A Holton man charged with the July 30 armed robbery of The Reef convenience store in Ferrysburg has also been charged with holding up the Kountry Korners store in Fruitport Township on the same day. Lt. Jim Christiansen of the Muskegon County Sheriff's Department said that John Lee DeJong, 50, was being transported to Muskegon for a line-up on Wednesday, when he asked to see the detective, then "confessed to doing it.' The man was arraigned the same day on charges of armed robbery and being an habitual offender, fourth offense, Christiansen said.

Firefighters had to put out an unexpected light show next to the Grand Haven Musical Fountain on Dewey Hill on Friday night. According to Sgt. Mike Ercole of the Grand Haven Department of Public Safety, crews from Ferrysburg, Grand Haven and the Ottawa County Sheriff's Department Marine Patrol were dispatched at about 10 p.m. on a report of a 50-by-50-foot wildfire on the hill. Ercole said the likely cause of the fire was because of fireworks that were set off in the area, but they aren't sure who launched the fireworks.

Police caught one of the suspects in a burglary in Norton Shores about four hours after the crime was reported. Norton Shores Police Chief Daniel Shaw said officers were called to a burglary in progress in the 6700 block of Grand Haven Road at around noon Thursday. The officers attempted to secure a 1-square-mile section of wooded property into which the suspects had fled on foot. Michigan State Police K-9 teams attempted to track the suspects; however, they were able to escape, Shaw said.

Rip currents that took hold of more than 20 people at Holland State Park on Wednesday weren't as severe in Grand Haven, officials said. Melissa VanderVelde, the acting supervisor for Grand Haven State Park, said the issues that plagued Holland State Park on Wednesday did not effect Grand Haven's beach. "The wind was coming out of the north, so the pier was protecting us,' she said.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources closed the beach at Holland State Park two hours early Wednesday night because of dangerous rip current conditions in Lake Michigan. DNR officers instructed people to get out of the water and leave the beach area about 7:30 p.m., according to WZZM-TV. The beach normally closes around 9:30 p.m. A Coast Guard spokesman said emergency crews had rescued at least 20 people out of the lake by 7:30 p.m. Wednesday because of rip currents. At least 15 people had to be transported to area hospitals for treatment.

Federal prosecutors are seeking a life sentence for a Detroit-area man who went online to persuade mothers to sexually abuse their children. Authorities said seven mothers sexually assaulted 12 children at the direction of Steven Demink of Redford Township, a former car salesman. Demink was due in federal court today for sentencing, five months after pleading guilty to charges related to sexual exploitation.

A 50-year-old Holton man, arrested following the armed robbery of a Ferrysburg convenience store on Saturday, demanded preliminary examination when he was arraigned by video late Monday afternoon in Ottawa County's 58th District Court. Bond was set at $250,000 for John Lee DeJong, after he was charged with armed robbery and fleeing a police officer. Joe Legatz will serve as DeJong's court-appointed attorney. A charge of operating under the influence of drugs is still pending the return of a blood test, Spring Lake/Ferrysburg Police Chief Roger DeYoung said.

A 50-year-old Holton man was expected to be arraigned today on charges of armed robbery and fleeing and eluding police after he allegedly robbed The Reef convenience store in Ferrysburg on Saturday evening, Spring Lake/Ferrysburg Police Chief Roger DeYoung said. More charges, such as operating under the influence of drugs, could be added.