $5 and can be purchased at the stadium's gate. The event gives local residents an opportunity to compete in three age categories as they sing "crowd-appropriate' tunes for cash prizes, said Coast Guard Festival Executive Director Mike Smith.

The eastern corner of Beechtree Street and Fulton Avenue will soon have a new look. Permits have been issued for the demolition of the old Eagle Ottawa Leather Co. facility, and crews have begun the process of bringing heavy equipment to the site to begin work, Grand Haven City Planner Kristin Keery said. "They got the go-ahead and clearance from the city,' Keery said. Spring Lake-based Wachter Excavating is the company handling the demolition of the facility.

Two teenagers are OK after after getting caught up in the currents of Lake Michigan at Grand Haven State Park. Rescuers were called to the park shortly after 8:30 p.m. Wednesday on reports that two teens - ages 14 and 15 - were in distress. Grand Haven Department of Public Safety Sgt. Randy Poel said the teens were swimming in the waves and got caught in the current, which began carrying them unknowingly toward the pier. He said two off-duty lifeguards were able to swim to the two teens and determined that they were OK.

Grand Haven officials have created a policy that aims to reinforce plans to create a complete system of transportation options in the community. City Council unanimously Monday approved a measure creating a Complete Streets policy on July 18. "This doesn't tie our hands at all,' City Manager Pat McGinnis said. "It just states what we are already doing.'