UPDATE (Friday 7 a.m.): CANCELED A flash flood watch remains in effect through Friday afternoon for much of Michigan's Lower Peninsula, including Ottawa County. A flash flood watch means that conditions are favorable for flash flooding, the National Weather Service says, and residents of the watch area should be prepared to take action should heavy rain occur in their area or if flash flood warnings are issued.

The "No Cigs for Our Kids' campaign partnered with law enforcement agencies from the Ottawa County Sheriff's Office, Spring Lake-Ferrysburg Police Department and the Holland Department of Public Safety last month to ensure stores do not sell tobacco to those under age 18. The 54 undercover tobacco compliance checks in June resulted in sales to an underage decoy at two Ferrysburg stores: the Reef Party Store and JD's Shoreline Super Stop.

Today has been declared an Action Day for elevated levels of ozone - resulting in poor air quality - for several West Michigan counties, including Ottawa County. Pollutants are expected to be in the "unhealthy for sensitive groups' range on today, according to the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality. The area affected also includes Muskegon, Kent, Allegan, Kalamazoo, Mason, Oceana and Van Buren counties.

An effort to recall the state senator that represents Ottawa County has been given the green light to proceed. The Ottawa County Election Commission approved the most recent version of recall language filed by a Spring Lake man with a 3-0 vote at a hearing on July 13. That clears the way for the petitioners to circulate petitions in the state Senate 30th District, which includes all of Ottawa County and a small portion of western Kent County, with the goal to put a proposal before voters to remove Sen. Arlan Meekhof from office.